Chief Ravem awoke to the smell of porridge being cooked over a cauldron.
His wife had woken up first and was making food for him and their four children.
Ravem had [Thralls] to do such work but his wife always insisted that she personally cook for the family. She never allowed any thrall to touch the food she prepared for their family .
Ravem suspected that his wife never trusted the servants to do the right thing when making food for them.
“Ravem, have you heard the news?” his wife asked as he got up.
“What happened, Moena?” he asked his wife.
His wife, Moena, stirred the pot of porridge, “Two sheep died last night. They were probably eaten by Tunnel Lizards. You should get better guard dogs. Those dogs you have now sleep peacefully as our livestock gets slaughtered by monsters.”
Ravem shook his head, “My Love, I got those dogs from my late father. He’d haunt us for eternity if we got rid of them.”
“But they’re useless. You spoil them too much. That’s why they don’t care if a sheep dies or not. They know you’ll still feed them.”
“So I should not feed them when a sheep dies?”
“Maybe.”
Ravem chuckled, “I’ll see what I can do, my love.”
“Good,” Moena smiled.
The two laughed. When porridge was ready, they had breakfast with their children. And the dogs of course sat by waiting for any leftovers
“Mama. Papa. When will Noella come to visit us?” his youngest son asked him. He was no older than three years old.
Ravem stared up. How was he going to tell his son that his eldest daughter wasn’t coming back?
“The demons have eaten her already. She’s already dead,” his thirteen year old daughter, Fiya, responded.
“That’s enough, Fiya. Stop lying to your brother,” Ravem reprimanded his daughter.
“But father, you know demons eat people.”
“Not these demons. She’s fine. I’m sure one day your sister will come to visit us.”
“Soon, Papa?” the youngest asked.
“I don’t know, son. I don’t know,” he sighed.
“Leave your father alone,” Moena reprimanded her children. “He’s got a lot to worry about.”
Ravem hoped that his son and daughter were being treated well. Maybe these demons were different. He wasn’t certain of that but he hoped.
He finished his morning porridge and left his tent.
Winter was close. The [Soothsayer] predicted that winter would arrive in 12 days. This winter will be colder.
Therefore as the [Village Chief], Ravem had to find a place to house the young animals. The adults would be fine outside. The sheep and goats had thick fur to protect them from the usual winter cold.
But their young had yet to develop the thick fur to protect them from the upcoming cold. So it was decided that a big hut would be built for the young.
Ravem had to oversee the construction and make sure that it would be done before winter arrived.
Ravem travelled to the site of the construction which was on the edge of the village. Since this hut had to be big, the only available space was on the outskirts.
When he arrived at the site, he greeted the [Elders], [Builders] and [Warriors] of the village who had arrived earlier than him.
“Hope you all had a pleasant night,” Ravem said greeting everyone there.
“As best as one could hope for,” [Elder] Stum nodded. He scratched his white beard as he spoke.
“That is good news indeed, [Elder],” Ravem smiled.
[Warrior] Eyu came to Ravem, “We have to deal with those tunnel lizards. None of our livestock is safe from those monsters.”
There was broad agreement. Those tunnel lizards were devious monsters. They never come out during the day. Instead they wait for the darkness of the night to tunnel out of their borrows and hunt for livestock.
Tunnel Lizards could grow to the size of an adult horse. And these lizards have a large appetite. They almost ate one of the villagers who had slept outside his tent and that monster tried dragging the unlucky man down its tunnel.
Thankfully, Ravem and the other villagers heard the noise and quickly came to investigate. And that is how that man was saved.
“Let’s go on a hunt tonight,” said Ravem to everyone present. “Enough is enough. We must cull the population of lizards around the village.”
Everyone agreed.
With that plan in mind, Ravem focused his attention to the building of the hut. Ravem was a hands-on chief. He didn’t like giving orders and then sitting back to watch others to do the work.
He had hands. He had legs. And his lungs still functioned well. He had no excuse but to help out everyone. Since this project will benefit everyone in the village.
