"Milord, the Arkosians have breeched the inner walls! The keep will fall within the hour, you must leave!" "I will not abandon my people, take my wife and son and leave while the tunnels are intact Roland!" "As you command, shall we meet again in the fields of the eternal wilds Milord"
This damn dream again, ever since I was eleven I would have this dream often. The faces are blurry, the scenery is blurry but the voices echo through my mind with an uncanny clarity as if I heard them as they were originally spoken. I open my eyes, wiping the sleep from them as I lift the furs covering my body. I'm on a hunt, the winter season is nearly upon us, as the eldest son and oldest male of the household I have taken it upon myself to do this. Before father died 12 years ago he often took me out to these woods, he called it our own secret spot. My father was a hunter his whole life, and these woods were a hunter's dream. The forest's edge was known to contain dangerous monsters so no one other than mercenaries ever ventured out here, father found a secluded entrance, a spot where monster's did not go. Deep in the woods the game was abundant and I only ever took the minimum of what we needed as was taught to me. I poked my head out of the tent I constructed to check on the temperature, the ground was covered in a light layer of frost, and the air was sharp but calm. The sun hadn't peaked the mountain yet, the perfect time for me to gather my camp and game. It was the third day I was out here, and I had hunted enough wildlife to feed my family for the winter season on top of what was given to us from the Lord of these lands. The furs I would sell half and use the other half for everyday items. I had enough to make my younger brother a cloak just like the one father had made for me. My brother, Albert is four years younger than me at just 16 years of age He's considered a full grown man now so it's time for me to teach him how to hunt.
I begin to wrap the meat I left buried in the ground in the furs I had skinned yesterday, these fit nicely into my bag. The tent would be folded up and rolled into a neat and tightly packed cylinder that would be strapped to the top of my bag. Having it all put up, I slid my arms through the straps and slung the bag on my back, picking up my bow and quiver, I put my arm through the gap of the bow and rested it atop my shoulder with my quiver tucked underneath it. I began my trek back through the woods. Looking around the pine trees were packed densely on either side of the path, with barely enough space between each to just slightly squeeze through. The birds chirped away, communicating to each other that a big ape was stomping underneath their homes, I said to myself laughing at the comedian I think myself to be. The sun finally peaked over the mountain and the warmth of it's light was blissful to my cold nose. The frost that was layered on the ground was slowly vanishing. I reached the exit of the woods and headed east back towards the village, I'll stop by the shop and sell half of these furs.
The village itself wasn't much in terms of wealth or even looks, it was a fairly large village, with stone buildings within the city center and busy taverns all year long. The main trade was farm produce and the ore taken from the numerous mines across the mountains. The village sat in a valley with a river running along the southern edge, to the west a couple of hours laid the forest where I hunt. The Village was called Valenture, though it's nickname, Valen, was used far more often among the inhabitants, the region was known as The Vale, a very original name I thought to myself sarcastically. I reached the main path leading to the village, all around were the farms which were barren due to the change in the seasons. The farmers were mostly done for the season, come a few months from now and the soil will be churned and the fields busy with workers. I reached the village walls and handed the guards my papers identifying me, after a quick check of my bag they let me through. I hate any and every interaction I have with the guards, a few things not widely known in town outside is the fact that this village has two main classes in terms of the populace, of course we have the wealthy and poor class, but there is something else that divides us even more. The people are split by Arkosians and the Zoryians, 300 years ago the Arkosian Empire invaded and defeated the Kingdom of Zorya, after the war the Zoryian people were hunted down and were relocated to this region, The Vale, as a sort of precaution by the Arkosians. For 300 years the Zoryian people have been oppressed and forced to live in this region, if it wasn't for a minister 250 years ago, the Zoryian people would of been completely wiped out. This minister convinced the Arkosian King to relocate them here instead of wiping them out. Zoryians are not allowed to join the guard or Arkosian army unless conscripted to be sent off to fight in the far off wars. My father was conscripted 12 years ago, and died in the Arkosian's war in the far away lands. I was only a child when he was taken and I learned of my heritage. My mother was born an Arkosian but was disowned by her family for falling in love with my father, a Zoryian.
