CHAPTER; III
Iben came into view with a lazy sort of slowness; it was surrounded by hills, and a wide cobbled road led to it; on either side of the road were two hills, and a sturdy wooden gate had been constructed there. Most of the villagers called it Heimer's Pass, because the village's founder, Heimer, had been to one to personally supervise the construction of the wooden gate for the protection of Iben. Though the gate had been repeatedly repaired and rebuilt many times, the name had remained the same. In addition to this, a sprawling river ran around Iben in an almost perfect circle, it ran out into the vast Scylla Sea; this was another feature that had made Heimer start a little community that grew into a thriving village.
Though called a village, unlike other small villages, Iben was rather large - about the size of a small town. Also unlike other villages, Iben was not only marked on the regional map, but also on the world map; the village had received an Imperial Edict the year before, stating that the Imperial Empire had recognized Iben's status, and wanted to set up a tax-and-government system in Iben. In return, the Empire would open trade routes with Iben, and would build the cobbled path from Iben to the neighbouring town of Norim.
That had been a time of much celebration, the village became much more wealthy, the people of Norim turned out to be a hardy, friendly folk, and trade flourished with the new road's completion, the Village Elder Jezi had been appointed as leader of the village and retained his position instead of losing it to some government officer, the village had celebrated for ten days in a row. This time, however, the mood of the village wasn't jovial at all. Kael noticed this immediately when he entered the village with Raemer and Jasof, and they left the cart with one of the Gatekeepers who promised he would have take it to Kael's father later. "Looks like almost everyone's back ... They look grumpy don't they." Raemer commented mildly as people filed past, none with happy expressions. Indeed, Kael felt he stood out a little, the only one who had a cheerful grin on his face at the thought of seeing Sara later.
"Jasof!" A farmilar voice called; a burly, muscular man wearinga bloodstained apron stormed forward across the road, making people jump out of the streets in alarm. "Hah! Kael!" The same man roared, clapping a hand the size of a platter on his back, forcing Kael to dig his shoes in the ground to prevent himself falling over. "Me son help you with ye father's ridiculous chores again? Hah! I like the man, but he needs te' relax dun' he lad? I been waitin' for me son t' come back with ye." Jasof's father, Yuman, was an amiable giant of a man. Like his son, he was shorter than most men, but he made up for this with bulging muscles and a never-give-up attitude. Yuman was a good person to have on your side in an argument, and not so good to have on the opposing side of the argument. "So ye gon' see the board then?" Yuman begun, pointing a fat finger to the Elder's house.
The Village Elder, Jezi, kept a large board mounted in front of his house; he posted the daily mundane news there, like someone's chicken being stolen, a lost pet, or some sort of other piece of gossip or news. This time, however, as Yuman led the trio of teenagers towards the board, Kael felt something was terribly wrong, women were crying and beating on their husband's chests, and several young men, some of whom Kael knew, were staring solemnly at the board in front of them.
"Oh dear 'lawd." Yuman gaped at the board in front of him, his non-talkative son, Jasof, gave a barely surpressed grunt of shock. "What? What?" Raemer asked as he struggled to read the large sign pasted on the board past the crowds of people milling about there. "What t- Kael!" Raemer called, urgency ringing in his voice. Kael scrambled up front to read the sign; it was like a morbid announcement of someone's death, the handsome Empire's seal and crest on the right hand side of the sign, and in hastily scribbled words the sign read:
'IMPERIAL CONSCRIPTION, EMPIRE ARMY DRAFT
In the name of the Empire, the Great Emperor of the Kingdom, conscription is to be carried out in every province of the Empire's jurdistinction. Men who evade conscription will be dealt with most severely with the impeding crime of Desertion of Army; military armistence and supplies will arrive in all allocated towns and cities before one week's time when this sign has been sent. The Magistrate, Mayor, Official, or hence stated Leader of the Community, will take it upon himself or herself to announce this to citizens under their jurdistinction. The organization of the Imperial Draft is up to the official regime of the village, or said leadership.
Small-Sized Town (Population 500-2999 Minimum) - Male population of ages 16-22 to be conscripted; at least 150 must be drafted.
Medium-Sized Town (Population 3000-7999 Minimum) - Male population of ages 16-22 to be conscripted; at least 1200 must be drafted.
Large-Sized Town (Population 8000+ Minimum) - Male population of ages 16-22 to be conscripted; at least 3000 must be drafted.
All Cities are expected to produce 1/2 of their male population of ages 16-22 to be conscripted, excluding nobility or aristocratic families, or merchant families, or mobile tradesmen or servants hired.
Provincal Administration will expect the conscripts to turn up no later than the Sixth Day of Aquarius, fully armed, geared, and prepared.'
Kael almost fell to his knees in shock, he felt a hand on his shoulder, but he didn't budge. "Let's go lad." Yuman urged, but still, Kael didn't move. Only when he saw his father's face watching him solemnly from the window of the Elder's house did he get up; his father gave him a sharp nod, and he turned to enter the Elder's house with Yuman and Jasof, Raemer running off to find his own family. They passed the two men guarding the door, and entered Jezi's residence.