Note from the Author.
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I just wanted to let you know that the typo free version is free to read, and where to read it. Don't worry, this book is not coming off Tapas, and when the second book is ready, it will be available to read here as well. Ream followers will have free and advanced early access, but bronze and silver subscribers will get even more advanced early access. Want to check out what other books I have to read? Here is the link to my page. https://reamstories.com/millielowelle
Chapter 1
“What’s going on?” A young woman with big hazel eyes and long ginger hair hanging over her shoulder cocked her head to one side. She wore a tatty pair of sandals, mostly clean, a plain dark blue dress, and a thick brown sash around her middle. She was holding a basket of dry rice and passing the market to her home when she came across a large group of children sat in front of Elder Sana. The old woman sat on a large barrel of grain and ushered the children to sit closer.
“Oh Evelda. Come and join us child. I am going to regale the young ones about the history of Skygget forest.”
“Sure. I’m waiting for my next load of grain to be delivered anyway.” Evelda giggled and propped her shoulder up against the pillar to the building everyone gathered beneath. It’s not like I haven’t heard that a million times already, but I have time to kill.
“Now, this is a tale we must always remember.” Elder Sana was a born storyteller. Her voice sang the words with her soft wispy voice, and her eyes twinkled with all the emotion of her tale. “A long time ago this Douma village was over four times as large. A town, in fact. We were the agricultural trade centre of all of East Bronen. We bred the cattle that filled farmlands across the nation, and they’d bring them back here to breed again. We supplied rice to our neighbours Ecanus and Koath. People flocked here to work and raise their families.”
Evelda sighed and looked around their little village. Most of Douma’s wooden houses were falling down or burnt down. The centre of the old town was the only habitable part now. Evelda was lucky to have her own home on the outskirts of old Douma. It was her parents’ place, and they died when she was very young, leaving it to her. The roof was half missing, it was cold as hell in the winter and leaked in the rain…and far enough away that no one else had tried to take it from her. Douma used to be a grand place, but it wasn’t anymore. “Such prosperity, however, was not as well earned as we Doumians first believed.” Evelda returned her mind to the story, watched as Elder Sana stood dramatically. “Behind Douma is the mountain of Volm. The great forest of Skygget surrounds us at either side of the mountain and in front, casting us into shadow. Only one path leads out of Douma and it’s one dirt road through the middle of Skygget. No one knows where, but somewhere within the forest is a Demon Lord.”
Evelda held her elbows and felt goose bumps pickle at her skin. The children held each other and gasped. “A monstrous creature. He lurks in a cave so dark that you can’t see past the entrance. The noble line of Douma made a deal with this Demon Lord Turuk. Master of the shadows.”
The children gasped and shouted ‘no!’. “Yes! The ancestors of the Bryne line ruled Douma and made a deal with the Demon Lord. The demon would provide safety and wealth to the town. In return, if and when the Demon lord required a new wife, the Bryne family would find a fresh virgin to send into Skygget forest. This arrangement continued for many generations. Until one day the demon demanded a Bryne daughter.”
Evelyn could almost mouth word for word what Sana said as she regaled the terrible downfall of Douma. “The Bryne family would not part with one of their own, and the Demon brought his wrath down upon our people. Enraged by the deal being broken. He burned down half the town with a flick of his wrist. He dragged half of the Bryne family into the forest for his familiars to rip to pieces. Many perished that day, and we have been plagued by disaster and misfortune ever since. The fields produce very little crop, our cattle fall ill and wither to nothing…”
“Why don’t we leave?” one of the children pipped up. A valid question, Evelda thought.
“Because the only way out is through the middle of Skygget forest.” Sana pointed her aged hand out towards the looming treeline. “Monsters lurk in the shadows, all of which are loyal to Turuk, master of darkness. Those who have tried to leave…have never returned.”
“No doubt because they never want to come back to this place, or they’re rotting amongst the trees.” Evelda turned to the owner of that snide comment and rolled her hazel eyes.
“Be gentle, Valdis. You’ll scare the young ones.” Valdis had icy blue eyes, matching her cold disposition to a T. Her thick ebony locks refused to be tamed by pins or a braid, so she let it flow wildly around her face. She was stunning, though. Agile and lithe, as well as sharp-tongued and quick-witted.
