The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter 6
by MC
Gaden was slow to rouse to consciousness the next morning. He thought he was holding Brunaulf, but his arm seemed too high and his arm itched. He moved his arm slightly and it felt more like fur than hair under his arm. Opening his eyes he found himself staring into the face of a sleeping bear. Startled, he got up with a cry and backed away before coming back to full consciousness and remembering the conversations from the night before. The black bear on the ground opened his eyes, chuffed, and slowly transformed back into human form, sitting up and stretching his limbs as he did.
“Morning, Gaden!”
“Scared the shit out of me,” Gaden replied smiling, playfully pushing him in the shoulder so he fell backward.
“Sorry,” Brunaulf apologised, smiling, “couldn't help it. The stars, the fire, a good man, the freedom. I wanted to sleep like a bear.”
“Yea, yea,” Gaden said, not entirely convinced it wasn't part prank. He threw some kindling in the fire pit and let the coals revive the fire naturally. “I'll have tea ready shortly.”
The next two days passed all too quickly for the two men. After an enjoyable, relaxing time in the woods they returned to Adengaan to resume their respective obligations. Neither wanted to return so soon and used the trip back to the city to contemplate. Gaden couldn't stop thinking about what he had seen, what he had been told, and was eager to see what he could find out in his research to make an informed choice. Brunaulf used the time to contemplate the kind of life the two of them could have both together and as part of the larger werebear family. Centuries of love and happiness danced in his mind. He prayed to many Gods that afternoon Gaden would choose soon.
The cart rolled to the front of the mage's building late afternoon. Gaden looked over at his companion and said nothing, wishing he didn't have to step off that cart and return to what seemed like a mundane life compared to the last three days. Brunaulf too said nothing and simply stared at the young man, smiling gently. After what seemed like an eternity, Gaden broke the silence.
“So, see you tomorrow?”
“See you tomorrow.” The big man confirmed, squinting a little as his soft smile broadened.
Gaden hopped off the cart, grabbed the small pack he had brought, and started walking to the door. The werebear stared at him for a moment as he approached the door before gently working the reigns to get the horse moving again for the royal stables and his own house. The mage opened the main door to the building, took one long look at the burly man's back as he rode away, and softly closed the main door to retire in his room. The empty room pulled what was left of consciousness he left in the woods back to reality, and with a sigh he sat at his work table and pulled out the tome Jamder left him. He opened it to the “W” section and started looking for an entry on werebears. He found creatures of lore he'd been told about before such as werewolves but he couldn't find anything for werebears.
“That's odd,” Gaden said out loud to himself, “I'm surprised someone like Jamder wouldn't know something about werebears.”
On uttering the word “werebears” he felt a warmth against his chest. The bear amulet started to glow faintly in a greenish hue. The tome his teacher gave him shone in the same colour as another page materialized out of thin air. He stared at the page titled “WEREBEARS” and began reading.
Werebears – a creature that lives in the world of both men and bears possessing a spirit of both. In human form are larger than most humans. Atypically strong and extremely hairy. In bear form usually larger than typical bears. Intelligence maintained in all forms. Heightened sense of smell, hearing, and sight in all forms versus humans. Werebears tend to enjoy the company of both humans and bears, but due to their lifespan of hundreds of years spend limited time with a single group of humans before moving on. Strong regenerative capabilities permit quick healing from injury. Candidates receive a vital fluid, usually semen, from a host to initiate transformation. Transformation has been shown to neuter magical ability in all observed transformative cases...
Gaden ignored the rest of the entry and read the last sentence multiple times crestfallen. The life he had now based on magic and academic study would come to an end if he went through with the change. The only life Gaden knew stopped and he would no longer be able to uphold the oath he made to the King. He wanted the life he had now, the one he worked so hard for, the one he enjoyed. So many possibilities were open to him in the arcane and with such natural talent at such a young age the potential seemed limitless. At the same time, the big man he was falling in love with painted an idyllic picture of another way of living, of loving. A random thought ran through his mind breaking his thought chain on this dilemma: this entry was hidden from him. Intentionally. It wasn't unlocked until he uttered the word “werebear” aloud in the presence of the book while wearing the pendant. The pendant Jamder gave him. Gaden stood from his table, and left his room. He was going to get answers even if it meant doing something he hated.
