The Farm

  Sen was drawn out of thinking about the story of the old King when his father thumped the cookout onto the table. Sen looked down in surprise to find that he had finished all of the peeling and chopping without realizing it while he was lost in thought. He added the vegetables to the cookpot and his father returned it to hanging above the fire. An aroma of the stew began to drift toward Sen and his stomach growled loudly. He went over to the cookpot and gave it a stir, staring into it’s depths longingly.

  “Father,” Sen said, still partially in thought about the old king. “Can you tell the story of how the strangers were defeated in battle in the war?”

  Sen’s father grunted in acknowledgement but still continued to stoke the flames. Sen stirred the soup and then both continued their jobs in thoughtful silence. The older man rocked back onto his heels and wiped his ash stained hands on his already filthy trousers. Sen looked down at the top of his salt and pepper head. His hair was unruly from being stuck under his hat all day in the blistering sun. He chewed his lip as he studied the fire, deep in thought. Then he began telling the story that Sen knew by heart.

  He told of how the King led his troops into a fearsome battle against the strangers who had invaded the land. The mages, young and old conjured every bit of magic they had against the strange power of their foes. It seemed as if the mages would score an easy victory just days after the fighting began. Suddenly, the tide turned when the foe revealed their deepest, most sacred power. They were shapeshifters. Each of them transformed into terrible, scaled beasts. They called themselves Dracocians and worshipped a three-headed God Tihama from whom they were created and drew their power. Their God was a reptilian creature, known as a dragon. The Dracocians were able to shift into a form that half resembled their God, mixed with human features. They stood on two legs but taller than the average human. Where they once had skin was replaced by scales and their faces were warped into elongated maws with razor sharp teeth and various horns sticking from their heads. Their eyes shone like gemstones in the light and they became faster and stronger. Their scales repealed the weapons and magic of the King’s legion.

  Surprised, the King pulled his forces back after sustaining heavy damage. He planned with the mages for two days on how to counter the foe. The mages had tricks of their own up their sleeves. They, too, had shapeshifters among them. Their forms varied between different beasts and some were even able to transform into pure elements, called elementals. The elementals were the embodiment of air, earth, fire and water. Where there was once flesh and bone floated water or stood solid stone. The King, relieved they had a counter, sent his troops back into battle in full force. They were evenly matched and the battle raged on. After a few more days, the Dracocians once again fell back. The King thought he was once again gaining a lead byt was again wrong.

  The dracocians had some of their best warriors transform again, into a second stage. This time they grew even larger and stronger. In addition, they now had wings and long barbed tails. The Dracocians attacked in the night, now with an aerial legion. The King’s forces struggled to keep their foes at bay. While the mages did have powerful magic that crashed into the enemy at every turn, this was a enemy which they had never faced or imagined. For every one of the mages shapeshifters, there were three Dracocians. While there weren’t nearly as many Dracocians that were able to shift into their winged version, the nearly all were able to transform into armored foot soldiers.

  The mages fought bravely, desperate to hold their ground. Once again, the battle field came to a stand still. The powers were at equal match. The mages had figured out a way to make a shield around the front of the battalion, blocking the blows of the aerial legion. The Dracocians were not ready to give up. Their leader, a fearsome man who led the troops day and night, still had one more surprise up his sleeve. Drawing all of his power, he went to front lines when the soldiers were lining up at dawn for another day of battle. There, he transformed through the first two stages. He first grew scales and then wings and then a tail. But as the King and his legion watched in horror, the man continued to grow. He grew and grew, crackling with raging energy until he was a full sized dragon, scales as black as night covering his enormous spiked body. His glowing yellow eyes peered ferociously down at the King on his horse.

  He spoke in a booming, thunderous voice that washed over the battalion facing him.

  “Foolish humans,” He said, eyes sweeping over them, “Surrender to me or face my wrath. We shall leave this miserable land that you call home if you promise never to set foot on our land again. Forever, our people will be separated. Do not underestimate my words. There are more of my kin who will come to destroy your precious cities and those you hold dear.”

