HOME | DD

Description
Agriculture, what keeps mother and I alive, food on the table, bread to eat, clothing and a roof over our heads. We only have each other. It gets redundant after a while, feeding the pigs picking and planting potatoes. Mother motivates me though she makes an excellent soup but always makes me drink milk. I hate milk. ‘I want my boy to be big and strong so drink.’ She commands sweetly every dinnertime. She can be demanding but I love her anyway.

It’s sunset as I make my way over to the small wooden shed to put away the rake and shovel. I live on a small farm in the Ognorman Kingdom. We don’t have much land but enough to plant and sell potatoes and keep a few chickens, cattle and swine.

It’s a nice place to reside in; I always enjoy exploring through the twilight forest when I have nothing to do. It is situated just to the east of our crops. Though I only visit it once in a blue moon and mother never lets me go there. She tells me ‘There are ghost wolves that hunt in that forest and they chew on the bones of little boys.’ I’m not a little boy anymore; I’m fifteen yet she still tells me that old tale.

The wind is harsh against my skin as I journey my way to the top of the hill again. The scent of soup wafting into my nose makes home so much more inviting. Her mellifluous voice filled my ears as she slaved over the pot. “Loanan are you hungry?” She asked giving me a sideward glance as I enter the small stone house we inhabit. “Yes mama.” I said in a monotone voice kicking off my worn leather boots.

She continued to hum the same sweet tune as she poured two bowls of soup and set them on the floor. We are very poor so we don’t have any furniture other than a rocking chair, a fireplace and a small stool that serves as mother’s table. Though she usually gives it to me as a seat when she isn’t sick.

She hands me a bowl of what looked like to be chicken and potato soup, the usual. “Eat up.” She says in her usual chirpy tone as she grabs a cup of milk and thrust it towards me. I gag at the smell. “Loanan…” Her voice warning me that if I don’t drink it I might as well not eat dinner. She took a seat in the rocking chair. I smiled gratefully even though I hate milk and dug in.

“Take a seat Loanan.” I shook my head and sat on the floor. “No I’m okay the floor gives me a new perspective on life while I’m eating.” Giving me a smile she shakes her head. “You’re always sitting on the floor dear.” Shrugging at her response I stared out of the small square window our only source of light other than the incandescent candle in the middle of the room.

“So the Remkurinan’s are at it again, raping, pillaging and plundering through our Kingdom alongside the Nemchin Horde.” Rolling my eyes I reply. “Mama they are bastards! They just want to join and create an empire in the hopes of combatting and conquering the Bardisians to the west!” Mother shot me a glance and her thin lips curving into a smirk. “Language, and you’re correct.” She rocks back and forth gently savoring the taste of her meal.

“Would they be anywhere near our farm?” It frightens me, what if they are? I have heard the rumors of what they do to bastard boys. “Not that I know of darling.” Sighing I collect the now empty bowls. “Loanan!” Mother hissed. I went ridged and turned my attention to the window. Two men, what looked to be soldiers riding up our hill towards our tiny one bedroomed cottage.