Chapter 81: Calm Before the Storm
Elmo didn't really know what he had expected. Regardless of whatever it had been, it certainly wasn't this. Definitely not this.
Jonas had apparently somehow convinced the leaders of the village that there was something coming towards the village, if not that it was goblins, and they needed everyone in the village to stay in once place, so as to reduce the chances of those who wouldn't be able to fight from getting killed.
Elmo only found this out when he was helping prepare dinner. Then partway through it, both the cook and Elmo were told to stop what they were doing, maybe bring the stew that the person telling them this could smell, and move over to another building, that was more secure than the one they were in. Elmo suspected that most of the buildings in the village didn't have a basement, or as they called it, a 'cellar.' As the building they were moved into had a cellar that everyone was being directed into.
When they brought the stew with them, the guy had to get four of the stronger young men in the village to carry it, given how much liquid was in it. Although, when they arrived, everyone seemed happy about the stew being present. Elmo had the feeling that everyone who had been brought over here hadn't been able to get something to eat before they had to come.
In all, he didn't mind helping fill bowls of the stew so everyone could have something to eat. He especially found it relaxing to have something to do rather than wonder what was going on. Even though he was sure that he'd be pulled into helping with the fighting if it broke out that night.
Elin seemed to be at a loss for what to do, since everyone had lined up to get a bowl of the stew, so there wasn't any need for her to do the job of a waitress that she'd become accustomed to doing. Elmo briefly wondered what she'd do if she had ended up in a situation like this completely on her own. Would she have been able to do so well if she hadn't had anyone to help direct her?
He wondered if he should talk with her about that, since if she really was the daughter of a noble, circumstances would likely arise for her that would land her in essentially the same kind of situations. At least if she did inherit her father's title and lands, though Elmo wasn't sure what that situation for Elin was.
Although, he doubted that he'd be able to offer much. After all, what little he knew was what he'd come across online, and he knew even that had to generally be taken with a grain of salt. After all, he'd found a lot of misinformation on reputable news sites that looked authentic at first, but later was revealed to be inaccurate.
Yet, as the evening went on, Jonas and Kim finally returned. The only one of their group not with them was Sonya. Or he assumed she wasn't present. After all, since he had no idea what shapes she could change into, aside from the bird she'd turned into when they fought the troll, she could easily be present and he wouldn't know.