Free The Protectors by Ryan King

rabble rouser. The one who stirred up mistrust in your hearts. This person has led you astray. Give them to me. Who is responsible?"
    A child starts to cry. Then another. As if contagious, nearly all the small children are soon wailing loudly.
    The sound clearly mak es Clay angry. "The Old Bible says that the children shall suffer the sins of their parents. I don't want that and I know you don't, but if you force me I'll take it out on the little ones. Someone here has to answer for what happened. Someone has to pay in blood, that is the way to make things right again."
    Who is responsible, I wonder . Someone had put them in this position and gotten a lot of good people killed. Most would blame Grandpa, but that's not who's responsible.
    "Okay then," says Clay. "Bring me a baby. Any of them will do."
    I stand suddenly and nearly faint. Steadying myself I look at the stage and say as calmly as I can . "I'm responsible."
    "Sit down," Mother is pulling at my hand.
    "Bullshit," says Clay. "You're just a little girl."
    A wave of euphoria washes through me and I chuckl e. "Yet we still almost beat you. A bunch of women and girls. Maybe we should switch places and you can let us protect you."
    The room is deathly still. "Come on up here," says Clay with a dangerous grin showing too much teeth.
    "No," moans Grandpa trying to rise. "It was me. It was me."
    None hear him but Mother and I. Yanking free of her grasp I make my way forward carefully trying not to step on anyone, pausing occasionally as a wave of dizziness washes over me. Soon I am standing at the base of the stage. Clay is in front of me and the pile of bodies is to my right. I hear the sound of murmuring behind me.
    "Well, come on up here," Clay waves at me with his pistol.
    I measure the stage mentally and know it is too high for me to climb in my current state. Turning to the left to walk up the stairs, I feel a searing agony in my head as my feet leave the ground. Screaming in pain, I'm deposited in a heap at Clay's feet by Reaper who has just lifted me up by my hair.
    "Go ahead and take the load off," Clay says pulling the chair he had kicked to the rear forward. "You must be very tired what with all the conniving you've been up to."
    I do feel tired and just want to go to sleep. Sinking down into the chair I look out at the room. Meeting Mother's and Grandpa's eyes I feel a deep love I have never felt before. Wishing I could hug them now, I smile and wipe the tears from my eyes.
    "Oh, tears won't do you any good now," Clay says. "It's way too late for...what the hell is going on?"
    There is a commotion to my right and I look over to see Victor climbing up the stairs towards us, his rainmaker out before him like a protective talisman.
    "No hurt , Teal," he says.
    " Someone get that simpleton off the stage," Clay orders.
    Reaper turns and stri des purposefully towards the big man.
    "No hurt , Teal," Victor repeated.
    "We're going to hurt you in a minut e," Reaper shoves Victor.
    The big man does n't move.
    Reaper pushes harder and I hear a cascade sound. Looking over I see small stones pouring out the end of Victor's cylinder and onto the stage.
    Oh no . They've broken his rainmaker, I think. "It's okay Victor," I say. "Just go sit down, please."
    Reaper grasps the large knife at his belt in his fist and yanks it out. "I told you I'd kill you if you crossed me again."
    What happens next seems to be in slow motion to me. Victor is holding one hand out under the broken rainmaker as if trying to catch the last few stones. Miraculously a long thin metal object falls into his hand. He pulls the rest of the cylinder off and tosses it aside.
    In Victor's hands i s a long sharp two-handed sword. On the pommel is the unmistakable symbol of an eye. The sword flashes forward in a blur.
    Reaper shifts slowly back towards Clay and the arm that previously held the knife is now missing from the elbow down. Before he can take another step, Victor raises the sword to shoulder level and