Chapter 1: Chapter One—A Silver Coin

The sun beats down with an unrelenting intensity as I swung my scythe at the wheat fields stretching over the hill. Golden tops swayed in the wind like waves on the ocean; the metachronal rhythm was hypnotising.

Swoosh, swoosh.

How many times have I swung this scythe in my lifetime, millions? For what? A couple of copper coins a day—hardly worth the effort—but with little work, I endured the monotony of the task.

Liam scurried over like a small animal, throwing his arm around my neck and adding to a river of sweat flowing down my skin and clothes. My worn linen shirt was already drenched from the day’s work.

“How’s my smart-ass friend?” Liam asked, giving me a broad smile, showing his missing canine teeth. Liam’s skin was the same olive colour from working the fields as mine. His loose, curly black hair was damp from sweat.

“Your smart-ass friend is tired and sweaty, as usual,” I replied, rolling my eyes at him. Liam fancied himself a jester, but he was far from it.

“You whine too much,” Liam teased, tossing his satchel over his shoulder.

I tilted my head at him. “You asked.”

“I didn’t ask you to bellyache. Anyway, guess who’s getting their teeth fixed tomorrow?” Liam bent over, grabbing the edges of his mouth, pulling them back, accentuating his goofy-looking face more.

“Who is fixing them? Last time I checked, you couldn’t grow teeth back,” I huffed while giving him a sceptical stare. Liam truly lived in his little world of fallacies.

“A healer!” he proclaimed proudly, like he just made me a fool.

I paused, wondering if he was really this dense. “Healers don’t come this far out, you dimwit,” I said, returning to the swinging of my rusted scythe.

“Allen said we could retire for the day,” Liam pointed toward the pale orange sun disappearing over the horizon. “Be careful. Demons come out at night,” Liam growled at me, making a clawing motion.

I swing my scythe one last time, corralling the wheat into a bundle with a rope, tossing it over my shoulder before sighing—there was no talking sense into Liam’s thick skull.

“They’re a fake healer.”

“You’re so sour.” Liam frowned, squinting his eyes at me with irritation.

“No. I am sceptical like you should be.”

“I envy you! Your perfect teeth, dashing looks, so handsome.” Liam put the back of his hand on his forehead, acting as if he would swoon. I just rolled my eyes at him again. “Come with me, Aries. Who knows, the healer could be a woman,” Liam said, raising his eyebrow at me with a grin.

I, however, do not give into adolescent urges like Liam, so common sense prevailed.

“Or they could be a pervy old man that likes little boys. What is your plan if it’s a woman? Are you going to court her?” I asked, letting out an obnoxious laugh as we walked toward the large wooden barn with red paint peeling off the sides. The barn had seen better days, but Allen refused to fix it. I had offered many times to paint it. Even for free, but he wouldn’t budge.

Liam grinned, clasping his chest, “Depends on how big her—”

“Tits! That’s all you care about,” I interrupted him and shook my head with a chuckle.

“I am nineteen, a man! I must plough my field and lay my seed! But, of course, that’s all I care about,” Liam chortled, spinning around to face me with a smile as he walked backwards. “Maybe you should think with your cock more.”

“Goddess, help me.” I tittered, putting my palm over my face.

Liam continued to laugh as he collided with Allen’s belly, practically bouncing off it before turning around to our unamused boss standing in the barn doorway, wearing overhauls without a shirt.

Liam looked slowly up at him. “Sorry, sir,” he apologised as his grin dissipated.

“Maybe if you thought less about tits and more about the work in the field, you would get more coin,” Allen lectured, coming over and dropping a silver piece in my hand. This was the first time I had ever seen silver. Its shine was impressive, and it felt strangely warm in my hand.

Allen squeezed my shoulder. “You’ve done good, son,” he complimented, his unkempt smile blackened and his hair not far behind his missing teeth.

“I can’t, sir. This is over a hundred days’ worth of work.”

“It’s fine. You pick up the slack for the others,” he reassured, eyeing Liam as he dug earwax from his ear, rubbing it on his tan linen pants.

“What?” Liam asked, clueless to what was going on as Allen and I stared at him in disappointment. An expression I must be careful didn’t find permanence on my face from its constant wearing.

I turned to Allen. “Are you sure?” I asked, returning to our previous conversation.

“Of course, Aries,” he replied, patting me on the shoulder. He walks over, dropping two copper coins in Liam’s hand. Allen lets out a loud sigh before waddling his way out of the barn.

