next morning began anew with crisp air and a bright morning sun. Unlike most mornings in Avryndale, the village was already well awake and bursting with activity. The smell of fresh baked bread meandered through the air.
Games and other amusements had been set-up and storefronts displayed a vast assortment of foods and specially brewed ale to quench the thirst of visitors. The arena had been transformed into a visual spectacle where jousting, dueling and archery contests waited to test the skills of the village’s best. Children giggled as they darted between buildings and shops anxious to see what new amusements awaited.
This was the fourth annual Winter Festival and each year the anticipation had grown. For those of the Herbic realm, the coming of winter was usually marked with apprehension. Colder temperatures meant a slowing down of activity and an increase in danger while carnivores became desperate in the search for food. Their kind were forced indoors and tensions often rose during this difficult season.
To counter this, The Council had accepted Avryn’s proposal for an annual celebration designed to lift the spirits of the village in an otherwise gloomy time. It had another, perhaps more important purpose as well, for each year messengers were sent across the land to other settlements, telling them of the festival and where they would be welcomed into a strong and safe new home. With the rise in attacks on herbivore settlements, the number of migrants had continued to increase annually. They simply had nowhere else to go.
As the celebration began the village gates remained closed and well guarded although the mood of the day was certainly more pleasant. Those standing watch rotated regularly to enable them to all take part in the festivities.
Usually rather dull, the early morning shift began with a bit of apprehension when one of the guards spotted a group in the distance rapidly approaching. He signaled Semu and the others on duty and together the four men watched anxiously as the strangers came into focus. There were six and, more importantly, they were camels. The guards relaxed.
The ceremonial horn then echoed throughout the countryside and, after a few seconds of calm, a wave of activity flooded the village. The festival had begun.
Children ran to their favorite amusements, from apple bobbing to pull the tail on the donkey, and adults raced to sample the latest brews and take part in the events in the arena. It was a glorious day.
A few minutes later the group of camels arrived at village walls. Exhausted, the newcomers caught their breath while the guards opened the gate. After a brief rest, they morphed into their human forms - a man, three women and two grinning children. They would make a great addition to the population.
Semu and another guard climbed down from the wall and greeted the group as they entered.
“Welcome to Avryndale,” Semu said loudly. “I hope your journey was safe and uneventful.” His muscular, dark stature and deep voice startled the children a bit.
“Thank you,” the man replied. “Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how glad we are to be here.”
The other guard, a short man with a muscular build and spiked hair, greeted them as well. “Welcome friends. My name is Marcos. Did you see any more on the way by chance?”
“You know, we did actually…about an hour ago, just after light broke. A group of horses was heading this way, maybe a dozen or so. They seemed like a nice bunch. We spotted them atop one of the far hills and they waved. We were going to wait for them but the little ones were anxious to get here. I’m sure they will understand.”
Semu turned to the guard, “Show them to the Inn and get their belongings stowed. I will wait here for the next group.”
“Weren’t you supposed to be in the morning tournament?” Marcos asked. He patted the Guard Captain on the arm and added, “You go on. I can stay here. I don’t mind.”
Semu scowled and
Games and other amusements had been set-up and storefronts displayed a vast assortment of foods and specially brewed ale to quench the thirst of visitors. The arena had been transformed into a visual spectacle where jousting, dueling and archery contests waited to test the skills of the village’s best. Children giggled as they darted between buildings and shops anxious to see what new amusements awaited.
This was the fourth annual Winter Festival and each year the anticipation had grown. For those of the Herbic realm, the coming of winter was usually marked with apprehension. Colder temperatures meant a slowing down of activity and an increase in danger while carnivores became desperate in the search for food. Their kind were forced indoors and tensions often rose during this difficult season.
To counter this, The Council had accepted Avryn’s proposal for an annual celebration designed to lift the spirits of the village in an otherwise gloomy time. It had another, perhaps more important purpose as well, for each year messengers were sent across the land to other settlements, telling them of the festival and where they would be welcomed into a strong and safe new home. With the rise in attacks on herbivore settlements, the number of migrants had continued to increase annually. They simply had nowhere else to go.
As the celebration began the village gates remained closed and well guarded although the mood of the day was certainly more pleasant. Those standing watch rotated regularly to enable them to all take part in the festivities.
Usually rather dull, the early morning shift began with a bit of apprehension when one of the guards spotted a group in the distance rapidly approaching. He signaled Semu and the others on duty and together the four men watched anxiously as the strangers came into focus. There were six and, more importantly, they were camels. The guards relaxed.
The ceremonial horn then echoed throughout the countryside and, after a few seconds of calm, a wave of activity flooded the village. The festival had begun.
Children ran to their favorite amusements, from apple bobbing to pull the tail on the donkey, and adults raced to sample the latest brews and take part in the events in the arena. It was a glorious day.
A few minutes later the group of camels arrived at village walls. Exhausted, the newcomers caught their breath while the guards opened the gate. After a brief rest, they morphed into their human forms - a man, three women and two grinning children. They would make a great addition to the population.
Semu and another guard climbed down from the wall and greeted the group as they entered.
“Welcome to Avryndale,” Semu said loudly. “I hope your journey was safe and uneventful.” His muscular, dark stature and deep voice startled the children a bit.
“Thank you,” the man replied. “Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how glad we are to be here.”
The other guard, a short man with a muscular build and spiked hair, greeted them as well. “Welcome friends. My name is Marcos. Did you see any more on the way by chance?”
“You know, we did actually…about an hour ago, just after light broke. A group of horses was heading this way, maybe a dozen or so. They seemed like a nice bunch. We spotted them atop one of the far hills and they waved. We were going to wait for them but the little ones were anxious to get here. I’m sure they will understand.”
Semu turned to the guard, “Show them to the Inn and get their belongings stowed. I will wait here for the next group.”
“Weren’t you supposed to be in the morning tournament?” Marcos asked. He patted the Guard Captain on the arm and added, “You go on. I can stay here. I don’t mind.”
Semu scowled and
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