The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Ten

 The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Ten

By

MC

The booming distraction was enough for Karn to get the upper hand on his situation. Killing one man and incapacitating the other leaving him for dead, he limped over to the two men by the small house wiping blood from his face and feeling his wounds rapidly heal.

"Will he live?" Karn asked, concerned.

"He will," Brunaulf confirmed, "at least, I'm pretty sure." As the adrenaline of the battle wore off, the gravity of the werebear's actions started to wear on his conscience. He had only a moment to contemplate the action he took before he was distracted by a crying boy.

The boy!

Brunaulf stood up and turned to the boy still tied to the whipping post, crying. This boy had never heard the ferocious cries of battle, of men hell bent on killing other men before, and it overwhelmed him. Karn stayed with their Gaden while Brunaulf made his way over to the boy and untied him from the post.

"It’s over now," Brunaulf said, doing his best trying to comfort him, "you're safe."

The boy looked around, noticed the decapitated man on the ground, and started to panic, screaming at the sight. Brunaulf put himself between the boy and the body blocking his view and held him close.

"Shhh... it’s alright. You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you."

Brunaulf spent a few minutes calming the boy down, escorting him away from the scene to the other side of the small hut out of view. He found some water and food in the wagon and offered it to the boy.

"Thanks," the boy said, accepting the water with trembling hands. He took a few swallows and put the flask down, but didn't eat the offered food.

"What's your name, son?" Brunaulf asked.

"Taban."

"Hi Taban, my name's Brunaulf." He sat down next to the black-haired boy. "What happened? Why are you're out here?"

"I don't know!" The boy's eyes started welling up again, "I was out with my dad hunting. It was the first time he let me come hunting with him overnight. Usually he just lets me hunt only around Ascot so I was really happy I could go. There was a waterfall we used as a landmark. We were going to split up for the morning and meet back there. I wasn't far from the waterfall trying to track a deer when three men approached me. They called me by name, but I didn't know them. Next thing I know they gagged me, tied me up, and brought me here. That was two days ago."

Brunaulf surmised someone in the town knew them. The boy paused to take another drink of water.

"They kept talking about how my father was rich and I would bring a good ransom, but it’s not true! My father's shop fell on hard times the last two years. The hunting hasn't been good and he's been borrowing money to keep it open. I don't think they knew that. He couldn't afford to pay what they wanted. He not rich, but they seemed to think he was."

The boy started crying.

"They were going to kill me!" his sobbing intensified, "I miss my dad. I just want to go home!"

The bear looked at the boy, his heart breaking at the story. Why is it always children who had to suffer so much? Why couldn’t children just be left to see life as beautiful, without having to learn how corrupt it could be? Brunaulf reached over to the boy and gently grasped his arm. He pulled Taban into his lap and embraced him gently, but firmly and let the boy cry. He stared blankly into the forest thinking about the boy's suffering, his own suffering as a boy, and the suffering his lover and papa endured today.

"Brunaulf!" Uncle Karn called, "Brunaulf! Come here please, Gaden needs you."

Roused from his thoughts, the brawny soldier pulled Taban off his lap.

"Would you stay here a moment?" Brunaulf he asked the boy. "And don't worry, I swear you will see your father again. My word." He got up and left the boy to his thoughts as he returned to the other side of the small hut.

Karn was standing over the mage as Brunaulf arrived. Karn looked up at Brunaulf then nodded toward Gaden.

"He wants to talk to you."

Brunaulf knelt down on the other side of the incapacitated mage.

"I’m here, Gaden" Brunaulf said softly moving his head closer so he could hear his love better.

"Brunaulf," Gaden said his eyes fluttering open then closing to slits, "My arm is a wreck... my body hurts so bad... and I can't feel my legs." The mage took a couple of shallow breaths and continued.

"It's bad... isn't it?" Gaden asked, but he thought he knew the answer. The way his body was broken he felt like he was dying.

"This isn't exactly your best look," Brunaulf confirmed trying to smile, but wiping tears away from his eyes.

The mage closed his eyes, taking a couple of breaths to get his focus, and spoke with closed eyes.

"I'm glad I have... the chance... to tell you..." He took another focused breath, "... I love you."

Brunaulf tried to smile. Gaden took another breath.

"I would have... in Adengaan..."

Breathing as if trying to gather strength, he opened his eyes slightly, smiling weakly.

"Gone home... with... you."

Brunaulf's expression changed from sadness to surprise. Gaden nodded weakly, confirming the unspoken implication and grimaced in pain closing his eyes again. His body seemed to relax, as if a weight was lifted off the man, and rested taking shallow breaths. Brunaulf looked up at the man who raised him with misty eyes, searching his face. Brunaulf knew what he had done at the time was wrong, and he feared disappointing the werebear he admired so much. But, at the same time, if what he did might save Gaden's life, it was also irreversible and he needed guidance.

