Log 1

The Village in the Swamp

In a part of the land there was a large swamp with murky dark puddles and white mist that curled like the claws of a cat. The trees were tall and thick, with a canopy that loomed overhead, blocking out any trace of sunlight. A lonesome traveller was navigating an obscured path through those trees in the swamp. A traveller that was well accustomed to the encumbering journeys that the road brought with it. And he sought a destination among those dark mires, a haven where he could take refuge.

Fae trod through the puddles, feeling the sordid water seeping up through the soles of his boots. The darkness around him brought with it a sort of eerie feeling that he was quite used to. Though he could feel the invisible eyes of the forest watching him from overhead, and hand-like icky reeds grasping his ankles with every step. If he was not careful, the place would swallow him up. And although he was quite confident he knew the way through these parts, one wrong turn could see that he was lost forever.

He rounded several trees before the shrubs and the trunks cleared and the wet puddles gave way to hard barren dirt. Even though the mist did not disappear completely, it came to thin out a little. Before him was a secluded village with cosy houses, made of skewed logs and thatched roofs. The village was surrounded by gloomy trees, they hung tall overhead, with branches akin to crooked hands reaching out to take the life of something innocent. On its other side there was a small grey lake with a dock that was rotten and broken and that looked as though it hadn’t been used in centuries. A tiny boat floated beside it, moored with a thin, withered rope.

Fae brushed his medium length black hair back from over his eyes, and tightened the sword that was strapped to his back before he made his way into the midst of the little village. Previously on his travels he had crossed paths with an explorer who had claimed to have stumbled upon the secret village in the swamp by chance. Fae had been told that it was inhabited by strange people, hermits who had a peculiar way of living. Fae had heard circulating rumours of the village, but most people dismissed them as exaggerated stories at best, and at worst they were tales told by parents to discourage children from venturing into the swamp. Nobody was senseless enough to actually go searching for the village, and so the stories remained just as they were, rumours. So when Fae met someone who had actually been to the village, he paid the man handsomely for directions and prayed that he wasn’t being conned. Fae, was a Traveller, and Travellers had a particular reputation throughout the land – but even so, there were many swindlers who’d happily deceive royalty for a quick bit of money.

 The man gave him very specific directions, and had warned him that the people of the village were sceptical of outsiders, and it may take him a while to win their trust. It seemed that the man indeed had not been lying about the village itself; but the story of its inhabitants were another question. Fae had come expecting to have to put on a show, to convince the people that he was harmless and simply curious, but it was becoming more and more obvious, as he observed the village, that it was not inhabited at all. The thick smoke that hung overhead seemed to watch him with ever-growing intensity.

Fae tried knocking on several doors, and after no answer he began searching the houses intently. Nothing was damaged, there was no sign of a bandit raid or any other kind of battle, yet there was dust on the floors, cobwebs in the corners of the ceilings and grime had begun to grow in the cracks of the floorboards. Whatever had happened, it was clear that it had happened some time ago.

He searched three more of the cottages before he ventured to the centre of the lifeless village, and began to silently ponder what had gone on. And also what his next move would be. Almost nobody believed in the existence of this place, so it was hardly plausible that there had been an attack on the people. And the folk here hated the outside world – so there was no way they would have left. It was as though life here had simply just stopped. Suddenly, a sound like that of creaking wood awoke him from his thoughts. He spun around quicker than a frightened deer, turned and drew his sword with the same motion.

What he saw before him was an older lady in a tattered gown hobbling over the balcony of one of the cottages. Fae didn't lower his guard. The lady stared at him as though being thrown into a sudden shock at seeing another human; her gaze brushed over him, smoothly, up and down. Fae stood equally still, tightly grasping his weapon.

"Come on," she said eventually with a wave of her hand. Fae didn't move.

"This way," she turned and walked back into her cottage leaving the door open, a wide welcome for Fae.

It was then that Fae noticed a bright yellow glow protruding from her windows. Odd, as he hadn't noticed it earlier. Fae sheathed his sword, pulled his pack up over his shoulders and hurried after her.

Fae was surprised to see a crackling fire alive in the hearth of the fireplace, and indeed its warmth filled the room, blanketing him in a soft cosy heat that felt out of place in such gloomy ghost town. Unlike the other cottages he had explored, there seemed to be no evidence of decay around the living room. Everything was clean, fresh cushions had been placed on the seats around the dining tables, and the scent of flowering roses was fragrant in the air. The lady turned as he entered, and gestured for him to take a seat at the kitchen table.

"Are you going to tell me what happened here?" Fae asked after he had sat down.

The lady moved back and forth through the kitchen. She lifted a large metal teapot off from over the flickering flames of the oven and proceeded to pour two cups of black tea.

"It was horrible. Horrible," she replied as she moved over placing a cup in front of Fae, "I almost don't want to talk about it."

"Almost? So you will tell me, won't you?"

"I'll tell you," she said, "if you're brave enough to hear it."

At that moment, the door swung shut of its own accord with no kind of wind evident in its wake.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Yes, I'd like to hear it," Fae replied without a second thought, his curiosity suddenly welling up and overtaking his sense of rationality.

