Cave of Shadows

The sunset blazed along the hills of the sow. An embarrassed blush on the impoverished village. It had been home for nineteen long years.

Two days thought Beaux and it'll be a memory.

Conscripted service beckoned, a death sentence for those it called. His birthday marked the date, twenty years old in two days.

Sitting in the long grass with the smell of smoke from a far off chimney and the cool summer breeze at his back, Beaux began to sob. This war, started by long forgotten men would be his own demise. In just two days, he'd make the trek across Tehtya's lands to the capital city of Theo.

Beaux had no skills or abilities worth mentioning. He'd spent his formative years on his uncle's pig farm. Raising and slaughtering for meat he would sell to the coastal merchants or fellow villagers. A rough and unforgiving childhood.

He'd been the only son of his mother and father. A man shortly conscripted after his birth. His sister Dona was born two years earlier by the same man. Neither knew much of the man that fathered them, as it was for many children born in the sow.

Dona already gave birth twice in the last four years and was pregnant now a third time. His uncle Less had been born invalid. A mental disability that forgave him from service, but left him a burden to his family. His only grace was the land inherited to him by their grandfather and two sisters who'd popped baby after baby to avoid conscription. That was the blessing of womanhood, as long as the woman remained fertile she'd be able to avoid service. A cruel fate that left most women no more than prized and bred.

The lords of the middle lands with their titles and wealth sent their children to military schools, making them generals and heroes. Merchant children took over trades and naval ships. The children of the sow and other poor communities became foot soldiers and pawns. This was the future Beaux had to look forward too, along with his cousins, nephews, and nieces that came after him.

Beaux pushed back his sweat soaked auburn hair and wiped the salted tears from his freckled cheeks. A few shuddering breaths hauled away from his chest and he stood, walking towards his family's stone manor.

Once he pushed open the gate and trudged through the shit and mud of the pig pen his face was dry and his eyes were clear. The children sprawled along the front entry, his two oldest cousins Fen and Ton wrestled in the small patch of grass the pigs liked to nibble on. They were the rowdy twins of the sow, known for their debauchery and aggression. At seventeen they had each already fathered a child of their own. Often a private feud strung between them in all matters, especially when it came to women. Ton was a bit bigger, but Fen was a few minutes older. Though they only had three more years until their time for service came, Beaux knew they could handle a lot of the physical work he'd leave behind. His only fear was that drink and sex would come between them and the work they needed to get done on the farm. Dona erupted from the front door, yelling at the two on the ground. Her belly swollen under the dirty apron across her waist. She was the female equivalent of Beaux. Auburn hair hung at her shoulders, brown eyes narrowed on the two cousins. Her little girls were playing with straw dolls with their cousin Kandy on the porch. At twelve, Kandy was tall and lean. Beaux thought about the young men that'd start loitering around in the next few years to court her. Luckily, the twins had a brutal fist waiting for any tail that sniffed around their sister or the other girls. At least until they'd be sent off after him. Dona was set to be the next matron after their mother and aunt passed. Her fierce loyalty for the family could be seen in her blazing eyes that shifted to Beaux.

"Where have you been slinking off to?" She spit. Beaux avoided eye contact and shrugged. Grabbing the feed bucket on the ground and heading to face the feed troughs.

"Damn you Beaux" she hollered, "we've got two days left, these idiots are rolling around in pig shit and you're out moping in the fields!"

Beaux knew she was right, but couldn't handle the truth of it all. In response he flicked his wrist towards the twins and whistled, calling them to help with the feeding.

They hopped up simultaneously, and followed him still shoving at each other and muttering insults under their breath.

Dona remained silent and still. He could feel her harsh gaze resting on his shoulders.