"Uncle Karn," Brunaulf said, looking up at his mentor from his kneeling position over Gaden, "we need to talk."

Brunaulf stood up and motioned Karn to follow him. He walked toward the larger house to get some space and out of earshot of both Gaden and the boy. They stopped behind the wagon and Karn stood there, silent, waiting for Brunaulf to speak.

"Papa," he began, "I’ve done something, something I promised I never would. I want to say it was for the right reasons, but really I was being selfish. I know it may not matter now, but I didn't know that when I did it. I'm so very sorry- this whole thing was my fault. I was rash, careless, undisciplined and foolhardy. I charged in without regard for the safety of you and Gaden both. When those boulders struck him, and I knew he was going to die I..."

"Son," Karn cut him off, "just come out and say it."

Brunaulf took a moment to collect himself. He felt like he was a teen again getting ready to be scolded and punished, but it had to be said.

"I think I’ve begun Gaden’s change."

Karn studied his son’s eyes, his own expression unchanging.

"What makes you say that?"

"I remembered the stories of our ancestors using blood to change candidates in emergencies where life was at stake, since it’s a vital fluid," Brunaulf said, "when he was laying there, he was so still, so... broken," the bear started to tear up, "I couldn't… I just couldn’t…” his voice trembled and a tear dropped from his eye. He took a deep breath and collected himself. He looked his father in the eye and continued, “I couldn’t let him die because of my stupidity. So I slit my hand and fed him my blood." The werebear took another moment to compose himself, returning to his trained stoic expression.

"It all happened so fast, and that bastard seemed to take such… delight... that he had killed him. I didn't think in that moment I just acted. I'm sorry."

Karn's expression didn't change as he contemplated his son's words.

"It's only luck we found out he would have made the choice, you know." Karn started, "Had we not known his intent, you would have broken one of the fundamental rules of our society. Free will is paramount, son. Everyone deserves the freedom to choose their destiny even if we don't agree with it... or it means losing people we love."

Brunaulf understood the double implication of those last words with Jamder. He held back the sadness and regret of his actions.

"I know, Uncle Karn, I'm so sorry."

"Use this as a learning experience," Karn said, "compared to some, you're still a suckling cub of a werebear" Karn shifted gears.

"So it seems we have several problems. First, Gaden: if he got enough blood, and if he survives, he's going to go through the change. Blood works faster than semen, it’s why our ancestors saw it as a vital fluid for emergency use. Given that, he might have a better chance at survival. I think his body might heal, but even with our regenerative powers, his odds aren’t good to survive the night, and this is a poor place for him to heal. He also needs more of his new family around him, it will help. Second, we need to investigate this place: we need to make sure we'll be safe in the near term. No way can we move Gaden yet. He can't travel."

"There's also the boy," Brunaulf volunteered, "I gave my word he would get back to Ascot.

"Hmmm..." Karn was in pensive thought, "Seems our first priority is safety then. Go to the small house and look inside. I'll check out the big one here. Let's take inventory of everything we can use. This wagon here looks sturdy, so we'll abandon ours to make it easier to get the horse here. And while you're at the small house, keep the boy distracted so I can clean up the courtyard."

Brunaulf nodded in agreement to the plan and turned to head toward the smaller house.

"Son?" Karn asked.

"Yes?"

“For what it’s worth, I'm not exactly an elder werebear either, and we're both still human, sort of.” Karn smiled, “Had I been in your position, and that was Jamder laying there, I might have taken the same action you did."

The younger werebear smiled briefly before continuing toward the smaller house.

A search of the smaller house yielded nothing. It seems they were only using it as a place to house and guard the boy until the ransom would be paid. The larger house had five bedrolls in one room. Another room housed a wooden bed and a small writing desk. Papers were strewn on the table in a writing system Karn didn't understand, so he gathered them up for study later. Other than some foodstuffs, nothing else of interest was in the house. Karn headed out and moved the bodies to the inside of the larger house then joined his companions. He went around the back of the smaller house, to where Brunaulf was comforting the boy, to discuss his findings.

"I think we're safe here for the time being," Karn said, "all the bedrolls are accounted for by the people we..." He stopped himself, looking at the boy, "... encountered. Still, I think it prudent one of us stand watch, just in case."

"Do we have to stay another day?" Taban pleaded, "I want to go home!"

"I know, son" Karn said trying to comfort the boy, "but we have a man here who is hurt badly, and he was hurt protecting us. I know it’s hard to understand, but when someone risks their life for you in combat, you don't leave them behind if they get injured. He cannot move now, so we are staying tonight."

The boy didn't seem happy with the explanation, but accepted it.

"You'll stay with me?" Taban asked Brunaulf.

