tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90261264471512117752024-03-18T01:47:03.002-07:00The Writing Bear's CaveA home for Papa Werebear's and UrsusMajor's gay erotic writings - and some others. Proudly making bears horny since 1999!UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-9114410163323954062024-02-06T14:22:00.000-08:002024-02-06T14:23:07.759-08:00More about Rufus and Maximus<p>The story below,<i> Roman Tale</i>s, is a collection of scenes that, for one reason or another, didn't make it into either<i> 79 AD</i> or <i>After Vesuvius</i>. I've added them here in case any readers would be interested in the main character's backstories. </p><p>I've also included some additional historical author's notes.</p><p>Enjoy!</p><p>UrsusMajr</p>UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-77880454276154391252024-02-06T14:17:00.000-08:002024-03-07T16:20:48.808-08:00Roman Tales<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 22pt;"><b>Roman
Tales</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>by
</b></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>UrsusMajor</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>I.
Maximus 59 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fabiana, the cook, tipped the few
scraps of pork and bits of sausage left from the main meal prep into
the pot. Those, plus a few carrot scrapings and beans made for a
very thin soup for the slave's supper. She added an extra pinch of
salt and oregano. Looking into the steaming pot, she thought, 'To
Hades with the old bitch', and added another measure of barley to
thicken the supper that would be served soon to the household's slave
workers.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Livila, the mistress of this particular
household, was known for her parsimony. At the very top of her
personal list of Roman virtues was 'frugality'. She kept a very
close eye on all aspects of the household that she kept in efficient
running order for her husband, Appius Silanus. Appius Silanus ran
his latifundus with the same degree of frugality. Fabiana knew that
Livila most likely knew down to the last grain just how much barley
was in the large clay pot in the pantry. 'Bitch', Fabiana through to
herself again as she stirred the pot. True, none of the slaves
actually starved under Livila and Appius' hand, but none grew plump,
either. Now, Livila was decidedly plump, and Appius was gaining on
her. Their generosity with their own rations did not even extend to
invited guests, who were never offered second helpings. Wise guests
partook of a light meal before attending the annual Lupercalia dinner
party at the house, lest their stomachs growl too loudly.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In spite of Livila's sharp eye, Fabiana
had managed to squirrel away several choice morsels of pork roast.
They were not for herself directly, but were part of a plan she had
been concocting over the last couple of weeks, ever since the new
slave boy had been acquired to work in stable and garden, doing odd
jobs. The new boy, called Maximus, certainly lived up to his name.
Already taller than most his age, and broader and more muscled, he
even needed to shave, which boded well for his maturity in other
areas, Fabiana thought. According to Appius, the boy was perhaps
fourteen years of age, and could already out-work slaves with ten
years on him.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fabiana had had no outlet for her
plentiful sexual desires ever since her lover Lepidus had been sold
away when the neighboring paterfamilias had been exiled for fraud
involving construction contracts for one of the Emperor Vespasian's
pet projects. The arrangement she and Lepidus had involving sex but
not love was mutually satisfactory to them both; but that ended more
than six months ago, and Fabiana was getting desperate. None of the
other male slaves in the household interested her. They were either
too old, or physically repellent to her. So Maximus' arrival was of
great interest, looking far more mature than his years.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">She surmised that Maximus had an
appetite to match his size, and she planned on using the promise of
extra rations as bait. Food in exchange for sex was certainly not a
new idea, having a long and largely successful run in human history.
She planned on making her initial move that evening. Once the
evening meal was concluded and the triclinium and kitchen cleaned and
put to rights, Fabiana stuck her head out the kitchen doorway and
called out, "Maximus! I need you here."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although technically not his domina,
Maximus knew better than to ignore the cook. "Coming, Fabiana."
Maximus hurried to the kitchen. "What is it you need?"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"That large sack of beans, bring
it in from the larder, I'll need it tomorrow."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Of course, Fabiana."
Maximus went to the larger and shouldered the not-all-that-heavy sack
and returned to the kitchen, thinking to himself, 'She could have
shifted this herself, so... why??'</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Ah, thank you, Maximus. I seem
to have strained my back." She looked Maximus up and down.
"You look rather hungry, Maximus." At this point, Maximus'
belly obligingly growled. "Ah, I guessed correctly. Here, I
think I... yes, there's a bit of the evening's pork roast still here.
You have it, with my thanks." She handed the chunk of roast to
Maximus, who eyed it hungrily.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Are you sure? I mean, won't
domina be angry?"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You let me worry about her. Now,
run along." As Maximus was leaving, she added, "Oh, and
Maximus..."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes?"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I may have some other tasks for
you later. If this damned back does not improve, you understand."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes, Fabiana." Maximus
headed back to the slaves' rooms, munching happily on the pork.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the next several weeks, Fabiana
found numerous small tasks that her 'bad back' prevented her from
doing. Not surprisingly, she required Maximus' help with these, and
they always seemed to happen in the evening hours. Maximus benefited
from the extra portions from the main meals, slipped to him by
Fabiana as 'payment' for his help... his belly was growling less, and
he no longer was awakened in the night by hunger pangs. Judging the
time ripe, Fabiana made her move after the usual post-supper
clean-up.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Maximus, come here for a moment,
will you?"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes, Fabiana." Well trained
by now, Maximus reported to the kitchen, anticipating whatever table
tit-bits the cook had set aside. "What is needed?"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well... you, I think."
Fabiana grasped Maximus' cock through the front of his tunic. Like
any male, Maximus shied away, but was not quite quickly enough.
Fabiana held on, carefully calculating just how tightly she should
squeeze. "You know, Maximus, I could make you feel really good,
in a way I bet you've not felt before." Maximus froze. "There,
see? I'm not going to hurt you. This will feel really good."
She slowly began to massage Maximus' penis through the coarse cloth
of his tunic. Maximus' cock slowly began to inflate, in spite of his
apprehension. As the cook continued her expert manipulations,
Maximus' apprehension eased somewhat, slowly replaced with a growing
feeling of furtive pleasure.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus had grown up in close proximity
to farm animals and knew the basics of reproduction. Several
experiences of mutual inspection with another slave boy behind the
stable made him aware of two things: first, that he was more
physically mature than the other boy who was actually older than
himself; and second, that his cock could now be used for more than
just peeing. Since then, he had regularly pleasured himself when the
opportunity presented itself. At the farm, the opportunities were
frequent. Here, in this household, they were much rarer.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Fabiana, you should stop. I
will..."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Stop worrying. The others are
all in their rooms, and the bitch and her husband went to bed early
tonight." Misjudging her effectiveness, as well as the reason
for Maximus' concern, she increased her manipulation of Maximus'
throbbing cock, hoping to bring him just to the edge of climax but no
further. She planned on leaving him hanging there, and therefore all
the more eager to return for another round when she planned on
introducing him to a new form of pleasure.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No, I mean that I... I..."
Maximus never got the chance to complete his sentence. With a loud
groan, he soaked the front of his tunic and Fabiana's hand with a
sudden gush of hot seed. His face was a mixture of embarrassment,
release, and anxiousness.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A somewhat surprised Fabiana exclaimed,
"Oh! My, my! You produce like a prize bull. And you've made a
mess on the floor, too." She looked him in the face. "Oh,
stop worrying, no harm done." Maximus started to reach for a
cloth. "No, leave it. I'll clean up. You need to get back to
your room. That moaning of yours might have awakened someone. And
rinse out your tunic in the trough outside." Maximus did as he
was told, while Fabiana mopped up the result of her earlier work.
"Venus be praised, he <i>does</i> make a mess." She was
already planning her next assault on Maximus.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next assault happened two nights
later. Fabiana was busy chopping herbs for the sausage seasoning.
"Maximus, bring in another load of firewood for the oven."
Maximus did so, and stood behind the cook, who was blocking his
access to the hearth. She stepped aside. Maximus stacked the
firewood. As he straightened up the cook turned towards him. She
squeezed his cock, her body concealing the motion from anyone who
might be line of sight. "Come to my room tonight," she
whispered. "Wait until all the others are in their beds, then
wait a while longer so they are all asleep. And be quiet about it."
She smiled at Maximus. In a louder voice, she said, "That
will be all, Maximus." She turned back to chopping herbs.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The house had been quiet for some time,
and Fabiana was beginning to doubt that Maximus would show. She had
masturbated twice, to whet her appetite and to make any penetration
easier. There was a soft knock at the thin wooden door to her room
next to the kitchen. She got up off her bed and went to the door.
"Maximus?" she whispered.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes." The cook opened the
door and drew Maximus in, closing the door behind him.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Come, sit here," she
motioned to the bed. They both sat. "I saved some meat for
you," the cook motioned to a plate sitting on a low stool by the
bed. Maximus nodded.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Thank you." He made no
motion to pick up the plump chicken leg. "I'm really tired.
Might I take that back to my room?"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh, I think not... at least, not
yet. I have something to show you, and you have something I want to
see." There was a long pause. "Maximus, have you ever
been with a woman?"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus shook his head.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well, we need to remedy that.
Take off your tunic."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'd rather not."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"If you want to continue getting
treats from my hand, you'd better. Now, stand up and get that tunic
off." Fabiana's voice now had an edge to it.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus eyed the chicken leg, and was
dismayed when his stomach growled of it's own accord. He thought for
a moment, then stood up and drew his tunic off over his head.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nearly all slaves, male or female, wore
only a plain tunic, knee length or slightly shorter, with female
slaves adding a simple strophic to provide support for their breasts.
Subligaculuma, a kind of underwear, were only worn if one's gentiles
were likely to be exposed. Male slaves who worked outside in the
heat of Roman summers would wear them, to allow their tunics to be
taken off for some relief from the heat. Taking off his tunic left
Maximus completely naked.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fabiana stifled a small gasp. How
could a fourteen year old look like this? Belly and chest already
covered with a decent coating of black hair, the pubic bush thick.
And the cock... ye gods, he was big! Lepidus had not been small, but
this boy put him to shame. "Turn around." The boy's back
was broad, and already showed muscular definition and hair. His
midsection was also thick and hairy, with almost no taper and very
little fat. Hips were fairly wide, with the butt muscle rounded and
solid. Thighs were not especially thick, but they were dressed with
a thin coating of black hair, front and back. She stood and slowly
removed her own tunic. Earlier she had removed her strophic, so her
breasts swung free. "You know how a woman is shaped, no?"
Again, Maximus nodded. "Come closer."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus was confused. What little he
knew about sex between men and women was that the man was supposed to
be driven mad with desire upon seeing a naked woman, and would do
anything to put his erection inside the woman's pudenda. He could
clearly see Fabiana's, and the luxuriant bush of pubic hair that
surrounded it. Her breasts were full, if somewhat slack, the areolas
darker against her paler skin. This was when his cock was supposed
to grow and stand up... but he was feeling nothing except some
nervousness, a bit of hunger, and a vague impatience.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fabiana noticed the lack of male
response, and marked it down to youthful inexperience and
nervousness. 'After all, he's only a boy, no matter how manly he
looks,' she thought to herself. 'Best to take matters in hand then,
like before,' she thought. She reached for his flaccid penis,
stroking it and fondling the ample ball sack than hung below.
Slowly, Maximus began to erect, the foreskin retracting over the
blunt tip. "Ah, that's it, boy. That's what I want to see."
She continued to stroke and squeeze the warm flesh until Maximus was
standing more of less fully erect.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Now, this is what that is for,"
she said, pointing first to her crotch, then to Maximus'. "You
slide that inside me and we both feel really good. I am told that
men regard it is the very best feeling in the whole world; and I can
tell you that it is one of the best feelings for a woman." She
reached up and tipped Maximus' head back so they were looking each
other eye to eye. "You are lucky to have a woman like me to
show you the way of it. I've had a good amount of experience, and
can show you some interesting tricks to help you last longer, and
give a woman more pleasure. Now... for this first time, I am going
to lay down here, and you lay on top of me. I will guide your cock
inside." She reclined on the bed with her legs apart and pulled
Maximus down on top of her with more eagerness than she intended to
show at this stage. True to her word, she used the fingers of one
hand to spread her labia, while her other hand guided Maximus inside
her.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus felt heat, and wetness. He
knew the humping motions that male animals made when they mounted a
female, and this seemed to be much the same situation, except for the
cook's position on her back. Before he could do anything though,
Fabiana reached for his butt cheeks and pulled him in towards her.
His cock slid all the way in, down to the root of his member.
Fabiana gasped.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Venus and Diana, you are huge!"
Her eyes glittered. "Now, move in and out, but don't pull all
the way out. Take it slow, there will be time for more speed in a
bit. There, that's it. Slower. Yes. Good boy, keep doing that.
See? I told you it would feel wonderful." Fabiana was feeling
filled to a degree she had not felt before.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus, on the other hand, was not
feeling the deep tingling in his loins that he usually felt when
looking at animals mating, or at sweaty slaves and freemen, laboring
in the sun with their tunics off, or when he thought of those sights
in his bed at night, fondling himself. The deeply pleasurable
feeling of the tingle that signaled his seed surging up from his
balls and out of his cock was... not there. Or at least, not to the
degree he had experienced before. He could feel the slickness and
warmth, and he could tell that he would soon climax, but not with the
force and pleasure he usually found. He continued the in and out
motion. Fabiana began to moan quietly.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You can go a bit faster now. And
let your weight down on me, press into my pudenda... YES! like that!
Oh, don't stop! keep going! Oh, Venus! Harder! Harder! Ooohhhh!!"
The cook shuddered and shook under Maximus. Her hands gripped his
back, then his buttocks, pulling him in even harder against her.
Maximus felt himself begin to pump his seed out... and that felt good
to him. Not quite as good as when he brought himself off with his
own hand but still...</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were both slick with sweat.
Fabiana pushed Maximus up. "Now, this is where you get up and
roll off. It gets uncomfortable, once you have been to heaven and
back. We can lay here for a bit." Maximus' breathing was
returning to normal, but Fabiana's was still rasping with effort.
After a moment, she turned her head to him. "You know, you show
promise. With some practice with me, you will become quite good at
this. I must confess, in the past I was seldom filled and never
full; but you certainly are equipped to fill any woman in Rome. Make
the most of your gifts, boy, and you could go far, even for a slave.
But we'd need to do something about all that hair. Another time,
though; you've tired me out. Now, off you go, get some sleep."
Maximus got up and pulled his tunic back on and moved towards the
door.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh, and take the chicken. You've
earned it."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were more night time visits to
Fabiana's room over the next months, but the cook still noticed a
lack of eagerness on Maximus' part. One night, she said to him,
"Maximus, pay attention. A woman likes to be pursued, to feel
that she is driving the man wild with desire, that he can't keep
away. You need to show more <i>interest,</i> more... <i>eagerness</i>.
Make me feel like you cannot wait for nightfall, that you cannot
keep your hands off my body when we are together like this."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I am sorry, Fabiana, I will try
harder."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No, no, <i>NO</i>! You
shouldn't have to 'try', it should come natural, just <i>show</i> it.
If it doesn't, then pretend. Be an actor if you have to, but be a
<i>good</i> one. NEVER tell a woman that you will need to 'try
harder'!" She looked at the boy. She was seriously put out.
"After all I've done for you, I expect more. I think maybe we
had better take a break. I'll let you know when I'll need you
again."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That would not be for over a month.
Maximus found that he missed the release, and the sense of
penetration, but not the person involved. He thought a lot about
that while he worked in the stable and in the garden. He wondered if
there was something wrong with him. "I guess I do need to try
harder even if I don't show it." He shrugged and continued
forking hay into the stable manger. Fabiana did not weigh heavily on
his mind.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">After what was to be their last time
together, Fabiana made an observation to Maximus. While Maximus was
donning his tunic, she leaned back against the pillows on her bed.
“You know, most men cannot get enough sex, even the old goats think
about it all the time, even if they can't get it up any more. But
you, Maximus... you seem like you can take it or leave it. I wonder
if you even really like women, or sex, at all.” She was wrong
about the liking sex part. A month later, at almost sixteen years of
age, Maximus was sold to an auction house. Fabiana was slightly
sorry to see him go, but not for long. Appius had purchased two new
male slaves, and they looked promising.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>II</b></span><span>.
</span><span><b> Rufus</b></span><span><b>
</b></span><span><b>59 AD</b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus was
fifteen years old when he was first taken to the Thermae Agrippae by
Lucius Secundus Hirtuleius, his dominus. It was not unusual for a
well-off Roman to bring a slave with them to the baths, to hold
towels and caligas, and in using a strigil to scrape cleansing oil
off the hard to reach places; and Lucius was fond of the boy in any
case. Rufus was good-natured, bright and inquisitive. His curiosity
was tempered with good manners and an appreciation of his place as a
slave in a wealthy household of a prominent Roman businessman and
Senatorial relative.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were
walking on the Campus Martius, past several of the large buildings
commissioned by the wealthy Agrippa. "Oh, it's so BIG,"
Rufus said as they approached the entrance to the baths. Lucius
chuckled.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes, it's
one of the biggest in Rome, and one of the oldest. And you are only
seeing part of it, there is a parallel set of baths for women here,
too. One can bathe, get a massage, use the gymnasium, get something
to eat, even listen to lectures by some of the most famous orators in
Rome today." Lucius deliberately avoided mentioning the several
small side rooms that were reserved for more private activities.
Rufus had no need to know about those. Besides, as a slave he could
never actually use the baths himself. That was reserved for
citizens.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">As they walked
into the large rotunda, Rufus marveled at the tall columns, the
colorful mosaic floors, and the statues, especially the largest one,
the Apoxyomenos. Lucius kept up a running commentary on the features
of the building as they walked to the men's changing rooms. "Did
you know that Marcus Agrippa built an aqueduct specifically to bring
in water for these baths of his? The Aqua Virgo is over 12 miles
long. There are actually three pools in here, the caldarium, which
is steaming hot and very soothing to sore muscles. The tepidarium is
more lukewarm, and finally the frigidarium, where the water is not
heated at all. It can be quite cold in the winter, you know! After
that, a massage is quite nice, and then a bite to eat. It's also a
great place to meet friends and socialize, or conduct business."
Lucius noticed two of his many business acquaintances heading
towards the caldarium.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Marcellus!
Aelianus! Avete! I'll meet you shortly." He turned to Rufus.
"Now, Rufus, you take my toga and tunic to one of those baskets
over there, make sure the number on the disc matches the basket, and
don't lose it! Walk around, explore a bit, but don't make a nuisance
of yourself. Maybe walk in the public gardens next door. I'll be
here for a while. Come back in two hours and wait for me here."
Rufus nodded. Once Lucius had stripped, he handed Rufus his
clothing and sandals, and headed for the caldarium and his business
friends. Rufus took the things and found an empty basket and
exchanged them for the numbered disc at the bottom.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being naturally
inquisitive, Rufus decided to look around before heading back to the
rotunda area. For the first time in his young life, he saw a large
number of men of all shapes and sizes and ages, all naked. Most were
either heading into or out of one of the interior pools, or just
standing and talking. They were all so casual! Rufus knew enough
not to stare openly. These men were all his social superiors; and he
was accustomed to keeping his eyes downcast for the most part when he
was at the market or elsewhere with one of the other slaves or Lucius
or Antonia. But this! This was unbelievable. So many cocks!
Short, stubby but thick, long and thin, ones that looked like a large
sausage... the variety was amazing. Some had hair of a variety of
browns, light to dark, with some much lighter, almost blond. Many had jet black bushes surrounding their cocks. The variety was
intoxicating, regardless of his caution. He was surprised to see
that many of the men had no hair at all on their bodies. Suddenly,
three men rounded the corner and walked straight towards Rufus on
their way to the heated pools. The one in the middle had a long,
thick cock that reached more than halfway to his knees, and swung to
and fro as he walked. The man to his right nudged him with his elbow
and said, "If that thing ever gets hard, there won't be room for
the rest of us in the pool!" Raucous laughter from the three
echoed off the tiled walls and they crossed into the steamy rooms
ahead of them.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sabina, the
cook, had slipped him a quadrans before he had left the house and
told him to get himself a meat pie. "If I know Lucius, you'll
be home late and he won't have thought to get something to eat on the
way." Rufus bought a pork pocket from one of the food stalls
and returned to the area outside the entrances to the heated pools.
Munching on the golden pastry gave him some cover for his presence.
He would nibble, then sneak a good look as the men moved in or out of
the archway entrance. He found himself thinking that he preferred
the men who had body hair to those who did not. It looked more
natural to him, more... manly. He stood up as if looking for his
dominus, looked around as if concerned, then sat again and returned
to munching on the crust. He stretched this out for as long as he
could, his own cock now swelling uncomfortably. Finally, pastry
gone, he stood and turned, brushing the front of his tunic, willing
his hard on to recede. Eventually, flaccid once again, he wandered
outside into the adjacent public gardens. He walked around for a
bit, then returned inside to wait for Lucius.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">As he passed
down one hallway, he noticed several small rooms, most with partly
open doors but two with closed ones. He peeked into one of the open
rooms and saw on the walls mosaics unlike any he had seen before. To
the right, the mosaic depicted a young man bending a young woman over
a large cushioned stool, and inserting his grotesquely large penis
into the woman's behind. The opposite wall showed an older bearded
man with a younger man on his lap, plainly lowering himself on the
rigidly erect cock of the older man. The wall facing the entrance
showed a more conventional forest scene of satyrs, fauns, and young
priestesses chasing each other and coupling among the trees. Rufus'
eyes lingered on the scene at the left, imprinting every detail on
his mind. He reluctantly started to back out of the room when he
heard moaning and groaning from the next room.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh,
yes... that's it. Futuo, you are tight! Your skin is so beautiful.
Oh!" The voice was one of an obviously older man, nearly bass
in it's register. It was followed by a much younger, lighter voice.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh,
Master, tell me what you want me to be. I will be anything for such
a powerful man as you. I am yours to use. AHH! Oh, you are in so
deep, Master. Fill me, Master. Put your powerful seed in me!"
Rufus stored that fragment of conversation away in his mind along
with the images it conjured. He quietly moved along the hall,
fearful he would find Lucius impatiently waiting for him. He quickly
made his way to the changing room.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>He found he had
timed it well. Lucius was just waving to several businessmen as he
exited the moist rooms and in to the changing area. "Ah, Rufus,
there you are. Do you have my... ah, yes, you do. Excellent. I'm
skipping a massage today, Aelianus </span><span><i>will</i></span><span>
run on and on about his sons and their military successes. Still, it
pays to listen politely, even if it takes time. Aelianus' company
buys a lot of iron from me, you know. Personal relationships are
important in business, boy." He donned his tunic and then began
the laborious task of draping himself with the toga that was expected
of all Roman men of any standing when out in public. "Here,
help me with the dratted thing," he said, handing one end to
Rufus. Although Rufus was not Lucius' personal slave (eccentrically,
he chose not to have one), he had grown adept with this task. It
helped that he was now as tall as Lucius. "There, that does it,
I think. Well done, Rufus. Let us go." They walked out into
the late afternoon sunlight that was glancing across the open area
between the baths and the Pantheon. They headed towards the
Hirtuleius household on the Quirinal hill and their evening meal.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once his simple
evening meal was consumed and his tasks for the day had been
completed, Rufus went to his room in the slave's quarters. He took
his tunic off and looked down at his cock. He began reviewing the
images of the afternoon, especially those of one stocky young man
with a stubby cock and large balls. His chest and belly had been
dusted with brown hair, joined by a thicker line of hair connecting
them. His cock jutted out some, not because he was hard, but because
it was resting on those large balls. The hair around his cock was
thick and spread wide across his crotch. Rufus felt his own cock
lengthen and expand, the foreskin sliding back to reveal his blunt
tip. He was impressed with the young man's relaxed air, seeming
totally unconcerned at being naked among others, many older than he,
chatting and laughing. His body was not the lean, defined type he
had seen on many statues and on some of the younger men at the baths.
This young man had a pleasing softness to his stocky body; slightly
rounded curves and just a hunt of a belly. For the first time, Rufus
found himself with a variety of body types to compare, and he
decided that he preferred the stockier, rounder versions.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus was not
especially long when relaxed, but when erect, his cock was thick.
The blunt tip was set on a shaft the got wider as it got closer to
his crotch. His own chest and belly already had a respectable amount
of hair, much lighter in color than the intense red of his head hair.
Reddish gold, it suited his fair coloring. The bush surrounding his
cock was slightly darker, but still light... more copper than gold.
He had first noticed the hairs on his crotch just before he turned
twelve, and they had filled in rapidly. Already, he had a mature
look about him. His hair color called attention to him, and when
others looked, they saw a young man that they guessed was older than
his actual years.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He remembered
the mosaics he had seen in the baths, particularly the one with the
older and younger men. He began stroking himself, feeling the
familiar, delightful tingle in his groin and feeling his balls
contract until the sack was snugged tight up against the base of his
penis. He touched the tip of his cock and drew out a string of clear
precum from the fat drop that had formed there. He remembered the
dialog between the older and younger man in the room next to the
mosaics, and felt his tip swell. He debated slowing down and
delaying his orgasm, but decided he didn't want to wait. A few more
firm strokes and he fired his seed into a coarse cloth he kept for
this purpose, legs slightly apart, butt muscles clenched tight.
Finished for the moment, he lay down on his bed and reviewed other
mental pictures of the men he had seen earlier. He had a good visual
memory, and recalling those images got his cock thickening up again.
He reached his hand down and caressed his balls, then gently rubbed
the underside of his cock, which was lying mostly flat against his
belly. Using one finger, he traced up and down the shaft, and when
he had reached full hardness, around the flare of his tip. He
stopped, and let his erection subside, and then brought himself back,
repeating the process several times. He finally let himself cum, but
this time is was quieter, less intense. He pumped out several slow,
thick ropes of cum on his belly.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">His thoughts
before he drifted off to sleep were of the first slave boy he had
played with. Marcus had been two years older than Rufus, hairless
except for a modest amount on this crotch, and it was Marcus who had
taught Rufus how to pleasure himself. There had been no oral or anal
sexual release, whether because neither had thought of those forms,
or because there simply weren't enough opportunities, or privacy, to
experiment. Unfortunately, Marcus was a lazy slave. Lucius and
Antonia were good to their slaves, treating them with fairness and a
measure of human respect that was rare among Roman society, but they
were strict in their expectations about work. Marcus had been sold
to a dealer after numerous warning about laziness and time-wasting.
Rufus was thinking about Marcus and his first sexual experiences with
him as he fell asleep, his hand holding his flaccid and sticky cock.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>III.
Maximus</b></span><span><b> 61 AD</b></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Maximus'
second owner was a randy old goat, with a shrew for a wife. Maximus
had been purchased to work with the animals on a fundus. These were
mostly pigs and oxen, with a few milk cows and two horses. The farm
was of moderate size, not quite the 'country estate' Livius Caeso
liked to think it was.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">"What?
Another slave? How many do we need? What's this one for...as if I
didn't know!"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He's
to work with Cassio, he's getting too old to keep up with the work,"
Livius said. 'Or with me,' he muttered to himself. 'The new boy
isn't bad looking, and he certainly looks strong as an ox,' Livius
thought, rubbing his crotch, anticipating fresh meat.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Feh!"
his wife Aurelia snorted in disgust as she turned away and walked
off.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Cassio,
the head of the outdoor slaves, took Maximus aside and cautioned him
on his second day there. "You want to watch out for the
dominus. He'll call you in soon enough, and let you know that one of
your jobs will be to make him 'happy'. Just grit your teeth and do
what he tells you. Anyone who refuses gets whipped and sold off."
The older slave scratched the stubble on his jaw. "I feel
sorry for the inside slaves, they have to put up with both him </span><span><i>and</i></span><span>
her. Out here, it's just the dominus. Oh, and if he works your ass
too hard, come see me. I've got some salve that will make your</span><span><span lang="la-VA">
foraminis</span></span><span>
feel better."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Thank
you." Maximus went to work, forking hay over into the mangers
in the stalls. "So... is it just boys, then?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh,
no. Anyone who holds still long enough, boys, girls, men, women....
pigs, for all I know. But you're young and new... mark me, he'll be
interested in you. Probably why he bought you, truth be told. Now,
leave that, and help me with this cart."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
older slave's prediction was spot on. Two days later, Livius Caeso
summoned Maximus to his study. He wasted no time at all. "Boy,
come here, let me look at you. Hmmm. Turn around. Yes, very nice.
Well, then. I'm sure Cassio has shown you your duties outside. Now
it's time you learn your duties in here. As long as you keep me
happy, things will go well for you. Cease doing that, and it's the
whip. Do I make myself clear?'</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remembering
Cassio's words, he nodded. "What am I to do to make you happy,
dominus?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Livius
leered. "Suck my cock for starters. We'll move on to other
things later. Kneel down here." Livius pointed to a spot in
front of his chair. He pulled his tunic up, exposing his moderately
sized penis, surrounded by smooth skin. "Well, boy... get
busy!" Maximus was seized with fear. This was something he had
never done, and was completely unsure as to how to proceed.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"Do
I have to do everything?" Livius growled. Maximus dropped his
head. "Oh, look at me!" Maximus looked up and Livius
began Maximus' first lesson in cock sucking. "Have you never
done this?" Maximus shook his head. "Well, pay attention.
You open your mouth like this, and you take my cock in your hand,
like this." He demonstrated both instructions "You put my
cock in your mouth and start sucking on it. Lick it with your
tongue. Move your head up and down while you do that. I'll get
hard, but you continue, got it? And see that you watch your teeth!
You're not eating a sausage, though it might look like it. Use your
lips and tongue. When I cum, you swallow. NO SPITTING! If I tap
you on the shoulder or head, you stop. Sometimes I want to make it
last and need to take a break so I don't cum too soon. Otherwise,
you keep working. You do </span><span><i>not</i></span><span>
stop unless I signal you. Understand?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once
again, Maximus nodded. Some of the things he had overheard slaves
talking about at his previous owner's made more sense now. He had no
practical experience with this, for in all their times together,
Fabiana had never bothered to give Maximus head. As far as she had
been concerned, the pleasure flowed all in one direction, towards
her.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Livius
remained seated, tunic lifted, waiting. Maximus crouched down a bit,
so his head was level with the dominus' crotch. Livius' cock was
already erecting, and was shaped like a legionary's gladius, narrower
at the base, thicker in the middle, and tapering to spear point. It
was large when erect, and starting to leak precum through the
puckered end of the wrinkled foreskin. Maximus noted the heat from
his dominus' crotch warming his face, and the strong scent of male
sweat and a sort of salty tang. As he approached, he saw Livius'
cock twitch, and the pointed tip of his penis slowly emerge from the
foreskin shroud. He grasped the hot shaft with one hand as he had
been instructed, and began to swallow it's length. Mindful of his
teeth and the dominus' warning, he made use of his lips and tongue,
becoming familiar with the shape and taste of his owner's equipment.
He struggled not to gag.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Livius
had been anticipating breaking in this new slave, and not having has
any release in two days, his fuse was quite short. He reached out
and took Maximus' head in both hands and pulled him in tight, to the
base of his cock and fired off several scalding volleys of his cum
into the slave's throat. Maximus started to gag again, and then
pulled off the still pulsing cock, Livius' cum dribbling down his
face.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Livius
slapped the side of Maximus' head, hard. "What did I say, boy!
DO NOT SPIT! Swallow it all, or by Jove's balls, I will whip you
until you can't sit </span><span><i>or
</i></span><span>lay
down!"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I...I...I'm
sorry, dominus. It won't happen again, I promise." He looked
up at Livius. "Shall I continue?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No.
I am not pleased, and no longer in the mood. Go back to your cell,
and think about what I've tried to teach you. And you'd do well to
see that you do better next time. Now, go, get out of my sight."
Livius turned away from the still-kneeling slave.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
got to his feet and stumbled out of the study. Back in his cell, he
reflected on two things. First, Livius had said 'next time', so he
likely was not going to be sold off just yet. And second, that he
had found the act of sucking another man's penis to be strangely
intoxicating. He drained his own seed onto the straw on the floor of
his room three times that night.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Several
days later, Livius summoned Maximus to his study with something
rather different in mind. He wasted no time. "Take off your
tunic, boy." Maximus did so. "By Jove's cock, you ARE a
hairy one! I've known old men with far less hair than you. I wonder
what it was your mother mated with. And the gods didn't hold back
when it came to your equipment, either." He reached out and
took Maximus' penis in his hand. "A shame you won't get much
chance to use it. Although, come to think of it, it might be
entertaining to watch you work that thing in to that pretty little
slave Aurelia bought last month... after I've had her, of course.
Eh, no matter, turn 'round." Maximus did so, a bit embarrassed
and more than a bit angry. It was one thing to be naked with other
slaves while they washed each other's backs behind the stables, with
cloths and buckets of cold water. It was quite different being naked
before his owner. And Fabiana had handled his cock often enough.
The comment about his parentage, though, made him want to hit Livius;
but he swallowed the anger. Slaves were whipped and beaten, often to
death, for striking their owners.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Bend
over and spread your butt for me, boy." Maximus did so. Behind
him, Livius shed his own tunic and reached for container of oil. He
worked some of the slippery stuff into Maximus' anus, and then
smeared it over his own thickening cock.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
don't suppose you've done this either, have you?" Maximus shook
his head. Thanks to Fabiana, he was familiar with the sensation of
penetrating. Being penetrated was entirely new to him.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Good!
I will enjoy being the first to take your podex and make it mine."
With that, he centered his penis on Maximus' hole and shoved in with
one thrust. Unable to stifle his response, Maximus yelped in pain.
Far from deterring him, the obvious pain he was inflicting seemed to
further inflame Livius' lust. "Big, aren't I?! Well, here's
how it feels to have a man in you, boy!" He made thrust after
savage thrust into Maximus' virgin ass. Maximus gritted his teeth
and did his best to think of something, anything, other that what was
being done to him. Finally, with a shout of triumph, Livius came in
his slave's ass. After regaining his breath, he pulled his softening
cock out of Maximus, and wiped the cum and blood off on the slave's
butt. "Yes... young and tight. You'll work out well for me.
Best get back to the stable, boy. Cassio tells me you have a new
foal to take care of. See that you do."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
picked up his tunic, pulled it over his head, and walked tenderly out
of the house and back to the stables. He knocked softly on the door.
"Cassio?" The door was opened by the older slave, who
drew Maximus inside.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"Oh,
you poor boy. He's hurt you, hasn't he?" Maximus nodded. "Do
not be angry with me for asking, boy, but was this your first time?"
Again, Maximus nodded. "</span><span lang="la-VA">Animum
et oculos perdat," Cassio muttered in quite anger. "I know
we have to take what the fates allow us, but really, could not he use
at least </span><span lang="la-VA"><i>some</i></span><span lang="la-VA">
care? Here, take your tunic off and I will get the sal... Hades,
you're bleeding!" The shocked slave had Maximus lean over a
stack of hay bales. "I will be right back." Cassio
hurried off and then returned shortly with a basin, cloths, and a pot
of salve. "This will sting, Maximus, there's nothing for it,
but you need to be cleaned first before I put on the salve. Hold as
still as you can." With that, Cassio began to very gently wipe
Maximus' raw anus and buttocks with the warm water that he had mixed
with some sharp wine. Maximus winced. "Sorry, Maximus, I know
it hurts. I remember.... well, no matter." He finished
cleaning Maximus, and then gently applied the strong-smelling salve.
Almost instantly, Maximus felt the burning pain lessen.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus sighed.
"Thank you, Cassio. That feels much better."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Good.
Now, take this, apply some more tomorrow in the morning, and once
more when you shit and wipe yourself. That should do it." He
looked at the younger slave who was slowly standing up. "It
will get better, trust me. Doesn't seem like that now, but it will.
Trust me."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the next few months, Maximus developed a
considerable talent as a cock sucker, partly out of
self-preservation, and partly out of his own desire to indulge in the
act itself, if not the person involved. He had found Livius to be
quite temperamental, but also easily calmed with a prolonged session
of oral sex. He also found that once penetrated, he liked the
sensation of being filled; and missed it when, spent, Livius
withdrew. In one respect, being fucked was actually easier, since he
had to put very little physical effort into it. As long as he could
mentally block out the 'who' of the sex acts, he was finding that the
'what' was rather nice.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">One afternoon, about a month later, Cassio and Maximus
were mucking out the stable. "Let us take a break, Maximus... I
don't have your endurance!" Cassio mopped the sweat from his
head and took a swig of water from the cistern, then offered the cup
to Maximus, who did the same. "Speaking of endurance, how are
things going for you?" Cassio asked. There was no mistaking
what 'things' Cassio was asking about.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well enough, I guess," Maximus answered.
"I'm used to his size, now."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Let me give you a suggestion, from my own
experience. If you relax your muscle as much as you can when he
enters you, and then tighten it when he pulls back, he likes that."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Tighten? You mean like I was trying to hold off a
shit?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Exactly. It's like milking a cow, and it will put
him in a good mood, especially if you do it without his asking you.
And the more you can keep him in a good mood, the better. Better for
all of us, actually."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Thank you, Cassio, I will try that next time. And
Cassio..."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You were right, it has gotten better."
Cassio smiled, and they returned to their work of shoveling horse
shit.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, Livius got tired of Maximus, the desire for
fresh meat never adequately satisfied in his mind. This was the
principle reason for the turnover of slaves in the household.
Maximus' life was certainly easier once the necessity of frequent
servicing of Livius' sexual needs lessened. Maximus was a good
slave, though; a strong and able worker, dependable, and well-liked
by the other slaves. Because of that, he was kept on when others
might have been discarded, once their novelty had worn off. He
stayed in the Caeso household for almost twelve years before he was
consigned to a slave trader, along with all the others upon the death
of Livius Caeso. The day they were to leave, Cassio approached
Maximus and embraced him. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I will miss you, my boy. You sling hay even
better than I can, and I've never seen anyone with your way with
horses." He paused, doing his best to control his emotions. "I
wish there was something I could give you..."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Cassio, no. You cared about me, and for me, more
than any here. You have always given me good advice, and made my
time here much easier than it might have been. You have given me
more than enough."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="la-VA" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Still... oh, go with my blessing then. May
Feronia always watch over you and protect you." Cassio reached
out again and drew the young man into a tight hug. Maximus returned
the older slave's embrace, and then climbed onto the cart that would
take him to the slave trader's auction house.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>IV.
Rufus and Maximus </b></span><span>
</span><span><b>Late November,
79 AD</b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
had been weeks since they had all escaped the utter destruction of
Pompeii, and things had more or less settled into a routine at the
farming estate once the others who had escaped with them had moved on
to relations or other accommodations elsewhere. Antonia, Lucius'
wife, had recovered from her badly sprained ankle and had regained
some of her usual cheerful demeanor, but bore the effects of their
ordeal in the increased lines on her face and the now copious gray in
her hair. Lucius, for his part, spent a great deal of his days
sitting in the small garden, staring off into the west, sometimes
shaking his head and muttering. The horrors of the previous month had
receded but a little for all of them.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">On
this chill late autumn morning, Rufus was walking down the hallway of
the farm house. The past two days had been anything but calm.
Everyone except himself was ill with some sort of stomach ailment.
He stopped as he heard Lucius puking mightily in his bedroom. Rufus
knocked on the wooden door. "Dominus? Do you need me?"
His answer was another volley of puking. Rufus opened the door and
entered. Lucius' head was bent over a bucket, strategically placed
beside the bed. He looked up at Rufus, face drawn and haggard. He
lay back on the bed.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Hades,
I hate being sick like this. To have survived the wrath of that
volcano, only to be laid low by... this." Lucius gestured
weakly to the chamber pot and bucket.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Dominus,
let me take the bucket and empty it and bring you a cloth to clean up
with." Lucius nodded weakly. Quickly taking the bucket, he
went out to the herb garden outside the bedroom and emptied the
bucket over the wall and rinsed it out, swirling water from the
cistern and dumping that, too. He grabbed a cloth from the kitchen,
wrung it out with water, and went back to Lucius' bedroom.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Here,
Dominus. You've soaked through your tunic. Let me get you a fresh
one." He took one from the chest at the foot of the bed, and
helped Lucius sit up and change the sweat-soaked tunic. Carefully
laying his dominus back on his bed, he was unsure of what to do next.
Antonia, in the next room, was a sick as Lucius was. "Should I
get Anna?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No,
she ran out a few minutes ago, heading for the latrine. No, Rufus, I
need you... to do... something for me." Lucius stopped and
waited for a wave of nausea to pass. "Before she started
vomiting, Antonia wrote out a list of things for a remedy her mother
swore by for stomach ailments like this. She insists it does
wonders, better than prayers to Febris, and you know what stock my
wife puts in the proper prayers. It should be in her room. Get it,
will you, and take it in to Nuceria. I'm not sure where you would
get everything on the list, but surely the shop keepers can help. Or
perhaps that Greek physician they have. And be quick, we all ne..."
Lucius was cut short by another round of vomiting. After Rufus had
emptied the bucket again, Lucius smiled weakly, and looked Rufus
straight in the eye. "Take Maximus with you. I know you don't
like horses, and it will take too long to walk."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
nodded and went next door, knocking softly on the door. "Domina,
it's Rufus. May I come in?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Antonia
weakly called out permission, and Rufus entered. Antonia was lying
on the bed, pale and weak-looking. "Dominus told me you had a
list of things for a remedy and that I was to take it into town.' He
took up a wax tablet from the table next to the window. "Is
this it?" He held up the tablet. Antonia nodded.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes,
please, Rufus. And hurry."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
will, Domina, as quickly as I can." He hurried outside, and
around the house to the stable area at the back.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">""Maximus!"
Rufus called out, not seeing the big man at first. He came out from
the far stall, brushing straw from his hands and hairy forearms,
looking concerned.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Rufus...
what's wrong? Are they worse? Are you...?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Maximus,
they are all sick now, and no, I am all right, no fever, no puking,
no flux. How about you? any others out here ill?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No,
we seem to be fine. What do you need?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You...
and a horse." Maximus raised an eyebrow at that.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You
hate horses... well, not hate, really, but you certainly don't trust
them. Why do you need a horse?" He leaned a bit closer and
whispered, "I know why you need me!"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Shhh...
later, my Beast," Rufus whispered, and then in a louder voice,
"I need to get to Nuceria with this list for domina. It's for a
remedy she says will help with all this."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well,
I'd say, give the list to me and I'll take it, but you know I can't
read. How would I know if they were giving me the right things?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Dominus
said I was to take you because I don't do well with horses."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Did
he now?" Maximus smiled. "Wait here, I'll get one of the
horses and we'll make a quick trip of it." Maximus hurried off
and shortly brought back a broad-backed mare. Rufus eyed her with
suspicion.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"This
is Bella, Rufus. She very gentle and easy going." Maximus
stroked the mare's velvet nose and fed her a handful of oats. "Here,
let her sniff you and then pat her neck. If she lowers her head, you
can scratch between her ears, she likes that."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'd
rather not."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"Oh,
go on, Rufus. She really</span><span><i>
is</i></span><span>
gentle." The horse snorted warm breath into the chill air.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
slowly stepped forward and nervously stood still while Bella sniffed
gently at his hair and beard. Seemingly satisfied, she lowered her
head, hoping for a scritch.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well,
go on, Rufus. She's waiting. Mustn't keep a lady waiting."
Maximus was grinning.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
gave the horse a tentative scritch between the ears, and the rubbed
some more when the mare nickered softly.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"See?
She likes you." Maximus gave Rufus' shoulder a squeeze. "You
have the list?" Rufus nodded and Maximus tossed a light blanket
on Bella's back and stepped up on a rock next to the fence, swung his
leg over her back, and as quick as that was sitting on the horse
looking down at Rufus.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"How
do I get on?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Just
like I did... oh, never mind. Give me your hand." Rufus was
shorter than Maximus but thickly built and solid, no lightweight.
"I'll swing you up, just lift you leg up and over."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"But
I..."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Don't
think, just do it," Maximus grinned. He grabbed Rufus' forearm
and easily swung the nervous man up and around behind him. Rufus
ended up on Bella's back, somewhat lopsidedly sitting behind Maximus.
"See? Easy!" Maximus dug his heels into Bella's sides
and the horse moved off under Maximus' direction towards the road
towards Nuceria. Rufus tentatively put his arms around Maximus'
belly to steady himself.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Gods,
I wish I could hug you tight."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Why
not? They're all busy being sick, no one will notice; and if they
do, well.... you're famously uneasy around horses!" Rufus
sighed deeply and hugged his Beast tightly. "That's my
Wolfpup."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Rufus
turned his head and lay his cheek on Maximus' back. Through his
tunic, Rufus scratched Maximus' belly fur with both hands, and sighed
again, contented for the moment. </span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Beast?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Hummmm?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do
you think anyone else knows... about us, I mean. We know dominus
knows, but does anyone else, do you think?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
shouldn't think so. We are very careful, always. And I've seen none
of those 'knowing' looks, or heard any comments. Have you?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"No,
none. Dominus has kept his word to us." Rufus paused
thoughtfully for a bit. "I know we are very lucky, and I </span><span><i>am</i></span><span>
grateful for that good luck. But oh, how I wish we could be together
more. I ache for you, Beast."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
reached down and back and stroked Rufus' softly-furred leg. "And
I for you, Wolfpup." The narrow road they were on was not the
main road that ran through Nuceria, but only a farm track that
connected to it, so there was little traffic. Right now, there were
no other travelers in sight.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Wolfpup....
I know it's cold, but if we are quick, do you think we could..."
He left the thought unsaid, waiting for Rufus' answer. After all,
they had been sent on an urgent errand.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh,
gods, YES!"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
used his knees to direct Bella off the road and under a small stand
of trees that provided some privacy for the two men. Maximus swung a
heavy leg over Bella's neck and slid to the ground, and reached up
for lift Rufus to the ground with him. They fell into each other's
arms and kissed with a fierceness that spoke of their frustration at
being in each other sight daily but unable to touch. They shed their
cloaks and tunics quickly and pressed themselves together, chest to
chest, belly to belly, cock to cock.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Futuo,
hold me tight, Beast! Tighter!! Ahh....." Rufus sighed deeply
as his Beast squeezed him with thickly muscled arms. He nuzzled in
Maximus' densely furred chest, inhaling his scent. "Let me feed
on you, Beast." He sank to his knees and buried his face in
Maximus' crotch, nuzzling, inhaling, licking. He took the nearly
erect cock in his mouth and held it there, reveling in the feel of
the hot flesh as it hardened, the tip flaring, the foreskin fully
retracted. He started licking from ball sack to tip.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Wolfpup,
stop."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Wha...
is something wrong?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh,
no, not at all... but I have an idea. Lay down on your back."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"But
I want to..."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Shhhh,
you'll see. Lay down." Rufus did so, still puzzled. Maximus
turned and lay down as well, but with his head even with Rufus' hips,
thus making Rufus' head even with his own crotch. "Now, turn to
me."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Aahhh!"
Rufus suddenly realized what was now possible, staring at at his
lover's erect meat. Without a word, he attached himself to Maximus'
straining cock, and felt the heat and wetness of his Beast's mouth on
his own. Wordlessly, ignoring the cold, they both used their tongues
to bathe each other's cocks, tracing around flared tips and ridges,
tickling the sensitive spot where their retracted foreskins attached
to the shaft. At first they were slow, experiencing the new
sensations of giving and receiving simultaneously, and using only
their lips and tongues to pleasure each other. Lust soon took over,
though; and they worked harder and harder at bringing each other to
climax. Each put an arm over the other's hips and drew them in
tight, burying their faces in each other's crotch, inhaling the
salty, slightly yeasty, moist scent of themselves.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing
he was about to flood his Beast's mouth with his load of seed, he
pulled Maximus in as tight as he could and began pumping his cock in
as deep as he could. The heat of his Wolfpup's load now flooding his
mouth, the sharp, salty taste of it, pushed Maximus over the edge;
and he, too, unloaded, gripping Rufus tightly as he shot his life
down Rufus' willing throat.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Winded,
they broke apart and each lay back, resting after their happy work.
"Why have we never done that before? What a great idea, Beast!"
Rufus smiled up at the cloudy autumn sky, shivering only slightly.
He suddenly jumped up.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Hades,
we've got to get to town! They will be expecting us back home!"
He felt his beard. "I'm a mess." He handed Maximus his
tunic and rapidly put on his own. Maximus brought Bella over to a
tree stump and used that to mount the horse.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Wolfpup,
use the stump, like I did. There won't always be someone like me to
swing you up on board!" Rufus was clumsy, but ultimately
successful, and the pair moved off toward Nuceria.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reaching
the town, they found a stable fairly quickly and Maximus paid the boy
there to watch Bella while they went in search of the ingredients on
Antonia's list. Rufus rinsed off his coppery beard in a water
trough. He had not been able to keep up with the quantity of
Maximus' pumping earlier.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Maximus,
I think we should just go directly to the Greek doctor, if we can
find him." He shook his beard, and water drops flew.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
agree. Quicker, and probably more reliable." They started
walking quickly towards the center of the growing town, bigger now
through having absorbed a number of refugees from the recent
disaster.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Ave!
Can you help us?" Maximus asked the first likely person he saw
outside the stable.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Quid
est?" The young woman stopped somewhat hesitantly, pulled her
cloak more tightly around her and looked nervously at the big man.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Can
you direct my friend and I to the Greek doctor? I am told there is
one here, but I've no idea where." Maximus did his best to look
friendly and non-threatening, in spite of his size.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
young woman smiled with some relief. "Oh, well... yes, there
is, quite a good one in fact. He has a taburna, actually he shares
one, just over there, next to the new baths."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Gratias
vobis agimus!" Maximus nodded politely, and the two hurried off,
leaving the young woman to reflect on how looks can sometimes be
deceiving.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"That's
it, there," Rufus said. "I recognize that symbol with the
snakes." They entered the shop and were immediately struck by
the mixture of smells, not all of them pleasant.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes?"
A middle-aged man looked up from a scroll he was reading and talking
notes from. "What is it?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"We
are from the fundus near here, owned by Lucius Secundus Hirtuleius.
They are all sick, stomach, bowels, and fever. His lady wife, my
domina, sent me with this list for a remedy. Might you have the
ingredients here?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Ah,
blowing it out both ends, are they? Are either of you sick?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Give,"
the doctor abruptly said, motioning with this hand for the list.
Rufus handed it over. The doctor looked over the list, muttering as
he read. "Ginger... hmmm... and peppermint; well, someone has
some knowledge. Yes. Although...." The doctor paused and
looked up at Rufus. "You wouldn't believe some of the things I
see here. Only yesterday a woman came in with her young son, cough
you wouldn't believe, could wake the dead. She had a dead mouse in a
leather pouch tied around his neck, and couldn't understand why her
granny's foolproof remedy wasn't working for him." He shook his
head and was silent, tapping this teeth with his stylus.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The
list?" Rufus asked when the doctor continued to remain silent.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Ah,
yes, sorry. I can make this up for you, though I would add some
poppy juice for the flux. Have a seat." Rufus and Maximus sat
on a bench that ran along one side of the interior. About ten
minutes later, the doctor emerged from the curtain blocking off the
rear of the shop.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Here.
Put three good-sized pinches of the dry mixture in a cup of boiling
water, let it steep for five minutes, then drain it off. Have them
drink it all, but don't let them swallow the leaves. This will be
quite bitter, you can take the edge off with some honey if you have
it. Do that every three hours or so. Nothing else for a day, and
absolutely no milk. By tomorrow evening, you can try some boiled
grains, mashed. In two days, light foods should be OK, but no meat
until their bowels have completely calmed down."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"And
the poppy juice?" Maximus said, eyeing the small glass bottle
filled with a milky liquid.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm
getting to that," the doctor said, testily. "Five drops in
a cup of heavily watered wine, no more. Two drop only for any
children. Administer that three times a day until the flux stops and
their shit is firm." The doctor handed over the two containers
to Maximus. Turning to Rufus, he said, "Do all the slaves eat
separately from the family?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The
outdoor slaves, yes. The house slaves eat in the kitchen. But all
of the food is prepared by Sabina, our cook. She prepares all the
meals for the household. She is an excellent cook."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The
doctor sniffed. "And you are sure you are not sick?" Both
men shook their heads. "Well, that rules out food poisoning.
There been a lot of </span><span><i>that</i></span><span>
going around of late, I'm sure it's due to that pig of a farmer
Plautius and his "first class produce". Filthiest stuff
I've seen in the market, I tell people time and again to avoid the
stuff, but who listens to a Greek?" The doctor rinsed his hands
in a basin of water. "And wash your hands after emptying the
chamber pots, or any buckets with vomit, every time!"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting
up to leave, Rufus handed over the fee, and asked the doctor, "Are
there any special prayers to be said along with this treatment? A
sacrifice to any particular god? Domina will want to know."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Again,
the Greek sniffed. "No. Waste of time."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You
don't believe in prayers?" Maximus asked.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
told you what I believe in," he said, pointing to the containers
in the big man's hands. "Now, good day, I have work to do."
They left him muttering about dead mice and worthless prayers.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Walking
back to the stable where Bella was in temporary residence, Maximus
chuckled. "Plain spoken, wasn't he?" Rufus laughed out
loud.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He
certainly was. Well, he's a Greek, and this is still very much a
rural town. It's a bit different in the city. I imagine that here
he gets all sorts of people who try every folk remedy possible before
giving in and coming to a foreigner, no matter how long he's lived
here. On the other hand, that young woman seemed to think highly of
him." He looked up at Maximus. "We need to hurry back.
If I hold on tight, do you think you could make Bella move along
faster, to make up for... well, you know." Rufus was smiling
and blushing.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh,
Wolfpup, you can hold on as tight as you like. Bella won't mind and
I will enjoy keeping you warm!" Maximus' beard was split with a
wide grin as he nudged Bella out onto the road.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>V.
Rufus and Maximus</b></span><span>,
</span><span><b>89 AD</b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
savage growling, snapping, and mayhem outside their window woke both
Maximus and Rufus at the same time. "What in Hades...."
Maximus exclaimed, tossing the light blanket aside and moving to the
window as Rufus was rising from the other side of the bed. Rufus
opened the shutters and both stuck their heads out of the opening.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Look!"
said Rufus, pointing toward the four dog-like creatures circling
about in the dark and darting in towards one another, snapping
tooth-filled jaws. "They are wolves!"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Not
all of them, one's... well, it's not a wolf, the shape's wrong, and
look at the tail." Maximus pulled his head back in and started
towards the hall that led outside. "I don't like this, they'll
scare the horses, and I don't want the mare to lose her foal."
Rufus followed his mate to the door. Maximus grabbed a torch and
held it to the nearly extinguished coals smoldering in the base of
the kitchen stove. It flared into light and smoke and he charged
outside, waving the torch and shouting, followed by Rufus with his
own flaming torch.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
three wolves, wary of the noise and flames, broke off their attack
and backed away slowly, snarling all the while. In the pack's
experience, humans always meant trouble, and often, death. Two of
their pack mates had met that fate the previous week at a fundus not
far from this place, and these survivors remembered humans and their
weapons. After some more snarls and growls and in spite of their
hunger, the three turned and loped off, clearing the stone wall
around the large pasture and heading off into the night.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Left
in the middle of the pasture was a large dog, seriously wounded, it's
left rear leg gashed deeply, and it's left ear nearly torn off. As
frightened by the humans as the wolves had been, it growled and
snapped as it tried to drag itself away. It made it only a few feet
before collapsing, panting heavily. The pool of it's steaming blood
reflected in the torchlight. Rufus and Maximus breath steamed as
well in cold night air. It had been a hard winter... the calendar
might say Martius, but it felt far more like the middle of Ianuarius.
Both men were naked, since they had not paused to don their tunics
or cloaks. Both men threw a lot of heat in bed and customarily slept
naked, with only a light bed covering in the colder months. "Futuo,
it's cold. I'll be right back." Rufus went inside to get
cloaks while Maximus warily tried to approach the wounded dog.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
dog continued to snap a growl, but with less and less energy.
Finally, it just lay, panting heavily, with it's eyes never leaving
Maximus. Rufus returned with a cloak for his Beast, and placed it
around his shoulders. "Thanks, love," the hairy man said,
pulling close about him. "He won't let me near him. At least
he's not trying to drag himself away."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Poor
dog. I wonder where he's from. I've not seen one like him anywhere
around here."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Probably
wild, or a run-away. He looks half-starved." Maximus tried to
approach the dog again, and again the dog growled, a low, menacing
sound. "Wolfpup, get me one of the blankets from the stable,
the newest one, it won't smell so strongly of horse." Rufus
walked quickly to the stable and searched for the newer blanked. It
was folded on top of a pile of others. He grabbed it and returned to
Maximus and the dog.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He
won't let me near him, so I can't get him into the stable or the
house, and the cold won't do him much good. Here, help me spread
this out over him." The two men unfolded the blanket and
stretched it over the wounded dog, who growled again, then whimpered
as the blanket came down over his body.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'll
get a bowl and fill it with water. We can set it near him, maybe
he'll drink if we leave him alone." Rufus hurried into the
house, while Maximus made soothing noises for the dog's benefit.