Once they got close to the barn, Beaux handed the bucket to Fen and whirled towards Ton. His hands clenched and then landed a square punch into Ton's unsuspecting face. Strawberry blonde hair glistened as he fell backwards into the water trough behind him, soaking his cotton tunic and splashing into Beaux's face. Fen's blue eyes widened in surprise and he said "You had that one coming Ton!" Before he erupted into laughter. The sound was stifled when a matching swing flew into his own face. Spilling the feed around him onto the ground. The pigs whined at the sound of slop hitting the hay covered floor. They were both quite handsome for sow boys, which increased their popularity. Each standing around six feet, a hair taller than Beaux. Lanky and lean, compared to the compact muscle that stretched around Beaux's body.

Beaux stood back to his full height, his fists bloody and throbbing. While the two looked up at him in horror. Water dripped down Ton's forehead, and Fen

"The two of you need to get your shit together," he spat in a baritone murmur, the deep low voice he used only in the most serious circumstances. "I'll be gone and if you don't figure out how to be men, then the girls are going to be taken by the trash and fools of this village."

Beaux turned back towards the cottage and said "Clean this up, feed the pigs, and come in for supper." Then stalked back to the glow of the windows as the sky was dipping into its evening blue before night fell.

On his way back to the cottage, Beaux slowed as he passed the small shed that stood on it's own. A lantern in the window flickering. He knew it was nothing more than a little room with a dirty cot and a small work table inside. And he worked the courage to stalk towards the door. His bloodied fist raised to the handle, then lowered. Deciding against entering, he turned back away and went to the cottage.

Inside, he could smell roasting meat and boiling vegetables. The girls had migrated inside, sprawled along the fur rug in front of the fire place. Kandy was now working on some sort of sewing project probably mending a shirt or some other stretch of fabric. Beaux smiled as he watched the two littles sitting next to her giggling and playing. The family room was where everyone gathered, sitting on the floor or leaning against the walls. The hearth that lay in the middle was always burning, radiating warmth and a beautiful golden glow. It made the room feel cozy and nostalgic.

He made his way into the kitchen where Aunt Losa was working on the hen, slowly turning the spit as it roasted. Her red hair was pulled into a low bun, her eyebrows furrowed as she focused. His mother, Luna, was at the table cutting more vegetables for the soup. The two were no doubt sisters and often mistaken for twins themselves. Golden red hair and hazel eyes, they were known as beauties of the village and though age had sunken their faces that beauty was still sharp. Aunt Losa leaned on the heavier side, no doubt the side effect of bearing twins, and Luna was too thin, rarely eating more than half her meals. Beaux's mom had been born barely a year before Aunt Losa and their brother Less was five years senior to them both. The kitchen was large but simple. An iron stove, with a great wooden table, stone shelves molded into the walls, and a large basin for washing.

Losa was cunning and ruthless but Luna was kind and gentle. Where one would dole punishment, the other would praise. Dona took after their aunt and Beaux thought that is exactly what was needed in their family. Kandy on the other hand, was more like his own mother.

They'll be fine, Beaux thought to himself, one less mouth to feed.

As if sensing his thoughts Dona came behind him and shoved his body out of the way as she pressed into the kitchen one hand on her belly. Jole, the father of her third child, had been conscripted a few months ago and sometimes Beaux saw Dona staring out into the hills, tears sliding down her cheeks.

Jole was the only one out of the three rogues she had taken that could be considered a sweetheart. The other two were simply men of convenience. Jole had been a good man, honest and trustworthy. Maybe he'd see him during training, or on the battlefield.

Beaux stepped to the table lightly, and his mother turned to face him. The carrot she was cutting left a steady beat and she was humming to herself.

"It's a lovely evening." She said sweetly wiping her hands on the side of her dress. Her hair was braided back, long and curled at the end, and a smile never left her lips.

That was the thing about her. At some point, she gave up on reality. Chittering about the livestock, village, and weather. Never speaking facts or honest opinions. Rarely a word of he and Dona's father, though everyone knew he was very dear to her heart.

A child's screech was heard from the den, and Kandy rushed in toting the youngest behind her. Luna scooped up the baby and cooed, calming her with loving pats.

