5

The morning sun brought the villagers of Esmon out of their sleepy wood homes to greet the warm air. Their usual morning greetings were solemn as news spread of the attack on the kingdom. The villagers busied themselves as the morning wore on in an attempt to ignore the hovering threat of another attack. Boys of all ages made their way into the fields, the village's crops almost ready to be picked. Women called to their rambunctious children as they darted through the busy streets in play. Men packed their mules and horses in preparation for a trip to Alryn, their carts loaded with the fruits and vegetables that would be exchanged for old, gold coins.

A young woman stumbled out of a little barn located just on the edge of the village. She giggled and turned around, her dress billowing in the breeze between her legs. She held an empty bottle in one hand and blew a kiss out of the other. Her curly brown hair bounced around her face. A man came out of the shadows of the barn and leaned against the wood frame. His strong arms showed years of hard work while his casual disposition and flirtatious green eyes showed a man who enjoyed his night's play. He caught the kiss and gave her a wink.

"Mido, come with me," the young woman whined playfully. The man shook his head.

"I have to get back to work," he said.

She trotted up to him and pulled on his shirt, pulling his face close to hers. She let her lips hover over his for a moment before giggling and backing away. She beckoned him closer with her finger. Mido smiled and approached the woman. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lips until she pushed away once more. She winked at him and trotted barefoot towards the center of the village. Mido watched her leave, biting his lower lip. He sighed and made his way back into the barn.

A white and grey dappled horse stood in the dark barn, chewing happily on the hay spread around the floor. Mido patted the horse and bent down, lifting her hind leg up and between his legs. He blew the dark hair out of his face and grabbed the tool that lay on the floor. He adjusted the hoof between his legs and began to sand the hoof down with the file. He cooed to the horse as he worked, mumbling casually to himself. The horse snorted and shook her head.

"Don't give me that," he said. "I can entertain any woman I want."

The horse flicked her ears and sighed.

"I know, I'm sorry. Next time I'll try to make it into the house."

The horse nickered quietly as her master spoke. Mido put the hoof down and wiped his brow. He stood, stretched his back, and groaned. He brushed his hands on his pants and tightened the short hair in his pony tail. He looked up as a shadow stretched into the barn. A larger, muscular man stood in the doorway, his arms crossed. His baby blue eyes blended softly against his pale head and dirty blonde beard.

"Ian," Mido said, greeting the visitor. He gave the horse one last pat and put his tools away.

"So, you and Marissa, now?" Ian asked, unamused.

"Just for last night," Mido said casually. He smirked at his friend and Ian rolled his eyes.

"Did ya hear about the attacks?" Ian asked. Mido raised an eyebrow in response. Ian continued. "Talmond and Halas."

"By who?"

"One of Scarletta's witches."

"Shit," Mido muttered. It was almost ten years ago when Scarletta lasted attacked the kingdom. For almost a year, the kingdom trembled under the witch's powerful weight, until suddenly the attacks stopped. What could have brought the vengeful witch back to their kingdom? He pinched the bridge of his nose. "What happened?"

"Talmond is essentially destroyed. King Sloan sent his troops to hunt her down. She could be anywhere. She could strike anywhere, anytime."

Mido made his way to the corner of the barn where he picked up an old, dusty sword. "Guess we'll just have to be prepared," he said as he turned the sword in his hand. He recognized its familiar markings, a feature his father often boasted about. One of his best weapons, he had said. "Made the designs ma'self."

Mido admired the weapon as a child. His father would point out the markings on the blade. "This one is for Selene," he said, showing Mido the design dedicated to his daughter. Mido traced the swirls along the sword's handle. "And this is for you, my son." Mido would smile at his reflection in the blade as he tried to imagine what his father saw in the designs.

The sword was only meant to be a decorative piece, but as a child, Mido often imagined himself wielding the blade at their kingdom's enemies. He didn't know then the threat that waited just outside of their little village. And when Scarletta's first witch attacked the kingdom, Mido's father took the sword bravely in hand, proud to honor his kingdom, and joined the Libronian army.

Mido had always wanted to join his father. He had spent every night alone in the barn battling invisible enemies with various tools. He swung his axes and scythes at the imaginary witches that surrounded him. When he was permitted a trip to Alryn, he studied the soldiers as they marched through the city or practiced fighting outside the barracks. He watched each precise footstep and movement and practiced it on his own in an attempt to help his kingdom in their war.

After his father's death, however, his treasured sword remained in the barn, collecting dust over the years as Scarletta remained dormant, and his adventurous curiosity was lost. Mido blew the dust off the blade as the memories subsided.

"It's been a while since Scarletta made a move," Mido said. "She's probably stronger, now. We don't stand a chance." Mido bent down and picked up a bottle of ale. He took a swig and offered the bottle to Ian. Ian shook his head, his arms still crossed.

