"Is this all there is of the village ruling system". Mikeal commented, sitting at the head of the table surrounded on both sides by the elders.
On his right is the leading elder and one other elder not as old as the leading elder. On his left, he has Vincent alone. A total of three when he was pretty sure he called out five jurisdictions.
Standing behind Mikeal is Anna. He had asked her to take a seat but she refused saying it was her duty to stand by his side. Of course, Mikeal wasn't going to start an argument with her over that.
Also, 'Should Vincent be present at a time like this?!'. Mikeal mused in his thoughts.
He doesn't need to have Vincent speaking before he knows what is going through his head. The death glare from where he sat is more than enough.
"Our village is but a small one with dwindling numbers. We do not have a specific role assigned to specific members. Instead, we all chime in doing the best we can in areas that we can". The elder leader explained.
"Vincent is here to act as the security head in the village. Elder Robert here represents the youths, or rather the old youths of the village. And I Elder Burke am here on behalf of the entire village".
No doubt the village is on the tiny side with a population in the hundreds. They have no able-bodied adult, most of them probably in their late seventies. The so-called elder youth representative is a prime example. No way is he below the seventy range and he gets picked as a youth-adult representative.
The ones Mikeal can look to for help are still in their growing phase, teenagers around his age. They are the next best promising thing to look forward to in this village but even they can be of no help currently.
The only one viable for work and such is Vincent, the only capable adult in the village.
"I don't get it. There are children in the village, adult women that are no more. Shouldn't that mean that there are also supposed to be available adult males".
Mikeal assessed the situation from the current standpoint. The village population is not that much, and the teenagers are the ones occupying the majority.
Said teenagers?! Wouldn't they have come from somewhere? Like, say two opposite genders coming together to carry out the process of baby delivery?!
The available males are too old and as unfortunate as it sounds, Mikeal doesn't want to assume the females were impregnated by the old male counterpart.
Even assuming that some of the old male counterparts decide to still function in their old days, it's not going to be all of them. There had to be at least some adult males present that are also responsible for leaving behind the teenagers.
'Could it be?! Did Vincent alone take on that role?!'. He presumed, stealing a glance at Vincent.
Mikeal hurriedly turned his head away as Vincent had caught him staring with such thoughts in mind.
'That can't be it. Even with how energetic he is, making a whole lot of those teenagers is too much of a task for him'. Mikeal convinced himself otherwise.
'Vincent looks to be about at most in his early thirties and those teenagers are around my age. Saying he made them is the same as saying he started baby production when he was around fifteen plus'.
'Right, definitely not possible to make that many at that age'. He added with a frequent nod, ignoring the eyes of those looking at him like he was going to say something.
"The lord is right. Our village was once blessed with capable youths around". Burke interjected.
He snapped Mikeal out of his thoughts with his explanation, causing him to pay attention.
"The neighbouring lord took some of our youths to enlist them in their military ranks. And the others? We lost while they were trying to procure food inside Eworin wilderness".
"Neighboring lord?... Who's that".
"It is Count Grayad of Khetis County". Elder Robert answered Mikeal's deep-thought question.
"A count?! I don't get it. Why would a count be taking your youths and leaving you with nothing".
Mikeal could consider it a necessary procedure if the goal was to weaken the village so they wouldn't grow enough to subdue the county.
Lords taking over the territory of one another is a very common tradition in Emedia. Two lords quarrel, face each other and the winner gets to swallow the land of the loser leaving them with nothing.
But this village is different. Without the count's intervention, the village is well on its way to ruins and never will it be able to gain enough might to deal with a county.
So therefore there is no logical reasoning or purpose to achieve by stripping the village of their abled men.
"We do not question the count's order. In response to taking our youths he presents us with grains to survive on". Vincent exclaimed, grumbling at his words.
'He gives them grain as a show of goodwill and appreciation for taking away their youths, but that's not it at all'. Mikeal thought.
By giving them what they desperately need and taking from them what could give them a better future, the count has painted himself as a generous and bountiful man.
He makes them think he entered a fair trade with them, one without his authority forcefully vested in them.
'The count must have done that to prevent the youths from rebelling and obediently following him'.
Thinking about it, the youths must have given up hope. Despite trying all they could to fend for the village their efforts proved futile.
But then came the appearance of the count who offered them their cravings in return for their services.
It looked like a choice but it wasn't. The count had the upper hand entirely.
'A shredded man he is, the count'. Mikeal mused.
"Argrgh! I will be damned to do this. I can't keep up with this. No, I won't". Vincent yelled.
"I would rather be castrated a thousand times than sit at the same table with you".
He got up and stormed out of the room with fury.
"My lord. Forgive Vincent for his insolence". Burke pleaded. He tried to call him back but Vincent did not pay him any heed.
"It's fine. More importantly, I have to find a way to deal with Count Grayad and to collect my subjects back from his grasp". He says.
"It's the only way I can see any hope of elevating the status of this village". He added.