The Unfated Wanderers Canto 5
Evening ended as the Unfated Wanderers entered Shatterbone. Night was no bar as they knew Tong would want to examine their putrid prize. Indeed he did, huddled in his hall, hurriedly hurling the last of his beer down his throat.
He wonderingly whiled the early hours of night, sketching the spawn-head specimen, noting Vilerend and Billet’s tale and filling their bellies with hot food and cold drink. Tong Shatterbone shared plans for the head, to have it mounted, an heirloom adorning his abode.
Tong declared their reward: houses for the land that was gifted to them in Shatterbone village. Substantial money was provided to give to Dew Beesprig in Coalglen, for he was a home builder and Coalglen was a great source of stone, quarried from the hills nearby.
Tong told them to spend the night here in his hall. Leave in the morning, mount a wagon wending south to Coalglen on other errands.
They rode from Shatterbone at dawn, ascending the steepening land, the Catfeather Heights rose to their left, preceeded by lowland hills, an escarpment of the Craftlin Plateau.
By midday, they were halfway to their destination. The travelers paused for a meal wherein they beheld the sights. Perched upon a hilltop was a giant, a massive bear that blocked the sky with its bulk. This bear was impossibly large and completely hairless. Three heads rested upon its neck, each of which met at the forehead where a single eyeball glared at them.
The giant paid them no mind and continued its rest on the Heights. The travelers swiftly concluded their meal and proceeded even more swiftly further south to Coalglen.
Evening eagerly entered the sky as the travelers trundled towards the village gate. The Catfeather Heights lurked nearby. Coalglen quarried stone from these hills. This resource was used in many buildings throughout northern Icebrunt. Most villages in the country had wooden palisades protecting their people. A thick wall of stone blocks surrounded Coalglen. The village itself resembled many other villages in Icebrunt. Most buildings were stone walls and thatch roofs that dwelt upon muddy streets. The wagon driver continued on with his business while Vilerend and Billet explored on foot.
The Coalglen Common Circle squatted centrally with every building circling outwards to the wall. The Circle was a park with a fountain in the middle. Numerous benches filled the space to suspend villagers from the cold ground below.
A man stood by the fountain, addressing a small crowd. Two tables flanked him, each tended by a smiling woman. The Unfated Wanderers walked wearily forward, eager to understand the event before them. One table contained small charms for sale, designed to ward against evil and invite good. The other table had stacks of clothing, sheets and sacks. A line of people presented parcels to this woman. She stacked them neatly on her piles. Coin bags were bundled beneath the table. The Wanderers paused to listen to the preacher.
The gods have sent giants to punish us for our sins. We have failed in our work of the Holy Embroidery. We all know what we should be doing with our religion. Everybody knows their duty. Many people feel bad about not doing their Mandate. We often think that we should be doing better. We joke about the gods withholding favor and sending Bad Lucks. We either don’t believe in any of it, or we don’t care about the consequences. Oh, were we wrong. Those consequences are very real and they are massive. The Children of the Gods have sent Giants to our land to punish us.
We must become devout and pious and hope to win back the favor of the gods. We must put aside everything in our lives. If we have no possessions, if we have no anger, jealousy, regrets or desires, then we have nothing. And if we have nothing, then we are free to do our duty to the gods. We can devote ourselves to prayer and thus we will cleanse the world of giants.
Leave your work. Leave your homes. Join us. It is past time to rectify our misdeeds.
Billet and Vilerend had heard enough. This did not sound like the traditional Weaverism that they had become accustomed to in their short time on Linomnount. They departed the Circle and sought lodging for the night.
Arrangements were made with Dew Beesprig. Their homes would be built within two months. Their business concluded, they left with the wagon driver to go home to Shatterbone.