The forest was calm, the rain carefully dripping against the leaves. Logus adjusted his grip on the bow, his fingers brushing against the string. His breath was slow and calculated, visible in the cold air as he crouched low beneath the roots of an ancient oak.


    Beyond the rain, a boar was moving, his nose scouting the ground. Logus pitied the animal at a glance, he looked malnourished and his movements were sluggish, he wouldn’t offer much of a fight. The winter this year had been cruel.


    Logus released the arrow, cutting a swift and precise path towards the boar’s neck. The creature was confused at first, stumbling on its feet, Logus took the chance and rushed towards it, and as expected, the creature didn’t offer much resistance, falling to the ground a few meters ahead.


    The boar’s breath was slowing down as Logus approached it, he crouched down closer to the creature and extended his hand onto it. Small sparks started to form on Logus’ palm and upon touching the creature’s fur, he released the tension, spreading it towards its body. The animal finally ceased to breathe.


    ‘I thank you for your sacrifice,’ Logus murmured.


    Holstering the bow on his back, Logus grabbed the boar by its feet and carried it over his shoulder. Logus looked towards the path he took; the snow had already covered his footprints.


    With a sigh, Logus turned back and began to make his way towards the village. The trees grew thinner, and the vegetation hidden away by the snow. He lightened his steps. Logus didn’t want to take risks, the scent of the boar on his back would attract predators and with this fierce winter, time wasn’t on his side.


    The smell of burnt wood found his way to Logus’ nostrils. The village was close now and he could already hear the murmurs again. “There he is. The marked one”. They wouldn’t thank him for the hunt, they never did. But they would take the meat all the same, just as they always did.


    Logus adjusted the boar on his shoulder. The sooner he delivered his burden, the sooner he would retreat to the village outskirts, where the shadows would comfort him, at least for a while.


    The wooden gates of the village finally greeted Logus. The wood cracked as the tall wooden doors opened up to him.


    Two men approached him, wearing long green coats, their faces tucked in the scarfs, carefully hiding the greed in eyes as they looked towards Logus’ back.


    “What you brought us this time marked one?” said one of the guards, his hands slowly reaching for the boar''s feet. His tone was mocking, the same disdain Logus had endured his entire life.


    Logus had little patience to deal with the village guards. He carefully slapped the guard’s hands away from his catch.


    “For the last time, Marcus, my name is Logus,” he replied, not bothering to hide his frustration.


    The guard, Marcus, snorted, a smirk escaping the corner of his mouth “Names are for people, not for marked things like you”.


    Before Logus could fight back, the other guard stepped forward, his hands clutching the hilt of his sword. His voice was colder than the snow beneath their feet. “Watch your tone, boy!”


    Logus clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around the boar’s leg. He could feel the familiar tension on the palm of his hands, spreading through his body slowly.


    ‘Calm down’. Logus said to himself, ‘I don’t want that to happen again’. With a deep breath he looked towards the guards. Steadying his voice he added, “Listen, it’s cold outside, do you want the Boar or not?”.


    Marcus hands reached his left pocket as the other guard reached for the boar, carefully analysing its fur, his hands reaching for the neck, where the arrow struck. He looked back towards Marcus and with a small nod he added, “This will suffice”.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    With disgust on his face, Marcus took some coins from his pocket and extended his hands towards Logus. Ignoring them both, Logus counted the copper coins. Exactly 15 copper coins. Enough for a few days of lodging.


    With the transaction concluded, Logus skipped passed both of the guards, overhearing one of them saying ‘Ungrateful bastard’. he had spent more than enough time with those idiots in the cold.


    Logus headed towards the village outskirts, away from the villagers, who looked at him like he had the plague. As Logus walked, he grabbed his quiver from the back. Tucked in were two small rabbits hidden away from the village guards. While the copper coins provided a ceiling, it wasn’t enough to buy some sustenance. With a small smile he went towards his place. Logus felt tired after spending half a day in the forest hunting.


