Chapter 2:
Tick and the Afflicted

When Wren returned home, she hesitated before entering the small cottage assigned to her little family after the banishment of Simon. She missed their big house where she could have a room of her own. Now the tiny home afforded only two rooms and she was forced to sleep with her mother. There was a small attic room accessible by a pull-down set of stairs. The roof leaked and the floorboards were buckled in places. The glass in the windows was of a cheaper grade that let light in, but the view through it was distorted and blurry. The larger, more luxurious house the family had resided in had been taken away and given to another trader and his family.

The townspeople were not allowed to own property. All lands, farms and buildings were owned by Lord Kettleton and the employments of the residents were dictated by him as well, according to the talents of the people. Each quarter year, tributes or a percentage of crops, stock or goods were due to be handed over to the lords of each township to be distributed among themselves and a portion sent to the king.

The residents were also taxed according to whatever they owned and charged rent for the homes they were assigned. The portion of money and goods left for the people to live on was meager. Nevertheless, folks tended to be relatively happy with their lives. There were grumblings around each tribute day and whisperings of revolt, but those feelings often dissipated with a festival or village games and contests organized by the lords to distract the villagers from their lots in life.

As the door to the cottage creaked open, Wren carefully and quietly entered the darkened room, propping her crutch in its usual spot by the door. She braced herself for what she knew was bound to be her fate in the next moment. She called out tentatively, “Tick? Where are you?” With a loud squeal and a large leap, Wren was knocked completely off her feet by the family pet Tick. As gargoyles went, Wren always thought that hers was the most adorable. She laughed at the beast sitting on her chest happily lapping her face.

“Adorable? What could I have been thinking!”

Gargoyles were the most loyal, affectionate, intelligent creatures in the land. They were also excellent guardians and would protect their owners to the death if need be. In contrast, they were mostly hideous, ate an inordinate amount of food, and could emit stenches that would curl the nose hairs of even the hogs out in the pigpen. With thick nearly impenetrable hide and large teeth and tusks, they were valuable defenders if one of the Afflicted attacked. They were essentially impervious to Afflicted attacks. Their tough skin and strength made it