Seeds of rebellion

Elia and the other girls covered their mouths, trying desperately to hold back the nausea. The sight of such gruesome carnage was too much for them. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, their lifeblood seeping into the dirt, and the stench of death hung heavily in the air. The once-green grass was now matted with blood, and the trees around them seemed to close in, as if sharing in their horror.

"Stop overreacting. It's just a little blood," Thorton said with a shrug, clearly surprised by their sudden reaction. His voice was gruff, almost dismissive, as he led the group forward. The crunch of their boots against the dirt road was the only sound that broke the eerie silence.

As they moved further along the path, the surroundings began to change. The wild, untamed forest gave way to more orderly rows of trees, and the brush was sparse, making it easier to see the path ahead. Time seemed to pass quickly as they continued, and soon they began to see the outline of a village in the distance. A large expanse of farmland spread out before them, with golden crops swaying gently in the breeze. The fields were a sea of orange, the color deep and rich, as if the earth itself had been dyed with the blood of the fallen.

Elia felt a wave of peace wash over her as the cool summer breeze caressed her face. The warmth of the sun on her skin brought back memories of her childhood—days spent running through these very fields with her friends, their laughter echoing in the air. She could almost hear it now, mingling with the rustling of the wheat.

"This is it… this is my home," Elia whispered, her voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and longing. She hadn't realized how much she had missed this place until now, standing on the threshold of her past.

Thabis moved first, his steps purposeful as he took charge of the expedition. As the leader, he felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He always hated being far from home, and the sooner they could get this over with, the better. But even he couldn't ignore the beauty of the farmland around them, the promise of life and sustenance in every stalk of wheat.

The group continued along the road, their presence drawing the attention of the villagers. Suspicious eyes followed their every move, the people wary of newcomers. It was rare to see strangers in this part of the kingdom—nobody willingly came to this remote village, and those who did often had little reason to stay.

"Come, follow me," Elia said, her voice low but firm. "Don't mind their gazes. They're cowards; they won't do anything that would put them in harm's way."

Thabis nodded, understanding the truth in her words. A confrontation too early on would only harm their chances of recruiting any of the villagers. They needed to be careful, to approach the situation with diplomacy rather than force.

As they moved forward, Elia's eyes scanned the familiar landscape, searching for the house she once called home. Her heart raced as they approached a small, weathered cottage on the outskirts of the village. Children were playing outside, their laughter carrying on the breeze, a stark contrast to the tension in the air.

"Sister, is that you?" A little girl with wide, tear-filled eyes ran towards Elia, her small arms outstretched. She threw herself at Elia, hugging her tightly and sobbing into her tunic. "I missed you so much! How could you leave me?"

Tears welled up in Elia's eyes as she hugged her sister back, feeling the weight of guilt and sorrow pressing down on her. "I'm so sorry, little one. I missed you too, more than you could ever know." She stroked her sister's hair, trying to soothe her, but the pain in her heart was too great. She had left her family behind, and seeing the effect it had on them was almost too much to bear.

Thabis watched the reunion from a distance, feeling a strange sense of longing. He had never really had a family, being an orphan taken in by the kingdom to be trained and used. The emotions swirling around him—love, relief, sorrow—were foreign to him, yet they stirred something deep within. This is what family was all about, he realized. A bond that was unbreakable, no matter the distance or the time apart.

Elia reluctantly pulled away from her sister, her eyes scanning the yard for the rest of her family. She spotted her mother through the open door, busy in the kitchen, fixing a meal. Her father sat in a chair nearby, his shoulders slumped, his face etched with lines of worry and grief. He looked as if he had aged years since she had last seen him, the spark of life in his eyes dimmed by the weight of her absence.

"Mom, Dad, I'm back. It's me, Elia, your daughter," she called out, her voice trembling.

Her mother turned at the sound of her voice, the plate she was holding slipping from her fingers and shattering on the floor. In an instant, she was at Elia's side, her hands shaking as she inspected her, searching for any sign of injury. "Honey, it's her! Our Elia! She came back! I told you she wasn't dead," her mother cried out, tears streaming down her face.

