“I'd get you the greatest ring, Athena. A gigantic diamond, all shiny and fancy. The fanciest ring you ever saw.” Tobin's crooked smile appeared. “Knowing you, you'd probably sell the ring for a lot of money.”
Athena punched his arm. “I would not!” “We'll see,” Tobin smirked.
“Are you saying you want to marry me?”
Tobin hesitated. “Well, I...” He scratched his head again, running fingers through his hair. “I'm not good at romance.”
“Neither am I,” Athena said.
“But I do love you.” Tobin leaned closer. “I love you, Athena.” “In what way?”
“I-I'm not sure,” Tobin said.
“And neither am I,” Athena laughed. “But I love you too, Tobin.”
Tobin kissed her forehead. “Good to know. I always wondered if you only spent time with me because of my ridiculously good looks or if it was something more.”
Athena punched his arm again. “I really hope you don't leave. I'm not sure what I'll do without your ridiculous sense of humor.”
“And I'm not sure what I'd do without your wonderful pessimism.” Tobin stood up, finally letting go of Athena's hand. “Though I haven't been summoned to the king, I do have to go work on the farm.”
“Can I at least help?” Athena asked.
“A woman, doing farm work? Absurd!” Tobin said sarcastically, imitating Laguna.
“Preposterous! What would your mother think?!” Tobin nodded. “Of course you can help, Athena. But keep an eye out for Laguna. She delivers bread to my mother sometimes. If she caught you-”
“It'd be more terrifying than my nightmares,” Athena finished.
She walked with Tobin, leaving the tranquility of the forest behind. She was going to cherish this time with her best friend. She was going to hold onto him for as long as possible, because she knew deep in her heart that he was going to be summoned. And she knew that Galbar was in trouble. Darkness was spreading. Evil was taking hold. And Athena had a role to play.
The forest trees shrank in the distance as Tobin and Athena made their way down the road. Athena looked back at the forest, wondering how many more times she'd be able to go there. How many more times could she escape her fears before they suffocated her?
Athena remembered her question to Jermyn.
Will everything be okay?
Someday. Someday. A storm was brewing, and Athena had to face it. Whatever it was.
Chapter 6
Later that evening, after toiling in the fields with Tobin, Athena made her way back home, wiping off a layer of sweat and grime. Her skirt was torn, though she didn't particularly care what Laguna thought. She didn't even want to bother sewing it.
When Athena got into the bakery, she quietly slipped to her room, silently grateful that Laguna was conversing with a customer. Jermyn was hidden in the kitchen, as usual, the smell of fresh bread permeating the building.
Athena cleaned herself up and changed out of her stained clothing. Her stomach growled. She'd skipped breakfast and missed lunch. Tobin had given her an apple earlier, but it was long gone. She wanted to go downstairs and get something to eat, but she didn't want to interact with either of her grandparents. Her anger wasn't gone.
Peering out into the hallway, Athena checked to make sure everything was clear. She felt stupid, hiding like this, but wasn't ready for the inevitable confrontation. Tiptoeing down the hallway and stairs, she dashed into the kitchen when Jermyn's back was turned and grabbed a slice of bread, unseen.
Athena quickly bounded back up to her room, nestled on top of her bed, and devoured the bread. She would stay here as long as possible, until tomorrow when she'd go back to the forest to find peace. She could help Tobin again on the farm until his mother eventually made her leave. Or Laguna caught her.
Her stomach rumbled again, and she swore under her breath, cursing her hunger. She couldn't even properly hide in her room for more than a few minutes. When she began to make her way down the stairs once again, she heard voices, not just idle chatter, but a real conversation.
“Laguna, the shadow is moving. My relatives felt it a fortnight ago. They fled-” “Did they see it?”
“Well-”
“Do you have evidence?” “Laguna, don't you believe me?” “I'm skeptical at best.”
Athena could practically see Laguna's sly expression. She took another step down, getting closer to the voices.
