Bloody Duchess

Chapter 3: And So It Begins

"Hey Ma!"

A rustic voice rang out inside the small cottage. "I just finished fixing the shed. Lunch ready yet?" He asked a woman who appeared to be in her mid-fifties from a room away. Her hair was tied back into a gray bun.

Beatrice looked back with a gentle smile as she tended to the food. "Not quite Darren, but it shouldn't be much longer."

"Great! I'm starving!" Darren said, entering the small kitchen. His dark brown hair was rather long in the back and spiked up towards the front. His body, while stout, was quite muscular. This was especially true for his arms, which resembled tree stumps in size.

"We're having porkchops by the way, sweetheart." Beatrice said.

"Alright!" The boy responded. The delicious scent from the stove wafted to his nostrils, taunting him. He glanced towards a small wooden table. Three chairs were placed underneath it.

"Ma, you know when Pa's coming to visit?"

"Not sure, darling. Haven't heard from him for about a week. I reckon Lord Altrist's working him ragged."

"Oh."

Beatrice frowned. "I know it's tough. I wish he was able to visit more myself. I'm sure we'll hear from him soon though. Now, how about you grab some water from the well while I finish up here?"

Darren sighed. " I guess." He grabbed a wooden bucket before heading to the front door.

"I'll be back in a bit."

Darren announced before exiting the house and walking down the streets of Serael, his home. The village was decently large, but the space mostly consisted of land used for farming along with a large, dirt path that stretched straight through Serael. Its small population allowed its residents to be acquainted with one another, almost like a family. The town was walled off with sturdy wood. There were two gates to the north and south that allowed entrance and exit.

Darren approached the well across the street, ready to retrieve water from it. Suddenly, he heard a loud ringing. At the far end of town, the bell tower cried out, signaling a great threat was approaching.

"What in the?"

A group of young children paused their game, staring at the tower. In an instant, the wooden tower caught fire as an arrow struck it, exploding on contact. The children scattered except one frozen in place as the tower toppled. He quickly found himself shoved off his feet as Darren tackled him out of the way, wood splinters scattering as the bell smashed into the ground with one final toll.

"Y'all get back to your houses and hide in your basements. Don't y'all open up for nobody's, ya hear?" Darren said, pulling the boy to his feet.

"Y-yes sir!"

The group dispersed save for the boy Darren rescued. "W-what's happening!?" He asked.

"I don't know, but it ain't good! Now go home!" Darren answered, sprinting away. "I ain't about to let these bastards have their way!"

_

Valerie held Leviodis' waist with a single arm, using the other to shield her eyes from the afternoon sun. Ahead was her first target, Serael. The wooden walls looked flimsy and old, to her at least. Clearly they had never had to be repaired. Until today of course.

"Serael's a pretty big place, huh? An attack on both sides'll divide those willing to fight." Valerie giggled, leaning into Leviodis' ear. "Our mercenaries on one front, cavaliers on the other, and mages and archers on both for long range coverage. It's perfect!" She wiped away an invisible tear.