Rufus returned with a shallow bowl filled with water, put it on the
ground near the dog's head, and pushed it closer with his foot.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Careful,"
Maximus cautioned as the dog snapped it's jaws.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Having
done what they could for the creature, they returned to their bed and
held each other to warm up from the cold night air. "Do you
think he has a chance?" Maximus asked.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"We've
done what we can for now. It's in the hands of the gods; Diana and
Bacchus willing, if he's still with us in the morning, he might have
a chance and we can try to do more for him." He rubbed his
lover's furry back then hugged him tight. "Sleep now, my love."
Soon they were both asleep, but Rufus kept tossing and turning and
eventually eased himself out of bed, made sure Maximus was covered,
and, pulling on his tunic and cloak, lit a small oil lamp and walked
out of the house to the pasture.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
dog was laying there, still covered with the blanket. Rufus stood
still, watching for any movement indicating life. After a long
moment, the blanket moved up, then down as the dog took in a deep
breath. Relieved at this, he returned inside and poked the fire in
the stove back to life, and fed it several small branches. He lit
another lamp from the first, and made a mental note to add more
charcoal to the list of supplies needed on their next trip into town.
Once the fire was going, he made himself a beaker of posca. He
filled a small iron pot with water from the large barrel and waited
for it to heat. He measured out some vinegar in a beaker, added wine
and some honey. Once the water was hot, he poured that into the
beaker, and stirred. Sipping the drink, he thought about the dog.
'It seems the gods have shown mercy to the poor creature. I will do
all I can to save him.' He sipped his posca, and made plans.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
checked on the dog every hour or so, folding back the blanket so the
dog's head was fully visible. Awake, the dog's eyes followed Rufus'
every move. Shortly before dawn, Rufus noticed that the bowl of
water was now empty, and the blanket somewhat askew. "Ah,
you've drunk. Good, that's good." The dog blinked but did not
growl. Rufus refilled the bowl, then sat on the ground, close, but
not too close to the dog's head. The torn ear was covered with
blood, and would soon be attracting flies. Rufus shoo-ed away an
early arrival. The dog flinched at the motion, but again did not
growl. "It's all right, boy. I won't hurt you, just keeping
the flies off."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
found his lover sitting next to the dog as the sun came up over the
hill behind the stable. He yawned mightily and scratched his belly
fur. "Have you been here all night, Wolfpup?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Off
and on," Rufus nodded "His breathing seems easier, and
he's drunk water."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You
are sitting close, I see. Couldn't have done that last night."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes,
and he's not growling now." Rufus, he leg muscles cramped with
contact with the cold ground, struggled up. "Come inside, love,
I want to talk with you." Maximus followed Rufus inside the
warm kitchen. Rufus pushed a beaker of warm posca towards Maximus as
they sat at the table. Maximus sipped the warming drink as he
listened.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do
we have some of the poppy juice left?" Maximus nodded. "Good.
I want to save this poor dog. The gods spared him and now, I think,
they are telling us to do what we can for him."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"And
you say I am soft-hearted." He reached over and squeezed Rufus'
hand. "But I agree, Wolfpup. What do you have in mind. I
know that look of yours, you have a plan."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well,
a sort of one. He's not small, even if he is starved; and I don't
know how badly his leg is injured. If we get a plank and lay it next
to him, we could probably move him carefully on to it, and then carry
him inside. But I'm sure it will hurt." He looked at Maximus.
"You know animals far better than I do, Beast. Do you think if
we put a small amount of the poppy juice into some broth, that it
would dull the pain enough so he wouldn't try to bite or bolt when we
moved him?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm
not sure, Wolfpup. Poppy juice works with people; I've never tried
it with animals. We could try it, I suppose. Very small amount, see
how he takes it." Rufus nodded. He got up and started cutting
a piece of dried pork into a pot, added some fat and bit of water and
olive oil, and sat the pot on the iron lid of the stove. "I'll
get a plank, there's one left from building the stable that should
do." Maximus went to get the wood while Rufus poked at the lump
of pork with a long handled fork.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">About
an hour later, all was ready. Rufus ladled some of the savory broth
into the shallow water bowl he had used earlier, letting it cool and
adding a few drops of the poppy juice.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Let's
see if he'll take it."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
dog was obviously interested in the good smelling liquid, but was
hesitant. "Let's leave him for a bit, see if he'll drink. You
got the bowl in really close, Wolfpup, so he should be able to,
easily enough." The pair stepped back inside, hoping the
privacy would make the dog feel secure and more willing to drink.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
ruse worked, he lapped at the broth eagerly. Rufus and Maximus took
turns watching the dog carefully for any ill effects. There were
none.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"All
right, let's try more of the poppy juice. It would be great if he
would just sleep and we could clean the wounds. The ear looks really
bad, and we need to wash that leg to see how bad that is."
Rufus ladled some more of the broth into the bowl and added more of
the poppy juice, doubling the dose. Once again, the dog lapped it
all up, then lay his head back down.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A
third dose of the poppy in the last of the broth turned the trick,
with the dog's head rather suddenly plopping to the ground. Rufus
approached cautiously, fearing the worst. The dog was breathing
slowly and steadily. Maximus came over from the barn where he had
been putting out feed for the hoses and checking on the very pregnant
mare. "How is he?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Sleeping,
it looks like. His breathing is very much easier, steady and deep.
I think we should move him now." Maximus nodded his agreement
and bent to help Rufus lift the dog onto the plank. "Gods, he
weighs a lot less than he looks like," Rufus said, laying the
dog's hindquarters on the plank. "I could probably carry him
inside without the plank."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Who
knows how long it's been since he's had decent food... or any?
Still, it's better this way, I think. Now where? Stable or house?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
nodded towards the house. "Better in the house, cleaner.
Safer, too. I wouldn't want the barn cats to spook him." They
carried the now-snoring dog inside. "Put him in here, we can
eat in the kitchen and I can put my writing materials in the
bedroom." They set the plank down on the table where they
usually ate and gently moved the dog onto a thick pad of spare
blankets and towels. The dog barely stirred. In the light of day
coming through the window and with the help of several oil lamps,
they examined the dog. Here, he looked even more starved than he had
outside, all of his ribs showing and his flanks hollowed. His coat
was dull and filled with burrs and bits of straw. His coloring was
largely black with brown muzzle and jowls and chest. It was evident
that in his prime, he would have been a sturdy, sizable specimen.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
had put a pot of water on the stove earlier, and took a basin and
ladled hot water into it. He mixed in a measure of wine so the
mixture was not quite half and half. He brought it in and handed
Maximus a folded soft cloth. He dipped it into the mixture and began
to gently dab and wipe the wounded left rear leg, while Rufus held
the dog in case he moved suddenly. "How does it look to you?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
wrung out the cloth and continued wiping and dabbing. "Not as
bad as I thought it might be. I've really seen worse. Look here, if
you can. The wound is running up and down, the same direction as the
muscle fibers, not across them."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Is
that good?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Very.
But this will take a long time to heal if that wound is not closed.
You remember the legionary doctor in Rome, the one who sewed me up?"
Rufus nodded. "I don't see why we couldn't do that here. We
clean the wound and I have some salve I use on the horses when they
get deep scrapes or gouges from hooves during mating. I hope it
works the same way on a dog, prevent the wound from becoming
putrid."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now
that the wound was clean, it was clear that it was both deep and wide
but that it had missed any major blood vessels. "I'm afraid we
don't have anything like the fine needles and thread that doctor
had," Rufus said, shaking his head. "We have a couple of
needles but they are large ones. Would they work, do you think?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"They'll
have to. Jove's balls, I wish we had a doctor near. I've no real
clue what I'm doing. What are we going to use for thread to close
the wound with?" Both Maximus and Rufus cudgeled their brains,
thinking of and then discarding several possible thread substitutes.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Suddenly,
Rufus smacked his hand against his forehead. "I am SO stupid!
The answer is right here!"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Here?
Where? I see no thread..."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Beast,
we're wearing it! Unravel the hem of a tunic!"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
laughed out loud. "Of COURSE! Well done, Wolfpup!" He
shed his tunic and stood, naked, as he started pulling threads from
the hem of his tunic. "They're kind of short, but we can to the
stitching in sections." Rufus reached for the coarse threads
and headed to the kitchen. "Where are you going?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"To
get some wine," Rufus called over his shoulder. Returning with
a cup partly filled with wine, he pushed the wad of threads down into
the liquid. "You might not remember this, but that doctor had
his assistant soak the thread he used to sew your scalp with wine.
If it was good enough then, it's good enough now. And he washed his
hands before, so here, I'll hold that while you wash up and then I'll
do the same. I don't know how long the dog will be asleep and I
don't think he'd be happy to wake and fine us treating him like a
torn blanket."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">While
he was washing up, Maximus called out, "I wonder why the wine?
I mean, I know we use it when we clean a wound, but what exactly does
it do? Does it speed healing? Maybe dull pain?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I've
no idea. But he seemed to put some store in it, so... What doctors
do is mostly a mystery anyway, I think. Here, my turn." Rufus
make quick work of washing his hands and arms which were by now
covered with dried and crusted blood.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The
dog seems to still be sleeping deeply. I say we start now, all
right? Hand me that salve."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes."
Working together smoothly, as equals, each doing what was needed or
asked without question, Rufus and Maximus set to stitching up the
dog's leg. First, swabbing the wound with more wine, then stitching
the wound closed as Rufus, without being asked, gently pushed the
sides of the wound together ahead of the needle. Once done, they
coated the area with the salve Maximus used on the horses' wounds.
Then, they turned to dealing with the mangled ear.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"There's
no way to stitch that back on," Maximus said, pointing to the
nearly severed half of the ear. "There's only a bit of skin
holding it, but the base of the ear is sound. I think it's best just
to cut the last little bit off and bandage the rest." Rufus
nodded agreement and went to the kitchen and got the one really good
knife they owned. He ran a whetstone over it and the dipped it into
the cup of wine. He held the shriveled and dry remains of the ear,
while Maximus sliced through the thin strip of skin holding it on.
He held a wine-soaked cloth to the bleeding cut until it stopped,
then smeared the edge with the salve. He looked at Maximus. "What
now?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Bandage
the leg and try to figure out some way to bandage the ear. And
watch. And wait."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over
the next several days, Rufus kept watch over the dog, who fortunately
came out of his opium-induced sleep with no issues. Maximus silently
took over some of the house chores that Rufus usually did, in
addition to his own work with the horses. This left Rufus with more
time to attend to the dog. The mare delivered a fine, healthy foal,
a filly. Maximus gave up trying to wash the tunic he had been wearing
during the birth, and tore it up for cleaning rags in the stable.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
boiled a chicken and mashed up the liver and heart and mixed it with
oil and some broth. The dog ate it all, and later the cut up pieces
of chicken. He rejected the mashed up grain sweetened with honey
that Rufus tried to feed him until it was doused with garum. In
fact, the secret seemed to be using garum with anything, and the dog
would eat it. The pungent sauce truly seemed to be something the dog
enjoyed, and not just because he had been on short rations for so
long. Admittedly, garum could be an acquired taste, but the dog
seemed to have acquired it.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
took a week for the leg to heal sufficiently for the dog to be able
to walk around enough to go outside to pee and shit. He had a slight
limp, but the wound did not putrefy; there was no off odor, and the
wound was cool to the touch and not puffy. The half ear healed
fairly quickly and gave the dog a rather lopsided rakish air, making him look
as if he was always questioning whatever he was looking at.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
leg took much longer to heal. For two weeks, the dog flinched if the
stitched area was touched. One day, Rufus was trying in vain to stop
the dog from chewing at the threads that looked as if they were still
holding his leg together. "Beast, I think we are going to have
to take those threads out. He keeps chewing them."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"Well,
that damned assistant pulled them out of </span><span><i>my</i></span><span>
scalp after a week, so it should be time, I think. Hurt like Hades,
though. Should we give him some more of the poppy juice?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"If
we have any left, I think it might help." Rufus, as well as
Maximus, had noted that the dog was much less nervous around the two
of them, particularly Rufus. It was Rufus who fed him and carried
him outside to do his business until he could manage the walk on his
own. And it had been Rufus who had held him when Maximus was sewing
his leg. Though </span>unconscious, <span>
he still had formed a scent memory of Rufus and associated it with
his gentle touch. Still, it might be too much to ask the dog to
endure the removal of the threads without some chemical assistance.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Garum
is salty, and often creates a powerful thirst. After a gaurm-doused
bowl of pork scraps and mashed grain, the dog lapped up nearly a
whole bowl of water, which Rufus had laced with the last of the poppy
juice. Shortly after, the dog looked around him as if in a confused
daze, and then suddenly sat down on his butt, and promptly toppled
over. Both men went to work quickly, Rufus holding the dog's head in
his lap again while Maximus soaked the stitched area with wine
applied with a cloth. He then used the sharp knife to cut the knots
and pull out each of the strings. Two were particularly difficult,
and the dog jerked in pain as the thread was pulled free. The few
spots of blood were patted with the wine-soaked cloth until they
stopped bleeding.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over
the next month, the dog gained weight and filled out, generally
looking much better, and more fierce. His body was thick and
square-ish, solid looking.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He's
going to be a chunk of muscle, that one is."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
nodded. "He looks like us!"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You
mean stocky and hairy?" The two looked at each other and
laughed.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
next day, Maximus was standing at the doorway while the dog was
limping around the pasture, chasing chickens with little success. He
turned to Rufus, who was standing next to him. "What will you
call him? He should have a name."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"'Dog',
I guess. I don't know. It hadn't occurred to me."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well,
he's your dog, you know."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh,
surely ours..."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Come
now, Wolfpup. His eyes never leave you; if you leave the room, he
follows; if he hears your voice, his ears prick up. He likes it when
I scratch behind his ears, but he closes his eyes in bliss when you
do. He sleeps next to your side of the bed, not mine. He's your
dog." Maximus was smiling at his Wolfpup.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Rufus
seems lost in thought for a bit, then said, "You </span><span><i>are</i></span><span>
right, he should have a name. He is strong and brave, fought
courageously even when outnumbered three to one. I could call him
Cerberus." He looked at Maximus. The dog come over to them,
having heard Rufus' voice. He still limped, and always would.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He
hasn't got three heads."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"True."
More thinking. "I know... Ferox, for 'ferocious'. How's
that?" The dog barked, loudly.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
grinned. "Well, that settles it! You've named your dog,
Wolfpup!" He hugged Rufus, and Ferox barked again, giving his
assent.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Later,
after their evening meal, Maximus leaned back and stretched. He put
his large hands, fingers laced together, behind his head. "Pretty
good life, isn't it, Wolfpup?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Draining
the last of his wine from the cup, he agreed with his lover. "Truly,
it is. Sometimes, I am working on something and I am overtaken with
the wonder of it... how very lucky we have been." He stood up
and walked behind his Beast, reaching down and rubbing his chest and
giving the nipples a teasing brush with his fingers. "I love my
Beast so very much." He kissed the top of Maximus' head, and
noticed for the first time a few strands of gray. He smiled and
kissed his lover again. "Come to the bedroom, I have something
I want to show you." He took Maximus' hand and led him to the
bedroom they had shared for the past ten years. Ferox followed.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once
in the bedroom, Rufus took his tunic off and made to raise Maximus'
arms so he could lift his tunic off. "What did you want to show
me?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"This,"
the red furred man said, placing his Beast's hand on his thickened
cock. "And this," pulling his Beast's head down so he
could deeply kiss the man he loved so much. Maximus clasped Rufus to
his chest and cupped his butt with both hands. "Don't let go,"
Rufus breathed.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Never."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
laid his Wolfpup down on the bed and lay next to him. They stroked
each other's pelts, reveling in the feel; gently cupped each other's
balls in their hands, then nuzzled in each other's beards. The sun
had set, the birds had quieted for the night. In the distance, one
of the horsed nickered to it's stable mate.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus'
thick, rigid cock entered Maximus, making him grunt with pleasure.
Even after ten years of being able to this whenever they desired, it
never lost it's thrill for Rufus. He felt Maximus' sphincter slowly
spread as his blunt tip forced its way in, and then caress his shaft
as he slid in deeper and deeper, drawn in by the heat of his lover's
gut. The feeling never grew old for Rufus. Smaller in body size
than his Beast, he reveled in the feeling of power as he mounted and
penetrated, like a stallion servicing one of Maximus' mares in the
pasture. Although their relationship was one of equals, this
position made Rufus feel like a strong, powerful animal in rut. The
fact that he was not only receiving pleasure but also giving it to
the man he loved above all else enhanced the animalistic feelings and
drove him to greater efforts. He varied his angle so that the tip of
his penis rubbed Maximus' prostate, causing the big man to moan with
pleasure and push back hard against Rufus' thrusts.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">No
words were uttered... none were needed. Each knew what the other
wanted, and when at last Rufus picked up his pace and began to
rapidly pump, Maximus braced himself, knowing his Wolfpup was close
to cumming. When he felt the hot gush of his lover's seed, he
tightened his anus so that each time Rufus withdrew partway, his cock
was milked, so that every drop was saved.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Stay
in me, Wolfpup. Keep that thick cock of yours deep inside me.
Cover me. Stay with me." Rufus did, occasionally moving a bit
in a slow pump to keep himself hard. They lay like that, Rufus'
cheek resting on the fur of his Beast's back. He slipped his arms
under Maximus' and said, "I have more seed for you, my love."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"YES!
Oh, gods, YES! Fuck me, Wolfpup... fuck me </span><span><i>hard</i></span><span>!"
Rufus pulled out and raised up on his knees. He turned his Beast
over on his back and raised his legs up, holding them in a V shape.
He used his cock like a spear, repeatedly pulling out, then stabbing
back in. His previous load made the going in slick and easy, but the
repeated entries made Maximus' hole especially sensitive. He was
gasping and moaning, tossing his head back and forth. "FUCK
ME!," he roared, and Rufus plunged in one last time, lodged
deep, and shot. He pushed in as hard and as far as he could, digging
his feet into the bedding to give himself extra leverage. Copper gold
crotch fur meshed with black butt fur, cemented together with lust
and cum and sweat.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sated
and spent, Rufus collapsed on his Beast's belly and chest. Maximus
put his legs down and his arms around his lover and hugged his
sweat-soaked body tight, humming the little tune as he often did when
contentedly working around the horses. Ferox raised his head,
reassured himself that his master was still there and safe, and then
lay his head down between his paws and went back to dozing as the two
men he now lived with drifted off to sleep.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Author's
Note</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Rufus
and Maximus are fictional characters, but the world they inhabit is
not. As in the earlier stories,</span><span><i>
79 AD</i></span><span>
and </span><span><i>After
Vesuvius</i></span><span>,
I have kept these scenes as historically accurate as possible in
their details. The historical persons, social customs and details,
Latin words and expressions are all as correct as I can make them.
These scenes are for the most part ideas that, for various reasons,
didn't make it into the two much longer stories mentioned above. </span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Slave
births were rarely recorded, and it was not at all unusual for a
purchaser of a slave to know only the barest of facts about their new
property's antecedents, so I claim an author's privilege in creating
their backstories. For those who wish to follow a timeline of the
two main characters, Rufus (the older of the two by one year) was
born in 44 AD, and Maximus in 45 AD.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
grew up in Lucius Hirtuleius' household, being the son of his wife
Antonia's personal slave, who died several years after giving birth.
Rufus never knew his father (a discharged legionary), but he in fact
is a close replica of him, both in coloring and build. He served in
Lucius' household until his manumission in late December of 79 AD.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximus
is unaware of his parentage or much about his very early life. We
can say that his parents were sold apart, that he went with his
mother, and his mother died when he was not quite 14. He was first
formally sold as a slave at the age of 14 to Appius Silanus, in 59
AD. He was later sold to Livius Caeso in 61 AD. He is purchased by
Lucius in 73 AD.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rufus
and Maximus meet at Lucius' country house near Nuceria in April of 74
AD. At that time Rufus was 30, Maximus 29. They are manumitted by
Lucius in December of 79 AD in gratitude for their actions during the
catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius. They eventually settle on their
own land close to the fictional town of Rocca (which is sited near
the real town of Clusium) in 82 AD, after a dangerous adventure in
Rome.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Baths of Agrippa that Lucius takes Rufus to were the first of the
large bath houses in Rome, and became the first public one.
Construction was started in 25 BC. Initially, entrance to the baths
cost a quadrans, a quite small sum that allowed many Roman citizens
to make use of them. The baths were part of a very large complex of
buildings on the Campus Martius, most funded and built by Agrippa,
who was one of the wealthiest men in Rome. Agrippa died in 12 BC,
and in his will, left all his property to the Emperor Augustus with
the stipulation that the baths he built would be forever open to the
citizens of Rome at no cost to them.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Immediately
next to the baths was a very large outdoor swimming pool enclosed by
a colonnade, called 'Agrippa's Lake'. The baths and pool were
surrounded by gardens. The Pantheon, directly to the north of the
baths, was also also funded by Agrippa, as were several other large
buildings on the Campus.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">All
of that required a huge amount of water. Agrippa, again from his own
funds, had an aqueduct built to bring in the necessary amount of
water. The Aqua Virgo was completed in 19 BC, the same year as the
greatly expanded baths and the 'lake'. It was almost 13 miles long,
carried nearly 27,000 gallons of water daily, and remarkably is still
in active use today, supplying water directly to the Trevi Fountain
in Rome. To maintain the necessary drop in elevation, part of the
aqueduct actually ran underground. It's name comes from a popular
Roman legend. Thirsty Roman soldiers asked a innocent young woman
for a drink. She directed them to nearby springs, which later formed
the source for the aqueduct The water source and the aqueduct were
named after her.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Many
of the buildings on the Campus Martius, including Agrippa's baths,
were heavily damaged or destroyed in the great fire of 80 AD. Those
baths were the first to be rebuilt by the emperor Domitian, due in
large part to their immense popularity with the Roman populace. (You
can find out a bit more about Domitian, his older brother Titus, and
their father Vespasian in</span><span><i>
79 AD</i></span><span>
and </span><span><i>After
Vesuvius</i></span><span>.)
The rebuilt baths were in continuous use up until circa 530 AD.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Posca
was the morning drink of all levels of Roman society, from slave all
the way to the Imperial household. For slaves and poorer freedmen,
it was the day long drink. Wealthier families might serve watered
wine at the mid-day and evening meals, in varying strengths.
Preferably served hot, posca was made with equal parts vinegar, wine,
and water. Better-off Romans would sweeten it with honey, but old
school Roman nobility eschewed such 'soft' habits. The legions drank
it unsweetened, and little else, when on campaign. Straight wine was
reserved for meals in camp.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A
word on shaving and facial hair in Roman times, since both of my main
characters have thick facial hair. Beards were acceptable in Roman
society but normally reserved for older men. Body hair was generally
looked down on as an indication of less refined breeding. Upper
class Romans (men and women) shaved their bodies, men shaving their
beards as well. Julius Caesar is famous for having all his body hair
as well as his head hair plucked out, most likely by full body
waxing. Older upper class men might let their beards grow back in,
but it was a matter of personal choice. Fashion played a part in
this, as did hygiene, and fashion ran in cycles. Emperors typically
set the fashion for men. Augustus, for example, shaved daily, so
beards went out of fashion until Vespasian brought them back by his
shunning of the blade. If worn, beards were kept trimmed by using
scissors, usually made of bronze.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lower
class Romans, as well as Roman slaves, were much more likely to let
nature take it's course where hair was concerned. However, male
house slaves in upper class households might be required to shave.
Rufus' skin, like many men with red hair and fair, thin skin, did not
react well to shaving. Antonia, being fond of the boy, saw his
suffering and allowed him to keep his full beard as long as he kept
it cropped short, an unusual accommodation for an upper class
household. Maximus, as an outdoor slave, had only shaved a few times
in his life. Rufus, once he and Maximus are on their own after
manumission, let his beard fully grow out, so that both men sported
full, thick beards for the rest of their lives. A shaving blade
would have made cutting Ferox's stitches much easier, but of course,
neither Rufus nor Maximus had need of such an implement.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shaving
blades were made of iron or bronze, and could be quite sharp. Usually
the handle was an unsharpened part of the blade, sometimes with
finger holes, although there are examples from both Rome and Pompeii
of blades with ivory handles. An extremely well-preserved personal
grooming kit found in London (Roman Londinium) has several shaving
blades, a tooth pick, a small pair of scissors, a strigil (used to
scrape oil and dirt off the body), and a very small spoon-like tool,
most likely for removing ear wax.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">UrsusMajr,
February, 2024</span></b></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">These
scenes were written by a real person, not a computer. Please respect
the time and effort that went into creating them. If you post these
elsewhere, include the author's name and notes. The author can be
contacted at ursusmajr@gmail.com </span></p>UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-30904657726957743392024-02-04T18:27:00.000-08:002024-02-04T18:27:11.614-08:00Final versions of 79AD and After Vesuvius<p>The two posts below are the final revisions of Rufus' and Maximus' adventures. These correct some very minor formatting errors, a few discontinuities in the timeline of the stories, and some punctuation errors. A few changes in wording were made to make it clear who is talking at any given time. Also, the glossary of Latin terms was updated.</p><p>Enjoy!</p>UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-13854544290753377042024-02-04T18:21:00.000-08:002024-02-07T14:23:49.747-08:00After Vesuvius<p> </p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>After
Vesuvius</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>UrsusMajr</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>1 April ,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Maximus?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The big man turned at the sound of a
familiar voice. “Domi... Lucius Hirtuleius!” A grin split the
big man's bearded face as the two embraced, then stood back to look
at each other.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Quid agis, Maximus? You look well.
It seems like you've been eating regularly... it suits you.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Too well! I'm getting fat. To tell
you the truth, we've found out that neither of us can cook. We eat
all our meals at the tavern. I don't think the cook knows what a
vegetable is. You look well... Lucius.” Maximus still had to
remind himself to use his former owner's name instead of 'Dominus',
even after three years.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius patted his tummy. “Yes,
between Antonia insisting that I eat three full meals, and Sabina
cooking way too much food for each of those, I am gaining back some
of what I lost... after...” His voice trailed off. “Well, you
know. Now, come, tell me, is Rufus with you?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">To the casual observer, the two men
looked like old friends who had met by chance, asking after each
other's families, instead of what they actually were: former owner
and manumitted slave, one talking about his wife, and the other
mentioning his lover, not his son or brother.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, he's just up the street at the
iron mongers shop, says he 'must get something to make amends'. I've
no idea what he's up to. We were going to stop in briefly at the
farm to say hello and beg a favor.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, you know you don't have to beg,
Maximus. What can we do?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think I'll let Rufus explain, he's
coming up behind you now.” Maximus pointed his beard over Lucius'
shoulder. Lucius turned and greeted the red-headed man trotting
towards him. “Salve, Rufus! Well met!” The two clasped
forearms, then embraced.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Where did you find him, Maximus?”
Rufus asked, releasing Lucius from the brief hug.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, he found me, just a moment ago.
He says he's eating better, and I told him I was getting fat. Did
you find what you needed?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, yes, it will be ready in an
hour. But our visit won't be a surprise now.” Rufus sounded
disappointed, for he did love surprises.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, Antonia will be surprised, I
promise you, and she likes surprises as much as you do. But listen,
I've finished with my business here and was going to have a bath
before returning home. Why don't you both join me? I gather you
have an hour to kill, no? Then we can pick up what you have purchased
and return to the farm together.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I didn't know Nuceria had a public
bath?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It didn't until early this year.
This place is growing. There's even talk of the army improving the
road south from Rome to bypass... well, to make it easier to
travel...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“...now that the main road to the
coast no longer exists,” Rufus finished Lucius' sentence for him.
A great many Campanian Romans had fallen into the habit of not
referring directly to the catastrophe of late 79 AD that so altered
their lives and their landscape. Few had survived, and those that
did were often the only ones of their family left. Virtually
everyone in the surrounding region of Campania had relatives, knew
people, or had business contacts with victims of the massive
eruption; people who had been buried under layers of ash and mud,
cooked alive and incinerated if they hadn't been killed first by lava
bombs or falling walls and roofs. Even after nearly three years, the
horror was still fresh.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes. Well, what do you say to a
bath? It's not grand like the ones in Rome and elsewhere, but it's
new and clean and quite comfortable, if on the small side.” Lucius
looked expectantly at the two men.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus nodded his assent, but Maximus
seemed hesitant. “Well, I'm not sure...” Correctly divining the
reason behind Maximus' reluctance, Lucius put his hand on Maximus'
shoulder. “Maximus, no one will mind. This is the country, not
Rome, we're used to a more rural sort of citizen. This is a market
town, it's not just city folk who use the baths. We see all sorts,
smooth, rough, and in between. It will be fine.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“All right, then. A good soak sounds
wonderful,” Maximus said, somewhat reassured.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As they walked to the new baths, Lucius
leaned over to Rufus and said in a low voice, so as not to be
overheard by any passers-by, “I've seen him, you know, when you
were washing each other off after we all made it to the farm. It
must be like sleeping with some kind of bear.” He winked at Rufus,
who turned his usual fiery red. “The bear is right here, you
know,” Maximus growled, but secretly pleased that their former
dominus was comfortable enough with what he and Rufus were to each
other that he could make a teasing comment about it.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After paying their fee and collecting
towels, they proceeded to the changing room off of the caldarium. As
they stooped to untie their caligas, Rufus whispered to Maximus,
“Relax, my Beast. I'll drown anyone who makes rude comments.”
Maximus snorted. “More likely they'd comment about you. You look
like you're covered with spun gold and copper.” It was true that
Rufus was blessed with a fine pelt of fur, covering chest and belly,
arms and legs; but he lacked the shoulder, back, and butt fur that
Maximus sported. Where Rufus' crotch shrubbery narrowed a bit before
spreading over his belly, Maximus was evenly covered from toes to
head, over his shoulders, and down his backside with thick black
hair.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The three stepped into the steamy
caldarium and eased themselves into the hot water. All three
'aaah'-ed together. Sitting on the tiled step that ran all the way
around the pool, Maximus' fur floated all around him, moving this way
and that as the water in the steaming pool rippled with each person's
movement. Stretching out his legs, Lucius sighed and said, “I have
missed this.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“This is very nice,” Rufus said.
“I could get used to this,” Maximus added.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You can, you know,” Lucius said,
eyes closed in relaxation. “There is no restriction on your using
public baths now. One of the blessings of Roman citizenship.” He
opened his eyes and said to Rufus, “Now, what's this about a
favor? Maximus, here, said he'd let you fill in the details.” But
just as he was about to start, a pair of bathers walked in and
started lowering themselves into the pool.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Avete, gentlemen,” the taller of
the two said. “A beautiful day, is it not?” They all nodded,
and the conversation veered to introductions, small talk about the
weather, the blessed lack of earthquakes, the new baths and proposed
road; and then the tragic death of the Emperor Titus from a fever,
and speculation on what kind of ruler his brother Domitian was likely
to be.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Such a shame, to die so early. I
mean, look at what he accomplished in just those two years: put down
that rebellion in Judea, finished the Colosseum, and let's not forget
his great generosity to the people here after the catastrophe, and in
Rome, after that awful fire. What more might he have done had he
lived?” The shorter one shook his head sadly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, to be fair, he put down that
rebellion a few years before he became Emperor. But I agree, he was
a good man and an able ruler. Of course, he had an excellent example
in his father,” Lucius said.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes,” the taller one said,
“Vespasian was an exceptional leader. And I say that not just
because he contrasted so well with the three other cretins that sat
on the throne that year.” The shorter one chimed in, “Yes, this
Flavian dynasty bodes well for Rome. Thank the gods there are no
more Julians pretending.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You might want to watch your tongue,
Petro,” the taller one said softly to his companion. “You never
know who's listening.” The small talk continued for a while longer
before Lucius made to get up.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You know, I believe it is time we
dipped ourselves in the tepidarium, and then a quick plunge in the
cold pool. We need to stop and pick up whatever Rufus here has
bought at the iron mongers and then hustle home. Antonia will be
expecting me, and won't she be surprised at what I bring home!”
Lucius chuckled in anticipation.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The three men raised themselves out of
the hot pool, water streaming from their naked bodies and making
climped strands of Maximus' and Rufus' fur. They said their goodbyes
and padded down the hall to the temperate pool. Petro turned to his
friend and raised his eyebrows, nodding towards Maximus' backside.
“Hard to tell if he's coming or going,” he muttered, getting a
snort of agreement from the other. “If he had a short tail, you
<i>really</i> couldn't tell!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After picking up Rufus' parcel at the
iron mongers and one other small package, the trio headed out of town
in Lucius' cart. “And before you ask, none of the slaves are sick.
I just like to drive every once in a while. And my back doesn't seem
to appreciate the gait of a horse so much these days.” Maximus
noticed that Lucius was sitting on what looked like a plump pillow.
“Age does none of us any favors, it seems.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There was not much talk on the ride
back, all three of the men enjoying the pleasant spring weather, for
it was indeed a beautiful day; but Lucius did comment, “You know,
it was just such a spring day that Antonia and I came here in this
very wagon. She was checking up on the progress of putting the house
in order, and I was checking up on you, Maximus. And I do believe
that is when you two first met, is it not?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, it was, and I made a comment on
your name,” Rufus said, nudging Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, and I paid you back with a
comment on that fiery head of yours!" Maximus chuckled and
nudged back. It was nice to be able to relax and not be on guard
when talking about their shared pasts.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I am truly glad it all worked out
well for you both. Now, when will you tell me what this favor you
wish is?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus and Maximus looked at each other.
Maximus nodded to Rufus, indicating that he should start. “Well,
we've taken some time to decide on what we wanted to do with our
lives, as you suggested. We are pretty well settled on what we plan
on doing with ourselves, but there are some details we are uncertain
about and could use your business wisdom.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And we are going to take the advice
you gave us when we traveled to Neopolis for the manumission,”
Maximus added.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, so you are going into business
together,” Lucius said with a smile.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, sort of; I mean, not exactly.”
Rufus turned to Maximus. “You tell him this part.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We thought about a farm, but nothing
large enough to make economic sense could be managed by the two of us
alone.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Alone? But surely you would
have...” Maximus cut Lucius off.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No. No slaves. Neither of us could
do that. No.” Both Lucius and Maximus looked vaguely offended.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus stepped in. “What Maximus is
trying to say is that we have no complaints in any way about how you
and the lady Antonia treated either of us when we were your slaves.
You always treat your slaves well. It's just that, well, it's... we
value the freedom you granted us, and... and...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think I understand. And some
manumitted slaves go on to eventually own slaves themselves, for
economic reasons if nothing else. But, you know, most masters do
treat their slaves decently, and I am sure you both would. Oh, I
know there those who are cruel and vindictive. But it doesn't make
sense to mistreat your property. A resentful slave or a fearful one
will not work as well. A slave is an investment. And I remember
what I overheard a recently manumitted slave say in the marketplace
one day, 'You can't eat freedom.' He's right, you know.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Perfectly true, Lucius. But freedom
makes us fully human. Property isn't 'human', not fully. And no
matter how well-fed a slave is, he's still a slave. I mean no
disrespect, and we are both fully aware that our situation is
different from most freed slaves, we have the cushion of funds that
you so very generously bestowed on us. We will be forever grateful
for that. Always.” Maximus waited for Lucius' reply.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius harrumphed and scratched his
nose. “Do not worry, gentlemen. I am not really offended. What you
say has merit. You should know that there is a faction in Rome, and
elsewhere too, I believe, that takes the view that people should
never be regarded as property. I understand there is even a cult
that started in Judea and has spread to several cities in the Empire
that promotes that idea, among some other frankly far more bizarre
ideas... raising the dead, and even cannibalism, if you can believe
it. Well, it's a cult. There are always cults. Besides, slavery
has been the norm throughout all our history, even in the early days
of the Republic. With other cultures, too. Perhaps one day that may
change, but I don't see it coming soon.” Lucius pointed ahead.
“Look, we are nearly there. Perhaps you two might get out here and
stay out of sight until I announce you to Antonia? Surprise her?
Yes?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, we should!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius pulled the wagon up in front of
the large farm house. Maximus and Rufus had already alighted, Rufus
carrying his two parcels, and he and Maximus were standing out of
sight of the front door where Antonia was standing. Two slaves led
the wagon away and unloaded the goods Lucius had picked up earlier in
the day.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Husband, you are come home. Was the
trip a good one? How is your back?” Antonia stepped forward and
Lucius kissed his wife on both cheeks. “Yes dear, very good. My
back is fine, and a good soak at the baths helped, too. And it was a
lovely ride in the Spring weather. But look, I have a surprise for
you. See what I found in the town!” At this, Rufus and Maximus
stepped forward so Antonia could see them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Antonia's hands flew to her face. “Oh,
Vesta be praised! What a surprise! I was just thinking of you
yesterday and wondering how you both were doing!” Although she had
regained her usual cheerful demeanor, and retained her slim figure,
she had far more gray hair and more lines in her face than before the
eruption and the frantic flight from the doomed city they had once
lived happily in. That experience had left it's indelible marks on
her, as it had on so many. Rufus and Maximus both bowed their heads
politely. “Lady, it is good to see you looking so well,” Rufus
said.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And you, Rufus. Your beard...
it's... it suits you! Now, come in and sit with us. You will stay
for your evening meal. No, I won't hear of it.. you <i>will </i>stay.”
Antonia turned and called out inside. “Anna, please tell Sabina
that there will be two more for dinner.” Turning back to the two
men, she insisted, “And you will stay the night. And you must tell
us everything that is going on with you both. Shall I have Anna or
one of the others take those for you?” sh.e said, eyeing Rufus' two
parcels.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Lady, I thank you, but I really need
to see Anna and Sabina myself, if it pleases you. I have something
for them.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Of course, Let us go in, and you can
see them now if you like, Rufus.” She turned to Lucius with
genuine pleasure. “Thank you for bringing them along, it is good
to see them again, it seems ages.” She had always had a soft spot
in her heart for Rufus; but since their escape, due entirely to the
efforts of the two men working together as one, she now looked on
both as deserving of her special regard, nearly equal to the other
members of her family.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus walked ahead and went though the
rooms and hall to the kitchen. His feet moved of their own accord...
this was familiar territory to him. Entering the kitchen, he found
Sabina standing in front of the oven, her back to him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Still standing in the atrium, Antonia
nodded at the doorway Rufus had just walked through. “Do you know
what that is about, Maximus?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Lady, I confess I know nothing of
it. He's been rather secretive about it all.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well then, you should follow him and
see what he has in those packages, don't you think?” Antonia said
with a smile.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Lady,” Maximus nodded politely and
quickly followed his mate to the kitchen.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Antonia turned to Lucius. “I'd not
say this to his face, but for one who had never been a house slave,
he is well-spoken and has very good manners.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius smiled. “He does. People
look at him and think, 'brute'; but Rufus has filed off some of the
rougher edges, and he always had a very sharp mind and steady
character. He will do well in business, or anything he puts his hand
to, I think.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus cleared his throat and Sabina
turned and nearly dropped the dish she was holding. “Oh! My!
Rufus.. I mean, Rufus Hirtuleius! Of all people....”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ave, Sabina; and 'Rufus' is still
appropriate.” He smiled at the cook, who rather hesitantly smiled
back.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Sabina, I trust you are well. It is
good to see you again.” He paused for a long moment, not knowing
exactly what to say next, then forged ahead in a rush. “I have
wanted to make amends for the very harsh way I spoke to you when we
fled the house in Pompeii. You were very good at avoiding me in the
weeks after so I didn't have the chance to do that. And I know that
you probably never forgave me for making you abandon your cooking
pans. So I have brought you this.” Rufus handed Sabina the larger
of the two parcels. “Open it, please. It's for you.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sabina unwrapped the coarse cloth and
revealed a large, heavy, well-made iron pan with a long graceful
handle. “Oh. OH!” A huge smile lit Sabina's face “Gratius
tibi ago!” She reached out and touched Rufus' hand, something she
never would have done in earlier days. “Sum valde gratus!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You were always an excellent cook,
and an excellent cook deserves the best equipment.” Rufus smiled
at Sabina's obvious delight. Maximus stood quietly in the doorway,
watching with pleasure his lover's success at winning over the cook
after such a long time. Just at that moment Anna called out as she
entered the kitchen from an adjoining room. “Sabina, domina says
to tell you that there will be tw...” She stopped cold, staring at
the smiling Rufus, and at Maximus, standing in the other doorway.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Quid es hoc?” She blinked, as if
unable to believe her eyes. “You've returned?!” Anna started to
back up, plainly still uncomfortable around Rufus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wait, Anna, please don't go.”
Rufus spoke rapidly before Anna had a chance to escape. “I know I
have apologized before, and tried to explain my rough treatment back
in Pompeii. We were all more than a bit crazy that day, and I know
you've not really trusted me since. I'd like you to accept this as a
sort of peace offering. I am sorry, truly.” He handed the smaller
package to Anna, who stood still, staring at it.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, go on, girl, open it!”
Sabina said to Anna, who had not made a move toward opening the
package.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Anna reached out and slowly began to
unwrap it. Inside was a small neat box, and inside the box was a
soft, silken scarf, dyed a deep blue, edged with gold thread. She
pulled it out and held it up. “For me?” she asked in a quiet
voice.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, Anna, for you. Please accept
my apology now for the slap and the harsh words.” Rufus had noted
over the years that Anna was rather taken with soft fabrics and
jewelry. A gift of a pin or broach would have been too intimate and
not appropriate at all, so Rufus had settled on the scarf he'd seen
in the tradesman's shop earlier in the day.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Say something, girl!” a slightly
exasperated Sabina said. “If you don't want it, I'll take it!”
Anna immediately clutched the scarf to her and moved back from
Sabina's reach. “No!” She put the scarf to her face and smiled
at the soft touch. She turned to Rufus. “Thank you, Rufus
Hirtuleius. It's... it's beautiful.” She touched the scarf to her
face again and smiled. “Gratius tibi ago.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus leaned forward and whispered in
Rufus' ear. “Success, I think. Well done.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus stood, rooted to the spot, not
quite knowing what to do next. He looked at Maximus with a 'get me
out of this' look. Maximus spoke up. “Rufus, Lucius Hirtuleius
wishes to speak with us, I think we should attend to that.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He turned to the two women. “Valete.”
He gave a friendly nod and tugged Rufus towards the door.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> *
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later, after the evening meal was
concluded and the four of them were enjoying more wine, Lucius patted
his belly and said, “I do believe Sabina has outdone herself this
evening. I wonder if it's our special company that has spurred her
to her best efforts?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, my husband, you know Sabina
always does her best for guests.” Antonia patted her mouth with a
napkin and then settled to sharing news of the family. “We are
grandparents now, twice over, since we last saw each other. Lucius
Tertius and his wife Claudia have given us a beautiful grandson, and
our Cornelia has just birthed a lovely granddaughter! Both families
are to visit us here later this summer. And Marcus and Livia are
expecting, too!” Antonia was obviously pleased at the prospect of
having grandchildren to spoil. More talk about various personal and
local events followed for a pleasant quarter hour.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, really... we've been
sidetracked too often. You asked for advice but we never got the the
details. Tell me now.” Lucius drained his cup and refilled it
from the wine jug on the low table in front of the dinner couches.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wait, husband. It's late and I am
tired; and you obviously have more business to discuss this night. I
will retire, if you don't mind.” She rose from the couch and
kissed her husband, then turned to Rufus and Maximus. “This has
been a very pleasant evening. We shall see each other before you
leave in the morning. Rufus knows the way to your rooms. Bonum
nocte, and may Somnus send you both good sleep.” She smiled and
nodded to then both in turn and left the triclinum to the men.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That was very graceful of her,”
Rufus said. Both Maximus and Lucius nodded agreement. Rufus looked
directly at Lucius and said, “You have been very lucky in your
choice of a wife.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius sighed and nodded again. “I
truly have.” Settling himself more comfortably on his couch,
Lucius continued. “Now, finally, tell me your plans,” Lucius
said as he refilled each of their wine cups.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus went first. “As we said, we
have decided to take your advice. We will miss you and this area,
we've spent a good part of our lives here. But there is sadness
here, too. And your advice about going someplace rural, for privacy
and where no one knows us and we can start fresh... well, that is
what we've decided.” Rufus nudged Maximus. “Now, go on, tell
him the rest.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You know I like horses, I understand
them and they seem to like me. I much preferred working with them
than other farm work. I would like to raise and breed them, as a
business. And Rufus has his own plan in mind.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus took another sip of wine. “I
am literate, and I have a good hand, my script is quite readable.
And I am very good with numbers, as you know. I would keep the
accounts for Maximus, and take in some work from any local merchants
who needed a scribe or accountant. Not every merchant has the time
to do that, and even some of the best are not literate themselves.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That sounds well thought out. What
will you do for living arrangements?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We are looking at a piece of land
with good pasture and a small house, with room enough to build a
decent stable. Close to a town but far enough away so that...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“So that you can make all the noise
you want!” Lucius said, grinning. Then, more quietly, “Trust me,
I know all about stifling your voice when all you want to do is shout
in triumph.” He swallowed more wine. “But seriously, I think it
wise to move away, much as I would miss seeing you; it would have
been nice for my grandchildren to have two additional uncles to dote
on them! And, you have found such a place, you say?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We think so, in a small town to the
north of here, not far from Clusium. It's called Rocca.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah... I don't know it. I was in
Clusium once, I think. River town, no?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, on the Tiber.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How did you find this place? It's
plainly not local.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Here's the lucky part, for us at
least. The half-brother of the tavern owner and his wife died within
a half year of each other, over a year ago now. They had no children
and the property fell to our inn-keeper. Since we've been staying
there for some time now, he's become friendly, after a fashion. He
has no desire to farm at all, and no interest in moving north. The
place was neglected, but when he heard we were looking for property,
he mentioned it to us, at what sounds like a good price. I'm sure he
thought to unload the property on two unsuspecting investors. Long
story short, we expressed interest and made a tentative offer, and he
agreed to not accept other offers for a short period. He had papers
drawn up, we have them with us. Would you look them over, Lucius?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius' face betrayed the deep
misgivings that had grown in his mind over the last couple of
minutes. “I would seriously advise, no, insist, that you
personally inspect the property first before doing any....”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Slow smiles spread across both Rufus
and Maximus' faces. “Oh, we've seen the place. We saw it before
we considered making an offer.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Tell him, Rufus,” Maximus
chuckled.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We told him that we were both
heading to Rome to finish tying up the last details of our lost
property and businesses from the recent catastrophe. We grumbled a
lot about how long and drawn out these things had become. Instead,
we took a boat up the Tiber to Clusium. Rocca is only an hour's ride
from there. We found the property, looked it over, and discovered
why the tavern owner was willing to accept a lower price than other
land in the area”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“So... what's wrong with it?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“From <i>our</i> standpoint, almost
nothing. There is a large, lush pasture, plenty of rainfall, a house
in fairly decent shape, a small spring <i>and </i>a good well. But
from a farmer's standpoint, it's not a good choice. At least half
the land lies on a rather rocky slope. You might raise grapes there,
but there are too many rocks for much else, and I'm no vintner... and
we saw no other vineyards in the area in any case.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus drained his wine cup. “So,
when we got back to the tavern, we knew exactly what we were dealing
with. He'd said nothing about how half the land was basically
useless for farming and that the house needed many new tiles on the
roof. And that's why we want you to look over the contract. I don't
fully trust him. It might be that he just wants to get rid of land
he'll never use, but he does seem a bit too eager, and maybe less
than truthful.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, leave it with me and I will go
over it in the morning, when I am fresh.” Lucius stretched and
yawned. “I am for bed now. There's more wine if you wish.” He
stood and looked fondly on his two former slaves. “You have new
lives ahead of you, and you've made a good start. I am truly pleased
for you both. Bonum nocte.” He took his leave, and Rufus and
Maximus, both tired themselves, followed soon after.</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The farm house was quiet now that
everyone had retired. The house was, in fact, rather large, though
not as large as the house in Pompeii had been; and contained a wing
of three guest bedrooms that Antonia had furnished for her and
Lucius' children and their families when they visited. Antonia had
thoughtfully placed Maximus in one and Rufus in the adjoining one
that had a doorway to the first, allowing them to sleep together and
still maintain the fiction of their 'good friends and business
partners' relationship for the rest of the household. Rufus
sometimes wondered if either Anna or Sabina had tumbled to their
secret. They had always been careful and discrete, but neither of
the women were blind or stupid.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wolfpup...” Maximus whispered as
he poked Rufus in the side. Rousing sleepily, Rufus mumbled, “What?
What is it?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Does it bother you that I'm so
hairy?” Rufus struggled to full wakefulness and raised himself up
on an elbow.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, Beast, what brought this on?
Was it Lucius' remark about sleeping with a bear?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I guess... yes, that. And the looks
those two men cast towards me today at the baths. Don't say
anything, Wolfpup, I saw them, I know it.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus gently took hold of Maximus'
bushy black beard, turning his head. “Beast, look at me. I love
you, above anything. I would love you as much if you were smooth as
a baby, but I love your fur. I love sleeping with a bear!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The divine Julius had all his
plucked out, every hair.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Don't even think it, Beast. Just...
don't. It would be a crime against nature and the gods. I would miss
it terribly.” Rufus smiled. “Besides, with you, it would take
days; and by the time it was done, half would have grown back!”
Rufus leaned forward and lightly kissed a nipple, just peaking out of
the thicket of black hair. Maximus gathered Rufus up and held him
tightly to his chest. “Gods, I love you so!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus tapped his Beast urgently on his
side. “I can't breathe!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, sorry, love. It's just,
sometimes I...” Maximus stopped and swallowed. “I'd be lost
without you, you know.” Rufus nodded mutely. They spent a good
deal of time caressing each other's beards and bellies and chests,
and kissing fondly in the dark. The familiar comforting smell of
his lover, the feel of his warm hairy bulk against his own chest and
belly and crotch had it's usual effect on Rufus of producing a raging
erection.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus felt the stirring and reached
down to cradle his Wolfpup's hefty balls. “Oooo, someone's ready!
Do you think we can?” Maximus whispered quietly in Rufus' ear
while shifting his bulk to allow room for his Wolfpup's hard meat.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, but we need to be very quiet,
no growling, no screaming in ecstasy, no....” This earned Rufus
what he had come to call 'The Look' from Maximus, a sort of 'I'm not
an idiot, you know, I can behave when I need to, I'm house-trained
and everything' message, delivered wordlessly. Rufus grinned.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Fuck my belly, Wolfpup!” Maximus
whispered urgently in Rufus' ear. Rufus happily complied, rolling on
top of Maximus and beginning to plow his lover's thick pelt with his
cock, creating a wet furrow of precum. The slick drool eased the
passage of Rufus' fuckpole, but still allowed enough scratchiness of
the Beast's belly fur to provide stimulus and help Rufus drive
towards his climax. Their relative differences in height meant that
Rufus could be prodding his Beast's navel while at the same time
lapping at and sucking on a Beast nipple.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The happy work continued, with Rufus
backing off twice to avoid cumming too soon; but finally, Maximus
gripped Rufus' butt and pulled him tight against his own belly.
Rufus moaned quietly, then grunted softly as he shot, pumping pulse
after pulse of hot seed, filling the Beast's navel and cementing
their copious belly fur together. “Oh! My love! My life!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Shhhh.... shhhhh. I'm here. Rest
on me.” Rufus had been unaware that he was arching his back and
supporting himself with his arms as he came, and now relaxed so he
was fully plastered against Maximus. Both sighed together.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After a short rest, Rufus whispered,
“Feed me, Beast,” and Maximus mutely nodded. Dismounting to one
side, Rufus lifted himself off of Maximus' sticky belly, fortunately
before the cum had dried, and moved back, bumping into his Beast's
rigid meat. He turned his head slightly and gazed lovingly at the
upright flesh he desired so much. He opened his mouth wide and
engulfed it completely, his copper beard meshing with Maximus' coal
black bush. Maximus gasped at the sudden moist heat and then reached
forward with both hands to caress Rufus' head and pull him down
firmly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus ran his tongue all around the
shrouded tip, then used his lips to tug the foreskin down to
completely reveal the sensitive tip. Maximus shivered as his cock
reacted to the increased heat and sensation. Rufus continued to run
his tongue all over and around the thick shaft, down to the base and
then back up to the tip. He used his hands to support himself,
working solely with his mouth. Maximus moaned and whispered
urgently, “Wolfpup, I won't las... I can't....” and then gave up
and let loose, pumping Rufus' mouth and throat full of his seed.
Rufus, used to the flood his lover produced, swallowed rapidly,
losing not a drop. He milked the last of the fluid from his Beast's
slowly shrinking cock with his tongue and lips. When he was sure he
had it all, he released Maximus' meat and rolled to his side, cuddled
in close to his Beast's body. “Thank you, love. You fed me well.”
Maximus pulled him in close, and they fell asleep, both of them
content and drained.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The following morning, Rufus woke early
and carefully got out of bed so as not to disturb the still-sleeping
Maximus, or anyone else in the household. He scratched the thicket
of fur on his belly and pulled on his tunic. He pushed aside the
large curtain that covered the door to the adjoining room and ducked
through, replacing the curtain. He yawned and stretched, and then
roughed up the bed and moved the small oil lamp and dish and beaker,
to make the room look 'used'. 'No sense in giving the house slaves
more to gossip about,' he thought to himself as he exited the room.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Just at that moment, one of those
slaves was coming up the hall with two towels and a steaming jug of
water. Rufus silently blessed his foresight in exiting from the room
assigned to him instead of the one he had spent the night in; the
slave certainly had seen him. “Sir, I was just bringing water,
would you like to refresh yourself before the morning meal?” The
slave politely ducked his head.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, I would, I thank you. Come.”
Rufus turned and went back into 'his' room, followed by the slave
who laid a towel on the back of the lone chair in the room, and
poured the water into the basin that stood on a small table by the
window. “I do not recognize you, are you new here?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, sir. The lady Antonia bought
me a few months ago to help Anna.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And how are you called?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Decimus, sir.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, Decimus, I'm sure Anna or
Sabina will have told you that I and my business partner, Maximus,
were once their slaves, and that we were manumitted not long after
the recent catastrophe. So you may call us by our given names. I am
Rufus.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Decimus nodded. “Thank you, Rufus.
Will there be anything else you need?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, thank you. But you might wait a
bit for Maximus' wash-up. He sounds like he is sleeping late.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Thank you, Rufus. I will come back
later.” Decimus ducked his head again, and left the room.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus made quick work of his wash,
splashing his face, and drying his hair and patting his short thick
beard dry. Finished, he laid the towel next to the basin and headed
toward the kitchen. On his way, he noticed Lucius at his desk
through the open door to his study. He looked up and motioned Rufus
in.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You're up early, Rufus.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And you, Lucius.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, I seem to need less sleep
these days. Old age, I guess.” He motioned at one of the chairs
along the wall. “Bring that over here.” Rufus had never seen
Lucius blush in all the years that had lived in their household, but
he looked truly embarrassed now. “Oh, I am sorry. Old habits must
die harder than I thought.” He paused. “Will you sit, Rufus
Hirtuleius?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, I am not offended... dominus.”
Rufus grinned, and Lucius smiled too at the implied humor in the use
of the now inaccurate form of address. He pulled the chair towards
the desk. “What do you think of the document?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, I've read it through twice.
It's a bit crude, but I see no legal errors. The wording is correct,
a bit archaic. I do have a couple of points, though.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes. Shall we wait for Maximus?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“He was sleeping soundly and snoring
a while ago,” Rufus said softly. “I can fill him in later, if it
pleases,” in a louder tone, in case there were any slaves nearby.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Certainly. First of all, the owner
stipulates payment within ten days of signing. Insist on thirty,
that gives you time you may need to revisit the property. I'll
explain. The description of the property is very cursory. You two
should put your heads together and write up a more complete
description. Go back again if you need to, get measurements and such.
You were always honest, Rufus, so I don't need to tell you, but be
complete. Don't exaggerate, but don't honey-coat things either.
Make sure boundaries are clearly noted, and don't forget the
condition of the house. This will establish a basis for my second
point.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Which is?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The price seems mostly fair, given
what you've told me, perhaps a bit high. The house sounds like it
will take some work, though. Offer five hundred sestertius less.”
Rufus' sandy eyebrows shot up. “Yes, I know, it's a steep
reduction. But it gives you room to bargain, He comes down some,
you come up some, back and forth, and eventually you agree. Done
right, both sides feel they have won. Here, I've written up a clean
copy of the agreement with the changes I think you should include.
You can add your description of the property and make a copy to
present to the landlord. Oh, and Rufus...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Yes, Lucius?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Let Maximus do the bargaining.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh... why, Lucius?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius gave a slightly evil smile.