“The shadow is coming to Edgehill, I just know it. You and Jermyn should take Athena and go somewhere else.”
“Jermyn and I are too old to leave, and Athena is an adult. She'll be married soon and then it will be up to her husband to decide what to do.”
“Laguna, I don't think there's much time left before the shadow reaches us. My eldest son was summoned to the king, and I'm afraid that even my youngest will be taken from me. There are hardly any men left in Edgehill.”
Athena pressed her head against the wall, straining to hear everything.
“This kingdom needs an army. Any good kingdom does. That's all,” Laguna said.
“They first started leaving a year ago, Laguna. Not one man has returned! Don't you think that it's strange?”
“I'll admit it worries me, but I'm not about to up and leave my bakery because of it. It'll all be sorted out eventually.”
“My family is leaving tomorrow. My husband hasn't been summoned because of his poor health. We're going to take our two youngest children out of this place. I hear there are safe places, just beyond the kingdom borders.”
“Well then, I wish you luck.” “And I you.”
Athena pressed herself against the wall, hoping Laguna wouldn't notice her. Laguna walked past the staircase and into the kitchen, her scowl looking wider than usual. Athena darted to the wall closest to the kitchen.
“These people are insane, Jermyn!” Laguna huffed. “Every day I hear the same stories. People taking their families away, running from this shadow nonsense. We're losing customers. The men are gone, and the women want to be gone. Edgehill is going absolutely mad!”
“Laguna,” Jermyn said, “You know they have every right to be afraid. Regardless of the shadow, Edgehill is in danger. With most of our workers gone, supplies are running low. Production has gone down. Winter will be here soon, and Edgehill isn't prepared.”
Athena shivered. Fall was in full swing, the leaves in vibrant shades of red and orange, floating through the wind. Time flew quickly. Before anyone was prepared, winter would be here. Athena didn't want to imagine an Edgehill in desolation. She didn't want to see frail skeletons dotted amongst the ruins of her home. Just the thought of it made her want to run away.
“Athena.”
Athena jumped, startled. Her grandfather stood in front of her, looking at her concernedly. “I haven't seen you all day,” Jermyn said.
“I-I was with Tobin,” Athena stuttered. She turned away from her grandfather, any hunger she felt now long gone.
“Please don't be angry with me, Athena.”
“Please don't keep secrets from me.” Athena pushed past Jermyn and went back to her room. That night she wrestled with her nightmares, trying to fight them off without success. They were getting stronger as she was getting weaker. There was an evil within them, doing its best to tear Athena apart. The evil was winning.
Before dawn even broke, Athena flung herself out of bed to go outside. The bakery was stifling, like a prison. All it brought were nightmares and arguments with Athena's grandparents. She wrapped a shawl around her, feeling cold. Frost coated the ground and roofs of buildings, the first sign of the impending winter.
“Girl, girl!” a gruff voice called.
Athena turned to face an old woman, hunched over and wrinkled. The woman wagged a finger at Athena. “The shadow is coming! It will drive everyone mad! Mad, I tell you!”
Someone else hurried over, a withered man in a dark cloak. “The shadow kills everything it touches!”
“
Have you seen the shadow?” Athena asked the two people.
“No, no, of course not,” the old man said. “If I did, I'd be dead right now!”
“No, you'd be mad,” the woman said. “Crazy, insane, positively mad!”
If anyone was mad, it was the woman. Athena gave her a tiny smile and continued walking away, drawing her shawl in closer to her body. She could hear the ancient people squabbling about the shadow, both of their voices rising with every word.
The streets were nearly empty, as they'd been for quite a while. Edgehill used to be a bustling town, full of life, full of happiness. Now it was empty, devoid of everything Athena used to love. Gone was the laughter of little children. Gone were the shouts of hagglers and vendors selling their goods. The church bells didn't ring, for even the priest had been taken to the castle town. Weeds grew in yards wildly, for no one was around to tend to them. Entire farms were being shut down because of the lack of employees.
