Dark Wings, Dark Words

Plans

The day slipped away from Ashanna Stark far faster than she wished it had.

The next morning Ashanna bid the people of Fairmarket farewell as she walked towards the cart.
Her wolves trudged after her begrudgingly, annoyed that they were leaving so soon. They enjoyed chasing each other thorough the open fields and the village's children showering them with affection.

Cedric and Larson were speaking to their people, mostly to two men and two women. Larson had referred to them as the elders, which Ashanna thought was peculiar as they only seemed to be in their sixties. That's when realised that the older members of the community died at the ends of the mountain's men. These 4 people were the elders now.

"When will you return?" The oldest of the men asked.

"The night after tomorrow. We'll hurry back, then we can finish rebuilding." Larson said slowly.

The shorter, younger man turned to Cedric.

"Did you finish the plans for the new sept?"

Cedric nodded and handed him a piece of parchment.

"Is it too lavish or can we manage?" Larson asked curiously. The shorter man examined it intently. It was only then that Ashanna noted a chain around his neck, the pendant was the seven pointed star. The symbol of the seven new gods.

"No, it's perfect." The man said softly. Cedric grinned at his father.

"The people need a place to pray after everything that's happened." The younger women whispered.

"I'll see to the building myself when we return." Larson vowed. Cedric handed the older women another piece of parchment.

"What's this?" She asked as she gazed at it curiously. Cedric smiled.

"It's the last of Ma and mine's plans." He sad sadly. Larson' eyes locked with his son's.

"It's the plans for a hall, it could be whatever we want. A refuge centre, an inn, an armoury, a trade centre. Anything." Cedric said softly.

"Cedric.. with everything's that happened and all the rebuilding.. we just don't have the resources.. it's not our priority." The older man said carefully.

"That's exactly why we need it." The older woman quipped as she rolled up the parchment.

"We need someplace to go that doesn't involve praying or growing crops or worrying too. It's a brilliant idea Cedric." The younger woman agreed.

"And where are we supposed to get the resources to build such a building." The younger man asked.
The older women gestured to the think line of trees around them.

"We live in the centre of miles upon miles of trees I'm sure we can cut down a few to build one more building." She said exasperatedly.
Everyone nods, happily agreeing.

Ashanna found herself turning away from the scene and climbing into the cart with Mila.

"I've never left Fairmarket. It'll be nice to see some of the world." Mila mused brightly as Cedric and Larson climbed into the seat of the cart.

"Trust me, it'll be better to come back." Cedric laughed as the cart began to move.
Ashanna turned to look at the gathered villagers who were waving them goodbye as travelled into the trees and faded away from view.