"Of course!" Brunaulf smiled. Taban hugged him hard as Karn looked on, smiling.

"What's your name, son?" Karn asked.

"Taban."

"Well Taban, how about you come with me and we'll make something to eat. Brunaulf needs to look after our companion. What do you say?"

The growl from Taban's stomach gave the answer. Together they went over to the wagon to retrieve some foodstuffs while Brunaulf sat next to his lover. Gaden appeared to be unconscious, but was breathing. A good sign. He sat there in silence, staring at the man he loved. If the mage was still alive in the morning he would know what he did was enough.

The three ate a simple meal in relative silence. Their safety felt tenuous given what they had just encountered and it made them all uneasy. After their meal Karn went to retrieve the horse from the waterfall On his return Brunaulf made sure the boy had a comfortable place to sleep. Gathering a couple of bedrolls for extra padding, he placed them just inside the door of the small house. The werebear grabbed a couple of barrels he found and placed them on front of Gaden partially concealing him from view. Sure that Taban would be comfortable and secure and satisfied that Gaden was reasonably safe, he began acting as first watch.

Karn's eyes snapped open and blinked a few times clearing the slumber out of his head. Some habits die hard. Years of soldier training disciplined his mind to take him on a watch system when needed. He gave himself a stretch and rose from his bedroll, scratching his side with his left hand as he grabbed his sword with his right. Exiting the small house he scanned the grounds for where Brunaulf was keeping guard. The sliver of moon was enough light for him to see his son blended in the shadows sitting against a wheel of the wagon. His head bowed and breathing slow, it looked to the big man like his protégé had fallen asleep.

A mischevious grin crossed Karn's face as he crept over to the sleeping werebear. Carefully, he bent down next to the lightly snoring man and put his face right up to his ear.

“I relieve you, Brunaulf!” Karn spoke in a low, but commanding, authoritative voice.

Brunaulf jumped a foot in the air as his legs straightened out in front of him on reflex.

His eyes snapped open disoriented and desperately trying to get his bearings. “I stand relieved!” he said, half awake to no one in particular. He looked up at Karn who couldn't contain his laughter. With a disgusted look Brunaulf put his hand on the wagon hoisting himself up.

“Asshole…” Brunaulf muttered.

“Look on the bright side,” Karn said smiling, “now you're allowed to sleep. I take it no news.”

“No, all quiet.”

“Good. Go back to bed, Brunaulf.” The big man said chuckling softly, “See you in the morning.” Shaking his head and looking at the ground, Brunaulf swore "revenge" for this prank. Karn sighed with a smile and took his position in the shadow of the wagon. Against ordinary humans, it was good concealment.

The remainder of the night was uneventful as Karn rose from his concealment, stretched, and meandered his way toward the small house while sheathing his sword. He rounded the barrels hiding Gaden and lifted the blanket Brunaulf carefully placed over him to keep him warm for the night. His breathing was slow and shallow, but the fact that he was breathing at all meant he was going to live. In a way, he would be reborn soon- as a werebear. Karn opened the door to the house quietly to avoid disturbing the sleeping boy. Leaning over Brunaulf, he began stroking his beard gently in an effort to wake him, gently this time. The brute's eyes blinked a couple of times before staying open. He turned to face his papa and smiled. Karn put a finger to his lips and made a motion to join him outside. Brunaulf followed his father outside and looked over at Gaden. Karn nodded to indicate he was still alive. They continued over to the wagon to avoid being overheard.

"Gaden is still alive," Karn said. "but we need to get him out of here as soon as he is able to travel."

"I can lash together a gurney," Brunaulf offered, "then we can move him with minimal stress and we can get him on and off the wagon."

"Good idea" Karn agreed.

Brunaulf brought up another point. "The only question left is, where are we going once we are out of here? I gave my word to the boy I would get him safely back to Ascot."

Karn took a moment to contemplate the options. Gaden would slow their travel for a while. All options for long distance travel seemed to be equally poor options until he recovered some more. Karn made a decision.

"We'll go to Ascot for now, Gaden can recover a little in a town and we'll return the boy to his family. From there we'll decide the best course of action. Its rough overland travel to get home, but we do have Garret and a few other family in Adengaan."

Brunaulf nodded and got to work on transport for Gaden.

A few hours later Brunaulf had made good progress on a gurney and decided to take a break to eat breakfast. Karn was preparing porridge, cured meats, and a little bread with tea. Brunaulf prepared a small bowl of porridge before going to the small house.

"Taban," Brunaulf called softly, "wake up. Breakfast is ready. Come out and get some food from Uncle Karn." The werebear knelt down by the sleeping mage and gently pulled the blanket back so his arms and chest were open.

"Gaden," Brunaulf said, stroking the man's hair, "wake up."

