The Farm
Rydan crossed his arms and glared at Geo and Geo glared back. Sen sighed.
“Rydan,” Geo greeted with a tight nod toward them.
“Geowen,” Rydan muttered in response.
Geo turned his hard gaze on Sen. Sen looked between the two. They were similar and different all at once. Geo was tall and muscular like Rydan but not as tan, his skin red and peeling on his shoulders from the sun. He was naturally lighter skinned and prone to burning. They shared the family signature hazel eyes and curly, dark brown hair. Geo was tall and wiry whereas Rydan was bulky. In truth, they looked more like brothers than Sen and Geo did. All of Sen’s brothers looked similar, aside from Jensen with their mother’s large, dark brown eyes. Sen was the only one with golden brown eyes, close to amber and covered in freckles. Not a single one shared Sen’s thick auburn waves and dimples.
“Father told me to come get you,” Geo said, looking at Sen. “We need to prepare supper.”
“How did you know where to find us?” Sen asked suspiciously. He moved to follow Geo as he turned away from the gate, letting it swing shut behind him.
Sen and Rydan pushed through to find Geo frowning down at Grady.
“It’s easy to assume wherever the mutt is, you two won’t be far away,” Geo said, glaring at Rydan once more.
Rydan huffed and Sen sighed. Of course Grady’s huge gray form would be hard to miss from anywhere on the farm. They didn’t put him there so they wouldn’t be found. Grady was thoroughly trained in many different areas. He was smart and Rydan had used that intelligence to teach him to alert with certain noises in different situations. The small bark he let out as Geo approached was to tell them just that; Someone familiar was approaching. If it had been a stranger or he sensed danger it would have been a different warning call all together.
“Right,” Sen said, bending slightly to pat the hound’s shaggy head. His tail wagged in response. “Well, I guess I’ll catch you around then. See ya, Rydan.”
Sen offered a little wave to Rydan but noticed he wasn’t looking. He was still standing with his arms crossed, watching Geo’s descent down the hill toward the house. Sen sighed again and moved to follow his eldest brother. When he reached halfway between the garden and the house he glanced back to find Rydan and Grady nowhere in sight.
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Sen followed Geo into the house and found their father in his usual spot at the hearth, fiddling with the fire and cookpot. Without a word Sen took up a place at their huge, old oak table to prepare the vegetables for their nightly stew.. According to Sen’s father, it had been in their family for four generations. It was intricately made, each section carved, sanded and stained to perfection. Or, it was perfect at one time. It was now pockmarked and dull from years of use. It was where their family gathered to eat every meal and had been that way since before the war.
Woodworking was one of the lost arts that had all but disappeared since the war over one hundred years prior. At least in the poorer, common communities. If you wanted something intricately made you would have to make an appointment with the carvers in the arts district of the bigger cities of Kinsley or possibly even Reagent City, the seat of the King, depending on the piece. A lot of things had changed since the war. Commonfolk knew how to build homes and buildings and it was common to hire help to get jobs done. But anything made just for fineness and beauty were things only the rich could afford. Not many families, outside of the Dukes and Lords and the Royal House, could afford such luxury.
The war had started over resources. Sen’s father often told them stories of history over meals. He explained that visitors from another continent had come to claim the riches of the people here. It went on for many years, mostly unnoticed because they took from areas not widely populated such as the wilds and the Evermore wood. Over time, the people started to notice large areas of forest being cut down, ancient trees taken. Soon, the strangers started to encroach on farms and lands outside of towns. They stole livestock and hunted the woods until meat was scarce. The people brought their concerns to the King who sent out parties to investigate. What they found startled them.
The strangers were not like any people that had ever been encountered before. They wielded strange, outworldly features and powers. When the King’s men approached the strangers to confront them about taking the resources, the strangers struck out with their strange powers and killed some of the men. Fortunately there were a few survivors that made it back to the King’s castle and reported the attack. The King immediately took preparations to confront the strangers for help. He gathered the magic wielders of Altabera. The witches and wizards were barely more than whispered rumors at the time but he sought them out anyway, begging for their aid against the terrible power the strangers wielded. The head witch agreed under the request that their kind be allowed to come out of hiding and not be persecuted for their use of magic.
Prior to the war humans had been skeptical of magic and thought of those who could wield it as evil. They were often arrested and slaughtered if the claims against them were found to be true. The results of such trials almost always resulted in conviction, even with little evidence. People were afraid of magic, not having a grasp on how it worked. As encountering someone with the ability to wield it was exceptionally rare the people usually made assumptions as to how the wielders were able to acquire such powers. Some assumed they were part demon, having taken the skin of a human to deceive people and spread their evil. Others assumed that the powers were stolen from the Gods and that by punishing the thieves they would in turn gain the Gods favor. Almost all of the trials resulted in the execution of the witch or wizard in question.
