Chapter 70

The morning sun rose to the east, shining a brilliant gold in a perfect, blue sky. The dawn light shone on the fields of wheat and barley, long stalks of corn and rows of potatoes. The chill from the previous night was still in the air as Wil stepped out of the house, shrugging on a thick, woolen coat.

He breathed in the clean, crisp morning air, looking out over the fields from his covered porch, while drinking his morning tea. He had developed a habit over the years, spending a few minutes each morning in solitude before the hectic workday began.

Blessedly alone, he leaned against the porch railing, thinking about the tasks that he could complete this morning. The afternoon would be spent traveling to the city, but work on the farm never ended, and he didn’t have time to waste.

Gulping down his tea, he was just about to step off the porch, when a voice called out to him from the open, bedroom window above.

“Wil!”

“Almost made it.” He whispered, letting out a sigh and looking at his fields with longing, as the voice repeated its call.

“Wil!”

“Yes! What is it, love?” Wil responded, stepping out from the porch, and looking at the open window on the second floor. A beautiful woman with silver hair had her head poked out the opening, looking down at him with a smile on her face. Wil couldn’t help but match his wife’s smile, even though he knew she would have chores for him.

“Don’t forget, you promised Archie that you would help him fix his fence today. You better get to it, we need to be on the road before lunch if we’re going to make the Ascension Ceremony.” Astrid reminded him.

“Shit.” Wil swore, shaking his head in despair at his wife.

“Don’t swear! He’s your friend, and you promised him, Wil! Run along and get it done, and I’ll have breakfast ready for you when you get back.” She offered, and Wil nodded his head in resignation.

Letting out another sigh, he walked to the work shed at the side of the house. Grabbing his toolbelt and bag, he hefted the heavy sack over his shoulder, before walking down the dirt path that led from his farm.

Lined with trees, the path wound its way around a small hill, leading away from his farm and connecting to a more, well trafficked road. Archie’s farmstead was only a short walk away, pass a small clearing and across a brook.

The chill in the air burned off as the sun rose higher in the sky and Wil grumbled as his boots kicked up dust, covering his clothing in a layer of dirt. He had been a farmer his entire life, but he still didn’t like the mess that came with it. It was a quirk of his that had friends and family howling with laughter, a source of ribbing for years.

Even Astrid couldn’t hold back her teasing whenever she did the washing, complaining about his constant pile of dirty laundry he forced on her.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he took in his surroundings as he rounded a bend, Archie’s farm coming into view.

A small, wooden farmhouse and fields, nearly an exact mirror image of his own home. The major difference was the air of neglect about the place. Not surprising, considering Archie had only inherited the place last year, his grandfather passing away and leaving him with the land.

Archibald Anwir had always been a bit…unreliable, to the folks that knew him. He had left the area when he was young, looking for adventure, only coming back when news that an illness had stricken his family. He had been too late returning to see them before they passed, but he chose to honor them by ensuring the farm was looked after.

“Good morning, Archie!” Wil called, waving his arm at his friend and neighbor as soon as he spotted him. On the easter edge of the farm, a wagon load of timber next to him, the cleared remains of an old fence were piled up behind him.

“Morning, Wil. Glad you finally decided to show up!” The man said, a cocky grin on his face as he leaned against a sledgehammer he rested against the ground. Wil had caught him in the middle of hammering a new post, the fresh cut timber driven a few feet into the soft ground.

“You’re lucky Astrid reminded me. I was ready to weed the fields when she caught me. I see you’ve made a fine start. Let’s get this done, I have to take the family to the city at noon for the Ascension.” Wil said, dropping his tools and picking up another length of wood.

“I can’t believe it’s time. I’ve been hearing about the Patriarch’s Ascension since I was a boy. I didn’t think I would ever live to see it happen.” Archie said, lifting the hammer as Wil held the wooden post against the ground for him to hit.

“Demigods measure time differently than us regular folk. I can’t imagine what it must be like, to be a god.” Wil said, as Archie swung the hammer, striking the post into the ground with every blow.

“There’s something I can’t help but wonder. What happens if he fails the Ascension?” Archie asked, stepping back, and admiring his work as Wil picked up another post.

“I don’t know. I don’t even want to think about it. The patriarch is the only thing keeping us safe. Without him…” Wil trailed off, shuddering at the thought.

The rest of the morning passed quickly, the pair working well together, hammering posts into the ground, before running lengths of wire between them to keep the larger animals away.

By the time the sun was directly overhead, the pair were sweaty and tired, but the work was complete.

“Are you coming with us, Archie? Plenty of room in the wagon. We can stop by on the way to get you.” Wil offered, slinging his toolbag over his shoulder again.

“Aright, yeah. Do you mind if I bring someone with us?” Archie asked, his grin back on his face.

“The more the merrier. I’ll be by in an hour.” Wil asked, shaking his head at his friend’s actions. Archie was starting to get a reputation with the local women.

Walking quickly, Wil was back at his farm in a flash. After a quick wash at the well in front of his house, he was just opening the door, eager to eat Astrid’s cooking, when he caught sight of visitors.

A blond woman was sat at the table, her back to him, when he entered. Standing quickly, he had a sight of blue eyes, exactly the same as his own, before the woman was hugging him tightly.

“Mother!” Wil exclaimed, his arms wrapping around her tightly as he laughed.

“What are you doing here?” Wil asked, letting the woman in his arms step back so he could get a better look at her. Behind her, a tall man, with green eyes and black hair, was still sat at the table. His face was expressionless, a block of ice, for a moment, before thawing and breaking into a smile.

“Your mother insisted. Didn’t want you to be travelling to the city without us. I told her she was worrying about nothing, but she wouldn’t hear otherwise.” Wil’s father said, getting up from the table, before stepping forward and giving his son a tight hug as well.

“Well, I appreciate it. I need whatever help I can get keeping Wil in line. Without me holding his hand, he’s liable to wander off somewhere and get lost.” Astrid said, wiping her flour covered hands on her apron as she stepped out of the kitchen.

“Not just me, Archie is coming as well, and he’s bringing a ‘friend’.” Wil said, grinning at his wife as her bright expression clouded at his friend’s name.

“Of course, he is. He’d better marry this one, or someone’s father is going to stick a knife in him.” Astrid said, laughing at the thought.

“So, I believe breakfast was promised?” Wil asked, leaving his parents to wrap his arms around his wife.

“Hmph, it was.” She said, blushing red as he placed his lips against her cheek, giving her an exaggerated kiss.

“Alright, let’s eat and then we can go.” Wil said, stepping around his wife and heading for the kitchen table. It was a wonderful day, and he was looking forward to spending it with family and friends.