CHAPTER VIII #5
The humans of the village truly have no life behind their eyes. It was taken from them. They’re too resolved in their surroundings, too complacent and without fire.
“This has to stop,” I hold Keane’s gaze as my own fire builds. “This cannot go on. The people here deserve better. Forty years is too fucking long.”
“You know that’s our aim, Alexis,” Keane says quietly, his eyes softening for the briefest of moments, “my aim. But this needs to be handled carefully. The change will take time.”
“You have time...” I glare, pulling my arm out of his grip as I walk towards the bed. “The humans of Etter do not.”
The soft and relaxing hum from the songs of the argents surrounds me again, this time as we enter a large clearing in the woods.
Trees have been cut down in neat rows around us, their thick stumps protruding out of the ground in perfect and exact formation.
A large sawing mill rests at the edge of the clearing where a few hundred humans all walk to and from, carrying the thick timber to the building so that it can be cut into smaller pieces.
Most of the people here are men, their ages ranging from early teens to elderly grandfathers, though I do spot a few women in the mix.
Lord Kaven leads our small group towards the mill as the late morning sun shines from overhead.
Keane and Desmond ride up front with the Lord and his muscled man, while Lord Alexander, Canon and I follow quietly behind them.
Holis and Mana are with us as well, though Alanna chose to stay behind with Cal and the Warrior soldiers at the residence.
The glance that came from Lord Kaven when we all met at the stables this morning told everyone that they were not welcomed on the tour, continuing the unspoken separation of humans and Discerni from our group, sans me.
I eye the humans in their work as we pass the long rows of missing trees, watching as they saw down the trunks into pieces that are light enough to either carry on their backs or between two people.
A single Discerni woman walks between the lot of them, her glance fixated on the ground as she checks on the small saplings she’s planted next to the stumps.
Her hands move at her side as she walks, her summoning helping the new ferns grow quicker than naturally normal. It’s truly a sight to see.
When we reach the sawing mill, Discerni men move alongside the humans with careful gazes, watching as they use large blades to cut through the massive trunks.
Many of the older men organize the wood into different sized lengths and bundle them together, nearly all of the timber stacked and ready to be shipped off for trade.
Overall, it’s a well-organized system that provides a good working economy for the people here. It should be greeted with pride, but instead, like everything else in Etter, it’s met with the forever blank faces and hidden eyes of the humans that work it.
And try as I might, I truly can’t get those faces to look back at me…
It’s all I can do but look at the working men in quiet anguish, searching their faces with the hopes that one of them would have the bravery to meet mine in return.
But there’s absolutely no emotion here, no happiness that so often graces the features of men who are proud of their labor and a hard day of work.
Etter is just a place without life, and I despise being here with every passing moment.
Every part of me hopes that we won’t be invited to stay another night when Troy and the delegation from Aireal arrive. I’m already ready to leave.
“How much are the men paid?” Keane asks indifferently.
“A cinerin,” Lord Kaven replies, “a day.”
Ancients.
Two gold cinerin could barely buy a man supper, and if they’re lucky, the barkeep would throw in an ale. It would take the men here two days to acquire that coin. Two days just to put food in their stomachs for a single meal.
Fuck me, I hate this place.
I hate Lord Kaven.
I hate the cowering in the humans.
And I hate that a village like this was located in the Kingdom of Disce.
It’s absolutely appalling.
My eyes furrow in anger as I turn Millie away from Canon and Lord Alexander, moving her quietly next to Holis and Mana. We don’t speak to each other, there’s nothing to be said, but the brothers follow closely at my side as I lead Millie away from the mill and back into the morning sun.
I’ve seen enough.
Canon moves up behind us, a forever quiet presence since the moment we entered Etter, and I have no doubt now that Keane tasked his guard with being his protective eyes and ears while he was busy with the Lord.
I nod to the man and lead Millie back down the road from which we came, not knowing if we’ll be stopped in our departure but also not wanting to ask for permission to leave.
