Chapter 1: Part 3
The spring weather was fine, a cool breeze swept through the plains and the trees were already draped in their new leaves after laying barren through the harsh winter months. Edwin splashed the frigid water all over his body, reeling as the ice cold stung but also jarring him awake. Their abode was a humble one, a meager cottage of thatch and mud bricks on their own acre of farmland left to them by their parents. It has been hard, after the plaque claimed both, Marista was the only one he had left that saw to their needs, though there was a distant uncle that sometimes appear to provide them with the essentials. Edwin contemplated this, it was a long time and he was only a little lad back then but he remembered crying out tears when they were buried by the large oak tree near to their farm plot, but they learnt to accept it over time and now life wasn’t easy but they were making do.
Wiping off the last of the water from his body, he put on his tunic and pants and started walking across the paved walkway that leads from their cottage to the outer gates marking the extant of their holdings. As he walked he was working out in his head the work needed to be carried out before the spring rains gather; the frozen soil needed to be ploughed to make way for the new crops, the winter wheat had been stored in the silo and the sheaves needed to be baled for hay and he will have to clear the vegetable plot so Marista can grow the daily greens of spuds, tomatoes, carrots, cabbages and the herbs for their meals, no more corn gruel, Edwin already was growing tired of the mush fro eating it the entire winter along with pickled produce.
Thunk!
Edwin winched and his hand instinctively went to the sore spot at the back of his head. He winched and turned to stare at the culprit, and before their eyes even met he knew it must be Pratley, and his guess was proven true when he was the smiling face of the lad near his age atop the stone wall.
“Hey aren’t you glad to see me?” he jibed. “Or was your mind thinking of Aida again?”
Edwin bent low to grab a fair size rock and let fly at Pratley, but he dodged it easily enough. “Getting slow, how would thy fair maiden think of you, when you can’t even fell a foe in battle, Ed,” Pratley said.
Thunk! The disappearing form of Pratley was soon gone as he tumbled down the wall.
“Nice one,” Prat groaned while massaging his head that appeared from behind the wall.
“Always have a backup ready for the likes of confident fools like you, Prat,” smiled Edwin.
“Truce then, I think this is going to form a bump, you stinker,” exclaimed Prat.
“Serves you right, you started it, so how come you’re out here?” Edwin asked. “My old man been drinking and came up all ranting and drunk last night, figured he’ll be a bloody crank throughout the day so I think I’d come over and see what you’re up to,” replied Prat.
“Just heading to the market for the groceries, you’re welcomed to tag along, but no more sneaky throws you lout, okay?” said Ed.
“Okay, okay! I know when I’m beat, it’d be more fun than just sitting here,” Prat said. “Maybe we can sneak a look at Aria while we’re at it eh?” At that Edwin slouched a little and a fair colour can be seen on his cheeks.
“Come on then, don’t want everyone to steal all the good bits before we get there,” he said and quicken his pace along the road leading to the town of T’san.
Wiping off the last of the water from his body, he put on his tunic and pants and started walking across the paved walkway that leads from their cottage to the outer gates marking the extant of their holdings. As he walked he was working out in his head the work needed to be carried out before the spring rains gather; the frozen soil needed to be ploughed to make way for the new crops, the winter wheat had been stored in the silo and the sheaves needed to be baled for hay and he will have to clear the vegetable plot so Marista can grow the daily greens of spuds, tomatoes, carrots, cabbages and the herbs for their meals, no more corn gruel, Edwin already was growing tired of the mush fro eating it the entire winter along with pickled produce.
Thunk!
Edwin winched and his hand instinctively went to the sore spot at the back of his head. He winched and turned to stare at the culprit, and before their eyes even met he knew it must be Pratley, and his guess was proven true when he was the smiling face of the lad near his age atop the stone wall.
“Hey aren’t you glad to see me?” he jibed. “Or was your mind thinking of Aida again?”
Edwin bent low to grab a fair size rock and let fly at Pratley, but he dodged it easily enough. “Getting slow, how would thy fair maiden think of you, when you can’t even fell a foe in battle, Ed,” Pratley said.
Thunk! The disappearing form of Pratley was soon gone as he tumbled down the wall.
“Nice one,” Prat groaned while massaging his head that appeared from behind the wall.
“Always have a backup ready for the likes of confident fools like you, Prat,” smiled Edwin.
“Truce then, I think this is going to form a bump, you stinker,” exclaimed Prat.
“Serves you right, you started it, so how come you’re out here?” Edwin asked. “My old man been drinking and came up all ranting and drunk last night, figured he’ll be a bloody crank throughout the day so I think I’d come over and see what you’re up to,” replied Prat.
“Just heading to the market for the groceries, you’re welcomed to tag along, but no more sneaky throws you lout, okay?” said Ed.
“Okay, okay! I know when I’m beat, it’d be more fun than just sitting here,” Prat said. “Maybe we can sneak a look at Aria while we’re at it eh?” At that Edwin slouched a little and a fair colour can be seen on his cheeks.
“Come on then, don’t want everyone to steal all the good bits before we get there,” he said and quicken his pace along the road leading to the town of T’san.
posted by Kervin @ 1:40 am
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