Eiron straightened, his back protesting heavily. The pale blue midday sun added to the weight with its heat. The weeds didn’t care. Glaring down at them, he sighed in frustration. Crouching down, he cautiously untangled several offending tendrils from the Sulcar plant before ripping the offending weed from the moist soil. The Sulcar stood a bit straighter as he smoothed out the uneven dirt around it. Lifting his gaze, he studied the long rows still left to be tended to.

The glistening of the nearby river stabbed his eyes with its battling reflections. Just as it always did. It held a beauty well worth hours of study, despite the discomfort. During his occasional breaks, it never lost its allure. Tall trees that bordered the oppressive field held the rays of light at bay under their canopies. It was a great relief to lean against their sturdy trunks and simply observe. During one such respite, he took a few moments to watch the other children working their respective plots nearby. How he longed to age out of this cumbersome task.

Each side of the river was lined with crops, the Sulcar leaves mirroring the rich light blue of the water that sustained them. They stretched as far as Eiron could see, only broken by rows of trees here and there, the only indicators of where one person’s land ended and another’s began.

He sighed again. It was only mid-afternoon but the sun always seemed to hang in the sky much longer than it should. The tree digging into his back forced him back fully on his feet. "At least tomorrow is Ortus" he thought; "I wonder what it will be like." He pondered the many possibilities as he walked back out into the oppressive heat. There were still many plants in need of tending.

His back and legs ached as he bent down and resumed his labor. Time stretched on as he let the mindless work -punctuated by a sharp pain now and again- take over his thoughts. A particularly stubborn weed was resisting his efforts to detach it from the fragile Sulcar when a shout caused him to flinch and rip both out of the moist soil. At first, Eiron was dejected, staring at the ruined plants in his hand before his brain caught up to his surroundings. An alert scan didn't reveal anything out of the ordinary until a series of splashes rose above the regular churning of the river to his right.

A glance and the beating of his heart froze in his chest, aching muscles instantly forgotten. Fear and adrenaline made sure of it. After all, an Arcleum was one of the most dangerous beasts around. It climbed up the opposite bank, the water drops looking like tumbling diamonds as they cascaded off its back. They ran in rivulets across its scaly back before finally making the short trip down its legs.

The third and final set of legs were just barely out of the water when it lurched forwards tearing up the loose dirt. Eiron could see Coras sprinting away but the Arcleum had accelerated quickly and was close behind. Dirt and Sulcar both flew as its webbed feet churned through the field. Eiron winced in concern while trying to remember to breathe. The jaw filled with sharp teeth was dangerously close to Coras’s heels. He began to grow a slight lead, likely fueled by terror, given his expression. Eiron was relieved. When he scanned the nearby fields, it looked as if no one was nearby so Coras had no other alternative. In fact, the closest figure was half a mile away on the bridge, completely frozen in place.

Eiron was about to shout in excitement as the Arcleum fell further and further behind. The words died on his tongue as tragedy saw its opportunity to strike. Coras had stumbled and crashed roughly to the ground, panic clearly visible despite the distance. He had quickly regained his feet but now appeared to be moving much slower than before. It was the Arcleum’s turn to gain ground. Eiron glanced down at his hand still clutching the offending weed and its victim. Heart in his throat, he decided it was worth the risk. He shoved both plants into his mouth, dirt and all.

"Deep breaths, be mindful you use the energy rather than it using you" The elder's words resounded in his mind as he bit down, shuddering as his teeth ground together. The Sulcar wasn't bad per se, but the bitter taste cut with the earthy tones of, well earth, certainly didn't make for a pleasant experience. Ignoring the taste, Eiron forced himself to swallow.

A refreshing, cool sensation surged through his body. Muscles relaxed, strained joints loosened again and he straightened up to his full height for the first time in several hours. His eyes alight with a blue tint, he jogged, no, sprinted towards the river. Cold pulses punctuated each step as he sped up, carefully planted a foot, and leapt.

Eiron shot into the air, the water churning below him. Five feet...ten...he seemed to hang in the air, unconsciously attempting to balance with his arms as he cleared the hundred foot distance. He landed hard. The slick riverbank caused one foot to fling off to the side sending him tumbling. Ignoring the mud coating his side, he leapt back to his feet and took stock of the situation. Not much had changed besides the ever-shrinking gap between the two opponents as they sped across the open field.

Not seeing a farming implement laying about, let alone a spear or other random weapon, he spit out a bit of dirt and stem and charged. Setting course, he flew across the ground, trying to avoid the innocent Sulcar plants. However, each step that brought him closer also narrowed Coras's lead over the Arcleum. Seconds blurred by and any passerby would be hard pressed to place a bet one way or another as to who would first reach their target.

The creature leaped towards its prey but so did Eiron. Both feet extended, he crashed into the Arcleum, aiming for the head. Such was its speed that its front shoulder was impacted instead. The blow cracked across the landscape, lizard and human shuddering from the impact. Both fell to the ground, but Eiron had a much softer landing and rapidly recovered.