Her father stood slowly, his movements stiff and uncertain. "Elia… Is it really you?" His voice cracked with emotion as he took a hesitant step towards her. "You know, I blamed myself for your disappearance. I should have been the one to go and forage for food. I'm the man of this house. It should have been me." He paused, his body shaking as he broke down in tears. "But you were just so eager to help…"

Elia couldn't bear to hear him talk like this. Each word was like a knife to her heart. "Dad, stop. I'm home now. I'm okay. We're all okay," she said, trying to comfort him. She placed a hand on his arm, squeezing it gently.

Thornton, who had been watching this emotional scene from afar, shifted uncomfortably. He never really cared for moments like this, seeing them as distractions from the more important matters at hand. "Alright, enough of this. We came here for a reason, you know," he said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Everyone turned to him, surprised by his bluntness, but understanding his point. Elia pulled away from her family's embrace, wiping her eyes. "Mom, Dad, these are the men who rescued me and the other girls from a goblin lair. The big tall one is Thorton, and the other is Thabis."

Her parents looked at the men, gratitude and awe in their eyes. "Thank you," her father said, his voice heavy with emotion. "Thank you for bringing our daughter back to us."

Thabis nodded in acknowledgment, but Thorton merely grunted, his focus already elsewhere. They were welcomed into the house and offered seats, the tension easing slightly as they settled in. Over the next few minutes, Elia and her parents recounted the events that had led to her return—how Robert and his men had rescued her and the others from the goblin lair and brought them to his village in the forest.

"So let me get this straight," her father said, confusion lacing his words. "You were rescued by a group of people who live in the hell of that forest, and you decided to join their village?"

Elia took a deep breath, knowing this would be a hard sell. "Please, trust me. Robert is a great leader. He has ambition. We can be part of something great instead of living in this life-sucking village. We can finally have a future, not just survive day by day."

Thabis stepped in, his voice calm but persuasive. "I have been serving Robert for some time now, and from what I've seen, he is a great and fair leader. He offers protection, stability, and a chance to build something lasting. Your daughter would be safe with us."

Her father's shoulders slumped further, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. He was too weak and powerless to protect his family on his own, and the idea of relying on someone else, someone stronger, was both a relief and a blow to his pride. Finally, he sighed. "If there's someone out there who wants to help, why should I not welcome it?"

But before fully conceding, he had one more question. "Elia, if there are so many crops being grown in this village, why did you have to forage for your own food?"

Elia hesitated, her expression darkening as she recalled the harsh reality of life in the village. "It's the lord of this village," she explained, her voice tinged with bitterness. "He sells most of the crops to the kingdom for his own gain, and the little we do keep goes to him and the wealthy. The rest of us are left to fend for ourselves."

Thabis exchanged a glance with Thornton, a silent understanding passing between them. This was the leverage they needed. If they wanted to recruit these people, the guarantee of food, security, and equality for all would be a powerful incentive.

"Alright," Thabis said, standing up and taking charge once more. "This is what we're going to do. Elia, you and your family take the girls to their families and try to convince them to join us as well. The more support we have, the better."

Elia nodded, grateful for his guidance. "I will. Thank you, Thabis."

Thabis turned to Thornton, his expression serious. "Thornton, follow me. We're going to do some exploring of our own. We need to understand this village better if we're going to win these people over."

The two men stepped out of the house and began walking around the village. The further they went, the more apparent it became how dire the situation was. The villagers they passed were thin, their faces gaunt with hunger. Their clothes were worn and patched, their hands calloused from hard labor. They were a people on the brink of collapse, held together only by the scraps of life they could scavenge from the land.

As they walked, Thabis couldn't help but feel a growing sense of determination. These people needed help, and if Robert could offer them a better life, then he would do everything in his power to make that happen.

After a few minutes, they spotted a tavern up ahead—a small, nondescript building that looked as worn and tired as the rest of the village. But Thabis knew that in places like this, the tavern was often the heart of the community, where information was shared, deals were made, and rumors were born. If they wanted to gather intelligence and spread their own message, this was the place to do it.

"Ready for a drink, big fella?" Thabis asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he glanced at Thorton.

Thornton grinned back, his mood lightening at the prospect. "I never say no to free drinks."