Not one man had yet come back from the castle town. Athena wondered if they ever would. Tobin would be laughing at her constant pessimism, but even he suspected the men would never return. Athena's heart ached. Her town was already falling apart. She pulled a weed up from the ground, a tear dropping from her eye. She was angry at her nightmares, angry at her grandparents, and now angry at her own town. Why weren't the women picking up the pieces? Why weren't they keeping the town together?
If Athena had to, she'd repair everything herself. She wouldn't let Edgehill fall into ruin. She was as strong as any man, capable of everything they were. If they were going to fight a war, she was going to fight a war too. Her nightmares weren't going to consume her, and the mysterious shadow wasn't going to consume this city.
“The shadow is coming,” someone whispered. Athena whisked around.
“It's going to destroy us.”
“Not if we destroy it,” Athena said.
A little boy appeared from a doorway, his clothes barely hanging onto his frail body. “My mummy says it's going to be here any day now.”
“Maybe it will,” Athena said, leaning down to the boy's level. “But we're strong.”
“My daddy went to the king.” The boy smiled proudly. “Mummy says he's going to fight for the king. I want to fight too.”
Athena smiled. “We're all going to fight.”
“Come inside,” the boy's mother hissed from an upstairs window.
“We're all going to fight,” the boy echoed Athena's words. He nodded at her and disappeared into the house.
Athena continued through the streets, searching for signs of liveliness. Any sign of levity. She longed for the music that used to play in the town square, the dancing and singing at parties that lasted from dusk to dawn.
As the sun broke the horizon, shedding light on the dark sky, Athena ran into another person. It was not a civilian, but a soldier. One of the king's soldiers. Athena studied him, hoping to see someone from Edgehill, but he was unrecognizable. Perhaps someone from a neighboring village. “My lady,” he said, bowing slightly. A wool coat covered his uniform.
Athena nodded at him. “Sir.”
“Do you perhaps have any jewelry?”
“I don't wear jewelry,” Athena replied. She hated jewelry clanking every time she took a step, plus she always lost any she ever received.
“A beautiful girl like you should be covered in diamonds,” the soldier grinned. His teeth were yellowed and disgusting.
Athena nodded at him again, ready to move away. He touched her shoulder, fingers lingering longer than they should have. She yanked away, taking a step backward. “I must go,” she said, her muscles tensing up.
“Does your family have any food to spare or perhaps other supplies? Swords, armor?” “Nothing,” Athena said brusquely. “I really must go.” She dodged him, breaking into a jog. She
darted into the nearest pub, breathing hard. There was something off about the soldier. His behavior was inappropriate; soldiers were supposed to be friendly, but not too friendly. Certainly not like him.
“Did that lad outside bother you too?” the woman behind the counter asked. Athena sunk into a chair. “I don't think he just wanted supplies,” she said.
The woman shook her head. “He's been hovering around all week, harassing these poor women. The king would surely be disappointed if he knew about his own soldier's behavior. Just because the women's husbands are gone doesn't give him any right to”
“I know,” Athena said. “And he asked for supplies.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “He comes in every day begging me for food. Says it's for the good of the kingdom. I've got nothing to spare. Got to stock up for winter. And he's not the only one coming 'round asking. There are other soldiers too, going 'round collecting supplies. People are giving up their essentials. For the supposed 'good of the kingdom.'”
Athena looked at the woman worriedly. “What are they doing with the supplies?”
“Who knows? Probably something about the shadow. I've been hearing about the shadow for months. I'm not panicking yet; I refuse to until I actually see the thing with my own two eyes.”
“I've got to go,” Athena said suddenly. “Sorry I didn't buy anything.”
“No problem. If that ugly soldier bothers you, feel free to come back in and hide for a spell. Or better yet, teach him a lesson.”
Athena smiled and went outside, ignoring the soldier with the yellow teeth. She ran back towards the bakery, wanting to warn her grandparents about the supplies. She was still angry, but she couldn't let them give up their essentials for winter. Jermyn and Laguna were smart, but Athena didn't want to take any chances. She was not going to lose her grandparents to a bitter winter.
