“Hey, it seems like today’s rations are even less than before, huh? There’s barely even any meat this time…”
A woman sighed helplessly. “There’s nothing we can do about it. The garrison has too many mouths to feed and not enough supplies to provide.”
Another sigh. “They barely managed to scrape out enough for this week. I don’t even know how we’re going to get past the month at this rate…”
“I see…”
A man took his bowl of stew and walked towards a campfire surrounded by their makeshift log benches. Another person stepped forward to grab his own bowl as the queue moved forward.
A heavy silence hovered in the air despite the number of soldiers. Besides the crackling of the flames and the muffled sound of boots, the only other sound was that of spoons scraping against bowls.
Step by step, the line moved forward.
Ladle by ladle, the pots were emptied.
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By the time all the soldiers had gotten their meals, there was nearly nothing left in the pots. The rest would be shared among the cooks.
As the flames crackled, the shadows cast by the soldiers swayed from side to side. As bowls emptied, some started conversing. Although soft, the occasional murmur was uttered loud enough to be heard.
Whispers and rumors, here and there, permeated the air briefly before floating away along with the smoke.
Have you heard? The witch planted a whole bunch of mushrooms by the forest near Erkton.
The earl of Fernwood’s fallen ill. People say it’s because of the witch.
Khares’ harvest this year was spoiled by the witch they claim. Less than half of it’s edible.
A lot of people in Grolmhelm have been getting sick lately, the doctors are saying its the witch’s curse.
The well in my town dried up again. It’s the third one we’ve dug this year. The witch probably did something.
The witch poisoned my uncle’s livestock the other week, over a third of them died.
They say some of the supplies in our garrison was stolen by the witch.
The witch, the witch, the witch.
…
Gazing upwards at the flowering night and the blooming stars.
The Witch replied,
“What a perfect moon we’ve been graced with tonight. Wouldn’t you agree?”