“I've seen him bidding on horse stock!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Just at this moment, Maximus came into
the room, his hair still a bit wet from his wash up. “Salvete! I
hope everyone slept well.” Lucius chuckled and winked. “I
imagine so.” Both Maximus and Rufus smiled and ducked their heads
a bit.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Anna appeared at the doorway. “Sabina
has breakfast ready early, dominus. Would you and your guests like
it in here?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, Anna, let's have it out in the
garden, I want to show them what we've been doing there.” They
adjourned to the garden and Decimus and Anna brought the food to them
and then withdrew. The cool early morning mist had not yet cleared
off completely. Lucius pointed out the new plantings. “And I want
to have a covered walkway around those two sides of the garden, and
an arbor, just there. There's too little shade here now in the
summer months. I think we will live out our days here, and we might
as well be comfortable.” The three sat and ate their light meal
and were joined by Antonia as they were finishing.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, everyone is up early it seems;
and I thought I might beat you both,” she said, nodding toward
Rufus and Maximus. “What are your plans for today... are you
leaving soon?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Antonia! They will think we want to
be rid of them!” Antonia looked a bit abashed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus interrupted. “Oh, no...
please, Lady, we don't think that at all, you have made us feel very
welcome, and we have fond memories of Sabina's excellent meal from
last night. Please thank her again for us. But we do need to be
making a start fairly soon.” Turning to Lucius, he asked, “Does
your offer of the cart and Decimus to ride with us still stand?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Of course. I'll have him bring the
cart around now so it will be ready. Antonia needs him to pick up a
few things in town anyway.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They finished the last of their meal,
and gathered their few things and then stood together on the porch at
the front of the farmhouse. Antonia took Rufus' hand, then Maximus'.
“Good luck to you both, and do please write to us and tell us how
things progress. And you must visit us once you are settled.”
Lucius embraced them both, and there was a slightly awkward silence
as all four cast their minds back to those several days that had
changed their lives so utterly, and the fact that it might be years
before they saw each other again. Lucius again embraced the two men.
“Valete, and may the gods always watch kindly over you both.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Decimus was in the cart, waiting.
Maximus got in to his left and Rufus to his right. Sabina ran out of
the house, carrying a square parcel, wrapped in cloth. “Here,
something for you to eat on your way.” She handed the parcel up to
Rufus and then backed off shyly. “Thank you for the lovely pan,
Rufus... and Anna loves the scarf, even if she is too much of a goose
to come out and tell you herself.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Decimus touched the whip to the horses
flanks and they moved off. Both freedmen looked back and saw Lucius
with his arm around Antonia's waist. Both waved for a good while,
and then re-entered the house.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Decimus turned to each of his
passengers. “Sabina has told me of how the two of you saved the
household, and others as well. Your manumission seems truly
deserved. If it please you, can you tell me if what everyone says is
true, that there is nothing left of Pompeii? Nothing at all?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus turned to Decimus. “You are
not from here, then?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, my former master lived in a
small villa outside of Rome.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How did you come to be here, then?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“My former master lost greatly in bad
investments, and sold most of his slaves as well as the villa. I was
sold to a slave broker, who sold me to another broker. Somehow, I
ended up with a trader in Nuceria, where Lady Antonia bought me. So,
we heard rumors and stories of the destruction, but just that...
stories, and people tend to exaggerate. Anna cautioned me against
asking either the domina or dominus about the eruption, and neither
Anna or Sabina will talk very much about it.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus spoke up. “I can tell you
there is nothing left. The mountain is nearly gone, blasted into
nothingness. The entire city, and the lands and villages around it
for miles, are covered with lava that has hardened to rock. Almost
nothing grows there, and all you see above ground are the tops of a
few broken columns, sticking up like rotted teeth.” He took a deep
breath. “We saw it happen. It was like a great rolling wave of
ash and mud and heat and death. I have never seen anything move as
fast as that wave. No one has, ever. Nothing could escape it. It
nearly reached us, even as far away as we had managed. I still have
nightmares about it.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“So do I,” Rufus said. “It was
like Hades had been brought above ground, and then snuffed out in an
instant.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Would you ever go back? To see, I
mean...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Gods, NO! I hope never to see it
again.” The trio rode on towards Nuceria in silence.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They arrived in the crossroads on the
outskirts of Nuceria at mid-morning. “You can let us off here,
it's not a long walk for us, and it's a nice day. Thank your for the
ride, Decimus.” Maximus climbed down from the cart. Rufus
followed on the other side and added, “I know you will have a good
life with Lucius and Antonia. They are good people, and you will be
well treated.” They both stepped back.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Fare well, gentlemen, may the gods
go with you.” Decimus touched the whipstock to the horses flanks
and they moved off.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus and Maximus headed up the road
that lead to the village where they were staying, about a two hour
walk away. The day was sunny and bright, with a light breeze. While
they walked, they discussed what they had seen at the property in
Rocca. “Once we get back, I'll write all this down, then we can go
over it together again before I make a clean copy. I'll need more
parchment, though.” Rufus checked his purse for funds. “Beast,
how are we with the landlord?” “We are good to the Kalends, no
worries.” “Excellent. We should have enough time to get to Rome
and back, assuming he accepts the revised terms. I still think five
hundred is a steep discount...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think I can manage to get most of
that. We'll have a nice chat over his best wine,” Maximus said.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Lucius said I should let you do the
talking.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, he said you drive a hard
bargain.” Maximus chuckled. “Yes, I do.” He put an arm
around Rufus' shoulders and hugged. “We're really going to do
this, aren't we.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Gods willing, yes. Yes, we are!.
Are you happy, my Beast?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes. Nervous. But yes, happy.”
He squeezed Rufus again.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After an hour of walking, Maximus
suggested a break. They sat on a large flat rock at the roadside,
and opened Sabina's parcel. The faint aroma of pork sausage rose
from the contents. “Look, she's given us bread and sausage and
cheese and olives, and.... a small jug?” Maximus broke the clay
seal and sniffed. “Well, it's wine, so we won't go thirsty!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus took a taste. “Oh, my! This
is more than just 'wine'. It's Falernian.” Rufus took another
swig, then offered the small container to Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, it does taste good, not sharp
at all. But... what's the difference?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, Beast... Falernian is the best!
It has a soft flavor, like flowers and sun. You drink this and you
don't wake with a headache the next day, even if it isn't watered.
Not that you should ever water this. Hand it here.” Maximus did,
and Rufus took another long pull. “Gods, that's good. Thank you,
Sabina! I hope she doesn't get in trouble with Lucius. This isn't
the everyday stuff, you know. It's special.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, it was very nice of her to
pack it for us. I think this was your gift at work! But I'm used to
'everyday'. I imagine you are, too, Wolfpup. How come you know
about Faller... Fallerrian?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Falernian. It's 'Fa<i>lern</i>ian'.
When they would have special guests, it was served; and sometimes,
the amphora would not be completely emptied by the time the guests
left, if you know what I mean.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You mean it somehow got emptied into
the wine cups in the kitchen?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I'll never tell,” Rufus smiled.
They finished their meal and brushed away the crumbs, and were
immediately surrounded by noisy birds. Stretching, they looked over
the valley spread out before them. “I'll miss this a bit, I
think.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But it's too close to the past for
me. Too many memories, they plague me sometimes. It will be good to
start fresh, no?” Maximus looked at his Wolfpup.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, it will.” They were quiet
for a time, both enjoying the warmth of the sun and the light breeze.
Rufus' cock stirred as he remembered their quiet love-making in the
early hours. “Beast, look down there, that clump of trees. I bet
it would screen us from the road...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, my insatiable Wolfpup. Come
here!” Maximus embraced the red bearded man he loved so much,
picked him up, and carried him down to the trees. As Maximus walked,
Rufus turned his head, nosing Maximus' tunic to one side, and
latched on to the soft pink disc of a Beast nipple. Maximus moaned
in pleasure as Rufus sucked and tongued the now erecting flesh. “Oh,
gods, don't stop! Never stop!” With one arm firmly around Rufus'
thick waist, he moved his other arm up to gently press Rufus' head to
his chest, cradling it with his large hand. Rufus eagerly lapped at
the hard pink nub, stopping at times to nuzzle it with his thick,
coppery beard.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus' cock thickened and extended,
surging upright, jerking with the quickening pulse of his heart. Each
time Rufus chewed lightly, large blobs of precum would ooze out.
“Fuck me, Beast. Now. I need you in me again, I need to feel you
inside me.” Maximus nodded mutely, and set Rufus down. Both men
hurriedly pulled off their tunics and loosened the strings of their
sublinaculums, letting them drop to the ground. “Holy Priapus, is
there any more beautiful sight in all the world?” Rufus gazed with
love at his naked, hard lover. Maximus' foreskin was now fully
retracted, the blunt tip glistening and coated with slippery clear
fluid, as was more and more of the shaft.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus reached out a hand and touched
Rufus on the shoulder. “You glow in the sunlight, you know that?”
He then leaned back against the largest of the trees and motioned
with both hands to Rufus. Rufus thought that his Beast wanted a hug
before they lay down, but Maximus had another plan in mind. “Reach
up and lock your hands behind my neck.” The Wolfpup did so, and
Maximus cupped his hands under Rufus' ass cheeks, boosting him
higher, level with his waist. “Now, raise your legs some. That's
it. Hold that now.” Although Rufus was smaller than Maximus, he
was no lightweight; but years of outdoor work had made Maximus very
strong, and the easier life he'd had on Lucius' farm had not cost him
any of that strength. He raised his Wolfpup up a bit higher,
spreading his cheeks, and flexed his cock, searched for the entry
into his lover. Both gasped when the tip found it's target. Maximus
slowly and carefully lowered Rufus onto his slick erection.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus reveled in the force of the
thick, blunt shaft making it's way into his body. His Beast was
being careful, and the slight initial twinge of discomfort quickly
faded to bliss. Maximus' cock was the same width and thickness base
to tip, making it look and feel like a sausage rather than a mushroom
or a wedge. He could feel the flex and pull of his lover's neck and
shoulder muscles and the firmness of his hands supporting him safely
as he was fucked. They had never coupled this way before and Rufus
found himself liking it a lot. He could hug and hold his Beast, bury
his face in the Beast's thick chest fur, even lick a nipple, which
brought a gasp and a deeper thrust. In spite of his strength, this
position was not made for prolonged mating, and Maximus's penis began
arrowing in and out more and more rapidly as he drove towards his
climax. “Beast, you are in so fucking deep!” Sensing that the
Beast was about to cum, the Wolfpup began to growl louder, in time
with the powerful thrusts. “Now, Beast... yes!... fill me... now!”
With a shout of joy, the Beast did so. Rufus reveled in the hot
flood of his lover's seed, deep in his guts, never tiring of that
feeling. “Oh, my fuckbeast!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Exhausted, they both clung to each
other for a while before Maximus lifted Rufus off his now-softened
shaft. His cock slid out with an audible 'plop' and sagged
downwards, it's happy work finished for now.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Beast, I hate to do it but I must
get rid of some of your seed. Futuo, but you filled me full!” He
kissed his love and then moved off to squat briefly in the bushes.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It's too bad there's no stream
nearby. I'm all wet, too.” He laughed. “You leaked all over my
legs when I pulled you off!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Once we get to the inn, we can
sluice each other off in the yard behind the stable." Thinking
of the property they were going to buy, Rufus mused, "I wonder
if Rocca will have a public bath?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I doubt it. Clusium certainly does,
but that would be a long walk just to clean up!” Maximus handed
Rufus his tunic and then put on his own. The two climbed back up the
slope and onto the road, to continue their trudge to the inn and the
inn keeper with land to sell.</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After a rinse off in the stable yard
and an early evening meal, Maximus joined Rufus in his room and they
amplified the description of the house at Rocca. Rufus made notes in
the margin of the original contract. “We're lucky that the
landlord had some pieces of clean parchment.” Rufus scratched at
the parchment. “Here, hand me that quill, this one is split.”
More scratching. “I wish I had a calamus, much neater result.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus snorted. “Perfectionist.”
He leaned over and kissed Rufus on the head to take the sting out of
the comment. Rufus worked for another hour, making a careful, clean
copy of the revised contract, leaving only the final price blank.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“There. That's done. Tomorrow,
after the morning meal, you can work your bargaining magic on the
landlord. I'll start off, because he will expect that. Then I'll
hand him over to your tender mercies.” He hugged, then kissed,
Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I wish we could sleep together
tonight, Wolfpup,” Maximus whispered.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Best not tempt the fates. We've
been lucky so far, and...” Rufus stopped as he heard footsteps in
the hallway outside the room. They stepped apart.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus opened the door and said
loudly, “Well, I think we have made good progress on the contract,
those were good ideas of yours. We can discuss any last minute
changes in the morning. I am too tired now. I'll see you tomorrow.
Bonum nocte.” He smiled inwardly, the little charade had certainly
been heard by older man just entering his room at the end of the
hall. Maximus had the room next to that. More and more, as the
possibility of living together inched towards reality, he resented
the need to dissemble, to hide and lie. More so here in a rural area
than in a city or in Rome, but still... 'Why should anyone fucking
care?' he thought to himself before drifting off to sleep.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Unknown to him, Rufus was having a very
similar thought as he lay in his bed in his room down the hall from
Maximus. 'What's 'normal' anyway? No two people are exactly alike.
I suppose someone who is really different scares people. Beast can
look really scary, but he's so good and kindhearted inside. We
shouldn't judge people just by what we see. But I guess that's too
hard for most people.' He sighed. “So we put on a show and wear a
mask, like in the theater, if we want to survive together,” he
whispered to himself, a rare bitterness surfacing.</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The next morning, after the pot boy had
cleaned the tables and the landlord had time, the three sat down
together to discuss business. A jug of watered wine was accompanied
by three cups at the table. “Well, you said you wanted to think
about it and make some plans. Have you decided?” The landlord
looked first at Rufus, then at Maximus, but mostly at Rufus. Maximus
poured wine for the three of them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus cleared his throat. “Yes, we
have, but with a couple of changes. First, we need thirty days for
payment, not ten. Both of us will need to go to Rome to get our
funds, Maximus can leave soon, but I can't leave immediately.
Second, the description of the house is incomplete. We've written up
a more complete description. Read it, please; you will find it quite
accurate. It will require a good sum of money and time to put
right.” Rufus pushed the contract over to the landlord.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, as to price.” Maximus leaned
forward and smiled as he said this, noting the surprised look on the
landlord's face. “We feel a fairly substantial reduction in your
asking price is in order, given the state of the house, and the fact
that half the property is not suitable for field crops.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The landlord spluttered, “I made you
a price that was more than fair. You won't find land that cheap,
house or no,” ignoring for the moment the unsuitability of half the
land for farming. He looked at Rufus when he said this, but Rufus
remained silent.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus continued. “Oh, hardly fair,
given the fact that the house was in worse condition than presented,
and not all the land is useable. But, since you need to get rid of
the land... land you are paying taxes on and that is bringing in no
income at all... we're prepared to offer four thousand, four hundred
sisterces.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“WHAT? That's six hundred less than
the price we discussed.” He looked again at Rufus as he gestured
towards Maximus. “Is this man insane? I can't accept that! Surely
<i>you </i>and I can come to a sensible agreement.” He had played
his outrage well, but had made the mistake of excluding and
under-estimating Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus smiled thinly. “Rufus and I
are partners in this enterprise, and you are dealing with us both...
together.” Rufus locked eyes with the landlord and nodded once.
Maximus continued. “And we are sure that <i>we</i> can come to a
sensible agreement, one that is fair to you... and to us.” He
refilled the landlord's wine cup. “Here, have some more wine.
Make me another offer and we'll talk. Or we can leave. Your land,
your choice. Oh, and those taxes are due in two months time, I
believe. A shame it doesn't generate any income for you.” Maximus
smiled, but there was little humor in it.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The negotiations progressed throughout
the morning: fifty sisterces here, twenty-five there, a further
fifteen, with Maximus wearing the landlord's resistance down.
Unknown to the landlord, when they had visited Rocca, the two had
inquired about taxes and learned just how much the landlord was
likely to be paying on land that was fallow and unoccupied, and when.
Maximus used those figures to the greatest advantage. “You know,
no real business man, such as yourself, can continue to absorb that
steady drain on your income, supporting unproductive land. You must
be losing, oh, close to..." and he named a figure that was
exactly the amount of tax owed. "O course, you would know
better than I. And of course, business here hasn't been as good as I
am sure you hoped last year. And it seems to me that you won't be
just 'cutting your losses', you'll be making more in the sale than
you would pay in taxes over some time.” In his deceptive way,
Maximus lead the landlord to gradually accepting a lower price, while
leaving him with the impression that he was actually the one coercing
the pair into accepting a higher price than what they were asking.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Finally, sensing he had pushed as far
as he could, Maximus folded his hands and said, “So, I guess you
have worn us down. Very clever, for land you don't want. Four
thousand, six hundred sisterces... agreed?” Maximus looked at
Rufus who nodded, then looked at the landlord, who nodded with a
smile. He pushed the contract towards the two, and Rufus inked in
the agreed amount. All three stood and gripped each other's
forearms. Rufus asked, “Do you have a clerk in the village who can
notarize this?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We do... shall we go now? It's not
far.” The landlord was plainly worried that the two might change
their minds. He was also beginning to feel the tiniest of doubts
that he had not made quite as good a bargain as he had earlier
thought. Once the contract was signed and notarized, four copies
were made, one for the landlord, one for Rufus and Maximus, one to be
kept in the court there, and one to be ultimately deposited at the
court in Clusium, Rocca not having an administrative building or
official. “You will have the deed for us in thirty days.”
Maximus said it as a statement.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, when you hand over the money.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Before the ides of next month then.
Agreed.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later in the afternoon, Rufus and
Maximus were sitting on a bench outside the inn, their legs stretched
out, hands crossed over their bellies, eyes closed against the late
afternoon sun. Without opening his eyes, Rufus said, “Lucius was
right.” Maximus did not open his eyes, but smiled.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later in the evening, Rufus asked
Maximus, “I'm curious. Lucius said to ask for a five hundred
sisterces reduction, which I thought was very high. That's a lot of
money. And you asked for six hundred!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, because I needed more
bargaining room. And I ended saving us four hundred sisterces off
his asking price. Not bad for a morning's work!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>4 April,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Two days later, they had settled their
bill at the tavern, collected their belongings from their two rooms,
and were headed back towards Nuceria. Their chances of catching a
ride to Rome were better there.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You know, I did have a moment, back
there when we were negotiating. I was afraid that he would ask me to
point out the new description or worse, read it to him.” He
paused, and Rufus did not interrupt. Very quietly, Maximus said,
“Wolfpup, will you teach me to read?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Of course, my Beast! But you know
you will always have me to tend to things that need literacy. Not
everyone is literate. Some very successful businessmen...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, I know, and I am grateful. But
I want to do this, I want to be able to be truly free. Oh, not of
you love, never that. To be independent, I guess. My own man.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus reached out and hugged the big
man. A passing man on a donkey looked at them with a rather odd
expression, but the moment, and the travelers, passed on.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The sun climbed higher in the sky, and
both men were glad to rest for a bit in the shade of a roadside tree.
“Should we stop at Lucius' place?” Maximus asked.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Much as I'd like to, I think not.
We need to get our money from the banker. We are running low, even
with the funds Lucius kept back for us when he made the deposit in
Rome. And who knows how long it will take us. If we end up walking,
that's at least five or six days each way, plus however long it
actually takes us in Rome.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Having reached the town, the two were
walking down the main street towards the largest inn in Nuceria.
Just at that moment, Lucius and Decimus rounded the corner.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Gentlemen! Ah, <i>well</i> met!
Gods be praised, I am glad to find you. Oh, <i>thank </i>the gods!
Come, join us and tell us your news quickly, and then I must tell you
things.” Lucius was obviously pleased at finding his two former
slaves. Maximus and Rufus looked at each other and nodded and
followed Lucius and Decimus into the taverna across from the inn.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Is everything settled? Contracts
signed? What did you end up agreeing on?” Wine, olives and bread
were brought to the table.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We ended up agreeing to four
thousand, six hundred. We are heading to Rome to the bankers as soon
as we can. And we do have the thirty days you suggested.” Maximus
was obviously pleased with himself.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius turned to Rufus and smiled
broadly. "Did I not tell you?!"</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You did, and you were right.”
Rufus chewed on some olives. “But you seemed anxious, Lucius, when
we met just now. Why?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Because I have had some very
disturbing news, and I was greatly afraid that I would not be able to
get it to you before you left for Rome. As I very nearly didn't.”
He took a gulp of wine. “You know I deposited your settlement
money with my banker. I have known him for years, a most honest and
upright man. Truly, a Roman of the old tradition. Caius Calvus, my
former business partner, you never met him, Maximus, but Rufus has, I
believe.” Rufus nodded. “Caius wrote to me with news that our
banker, Marcus Lucellus, has died suddenly, and the bank has been
taken over by a sort of syndicate. They have ties to some apparently
corrupt officials, I don't know all the details. I have already sent
a letter authorizing Caius to withdraw my funds, and put them in a
holding with the Vestals. It will be safe there. But I couldn't do
that for your monies. They are in your names only. You say you are
going to Rome now?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Good. Make all haste, I have a very
bad feeling about this, and when I had one of the local priests take
the auspices, they were not good.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What should we do? What <i>can</i>
we do?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Get all your money out and take it
with you. Dangerous, I know, but you will have to think of
something, some way to transport it. And I have made out two letters
introducing each of you to the bank, describing your, ah, distinctive
looks.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Could we not do as you did, leave it
with the Vestals?” Maximus asked.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No. My uncle is a Senator, and his
niece is a Vestal, that's why I was able to work that. That wouldn't
be available to you. It really isn't supposed to be available to me,
but.... Anyway, that's my news. I wish I had better, or at least
more details. But Caius was quite worried, more so than I had ever
known him to be. So treat this seriously. That money is your
future.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They all gulped their wine. Lucius
turned to Decimus. “Decimus, go across the way to the inn and ask
if anyone is heading to Rome and could take two passengers for pay.
Stress that the passengers have need of haste, there's a good boy.”
Decimus left.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How is he working out? Rufus was
naturally curious about the young man who appeared to have inherited
his old position in the household.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“He is doing well. I like him, he is
quiet and well-spoken. Antonia likes him, and what's more important,
Anna likes him. There is peace in my house.” He smiled ruefully.
“Ah, here comes Decimus now. That was fast. What news, Decimus?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“If you move quickly, you are in
luck. There is a merchant, on his way to deliver a shipment of wool
to a ship in the port of Ostia. He will leave as soon as he finishes
his meal. He will take two passengers... for six silver asses*
each.” (* four as were equal to one sestercius)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Why, that's highway rob...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We've really no choice. It's nearly
100 miles, too long to walk, and we can't depend on finding a ride
along the way.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wait.” Lucius reached into his
purse and brought out a handful of coins. “This will cover your
costs, with some left over for food. Just until you get your money
from the bank.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Lucius, we can't. You've already
done so much...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Rufus. Maximus. I can never fully
repay my... our debt to you. You saved our lives, and others as
well. Take this now, and hurry. Jupiter speed you on your way.
Now, go!” Embracing Lucius quickly, Rufus and Maximus shook
Decimus' hand and hurried across the street to the taverna.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Late in the afternoon, heading
southwards in the goods wagon along the Via Appia, they found their
driver a dour, taciturn man, not given to conversation; which
actually suited the two. The fewer details they had to invent about
themselves, the better.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>10 April,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On the morning of the sixth day, they
had reached the outskirts of Rome. “Let us off here, and we won't
have to walk back from Ostia,” Maximus said. The driver did so,
and moved off towards the port, as silent as he had been all along.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“My backside is telling me we might
have been better off walking,” Rufus said, stretching and rubbing
his back. The small inns they had stayed in along the way had not
helped matters... hard, lumpy pads on equally hard wooden boards. “I
slept on better as a slave,” Maximus said. Rufus nodded.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They stood at the Porta Appia, the main
southern entrance to the city. “What now?” Maximus did not know
Rome at all, and was suitably awed at it's shear size and bustle.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Lucius wrote down the location of
the bank on my letter. Yes, here: 'On the west side of the square
directly in front of the temple of Juno Moneta'. I have a vague
memory of where that is, but we can ask. I'm hungry, shall we get
something for lunch?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes. How are we for money?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We should be OK, Lucius was very
generous. Look, there's a taverna over there, and there's a line.
That's usually a good sign.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus' belly growled. “Then let's
eat!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After a decent meal, the two set out to
follow the taverna owner's directions to the temple square. “I was
here once with Lucius, but I doubt I could have found the place
again. The streets are so crowded, it's hard to know what direction
we are traveling in. And there seems to be building everywhere.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Where did Lucius and Antonia have
their house?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, not here. It was over on the
Quirinal.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Was it large?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, yes, quite large. The place in
Pompeii was maybe a third it's size. There were twelve house slaves.
Of course, there was no stable, so just two outdoor slaves to
maintain the garden.” Rufus stopped at an intersection of three
streets. “We're to go that way, on the other side of the
fountain.” They walked on.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“When Lucius and Antonia decided to
leave the city and sold the house here, they only took four of us
with them. They bought you and the others in Pompeii for the farm.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Bless them for that, or we wouldn't
have met.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“True.” Rufus edged bit closer to
Maximus and said in a low voice. “I still remember our first kiss,
in the stable.” “Me, too,” Maximus whispered.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In fairly short order, the two reached
the crowded square in front of the temple. “Ooo, it's large, isn't
it,” Maximus said.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Actually rather small,” Rufus
replied. “Well, it's one of the older ones in Rome, dates back to
the early Republic. You should see the Capitoline precinct and the
Forum. Maybe, if we have time...” A centurion leading a troop
barked at them for being in the way, interrupting Rufus' thought.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, Lucius said the bank was on the
west side, so probably somewhere along that arcade.” Rufus was
pointing to a covered combination walkway and porch that stretched
along one entire side of the square, filled with a motley collection
of wooden stalls, selling what appeared to be anything at all that
would be needed in a house. Furniture, cooking utensils, cloth,
lamps, braziers; all crowded together with shoppers, loudly
bargaining. “Look, I think that's it.” They dodged two slaves
lugging a large couch destined for someone's triclinium, then stood
in front of a sturdy door with impressive iron hinges, studded with
iron nails, with a carved lintel that bore the inscription “Bank”.
The entered the cooler and suddenly quieter interior.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The older slave at the desk looked up.
“P-p-please close the door, sirs.” Rufus did so. “Ah, much
better. T-t-too much dust and noise out there. What can I d-do for
you?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus spoke up. “We are here to
claim our deposits, both of us.” Maximus nodded.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, I see.” He paused, looking
closely at both of them. “I k-k-know all of our clients, but I
d-do not recognize either of you.” The slave sniffed and lay down
his stylus. “I'm s-sure I would remember you. C-c-could you....”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus stepped forward and handed him
Lucius's letter of introduction. Maximus did the same. Rufus cleared
his throat. “You don't know us because it was Lucius Hirtuleius
who opened the accounts with you shortly after he manumitted us.
After the catastrophe, you know.” The slave nodded.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The slave broke the seals on both
notes and read each carefully, looking up at each of the men before
him as he did so. “Yes. Well, this s-s-seems to be in order. I
kn-kn-know Lucius Hirtuleius well, he is a valued client of ours, or
at least, was.” The slave seemed to be suddenly nervous, glancing
over his shoulder. “I am b-b-bound to ask, though, why you wish to
withdraw all of your funds? This is r-r-rather unusual, you know.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We are going in together on a
business venture, one which will require each of us to contribute a
good portion of the capital needed. I trust there will be no problem
with this?” Rufus was braced for some complication, perhaps with
their manumitted status, in spite of Lucius' letters. Maximus stayed
silent, but moved forward, his intimidating bulk casting a shadow
across the slave's desk.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, it's j-j-just that... you see,
we don't keep those sums here in the office. They are secure, no
problem there, but I d-do not have access to the building where we
keep them. My master is away just now, but will be b-b-back by
opening tomorrow. He will attend to obtaining your f-funds. If you
would care to return tomorrow? I know it is inconvenient, but there
is a nice taverna just a-a-across the square that rents rooms, if you
care to....” The slave gestured out the door, but was plainly
nervous and ill at ease. Maximus was doing his best not to scare the
poor man, but Rufus noticed sweat forming on the man's brow.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“For my part, I would rather have the
money now, but if you can't do that, we will just wait until your
dominus returns. If my partner here has no objection, we'll look
around outside, perhaps visit the temple, and be back tomorrow
morning... first thing.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I've no objection,” Maximus said.
Something, perhaps his physically imposing presence, had obviously
make the poor slave very uncomfortable.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Very good, then, tomorrow. And now
I must c-c-close the office briefly while I g-get my noon meal.
Valete, gentlemen.” The slave ushered them out with almost
indecent haste and closed the door behind them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, that was odd. More than odd.”
Rufus was plainly puzzled and vaguely troubled. Maximus nodded.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think I scared him. That office
was small and I'm big...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I don't think it was you at all,
Beast. He was extremely nervous, and I don't mean his stutter. Did
you see how he kept looking over his shoulder? Like he was being
watched?” Maximus nodded. “Let's go over there, there are
benches by the temple steps. We can keep an eye on the door to the
bank for a while from there. I don't much like the delay, but
maybe...” The two proceeded to the temple steps, dodging the busy
shoppers crossing from sales booth to booth.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They entertained themselves by watching
the busy commerce in front of them. They were discussing the slave's
odd behavior when they heard a soft hiss from behind the bench they
were sitting on.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Gentlemen, if you please, follow me
to the other side of the temple. No, don't get up just yet, wait a
bit, then follow,” the voice whispered softly. Before they could
get a good look at the person who had spoken, he had vanished in the
crowd. Maximus looked at Rufus. “Futuo, Rome is a strange place.
Should we?” Rufus shrugged. “This seems off. I don't really
feel comfortable with it, and I don't like losing sight of that
bank's door. And I can't be sure, but I think...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wolfpup, you're safe enough with me
around. And there's probably a back door to the bank, anyway.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Suddenly deciding, Rufus got up. “All
right, let's go.” The two walked around the front steps of the
temple to Moneta, getting occasional whiffs of incense from within.
They circled around to the opposite side of the small temple, and
found a much quieter, less crowded area.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Not here.” The same whispering
voice came again from behind them. “Over there, you s-s-see the
stairs? Meet me at the base.” Again the figure was too quick for
them to identify, moving quickly across the open space and vanishing
down the steps.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now I really don't like this,”
Rufus said. “That <i>has </i>to be the slave from the bank.”
Maximus moved off towards the steps, and Rufus followed, trusting in
his mate's size and strength as a deterrent to any street thuggery.
They walked down the steps and found themselves in what looked like a
small garden, probably part of the original temple precinct. They
were alone. A figure stepped out from behind a tree and approached
them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ave, gentlemen.” Rufus was
confirmed in his suspicion that the voice belonged to the stuttering
slave from the bank. “I ap-p-pologize for the secrecy. I
kn-kn-know I am being watched., but I think we are s-s-s...” The
slave slapped his thigh. “...safe here.” In spite of this, the
slave seemed just as nervous as before.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Listen. All of this is very strange
and worrying to us. And I don't like being worried.” Maximus
stood in front of the slave with his hands on his hips. “So. What
is going on?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Can I trust you? Lucius Hirtuleius
c-c-commends you highly to the bank and says your are good, honest
men. Can I trust you?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus tried to calm the man. “Yes,
you can trust us, but we need to know what is going on. You must see
that this is all very... unusual. Here, sit, and tell us.” They
all sat on a low wall. The slave looked around carefully, seemed to
make a decision, and forged ahead.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You know that the former owner of
the bank has died. He was getting on in years, it's true, but his
health was excellent. It was a great surprise when he took ill so
suddenly. I think Lucius Hirtuleius must have told you that, and
that a syndicate has taken over the bank and it's affairs. The three
other slaves were all sold off; but I was kept on, as I was the one
who knew all the clients by sight. I do hope Lucius Hirtuleius is in
good health? He was always polite and well-spoken, never hasty with
me, unlike some others of our clients.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus nodded and said, “He is, I
assure you. Please... go on.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How much do you know about our new
Emperor?” The slave looked at the two men.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Uh... very little, other than he is
the younger brother of Titus, and son of Vespasian. He seems to be
continuing their good policies.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, he has. But he is much more
rigid in his moral outlook than Titus or Vespasian were. They say
that Vespasian's long-time mistress welcomed the two sons to the
palace offering a motherly kiss to each. Titus accepted, Domitian
turned his head and refused, 'on moral grounds'. Given that he sees
many things as black or white, I quite believe it." Rufus and
Maximus looked at each other and shrugged.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"And how much do you know of
money?” the slave continued.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I can count and do sums, I am good
at it. And I...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The slave interrupted Maximus. “No,
I mean about money itself. The coins.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I don't understand.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Roman coins have value for two
reasons. First is the silver contained in them. The amount of
silver equals it's value. The problem is that ever since Augustus,
that amount of silver has declined... not in the actual weight of the
coin, but in the purity. Before Augustus it was 98% pure. Oh, there
is other metal in the coins as well, so that they are durable and can
be stamped with the Emperor's image and whatever else is needed. But
over time, the purity of the silver has declined. The weight is made
up with other base metals, so the coins generally look the same and
weigh the same. Recently, the purity has declined to just over 80%.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“So the money is worth less? I don't
like where this is going,” Maximus growled.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Technically, yes. But you remember
I said there were two reasons for the value. The second is people's
faith in the coinage. As long as people believe the coins are worth
what they are supposed to be...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Then they are worth what people
believe they are,” Rufus finished for him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Exactly. And people were beginning
to hear and believe rumors of the dilution of the currency. This
caused some serious unrest, here in Rome and elsewhere. People
sometimes forget that Roman coins are used in trade far and wide, and
if their value was questioned... So, Domitian responded promptly to
the unrest, declared that the coinage would be returned to Augustan
levels, and began minting new coins and exchanging them for old. As
you can imagine, that is a Herculean task. He has authorized new
mints, and added new nummularii, the officials tasked with minting
and testing coinage. It's become a kind of holy mission for the
Emperor. Some of the older nummularii, ones who had their positions
because they were relatives of Senators, had become lax in their
duties. Domitian removed them from their posts and banished them.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Thank you for the lesson in finance,
but what does this have to do with us, or you, for that matter?”
Rufus was plainly puzzled and becoming a bit impatient.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Because I think there is something
very wrong going on at the bank, and because in his letters, Lucius
Hirtuleius commends you both highly. Ever since my new masters took
over, I have been told exactly what to say to anyone desiring their
funds. It's always the same story, and it's not true. There is
always a delay, and then the finds are brought to me in the office.
But the thing is, we used to keep those funds on the premises, there
should be no need for a delay. Last month, one of our oldest clients
came in, in desperate need of funds. The delay was longer than
usual, and I tried to intercede with my masters on his behalf. My
masters were very rude to me, threatened me! After that, I did some
investigating on my own. I don't like having to lie to our clients.
I am an honest man.” He stopped and gulped. “Ever since then,
I get the feeling I am being watched.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Why?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Because of what I found out. You
see, the coin that is brought to me to give to a client looks exactly
like all the new coinage … shiny, sharply stamped. I carefully
removed one and replaced it with one of my own. A fellow slave works
in one of the mints controlled by the temple priests here. He had
that new coin tested.” The slave paused. “It has much less
silver than it is supposed to have, just over 70% instead of the 98%
the Emperor decreed. I think that, somehow, my new masters are
minting so-called new coins themselves, and substituting them for the
actual new coins. They turn in the older coins on deposit with us
and melt down the new ones they are given in exchange. They use that
silver, or some of it at least, to mint 'new' coins to give to a
depositor and keep nearly 30% of the silver for themselves. It could
be years before anyone notices.” The slave seemed to suddenly run
out of energy, and visibly sagged. “And I said all of that without
st-st-st...” The slave smacked his thigh with an open palm.
“...stuttering once!” He looked amazed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“If you are right in this, you must
go to one of the city magistrates. This is not right, and it must be
stopped.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, sirs! I'm afraid! I just...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Really, you must. It's not just us,
you know. It's all the clients that have trusted you, personally,
and the bank over the years. Think of them. I'm sure the
magistrates will offer some form of protection for you, in view of
the situation.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The slave plainly still had his doubts,
but the appeal to his sense of duty to the bank's long time clients,
many of them aged, seemed to give him a sense of resolve.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“All right. I know I c-can't do this
any longer, I'm an honest man and I hate the deception. It makes me
sick. I will g-g-o to the magistrate if I must, and then I will
leave here and g-g-o to Marcus Lucellus' brother and throw myself on
his mercy.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus spoke up. “You know what they
do to runaway slaves.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I do, but if I stay, it's only a
matter of t-t-time before they decide to get rid of me. I am sure
they think I know too much. Oh, I wish Marcus Lucellus had never
d-d-died!” The slave was sweating again along with the stuttering.
“And I must return to the bank, I have s-s-stayed out too long..”
The nervous slave made to go but Maximus stopped him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What are we to do? That money is
necessary for my future, as well as my partner's.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You must f-f-find a way to get your
money, and soon.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, I see that, but where is it
kept?” Rufus asked.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Every depositor's f-f-funds are kept
in locked boxes, with their names on a lead seal attached to the
lock. Do you know the old market, the one built before T-Tiberius?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think so,” Rufus said.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Part of it was b-burned in the fire
we had here, so it's abandoned now. There is a large cellar under
that b-b-building, what's left of it, and I believe that is where the
syndicate has moved the money, and perhaps where they are minting the
substitute coins. I've heard them t-talking about the place when
they thought I couldn't hear. And now I <i>have</i> to go!” The
slave scuttled off like a scared rabbit.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus scratched his beard. “Well,
I'll be buggered.” Rufus couldn't help but grin. “Yes, yes... I
know,” the big man said, reaching over and for a quick squeeze of
Rufus' knee. “But could all this get any stranger? And what are
we supposed to do? Break into that cellar and steal our money?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, it wouldn't be stealing, as
such... it IS our money, after all. But I haven't a clue as to what
our next steps should be. What if that slave doesn't go to the
magistrates?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The two continued to discuss the
situation, back and forth. Unnoticed by either of them, a silent
figure on the temple's rear porch quietly moved back deeper into the
shadows and stole away.</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A few hours later, Felix Carbo was in
his study, deep in thought, when his wife, Livia, stormed in.
“Husband! What mess have you gotten yourself into this time?”
She stood, angry, her hands on her hips, glaring at him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, what is troubling you... dear?”
Not for the first time, Felix reflected on the fact that he didn't
much like his wife, less and less of late, in fact. She had the
irritating habit of letting him know that she felt she was far more
competent than he was, at just about anything.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That stupid little enterprise of
yours at the bank. The enterprise that apparently that old slave
knows all about now. I told you to get rid of him, when you got rid
of the others.” She advanced towards Felix's desk.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You've been listening at doors
again, haven't you? I kept that old slave because I needed him. He
knows all the clients, and he's honest to a fault. The clients trust
him. He's the trustworthy public face of the bank.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The 'public face' that now
apparently knows enough about your stupid scheme to get you banished,
according to Julius. AND two of the bank's clients know now, as
well.” Felix raised an eyebrow at that. “Oh, I know all about
your tame busybody Julius. He was just here. There is nothing that
happens in this house that I don't know about. At least Julius knows
enough to keep tabs on things, And you know how Domitian deals with
public maleficence. If you are banished, what will happen to me, I
ask? Have you thought of that... <i>husband</i>?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Livia, you need to have a bit more
confidence in your husband's abilities. And you'd do well to
remember,” he said, through gritted teeth, “that it's my 'stupid
little enterprise' that provides you with all the money to pay for
those ridiculous baubles you are so fond of displaying in front of
all your clucking women friends.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Livia simply ignored her husband's
remark and pivoted to a different tact. “You need to silence that
stammering old fool, and those other two as well. You remember what
Julius overheard... the clients encouraging that old codger to go the
magistrates, and him promising to do so! And don't forget, he has
that coin he filtched, or at least one of the nummularii do. And I
will wager it's not one of the ones you've bribed, either.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I will deal with all three...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Livia interrupted him. “And not with
half-measures, either. I know you.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I said I would deal with them, but
not yet. I need to...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“If you are too squeamish to do it
yourself, get Aulus or Lupus to do it. Or that cretin, Coro. Why
you keep <i>him</i> around escapes me, but in this case, he'd be
useful. He, at least, has no compunction about doing what's
necessary.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I said 'NO', Livia! I need to talk
to these three and find out just how much they know... if they know
anything about the other banks.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What other banks?” Livia blurted
out.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah... so you don't actually know
everything that goes on, now, do you, Livia?” Felix leaned back in
his chair and stared hard at his wife. “I think it's best that you
leave these affairs to me. And I really think it's best that you go
busy yourself with something else, and right now. Go torment one of
the house slaves, or make one of your friends miserable with your
presence, and leave me in peace.” The last five words were said
with increasing anger. Livia turned on her heels and stalked out.
When her presence had dissipated, Felix got up and walked through the
house and into the garden to the stable beyond.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, Aulus. I may have a job for you
and Lupus. Perhaps Coro, too.”</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Throughout the afternoon, Rufus and
Maximus had batted ideas back and forth as to what to do about their
deposits. Each plan in turn was examined and discarded. Rufus was
particularly vexed. “Really, what can we do but accept what they
give us? If we melt it down ourselves, we will lose part of it's
value, besides breaking the law. And we can't take it to the
nummularii or another bank, because they would just say that we've
already been given new coins for old. I just don't know...” In
fact, Rufus had confessed not knowing what to do several times
already during the afternoon.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, Hades, Wolfpup. Fuck all this
dilly-dallying. We know what we have to do, we've known it all along
if we're honest.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And that is?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We have to go and get our money
before they have a chance to melt it and pass off those rancidius
fakes on us. What other choice do we have?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No other that I can see, Beast,”
Rufus sighed and reluctantly agreed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I say we go now, and keep an eye on
the place until nightfall. Then, if we haven't seen anyone going in
or out, we go in and find our boxes and get out.” Maximus stood
up. “I'd feel better if I had a club or a knife, but maybe we
won't need weapons, if we're quiet and quick about it.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Agreed.” Rufus seems to pause for
a moment, considering. He took a deep breath. “Let's do this.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The pair found their way to the old
market. The building had obviously been damaged in the fire, and not
yet repaired or torn down, as Domitian's reconstruction program had
done to many other building in the part of Rome affected by the great
fire of 80 AD. That effort was in full swing. Piles of construction
materials were everywhere in this part of the city.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">By an hour after sunset, there had been
no traffic in or out of the partially ruined building. I think it's
safe, don't you?” Rufus said to Maximus, who nodded. They very
quietly approached the portico, searching for stairs that would lead
down to the cellars. At first, they had no luck, but then Maximus
spied a doorway in a still-intact wall towards the rear of the
building. “Worth a try!” Maximus put his large hand on the
latch and moved it slowly, in case it made noise. It did not. The
door swung open quietly on hinges that were obviously greased. “Can
it be this easy?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I don't like it, Beast. Be careful”
They began to descend the stone stairs, moving slowly. “Hades,
it's dark. I wish we had a torch or something...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, there is a torch at the
bottom, just there.” There was just enough light for Maximus to
make out the torch in a holder on the wall. “Now to see if....
yes!” Maximus took a tinder box that was in a niche in the wall
next to the torch. “Once I get this lit, you go close that door,
but don't let it latch, we may need to get out in a hurry.” Rufus
moved back to the top of the stairs and waited while Maximus struck
the flint. The pitch-soaked torch lit quickly, flaring and smoking.
Rufus closed the door just to but not latched and went back down next
to Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The light revealed a dank hall, with
brick columns on either side. Dust and mold and soot were
everywhere. As they moved forward, doors on the opposite side became
visible. The hall was otherwise empty, but there was a smell of
something like burned metal in the close air. “Let's try that one,
the big one,” Rufus whispered. Maximus nodded silently as they
moved across the hall. A soft noise behind them caught their
attention, but they were not quick enough. Each was hit from behind,
hard, with a cudgel. Rufus hit the ground and did not move. Maximus
sank to his knees, but a second heavy blow knocked him down to the
ground as well. He was equally still, and bleeding heavily from the
wounds to his head.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Coro, you idiot! If you've killed
this one too, we're ALL for it!” Coro just growled. “Quick now,
the boss will be here soon. Drag that one into the small room there.
Lupus, help me with this one.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Coro grunted as he lifted Maximus'
heavy legs. “Fucker's heavy.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Just hurry it up!” The two men
were dragged into the room, and a smoky torch lit. Each was placed
on a stool and tied with ropes. “Make it tight.” Aulus was
getting nervous, knowing that their boss would not be pleased at
another death of his prime sources of information. “Lupus, go back
upstairs and wait for the boss. Let us know when he gets here.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What about the others?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The boss gave them the night off,
remember? Fewer witnesses.” Lupus turned and left the room.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“When's the boss coming?” Coro
asked, chewing a hang nail.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Not sure, he said 'soon'. Here,
toss that bucket of water on yours there. I'll see if I can wake
mine... if you haven't killed him.” A bucket of filthy water was
dumped on Maximus, and another on Rufus. “Wakey, wakey,” Aulus
said. Maximus didn't move, but Rufus stirred and raised his head.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What is this? Who are you? What's
going on?” Rufus started to struggle against the ropes that bound
him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, you've been meddling in things
that aren't your concern... and we're here to correct that.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a
body, unmoving and slumped against the wall opposite. He recognized
the slave from the bank. Turning his head, he winced as a bolt of
pain shot through his head. “What have you done...” Then he saw
Maximus, tied up just as he was, slumped over, unmoving. “Tu foedus
nothi! I'll kill you!” Rufus followed his threat with a stream
of profanities that would have done a legionary proud while he
struggled to loosen his bonds.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Keep a civil tongue in your head,
scum,” Aulus said, slapping Rufus hard across his face, splitting
his lip open. Lupus came back down the stairs and entered the room
and started to speak, just as Maximus surged awake, lurching this way
and that, trying to break the bonds that held him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“UNTIE ME!” he roared.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No chance, asswipe.” Coro stuck
his face directly in front of Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Pedicabo ego,” Maximus growled,
then spat twice, the first hitting Coro in his left eye, and the
second landing on his mouth.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Why, you mother fucking piece of...”
Coro raised his fist and smashed Maximus in the face. The crunch of
cartilage was audible to everyone in the room. A wave of pain washed
over Maximus, radiating from his nose; and his vision was clouded
with red mist. Coro raised his fist again, to finish the work he had
started.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Coro, <i>stop</i>! CORO!!” Aulus
screamed at the out-of-control man. “The boss hired us to take
them and soften them up, not kill them.” Coro hesitated. “You've
already done for the old slave, and the boss won't like not having
living sources to question.” Both Aulus and Lupus breathed a sigh
of relief when Coro finally lowered his fists.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, fuck it. I need to take a piss
anyway.” Coro stomped out of the room. Moments later there was
the sound of his powerful stream hitting the basement wall at the end
of the hall.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Aulus turned to Lupus. “I don't like
this. We weren't supposed to kill any of them yet. Coro is getting
harder to control. He enjoys this way too much, more and more. Mark
my words, Lupus, one day.... one day he's not going to stop when I
tell him to. And he'll kill one or both of us. Just for fun.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Coro reappeared and kicked the
now-empty bucket. “Where's the boss? When he's done, I want to
take care of that one once and for all,” glaring at Maximus, who's
breathing sounds were mixed with bubbling sounds from the copious
blood clotting his nose and beard.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Is he coming?” Aulus asked Lupus,
unhappy with the absence of his boss. Lupus could finally relay his
news.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, not yet. But I could hear men
marching, sounds like they are getting close. I don't like it.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, relax, its probably just the
city guard, fanning out to keep an eye on all those heaps of building
material scattered about.” Aulus turned back to the two men, still
tied on the stools. “I think we....”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He was interrupted by the sound of
splintering wood from the top of the stairs. Two legionaries had
smashed into the door, expecting it to be locked. A troop of
legionaries and a centurion, accompanied by two magistrates, hustled
down the stairs, spreading out in the room. Several carried torches.
Seeing light from one of the rooms, a smaller group of legionaries
made to enter it, while the others searched the other part of the
cellar and it's rooms, along with a second centurion.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Entering,
they saw the three men they had been told to arrest. Aulus and Lupus
surrendered rather quickly, but it took three legionaries to subdue
Coro. They were not gentle. One of the magistrates, a tall man
named Gaius Aquillius Gallus, spoke to Rufus. “We will get you out
of here. Centurion, have some of your men make a litter and carry
these men back to camp. Have the camp doctor tend to them and find a
place for them in camp. I will want to speak with them when we all
return. Oh, and remove the dead one. See to it.” The centurion
saluted and left, taking four legionaries with him. He turned to
Rufus and Maximus. “Well, you are safe now.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Sir! Over here, look at this!”
One of the other legionaries had discovered a large number of strong
boxes, each with a lead seal on the lock. “And here, sir!” Not
to be outdone, another legionary had opened a door that revealed what
looked like a smelter, complete with crucibles and small ingots of
silver and other metals. The second centurion and the second
magistrate inspected the finds and had one of the legionaries hurry
back to the barracks and bring more men to transport the evidence
back to the camp.</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Meanwhile, Felix Carbo was stuffing two
leather bags with silver ingots, some clothes, and a fist full of his
wife's 'baubles'. “These'll fetch a nice amount,” he muttered
aloud. An hour earlier, on a street close to the old market, he had
been late in getting to the cellar he used for his enterprise and
where his hired thugs and the objects of their kidnapping would be
waiting for him. Just as he was turning the corner, he saw the troop
of legionaries and the two magistrates descending the stairs. He
faded back into the shadows, turned and walked quietly away, and then
ran. 'Lucky for me,' he thought. 'Livia was right, I should have
sold or killed the stuttering old fool. But who'd have thought the
magistrates would believe him, or have acted so fast!' Carbo wasn't
stupid and believed in the power of planning ahead. He had suspected
this day would eventually come; and he had a plan in place to deal
with it. A quick trip to Ostia, a bribe to a captain of a small
merchant vessel, and a clean escape to someplace far away. 'Spain,
maybe, or maybe Alexandria, depends of what's leaving quickest and
where it's going,' still thinking to himself as he continued shoving
valuables into the bags. He briefly thought of warning his wife.
“Why bother?” he said aloud, with a satisfied smile.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>11 April,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Very early the following morning, once
the legionaries carrying Maximus and Rufus were back at the barracks,
the camp doctor was summoned. Seeing the pair, he said, “Ye gods,
what is all this? You look like shit. Street fight?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus shook his head carefully, wincing
in pain. “Not exactly. It's a long story.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It usually is.” He summoned an
assistant to bring hot water and towels, and began to deftly wash the
blood from Maximus' face and head so he could assess the injuries.
“Friend of yours?” he said, looking at Rufus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Business partner.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Rough business you're in.” He
probed gently at Maximus' head wounds. “Well, the skull is intact,
that's good. Scalps bleed like stuck pigs, I find.” He turned to
his assistant. “Luca, another basin of hot water. And more
towels.” He turned back to Maximus but spoke to Rufus. “This
will need more attention. Has he vomited at all?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Good. I need to give him some poppy
juice, and while that is doing it's job, I shall attend to your head.
You seem to have gotten away with rather less than your partner,
here.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The doctor continued skillfully
cleaning the wounds and spreading a sharp-smelling slave on them.
For the first time, Maximus spoke.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Hades, that stinks! What is it?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It's my own invention. I know it
isn't most pleasant of smells, but it will keep infection at bay. I
make it up myself. My teacher swore by it, and I've added a few
ingredients of my own. The men here swear by it... when they aren't
swearing at me." He turned to his assistant. "Luca, I'll
need the finest thread, and that strong wine, and the small basin.”
Once the objects had been brought, he spoke directly to Maximus.
“Now, hold still.” The doctor continued for another thirty
minutes, finally finishing with the last of the stitching and
bandaging.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“There. That should do it.” He
turned to Rufus. “Your injuries should heal fairly fast. This
one's” he said gesturing to Maximus, “will take longer. That
flap of skin that was torn... I've drawn the edges together as close
as I can with some thread, soaked in strong wine.” He tapped
Maximus on the shoulder. “Keep it dry. Are you married? Have
your wife change...” Maximus slowly shook his head. “Well, get
one of your slaves to replace the bandage every few days. If it
feels hot, or starts to smell, get to a doctor. But I think it will
be all right. Get some rest, avoid strong wine, watered wine only
for a week. Same for you.” He looked at Rufus. “You are both
very lucky, you know.” He rinsed his hands and dried them on the
last of the towels. “I'll check on you tomorrow. Now, both of you
need sleep.” The doctor motioned for his assistant Luca to follow,
and exited the room.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus could hear the doctor speaking
with one of the soldiers out in the hallway. “Is there a spare
room? Good. Have a second bed brought in, largest you have. And
let them sleep as long as they may. Simple food only, egg posset
with honey for now, if the cook can manage that. And mind you,
watered wine only.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Sir.” The soldier nodded and left
to do the doctor's bidding.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Both men slept much of that day, only
rousing to piss and eat a simple meal. The camp doctor checked up on
his patients in the late afternoon of the following day.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How are you feeling? Stupid
question, I know. You feel awful. You look awful. But better than
yesterday, actually. Here, let me see your bandages... Marcus,
isn't it?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, Maximus Hirtuleius.” Maximus'
reply was especially nasal in tone, like he had a very bad cold. He
would have a badly broken nose for the rest of his life, increasing
his forbidding looks. Right now, the nose was swathed in bandages,
spotted with red.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“All right, Maximus, now look at me.
Follow my finger with your eyes. Again. Good. Blurred vision? No?
Excellent.” He looked at both men. “Headache, right?” Both
nodded. “To be expected for both of you. Any problem knowing who
you are or where you are?” Both Maximus and Rufus carefully shook
their heads. “Excellent. Well, you've both had some pretty rough
treatment, but I don't see any lingering effects likely. Except your
nose, Maximus. Nothing for that. I'll have one of my assistants
change those bandages for you now.” He next examined Rufus, and,
generally pleased with what he saw, nodded and patted Rufus'
shoulder. “I believe the magistrates want to see you both
tomorrow. As far as I am concerned, you are free to leave whenever.
Just give yourselves time to heal. Rest as much as you can, keep
exertion to a minimum for at least a week, more if you can.” He
strode to the door, turned, and wished them well. “May Aesculapius
watch over you both.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When the doctor had left, Maximus
looked at Rufus. "At least he didn't say we looked like shit."</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>13 April,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The following morning the pair stood
before the same two magistrates that had been present at the raid on
the old market. They spent an hour relating everything that had
happened since they had arrived in Rome, and were closely questioned
about exactly what the slave had told them. Once finished, the two
magistrates put their heads together and spent a good few minutes
whispering to each other, nodding heads.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, You two were fortunate to have
that camp doctor attend you. I'm told he trained with a Greek, and
you know how good Greeks are with injuries and medicine, and... that
sort of thing. I must say this has been a most curious affair. And
a clever scheme of Felix Carbo's, if I do say it myself. Given the
slave's evidence, we had to act fast, and a good thing, too. If it
hadn't been for you two attempting to get your money before the
syndicate disposed of it we might not have caught up with them for
many more months.” The taller of the two magistrates took a sip
from the cup of watered wine at his elbow. “You two have done Rome
and the Emperor a great service in this, even if we can't officially
approve of your methods.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Both Rufus and Maximus interrupted the
magistrate. “We were only going for our own money. It was the
slave who did the service, sir, not us". "Yes, he was the
one who brought the evidence to you.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“At your suggestion, I believe. It's
regrettable that he is no longer with us, the Emperor would certainly
want to thank him as well. The Emperor has had his eye on that
syndicate for a while now. He takes a personal interest in these
cases, you know. Or maybe you don't. Anyway, we will take matters
from here. You needn't concern yourselves with this any further.
