Molum stared at the parchment posted on the front door of the village general store. It couldn’t be true. The Baron was a cruel man, no doubt, but this? She read it again carefully.

Notice:

• All persons of Yanna descent are hereby banned from all commerce of any kind within the boundaries of the Entin Barony.
• Any persons of Yanna descent found engaging in commerce will be detained indefinitely in the Garril work camps.
• Any persons of Yanna descent found inciting opposition to The Baron will be executed.
• Any Karlai found breaking this law will be immediately jailed on charges of suspicion of insurrection.
• Any Karlai found aiding persons of Yanna descent to obtain food, clothing, or shelters outside of the Yanna-designated land will be executed on charges of treason.

Molum’s violet eyes blinked and a tear slid down her ruddy cheek. She quickly wiped it away, drew in a deep breath, and opened the door to the store. The conversation inside between two patrons and Spaar, the owner, stopped immediately.

“I’m sorry, Molum, you have to leave,” Spaar said.

Molum couldn’t tell what Spaar felt when he said it. His face was expressionless.

“I… I just came for some bread, and fruit—”

“You heard the man,” said one of the patrons, a cruel looking Karlai. “Get out of here, Yanna filth!”

“That’s enough out of you!” Spaar yelled at the man. “My store will obey the law — I don’t have to like it — but I won’t tolerate that behavior in my store. Say something like that again and you’re banned too!”

That brought a small smile to Molum’s mouth. But the cruel-looking man saw it.

“You think this is funny?” the man said as he came closer. “I’ll wring your neck you little—”

“Go Molum!” Spaar implored as he held back the man. “Please!”

But Molum was already turning, running. She stumbled on a rock and dropped her basket, left it behind, and kept running. She could hear fighting, pottery smashing, from the store behind her.

Fighting because of her. Because she was Yanna.

(The word prompt today was “Notice.” This scene takes place 100 years before the events in my book, By the Light of the Moons)

[– 31 Fantasy Characters in 31 Days –]