Ashes And Embers: Part 1
Constance Boyd stood out of the back door of her family's wood cabin, looking out into the dark recesses of the Blackthorn woods. The sun was beginning to fall, and night would bring them a trial, in one way or another.
She saw a few crows fluttering about the fields, their silhouettes darting through the waning light. An omen, perhaps. If it was ill or not was yet to be seen.
Constance lingered for just a moment more before going inside the house pulling her wool shawl over her for warmth. The fall season was almost at its end, and today was the last day of the harvest. Most of the townsfolk were gathered near the temple to celebrate a plentiful harvest. Of course, each harvest had its price, and this harvest had been better than many previous years, and the town was sure to bear the burden of a hefty debt.
Constance paced in the small cabin, walking past her husband, Tobias, who was sharpening his knife near the fireplace.
"Will they come? It is almost nightfall, and I've naught heard any sounds of horses." Constance asked as she stared out of the front window, her eyes locked on the dirt path that lead to their small farmstead.
Tobias ran the sharpening stone over his blade in slow, deliberate strokes as he spoke.
"There were three births over the harvest. The Ward's had a child, Elijah. We had Lydia. And of course, Josiah Greene and his wife Esther had a child as well. But we both know Josiah is the head druid, and he will not offer up his newborn son to Kolthag."
Kolthag. The fire elemental. The entity that had made this town, protected its people, and required a tithing of the harvest for his eternal generosity. All things brought in during the harvest time were held against the town, from grain to livestock, and even the children born during the harvest. Word had sprung up a few days prior that Kolthag would want at least one child for such a rich harvest. Constance and Tobias had never been on good terms with Josiah Greene, and that might just be enough to put their child, Lydia, on the altar for sacrifice.
"We have prepared for such a thing, my dear." Tobias said as he put down his blade. He stood up and embraced his wife, holding her in his arms he looked into her eyes.
"This town can be damned for all I care. They will not take our girl." Tobias spoke with authority, and smiled at his wife. She returned it, closed her eyes, and placed her head on Tobias's chest. she listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart.
Thump...thump...
It often soothed her in worrying times. She gripped him tightly as she watched the sun fade from the sky.
Thump...thump...
Perhaps they would not be chosen for the harvest. Perhaps it was nothing to fear at all.
Thump...thump thump thump thump thump thump...
Horror crawled over Constance’s face. She was no longer hearing her husband's heart, but the sound of many horses in a thunderous approach. Tobias reacted as well, as the two began to sprint around the house. Tobias grabbed his freshly sharpened blade, while Constance checked on Lydia, who was still asleep in her makeshift crib.
Tobias blew out any lantern and quickly dosed the flames in the fireplace. He sat out of view of the window, as did Constance. The horses were almost deafening now as the reached the front of this tiny home. The hooves rattled and scraped on the dirt, and the horses themselves chortled and neighed as they were brought to a halt.
The Boyd's waited in silence. The sounds outside were minimal, just the rustling of leather and strap buckles clanging together. Then all sound felt as if it had vanished.
An eternity passed, followed by another.
The damning quiet was broken by the voice of Josiah Greene.
"Tobias. Constance. Little Lydia. We know you are there. We did not see you at the harvest celebration. We have much to discuss." Josiah spoke each word painted with a false bravado. They all knew what was at hand. Tobias peered out of the window. Darkness had fallen. Stretching out in front of his door was an endless veil of black, filled with pockets of light from the many torches held by the several druid followers of Josiah Greene. Each one in a black tunic with a red hood. Each with the markings of Kolthag's blessings, in a language unknown to most save those chosen to be Kolthag's acolytes.
Josiah Green's garb was the most elegant, with ribbons of white and crimson, they gently flickered in the night breeze. He took one more step forward and spoke again, with a more somber tone.
