An Arrangement at War Time.

An Arrangement at War Time.

In the land of Krakon where mythos exist was a time of war. At that land far on theside of it was a Coastal canyon and within that canyon was a small town of Capra where its local inhabitants are thick wide shouldered men and strong boned women, among them also lived migrated traders , crafters and artisans.

The local animals there were tamed strays of cats and dogs along with Great Goats huge thick boned Goats in the size of a Horse and hair long enough to cover the side of its legs. It’s chloral consisted of a pine wood forest from the land side nearly hiding the entry to the town and on the dry parts of canyon and on rocky areas are Olive trees.

Upon recent events a monstrous battalion made its whereabouts known to the Coastal Town, the inhabitants are frightful of this enemy for it consists of aberrations of creatures and species known across Krakon, from humans, centaurs, lycanthropes and among others.

It was night time and enemies were near the gates, yet the chieftain believed they were still being scouted, in what way he did not knew how, thus he instructed his son Yok whom is the commanding officerof their local archer squad to concealat the highestpart of the Canyons and only speak their position in Uncommon tongue.

Yok was past his thirties, short but still held his hair with a youthful look on his face.He is married to a nagging woman whom even if they argue or nag he is still fondly in-love with her , they share a child, a young 14 year old girl who enjoys her time playing and studying – Yok felt at times his daughter enjoyed playing too much at her age yet at such a grim time it is something he is willing to fight for.

The squad consists of twenty three men with Yok included most of them are past their peak and some even past their prime. The majority of their forces are front lines while the archer squad is about concealing and attacking invisibly , their dark brown cloaks help them to blend with the night along with the surrounding olive trees. To avoid being spotted from below they are remained at a crawled position. Yok wished his siblings were down in the town helping their aged father but to some events they migrated year sago with an occasional yearly visit. Unfortunately this is happening two months before their visit, he is the only one who can help his father in such circumstance.

While at position a soft voice spoke “Forgive me sir”. Yok hearing the voice turned and asked“What is it?”.

The soft voice came from an archer named Torrence who is the local baker and with him was a gentleman whom did not looked like a local but is a migrated occupant. “This is Rtur Masseur” the gentleman extended politely his hand to Yok as Torrence introduced him. Yok while uneasy with the timing of the pleasantries happening while being on alert and crawled on the ground, took Rtur’s hand and shook it replying to him “Captain Yok pleased to meet you”.

“Oh I know sir” Rtur said and continued “I have a rather peculiar request for you sir”. Yok was curious and perplexed due to the situation they are in.

“What is your request?” Yok questioned,Rtur nodded Torrence to leave but Torrence made no move, he was a man of simple intelligence and absolutely no understanding of what a private conversation is. Yok gave a rough look to Torrence “Torrence please give me a moment with Rtur if you don’t mind” said Yok ,Torrence replies “Oh! my apologies” Torrence crawled away and left them in private.

“Well, how may I assist you?”said Yok.

“You see sir I am here to ask for your daughter”Rtur answered.

Yok’s face looked as if he was boiling with fury, he restrained himself “You’re too old for her” Yok replied.

Rtur realized he made an error “Oh heavens no sir I am not the one asking for her”.

“I do not see any other creepy bugger around asking for her” said Yok.

“My son is the one asking for her” Rtur said.

Yok’s face eased up “You’re asking for an arrangement then?” he asked.

“ Yes sir, my son appeared to be very fond of her and she appeared very fond of him” said Rtur.

Yok surprised with what Rtur said, he asked “How do you know my daughter is fond of him?”

Rtur points below the village at a olive tree just near a cabin “That is my place of work where I trade and I caught them together holding hands …and giving each other kisses”

Hearing this Yok wanted to leave his position just to find his daughter and give her a good scolding

“It could be just a friendly kiss on the cheek, that is no reason to believe they both are fond of each other”.

Rtur points again at the olive tree and said “If that were the case sir I would not make nothing from it but my boy carved a heart with his name and your daughter’s name on it”.

Yok blew a bit of air and waved his hand turning and laid on his back “Boys do that and it usually in secret to surprise their crush, she may well as reject him”said Yok in denial.

“Well sir she gave him the knife to carve it” said Rtur.

“She did what!?” Yok replied.

Rtur calmly explained “My son does not own a knife,your daughter gifted him a knife , they even lightly cut their fingers and touched the carved heart as a love oath”.

“I can’t believe this my own daughter making oaths to boys I never met” said Yok.