The magic wielders went into hiding, practicing only out of sight of any humans. This led to the development of the secret society of Altabera. Altabera was a hidden city deep in the heart of the Evermore forest that ran across the continent. Magic was used to disguise the city and force travelers away. It was surrounded by thick brambles and enchantments that would confuse travelers who dared venture too close to its walls. They would be forced to turn around, feeling dizzy and confused, blaming the thick vegetation for their lack of directional awareness. There were creatures of magic that also dwelled within and around the city. Some were large, ferocious beasts and others were strange and mysterious. They would attack or confuse travelers as well, causing the Evermore to become something of myth and legend. The stories of beasts were told around campfires as a warning and embellished as scary stories for children. They all carried the warning to stay away from the deepest parts of the forest. This kept the people of Altabera safe for many decades.
The King, having many advisors and access to history of the continent, studied tomes detailing the magic wielders and rumors surrounding their whereabouts and settlements. He deduced, through his studies and also from folk tales of travelers and performers alike, that the magic wielders likely dwelled somewhere within Evermore. When the time came where he was faced with tremendous powers that he had no way to protect his people against, he knew he had to risk everything to ask for the assistance of the magic wielders. He ventured into Evermore on his own, leaving his Queen and young daughter and promising to return with aid. He told no one of who he planned to ask for help. Through his journey into The Evermore, he encountered and defeated many beasts, eventually making it to the walls of the fabled city. The enchantments kept him from reaching his destination, however. For weeks he tried and failed to reach the deepest part of the forest. About ready to give in despair, he was struck with an idea. There was a wide, flowing river that wound through the center of the forest, giving life to the magnificent foliage that made up the forest. He knew it must flow through the center of the city from its location.
The next day he gave the center of the forest a wide berth as he made his way northward toward the river. When he finally encountered it, days later, his plan had formed solid in his mind. He wasn’t completely sure how magic worked but he had hoped that whatever enchantments had been placed around the secret city that they would not be able to penetrate the surface of the water. Even if they did, he reasoned, the water should carry him through, even if it affected his mind. He knew that the city borders were likely guarded, especially around the mouth of the river as it would be a vulnerable spot for enemies to enter unannounced. Having already been gone for nearly two months time and he was feeling anxious not knowing what the strangers had been plotted against his people and their lands while he was away, he didn’t waste time putting his plan into action. He stripped down and dover deep into the river, swimming fast along with the current downstream. He came up for air once, after going a considerable distance. When he broke the surface, the enchantments hit him hard, causing him to become disoriented. The current pulled him under, tossing him around underneath the surface of the water. In his confusion, he couldn’t find his way back to the surface.
He succumbed to the water, thinking he would drown in his quest. But he didn’t drown. He awoke sometime later, coughing and sputtering on the riverbank within a beautiful sparkling city. As his surroundings came into focus, he thought maybe he had drown and gone to the After, where the souls of humans go in death. But he soon realized that he was actually still within the forest, thousands of lanterns sparkling in the massive, ancient trees of the city within the forest. The forest was as much part of the city as the city was apart of it. He stared around in wonder at the world above him in the treetops. He was so enthralled with the walkways and houses carved into and hanging between the trees that he hardly noticed someone sitting next to him. He eventually turned toward the person, noticing them for the first time. He started at their presence, as they had been so silent and still as he took in his surroundings. The person was beautiful woman. He was struck silent by her beauty, as she was easily the most beautiful person he had ever laid eyes upon in his life. Her dark black hair curled in heavy bunches down to her slender waist. She watched him curiously, eyes of deep green reflecting the lanterns of the floating city around them.
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The King, realizing that the woman must have pulled him from the river, sank to his knees and bowed to her. He thanked her for saving his life and offered his in return, a life debt owed. The woman didn’t speak, just continued watching him. The King stayed on his knees, head bowed to the ground, waiting for the woman to speak. Soon, though, he sensed more people around them. He looked up at the others now surrounding them. A old woman came forward out of the crowd and approached, stooped with age. Though her hair was white and skin sagging, her eyes were the same deep green as the young woman’s. He turned to her, recognizing that she must be someone in charge and instead bowed deeply to her, waiting for her to speak before he launched into everything he needed to say. He knew without a doubt these were the people he sought and didn’t doubt the strength of their magic.