    Finally reaching the outskirts, he knocked on the door of a small bakery, the smell of fresh breath escaping the fringes as he patiently awaited.


    The door opened, revealing an old lady, her calloused hand reaching for the door frame while the other carefully wiped away the remains of flour.


    “What do you want?” said the old lady, her voice sharp and rough.


    “Paying the rent for the next few days, Mrs. Marna,” Logus replied as he delivered the copper coins.


    With a scoff, the old lady accepted the coins. Her satisfied eyes shined as she counted the coins. “Keep the place clean. I don’t want rats hurting my well-earned reputation,” said Marna.


    Marna allowed Logus to sleep in the attic after she lost her husband and son a few winters ago. Losing two working hands at the bakery made things difficult for Marna. Her age had long taken her vitality away.


    Logus gave the old lady a small warmth smile and headed inside. She didn’t treat him as harshly as the other villagers, maybe because it reminded her of her lost son? Or was it because of the coins? Logus didn’t pay much attention to it.


    Carefully dodging the flour bags and the wooden logs, Logus headed towards the attic, climbing the stairs. The smell of dust and cobwebs greeted him. At the corner of the attic was his bed, made of straw, while it wasn’t very comfortable it was better than sleeping in the streets.


    Logus dragged his feet towards a small opened barrel closed to his bed, storing away the two rabbits and his bow. He then landed on the bed and let himself fall asleep.


    For a good while, Logus slept unperturbed, but gradually a faint sound creeped in his room, slowly waking him until a loud wooden bang jolted him away. His hand instinctively reaching for his bow when a raspy familiar voice forced Logus to come to his senses.


    “If you don’t wake up this instant, I’m tossin’ you in the oven with the bread!” Logus drowsy eyes fell upon the figure at the entrance of the attic. It was Marna, she was holding a small candle in her hand while the other repeatedly hit the wooden wall with her cane.


    “I’m awake!” urged Logus while slowly lifting himself up from his bed. “What’s with the noise? What’s happening ?” he asked while rubbing his eyes.


    “The village elder demands to see you right now!” answered Marna, her voice pressed with concern.


    Logus mind overloaded with questions as he heard Marna. A sudden meeting like this with elder means trouble. He didn’t recall himself doing anything wrong besides the occasional quarries with the village guards, but that certainly wouldn’t take him to the elder, he thought.


    “Why are you standing there? Go!”. The old lady commanded, with her cane high up in the air . She added, “And you better not bring any trouble to my shop”.


    Ignoring Marna, Logus rushed to grab his things and headed downstairs. He almost tripped on a few bags of flour near the end of the stairs. He then saw the light sneaking its way out from the windows, it seemed the village guards were going to escort him.


    He opened the door, revealing the two guards that looked at him with concern.


    “Come with us and fast,” said one of the guards, his legs already moving towards the council hall. Logus nodded and followed the guards. The fact they weren’t treating him like usual only made the situation more precarious.


    As they walked towards the council hall, the guards’ torches illuminated their path. The village was quiet. The market was tidily kept and organized. The surrounding houses shied away, their curtains closed. It was the first time Logus walked in the village so freely, away from murmurs and uncomfortable looks. He would have found it peaceful if it wasn’t for his current situation.


    They finally reached the council hall. It stood proudly, rising above other buildings in village. The council had seen better days. The cruelty of time had scarred and aged the wood. The iron doors were rusty and old, screaming in protest as they allowed them inside.


    The guards stood vigilant at the entrance, while Logus continued his way inside. Awaiting him was the elder, sitting patiently at the round table. He was slowly sipping a hot drink, vapor slowly caressing his face as he set his eyes upon Logus.


    “We need to talk marked one, sit” His voice was calm and composed.


    Logus grabbed a chair on the opposite side of the village elder, far away from him. Logus still remembered their last meeting.


    “What do you need me for, at this time of the night?” said Logus. He didn’t hide away his discontent, the lack of formality was clear in his tone.