A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"So they've already gotten there before us?" Beam mused. "I'll do what I can. We need evidence, after all. But I find it hard to believe that a single old man could abduct so many children within a single night. Clearly, there's something bigger going on."

The old woman nodded. "I think so too. I think everyone does – but they're loath to admit it. The idea scares them. They're looking for people to pin the blame on, to quell their fear. They've never had to go through anything quite like this.

We've always heard stories of the other villages, and all they've been through with raids and the like – but we've never truly suffered in the same way."

Beam nodded. "I had better move quickly then."

The old woman spared him a sad look as he left.

Just as the lady from the bakery had said, there was a crowd of people gathering in the area by the village Elder's house. None had dared to walk up the long and winding gravel path towards it yet, which Beam found odd, but their intent was still more than obvious.

As he drew closer, Beam could see more than just the torches that they held. Many of them were armed, with axes in their hands, or long knives for butchering. The tension was more than palpable. It gave Beam chills to feel it, just how wound up everyone was. He thought it to be a miracle that no one had killed each other yet.

In the centre of it all, there was Nila, with her in hand, and a quiver over her shoulders, trying to calm everyone down. Rodrey and Rodrick were on either side of her.

"We've already sent word to the Captain!" Nila told them. "With his permission, we'll be able to search the Elder's house without violence. He already missed the Captain's summons. It's only a matter of time before we get word back."

"To hell with the Captain! To hell with those soldiers! To hell with the whole fuckin' serving class! My boy's been taken – half the village's kids have been taken – and that bastard old man won't even show his face. I don't care whether he had a hand in doing it or not – he's gonna pay. What use is an Elder that isn't there when it counts?"

There were several cheers through the crowd, as a middle-aged man gave that proclamation, holding his axe up into the air.

"He's done it, I tell you! He took my boy from me! Said it was a debt – he refused my money, and took my only damn son. He's evil, he is. And those servants of his? There's something messed up about them.

And now that your kids have been taken, only now do you finally listen! Well, damn it, you blind bastards, now that your eyes are finally open, see that house up there? We're going to storm it!"

"Now, just wait," Nila pleaded. "Just wait for Beam. With the Captain's permission, we'll be able to search the house all the same – we just won't cause trouble for ourselves in doing so."

"The boy isn't here," the old man said. "And there's no telling when he will get here. Nobles can't be trusted. We peasants mean nothing to the likes of them. I'm through taking orders, minding my business, I'm going."

He started down the Elder's path, his axe swinging by his side. It took him a few steps, but other people began to join him too.

Some spared Nila an apologetic glance, before they went to join him. She'd been fighting to restrain them all day, all whilst still trying to gather information amongst them. No one was more anxious than she, as more children disappeared and there was still no sign of Stephanie.

Defeatedly, she bit her lip, as she watched the village go on ahead of her. She wanted to join them. She wanted to search that Elder's house as much as anyone. She didn't trust him one bit. But he'd taken on a responsibility, and she couldn't merely cast it aside.

Suddenly, that ever-growing crowd stopped, a mere quarter of the way down the village Elder's path. Nila looked up in alarm. It was as though they'd hit an invisible barrier of sorts.

That was right, wasn't it? There was no guarantee that it wouldn't be dangerous. Especially if things were as connected as Beam thought they were. Those monsters n the woods, those shadows… It made no sense to assume that they'd be fine, if they were charging straight into where they thought danger lay.

Yet it was not a barrier, but a voice that turned those villagers back.

"It would seem you've all managed to stir yourselves up," Beam said.

It took them a moment to recognize him, with the filth covering him, and the lack of torchlight. It was only those at the front that really stood a chance.

Beam had moved, and then Judas hurried to join him, and then the soldiers came after him. But it was Beam that stood alone against the crowd, whilst his allies hurried to join them, it was he that stared them down.

The wave of anger that had been flowing so freely before now ground to a halt. The mind of the mob was a potent thing, especially when it got going.

The villagers looked startled. They didn't know whether they should be apologetic or celebratory, as the boy returned to greet them.

"Boy…" the old man that had led the charge said, unsure. "My son's in that house. You're not going to stop me, are you?"

"Beam…" Nila said, straining her eyes to see him.

"The Captain has given you permission. There are orders to bring the Elder to heel, for ignoring the summons of a noble. His house may be searched in the meantime," Beam told him.

The old man looked at him, surprised. "He did..? Really?" He couldn't fathom it. "Then why are you standing in our way?"