Brunaulf had returned the horse and cart to the royal stables before returning home. As he approached the door to his home, something seemed different. He hadn't left the window open before he left, had he? A scent wafted on the air. A familiar, comforting scent. The big man couldn't believe it. He turned the lock quickly and pushed the door open excitedly. His suspicions confirmed by the big man standing in the foyer.
“Welcome back, son!” Uncle Karn beamed.
Brunaulf dropped everything and ran to his adoptive father, embracing him in a rough, strong bear hug.
“I missed you, Uncle Karn! How was home?”
“Good, son! The family sends their regards and hopes you'll be visiting soon. How are you? It’s been, what, a year or so since I left?”
“Really good, Uncle. I was promoted to First in the Honour Guard shortly after you left. I am now responsible for boot camp training for any new recruits and,” the soldier's tone softened a little and lowered his voice almost to a whisper as if trying to keep a beautiful secret from the world, “I met someone special, and he's a candidate!”
Uncle Karn's face was a mixture of surprise and happiness.
“Really? You MUST tell me more! Come, have a drink with your old man and tell me about it.”
Brunaulf and Uncle Karn went to the kitchen to crack open a bottle of mead as it was a favourite of Brunaulf's since he was young. He began to pour drinks when a faint smell crossed his nose. He reflexively inhaled deeply, savouring the scent. Uncle Karn trying to figure out what his son was doing started sniffing the air too. A smile of recognition crossed between them.
“I see,” Uncle Karn commented, “looks like you won’t have to tell me anything.”
A knock at the door prompted Brunaulf to get up from the kitchen table and answer the door smiling.
“Hi Brunaulf,” the expression the mage had was serious. “Look, we need to talk. I may need your help and I'm not sure who else to turn to. Can I come in?”
The bear's smile evaporated at Gaden's tone.
“Of course, come in. There's someone I want you to meet.”
Brunaulf led Gaden to the kitchen where the mage was introduced to another brute of a man.
“Gaden,” Brunaulf began, “this is my Uncle Karn. He's the... werebear... who raised me.” He turned to his Uncle, “Uncle, this is Gaden.”
The big man reached across the table to shake, with Uncle Karn engulfing the mage's hand. Gaden felt his cock twich on shaking the his hand, but kept his composure.
“So, you're a werebear too?” Gaden queried.
“That's right,” Uncle Karn answered. “I take it that since you're a candidate my son has explained to you what we are?”
“To a degree,” Gaden confessed, “but I found something... troubling... in my studies about werebears this afternoon. There was also magical concealment on some information that would have been useful to me. I need to get answers about this, but I have a time constraint because of Guild commitments.” The mage's voice got serious, “I don't want to go into this more right now, but I want you to come with me, just in case. Besides, this will affect both of us - and my decision to undergo the change - so I want you there. You have to trust me on this. Will you come with me, please?”
Brunaulf studied the man. The mage's words and body posture clearly showed he was troubled. He looked back and forth between Gaden and Uncle Karn and made a decision.
“Uncle comes too,” the big man said. “I want you to have all the help you can get if this is so important to you.” He looked at his Uncle questioningly, and got a nod in return. Uncle Karn was in for the sake of his boy. Gaden looked back and forth between them, he could do this with one, but two was going to be hard. Very hard. Still, if he wanted answers, he had no choice. He had to try.
“Agreed,” Gaden capitulated. He moved to the foyer and rolled up the sleeves on his short sleeve shirt.
“Come here, stand on each side of me, and each of you put a hand on my shoulder. Reach under my shirt and make good skin contact, it’s important.”
The two big men looked at each other before joining the mage in the foyer and getting in position. Gaden felt the heat from the two big men on each side of him. Feeling their grips and close physical contact he started to get aroused, but now was not the time or place. He needed to concentrate, open a connection to the ether and begin the spell. The weight of two people felt heavy. He strained to keep the connection open, using every ounce of his will to maintain it.
“This is really going to suck, for me anyway,” Gaden admitted through gritted teeth before finishing the spell to teleport. The three blinked out of existence from the house and instantaneously re-appeared on a path Gaden knew all too well. It wasn't a perfect teleport, but they made it. The three of them were just outside Tenby!
