"Mattu! I need you with those sticks!" Mother's aggravation has little to do with what he did wrong. He was back before she could tell him off for it. The log seats around the centre hearth brimming of older siblings and his father. His grandmother and mother over the centre sweated away the clay pottery. Little tough hands he uses with stuffing the many dry twigs into the white embers. There is pockets of air stocking heat and the rare little pop from breaking moisten stick ends. The chatter of the harder working mouths making predictions of harvest from passing bird flocks and creatures returning from hibernation.
"Mattu! You need to get back on grain crushing." He was to young and weak for any other chores and had not the skills for framer work. He was also a runt, there is plenty daughters and sons that did all the other things better. The sisters were the ones whom kept the cow well and milked.
The only slightly older then him was normally the stick gatherer, recently broken a leg bone from learning to horse ride. They swapped jobs for the past several moons phases, he wished he could keep he job of stick gathering. It been so nice away from the stuffy fire, smelly animals and loud mouthy women. He was good at the thing that he was forced to do which was crushing grains for the husk removal... just easier for milling the stone later for other other young brother. In having changed jobs for the healing process of the slightly older had meant that they had no bread for that long. The stews were harder to eat without bread.
He makes no fuss or complaints. Bread was about work and effort. Every loaft was a testament to the years framering and small processing steps each member makes into making it. Family houses had thier own breads and each was unique. It were down to how each family treated their grains in order to make a flour amount. The ratio of flour, water, home craft beer, milk, and extras was the biggest factor. Nothing was thrown away if it had a use. Husks from grain were removed and barrelled with hot water over night. It made the only safe drink a poor man can have. The nice stuff was made into something special or traded with other family circle houses. If it had that wow factor, it be put forwards to the landlord as rent.
"We need proper flour and you husk removal techniques is way better then others. Get on it." Mattu nods with taking it to the bowled stone and the perfect stone crusher.
He crushed five grains at a time, speeding up in a rhythm that had him recalling the sounds of birds in the morning... the rhythm they sing to. At the point of a pattern, he tips the bowl empty and returned crushing. He is quick plucking with making sure inner grain and outer husk was separated in the pour out. He is ignored for the rest of the early morning. By mid morning there is enough of husks and inner grain cores to work with. The barrel casket for the husk to be tipped in was ready and the core grain was fed through the milling stone his older stronger sibling rolls. He learns in watching each sibling there jobs, aware he could have to do it too.
He may not like the sounds of talking. When the farm field workers are gone for the day, it were simply the gaggle of mostly women and the youngest four. The older sisters looked after the hardest chores, like animal keeper. The next set from them made food preservatives and thread making. Grandmother worked the weave for cloth making, she taught every daughter and granddaughters. The ones left were food preparations, house maintenance, cleaning and bread making.
This moon phase was the busiest time... church on the starting day of the week was always making warnings of snowy times coming and the religious dawning if we do not prayer on the day of Lords name. This need to prayer to some a dude that was nailed to sticks is almost rather wrong. Why would God care about us praying to the guy that was nailed to stick then prayer to the God himself? But alas he is only the young child of the poor farmer family of 19 living. Everyone else but him seem really strung about this religious stuff.
He can't complain to much. He loves it when people gather to sing. This moon phase was the most blessing of music, good or not. The hard work of clacking weave, the splatter of the mud down on the repairing walls and the rhythm of stone beating grains: he could drown out the sound of voices and listen really hard to the outside easier. He could hear the scratches of the red furred squirrels at work at hiding food for the colder times ahead. The leave of migration birds like goose and house tail swallow. Being a farm came the pest of them all... ravens. They caw and coo in their murders, taking the mice population and grain in their wake.
"You three find some roots with you sister. We also need willow bark for your fathers back problems. Don't get caught or never tell. Tell and we all be dead. Can't afford any coopers, silvers, half's or gold for getting caught." Nods and making sure to have things left in a way to not cause issue. The past few days especially that the husk have the spilt across the floor. We can taste it in the beer.
The sneak out of village sight and timing hold long that each child is missing from adult knowledge for is hardest parts. Two children will be scuessful at following instructions and not getting caught. Mattu was never trusted to be wise enough for anything but adult watching. The of course he being so young mean the second oldest of the four needed to make sure that Mattu hide from the adults while on watch for them. Reassurance that the youngest is doing his job and thar any slacking of watching wasn't faulted by the second oldest being g vigilant too.
The second oldest was caught by forest watchers. With refusal to speak name or tell what family they came from; because only the 'wealthy' were allow here. Another dead one. This child lost their life.
It will be not to big a detriment for children to die, if it were for theving from woods then the invisible demons did. The demons that make the body hot and grow lumps or make blood appear in coughs. Children were lucky to live to marry age. Its why the farmer family was so big, more hands that died during winter normally. It makes that prayer stuff so stupid. Prayer didn't do anything from grandfather.
"It will only be us three." Mattu quick to sneak them out the forest, making sure the sacrifice were not in vain. They did get home, they don't need to say anything. Stealing from the forest is always a risk the young could take. Not coming back was normal.
