Beauty for Ashes
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:18 pm
"An old wail, that hath endured and prevailed,
A cold nail, that hath ensured that we failed,
Footprints on forgotten graves, the mockers now got more slaves,
Their souls pale, our wrath is cure when we wail"
~ Albarian field worker song, Author unknown
The wind can blow cold at night in Albar. To some it causes slight discomfort. The fireplace inside a nobles mansion might flicker, or extinguish even, causing the warmth and the light in some lords comfort resort to dim for a moment of time, until, at the very last, after some shouting and threatening a servant might find his way through the darkness and rekindle it.
To others it may remain a simple reminder of the moving tides, the ups and downs in climate, the way of life. They may choose to follow it or gain guidance and orientation through the observation of it's currents.
And then there are people in this world who feel a cold wind like a gentle touch of a familiar friend. For them the wind is an expression, a mirror image if so pleased, in which you understand and embrace the absence of warmth of that moment, as it is something familiar, something experienced many many times before.
And yet, we all know, the wind visits each one the same, also at this particular night. What appeared most unusual, though it was just one of those nights where many of these kinds of people were gathered in the same room, all about to share the experience of a most common human event: a human birth.
The parents, their names relevant and known to only a handful of people, were property of an Albarian Noble whose name was relevant and known to many people. The midwife attending this birth had also delivered the noble himself, and also served as property of the Lord. The only present man bearing arms at this time was a soldier, in service of Albar and the noble, earning his bread by following orders as a free man, but still somewhat regarded as property nevertheless.
There was a high pitch scream... "It's a boy.." announced the midwife, with a mixed tremor in her voice, her pale face was smiling at the father, before coming around the bedside to hand the baby to his mother. As she passed her master, she gave him a troubled look for a moment, then lowered her gaze to the naked child in her hands, and showed it to him. The noble grimaced and his eyes widened for a short moment as he layed eyes on the child. There was nothing odd about this child, except that he was awfully quiet for someone just being born. His eyes were open already, and there was plenty of hair on his head, and apart from being covered in blood from his mothers womb he looked healthy and breathing. He nodded then and left the slave hut with a mumbled "Congratulations..", and with the soldier following close behind him.
They walked silently for while, passing more huts like the one they just emerged from, improvised constructions build out of random left over wooden boards, pieces of deconstructed furniture held together by nails and some muddy clay, the doorway only covered by a cloth. Once they got a little further away from the huts and closer to the walls of the nobles estate, he would halt and turn to his servant.
"Go and fetch one of your comrades. Then you two take the baby. Any resistance ...- you cut down anyone who gets in your way." He paused for a moment and examined his servant hesitantly who had already began to frown in discomfort at these orders. Adding more authority and malice to his voice he continued, losing the distance between them, almost barking the words into the soldiers face: "You bring the baby down to the riverbank south of here and drown it there. Don't do this anywhere else or any other way, do you understand!?"
The soldier lowered his gaze. Killing a little child? But what choice did he have, orders were orders, right? He nodded. "Aye.."
The nobles threatening stance eased and as the tension faded he placed a hand on his servants shoulder. "After you're done, you come to me. And i'll make it worth your while. Time for a promotion.. for your discretion and loyalty."