Gaden promptly started trying to throw up. The two big men while disoriented from the change of scenery and looking around cautiously, also stood on either side trying to help him but Gaden raised a hand.
“Leave me be,” Gaden said between heaves, “it happens every time I teleport.”
It took Gaden a good ten minutes for the nausea to subside enough to stop heaving. Wiping his mouth with a cloth, he took a look around before starting the walk, still a little dizzy, down the path to town. The town was fairly quiet as families were having their supper. He got his bearings and started walking toward a home he knew all too well.
“Come with me,” Gaden said grimly, “its time to get some answers.”
The bear men looked at each other, shrugged, and followed the mage through the streets. The small town seemed quite a pleasant little hamlet to the two werebears. In fact it would be a perfect little place to “settle down” for a time to enjoy nature while still having contact with others one craves at times.
“Which town is this?” Karn asked.
“Tenby,” Gaden replied, “I grew up here.” He continued walking while Uncle Karn made a note of the town name. He would have to visit this hamlet again someday when he wanted a change of pace. So many nice natural features and...
His musings were interrupted by a faint odor in the air. He knew the smell, but he thought his nose was deceiving him. He drew another breath and it confirmed he was not mistaken. It was a familiar scent he hadn't smelled in a long time. What had it been, ten years, if not more? Apprehension, with a hint of anger, filled the big man's mind as Gaden approached the door to a small thatched roof house and knocked. After a moment, the door opened and Jamder looked out, surprised to see his protégé at the door.
“We need to talk” Gaden said simply.
Jamder looked past his former student to the two brutes behind him. One he didn't recognize, the other made years of memories flash before of him all at once.
“Hello, Jamder” Uncle Karn said, his voice low and soft.
Gaden's head snapped around to the big man. He knew him? How?
“Hello, Karn. Its good to see you again, truly, it is.” Jamder replied softly but warmly. Refocusing his attention on Gaden, he addressed his former student’s statement.
“Yes... I suppose we do. Please, come in.”
The three men made their way into the house and sat at the simple table the old man used for meals. Jamder already had a small fire burning in the stove and decided some tea was in order.
“So,” Jamder started checking the wood in the stove, “what do you want to know?”
Gaden's questions came in rapid succession.
“I want to know why. Why did you lock the entry about werebears behind magic? Why did you not tell me about any of this during my education? Why didn't you tell me I was a candidate? Why didn't you explain there was magic in this,” he revealed the bear pendant from under his tunic, “and instead lead me to believe it was just a symbol of my training under you?”
Uncle Karn recognized the pendant and spoke up.
“So, that's where the pendant wound up,” He said flatly before anger creeped into his tone, “Over thirty years together and it meant that little to you that you didn't even want to keep the one token of our love? I still have the other one, you know.” He fished the bear pendant out from under his shirt. It was identical to the one Gaden was wearing.
This turn of events completely threw Gaden off and his anger was quickly replaced by confusion. He looked to Brunaulf for assurance, for context, but his look of bewilderment matched his own.
“I locked the entry for the sake of their secrecy,” Jamder explained calmly, “when I found out I was a candidate I took an oath never to reveal their existence to anyone who wasn't a candidate. Should my gift to you be passed on to someone who was not a candidate I did not want knowledge of their existence known. It was to protect them.”
Uncle Karn scoffed, rolling his eyes at the explanation, but Jamder continued.
“I didn't tell you anything about it during your early education because men don't show any signs until a few years after puberty. It takes development into manhood before one exhibits the signs. Werebears of course know instantly who is a candidate when they approach maturity, but those of us who aren't have to resort to means involving divination to know for sure. I admit my mistake in not telling you when I knew, but since the transmutation to werebear would nullify your magical abilities, I did it for your own good.”
Uncle Karn raised his voice as he stood up, startling both Gaden and Brunaulf as he spoke.
“FOR HIS OWN GOOD?! IS THAT HOW YOU RATIONALIZE DENIAL OF WHO YOU ARE? WHO HE IS?”