So Ravem helped in mixing the soil with leftover bone ash and straw. And then added water to mix everything together to make a strong mix of mud.
The water came from a pond near the village. The pond water is only used for getting drinking water or is used for important projects like the one they were doing now.
For washing, the villagers had to use water they collected from rain.
[Levelled up your Building skill to lvl 3]
Ravem chuckled.
“What’s funny?” asked the man next to him.
“My building skill got to level 3. Maybe I should change my class to be a [Builder].”
The man laughed, “You still have a long way to go, Chief. Just stick to organising us and we’ll do the rest.”
Ravem nodded. He felt his arm become stronger with the increase in the building skill.
Maybe his wife will feel how strong his arms are now.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
After they had made a significant amount of mud, they shaped the mud into bricks and left to dry in the sun.
The first batch of bricks they made was decent, about 300. But they needed more for the hut.
It was now midday. Everyone was sweaty and had a stink to them.
Ravem’s stomach grumbled.
“Everyone, let’s come back after lunch. I’m sure we’re all in need of our wives’ cooking,” he laughed out loud.
Everyone was exhausted and needed a break. For now, they’d return to their huts to eat.
“[Elder] Stum, your wife is sick, right?” Ravem asked the elderly man.
“Indeed.”
“Then come to my tent. I’m sure my wife won’t mind having you for company.”
“I don’t wish to be a burden. I’ll make myself bread.”
Ravem shook his head. It takes time to make bread. Elder Stum would have to first grind the flour and then mix it with water and sourdough. Then after it has rested, he’ll have to bake it. It’ll take forever for him to eat.
But Ravem had children and a wife who had already made bread for him when he got back. He didn’t mind sharing some of it with the elder.
[Elder] Stum accepted the invitation and walked with Ravem to his home.
As they approached Ravem’s tent, they could hear the loud galloping of a horse rushing into the village centre.
Ravem was curious as to who would arrive in such haste. Maybe a [Travelling Merchant] who was in a hurry?
Ravem had no intention of trading. The demons have given the villagers more than enough food and charcoal to survive the winter.
In any case, it was Ravem’s duty to greet a guest to the village. He asked Elder Stum to wait for him in the tent.
Ravem made his way to the village centre.
There he saw a man on a black horse. This man wore animal hide but had a black hat and the scarf around his neck had a sigil of black grass blades.
This man was a [Messenger] from the Black Grass tribe.
Ravem smiled politely, as usual, as he approached the messenger, “What brings you to our village, stranger?”
“Chief Ravem?” the messenger scoffed.
“Yes?”
“You piece of worthless scum! I should strike you where you stand!” the messenger growled.
Ravem was utterly confused, “Why have you come here with anger in your heart?”
The messenger threw a dagger at Ravem. It fell to the ground.
Ravem picked it up. The dagger looked familiar.
“Doesn’t this dagger belong to your tribe. In fact, you’re known to create daggers of similar type.”
Ravem nodded, “I don’t understand your point.”
“You sent an assassin to kill High Prince Dvuid last night. Using this very dagger that you crafted.”
The crowd that had formed around gasped.
“Impossible!” Ravem defended himself. “I would never!”
“Do you deny this dagger was crafted by you?”
“Well… it probably was. But still…”
“Enough with your lies. You’re a dishonourable man, Chief Ravem. High Prince Dvuid will respond to your wicked and cowardly action. Prepare for war!”
“War?!”
“High Prince Dvuid won’t rest until your head is on his lap. Yellow Moon will pay dearly for your wicked deeds, you filth!”
The [Messenger] had blood in his eyes as he glared at Ravem.
Ravem didn’t understand what the messenger was on about. He had no reason to start a war with the Black Grass tribe. Such an action would be suicidal.
“There must be a mistake here. I didn’t order anyone to assassinate Dvuid,” Ravem defended himself.
“The dagger is yours!”
“And?! Maybe someone stole it. We have no reason to start a war so close to winter. I implore you and your liege to make sense. I invite him to come here and we can discuss any concerns he might have.”
