Never Trust a Farmer

[Ivory Evil]

Closed

The South Road, a path travelled so often it should have a speed limit. Van, the Ivory Evil, often found himself trekking the withered dirt road, making exhausting trips either to or from Radasanth. It wasn't the ideal way to spend his afternoons, but lately things weren't going to well for him in Underwood.

The road was surprisingly busy today, despite the minimal traffic he had encountered in the weeks prior. Already he had met two elves, a handful of dwarves, and a demon who just wouldn't shut the hell up- but none of them could compare to the human he found himself face to face with. The man was about Van's height and wore a thick brown coat, that complimented his grey hair quite well. Van hastily established that the older man was a farmer. Judging by the almost empty hart cart he was pushing along the dirt road, he wasn't very successful though.

"Good afternoon sir, can I interest you in..."

"No buddy, sorry, but I'm not interested in what your selling." Van waved his hands, signaling the old farmer to move along. "I hate to say it but I'm on a strict liquid diet." It was the truth, if it wasn't blood of liquor he wasn't having it.

"Oh, I'm not selling my produce sir." The farmer responded in a tone of desperation that quickly drew Van back into the conversation. "I'm selling my farm, the darn thing's brought nothing but bad luck."

"Hate to say it pal but I lack not only the funds, but also the passion to invest in a farm." Van looked down to his flawless ivory suit, wondering what had alerted the man that he could ever be interested in owning a farm. "Maybe you'd be better off asking the folks in Underwood, I'm sure you'll find someone interested."

"Well partner that's the problem, the land seems to lack the blessing of Wyron. I can't grow a single thing in the damn place. Can you believe that? Four acres and not a single sprout." The failed farmer paused to scratch the grey stubble below his chin. "Truth be told I'm just trying to get rid of it, cut my loses and move on."

He paused, scanning the coin pouch that dangled loosely from Van's belt loop. "What do you say about giving me what you got? I'll sign the deed over right here and now. If anything it'll cut the time you spend on the south road in half."

When the grey haired man put it that way, it didn't sound like a bad investment at all. Van took a second to think about it, an inquisitive smirk formulated on his pale face. He quickly realized that deals like these didn't come around every day. "Alright buddy you got yourself a deal."

This better be worth it! Van thought he watching curiously as the old man shuffled through his travel bag.

From the leather bag the man pulled out a small tan envelope, a book, and a folded map. He quickly removed from the envelope the deed to his farm, which seemed rather offical, and rested it on the book. In a hasty manner he scribbled the name 'Hank R. Finkly,' and pointed to a vacant line. "Sign here partner and it's all yours," which Van did. With that all said and done Hank circled the farms location on the map.

"Alright, nice doing business with you man." Van responded, casually tossing the coin purse in Hank's direction.

"It's been a pleasure, and if you're ever crossing through the Countryside look me up." Hank scoffed, tucking the coins deep into his leather bag. "I'd be more than happy to hear what you did with the place."

When everything was said and done, Van turned north, squinting down the sun scortched road ahead. With a skip and a newly discovered pep, he continued his trek, which now included a pit stop at his farm.

[Amber Eyes]

As Kyla began the long walk home from Drantrak, she realized just how much this trip had taken out of her. For three days she had been training with her father, attempting to master the basics of using her shadow magic. The small and weak sword she could create broke most of the time, but it was still cool to be able to do it at all. Kyla would create the sword, her father would smash it, and they would begin again. The pattern was tiring, and Kyla should have spent some time resting before she began the trip back.

Kyla walked along the dusty road, enjoying the smell of dirt after the rain. She noticed the clouds making pictures in the sky. Kyla stared long enough to find an eagle, a boat, and an off-centered smiley face. Anita would have enjoyed looking at the clouds with her, and they would have shared a good laugh. Kyla had a good time with her father, but she missed Sei and Anita more than she'd thought she would.

She noticed a barn in the distance. If her upbringing by a group of bandits had taught her anything, it was never to let an abandoned barn go unused if you were tired. Kyla glanced around carefully, making sure no one was nearby, then darted into the barn. The doors were heavy, and needed to be greased. The loud creak creeped Kyla out a bit. She climbed up the rickety ladder to the loft in the barn, and took in her surroundings.

It was a large barn, and sturdy. There were animal pens, but no animals. It seemed as if it had been deserted. Kyla knew she would be able to sleep here safely for a while. She made a make-shift bed out of stray bits of hay, and sat down to rest. As she drifted off, she thought of the rest of her journey. She still had a bit of a walk left, but maybe the cool night air would be nicer than the humid morning had been. Kyla dreamed of Sei's cooking; a nice big pile of pancakes and sausage. She slept soundly for sometime, until she heard footsteps on the floor below.

[Silence Sei]

Sei was worried about Kyla.

The girl had promised her master that she would be home from Chateau Drantrak in one or two days. This was day three. Sei and Anita were both worried that something had happened to the girl, especially since they did not receive any word that she was going to spend some more time with her father. As any sister would be, Anita was racking her brain with all sorts of worst-case scenarios.

To stop his daughter from chewing her nails, and to mask his own concern, Sei had suggested that the two of them walk down the South Road. Kyla would probably take that route if she was going to come home quickly and obviously. IT seemed like the most logical thing would be to travel the beaten path, and meet Kyla half way. This suggestion had Anita packing a couple of things almost immediate, and the girl hastily bolted out of the door.


Sei followed Anita down the road at a slightly accelerated walk. Anita was almost full-on sprinting with her want to see her ‘sister’ again. Just being able to see Kyla’s face would be enough to put both Anita and Sei at ease.

As they traveled the path, Anita stopped for a moment. “Papa, she’s not on the South Road. She diverted from her path.” Sei looked at Anita oddly before quickly remembering the girl’s ability to ‘connect’ with anybody she touches. Once Anita was a certain distance to a target, she could sense said target so long as she had touched him/her/it before.

“There’s more, Papa,” Anita said, before taking off into a run. “She’s not alone! There is something dead there with her!”

Anita shouting this comment quickly caused Sei to jump into the trees. Without another moment waste, the mute’s blue, white, and orange butterfly wings sprouted from his back, and Sei took off flying through Concordia in pursuit of Anita. Their search lead the two quickly to a farm a couple of miles strayed from Concordia.

It was odd such a farm would exist in this area, and Sei notice the lack of crops in the fields as Anita caught her breath. The girl pointed to an old barn, indicating that Kyla was in there. Sei nodded and left Anita about thirty feet from the barn doors, quickly making his own way inside.

The door had been left open, and several beams of sun were peaking through a small circular window in the loft. Sei noted the smell of animals in this place. It was obvious anything in here had either just recently left, or died in this place. The eerie air of death crept over Sei’s skin, and the mute quickly made his way to a dilapidated ladder.

The ladder was so splintered and shoddy; Sei feared it did not have much longer to go before it broke under the weight some someone/something. As a result, Sei jumped into the air and allowed his wings to carry him onto the loft, where he found Kyla.

The girl was resting on a pile of hay, which brought a smile to Sei’s lips. He was incredibly grateful that nothing had happened to the girl. With no more fears in his head, Sei jumped off of the loft, and walked out back outside to Anita.

“Papa,” Anita said, reaching into her backpack, “something else is here… something not friendly.”