Four Countries

Chapter One

          I took the silver platter, which was piled high with food, and hurried up the small wooden stairs.  I quickly walked across the wood floor, heading to the dining room, where Father and his guests wait. Father thought it a good idea for me to practice serving food. "A quality of a good house wife," he had said. So now I wait foot and hand on the requests of him and his guests.

          I enter the dining room, which is rectangular shaped. Swords, paintings and our country's flag hang upon the wall. A wooden table takes up most of the space in the room. Sixteen chairs surround the table, and all are filled by guests. I take the food that is on the platter and refill the plates upon the table. I take a pitcher of wine off the table and start to refill the empty cups of the men.

          There are many villages in our country Silarba. The rich families of each village tend to run the village they are a part of. The men of these families are given the title "Lord" by the king. Every once and a while the "Lords" gather together. My father is a "Lord" and is hosting this get together/meeting.

          "My Dear," says one of the Lords, holding up his cup.

          "Of course," I say hurrying over to him. I fill up his cup and then back up against a wall, waiting to be called upon.

          "I hear that the countries Harena, Monsox and Gelesgla are refusing to make peace," says a Lord.

          "I don't understand why they are fighting. As far as I am aware, nobody had even crossed into another's territory," says another.

          "Quite foolish," says a different Lord, "fighting about nothing."

          "Oh, there has to be something they fight about, says Father.

          "'But, what?' is the question," a Lord says waving a finger.

           "Well I am not going to ask!" says Father with a grin. Laughter erupts amongst the table. I give a small smile at the hearty men. The laughter dies down and a Lord speaks up, 

          "What is not amusing, are the homes and families that are burnt and torn. War, cannot be a good thing for these families."

           "Oh, boo hoo, the families can get over it," says another Lord. 

          "Well, I say! These are people, they need to be cared for!" replies the Lord in outrage.

          "Now, now," says a different Lord, "There is a lady amongst us, watch how we speak of war."

          The men glance at me, I meet my father's eyes. I know he can tell this conversation is depressing me. "Go on, Katherine, I will call if you are needed."

          I nod my head and exit the room. I go back downstairs to the kitchen. I try to help, but am just shooed away by Kara the head cook. "Go on, Miss, we have it down here. I'll get ya, if your father needs ya."

          I exit the kitchen, pass the dining room and hurry upstairs to my room.  I close my door, and then flop onto my queen sized feather bed. I sigh. All those families, suffering through the war of those three countries. It makes me want to cry! Women losing their beloved husbands, men losing their wives...children losing parents. My eyes start to water. 

          My mother had been very sick a few years ago. For months she had tried to fight it, but alas, she was beaten. She passed away. The pain that my father and I felt, the loss, it was heartbreaking and absolutely terrible. That kind of pain should not be brought upon anybody. If it can be helped, death should not be brought upon an innocent person. I stare up at the ceiling continuing to think about war and my mother. Eventually I felt my eyes drooping, and I didn't stop them.