The Discovery

The Meadowfort Starlings moved between the bare stalks of welcorn, weapons drawn. They had circled around the village to the fields and were using the cover of the tall plants to approach.

The village was too quiet. Jarel knew that at this time the farmers would be coming in from the fields, many making their way to the local inn to enjoy themselves before retiring for the evening, but there was no sound of joyful music or the raucous laughter of the inebriated. They entered the center of the village and were startled by what they saw. The people of the village were lolling about, many lying propped against walls or pawing ineffectively at their doors attempting to get in. Stalls that were set up to sell food and local wares lay broken and half made up. The food beginning to rot and attract flies.

The group fanned out amongst the villagers present, trying to help who they could while also looking for answers.

“What is going on, Nemin?” Sabina asked, kneeling beside a man. He was a farmer whose family went back in Meadowfort many generations. He was close to his front door, his fingers failing to gasp the bundle of keys lying on the step beside him,

“W-wha?” Nemin groaned, his eyes trying to focus on Sabina, “What do you want me to do?”

“Just relax. Can you tell me what happened?” Sabina said, running a reassuring hand over the man’s back.

“T-they came. The bandits. We gave them food and money.”

“What happened next?” Jarel asked, kneeling beside Sabina. Some kind of magic or poison was affecting the village.

“They took the women.”

Jarel felt his stomach drop when he heard those words from Nemin.

“What do you mean?!” Halen asked, grabbing the man by the shoulders.

Nemin was having difficulty focusing on so many people but he turned to Halen and said, “At first they only took a couple, Palema...Serepia but then they came back and took more. I saw an urkan walk off with Marianna.”

“Why didn’t you stop them?!” Halen roared, shaking the man vigorously.

“Nobody asked us to…”

Halen was about the yell again but Sabina placed a hand on his forearm, “He is clearly under some kind of spell or drug, father. He is not to blame.”

“I...I know.” Halen said, his shoulders dropping visibly. Jarel worried for his mother but he really felt for Halen. He glanced at Sabina and wondered what her reaction was to the knowledge that her mother had been taken by the bandits, but she was putting on a brave face, and not giving away any of her inner feelings. She is so strong thought Jarel.

“Have you eaten or drank anything today?” Halen said coming to his senses.

“Nothing to eat... Just had some water.”

“Alright. Jarel. Sabina. Help Nemin inside. See if there is something for him to eat. Sari. Keep an eye on that fort. If you see anyone come you grab us. I’m going to check out the water.” Halen stood up and trotted off to the nearest well.

Sari’s face was wan and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Jarel did his best to smile at his little sister, rubbing her shoulder in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture. Sari sucked in a shuddering breath before leaping up and grabbing the edge of Nemin’s roof, swinging herself up onto it.

“Can you get an arm under his?” Sabina asked Jarel, trying to manoeuvre Nemin to his feet.

Between the two of them they managed to get the man into his house and safely onto a chair. Jarel scrounged up some bread and cheese from his pantry and gave it to Nemin.

“What could have done this?” Sabina asked, hugging herself and staring at the addled farmer, “Who would come to our little village and do this. These are good people.”

Jarel noticed the tears in her eyes and reached out, taking hold of her elbow and pulling her into his arms. She came willing, pressing her face into the crook of his shoulder.

“We’ll get through this. Everyone will be okay, just you see. Your mum, my mum. When we have driven off the bandits we are sure to have a big party in the village. We will dance, eat and drink.

Jarel rocked her in his arms, till Sabina pulled her head back and looked up at him.

“You dance?” Sabina said with a giggle.

“Look I can probably do it!” Jarel said with a huff, “Can’t be that different to sword practise!”

Sabina laughed in response. Jarel watched her in awe. She bent her head forward and held a slender hand over her mouth as she giggled, eyes closed.

“I’m glad you find the thought of me dancing amusing.” Jarel said smiling down at Sabina.

Sabina lay her head on Jarel’s chest again and the two of them stood there in Nemin’s house in each other’s arms.

“Regroup everyone” Halen’s voice called from outside, waking Jarel from the quiet pleasure of holding Sabina.

They divided but not before Sabina looked up into Jarel’s face and gave him a shy smile.

“Thanks Jarel. I needed that.”

“Honestly. Me too.” Jarel said as they left the house and returned to the village center.

“They put something in the water.” Halen said coming over, hefting a large glass jug, “You can only really see it if you look really closely, but there are tiny particles of something floating around in there.

“What is it?” Jarel asked. He leaned forward and examined the side of the jug. Halen was right. There were tiny red specs in the water. Only in the right light did they show and only someone looking for them would really notice.”

“I don’t know. I have no way of testing it right now, but I would not drink it if I was you.”

“Fair call.” Sari said wrinkling her nose in disgust. She turned and looked out across the village square. There were other villagers lying around the place, struggling to walk. “Is Mum going to be like this?”

“Don’t think about that, sis.” Jarel said, placing a hand on Sari’s shoulder. “We have to plan our next move. What do you think, Uncle Halen?”

Halen, Sari and Jarel stood and watched as Sabina helped an old woman off the floor. The poor woman was struggling to keep her feet and leaned on Sabina who was practically dragging her along.

“We are going to get your mothers back. And Machine take any who try and stop us.”