It
had been years since the last of the bloody struggles. All strife was committed
to the history books and peace reigned, or so it seemed.
It
was a continuous grand party and had been for years. The drawbridge was down
across the moat, the guards relaxed and the castle itself seemed a relic from a
time long passed. In front of the castle were huge fires around which everyone
danced and performed their tricks of magic or balancing acts or other entertainment.
Nightly several pigs were chosen from the livestock and roasted and the
partying seemed to have no end with many visitors from different villages and
one particular fellow, a time traveler, from the future.
The
archers still practiced, but in preparation for contests with prizes offered
and honor at stake. The catapults in the center of the courtyard were
maintained. The piles of stone projectiles were ready, but all for display
only. No one but the oldest of the knights remembered combat in which the mighty
machines fired boulders into the air and onto the hordes of attacking enemy
warriors.
Life
was full of peace and prosperity.
That was when they
attacked.
The
barbarians, who had gathered in the surrounding hills and forests, had gone
undetected. Those stationed in the towers, those who had become soft and
careless in their duties, left us in great jeopardy. They came in unimaginable
numbers and many of our people were killed in the ensuing struggle to protect
the castle.
We
are now prisoners in a castle under siege. Somehow, in the heat of battle, we
managed to get most of the livestock and most of the wagons and visitors into
the courtyard. The drawbridge is up and locked in place, the archers are on the
walls, and the catapults are loaded. But an unbelievable army of barbarians
surrounds us.
Moments
ago our time traveler made an emergency plea for assistance with his
communication device before transporting away from the danger. Seconds before
he vanished an incoming message confirmed the plea for help and noted that help
was on the way.
At
this moment it is uncertain how long we can last and how much help will be
transported in. It could be a single soldier with one of the high-powered
sniper rifles our visitor described or it could by a sky full of their flying
machines. We can only wait and pray…