  The King dismounted from his horse and fell to his knees in front of the monstrosity towering above him. He knew that nothing they had in their arsenal would defeat such a creature, nevermind if there were others like him.

  “Please,” The King begged, “Spare my people your wrath. We will surrender to you and separate our people.”

  The Dragonking peered down at the puny King kneeling before him and smiled a wicked grin down at him.

  “I will forgive this disrespect, just this once,” The Dragonking growled. “But you must pay a cost. Many of my people suffered at the hands of your magic wielders. You must give me something in return. You must sacrifice someone precious to you or forfeit your own life for your insolence. Your greed cannot go unpunished. The blood shed will lock our promise.”

  The King was outraged. He stared defiantly up into the yellow eyes of the monster above him. The Dragonking had led his people onto his lands and stole their precious resources. But the King knew he was beat and nodded stiffly.

  “You can take me,” The King said, standing to his full height. “I will sacrifice my own life in exchange for the safety of my people.”

  The Dragonking, satisfied with the King’s response, smiled wickedly down at his prize. Once again he swept his gaze over the frozen, watching crowd behind their King. Suddenly, with speed faster than any would have believed possible, the Dragonking opened his maw wide and swallowed the King. He didn’t even have time to scream before he was clamped within the giant jaws and eaten. A few people in the crowd shrieked in horror as their King was swallowed right in front of them.

  “Remember this day,” The Dragonking hissed before taking off, massive wings sending blasts of air down at the watching crowd as he flew high up into the sky. Some of them were blasted back several feet. He flapped a few times, turning away from the battalion. The Dracocians turned away as well, back toward their ships to return to their own lands. Three days after the battle, terrible earthquakes rocked the land. It is said that the Dragonking somehow tore the land in two with his magic, permanently severing his own lands from the humans. A storm-battered strip of sea now lie in between the lands where the Dragonking had split it apart. The storms were so strong, no ship had ever survived a voyage on it to the present day. Their people have remained separated ever since.

  –????????–

  Sen frowned down into the stew as his father finished the story. Though he heard it a hundred times, it never failed to make him feel uneasy. The thought of such creatures existing sent a shudder down his spine. His father’s low chuckle had him looking up.

  “Well, that’s how it’s told anyway,” His father said in his deep, husky voice. He stood and stretched, joints popping as he did so. Sen frowned at him but said nothing, stirring absentmindedly.

  “And here we are, still dealing with the mess of those decisions over a hundred years later,” His father grumbled, staring into the flames, hands deep in his trouser pockets.

  Sen said nothing in response as he moved away from the hearth to collect the clay bowls they used for dinner every night. He set about serving dinner in a near trance, thinking about the story of the King and the short war that led to so much despair for one hundred years.

  As he worked, Sen’s two other brothers, Harvey and Jensen, shuffled in through the door, done for the day with their hard work in the wheat fields. They greeted Sen and their father on their way to wash up and then plopped down at the table in front of the bowls Sen had prepared. Geo returned from the cellar carrying two loaves of hardbread. He split them up as evenly as possible and they silently began their meal, only the sounds of chewing and wooden spoons scraping on bowls could be heard. This is was usually how all their meals went, all mostly too tired from the day to muster much conversation.

  That was why when Sen suddenly set down his spoon and asked, “Why did the Queen turn to the dark sorceresses again?” Had everyone pause and give him a surprised glance before continuing their chewing. Only their father hesitated long enough to answer, setting down his own spoon. Sen took this in mild surprise. Their father was a stern man, always focused on the business at hand and had little appreciation for storytelling or idle chatter. But tonight he had humored Sen’s request for the story not once but twice. Sen watched him expectantly, brows raised in question.

  Their father rested his elbows on the table and watched Sen for a moment before looking between his four sons.

  “In her grief, she abandoned her newborn child and sought to bring her husband back from the dead,” He answered in a low voice, watching Sen again. “She could not accept that he was one forever.”

  Sen nodded, picking up his spoon and starting on the stew again, but not daring to break eye contact with his father. This was a rare treat and he wasn’t about to waste a second of it on getting distracted but knew his father would be cross if he let his stew grow cold. He settled with multitasking.

