Almost unconsciously, and of one accord, everyone moved off to the sides of the road to make way for the Cryer boy. "News of the war!" yelled the boy as he ran past helter-skelter, almost like a charging bull. The crowd closed in behind him and murmured conversations blossomed.

What could the news possibly be? We hadn't received news for months now. Many, including me, began to make their way to the Cryer station, which was built at the intersection of Main Street and another major road, about a block and one right turn away from the bakery.

Others looked wistfully in the direction of the Cryer station and continued on, either already delayed, or not willing to pay the penalty for being late.

I was carried away in the flood of people to the Cryer station where we all waited with baited breath for the Cryer boy to return. I wanted very badly to unload the burden from my shoulders, but there was no place safe from the mud, so I endured as we waited.

The Cryer system in Splethantown was rather ingenious, and worked to near perfection in carrying news throughout the city. At all entrances to the city were the large Cryer stations, where when any messenger came through they would tell whatever it was they had been sent to tell to the Master Cryer of that station. The Master Cryer would then give the message to all the Cryers and send them out to give the message to whatever Cryer station they were assigned to, and so on.

In this way news literally spread from the source to the people. Of course, mistakes were made in the process of being told and telling, but the gist of the news was usually understood.

Most Cryers were children. It was the most low-paying and unpredictable job in the city. To be a Cryer you had to be fast, loud, and have a good memory. This system was created for a few reasons, but mostly because the prices of paper and parchment made it impractical for news to be conveyed in that way. Also, most people couldn't read anyway, especially in the poorer cities, like Splethantown.

I saw it as helping to solve two problems, bringing news to the people in a timely manner, and employing the homeless or less fortunate children in some honest work.

The particular honest worker that the large crowd was waiting for finally returned from his mad dash to the next Cryer station. The people again parted before and closed in behind the boy.

The boy's name was Eldric. He had been the Cryer boy at this station ever since I'd come to this part of Splethantown to work for Renai, which was at least five and a half years ago. It was really quite remarkable that he had kept this position for such a long time. He was very near to entering manhood, and at about that time a boy would find and work at the trade he had decided on. He could have wanted to become a Master Cryer, and that would explain his sticking to it.

Eldric climbed up the ladder to the platform built high in the air. He made it to the top and paused, hands on the railing, to catch his breath. Puffs of mist appeared before his ruddy face when he let out his breath. The crowd waited in perfect silence. Eldric straightened after a few moments. He squared his shoulders and gazed straight ahead, a small smile on his face.

At least it's good news, I thought, shifting the weight of the sack. That might make up for my prolonged discomfort.

He opened his mouth, took a deep breath, and relayed this message to the assembled, which most listened to in quiet amazement with only occasional outbursts from individuals, which was quickly hushed:

"News of the war! The war is done and over!"

Here was an outburst or two.

"The elves of the east have some to the aid of our armies. With their assistance our combined forces have pushed the Feveral armies back across our borders."

This was the first I, and I'm sure anyone, had heard of elves becoming our allies in the war. It was truly amazing! They had stayed in their own lands since the Great War of the Races. I'd only heard stories of them, really. I wondered what could have inspired them to come to our aid at this time.

"For a month now there has been no fighting, and it is almost certain that none of the enemy soldiers remain. By decree of the king, all troops besides those needed to maintain our borders will be discharged and free to return to their homes. The enemy has been eradicated! The war is over! Thank King Larus the Supreme, protector of our land."

At that last part Eldric's smile wavered into a grimace, and many snorted their contempt. A lot of people had no respect for this king that had allowed such a horrible war to go on for so long. I did not share these thoughts. I was sure that the king was doing all that he could. 

Some of the people around me started speaking angrily with each other. But it was not directed at Eldric. He had to repeat the entire message, and no one begrudged him that. He continued:

"And thank the elves of the east for their allied support."

Support? If that's what you call saving our hides. I very much doubted that the war would have ended the way it did without their help.

"The war is over!" Eldric shouted again, then turned and scrambled back down the ladder.

Everyone realized that the Cryer boy had finished the message, and a deafening cheer rang out, with much clapping and whistling and hollering. I even let out a yell, caught up in the excitement of all of the people around me.

It was incredible! The war was over. It was... unreal. The war had continued for so long, before I was even born, and now... A new age had dawned. Men no longer had to leave their homes, wondering if they would ever return. Women no longer had to send their husbands and sons off to be killed. Taxes would be reduced, surely. It was a happy day.

The cheering soon died down as the people gathered remembered that there was work to be done. Quickly the crowd around the Cryer station dispersed. But as they went away in every direction, there was a different spirit to be felt.

No more subdued conversations, no more downcast faces. Now people shouted, laughed, shook one another's hands warmly, embraced happily, and smiled. Actually smiled. I felt my own smile play across my lips as I too went on my way with that sack of flour.

Bursting into the bakery, careful not to spread the mud from my boots, I told Renai all about the news, and we exchanged our own hugs and smiles.

Renai kept saying 'thank the stars' and clasping her hands together in front of her. Her husband had been conscripted before I had come to work for her, and I was sure that she would be anxious for all the soldiers to come home. She would be so happy to see him again after so long.

"Oh, oh, I must... I must clean the shop," Renai said, getting the broom and beginning to sweep the already clean floor. "Adeem will be home soon, oh, goodness, thank the stars!" I smiled at her repeated outbursts.

Throughout the day more happy people came into the bakery one after the other. They always had something to say about the wonderful news, 'have you heard', 'did you hear', as if there could possibly be someone in all of Splethantown that did not know!