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    Barbarian
    Barbarian
    Barbarian
    Ebook67 pages55 minutes

    Barbarian

    By Oscar A McCarthy

    ()

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    About this ebook

    JUST ANOTHER STUBBORN COWARD

    It was time to get food for the Silvers again, and as usual, the job landed on me. It was going to be a long, uneventful trip to the Diamond’s mansion with my little, worn wagon. I could have gone to the Golds, who lived closer, to ask for food, but a big, stupid hill stood between our mansions. No way was I going to climb up and down that hill with a wagon full of food. I swear, they built it like that just for the purpose of annoying me.

    “Don’t forget to ask for a few sacks of apples. We need apples!” said Sard as I walked out the door of our wooden mansion. He was the caretaker of the Silvers. If anyone had a question or a problem, he was the one to go to. For this very reason, I called him the ‘Lazy Father of the Silvers’.

    I sighed and tugged on my wagon, trudging down the dirt road toward the Diamond’s mansion, hoping that when I got there, someone would immediately be ready to supply me. The chance of that happening depended on who was there. Hopefully, one of the less snobby adults. I didn’t feel like begging for my food today.

    Their mansion was similar to ours and all the rest. Same tall, triangular roofs, long hallways, and grand dining rooms. Their area was much neater though. The grass was green and trimmed; there were lots of trees; and flowers bloomed in rows with the colors blue, red, orange, green, and purple. Ours didn’t have anything, just dirt, untended grass, and a few trees scattered around, much like the Bronze mansion.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOscar A McCarthy
    Release dateMay 31, 2018
    ISBN9781386869160
    Barbarian

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      Book preview

      Barbarian - Oscar A McCarthy

      Chapter 1

      It was time to get food for the Silvers again, and as usual, the job landed on me. It was going to be a long, uneventful trip to the Diamond’s mansion with my little, worn wagon. I could have gone to the Golds, who lived closer, to ask for food, but a big, stupid hill stood between our mansions. No way was I going to climb up and down that hill with a wagon full of food. I swear, they built it like that just for the purpose of annoying me.

      Don’t forget to ask for a few sacks of apples. We need apples! said Sard as I walked out the door of our wooden mansion. He was the caretaker of the Silvers. If anyone had a question or a problem, he was the one to go to. For this very reason, I called him the ‘Lazy Father of the Silvers’.

      I sighed and tugged on my wagon, trudging down the dirt road toward the Diamond’s mansion, hoping that when I got there, someone would immediately be ready to supply me. The chance of that happening depended on who was there. Hopefully, one of the less snobby adults. I didn’t feel like begging for my food today.

      Their mansion was similar to ours and all the rest. Same tall, triangular roofs, long hallways, and grand dining rooms. Their area was much neater though. The grass was green and trimmed; there were lots of trees; and flowers bloomed in rows with the colors blue, red, orange, green, and purple. Ours didn’t have anything, just dirt, untended grass, and a few trees scattered around, much like the Bronze mansion.

      All of our mansions were in a circle facing the center of our community. Bronze was to the north, Silver to the east, Gold to the south, and Diamond to the west. We lived in the middle of a dense forest in the southern part of Vaerun, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from within the thick stone wall that surrounded us. Sentries patrolled the top of the wall day and night. It was like that specifically so if anyone was breaking the rules, the sentries could easily catch them, and if humans ever attacked, they would hit Bronze and Silver first, giving Gold and Diamond a chance to fight back or escape. Humans always came from the northeast.

      The Diamonds had built the wall here a couple of decades ago when the wars against the humans were going terribly. There were about three times more Diamonds than any other mansion, which allowed them to enforce the rules easily. There were a number of stone-enclosed societies like this, all meant to keep us in and others out. There were only two gates: one on the north end, the other in the south. Only Diamonds were allowed in and out; the rest of us were stuck in here. They had a very strict set up for each mansion. New refugees were put in Bronze, and if they stayed for ten years without breaking any rules, they moved up to Silver. Silver to Gold was another ten years, and Gold to Diamond was five years.

      After about a twenty minute walk, I arrived at the mansion and saw one of the Diamonds sitting out front. I cursed under my breath. It was Erald, one of the snobs. He wore simple blue and teal clothing, the same colors all Diamonds used. I pulled the wagon up to him and waited. It was common courtesy to let the Diamond speak first.

      Erald hopped up and tousled my hair. Well, if it isn’t Mica, the delivery boy.

      His high and mighty tone was ear-grinding. I pushed his greasy hand away. Cut it out. The Silvers need food, and you’re going to give it to me.

      He put his hands on his hips. And what makes you think that? It’s not like I know how to make food.

      Now, he was just playing dumb. Of course, you don’t, you’d actually need to be smart for that.

      He clenched his fist and stepped closer to me. Are you insulting my intelligence? A Diamond’s intelligence?

      I rolled my eyes. No, of course not. You’re incredibly smart.

      He grabbed my hair and pulled. You think I can’t tell sarcasm when I see it? I ought to tie you to your wagon and send you away.

      A rough voice came from inside the Diamond mansion. Erald! Where did you put my thunder rod? An older man walked out and saw

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