Role

Chapter 2

Days passed and though the crops grew to record levels, Tiria heard her
parents late at night in their worry, arguing. She crept to the door of
her small room and listened.

Her father was speaking, "No matter what price I ask for, nothing is
selling at market. All I get is suspicion and dangerous glares! I'm
telling you, rumors have spread, and someone started them, but whom? I
know we should be thankful to have all this food, but how will we trade
for the other things we need?"

All was silent, and then her mother answered, "Perhaps I made a mistake,
but I knew the mixtures would help and we could eat them safely. We
needed the crops to survive, but I am now scared. Those who have already
traded with us do not trust us and feel betrayed. What if...they...find
out!?" Her father cut her mother off abruptly. "They won't! Ill travel
to farther markets if we have to. We will make it through the winter,
and then all will be normal and as it once was!"

She heard the faint sobs of her mother. The lights went dark, the
candles were blown out, and more days passed.