  “She wasn’t successful, though, of course,” He said with a sigh. “Instead she brought upon one hundred years of oppression of our people and birthed a monstrosity. She made a deal with the sorceresses that she never planned to keep. Foolish, as sorceresses had many ways to ensure their victims paid their debts. In her grief, the Queen didn’t care. She exchanged the life of her innocent baby boy for a talisman that the sorceresses promised would let her see her lost husband again. Though hesitant, she agreed.”

  “The Queen took the talisman back to her castle and locked herself and her babe away, afraid the sorceresses would come to try to take him in the night. She was foolish. She thought they wouldn’t be a match for her magic and she would be able to protect the baby. Once secure deep within the castle, she began the ritual that the sorceresses had explained to her in detail. She had to wear the talisman, a terrible necklace carved of human bones, while chanting words in a strange language. She also had to mix her blood and that of a relative close to the King. Not wanting to risk the young baby’s life, she had the King’s daughter summoned and drew her blood. She drained enough of her blood and the Princesses until a goblet was filled and then she sent her away again. The child was rightfully terrified.”

  He paused to take a drink of water and have a bite of stew. By now all the boys had finished their dinner and were sitting quietly, listening to the story they all already knew but rarely heard.

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  “The Queen drank half the goblet of blood while chanting the words she was taught and left the other half of blood in the cup and set it on the floor. She dipped her fingers in the blood and began drawing on their floor, intricate symbols that she was taught by the sorceresses. When she was done drawing them, she continued chanting, holding the bone necklace that hung to her breasts. As she chanted, a figure started to appear. The form started as if made of smoke, standing on the symbols she had drawn and began to grow ever more solid the longer she chanted. When she was finished, The King stood before her, solid and alive as ever.”

  “The Queen, of course, was ecstatic, immediately jumping into his outstretched arms. He hugged her to him tightly and told her how proud he was of her for reaching him, even in death. Together they peered lovingly at their newborn son and, eventually, made their way to the bed. They spent a very emotional night tangled up together. When morning came, The King roused his beloved and told her that while he was glad to be back, his time was only temporary. He would only have a few hours with her before he would have to leave forever.”

  “The Queen, while tearful, understood the limitations of such magic. They made every moment count and didn’t leave the bed or the chamber for the remaining hours. They made love repeatedly and held each other in between, cuddling their son. When the time came and The King once again started to fade, he kissed them both on the head in farewell. But before he left, he whispered something to the Queen that startled her. He was sure she was with his child once again and through the children, she shall always have a piece of him.”

  “Four nine months the Queen’s body grew and changed, just as it had the first time. However, this time she was violently ill. She did her best to manage ruling her people but ws bedridden for most of the pregnancy. Then, one cold night, she finally went into labor. She labored for many hours, not making progress. Her midwife feared for her life and called in magical healers who had remained in the city after the war. Together, they freed the baby and saved the Queen’s life. But something was horribly wrong. The baby she had bore was not human at all. It was grotesque, skin dark red in color. It had glowing red eyes and tiny, delicate wings and a pointed tail. She realized then that she had been tricked. The King who had come from the ritual she had performed was not her husband at all, but an imposter.”

  “The Queen, after a week of healing, decided to pay a visit to the sorceresses who had tricked her. She had the mutant baby taken away but instructed the midwife not to harm it. She refused to feed the child, another boy, and had them feed his goats milk instead. On the day she set out for the sorceresses, she had a plan. She was going to make them pay, every last one of them.”

  “She flew on the wind as a flame down to the rocky mountainous region which they dwelled and attacked, killing a few within their caves before they knew what had hit them. What the Queen didn’t know was they had been waiting for her to return. They attacked her back and another great battle took place. The Queen, while extremely powerful, had made another mistake. She rushed into battle without knowing the full extent of her opponents powers. She was outnumbered and outmatched. She held them off for a long time and killed a great number of the sorceresses in her struggle, but ultimately they captured her. The sorceresses leader, a tiny but fierce woman, came to speak to the Queen after she fell.”