And don't worry... those scum will be tried and executed for the two
murders they committed, and the two they attempted. Though, sadly,
Felix Carbo seems to have given us the slip... for now. The taller
magistrate cleared his throat. “The centurion here will escort you
out. And take it easy for a few days... you both look like shit.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But what about our money?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"Oh, all in good time. These things
do take time, you know. That money is evidence now. But you'll get
it back. Eventually.” The magistrate turned to the centurion and
motioned them out the door.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“May I ask a question?” Rufus
wasn't budging until he had the answer to a question that had been
bothering him for the last two days.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What is it?” the shorter
magistrate, Gaius Cassius Longinus, said.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How did the slave come to be dead in
the cellar?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, apparently one of the thugs
hired by Felix Carbo followed him when he came to us. We took his
evidence and then sent him on his way. I believe they took him off
the street after he left here and brought him to the old market so
Carbo could question him about what he might know about the other
banks. Oh, we know there are at least three banks involved in his
scheme. Any road, he must have clammed up, or they got too eager in
their questioning. Which made getting you, and silencing you, all
the more necessary for them. You are very lucky we all showed up in
time.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Couldn't you have provided him with
some protection, at least until you raided the place? He knew he was
being watched.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Why? After all, we had what
evidence we needed, and he was just a slave, after all. And as a
slave, any testimony he might give would be suspect in court without
his being tortured first.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus was livid, and almost said
something regrettable, but Maximus's touch stopped him. “It would
do no good,” the Beast whispered in his Wolfpup's ear. The two
then exited the office, accompanied by the centurion.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The three men, two of them looking the
worse for wear, walked through the cool rooms that made up the
magistrate's offices. The centurion was one of the two that had led
the raiding party at the old market two days prior. He had seen the
surreptitious gesture of a squeezed hand that Rufus had given Maximus
while they were waiting for the legionaries to return with litters.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I know what you two are, you know,”
the centurion said quietly, in a seeming aside as they walked out of
the magistrate's offices and through the barracks courtyard. Rufus'
and Maximus' immediately went into survival mode, a habit long
ingrained. “What are you implying?” Maximus growled with low
menace in his voice.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, no worries, mate. I've buggered
a few recruits myself.” The soldier's eyes took on a distant look.
“More than a few. It's great fun when they wiggle around on my
cock. I love it. Ha! Used to be, no one really minded, as long as
you married and made more Roman brats. But our new Emperor, well...”
He looked appraisingly at Rufus. “Fuck me running, but you must
shine like a beacon's fire, when you're naked, with all that red
hair.” He all but licked his lips like a wolf eyeing his prey.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus stepped closer to the centurion
and brought his battered face close. “Careful, <i>mate</i>. Lay a
hand on him and I'll break you in two and not raise a sweat doing
it.” Maximus grinned with slowly increasing menace and seemed to
grow larger. Both hands formed very large fists.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The soldier raised both his hands in
front of him, palms out. “Pace, friend. I mean no harm. Just
want to give you a friendly warning... from one friend of Priapus to
another. Our new emperor is quite the moralist. He has issued any
number of public morality decrees promoting the mos maiorum, and he
especially disproves of 'activities' that run counter to the increase
of numbers of natural-born Roman citizens. And he's not just talking
about mistresses kept on the side.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Point taken,” Rufus hastily said,
anxious to get away.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Just watch yourselves, is all.”
They had reached the compound gate. “Here we are, then. Go well,
and... Priapus watch over you!” The centurion winked.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Left outside the gate, Rufus and
Maximus turned to each other. “Whew! Now what?” they said
together. “I think..,” again together. They started to laugh
and then stopped, heads throbbing. Rufus said, “You first.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“OK. Well, I hesitate to say this,
because you know these people and I don't. But what about the man
Lucius sold his share of the business to? I forget his name, but
they knew each other for many years. Do you think he might be able
to help us? Lucius, at least, was well known in the metals trade,
and must have had dealings with the magistrates now and again. I'm
guessing here, I know.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, Beast, it's a good idea. His
name is Caius Calvus, and I think I know where to find him.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Do you think they will catch up with
Carbo, Wolfpup?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, he had a head start, but I
don't doubt they will try. I hope they do find him. Those others shouldn't take all the blame while he gets away.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Unknown to any of them, Felix Carbo was at that moment reclining on the bottom of the Mediterranean, having been knifed and smothered and then relieved of his two bulging leather sacks by the ship's captain he had bribed for passage to Alexandria. His weighted body had been pushed overboard in the early morning hours. At first, his body didn't attract much attention from passing fish, but then the bottom feeders began to gather.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> *</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Two hours and a long walk later found
them standing in front of Lucius' old metals business. Rufus knocked
on the wooden door beside the large closed opening for what was
likely the main entrance and exit.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“WHAT?” came a shout from within,
and then the door was opened by a grime-covered young man wearing a
leather apron. “What do you want, we're closed, can't you see?”
gesturing towards the shuttered opening.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We're looking for Caius Calvus. I
am Rufus Hirtuleius, I once was a slave of one of the owners here.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh. He's in back, through there,”
the young man nodded over his shoulder, looked closely at Maximus'
bandaging, and then abruptly walked off. Rufus and Maximus walked to
the back of the shop and found Caius, hunched over a piece of metal
filigree, most likely part of a hanging lamp. He looked up, and
recognized Rufus' fiery red beard and hair.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Rufus! As I live and breathe! It
has been years since I've seen you. How are you? How is Lucius?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“He is well. I am as you see me.
And you?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The business prospers, so I am well!
And who is this wounded hulk? No, wait, Lucius mentioned him. It
will come to me... Marius? Marcus?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus said, “No, Maxi...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Maximus! I knew I'd remember it.
By the gods, you look like shit. What happened? No, wait... we've
heard something about this I think. First, I know Lucius took my
advice about the bank, so I assume that is the reason you both are
here in Rome?” The pair nodded. “And did the magistrates raid a
counterfeiting scheme involving that bank?” Again, they nodded.
“Ah, so the rumors are true. And that must mean that you two were
the ones we heard were rescued from certain death! There must have
been quite a fight by the looks of you. The rumors have you two
fighting hordes of counterfeiters, and legionaries swooping in at the
very last minute. They are supposed to have carried off heaps of
silver and coins!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus finally got a word in edgewise.
“Hardly all of that! It's a long story and it's partly why we are
here, but not entirely. Might we sit somewhere? It's been a long
walk.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh! Oh, of course. Yes. Come
with me, my house is at the back, just through here.. come.” They
followed Caius across a yard with a blacksmiths furnace and several
carts and into a surprisingly spacious house, comfortably furnished.
Caius called for one of his house slaves to bring refreshments. All
three sat on cushioned chairs with a low table between them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“My wife died three years ago, so the
slaves keep all this in trim for me now. She chose the furniture,
and I've kept it all.” In spite of the sad topic, Caius seemed
relatively cheerful. “Now, tell me all about this.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For the next half hour, Rufus related
the story of their adventures, with Maximus adding details here and
there. “So, really, that is why we are here. We both would like
to ask for your help. We came to you since you and Lucius had been
in business together for so long, and we know of no one else who
might be able to help.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well and good, but you haven't told
me what it is you need help with?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The magistrates tell us that our
money is evidence and that we cannot have it now. We will get it
'eventually', but they don't say when, just that it 'takes time'.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes. Well, Roman justice sometimes
works slowly, I admit. I imagine you would like your money sooner?
Am I right? I bet I am!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, and as soon as possible.
Maximus and I are going into business together, and that money was to
pay for the purchase of land. For horse raising. Maximus is
excellent with horses, and I will keep the books and handle the
finances and help arrange the sales. But the contract we have with
the owner specifies that we pay him by the end of this month.”
This was the story he and Maximus had agreed upon to use with the
bank if needed, and it would work as well here, too. “We just
don't know what to do at this point, and thought you might have an
idea.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Who are the magistrates involved, do
you know?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“ Yes. They interviewed us today.
Gaius Cassius Longinus and Gaius Aquillius Gallus.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, the two Gaiuses. I know
Longinus. Helped him get elected last year. He owes me a favor or
two for that. Let me see what I can do. It may take a day or two,
the Emperor's new currency issue has made extra work for just about
everybody, it seems. But I'll do what I can. Are you staying
nearby?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We don't actually have a pla...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Stay here, then; I've plenty of
room, and would be glad of the company. Besides, it looks like both
of you could use some rest. You look like shit. Agreed?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We would be most grateful.”
Maximus was suddenly feeling extremely tired and a bit unsteady, and
the thought of a good lie-down appealed greatly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Then it's settled.” He called for
one of the house slaves and gave orders for two rooms to be made
ready, and for extra places for the evening meal. Shortly after,
Rufus and Maximus were led to their rooms and provided with pitchers
of hot water and towels.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later, after a rest and wash-up, at the
evening meal in the triclinium Caius said, “I'd thought of
suggesting a visit to the baths, but seeing your bandages... what
exactly <i>did</i> happen in that basement? You say the rumors are
exaggerated, but by the look of you... And what happened to that
poor slave? The rumors are quite extravagant, and no two are the
same. But you know how gossips are! Ha! Can't resist adding more
and more lurid information!” Rufus and Maximus filled in details
they had left out earlier.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It seems as if the gods were truly
watching over you both. You could have easily ended up like that
slave, poor fellow.” Caius reached for a handful of grapes. “I
will get in touch with Longinus tomorrow and see what can be done.
He's apt to forget who he owes favors to.” Rufus raised an eyebrow
at this. “Oh, politics don't really change all that much, Emperor
to Emperor. It's much the same as it always has been, in spite of
Domitian's morality campaign.” He paused. “Yes. Gaius will
want to run for a second year as magistrate, before moving further up
the cursus honorum. His term is almost up, so he'll be 'receptive'
to offers of help. I think we can work something out. In fact, I'm
sure of it!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We would be most grateful for any
help, Caius Calvus.” Both Rufus and Maximus yawned at the same
time. Maximus smiled sheepishly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You are both tired. Perhaps you
<i>should</i> make an early night of it. I think I will go to the
baths, though. If you need anything, just ask the slaves. And I
will send Marcus to you in the morning to help with changing the
bandages. Calpurnia always said he had the gentlest hands.” Rufus
thanked their benefactor and he and Maximus returned to their
separate rooms and fell into deep sleep.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>14 April,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The following morning, Marcus appeared
with fresh bandaging at Rufus' door. “I can handle this, I think,
but if you would see to Maximus? And thank you.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Certainly, honored sir.” Marcus
bowed himself out and went down the hall to Maximus' room and
knocked.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Come in.” Marcus opened the door.
His eyes took in the sight of a nearly naked man, surely the
hairiest one he had ever seen. Being a modest and discrete slave, he
did not betray his surprise.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I'm here to help with the bandages,
if it please you.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well... yes, I could use some help I
think.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Marcus began unwinding the bandage
covering Maximus' skull wound. “Oh, my. I've seen a few injuries,
mostly burns around here. Obviously, this was serious. But it looks
very clean, no infection. And someone did a fine job with the
thread.” He dabbed at the healing wound with a cloth soaked in
strong wine. Maximus winced. “I apologize, honored sir. Let me
get some salve the dominus keeps for burns, it will help.” He
returned a few minutes later to find Maximus combing his beard,
tangled from sleeping. “I can do that for you if you wish. Your
bandages first, though.” Marcus skillfully applied the salve and
fresh bandage. Almost immediately, the pain eased.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, that is good, Marcus. Where did
you learn to tend wounds?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Mostly by experience. Men working
with hot metals get an amazing number of injuries, so it was
necessary to learn. Here, let me.” Marcus gently combed the
snarls out of Maximus' bushy beard. “There. Will you want
something to eat?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus' belly grumbled. “Yes,
please! And see if Rufus Hirtuleius will have some, too.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I will let the cook know.” Marcus
helped Maximus with his tunic, silently marveled at the thick fur on
the man's shoulders and back, and then bowed his way out.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They were eating their morning meal
when Caius Calvus hurried in. “Ah, you are up. Good. Busy day.
Did you sleep well?” Not waiting for an answer, Caius grabbed a
hunk of bread and some cheese. “I have to be out for most of the
day. Take your ease, ask Marcus or any of the slaves if you need
anything. Much to do. I should be back by late afternoon.” With
a cheerful wave, Caius hustled out.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I get tired, just watching him. I
remember Lucius saying it was like working next to a spinning top.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How's your head?” Maximus asked.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus thought for a moment. “You
know, it doesn't hurt much at all. Wrists are sore. Lip is still
tender. But all in all, not too bad. How about you?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Whatever salve Marcus smeared on my
skull has taken that pain away completely. My nose still hurts like
Hades, though.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“My poor Beast,” Rufus whispered.
Aloud, he said, “Well that is good. We'll have to see if we can
get some of it to take with us.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Finishing their meal they walked into
the small garden and sat in the morning sun. “Ah, that feels
good.” Maximus sighed, then looked carefully around. They were
alone. He turned to Rufus and in a quiet voice said, “I ache for
you Wolfpup. I miss holding you. I need you next to me.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, I know, Beast. I feel that,
too. But soon we can, as much as we want.” Rufus sighed and
closed his eyes against the sun for a while.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Beast? If you are up to it, I may
have a quicker solution to our need. But only if you feel rested
enough.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Go on, Wolfpup.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, there is a lupanar I know of,
a rather notorious one...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Um... Wolfpup, I don't want to pay a
slave to... I need<i> you</i>.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I didn't mean that. This place also
rents rooms. The decorations are... arousing. We could tell Caius
that we are in need of some time out and about this evening. Several
hours in each other arms would do us both a world of good, I think.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You interest me! Will this place
mind two men...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You forget, I grew up in Rome.
Attitudes here are more relaxed than in the countryside. As long as
they get their money, the brothel owners don't much care what goes on
behind the curtains... as long as their property isn't damaged in the
process.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It sounds wonderful, Wolfpup. Let's
go!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“My sex-crazed Beast! I didn't mean
right now!” Rufus said with a laugh. “ Let's spend a quiet day,
and then go in the early evening. Besides, you know what the doctor
said.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I know, I know, no exertion, lots of
rest, and all the rest of it. I'm not an invalid, and I'm not at
death's door. Time and sex with my Wolfpup is the best thing for my
health right now, doctor be damned. Yours too, I'll wager.” Rufus
smiled and nodded in response.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They passed the rest of the morning
watching the craftsmen at work in the shop, followed with a simple
but filling noon meal and a long nap.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In the late afternoon, Caius returned
home, bustling in the door while giving orders to one of the
craftsmen from the shop. “We'll need twenty of them, the hammered
copper ones. Can that be done by, oh, say, the day after tomorrow?”
The craftsman nodded and returned to the shop, and Caius went
looking for Rufus or Maximus. He found Maximus walking in the
garden.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, there you are. Have a good day?
Got some rest? You look better. Where is Rufus? I need to talk
with you both.” All this in rapid fire.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“He was just relieving himself, he
should be here in a little bit. And thank you again for the
hospitality. I am feeling better, and I think Rufus is too, but
you'll have to ask him. Ah, here he comes.” Rufus walked into the
garden, not expecting to see Caius as well as Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, excellent. Maximus tells me he
is feeling better. How are you doing? I trust you got some rest
today, you are looking more like the Rufus I remember. Now I have
news, why don't we all sit, it's still pleasant out.” He gestured
to the long bench at the side of the house.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, I did get to see Gaius Cassius
Longinus this morning. He was busy as usual, but when I mentioned my
name, the slave brought me to him immediately.” Caius smiled. “We
chatted for a bit, we discussed the upcoming elections, I offered my
help again, reminded him of my previous help... and then indicated <i>I</i>
needed some help with a problem.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Was he receptive?” Rufus asked.
“He didn't seem all that interesting in moving things along when we
were with him.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ha! Well, you see, you didn't help
get him elected!” Caius gave a great belly laugh. “It's all
quid pro quo, gentleman... it's politics!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And?” Maximus was anxious for
Caius to relate the results of his conversation with the magistrate.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, it was quite satisfactory. Your
money will be here tomorrow, all of it, and already exchanged for new
coins... real ones!" Caius smiled. "You see, Gaius
<i>really</i> wants to be re-elected.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That is indeed good news! Thank you
so much!” Rufus was smiling carefully, his lip still tender; and
Maximus clapped Caius on the back, thanking him as well.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Caius gave another belly laugh and
smiled broadly. “I am a very good businessman, and I know how to
collect on debts owed.” Suddenly serious, he looked at both men.
“That money means a lot, doesn't it?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, it does. It means the future,
for each of us. Lucius was very generous to us when he manumitted
us, but we have to make our own ways now.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“As I understand it from Lucius, very
much deserved on both your parts. Well, what are your plans?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We are going into business,
together, at least initially. We have found some land and will be
raising horses for sale. Maximus here does very well with horses.
I'm good with figures and such, so I will keep the books for the
business, perhaps do some record-keeping for local businesses. We
will see how it goes. The urgent need was because we have contracted
for that land and have thirty days to pay. And that was fourteen,
no, fifteen days ago. We were on our way here when Lucius caught up
with us and gave us your news about the bank.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That was fortunate, and I am glad my
news prevented you, or Lucius, from being cheated.” Caius got up
from the bench. “And now, I need to freshen up and go meet some
prospective clients. This could be a big contract for us here. I am
giving them a nice soak in our baths, and then a tour of the
workshop, then dinner. Will you two be all right on your own? I
know it's remiss of my host duties, but it will be just business
talk...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Do not worry, Caius, you have
already helped us greatly. Actually, we thought we might go out for
a bit this evening, we are both feeling better, and it's been a
stressful few days.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“In need of some recreation? Ha!
Best thing! There are two very nice tavernas not far from here,
excellent wine. And a quite good lupanar, just down the road. Very
good company, if you take my meaning!” Caius positively leered.
“Just follow the phalluses on the cobblestones, can't miss it!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Thank you, we'll watch for it!”
Maximus smiled and nudged Rufus, playing the part of two gentlemen
looking for an evening's entertainment. Caius hustled into the
house, leaving Rufus and Maximus looking at each other and smiling.
“Looks like we are in luck. Caius won't wonder why we are gone.
Still, we shouldn't stay out too late. We're still 'recovering', you
know!” Maximus leaned over and whispered to Rufus. “You're the
medicine I need right now, and I intend on making you feel much
better very soon.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">An hour later, just as the sun was
going down, the pair were out, walking down the narrow streets
leading away from Caius Calvus' house and workshop. Rufus was
muttering to himself, recalling the way to Acca Laurentia's, which
was not the brothel Caius has mentioned. “Phalluses in the
cobblestones... who would have thought it?” Maximus chuckled. “How
do you know of this place, Wolfpup?” Maximus was curious. Slaves
were not usually taken along when gentlemen visited brothels.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They stopped walking. “Maximus,
listen to me. I know you've had experiences with women as well as
men. I did, too, before we met. For me, it was necessary to give
truth to the 'illusion'. None of that makes any difference now. I
love you Beast. Nothing else interests me.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I know that, Wolfpup. I didn't
mean... I was just...” He sighed. “The past is past. It does
not affect us at all. But I was just curious how you came to know of
the place. Did Lucius frequent it?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Jove's balls, no!” Rufus
chuckled, imagining Lucius' reaction to some of the antics he had
seen there, years ago. “But always at Saturnalia, we slaves were
given a whole day and night free from all duties. Did you ever have
that, Beast? I mean before Lucius bought you?” Maximus shook his
head. “It was complete liberty, and in some households, it was
chaos. Very large households would even elect ones of themselves to
be the dominus and domina for the day. Lucius and Antonia gave each
of us a small sum to go out and do as we wished. The staff was
larger then, and some of us men went to brothels. One year, we found
our way to Acca Laurentia's, having heard rumors of its reputation.
Turns out it was fully deserved.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Are you sure they won't mind people
like us?” Maximus was clearly still worried how two adult men of
the same age taking a room together would be viewed. Oddly, an older
man and a younger one were less likely to be looked askance at.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I tell you, Beast, this place is
notorious. They raise an eyebrow at nothing, and wink at everything.
It's like Rome the way it used to be before the Flavians. Well, in
private, at least.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“All right, I will take your word for
it.” They turned a corner and stood in front of the door to Acca
Laurentia's. In the doorway there was a slave, tasked with admitting
or turning away potential customers. He looked over the pair and
then, shaking his head, said, “Sorry gentlemen. Move along.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus, not about to be frustrated in
his quest for his Beast's seed, spoke up with an edge to his voice,
“What? Are we inconveniens? Not good enough for you?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, you both look like...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus gave a deep growl and took a
step towards the door man. Startled, the door man stepped back,
considered a moment, and then stepped aside. The pair entered the
atrium, and Rufus gave Maximus'shand a squeeze. “Well done,
Beast.” Maximus smiled.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The atrium, open to the sky, was
generously proportioned The impluvium featured a fountain with an
impressively endowed satyr enthusiastically raping a young faun. The
sun was down now, and a number of hanging oil lamps gave off a
pleasant flickering light. Incense, smelling of Oriental spices,
wafted gently from a censer in the corner. On the right wall, there
was a large fresco of three nymphs pleasuring a reclining senator,
his robe with it's purple stripe discarded beside him. Sounds of
people talking and laughing and splashing came from the baths,
through an archway to their left. The two approached the counter,
behind which the brothel's lena was sitting, gazing in a polished
silver mirror, plucking her eyebrows.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And what would you two fine.... oh,
my! No. No, no. Not here. I am sorry, but I really can't have...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What's wrong with us?” Maximus
growled, getting tired of being looked down upon.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, I'm sure you are very
respectable-looking gentlemen under normal circumstances, but,
looking as you now do...” She gestured at them. “It would be bad
for my business. I run a very popular and respectable establishment
and there's an image to keep up, you know. Fighting is frowned upon
in polite company. My customers come here for a good time, not a
street fight. You two look like shi...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We know, we've heard it before. We
only want a room, we wouldn't be taking advantage of your more...
public facilities.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah.” A pause. “I see.”
Another pause. “Well, then...” The lena thought for a moment
further. “How long would you be wanting the room for?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Two... no, three hours.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The lena made a quick calculation.
Looking Maximus up and down, she said, “Number ten is my largest
room, though the frescoes might not be to your taste. Bucket, oil,
water, and sponge provided. Towels included. It has a fresh
mattress. Twelve silver asses, new ones, mind.” Maximus started
to object, but Rufus interjected.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We'll take it. How much for an
extra mattress?” Rufus asked.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Two silver asses.” Again, Maximus
started to object, but Rufus nudged him, shook his head, and handed
over the coins.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The lena handed Rufus one of two copper
discs with the number '10' carved on it. The other she hung on the
largest of the water clocks on a shelf behind her. “Number ten is
down that corridor on the right. Hang that disk on the hook beside
the curtain, no one will bother you. I will let you know when your
time is up,” she said, nodding at the now dripping water clock.
“Will you two be wanting some company this evening?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“NO!” the pair said together. The
lena sniffed and returned to her eyebrows.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus gave the lena a disdainful
look, leaned over and slowly and deeply kissed Rufus, took his hand,
and they walked down the hallway towards number ten. A slave popped
out of a door at the end of the hall, carrying the extra mattress for
the room.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus drew the curtain aside, and
they stepped inside the room. It was larger than they expected, and
quite clean. It was obvious that some money had been spent on the
furnishings. Three hanging bronze oil lamps provided subdued light.
The stone shelf against the far wall held the two plump mattresses,
covered with a soft muslin cloth. A pretty table with a brass statue
of Venus caressing a satyr stood against one wall. A low upholstered
stool and a chair with an unusual shape completed the furniture. The
fresco on one wall indeed did not fit their tastes, showing an older
man ravishing a younger woman, barely a woman, in fact. The scent of
the incense hung in the air.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus pulled the heavy, woven curtain
back across the doorway, and they fell into each other's arms,
hugging tightly. “Oh, don't let go, Wolfpup. Hold me tight.”
Rufus, who had no intention of letting go, squeezed tighter.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They kissed repeatedly, letting their
passion rise with their cocks. They slowly undressed each other,
reveling in the sight of each other's hairy bodies. “Gods, you are
beautiful!” Maximus said, gently stroking Rufus' beard and chest.
He reached down and cupped his lover's ball sack and leaned in and
kissed him. Rufus, knowing how very much his Beast liked it, tilted
his head a bit and searched for a nipple among the thick fur.
Finding it after a couple of misses, he latched on and sucked gently,
then licked all around, and then flicked the erect nubbin with his
tongue. “Holy Priapus!” the Beast gasped, and raised both hands
to cradle Rufus' head against his chest. Rufus kept lapping and
sucking, eventually switching to the other nipple. Maximus growled
with rising pleasure. “Come lay down with me.” Maximus led Rufus
to the cushioned stone ledge and lay down, gently pulling his Wolfpup
after.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They lay on their sides, facing each
other and stroking and caressing each other's bodies and fur, the
tips of their cocks touching. They leaned in and began kissing
again, gently and lovingly at first, and then with more fierceness,
but with Maximus being careful of Rufus' lip. Maximus' hand circled
around behind Rufus' head and pulled him in close, tongues touched
and probed, then wrestled. Their passion flared brightly and they
hugged each other, furred chests and bellies pressed tight, cocks
grinding into each others' crotches. They stroked each other's
bodies, hands lingering over pleasingly soft bellies, and then
reaching down to fondle rigid cocks and furred ball sacks.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus pushed Rufus over on his back,
nuzzled in his beard, and then moved down to his chest, caressing one
nipple then the other with his tongue, sucking, flicking, biting
gently. Rufus writhed under the treatment. He raised his hands and
pushed Maximus' head down towards his straining cock.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus moved further down, kissing and
nibbling Rufus' furred belly as he did so. Rufus's thick cock was
straining upwards, foreskin fully stretched back, the tip glistening
with precum. Maximus slowly swallowed it, working his way down the
shaft with his lips, a bit at a time.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, Beast,” Rufus breathed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus pulled partway off and gripped
the now slick shaft with his hand, moving it up and down slowly,
along with his mouth. Every few strokes, he would use his tongue to
trace the underside of his Wolfpup's shaft. Unable to hold back any
longer, Rufus began thrusting upwards with ever-increasing urgency.
Maximus kept pace, and with a loud groan, Rufus flooded his Beast's
mouth with copious load of red wolf pup seed. Maximus swallowed
greedily, sucking to stimulate more flow. When the flow finally
stopped, Maximus released the slowly softening meat he had feasted on
and looked at Rufus. “Good?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ye gods... good? Optimus maximus!”
Still a bit winded, Rufus saw the rope of precum dripping from the
Beast's cock, riding high and tight against his belly. “My turn!”
The exchanged positions, and Rufus made love to his Beast's pole.
While he was working the shaft, he worked an oil covered finger, then
two, into his Beast's ass. On the first entry, Maximus gasped aloud.
Rufus continued working at bringing Maximus very close to exploding,
and then backing off, the prostate massage eventually turning his
Beast into a whimpering fur-covered mass.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Let me fill you, Wolfpup! Please, I
need to...” With that, Rufus pushed two fingers in Maximus' hole
and at the same time, swallowed his cock down to the root. Maximus
exploded in Rufus' mouth, filling it with hot salty fluid. The more
Rufus swallowed, the more Maximus pumped. Finally, Rufus sank down
onto Maximus' belly, the last spurts of the Beast's seed running down
on his beard.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They both were panting with exertion.
Rufus rolled on his back next to Maximus, and they lay together as
their breathing and pulses returned to normal. Neither said
anything, each savoring the experience. But nature would not be
denied, and their lusts and cocks both rose again as they fondled
each other. They took turns humping each other's asses, penetrating
and teasing, pulling out almost all the way then plunging back in,
moving very slow then faster and faster, edging closer and closer to
climax, then backing off to prolong the pleasure.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That's it, Wolfpup, take me! Breed
me... OH! Deeper, deeper. Yes! Oh, gods, YES! You feel so good.
Don't stop, don't hold back. Flood me with your seed!” On all
fours, Maximus looked like a thick, heavy draft horse. Rufus's eyes
were closed in ecstacy, focused intently on the exquisite feelings
traveling up and down his cock as he plunged in and out of his
lover's tight, warm ass. When he shot off, he was surprised at the
quantity of his seed, having just recently emptied a large amount to
Maximus' belly. Maximus eased himself down on the compressed
mattresses. Rufus lay, temporarily spent, on Maximus' backside.
When his cock shrank and slipped out of his lover's ass, he rose up
and silently nudged Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus scrambled up and moved aside so
Rufus could assume the classic position of animals mating. Maximus
positioned himself and oiled his cock and Rufus' hole. He centered
his cock, and gripped Rufus' hips with both hands, and pressed in
without stopping until he bottomed out, buried a deep as he could go.
He began a steady fuck rhythm, pulling back until he was nearly out,
and then pressing firmly all the way back in. He gave Rufus no
chance to rest or catch his breath, urgent need rising higher and
higher.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, FUTUO, Beast! Bite me, take
me!” Rufus growled and thrashed as Maximus leaned down and took
his lover's neck in his mouth, biting, sucking, and licking. Rufus
bucked back, and that drove Maximus over the edge for the second
time. He reared up, grabbed Rufus' hips more tightly and hauled him
back, hard, onto his rigid cock as he shot blast after blast of his
seed deep inside. They were both shaking as Maximus eased Rufus
down on the bedding and then rolled him over against his own body.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Spent, they spent the remainder of
their time in each other's arms, kissing gently and stroking each
other's bodies, warm hands tracing outlines of bellies and chests and
beards. “Why do you think we like fucking so much, Beast?”
Rufus' backside was tucked tightly against Maximus' front, the small
of his back perfectly fitting the Beast's belly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Because it feels good,” Maximus
replied, pulling Rufus in closer, his hand holding the red-furred
man's chest. His cock tip was still lodged in just inside his
lover's warm ass. He avoided moving his hips to keep himself in as
long as possible.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, but we have hands to relieve
ourselves when we need to, or want to, and that feels good. What
makes it better when someone else is involved?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus raised himself on an elbow.
The tip of his cock slipped out of Rufus' ass with the movement. “I
think it's because when we relieve ourselves, we know exactly what
will happen next, with each move we make, because we're making it.
There's no mystery, no surprise. Now when someone else is in
control...” Maximus lightly pinched the Wolfpup's nipple that his
hand was covering.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Stop that!” Rufus giggled.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Really? You want me to stop?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No.... you know I don't!” Rufus
gave Maximus'shand a squeeze with his own. Maximus nuzzled his
lover's neck, beard and lips brushing skin still wet with their
sweat.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Time, gentlemen,” the lena said.
She stood outside number ten, but did not move the curtain that
covered the doorway. Long practice had taught her that clients
usually did not like the curtain moved aside before they were ready,
and she had no curiosity about what had or was transpiring on the
other side. Besides, she thought to herself, 'I've see it all before
anyway'. Human lust and sexual appetites held no surprises for her.
She walked back down the hall. If the men had not emerged in a few
minutes, she'd send Macro in to roust them out.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus and Rufus rose from the
comfortable mattresses, embraced and kissed one last time before
returning to the real world outside. They used the sponge and water
bucket, donned their tunics and outer cloaks, and walked down the
hallway to the atrium. As they passed by the counter, Rufus wished
the lena 'bonum nocte', but got only a faint grunt in response.
Outside, they both took deep breaths, for the first time in three
hours not laden with the incense that seemed to have seeped into
their very pores.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I love you, Beast,” Rufus, taking
Maximus' hand and squeezing. “And I, you,” Maximus replied with
a squeeze of his own. The night had taken on a chill, and the pair
walked quickly on their way back to Caius Calvus' house. On the way,
two street thugs started to approach, and then veered off after
sizing up Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Told you you'd be safe with me!”
Maximus chuckled. Rufus laughed, and gave Maximus a quick hug on the
now deserted street.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When they reached Caius Calvus' house,
they found him standing in a reception room just off the atrium,
weaving slightly. “Ah! You made it back safely. Good!” He
looked the pair over carefully. “You two both look much more
relaxed and happy! Excellent! I take it a good time was had? I
knew it! Didn't I tell you it was a good place? Yes?! And by the
looks of your neck, Rufus, you had Messalina! She's a hungry one!”
Caius seemed just as pleased with his 'recommendation' as he was
with their appearance. Rufus smiled and said, “A gentleman, even
if he's a former slave, never tells.” Maximus just smiled and
nodded, saying nothing.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, that's proper, don't give me
details... best left unsaid. It's obvious that the visits did both
of you good! Best thing to buck up a man's spirits, attention from
the ladies. Am I right?!” Caius almost leered at the two. “I'll
wager you had more fun than I, but I had the better financial luck!
The clients are greatly impressed and will be signing a contract that
will make me a decent amount of money.” He grinned. “I'm a very
good businessman, you know!” He very nearly lost his footing, and
put a hand out to steady himself.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And now, bed for me. It's been
quite a night for all of us! Bonum nocte!” Caius padded off to
his bedroom, more than a bit unsteady from wine. Marcus appeared at
the doorway. “Will either of the honored gentlemen require
anything?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, Marcus, thank you. We are good
for the night.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Then I shall attend to dominus and
then retire myself. Bonum nocte.” He hurried off to help Caius
navigate his way to bed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>15 April,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The next morning, they met a perfectly
sober Caius Calvus in the room he used as his office. “Well, well,
you both look the best I've seen you! Too bad about your nose,
Maximus, but it does sort of give you an 'air', if you take my
meaning. No offense, of course!” Neither man had renewed their
bandages, refusing the help of Marcus, but accepting his offer of
pots of the salve that Maximus had found comforting. After nearly a
week, the bruising was fading for both of them, too.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Gaius Cassius said he would send
your funds here after the quarta hora, so it should be soon now.
Here, sit” He pushed the dish of cheeses, olives, and bread
towards them. “I know you were concerned about how you might
transport the money back with you. I have a suggestion, if you
like.” The two nodded as they tore hunks of bread and dipped them
into the dish of garum. “I have a shipment of iron goods going
north. It's stowed in the wagons and ready to go, but I've stopped
the drovers for a bit. We could easily place your funds, once they
get here, in with the crates so they would not be noticed. I always
send guards with these shipments, but really... things have gotten a
lot quieter since the Emperor's public executions of highway thieves.
Amazing what a few flayed corpses will do to encourage respect for
the law!” Caius munched on some olives.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">One of the workmen from the shop
appeared at the door, along with Marcus. “Two men from the
magistrate's office to see you, dominus.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, excellent. Show them in.” In
short order, the two largish deposit boxes, with fresh seals, were
set on the table and the messengers withdrew. Caius disappeared for
a moment and then re-appeared with a cutting tool from the shop. “I
know Gaius will be scrupulous in this matter, but we have a saying
here... 'trust, but verify'.” With that, he cut the seals and
opened the boxes. “Gentlemen, please count and be sure all your
funds are there. I have some business to attend to while you do
that.” Caius discretely left the room and busied himself elsewhere
in the house.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I guess we should count. These
coins are really all new issue, it seems.” Rufus held several up,
scrutinizing them in the light. “We'll have to take the
magistrate's word they are the real thing. They certainly look it.”
Rufus and Maximus set to counting. It took rather longer than they
thought, but once done, it was apparent that their funds were there
down to the last silver as.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I'll find Caius,” Maximus said.
“Nice of him to give us some privacy.” He left Rufus putting the
last of the bags of coins back in the boxes.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Caius and Maximus returned quickly.
“All in order I trust?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Very much so, and thank you again
for all of your help in this, Caius Calvus. Truly, you have been a
godsend to us.” Rufus, followed by Maximus, grasped Caius' forearm
and then embraced briefly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“One of the workmen will be here to
set fresh seals on the chests, and then I think you can be off. You
should be back in plenty of time to make your payment for the land.”
Caius nodded approvingly as the workman hot sealed each box with
molten lead. “There. All done! Gentlemen, it's been a
pleasure... and don't forget to give my very best wishes to Lucius
and that lovely wife of his! May Fortuna always watch over you, and
Moneta over your money! And Jove speed you on your way!” He
embraced each of the men again and then bustled off with the workman
talking rapidly as he walked. “Now, don't forget we need those
copper fittings today, tomorrow at the latest....” His voice faded
as he crossed the courtyard and entered the shop.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus and Maximus looked at each other.
“I guess that is it. We really are on our way.” They walked to
the wagon that was being loaded with their funds, the boxes placed in
a wooden crate, cushioned with straw. Tucked amongst the wooden
crates, they were unremarkable. Rufus and Maximus climbed up on the
front of the wagon with the drover. “Do you mind company?”
“No, not at all,” the drover said. “Helps pass the time.”
The oxen lurched forward, and they were off.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later in the afternoon, Maximus,
gesturing to the guards riding in the other wagon, asked the drover,
“It seems pretty quiet. Do you always have the guards?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes... boss likes the security.
Though there has been much less trouble on the roads of late.” He
shifted the straw in his mouth to the other side. “Say what you
will, but our new Emperor's pursuit of criminals has made a
difference.” He flicked his whip against one of the oxen's flanks.
“Move on.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>21 April,
82 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Six days later, Maximus and Rufus,
along with some of their money, were back at the inn. The inn-keeper
greeted them at the door, hands on his hips. “I wondered if you
would return, seems like a long time.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus spoke up. “We had thirty days,
this is actually a week ahead of time. We have your money.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Good. We'll go inside.” The
inn-keeper turned and went in. Maximus and Rufus followed, Maximus
holding the leather sack that contained the price of their future.
The remaining funds they had buried in a well-concealed location in a
copse of trees along one of several minor roads leading out of town.
They would pick it up later. Rufus especially was uncomfortable
traveling with so much money, but they had little choice. This was a
good compromise.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus set the bag down with a heavy
'clunk' on one of the tables in the dining area. “I assume that
you have the deed for us?” Maximus leaned on the table, both arms
planted, one on each side of the bag.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, as promised.” He unrolled
the deed and pushed it towards Rufus, and then, remembering, moved it
to Maximus.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, my partner can go over it. You
and I can count the money.” Maximus untied the leather thongs and
spilled the coins out on the table. The landlord's eye's glittered.
“You'll notice that it's all in the Emperor's new coinage.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The landlord held one up to the light.
“Handsome,” he said. “You won't mind if I check this.” It
was a statement, not a question. “Servius!” he called out over
his shoulder. A small, neat man emerged from the kitchen area,
carrying a leather wrap, which he unrolled on the table. He selected
two coins at random. He set them on a scale, one at a time, and then
placed another coin on the other pan. Each balanced. “Good,”
the man said. He then took a small vial and unstoppered it, spilling
a small drop of the liquid on each coin. The liquid rolled off the
coins and on to the table, where it fizzed and ate a shallow pit on
the table top, leaving the coins unscathed. “Good,” he said
again, stoppered the vial, and nodded to the inn-keeper, holding out
his hand. The inn-keeper handed over a coin from the pile. The
small man rolled up his equipment, nodded his thanks, nodded to
Maximus and Rufus, and exited the inn via the front door.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Are we good?” Maximus said to
Rufus, who had finished reading the deed. Rufus nodded. "It's
all in order."</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Will you require rooms for the
night?” the inn-keeper asked as he swept the coins back into the
bag.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, I think not. We have much work
to do. We will be on our way. Vale. May the gods watch over you and
your family.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Valete.” The inn-keeper clutched
the bag in his hand, turned, and walked away.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus turned to Rufus. “Notice he
kept the bag?” Rufus chuckled. “Let him have it. Let us go.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">That afternoon, they made their first
purchase for their new lives, a stout wooden cart with iron-shod
wheels, and a pair of oxen. “I thought you would look for horses,
Beast.” Rufus said with a smile.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Horses are good for general work and
personal transport. Oxen are better for the heavy jobs.” They
climbed up on the cart. Maximus touched the oxen's flanks with the
tip of the whip, and they lurched into motion, and headed off to
collect the rest of their money that they had hidden earlier. With
that safely stowed in their new cart, they headed off towards Rocca.
The two looked at each other and smiled, and then started to laugh
out loud with joy, thinking of their new life... together.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>27 April,
95 AD</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I've been thinking...” Maximus
said, laying aside the scroll he had been reading as he and Rufus
sat, naked, at the table in their kitchen. It was a special pleasure
to be able to be naked now, whenever they wished.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"What, again? I thought I had
thoroughly drained you this morning...” Rufus, with practiced
speed, dodged Maximus' attempted swat.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think of other things than sex
with you, Wolfpup.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus grinned. “You shouldn't, I'll
think I am losing my skills. All right, all right, I am listening.
What thoughts other than sex with your Wolfpup have you been
thinking? Something in that scroll?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus gave Rufus 'The Look' before
continuing. “No, not in the scroll. You know how we always stop
at the baths in Clusium when we are there.” Rufus nodded. It was
a special treat, a long hot soak to ease aching muscles, along with
the slight touch of arthritis that he would never admit to. “Well,
I was thinking it would be nice to do something like that at home.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What, a public bath in Rocca?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Of course not.” 'The Look',
again. “No, I mean a kind to hot bath or pool at the house. Well,
outside the house. To soak in.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How would that work,” Rufus asked,
intrigued in spite of himself.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You know where the rocky slope
behind the pasture curves around towards the barn?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yeeesss...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, hear me out. We make a kind of
terrace, a couple of big stair steps. We dig out a hole, line it
with stones and cement. On the stair step above it, we build a kind
of oven with a flat top, only large. We put a big iron pot on that.
We have a lead pipe running from the pot to the pool below. We fill
the pot, heat the water, then run it through the pipe to the pool,
and soak!” Maximus looked proudly at his lover. “What do you
think?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think is sounds like a lot of
work.” Before Maximus could speak, Rufus continued. “You are
big and strong, but all that digging and cementing, and toting
water... when will you have the time? When will I have the time to
help?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We sold two prize horses last week.
We could hire some of the work.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus thought for a minute. “I
admit, the idea of a good hot soak sounds like heaven some days. But
I see a problem... two, really.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“First, how would you drain the bath
when the water cools?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, that's easy. We build in a
drain at the bottom, and....”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But there's no public cloaca to
drain into!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“True, but we'd have a trench or pipe
to take the water and channel it into the vegetable garden. You're
always saying 'waste not want not', you know.” Maximus couldn't
resist teasing his sometimes over-cautious Wolfpup at times. “What's
the other problem?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That's a lot of water to tote up to
the top of this contraption. How is that to be done?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah. Well. I haven't quite figured
that out yet. But I will!”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus looked fondly at his Beast. “I
can see how it might be a very nice thing. We can both think on it
for a bit, shall we? Meantime, I'm hungry. Do we have any of the
pork sausage left from lunch?” They worked together, preparing
their supper, the smaller and larger men comfortable with each other
and their lives, as the sun sank lower behind the hills.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later, after they had finished their
evening meal, Rufus reached for a wax tablet and stylus. “Beast,
I've been thinking.” He started drawing a crude diagram of a
device.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Uh oh.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Just listen. When I said it would
be a lot of water to carry up to the bath you are proposing,
something tickled in the back of my mind. I've finally remembered
it. It's something I saw in one of Lucius' scrolls, a treatise on
engineering, by a Greek. It uses a tube, with a kind of screw inside
it. You have one end submerged in water, and a crank on the other
end of the screw. The spiral of the screw raises the water up the
tube as you crank. We already have the pond you dug by the well for
the horses to drink from. We could use that as the source for the
screw device.” Rufus looked at Maximus. “Of course, we'd need a
blacksmith to make the screw. Or maybe have it carved out of
wood....”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Beast scratched his beard, working
to imagine how it would work. “I confess I can't see it in my
mind, but if you think it might work, I'm willing.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Good. There's nothing pressing we
have to do tomorrow. We could take a close look and do some
measuring.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Sounds good, but there's no rush.
And I think it's going to rain tomorrow, so we might have to wait
anyway. I'm for bed right now. Shall we?” Maximus patted Rufus'
furry thigh and stood up. Rufus nodded. Maximus leaned over and
blew out the oil lamps on the table and took Rufus' hand as they
walked to their bedroom, naked, lit by pale moonlight through the
window.</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The rain fell gently, making soothing
sounds on the roof tiles. Spooned together, the two men were
enjoying the luxury of a late morning in bed and lazy love-making.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wolfpup...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Hmmm?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Did you ever think we could have
ended up like this?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You mean free and together? Dreamed
of it, yes, often. Though it might <i>really </i>happen? No, never.
We have been so very, very lucky.” Rufus pushed his erect penis
into his Beast's ass. The oozing slide was a familiar, quiet comfort
for them both. The slow, steady motion of Rufus's meat between
Maximus' warm cheeks was deeply satisfying. Neither of them ever
tired of the physical sensation of penetration, or the emotional
connection that act re-enforced. There were still times of urgent
need and pounding triumph on both their parts, but more often now, it
was this gentle, loving mating that made up their mornings or
evenings. “Oh, Beast,” Rufus gasped softly as he pumped his life
into his mate. When he sensed that Rufus had finished, Maximus
tightened his muscle ring around the thick piece of his lover that
was lodged inside him, holding on. “My love,” he exhaled slowly.
They both relaxed, still spooned and coupled, and listened to the
rain.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Historical
Notes</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This is a work of fiction, but many
aspects are solidly based in fact. The historical characters
mentioned did exist, and in the time and places depicted. Although
Rufus, Maximus, Lucius and his family and slaves are all fiction, the
events surrounding them are real, as they were in the previous story.
Forms of address, descriptions of buildings and social customs are
based on documented fact as well. The town of Rocca is entirely
fictional, but Clusium and Nuceria are real enough, and still exist
today. Acca Laurentia's is fictional, but the meretrix I've named it
after figures largely in the legends of the founding of Rome. The
bulk of the action takes place early in the Emperor Domitian's reign,
81-96 AD. It is very helpful if you have read the prequel to this
tale, 79 AD, but it is not absolutely necessary.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Banking was well-established and
wide-spread in the Roman world. A uniform currency used throughout
the Empire made it possible to transfer funds readily. Regulated
banking officials included 'nummularii', who were directly
responsible for minting and assaying the coinage; 'argentarii',
official money changers; and 'mensarii', bankers who dealt
exclusively with loans. Many temples served as a kind of safe
deposit box, accepting money or valuables for storage for a fee. In
those cases, interest was never offered. The Roman temple to Moneta
(goddess of memory and protectoress of funds, and the source of our
words 'money' and 'monetize') was one of the earliest examples.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Archimedes' Screw was used by the
Romans, but in fact the principle predates the Greeks, as the
Egyptians used such devices to raise irrigation water from the Nile
to their fields after the annual floods receded.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Prostitution was legal, licensed, and
taxed in Roman society. Brothels were common in Roman towns and
cities; and prostitutes were frequently mentioned in Roman
literature, often favorably. Lower class prostitutes of either sex
were called 'scortum' or 'prostibulae'; a higher class female
prostitute was called a 'meretrix'. Female prostitutes outnumbered
males; and most, of either sex, were slaves or poorer free people.
More than a few were daughters of high-born families that had fallen
on hard times. Successful meretrixes moved about freely in the upper
levels of Roman society. Prices ranged from quite low for a simple
coupling with a prostibulae to 'the sky's the limit' for a meretrix
who caught the eye of an emperor or senator. Visiting prostitutes
and brothels was not frowned upon in Roman society, being considered
a legitimate form of entertainment for males of any class, as long as
one demonstrated self-control and moderation in frequency.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Domitian is an interesting character.
He was the younger son of Vespasian, the first of the Flavian
emperors; and the younger brother of Vespasian's successor, Titus.
Both boys were well educated, Titus at court, Domitian with private
tutors. As youths, they apparently got on well together, only
disagreeing in early manhood over Titus' long affair with Berenice,
the Judean Queen, an early sign of his later development of a rigid
sense of morality. The anecdote in the story of Vespasian's
mistress, <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>Antonia
Caenis</span><span style="font-size: small;">,</span></span></span> is considered truthful by
several sources.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars is
primarily responsible for Domitian's negative historical reputation.
Suetonius, though never a senator himself, nearly always sided with
the Senate in the historic back and forth between Imperial and
Senatorial power. He wrote the twelve 'books' in sequence, and,
critically, he lost access to the Imperial archives partway through
the writing of the first of these, on Julius. From that point on,
except for a few letters of Augustus' he had handled prior to losing
access, he had to rely on third party accounts, gossip, and hearsay
for the rest of his magnum opus. The final book, the one on
Domitian, seriously betrays Suetonius' Senatorial bias. Domitian
loathed the Senate, and the feeling was returned tenfold. Domitian
stripped the Senate of the last vestiges of it's legislative power,
turning it into a purely administrative body. Small wonder, then,
that Suetonius paints Domitian as an epic tyrant, greedy, vain,
corrupt in the extreme; and totally unfit as a human being, let alone
as an Emperor. One relatively minor example would be Suetonius'
portrayal of Domitian as a cultural Philistine, with no knowledge of
or love for literature. Yet, it was Domitian who restored the
library of Rome at great expense, and out of his own purse. Domitian
was a steady source of patronage for historians and poets during his
reign as well, facts which Suetonius simply ignores.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The reality is, as usual, much more
nuanced. Particularly early on in his fifteen year reign, Domitian
continued many of the sound policies instituted by Vespasian and
Titus. He restored the public banquets at holidays, which Caligula
had stopped. This alone endeared him to the general populace of Rome
and the provinces. He instituted a comprehensive public works
program, rebuilding many of the public buildings and facilities
damaged or destroyed in the great fire of 80 AD in Rome, thus
providing work for the many left unemployed by the fire's
destruction. He extended the aqueduct system that brought fresh
water into Rome, a move which was both popular and enabled the city
of Rome itself to expand. In particular, he instituted a reform of
Roman currency, restoring and standardizing the silver content of the
coinage, which had gradually declined; and more firmly regulating the
nummularii, the officials tasked with minting and testing coinage.
He vigorously prosecuted fraud and malfeasance among government
officials, many of whom were relatives of Senators. This had the
effect of restoring and increasing public confidence in both the
currency and in banking, as well as turning the Senate more firmly
against him. His strengthening of the Empire's border defenses made
him very popular with the Army. Interestingly, he ceased the
persecution of Jews and Christians. But much of this was
accomplished by decree, not through the Senate. Domitian did not
take opposition kindly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">From the beginning, Domitian exhibited
a strong authoritarian streak, which only increased as his reign
continued. He declared himself the executor of the office of Censor,
the official in charge of public morality, in perpetuity. He seemed
bent on limiting or eliminating all public expression of frivolity or
exuberance. Sober, formal behavior and traditional Roman values were
the ideals he rigorously promoted and enforced. This was in contrast
to the earlier, more easy-going public attitudes, especially when it
came to sex.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He involved himself in every facet of
Roman government, as an efficient if ruthless supervisor. Crimes of
libel or theft were to be punished with exile or death. Indeed, the
death penalty was extended to a number of crimes previously punished
by imprisonment or exile. Public speech was restricted. Towards the
end of his reign, he increasingly accepted information from informers
to bring false charges of libel and treason as a way of discouraging
opposition to his edicts. He saw himself as the second Augustus,
divinely ordained to return Rome to it's former glory, by whatever
means necessary.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But the good he did should not be
overlooked, and it needs to be remembered that much of the negative
reputation is the result of writers with very definite axes to grind.
Modern scholarship has at least partially redressed the historical
balance. The historian Theodore Mommsen described his reign as “a
somber but intelligent despotism”. For the majority of his reign,
there was no widespread dissatisfaction with his policies. His
harshness was limited to a highly vocal minority, who exaggerated his
despotism in attempts to curry favor with the dynasty that followed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Domitian was assassinated by court
officials on September 18, 96 AD. Suetonius offers a highly detailed
(and highly fanciful) account of the deed, filled with astrology,
soothsayers, and appearances by the goddess Minerva. What is factual
is that only a few hours after the assassination, members of the
Senate rushed to the Senate House and did two things. First, they
appointed Marcus Cocceius Nerva as Emperor; and second, voted to
officially condemn Domitian's memory to oblivion, 'd<span lang="la-VA">amnatio
memoriae'</span>. His name was to be removed from all public
buildings and public records, the uttering of his name made
punishable by death, and his coins to be removed from official
circulation. All this proved hard to enforce in Rome itself, and was
almost entirely ignored in the provinces.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Nerva was a very odd choice for
Emperor. He was old and childless, and had apparently taken no part
in the assassination plot. Suetonius does not mention him at all.
He was not known to have spoken against Domitian in public, and in
his writings, was favorable to the Flavians. He lacked both
experience and support in Rome or the provinces. Why the Senate
chose him remains unclear... but that is perhaps a tale for another
time.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Note that I have included a glossary of
Latin words and concepts that might not be familiar to the casual
reader.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>UrsusMajr December, 2023</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This story was written by a real
person, not a robot. Please respect the work that goes into these
stories and do not post them elsewhere without the author attribution
at the top of the story. The author may be contacted at:
ursusmajr@gmail.com</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Glossary
of Latin Terms used in </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>79
AD</b></i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> and </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>After
Vesuvius</b></i></span></p>
<ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Aesculapius</b> - The Roman god
of medicine and healing.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Atrium</b> - The large entrance
room in a Roman dwelling, sometimes open to the sky.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Ave</b> - Typical greeting,
used in addressing one person.
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Avete</b> - Typical greeting,
used when addressing two or more as a group.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Bonum nocte </b>- Good night.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Basilica - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Roman times, a large public building used as law court or assembly
hall.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Caldarium</b> - The hot pool in
a Roman bath house.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Caligas</b> - Literally,
'boot'; descriptive of Roman footwear in general. The Emperor
Caligula got his name (actually a nickname) from the soldiers
serving in his father Germanicus' legion on the Rhine. 'Caligula'
means 'little boot'.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Calimus</b> - An ink pen with a
wooden handle and metal tip</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Cloaca </b>- Literally, sewer.
The main public drain in a Roman city or settlement.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Domina </b>- Form of address
for the wife of the head of a Roman household. Also used for an
unmarried female owner of slaves.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Dominus</b> - Form of address
for the male head of a household, owner of slaves.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Ex
Jure Quiritium vindicavit in libertatem - </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally,
'by the law governing citizenship rights, you are declared free'.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Falernian</b> - the very best
Roman wine. Most Roman wine was rather harsh because it was drunk
young, rarely aged for more than a few months at best. Falernian
was prized for it's gentle and flavorful character, and therefore
treated better (and aged longer) than run-of-the-mill drink.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Frigidarium</b> - The cold, or
source-temperature pool in a Roman bath house.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Fundus - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally,
'farm', and later, 'bottom'. In Roman times, a privately owned farm
of any size, though usually smaller. </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Futuo</b> - Literally, 'fuck',
used as both a verb and as an all-purpose exclamation, but not in
polite company. Used in much the same way as it is today.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Garum </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">-
Fermented fish fat sauce, used everywhere in the Roman empire as a
condiment.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Gratius tibi ago</b> -
Literally, 'thanks to you', a formal way of thanking someone other
than a close friend for a favor or gift.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Hades</b> - Roman version of
Hell, the underworld.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Ides</b> - The 13th day of the
month, except in March, May, July, and October, when it was the
15th. (The notorious 'Ides of March' is known for Julius Caesar's
assassination, but was also the deadline for settling debts in Roman
commerce.)</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Impluvium</b> - A small square
pool located in the atrium, often fed by a fountain.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Inconveniens</b> - Literally,
'inappropriate'. Anything unacceptable or uncouth.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Jove </b>- Another name for
Jupiter, head of the Roman pantheon</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Juno Moneta </b>- Roman goddess
of money and protectoress of bankers and funds.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Kalends</b> - The first day of
the following month.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lena</b> - The madam of a Roman
brothel.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lupanar </b>- A Roman brothel<b>.</b></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Macellum -
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally, 'market'. One of
the main markets in Pompeii, located at the Forum. It was partially
destroyed in the earthquake of 62 AD, and not yet completely rebuilt
by the time of Vesuvius' eruption in 79AD.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Manumission -</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Roman legal proceeding by which a slave owner frees the slave. The
slave was then considered a 'libertas', a free person. Manumitted
slaves automatically became Roman citizens. Manumissions were
taxed.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Maximus</b> - Literally,
'great' or 'greatest', also large or imposing.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Nones</b> - The 7th or 8th day
before the Ides.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Nummularii </b>- Roman
officials tasked with the minting of coins and supervision and
distribution of money and indirectly, banks.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Optimus Maximus</b> -
Literally, 'Best and Greatest', often used in conjunction with
Jupiter, head of the Roman pantheon, or to describe a person or an
event. It implies very high praise.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pace</b> - Peace</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Paterfamilias -
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally, 'father of the
family', head of a household. See: 'dominus'</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pedicabo ego</b> - Go fuck
yourself.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Peristyle - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Roman architecture, a series of columns surrounding a courtyard or
garden, or an indoor space such as an atrium.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pileus -</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
a conical felt hat, worn only by freedmen in Roman times.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pluto - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Roman god of the dead and ruler of the underworld (Hades).</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pontifex Maximus -</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Literally, 'supreme pontiff'. The high priest of of the Roman
College of Pontiffs, a powerful figure both in religion and in
politics.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Priapus </b>- A Greek and Roman
fertility god, protector of livestock, bees, plants, gardens, and
male genitals. Clothed or naked, he was always depicted with an
erect penis. He was a central character in much of Greek and Roman
erotica.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pyroclastic flow -</b>
a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic mud that flows along
the ground away from a volcano at speeds up to 500 mph. Temperature
can reach 1800 degrees F.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Quarta hora </b>- Literally,
the 'fourth hour' after sunrise.
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Quid es hoc </b>- Literally,
'what is this', a general expression of surprise.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Rufus</b> - Literally, 'red'.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Salvete</b> - Another form of
greeting, especially in the morning, used when addressing two or
more persons.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sarno - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
small river that ran along the border of Pompeii's city wall.