Gaden groaned and opened his eyes halfway. He winced, but then smiled at the werebear next to him.

"How do you feel?" Brunaulf asked.

"Remember when that son of a whore assaulted me in Adengaan?"

"Yea"

"I wish I felt that good."

Brunaulf smiled.

"I ache all over, and I still can't feel my legs." The injured man said.

"Do you think you can eat?"

"No... maybe… I don't know."

"Its just porridge. Try a spoonful." He gathered up a spoonful and held it up to Gaden's mouth. The mage opened his mouth to accept the mouthful and managed to swallow it."

The mage grimaced, "Needs honey."

Brunaulf smiled, "I'll lodge your complaint with the cook" and offered another spoonful.

Brunaulf managed five spoonfuls before Gaden refused more. Pulling the blanket back over Gaden, Brunaulf kissed him on the forehead and told him to rest before joining Karn for his own meal.

"Good. He ate something. That's a good sign," Karn commended, "He's on porridge only until we get back to Ascot. As he improves we'll give him richer food. How's the travel prep coming."

"Its coming," Brunaulf said between mouthfuls, "should have something together that will carry and protect him this afternoon.”

"Good. We'll give him one more day to rest here and leave at first light tomorrow morning. I'll take a nap shortly so I can cover second watch."

Brunaulf smiled, "If that's the excuse you want to use to have a nap, old man!"

Karn smiled back, "Hey, I'm not old! I’m barely over one hundred!"

The next day Brunaulf and Karn slowly loaded Gaden onto the gurney at first light with minimal protesting from the injured man. Brunaulf's handiwork was a bit overkill, but it assured Gaden would have as much comfort as possible for their journey. Taban was in good spirits now that he was finally on his way home with his new protectors and was leaving that miserable place. It was slow going getting back to the path and their pace didn't quicken much once there but they were glad to be on the road. The return trip back was uneventful save for rest breaks and the occasional groan from Gaden when they struck an unavoidable bump.

Taban gave the werebears directions to his home as they rolled into Ascot late in the afternoon. The route meant they had to pass the orphanage and Brunaulf became visibly tense as they were forced to pass by the home he would rather forget, but never would. Elitha was taking down laundry when she noticed the wagon going by. Seeing Brunaulf on the wagon, she dropped the laundry basket and ran to the fence trying to flag the wagon down. Karn eased on the reins to bring the horse to a stop and nodded to Brunaulf to talk to her. The huge man dismounted from the wagon and strode to the fence to meet her.

"I don't know what happened when you were in there, and with all the damage to the house and how badly beaten Fullas was, I'm not sure I want to know, and Fullas won’t speak of it."

Brunaulf tensed slightly, uncertain where this conversation was going.

"But… I want to thank you." she said. "He didn't leave his bed all day trying to recover, but the next day the first thing he did was take all of his jugs of drink and brought them outside and smashed them against the wall of the house over there." She pointed to a wall of the house that was stone halfway up before being finished in wood. The shattered clay was still visible on the ground next to the wall. "He threw his leather strap in the stove fire and has been keeping to himself. He's been shaking a bit the last two days, but I think that's the drink leaving him. He told me not to clean up the broken bottles, something about having them left as a reminder.”

"Again, not sure what you did, but I think he's making a sincere effort to change, to not drink and..." She didn't finish the thought.

"You're welcome, Elitha " Brunaulf said simply.

"I thought about what you said when you left before, and when you said 'for trying to protect us'... were you an orphan here?"

Brunaulf controlled his voice, "I was."

"What's your name?"

"Brunaulf."

She seemed to be searching her memory, then a moment of recognition flashed across her face.

"You never cried. I remember that. You were so strong."

The werebear thinly smiled and nodded.

"I thought you died when you ran away," Elitha said with misty eyes, "I'm so glad I was wrong." The woman looked him up and down, seeming to appraise him for the first time.

"You seem to have done well for yourself” she said.

"The greatest of men found me, chose me to be his son" he replied.

She looked over Brunaulf's shoulder to the group of companions in the wagon.

"I guess you need to get going. Thank you, Brunaulf. I won't forget you."

The big man reached out over the fence to hug the woman who tried, and kept trying, to help and protect him all those years ago. As he was holding her in an embrace, he happened to notice Fullas spying from the corner of a window. As their eyes locked, Brunaulf's expression turned to a scowl. He opened his mouth exposing long, pointed incisors resembling a bear's. Fullas ducked out of sight from the window and Brunaulf closed his mouth, returning his attention to the woman he was holding and releasing his embrace. She reached up and touched his thickly bearded cheek, patting it with a smile.

Brunaulf turned and mounted the wagon.

"Take care of yourself, Elitha."

He nodded to Karn who started the horse walking down the road.