"It'd be damn nice to get a little more peace in this shit covered house." Aunt Losa snapped "Wash your fucking hands Beaux, you're a bloody mess."

At that, his mother whirled to him and looked closely at his hands.

"Oh dear!" She whispered.

At that Beaux huffed and moved towards the washing basin.

"I don't think so." Dona exclaimed. Carrying a basket of potatoes towards the tub. "I need to get these potatoes scrubbed, go to the washroom."

"Fine, I got the hint." Beaux mumbled and shuffled through the gaggle of women towards the den.

The cottage had once been a fine house. A master bedroom, three smaller bedrooms, kitchen, family room, and even a small study. Beaux's grandfather had been a man of good standing, his fortune in trading goods. With his death, the money dwindled. The fine house turned into disrepair, and with children popping out of every woman alive the rooms were crowded.

Beaux made his way to the one bathroom the cottage had, shared by all of the family members.

It was small, a bath on one side and a basin for washing with a few buckets around holding wash water. Dirty laundry piled on one of the wooden stools under the window, waiting to be washed. Beaux lifted the spoon from one of the buckets and started rinsing his hand, winching a bit.

"Beaux?" A little voice said from the hall.

"Doors open." He replied. A little hoarse from the pain.

The door creaked and Kandy tip-toed in, bandages in one hand.

She had a darker complexion than the rest of the family, and chocolate eyes. Her hair was always braided in two plaits, and her timidness extended to everyone except the littles. Beaux had no idea who her father was. One day, Aunt Losa's belly began to swell, and not a soul asked how.

Kandy took his hand and wrapped it carefully. Beaux always felt fond of her, she was too gentle for this world. In another life, maybe she would have made a fine lady.

"Everyone will miss you so much." She said softly in the dim light. "I don't know how we-"

"The family will be fine." Beaux cut her off shortly. "The twins will take care of the farm work, and the only thing you should worry about is getting strong and smart. Like your mom and Dona."

Kandy's face lowered and tears welled in her eyes.

"You'll be fine." He said and placed his good hand on her head, ruffling the short bangs that fringed her forehead.

"What about Aunt Luna?" She asked quietly.

At that, Beaux's heart lurched. His mother never mentioned his imminent departure, even when he carefully broached the topic last spring. She simply redirected to talk of the rain and how fast the children grew.

"She'll be the same as always." Beaux sighed.

Once the dinner bell rang, everyone gathered in the den to eat. The kitchen table only had two chairs, the rest having worn or broken over time. So they ate like animals, on the floor or standing in the family room. Aunt Losa and Dona took the kitchen seats with the two babies, and his mother sat in the only large leather chair in the den. Beaux leaned against the wall separating the two rooms.

It was a good meal, the chicken juicy and tender, potatoes and vegetables boiled into a hearty soup. Across the room, Fen's left eye had a dark purple ring, and Ton's lip was swollen and busted, clearly struggling to hold the hot soup in his mouth.

They ate and chatted, a lot of the conversation coming from the ramblings of his mother. She mentioned the twin's injuries but didn't ask how they came about.

Aunt Losa boked from the kitchen "You shoulda hit em' harder Beaux!" Everyone laughed, except the twins who just scowled.

At the end, the bowls were gathered and Beaux started scrubbing them in the sink then passing them to Kandy to dry.

"I'll take this over if you bring supper out to Uncle Less." Dona said from behind him.

Beaux tensed. Then relaxed his shoulders and turned to face her.

Dona was the picture of a maiden, fresh and beautiful. Her pregnancy made her glow in the fire light. She hadn't changed since she was seventeen, even through two pregnancies. She was petite, but her shoulder always remained strong and squared back. She had a bowl in her hands, steam rising from it with the smell of hearty soup.

"Alright." He said, setting down the washcloth in his hands to reach for the bowl. Kandy silently stared at the two, her eyes darting from the bowl and the pair.