Welcome back to another Story Day, guys! With The Caretaker over (finally XD), you guys are going to be treated to the stories (and poem) of the winners of the short story contest. đ So hold on to your hats as I have the pleasure of announcing (and publishing) Denali Christiansonâs short story, Voice of Victory. Enjoy!
Voice of Victory
She would die. The love of his life would die.
The cold gray of dawn exposed the archers aiming even now. Never mind that Finnianâs men were about to die â so was Kiyari. Finnian clenched his horse Celesâ reins, raging at the soldiers, the guards, himself. Anyone whoâd thought it was a good idea to put a woman on the front lines. So mainly himself. How heâd longed to ask for her hand in marriage. But she would have refused.
âI love you, Kiyari.â
âI love El Elyon first. The day you believe in Him is the day I love you back.â
And she had walked away.
Finnian bared his sword, long blonde hair blown in the wind. So she wouldnât marry him? Painful thought, but far worse if she was killed on a battlefield against an army ten thousand strong because heâd let her be there in the first place. It would be a slaughter.
Twang! The air snapped the second the arrows flew. The enemy yelled and charged, thousands of swords tore from scabbards, and as Finnianâs blood heated with the fire of battle, there rose a voice more triumphant than the dawn itself.
Kiyari sang.
But it was more than a song. It was a victory cry borne not from battle but from peace. The world stood still; the only sound was a melody that mingled with the flowing wind in strains never before heard beneath the sun. Soldiers froze in the act of drawing swords. Arrows fell from the sky. And dawn erupted.
Light burst over the horizon as the sun leapt from behind the hills and flooded the grassy plain with liquid gold, turning every dewdrop to diamond. Kiyari lifted her hands to the glowing sky, and there beside her stood a Man too majestic, too powerful, too great for the world to contain. He took a singular step forward, and the ten thousand men of the enemy cried out and fled back to the sea from whence theyâd come. Silence fell for only a moment before Finnianâs army burst into their own song of victory, drowning out the last note of Kiyariâs.
Finnian leapt from Celesâ back and ran to Kiyariâs side, scanning her figure, unharmed and whole, her dark brown hair sweeping across her back, her smile mirroring the golden light of dawn. âGo! Ride back in victory!â she cried.
âI canât.â Finnian lowered his head and gazed into her violet-blue eyes.
Kiyari stilled. âWhy? Whatâs wrong?â
âIt wasnât my victory.â
âThen whose was it?â she whispered, almost expectant.
Finnian glanced at the green field unmarred by blood, the golden sky filled with hope. âEl Elyonâs.â
Kiyari beamed, tears glistening in her eyes. âThen send the horse back riderless.â
He slapped Celesâs hide, then stumbled when Kiyari threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He swept his love into his arms, and just before returning her kiss, he could have sworn he saw the Man riding off on Celesâs back.
AHH WASNâT THAT JUST AMAZING!! Despite the romance at the end, I loved Denaliâs vivid description and the compelling storyline.
Light burst over the horizon as the sun leapt from behind the hills and flooded the grassy plain with liquid gold, turning every dewdrop to diamond.
ISNâT THAT BEAUTIFUL!?!?!?!?!
*coughs* Fangirling aside, congrats yet again on placing third, Denali!! I hope everyone enjoyed your story as much as I did. đ
Until next time,
Take courage, pursue God, and smile while you still have teeth!! đ
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