Chronicles of Den'dra: A Land Torn: Ancient Powers Awaken by Spencer Johnson

minutes that they weren’t looking for weapons. They examined several of his carvings and a couple pieces of Mytera’s jewelry. Evidently not finding what they came for they apologized for the intrusion and left.
    A few minutes later several villagers arrived and began complaining about the searches. One claimed that the soldiers had taken a hammered dragon shaped pendant. Another said that a metal shod staff with dragons and various designs carved into its length had been taken also. Encer realized that the only things taken had something to do with dragons. This was further confirmed when a newcomer complained that his new hat decorated with shed dragon scales had also been taken.
    All the villagers fell silent when a low moan escaped Torroth. One look from Mytera and everyone assembled silently departed. Torroth opened his eyes a slit and groaned again. Mytera was by his side a minute later with a thin broth. Torroth was hardly able to swallow a few spoonfuls before he dropped back into a sleep. Mytera informed Encer that the fever had lessened but the lad still needed to rest.
    Unable to remain inside any longer Encer took a walk. He looked over the village under its new blanket of snow. When he reached the burnt storehouse he began picking through it to see if there was anything that had escaped the conflagration. He was disappointed in this endeavor and only found ashed and burnt remnants of the food that had been stored there. In some spots smoke still rose into the air and the snow around the building was tainted a dingy gray by the ash.
    Despairing on salvaging anything Encer stopped by the houses of the village trappers. The wives of two informed him that they had departed first thing this morning with every one of their spare traps intent on catching everything that they could. Accept for one the rest were making preparations to do the same. The one that wasn’t was recovering from an injury sustained a week past and still hobbled about with the help of crutches. He volunteered his traps to an able bodied trapper in the interests of the community. Encer was soon satisfied that most of the villagers were supplied well enough for the time being and baring a poor trapping season they would not starve in the future. The greatest loss aside from the food had been the tools and seed kept for next year’s crops. Several of the villagers had seed stored enough for planting if none was ground or eaten. Time would ultimately tell.
    By the time Encer had finished his rounds the afternoon was gone. He hadn’t seen Verkal but that might have been due to his avoidance of the house he knew the commander to be residing in. Encer was thankful that he hadn’t built himself the largest house in the community. The largest house had been requisitioned by Verkal and the residing family had been relegated to servants in their own house. Half of the troops in the village were housed in the living room and the bedroom had been turned onto Verkal’s headquarters.
    Torroth was awake and Inadar was feeding him when Encer returned. Mytera informed him that Torroth had been awake for an hour or so but was as weak as an infant. He had not said anything and really seemed not notice anything around him. Torroth eventually dropped back into sleep and the family had dinner. That evening no one showed up to complain about the soldiers and Encer retired early.
    Encer’s slumber was rudely interrupted by incoherent shouts from the other room. Springing to his feet he grabbed the nearest weapon which happened to be the stick he put his wet boots on to dry. Armed with this unlikely weapon he charged into the other room. Torroth clad only in the scant cloth tied around his midsection was staggering towards the fireplace mumbling something about saving Morden. The young man struggled only for a few moments in Encer’s grip before going limp. Mytera hadn’t been exaggerating when she had described how weak the man was. Torroth was sobbing