The elder woman invited the King to her table, offering no explanation about the city or mention of how he ended up there. This initially confused the King but he followed regardless. He respectfully dined with the elder and the young woman in a hall carved from the largest tree he had ever seen. It’s width and height were astronomical. The King looked up but in the dark of the city, couldn’t see near the top of the tree or through the canopy of leaves at all. As they dined on the fruits of the forest and strange, succulent meats he dared not ask from what creature, he didn’t speak. He waited, knowing being too eager would ruin any possibility of gaining their trust. Eventually the elder revealed that she knew who he was and why he came. While he was surprised by her claim, he didn’t let it show. He stayed silent, awaiting her judgement. That was when she made her own proposition. She proposed that they help the people of his land in exchange for his proclamation of their freedom in his lands and order that they be allowed to live freely, amongst the people, as their ancestors did.
The King, knowing he wasn’t in a place to argue, agreed. The elder witch woman was clever though. She had some gift of foresight and saw that The King would hesitate to hold up his end of their agreement when they successfully completed their end. She could also see that her granddaughter, seated to her right, was already falling in love with the young king. She proposed that in exchange for the help of their magic, he had to seal their deal with an eternal bond to their people. He had to revoke his marriage to his current wife and take her granddaughter as his bride, permanently entwining their people. He also had to make a blood agreement with the elder to protect her granddaughter’s life above his own. If he failed to protect her, he would die as well.
The King was hesitant to accept the deal. He thought of his wife and daughter at home, waiting for his safe return. The witch knew of his hesitation and proposed he stay for three days to consider what she offered him. At the end of the three days if he accepted, she would send a sizeable numbers of their skilled mages with him to protect his people. If he declined, he would be escorted out of the city unharmed but would not be permitted back within its walls. The witch promised he would not live if he tried to reenter the way he had this time. The King agreed to stay three days to think over what was offered.
Over the course of the three days, he was shown around the city. It was as incredible during the day as it was at night. The magic the mages wielded had shaped the forest into a living, breathing city. He was shown incredible feats of magic, wielders of all types coming forward to display shows of power. They could control every element with ease. Beyond that, he was always accompanied by the young Princess Myrianthe. She showed him the beauty of the forest and her own gentle powers. She was able to make flowers bloom at will, call the wind and summon the beasts of the forest. She was also adept in a form of telepathy, a rare gift for only those most in tune with nature and magic, the King was told. Despite himself, he found that he was falling for the maiden. In times of silence he wished for her silken voice to fill his mind. He yearned to be near her, her gentle nature drawing him in. While his wife at home was beautiful, loyal and smart, this woman was something different entirely. She was a force of nature herself and he found himself inexplicably drawn to her. On his last night in the forest city, she called out to him, summoning him to a meeting place.
He went at once, unable to resist her gentle coaxing. Her voice had sounded troubled and he wished to calm her. When he arrived at the place she had described to him, he stepped through a thick vine curtain into a private cove. The river water had been directed through a thicket of trees to create gently swirling man made pools. The trees were so thick that they nearly touched and he imagined that even in the day the space would be shrouded by their thick canopy overhead. Tiny, floating lanterns hovered in the air above the pool, making the clear, dark water sparkle and dance in their light. The princess stood at the edge of the pool, her back toward the King, gently weeping into her hands. The King rushed to her, spinning her to face him. She looked up into his face and stroked the back of her slender, pale hand down his cheek. He reached up and brushed the tear away from her face. She told him about how she cared for him and didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to hurt his wife but feared what would happen to him and his people if he didn’t accept her grandmother’s proposal.
He pulled the princess close and comforted her. He told her he loved her despite himself and that he planned to agree to her grandmother’s agreement. The princess in her joy kissed the King, pulling him into the pool of water with her. He took her maidenhead in the pool that night, as he let his passion take away his worries and fear about what this meant for his wife. He relished her beautiful, delicate body and they stayed entwined until the sun came up. Reluctantly he left the pool, the princess following him. She magically dried their clothes and they made their way to see the elder witch. The King agreed to marry the Princess and made the blood oath to the elder. She immediately took him to a sacred wood where he revoked his marriage to his current wife and was wed with the princess.
The elder, satisfied with his agreement, promised to gather their greatest mages the next day and send them on their way to protect his people. The King was relieved to have made a decision, even if it would be hard to face the consequences later. He spent the remaining day in the bathing pool entangled with his new wife. He had never known passion like which she offered him. He could barely think beyond his pleasure as he emptied his seed into his new bride over and over in the magically heated pool.