“Has a soldier been by?” she asked, rushing inside the bakery. It was still the early morning and the bakery had barely opened. Laguna looked at Athena in shock. “I thought you had gone mute like you were when you were a child.”
Athena ignored the snide remark, repeating her question.
It was Jermyn who answered, for once not covered in flour. “Yesterday actually, when you were with Tobin. We didn't give anything to them, Athena. You don't need to worry.”
“I wasn't worrying,” Athena lied.
Jermyn smiled. “I know you, my dear. We're going to survive this winter, and we're going to help the rest of the town survive it too.”
“You didn't give up any food, weapons, anything?” “No.”
Athena sighed with relief. “So everything is going to be okay?”
This time, Jermyn's answer was reassuring. “Yes Athena. Everything is going to be okay.” Winter and the shadow were coming, but Athena was going to pull through. Nothing was going to conquer her. Not fear, not the nightmares, not anything at all.
Chapter 7
The next few days passed almost painfully slowly. Athena watched as the town fell into disrepair. Families cried their goodbyes to fathers and sons. Travelers hurried through Edgehill, bringing increasingly dark news. Trade with neighboring villages halted. The weather grew colder as leaves fell from trees, winter fast approaching.
Tobin worked himself to the bone, trying to provide food for the remaining town residents. But as the cold settled in, farm production ceased. Tobin and Athena went hunting in the forest every morning, not returning until they had an animal. Unfortunately, Edgehill wasn't known for its hunting. Most of the game resided farther away, closer to rivers and lakes. It didn't help that many animals were hibernating, hiding from the bows and arrows of hunters. They were determined, though, not to let famine strike Edgehill, no matter how much work it took.
Jermyn and Laguna hired a group of women to help bake so that they'd be able to provide enough bread for everybody. Every evening, Athena went door-to-door, passing bread out for free. She could see that the bakery was quickly running out of sugar and flour, but she smiled anyway, trying her best not to give the citizens any more reasons to panic.
Clouds settled in the
sky, casting an extra gloom to the already depressed town. Some wondered how much worse it could get. What could the dreaded shadow do that hadn't already been done? Entire families were torn apart already; it had been over a year since some of the men had left. People were giving up their surplus food, weapons, and even clothing to the king's soldiers. The saying, “For the good of the kingdom,” was quickly becoming a sad joke.
More and more soldiers lined the streets, begging for anything they could get their hands on. Athena asked them about the men from Edgehill, but they never gave her a straight answer. There was always some excuse or denial. Athena began to suspect that the king was plotting something, something that certainly wasn't innocent. She didn't dare vocalize her suspicion, for if any of the soldiers heard they would have arrested her. She couldn't be arrested, not when she had a town to take care of.
Athena dragged herself home one night, basket empty, bread all gone. She was exhausted. Every day she woke up before dawn to hunt. Every day she delivered bread. And every night she helped clean up the kitchen and close the bakery. Her feet were blistered and calloused. Sleepless nights were more common than ever. Dark circles haloed Athena's eyes, and her hair was a frizzy mess. No one in Edgehill looked any better. Even Laguna couldn't complain anymore.
“Rest,” Jermyn said, taking a pile of dishes from Athena's arms.
“I can't,” Athena said, though her knees wobbled from exhaustion.
“I remember when you were a little girl, and you couldn't sleep because of your nightmares. You were practically dying in front of me, and I couldn't do anything about it. It broke my heart. And now here you are, breaking my heart all over again.” Jermyn smiled. “But you are tremendously strong, Athena. Thank you for your help.”
Athena leaned against the counter, reaching down to massage her aching feet. She wasn't angry at her grandparents anymore. She didn't have time to be angry. For whatever reason, they had decided to keep secrets, and Athena couldn't do anything to change it. They were still good people, trying to do good things. If it weren't for her grandparents, Edgehill would be starving. The bakery and hunting were the only sources of food the town had.
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