29 August 2012
Chapter 6
She was grateful for the dry weather, the thin path that lead out of the village to the fields was easier to pass when it wasn't muddy. Not that she couldn't navigate the mud, with her eyes there wasn't many things she couldn't navigate. About fifty feet away from the village, she inhaled deeply. The humid air dried out her lungs, making her fill warm inside. Closing her eyes. She focused on the type of rarity she wanted. Ideally, she wanted a gem with a natural enchantment much like the metal Hildon. In fact it's rock form would be ideal. Polished and chipped it would be ideal for a more powerful enchantment. Taking in her senses, she felt the many pulls of precious things around her. Her father had introduced her to mining as a child, explaining different rocks, metals and dirts, and the properties of each. She missed him... Pushing away the hands knocking on her skull that didn't fit her desires, she homed in on the direction of the one she wanted. She began walking across the dry salt marsh that surrounded the village.
The walk was long, and on the way she thought of her parents, harvests often made her emotional. Her father had theories on why such a desolate land had magic in it. Usually in such a small population, no casters should be found. But, here, in this small village there was three, maybe more. She remembered sitting on one of his knees as a five year old, playing with the dirt on one of his hands as he explained that the ores and gems that surrounded the village, were full of the magic that filled people. He explained that he thought it was because it was once a ancient battle ground. When dragons, giants and more used to roam the flat lands. Whatever the reasons for these rocks, Ammy was especially grateful.
Pulling her shovel from her back strap, she began digging. She was only a metre down when her heart throbbed anxiously for what laid just beneath the surface. She was glad she was close, she'd appreciate the few hours before sunrise that she could sleep. She'd not slept well in so long.
Feeling the Hildon stones pulsate in her hands, she felt that sense of completion, as if her heart no longer desired it because she had it. It was always a feeling she loved and made her happy again. Placing the five heavy stones back into her knapsack, her detailed eye sight noticed something more laying in the hole with her. A thin white long bone. A fibula bone. Picking it up it sent a shock through her. Enough to make her drop it...
The rumours about the harvest were true...
Human Harvest • Opuss № I