A True Tale
Copyright© 2008 by acolodude
Chapter 16
The four were riding in the wagon to just outside the nearest town. Walking into the town nobody paid any attention to them. In the main square market, they took a seat and just listened and watched. Talk of an army not too far away, had everyone worried. Most believed that the King’s forces would handle the problem. Some worried that being so close to the enemy the town might be visited or raised by the enemy.
Finally, a constable, asked Keal who he was and where he was from. Keal slowly answered, he was from across the sea and that he and his ladies had bartered for passage on a ship a short time ago and have been wandering from town to town. He was a storyteller, and the ladies took care of him, sometimes working a tavern as extra help when he told stories, due to the increase in costumers listening to his stories. When asked for a name, Keal just said that he did not recall his name as nobody ever called him by it now, everyone just called him old man. The girls giggled and nodded. The constable accepted that and went about his patrol.
A woman buying goods approached and asked if he was telling the truth about needing to hire the girls because of his stories. Mia answered that the last time there was a fight outside due to people not being able to get inside. The woman asked if they were seeking a place to tell stories, she worked at the largest tavern and might be able to get the owner to talk with the old man.
That evening the old man sat and told a story:
Long ago the old races fought constantly. Woodfolk, Ground Dwellers, Goblin & Orcish all fighting against each other. Then the humans came, because humans could breed with all the other races half breeds were born. With the coming of half breeds, everyone united and peace reined.
Demons rose and because they could not breed with humans, they were outcasts and for this they despised all the races and strived to end them all.
A powerful demon gathered an army of demons and began a wave of death killing everything in its path.
A man not all human and not a true half breed, was fighting against the demon army. When he ended up facing the demon leader. The fight was terrible, both were seriously wounded, however, the young man struck the last and fatal blow killing the demon leader and ending the war. Instead of seeking glory and power the young man faded into the sunset.
With the end of the story, everyone cheered and several tossed coins to the old man. The tavern owner was pleased and asked the old man to return the next evening to again tell another story. The girls helping with the large number of customers. Heard soldiers talking about being called back from their regular time off and had to report back by weeks end. The King was gathering his full army, apparently, there was an enemy force threatening Farland.
The next night the crowd was even larger as word had gotten out about the old man and his stories.
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