  “He declared that The Queen, by killing so many of their kind and lying about her promise of a son, would owe the sorceresses much more than her life to amend. She would pay with blood of her trueborn son, never to sit the throne he was born by right to rule from. They also claimed they would take the demon son she had birthed. Worst of all, they would put a curse over the Queen’s lands so that even in death, The King would never forgive her for harming the people who he loved and gave his life to protect. The curse would kill most of the women of The Queen’s lands and the remaining would become mostly infertile, unable to bear offspring often, if at all. They claimed this would cause the human race to eventually die out but in the meantime would lead to hardship and a great depression, causing misery across their lands until their time was ended. Then the sorceresses would claim the human lands for themselves in retribution for the lives that were lost and to punish the humans for their ignorance in following such a Queen.”

  “They then proceeded to slit the Queen’s throat, cheering at her downfall. They then traveled to Raegant City and easily sacked the castle. They stole the King and Queen’s infant son, their leader eating him as children were a great source of their immortality. They took the other newborn son, nobody ever hearing from him again, presumably eating him as well for some unknown benefit. Then they discovered the King’s young daughter and somehow discovered the truth of what happened to his first wife. The Princess was branded by the sorceress's magic, forever marking her and any descendants of their house with their dark magic. While the royal house remained fertile and free of the curse, any that were born of their house would be required to give up their firstborn child to the sorceresses. As long as The King’s blood ran through the royal house, the curse would remain over the lands.”

  –????????–

  Sen sighed, scraping up the last of the potato in his bowl as his father finished the story. It was a gruesome, wicked tale, but it was the history of their nation. His brothers sat in silent contemplation as well, thinking over all their father had just said.

  Their father stood from his seat suddenly, placing both hands on the table and leaning forward to look at them each in turn.

  “Sen, I think that this is as good a time as any,” He said, serious eyes boring into his.

  Sen looked to each of his brother’s in turn, eyebrows high in question. “What is it? What’s going on?”

  Their father continued standing, staring at Sen. “I think it’s as good a time as any to have this conversation. It’s time that we stop pretending about what you are.”

  Sen’s face went white as he stared up into the older man’s eyes. He didn’t know where this conversation was going but he didn’t like it.

  “Uh.. I’m not sure what you mean, father,” Sen said, voice low.

  Their father slapped his palm down on the table, face turning more stern as he looked around at his children.

  “Listen,” he said, glaring around at them, “This facade had gone on long enough. It can’t go on forever. It is more noticeable the more years that go by that Sen is NOT a man. While, I admit, this was my idea and it worked well up to this point, we have to think about the future and the safety of our family. I have a solution… That will help everyone and also keep us safe.”

  Sen stared at their father, wide eyed and jaw slack. A glance around at the other’s showed similar expressions on their faces. All except Geo, who was looking at their father seriously, but with no trace of surprise on his face. Sen was shocked to realize that whatever was about to happen, he was already aware of it.

  Their father slumped back into his worn chair and it groaned with the weight of him.

  “Senna,” He said, staring across the table, “I have to tell you the truth… You are not my biological child. My wife and I found you on a wagon that had been abandoned on our way into town one day. It looked as if you had been picked up and they were taking you in for… well collection. My wife had just lost a pregnancy a week prior and still had her milk in. She nursed you while we made our way into town. We had planned to give you over to the doctor there but when he saw my wife holding you, he assumed that she had given birth to a healthy baby. The last he had seen her she was nearly due. My wife, bless her heart, agreed with the doctor. I was panicked, I didn’t know what we were going to do. I knew once the doctor examined you and saw you were a girl, he would send someone to collect you in a few months time, once you had grown enough off of my wife’s milk. However, while he examined my wife for post-birth injury and found her healthy, she got to talking to him and he completely forgot to look you over. When we were about to leave he remembered and casually asked your gender and a name so he could fill out the documents. My wife, your mother, immediately told him you were a boy. He smiled and waved as we left, already filled out the paperwork. This is, of course, completely against the law but we got lucky. I was so worried and unsure of how we could possibly keep you. My wife was never worried and laid it out for me. We present her as a boy. Always. She works on the farm. Has little contact with strangers. Simple. As the years went by I became relaxed. I agreed, it was easy. Nobody ever questioned it.”

