Ender Kingdom (On Hold for Shadows of Mianite)

Chapter Six: History and War

The morning activity and sounds outside woke DiamondBlade. He sighed contentedly and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Sunlight flooded the small house through the windows and door, and DiamondBlade found that he was alone. Where’s Plower and Wheat? DiamondBlade sighed. Oh well…I’m starving. Where’s food, now?

He reached inside his inventory to see if Plower had given him anything while he was sleeping, but it was still only weapons. DiamondBlade sighed. Then he gasped, “Dawn!” Where did they put my horse? Is she okay?

DiamondBlade automatically grabbed his sword and ran outside. Villagers were walking around, chatting with friends and farming. DiamondBlade turned to look at the side of the Plower’s house and nearly had a heart attack. Leaning against the side was an NPC — a farmer, by the looks of it. “Oh,” DiamondBlade said. “What are you doing here?”

The farmer turned and stared at DiamondBlade with dark green eyes. “Waiting for you,” the farmer said simply.

DiamondBlade repeated, “Oh.” Then, more intelligently, he asked, “So then, who are you?”

The villager straightened up and extended a hand. “Name’s Farmer,” the NPC answered. Then he laughed, “We’re real creative with the names here, as you can see.”

DiamondBlade chuckled and shook Farmer’s hand. “You’re Plower’s friend, aren’t you?” DiamondBlade remembered Plower saying something about a Farmer.

Farmer raised an eyebrow and answered him with a question. “He tell you about me?”

“Well…yes.”

“Yeah, I’m Plower’s friend. We go way back. He told me to wait for you and bring you to Reader’s place. Oh, and…er, here’s something to eat. I thought you might be hungry.” Farmer revealed a piece of cooked chicken in his other hand and gave it to DiamondBlade.

Hungrily DiamondBlade took the chicken and ate it, feeling his health level go up again. “Thank you,” DiamondBlade said. “I needed that.”

Farmer nodded, “You’re welcome. Now, follow me. Reader should be up by now. And he has much to tell you.”

Farmer and DiamondBlade walked down the cobblestone path into the center of the village. DiamondBlade glanced at the well and remembered Dawn again. “My horse,” DiamondBlade commented quietly.

Farmer looked at DiamondBlade quizzically. “What?”

DiamondBlade explained, “You know, my horse. Dawn. I tied her to the well last night, and…well, I just wanted to know what you guys did with her. Where is she?”

Farmer nodded, understanding. “Ah. That one. She’s a beauty. Don’t worry, DiamondBlade. She’s in the field with the other horses. You can get her when you need her, okay?”

“Alright. Thanks.”

Farmer didn’t reply. He turned to the right side of the village and took DiamondBlade to the library. DiamondBlade peered into the window and saw Plower standing in the middle with his back to him. It looked like he was talking to someone, but DiamondBlade couldn’t see the NPC in front of him. Farmer walked up the stairs and opened the door, interrupting Plower’s conversation with the NPC in front of him. “Plower!” Farmer called. “He’s here.”

DiamondBlade pushed past Farmer and smiled at Plower. Plower beamed and asked DiamondBlade, “Did you sleep well?”

“I did,” replied DiamondBlade. He glanced behind Plower and saw the villager he was talking to. It was an old NPC, his hair almost white. His bright hazel eyes, though, were lively and confident. Laugh lines crinkled around his eyes, and his unibrow lifted at the sight of DiamondBlade. “Ah. You have come, Warrior,” the old NPC rasped.