Magic and Destiny: Fate

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Dominic made his way in to the Chief's hut, finding him behind his desk. "Ah. Father. I am glad I was able to come see you before you started your tour of the village, to check on everyone."

"You've been keeping tabs on my habits!"

"I must say, I've been keeping tabs on everyone's habits. How else to potentially spot a spy or keep up morale? People need to talk when people need to talk. They don't always come forward for conversation, so observing their patterns makes it easier to tell when they might need someone to talk to."

"You are going to be a grand leader of this village some-day, Dominic."

"Be that as it may, whether or not I will live to see it, I come begging your presence of mind to tell my tale. And to ask what will be done about the children. Maya and I have been thinking about adopting the children."

"By all means, should you think that you could handle the children, by all means. But it will be up to them if they decide to live with you. I will not force them."

"Then that is settled... now, allow me to tell you about what happened." As Dominic started to tell the tale to Chief Greg-or, the day wore on, and the Chief's assistant came in with some tea and other snacks.

"So what you are telling me, Dominic, is that there is a group gathering in numbers and strength for something we do not know their goals."

"Correct."

"Dominic, step up the process on the training. I am sure my daughter will be most accommodating."

"We have talked about that as well. To have a well-rounded village, the healers are to start taking defensive courses, three days out of the week the children I will be training will have a dual –course in healing and recognizing which herbs they may use in circumstances where they run out of supplies in the field."

"Excellent, excellent, you have things very well in hand, my boy. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be off... The villagers will start wondering where I am if I don't get out there soon."

"By all means, sir, after you." They stood at the same time, heading for the door. Dominic headed out first, and was greeted by the sun on his face, and the warm smile of his wife.

"Is it the morning break already, Maya?"

"It is. What news do you have from father?"

Chief Greg-or walked out from behind Dominic. "You two will be expanding your family, and the measures you are both taking, after the news I have been given will go very far indeed in making sure that this village can not only stand on its own, but that we will survive."

He smiled at his daughter, who smiled back before leaving to start seeing on the rest of the village.

"He was almost eager to let us adopt them. However, I don't think it will be us doing the adopting. He says to let them choose to want to stay with us, he will not force them, and I cannot blame him."

"Then there is but one thing left to do, darling. We must talk with them tonight, maybe invite them for dinner." Her smile seemed to waver a bit, and the two of them looked at each other before hugging tightly. "I must go, the training will not continue on its own if I am not there to force them to the task."

"And I must start preparations myself. Send our daughter to the training grounds at an hour past noon. If she is to train up, she will have it the hardest. She may resent us both by the end, but for now, I think she will have mixed feelings." Dominic hugged his wife close to him, and they parted ways for the rest of the day. "Remember, an hour past noon!"

"She'll be there, now go, and stop dawdling." She turned back around and began walking the direction of the healer's hut.

Dominic took a big breath in, and let it out slowly, eyes closed and soaking up the sounds of the village around him as he was pondering where he should start his day. There was nothing more interesting than to go down by the lake, and take a small walk to clear things in his head when he was having troubles being able to contemplate the day's activities. So that was where he headed.

He stopped by the baker, and the butcher, and general store, making orders for dinner that night, planning what he would need. They all wished him the best, and he continued on his way to the lake, but he decided to take a detour, and instead go to the Wood-Cutters hut, walking through the doors, Jeryn was sitting behind the desk, going through the paper work, and the duty roster for those in the woodcutters that were working that day, and in which section.

"Hard at work I see."

Jeryn stood, walking around the table, and giving Dominic a bear-hug. "Where does this day find you, Dominic?" He asked. "Good I hope."

"Good indeed, old friend. Today I and Maya pose adoption to the children. But they must be the ones to consent. I don't really see a problem with this too much, but we will see. I was wondering if you could spare a few workers to assist me in some construction."

"Workers, I have plenty of, but carpentry skills, they do not."

"And nor should they. They have great skills already."

Jeryn and Dominic both turned towards the door. "When did you get here mother?" He walked forward, embracing his mother.

She smiled at her son, and hugged him back, holding him close. "About five minutes before you entered the hut. Drisdan will be stopping in a few days from now, I just contacted him via mirror, and he will need about a week or so to get the rest of the resources required."

"Wonderful. I have some design ideas to go over with him about the training grounds."

"He has quite a few of his own." She chuckled, moving into the room.

"You have done a grand job in Dominic's stead. I need to talk with the one in which you have captured."

"Why is that you need to talk with him, mother?"

"I want to see his memories of what has transpired. I want to know the truth for myself. There is much I believe the mouse kin keeps blocked from his mind to protect them. Make sure Avery keeps him busy for a little while."

"What are you suspecting, mother?"

"If I find what I'm searching for, you will all have much to fear." She sat down, looking across at Jeryn. "I would like to take your daughter with me when I leave the village. The Culling is right around the corner. I moved it forward one year, owing to what I fear I am going to find."

Jeryn looked at the Oracle. "By all means, your greatness."

Dominic looked at his mother a little more closely, starting to get a little bit agitated. "You have never kept secrets from me when there was the potential for danger. What has changed you mother?" He looked straight into her eyes, seeing her pupils constrict slightly. "What are you afraid of?"