"It all happened on one meagre day. It was a misty day. It is usually misty around here but the morning she came it was exceptionally misty. It wasn’t a special day for our people, it was a day like any other. The men had risen early to forage and hunt. When they'd returned they began to till the ground and sharpen their weapons. Others, like myself, spent the morning caring for the sick and looking after the younglings. It was so sudden. This beautiful maiden stumbled into our village, all weary and heavy laden. Oh, I tell you, she could have been mistaken for a princess. Her black hair flowed about her, and her lips were as red as blood. Some say that her eyes were that same colour. Blood red. But others couldn't see it, instead they saw a beautiful sea blue that sparkled in the streaming rays of sun. I knew they were delusional then. Since when did this town ever get any sunlight. But few saw the venom in her tongue and the deadly poison that protruded from it when she weaved her words about. I did though. I saw it clear as day. Yes, yes. I did. I did indeed. And when she strode on in, when she came through, she claimed to be a lonely woman who had lost her way. The folk crowded around at the sight of an outsider. They pointed. Whispered under their breath. It was a rare sight indeed. Our cheftian was young, but considered to be wise by the people. He came forward to deal with her, but she collapsed into his arms. Hogwash I cried. My dear friend Ophir stood next to me watching the chieftain support her on his bare shoulders. It's all hogwash, I told them. She's a faker. A swindler. But people were quite confused and not so quick to follow me. There was something odd at work.

Many took a liking to her quite quickly, though some were still suspicious at that time. But all those suspicions blew out the window before too long. I was the only one who was overly wary, probably why I'm still here now. That's right! We didn't take her in the way we normally take in outsiders. Should'a killed her right there and then if you ask me, but instead the chieftain took her graciously into his home where he cared for her. But what could I have done about it? They came out about an hour later. Nothing to see here folks, get back to it, he called. Many of us were loitered around in front of his home, desperate to know more of what was going on. Some of the young boys had even resolved to peep in through the windows. But we never really opposed what our leader said. So we did just that. We got back to it.

The lady called herself Ephra. She began living with the chieftain and although he claimed he was happier for it, with the coming weeks the lines on his forehead stretched wide and the bags under his eyes were as grey as the swamp. There was never any official news that they were betrothed, or that there was any kind of love affair going on between them for that matter. But even so, she never left his side and he did everything she told him. The others didn't care. We had a way of surviving, a way of cultivating the land, but she soon changed it all. She'd walk behind the chief every day, following him wherever he went...or was he following her? I don't know really. But they would stop each worker as they went, and she would speak to them. Her voice was usually calm and soothing. It made you love her. It made you want to do anything she told you. Oh my, she would say gently, do it this way and the crops will yield fourfold. Do it that way and you shall have it finished twice as fast. The chiefain would stand behind her nodding the whole time."

Fae felt a wave of drowsiness come over him at that moment, though he forced himself to listen just as intently, still ever curious as to how this story would end.

"After a while, her advice blossomed. Her ways brought about produce that exceeded our expectations. Food was in abundance and wine was plentiful. Everyone was so ecstatic about it, that they didn't notice the chiefain's hair was becoming grey, and wrinkles had carved their way over his body. He still wore a broad smile though. Her magical words had permeated their minds, altering their thoughts and twisting them until she had become their god.

The more time that passed the more things changed. Nobody questioned her. Everybody adored her. Except for me. I spoke out against her. She's a fraud I said. She's an evil ghoulish witch. I was speaking to one of my friends, Elah, you see. But she was under her power too and I found a crowd of my close friends and family crowded in front of my house less than half an hour later. They held torches, clubs and swords. They shook their fists and spat. Elah told us what you said, they called, Elah told us how you insulted Ephra. But speak of the devil, Ephra appeared next to me, out of nowhere as if by magic like the witch that she was.

Now, now, Ephra calmed the mob, let's not be hasty, nor quick to judge. I'm sure she has her reasons for being suspicious."

She? Fae thought, no name?

The lady continued.

"The mob dispersed, obeying her orders like mindless zombies. When they had all gone, Ephra turned to me, she looked me in the eyes with a wide grin. Her eyes flared cunningly like hot embers and they pierced into my soul. I stepped back but I didn't stop. I told her exactly that, too. I told her I wouldn't stop. I was hoping I'd be able to talk some sense into someone at least, but instead I was exiled, for treason a few days later. Can you believe that! Me, exiled, from my own home. I'd never left this place my entire life so I had to stay quite close to the village to survive.

The chieftain was twenty-two years old, but by now he was hunched over and constantly out of breath. The village folk were beginning to look different too. Their hair was also grey and their yellow teeth were falling out. Ephra was the new chief now. She had everyone line up every morning and bring to her three-quarters of whatever profit they had made the previous day, whether grain or other useful items. The townsfolk didn't talk to each other anymore. No conversation, no festivals or celebrations. If they weren't working for her they were inside doing nothing. The food they ate and the drink that they indulged in were cursed. It wore them away until they disappeared entirely. And then Ephra left, and I came back to an empty village."

Fae felt his eyes close and his head began to spin but he forced them open stubbornly. The woman stood and turned her back to him.

"And that's how this village became the way it is now. I must say, I was quite surprised to find you here. Would you like some biscuits before you continue on your travels, Traveller?"

The old lady reached up to a high cupboard, still facing away from him. Fae had silently risen from his chair drawn his sword before she'd opened it. Then with no noise he stepped forward until he was only a pace behind her. The pain came suddenly as the blade of the sword protruded through the old lady's back. She gasped. Fae pushed the sword down harder until the blade skewered the lady through her stomach. Fae pulled the sword back and the lady fell sideways, drowning in a pool of her own blood. He watched her features change before his eyes. The wrinkles on her face smoothened. Her grey hair became black and her lips were as red as the blood she drank.

Fae searched the Ephra's place for a while before he found a secret trap door. It led into an underground cavern where he found the dead bodies of the villagers he had heard so much about. They were withered and cursed.

The swamplands surrounded Fae once again as he left the village behind. When he had come some way out, he stumbled over what he thought was a large log. But as he examined it closer, he could see that it was a dead body. The wrangled body of an old lady who looked like she'd been wandering the forest aimlessly. The old lady Fae thought to himself. There was nothing he could do so he continued onward leaving the swamp behind.