"You have a problem," he said.

"I don't have a problem," Mido retorted. He chugged the remaining liquid and let the bottle drop onto the straw scattered around the barn floor. He gripped the sword with both hands and swung it in the air. "I'll fight that thing myself."

"I'd like to see that."

Mido narrowed his eyes at Ian. "I could do it. I'll take on every witch Scarletta throws at me, and then I'll take her." He thrust the sword forward as if slaying an enemy. "My father will be avenged." He raised the sword and laughed cynically, mockingly.

"That's what this is about?"

Mido laughed sharply and tossed the sword onto the ground. "What do you want, Ian?"

Ian shook his head. "I can't believe you slept with Marissa."

"She drank all my ale."

"She's still drunk."

"Let's go," Mido said. "I need to buy more."

Ian and Mido walked together into the center of the village and joined the bustling villagers. Mido turned when he heard his name and found Marissa blowing him drunken kisses. She stood amongst a group of women who giggled behind her. Mido shot his most dashing smile at the women and bowed to them.

"The redhead," he said turning back to Ian. Ian looked over at the women, picking out the red head.

"Tonight's lady?"

"Mmm. I'll need to start branching out around Librona after."

Ian sighed.

"What about you and that girl?" Mido asked.

"That girl? Vanessa?"

Mido nodded.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? You guys were inseparable."

"Yeah. She's just not for me."

Mido rolled his eyes. "I'll let you take the redhead after."

Ian looked at his friend in slight disgust. "I don't want your seconds."

Mido shrugged and scanned the crowd, smiling at the women he made eye contact with. He turned to his friend, hoping to catch his attention, but Ian's mind was elsewhere. A crooked smile split his hard expression. Mido followed his friend's gaze to a woman giving bread to children. Her curly, auburn hair bounced around her face and shoulders as she laughed along with the giggling children. She knelt on the ground and her lips moved quickly as she spoke to them.

Mido made a sound of understanding and approval. "So, it's Maria?"

Maria glanced up and met their gazes. She smiled and stood, talking over her shoulder at the children as she made her way over to Ian and Mido.

"Mido Addinell," she scolded as she approached. "I'm not pickin' up after ya evenin' gals. Runnin' 'round with their clothes all a mess. Don'cha have any decency? 'Least sober 'em up, first."

Mido bowed to the woman. "My sincerest apologies, Maria."

She scoffed at him. "Poor young gals don't know what they gettin' themselves inta," she mumbled. She turned to Ian. "Won't ya talk some sense inta him?"

Ian shrugged sheepishly. "I tried."

Maria crossed her arms. "Hmp."

"Would you have me any other way?" Mido said with a flirty wink.

Maria rolled her eyes. "Jessabell needs a shoein'," she said as she turned away from them. "I'll bring her by this afternoon. Please don't spoil her with ya carrots. Mare's gettin' fat enough as it is." She smiled to Ian over her shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.

"I'd say the feeling's mutual," Mido said to his friend as they watched her leave.

"What?" Ian said as he watched the woman leave. "No."

A shout turned the two men around, watching as an elderly man waved a stick angrily in the air.

"I'll have the king take ya heads!" The man shouted into the crowd. Mido and Ian scanned the crowd, waiting for the two boys that stumbled towards them in a fit of laughter. Mido and Ian grabbed them by their collars, pulling them to a stop. Ian grabbed the fruit from their grasps.

"One of these days he will," Ian said to them. Mido plucked an apple from his friend and took a bite. Ian shot him a scolding look but said nothing.

"Was jest a joke," the light headed kid said. Mido let the boy go and he stumbled backwards.

"Watch it, William," Mido said. "He's crazy. He'll do it."

"The king doesn't care about petty theft," the other kid said, still in Ian's hold.

"'S'ides; was Jon's idea," William said.

"Why's it always my idea?" Jon whined, scrambling under Ian's hold until he let go.

"Get outta here before Maria sees you," Mido warned. 

William and Jon sulked away, all too familiar with Maria's mothering nature. Mido took another bite from the apple and Ian rolled his eyes. He followed Ian to return the stolen fruit, tossing the half eaten apple on the ground to an old dog. Scarletta sat at the back of his mind. She had sent her witches to destroy their village once before; surely she would not hesitate to finish the job, along with the rest of the kingdom. Mido wasn't ready to see the kingdom at war with the witch once more, but he was foolish to think this would be the end of their long war. The kingdom had grown weak under her attacks; he couldn't see the kingdom holding strong for much longer. He joked that he would bring her down, but the thought lingered with him. It was only right for him to avenge his father and his kingdom, wasn't it? Maybe Ian was right. He needed purpose in his life.

Or maybe he just needed another drink.