Announcement

"Hello everyone!" Chimmed Randel when he opened the church doors looking at the crowd. But His eyes started to wander trying to find his beautiful woman, but a few women made their way to him too quickly making his charming smile falter for a moment. It wouldn't be a lie to say he was disappointed that Sophia never tried to gain his attention like these easy woman who were so willing to make his bed warm every night.

"Randel! I heard about what occurred yesterday!" One said placing their hand on his shoulder giving the head councilman a big grin.

"Yes! How blessed are we to have you as the head councilman!" Came another comment as many in the village began to give him praise.

"Yes." Randel chuckled removing the hand of the lady who had tried to gain some contact with the handsome man. "Well I am only doing my duty to serve you all. It is the reason I serve in the council."

"We don't deserve you!" Giggled a married woman who's husband seemed annoyed at the attention she gave the councilman. She was a petite blonde her twirled her hair with her finger as her eyes hungrily looked upon Randel which only made the man smirk.

The rumors Randel spread that day seemed to finally gained him more popularity making his smile widen knowing how easy his life would be manipulating the people in this small village.

Clearing his throat trying to gain attention from everyone, Randel looked around once more finally gaining the attention he craved from Sophia. She stood with a worried expression which was endearing to his eyes. But once she caught his eyes, a frown formed on her face making something inside him sigh with irritation. He only yearned to have her look at him with a bit more admiration…

"I'm sure many of you are curious why we requested a town meeting. If you all could make your way into the church and sit down along the chairs, I would appreciate it." Randel spoke while keeping his eyes locked with the dark hair beauty who didn't seem happy.

He then turned walking back in the church with an angry expression at how Sophia detested him. Perhaps he made a mistake grabbing her so roughly and forcing her to follow him, but she tried to defy him and question him while he only did good for her well being.

He was ahead of the people and none could see his eyes burning with rage as he swept his hand through his dark hair trying to regain his composure.

The group of people followed the man quickly dividing into the church sitting down anxiously waiting to hear the news while Randel finally turned around on the stage with the rest of the council noticing all the wondering eyes of the village people.

"Do you think it has to do with Randel trying to save that woman?" Sophia heard someone say a couple seats ahead of her.

"Maybe he's being honored!" The one next to her commented with a small giggle.

Sophia rolled her eyes looking to Martha who sat next to her. "Somehow the news of my mother dying doesn't seem to affect anyone the way it affected me."

"The priorities of these people is insane." Martha mumbled scowling at the things she overheard as well. "Instead of mourning a member of our people, they are too busy trying to gain favor from the councilman."

"Thank you for gathering on such short notice." Came a loud voice from the stage of the man who insulted Sophia earlier during her questioning. Immediately Martha and Sophia sat quietly in their chairs waiting for the news.

All the voices began to hush not wanting to miss what the councilmen were going to say. This was the first town meeting in quite some time.

"We have come across some things concerning the picking and the seer. We wish to talk these things by you all and listen to your opinions. We have come to a point were we are considering that it may be time to reconsider the way our ancestors started the village." Another councilman said noticing the crowd whisper in confusion.

No one spoke for a long time as the council sat looking upon the villagers watching them intently. But finally, a third councilman stood up raising his hands to silence the whispers that were now beginning to grow louder.

"What about the hunt?" Came an manly voice toward the end of the church making Randel smirk as he loved seeing his own council struggle under pressure.

Sophia recognized the man in the crowd as someone who lost his daughter the year before to the Wolfmen. He seemed lonely since the lost of his girl. He had several sons which only made his daughter hold a special place in their home.

"Ahh. Mr. Spein, we are concerned about how the hunt is affecting our people as a whole. It seems to be bringing a deep rooted fear within the community and we are growing concerned."

"You just barely decided this?!" The man yelled still mourning the death of his only daughter. "What finally got you to pay attention to it? The fact that your own children are almost of age?"

The councilman flinched at the anger Mr. Spein threw at him. It was true that many of the children the councilmen had were close to the age of the picking and maybe Randel had presented this toward them.

"I can assure you this is not a personal matter. We are here to discuss the thoughts you all have with how we do the picking."

"It's murder!" Someone else yelled in the crowd. "It's always been murder. It's something that should never had started!"

"It's something made by the Gods! Don't insult their laws!" Someone countered. "This is an insult to them by even questioning their ways!"

Suddenly arguments started to emerge in the room and began to become heated. Half of the town were supporters of the picking, while others secretly wanted the hunting season to be dissolved.

"Enough!" Came the command from the councilman. "This isn't a time to argue amount ourselves! We are here to see if the picking has become corrupt!"

Silence entered the room making some open their mouths without words coming out.

"Corruption?" Someone said a bit too loudly. "Did we never have to enter the deadly woods? Did someone force this upon us?"

Sighing and rubbing the side of his head, the councilman spoke again.

"We have grown concern as a council about the seer woman picking the girls for the hunt. There are some rumors she is working for the Wolfmen themselves."

Some women gasped at the thought. Others in the room began to whisper curious at how the council came to hear these so called rumors.

"So what does this mean? That our daughter died for no reason?!" Came an angry voice from the mother of another deceased girl who died in the hunt a couple years earlier. "You didn't listen to our cries when we begged for her life!"

"What your saying is against the skies!" Someone yelled again. "To speak against the seer is completely wrong!" They continued defending their beliefs in the people.

Another argument began among the people making Randel smile. He knew it wouldn't be too easy convincing the entire town, but they were too stupid to notice what was happening right in front of them.

Suddenly Randel's eyes locked once again with Sophia who was frozen in her seat. His sweet smile only made goosebumps form along her arms knowing Randel was doing this all for his own purpose.

"We agree that the skies designs the picking to protect the village, but we are curious if it's time to stop this tradition due to all the sadness it brought to our kind." Randel stepped in noticing how the people weren't taking well to the news.

"We will anger the gods!" Someone dared to shout even though no one argued with Randel Santi.

"I believe the gods are angry if someone is trying to bring down our species. I don't see what purpose they have for killing us." Randel spoke clearly making some look at him question it.

"What do you mean?" Mr. Spein asked still not happy with the whole discussion. The idea that his daughter was a year too late only made him angrier with the council.

"I am speaking about the seer being corrupt with the sacrifice." Randel said simply making the whole room almost faint.

But Randel was unfazed looking around with a superior attitude.

"That's a very serious accusation!" Someone shouted near Sophia. "She was chosen by the gods to guide us!"

Randel didn't seem worried over the reactions as he glanced toward his father who reluctantly walked forward facing the crowd. The elder Santi frowned looking once more toward his son noticing the darkness beginning to form around him.

With a heavy sigh, Randel's father faced the crowd knowing he would have to speak. Although Randel had learned an interesting detail about Tallkin Red, his father knew he would twist it and make his life hell if he didn't agree completely with his useless son. And with that thought, the man closed his eyes not able to face the people honestly.

"My son has brought the issues to the council making us all believe that the blind woman does not care for our best interest. As sad as it may sound, we may be hurting our daughter because of her so called wisdom. It may be time to stop this tradition."