Sounds Of A Generation

Chapter 2- Armaya

Armaya had spent years exploring her house. It was not a two-floor tavern, as one would expect, but a 3-and-a-half story inn with interconnecting tunnels, secret staircases, and fascinating dead ends. Everything was connected, one just needed to know the way to get there. And Armaya knew all of the ways. 

No sooner than Aster had left the kitchen, Armaya carefully snuck through the tunnel that connected the kitchen to the back wall of the pantry. This pantry was directly behind the bar and her father's secret conversation with Aster. Through a little peephole, she could see her father's blocky build and Aster's slimmer one.

"They've slaughtered Balsiger." Aster was saying. "I rode all night, as soon as I heard. They say Captian's going to lead another raid tonight. They're getting more brazen."

Balsiger. Armaya thought. What could they want with Balsiger?

Balsiger was a small town, not unlike Armaya's hometown. Just a few days' journey westward, it was mainly agricultural, producing wheat and corn for the crown. Slaughtering the people there wouldn't do anything. At least nothing except make people angrier than they already were towards the Nobles.

Her father's voice shocked her back to the conversation. 

"The king won't care," her father said scornfully. "As far as you've told me they were acting on his orders."

"We have to get a message out. Balsiger is the perfect reason to start advertising..." Aster paused.

Advertising? For what? 

 No sooner than she had thought that than a group of five men walked through the door, long swords at their side and the king's seal on their breastplates.

Nobles.

Or at the very least members of his army. Armaya wasn't sure which was worse.

"We're looking for Jael and Rashi Taern, owners of this tavern! They are to be summoned to Lord Garnell's castle by dawn tomorrow!"

The knight's clear, crisp voice cut through the crowd, understandable even by hidden Armaya. She peered out to him. He didn't look like much, but his voice was strong, and the seal he carried on his chest was enough to shock the normally busy tavern into silence.

Aster worriedly glanced at her father.

"Jael." He whispered.

"Shh, Aster. Everything's going to be ok. It's just a summoning." Her father's smooth voice soothed Armaya's nerves, calm with years of practice.

The knight, seeing his message delivered, walked out, his posse following behind.

"Do you think..." Aster began.

"No." Her father finished. "There is no they could have heard us. Besides, how would a Noble have heard us, then sent the knights? That couldnt've happened in the last five minutes we've been talking."

Jael sounded confident, but his shoulder shook slightly as he finished, the last part of his phrase lilting up slightly into a question. A question Jael, Aster, and Armaya, desperately wanted to be answered.

A/N - hey yall sorry for the shorter chapter. been a little busy. prolly after new years imma try a more regular update schedule but who tf knows really. so... yeah. what do yall think is gonna happen to armaya's dad and mom!? hows she gonna feel cause so far her dad's a dick and her mom well... we'll get into her mom later.