Obliterated by the eruption.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Saturnalia</b> - A winter Roman
holiday celebrated in honor of Saturn. It was marked by modest
gift-giving, public feasts, and a general over-turning of social
customs. Slaves and freedmen switched roles with masters.
Originally celebrated on December 17th, it was later expanded to a
six-day festival.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Satyr </b>- An example of one
of many Greek mythological characters imported intact into the Roman
mythology. Satyrs had ears and tails of a horse or ass, and<b> </b>were
originally depicted with a animal's legs. They were always depicted
naked, with permanent, enlarged erections.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Somnos - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Roman personification of sleep. According to Ovid, he was the
brother of death.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sublinaculum - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Worn
under a tunic or toga, it was the functional equivalent of 'tighty
whities'.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sum valde gratus</b> - Less
formal form of thanks, 'thank you VERY much!'.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Tepidarium</b> - The warm pool
in a Roman bath house, using a mixture of heated and
source-temperature water.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Triclinium - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
a Roman house, the dining room. It had a central low table, with at
least three low couches arranged horizontally around it.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Tu foedus nothi</b> - You
filthy bastards.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Tunic - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">basic
form of dress for all Roman males. Simple in design, they could be
belted at the waist, and were of varying lengths. Middle and upper
classes could add a toga of various types over a tunic. Togas were
expensive, and awkwardly voluminous to wear. As time went on, they
were increasingly relegated to only the most formal occasions.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Vale</b> - Typical form of
farewell or good-bye, used when addressing one person.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Valete</b> - Typical form of
farewell or good-bye, used when addressing multiple people</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Vesta</b> - Roman goddess of
the hearth and home, especially the sacred fire of Rome's hearth.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Vestals</b> - Priestesses of
the temple of Vesta, tasked with continual tending of the sacred
fire in her temple in Rome. They sere selected by the Pontifex
Maximus before puberty, served for 30 years, and were required to be
chaste for that time. If they broke their vows of chastity, their
lover(s) were publicly beaten to death, and the Vestal herself was
buried alive. Once retired, they were free to marry (few did), and
held an exceptionally high place in Roman society, with rights and
privileges accorded to almost no other Roman citizen.</p>
</li></ol>UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-76430365417913151462024-01-28T18:17:00.000-08:002024-02-07T14:53:56.428-08:0079 AD<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>79
AD</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>by</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>UrsusMajr</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Present
Day</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The office intercom buzzed. “He's
here.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, merda,” Mario muttered, and
gulped the last of his espresso. He reached for his jacket and
hurried out of the office, heading for the reserved parking area
where he knew the Minister's driver would park. Carlo Bonetti,
Minister of Antiquities, was stepping out of his car as Mario rounded
the corner.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Minister, it is good to see you!”
Mario made his voice and manner as welcoming as he could manage,
constantly reminding himself that the Minister controlled the purse
strings of the Enhanced Pompeii Excavation Project. As the director
of the project, Mario was acutely aware that the EPEP funding rested
on a knife edge.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Director,” the Minister nodded,
“what have you to show me...good progress, I hope.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Why, yes. The new LIDAR equipment
is really allowing us to speed things along. A huge increase in
accuracy and...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And what, exactly, does this
expensive new toy of yours do?” the Minister said, cutting Mario
off in mid-sentence. The Minister was a political appointee who knew
nothing at all about antiquities, Roman or otherwise. He obtained,
<i>bought</i> actually, his post in the current government through
his steadfast and very public support of the current ruling party,
and his steadfast and very private monetary support of the current
Prime Minister's off shore accounts.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Sir, think of it as a kind of 3-D
radar. It lets us see what lies under the compacted pumice and ash
tuff in dimensional detail, so we can excavate safely without
damaging walls or objects and such. In the past, we spent much time
carefully digging pilot holes so we could avoid smashing through a
priceless...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Once again, Bonetti cut Carlo off.
“Show me.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Carlo dutifully guided the Minister
towards the newly excavated area of Pompeii, and the Via Equestris,
east of the Decumanus Maximus, the main roadway in the ancient city.
“This is the area we've been focused on for the past six months.
It has proved to be one of the best preserved streets that we've
revealed, and many of the buildings have yielded a trove of daily
life items.” Mario paused, and decided to risk a direct question
to the Minister. “Do you notice anything unusual here? I mean,
different from anywhere else in the city?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Don't play games with me, Director.
I don't have the time. Just tell me what I am looking at.” The
Minister looked at his Rolex. “And make it quick, I've a meeting
with the Prime Minister this afternoon.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mario took a deep breath to steady
himself and control his irritation. Everything was rush, rush, rush
with this man, he thought. Totally against the guiding principles of
archaeology. He hated having to tailor all his reports, indeed,
every interaction with this Minister, to cater to his relentless
hurry. All of the likely and worthy scientific goals of the EPEP had
to be disguised as near certainties of finding spectacular
discoveries that would bring in even more tourists to the area, so
that the Minister could take credit for injecting new money and jobs
into a depressed region. Another star in his crown, another plus
point on his political resume.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Very well, Minister. I am sure you
remember that l mentioned that we have uncovered a mystery here,
something truly unique. Every other street in Pompeii had at least a
few bodies: men, women, children, even animals.” He paused.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, yes.....”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“There were no bodies here, none at
all, so no plaster casts. You see, when a void is found, we pour...”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, yes,” Bonetti said, waving
his hand dismissively. “I know what you do with the plaster. But
most of the streets do not have bodies now. Why is this important?
Why waste my time with this?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Minister, please. ALL of the other
streets had varying numbers of bodies when they were originally
excavated in the 1800's and again in the 1950's. Those casts, nearly
1200 in all, were moved to the museum in Napoli. One street only has
had the casts re-installed in place. It's closed to foot traffic but
has platforms at either end so tourists can look down the street, see
the people in the throes of their last agonizing breaths.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, I know... that was my idea. I
understand it's the busiest part of Pompeii. The extra euro charge
to ascend the platform was my idea, too.” The Minister smiled.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, this street had <i>no</i>
bodies to make casts of. None at all. This is inexplicable, given
the prevalence of them elsewhere. It is a great mystery. I,
personally, have not seen this before, and no one on my team has
either. There is nothing like it in all of Pompeii. We must continue
our excavations, in hope of finding clues to solve this. They may
all be in one building, like those poor souls in Herculaneum.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Listen, an empty street isn't going
to bring in tourists.” Bonetti looked around him, gazing at the
centuries-old buildings, and Vesuvius in the distance at the end of
the street. “I admit the buildings are in fine shape, some even to
the top of second story. <i>That's</i> different. Tell me why.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“This street is somewhat lower in
elevation than the surrounding areas, so the ash fall buried these
buildings nearly up to the roof line, instead of just half way up the
second story as in most of the rest of the town. Also, this street,
at least, seems to have been a better section of town, and attracted
a richer sort of citizen. They could afford better building
materials, sturdier roofs, fewer shortcuts in construction. The
fifteen houses here are in superb condition, considering.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bonetti gestured to his right. “Tell
me, Director, are there more streets here?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, yes, sir. The LIDAR clearly
shows them, bodies, too. It appears that Pompeii was a bit larger
than we first thought. We now know it was a busy commercial hub, not
just a resort town for the wealthy of Rome to escape the summer
heat.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Let's hope you find something more
than beautiful mosaics or fast food shops. Maybe another brothel
with suggestive frescoes, like the Lupanar or one of the others. Now
that would be something, wouldn't it?” The Minister's grin was
wolfish.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mario nodded silently, not trusting
himself to speak as they walked back to the Minister's car. He didn't
want to look for brothels, he wanted to look for answers to the
puzzle that increasingly occupied his mind away from the dig.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Minister glanced over his shoulder.
“Well then, what are you waiting for... I will expect to see a
beehive of activity here when I return next time. See to it,
Director... see to it. And Director...” Bonetti paused to drive
the point home. “I don't have to remind you that the next round of
budget talks will be especially... difficult if I don't have
something 'special' to show the Prime Minister.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, Minister. I understand
completely.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Eccelente! And now, I must catch a
train. You've been fortunate with the weather, I hope that continues
for you. <span lang="it-IT">Buona giornata.” The Minister ducked
his head and entered the back seat of his vehicle, and the car sped
off in a cloud of fine, gritty Pompeiian dust. Neither man waved
good bye.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>September,
79 AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus stirred as a cock
crowed somewhere outside. It was still mostly dark in the square,
plain room. He looked to his right and saw and felt the very large
hairy bulk of Maximus next to him, and smiled. Glancing down, he saw
the beginning of Maximus' morning wood starting to tent the thin wool
cover that partially covered them both. Rufus reached down and placed
his hand around the growing pole and was almost instantly rewarded
with a surge of growth. The half sleeping beast uttered a low growl
as his eyes opened and a slow grin animated his face.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Nice way to wake a man,
Wolfpup! Come here,” Maximus whispered.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus happily obeyed,
rolling over on top of the thick mat of fur that covered Maximus,
seemingly from top to bottom. He nuzzled in Maximus' black beard,
shot with strands of gray. His lips found Maximus' and slowly
parted them, gently pushing his tongue in, searching for Maximus'
own. They slowly tongue wrestled for a bit, until Maximus broke the
kiss. Still whispering, Maximus said, “Sun's nearly up, Wolfpup,
we've work to do. Domina will want you to get her boxes unloaded
once she returns from her sister's, and I have to have the horses
ready to head to Eboli. The master wants to trade for new stock for
the farm.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Stay a bit, my Beast. No
one else is up yet. It's nice here, warm and quiet.” Rufus
thought to himself, 'And I am <i>not </i>going to waste this rare
opportunity, we almost never have a whole night together.' He put his
head down lower, searched for then found a round fleshy nipple. He
latched on, making soft sucking sounds as he lapped with his tongue,
circling through the surrounding fur. Maximus quietly groaned aloud.
“Jupiter's balls, that is SO good!” His large hand came up and
cradled Rufus' head, holding him against his chest. “Yes, my
Wolfpup... feed on me.” Another groan. “Oh, hell, I know where
this is going and I have horses to feed and ready. I thought we wore
each other out last night. You must stop.” But he failed to remove
his hand from the back of Rufus' head, and Rufus continued sucking
and slowly moved his body high against Maximus' hairy chest. “We
really have to stop now...” Rufus moved his red furred ass back
down against Maximus' now very rigid cock. “Seriously, we
have....” Rufus centered his hole against the blunt cock tip by
it's long familiar feel against his own pucker. “Wolfpup...”
Rufus pushed back hard, causing Maximus' blunt tip to pop past his
muscle ring. Maximus gave up protesting and thrust his hips up and
forward, impaling his lover on his meat, his two previous loads
making the going slick and easy. “Ye GODS!” Maximus gasped.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Fuck your Wolfpup, Beast!
Fuck me hard!” Rufus' voice was still quiet but filled with urgent
need as he sat completely upright on his Beast. Maximus complied,
pumping deep with each thrust. His hands pressed against Rufus'
thighs, holding him tight against his crotch. One final thrust and he
shot deep inside Rufus, filling him for the third time in less than
twelve hours. At the same moment Rufus came, spraying all over
Maximus' fur. Both stifled their cries of release. The house was
mostly empty, with both Lucius Secundus and his wife Antonia away,
and some of the house slaves with them, but neighbors were close by.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus slowly lifted himself
off of Maximus' shaft and then lay back down on his lover. He
quietly stroked Maximus' beard while the big man slowly rubbed his
Wolfpup's back and butt. Maximus was aptly named, big all over,
broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, with tree trunk legs and muscled
arms and chest. A lifetime of physical labor had built layers of
muscle, but since having been bought by Lucius Secundus, he had added
a pleasant layer of fat to his frame. His work was hard, but not
endless, and the food provided for the entire household was far
better than he had been used to. Most of his body was covered with a
thick pelt of black hair. Bearded from an early age, he had always
exuded an air of overt masculinity. He had women from an early age,
too; his first being the rather naughty cook in his first household.
They had never made much of an impression. That cook had made an
interesting observation, though; part right, part wrong. “Most men
cannot get enough sex, even the old goats think about it all the
time, even if they can't get it up any more. But you, Maximus... you
seem like you can take it or leave it. I wonder if you even really
like women, or sex, at all.” She was wrong about the liking sex
part.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus' introduction to man
to man sex had been with his second owner. The randy old fart would
apparently fuck anything that stood still long enough – or had no
other option but to do so. In spite of his active dislike of the old
man, he found he rather liked the act itself. Maximus was expected
to service the dominus' needs at least once a week; but the dominus
wasn't picky. All of the slaves, regardless of sex, and a few of the
neighbors, experienced his vigorous poking. In fact, he died of a
stroke while whilst in the middle of a threesome with the neighbor's
freed cook and the kitchen slave. It was when the fart's widow sold
the house and the slaves and moved south to Capua, to be near her
sister and far away from memories of her awful husband, that Maximus
was consigned to the slavers, and Lucius Secundus had purchased the
powerful man to be the muscle on his farming estate outside of
Pompeii.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus had been in Lucius
Secundus' household for all his life. His mother had been the
personal slave of Antonia, wife of Lucius. After an unfortunate
liaison with a discharged centurion with flaming red hair, she
brought her only child into the world in a back room of the Roman
estate of Lucius Secundus. She never fully recovered from the birth,
and died several years later. Antonia had a soft spot in her heart
for the boy with the bright red hair, and rather than sell him off
immediately, she found jobs for him to do around the house. He was a
happy child, and the other house slaves regarded him as almost a pet.
As he grew older, his inborn intelligence showed itself and he
learned all there was to know about running a large household and
navigating its politics, along with reading and numbers; and when the
dominus and domina sold the city house and moved permanently to
Pompeii, he was one of the slaves Antonia kept. He was a slight
figured boy who grew into a sturdy, if somewhat short, man. With
Antonia's permission, he kept his unruly beard cropped short instead
of shaved off entirely, and under her supervision, he handled more
and more of the day to day running of the house. Antonia was glad
that she had not acted upon her original plan to sell the boy as
scribe material.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Now approaching middle age,
his chest and belly were covered with a moderate layer of reddish
hair, much lighter than his red beard. Butt, arms, and legs were
coated with a fine soft fur, almost downy in feel. His cock, short
but thick, sprang out of a thicket of fiery red-gold hair, a
duplicate of the father he had never known.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wolfpup....”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, I know. The sun is
up and we need to be, too.” Rufus rolled on his side, licked
Maximus' nipple, making him shiver, then kissed him. “I need to
get the braziers lit to take the chill off their rooms, and I need to
remind Sabina that both of them will likely be here in time for
lunch.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And I have horses to tend
to. Kiss me again and I'll be off.” Rufus complied, but the kiss
lasted rather longer than it might have, and both were sporting
chubbies when they broke off. Maximus reached down and gave Rufus' a
squeeze, chuckled, and slipped his tunic on over his head.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Don't forget!” Rufus
tossed the small flask of cheap perfume to Maximus, who caught it
deftly and sprinkled some on his tunic. “Thanks, my Wolfpup! Love
you!” He tossed the flask back and padded very quietly down the
stairs and out a side door. While Rufus was getting dressed, he
walked around the block to the back of the house and garden to the
slave quarters and stable. It wouldn't do to give the other
household slaves something to gossip about. There was little risk,
really. With the master and his lady wife away, the slaves still
there would be taking advantage of a rare opportunity to sleep in.
And if any early-rising slave happened to notice Maximus stealthily
entering his quarters, the perfume would cause said slave to think to
himself, 'Heh.. out whoring around again... well, at least the
lupanar is doing good business.' Rufus hurried downstairs to grab a
hunk of bread and a lump of cheese. He dipped the bread into a dish
of garum left from last night's meal and began his tasks of readying
the house for the return of the dominus and his lady wife.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>April, 74
AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius Hirtuleius Secundus
rode his horse along the road out of Pompeii to the east, towards his
new estate near Nuceria. Antonia followed in a large cart filled
with household goods, riding in front with Rufus. With the children
gone and the move to a smaller town, the household's needs were less,
and splitting furniture and slaves between the town house and the
fundus meant a very different lifestyle for the couple. It suited
them both, though; and Antonia discovered that she truly liked being
out and away from the urban crowding and aroma of Rome. 'Mother
would be rolling in her grave if she could see me out in the open
like this,' Antonia thought to herself. 'But I LIKE being out in the
open air and able to see the countryside and sunshine and clouds,'
she defiantly but silently told herself. Lucius was aimlessly
whistling a tune, and thinking that Spring was his favorite season of
all. 'Fall is nostalgic, but Spring is hopeful,' he thought as he
considered his life. 'Antonia was wise to insist that we move out of
Rome. I would never have been able to rest as Atticus insisted I
must if we had stayed in Rome.' The doctor, a long time friend of
Lucius, had been blunt after Lucius' latest bout of vertigo and heart
palpitations.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But what will I do if I
retire?” Lucius complained. “I'll die of boredom.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You will certainly die if
you<i> don't</i> retire.” Atticus Felix sighed and sat next to his
friend. “Listen to me. You've made enough money to go wherever
you want and buy whatever land takes your fancy. Become a gentleman
farmer. Relax, raise pigs.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Farming's hard work,”
Lucius snorted.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That's what the slaves
are for. I'm not suggesting you plow the fields yourself. And stay
away from politics. Just because you're related to two Senators
doesn't mean you have to be one yourself, and it will only make you
crazy. The politics and back-stabbing in the Senate get worse by the
year. Leave it. You and Antonia will have grandchildren soon
enough. Devote yourself to spoiling them.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Although it took some
months, and some skillful maneuvering on the part of Antonia, Lucius
had come around to the idea of leaving Rome and taking up life in the
county. One thing he insisted upon was that they settle in a town of
enough size to have an adequate social life. He pretended to himself
that this was for Antonia's sake, but really it was at least equally
for his own. He was a gregarious man who like the company of other
gregarious men. In Lucius' opinion, a good conversation about current
affairs with other interesting men while soaking in the public baths
was the very best way to spend a morning... or afternoon. They had
eventually settled on Pompeii, in spite of the extensive damage that
had been done to the town by the strong earthquake of 62 AD. He
glanced over his shoulder and smiled at his wife, who was looking
exceptionally happy today. He remembered their conversation over a
jug of Falernian as they sat in the peristyle garden of their Rome
house all those months ago. It was then that he believed he had
convinced Antonia to make the move to Pompeii.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Dear Antonia, it's an
opportunity! We can build a house the way you want it, and there is
no shortage of available lots. The Emperor is encouraging many of
the Senatorial and Equestrian ranks to build summer homes there, and
has made loans available to retired soldiers so that they can settle
and start businesses or farms in the area. He is most anxious that
the town recover rapidly. There is even talk of remitting taxes for
families who move there and build.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Since this was the direction
she had been nudging Lucius towards for several months, Antonia
smiled to herself and outwardly appeared to think it over, and then
had finally agreed with her husband; after all, she said to him,
several of her friends had either already established summer homes
there or were planning to. The fact that there was persistent gossip
that the Emperor himself was planning a seaside villa close by, one
that would put Tiberius' to shame, certainly did no harm to the
reconstruction efforts. They had settled on a new street, the Via
Equestris, where several new houses were already being built, and
constructed their dream home there at #12: exquisite atrium, large
triclinium, a study for Lucius, a sunny day room for Antonia, and a
beautiful garden just off the triclinium, not to mention additional
bedrooms for the children and their families.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And so, on this bright
Spring day, Lucius and Antonia were on their way to the
recently-purchased farm to check up on its progress, and for Lucius
to see how his slave Maximus was getting on. The beefy man had shown
great promise. The other slaves respected him, and there was little
of the friction that often occurred when one of their own was placed
in a position of authority over the rest of the slaves. Moreover,
Maximus was a wonder with horses, and they were on their way to
becoming a profitable sideline for the farm. They seemed to have an
instinctive understanding of one another. He also wanted to check up
on the pigs. He enjoyed watching the creatures as they rooted around
in their pens, or basked in the Campanian sun. 'There's something
restful about pigs,' Lucius thought as they rounded the last curve in
the road near the farm.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In the previous months, he
and Antonia had spent several weeks at the farm. Antonia had brought
Rufus, her personal slave Anna, and the cook, Sabina. The main house
was actually in quite decent shape, just somewhat neglected. “Sabina
actually said she likes the kitchen, imagine that!” Antonia said to
Lucius as they toured the family wing of the house. “And Rufus
says the slave quarters are more than adequate. And I know it's
early days, but there is plenty of room here for Marcus and Livia and
whatever grandchildren they may have to come and visit.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius laughed out loud.
“The boy is just married, my love. Give the two of them a bit of
time!” He kissed his wife. He and Antonia had been blessed with
three fine children, all three married and starting families of their
own; but only Marcus and his new wife Livia lived close enough for
casual visits. Antonia had spent the rest of the day going from room
to room, dictating lists of things needed to Anna. After making his
own tour of the rooms and garden, Rufus wandered over to the stable
area. It was there that he first set eyes on Maximus, who was naked,
rinsing himself off with a bucket at the back of the stable. Rufus
struggled to keep from gasping. He had never in his life seen such a
thick, strong, hairy man. No, not hairy... pelted, like an animal.
He stood very still and drank in the sight of Maximus stretching his
arms high and arching his back. His own cock began to swell as he
watched the play of muscle under the fur on the big man's back.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus had seen men naked
before, when he had been brought along to the baths as a youngster.
He and a couple of other boys his age, both slaves from neighboring
houses, had indulged in the usual examination of each other's bodies,
prompted by curiosity driven in his case by early puberty. The others
were skinny, and nearly hairless, unlike himself, who already had
hair on his chest and belly and more sprouting around his cock. As he
got older, he would imagine himself with some of the more mature men
at the baths, indulging in some of the activities he had
surreptitiously glimpsed in some of the wall frescoes in the massage
rooms off the tepidarium. There had even been two furtive liaisons
with one of those men at the baths. But never had he seen any male
this solid and furred. He realized that he now had a raging
erection, and blushed furiously when Maximus turned and saw that he
was being observed by a very handsome, obviously engorged, red-headed
slave.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, hello! Someone's
seems to be taking an interest.” Maximus winked and Rufus blushed a
fiery red. Maximus pulled his own tunic on, and tilted his head to
one side. “You must be Rufus... well, you'd have to be, wouldn't
you, with that hair!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus was at a loss for
words, tying to figure out a way to either explain away his tented
tunic or to just disappear. He settled on boldly brazening it out.
“Yes, I am, and I can't help the hair. And you must be Maximus,
the slave the dominus has talked about.” He paused. “Well,
you'd have to be, given how, uh, <i>large</i> you are.” Rufus
watched carefully to see how the large man reacted.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus laughed. “Appears
not to be the only thing you can't help.” He, too, was watching
the shorter man carefully. They held each other's gaze for a few
moments, then both looked away. “Um... we had heard that the
dominus was bringing his wife here. Does she like the place, do you
think?” Like slaves everywhere, he was on the lookout for any
morsel of information that might shed light on their likely future
treatment.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“She appears to. She and
Anna are making lists of needs and wants.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And do you know if they
intend to live here?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I believe they will use
this place as a summer home, the foothills are cooler.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Not full time?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, they have just built
a house in the town. Quite a nice one, actually. There's money in
the family, from both sides, and dominus was quite successful in the
metals trade, before he left Rome for his health.” The
conversation continued on topics that slaves always discussed among
themselves when their owners were not around. Each was sizing the
other up, and when Maximus moved a bit closer to Rufus and leaned
casually against the stable wall, Rufus didn't move away or become
more guarded. In a bit, when Rufus casually leaned against the wall,
just a bit closer to Maximus, the big man also did not shift position
or put more space between them.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus heard Antonia calling
for him. “Sorry, I have to go.” He turned to take his leave and
Maximus said, “Listen, if you can, come back this evening, have
some wine with the rest of us, get to know the others.”“I will if
I can.” Rufus gave Maximus a wide smile, which Maximus returned,
and then hustled off to see what his domina needed. He made sure to
follow up on the invitation later that evening.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus turned and walked to
the very back of the stable, check his surroundings, and reached
under his tunic for his swelling cock. It took only a few strokes
for him to splatter the straw and dirt with ropes of his white seed.
He allowed himself to faintly, very faintly hope as he worked through
the rest of the afternoon. Those hopes were not in vain.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They managed to see each
other around the farm off and on in the next days. Later, a very
discreet hug, and even later a stolen kiss, told each what they
needed to know about the other. Neither had ever had a serious love
interest in their lives, though both in earlier years had experiences
with men as well as women. This was beginning to feel quite
different.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>May, 74 AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Now, a full month later,
Lucius and Antonia were back, Antonia occupied with the placement of
the new furniture, and reveling in the open fresh air of the
countryside; and Sabina, the cook, with the stocking of the kitchen.
Rufus was organizing the household staff and attempting to train a
new young girl who had replaced once of the better house slaves who
had been killed in a freak accident in the Macellum, the market that
Antonia favored.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In spite of their both being
kept very busy with various tasks, Maximus and Rufus managed to see
each other for more than just a few minutes at a time. And one warm
afternoon, while nearly everyone in the house were napping and the
outdoor slaves were all working in the hay field, the pair met in the
stable. Maximus motioned for Rufus to follow him to a sort of
storage room at the back of the stable. The inside was dim but not
dark. “We're alone, and we have time,” Maximus whispered. Their
hands eagerly explored each other's bodies, alternate hugging and
stroking. Rufus knelt and lifted Maximus' tunic, admiring the
thicket of fur and the solid erection that sprang from it. He
grasped the shaft and skinned back the thick foreskin and touched the
tip of his tongue to the fat drop of precum that had already formed
at the slit. The sweet taste sent a shock wave to his brain, and he
found himself swallowing the shaft as far as he could, almost burying
his face in the black bush surrounding it. Maximus stifled a deep
groan. “Slower, Wolfpup, or I'll finish too fast.” He put his
hands around Rufus' head, stroking the fiery red hair. “Yes,
that's good... so good. Gods, your tongue! Where did you learn to
do that?” There was a brief pause. “Never mind, just don't
stop.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus had no intention of
stopping until he got his reward by giving Maximus his. His tongue
continued to trace the ridge, circling the tip, then down the
underside of the shaft. His hands cupped Maximus' butt, pulling him
in close. He bobbed up and down on the thick shaft, and then lapped
repeatedly at the fur-covered sack that held Maximus' balls, watched
as the skin there contracted, tight and ridged, signaling the
impending climax. Rufus quickly moved back to the rock-hard
twitching shaft just as the tip flared. Maximus groaned again, his
cock firing pulse after pulse into Rufus' waiting mouth and throat.
Rufus swallowed hard, but could not keep up with the flow of salty
seed flooding his mouth. It dribbled out the sides and down his
beard. The pulsing finally slowed, and Maximus let out a massive
shuddering sigh.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Holy Priapus, I've never
had anything like that before,” Maximus said softly, his hands
around Rufus' head and slowly raising him up on his feet. He licked
his seed from the shorter man's beard and then tilted Rufus' head and
kissed him, long and slow. “My turn now.” He pulled Rufus'
tunic off over his head and then got on his knees. He took Rufus'
swollen cock into his mouth and slowly sucked on it, feeling it get
harder and harder. The foreskin had already retracted fully,
revealing the bright red, blunt tip. Maximus circled the ridge
repeatedly, then sucked just the tip, making popping sounds as he
sucked and then pulled off, again and again. Rufus moaned.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Fuck my belly, Wolfpup!”
Maximus commanded, laying back on the straw and pulling the shorter
man over on top of him. His arms encircled Rufus and held him tight
against his chest and belly. Rufus growled and began hunching his
hips, driving his rigid cock through the thick belly fur he was held
against. “I... I... I can't hold it, Maximus!” and with a shout
muffled by Maximus' chest fur, he came, the pent-up seed of days of
imagining flooding out of his swollen cock. Maximus felt heat and a
flood of sticky wetness. “Don't let go!' Rufus whispered as he
continued to pump his cock against Maximus. Finally, he slowed to a
stop, panting.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I've made a mess of you.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The best kind, Wolfpup.
Don't worry, I'll clean up.” They lay quietly for a few minutes,
savoring the closeness and quiet.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Maximus...” Rufus
stopped, and looked into Maximus' eyes.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What is it?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Why did you call me
'Wolfpup'?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, that. It just came
out, I think because you are young looking and smaller than me, but
strong and feisty. You are eager and alert and a bit playful when
we're together, like wolf pups are. And hey... we're Romans.
Remember who fed the twins.” Maximus looked carefully at Rufus.
“Does it bother you? A nickname, I mean.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No.... no. I just
wondered. And now, I'll have to come up with a name for you.”
Rufus playfully licked one of Maximus' nipples.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What? Maximus isn't good
enough?” He hugged Rufus hard enough to cause him to 'ooof' as the
air was squeezed out of his lungs.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Gasping, Rufus stuck his
tongue out and said, “Not if you are going to get away with calling
me with a puppy's name. Seriously, though, we can only use that name
when no one else is around.” He paused again, uncertain if he
should say what was on his mind. He decided to risk it. “I wake
and go to sleep thinking of the next time we can be together. I
can't stop thinking about you, you know.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Nor I, you,” Maximus
breathed, reaching for the shorter man again and enfolding him in
another bear hug. “But I know we must be careful. I don't think
they would flog us, they seem kind; but being sold apart... yes. Any
relations between slaves is punished, but what we are doing is
especially disliked by many.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus made a face. “The
Emperor Tiberius liked little boys. And the Emperor Caligula <i>really</i>
loved his sister. I hear he filled her belly with a child and then
cut the thing out before...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus nervously stopped
Rufus before he could finish. “That's rumor. Besides, emperors
can do what they please, and get away with it. No one would dare
speak against it. But common folk, and especially slaves like us...
we don't have that luxury.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“True.” It was Rufus'
turn to sigh. “I just wish.... oh, never mind. The fates rule our
lives and there's naught we can do about it.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Except make the best of
it,” Maximus said. “That, and be as careful as we can.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Always.” Rufus gave
Maximus a lingering kiss before pushing himself up and reaching for
his crumpled tunic. “I should get back, they will be waking soon,
and Sabina is such a light sleeper as it is, damn her.” Rufus
moved towards the stable door and then looked over his shoulder.
“Oh, and you're my Beast now... but just when we're together.”
He grinned at the Beast's slow smile.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Next time, bring oil!”
It was Maximus' turn to smile at Rufus' wide grin.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The next time came two days
later.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius called out as he
walked towards the stable. “Maximus, I need you.” Maximus came
around from behind the rear of the stable. “Yes, Dominus?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I need you to take the
large cart back to the Pompeii house and bring back some of the
furniture Antonia thinks she needs here. Take Rufus with you, he
knows which pieces she wants.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, Dominus.” Maximus
hurried off to yoke the oxen to the larger cart. Rufus showed up
shortly after. “Oxen? Why not the horses, it will take forever,
Maximus.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Because, if it's
furniture domina wants us to bring back, it will be too heavy for the
horses to pull uphill. It <i>is</i> furniture, no?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes it is, I have the
list. And I was told to tell you to take blankets, to wrap some of
the larger pieces so they don't get damaged, and to go slow and
careful.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I already have the
blankets in the cart. You ready?” Rufus nodded. “Good then,
let's be off.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The cart lurched slowly out
the yard and started down the hill to the road. This far out, the
road was rutted and none too smooth. The army never came this way,
so there was no reason for good paving. As soon as they were out of
earshot, Maximus turned to Rufus and said, “The oxen are also a
good excuse for us taking a bit longer going and coming, Wolfpup!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That's my sly Beast! And
I brought some oil.” Rufus showed Maximus the stoppered bottle.
“Please let's stop as soon as it's safe. I need you, Beast.
Really need you.” Rufus' tunic was already tenting with the
thought of his Beast, naked.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Gesturing to his left,
Maximus said, “I promise, but we must get well past this fundus
first.” The wagon creaked and bumped along past the vineyards of
the smallholding, with it's outbuildings and house set rather close
to the road. Finally, well past the place and in a dip in the
roadway, Maximus pulled off the road. The two slaves turned to each
other and embraced, devouring each other as their passions rose.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Let's get under the
blankets. I've made a bed for us.” Maximus had made a thick pad
of several blankets, and had a large coarsely-woven tarp arranged to
be stretched over corner posts to cover them. Any one passing by
would see a farmer's wagon, most likely with produce being taken to
market, with the farmer out of sight, perhaps relieving himself in
the nearby trees.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The pair crawled into the
back of the wagon and pulled the tarp over the corners, and shed
their tunics. “I want my beast to fuck me. I'm yours, Beast.
Breed me like animals do.” Rufus got on all fours.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Are you sure, Wolfpup?
I'm pretty big.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Beast, I know just how
big you are, remember? I dream of you inside me." He paused,
unsure. "You asked me to bring oil... I thought you wanted...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Of course I want to,
Wolfpup. I just don't want to hurt you.” He looked down at his
surging erection, solid and throbbing.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Just go slow, use lots of
oil. I brought extra.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus tipped the oil out
onto the fingers of one hand and used the fingers of the other to
separate Rufus' furry cheeks. He massaged the oil into the pink
pucker. He slowly worked one finger in. Hearing Rufus moan, he
stopped and started to pull his finger out but Rufus stopped him.
“No! It feels good, don't stop.” Maximus continued, working two
fingers in and then part of a third. He poured on more oil and
worked his hand in a rocking motion until his fingers slid in and out
smoothly and Rufus started to push back.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, Wolfpup, I am going
to enter you. I will go slow, and you must tell me if I start to
hurt you. I will stop, I promise you. Ready?” Rufus nodded, and
Maximus held his erection in his hand, guiding it to the center of
Rufus' hole. His shaft was thick, and once past the tip did not
taper at all. He slicked his cock liberally with oil and stoppered
the bottle. He held Rufus' hips with both of his hands and started
to press forward. Rufus' pucker clinched tight. Maximus tried
again, and this time, Rufus willed himself to relax. Maximus still
could not penetrate. “Wolfpup, push out against me, like you were
trying to pass a turd.” With his third attempt, Maximus was
partially successful, with a good part of his tip firmly lodged in
Rufus' ass. “Should I stop?</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Gods, NO! Come all the
way inside me, Beast!” That was all the encouragement Maximus
needed, and he pushed firmly, and watched his cock slowly disappear
into Rufus' red-furred ass. Rufus grunted out loud when the tip
cleared his muscle ring, and sighed as Maximus' shaft sank in. After
a few mis-timed thrusts and push-backs, they achieved a satisfying
fuck rhythm, giving Rufus an erection that bounced with each thrust.
Maximus varied his speed so he would not cum too quickly, and Rufus
discovered the joy of using his rectum to squeeze Maximus' meat each
time he pulled back. Eventually, though, the big man could not
control himself any longer and he began hammering Rufus' ass. He
reached up and grabbed the smaller man's shoulders and surged forward
as his seed was propelled deep into the red-haired wolf pup's
insides. Both men groaned at the same time. Rufus came, hands free,
and his own contractions massaged Maximus' cock, coaxing even more
cum out.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The pair sank down, Rufus
into the sizable puddle of his own cum, and Maximus onto Rufus' hairy
back. “Mmmmm, I love being covered by my hairy Beast.” He
wiggled his butt against Maximus' crotch.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I wonder if fucking makes
you hairier?” Maximus mused, nibbling on Rufus' ear.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Seems to have worked for
you!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I like my fur, 'tis true.
A man should be hairy, not smooth like a eunuch. And he should have
some meat on his bones, not skinny like an underfed house slave.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I guess that explains why
you like me,” Rufus laughed, patting his modest belly.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Nah. Just your fine
furry ass.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What? Not my winning
personality? I AM disappointed.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus slipped both his
arms under Rufus' chest and hugged him, long and tight. After a long
moment, he whispered, “I love you, Rufus.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They lay there in the
afternoon heat, covered and sweating. “Beast?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus was uncertain of how
to proceed. He knew what he wanted to say, and what he hoped would
be Maximus' response, but he was at a loss for the words. Finally,
he just started talking. “Beast, do you, I mean would you... could
we..... oh, Hades! Can we fuck? I mean, me fuck you?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus reached over and
ruffled Rufus' bright red hair. “Of course, my Wolfpup. I <i>want</i>
to!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus sighed aloud. “Oh,
thank the gods. I wasn't sure... I mean, it's something powerful
animals do, only the strongest get to breed, and I wondered if you
would not want... couldn't see yourself...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus placed his hand over
Rufus' mouth. “Has this been worrying you? Don't let it. We are
equals in this. I want your seed in me as much as I wanted to put
mine in you. It's not a competition where one dominates the other.
If I need to fuck, I will always ask you, not force you. I've had
enough of that done to me for me to ever take pleasure in doing it to
you. If <i>you</i> need to fuck, ask. Whatever chance we get, I'll
not say no. If we would somehow be able to live together, that would
be a wonderful life; but that is not possible, only a dream. But I
love you, Wolfpup, never forget that.” Maximus pulled Rufus to his
chest and hugged tightly, and began rocking him gently when he felt
wet tears.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Some time had passed when
Rufus rolled back on his side. “Time to move on, Beast... not that
I really want to.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, I could use a rinse
off. Maybe we'll pass a pond or stream on the way?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Not any I remember. But
when we get to the house, we can sluice each other off behind the
garden.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Sounds good!” They
made decent time and reached the Pompeii house before nightfall.
They unyoked the oxen, cleaned up, ate supper with Sabina and the
other slaves, and then slept, Rufus in his own room and Maximus in
the stable. Like many of the houses in the newer areas of the city,
close to the city walls, there was a small stable with space for one
or two horses or an ox or two.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I wish....”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, Wolfpup, we can't,
too much risk. You know how light a sleeper Sabina is, and you're
just down the hall from her, and the stable is next to the kitchen.
Best to wait until tomo...” Maximus saw Sabina over Rufus'
shoulder, coming into the kitchen. “No, I don't think the cart will
be too heavy. The oxen are strong and that extra box isn't all that
heavy.. It will be fine.” He winked at Rufus as Sabina turned
away. Rufus' heart surged with the realization that this man valued
their mutual safety, and would give up fleeting pleasure to protect
them.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The following morning, they
finished loading the cart with the items on Antonia's list. “That's
the last of it. And here's lunch, Sabina put it up for us. Ready?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus nodded and got up on
the wagon's seat, and slapped the oxen's rumps with his switch. They
lurched into motion, heading back to the fundus. When they reached
the place where they had made love the afternoon before, Maximus
reach over and squeezed Rufus' cock through his tunic. “Shall we
put the hefty meat of yours to good use now?” His wide beard was
split with a wolfish grin.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, yes, please!” But
a thought struck Rufus. “Oh, Hades, the wagon is full.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No worries, I saved a
blanket for us. We can pull the wagon off the road further, close to
the trees, let the oxen graze a bit, and make a nest for ourselves
down there.” He motioned to the small dip in the land, at the edge
of the copse of trees. After moving the wagon and spreading out the
blanket, Maximus started to pull his tunic up over his head, but
Rufus stopped him. “I want to do it.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus slowly undressed his
Beast, reveling in the feel of the fur under his hand and the hard
swell of Maximus' muscle and the soft swell of his belly. He spent
many minutes stroking and petting Maximus before taking off his own
tunic and accepting the frank worship Maximus bestowed on his own
skin. “I wish my hair showed as well as yours does, my Beast.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You are beautiful,
Wolfpup. You have shining red and gold hair everywhere I look and
feel. In the sunlight....” Words failed Maximus, and so in the
end, he simply asked, “How do you want me?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“On your back, I want to
see your handsome face.” Maximus lay back. “Holy Priapus, look
at you! Your cock, so strong and yet soft to the touch. And the
heat!” Rufus leaned over and kissed the tip of his Beast's cock
head as the foreskin retracted and it reached full length. “Hand
me the oil.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus did so and Rufus
began applying a copious amount to Maximus' furry hole, reaching
under his ball sack, inserting first one and then two fingers as his
lover had done the day before.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus asked, “Have you
done this before, with a man, I mean?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Never, not this anyway,
but I have a pretty good idea what to do. You taught me well,”
Rufus grinned down at his lover.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, let me put my legs
up over your shoulders, it will be a lot easier for you.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh. Right.” He
scooted forward and and waited for Maximus to get his legs up, and
then moved forward again until the tip of his cock touched it's
target. “OH!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Something wrong?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No, no! It's just the
heat, you are so warm, so, <i>hot</i> down there. Can I push in?”
Rufus was afraid he couldn't wait, with all the wonderful feelings
that were flooding his brain and body.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Go ahead... I need you in
me. Just go a bit slow at first, it's been a few years since this
has been done to me.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I know you were hurt by
your previous owner, so I don't want to hurt... I <i>won't</i> hurt
you If you're sure you're ready?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus nodded and felt
Rufus' blunt tip start to force open his anus. He pushed back to
help Rufus' tip began its slow slide in, followed by the slowly
widening shaft. When Rufus bottomed out in Maximus' hole, he held
still. Maximus said, “You are so big, Wolfpup! I thought I was
big, but....”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, you ARE big, Beast.
I don't have your length.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That may be, Wolfpup, but
your sausage just gets thicker as it goes in. I love that feel, like
I am filled and plugged, more and more.” Maximus took a deep
breath. “Wolfpup, pull back slowly but not all the way out. Then
slide back in and feel every inch. Make it last.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I will try, Beast. But
you are so hot and so handsome and.... oh, fuck! I'm cumming!”
Rufus bucked and shot heavy spurts deep in Maximus. “Hades, I
wanted to take it slow!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus gripped Rufus' cock
with his muscle ring, and told Rufus how much he loved being fucked
by someone who cared, how very much better it was than <i>anything</i>
else he had ever felt.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Beast?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I'm not going soft. Can
we do this some more? Your legs OK?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You see? You ARE a stud
and yes, please fuck me more!” He raised up some and reached a
hand around so he could pull Rufus' hips in tighter, forcing Rufus'
cock in as deep as it could go. They worked on several positions,
varying the angle of thrust, so that Rufus learned which would hit
Maximus' prostate reliably, which would avoid over-stimulating his
tip so he could hold off cumming, and which made for an almost
instant climax. It was a fantastic half hour of sexual bliss for
them both.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Panting and sweaty, they
both eased down on the blanket. After a time, Rufus whispered, "I
love you, Beast."</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Riding back, side by side,
both were silent for long periods, realizing that they would probably
not get another chance like this for months; and that each time only
increased their desire for each other, as well as the risk they were
running.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>July, 76
AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus cleared his throat.
“Yes, Rufus, what is it?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“A message for the
Dominus...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, who from?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I don't know, Domina, the
scroll is sealed.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Just put it on the table,
Rufus. Thank you.” One thing that set Antonia, and Lucius, too,
apart from their peers in Pompeiian society was the small courtesies
they extended to all their slaves. Even the field slaves on the
estates were better fed and clothed than ones on other estates. Each
slave was expected to work hard and was held to exacting standards,
but treated with fairness. Their slaves were treated kindly, and
addressed by name and not just 'you', or even nothing at all. As
Rufus was exiting the room, Lucius was coming in from the atrium.
Antonia gestured to the table. “Something there for you.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius broke the seal on the
scroll and read it. “What does it say, husband?” Lucius looked
up at his wife with a smile.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Pliny is coming for a
visit. He says he wants to avoid the heat in Rome. You remember I
wrote to invite him the last time I was in Rome.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But which Pliny?”
Antonia asked, her brow furrowed.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The older.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, thank the gods!”
Antonia exhaled.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, dear....”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, I know, I know,
Lucius. But if his nephew comes, it's likely his tutor Quintillian
will come, too, and he is <i>such</i> a bore. He goes on and on
about Ovid, you know he does. It's tiresome; the same stories again
and again...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“He says nothing about his
nephew coming along, so I think you are safe there, my dear.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Good. We should give a
dinner party for him, do you think? I could invite that nice new
couple that have taken the house at the end of the street, and you
could invite some of your friends from the baths... but not the
political ones, mind. When does he say he is coming?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“On the kalends, he says.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That doesn't leave me
much time. You must write a note now saying that we will be glad to
see him.” Antonia got up from her chair and gathered a calimus and
tablet. “And I must talk with Sabina about the menu. Husband, do
we have any of the Falernian left?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, only the best for our
guests, I see.” Lucius smiled and kissed his wife's cheek. “I'm
sure we do. Have Rufus check. But I must step out, I'm supposed to
be across the street. Tiberius wants to know who we used for our
roof tiles; according to him, the builders are using inferior quality
on his house, and he wants my advice on the matter.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius and Antonia both were
held in high regard in the neighborhood: Antonia for her good cheer
and friendly ways and willingness to listen a young matron's problems
with a lazy slave or a recalcitrant child; and Lucius for his
willingness to give sound business advice without impatience or
condescension. Both were looked on as models of the best Roman
virtues, but without the stuffiness or arrogance that so many of the
Senatorial or Equestrian classes readily exhibited. More than one of
the neighboring women had relied on Antonia's calm steadiness during
a difficult birth; and more than one paterfamilias had benefited from
a business tip from Lucius, freely given with no expectation of
return.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A little more than a week
later, Pliny the Elder arrived at Lucius and Antonia's new house. In
spite of his age, he was sitting rigidly on his horse, as erect as a
former cavalry commander and provincial procurator should be. His
personal slave followed on a donkey behind at a respectful distance.
He dismounted and embraced forearms with Lucius. “Old friend, it
is good to see you!” Lucius returned the embrace, as befitted
their respective stations in society.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And you, Gaius. You are
looking well.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, age is doing me no
favors, but I carry on. One mustn't grumble, not the Roman way.”
He turned to Antonia. “Antonia... lovely as ever.” Antonia
offered her cheek to be discretely kissed.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You must be weary from
your journey. Come inside, it's cooler. Your room is ready, if you
would care to rest. I think Lucius has a trip to the baths planned
before dinner.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“That sounds wonderful.”
The party moved indoors. Gaius Pliny paused to admire the small
bronze at the center of the impluvium, and the mosaic floor. “Lady,
this is all quite lovely. That sculpture is exquisite. Did you
commission it?” The sounds of their conversation faded as they
walked deeper in the cooler parts of the house. “Yes, we're quite
pleased with how everything turned out. One of our neighbors knows
the best......”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Terence, the personal slave,
struggled with the saddle bags from his donkey and Pliny's horse.
“Here, I'll see to those,” Rufus said, and handed them to one of
the house slaves. “Put these in Pliny's room.” He turned to
Terence. “Follow me and I will show you where to stable the
animals and where your dominus's room is, then you can get some
refreshment in the kitchen. You look nackered.” Terence
gratefully followed Rufus inside.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Two nights later, Antonia's
dinner party in honor of their rather famous guest was a notable
success. Each of the families on the street had been invited, along
with some of Lucius' friends who were in town. Extra couches had
been brought into the triclinium, which made the large room rather
crowded, but a thunderstorm earlier in the afternoon had broken the
summer heat. The sun shades had been removed, and doors all over the
house opened, so a delightfully cool breeze made the evening
pleasant. The cook had outdone herself, and the various courses were
praised and devoured. Conversation moved from small group to the
larger congregation and back again; and as the night progressed, the
topic moved from politics of the capitol to more personal gossip. The
musician hired for the evening picked out another pleasing tune on
his harp as Antonia leaned over to Pliny, reclining on the couch next
to her and Lucius. “More wine?” Pliny shook his head. He was
famous for his abstinence when it came to wine. “The Falernian is
excellent, though; thank you, dear.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I hope the gossiping
hasn't bored you. I know the politics didn't.” Antonia gave a
knowing smile to her elderly guest. “It's rare we get someone here
who has so many contacts in so many parts of the empire. It's
refreshing to hear opinions other than the ones common in Rome.”
Antonia sipped her wine.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, but you know, I <i>do</i>
have some recent news, gossip if you will.. It seems that our new
Emperor's nephew is getting married again.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, that was quick. Do
we know to whom?” Antonia peered over her wine glass at Pliny.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“One of the Paulina girls,
I'm told.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Julia, the wife of one of
Lucius' friends, on the next couch over from Antonia and more than a
little in her cups, was shocked. “Not <i>Lollia </i>Paulina?
She's the stupidest woman in Rome! Are you certain?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, that was the name,
I'm certain. My cook got it from the Emperor's personal cook
himself. You know the slaves know <i>every</i>thing that goes on in
the Palace.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Hmmm, fancy that. Well,
I give it a year, two at most. She could drive the sanest man to
distraction, and Titus' nephew is... well.....” Julia drained her
glass and unsteadily set it down on the table in front of her couch
without elucidating on what the nephew was. The wine and the late
hour were taking their toll on all the guests, and they left, a few
at a time, bidding farewells to their hosts and guest. Pliny was one
of the last to get up. He thanked Lucius, and complimented Antonia
again on the evening's entertainment and food. “Good night to you.
May Somnos send you good rest.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The next morning, Lucius and
Gaius Pliny were soaking away the night's wine fumes at the newly
rebuilt Stabian baths. Out of the blue, Pliny remarked, “My nephew
is making a special study of earthquakes, says they are <i>not</i>
evidence of Rex Infernus or any other gods being displeased with us.”
It was typical of Pliny that he used the older form of Pluto's name.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah, so you felt the
little shaker we had yesterday, eh?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Barely, yes; and Gaius
Caecilius says you have quite a lot of them around here.
Apart from the big one back in Nero's day, of course. His tutor
thinks he is profoundly in error, and I have to agree. Do they
unsettle you and Antonia?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Not much. We've gotten
used to them. And apart from the odd crack in the wall, they really
cause no damage. Our local priests make regular offerings to Pluto,
just to be sure.” Lucius shifted a bit and then got up, the water
running off his naked body. “I think I've had enough here. I'm
for the cold plunge, how about you?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Two weeks and many good
conversations later, Pliny took his leave of his friends. “Come
again soon, Gaius, you are always welcome. And bring that nephew of
yours.” Lucius shook Pliny's hand. “But maybe leave the
tutor?” he added, for Antonia's benefit.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Tired of Ovid, are we?”
Both men chuckled.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“May the gods go with you
and watch over you!” Lucius waved as Pliny rode away. It would be
over three years before the two would see each other again.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>October
18, 79 AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The two Plinys, uncle and
nephew, sat in the garden along with Antonia and Lucius, enjoying a
late outdoor lunch. The sky above was that particular clear blue
that the Campania seemed to specialize in during the fall and early
winter. Required by his appointment as Imperial fleet commander by
Vespasian, the elder Pliny was returning to Misenum, and this time he
had brought his nephew along, but without Quintilian the tutor, as
requested.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I do love blackberries,
but I'm afraid these are the last of them for the season,” Antonia
said. “But the pears are coming to market now, and these are SO
sweet.” She took another bite of the blackberry pear tart Sabina
had baked earlier that morning. “Delicious!” The others nodded
in agreement. “And the fresh olives are exceptional, the harvest
seems to be...” There was a low rumble, and the dishes on the
table rattled. The two fruit trees in the center of the garden shook
lightly, and their leaves trembled.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Another one. That makes
three today.” Lucius said.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And they seem to be
getting stronger, too,” the younger Pliny said.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Should we be worried?”
Antonia said, her brow furrowed with ill-concealed concern. “We've
had months without any tremors, but of late...” The younger Pliny
looked to his uncle, who shook his head slightly. The young man
continued. “But Uncle...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The elder Pliny put his hand
on the younger's knee. “Gaius Caecilius,
I know you feel strongly about all this, but you put too much weight
on slender evidence. And you know the Emperor isn't worried or he
wouldn't be building here. Why, even the Pontifex Maximus has said
that the appropriate offerings and prayers are more than adequate to
appease the unquiet gods of the underworld.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But Uncle,” young Gaius
blurted passionately, “I think there<i> is</i> cause. We know
there is a strong connection between the earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions, especially when they come in a series of increasing
intensity. You yourself chronicled the events in Lydia some years
ago, and there have been others in the Empire, and even before that
in the north of Italy during the earliest days of the Republic. I've
noticed in the few days we have been here that Vesuvius is venting
more smoke as well.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, that.... that's
steam, and entirely normal,” Lucius interrupted. “Happens quite
often. People who have lived here all their lives say it varies, but
always blows away.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Forgive me, Sir, but...
no. This is not steam, it is smoke, and when the afternoon winds
picked up yesterday, I caught a whiff of sulfur. Ash, too.” Young
Gaius looked defensively, first at Lucius and then at his uncle.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Will it erupt, do you
think?” The worry was plainly evident in Antonia's voice now.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Now, look what you've
done, Gaius Caecilius …
you've upset our hostess. Lady, I fear my nephew may be overstating
the case a bit.” There was another tremor, and again the dishes
rattled. “Still, if you would feel better, perhaps adjourn to your
fundus? It's in Nuceria, isn't it? You should be safe there, at
least until this all passes. It's just slightly possible that there
is something to what my nephew believes.” The elder Pliny wiped
his lips and folded his napkin and got up. “We really must be off
soon. We've a least a full day's travel ahead, and I am already a
bit late. It does not do to be late in assuming one's command,
especially when it's the Emperor calling.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As they all moved to the
front of the house, saying their good-byes, the younger Pliny took
Rufus aside “Please give this to Lucius after we've gone. Tell
him to read it immediately, with no delay. This is important. Do
you understand?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Of course, sir. It shall
be done as you request.” Rufus took the scroll, and the younger
Pliny hurried after his uncle.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later in the afternoon,
Lucius was seated in his study, with Gaius' scroll open before him.
He carefully re-read the descriptions it contained.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">'The major damage and threat
to life is not necessarily the lava flows. One can usually outrun
them on foot, certainly on horseback. Rather, the real danger is
from above, in the extremely hot gases contained in the ash and smoke
plume thrown up into the sky by an eruption. Eventually either winds
push this cloud to the ground, or it collapses of it's own weight.
The speed of the gases is far faster than anyone can outrun, even on
the fastest horse. The gases are poisonous as well as being hot
enough to bake any living thing. Nothing, not plant, insect, animal
,or human, can survive.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I believe that Vesuvius will
erupt, and soon. All the omens point to that. You should make all
preparations to quit the city on short notice. You will probably
have little warning, perhaps only a few hours. Get as far away as
you can, as quickly as you can. I know my uncle thinks I am too
anxious about this, and I may be. But I felt could not leave without
warning you about the danger. May the gods watch over you and your
household.'</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius rolled the scroll up
and called for Rufus. When the slave entered the room, Lucius
indicated the scroll. “Did you read this?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No Dominus, of course
not.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Read it now.” Lucius
waited for Rufus to read the scroll. Rufus was literate, having been
taught by Antonia, who recognized his intelligence early on when the
original plan had been to sell him as a potential scribe. Rufus
looked up from the parchment and stared at Lucius.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What was your opinion of
Gaius Caecilius?” When Rufus
hesitated, Lucius snapped, “I asked you a question, Rufus.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Dominus,
it's not my place...” Rufus stammered.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<i>Rufus!</i>”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus
gulped, rattled by Lucius' unusually abrupt tone, and then spoke. “I
think he is mature and intelligent. He seems to have made a... a
study of volcanoes as a kind of hobby. He knows enough that even his
uncle isn't quite ready to dismiss his ideas completely.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes,
I though so, too.” Lucius looked thoughtfully at Rufus. “You
didn't miss much, did you? And you are good at keeping your emotions
under control and not giving away much yourself, a proper Roman
virtue.” Lucius smiled slightly, paused and thought. Rufus was
about to back out of the room when Lucius spoke. “I am going to
ask you to do something for me, and not tell any others in the
household just yet. Have the large wagon ready to leave quickly. I
will set out some of my best scrolls for you to pack, along with
deeds and such. See if you can get some food packed, too; cheese,
some of the pork sausage, wine, oil, without upsetting Sabina. If
she asks, tell her we are taking some supplies out to the farm
slaves. Put some clothing in, too. Cover it with a tarp, put it at
the back of the yard. Can you do that?” Rufus nodded. “Tell no
one just yet, it may be that Gaius is right and his nephew is just an
alarmist. No need to upset the household. But if he is right...”
Lucius didn't finish his sentence as another sharp jolt rocked the
house. The two men looked at each other, slave to master.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ah!
Well. I think perhaps you'd best hurry, Rufus. You can tell your
lover, but no one else. You'll need his help.” The color drained
from Rufus' face, making his red hair stand out all the more starkly.
He felt as if the room was spinning and his knees were going to give
way.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What,
you think I don't know what goes on in my own house? I may be old,
but I still have all my wits about me.” Suddenly very tired,
Lucius sat down in the chair behind his desk. He looked at Rufus.
“You look like a sheep as the priest approaches with his knife.
Don't worry, I am not going to flog you or sell you.” There was a
long pause. “I loved a man once, too, in the Army, many years ago.