“You have no shame. You wish to invite High Prince Dvuid in order to try to kill him again,” the messenger spat.
“No! I could go with you then and clarify this misunderstanding.”
The messenger was not having it. War was coming to the Yellow Moon tribe whether Ravem liked it or not.
The [Messenger] left and everyone around Ravem had panicked looks on them.
…
…
In the gathering hut, the [Elders] and [Warriors] from other villages from the Yellow Moon came to discuss the threat from Black Grass.
They gathered for one purpose. How to deal with the threat of war by the Black Grass.
“Why would you order an assassination!” one of the elders pointed at Ravem. “You fool! Now we’ll all suffer because of your recklessness.”
“I had no part in any assassination plot. I swear upon the grave of my great-grandfather.”
“The dagger!”
“What about the dagger?” Ravem now raised his voice. He had enough with the accusations people were freely throwing in his direction. “The Black Grass lied. They’re looking for any excuse to attack us. Can’t you all see it?”
Everyone around the Gathering Hut shook their heads.
Stum was the next elder to stand up, “I believe Ravem is innocent.”
There was silence as everyone stared at the old man.
Ravem smiled in relief. Finally, someone who trusted him.
“But,” [Elder] Stum added, “it matters not that we think he is innocent. What matters is how guilty Ravem looks. A dagger that was crafted by you was used to attack Dvuid. And the assassin attacked Dvuid using your name.”
“B-Bu–”
[Elder] Stum raised his hand to silence Ravem. “You’ve talked enough, Ravem. What matters now is what is good for the tribe. We can’t afford a war against the Black Grass. Think about your family and everyone’s family here. They’ll all die or if they’re lucky, become [Thralls].”
“What do you suggest, Elder?” asked Ravem.
“You must give up your life to save the lives of everyone elses. Ravem, your head is what they want.”
“No! I must prove my innocence,” Ravem insisted.
“Prove?” Elder Stum shook his head. “Let go of your pride, Ravem. Think about your children. When the [Warriors] of the Black Grass defeat us, do you think they’ll show you mercy? Do you think they’ll put you on trial?”
Ravem went silent. His eyes looked away from the elders.
“It doesn’t take a [Soothsayer] to know the horrors of war. They’ll rape your daughters in front of you. They’ll break your son's skull and leave his brain to pour out into the dirt. And I shudder to think what they’ll do to your wife. Maybe flay her and make you watch as she screams. Or maybe they’ll break her back ribs and open them up so crows can peck at her organs. You know she’ll still be alive when this happens… Let’s not forget what they’ll do to you when they’ve killed your family…”
Tears were running down Ravem’s cheeks, “Enough. Enough. I get your point.”
“The truth must be said. For everyone’s sake,” Elder Stum said solemnly.
“Let me bid my family goodbye. It’s the least I can do for them.”
Everyone in the Gathering Hut nodded. Ravem was given the privacy to bid his family farewell.
…
…
When Ravem returned to the Gathering Hut, there was an [Axe Man] waiting for him.
He had said his goodbyes to his family. His children didn’t understand why he was saying goodbye but he trusted his wife would explain.
Ravem sat on his knees and lowered his head, exposing the back of his neck.
“I’m level 15. I’ll make sure to give you a clean cut. You won’t feel anything,” the [Axe Man] said to him.
The [Elders] and [Warriors] gathered around him and recited a prayer to the ancestors.
Ravem didn’t understand how his dagger was used to attack Dvuid. He had crafted a couple of daggers for fun. Maybe someone stole them.
His mind raced.
Could it…Could it be that the dagger used was the one he gave Zodark?
What if it was that Demon?
The prayer around him ended and the axe was raised behind him.
Should he tell the elders that the assassination could’ve been organised by the demons?
He wasn’t certain. Maybe he was clutching at straws here. As the demons had no reason to attack the Black Grass tribe and also make it look it was Ravem who had ordered it.
In any case, his time had come.
And he had to accept it. He had to go through this to ensure peace for his tribe and safety for his family.
Ravem closed his eyes.
The last thing he felt was the cold blade touch the back of his neck.