Jennifer and her mother froze in place and listened to the commotion outside. Another yell of “enemy raid” confirmed it.
They both went into the living room to find Raldar taking out an old sword from a scabbard. The blade gleamed in the light as he examined its edge. The sword had been in their family for generations but Raldar never had a reason to use it before.
Until today.
Tears formed in Eliden's eyes. “My love, you're not going out there to fight are you?”
Raldar lowered his sword. “I must fight for this village. And for my family.”
“Don't go, Father.” Jennifer fell at his feet. “You'll die!”
Raldar put his hand on her head. “Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise you.”
Jennifer heard his words but she didn't believe them.
Raldar went to the door. “Stay inside. Lock this door and don't open it for anyone except for me.”
Eliden nodded and helped Jennifer back to her feet.
Raldar opened the door and Jennifer got a glimpse of horses racing past and screams of villagers in the distance.
And then he was gone.
Eliden went to the door and braced it with a wood plank. She wiped the tears from her cheek. “Get to the kitchen, Jennifer.”
Jennifer aimlessly walked into the kitchen and collapsed at the table. “What can we do, Mother?”
“We stay here until your father returns.”
“What if they get in here?”
Eliden opened a drawer and pulled out some very large knives. “We protect ourselves.” She handed one to Jennifer.
Jennifer moved the knife from hand to hand, testing the weight and balance. “I don't know if I can do this, Mother.”
“I won't let anyone hurt you.”
A banging at the front door silenced them. Jennifer went to get up. “It could be father.”
Eliden pushed Jennifer back down to the chair. She moved in front of her daughter and held her knife up. “It's not your father.”
The door bent inwards as someone outside slammed against it. Jennifer and her mother could only watch in terror. The wooden bar would only hold for so long.
The door splintered into pieces as a large barbarian with a club burst through. Jennifer and Eliden screamed.
The barbarian grinned a mouth of rotten teeth and slowly moved towards the two women. “Don't worry pretty ladies, I'll be gentle.”
He let out a cackling laugh that sent a chill down Jennifer's spine.
Eliden pushed Jennifer behind her. “Run now. I'll take care of him.”
“I can't leave you alone, Mother!”
Eliden looked back at Jennifer. “Go to the forest. I'll be right behind you.”
Jennifer shook her head over and over again. Her eyes watered up and she could barely see.
“Go!” Eliden screamed. “I won't tell you again.”
Her mother had never screamed like that before. Jennifer stood up and went to the window in the kitchen. It was just big enough for one person to fit through. She unlocked the window and it swung outwards.
Jennifer looked back at her mother and the barbarian circling each other. She knew that her mother wouldn't be able to handle the barbarian alone. But her mother would surely die if she stayed. If she ran away it would give her mother a chance to run too.
She jumped through the window and landed in a pile of hay next to their hut. Horses galloped past her. She stood up to see a villager in a field get stabbed through the chest with a spear from a mounted barbarian.