Kendall's Story III- Short Story

Kendall's Story III

9- October 2004

Based on the writing challenge:
Write 400 words including the phrase:
"I fight with divine justice, and jusitce kills."

Kendall awoke to what sounded like a riot. She pushed the musty cloth back from around her pallet and saw what looked to be preparations for one. Across the room a majority of the group sat around tables that had been hastily set up. The displaced pallets and personal belongings had been haphazardly tossed against one wall.

Spread out on the table was a large parchment. A dark-haired youth was pointing to a part of it, and one of the others put a few coins on the spot. A map of the city, then.
A handful of people stood up at the new information the youth had brought, grabbed various weapons ranging from slings to a shovel, and headed out. Richelle, the girl from the night before, stood guard the door, allowing them out by ones and twos when she determined the way was clear.

An argument broke out at the table. A large man with a scar puckering his right cheek stood up. "It's no good! No matter what we try, they still manage to brainwash the citizens.

"Oh, come join our god," he said in a falsetto voice. "Raise up your voice and weapons against those who would free you, because you can proudly say 'I fight with divine justice...'" A few people at the table chimed in with the next line, "And justice kills."

Trenton made his way behind the upset man and placed a hand on his shoulders. "I know it doesn't seem like we've made difference, Shaun, but we have. People are starting to listen, to believe the maybe the gods don't want us to degrade ourselves and our children for them. Like Eian, the shopkeeper, a Marcela. We can't expect people to gain that courage overnight, so we just have to encourage them. "

Shaun grudgingly let Trenton guide him back to his seat. The blond man patted his companion reassuringly on the back, and then looked up. When he saw Kendall he smiled at her.

"Besides," he said, turning back to face the company at the table. "The first step the grand liberation has begun. "

Several people turned in their seats to see Kendall, where she now stood on her pallet. She looked back at them from under her hood. They seemed heartened at her presence, even if they couldn't see her face, and turned back to the table with murmurs that sounded more excited than the angry grumbling that had woken her.

Kendall looked for something to do. Most pallets remained in their place on the floor so it appeared she was not expected to put hers away. She had no change of clothes or personal effects. Normally at this time she would be attending the morning vespers with high priestess. It was her duty to prepare the altar and incense, and clean the ashes afterward. She was so absorbed in her reflection of her chores that she did not notice Trenton approach until he was right in front of her.

He held out a bowl. "Its not much. Its porridge, if you believe it," he said with a laugh. She looked from the bowl to him and back.

"Look, and it's probably not what you're used to, but you gotta eat, right? And once we get you somewhere we don't have to lay low you can eat whatever you want." He held the bowl closer to her, an apologetic look on his face.

Kendall took the bowl. Trenton smiled at her, or at least her hood, and said, "Atta girl," before heading back to the meeting.

Kendall looked down at the porridge. It appeared to have bits of bacon, or something, mixed in for flavor. She considered throwing it out; only the high priests and priestesses were allowed meat at meals except on special occasions and holidays. There was nowhere she could dispose of the food that would not draw notice, if not from the people than from the vermin that shared the space.

Her stomach rumbled. Resigned, she sat down and picked up the wooden spoon from the bowl. She asked Darou for forgiveness as she brought it to her lips.