They pushed open the door and stepped inside, the smell of stale beer and sweat hitting them immediately. The tavern was dimly lit, the only light coming from a few flickering candles on the tables. A handful of men sat scattered around the room, drinking and talking in low voices. As Thabis and Thorton entered, all eyes turned to them, the conversations dying down as the villagers took in the sight of the strangers.

"What do you say, big fella? Want me to buy you a couple of drinks?" Thabis asked, keeping his voice casual as he led Thorton to the bar.

Thorton nodded, his eyes scanning the room, taking in the potential threats. "Sure. But make it strong. We've got a long night ahead of us."

They approached the bartender, a middle-aged man with a bald head and a graying beard. He looked up as they approached, his expression wary. "What can I offer you guys today?" he asked, his voice gruff.

"Two cups of beer, please," Thabis replied, placing a silver coin on the bar. "And keep the change."

The bartender's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the silver, but he quickly recovered, nodding as he poured their drinks. "Coming right up."

Thornton leaned against the bar, his massive frame dwarfing the stool beside him. "I didn't know you were so cheap," he said, his tone mocking. "Why offer me a drink and only buy a cup?"

Thabis chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Tough Guy. We're here on a mission, not to get drunk, okay? Just keep your wits about you."

The bartender placed the two cups in front of them, the frothy beer sloshing slightly over the rim. "That'll be ten copper coins," he said, eyeing them curiously.

Thabis pushed the silver coin across the bar, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's stop with the formalities. Tell me everything there is to know about this village."

The bartender hesitated, glancing around the room to make sure no one was listening. Then he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're not from around here, are you? What do you want with this place?"

Thabis took a sip of his beer, keeping his expression neutral. "We're interested in the well-being of the people here. We've heard rumors about how hard life is in this village, and we want to know the truth."

The bartender studied them for a moment, weighing his options. Finally, he sighed, lowering his voice further. "Life here is hard, no doubt about that. The lord of this village squeezes us for every bit of coin and crop we have. Most of the food we grow goes straight to the kingdom, and what's left is barely enough to keep us alive. People are starving, and those who try to speak out are silenced."

Thabis nodded, his suspicions confirmed. "And what about the lord himself? What's his story?"

The bartender snorted, his expression darkening. "Lord Hammond? He's a cruel bastard, that's for sure. He used to be a knight, but after he was injured in battle, the king gave him this land as a reward. He's been bleeding us dry ever since. No one dares to stand up to him, not unless they want to end up like the others."

Thabis exchanged a glance with Thorton, a plan beginning to form in his mind. "What if there was a way out?" he asked, his voice careful. "A place where you wouldn't have to live under the thumb of a tyrant?"

The bartender's eyes widened in surprise, but then he shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. "There's no such place. Not for people like us."

"Maybe not yet," Thabis said, his voice steady and confident. "But there could be. We're building something, a community where everyone is equal and no one goes hungry. We're offering you a chance to be a part of it."

The bartender looked at them, the hope in his eyes tempered by years of disappointment. "And what's the catch?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"No catch," Thabis replied. "Just a promise that if you join us, you'll be treated fairly. No more starving, no more living in fear. Just a chance at a better life."

The bartender was silent for a long moment, his gaze flickering between Thabis and Thorton as he considered their offer. Finally, he nodded, a look of determination in his eyes. "I'll spread the word. But you'd better be serious about this. People here have been hurt enough already."

"We are," Thabis said, finishing his drink and standing up. "We'll be back. And when we are, I hope you'll be ready to join us."

With that, Thabis and Thorton left the tavern, stepping back out into the cool night air. The village was quiet, the only sound the distant rustling of the wheat in the fields. They walked in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts, before Thabis finally spoke.

"This could work," he said, his voice filled with a newfound determination. "If we play our cards right, we could have an entire village on our side."

Thornton nodded, his expression serious. "We just need to make sure we don't screw this up. Robert's counting on us."

"He is," Thabis agreed. "And we won't let him down."

As they made their way back to Elia's house, the moonlight casting long shadows on the ground, Thabis couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This village, these people—they were the key to something bigger. And with Robert's leadership, they could build a future worth fighting for.

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