LEEFSIDE VILLAGE’S HALL WAS abuzz with noise and activity in the early morning, with elves up and about, sipping on hot drinks—adults the coffee and children the cocoa. When breakfast was brought around, there was much interest since there was a mouthwatering selection of French
toast, scrambled eggs, bread rolls, as well as rice porridge. Most had never had French toast before, nor the bread rolls, which were soft and fluffy compared to their usually hard, dry bread, and they marveled at how Norsewood could make theirs so. Most of the elven women had already rushed off to find the two cooks staying behind and begged them for the recipes while the others, still eating and holding their plates, wandered off toward the airship to admire the beauty and to send the soldiers off.
Grandpa Glover was one of those elves as he joined the many others. He was proud to see that Wyn was currently working hard with the Norsewood soldiers, preparing for their departure. As it turned out, about fifty elves had volunteered to join Norsewood, and they were now following the soldiers into the airship, waving farewell to their friends and families.
Soon, the Norsewood Skywarden 2 hummed, and the villagers gazed in wonder as it took to the air.
“It’s really flying,” a young elf said. “Like a bird.”
“A dragon more like,” the brother said, and he took a mouthful of French toast.
Once the airship disappeared from sight, the villagers dispersed, some back into the hall to get more food while the others went to the kitchen tent to see the cooking demonstrations.
Aboard the Norsewood Skywarden 2, Juan, currently in the dining hall having his breakfast, watched as Liam, who was sitting beside him, popped a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. The man looked like he desperately needed to crawl into bed. His hair was a mess, and his complexion was pasty. There were dark circles under his eyes, too.
Concerned, Juan said, “You should get some sleep.”
Liam said, “I will after eating.”
“Did you stay up all night treating patients?” Juan asked.
Liam nodded. “I didn’t want to leave without ensuring those who needed treatment got treated,” he said. “Though we left two cooks and two soldiers behind to take care of things as planned, a healer is not one of them.”
“We’ll need all the healers we have for the capital. According to Les, the population in Ardron is roughly two hundred thousand. He said it was around three hundred thousand five years ago.”
“A one third decrease in population,” Liam said. “Due to famine.”
Juan nodded. “Famine does that.”
“I hope what we’re doing helps,” Liam said, looking drowsy.
Juan said, “What we do helps.” When he saw that Liam’s face was about to hit the table, he reacted at lightning speed, catching the man in the nick of time by holding on to his shoulder.
“Don’t go hitting your face on the
table.” He chuckled in amusement.
There was no response, and when Juan looked closely, he realized that Liam was already deep in slumber. He said, “There’s no helping it.” He pulled Liam into his powerful arms, and as he stood, he brought the man along with him. Then he lifted Liam and carried him, princess style.
As he strode toward the door, the others in the dining hall smirked. Juan glared and said, “Not one word, you hear, men?”
They burst out laughing, and one said, “If it’s not you, one of us will still.have to carry Liam to his bed.”
