Ties and Bonds chapter 1 (power)

Chapter one

"Power"

Queeble’s face showed his fear. The fire danced in his eyes. His house his life was burning away in front of him.

His mother’s warm hand rested on his shoulder, as they watched their father run back in the fire, trying to save what he can. His father ran back in one more time, and just as he disappeared beyond the doorway the house collapsed. A hand tightened around his shoulder it was his mother's. She pulled him closer, her eyes filling with tears.

She turned toward him blocking out the fire and the house. She bent down on one knee, "You can’t blame yourself for what has happened here." Queeble reached up, and gently wiped a tear from his mother’s eye.

Sweat ran down Queeble’s face as he woke up from the dream that had never left him since that day. Although, it had been four years ago, he still blamed himself for his father’s death. He should have been brave enough to help him. He knew he had that ability, but at that time, he would have gotten hanged or worse.

When Queeble’s life had been taken from him, the king of Glabenbrook, and Celestan had passed a law that stated something like; "Anyone caught using their magical abilities will be killed on the spot. No question’s asked." Still for him, it was the same old story… he wasn’t brave enough to condemn his own life to save another.

He ran his fingers through his partially missing hair. ‘I guess it’s true, stress does cause balding!’ He thought and smiled.

He threw his legs over the side of his bed, and stood up, stretching his plump body. Queeble moved over to the window, and pet his lizard that sat contently on the sill absorbing the sun warming rays. He slid his fingers over its scaly orange back. He looked out the window; today was going to be an odd day. He could just tell the sun didn’t seem to be as bright. The normally bright blue sky was dull, and cloudy, letting almost no light through.

He turned his back to the window and placed his shoulder level to the windowsill. Sequi slowly walked on to his bare shoulder. Queeble always liked the feeling of his little feet gripping at his bare skin.

He placed his hand on the door, and turned the knob. Opening the door, he felt that his feet were getting wet. Queeble glanced down; figuring it had rained during the night and his roof his just leaked, saw the crimson liquid run over his toes. He jumped back, afraid!

The door swung open on it’s on volition. Outside the door stood his stairs leading down into his main room. There was nothing there that would cause blood to be on his…. He looked down, nothing! Nothing was there, so blood, no nothing. His lizard licked his ear. Maybe he was just seeing things?

He went back into his room and grabbed his pack. He went across the large room, through the door, to a basin with water in it.

After he was clean he walked out of the house. His lizard tickled his chest as he walked toward town. The path under his feet was worn down, and muddy from the nights rain. The trees on either side of him were turning to bright reds, and oranges. Fall was on its way.

The gates of Glabenbrook. Old. Queeble thought about their appearance every time he came through this place. Why didn’t they ever fix up the gates, they had been worn down for years now.