I was young and foolish, and Antonia does not know; but I've never
forgotten the feel of him next to me, or the feelings we had to be so
very careful to hide. And put your mind at ease, you are very good
at keeping secrets, you've both been very discreet. No one else
knows.” He paused. “And you must keep it that way.” Lucius
leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Now, I've kept
your secret, you keep mine. And tell no one else of these plans
until I tell you to. Now leave me, I have work to do, and so do
you.” Rufus staggered out the door and into the garden and the
slave quarters beyond.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Reaching
the hallway, he called out for Maximus. “Maximus, the dominus
wants you, now.” The ruse worked, and as soon as Maximus appeared
Rufus whispered, “No, not Dominus. Meet me outside the side gate.
I'll be there in five minutes. Say nothing.” Rufus hurried back
into the house.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus
exited the small side gate and waited for Rufus, who appeared
shortly, breathing heavily. “Wolfpup, what's wrong? You're so
white, are you ill? Rufus put his hand on Maximus' mouth to quiet
him.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“He
knows. About us. Dominus <i>knows</i>!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus'
shoulders sank and he put his hand on the wall to steady himself.
“Gods... what are we to do? We... we must run..... I have to
think... we... we could leave now, head west and maybe catch a boat
across the...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Hush,
Beast... I'm trying to tell you, it's OK. He knows but he is all
right with it, with us. He says he won't sell us or punish us.”
He locked eyes with his lover. “He told me he loved a man once,
too; and that Antonia doesn't know and that he wants us to keep his
secret as he has kept ours.” Rufus gripped Maximus' shoulders as
he spoke. In spite of the seriousness of the situation, Rufus was
acutely aware of the thick mat of fur on Maximus' shoulders, felt
through the fabric of his lover's tunic.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Truly?
We aren't to be sold apart? Not branded?” Rufus nodded. “Oh,
Jupiter be praised!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“There's
more, though. Walk with me to the stable and help me with the large
wagon and I will explain...” On the way, Rufus told Maximus about
Gaius Caecilius' scroll and Lucius' plan. Together, they maneuvered
the wagon into position for a quick exit.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The
oxen are at the farm, we'll have to make do with the horses here.
They aren't used to the wagon being full,” Maximus said.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“We
don't have a choice. I'll do my best to keep the wagon light. From
what the nephew said, we may have need of speed more than strength.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>October
24, 79 AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Antonia?” Lucius stuck
his head around the corner of the morning room. “Ah, there you
are. I'm going down to the Basilica to meet with Gnaeus Germanicus,
and then perhaps the baths. Will you be all right?” Lucius eyed
Antonia's leg and foot, supported by a stool and a large, soft
pillow.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Antonia had very badly
twisted her ankle the day before, at the temple of Venus Pompeiana,
patroness of the city, while mounting the steps to make an offering
at the ornate altar. The frequent tremors were getting on her nerves,
and she felt the need to ask the city's patron goddess for
protection. She was not alone in this, many others had made
offerings that day and earlier. The ankle was still very swollen and
a livid purple, and she was unable to put any weight on it at all.
“I'll be fine, Lucius. I have Anna here to fetch me things, and
Sabina will bring lunch on a tray. Will you eat at the baths?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, or perhaps at that
new place on the Via Abbondanza. I hear their lamb stew is quite
good.” He looked at his wife, immobile in her chair. “You're
sure you'll be all right?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, don't fuss, Lucius.
I'm not ill, you know.” The pain from her ankle was making her
testy. “Go. Rufus or Maximus can help me into the garden later.
It's such a nice day. And thank the gods those tremors have
stopped.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">An hour past noon, Vesuvius
erupted.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Everyone across the city
felt the sharp jolt and heard the tremendous boom as the plug of
solidified lava that held back the boiling magma burst, catapulting
the foaming liquid rock and gas higher and higher in the air. The
pumice rain started about a half an hour after the main eruption.
The foamy particles that had catapulted so high in the sky slowly
cooled and fell back to earth. The rain of pumice, and later, ash,
continued for hours. Looking to the north, the ash and gas cloud
boiled higher and higher, reaching a height of twenty miles or more.
The heavier chunks of lava fell with greater speed, and those lava
bombs did more initial damage than the ash fall and pumice.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Antonia, who had earlier
been carried into the garden to enjoy the fine weather, called out to
Anna and Rufus to bring her inside. “What IS all this?” she
asked, indicating what at first had looked like a totally unheard of
snowfall. A steady drumming of small pumice rocks hitting the roof
tiles permeated the house. It did not let up.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Two hours later, an anxious
Antonia insisted that Rufus go outside to see what was going on.
“Take one of Sabina's pans to shelter under. Tell her I said so.
I must know what is going on. Oh, Hades take this foot!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus struggled to open the
door. Once it was open he could see why it had been blocked. Well
over a foot of the curious lightweight stones covered the entire
street, blocking doorways. Stepping out the front doorway, he looked
to the north and was appalled to see the towering cloud of ash and
smoke, rising as far as the eye could see, still boiling upward. He
watched in horror as a much larger stone, hurtling down from the sky,
smashed into a house at the upper end of the street, utterly
destroying it. It was the first of many lava bombs he would see.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Although Rufus could not see
it, the center of Pompeii, the old Forum and the Basilica, and the
Temple of Apollo, were scenes of chaos. Utter darkness had enveloped
the city two hours after the eruption, lava bombs were falling with
increasing frequency, and the pumice and ash rain was continuing.
Fires were beginning to spring up, starting in recently abandoned
homes and businesses when charcoal braziers were toppled by further
earth tremors or the impact of lava bombs. A good third of the
city's population fled to the west gate of the city, the Porta
Marina, hoping to get to the seaside and into boats. The streets
were clogged with people, carts, animals, and possessions, creating
impassible barriers. As panic spread, hundreds, perhaps thousands,
were trampled to death in the narrow Pompeiian streets.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Three hours after the
eruption, jagged streaks of lightning were seen in the towering
cloud, lighting it from within. Pliny the Elder, seeing the disaster
unfold before his eyes at Misenum, ordered his fleet into the bay
with the intent of aiding the populations of Herculaneum, Pompeii,
and Stabiae. 'It seems the young pup was right,' he thought to
himself while giving orders to his staff. The winds were blowing to
the south and kept the navy from moving east, closer in to the shore.
In addition, a massive wave from the direction of Herculaneum
swamped some of the navy vessels. His nephew had begged to stay and
observe the eruption at close hand, but was ordered, along with his
mother, to flee to safety inland from Misenum. As the fleet
continued to be blown south, they passed under the huge cloud and
were pummeled with the same rain of pumice and ash that had been
falling on Pompeii. Lava bombs sunk at least two more of his ships.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius had been fighting his
way back to his house in the smoky darkness, against the steady flow
of panicked fleeing citizens with their carts of possessions and
animals. It was nearly a hopeless task, punctuated by the need to
take cover from the flying debris from lava bomb strikes. He was
forced many times to zig and zag his way around narrow streets
blocked by tangled wreckage of carts or the debris of collapsed
houses. Cut and bloodied, he made his way slowly towards the Via
Equestris. By this time he could barely walk, he was so tired and
sore. He stopped every block or so to lean against walls and doors,
panting. Breathing was getting more and more difficult.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Oh, WHERE is Lucius? He
should be here, it's so late, I don't know what to do. Rufus!
Anna!!” Antonia called out as loud as she could. “Oh DAMN this
foot! Anna!” Rufus rushed into the room from the atrium, out of
breath. “Rufus, help me up... no, wait, get Anna first. I...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus had been up to the top
of the street only minutes before, but had raced back to the house.
Having seen the ever-mounting ash and smoke cloud to the north and
remembering the description in the younger Pliny's scroll, Rufus made
a split second decision. He took a deep breath and interrupted
Antonia. “Domina, I fear what Gaius Caecilius
said is coming true. We must warn the others on the street and
leave as soon as we can.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No,
Rufus, we have to wait for my husband. Oh, if only Lucius was here,
he would surely know what to do. We must wait for him."</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Domina,
there is no time. Here...” Rufus thrust two pieces of parchment
into Antonia's hands. “You must write a note, telling the
neighbors that Lucius thinks it best if they leave the city
immediately, take only necessities, <i>and
not wait</i>. They may not
believe a slave telling them, but they will pay attention if the note
is written by you and sealed with the Dominus's signet.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Use
his name... and his ring?! Oh, I cannot...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Domina,
you can. You <i>MUST</i>.
There is <i>no time</i>.”
Antonia looked at the trusted slave she had known all his life as if
he was a stranger. “And make two copies. I will take one on this
side of the street, and Maximus will take the other. Now, write.
<i>Please,</i>
Domina.” His harsh tone softened. “Write.” Rufus looked as
if he was about to cry.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Antonia
wrote quickly, but balked at placing her husband's seal on the
parchments. She looked at Rufus, who was leaning over the table.
“PLEASE, Domina. He will understand.” She pressed the seal into
the blobs of wax. “Maximus and I will be back as soon as we can.
Jupiter and Venus watch over you... and all of us.” Rufus snatched
both parchments and raced out the door. He thrust one parchment into
Maximus' waiting hands and they both ran off up the street, crunching
through the layer of light pumice that covered everything, leaving
Antonia calling for Anna.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Moving
quickly from door to door, they showed the note to whomever answered
their pounding: paterfamilias, lady wife, slave, whomever; pointed to
the seal and stressed extreme urgency, and moved on. Several houses
were already empty, and in others packing seemed to be already in
progress. In less time than they thought would be possible, they
reached the end of the Via Equestris, turned, and raced back to the
house. Once inside, they found Antonia leaning against one wall,
with a very flustered and frightened Anna supporting her, and the
floor littered with ornaments, glassware, clothes, jewelry, and
cosmetics. Anna began crying.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Another
sharp jolt sent the room rocking and two large braziers toppling to
the floor. Anna began wailing and shrieking in earnest. Rufus
stepped forward and slapped her, hard. She stopped blubbering
instantly, shocked, eyes wide. “Anna, get the jewelry and two
winter cloaks, leave everything else and get to the cart by the
stable." When Anna did not move, Rufus yelled, "NOW,
girl!” Maximus took Anna's place supporting Antonia. Rufus
turned and said, “Domina, please forgive me. Let Maximus and I get
you into the cart. There are blankets and cushions there. We must
leave <i>now</i>.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But...
but... my Lucius! Where is...” With hardly any effort, Maximus
lifted Antonia in his arms and carried her as she protested across
the garden to the cart, while Rufus helped the now softly weeping
Anna gather the jewelry.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“No,
leave the mirror. Put it down, Anna. She won't need it.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">At that
moment, Lucius staggered in through the atrium. He looked about with
a dazed expression. “Where is Antonia? Where is my wife?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus
looked at his master, who looked as if he had been in a street fight.
“Already in the cart, Dominus, along with some supplies.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“But
what about the docu...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“Everything
is already loaded, as you instructed, Dominus. Anna here is
gathering Domina's jewelry for use.. that is, in case...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“Um,
yes... good. We... we should pack and leave soon. Please get Anna
and my wife.” Lucius was distracted, eyes darting around the room
but plainly not taking things in. “I couldn't find Publius
Gracchus or Felix Castor anywhere. They should have been at the
baths, but they weren't. It was so nice, walking to the baths. Such
a beautiful day. The sky was so blue and... clear.” His eyes,
wide, he looked at Rufus. “Rufus, I saw a man trampled to death,
right in front of me. His face... oh, ye gods, his face!” He
passed his hand in front of his eyes before continuing. “Gnaeus
Germanicus and I were drying off and getting ready to go lunch when
we all felt that huge jolt and that awful booming sound. The water
in the baths was sloshing all over, men were slipping on the tiles.
Where is Antonia? Anna! Where are you? My friend Brutus fell and
cracked his skull right open! I could see his... his... There was <i>so</i>
much blood. And then the rain started... only it wasn't rain. It's
like little rocks, Rufus, only light. They float in water, did you
know?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus
was trying his best to move Lucius outside to the cart, but Lucius
kept pushing him away. “I went outside. The sun was gone... and
that cloud, so tall. Never seen anything like it. And people...
people everywhere were running... and falling. Screaming! A man was
trampled right in front of me, he couldn't get up! And the ash. It
catches in your throat, you can hardly swallow. Antonia, do we have
some wine?” Suddenly, Lucius sat down like an ox felled by the
butcher's hammer, utterly exhausted.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes,
Dominus, in the cart. We must go, now. Come, I will help you to it.
Your lady wife is there, asking for you. Please come.” He was
finally able to steer the dazed and weary Lucius out across the now
ruined garden, the two beautiful fruit trees broken and buried under
a slide of clay roof tiles, and everything else buried under an
increasing layer of ash and pumice. Maximus, nearly dancing with
impatience, practically threw Lucius into the cart. In a flash of
anger at being so manhandled, Lucius' mind cleared and he was back in
the reality of the catastrophe around them. His anger suddenly left
him as he looked around, taking everything in, the cart, the horses,
the supplies, his wife. “Oh, Gods!” He made direct eye contact
with both Rufus and Maximus, standing together. “Thank you. Both
of you. Thank you.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus
noticed two rather beautiful horses tied to a stable rail. “Where
did those come from?” he asked.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“From
Marcellus Nero's house, down the street.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But
how...?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span>They
left. Gone. About three hours ago, I think. They left the poor
beasts tied up in their stable. I calmed them down and brought them
here. I couldn't just... leave them. And we'll need them, I think.”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“My
kind, soft-hearted Beast. I love you so much.” He pulled Maximus
down so he could kiss the big man.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Shocked
and stunned, Maximus stuttered, “Rufus, don't...we can't... what
if...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Rubbish.
We're all going to die anyway, who the fuck gives a damn any more?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sabina staggered out,
carrying pans. Maximus and Rufus looked at each other. “Where are
the rest of the slaves?” Lucius suddenly asked.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“They've run off, Dominus.
All of them.” Sabina hung her head. “There is just me and
Anna.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“And <i>us</i>, Hades take
you, cook... you forget <i>us</i>. WE are still here, too; just as loyal
as you.” Rufus' eyes flashed with anger. “Now leave the pans
and get in the cart. NOW!” The anger in his voice cut through the
constant rattle of the pumice on roof tiles, and got through to
Sabina's brain. Shocked, she dropped the pans (unthinkable!) and got
in the cart, careful to not jostle Antonia.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus motioned for Rufus
to come closer. He whispered low. “This isn't going to work, the
cart will be too heavy. The Dominus is in no condition to do
anything but ride in the cart, and Domina has to. Leave them in the
cart and I'll drive that, the animals know me. You take one horse
and lead the other one. Anna and Sabina can ride together on that
one. Can you do that?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes.” A simple answer,
no hesitation or argument, just two men working as equals. “I'm no
horseman, but yes. Let's get them moved.” The two female slaves
protested but were bullied into sitting together on the horse led by
Rufus on his own.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“But what way?” Maximus
turned to face Rufus. “Unless you have a better plan, I think we
need to go east, not south. Everyone is heading south or west, and
the streets are impossible. Besides, the wind is to the south, and
that cloud will go that way.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus remembered the details
of the young Pliny's warning scroll. “Yes, and when it collapses,
all that gas and heat will go south, too. East it is. I say we head
toward Nuceria and the farm, agreed?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus nodded. “Let's
go!” The cart and horses moved out, up to the top of the Via
Equestris, through the Sarno gate further on, and then a hard right,
heading east. Antonia's eyes were wide with fear, but somehow Lucius
realized he had to distract and comfort her. He patted her hand,
smoothed her hair, talked about their children and their families and
kept her from looking towards the looming tower of deadly ash and
gas. Anna and Sabina clung to each other, equally frightened of the
horse they were riding on and the rain of destruction all around
them. It was five hours after the initial eruption of Vesuvius.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maximus kept crooning a sort
of tuneless chant to the horses pulling the cart, and it seemed to
both calm them and urge them along at the same time. The ash fall
made progress very slow, but fortunately, the small bridge over the
Sarno was nearly empty, with just one or two overturned carts, easily
dodged. Maximus was right, the bulk of the population that had not
already left were heading south, even though a goodly number still
clung to hope and their homes and possessions. But such was the
reputation of Lucius and Antonia that all on the street had heeded
the warning carried by Rufus and Maximus and were heading out or had
already done so, most following the horses and cart eastwards.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Dear, why are all those
people following us?” Lucius seemed genuinely puzzled by the
ragged parade they were apparently leading.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I will tell you, husband.
It is quite a tale.” It was good that Antonia has something to
occupy her mind with the story of how Rufus had taken charge, with
Maximus by his side and warned the entire street, and organized their
escape. She apologized profusely for using his name and ring totally
without his permission, and she waited for what she feared would be
justified rage. Instead, he simply patted her hand and said, “You
have done well, my dear. Those people behind us likely owe their
lives to your notes. And to Rufus and Maximus.” The two slaves
looked at each other and nodded. Friends, then lovers, an iron bond
was now forming between these two, forged in a way by the fires of
Vesuvius.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Roughly one forth of the
population had elected to stay indoors to avoid the rain of pumice
and lava bombs and the crowds in the streets. What had seemed like a
sensible move on their parts was in fact deadly. By this time,
roughly six hours after the eruption, the thick layer of ash and
pumice had risen to a level that completely blocked doors and window
openings, trapping the occupants inside. The now heavy weight of so
much ash and pumice on roofs was causing the collapse of building
after building, trapping or crushing the occupants who had stayed
inside.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A good portion of
Herculaneum, to the north and west of Pompeii, had been leveled by
the series of earthquakes that accompanied the initial eruption.
They were stronger there, west of Vesuvius. The survivors of the
earthquakes there were spared the rain of ash and pumice due to the
prevailing winds which were to the south. But those winds also kept
Pliny's rescue fleet away from the shore. Many citizens of
Herculaneum had fled to the docks and could see the fleet, and the
fleet could see and hear them, but there as no way for them to
connect. Pliny sailed on, reaching Stabiae by the eighth hour after
the eruption. Unable to dock his ships, Pliny launched a small row
boat and was taken ashore, where he spent the night.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus, Maximus, and the rest
of the escapees from the Via Equestris were working their way east,
although at a much slower pace than Rufus liked. The further east
they went, the less thick the pumice layer was and travel should have
been easier, but it wasn't. “Wolfpup, the horses are tired. I
know we have to keep moving, but we will have to go a bit slower.
And they need water. We can drink wine but they can't. Next stream
or pond, we have to stop.” Rufus knew that Maximus was right. And
soon after, the came across what looked like a pond or water basin,
buried under a layer of ash and pumice. Rufus gave the rope for his
horse to Anna to hold, and Maximus jumped down from the wagon. They
both knelt down and began scraping the pumice out. In a moment, a
third joined them. It was Lucius, working side by side with the two
slaves. Two small buckets were buried close by. This sped things up
greatly, and Lucius carried one bucket towards the horses, when
Maximus shouted, “<i>NO!</i>”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What's wrong?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It will kill them if they
drink it like that. Rufus, do we have a spare tunic in the cart?”
Rufus nodded and went to fetch it. “Dominus, we have to filter the
water, there is too much ash in it.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rufus handed the tunic to
Maximus and he tore it apart, so that he had a fairly long piece.
Folded in thirds, he asked Lucius to hold the cloth across the one
bucket while he poured the water from the second. The cloth quickly
silted up, but there was enough water for one horse to drink. “Three
more to go.” The tunic yielded two more filters, and thus two more
usable buckets for the horses. Anna approached Rufus.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Turn your back. I will
give you part of my tunic, but you must promise not to look.”
Rufus smiled to himself and orally agreed to Anna's request. There
was a ripping sound, and a moment later, Anna tapped Rufus on his
shoulder, handing him the strip of cloth. The last of the filtered
water went to the horse that was carrying Anna and Sabina. They
trudged on as the land slowly rose. They were still far too close to
the volcano as far as Rufus was concerned. Ahead, through the gloom
and murk, he could dimly see a ridge, overlooking the road and the
city behind them. It was one of the landmarks on their trips back
and forth between the Pompeii house and the countryside fundus. It
was near where he and Maximus had made love in the cart they were now
fleeing in, several years before.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The party struggled up the
increasing slope of the rutted road. Rufus looked back, and was
horrified to see the little distance they had covered since leaving
the house, seemingly ages ago. It was now nearly thirteen hours since
the eruption, and the column of heat rising from the magma chamber
was finally cooling a bit. The poisonous gasses were also heavier
now, and with less heat to force them upwards, the western third of
the cloud began to collapse. It was sudden, and fortunately for the
Via Equestris group, on the west side, away from them. It looked as
if a knife had sheared away that part of the cloud, which slid
rapidly down and straight towards Herculaneum.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This first pyroclastic flow
was over five times hotter than boiling water. The flow incinerated
everything and everyone in it's path. The heat was so intense that
anyone left in the open was literally turned to charcoal. For the
hundreds of people huddling in the buildings along the coast and dock
areas of Herculaneum, things were more gruesome. Under such
incredible heat, soft tissue vaporized, bones and teeth shattered,
brains boiled and exploded. This first surge left that town buried in
up to ten feet of ash. The remaining part of the dense cloud of gas,
smoke, and ash hung there, lightning still flashing within.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The sight spurred the group
upwards. The were helped along by the sight of visibly less ash and
pumice on the ground as they got closer to the foothills where the
farm was located. None of the other families had been on this road
before, and many of them were deeply tired and restless. “Surely
we're far enough away now.” “We don't want to go too far away,
so we won't have as far to go when we return.” I'm tired.” “I'm
not going any farther.” “Nothing has happened to the city, we're
going back to get our things.” And one by one, most of the
families either stayed put or followed along for a few more miles
before stopping as well.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">About three hours after the
first pyroclastic flow had erased all life in Herculaneum, eighteen
hours after the initial eruption, the cloud collapsed completely, and
the second flow slid downwards and south toward Pompeii. This surge
did not quite reach the outskirts of the city but the next one, one
half hour later, did; breaching the northwestern city wall. Pompeii
has a little more than two hours of existence left.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">By this time, Rufus and
Maximus and the few families that were still with them had reached
the crest of the ridge, and the horses refused to move further. They
dropped in their tracks, exhausted. Meanwhile, the third flow
entered parts of Pompeii. The poisonous mixture of carbon dioxide
and hydrogen sulfide suffocated nearly all the remaining living souls
in the northern and western quarters of the city.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The exhausted refugees slept
fitfully, having no other choice but to trust that they were far
enough away to be safe. Neither Rufus nor Maximus shared that
belief, but both realized that none of them had the strength to move
on; and besides, the horses were essentially useless now. Antonia's
ankle seemed to look as bad as it had the day before, but at least
not worse. She had been made to drink a good measure of the wine
they had, and this seemed to help her sleep. Lucius sat next to her,
dozing. Anna and Sabina were tossing and turning, mumbling in their
sleep. Rufus and Maximus shared watch duties, sitting and leaning
next to each other, looking out over the wide plain below and taking
comfort and strength from the touch of each other's bodies. It was
now nearly twenty hours since the initial eruption.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Any idea of what time it
is?” Maximus spoke softly, so as not to wake those that had
finally managed to doze off.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Who knows, in this
infernal gloom. Early morning, maybe? This must be what the
Underworld looks like.” Rufus nudged his Beast, and the Beast
quietly squeezed his Wolfpup's thigh.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Suddenly, there was a rapid
series of ear-shattering booms and cracks, waking everyone. What was
left of the cone of Vesuvius had exploded, causing a new and final
series of pyroclastic surges. Rufus and Maximus watched in mute
disbelief and mounting horror as a flow of what looked like a wave of
liquid smoke and mud raced across the plain with incredible speed
towards Pompeii.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These multiple surges were a
combination of super-heated gases, ash, and mud. The temperatures
exceeded 750 degrees, and the first of these flows swept over the
entire city at a speed of nearly 200 miles per hour, burying it under
an additional six feet of mud and ash. The few people in the
streets succumbed almost immediately to thermal shock; but those
still indoors were left to die within three breaths. The first breath
took heated air and ash into their lungs, like swallowing fire. The
second breath mixed with the ash which created something akin to
cement in the windpipe, leaving them to suffocate on the third
breath. Two subsequent flows covered the city to a depth of up to
twenty feet in places.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Panic took the place of
reason. “RUN!! EVERYONE, <i><b> RUN</b></i>!!” Maximus
bellowed, as he scooped up Antonia and Rufus roused Anna and Sabina.
Lucius was trying to lead the horses with little success. “LEAVE
THEM!” Maximus roared. The other families all stumbled ahead, away
to the east, away from the now annihilated city that has been their
home. Behind them, the deadly wave swept onwards, widening and
slowing, a bit to the south of the refugees. Some minutes later,
panting and once again exhausted, the refugees staggered to a stop
and looked back at the dark, smoking, empty plain. Antonia turned
away and wept. “Truly, the gods have abandoned all of us.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">South of Pompeii, in
Stabiae, Pliny the Elder collapsed on the shore, still waiting for
the winds to allow his fleet to begin a rescue effort. He died a few
hours later. Since no one else in his naval party died, it was
unlikely that he succumbed to either the gasses or heat. Cause of
death was perhaps a stroke or heart attack. The younger Pliny, along
with his mother, had finally left Misenum and fled northeast, and
thus avoided the fate of so many others in the area around Naples
Bay. Many years later, he wrote a letter to his friend and historian
Tacitus, describing the eruption and it's aftermath in detail,
including the death of his uncle.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The plain between the crater
that had been Vesuvius and the towns to the south of the site that
had been Pompeii was now a smoking expanse of gray and black, with
only a few roof peaks and the very tallest of columns visible, and
everything covered with ash. The river Sarno had vanished, along with
the port, and the rest of the physical geography of this part of
Campania. Herculaneum to the west had vanished, too; buried under
over 70 feet of lava and ash, along with Oplontis and countless
smallholdings and farms in between. Nature had wiped nearly all
traces of humanity from the area.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Later that day, the refugees
reached the farm in the hills that Lucius had purchased as a summer
home. It would now shelter them for the next years. The house
slaves brought food and wine for the weary refugees, and later made
beds for the other families in the rather small triclinium. Most
slept through the rest of the day and into the next.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius had shown Rufus and
Maximus a small store room off the room that served as his study, and
where he and Antonia were now to sleep. “Sleep here. There's a
plank you can use to bar the door if you wish.” Weary almost
beyond comprehension, the two mutely nodded their thanks and stumbled
in. Heedless of comfort, the fell to the floor and were almost
instantly asleep.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hours later, Rufus whimpered
and twitched in his sleep, tormented by the horrific images of the
previous hours. Without reaching full consciousness, Maximus reached
out and pulled the smaller man tightly to him and curled his body
protectively around the still-whimpering red-furred man. But within
moments, Rufus calmed and settled, and both returned to deep sleep.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Antonia's ankle healed well,
and within three weeks of arrival, she was busy organizing the
household with Anna's somewhat reluctant help. Anna was still
nervous whenever Rufus came near, in spite of his apology to her for
his slap, and loud noises startled both her and Antonia. Still,
Antonia seemed to have recovered much of her former good nature and
steadiness. But Lucius was often seen standing outside, staring off
to the west and shaking his head. “All... gone. So fast. So
many,” he whispered to himself.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Over the next weeks, each of
them had to come to terms with how very much their world had changed.
Two of the families that had remained with the Via Equestris refugee
group returned to their principle homes in Rome. Two families went
to relatives in Sicily. One other family moved to Nuceria, the
closest town to the farm, where the paterfamilias had business
interests. Of the ones that had dropped by the wayside at various
point on the journey, only one individual was heard of again. Gaius
Plautus had tried to return to Pompeii to retrieve a particularly
valuable collection of coins but never actually reached the city.
Set upon by bandits, he barely escaped with his life, but his wife
died in the attack. His adult son, who lived in a Roman suburb, had
taken the broken man into his house, where he later committed
suicide. In many ways, subtle and unsubtle, the world had shifted,
with livelihoods lost and dreams snuffed out. Old assumptions and
beliefs, once held to firmly, were shaken. Certainties were now
looked on with far less confidence. There was no talk at all of
rebuilding the destroyed city, as most regarded the place as unlucky
at best, profoundly cursed at worst. In fact, its very location faded
from memory in little more than a generation. If the strength of
Rome lay with it's favor with the Gods, then what did the God's
repudiation of the many thousands of earnest entreaties over the fate
of Pompeii portend? If its destruction had been allowed, what else
might the future hold?</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>December,
79 AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius was sitting in the
small garden terrace when Antonia joined him one afternoon, to catch
the last weak rays of the sun. Her hair, once a lustrous dark brown,
was now nearly entirely gray, having turned color almost overnight
after the eruption. Lucius still felt some weakness from a serious
bout of an intestinal ailment that all of the members of the
household, save Rufus and Maximus, had shared the previous month.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Good, I am glad you are
here,” Lucius said, “I want to talk with you about something.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, husband?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It's about Rufus and
Maximus.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Somehow, I thought it
might be,” Antonia said as she sat next to her husband. She smiled
inwardly as she remembered seeing the pair as they rather groggily
came out of the small room off Lucius' study, and the glance they had
exchanged with each other, late in that day after they had all
arrived to their safe harbor in the hills. It was the look of two
who had been to Hades and back, survived, and would never be
separated.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius' gaze shifted from
the west to his wife next to him. He spent much more time sitting
and staring off into space than he ever used to, which rather worried
Antonia. She leaned over, her shoulder touching his. “Tell me.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“To put it plainly, we owe
our lives to them.” He took Antonia's hand in his.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“As do others, Lucius. I
know this. But you have something else on your mind, I know that,
too. I know you.” She touched her husband's now freshly lined
face. The past weeks had aged him deeply.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I have decided to manumit
both of them.” He held up his hand to forestall anything Antonia
might say. “ I had planned on freeing all my slaves with a small
allowance upon my death as you know, it's in my will; but I intend to
free both of them now. I am set on this, do not try to talk me out
of it.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I would not dream of
countering your wishes in this, husband, they are your property. But
in this, I fully agree with you. They risked all to save us and the
others. It is fitting that they be rewarded.” She placed her
other hand over he husband's. “What kind of allowance will you
make them?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I never sold the metals
business, I kept it for either Marcus or Lucius Tertius for when they
were settled and had started families. They are both settled now but
neither really needs that income, they are doing well in their own
businesses. And our Cornelia has married quite well, so I have no
worries there. I will sell the business to my old partner, Caius
Calvus; the gods know he's pestered me often enough to do that. I
will give the proceeds to Rufus and Maximus, half to each. They can
use it to purchase farms for themselves, or perhaps some other
business that appeals to one or the other of them. That is my plan.”
He smiled at his wife. “Now, what do you think?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I think you are a decent
and generous Roman, Lucius.” She paused and smiled back at her
husband. “But you know, you really don't need to divide the
proceeds from the sale.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“What do you mean, love?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I mean,” Antonia said,
continuing to smile, “that those two are a pair, and will work very
well together on a farm or in a business as they choose.” She
paused, and picked at the stola she was wearing against the chill in
the winter air. “I'm not blind, husband. They are lovers, and
have been for some time.” Lucius' mouth dropped, shocked at
Antonia's knowledge of male-male love, and of what he had thought was
a well-concealed secret. “True, it's not the Roman way, and the
Gods would certainly not approve.” She pursed her lips in a frown.
“But the Gods have shown us that they really weren't paying much
attention to us here when we needed them most, so I don't think we
owe them as much fealty as we might have in other times.” She
sighed. “They have always been discreet, and never brought shame
on the household; and they never failed in their duties to either of
us. Give them their freedom and our blessing, and let them make what
they will of their lives.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I DO love you, Antonia, I
always have. I should have been a great fool not to have married
you.” He leaned over and kissed his wife's cheek, then hugged her
close. “I will tell them tomorrow.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The following morning,
Lucius called Maximus in from the stable yard, where he was grooming
the horses. “Yes, Dominus?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Come inside, I wish to
speak with you.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, Dominus.”
Wondering what was going on, he put down the curry combs, patted the
horses to reassure them, and headed into the house. “Meet us in
the study,” Lucius called over his shoulder.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">'Us?' Maximus thought to
himself, wondering.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Inside, Rufus had already
been called into the dominus's study. Meeting Antonia in the hall
outside, she had whispered to him, “Do not worry, all is well,
Lucius has good news.” They entered the study together.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Once all four of them were
together, Lucius turned to the two slaves standing before him and
Antonia. “You know the regard we hold for you both. None of us
would be here without you, and what you did for us, and others.”
The two bowed their heads, not knowing exactly what to say or where
this was leading. “I have made a decision that will affect you
both, and it is only right and proper that I be the one to tell you
directly.” Both slaves tensed with the reflexive fear slaves
everywhere had. This did not sound like 'good news'.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Rufus, Maximus,” Lucius
paused for effect. “I have decided to free you both, now, in
thanks and gratitude for you service to me and my lady wife, and in
honor of all the people you did your best to save.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Both slaves were
dumbfounded. Of all the things they may have imagined, this was
perhaps the furthest from both their minds. Antonia then spoke. “We
want you both to know that you may stay here as freedmen with us if
you so wish, but you can also leave and make a life together, and
with our blessing.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It took a moment for the
full meaning of Antonia's use of the word 'together' to sink in, but
when they did, both men looked at each other and then fell into each
other's arms and hugged tightly. Lucius cleared his throat. “Ah
hemm... remember now, you will be Roman citizens, and Romans do not
yield to unseemly displays of emotion...” but he was smiling at the
pair as he said it. “We will leave tomorrow for Neapolis. You
will appear with me before the praetor who has been assigned to deal
with matters formerly connected to... Pompeii. I will swear to your
manumission, the document will be witnessed and filed. I want to
make sure that there will be no questioning your status as free men.
Be ready to leave early tomorrow.” For a moment, they all stood
silently, then Lucius motioned for Antonia to precede him out of the
library. “We should give them a private moment, I think.” As
they left, he softly closed the door behind them.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The two mean looked at each
other, still hardly believing the past five minutes of their lives.
Suddenly, Maximus gave a great whoop of joy, lifted Rufus in a huge
bear hug and spun him around, then kissed his lover passionately.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The journey to Neapolis took
all day on horseback. Once on the main highway, the going was
faster. They were passed by a group of Legionaries, marching north,
most likely to Rome itself. At one point, Rufus turned to Lucius and
asked, “Dominus, why do we have to appear before the praetor?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucius laughed. “You will
both have to get used to addressing me differently, you know.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How, then?” Maximus
interrupted.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You can use my praenomen
alone, or both that and my nomen, Hirtuleius. Either works in polite
company, but just Lucius is less formal, more friendly. You will
both take my nomen as yours, of course.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I don't think I could,
Domi...” Rufus stopped.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It's the Roman way,
you'll get used to it. And to answer your first question, actually,
you don't. I could simply sign, seal, and send a manumission
document to Neapolis or to Rome and that would take care of matters.
But I wanted to be certain all was properly recorded, and I
especially wanted an opportunity to talk to you both, privately,
where no one could overhear.” Maximus, who had been riding next to
Rufus, moved back and around to the other side of Lucius so he could
hear.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I want to give you some
advice, which I trust you will take to heart.” He paused, then
cleared his throat. Like many, he had yet to lose the roughness
caused by the breathing of so much ash and caustic air in their
escape. “Antonia and I would like you both to stay as members of
our household. Antonia doesn't understand your love, but respects
it. I... well, I understand it, and approve.” Rufus blushed his
usual fiery red. “But others may well not be as understanding. Or
be utterly hostile. So, if you choose to leave us, I suggest some
place a good distance from here. Perhaps someplace rural. These
tragic times have actually given you an opportunity. It would be
very easy to put about a story that you are two relatives, or
business partners, who lost everything including your families in the
eruption. It's a common enough story these days, and would give you a
reason for being together and for staying together in a business.
Any way of checking on your details lies dead and buried under...”
Lucius paused again, then continued. “Your story will simply be
believed. Think on it, there is no need to decide this right away.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They rode on for a ways.
“Now, as to money. Rufus, you know I was in the metals trade back
in Rome. That was before I bought you, Maximus... before you joined
us, I mean.” He nodded to the big man riding next to him, and
looked somewhat abashed. “I have to get used to new ways, too, you
see.” Lucius continued, “In any case, I never actually sold the
business. My former business partner runs the business currently,
and has offered to buy me out more than once. I intend now to sell
the business to him, and give you both the proceeds. It will take
time, and I will likely have to travel to Rome, but that will give
you the ability to go where you will and make a life together.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Once again, both were at a
loss for words. Finally, Maximus spoke. “Th..thank you.” He
didn't trust his voice for more.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Arriving at Neapolis late in
the day, they stayed overnight in a busy inn off the city's Forum and
the next morning found the Praetor's offices. They waited over an
hour, but once in, the process was surprisingly fast. The document
of 'manumission by vindicta' was drawn up, witnessed, signed by
Lucius and sealed. The Praetor then touched both Rufus and Maximus
on the head with his staff of office and uttered the official phrase,
“ex Jure Quiritium vindicavit in
libertatem," while Lucius held each slave in turn. Lucius then
formally turned each around, facing away from him, and said, “emisit
e manu.” They all walked out, free men together.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well,
you are Roman citizens now, and can wear your pileus. How does it
feel?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It
feels....” Rufus started. “WONDERFUL!” Rufus and Maximus
finished together. The three adjourned to a taverna and had a cup
each of hot wine before heading back on the chilly ride to the
fundus. Rufus reached into the small pouch tied to his tunic and
drew out three coins. “We are paying, Dom... Lucius. It is only
right.” Lucius nodded and smiled, and drained his cup.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They
arrived back at the farm outside of Nuceria towards nightfall.
Antonia was waiting at the doorway for them. “Come, Rufus
Hirtuleius and Maximus Hirtuleius, come in and dine with us."</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>27 April,
95 AD</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The rain fell gently, making
soothing sounds on the roof tiles. Spooned together, the two men
were taking a rare day off and enjoying the luxury of a late morning
in bed.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Wolfpup...”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Hmmm?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Did you ever think we
could ever have ended up like this?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You mean free and
together? Dreamed of it, yes, often. Though it might really happen?
No, never. We have been so very, very lucky.” Rufus pushed his
erect penis into his Beast's ass. The oozing slide was a familiar,
quiet comfort for them both. The slow, steady motion of Rufus's meat
between Maximus' warm cheeks was deeply satisfying. There were still
times of urgent need and pounding triumph on both their parts, but
more often now, it was this gentle, loving mating that made up their
mornings or evenings. “Oh, Beast,” Rufus gasped softly as he
pumped his life into his mate. When he sensed that Rufus had
finished, Maximus tightened his muscle ring around the thick piece of
his lover that was lodged inside him, holding on. “My love,” he
exhaled slowly. They both relaxed, still spooned, and listened to
the rain.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Present
Day</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mario sat with two of his
staff over wine at the corner bistro. “OK, what do we have that we
can show the minister when he arrives tomorrow? Will it be safe for
him to go down into the main part of the stable, do you think? And
will he be able to see the casts?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“You can show him most of
the frontage, and pretty much all of the stable and cart. The
scaffolding has been moved over so it covers everything there, and
we've rigged lights in the inner stable area and the outer
vestibule.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“How is the cart coming
along?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Extremely well,”
Donatella said. “It's truly astonishing, unique in all Roman
archaeology so far as I know. The decoration on the side and end
panels is quite elaborate and skilled. Trust me, money was put into
building this cart. We have freed most of the structure and two
wheels and part of a third. We've cleaned things up, tidied, and
with the covering, even if it rains tomorrow, the Minister won't get
all muddy...more's the pity.” They all laughed. “I'd love to
see him play slip and slide down the ramp!”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, lets hope for the
sake of our funding that he doesn't.” Mario drained his wine.
“So... we show him the stable area behind the Via Equestris house,
the vestibule with the cart, and finally, the casts of the two
horses, agreed?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Franco looked up from his
notes. “Maybe show the horse casts and then the cart? It's really
the most impressive. If the reconstruction of the cart is
authorized, it will be the principle attraction in this area of the
city, and it would make a good climax for his visit. In my opinion,
of course.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Dona, would that work?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It can, yes. Yes, that's
a better idea, Franco.” She gulped the rest of her wine. “I
really hate losing a full day of work on the cart. I don't like to
rush, but I wish we could just work straight through. We're really
up against it with the interns, their contracts are all up at the end
of next month, and shutting down for a full day for his visit makes
it that much tighter.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I know, I know. And I am
trying to work something out with the university to perhaps extend
their time with us by another week, maybe two. I don't know, but I
have hopes.” Mario understood all too well staffing problems and
the value of well-trained interns. Starting over next season
inevitably meant slower work, with much time spent in fieldwork
training.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Uh, boss?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Yes, Dona?”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I am sorry we haven't
found any evidence for a solution to your 'puzzle' this season. I
know it's been bothering you.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Well, not 'bothering',
really. It's a puzzle, but I am beginning to think we'll never
really understand the reasons for the absence of bodies in those Via
Equestris houses. The discovery of the ceremonial wagon and the
horses tell us that the family that lived there was preparing to
leave... at lest we think so? Or perhaps the elaborate wagon was
going to be used in a wedding procession? That's known to be fairly
common in the Imperial era, so... perhaps.” Mario shrugged. “But
what happened to the family? No bodies. Did they drop everything
and run? Did they die in one of the other streets, or did they make
it out alive somehow?” Mario shrugged again. “We'll never really
know, I guess.”</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They paid the bill, said
their goodbyes and left, going their separate ways until the morrow
and the Minister's visit. Before getting into his Fiat, Mario looked
to the north, at the peak of Vesuvius, silhouetted starkly against
the sky, a faint plume of steam at its peak. He pondered what it
must have been like, over two thousand years ago, to see the mountain
explode and to watch your world be erased, to attempt to flee in
mindless panic, and fail.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Why no bodies?” He
shook his head, got in and started the car, and drove home.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">* * * * *</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Historical
Note</b></span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-align: left;">Firstly, this is a work of fiction.
While specific historical characters are real and lived in the times
and places depicted, Maximus and Rufus, Lucius' family, the EPEP
project, the Director and the Minister of Antiquities are not real,
nor are they modeled on any historical or present-day Romans. This is the final and complete edition of the story. A few additional things were added to the first posting, and some grammatical issues addressed. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Secondly, I have tried to make the
geographic and social background in the story as accurate as I can.
Forms of address, descriptions of locations, names of streets (except
the Via Equestris), are all period accurate. Although Lucius' home
and street do not actually exist, they are solidly based on the
excavated details of such merchant class homes in Pompeii and
Herculaneum. I did fudge one geographic detail for dramatic effect.
The ridge some of the refugees stand on to see the final destruction
of Pompeii exists, but much further to the east. Pompeii itself
would not be visible.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">LIDAR is real and a very useful
technology for archaeologists. Its use has, among other things,
discovered a vast network of Mayan cities in Central America's
jungles, as well as the ceremonial cart mentioned at the end of the
story. The cart, bodies of the horses, and the stable are all real,
discovered in 2018. Their exact location has been moved slightly to
my fictitious street of Via Equestris.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Finally, a word about time. A growing
body of modern archaeological and forensic evidence (see below)
points to the time of the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius as being
in October rather than the usually cited historical date of August
24, 79 AD. I have chosen to use the fall date for this story. I
have also chosen to use the term 'AD' rather than 'CE', the more
modern term. Time is, after all, an artificial construct; and I have
chosen to go with the term I grew up with which is still in use
today, and likely more familiar to my audience.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Several extant Roman documents (such as Josephus in his <i>Antiquities
of the Jews,</i> and Suetonius, in his <i>Life of Titus</i>) mention
the year of the disaster as being in the year that corresponds to our
79 AD, the first year of Titus' brief reign. No other accounts
mention a different <i>year,</i> so we can be confident of that; but
only one account mentions a specific <i>date</i>. That date of
August 24 comes from Pliny The Younger's eyewitness account of the
eruption, written circa 100 AD in a letter to his friend and
protegee, the Roman historian Tacitus, at least 20 years after the
fact. (Tacitus had written earlier to Pliny asking for details of
Pliny the Elder's death, to include in his work, the <i>Historiae</i>.)
Many generations of handwritten copies of that letter (which
themselves have minor differences) may well have corrupted the date
given in the original autograph, which no longer exists. After all,
even the very location of Pompeii faded from memory until
re-discovered late in the 18<sup>th</sup> century.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As early as 1797, published
descriptions of excavations at Pompeii mention the finding of
braziers with charcoal ash (as opposed to volcanic ash) in them in
multiple rooms. This would be highly unlikely in the famous August
heat of the Campania region of Italy. Later excavations, most
recently in 1990 and 2001, found the same prevalence of braziers with
charcoal ash, along with seeds and other remains of autumn seasonal
fruits in homes and shops. Additionally, victims wearing partially
preserved heavy wool clothing were found in both Pompeii and
Herculaneum; again, unlikely if the timing of high summer is to be
accepted. Then there is the weather pattern over the Bay of Naples
region. The prevailing winds of summer, particularly in August, are
to the west. Numerous excavations prove that the ash plume traveled
south-southeast from Vesuvius, and that particular wind pattern is
found only in the fall and winter in that region. And in 2016, a
charcoal inscription partially preserved on a tavern wall in Pompeii
was uncovered. It is darker and fresher looking (but not modern)
than other graffiti in the building, and includes a reference to “16
days before the kalends of November” (which would be October 16<sup>th</sup>).
This would indicate the earliest possible date for the eruption,
since the inscription is unlikely to have been over a year old when
buried. In addition, the Villa of the Golden Bracelet's hoard of
coins include ones of the Emperor Titus that were not minted until
late August or early September according to Imperial records, which
almost certainly precludes their arrival in Pompeii any earlier than
September of 79 AD. Taken together, all this makes a solid case in
my mind for the autumnal date.)</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Note also that I have
included a glossary of Latin words and phrases and other terms that
might not be familiar to the casual reader.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>UrsusMajr, June, 2023</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> This story was written by a real
person, not a robot. Please respect the work that goes into these
stories and do not post them elsewhere without the author attribution
at the top of the story. The author may be contacted at:
ursusmajr@gmail.com</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Glossary
of Latin Terms used in </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>79
AD</b></i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> and </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>After
Vesuvius</b></i></span></p>
<ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Aesculapius</b> - The Roman god
of medicine and healing.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Atrium</b> - The large entrance
room in a Roman dwelling, sometimes open to the sky.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Ave</b> - Typical greeting,
used in addressing one person.
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Avete</b> - Typical greeting,
used when addressing two or more as a group.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Bonum nocte </b>- Good night.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Basilica - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Roman times, a large public building used as law court or assembly
hall.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Caldarium</b> - The hot pool in
a Roman bath house.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Caligas</b> - Literally,
'boot'; descriptive of Roman footwear in general. The Emperor
Caligula got his name (actually a nickname) from the soldiers
serving in his father Germanicus' legion on the Rhine. 'Caligula'
means 'little boot'.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Calimus</b> - An ink pen with a
wooden handle and metal tip</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Cloaca </b>- Literally, sewer.
The main public drain in a Roman city or settlement.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Domina </b>- Form of address
for the wife of the head of a Roman household. Also used for an
unmarried female owner of slaves.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Dominus</b> - Form of address
for the male head of a household, owner of slaves.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Ex
Jure Quiritium vindicavit in libertatem - </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally,
'by the law governing citizenship rights, you are declared free'.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Falernian</b> - the very best
Roman wine. Most Roman wine was rather harsh because it was drunk
young, rarely aged for more than a few months at best. Falernian
was prized for it's gentle and flavorful character, and therefore
treated better (and aged longer) than run-of-the-mill drink.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Frigidarium</b> - The cold, or
source-temperature pool in a Roman bath house.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Fundus - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally,
'farm', and later, 'bottom'. In Roman times, a privately owned farm
of any size, though usually smaller. </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Futuo</b> - Literally, 'fuck',
used as both a verb and as an all-purpose exclamation, but not in
polite company. Used in much the same way as it is today.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Gratius tibi ago</b> -
Literally, 'thanks to you', a formal way of thanking someone other
than a close friend for a favor or gift.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Hades</b> - Roman version of
Hell, the underworld.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Ides</b> - The 13th day of the
month, except in March, May, July, and October, when it was the
15th. (The notorious 'Ides of March' is known for Julius Caesar's
assassination, but was also the deadline for settling debts in Roman
commerce.)</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Impluvium</b> - A small square
pool located in the atrium, often fed by a fountain.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Inconveniens</b> - Literally,
'inappropriate'. Anything unacceptable or uncouth.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Jove </b>- Another name for
Jupiter, head of the Roman pantheon</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Juno Moneta </b>- Roman goddess
of money and protectoress of bankers and funds.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Kalends</b> - The first day of
the following month.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lena</b> - The madam of a Roman
brothel.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lupanar </b>- A Roman brothel<b>.</b></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Macellum -
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally, 'market'. One of
the main markets in Pompeii, located at the Forum. It was partially
destroyed in the earthquake of 62 AD, and not yet completely rebuilt
bu the time of Vesuvius' eruption in 79AD.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Manumission -</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Roman legal proceeding by which a slave owner frees the slave. The
slave was then considered a 'libertas', a free person. Manumitted
slaves automatically became Roman citizens. Manumissions were
taxed.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Maximus</b> - Literally,
'great' or 'greatest', also large or imposing.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Nones</b> - The 7th or 8th day
before the Ides.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Nummularii </b>- Roman
officials tasked with the minting of coins and supervision and
distribution of money and indirectly, banks.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Optimus Maximus</b> -
Literally, 'Best and Greatest', often used in conjunction with
Jupiter, head of the Roman pantheon.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pace</b> - Peace</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Paterfamilias -
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally, 'father of the
family', head of a household. See: 'dominus'</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pedicabo ego</b> - Go fuck
yourself.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Peristyle - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Roman architecture, a series of columns surrounding a courtyard or
garden, or an indoor space such as an atrium.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pileus -</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
a conical felt hat, worn only by freedmen in Roman times.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pluto - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Roman god of the dead and ruler of the underworld (Hades).</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pontifex Maximus -</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Literally, 'supreme pontiff'. The high priest of of the Roman
College of Pontiffs, a powerful figure, both in religion and in
politics.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Priapus </b>- A Greek and Roman
fertility god, protector of livestock, bees, plants, gardens, and
male genitals. Clothed or naked, he was always depicted with an
erect penis. He was a central character in much of Greek and Roman
erotica.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pyroclastic flow -</b>
a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic mud that flows along
the ground away from a volcano at speeds up to 500 mph. Temperature
can reach 1800 degrees F.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Quarta hora </b>- Literally,
the 'fourth hour' after sunrise.
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Quid es hoc </b>- Literally,
'what is this', a general expression of surprise.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Rufus</b> - Literally, 'red'.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Salvete</b> - Another form of
greeting, especially in the morning, used when addressing two or
more persons.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sarno - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
small river that ran along the border of Pompeii's city wall.
Obliterated by the eruption.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Saturnalia</b> - A winter Roman
holiday celebrated in honor of Saturn. It was marked by modest
gift-giving, public feasts, and a general over-turning of social
customs. Slaves and freedmen switched roles with masters.
Originally celebrated on December 17th, it was later expanded to a
six-day festival.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Satyr </b>- An example of one
of many Greek mythological characters imported intact into the Roman
mythology. Satyrs had ears and tails of a horse or ass, and<b> </b>were
originally depicted with a animal's legs. They were always depicted
naked, with permanent, enlarged erections.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Somnos - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Roman personification of sleep. According to Ovid, he was the
brother of death.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sublinaculum - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Worn
under a tunic or toga, it was the functional equivalent of 'tighty
whities'.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sum valde gratus</b> - Less
formal form of thanks, 'thank you VERY much!'.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Tepidarium</b> - The warm pool
in a Roman bath house, using a mixture of heated and
source-temperature water.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Triclinium - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
a Roman house, the dining room. It had a central low table, with at
least three low couches arranged horizontally around it.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Tu foedus nothi</b> - You
filthy bastards.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Tunic - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">basic
form of dress for all Roman males. Simple in design, they could be
belted at the waist, and were of varying lengths. Middle and upper
classes could add a toga of various types over a tunic. Togas were
expensive, and awkwardly voluminous to wear. As time went on, they
were increasingly relegated to only the most formal occasions.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Vale</b> - Typical form of
farewell or good-bye, used when addressing one person.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Valete</b> - Typical form of
farewell or good-bye, used when addressing multiple people</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Vesta</b> - Roman goddess of
the hearth and home, especially the sacred fire of Rome's hearth.</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Vestals</b> - Priestesses of
the temple of Vesta, tasked with continual tending of the sacred
fire in her temple in Rome. They were selected by the Pontifex
Maximus before puberty, served for 30 years, and were required to be
chaste for that time. If they broke their vows of chastity, their
lover(s) were publicly beaten to death, and the Vestal herself was
buried alive. Once retired, they were free to marry (few did), and
held an exceptionally high place in Roman society, with rights and
privileges accorded to almost no other Roman citizen.</p>
</li></ul>UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-67836109335585791072021-07-22T15:17:00.004-07:002021-07-31T17:48:48.158-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Thirteen<p><span style="font-size: large;"> The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Thirteen</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MC</span></p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
much as Gaden, Karn, and Brunaulf wanted to spend more time with
their werebear brothers, they knew affairs in Adengaan had to take
priority. It had been over three months since leaving to intercept
raiding parties and it was uncertain just how much information Jamder
would have relayed about their situation. They enjoyed the day
saying their goodbyes to their friends and spent one final night Home
before starting their journey back to Adengaan. Gaden could no
longer fulfill his duties to King Halben and thus needed to resign
from his position in the guild. Brunaulf decided to come with his
lover for support as did Karn. The Gaden reflected on the three
months he spent with his new family as he prepared for the journey
ahead of him. His thoughts revolved around the many joys meeting
members of his new family and getting a taste of the new way of life
that would be his to enjoy. However, his old chapter in life needed
to be closed so he was free to savour his new one.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Getting
from Carayorn to Adengaan is a two week journey with the first ten
days traversing through mountainous terrain without any paths before
coming to a road of any kind. Gaden looked forward to the
opportunity to travel so he could learn the way for himself and to
learn some practical aspects of traveling to and from Home. One such
practicality is the use of “bearpacks” - a kind of backpack with
multiple straps, loops, and ties to accommodate various forms. It is
usually donned in half form and secured so that when transforming to
full bear form the pack will stay in place. On reaching roads the
pack could be readjusted to be carried over the shoulders like a
traditional pack. The three intentionally travelled light as there
was plenty of food to find along the way and Gaden's lessons
continued on how to “think like a bear in the woods” as they
traveled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> One
thing the mage-turned-werebear noticed in their first full day of
travels is how the forest seemed so alive. Everything seemed to
shimmer with life and radiate an energy he hadn't noticed before. It
seemed to be inviting and comforting, almost permeating through him
as he travelled. As that first day progressed he seemed to become
more accustomed to it, as if it were a given. The trio stopped to
rest by a brook reverting to human form and taking a stretch. Gaden
used the opportunity to have a drink by the brook and enjoy the water
lazily flowing by. He decided to stretch out letting his head rest
in the nook where the ground ended and the tree trunk began, looking
up into the sky staring at the branches of the trees. He noticed the
intricate patterns of branches from different trees intertwining to
form the canopy above him as he let his mind wander. His eyes were
moving from branch to branch, tree to tree as a kernel of knowledge
came to the forefront of his mind. He studied further and he could
see it - energy flowing from tree to tree.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
stood up and faced the tree he was leaning against and placed his
hands against it and began to concentrate. He could feel the tree's
life, its energy, and how it interacted with the other trees near it.
He closed his eyes and with concentration he explored the network of
trees around him with this newfound sense. It seemed vast and
extremely complex, far too complex to conceptualize it all at once.
He narrowed his focus to just a few trees around him. He felt the
interplay, the connection between them both through branches and
roots. Gaden could almost feel what it would be like to be standing
at the tree next to him. In an instant he felt himself shift.
Opening his eyes he discovered he was standing by and touching a tree
next to the one he was originally touching. He stared back and
forth, first at the original tree, then the one he was at. All of
the pieces clicked in his mind and he smiled. In a way, he had just
teleported himself using the energy of nature around him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Just
as he was going to tell his companions what happened to him, he had a
flash of insight from a recent memory:</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "<i>Use
it for your community and to help others. You'll figure it out.</i>"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
smiled to himself as those words spoken to him finally had some
context. Though it wasn't the traditional “magic” he was used
to, there seemed to be a kind of energy in nature he could harness.
Throughout his life he had always been told he had “potential”
and it seemed Haran Mojkar had rewarded him with a newfound potential
to explore, learn, and grow into.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hey,
Brunaulf,” Gaden called, “come here for a second?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “What
is it, Gaden?” Brunaulf said, smiling and heading over to his
companion.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
want to try something. Can you give me a hand?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Sure.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Ok.