The lunch was scraps... and Mattu had the worst of it. Nothing was wasted, if he didn't then it was given to the pig on the leash outside... which was only allowed in of it was the absolute cold. It were a life savour to keep warm, as was the other animals. Fire could never be kept up enough for everyone. The sacrifice of smell for warm was worth it around these long nights and short days.
"Bell rings and there a crowd at the village stone stand." A runner shouted at the door. Everyone is up and takes it seriously. This sort of thing was when fame, wealth or religion wanted to speak to a crowd. Mattu was very hungry today... and that more tired for the lack of energy. He were the last child to leave the house.
Although... it were perfect for him to take the bird toy he been making from feathers. A sort of thing made from a wet clay core, a new feather added to it each time he finds a nice one. It looked real, he great at making it. He does not mean to take it with him, but he wanted to add the new feather before he had no time or forgot. He used his lunch for this sort of thing. This gathering was just a time waster. He carries it along and mixed in just fine.
A strange mix of nobility with some sale swords to protect them. The one whom spoke was demanding any volunteers for fox hunting... looking for grubby loud kids to scare the foxes out for the dogs. There isn't any regard for kid safety, never was. It were boring with how the folks had to be forced to shave kids for sacrifice. He wasn't among them to get got.
The squeal of a hunting bird lands on the glove hand of a gentleman among them. A beautiful bird... only royalty would own one. That fact alone meant they all are meant to be bow. Why is no one bowing?
Mattu doesn't want to be beheaded for such ignorance... making the only person anywhere whom bows that low. The clay bird at his front, dropped in his panic to bow. The folks around were confused but they all did soon follow. The hood lowers of the royal... whom knew exactly that started this bow. He didn't intent to be found out so easy. He wasn't even wearing anything that made him anything special.
"Boy with the feathers. Come with us." Mattu bows even more into the dirt with agree but so afraid to speak. He takes his clay bird with in following orders. No one even his own parents aren't to argue royal demands, "Have the boy to my saddle." A sword fella picks Mattu up, a little freaked with how light weighted the child is. The hood back up and the horses moved on... Mattu looking at the area from this height advantage. Looking at tree canopy for interesting birds, sort of smile if he does seen one. The royal makes his own notes on why a child worked out he was royal when others would assume he was just fancy no one.
"You bowed first... why?" Mattu shivers scared with recalling why he is riding a horse with a stranger.
"Your bird, sir. Its rare for just anyone to tame one." Bowed nod in speaking small. Head scruffs for answering.
"My bird huh... you like birds." He has a relief about it, it were just a kid with a nack for bird watching.
"I love birds, sir. There are so many. They all shapes and make so many sounds. But there is one bird I haven't figured yet. It's why I got into watching birds." Bows with being silent again, embarrassed for speaking so passionately and out of turn. This was royally and his talking birds like some equal. That was not society acceptable, "So sorry for speaking without being asked." The fella chuckles with messing up hair of the kid more.
"What is so special about this one bird?" He let's Mattu continue talking.
"Well... It... I have only seen the silhouette of this massive bird. There are features of it that seem different. When I try to look right at it, it is gone and something always happens that day. I seen it this morning... and now one my siblings is missing. I not blaming the bird. It was around when grandfather left us. It was around when we had baby calf born. Clearly it means to tell things. I just want to see it... Must be a strange and beautiful bird." Mattu pouts with looking at the trees, "I have been looking for it. I were comparing feathers I find. I been listening to for any sounds it would make. It a silent sort... only when the wings flutter away does any sound ever be heard. I seen land in places... soundless. I had even looked up trees of the branches it sat on... trying to understand how a massive bird lands in utter silence. It just... doesn't make sense. It can't be my imagination... I would never dreamed of it before I met it."
"This bird sounds very strange and very special. You learned bird calls, breed types by just feathers and you can recognize small noises from a distance. Someone so talented should get a job that uses such skills." The sad sigh of Mattu.
"No... I know I would never be that lucky. There has to be a trade off... sort of thing. To give up something for such luck. Poor family like mine... I will be milling grain until the day I die." Mattu peers around, "Hey... there are people ahead."
"Stop!" Everyone stops short of whatever it were to be. The move of armour plate men coming out from trees, "Who are you?" Mattu sees shadow of dark caws landing nearby... A whole murder. Mattu snatched the reign of the horse and kicks the side. The horse startled storms into the forest depths... the two of them lost away from the ambush.
There was bow arrows shot that crashes the man and him off the saddle... the walling of the injured horse loud. Mattu is quick to make the horse a shorter less pain death, stealing the dagger from the royal belt.
He quick to scramble them both up, scared and just running. He uses every trick of his learned years to throw the chase off track. He doesn't really care about the royal guy however its nice meat shield from more arrows. Zig zag path to confuse and not make easy arrow shots. Tree cover as much as possible.
They tumbled tired upon a hollowed and fallen tree, a water stream babbles near and plenty of new layer sticks for any foot tracking.
