Tick Tock. Tick
30 days of Fantasy Prompt 7, Thalenra short story. When the Weavers come you won't remember
Written for Prompt 7 of the 30 Days of Fantasy challenge, hosted by Luna Asli Kolcu. Come through the door.
The ticking was quiet at first. Barely noticeable for at least the first hour. The villagers carried on their business, chatting away, sensing something was off, but couldn't figure out what.
When someone asked "Is anyone hearing that?" it went from the tiniest whisper to an incessant tick tock tick tock, that slowly grew. They asked each other where it was coming from, but no one could figure it out. The young lads began searching, roaming between the houses, out into the fields, but couldn't find it. And the incessant ticking continued. Tick tock, tick tock.
No one slept that night, kept awake by the constant ticking, and wayward tocking. It wasn't steady any longer. It changed pace just when you thought you were going to nod off, picking up speed, before coming to almost a stop, jolting you awake to begin again in a never ending ticktocktick tock tick tocktick.
Come morning tempers were frayed. Parents snipped at their children, grannies were complaining loudly that no one could make a decent clock these days. Eve old Bill, who had been almost death for nigh on 20 years was affected. Something had to be done. Volunteers were sent to the local town to find a mage to get rid of it, and the villagers waited for them to return.
By the end of that day no one was talking any longer. All they wanted was to cease hearing the tock ticktick tock ticktock. And it was all they could do to concentrate around the noise. It was then, when everyone present was at their wits end it changed. The tone changed, resonating in the night. As one, they realised they could finally tell where it was coming from. As one they headed in that direction.
They reached a field on the outskirts of the village. One checked and tripled-checked that morning. It had been empty then. But now, in the evening twilight, there stood a clock tower, glowing slightly. Not a tall one by any means. They could have pushed it over it was so flimsy. But it was very present in that space that should hold nothing but vegetables.
It was odd, but an answer surely? Something they could deal with. They just had to knock it down and the ticktock tick would finally stop. Wouldn't it?
"Kneel" they heard in among the tick tock of the clock. A source-less voice, or issuing from the tower? They couldn't tell. It didn't matter. As one they knelt.
Or almost as one. Two did not. They looked at their friends and family confused, not understanding. And then looked up as men appeared from behind the tower.
"It seems we caught a good batch this year." Said one.
"Yes, the new frequency is certainly a success. Do you want to take care of the rejects or shall I?"
"You can. Make it quick though. It will take us a while to get our new recruits situated."
One of the men began winding his way between the kneeling villages, ignoring every one of them as they stared at the hand-less clock face of the tower. The two who remained standing began to run then, finally realising that Weavers had come for them, to take their thoughts and loyalties for themselves.
The man chuckled to himself. "As if it would be that easy for you.” He pulled out a thin focus, and thin threads leapt from it, wrapping around their heads. "Cease moving." The two froze in mid-stride, their eyes locked on each other in what they knew was their final moments.
The man reached the two where they stood, and placed a hand on the head of each. "Return to your homes. One hour after you arrive take a knife and stab yourself in the throat."
Their eyes glazed over and they began walking back towards the village. The man turned back to the tower, and with his companion led the enthralled villagers to their new lives as oathbound servants of the Order of the Pale Eye.
Thanks for reading! This came together far sooner than I thought it would. Also much darker than I intended, but that’s how it is with the Order, they don’t play around. That’s two wins for them so far in these prompts (Seen previously at Belvor Stand). I need to have someone win against them soon, or they’ll be no stopping them in the novel.