"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact."
- William James
Dark leaden gray clouds just touching wind bent trees
Little light shone into the murky night
Cold drizzle had become part of existence
The log and mud meeting hall squat on a rise
Inside
Air was thick with the smoke of braziers and burning fat
Tallow candles, and smelled of
Sweat from nights of men swapping tales from far away
Whens and wheres
Eating the roasted meats with two hands
Voices rising over one another in layers of truths
Armaments hung on pegs and leaned against the barkless beam walls
Mead steins half full and being filled
Drafted down with a broad swing of an arm
King Mydaefandynm knew the combined strength of his harriers
Toasts and meats were served by the comely maids of his
Lands
This was a gathering of warriors from the two oldest clans
That until this past reaping season killed one another
But now had a common foe
They sat on opposite sides of the long table
Half the men had tats of symbols not known to the others
Circles in circles, beasts with no names
Seared into their flesh after battles
Shaved heads and flowing locks met for this drink
Clansmen, I drink to your health and the death of our foes
A pounding roar like the waves of an angry sea
Yet, still distrust sat behind their eyes
Tomorrow, we hold the high ground tomorrow
And crush any that dare to advance before us
One sat silent with his broadsword sheathed on his back
Watching the men drink drafts next to him and whisper
They were a chink in the king's armor
we will not hold the ground to his left
we will be rich men come the sunset if there is one
With a single movement he swung his sword from his back and
Dropped the two men's heads onto the floor for the dogs
Men jumped and stood silent, but ready
Thank you Aethelrodmyd, you have found the traitors
Before they could do us harm
He sheathed his broadsword and sat and drank to the health
Of his lord
The door creaked open and a quiet breeze blew in