"I am so sorry for taking your dagger. The horse would have alerted more swords our way and... suffer less now." The royal takes the dagger back after wipping it on the kids cloths, "Someone with light feet and a bow is following us." there is pause with listening and waiting. He shivers scared with posing for silence as the archer is walking softly in light shuffle. A nearby flutter of wings and a falling tree branch crashing down. That hurt it had for being shot... the archer rushing up looking around. I stop he royal from running. Holding his mouth shut, listening. The distant aggravation of someone's temper, kicking about leaves and more things. They move away... quietly. Mattu poses with asking the royal to stay put... Sneaking peak around.
Mattu rushes over to a arrow shot bird. It was still alive but injured. In his care, removed the arrow... carries both bird and arrow back to the royal.
"The archer left... but its not safe yet. We can't go anywhere yet. Here... because I don't know anything about stuff. But my village chief tells us that arrows can tell a story. If a poor man made it, it be rough and a terrible way to murder humans. A good arrow with a metal cast can be a lifetime of shooting." The royal takes the arrow and thinks about it, "Why use arrows when you have them loud banging sticks?"
"Thats a good question." Mattu looks to the bird and is gentle to carry to the water. Washing the injuries. He carries it everywhere with herb finding and ties grass blades into bandages. He pets it gently and it hugs him for protection. He goes back to the royal whom thinks about things, waiting about.
"What do you want to do? If you go back to your men... Well... regardless of which sides wins. It going to be a lot of dead poeple. I don't think it a good thing." Mattu sighs, "The crows normally don't stick around in a group close to humans unless there was meat on offer. They are clever. If you murder a lot... leave meat around a lot... they remember and follow you. They were getting excited when you spoke up, ready to eat." Mattu is nervous again... his talking to royalty and had forgotten his place again. The bird in his arms bites him... he doesn't flinch in pain or cause trouble for them. He listens again. More wings. The royal lifts his arm and lands his bird.
It has a note on the leg. That things were stable but to not return back at where we were. Something about meeting somewhere else. Change of plans. The royal was nervous now. The bird shadow was not the shape of the bird on his arm... didn't even match at all. It was strange. Mattu peers watching the silhouette with trying to work it out. If it was a light trick. The is something else he notice about the floor. A birds dinner was dropped here... a rabbits foot. He picks it up and fed it to the crow his trying to heal. It coos so happy to be thought of.
"I can get us back to village... I don't know what from there. But I have a good feeling about it." The royal sighs in some more thoughts, "Clearly its a gods mission to see you safe, sir. Must be a blessing." The royal looks to Mattu confused, "It just lucky that such a big branch from above broke from this little crows landing... That a some miracle. The timing... and the way it covers out mudd foot prints."
The Royal raised a brow to this notice. Looking at the area and how close it was for the archer to come... their prints not so fair from the fallen branch. The branch was old... and dead sure but in looking up and where broken force branches. Quite a heavyweight to accomplish. A miracle that a crow a boy is able to carry could have cause a branch crash. Yet... it were the truth, shot in the wing for cause the distraction.
"You aren't wrong... Bless the gods." Mattu tilted confused. Gods? He heard that right, right? Twisted tilts of looking to the birds, silhouette and the royal.
"They been trying to teach about being only one." He voiced the confusion. The royal laughs with how much the kid looks like a bird right now, prefect mockery of confusion. The mood it light enough.
"If you can get us back to the village... I can work out the rest." Mattu nods.
"Dont let your bird fly away. The folks with arrows might hurt it too. Plus... they would find us easier. A hunter like yours circles prey in the sky... the folks would use that against us. I don't want to see another injured..." The royal understands with patting shoulder. This hunter climbs gently over on him, Eyeing around. The crow, although injured on the other shoulder, watching, "We should walk in the water... until to deep. Dogs will not follow our smell that easy. Distracted by the water current." The royal although not happy, walks as the kid does. Following the babbling stream. There was nothing for ages but then a sign of forest watchers.
They duck a normal hiding place... Quick to run for the barn and slip around. Through into the house, Mother gasps in now for the roy walking in unannounced.
"No please stand. I can't be seen." There is quick act of shaving us both over to storage spot. Sure enough the timing was perfect with the village gathering... announcement of the hunting party being attacked. A clay feather bird being recovered and asked about it.
"Its our sons... He was among those volunteered to scare foxes." My father shouting utterly loud, he was shouting for our benefit, "How did you lot know if you never been here? This clay bird could been from anywhere and you weren't from before." A crow creaks in the follow of his mother screaming... Matru press the royal to stay hidden. A hero royal is not... Death will come if he goes. There was many whom spoke up details... they to slain. Beggers... slain. They wiped put the village. Screaming people. Mattu makes royal pants hold the birds and he make checks. He made it to sneak to a barn owned by someone else... taking tools and things. He manage to steal a horse from one these strangers that kill. He had almost got the royal out of here. He has his left arm shot with a arrow as they managed to get away. He pouts with the 'should have expected it with the crow here', mirror injuries.
Far enough that the big hunter flew off. The crow and Mattu sleeping in the arms of the royal. So focused with horse handling for now. Talking to themselves it seems. Hooting of owls mixing with bugs and thudding hooves.