The crowd erupted as the Summer King passed.
Flower petals filled the air.
Children ran beside the wagon.
Sean watched silently.
Eljara noticed.
“You’re doing it again.”
“What?”
“Looking for the funeral at the wedding.”
Sean snorted.
“Funny.”
“I’m serious.”
The Summer King raised a hand.
The crowd cheered louder.
Eljara looked around.
“They love him.”
“That’s what worries me.”
“Why?”
Sean pointed toward the edge of the square.
The village priest stood beneath an oak tree.
Not smiling.
Not celebrating.
Watching.
A few yards away stood the gardener.
Same expression.
The schoolmaster.
Same expression.
Three old women.
Same expression.
Eljara frowned.
“They look miserable.”
“They look heartbroken.”
A long silence.
The Summer King laughed at something a child said.
The crowd laughed with him.
The priest looked away.
Sean noticed.
“So did you.”
“Did what?”
“Look away.”
Eljara didn’t answer immediately.
Because she had.
And she didn’t know why.
The Summer King turned.
For a brief second his eyes found the elders.
No anger.
No fear.
Only understanding.
As if they all knew something everyone else didn’t.
Sean felt a chill.
“Do you know what scares me?”
“What?”
“I don’t think those old people hate him.”
The cheering grew louder.
The flower crown gleamed in the evening sun.
The Summer King smiled.
Sean kept watching the elders.
Then quietly said:
“I think they love him.”
Eljara looked back toward the silent priest.
Toward the gardener.
Toward the old women.
And suddenly she wished he hadn’t said that.
🜍 THE OLD BARGAINS — Week 3
The town celebrated a king.
The elders mourned a friend.
If you remember what this felt like —
you already know what you’re missing.
Step back into it.
Or keep missing it.
👉 https://startplaying.games/gm/dunchan
Want to go deeper?
Then don’t stop at the surface.
The full stories. The dossiers. The things behind it —
they’re waiting. Or they’re not.
👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/mythveilchronicles_bydunchanhuntergames