King's Game (Draft/practice Version)

Chapter 5

The early morning sun was shining, mist hung over the land as the cold air slowly started to heat up. Amongst the fields, a boy, probably around 12-14 years of age, was holding a bucket in one hand and sparying the contents across the land with the other. Chickens began to flock towards the food that the boy has sprinkled on to the ground. A few fights broke out amongst them, but the majority began feeding without complaint.

After the boy finished his task. He then raised his arm to wiped away the sweat that drenched his forehead. Despite that he hasn't done a large amount of work. The morning sun was cruel as its heat battered itself on the young boy. He shivered as a cold morning swept past. The sweat making the coldness that much more desperate to hang on. Even though the morning sun was hot, the air still had time before it heated up.

His name was Derek, he was the eldest son of out of his family, located on the edge of a small farming town. Calling it a town would not be accurate, a more fitting description would be a small village. With a total population just over a hundred, he belonged to a family of 5, he often helped out his father with the work as the only son.

Farming was a man's work his father often told him, as the man it was his responsibilities to provide for his family, since men were known as more suited to menial labour.

It didn't mean that the women had no jobs at all, since they were not naturally built for labour. However, they were given more delicate tasks that was more suited to the average physique. Such as knitting and weaving, often taking advantage of their smaller delicate hands to create fine pieces of material. In some cases, if a great piece was created, it could be offered for high prices that would beat the average spoils that would be yielded from farming alone.

The land around Derek was more brown, over on the next field he could see vegetation growing, nearly ready for harvest. There was a common process for farmers known as stock rotation to ensure that in each part if the year, certain foods would grow and be ready to sell. This was to help to get a steady income into the family and a steady supply of fresh ingredients to the local market. It also determined prices as some vegetation was more common during each season.

Derek stepped out of the chicken coup and closed the gate. The chickens wouldn't usually try to escape as long as they were fed, it was mainly for the wild beasts and animals as they try to attack the chickens for food. Each farmers land wasn't that big, only a few yards of land each, this was mainly to even the amount of farmers, and they usually worked together in one huge group. Since it was a farming village that didn't mean farming was the only profession it had, it still contained other businesses and shops, however farming was what the village was most commonly known for. The landlord was the one who actually benifets from the spoils of the commoners hard work, often claiming it as his own and trades, giving very little to the people who gave their blood, sweat and tears to make it happen.

Derek walked back to the direction of his house, which was right next door to the chicken coup. His father would still be out, tending to the crops and other early morning chores. It was the burden of a farmer. Luckily today was Derek's day off, he only was required to feed some animals early in morning today instead of helping his dad out with the field work that would last till midday, he wasnt allowed to sleep in though, for he was to be the new owner of the farming business, it was important he could wake up early and at least be able to do some chores to get into the routine. His father wasnt hard on him but definitely didn't make it easy for him either, only a couple of days a week when he wouldn't have to help his dad out with all the chores.

After arriving at the front door, he put down the bucket he was carrying on the floor next to the door with some of the other supplies, this was to make it easier to find early in the morning. He opened the front door, he flinched when it creaked loudly as it opened, they couldn't afford to keep buying oil to constantly keep the hinges clean from rust, he had to be careful not to wake the others up. His mum would soon wake up to make breakfast for everyone, he would have to take one out to dad as well since he would not have the time to eat with them.