A strange nervousness had spread all over Rootfast. People walking through the streets often found their eyes wandering—either toward the vast green forest behind them or the simple wooden gate at the entrance of their village.
Rumors had been flying around about this Baron and that Baron joining the hunt. The only confirmed names Auren knew that were coming to their village were Lord Cedric Cornvell, the Earl of Lowfield, their own Baron Thornmarch, and another Earl—though it wasn't confirmed which one. There were also all of their neighboring Barons coming—someone had heard the news from the town about a Baron or two accompanying the other Earl.
All the streets of the village had already been cleaned too many times. Elder Tamun's smithy, innkeepers, tavern owners, and all the people in this business or that had restocked their supplies in anticipation of the upcoming wave of customers. It was a chance to earn money like they had never earned in their lives.