I reached the shop, and put the furs on the counter, "Ah, Eric, went hunting again I see." a deep voice said, his head rising over the counter.
"Of course I did Carl, you know I need to earn a living out here" I said laughing
"Well, as usual I'll buy everything you sell to me, I still owe you for the meat you gave us last month, it was of amazing quality after all." Carl said to me, grabbing a sack of coins.
Carl lightly tossed the little sack of coins my way, catching them I noticed it was light. "Hey Carl, I brought more furs than I did last time yet this sack feels lighter than last time." I said with a surprised tone.
"I'm sorry Eric, the Lord passed a new law while you were away on your hunt, Zoryians are to received half pay on all items they sell." He said, pointing to a guard looking in Carl's shop at me.
"It's fine Carl, I understand the circumstances." I said sighing heavily.
Zoryians don't look any different from Arkosians, though the only way to distinguish us apart is our eye color, for reasons forgotten to time, All Zoryians have purple or orange colored eyes. My eyes stood out the most, for reasons unknown to me I have a mixture of purple and orange, unique even in my own family whereas my brothers and sister have either purple or orange. I left Carl's shop with my coins and headed towards my home, it was a small stone building near the Eastern gate, before my father died, he bought this home, two floors and an attic, the attic was my room. I knocked one the door and my brother Albert opened it. "Eric! You're finally back!" He said, grabbing my shoulder smiling. While only being 16, he was nearly taller than me, and clearly he would only get bigger from now on. "I'm back now, I have the cuts of meat, put it out to dry for me will ya?" I said grinning ear to ear. "Fine I guess I can since you were gone longer than usual" Albert said, not even trying to hide the look of refusal ridden along his face. I handed off my catch to him and made my way into the kitchen, mother was there preparing a meal. "Mother, I'm back." I sat the sack of coins next to her, using her apron, she wiped her hands and emptied the bag on to the table behind her.
"Seems pretty light this time around, I guess even Carl has to follow the new law?" she said, letting out a quiet sigh as she sat in the chair.
"There was a guard looking in through the window, I could tell he was being watched as he's the only Arkosian who'll do business with us Zoryians properly." I said to her, sitting in the chair across from her.
"Well, I'm just glad you've made it back home safely" smiling kindly towards me as she said it.
I looked around the kitchen and living room, not seeing my sister nor younger brother, I inquired to where they were. "Where's Myra and Fred?".
"You must of just missed them, they were going to stop by Carl's shop to get some extra salt for dinner." Mother said, as the kettle on the stove started screaming. "Let me get that dear, why don't you go and rest for now, food will be ready within the hour." She said tending to the kettle. I stood up and walked towards the stairs leading up, next to the stairs was a table with a drawing of father and his wedding ring that matched mothers. "I'm back father, I hope you kept a good watch over everyone, you can go back to resting now" I said to his picture, gently touching it. I set my bow and quiver down, resting it against the table where father's picture was. I was nearly about to start up the stairs when I heard frantic knocking on our door as if any more would blast it clear off the hinges. I rushed to the door and opened it to see Karla, one of Myra's friends.
"Eric! It's urgent, please hurry Myra and Fred are in trouble, they're being attac-" I rushed out the door before she could even finish that final word, Karla kept up behind me "They're in the alleyway two streets south of Carl's shop!" she said, stopping to catch her breath. I didn't wait, I needed to get there and fast. "Gods, please let them be okay, let me get there in time!" I prayed in my mind. I ran and ran as fast as I could, I could finally hear Myra's cries for father and mother, I rounded the next street and was in full view of the alley way. What I saw, sent me into a rage, sat against the wall was Carl, his glasses were broken and laying on the ground, his nose bleeding, as if it was broken. Fred was next to him with a slash would on his chest and a pool of blood coming from a stab wound on his thigh. Not too far from them was Myra, her clothes were torn and two guards were there attempting to assault her. I grabbed the knife I kept in a sheath on my lower back and instinctively ran straight to the guards attacking my sister.