Broken Promise

From the shadows

Eddon wrapped his cloak tighter as they stepped outside from the warmth of the feasting hall into the unforgiving cold. More villagers were bustling about now, even the snow had stopped giving them all a welcomed reprieve. The village council meeting had gone on longer than expected, as they bickered on how to handle the food shortage caused by the long winter. This had been intensified after the daunting message from the Elsorium. The squabbling had of course been led by Smare, who refused to listen to any of the other village council words. Eddon found himself wondering why any of them even put up with his disobliging ways.

However, they had all come to an agreement that they desperately needed to find a way to avoid the Elsorium call for them to join the Rising Banners. He had heard many stories of men going to war and coming back legends, but there were always the forgotten tales of the men that came back, that could no longer talk or even smile after witnessing the horrors of battle. Eddon shuddered at the thought of going to war.

Smare grunted a goodbye as he marched away, barely slowing as he barged past a villager causing him to nearly drop his basket of wares. The rest of the council slowly began making their way home, there was a grim atmosphere to the way they moved. Kravas stood silently for a short while, his greying hair swayed in the winter breeze as his eyes watched over the village in admiration. He had been the village headman for many years now, leading them through much turmoil. Eddon wanted to believe he could get them through this hardship, but it was hard not to notice the more sinister tone of the gathering. The Elsorium was too powerful to resist, especially with mages at their command. Eddon could only feel sympathy for any fool brave enough to even look into the eyes of a mage, let alone resist their demands.

"I'm proud of this village. We must cling together during these difficult times" Kravas said.

"Everything's going to be fine, right?" Eddon replied.

"Ye-Yes of course. Don't you young ones worry about a thing, we will deal with this problem. It's really good to see you back up Eddon, we burned many prayers for you to recover from your fever. We are all glad our prayers were answered."

"Thank you."

"It was the least we could, especially with all the help your father has been, stepping up to join the council." Kravas leaned in closer to Eddon. "We still have a bit of dried meat and some mulled wine, you're welcome to join us for a meal one of these days."

Eddons belly audibly rumbled at the sound of food different from the vegetable soup he had reluctantly been stuffing down for the past few days. He nodded exuberantly, in which Kravas began to chuckle before he said his goodbyes to Marak. Kravas began strolling down the path. It wasn't long before he was swarmed by villagers, trying to hear reassuring words after the war drums had scared them all.

"Eddon we should also make our way home as well now," Marak said as he looked at the sky, which was still cloudy and dull, matching the mood of many of the villagers. Aretu strolled alongside Eddon as they began to walk through the village, Marak walked a few steps ahead just out of earshot of them.

"How's your father?" Eddon said as his boots crunched on the snow, he stepped carefully to avoid slipping.

"I don't know, probably drunk sleeping in a barn somewhere" Aretu mused.

Aretu's father had been well known as the village drunkard, many times he had been chased out of homes after mistaking it for his own. After Aretu mother had died giving birth to him, his father had looked to ale to help him forget the pain of losing his loved one. He had all but abandoned Aretu, leaving it to the village to raise him; he had spent a lot of his time growing up with Eddon to the point where he saw him more like a brother than just a friend.