Reach under my shirt and put your hands on my shoulders.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big man bent down a little to get underneath the smaller werebear's
shirt and began massaging his shoulders. Gaden's cock sprang to
life.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “You're
not making this easy,” he said, smiling. “Okay, let me try
this.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
put his hands on the tree again and felt the energy flow between
Brunaulf, himself, and the <span lang="en-CA">forest.</span>
Concentrating and putting himself in the same mental frame of mind,
he attempted to traverse back to the first tree, except this time
with Brunaulf in tow. It was extremely difficult and it felt like he
was trying to juggle, but sure enough in a brief moment of time the
two appeared by the other tree.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Holy
shit!” Brunaulf quipped pulling his hands out from under Gaden's
shirt. “How in the hells did you do that?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It's
hard to describe, but Haran Mojkar bestowed on me the ability to use
this strange form of magic. I don't quite get all of it and the
<span lang="en-CA">inspiration</span> for how it works seems to come
in fits and starts, but this form of 'teleportation' came to me while
I was studying the trees. And I don't get sick from it, either!”
He smiled.<br /></span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Pretty
amazing feat, I must say.” Karn commented as he walked over.
“Looks like your days performing magic may not be over after all,
just expressed in a different way.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
newest werebear grabbed Brunaulf by the hand and led him over to Karn
where he grabbed them both in a hug. Holding it there for a few
seconds, he then gave each of them a small kiss.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “What
was that for?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “No
reason, just felt like it” Gaden said, “shall we get moving
again?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Two
weeks later they had arrived at their destination. Adengaan seemed
different as they travelled through the harvested fields toward the
gates. To Gaden, it was an entirely new sensory experience. Sights
and particularly smells fought for his attention. He recognized the
smell of werebears among a few of the guards as they arrived at the
gate. The entire group, however, noticed the pensive mood in the air
from the guards, as if there was a recent trauma from which the city
was still healing. To avoid any explanations at the gate for the
change in appearance of Gaden and Brunaulf among those not part of
the werebear brotherhood, Uncle Karn simply introduced them as guests
who would be staying with him for a few days before travelling on.
The guard on duty informed Karn that a standing order was given to
report to His Majesty immediately on Karn's arrival and to not be
surprised if a royal page visits his residence. Karn thanked the
guard for the information and the three companions entered the city.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Something's
definitely not right,” Karn noted, “the guards seem tense and
it’s very uncommon for a standing order like that.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Agreed,” noted Brunaulf, “we have been gone for almost four months though.
A lot could have happened in that time.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
wasn't a long walk to the modest house Karn and Brunaulf called home
for so many years. Once inside the three werebears dropped their
packs, opened a few windows to remove the stale air, and flopped on
the large bed. They were quite content to have a nap and simply
enjoy each other's company when a knock came on the door. Looking at
each other for a moment, Karn decided it should be he who answers the
door. He was greeted by member of the honour guard for His Majesty.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good
day, Karn.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good
day, Therin” Karn said.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “May
I come in?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Of
course!” Karn stepped aside so the guard could enter and closed
the door behind him. Therin began to speak once the door was closed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “His
Majesty has decreed you and your companions shall attend a private
audience with his majesty immediately.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Confused
looks passed back and forth between the three werebears as they
started to wonder what in the hells was going on. Therin continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Formal
attire is not necessary. It is more important that you come with me
at once. I am not at liberty to discuss further details here.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three men, with little choice, decided to accompany Therin to the
royal quarter to see His Majesty. They continued to notice the
strange dichotomy of actions among the people. Ordinary citizens
laughed and joked, and children played as if there wasn't a care in
the world. Soldiers and guards, however, seemed to be on a
heightened sense of awareness. It seemed to be a kind of “just in
case” preparation for something unknown. As they reached the door
to His Majesty's chamber, Gaden remembered the friendly page of the
court standing there to announce guests. A look was exchanged
between Therin and the page. and the <span lang="en-CA">page</span>
with a nod decided he would be more useful elsewhere. When the area
seemed empty, the guard opened the door himself and, with little
fanfare, ushered the three men inside.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
air in the room seemed different today. The ten man honour guard
usually present was down to only four, but what stood out for Gaden
the most was seeing Jamder at the <span lang="en-CA">dais</span>
talking to a rather large, imposing figure sitting on the throne
where King Halben should be. He was hugely and densely muscular,
easily as big as Brunaulf if not bigger, incredibly hairy, enormously
and thickly bearded up to his eyeballs. His hair was chestnut brown
and his eyes as he glanced down to Gaden were hazel. Gaden found
himself somewhat aroused. The mage and this man were speaking in
soft tones. Gaden was surprised by this turn of events and his nose
confused him a bit as to who were werebears, but as a precaution and
not forgetting decorum stopped to bow with the other two at an
appropriate distance from the man sitting on the throne.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Gentlemen,”
King Halben began, “this is a private audience, and with events
that have recently transpired that we must discuss, I relieve you
from your duty to stand on ceremony. Come closer so we can discuss
somewhat privately.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three men moved closer to the king as he began speaking again looking
at Gaden.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Gaden!
Why, I must say the change did you good!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Confused
how a man he had never seen before recognized him, all he could utter
was “Uh, thank you.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Sensing
Gaden's confusion, King Halben offered some context.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Ah
yes… I forget. What you see now is my true form, Gaden, the form
not hidden by a glamour for the sake of public appearance I wear.
You are no longer susceptible to the illusionary magic I use.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Turning
his attention to Brunaulf, the King continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Brunaulf!
I don't know what the Gods happened to you, but we will have to hold
that conversation for another time, still, I love the grey and you’ve
become quite strapping, haven’t you?!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
have brought you here to thank you for your service to the city.
Jamder here came to me about four months ago with information
uncovered from a raiding party you encountered. It turns out the
raiding parties were decoys. The purpose was to entice the five city
states- Adengaan in particular- to expend key resources both in
manpower and magic outside the city in order to weaken it from
within. The ultimate plan was to carry out an assassination. <i>My</i>
assassination.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three werebears appeared shocked someone would make such a bold
attempt.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “This
was a very organized, structured plot. The information Jamder
provided was confirmed by reports from our allies in other cities.
This was the work of The Exiled.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn's
face showed his shock and disbelief.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “The
Exiled?” He questioned, “Are you sure?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It’s
been confirmed,” King Halben replied.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Who
are The Exiled?” Gaden asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
King had a somewhat incredulous look on his face and began a lecture
with a tone that indicated what he was saying should be common
knowledge.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “The
Exiled are a group of werebears who were cast out of our family
shortly after...”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Sorry?”
Gaden interrupted, “<i>Our</i> family? You mean that you are a
werebear too?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> King
Halben smiled, then laughed for a moment before directing his
attention to Karn.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Is
the only education for new cubs sexual education anymore? Do they
not give <i>any</i> history lessons to new cubs at Home?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “An
apparent oversight I will remedy.” Karn replied, blushing
slightly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Yes,”
the King said redirecting his attention to Gaden, “I am a werebear
and some, but not all, of the honour guard are werebears. Use your
nose, young cub.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
took a sniff, he guessed he’d missed it due to the number of
werebears on the dais, but there it was as clear as day. The King’s
scent was most assuredly ‘family’.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “That
is why the illusion magic in place no longer affects you. It’s
purpose is to allow us to integrate better with human society. In
point of fact, the city has a rich tradition that involves werebears,
but this is not the time nor place for that discussion. Instead,
I'll summarize what you need to know about The Exiled.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “During
the Great Expulsion of 233, a minority faction among us felt we
shouldn't have to go. They felt we were superior beings to humans
and, if anything, humans should be subjugated to us. We fought
against them and our superior numbers allowed us to banish them both
from Adengaan and from Carayorn. We attempted dialogue with them in
an effort to reconcile our family but they completely broke ties in
the fifth century. They've not attempted contact for over 400 years
until now if you count this assassination attempt as 'contact'.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “As
for how they did it, with the help of magical allies. Several moles
inserted themselves into the Mage's Guild as new applicants.
Simultaneously several Exiled with magical <span lang="en-CA">camouflage</span>
became recruits. By expending resources to counter raids, assisting
the other four city-states, and troubles involving magic, it left us
thin. Low troop levels combined with the guild and guard being
infiltrated and it was a recipe for an assassination and a coup here
in Adengaan. Had you not found those documents and given them to
Jamder, the city may have very well fallen from within, and I would
be dead. As it stands, with the help of Jamder and Nadis, we were
able to ferret the moles out and prevent the attempt.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Wait
a minute,” Gaden said, “Nadis? You mean that fat, dumpy guy who
seemed bored to be my proctor when I arrived here...”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “...is
probably one of the most skilled mages I've known next to Jamder
here.” The king concluded the sentence as Jamder made a slight
bow.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “As
for Nadis, it's his way. He's not about pomp and circumstance, and
he's good at what he does. He's been here almost as long as Jamder,
and he's been a valued confidant and friend to the city. Because of
that I give him free reign to work within the guild as he sees fit.
In this case, it has paid off.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
decided to weigh in on the matter, thinking about how an ordinary
human would stand little chance against a werebear in a fight.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “That
explains why the guards are still on edge. Also, if The Exiled are
involved, this is probably not an open and shut case.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">King
Halben elaborated on the statement. “It
is also why we are having a private discussion about this and why the
only members of the honour guard here are ones you would recognize
from Carayorn. This attempt was targeted at Adengaan because of who
we are, obviously.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “However,
the point to be made today is that the city owes you a debt of
gratitude I cannot express publicly for obvious reasons. All of you
have earned a respite from duties to the city. Gaden, of course you
will have 'resigned' for 'personal reasons' which I will accept
without question. Brunaulf, the mage's guild can help with
illusionary means should you choose to continue to serve, but you
have a well-earned hiatus ahead of you. You as well, Karn. I
understand from Jamder you volunteered to help. All of you take some
time off and when you return we shall figure out how to integrate you
back into Adengaan and move forward in dealing with The Exiled.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebears contemplated the situation before thanking King Halben.
His majesty concluded: “I
expect to see you again at spring thaw. Now, I have additional
affairs to discuss with Jamder, privately, before he goes back into
retirement. Kindly leave us, but again, thank you.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
men bowed and as they were leaving Karn made eye contact with Jamder.
Each held the gaze for a few seconds before King Halben, demanding
the old mage's attention, caused Jamder to break it and look away as
the door closed to the chamber.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Just
when I thought I understood my path in life, out comes another
wrinkle,” Gaden commented as they left the palace, “Tell you
what, Brunaulf, let me pack my things from the guild so I can stay
with you. I could use the rest and relaxation,” he smiled
<span lang="en-CA">mischievously</span> and quoted what he said those
four months ago when he was laying in Brunaulf's bed recovering,
“that is, if I'm not imposing.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled and put himself between Karn and Gaden, and with an arm
comfortably over each of their shoulders, began walking toward the
guild to collect Gaden's things.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Epilogue</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Snow
was falling lightly in large flakes on an unusually cold fall day.
Gaden, shirtless, was busy splitting wood outside a small house in
the woods located not too far from Adengaan. Gaden didn’t seem to
mind the cold as much as he used to, back when he was human a day
like this would require a wool shirt with a layer of linen under it
even if he were doing something strenuous, but now, his body hair was
more than enough.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
had mentioned this once abandoned house was the one he stayed in the
night before he came to Adengaan as a boy and always considered the
house as a good omen. Now that King Halben had temporarily released
them from duties they took the opportunity to repair the place to be
a home away from home. They had made considerable progress in the
month since beginning to repair it and it was finally “winter
worthy”. The only thing remaining was to split enough wood to heat
the small home for the winter.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
ducked out the door to see his love splitting wood. Smiling, he
approached his lover while he was preparing a piece of wood to be
split and wrapped his arms over his shoulders from behind.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Why
don't you come have a rest and sit by the fire? Exercise is good for
your muscles, but I think you’ve done enough for the day”
Brunaulf asked nuzzling his face into Gaden's neck, “I have a nice
toasty one going and we have that nice rug on the floor in front.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
took a moment to savour his lover's touch and scent while he
contemplated the need to continue splitting wood. He caught a whiff
of another comforting scent somewhat far off and smiled to himself as
he tried to make a decision.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
in bear form was watching from a distance amused at the two lovers.
Their scents intensifying as their passion increased began to stir
something in the older werebear to join them. Turning into human
form he began to take a step toward them anticipating hours of fun
when a man emerged out of thin air.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Jamder?!”
Karn incredulously asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Who
else would I be?” the mage quipped.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “But,
how did you find me?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Jamder
put on an overacted exasperated look.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Oh
please! Like I can't find my big bear! Catching you post
transformation naked is a bonus, though.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was almost at a loss for words.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Well...
what are you doing here? I mean, is something wrong?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Not
entirely,” the old mage started, “but I need your help.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Of
course,” Karn said, “I'll be glad to help any way I can. What
can I do?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “You
can help me by taking this.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
old mage held up his outstretched arm to show a gold chain with a
gold pendant on it. The pendant was the same symbol of the bear
Gaden and Brunaulf now had, except instead of being crafted in
silver, this one was crafted in gold. Karn looked at the pendant,
surprised and confused.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
don’t understand” was all Karn could say.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It’s
simple.” Jamder said grabbing his love’s wide meaty hand and
putting the medallion in his palm, closing his fingers around it.
“After all, it’s not only a token of love, but a symbol of a bond
between a werebear and his candidate.” He reached into a pocket
and pulled out an identical pendant and began fastening it around his
own neck as he continued speaking.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Gaden's
life was going down a path similar to mine, but he chose the other
fork in the road. It gave me food for thought. '<i>Why was I so
adamant about not going through with it? Why couldn't I be happy as
a werebear?</i>' I would ask myself. I guess if I face the truth of
it I was afraid. You saw how my life had so much purpose back then
and that purpose depended upon magic. Gods, even now my magic
abilities have been found useful with events of late. Of all people,
you know more than anyone how magic is such an integral part of me,
of who I am. To lose it would be like losing one of my senses. I
feared what my life would be like if I gave up that part of me. I
feared that my love for you wouldn't be enough to make up for that
loss and, over time, I would come to resent my bear that I love so
much.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
turned to look at Brunaulf and Gaden in the distance enjoying each
others' embrace as they stood by the wood pile.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “But
I look at them. I look at the life they are going to forge together
not only as lovers to each other, but loving and loved as part of an
entire community. I guess Gaden showed me if I have you to love and
if I have your love and support along with<span style="color: red;"> </span>your
Family, I need not be afraid of what I might lose, and I should
embrace everything I would gain.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
turned to face his lover again who was still holding the pendant in
his hand. The mage opened his fingers again to remove the pendant,
reached up and put the chain over his head, and took a step back to
appraise how the pendant looked on him. The werebear looked down and
cradled the pendant in his hand as Jamder spoke again.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “For
over thirty years, Karn, you were my lover, confidant and friend.
Your love for me never wavered, not once, even now. You're a loyal,
compassionate, deeply caring man capable of amazing feats of love.
I've always treasured that about you.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
want to experience that amazing, incredible love you have for me
again my big bear, and I want you to feel all the warmth and love I
have for you - a love that's never died – for the rest of our very
long lives.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Jamder
gave Karn a big hug and while doing so whispered three words in his
ear before breaking the hug to watch his expression.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Let's
go Home.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn's
eyes searched Jamder's face for information. Did he really mean he
would go through the change? Smiling, Jamder nodded slightly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “You've
offered this opportunity many times, several more than I deserved,
and each time I've foolishly wasted the opportunity. If you're
willing, if you'll give me that opportunity one more time, I won't
waste it again.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn,
awash in emotions, didn't know what to do. Excitement, relief, and
joy all fought for control of his mind. Sensing his lover was
somewhat in a state of shock, Jamder stepped forward, nuzzled his
face cheek to cheek, and then gently kissed him, while moving his
hand to Karn’s erect member, caressing it gently. Finally, Jamder
could take his lover’s seed, as Karn had always wished. Karn
returned the kiss which grew in intensity as he realized he would not
have to watch the man he had loved more than anything wither away and
die, but rather be his partner and friend for a very, very long time.
Never breakng the kiss and grabbing him in a huge embrace, Karn
savoured this moment with his lover as they teleported away.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Gaden
was feeling exceptionally aroused. He always had trouble resisting
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Bruanulf</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">'s
scent. With the way he was being massaged from behind while his
balls were being toyed with, his cock started to stiffen in his
pants. His mind battled between making sure wood was ready and
enjoying all the passion his lover had to offer.</span> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
what seemed like an eternity of indecision he finally decided the
wood can wait.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
was thinking of finishing this up for the wood and the exercise, fit
body, fit mind you know. But on second thought, you may be right.
That fire and lying with you in front of it would be oh so nice,”
Gaden said and nuzzled his thick long beard into his lovers for a
kiss.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Turning
to face Brunaulf, he began to gently push him toward the door making
a show of not being able to wait to get inside. Laughing, the bigger
bear ducked his way through the door with Gaden in tow. Gaden
standing in the doorway took one last deep sniff of the air outside
in anticipation of a third that would be joining them, but the air no
longer held the scent. Shrugging, he closed the door behind him to
enjoy the company of his lover and friend. Arms and legs warmed by
fire entwined and shifted form, while outside snow continued to fall.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>FIN</i>... for now </b></span><br /></span></span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-39785068074595957142021-07-21T19:48:00.003-07:002021-07-21T19:48:15.270-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Twelve<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Twelve</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MC</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p>
</p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
troop flashed into existence in the middle of Carayorn - or simply
‘Home’ as most of the werebears called it. - startling the horse
causing it to whinny. Bearish men all around stopped what they were
doing to stare at the group arriving out of nowhere. Karn stood up
taking a deep breath in through his nose, holding it a moment before
exhaling loudly.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Gods,
coming home… it <i><b>never</b></i> gets old!” Karn said to no
one in particular.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
don't believe it!” Gaden said. “I don't believe it!” He
repeated.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I'm
<i>still</i> hungry!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
others stared at him, confused.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
teleported, and I'M STILL HUNGRY!” He said excitedly as if it were
a major triumph in life, “I'm not sick!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> His
revelry was short lived as they heard a deep voice call from a crowd
of werebears that was forming. It was a man calling out for Karn; a
rotund, blocky man clothed only in shorts and shoes. Easily the
biggest man Gaden had ever seen in his life. His incredibly dense
furry brown body hair mingling with his beard had a reddish tinge.
The man muscled his way through the crowd, his smile beaming head and
shoulders above most, as he got to the cart and jumped on. He
grabbed the other werebear in a rough embrace laughing, squeezing the
air out of him with an ‘oof’ from Karn. Karn's head only came up
to his chest, and his face was buried in the dense thicket of the
other’s fur.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “KARN!
So good to see you! Missed you by a day and thought you wouldn't be
back again for a while,” the man said pushing him back a little to
look him up and down.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
laughed, “Hello, Mit. Its good to see you too. You've eaten well
I see.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Winter's
coming. Have to get ready,” Mit joked and gave Karn a big, sloppy,
mouth to mouth kiss. Other werebears seeing there was no threat
returned to their own business. Mit turned his attention to Karn's
other companions as Karn dismounted from the wagon. His gaze rested
on Jamder. The smile never waned as he easily pulled the mage from a
sitting to standing position and gave him a generous kiss on the
cheek and a fond hug.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hey
stranger,” Mit said, “welcome back! It’s wonderful to see you
again. Been a while!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “OOF!
Easy, there grizzly,” Jamder pleaded as he was crushed in Mit's
strong arms, “Eleven years, give or take. It has been a while.
Hello Mit.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mit's
attention turned to the other two.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
know this little cub,” he squeezed Brunaulf hard and then nodding
at Gaden, “but who's this?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “This
is Gaden,” Brunaulf offered. “He's been injured - long story -
but he’s changing. Almost a week in.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mit's
eyes twinkled. One of the things he loved to do was volunteer to
help new werebears with their change.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good
thing I was on my way home from some play then! I'll help take care
of the cub. Going to your place, Brun?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Right.”
Mit said. The huge bear jumped off the wagon. He slid the gurney
halfway off the wagon before tucking the gurney under his arm just
before the midpoint and used his other arm to steady it. Mit began
walking down the road carrying the gurney when he inhaled deeply
through his nose.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Damn,
cub,” Mit commented, “you smell tasty!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “You're
not the first person who's told me that,” Gaden replied, his own
shorts starting to tent.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
and Jamder watched the trio for a few moments before turning to each
other. Each wore a serious expression for they knew their paths
would be diverging again. Karn tried to convince his former lover
that he should stay for a while before leaving, but Jamder seemed
adamant about relaying news of what he found to King Halben. The two
stood facing each other for a moment before having a quick embrace.
Karn broke the embrace and turned to catch up with the others.
Jamder took a moment to watch his lover from behind and indulged in a
look around the community from where he was standing. The old mage
sighed while smiling softly. Gathering his concentration, he cast
the teleportation and blinked out.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mit
was quick to get Gaden out of the gurney and into bed in Brunaulf's
cottage. The cottage was a simple open plan design, but had the
necessary <span lang="en-CA">accoutrements</span> for an extended
stay. Once Mit was sure the fledgling werebear was comfortable, he
immediately took to the task of preparing a huge meal while singing a
soft tune to himself. The huge bear was in his element and took the
task of making sure new werebears were going to be fed well with
passion and gusto. A short time later he carried a large tray to the
bed loaded down with cooked meats, roasted vegetables, cheeses,
breads, sweet cakes and ale.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
can't be serious! That's enough food for five men!" Gaden
exclaimed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Five
men, or<i> one</i> growing werebear,” Mit countered, "dig in!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Strong
smells tickled Gaden's <span lang="en-CA">nostrils</span> triggering
his stomach to growl in hunger. That first tentative forkful of the
cooked meat was all it took for him to abandon caution and eat what
was before him like a starving man. Mit was an excellent cook and it
took just about everything on the tray for Gaden to feel sated.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That
was <span lang="en-CA">delicious</span>!" he said as he picked
bits of bread off the loaf fragment and stuffed them into his mouth.
Mit's smile beamed at the empty tray.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "An
empty tray. The best compliment." He replied while getting up
and heading to the door, "Ok, I'll leave you and Brunaulf to get
fully settled in and I'll be back in a few hours to make you some
supper." The big man closed the door behind him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
only took two days in Carayorn before Gaden was able to walk under
his own power, albiet slowly, and two weeks before he filled out
enough he needed some new clothes. The large meals that Mit seemed
to produce nonstop were having a tremendous effect on the soon to be
werebear. He was taking on many of the characteristics of his lover
with a broader, powerful frame that seemed to increase in size both
in thickness and in height weekly. His beard, which he usually
preferred to keep short, seemed to be growing faster than he could
keep up with trimming. Swaths of body hair began to sprout on his
chest, belly and back after the first month as patches at first but
then merging and growing denser. While his body continued to grow
and develop his magical abilities continued to diminish.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
was a week before the Ritual of the Change that he attempted magic
for the last time. Sitting at the small table in the cottage, he
stared at a small candle in the center. His muscular arm absently
scratching his thick, hairy chest just below the pendant as he
contemplated the candle before him. Lighting a candle was the first
spell he ever learned under Jamder's guidance and thus was absolutely
effortless to perform. Today, try as he might, the candle defied his
desires for it to light. A meaty pair of hands rubbing his
cannonball shoulders broke him out of his thoughts.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Its
finally gone, isn't it?" Brunaulf asked his lover softly. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
sighed. ”Afraid so."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "So,
what now?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
used his arms to hoist himself up from the table then turned to face
his lover and brought him into a rough, tight embrace.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Start
my new life with the man I love."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
and Brunaulf, two burly, strong werebears stood there embracing each
other and enjoying the moment. Gaden knew this day would come that
the door to magic would be closed to him forever, but his mental
preparations did not fully prepare him for the note of finality he
just experienced. He loved Brunaulf with every fibre of his being
and looked forward to the love he would feel with this man and the
werebear community at large. Still, he couldn't help himself as he
stood there holding the man he loved. He contemplated the closure of
his magical life in the strong embrace of his lover, several tears
drifting down his cheek.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Ritual of the Change is a community wide celebration. It's the day
when a new werebear changes into bear form for the first time.
Tonight would be the night that Gaden would go with Brunaulf and two
witness into the Deific Caves and perform the Ritual. The new
werebear decided on Karn and Mit to witness the event as both had
helped him in many ways to get to this point. A giant feast
including the entire community was planned ahead of time with lots of
food, drink, music and revelry. To werebears, changing into full
bear form for the first time was equivalent to Fealty Day in Adengaan
and was always a happy occasion when a new werebear joined the
brotherhood. Feasting tables were everywhere in the community, but
the four had a place of honour in the town centre, eating and
drinking before taking their place to begin the ritual.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Torches
lined the path leading from the table of honour out of the community
toward the cave entrance. From the outside it seemed a fairly
nondescript entrance. As the four entered they were greeted with a
short passageway that opened into a large room. Equispaced torches
filled the room with flickering light and shadows. A small <span lang="en-CA">dais</span>
in the centre of the room had what appeared to be a throne
constructed of wood and interwoven branches with gold accents. A
simple crown was on the seat of the throne. On one side of the
throne was a stand holding a necklace that was made of thin
rectangular strips of silver and gold with a different image of a
bear on each tile. On one side of the room is a large mattress area
on the floor with many blankets and pillows at the ready with ample
food and drink beside it. The room smelled of musk and masculinity.
The scent of hundreds of bears permeated the room, and all four
became aroused by this atmosphere.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
ready, cub?" Karn asked, smiling.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
nodded. Karn turned his attention to Brunaulf and broadened his
smile.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Take
your position in the place of honour, son. It's time to do for Gaden
what Garret did for you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
strode to the <span lang="en-CA">dais</span> and reverently lifted
the necklace and unclasped it. Standing in front of the throne and
with his back to it, he raised the necklace and began to speak.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Haran
Mojkar, God and guardian of werebears, one of your cubs comes before
you to help another through the change. May you find favour in my
work as I act in your stead."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
those words, Brunaulf secured the necklace around his neck. He
turned around to pick the crown up and seated himself on the throne.
Holding the crown over his head, he continued the ritual and recited
the following as the lowered the crown:</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Haran
Mojkar,God and guardian of werebears, one of your cubs comes before
you to <span lang="en-CA">consummate</span> another into your family.
May you find favour in my work as I act in your stead."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">As<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
the crown made contact with Brunaulf's head both the crown and
necklace glowed fiercely. Brunaulf roared in pain as his entire body
was enveloped in a blue-green hue and went rigid. Uncle Karn started
to move to help but then stopped in his tracks as he saw the
transformation before him. Brunaulf's hair, beard and body hair
turned from black to white. His hair lengthened to below shoulder
length as his beard grew down to his waist. His stature rose almost
two feet in height as his body exploded outward in size. Brunaulf
turned into what seemed to be an elder werebear giant in the span of
thirty seconds. His already hugely muscular form thickened with
impossible muscle. The small amount of neck he had virtually
disappeared and the added brawn was encased with a layer of fat. His
belly became beautifully round and taught. Finally opening his eyes,
they glowed an <span lang="en-CA">iridescent</span> blue-green as he
took in his surroundings. Smiling warmly he rose to his full height
and surveyed the room.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "My
cubs!" <span lang="en-CA">His</span> bass voice reverberated
across the room, the sound of it was as if two voices spoke at once:
Brunaulf’s, though deeper and more resonant, and another. He took
a step forward, stretching as if trying to work out the kinks from
being in one position too long.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "My
dear, sweet cubs!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three men stood there in shock. Both Karn and Mit had been witnesses
to the ritual a few times, but never had anything like this happened.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Brunaulf?"
Uncle Karn queried.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "He's
here, don't worry," colossal bear reassured, "but
considering the dedication, bravery, honour, and sacrifice the cubs
before me are willing to make, I wanted to guide this cub through his
first change personally."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was the first to put two and two together.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Haran
Mojkar?" he asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Smiling
the giant confirmed the guess, "Correct, cubby!” He turned
his attention to both Karn and Mit.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “And
please, no formalities from the two of you tonight. This is a
celebration, not a royal audience in Adengaan." He took a step
off the <span lang="en-CA">dais</span> and moved toward Karn and
continued speaking.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
want you to know I've been watching you for years now. You're a
steadfast, honourable man and a good cub. Your work pleases me to no
end!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Standing
in front of Karn, he bent down slightly and putting a hand behind
Karn's head pulled him in and kissed him hard. Karn felt a surge of
energy flow through him as they kissed and his cock sprang to life
instantly becoming painfully hard. Breaking the kiss, he strode over
to Mit as he continued speaking.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "And
you, Mit, my cub who was robbed of the ritual of the change yet
always welcomes new cubs with enthusiasm and dedication. Your work
pleases me!" With that, he bent his knees slightly to grab Mit
in a rough bear hug. Despite Mit being one of the strongest
werebears alive, he felt the air escape him as he was being hugged by
a god. He returned Mit to the ground and turned his attention to
Gaden.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Gaden,
my sweet cub Gaden. You risked your life to save one of my cubs and
gave up who you are so you could be one of mine." His eyes
glowed brightly for a moment.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
have pleased me to no end, and before the night is over, you shall be
rewarded. But now, the time has come to change into bear from for
the first time." He reached out and put each of Gaden's hands
in his. The new werebear felt a surge of energy and a strange type
of connection with this god floating just below his level of
consciousness. Haran Mojkar smiled approvingly as he looked down.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yes,
my cub is ready! Ok, just follow me and do what I do. Visualize the
change, then just make it happen. First, we'll start in the face.
Visualize yourself growing a snout like a bear," the werebear
god began transforming his own face, "feel yourself changing,
growing outward, you can do it."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mit
and Uncle Karn came to each side of Gaden for support. Mit began
changing his facial features as Karn continued to encourage Gaden.
The new werebear concentrated and, with some effort, began changing
his face to have a snout like a bear. A random thought flashed
through his head that the concentration to do this seemed very
similar to the mindset he had to be in to cast a new spell.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "<i>Exactly
right, cubby,</i>" a voice penetrated his thoughts, "<i>exactly
right. You can do it!</i>" The werebear god spoke aloud again:</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Ok,
now think about your eyes and ears. Feel your ears rising on your
head, squaring out. Your eyes will change position. You can do it!"
Slowly Mit and Haran Mojkar changed their entire heads to bear form.
Karn began the transformation and caught up to the others.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Very
good cubby," the werebear God praised, "now let's go for
your body. Feel your bones shift and pop. Feel your hands and feet
become paws with claws. Embrace the fur that is going to sprout all
over your body. Revel in how much bigger you will become in stature.
Take your time and concentrate, it will come!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
that, he let go of Gaden's hands as he completed the transformation
to full bear form. His shape was that of a bear almost twice the
size of the werebears around him with glistening white fur and his
eyes maintained that <span lang="en-CA">iridescent</span> blue-green
hue. Gaden used all of his will to concentrate, to change, and
slowly it began to happen. He felt himself becoming less and less
human and more and more bear. Brown fur sprouted everywhere as his
hands turned into paws with long sharp claws. His weight increased
as his body filled out to bear proportions. It took about ten
minutes to get it right, looking at the bears around him and
concentrating his will to make the change, but managed to achieve a
full bear form. The huge white bear came alongside his latest
werebear and his two companions.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Very
good Gaden, my newest cub!" the god beamed with pride. You have
done well for your first change. Tonight is the night for you to
enjoy this form, relish in it! Burn the feeling of this form into
your mind. Take note of how your heightened senses tell you about
the world around you. These things will make it easier and easier to
change form as time goes on."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
stood there on all fours, drinking in what has unfolded before him.
The former mage never felt so alive, so charged! Everything around
him bombarded his senses with new information. What intrigued him
the most was his sense of smell. The smell of the three bears next
to him were so strong, so potent, he felt a primal need to breed. His
new penis belied his excitement.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "All
in good time, cub," Haran Mojkar chided gently, "all in
good time. First, your reward." The werebear god went to
Gadens hole and after a quick sniff, began licking and teasing it
with his tongue, forcing himself in at times eliciting shivers
throughout the body of his cub.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
chose to sacrifice who you were so you could become one of us, and
you saved the life of one of my cubs," the God said in between
probing Gaden's hole, "I can feel the hole magic left behind,
that <span lang="en-CA">emptiness</span> in you. I cannot give you
back magic as you know it, but I can give you something to help you
feel whole again."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
that, the werebear god moved behind Gaden, and with a gentle push
began to insert is cock into his cub's hole. He was extremely large
and Gaden winced slightly at being penetrated, but healed quickly and
was able to adjust. Satisfied his cub was okay, he began to push
more of himself in until he was buried to the hilt. He held himself
there for a second letting his cub get used to it before he started
pistoning. Gaden felt a calming, blissful energy surge through him
and his cock stiffened instantly in response. Waves of pleasure
surged through him. It was slow and gentle at first but, seemed to
increase both in frequency and intensity as the new werebear was
being topped by a god. Both god and cub roared in unison as Gaden
was filled with seed. As the seed entered his body he felt a strange
energy permeate him, bind with him, and he felt like the void in his
mind where magic energy once was had been filled by a new energy - a
new knowledge, a new understanding. The new werebear could only
describe it as energy and knowledge compressed into a few seconds of
transfer and instantaneous understanding. It was not about the magic
he knew of the arcane, but rather a sublime, gentle form of magic
that worked in harmony with nature. It was a treasure trove of
information mostly incomprehensible, as if an entire lifetime of
knowledge was being stuffed into his head whether he was ready for it
or not. A voice rang through his head as the werebear god pulled
out.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "<i>Its
okay, cubby. You'll figure it out. Use my gift to you for your
community and to help others.</i>"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Satisfied,
the God of the werebears reverted to human form and with some
coaching and guidance helped Gaden return to human form. Once Mit
and Karn had transformed back, he spoke again.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
must take my leave, my cubs. Containing my form is stressful even
for a werebear, and Brunaulf has earned the honour of enjoying this
night with his charge. Remember this night and bear witness that I
am with you and protecting you, always."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
a wink, he lumbered over to the dais and sat down on the throne. As
if on cue the electrical charges seemed to evaporate out of Brunaulf.
Looking around with his own eyes, he stood up and turned to face his
companions.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "THAT
WAS INCREDIBLE!" Brunaulf <span lang="en-CA">exclaimed</span>
while standing up, "I felt him! He took over my body, but I
could feel everything! That was amazing!" He looked at the
three of them who had shocked looks on their faces.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What's
wrong?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was the first to speak up. "Your hair and beard, son… it’s
all salt and pepper now!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What?!"
Brunaulf asked reaching an arm up to his face reflexively. His arm
felt tight as he reached up to feel his face.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yeah,"
Mit added, "I think you're bigger too!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
took a moment to assess himself. Looking down, he finally noticed
just how much thicker he was. He walked over to his papa and his
eyes were at Karn's forehead. He smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
guess Haran Mojkar really<i> was</i> pleased with me," Brunaulf
confirmed, "I feel great!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
looked at his lover's transformation and was completely aroused. He
walked over to him as his cock inflated and began to appraise him.
He nudged him to turn around so he could admire him from all sides
when his methodical attention to detail snapped him out of his
<span lang="en-CA">admiration.</span> He turned his now bigger lover
around so he could study his back again.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "They're
gone!" Gaden said.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What's
gone?" Brunaulf asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Every
trace of the beatings you took. Every scar. Not a single faint line
or mark. They're completely gone!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
froze as his life from when the beatings began until now flashed
before his eyes. He thought about all of his experiences, how his
life started so harshly and yet found love and acceptance and thus
learned to love and accept others. Karn and the werebear family had
soothed the mental and emotional pain and now the last vestiges of
the physical pain had been erased. He turned around to face Gaden,
looked down on him and smiled. Picking up the smaller werebear in a
hug, he carried him over to the large bed on the floor and placed him
on it, back down, laughing in glee.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
moved to cover Gaden, not only had he grown bigger but his now salt
and pepper body hair seemed to be denser and longer. His chest a
thick mat of fur extending down to his pelvis where it was met by a
wide curly bush. He lowered himself atop Gaden, whose face now only
reached his chest when their crotches were even. Gaden, wrapping his
arms around his love, felt the pelt on his back was not as dense as
the front, but was still much more than it had been. He nuzzled his
bearded face into Branaulf’s musky chest fur and breathed in his
scent. It was different - stronger but not a stink - more ursine.
It was the only way Gaden could formulate the experience in his mind.
Branaulf’s human scent was not as ‘human’. Gaden sought
through the fur and latched on to Branaulf’s nipple, flicking it
with his tongue. This elicited deep guttural moans from the bigger
bear. His thick cock grew longer, indeed longer than it should,
Gaden thought. His balls too seemed to grow larger and he was not
imagining it, his God had left the last of his blessings upon
Branaulf for the first mating with his newly transformed love.
Branaulf grunted deeply as he thrust his larger cock through Gaden’s
crotch and belly fur, smearing precum all over the smaller bear,
growling through gritted teeth.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I've
been waiting for this moment, to be able to share myself completely
with you! I want to push into you and ram as hard as I can with all
I have, and I no longer have to hold back. I had to be so gentle
before, so restrained! But now, you as a werebear and so powerfully
remade, I don't have to!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Oh
FUCK! YES!” Gaden almost whimpered as Brunaulf thrust into his
lover’s pelvis. The larger Bear’s fangs had already begun to
grow and with a savage growl he bent down and bit into Gaden’s
shoulder, a cry of pain and a moan of pleasure from the smaller bear
followed as Branaulf began humping at his belly, grinding his pelvis
against his love.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
elder bears stood watching the lustful display, the scent in the room
growing heady with arousal. They had stroked themselves hard as they
viewed the beginnings of lovemaking. Taking the cry of passion from
the bite as a cue for the beginning of round two of the festivities,
Karn and Mit joined them on the large bed. Immediately Karn’s cock
was engulfed by Branaulf’s bearded mouth as Mit fed his leaking
member to Gaden. Soon all four were in a tangle mingled in pleasure.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Branaulf
took a bottle of mint oil and poured some out onto his fingers, the
scent was refreshing and invigorating. He rubbed it on Gaden’s
hole and the effect was immediate. Gaden felt a cooling sensation
and a tingle as Branaulf’s finger penetrated. Mit grinned, “This
is special. Our herbalist brothers 'collaborated' with the Mage's
Guild in Adenggan to have a bit of magic woven into the oil. It will
make the sensations more… intense... and to help the top hold off
as long as possible before shooting”.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Mit
chuckled, “It's also honey sweetened, but not sticky. You're
welcome by the way. How about you thank me by passing me that bottle
for your hole?” Mit took it from Branaulf's paw to rub a double
finger full on the bear's hole. He massaged it in and Branaulf
growled lowly, “Oh now you're gonna have to eat my ass!”</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Slowly
but surely, the four of them transformed to full bear form, Karn
taking the lead and shifting first with Mit not far behind. “Way
ahead of you boy!” Karn said and Branaulf felt his ass spread and a
bear’s muzzle pushed into the crack, a long, nimble, muscular
tongue lapped at and then penetrated him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Mitt
rubbed Branaulf’s back as he began to shift form and lined up his
cock on Gaden’s hole, now relaxed and fully opened thanks to the
magical properties of the oil. In one swift move, Branaulf buried
himself inside Gaden to the hilt taking the younger bear’s breath.
The newest werebear had belt this man inside him before, but never
had he felt so full. Branaulf had been large by human standards, but
now his cock was truly enormous and growing longer and thicker as he
shifted shape. He remained still for several moments, grunting at
the twin pleasures of engulfing his love and having Karn’s long
bear tongue work his loosening hole. Gaden gave little cries of
pleasure as Branaulf grew inside of him. It wasn’t long before
Karn’s own hole was being anointed with the minty oil. He took
that as a sign that he needed to line up on his boy’s pucker and
like him, he hilted in one move. This was a favorite game among the
Bears. The last to penetrate, in this case, Mit, would begin fucking
while the others remained hard and horny, but still within their
lover, caressing, kissing, nibbling, biting but not fucking. As soon
as the last bear to penetrate shot his load, he would pull out and
the one beneath him would begin fucking, until the last couple, the
first to be coupled, would fuck.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> And
so it went, all four bears in their most natural shape, Mit fucked
Karn hard, so hard that even with the mass of two other bear’s
between them, Gaden could feel Branaulf’s cock gently thrusting
within him. Were it not for the effects of the special unguent both
Karn and Branaulf would shoot prematurely. The huge bear pounded
Karn savagely, lustfully. A half hour later there was a thunderous
roar and Mit shot a thick, sticky, bounteous load into Karn who felt
every shot as it filled his gut. After minutes of panting, Mit lying
on Karn’s back coming down from his orgasmic high, he withdrew and
smacked Karn hard on the ass. “Your turn daddy bear!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Each
of the bears in turn performed much the same. This was bear sex,
ancient, animalistic, no holding back. There was no gentleness in
the primal need to rut. Soft caressing, tender words, loving
kisses... those things were for later. This moment was about
breeding the bears you loved.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> When
Branaulf finally came, he’d been inside of Gaden for a good two
hours. He was near his limit of what he could endure and not shoot
by the time Karn had finished in him and now, even the magic of the
oil was unravelling. Releasing his load was like a dam bursting, at
first a trickle, then a flow, and finally a flood that ripped through
his cock and burst into Gaden. It was so powerful that the impending
orgasm brought Gaden to his own. In near simultaneous climax the two
roared, shuddered and cursed together as they fulfilled their most
basic drive to mate. The climax lasted at least a minute, maybe
more. Time seemed frozen by the dizzying effect of the combined
pheromones of the four werebears. As the pair came down from ecstasy
they kissed and slowly separated only to be embraced in the arms of
one of the elder bears. Karn cuddled Gaden to his chest, kissing
him, licking him, caressing him as the other two looked on in
satisfied contentment.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Welcome
to the family,” Karn said.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mit,
cuddled up against Branaulf’s back, reached over and patted Gaden’s
shoulder.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Yes,
welcome little brother.” Mit added.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
kissing, licking, nibbling, cuddling and caressing went on for hours
as Gaden felt the bonds of family deepen within him. Eventually, one
by one, sleep claimed them all and they slept in a pile together.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
was the first to stir and open his eyes. The torches had gone out
hours ago, the only light being a thin sliver of sunbeam making its
way into the room from the entrance. The newest werebear took a
moment to get on all fours and give himself a stretch and a shake
before padding over to the cave entrance. It was a sunny, cloudless
morning outside as he surveyed the path down to the cottages below.
Several men and bears were on the ground still sleeping enjoying the
lazy calm of the cool morning. His ears picked up noise coming from
inside the cave so he returned to the bed to find Brunaulf stretching
himself awake. His lover went over to nuzzle him in a morning
greeting.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Morning
Brunaulf"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Morning
Gaden," Brunaulf slowly transformed back to human form. The
other two bears began to stir, stretch, and come back to human form.
Gaden, though very slow also managed to return to human form without
any coaching.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What
an amazing night," Gaden said, "I cannot believe what
happened. How often does he make an appearance?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a name="__DdeLink__3_1063353901"></a></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mit
looked like he wanted to say something, but hesitated giving Karn the
opportunity to speak up.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Never
since I went through the change," Karn said, "that's why
the ritual is framed the way it is. We honour Haran Mojkar and the
way he created the original werebears by acting in his stead when a
new one comes into the fold. The lore says that he was among us
during the Great <span lang="en-CA">Expulsion</span> in Adengaan's
233rd year, but that's all I'm aware of. I would have to ask the
elders if they've witnessed such an event at a ritual such as this,
but before last night I haven't."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
was shocked and in awe. "I'll never forget last night. Ever”
he said quietly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
others shared that sentiment.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-64056405646066861212021-07-19T19:22:00.000-07:002021-07-19T19:22:03.705-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Eleven<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Eleven</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MC</span></p><p>
</p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even
at the horse's slow walk it was only a couple of minutes before they
arrived in front of Taban's house. Taban jumped out of the wagon
before it was even stopped he was so eager to see his father. Cries
of "Papa!" came from the boy as he approached the front
door. The door opened at the same time he got to the house. The
large man with brown hair and a close-cropped beard who filled the
doorway was surprised by his son running into him and giving him a
huge hug.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "TABAN!"
the man said in surprise. His voice started to shake as he held the
boy tightly!</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "By
the Gods, you're alive! I couldn't pay the ransom, son. I tried, I
tried everything, but I just didn't have the money. I feared you
were dead. Gods, I'm so glad to see you alive!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
man held the boy close, eyes closed, expressing his relief and joy
simply with a warm smile and tears that streamed down his cheeks into
his beard. He opened his eyes after a few moments and pushed the boy
away to inspect his condition.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "How
are you? Are you hurt?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No,
papa. I'm fine," the boy said and pointed to the wagon, "these
men rescued me from the bandits and brought me back here. Brunaulf
dismounted and walked over to the man to introduce himself.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Brunaulf,"
he said, extending his hand.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Stodun"
the man replied, extending his hand to firmly welcome the werebear
before speaking.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
don't know how you did it, but you saved my Son's life. Thank you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
welcome. I know what its like to be as scared and desperate as your
boy. It's the least I could do."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Stodun
looked past Brunaulf at his companions on the wagon, noting Gaden in
the makeshift gurney. He thought for a moment and addressed
Brunaulf.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "There
is no way I can repay you for saving the life of my only son, but I
would like to try. My home is modest but I have a spare room. Your
companion can rest here until he is fit to travel. Please, come in
and be my guest. I can get medical attention for him as well. I
insist!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
appreciate and accept the offer. A room would be great, but we have
his injuries taken care of. Thank you Stodun."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It
is but a trifle toward the debt of gratitude I have to you. Come in
and let me show you where the room is, then I must let my wife know
we will have guests for the evening meal."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
and Karn carried Gaden into the home and moved him from the gurney to
a comfortable bed in Stodun's spare room, returning the gurney to the
wagon. Gaden didn't protest as much as before which the werebears
took as a good sign that the healing was continuing. As he rested
for a couple of hours prior the evening meal, Brunaulf told Stodun
the story of how they found the boy and a summary of the events that
transpired to rescue him including how Gaden risked his life against
the mage. The relieved father wouldn't have believed being outmanned
like the trio was could be successful if it wasn't for Taban swearing
what they said was true. Stodun informed Brunaulf and Karn that this
wasn't the first time he heard about kidnappings and raiding parties.
Ascot is only one of two larger towns between Adengaan and Iphale
and reports had come in from both directions that travellers were
being acosted far more than usual as of late.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
evening meal was a bountiful one of roasted meat, root vegetables,
bread, cheese, wine and mead. Everyone ate well especially the
werebears who were happy their companion was in a place of safety.
Stodun's wife was an excellent cook and it didn't take long for
bellies to be full and mead making them feel relaxed and at ease.
Brunaulf took a plate of food to Gaden who for the first time since
his injury seemed eager to eat and even asked for seconds which he
finished before falling back alseep. Brunaulf knew, personally, that
increased appetite is the first sign of the change and made mental
note he would have to buy supplies or Gaden would eat this man out of
house and home. That could wait for later. Tonight was a night to
relax, to enjoy some drink in a safe place, grateful they all
survived the ordeal.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
following morning Stodun had to open his shop so he said goodbye to
his guests early before they ate breakfast. Karn chatted with the
man's wife about food prep while Brunaulf brought some smoked meat
and fresh eggs to Gaden for breakfast. The man greedily accepted the
food and started wolfing it down.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thanks
Brunaulf," Gaden said between mouthfuls, “I’m famished!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
welcome love. I'm glad you're eating so well. Are you feeling
better?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Much!
I'm still in pain, but it seems to be getting better and sensation's
coming back to my legs. I can't move them but it feels like I sat
wrong and they fell asleep and now they're starting to wake up."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled at his lover. "When I saw you there on the ground right
after it happened... your body was so, lifeless, I thought I’d lost
you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
thought I was a goner too." Gaden agreed. He smiled in a
mischievous kind of way.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "So,
how did you start the change?" The mage inquired.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Completely
thrown off guard by the question, Brunaulf simply said "What?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "How
did you start the change?" Gaden repeated. "Come on
Brunaulf, the boulder broke my body, not my brain. There is
absolutely no way I should have lived through that. I had a few
hours, tops, before my body would fail. Yet here I am. Werebears
supposedly can't perform magic the way I know it. So, either you've
been hiding that you're the most powerful herbalist among the five
city-states, or you figured out how to initiate the change."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
sat next the bed, speechless for a moment. In his worry that he
would lose the man he loved forever, he forgot about the mental
discipline Gaden possessed. He nodded to imply he agreed with what
Gaden said before he spoke.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Blood.
Its a vital fluid, very fast acting. I sliced my hand open and let
it flow into your mouth. You received enough, obviously, for the
change to start. It's also why your hunger is going into overdrive,
no doubt to repair the damage to your body as well as put on some
size."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
smile vanished from Brunaulf's face.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
did it without your consent." Brunaulf said. "I couldn't
stand to see you die because of my recklessness. I love you so much.
I know you said you would’ve made the choice, but I didn't know if
you saying that was because you were dying. I feel so guilty
that..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
lifted a hand to stop him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
remember a few nights ago when we camped, when you told me about what
you went through as a boy?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What
you went through, and still became the loyal, steadfast, honourable
man you are today?" Gaden paused for a moment. "I made
the choice that night."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
blinked. Gaden nodded. The big man smiled broadly as the guilt of
his decision was softened by Gaden's words. When Gaden laid there,
his body broken telling him he would change, it wasn't just the words
of a dying man to comfort those he loved, but a sincere choice. He
bent over and kissed his love before taking his empty plate to return
it to the kitchen.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Rest
now, Gaden. You need it."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
met Karn in the kitchen and made a plan to get some supplies. The
town had a well stocked market area so the pair did some exploring.
Thinking about what the man who sheltered them said about not having
the money to save his son, Brunaulf went overboard buying supplies.
King Halben was generous with his money to ensure their trip would be
successful and he intended to make sure that money would go to good
use. The pair of werebears returned to Stodun's, their cart loaded
down as much as it could carry, and after unloading their wares
started to formulate a plan for their next steps.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
trio faced their situation. Gaden's injured state meant a two week
journey, minimum, to Adengaan. Overland travel to “home” as Karn
called it would be much longer than that. Staying in Ascot would
attract too much attention as the physical changes would start to
accelerate. It seemed of the choices available, heading to Adengaan
would be the best of the worst. None seemed happy with the decision.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I'll
go head in bear form,” Karn decided, “I won't have to stick to
the paths and roads. It will shave time off so Garret and the others
can help me prepare the house and stock up supplies for his
transformation.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “No
way,” Brunaulf countered, “splitting up is a bad idea. I can
take care of myself but Gaden's injured. I can't hold against a
raiding party alone.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
frowned.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We
need to get a message to our family in Adengaan. Preparations have
to be made. We don't have the conveniences and experience of the
entire community, and we'll have to improvise something for the
rituals involved.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
two werebears thought about how to break the impass.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
could get a message through.” Gaden offered.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
two looked at him. Gaden continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
mean, I think I can. Or I could, I don't know.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
did not seem convinced. “Doesn't going through the change prevent
you from using magic?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
contemplated for a moment, scanning the room. He spotted a candle on
a small stand. Concentrating, he willed the candle to light. It was
a basic spell, one of the first he learned to perform correctly.
With some concentration, the candle came alight.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It's
not gone completely, yet,” Gaden said pointing to the lit candle,
“it was harder for sure. I suspect as the transformation continues
it will get harder still.” He took a moment to evaluate the
situation before continuing.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Teleporting
myself, much less the three of us, is definitely out in my condition,
but I think I can get a message across. Get us some help anyway.
Jamder's my best chance I think.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn's
expression changed momentarily before returning to a neutral face.
He looked to Brunaulf who nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “If
you can, do it,” Karn agreed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> Gaden
closed</span> his eyes in concentration and began the will focus
required for the spell. Contacting his former teacher, a man who he
was familiar with, should have been an easy matter, but now it felt
difficult as if he was a novice once again. The sensation reminded
him of trying to draw honey through a small tube. Reaching out he
found the mind he wanted to reach and established contact.
Struggling to hold the link, he managed to convey he was in Ascot
staying with a man named Stodun and that he was injured before the
link failed. The young mage opened his eyes.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
think I got a message through. We'll know soon enough.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn's
confidence was not high as they heard the door to the home open.
Stodun returned from his shop to make sure his guests were
comfortable. They heard an exclamation of delight from the man as
the werebears made their way to the front room.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “What's
all this?” Stodun looked around at the hefty amount of provisions.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
smiled, “Our way of thanking you for your hospitality.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
man stood there in astonishment and shock.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “First
you save my son, now you stock my larder,” looking around at the
bounty before him, he continued, “your generosity is too much. I
cannot accept this.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was having none of this, but smiled as he figured out how to convince
him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “As
a subject of the realm, you can, and you must. King Halben would be
outraged if you refused His gift.” Karn slipped into the more
formal tone he had used while serving the king.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “King
Halben?” the proud father said, surprised.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Indeed,
His Most Royal Majesty of Adengaan Himself,” Karn confirmed, “what
we neglected to mention last night was that we were here at the
behest of His Majesty, King Halben. These brigands have been raiding
caravans on the main road with increased ferocity and frequency. We
were directed to investigate and to put a stop to it.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
continued despite Stodun's astonished expression.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “So
you see, in helping us in our time of need, you have helped King
Halben, and His Majesty is quite lavish in his rewards to those who
provide aid and comfort to His soldiers. As we three are in His
loyal service, compensation is most appropriate. As for you, His
subject, to refuse His largesse would be a proufound insult.” Karn
smiled warmly, his facial expression conveying appreciation. In his
mind he chuckled at the corner he’d painted Stodun into.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Well,”
Stodun contemplated, “I certainly do not wish to insult His
Majesty. I humbly, thank His Highness AND you, for everything.”
The man smiled. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Stodun
was halfway through putting the supplies away when a knock came at
the door. He opened to the door to be greeted by an old man with a
long white beard. The man who introduced himself as Jamder was a
“travelling companion” of the three men the store owner was
hosting. The hunter welcomed the old man inside. After some
pleasantries and a curt nod between the old mage and his former
lover, the werebears and elder mage excused themselves to check in on
Gaden while Stodun continued to organize the bounty the King had
provided. The werebears led the way to Gaden’s bedside and Jamder
closed the door behind him. Immediately he went to the young man’s
side.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We
were sent here under orders from Halben, I mean, King Halben,”
Brunaulf began, correcting his slight informality, “raiding parties
have been attacking caravans especially on routes leading to and from
the five city-states.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Halben,
rather, His Majesty,” started Jamder correcting his own
informality, “is concerned about bandits? Raiding happens all the
time. He should have bigger fish to fry. Risking lives over bandits
is questionable.” He didn't look up from Gaden once as he
continued giving him the once over.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
spoke up. “These
bandits are more organized, cohesive; and there's magic involved.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Jamder
looked up at the elder werebear. Karn continued. “The
brigand’s mage was the reason Gaden almost died. Had it not been
for Brunaulf, indeed, he would be dead.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
spoke up at this point. “I'm
going through the transformation, Jamder. I made the choice of my
own free will.”</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jamder looked back and forth between the three of them, his neutral
expression belied by a series of faint facial changes. His gaze
settled on Brunaulf staring for a few seconds before speaking.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “You
and I will talk later,” he said flatly. Karn started to move in a
protective fashion but Jamder raised a hand, “but what's done is
done. Tell me everything that happened and don't leave out any
detail no matter how small it might seem, especially about anything
related to magic.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn,
taking the lead, explained their plan to teleport to Ascot then
travel towards Adengaan with a decoy. He described how they detected
the bandits and went to their camp and the ensuing battle that left
Gaden broken and practically dead. Brunaulf volunteered some
information about Gaden rescuing him from the enchantment he was
under, but carefully omitted details of what he was experiencing.
Karn finished the story with how they canvassed the area for
information prior to preparing Gaden for transport as he fished out
the papers he found at the desk in camp.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “These
were the only things I found that seemed important,” Karn said as
he handed the papers over, “I’m guessing they belonged to their
mage, most outlaws are barely literate and incapable of whatever the
language on those sheets might be. I couldn’t make heads or tails
of them, and I’m hardly illiterate.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Jamder
studied the papers carefully before standing up and placing them on
the bed next to Gaden. The elder mage cast a spell and the runes on
the pages began to glow. They re-arranged themselves on the page
into what seemed to be another language. Jamder's face belied his
surprise as he read the pages, pages none of the others could make
out. He looked up with concern at his companions when the parchments
spontaneously burst into flames. Gaden yelped as the others quickly
snuffed out the small flames. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Damn,”
Jamder started, shaking his head, “I must be getting old. I should
have expected that.” He was referring to the protection put on the
parchments and how after being read they would disintegrate. His
thoughts turned back to the more immediate matters in front of him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “So,
I take it you need to get Gaden to... the community?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebears nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Very
well,” the old man conceded, “make reason with your host to take
your leave. Once we're out of town I'll take care of the rest. I
won't be able to stay. In fact I must go to Adengaan at once after
I'm sure you're okay. It appears may have to come out of retirement
in some capacity.” Gaden shot him a quizzical look.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I'll
explain later, dear boy,” Jamder said. “the priority now is to
get you sorted out.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
and Jamder helped load Gaden into the gurney while Karn spoke with
Stodun thanking him for his help. The hunter/trapper seemed
surprised at such a sudden departure, and though disappointed they
wouldn't be staying, expressed his gratitude once again for saving
his son and for the generosity of His Majesty. Stodun told them they
would always have a place at his table if they were in Ascot again as
he shook Karn's hand. With the four of them loaded they started the
horse on a slow trot and headed out of town.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As
they rounded a corner in the wilderness, Jamder stood up in the wagon
and with a quick flash the entire entourage, horse wagon and all,
blinked out.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-19823503614222864232021-07-14T12:36:00.005-07:002021-07-19T19:09:09.994-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Ten<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Ten</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MC</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Will
he live?" Karn asked, concerned.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy!</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It’s
over now," Brunaulf said, doing his best trying to comfort him,
"you're safe."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Shhh...
it’s alright. You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What's
your name, son?" Brunaulf asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Taban."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Hi
Taban, my name's Brunaulf." He sat down next to the
black-haired boy. "What happened? Why are you're out here?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
surmised someone in the town knew them. The boy paused to take
another drink of water.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy started crying.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "They
were going to kill me!" his sobbing intensified, "I miss my
dad. I just want to go home!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Brunaulf!"