I release an exhale representing the stress and worry I regularly felt for my brother’s simpleness, “Liam, you’re going to get fired if you don’t start working harder,” I give him a concerned countenance—sometimes, I don’t know if he is lazy or stupid… maybe both. I toss the bundle of wheat in the barn before heading home.

“Wait! He gave you a silver coin?” Liam asked excitedly, grabbing my hand after seeing the shine.

“Are you listening?” I ask with annoyance as he plucked the coin from my hand.

Liam tilted his head at the coin. “Why is it so warm?” he asks while looking at me strangely.

I shrugged. “I’ve never seen silver, so I don’t know how it works.”

“What are you going to do with it?” Liam asked with curiosity about a question he already knew.

“Give it to your sister?”

Liam frowned, letting out an overly dramatic moan of dissatisfaction. “Why on earth would you do that?” he whined, tossing his arm around my shoulder as we walked the dirt path to the village peaking over the horizon.

“Because she’s giving me a place to—”

“That’s a dumb reason. She will let you stay whether you work or loaf around the house,” Liam interrupted before leaning on me as my tired legs stumbled us across the road—almost falling into the stream that hugged it.

“Between you and me, I think she wants to bed you,” Liam laughed as I aggressively pushed him away.

Unfortunately, Liam knew all too well how to make me uncomfortable.

“Ugh, your mind is always so perverted,” I groaned and gave him a disgusted glare. “Why would you say such things?”

“It’s true! The hair, the face, the arms,” he said, grabbing my biceps tightly, “The dark red crimson eyes—why are you so fucking beautiful? It’s unfair,” Liam sighed, staring off into the distance. “The Goddesses must hate me.”

“My eyes are more of a dark brown,” I hiss at him, undoubtedly coming off defensive.

“They sure don’t look brown to me, though,” Liam shrugged.

“Whatever,” I snapped. The conversation quickly ended as we approached the old cottage house. It wasn’t great, but it’s home. Vines climb up the side of the faded grey bricks, making their way to the battered red clay shingles of the roof. Smoke plumes out of the broken chimney head, disappearing into the cold air. The weather was so sporadic in this region; nights were incredibly temperamental.

“I am just saying if you have a monster cock on top of it, I’m going to throw myself off a cliff in envy,” Liam said as his sister opened the door mid-sentence.

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“Talking about cocks again, eh?” Liam’s sister teased, turning her gaze to me with a warm smile. Emma was a beautiful woman that didn’t look a day over thirty. Her pitch-black hair flowed behind her dainty shoulders. A few scattered grey hairs nestled in the darkness, undoubtedly from the stress of caring for Liam. Her perfect hazel eyes radiated love and compassion. I wondered if a noble would glance at her beauty one day, sweeping her from her feet to the royal capital walls. How Liam’s goofy-looking self was related to her was beyond me.

“Context, sis, it matters,” Liam lowered at his sister.

“Do you even know what context means? And it’s okay, Liam, I will love you all the same,” she said, pulling her stare from me and shooting a smirk at Liam, which made him uncomfortable.

“Emma, don’t tease him. You know how he is with these types of things.” I smile at her as I walk into the cottage. 

Food was already prepared, sitting on the table in the middle of the room, waiting for us. Three wooden bowls were filled to the brim with broth. The air was filled with an aroma that made my stomach twist in anticipation. I stroll over and take a seat, looking at the meaty soup.

I glance over at Emma and smile. “Thank you for everything.”

“I would like something besides soup,” Liam mumbled, looking disappointed at the bowl, spinning the food around with a spoon.

“How about you do some fucking work in the fields then,” she replied, throwing her utensils at Liam before reaching across the table and stealing his.

“Am I to use a dirty spoon?” Liam asked, looking distressed at the spoon on the floor.

“Yes,” Emma replied, taking a spoonful of soup without breaking her eye-locked scowl. “Oh, I almost forgot, may the cunts in heaven bless this food as they’re the only true light in the darkness blah, blah, blah!” Emma said before going back to her soup, making a slurping noise.

“You know Emma, if you’re going to call them cunts, what’s the point of the prayer?” I laughed.

“It makes me feel good,” she answered with a mouth full of food, chewing.

I take the silver coin out, scooting it across the table to Emma. Her eyes dropped to it, but she didn’t react. “Here.”

“Allen gave you that?” She asked, tilting her head.

I nod. “He did, but it’s yours now,” I replied, but she slides it back to me with quick aggression—Emma was too prideful sometimes.

