The Gnome of Sacladil

"He doesn’t need more acorns, he‘s knee high in them as it is," mumbled Roin as he picked up a filled bucket of acorns, "I could be helping the others, but no, he sends me to pick up these useless nuts." The small Gnome then dumped the acorns into a cart and headed back toward Sacladil.

Sacladil was a town of Gnomes consisting of only a few hollowed out trees. In the largest tree lived The King, his servants, and ten of the wisest Gnomes of Sacladil. The rest of the trees housed the commoners. In the center of the town was a large stump used as a town hall for meetings and celebrations. Although the Town Hall was meant for public use, it was often reserved by The King as a guestroom for his honorary guests, especially Queen Éspala, the queen of the Elves. She rested in Sacladil on her annual visit to the Western Sea.

As Roin returned to town, he could see that the others were hard at work on the new fort being constructed under a large flat rock just outside of town. "I can dig twice as deep as they can," thought Roin shaking his head. No one knew exactly why they were building a fort, let alone one under a rock, but they did what The King ordered and didn’t dare ask any questions. For the King had been known to banish a Gnome from Sacladil for being too inquisitive.

"So, did you gather the acorns?" asked The King’s messenger, Biode.

"Yes, of course I did," said Roin in disgust.

"Ah, good, The King will be very pleased," said Biode, "How many?"

"Around thirty, I guess," said Roin, unsure.

"You’re not supposed to guess. The King ordered you to keep count of them," said Biode angrily. For Gnomes like to keep everything very orderly and do not like to do unnecessary chores if it can be helped. "Now we will have to empty the cart and count them. Next time count the acorns as you gather them!"

"Of course, sir," said Roin nervously, "but, actually, I was hoping that there would not be a next time. I would like to help build the fort. I think I could be of much use with a shovel and a hammer."

"But you are very small, Roin." said Biode. And indeed he was small. He must not have stood more than seven inches tall, and that is small even for a Gnome. "But I will give your request to The King. And if he says yes, you may. But it is not often that He fills any request, besides that of Queen Éspala."

"Yes, of course. I only wish to stop being the nut gatherer."

"Your wish has been heard but only The King can grant it," said Biode hurrying back to the construction site.

"Thank you, sir," said Roin cheerfully.

"Roin the Hammer Wielder, very good," thought Roin holding his head high.

As Roin dumped his cart, a dark ominous cloud high above the trees moved swiftly across the morning sky. At the same moment, a quiet rustling noise like that of a large bird flapping its feathered wings could be heard far away. "I don’t like the looks of that... eerie it is... very eerie," thought Roin looking up at the sky.

Suddenly, there was a loud boom like thunder, but it was not thunder, it was something else, something horrid, something evil. It was a flock of birds, but not just any birds, they were black eagles. The largest flock of black eagles that Gnomes had ever seen. Black eagles were the evilest creatures known to Gnomes. One black eagle could swoop down and pick up a whole family of Gnomes with its huge gray talons.