They spent every second offered them entwined together and before they knew it, the time was upon them to prepare to leave. The princess said goodbye to her grandmother and her family, packing only a few precious keepsakes. The King followed the mages, most on various beasts of the forest, out toward his Kingdom, new bride at his side. It took a month to march through the cover of the forest to march with their large party up to the border of the King’s city. He spent the days riding a horse, gazing lovingly at his bride, her shyly staring back. At night, they snuck away to make love within the cover of the forest. They were the happiest days of the King’s life. He couldn’t believe he had lived life without a love as deep as he felt before this point. He was entwined with Myrianthe, now his Queen. He took to calling her Myria in their private moments to which she blushed furiously. He knew he would do anything to protect her, oath or not.
However, as they neared his city, he began to grow anxious about facing his waiting wife whom he had renounced to the Gods. This anxiety grew further when it became clear his wife was with child, becoming sickly in their final days of travel. She revealed to him one night that her moon blood didn’t come. This filled the King with a deep, satisfying happiness but his anxiety nagged at the back of his mind. He began to make a plan on how to approach the situation and protect his new Queen and growing child.
When they were less than a day from the city he commanded the party to halt inside the edge of the forest. He bid them to protect his Queen and he would return in a few days time to meet up with them. They agreed and he reluctantly parted with his wife. She cried at his departure but understood the task in front of him. He set off to do the darkest task of his life: He was going to give his past wife the chance to leave, taking as many riches as she wished, but never to return to the city. He wouldn’t let her take their daughter, however, not willing to renounce her claim to the throne that was rightfully hers someday. She was his blood and firstborn and had made no deals about her with the witch.
He entered the city and his castle wearing a hood so no one would notice his return. He snuck up to his chambers to find his previous wife sleeping peacefully, golden hair tumbling over the edge of the bed. He gently woke her, to which she began to sob, hugging him tightly. She expressed her gratitude to the Gods that he returned safely. He sat her down on the bed with a grim expression and immediately told her all that had happened to him in the forest. As she listened to his tale, she wept, anger building in her as he spoke. He told her of his new wife and though he expressed his regrets to her, she could tell his apology only went so deep. He was in love with this other woman so deeply, so unapologetically, she knew that she had no hope of reaching him emotionally. He was lost, their marriage renounced. In her grief, she took a candle from the side table and attempted to attack the King. She thrashed so violently, shrieking loudly. The King, held her back, preventling her attack. He couldn’t stop her shrieking, though, and in a panic he slammed her up against the stone wall next to their bed in an effort to get her to stop screaming. Her head smacked against the wall in a sickening crack and she instantly went slack in his arms. The King immediately knew that he had accidentally killed her. He wrapped her in the sheets from their bed and cleaned up the blood on the wall and floor. He then snuck out of their chambers and out of one the servants doors at the back of the castle. He carried her down toward the forest and stopped at the river. He dug a shallow grave with a small shovel he had grabbed in the servants quarters and dumped her body in, recovering it quickly as dawn was approaching.
He washed himself and his blood stained and dirty clothes in the river before making his way back to the waiting party within the forest. His wife fell into his arms in relief when he returned. He had felt sick the entire way back into the forest but once she was in his arms his worries faded away. He told her the his previous wife took his bargain to take the riches and leave but left their young daughter behind. His new wife was happy to hear this news and the party moved eagerly into the city, announcing the King’s return with their presence. The city celebrated his return and when he made the announcement that the previous Queen had abandoned her throne, his people didn’t question him. They were relieved he found help against their foes and sang his praises. His new Queen fell into her role seamlessly, making the castle her home as if she’d always known it. She was even extra kind to the King’s young daughter who clung to the new woman in her mother’s absence.
The King made preparations for attack and all the while his wife grew larger with pregnancy. He didn’t know it was possible for her to glow more than she already did but watched as by day her features grew slightly rounder and she began to waddle with her growing belly. His heart swelled when he watched her interact with his people, offering small displays of her power. The people watched and clapped in wonder and amazement. They loved their new Queen as much as he did. Though he wished it weren’t so, the days of battle drew nearer, just as the birth of his child did. On the eve of him moving out to battle, his wife went into labor. He stayed by her side as the healers, of her people and his own, worked to free their baby from her body. She labored for hours but at last, a small baby boy was born, healthy and wailing. He held his wife as she held their son, dark haired and green eyed like his mother. Heart filled to bursting, he left in the dawn of day with a kiss to each of their heads and went into battle.
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