“They should be scared. Otherwise, they’ll do something stupid like go into the woods. And die.” Her glare was aimed significantly on Evelda, and the redhead was about to defend herself when the Elder spoke in her stead.
“Enough of that.” Sana herded the whimpering children inside of her home and shook her head with shame at the brunette. “Evelda is right. We want them to be cautious, not scared out of their minds.”
“Hn.” Valdis rolled her icy blue eyes and put her hands on her hips.
Unlike Evelda, who wore a plain brown tunic dress over trousers, and a slanted leather belt, Vadis showed her breeding. Her dress was evergreen and her skirt billowed around her. A red over apron highlighted her fiery temper, and a golden necklace hung around her neck. The pendant showed that she had noble blood, as the pendant held the sigil of the Haagen clan. A pair of serpents crossing over each other with their fangs drawn.
Again, totally appropriate for its wearer. Evelda felt that her friend always had her fangs drawn… “I thought I’d come and let you know that the wheat grain ration delivery came.”
“I better get to work then.” Evelda rolled her shoulders and pulled a brown cord from the brown apron she wore on top of her dress. She walked with Valdis as she tied her ginger locks back. “Which field does your father want us to try planting in this time?”
“The one we just finished the sheep grazing on.”
“Ok. I’ll head over there straight away. Will I see you at the feast tonight?”
“Ha!” Valdis sneered and put her hands on her hips. “It’s hardly a feast. We barely have enough to feed ourselves on a good day. The only thing that will be different tonight is that we will all eat together.”
“Yes, but your impending marriage-”
“Must be celebrated? Ek. That pig Anor is finally getting his own way.” Valdis trembled with disgust. “He’s older than my father.”
“He’s one of the wealthiest people in the village.”
“He’s ugly and makes bile rise to my tongue.” They shared a laugh, even though Valdis meant every word… “You’re only safe because you’re a peasant.”
“Hey!” Their journey together would soon end. A lady like Valdis wouldn’t be seen dead in the work fields. “Who are you calling a peasant?”
“You. Commoner.” Valdis chuckled and put her hand on the red head’s shoulder. This made Evelda stop and raise a ginger brow at her. “I envy you. No one can make you marry. This is ridiculous!” She hissed, throwing her fists around. “Our village is isolated, stricken with the constant threat of famine from poor harvests. We can’t leave. But we can’t stay. And all everyone wants to talk about is my stupid wedding.”
“Like you said.” Evelda took her friend’s hands and gave her a brave smile. “We have little to look forward to these days. Your wedding is something to look forward to.”
“Not for me.” Valdis pouted and nodded at her. “I’ve kept you long enough. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Until then, my friend.”
Valdis waved goodbye and headed back to the main village. Evelda continued her walk to the few fields they managed to grow anything from, and thought on Valdis’s words.
We have little resources left, and more people die every year than are born…most of the babes don’t make it…
Evelda received her small sack of grain to sow and rolled her brown sleeves up. For as long as she could remember, the village had been this way.
Dying. That’s what Douma is. A dying village. Evelda worked until her back ached from the strain of working the fields with others who were healthy enough to pull their weight. The cold of the night was setting in, and she was so hungry nausea was setting in too. A sensation that was daily for her and everyone else in Douma. When the time came to return to her home, she was glad it was on the outskirts of the village. The other workers limped past her door, and she staggered inside. Toiling in the fields, sowing grain, pulling up weeds with her bare hands, watering and harvesting, left her hands calloused and her bones throbbing. I don’t have much time if I want to be fed.
She hurried into a pale white long-sleeved dress, which was very baggy. It wasn’t meant for a woman of her age or build, but it would have to do. There wasn’t a lot of choice when it came to clothes nowadays. The wealthier families shared the clothes they’d saved from years before, and there just weren’t the raw materials anymore to make more clothes. The sheep barely survived long enough to grow the wool…
The dress was tied together with thread so she was not at risk of exposing her bosom, but bunched around her middle as she used a belt to try and hold it against her and not dragging along the floor. I can’t exactly walk into the great hall wearing my muddy worker's dress. I’ll soak and beat it tonight and wear my spare one tomorrow.
Evelda used a bowl of water and a rag to freshen up and untied her hair. I better hurry to the great hall. Oh please have some bread. Stale bread, even. It’s been so long since I’ve had bread…
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