Disoriented, the Arcleum slowly regained its feet despite one looking somewhat wounded. Unsteadily it took a few steps after the now distant Coras, realized the futility, and turned towards Eiorn. He stood resolute and stared the creature down, a faint hint of blue leaving his deep green eyes. The moment stretched on, neither one flinching. A huff and the Arcleum turned and trundled off towards the water.

Eiron exhaled. The refreshing cold feeling had gone, leaving him drained. In the distance, Coras risked a glance over his shoulder and noticed the danger had passed. Slowing, he paused in astonishment before jogging back to the field.

While he waited, Eiron tried to settle his racing heart and shaking hands. He was far from successful despite the time it took Coras to return and offer a greeting.

"May your prospects prosper. What did you do to scare it off?"

Eiron gave him a grin. "And peace to you as well. I kicked it." He paused, almost as surprised as the creature had been.

"You kicked it?! And that was enough for it to forget about its meal?" He gestured to his thin legs and arms. "Well, maybe more of a snack."

Eiron laughed. "You should have thrown yourself down its throat- look at this mess." he gestured to the myriad of Sulcar plants, roots exposed.

Coras grimaced as he surveyed the disrupted field. "My parents will send me to the Wilds for this." A quick glance upwards: "I won't be able to replant these before dark but there's nothing for it but seeing how many I can save."

Eiron thought about the quarter of his own field still left in need of weeding. He shrugged and began smoothing out the dirt at his feet. "I'll lend a hand. We should be able to save most of them."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Really? But what about yours?"

"They'll be fine, it's just a few weeds."

Coras looked unsure but he didn’t refuse the offer. "How did you get over here anyway? Did someone move the bridge half a mile?"

Eiron studded the plant he had just reseated in its hole intently. "Uh...I ate a Sulcar."

Coras stared at Eiron's bent form, eyes wide. "But...you... that's insane! Don't you know how dangerous they are?"

Eiron fidgeted in embarrassment.

"Last harvest Dekric ate one because of that dare and he almost died!"

"Elder said that was because he didn't use it all up. Just jumping the river took most of it."

"It's still dangerous, not to mention the cost!"

"Well, better that then you end up as an Arcleum's meal."

“I’m sure I would have escaped.” His confident expression faded as the reality of the situation began to sink in. “Well…maybe I would have.”

He stepped closer and reached out his hand. "Thank you." Eiron returned the gesture, hand to forearm.

“I couldn’t just watch and do nothing.”

Coras resumed the replanting and shook his head in disbelief. "Still, a whole Sulcar. What was it like?"

"Like everything we've heard and more. I'm still not quite warm again." He shot Coras a grin. "That jump...it was incredible. I'm just glad that the river isn't any wider."

"Right, the river!" Two pairs of eyes inspected the newly ominous subject. "I'm never going to turn my back on it now."

"I'm surprised that one chased you so far, must have been extra hungry."

"Think it will be back?"

"Hope not! Its leg was hurt pretty badly but that's not a kick I want to make again." Eiron checked his feet. "I think I'll have some bad bruises come tomorrow."

"Well, you do have the day off. But thanks again, Eiron. I certainly would have had more than bruises." They shared a smile and continued on erasing the signs of the encounter.

Over time, the shadows from the forest encroached on the field as the sun touched the horizon. The Sulcar stood in neat rows once more, a single plant missing here or there the only remaining evidence of the struggle. The two young farmers walked along the river towards the bridge, keeping a healthy distance from the edge. Eiron and Coras stepped aside as a group of men with bows made their way across the bridge before they continued on. Crossing over the water, now dark with the dawning of night, they were greeted by a few scattered buildings which marked the edge of the village.

Low huts made from wood and thatch turned more ornate and expansive the further they traveled but still maintained a quaint simplicity. The center of the village held many buildings but only two or three really stood out from the shops and homes scattered along the worn road. Light spilled from the windows, making a scattered piece of art broken only by other passersby as they went about their evening.

In the center square, a group of rough looking individuals stood huddled around one of the supply shops, arguing with the shopkeep. Eiron motioned Coras their way and stepped a bit closer, listening in on the confrontation.

"I'm very sorry but I can't offer more than a few silvers each. We had several gleaners come by just yesterday and I restocked from them."

The leader of the group sighed and adjusted her leather armor. "That's what all the shops are saying, curse our luck." She focused her ire on the youngest member of her group, who was staring in fascination at a blank wall nearby. "If it wasn't for the rookie here and his wet noodle of a stomach we would have been here ages ago!"

"But you're the one who told me to eat those berries!"

The other gleaners suppressed smirks and one coughed, sounding suspiciously like a laugh, while the leader just looked about exasperated. "A couple here and there were supposed to stop your incessant complaining but who eats two pounds of Arespan berries!"

"What? I never complain. If we had more decent food I wouldn't have been hungry in the first place!"

She took a step closer with an abruptly violent expression but a couple of the saner gleaners held her back. Deciding a glare was enough for the moment she shook her head and turned back to the shopkeeper who was now rushing to close the door, looking extremely uncomfortable.