Keane’s location summoning pushes hard against my chest, gripping my lungs as I hold my breath.
“I’m just going back to the village,” I tell him. “Holis and Mana are with me, as is Canon.”
His summoning holds hard for a few brief moments before it lets me go.
I take a deep breath and turn in my saddle to Canon behind us, watching as he gives me his own small nod before his eyes dart up to the trees above, reminding me of who’s watching.
I grimace and turn back to the road as Holis and Mana eye me curiously, their silent glances wanting to ask questions as I shake my head in return.
A thought comes to mind before I reach towards the bag at my hip, pulling the oak wood and pen out. My hand grips the pen as I look at Holis at my side, letting the sight of him crowd my vision before I write silently.
The Discerni above the residence move among the woods above us. They watch the humans and watch us now. -A.
“Holis,” I say quietly, “the King asked that you write to him of where we are going.”
I hear Canon shift slightly behind us, most likely confused at my statement. I let my gaze flick to Holis’ side where I know he keeps his own slab and give him a brief nod.
Holis’ eyes go round when he turns the small slab to face him, reading my message. His eyes dart from it to me and then back down to the wood, not yet knowing of my ability to use the magical communication.
While it makes me happy to see your words on this oak, Alexis, my brother and I suspected. Do you still want to head to the village?
Yes. But let’s pick up the rest of our group when we pass through. I want the humans of the village to see our own again. Together.
Holis nods, leaning over his seat to catch his brother’s glance as he writes his own message to him, alerting him of our plans. I put my own slab away and fasten the bag back at my hip before staring at the road ahead, watching as a few argents dip between the trees in quick white blurs.
We reach the residence, its building sitting so massive and serene under the green of the forest around it that I almost forget the ugliness that resides within.
The three soldiers are all practicing with their broadswords near the stables while Alanna and Cal aren’t far off.
The short Discerni has her bow drawn, letting a few arrows fly against a makeshift target that she’s set up against a large tree.
Cal watches on silently, not holding or disclosing any of the daggers that I know are situated perfectly around his body, a silent sentinel ready to protect her if needed.
I hate that he even feels the need to do so.
The group turns to the sound of our arrival, their gazes questioning as I smile casually, noticing a few Discerni walking along their homes from above the residence.
“I was hoping to grab an ale at the pub in the village and would enjoy your company,” I announce.
Nathaniel catches my gaze with a small nod, motioning to Sam and Bryson as he leads them into the stables to ready their horses.
Alanna looks at me curiously as she lowers her bow, her grey eyes silently holding mine before her lips press into a frown.
I give her a steady look, wanting my Warrior friend by my side when we venture into the village.
Cal places his hand on her back, pushing Alanna towards the stables before giving me a side glance in his own curiosity. I smile at the two of them and turn Millie back to the men with me, the four of us waiting quietly.
When our full group is ready, we make our way back towards the bend in the road, passing by the small homes all clustered next to each other.
There’s not much movement around us, as most of the men are out working in the woods, but the few people who do walk the road keep their gazes down or straight ahead, not paying our group any attention.
We ride our horses into the small town square where more humans and a few Discerni walk quietly around the shops and storefronts, the mood bleak. I spot a few men along the road with the same large packs on their shoulders, the contents weighing heavy on their lower backs.
What did they carry in those packs?
It certainly wasn’t wood.
“Excuse me,” I lean over my saddle.
A human woman carrying a small basket of fruit flicks her eyes to mine in small acknowledgement, then turns back to the road ahead.
Did she just…?
“Could you point us in the direction of the pub?” I ask hopefully. “My friends and I would like to get a drink.”
The woman turns to me slowly, so slowly, and lets her gaze fall over the men and Alanna, completely disinterested. She tilts her chin down the road and slightly to the left, her voice the dullest sound I’ve ever encountered.
“Just keep riding.”
“Thank you,” I smile, noticing two Discerni men eyeing the woman from afar. She remains silent, slowing her step so as not to interact with our group anymore as our horses bound forward.