  “But now, Senna,” Their father said, casting a pleading look at her and sweeping a hand up and down her figure still seated at the table. “It had become harder to ignore. Though we keep you thin and you bind your breasts and wear loose clothes, you have the face and shape of a woman. It would only take the wrong person looking at you too closely for a moment too long to realize what we’ve been hiding. It is too risky. I can’t risk the farm and your brother’s lives any longer.”

  Senna hung her head now, tears sliding down her face.

  “So what?” She asked, not picking up her head, “Y-you’re going to turn me in?”

  “What?” Her father said, incredulity in his voice. “Of course not. Biological or not, you’re still my child Senna.”

  Senna looked up at the sincerity in his voice but with caution still in her expression.

  “Then… What, father?” She asked, voice breaking as she cried.

  He stared at her for a long minute and then gestured down the other end of the long table. “You will be wed to Geo.”

  Sen’s head snapped up at that, choking on the gasp that threatened to rip out of her throat. Her other brothers, Harvey and Jensen, were staring wide eyed at Geo like she was. They all knew she was a girl, of course. It’s hard to hide something like that when you live together. But they never spoke of it. Never. And especially not so brazenly. They had expected it was a part of their life, just as Senna had accepted she would always be Sen. Until now.

  Long, tense seconds passed as the family sat in silence staring at one another. Geo’s face was emotionless as he stared back at Senna.

  “No,” Senna said quietly, not breaking Geo’s stare.

  “What?” Her father said, voice rough and gravely.

  “NO!” Senna yelled, pushing back her chair and standing. The chair crashed to the floor, overturned from her abrupt display. Her brothers all now stared at her in surprise. She had never had such an outburst at their father in all her life. None of them had.

  “Sit down,” Her father said quietly, glaring at her across from him.

  “I… said… no,” Senna said, panting with anger between each word. “We can continue as we always have. No one had noticed and no one WILL notice. Father, please. I'm begging you. I will be careful just as I always have. Please.”

  Their father looked at her, pain showing in his eyes as he gazed her way.

  “Senna,” He said, voice harsh behind the pained look in his eyes, “Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be. This is what is best for our family. Especially you. Can’t you see I’m trying to help you? You won’t have to hide anymore. You can be Senna, a woman. Life will continue as normal. You will do your same duties.”

  She shook her head. She wouldn’t marry Geo. Couldn’t. The thought of his hands on her sent waves of panic up her spine…

  “No,” She said again through gritted teeth. “I won’t.”

  Her father sighed, standing once again. He locked eyes with Geo and the eldest son nodded and stood as well. Senna watched them, anger building as they moved toward her.

  “I didn’t want to have to do this Senna,” Her father said, “But you’ve left me no choice. You can spend some time in your old room in the cellar until you think on it and change your mind.”

  Senna’s mind raced. ‘No,’ She thought to herself as they closed in on her. ‘I won’t be locked up again.’ Panic raced through her as they converged, Geo lunging for her left and her father her right. But she was quicker, slamming herself backwards toward the wall, causing them to slip. Her father nearly fell trying to follow her movement and cursed under his breath. Geo, more limber in his youth, kept up with her easy and wrapped a powerful hand around her left wrist. She struck out with her right to hit him in the face but he easily caught it. He twisted her around and held her back firm to him, facing their father. He gestured Geo forward, holding Senna tight and led the way to the cellar stairs. She tried to struggle and get loose but Geo held her tighter, powerful hands digging in and arms holding hers down to her sides. He was huge compared to her thin frame. As Geo dragged her toward the cellar steps she caught a glimpse of her other brothers' faces. They were frozen at the table, staring after her in horror. Their faces were the last things she saw before she was pulled to the stairs and led down into darkness.

  –????????–