Jamder's cool exterior started to crack. It was obvious these two had history, but neither Gaden nor Brunaulf had any context to understand just how deep that history went. It was Jamder's turn to put an edge in his voice, but kept his tone smooth and even.
“Everyone deserves to know their full potential in life, Karn,” his icy eyes boring a hole into the old soldier, “and Gaden's full potential is surrounded by magic. I couldn’t and wouldn’t take that away from him before he had a chance to explore it, to see just how talented he is. To show him alternatives that shut that part of his life out forever before he got a chance to experience his mystic potential wouldn’t have been fair to him. You do know about fairness, don't you?”
Karn's face was red with anger. He clenched and unclenched his broad, meaty fists a few times before moving from the table. Without saying another word he stormed out of the house, slamming the door so hard it threatened to come off the hinges. Brunaulf never saw the man who treated him like his own son so enraged. He thought he’d seen rage when he caught Karn with Garret the night of his Fealty party, but that was pale compared to this. He looked at the door, then at Gaden, then the door again.
“Go,” Gaden said, putting a hand on his lover's shoulder, “I need to have a private talk anyway.” Patting the hand on his shoulder, Brunaulf rose to go out to Karn.
“OK Jamder,” Gaden said redirecting his attention from the door to his former teacher, “how about you start from the beginning so I understand what in ALL the hells is going on; both with what just happened between you two and with what you’ve withheld from me.”
Jamder calmly removed the boiling kettle, poured some tea for himself and his former pupil, and sat across from him at the table.
“Karn and I have a... history...” the elder mage began, “You know I lived in Adengaan for a while and I served His Majesty in the guild. What you don't know is that I met Karn shortly after I arrived. I was in the courtyard, you know the one, by the well,” Gaden nodded in understanding of the location, “just enjoying the day and letting the sun on that cool spring day warm my bones. The sun had power that day. That's when I spied him breaking up a fight. Four recruits were going at it in an all out brawl. I don't know what started it but it was loud enough to get my attention from where I was sitting. Out of nowhere this huge, rugged, strapping soldier came and broke it up. For a brief moment it became a four-on-one situation...” A smile sparked by the memory spread across the old man’s face, “but that mammoth man pummeled them all senseless. Found out later all four recruits were kicked out immediately. Anyway, that mighty man was Karn.”
“When the fight was over, I could see him breathing heavily. His nostrils flared suddenly and then he was looking around as if he was trying to find something. Then his eyes locked on me and he drew in the air heavily, as if he were a predator, drawing in a scent. For just a moment after he smiled in an almost feral way. Quite suddenly his expression became neutral and placid, and he returned to his duties.”
Gaden couldn’t help the feeling of deja vu from the similarities between his teacher's story and his own in finding Brunaulf. The old man took a sip of his tea and continued.
“We began seeing each other after that, and shortly after he told me about what he was, and how I was a candidate, and I too could go through the change, to be like him. Curious, I began searching for any knowledge I could find on werebears. What I found in my search through the ancient scrolls is that to accept the change was a guarantee of losing magical ability. There were so many expectations of me at the time. I didn't say no to the offer, but I didn't say yes either. It was more of a 'not yet' that was my answer.”
The old man took another sip of his tea as his eyes grew distant.
“The years went on and my position in the guild rose. I was happy with my life, my service to the King, my accomplishments. My love for Karn also grew over the years. I love that man more than I ever loved anyone else. And I know he loved me. He wanted me to choose to join him, to go 'home' as he called it, and embrace the change. We even went 'home', several times actually. I suppose he hoped it would sway me to engage in the life he wanted for us. In the end, I couldn't. I couldn't lose that part of me. We loved each other for over thirty wonderful years. During the last few I begged him, pleaded with him, to just let us enjoy the time we could have with me as a mage in the guild. But he wanted more, more than I felt I could give. That longing created a rift in our love that made me decide one day I had to leave.”
His eyes seemed to return to the here and now as he focused on Gaden.
“When I look at you, I see a lot of me, naturally. We have many similarities. I hid what I did because I genuinely felt you have should have the right to explore your ability. If you decide you want to join Karn and Brunaulf, knowing what that entails, so be it. But, at least you can go in with your eyes wide open knowing what you could be and also what you're giving up. That's the long and short of it. Do with that information as you see fit.”
