The Harbinger, Part 1 (VG)
Essin was tired, but then again at his age every day was tiring. As he trudged through the forest back to his isolated cabin, he was looking forward to a bite to eat, then relaxing with a mug of ale and a good pipe to end his day. For as surely as the sun would rise, he knew it was going to be a busy day tomorrow.
He'd already had an eventful time checking his traps in the forest this day. He counted himself lucky to fill one trap on an average day, and many days he had nothing to show for his treks. Today all of his traps had been full.
He wondered about his sudden good fortune, but Essin was never much for religion or superstition. To his way of thinking, things would happen, or they wouldn't, and the best a body could do was to try to stack the odds beforehand.
His catch sack was very heavy, slowing his progress home. Darkness was beginning to fall as he neared the clearing where his cabin lie, but this didn't trouble Essin much. He knew this forest well, having made his home here these many years since his Tressie died.
Still lost in thought about dinner and a pipe, Essin didn't notice the figure standing at the door of his cabin until he was almost on top of it.
It appeared to be a tall, thin human, wearing a gray hooded cloak.
"Here now, what you be doing on me stoop?" asked Essin.
There was no reply from the figure, but it did appear to notice Essin, turning slightly to face the old man.
"What is it you be wanting, stranger? Lost are ye?" chattered Essin. "Lucky for you the Vulmani didn't vent your weazand."
The stranger stood mute.
"Well, if it's food you're in need of, it's your lucky day," Essin said as he shook his catch bag. "More critters here than I could eat afore they went off anyway."
The stranger continued his silent regard of Essin.
The old man was growing nervous. The Vulmani who claimed this land made it difficult for many to venture deep into this region. As far as Essin knew, he was the only outsider with permission to live or travel in Vulmani lands. Therefore, a visitor that didn't have fangs and fur was something of an oddity.
As he paid closer attention to the stranger, Essin noticed a few more things. The figure, other than shifting its stance a bit when it first regarded Essin, was absolutely still. Moreover, there was an unpleasant smell, which Essin couldn't quite place.
"I'll be stepping inside now, stranger," stammered Essin as he started past the figure. "If you be wanting something, now's the time to let a man know. Otherwise, I'll be saying good day to you."
The figure made no response, but slowly turned to regard Essin's progress to the cabin door.
"As it suits you," shrugged Essin as he stepped inside his cabin, closing the door behind him and securing the latch.
Dropping his burden, the old man hastily uttered an incantation, igniting the wood stacked in the fireplace and the candles placed around the single room.
Relieved to be inside and away from the stranger, Essin busied himself with preparing his evening meal. He had barely gotten the water over the fire when he heard a slow, steady rapping on his door.
"Burn ye stranger, I'm cooking dinner here!" shouted Essin. "If you wanted something, you should have told me afore I got started!"
The knocking continued. Snatching up his axe, he rushed to the door to confront the annoying stranger. He lifted the latch and flung the door open, weapon held in a threatening manner.
As the light spilled out of the cabin and into the clearing, his exasperation turned to terror. Hundreds of figures had filled the clearing, all regarding the cabin in perfect stillness. Standing in the doorway was the stranger. Death had not been kind to it.
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