"Uh, looks like closing time. Sorry for...um...don't forget to shop at-." The slam echoed around the quiet square before the normal hum of the town slowly resumed.

One of the others stepped a bit closer. "What if we just go on to the next town? We have enough coin to at least restock our food and supplies."

The increasingly irate woman responded through clenched teeth. "We may just have to. If I lay eyes on that team-" She spit. "-whoever they are. There might be a few less returning from the Wilds. Hey you, boy. Know of any cheap lodgings nearby?"

Eiron looked around but Coras was somehow across the street curiously studying a house foundation.

"Who me?"

"No of course not, I was speaking to the ghost behind you." She stared at him. "Well...do you?"

"Do I…? Oh. My parents have some space they might rent out for the night. It's in a storage shed but it's quite clean."

"Well anything'll beat the Wilds." She dug in a pouch at her side and pulled out a tiny sphere and tossed it more at him then to him. "Here. For the first bit of good news I've had in a week."

With a clumsy catch, Eiron took a moment to inspect it. It was a little over an inch across, but its form was utterly captivating. It reminded him of a snowflake with its patterns, symmetry and beauty. The difference being the extra dimension and slight warmth.

"What's this?"

The gleaners all peered at him, confusion and interest in equal amounts.

"How old are you, boy?"

"Tomorrow is Ortus."

"Oh, well you'll find out soon enough then. Take care to not misplace it if you catch my meaning." She punctuated her warning with a wink. A blank smile was the only response. She just shrugged before continuing, "So where about's this shed? I'm Maris by the by."

Slipping the sphere in his pocket, Eiron gave a half bow and recited the applicable greeting. "My honor to meet you, gleaner Maris. May your prospects prosper and your journeys through the Wilds remain tranquil." He gestured away from the village square. "It's just two streets over."

"Boy, do I look like I care one whit for deference? Lead on."

Minutes later saw Eiron approaching his home, the gleaners arrayed behind him. From the outside, it was of simple design, but it did have a touch more detail than the surrounding homes lining the street. Each one was situated on a decent plot of land as there was much more available the farther towards the fields one lived.

Eiron reached for the latch but paused before opening the door. He glanced over his shoulder and took in the rougher aspects of the group standing a few feet away. "Oh, just a moment please." Sliding the latch open, he slipped inside.

The gleaners looked around before turning to their leader. Ignoring the five gazes, Maris set down her pack before leaning her back against the wooden fence encircling the property. A sigh and a few shrugs later, her team copied her. Besides several strange glances from the passers-by, they were left alone.

Eiron took in the welcome sights of the house and breathed in the familiar scent of Sulcar being processed. Most of it was currently soaking in a deep rectangular pool sunk into the floor along one wall. The rest of the main floor was taken up with several rough tables, strewn with tools, and a kitchen area off in one corner.

His parents were each seated at separate tables, intently focused. The thud of the door closing caused them both to glance up before they quickly resumed their tedious dissecting. Each plant had to be separated from the stalk without breaking the fragile, bulb-shaped flower.

"I've brought another group looking for lodging tonight." Eiron cheerfully announced. "It's gleaners so they won't mind the shed."

His mother, Veska, looked up once more. "So soon? And please wash up, you're practically coated in dirt." She inspected his disheveled appearance a bit more intently from across the table. "How did you manage to affront your clothing so?"

Acquiescing to her request, he briefly relayed his adventure with the Arcleum. "A mighty tale son!" His father Celum exclaimed. "I was nearly three years older than you when I first had a run-in with an Arcleum." He extended his arm and displayed a familiar scar across his forearm. "'Twas how I received this beauty. Seems like just yesterday... I was a’crossing this meadow and-"

"Yes yes, I think we might have heard that one once before." Veska and Eiron shared a knowing smile. "Besides, we have guests waiting out front. Paying guests at that!"

Celum sighed but gave Eiron a wink. "It was a thrilling fight...but if you do not wish to listen then who am I to inconvenience you?" He stood, stretching in an exaggerated manner. "Gleaners you say. Perhaps they will appreciate my epic of glory and grit. Undoubtedly more than you sorry lot!" He laughed and ruffled Eiron's hair as he passed and made his way outside. His deep voice carried through the walls. "Welcome friends, I heard you were in need of a place to stay!"

Veska nodded to a bowl of stew sitting near the fireplace. "Make sure to eat up and get to bed quickly. You've quite a day in store."

Nodding, Eiron made his way over and began to satiate his growling stomach. "What was it like for you mother?"

She paused and stared into the ceiling, a half smile gracing her face. "I'm sure much different than yours will be. But you’ll know soon enough. Now eat."

By the time Eiron finished his meal, the night had fully enveloped the house. He climbed the stairs to his room, exhaustion pulling at his limbs. A small window near the foot of his bed framed the two moons as they began to pass each other. Each glowed faintly blue as they danced across his blurring vision.

The only thing holding him from sleep's embrace was trepidation and excitement in equal measure. Trying to calm the racing of his mind, he relaxed his tensed muscles. "At least it can't be more intense than today was."