Gaden was in a state of disbelief. The past four days had completely shattered his understanding of the world around him. He wasn't sure if he knew who anyone was anymore. He wasn’t sure reality was what it was, even with his understanding of magic. It was all too surreal. His teacher was in love with a werebear too? It explained a lot and provided context, or at least justification, for what he did why he did it, why he was so secretive about his past saying little more than “I stayed in Adengaan for a while”. One thing was certain: the young mage had much to think about in the near future. He stared again at the door leading outside.
“From what I saw, he still loves you, you know,” Gaden said, “I don't think he would be this angry if he didn't.”
“Oh, I know, Gaden. Gods how I know.” Jamder confirmed, “He's the most passionate, sincere, loving, caring man I’ve ever known. His temper clouds that sometimes, but I know deep down he still loves me. And I love him just as fiercely and just as deeply. More than you could know. Alas, our paths have diverged.”
Gaden rose from the table and came around it to sit next to his former teacher.
“I have to leave tonight,” he said softly staring into the tea mug he was holding with both hands, “I have too many obligations starting tomorrow, but you should talk to him, at least say goodbye.”
Jamder turned his head and stared at the door, contemplated for a moment, then nodded at his former pupil. Gaden rose and went to the door and opened it, seeing the Karn outside talking softly with Brunaulf, his eyes misty. Leaving the door open he took a few steps over to Karn and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Go inside,” Gaden said softly, “if you want a chance to say goodbye, this is it.”
The bear froze in indecision at the opened door. He felt lost, vulnerable, but he wanted to see his love. He stepped through the door and closed it, gently, shutting the town out and leaving them alone.
Jamder got up from the table and walked over to his love and embraced him in a tight hug. Karn simply stood there for a few seconds before raising his arms and tentatively wrapping them around the old mage in an embrace.
“I’ve missed you, Karn,” Jamder said.
“I’ve missed you too, old man, “ Karn said trying to laugh, a tear rolling down his cheek.
“I had to leave, you know,” the old mage started, “you just wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.”
“I know,” Karn said sniffling slightly, “I just hoped... I wanted... Our paths...”
“... were only meant to cross for a brief time.” Jamder completed the sentence. “I'm a candidate, yes, but a candidate is not fated to be a werebear, it’s still a choice. Isn’t that what you said, so long ago?”
They stood in silence, holding each other trying to hold in tears. Jamder pushed him away slightly so they could talk face to face. The mage spoke up.
“You remember the time I had an impromptu fireworks party for you in the middle of the night right in front of His Majesty's Palace?”
Karn thought back to that night twenty years ago. They were drunk as skunks in the field in front of the Mage's Guild celebrating a milestone in Karn's career when they came up with the “brilliant” idea to have fireworks. Unfortunately in Jamder's inebriated state the magical fireworks he was setting off were a little more... potent... than normal and were all going off right above where His Majesty was sleeping. You would have thought the battle of the century was going off in the skies. The big soldier let out a chuckle from the tears.
“Halben was SO PISSED!” Karn said, smiling and wiping tears from his eyes, “Its only by the grace of the gods we weren't put in the hole for that one.”
“Remember those times,” Jamder said, “remember that all in all we had more than thirty wonderful years together. And if Gaden decides to join the brotherhood, then you'll have someone else to love and remember me with.”
Karn's smile waned but didn't completely fade. He stared at the man who was his confidant, his lover, his friend. He still didn't fully accept or understand the old man's decision, but if he was gong to have any sense of closure this was it. Searching the old man's eyes, Karn drew him in tight, so tight he thought they could physically merge if he just squeezed hard enough.
“I love you, old man,” Karn whispered through the tears standing in his eyes.
“And I love you, my big, gentle bear,” Jamder replied.
The two loosened their embrace enough to share a kiss. They stood there in silence and let their passion come through in that moment, for each knew there was a chance they would never see the other again. Neither wanted to squander this moment to say goodbye in their own way. Eventually, Karn broke the kiss and the embrace. Sniffing a couple of times and wiping the tears off his face, he put on his stoic, soldier’s expression before turning to leave without saying another word.