"The harvest has found its end, and we have reached the time to offer up from our harvest what Kolthag requires. He is the flame that burns within us, and our infernal protector. We cannot deny him want he requests. We will have the child, by your release..." Josiah looked among his men and then back at the cabin.
"Or by force. We cannot wait much longer. The moon is almost at its peak, we must act now." Josiah said. He raised his hands to quell his men, in hopes this would resolve itself without incident. Constance could take no more, and stormed out of the front door.
"The Ward's have a child. Have you been to their door? Harassed them for their seed for the fire?" Constance shouted. The men behind Josiah flexed and lurched, but Josiah raised his hands higher to stop them.
"The Wards came to the harvest, and Elijiah was treated with loving care. Their willingness to sacrifice for the better of us all was quite inspiring. You could all learn from them. Their child is now with Kolthag. But he requires an additional sacrifice to ensure our winter is not harsh as well. I am truly sorry, but we must appease our master." Josiah said with little remorse.
Tobias had now walked out of the front door. The knife in his hand was not hidden, and he held it with an iron grip.
"Is Kolthag not deserving of a high druid's son? Or are you protected from such tragedies?" Tobias asked as he now walked past Constance and closer to Josiah.
"Perhaps Kolthag does take into account how much of a servant for him I am, I cannot lie. My child will be spared, and in that, will serve Kolthag in ways perhaps I never could. But what I must do now, is offer him a sacrifice from our harvest. Something he has requested of me, and I must deliver, or his retaliation will destroy us all." Josiah said, his hand now ever so slowly moving down.
"Kolthag is not my master. If he wished to burn this whole town down, to nothing but ashes and embers, then let him do it." Tobias spoke calmly to hide the strike he delivered just after. Josiah was quicker than he thought, however. He moved away from the blade and threw his knee into Tobias's stomach, knocking the wind from his lungs and making Tobias fall to the ground in a heap.
Constance screamed, and turned to run into the house. Josiah signaled to his men, and several ran into the house after her. Constance wrapped her child up in a blanket and tried to run out the back, but she was blocked by a druid. His hand quickly enveloped her, and she could not break free.
Constance shook and thrashed, but the druids pried her child from her hands. One of them took a peek under the blanket. Constance watched him with intent as he looked over the child, and nodded to the others. The druid holding Constance threw her hard into the wall and left the house as she reeled from the pain.
Tobias had been restrained by other druids, and Josiah was pacing around him, his eyes full of hate.
"You selfish dog! Do you even know what devastation you could bring us by denying Kolthag anything?" Josiah struck Tobias in the face with a hard punch. He clenched his fist once more, but saw his men leaving the house with the bundle of blankets. The man carrying the baby spoke.
"We have the child, my lord." The druid said in a monotone voice.
"Very well. Take it back to the temple. We should have enough time for the child to be blessed and placed in the pyre. And as for you..." Josiah kicked the helpless Tobias once more.
"Bring him with us. He will witness the sacrifice of his daughter, and perhaps Kolthag will reunite you two before the night is over. You two, Enoch, James." Josiah gestured at two men armed with hunting bows and arrows who were near the front of the group. They acknowledged him and stepped forward.
"Remain here. If the woman goes into hysterics, or tries something rash, give her life to Kolthag tonight. She is a good healer, and I do not want the town to suffer, but I will not accept any blasphemy here. Understood?" Josiah asked with a dire look in his eyes. The two men bowed to him and walked to the house. Josiah signaled to the rest of the group as he mounted his horse and the whole group headed off to the temple.
Tobias was bound and thrown onto the back of a horse ridden by a druid. His head was covered with a druid cowl, and he saw nothing more as he felt the horse gallop away.
The ride was rough for Tobias. He was jostled throughout the short trip, and his ribs were like daggers embedded inside his chest. The horse slowed to a halt, and Tobias simply rolled off and hit the dirt with a heavy thud. The pain overcame Tobias, and within the cowl he found a deeper darkness as he passed out.
STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO
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