Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter 1: Prologue

BEGINNING OF BOOK 1: THE GENERAL’S WIFE

“Fire! Fire!”

I only remember a few images from that night. I remember groaning from my skin that was bleeding from my mother’s firm grasp as we were running down barefoot from the steps.

I remember that my mother and I were clutching our nightgowns. I remember our hair all flying in the wind as we evaded falling debris from the ceiling. I remember hardly breathing from inhaling the smoke. I remember us covering our mouths in fear of passing out from inhaling more fumes.

Some of my mother’s maids were trailing behind us. All of our faces were drenched with tears and our cheeks were smudged with cinders. We could smell the burning iron under our breaths.

One maid missed a step and fell into the ground. At the same time, a piece of wood dropped on top of one of her legs.

“Cessy!” My mother cried and tried to lift her up, but Cessy strongly pulled her arm away.

“Madam! Leave me here! Run faster and save yourself and the young lady!” She pushed us away.

I heard my mother scream as she was being led by the other maids. “Cessy! I cannot leave here without you!”

Cessy was crying while shaking her head. Mother reached out her hand into the air, but the maids were determined in taking us away. “Madam! Let’s get out of here and save ourselves!”

More debris were falling that we needed to stay close to the walls. My hands were cold and my heart was racing. I don’t know if all of us will make it out alive.

“Please don’t let go of my arm, young lady,” Runi pleaded while crying. I almost forgot that she was with us.

I could merely nod at Runi who is as old as me. We were both 19 now. She had been serving my family since she turned 18 after her parents died. Ever since, she had been my best friend. I ran faster as I hold tighter unto them because I couldn’t lose my mother and my best friend in this fire.

I could merely cry and nod while looking at Runi and my mother. I didn’t really want to attend political functions that my father’s office organized. I even tried faking a stomachache earlier just so I wouldn’t need to leave home tonight but then my mother still insisted for me to accompany her.

My mother paused. She held my face. “Natalia, no matter what happened tonight, just remember that the Gionites never breached the treaty!”

“Mother, I don’t understand,” I said. What is mother speaking? Why is she talking about the Gionite Tribe?

Mother was dragged by her maids. “Madam! Runi will take care of the Young Lady! We need to go out!”

I missed a step and tumbled to the ground. A piece of wood pierced through my leg.

“Runi!” I called. “Leave me here!”

I just couldn’t sacrifice everyone’s lives just so they could save me. I don’t really want anyone dying because of me.

“Natalia! My daughter!” My mother screamed. They were a few steps ahead of us already. She was rushing toward me but her maids prevented her because it was too dangeroud for her to go back. I couldn’t blame them either.

“Young lady, please hold on!” She lifted me up and dragged me. But she couldn’t carry both of our weights especially that she needed to use her other hand to cover her mouth too.

Up ahead, I could see that my mother and her maids were suddenly trapped. I watched in horror as a huge piece of wood dropped on their heads.

“Mama!” I screamed and collapsed to the floor as I reached out to her, not knowing if she survived.

All Runi and I all could hear now were screams of agony, indistinct of which belongs to my mother or to one of her maids.

“Runi! My mother!” I could feel the pain my leg. I cried harder as I let go of Runi’s hand.

“Young lady! Young lady!” She cried. She attempted to grab my hand again but another piece of wood dropped in between us. I am now surrounded by flames. I’m afraid that I couldn’t breathe any longer. My vision is getting cloudy. I couldn’t even see Runi properly already.

“Young lady! I will get help! Please hold on!” Runi screamed while coughing.

I couldn’t hear Runi any longer as I slowly closed my eyes, waiting for another second to meet my mother on the other side. I knew my father would lose his mind once he knew that his wife and only daughter were killed by the fire.

I could hear people screaming from the outside. I don’t know where they all came from. It’s probably the townsfolk.

“It’s the dynamites from the basement, Lieutenant. We knew that they’d hide it here.” The man had a timid voice.

“Sir! Sir! We need your help! Our young lady and madam were trapped inside!” I think I heard Runi coughing while pleading outside.

“The maidservant has passed out! Help her!”

I closed my eyes and waited for my fate. I thought I’ll die back then and there. But I am prepared. I had a bad feeling that my mother didn’t make it, and I am glad to rejoin her in the afterlife.

I don’t actually want to go on in life without my mother as she has always been by my side. I figured that I will be missing her my whole life if I’ll go on living without her.

Two minutes later, I could feel my body being lifted from the ground by strong arms. Despite my cloudy vision, I could still figure that he’s a man.

I could smell his sweat and could hear his deep breathing. But it’s too painful to open my eyes already. The fumes had penetrated through my eyes already. I was scared that I might go blind from this.

All I could do was touch his face, so that I could remember how it feels like to touch his face again if we could see each other again in the future.