Rtur then turned his head slightly and said “ Well…”

“Well what?” Asked Yok.

“My boy did say he met you and spoke to you on multiple occasions at your home when they studied and …play” Rtur innocently smiled at Yok.

Yok had a rather silly expression on his face but with composed manner said “My daughter and your boy are too young to be arranged”

“I know sir believe me I do. I only did my duty as a father especially now” Said Rtur.

Yok seeing Rtur’s face understands well that even in such grave times parents have duties towards their children “I see, you only made the request in fear we may not live on from today. Very well if anything may happen to you I shall take your son under my wing and train him - ”

“ - To be an Archer captain?” Rtur completed Yok’s words with a question.

“To a caravan repairman, I have a proper occupation” said Yok.

Rtur smiled and replied “Well if something happens to you sir then I will take your Daughter-“

“To her Grand father the chieftain and if he does not survive to either of her three uncles whom all of them have four boys each.” Yok completed Rtur’swords.

Rtur silently laughed “That is understandable but nonetheless, I thank you for hearing me”.

A gust of wind was felt Yok had his finger on his lips and indicated Rtur to remain silent and he made the same gesture to the rest of the squad. Yok pointed up, above them was three enemy scouts, deformed Harpies normally harpies were monstrous to begin with but what was meant to be a woman’s face now only remained a large eye and a wide mouth.

Torrence crawled towards Yok and whispered “Sir what do we do?”

“Remain silent this is a good opportunity for us to take them out, but” said Yok.

Torrence frightfully asked “But what sir?”

“They are higher than us” Said Rtur.

“Yes, we will need stronger arrows and bows, my bow is made of Great Goat Horn and Olive tree heart we need two more as for arrows we will need to use the steel silver plated arrows” said Yok.

“To combat the air sir?” Asked Rtur.

“Yes” said Yok.

Torrence then said “But sir those arrows are too heavy they will simply not reach that high”.

“That is why we need bows strong enough to fire such arrows” Yok replied.

Rtur realized “There one issue sir you are the only one who is strong enough to pull the string of such a bow”

Yok knowing they may not have such a chance ever again ordered them “The men who have such bows must be strong enough for such a deed, find them now!”

After for a short while Torrence and Rtur crawled back to Yok.

Yok was still observing the creatures not leaving them out of his sight.

“Sir, we found three bows and you are correct the owners of such bows are strong but..” Rtur whispered uneasy.

“But what?” Said Yok.

Torrence kept an eye on the enemy relieving Yok to see for himself.

The two men who owned the bow swere muscular yet older than Sixty , one is missing an eye and the other was missing two fingers from his firing arm. “Damn” said Yok .

The deformed Harpies seemed eager to move further Yok knowing they will never have a chance like this took action. He instructed Rtur and Torrence to assist the older archers. Rtur assisted the one eyed at aiming at the harpy and Torrence with the two fingered archer’s guidance helped pulling the arrow back.

“Hold, hold Release!!!” said Yok taking account of the wind all arrows hit on their targets .

“Success” celebrated everyone from the squad. Two of the monstrous Harpies mortally fell but one remained on flight, their celebration turned to horror for it seemed the creature was looking at them and appeared ready to screech an alert to the passing army.

“We need to take it out”called Torrence.

Rtur observed “It is flying higher”.

As the deformed Harpy was ready to alarm the monstrous battalion that there are victims on this direction another flying creature dived and killed the harpy eating its head.

The archers forgot the most important part about the animal residence in Capra that made Capra famous for travelers, domesticated wyverns who are at the size of a Lion.

“I forgot about you” Said Yok as the Wyvern landed in front of them and like a dog presented the remains of the Harpy like a proud animal presenting its owner the catch awaiting to be praised.

The morning arrived and after some time they learned the monstrous battalion cared not to look for their aerial scouts for they had been under attacked by a neighboring ally and fled.

Capra celebrated with each home lighting up their oven stoves.

Yok also celebrated by cooking a roast in his oven.His wife made preparations on the table and his daughter was reading a book.

At one moment Yok gazed at the pathway of his home sees Rtur with his wife and son.

“Guest!!” Yelled Yok to his family , the women made pleasantries with one another while the Men began toasting.

The children on the other hand hugged.Yok notices this and calls for the boy, he gives him a mean look and looks back at his daughter and gives them a nod. As if he approved of them the kids smiled and left.

“Thank you Yok”said Rtur. Yok gave a smile and said “It wont last long but they should enjoy life no matter what plan fate has for us”

End.