“No, but I will take Liam’s,” she said, giving him another scowl as he pulled the three copper coins out, placing them on the table as they made a rattling noise. We all three eat in silence for the remainder of the time. Liam and I work every day but the blessed day, leaving slight variance in our daily lives to have anything to discuss. Emma’s work was not something we discussed, so our meals usually ended in silence.

“Okay, I’m full, off to bed,” Liam announced and jumped up, stretching his arms towards the bare ceiling rafters.

“Bathe first, for Goddess’ sake,” Emma nasally said as she pinched her nose shut and swatted the stench away.

“Fine,” he huffed off to the creek in the back of the house as Emma and I sat silently for a few minutes, chewing our food awkwardly. She was clearly about to say something I wouldn’t like. She had a common expression before these subjects came up.

Emma lets a sigh out. “I’m going into town tomorrow for a few days. Please make sure Liam doesn’t kill himself doing something… stupid,” Emma said, getting up as I gently grabbed her slender wrist.

“Take the silver and skip going to town for a few months,” I said as her face softened into sadness. She cups my face with both hands, giving me a strained smile.

“My dear Aries, I know it bothers you, but it’s what we must do to survive. You know this,” Emma said, rubbing her thumb on my cheekbone.

“But you don’t have to… I know you hate it,” I replied with my voice cracking.

“You have grown into such a fine man,” she smiled, running her fingers through my dirty blonde hair, slicking it back. Her hands travel down the back of my neck to my shoulders, caressing my skin the whole way. “But you are still not grown up….” She finished, getting lost in thought.

“Emma, please,” I pleaded as she jerked her hands away like she had done something wrong.

“Aries, when are you going to move on? How long do you plan to work in the fields?” Emma asked, returning to her seat. She leaned across the table, grabbed my hand, and squeezed it.

“I enjoy being around you and Liam.”

“You’re eighteen, almost nineteen. There’s an enormous world out there full of things, but you chose to sit at this cottage with an old whore and her stupid brother,” she stated, shaking her head at me. “Why? I believe you’re meant for something beyond this little town.”

I dropped my head. “I don’t know about that,” I muttered. There wasn’t anything I was good at besides physical work; if that were to be my life, I would happily stay here.

“We may not be blood-related, but I love you, Aries. I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” I said as she shook her head in disapproval again.

“I see how you walk in with that strained smile every day. You’re not happy,” Emma sighed, glancing at her bedroom door.

“Do you not want me around?”

Emma’s attention is snapped back. “Oh Goddess, I want you around forever, but that’s not right of me. That eleven-year-old little girl, picking that baby up in the forest, knew that one day her brother would leave this run-down cottage,” Emma said, pulling me in for a hug.

Emma kept herself well-groomed. Her hair was soft and had a flowery smell. It was relaxing and comforting—it felt like home.

“You don’t deserve this misery,” I mumbled into her ear as I squeezed her back.

“Maybe, but I was at least blessed with you. Those cunts at least gave me a bit of happiness, even if it was short,” she said as her lower lip quivered, holding back tears. 

Emma stood up abruptly, walked to her room, and returned with a large lockbox. She set it on the table, making a thud as she exhaled, putting a key into the lock, turning as it created a clicking noise. Light illuminated from the top as Emma pulled out a white silk-looking blanket. Its golden lining shined even brighter than that of its white centre. The name Aries is stitched on the cloth at the bottom—I look at it in confusion.

“What is this? It looks expensive,” I said, and Emma managed a laugh from her sadness.

“It’s heaven cloth,” she said, feeling the edges.

“And?”

“It was supposedly made in heaven by the goddesses, and you were wrapped in it when I found you. We should have brought you to the church, but mother and I were selfish. Your life would’ve been so much better,” Emma said as tears escaped her hazel eyes, “take it, make a life for yourself.”

“We can sell it,” I said, grabbing her hand. She just shook her head, pulling her hand away slowly.

“I have stolen enough from you,” she replied as the old wood floorboards creaked, and Liam’s head popped out from behind the door with a suspicious expression painted on his face.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Liam gawked as Emma tossed the blanket into the lockbox, pushing it toward me.

“Nothing, you twat, go to bed,” Emma barked, tossing a bowl at Liam, wiping tears from her face.

“Ouch,” Liam complained, being overly dramatic before making his way to the bedroom with a curious expression. Emma returned after picking the bowl up from the floor, kissing me on the forehead.

“You stink. Go wash up before bed,” she said with her lips pressed to my forehead, her kiss lingering before leaving for her bedroom as I sat staring at the lockbox.

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