Uncle Karn called, "Brunaulf! Come here please, Gaden needs
you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Roused
from his thoughts, the brawny soldier pulled Taban off his lap.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was standing over the mage as Brunaulf arrived. Karn looked up at
Brunaulf then nodded toward Gaden.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "He
wants to talk to you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
knelt down on the other side of the incapacitated mage.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I’m
here, Gaden" Brunaulf said softly moving his head closer so he
could hear his love better.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "This
isn't exactly your best look," Brunaulf confirmed trying to
smile, but wiping tears away from his eyes.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
mage closed his eyes, taking a couple of breaths to get his focus,
and spoke with closed eyes.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I'm
glad I have... the chance... to tell you..." He took another
focused breath, "... I love you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
tried to smile. Gaden took another breath.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
would have... in Adengaan..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Breathing
as if trying to gather strength, he opened his eyes slightly, smiling
weakly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Gone
home... with... you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Uncle
Karn," Brunaulf said, looking up at his mentor from his kneeling
position over Gaden, "we need to talk."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Son,"
Karn cut him off, "just come out and say it."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
think I’ve begun Gaden’s change."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
studied his son’s eyes, his own expression unchanging.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What
makes you say that?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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 <i>my</i> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn's
expression didn't change as he contemplated his son's words.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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. <i>Everyone </i>deserves the freedom to choose their
destiny even if we don't agree with it... or it means losing people
we love."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
understood the double implication of those last words with Jamder.
He held back the sadness and regret of his actions.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
know, Uncle Karn, I'm so sorry."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Use
this as a learning experience," Karn said, "compared to
some, you're still a suckling cub of a werebear" Karn shifted
gears.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "So
it seems we have several problems. First, Gaden: if he got <i>enough
</i>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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "There's
also the boy," Brunaulf volunteered, "I gave my word he
would get back to Ascot.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
nodded in agreement to the plan and turned to head toward the smaller
house.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Son?"
Karn asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yes?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
“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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
younger werebear smiled briefly before continuing toward the smaller
house.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Do
we have to stay another day?" Taban pleaded, "I want to go
home!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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." </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy didn't seem happy with the explanation, but accepted it.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You'll
stay with me?" Taban asked Brunaulf.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Of
course!" Brunaulf smiled. Taban hugged him hard as Karn looked
on, smiling.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What's
your name, son?" Karn asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Taban."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
relieve you, Brunaulf!” Karn spoke in a low, but commanding,
authoritative voice.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
jumped a foot in the air as his legs straightened out in front of him
on reflex.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Asshole…”
Brunaulf muttered.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Look
on the bright side,” Karn said smiling, “now you're<i> allowed </i>to
sleep. I take it no news.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “No,
all quiet.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Gaden
is still alive," Karn said. "but we need to get him out of
here as soon as he is able to travel."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Good
idea" Karn agreed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
nodded and got to work on transport for Gaden.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Gaden,"
Brunaulf said, stroking the man's hair, "wake up."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
groaned and opened his eyes halfway. He winced, but then smiled at
the werebear next to him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "How
do you feel?" Brunaulf asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Remember
when that son of a whore assaulted me in Adengaan?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yea"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
<i>wish</i> I felt that good."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
ache all over, and I still can't feel my legs." The injured man
said.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Do
you think you can eat?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No...
maybe… I don't know."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
mage grimaced, "Needs honey."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled, "I'll lodge your complaint with the cook" and
offered another spoonful.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Its
coming," Brunaulf said between mouthfuls, "should have
something together that will carry and protect him this afternoon.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled, "If that's the excuse you want to use to have a nap, old
man!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
smiled back, "Hey, I'm not old! I’m barely over one hundred!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
don't know <i>what </i>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."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
tensed slightly, uncertain where this conversation was going.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
welcome, Elitha
" Brunaulf said simply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
thought about what you said when you left before, and when you said
'for trying to protect us'... were you an orphan here?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
controlled his voice, "I was."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What's
your name?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Brunaulf."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> She
seemed to be searching her memory, then a moment of recognition
flashed across her face.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
never cried. I remember that. You were so strong."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebear thinly smiled and nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
seem to have done well for yourself” she said.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "The
greatest of men found me, chose me to be his son" he replied.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> She
looked over Brunaulf's shoulder to the group of companions in the
wagon.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
guess you need to get going. Thank you, Brunaulf. I won't forget
you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
turned and mounted the wagon.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Take
care of yourself, Elitha."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
nodded to Karn who started the horse walking down the road.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-81547195875208824012021-07-11T11:50:00.006-07:002021-07-11T11:50:48.608-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Nine<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Nine</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MC </span><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
opened his eyes to welcome the sunlight beams penetrating through the
trees. It was a gorgeous, cool late summer morning and the sun had
barely risen. Laying on his side, he opted not to move. A furry arm
was draped over him from behind and another hand lightly rested on
his hip. He smiled as the heat from Brunaulf warmed his back and his
cock twitched as he remembered the pleasant evening the three spent
together. Looking around the campsite his eyes drifted to the wagon
where he remembered the sword he stowed. As much as he wanted to
have another round with the two werebears, this was a chance for him
to finish the work he needed to on the sword. They were entering
into dangerous territory. If enchanting the sword was going to serve
Bruanulf any purpose, it had to be now or never. Carefully, he
loosened himself from the big arm draped over him and sat up.
Brunaulf stirred, but didn't wake, turning over and nuzzling into the
other werebear before resuming slow, rhythmic breathing.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Shivering
in the crisp morning without the heat from his lover he threw on a
shirt and shorts from the wagon. Quietly unpacking the sword from
his belongings, he walked to the other side of their camp and sat
down. Gaden crossed his legs and laid the sword, unwrapped, across
them. Placing one hand on the pommel and one on the blade near the
tip, he began the enchantment of the sword. It wasn't a difficult
process for Gaden - enchanting always came easy to him - but it takes
time for the enchantment to hold. Gaden visualized the process as a
combination of rearranging the metal and infusing it with a
semi-intelligent purpose. Only a half hour later and he felt the
sword "align" with intent. The mage smiled - Garret was
indeed good. No, better than good he considered as he felt the
minute structures within the blade with his mind. That man was a
master of his craft! Normally this process would have taken two to
three times as long, but Garret’s work was exceptional. Carefully,
he rewrapped the sword and returned to the wagon, swapping the sword
for an iron pan and meat.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
sizzle of cool meat hitting a hot pan was all that was needed to
rouse the two werebears from their slumber, noses twitching. The two
men yawned and stretched in place fully extending their bodies as if
coming out of a hibernation.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Oh,
you decided to wake up," Gaden stated with mock sarcasm as he
started pouring tea, "I thought I was going to have to finish
this mission all by myself with you two preparing for hibernation and
all." He offered a mug to Brunaulf who came over to accept it.
Kissing him on the forehead he matched his lover's mock sarcasm.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Good
morning to you, too!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Would
you like some tea, Uncle Karn?" Gaden offered.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
nodded accepting the mug, "Thank you, cubby."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three ate quickly, mostly in silence. The smoked meat acquired in
Ascot was absolutely delicious. Little time was wasted to enjoy and
savour their breakfast. Karn was the first to finish and start
breaking camp, with the other two finishing shortly after and
preparing the wagon for the day's travel. With no activity sighted
yesterday, it was agreed the werebears would spend the morning in
human form. Brunaulf opted not to dress in his armour choosing only
to wear a sword at his side in the event of trouble. Gaden seized
his opportunity.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Hey
Brunaulf," the mage called from the end of the wagon, "what's
the length of your sword?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled at the double entendre falling in his lap.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Long
enough to satisfy any job you need doing, you should know that by
now." He smiled. Gaden sighed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Not
THAT sword, goofball!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Its
slightly custom, thirty-nine and a half inches."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Good,"
Gaden stepped away from the back of the wagon revealing the
mastercraft sword.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "This
should fit your scabbard nicely," he turned the pommel toward
Brunaulf.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Surprised,
the big man walked toward the sword, gingerly wrapping his beefy hand
around the handle. Gaden moved away as Brunaulf started testing the
weight of
his new prize.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Its
so well balanced," the werebear commented, continuing the test
the sword with strokes in the air, "and its as if the handle was
made just for my hand!" Gaden smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I'm
not surprised. Garret seems to know you well."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
stopped in his tracks and looked at Gaden surprised.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "How
do you know Garret?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Blind
chance, actually. I was looking for a blacksmith and ran into his
shop. Got to talking and mentioned who I was. He didn't give me too
many details, but surmised this was for you. Apparently you like to
kiss and tell."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
blushed at the accusation. Gaden continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "He
also must love you as much as I do with how hard he worked on it to
have it ready for this journey. This is a masterwork sword, and he
did it overnight."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
looked back the sword in awe, testing it again with a few playful
strokes. Smiling he walked over to the mage holding the sword like a
child with a new toy he didn't want to part with and gave his love a
big hug.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thank
you Gaden. I love it. I’ll have to thank Garrett appropriately...
later." he smiled and there was a twitch at his groin.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
looked on at the exchange the two were having, sipped his tea,
smiling and saying nothing. The mage had more to say.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "There's
more though. I put an enchantment on it that may help in combat.
May I?" He reached for the sword back. Brunaulf gave him the
sword and the went to the back of the wagon where an empty barrel was
on the edge. Gaden applied some magic to the barrel and turned to
the werebear.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Strike
the barrel with your old sword."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebear lined up and struck. A ding was heard in the air as if the
sword clanged against metal. The barrel was untouched.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Allow
me," Gaden offered. He lined up his blow with the new sword.
Just before contact the sword took on an orange glow. A cracking
sound could be heard and the mage left a nice nick in the barrel.
Brunaulf was amazed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
was thinking about this after King Halben mentioned magic might be at
play here. It won’t penetrate everything, but it can make it
through most types of magic shields and barriers. It’s going to
take practice though. Enchanted items will seem to have a
personality, a 'will' of their own so to speak. The key is to think
of the weapon as an extension of you as you are an extension of the
sword." He handed the sword back to the bear, enchanting the
barrel again with a simple shield.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Give
it a try. Concentrate on feeling the sword, joining the sword, then
strike."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
took a moment to concentrate before trying to land a blow. The sword
clanged against some invisible metal. He tried again without
success, and again. After several more attempts he just stared at
the sword, then the barrel, with expression of mild disgust. Gaden
put an arm around his love</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "This
is brand new to you. It takes time," the mage offered,
"Adengaan wasn't built in a day. You'll get it. Besides, its
still a gorgeous sword, no?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled, once again hefting it in his hand before placing it in his
scabbard.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It
is. She feels great to hold and swing. Arguably the best I've ever
held. Thank you, Gaden." He pulled Gaden in roughly with one
arm and kissed him on the cheek.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "There's
one other thing for you this morning." Karn said rummaging
through his belongings on the other side of the cart. Finding what
he was looking for he came around to the front side facing Brunaulf.
It was the pendant of the bear shimmering in the morning sun.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "These
two pendants were symbols of a bond between two people," Uncle
Karn started to say as he opened the loop of the chain, "two
people who loved each other, cared about each other: A werebear and
his candidate." The Karn slipped the pendant over Brunaulf's
head.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I'm
not a huge believer in fate, but it seems right considering Gaden's
came from Jamder."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
younger bear lifted the pendant up in his meaty hand to admire it.
The jewel in the bear's eye seemed to twinkle in the sun's rays.
Karn critically assessed the scene in front of him. Two men in love,
each with a matching pendant.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Looks
good, the two of you.” Karn approved. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thank
you, papa." Brunaulf smiled, putting the pendant under his
shirt so the cool metal could warm against his body.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Welcome,
son." Karn drew him in for a hug.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
first four hours on the road-like path were uneventful and the three
companions enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy the nature unfolding
before them. Wildlife abounded around them, if they knew where to
look. A multitude of different kinds of birds in the trees sang to
each other. A group of four squirrels were running up and down a
tree as if they were playing a game of tag. They gave the horse a
rest by a waterfall to the left of the path where they stood
listening to the rush of the water crashing on rocks. The heat of
the day started penetrating below the tree canopy by the time they
stopped for a meal.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "We
shouldn't dally too long," Gaden suggested, "we could be
getting close and we need to be on our guard."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
probably right," Brunaulf agreed. "maybe after we eat we
should set our decoy treasure into place and..." </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
immediately stopped mid sentence, nostrils flairing. He quickly
turned to Karn who sniffed, took a moment to process what he was
smelling, and nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What?"
said Gaden.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "People,"
Brunaulf said, "a group. Maybe five"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
stepped away from the group as if to get some cleaner air and grabbed
another whiff.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Six,
at least." He said, walking back, "To our southwest.
Definitely not on the trail. Maybe a quarter mile?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "This
could be our chance," Gaden said, "If they're not on the
trail, then they might be in a camp. If we are careful we could
sneak up and get a better idea of what we're dealing with without
being detected."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebears nodded in agreement.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Okay,
I have an idea," the mage continued, "get into your armour,
quickly. Don't worry about making noise, I can cover that. Just get
ready. I'll get the horse off the path and we'll use this waterfall
as a marker for where we leave the horse."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three each got to work on their respective tasks. After about twenty
minutes with their preparations complete, Gaden returned to the path
where they were waiting.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Brunaulf,
remember when I snuck up on you completely silently as you caught
fish during our... vacation?" Gaden said smiling.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled back, "Yeah."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Same
plan, but all of us this time. It doesn't last long, but it should
be long enough."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
directed his attention to Karn.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> "He's
going to make our travel absolutely </span>silent," the younger
<span style="color: black;">werebear </span><span style="color: black;">explained,
"even our armour. It wont make a sound. You got the best nose
of the three of us, why the gods gave that to you I don't know,"
Brunaulf made a show of rolling his eyes, "but that means you
should take point. Gaden in the middle, I'll sweep."</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Agreed,"
Said Karn, "and I got it because they like me best!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
hope you don't plan to keep bantering as we go," Gaden chided,
"because I'm triggering the dispel to talking. That way we can
shout for help if needs be. Okay, ready?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebears nodded. Gaden focused his will and touched each of his
companions on the forehead. Without a word, he stood to the side and
made a bow with a flourish, inviting Karn to lead the way. Karn
scrunched up his face and moved out, utterly silent with his two
companions staggered behind him. Brunaulf allowed his thoughts to
wander as he moved through the woods. It was eerily similar to
stalking in bear form. His padded feet would make almost no sound
against ground as he roamed through the woods. The werebear thought
it was unfortunate so few men would get the opportunity to live the
werebear life. Few were somehow selected to be candidates, the rest
would have to live this vicariously through magic. That assumed of
course a mage even knew werebears existed. It was an odd clash of
senses at times. His eyes would see him break a stick under his
foot, but the crack made no sound. No creaks and clangs from his
amour, nothing. As far as the sounds of the forest went, it was as
if the three of them weren’t there.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
didn't take long for Karn to stop, raising a hand and while keeping
the hand raised pointed forward. Without lowering the hand, he made
the symbol for "two" to indicate two people. The "two"
quickly changed to "four". He started motioning for his
companions to come and see what he was seeing. Forty feet ahead the
forrest opened up into a clearing with two buildings. A smaller one
made of wood with thatched roof, the larger stone. Four well
armoured men were casually hanging around in the space between the
buildings. One was tending a fire, two were cleaning gear, and the
fourth seemed to be taking inventory of a wagon. The door from the
larger building opened and a thin figure in a black shirt and pants
came outside. His facial features made him look to be about twenty,
but his short hair and beard were absolutely white. He casually
walked over to the man taking inventory.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Any
news?" The white-haired man asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "None"
the soldier said. "I doubt they're going to pay."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "A
pity," he replied. "Bring the boy out."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
soldier stopped his accounting and walked to the smaller hut and went
inside. He and another solider exited with a boy who looked to be
about thirteen in dirty clothes. One soldier held each arm. The
child struggled but was easily overpowered by the two men as they
escorted him to the black figure.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "So,
it seems your parents have decided not to pay the ransom. A pity,
really."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Please
sir," the boy begged, "there must be some mistake. My
parents don't have money. Let me go, please."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That's
not the way this works," the man said. "The way it works
is they pay the money, or we hold you until they do, or until we know
they're not going to pay. That would be very, <i>very</i>
unfortunate for you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy, angry about not being able to leave and the implied threat,
tried to lunge forward and kick the man holding him captive. The men
held firm though and the boy's kick was clearly short. The white
haired man ruefully smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Well
that's not very nice," he cooed, "apparently your parents
never taught you manners. Maybe its because you were never punished
for your actions. Perhaps some discipline will teach you some
manners." He looked at one of the guards holding the boy,
nodded, and turned to walk back into the larger building.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
two guards manhandled the boy over to a solitary post sticking out of
the ground. As they tried to tie the boy's hands to the post he
managed to break one of his hands free and punch one of the guards on
the side of the face. A solid blow in return ended the boy's
struggle as he was bound with his chest facing the post. The soldier
who was struck went to a barrel by the large building while another
pulled the shirt up over the boy's head. The big soldier returned
from the barrel with a leather strap and started winding one end in
his hand.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
started to get up from his crouch, but Gaden jumped in front of him,
blocking his path. He shook his head vigorously mouthing the words
"NOT YET." The big man was conflicted. Visions of what he
endured as a kid flooded his mind. However, the odds were against
them and they knew less than nothing about the situation or their
leader. There could be more people they didn't know about making a
bad situation worse. His thoughts were interrupted by the crack of
leather and a scream from the boy. Eyes squinting, Brunaulf pushed
Gaden aside and started his charge toward the whipping post. Karn
and Gaden exchanged a quick glance before chasing after the enraged
werebear committed to the fight here and now.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
silence of Brunalf's approach created a trick of senses for the
soldiers. They saw the man running but with no sound it was
uncertain if he was real. The roar Brunaulf let out as his sword
flew and the blood splattering from the whipping man's head reassured
the other mercenaries the large man and the two companions behind him
were very, very real. Gathering their composure they broke off into
two groups. One decided to take on Brunaulf, two ran for Karn and
Gaden. As swords clanged and battle cries exchanged, the black
clothed figure emerged from the larger building. He observed the
fight going on in front of him and smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Time
to play,” he said, striding toward the battle.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
noticed the man after shooting a magic arrow into a soldier,
disabling him. No weapons, no armour, but walking toward them? He
broke off from the fighting to pursue the figure, but Brunaulf beat
him there. The big man wound up for a mighty blow and swung. He was
rewarded with a loud clang but not a scratch on the man. The white
haired man smiled. Brunaulf made another swing with the same result.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Move
along now, you bore me” the mysterious figure said and with a wave
of the hand a wall of energy moved toward the werebear, lifting him
off his feet and throwing him backward. He slammed against the wall
of the smaller building and slumped to a sitting position, trying to
shake the cobwebs of being knocked around from his head. He was very
slow to get up.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Seeing
this, Gaden tried to buy him time and fight magic with magic. He let
three magic arrows fly toward the mysterious man. All three
reflected of the mysterious man's body in different directions
leaving him unscathed. This got the attention of the figure as he
turned slightly to face the young mage.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “That's
so cute!” the man said, smiling mischievously.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “My
turn!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Two
rocks about a foot in diameter shot out from the mage's hand in rapid
succession. Gaden quickly erected a magical barrier around himself
before the first one hit. With a loud crack the rock shattered but
it also brought his barrier down. The second hit him square in the
torso, carrying him backwards ten feet. Brunaulf rose to his feet
just in time to see Gaden flying through the air and watched him slam
against the small house twenty feet away from him and fall to the
ground slumped against the side of the house. The he watched
helplessly as the small boulder rolled off the young mage. Gaden
coughed up some blood, but his eyes were closed and he didn't move.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
dashed for the man he loved and knelt next to him frantically
searching for a pulse. He couldn't make one out. He studied the
broken body before him for any signs of life but there didn't seem to
be any.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “No,
no, no-no-no-no-no-” the big man said to himself out loud, “please,
no, please Gods, no!” He inspected Gaden's body again, hoping he
could find a heartbeat or see some breathing. The clanging of Karn's
sword and the maniacal laughter of the mage in black faded away as he
cursed himself for charging headlong into this situation. His rash
action could mean this man whose love he had just begun to explore -
a love he hoped would last lifetimes - would be killed. Brunaulf
ripped the gauntlet off of his left hand and pulled a knife from his
right leg. Tipping the head back of the lifeless man, he held his
hand over Gaden's mouth, the knife against his palm. His blood might
be enough to save his life, but it was against the rules. He knelt
there wrestling with his ethics, his love for this man doing battle
against the need to follow the rules. He wanted this man to live,
but this man never agreed to the change. His mind locked with such
conflict, guilt and indecision his hand started to shake from
gripping the knife so tightly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "He's
going to die you know." A voice came from behind Brunaulf, "if
he's not dead already. He was going to die anyway. It was only a
matter of time, and there's nothing you can do about it." The
white haired man began to chuckle again at the soldier’s suffering.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Don't
worry, you'll be joining him. Soon, but not too soon." He
continued laughing at the misery before him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf's
eyes narrowed. He never turned around to acknowledge the taunting
voice behind him, but instead slit his hand, letting the knife cut
deep into his palm. Blood flowed freely from his hand into Gaden's
mouth in a thin stream. Almost as quickly as the cut was made it
started to heal zipping closed from one end to the other in a matter
of ten or fifteen seconds. <span style="color: black;">He put the knife
back into its sheath</span> and picked up his sword, turning back to
the mage and marching toward him with intent. Brunaulf tried to will
the sword to life as he swung. Three, four, five strokes clanged
against the mage while he stood there smiling. Brunaulf was cursing
himself, getting frustrated he couldn't get the sword's enchantment
to activate.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Seems
you're not afraid of death," the mage mused in contemplation.
If you're not afraid of death, I wonder what you <i>are</i> afraid
of.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
went to make another stroke when he felt something pass into his
body. It was a peculiar sensation almost as if something was trying
to explore his mind, his feelings. The mage's expression was blank
for several seconds before coming back into focus.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Interesting,"
the white haired man observed. "I never expected something like
that from such a big, tough man." his expression changed to an
evil smile.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It
will be fun watching you die."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
began laughing as the world around Brunaulf dropped away. It seemed
like his world was made of four walls that were melting down to the
ground with a new backdrop appearing behind it. Brunaulf got dizzy,
falling to one knee as he felt weak and panicked as his body started
to change. His body hair fell out and his broad musculature started
to evaporate. His armor fell off of him disappearing into
nothingness as he shrank well over a foot in height. He reached up
to his face and felt nothing but smooth skin. He rose to his feet
and looked at himself to discover not the brute he was but the rail
thin, twelve year old boy he had been. He frantically looked around
at his surroundings; he wasn't in a forest, he was in a place he
wished he could forget.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
was in Ascot, in the orphanage.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Welcome
home!" The mage announced to the boy Brunaulf. "Did you
miss me?" Suddenly the mage started to transform. His white
hair turned brown, he gained weight as his chest broadened out, and a
leather strap materialized in his hand.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Because
I missed you!" the man who now looked like Fullas said, smiling.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
panicked in fear and bolted for the door, but it was locked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Where
are you going, Brunaulf?" Fullas said in a singsong voice, "You
know you've been a bad boy, haven't you? And you know what happens
to bad boys."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Fullas
grabbed Brunaulf by the arm and pulled him over to the punishment
wall. The young boy tried to struggle but the strength of this
younger Fullas overmatched a thin weak twelve year old. He was
grabbed by each wrist from behind and had his palms pressed against
the wall. The stone wall seemed to melt around the boy's hands and
then hardened again, locking his hands within the stone, and try as
he might he couldn't pull his hands free from the wall.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That's
better." Fullas said as he sent the lash flying against
Brunaulf's back. The young boy screamed in pain. Not given a chance
to recover, another stroke made contact causing Brunaulf to scream
and squirm.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It
was wrong for you to disobey me, to run away." Another lash
made contact against the screaming boy.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "The
other boys had to take the punishment for you after you left, you
know." This lash drew blood against the boy's back.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "When
you left, ran away into the woods, you should have died."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">****************************************</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden's
eyes fluttered open, barely able to see. His stomach was in
excruciating pain and could barely draw breath. He couldn't feel his
legs and his left arm wouldn't move. Moving his head forward to get
a view of his surroundings it looked bleak. Karn was trying to
defend himself against two attackers and looked hurt but <span style="color: black;">struggled
on.</span> The big werebear was awash in blood and he couldn't tell
if it was Karn’s or his enemy's. The mysterious mage was standing
over Brunaulf, his eyes out of focus and distant, while Brunaulf lay
on the ground screaming and writhing in pain seeming to stare at
things in his imagination. The young mage couldn't stand to see
Brunaulf suffering on the ground and had to figure out how he could
help, but he couldn't move and everything hurt. Using all the
concentration he could muster to block the pain, he tried to
critically assess the situation happening in front of him. The out
of focus eyes both of them had and the lack of movement from this
mystery attacker meant it had to be some form of illusionary or
mental attack.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
gathered himself together and tried to draw all the will he could
muster to dispel the magic. No effect. This guy was good, really
good. He tried to release a spell that would break the link, but the
strength he had left was too weak to have any effect.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Another
series of agonizing screams from the big werebear started to put
Gaden into a panic. He didn't know how long this had been going on,
but it was theoretically possible to create such a frenzy in
someone's mind they could be killed just from the shock of the
illusion. Gaden cursed himself for his cavalier attitude toward this
mission.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> <i>"You
thought you were such a big shot that this mission would be easy."</i>
Gaden thought to himself. <i>"So good at such a young age, one
of the youngest to go to the Mage's Guild in Adengaan. A lot of good
it’s doing you now."</i> Another series of screams bellowed
from Brunaulf as he continued down his line of self-pity, <i>"and
now we're all going to die because of it. The worst part of it is
I'll never have the chance to tell him I was going to accept the
change - that I would become a werebear - that I was willing to give
up the life I could have had so that I could be with him."</i></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> <i>"If
only I could tell him how much I love him before I die."</i></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
thought flashed across Gaden's mind breaking him out of his
self-pity. He may not have the strength to break the link, but
nothing was stopping him from making a link with Brunaulf on his own.
Closing his eyes and blocking out the pain as best he could, he
reached out with his will to bend the universe to his desire to
create a link with the man he loved.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
was openly sobbing as blood ran down his back. Even his worst
punishments were only fifteen lashes and now he was three short of
thirty. His back felt like it was on fire and his knees were
starting to feel weak. He was wondering if this was the end and he
was going to die. The man who looked like Fullas seemed to pick up
on that thought.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Don't
worry, little Brunaulf," the drunkard laughed, "you’ll be
dead soon enough, but not before I’m done with my fun, so don’t
worry, you won’t die before I’m finished with you" and let
loose another stroke. Brunaulf fell to one knee screaming and
crying. He was out of his mind in pain wishing there was some way
any way, to get out of this. He was starting to welcome the idea of
death.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Instantly,
he flashed to the gate at Adengaan standing in front of Gaden. The
mage was holding the papers from His Majesty waiting for them to be
inspected. The Brunaulf drew a deep breath catching the intoxicating
scent from the man for what seemed to be the first time.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
lash shattered the memory and the boy screamed again, falling on both
knees.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Another
scene replaced the orphanage. He was surveying the fields in front
of Adengaan from a watchtower. Gaden was running at full speed. His
muscular limbs exerting their power.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
lash destroyed this memory as the boy went limp, only his arms being
held up by the stone wall.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
was in the royal palace, holding the scroll of the oath that Gaden
was reading, trying to keep his mind focused on his task and not the
handsomely masculine man in front of him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
was in his home, standing over an injured Gaden, worried that he was
too late summoning the herbalist.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
was shrugging at Gaden, laughing butt naked as he turned to get
supper from the brook.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
was snuggling with Gaden under the stars.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Thoughts
and images of Gaden and their time together started to cascade and
run together turning over each other in rapid succession,
accelerating their pace in changing from scene to scene. The
frenetic pace of the images toppling over each other became too much
and the orphanage around Brunaulf shattered as if it was made of
mirrors. He found himself laying on the ground in the field where
the battle started. His amulet and new sword humming softly and
glowing a pale blue in his open hand. Reorienting himself to his
surroundings he looked over to Gaden whose amulet was also glowing. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
turned his attention to the white haired mage. The werebear was
seething with rage and felt violated to his core. This white-haired
man forfeited his right to live, and Gods help him he was going to
kill this man. Brunaulf rose to his feet. Charging at the smiling
mage, bellowing as loudly as he could, he thrust the sword forward
with all his strength and closed his eyes. He felt the sword as if
it were part of him, as if it grew from the end of his wrist.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
sword glowed bright orange, like the coals of a roaring fire, for a
brief moment before the blade made contact. A small booming sound
carried through the air as the blade shattered the black garbed
mage’s shield. He opened his eyes and looked down to find blood on
his hands. It was coming from the gaping wound in the man's gut.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
had buried the sword to the hilt.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
looked up and made eye contact with the bastard in front of him,
smirking at the other man's look of surprise. Never breaking eye
contact, the werebear pulled the sword out about a quarter of the way
before rotating it a quarter turn and burying it back in again. A
river of blood erupted from the mage's mouth. With a low growl, he
pulled the sword out quickly, roared, and in one swift motion sliced
the sword across his neck, decapitating him. The look of shock
persisted on the mage’s face for a second before his eyes went
lifelessly dim.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
slumped to his knees, breathing heavy, but quickly came to his senses
and looked over to where Gaden was with his back against the house.
His eyes were open, barely. The big man, mentally and physically
exhausted, staggered his way over to the man he loved and knelt
beside him. His eyes started to mist up seeing how broken Gaden's
body seemed to be.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
did it," Brunaulf said softly, removing his other gauntlet and
stroking the young mage's hair. "I got the sword to work."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
saw," said Gaden, barely above a whisper. "It was..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
moved his head in closer to better hear.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It
was..." Gaden tried to start again.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "...
almost okay."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
smiled weakly and let his eyes close, the smile remaining on his
face.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
laughed weakly as tears began to run down his cheeks. He stroked the
young mage's hair happy the man he loved was still alive… for now…
maybe there was hope.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
love you too, Gaden."</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-84495200623910037072021-07-09T15:37:00.003-07:002021-07-09T15:37:18.800-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Eight<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Eight</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MC
</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
scream came from a house just on the other side of the road from the
carriage house. Brunaulf knew this house and was striding toward the
gate of the front yard like a man on a mission. He stopped in front
of the gate where a crude "Ascot Orphanage" sign was
hanging on the fence to his right. The big werebear's face was
seething with anger when his two companions caught up to him, his
gaze completely focused on the front door that lay down the short
path from the gate. The sound of a strap making contact with
something and another boy's scream permeated the walls of the house.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
started growling. It was a low, gutteral growl that startled Gaden
with its ferocity as the beast grabbed the gate with both hands.
Uttering only the word "Bastard!" he ripped the gate clean
off the fencepost and threw it across the road landing in some bushes
on the other side. The werebear resumed his purposeful strides
toward the house.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
watched what was going on with a mixture of confusion and fear. He
had no idea what was going on or why his love was so enraged. He had
never seen this side of Brunaulf before and it shocked and frightened
him. On instinct to try and help or comfort his lover, he took a
step toward the newly made hole in the fence. Karn quickly stepped
around and blocked the path shaking his head.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "This
is his fight and these are his demons. Remember your word."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
looked at the house then at the hulking man in front of him. He saw
muscles all over Brunaulf flex to their limit, and then relax, and
then flex again as if they were getting bigger with each flex as he
stormed to the house.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
don't understand."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
know," Karn said in a quieter tone, "but it's his story to
tell, not mine. We stay here." Karn pulled Gaden to him in a
side embrace, putting a comforting arm around his front.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
stood there silently, trying to piece together what he could from
what had just unfolded before him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
made it to the door as another crack of leather and a scream emanated
from the house. A big booted foot kicked the door in leaving it
hanging by only one hinge as the enraged brute made his way in the
house. It was as if he had never left. Several small cot-like beds
in the main room sparsely furnished. One single table where 5 kids
looked up at the giant, paralyzed with fear. Another child maybe
eleven years old had his hands against what was known as "the
punishment wall", his back bleeding slightly from welts. The
Brunaulf’s eyes locked on Fullas, strap in hand, staring at the man
who barged into his house with a surprised look. The bear clenched
and unclenched his fists several times as the red in his face almost
turned purple from the rage he was attempting to contain.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Children,"
Brunaulf said through a clenched jaw, "go outside for a few
minutes."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> No
one moved.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It's
okay, kids," Brunaulf said, his gaze never leaving Fullas,
"Fullas and I have some… business. Go outside."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Fear
and confusion gripped the children and seemed uncertain what to do.
Fullas regained some of his composure.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
don't know what the hells you're doing in MY house, but you
better..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
didn't even give him a chance to finish the sentence. With amazing
speed for such a lumbering wall of muscle he closed the gap and
backfisted Fullas across the face with such force he staggered four
steps backward screaming in pain. The powerful bear grabbed the
drunkard by the arm and pulled him close before marching him over to
the table where the children were sitting and pinned his chest down
against the table. The children scrambled out of the way but
continued to watch.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "CHILDREN!"
Brunaulf commanded, "OUTSIDE! NOW!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Snapped
out of their amazement they all bolted for the door. Looking around
and satisfied no one was left in the house, Brunaulf turned his
attention back to the man struggling under him. The years hadn't
been kind. Brunaulf remembered him as a large, sturdy man with brown
hair, but the man he had pinned didn't match his memory. This was a
man whose hair was more grey than brown and whose clothes seemed to
be made for someone about thirty pounds heavier. He bent down behind
him using his considerable size advantage to pin him to the table as
he put his head next to his ear.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Hello
Fullas… Remember me?" He growled. Fullas said nothing, but
a few curses as he continued to struggle under the big man.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That's
okay, you may not remember me, but I remember you," Brunaulf
continued in a low even tone, "I remember every lash you gave
me," The older man struggled, but he was far from a match for
the strength of a werebear. Brunaulf pressed his forearm into the
back of the struggling man's neck to keep him still, pushing his face
into the table painfully "I remember every meal you kept from
me, but most of all, I remember the night you were going to rape me."
To emphasize the last point, he let his groin press firmly against
the smaller man's ass.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No...
please..." The smaller man started to plead.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Mercy?
You beg <i>me</i>… for mercy?" The big man asked
incredulously, "Where was <i>your</i> mercy when you beat me
because I asked for more than a bowl of thin soup? Where was <i>your</i>
mercy when my back was raw and bleeding, but you continued with the
lashes anyway? Where was <i>your</i> mercy when your wife begged you
not to beat us so you beat her instead and then beat us anyway?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
continued to hold the man down, pressing his face into the wood of
the table harder as he continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Don't
worry, I'm not going to rape you. You don't deserve that in ways
you'll never understand, but when I'm done, you'll wish I had."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
got up off of the smaller man, picked him up, and threw him against a
wall about ten feet away as if he were a small sack of flour. The
smaller man had the wind knocked out of him slumping to the ground as
Brunaulf stood over him like a mountain of wrath. He knotted the
front of the drunkard's shirt up in his left fist and picked him up
one-handed into the air and slammed him against the wall before
throwing him back at the table. The old man groaned as he laid
slumped over face down. Brunaulf ripped the old man's shirt off his
back and grabbed the strap from the table, wrapping the handlestrap
tightly in his right hand, he stood over Fullas.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
first crack was so loud it sounded like a firecracker. Fullas roared
in pain and tried to get up, but Brunaulf gave him a hard left punch
to the side of the face knocking him down on the table.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "STAY
DOWN!" The big man thundered. Then he repeated what he was
told many times when he stayed in the orphanage.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "WHAT
<i><b>I</b></i> SAY, <i><b>YOU</b></i> OBEY!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
strong hand came down as he delivered the second lash. The werebear
didn't hold back and put every ounce of strength into each lash. He
figured his enhanced strength would feel to this man what a man's
whipping would feel like to an underfed boy. Screams of agony echoed
through the house as Brunaulf delivered stroke after stroke. Small
streaks of blood began to appear on the man's back after the fourth
stroke, but that didn't stop the raging beast. Fullas tried to get
up once, but a left to the gut and a right to his head knocked him
back down on the table. It was the last time the old man would try
to get up. The former orphan methodically counted out twenty strokes
on the old man. Breathing heavy, he threw the lash on the table
before picking the screaming, sobbing man up by the arm off the table
and dragging him over to the "punishment wall." Brunaulf
grabbed fullas by each arm, picked him up and slammed him against the
wall, letting his bloody back press against the cold wall. Fullas
yelped in pain on contact with the wall before he resumed sobbing.
Brunaulf got into the man's bruised, bloody face and began speaking
in a low, growling, snarling tone.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Now,
the next time you <i>think</i> about taking a drop of drink, the next
time you <i>think</i> about abusing a boy or your wife, the next time
you <i>think</i> about starving a boy, you <i>think</i> deeply, and
long about this day. Remember how this feels, etch it into your
memory. Remember this pain, but… most of all… remember that I
went <i>easy</i> on you compared to what you deserve. Think of me as
an 'orphan's guardian spirit'. And since you have orphans, I'll
always be watching you from now on."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebear slowly, carefully, changed the features of his face, neck
and shoulders into a half form allowing the transmutation to burn
into the terrified man's brain as he continued speaking in an marbelly
voice.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "And
if I <i>ever</i> see you touch another drop of drink, if I <i>ever</i>
see you mistreat your wife or another orphan again," he brought
his muzzled, fanged, face next to the frightened man's ear, "I
will EAT you... ALIVE!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
threw the man back on the table before turning his attention to the
kitchen cabinets. Transforming his hands into paws, he ripped every
locked cabinet door apart in a frenzied fury. Satisfied he made his
point, he transformed his body back to a fully human form, stepping
over the carnage on the floor and exiting the home.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
surveyed the front yard with a grim expression until his eyes landed
on a woman he knew, albiet aged, holding groceries from the shop.
Six children surrounded her. Brunaulf’s eyes immediately softened
as he walked toward the woman who was standing near his companions
and without saying a word embraced her in a hug with his eyes closed.
Breaking the embrace he put a hand on each side of the confused
woman's head and kissed her on the forehead.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thank
you," Brunaulf said. "thank you for at least trying to
protect us."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big man walked back through the hole in the fence and down the street
not looking back. Karn and Gaden followed suit after a few moments
leaving a confused Elitha staring back and forth between the men
walking away and a broken front door.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three men walked down the street toward the centre of the village
without speaking. Gaden kept staring at the bear he loved, wondering
what was going on that would cause such an outburst completely out of
character from anything he knew of him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Not
now, Gaden,” Brunaulf offered as if reading his thoughts, “I'll
explain later when I'm calm, but know that I had my reasons. Thank
you for keeping your word.” They walked in silence for another ten
paces or so when Brunaulf spoke up again.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We
should get some supplies. I don't want to spend the night in town.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
used the opportunity to continue down the new subject.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
agree. I was thinking if we can find a reasonably good looking horse
and cart in this town, we can set up a decoy. Might be able to lure
them out and get some answers.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good
idea,” Karn said in approval, “it doesn't hurt either that you
probably have two of the best trackers within a hundred mile radius.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Thanks
for the compliment, but where's the other one?” He teased.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
laughed and Gaden smiled at the comment. The mood of the trio was
shifting to something Gaden found more familiar, especially from his
lover. It was only a few minutes to a general store for some simple
supplies they wouldn't be able to forage in the forest and got a lead
on a horse and wagon that might meet their needs. Some skillful
negotiation from Karn got them a horse, wagon and some empty barrels
at a great price. Gaden couldn't help but smile at the comical scene
of a big, burly bearish man haggling like a fishwife. They loaded
the scant supplies they needed to purchase into the wagon and set off
down the road south toward Adengaan.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> About
thirty minutes out of town, Karn brought them to a halt.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We're
far enough out of Ascot now,” the older werebear said stripping off
his clothes, “I think its time to do some scouting. Whaddaya
think, son?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
smiled and dismounted, stripping his clothes off and putting them in
the wagon for safe keeping. Slowly, he allowed his body to transform
from human to a huge black bear. He cocked his head at his uncle as
if to ask what he was waiting for.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We're
going to explore up ahead,” Karn explained, “we're going to make
sure the coast is clear and there isn’t an ambush waiting for us.
If everything is good, we'll set up camp about an hour or so down the
road, and we'll begin the hunt for the raiders in earnest tomorrow.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
nodded in understanding of the plan and Karn began to morph into his
bear form. The brawny black bear that was Karn took a moment to
stretch as if he hadn't moved in this form in a while. Playfully
giving Brunaulf a shoulder shove, the two started lumbering down the
path before splitting up. One checked the left side of the path, the
other checked right. Gaden got the horse moving again, the only
sounds in the forest being the cloping of hooves and the creaking of
the wagon as the trek began.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
hour went uneventfully and the two bears reunited with Gaden on the
path. Brunaulf transformed into his half form so he could
communicate with his lover and pass on information about camp.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “There's
a brook to the right,” Brunaulf said in his marbelly voice, “not
far off the path. The wagon can make it. We set up camp there.”
Back into bear form, he started walking through a wide berth between
some trees before turning back to see if Gaden was following. He
worked the reins to get the horse to follow the bear and it was only
about sixty feet to the spot Brunaulf described. Gaden got down from
the cart and surveyed the area. Good tree cover and enough bush to
hide a small fire from the road. It would work well. The werebears
shifted back to human form and began setting up camp, and remained
completely nude to Gaden’s delight. After about an hour the trio
had finished clearing brush from the ground, making a small fire pit,
gathering wood and doing some prep work for supper.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
and Gaden were at the wagon, the werebear still naked, when they
heard some cursing from the firepit. Karn was trying to get the fire
started banging flint against steel furiously hoping a big enough
spark would ignite some of the kindling. Gaden and Brunaulf smiled
at each other before the mage wandered over to where the other naked
bear was squatting. Gaden put a hand on Karn's shoulder and
playfully pushed back on the naked man causing him to unceremoneously
fall on his butt.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
got this,” said Gaden, he turned and acted like he was going to
sneeze on the fire.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “ahh...
ahhh... AHHHh... CHOO!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
if on cue, a strong fire erupted from the kinding.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Ta-da!”
Gaden bowed, smiling at Karn. “Usually I like to snap my fingers
to add a little flourish, but I was feeling playful tonight. Jamder
used to hate it when I added useless...”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
mage stopped himself seeing the change of expression from Karn.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I'm
sorry, Karn.” Gaden said simply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Don't
be,” Karn's smile returned, “he could be a pompous ass at times.
I understand.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
smiled in relief as he helped Karn up.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
late afternoon meal of stewed meat, root vegetables, and bread Karn
prepared was quite tasty. It was no wonder Brunaulf learned how to
be such a good cook. After the meal the still naked Brunaulf got up
from the fire to head for the wagon.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Time
for dessert” The big man said, returning with a bottle of mead.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Where...
when... did you get that?” Gaden asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Nodding
at the fire Brunaulf smiled and said, “You aren’t the only one
with fringe benefits,” Brunaulf winked, “I can sniff out mead
from ten miles away.” He popped the cork and the three sat next to
each other by the fire, one werebear on each side of Gaden as the
bottle went back and forth. The sun was low on the horizon by the
time the bottle was halfway finished, each staring silently in the
fire simply content to be in each other's company. Gaden's thoughts
returned to what happened earlier that day, and with a light buzz
from the mead felt the courage discuss it.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “So
Brunaulf,” Gaden started awkwardly, searching for the right way to
delicately broach the subject, “I don't mean to pry, and if you
don't want to talk about it I understand, but back there... in the
town... what... why...”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> His
burly love said nothing for a moment in the uncomfortable silence.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Look
at my back, Gaden.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
mage leaned back to look as Brunaulf turned slightly. It was the
same, handsome, hairy broad back that he'd seen dozens of times
before.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “What
am I looking for?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Look
carefully. What do you see?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> For
the first time, Gaden noticed something underneath the hair on his
back. They were very faint, but there were distinct reddish lines in
different places. Faint lines where hair did not grow. The
surrounding hair hid them well, but there were so many across his
back.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
was an orphan in Ascot. In that house.” the he said, turning his
back again so he could face the fire, his eyes never moving from the
dancing flames, “My parents died when I was ten. My blood family
didn't want me. They moved and left me in Ascot. I lived in that
orphanage, that hell, for two years. Those faint red lines on my
back are what's left of the lashings I took from the bastard who ran
the place. He would beat me bloody, and scarcely before the wounds
could begin to heal, he would beat me bloody again. His name is
Fullas”.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span>A
cloud of anger briefly moved over Brunaulf’s features at the
mention of the name, and then it was gone, and he was back to his
stoic soldier’s expression.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span>“The
change to werebear healed them nicely, the scars faded almost
completely, but there had been too much damage for too long to
completely erase them.” He paused for a moment, seeming to relive
some of that part of his life in his mind before continuing.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Those
two years were the worst of my life. I asked the Gods repeatedly
what I had done to deserve that fate, how I had sinned so much to be
so punished. There was never enough to eat, especially for the boys
on the edge of puberty, every one of us were just bags of skin and
bone. Oh, but that drunken bastard always had drink and his belly
was never slack. The beatings were often and there didn’t need to
be a reason. He did it, because he felt like it, and he could. The
drunkard would even beat his wife when he didn't get his way. One
night, just after I turned twelve, Fullas got into a fight with his
wife. She wouldn't sleep with him, so he beat her and knocked her
unconscious and, not having a lively enough hole to plow, he decided
he was going to rape me to satisfy his lust.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big man paused again, another cloud passed over him, but he regained
his composure and continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Thankfully,
he passed out on top of me before he could violate me. I decided at
that point it was better to starve to death in the woods than stay
another moment. I packed what I could and set off on the road for
Adengaan. I would have starved to death had I not run into some...
luck... " He raised the bottle to the forest.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "...Cheers
to you, Garret..." The werebear took a healthy swig and passed
it to Gaden.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "...but
I was determined to make it to Adengaan and start a new life.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
broke his gaze with the fire and looked past Gaden next to him to
lock eyes with Karn and smiled.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “When
I got to Adengaan, I met a man who took me in, who saved my life.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
beamed and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It
was my pleasure, son” he said softly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
looked back and forth from Karn to Brunaulf putting the pieces
together.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “But
regarding Ascot,” Brunaulf continued as he faced the fire once
again, “I knew I was going to see him again when I came here with
you. I was hoping he had changed, that time had softened his heart.
When I heard that boy scream, I decided it had to stop, I didn’t
know how, but it had to. Believe me, when I saw that boy in there,
hands against the wall as mine had been, being whipped I wanted to
kill him. I <i>could</i> have snapped his neck like a twig or I
<i>could </i>have twisted his head right off” the big man paused
again for a moment.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “But
even an evil bastard like him deserves one chance at redemption. So
instead, I chose to put the fear of the Gods into him. If I
succeeded, then not only would I have spared his life, but I'd have
spared other children the torture I lived through. Tempering my
anger to avoid taking a life will have been worth it.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
that, the werebear stared into the fire in silence. Gaden took in
everything he was told while he stared at his love. Brunaulf was
right, he could have killed the man easily and with what he went
through he would have been justified, but he chose not to. The mage
was in absolute awe of the man he fell in love with. Such a brute
physically and yet such an immense capacity to forgive, to find a way
to stop suffering. In that moment, Brunaulf seemed powerfully,
intoxicatingly masculine. Without saying a word, Gaden turned toward
his lover and gave him a warm embrace. He started kissing him on his
forehead, his neck, and went for his lips. Brunaulf turned his head
to receive the kiss, and gently wrapped his arms around the man he
loved. Gaden turned and sat on Brunaulf's lap facing him. Brunaulf
inhaled his scent deeply, letting the aroma wash over him like a
comfortable blanket. The werebear's cock began to stir as the two
lovers explored each other's mouths.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Ahem,”
Karn spoke up, “room for one more?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
broke the kiss and looked into Gaden’s eyes, questioning. The
smaller man smiled and nodded slightly raising his arms over his
head.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Can
you help me with my shirt, Uncle Karn?” Gaden asked, trying on the
familial term of “Uncle” on for size.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
smiled and got up to move behind the mage, gently pulling the shirt
up off of his torso exposing the man's hairy back and chest. He
reached around under each arm to start playing with Gaden's nipples
and nibbling on the nape of his neck. Gaden felt his own cock become
painfully hard and leaking as the thought of not one but two
werebears entertained his thoughts. Carefully the pair half carried,
half guided Gaden onto a bedroll near the fire face up. Brunaulf
dragged his cock across Gaden's hole to slick it with precum while
Karn was kissing him gently and playing with one of his nipples. The
mage moaned softly while being kissed as he felt one of Brunaulf's
fingers begin to massage his prostate. Soon one finger became two as
Gaden moaned and writhed gently enjoying the pleasure. Karn broke
the kiss to look at his son, smiling, and put a hand roughly behind
Brunaulf's head as he kissed him hard, his tongue probing and
enjoying his smells and taste. Growling lustfully, he released his
cub from the kiss, he looked at Gaden's hole and nodded as he moved
to reposition himself over Gaden's face.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
younger bear hoisted Gaden's ass in the air so that his knees were on
his shoulders and positioned his cockhead so it was just touching the
young man's hole. Karn moved his cock in front of Gaden's mouth
inviting him to suckle which the young man did with gusto. It was as
if Karn's growl was a cue to the other werebear as his cockhead began
to penetrate the mage. A muffled groan escaped Gaden's lips as
Brunaulf began his steady, even strokes. He couldn't use his full
werebear strength, not yet, but he hoped to someday.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
young mage was in absolute ecstasy. A burly bear inside of him, a
big, attractive, musky bear's cock in his mouth. He knew the man
inside him was special and with what he shared about his life earlier
made him even more attractive to Gaden. He thought more and more
about the life he could have with this family. Gaden didn't know if
he could ever feel something so strong, so powerful, with anyone
else. To be able to hold, to caress, to love this big brute of a man
for centuries continued to make his cock throb and leak. If he lost
his magic abilities it would be a price worth paying to be with this
man. He wouldn't say anything now - they had a mission to complete
that would require all of his faculties - but when they returned to
Adengaan he would tell him: he would make the choice and live his
life with this new family as a werebear.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
fire crackled and popped as the evening wore on, throwing shadows of
what seemed to be men and bears exploring each other amid the night
sounds of the forest.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-87400994977586434612021-07-07T16:05:00.000-07:002021-07-07T16:05:03.985-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Seven<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> (apologies for the gap in postings... the owners of the Cave were away. We return you now to the story already in progress)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Seven</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">MC</span></b></p><p></p><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
and Brunaulf took the opportunity to exchange notes while Karn was
inside, each gleaning small insights from the other about what might
be going on inside the house. Both looked up and abruptly stopped
their conversation as Karn emerged from the house. His face was
slightly grim, but otherwise expressionless.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do
you have the answers you were looking for?" The older werebear
asked the young mage. The young mage nodded. "Good. Lets get
going then" He started walking in the direction they came.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
wanted to take a few minutes to say hello to his father and a few
others, but given hat transpired he thought better of it. There
would be plenty of other chances to visit over the course of the next
year and he had to be patient. Brunaulf and Gaden started walking
quickly to catch up to the elder bear whose pace was unwavering as he
walked out of the town. They walked in silence contemplating their
own thoughts as they left Tenby. They rounded a corner and crossed a
small stream putting them out of sight of the village.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You
up for this?" Brunaulf asked his lover.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Don't
have much choice, do I?" He smiled weakly.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They
prepared for teleport as they had before. Unlike the way here, it
seemed more gentle, comforting, from the two bears. Gaden took a
deep breath and visualized the mage's guild. It took another
herculean effort, but he managed to get them reasonably close - if
the fields outside the city walls is considered close. He started in
on the dry heaves as the two werebears looked on patiently waiting
for the nausea to subside.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Go
on, Brunaulf," Gaden urged in between bouts of dry heaves, "I'll
be okay."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You
sure?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yeah,"
another heave, "I need to think."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brunaulf
stared at his lover for a few moments when a large hand rested gently
on his shoulder.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Come,
son," Uncle Karn said quietly, "give him his space."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brunaulf
nodded and held his gaze on the young mage heaving for a few seconds
as he started walking toward the city with his adopted father.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
started having an internal monologue with himself, cursing his body
for having such an odd quirky reaction to being teleported. He
cursed Jamder for leaving out such an important part of who he was.
He cursed Jamder for omitting what he could be out of his life. He
cursed the choice before him. He cursed the day he found out about
werebears. He cursed his entire existence. Everything seemed so
simple when he set out for Adengaan, and now less than a month later
his entire world was upside down. It was a good fifteen minutes
before the nausea subsided and as he started walking toward the city,
as the different lines of thought continued to collide in his head he
realized there may be only one way to resolve this. He needed to get
drunk.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"So…
Uncle," Brunaulf began hesitantly once they were out of earshot
of Gaden, "why did I never meet Jamder?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He
left earlier in the year I first met you at the gate." No
further information was offered by the older werebear.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He
was a mage at the guild too?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"And
he chose not to go through the transformation?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Karn
stopped walking but kept his eyes forward and sighed.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Correct."
He resumed walking. They continued walking in silence for a few
minutes while Brunaulf contemplated the answers he was given.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
understand now." Brunaulf said.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Understand
what?" His Uncle queried, having missed what was meant.
Brunaulf walked a little slower, carefully trying to measure his
words.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
understand why you tried to hide this life from me when I was a boy,
why you gave me so many warnings about falling in love, why you
seemed to resent who you were sometimes and didn't want me to follow
in the werebear path."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do
you regret it?" His adopted father asked pensively.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Regret
what?" Now it was Brunaulf's turn to be confused. Karn
clarified.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Regret
following your old man down the same path, knowing you may go down
the same road as me with someone you love?" Brunaulf took a few
moments to contemplate what his Uncle was asking before answering
with philosophical clarity.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do
I regret your help at the gate all those years ago, following your
rules as a boy and growing into a man under your guidance? Do I
regret feeling love from Garret and so many others in the brotherhood
as I changed into what I am today? Do I regret the successful life I
have forged for myself thanks to you?" He stopped walking to
face the older werebear and put a hand on his shoulder.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No,
papa” he paused, his eyes glossy with tears, “not for one second.
If I had it to do over… even the beatings at the orphanage…
everything… I would. Willingly. I love you, papa."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Karn
stood there motionless. It was the first time the man had called him
anything other than "uncle". With that simple name, his
son had touched the very center of the old bear’s soul more deeply
than anything he’d ever felt. He grabbed the stout bear and hugged
him hard.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
love you too, son", he said with a catch in his voice.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They
walked in silence for the rest of the journey home.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
woke the next morning hungover, hoping it was all just a dream. It
wasn't. Groaning, he turned over and threw the blanket over his
head, but his bladder was insisting he should get up. Reluctantly,
he went over to the chamberpot and relieved himself. The room was
spinning and the sun was far too bright. He almost wished he had
teleported just so it wouldn't feel as bad. A soft knock on his door
reverberated across his temples and he groggily answered the door.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes?"
Gaden asked, squinting his eyes.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"BY
DECREE OF HIS MAJESTY," the page shouted, causing Gaden to
scrunch his eyes closed in pain, "YOU ARE TO ATTEND AN AUDIENCE
BEFORE HIS HIGHNESS IN THIRTY MINUTES!" The page turned on his
heel and walked away.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Pompous
ass," he muttered before going back in and closing the door.
Fishing through his belongings he found one last hangover tonic - he
made a mental note to make more - and quaffed it in one gulp. The
room stopped spinning almost immediately. A half hour wouldn't give
him much time so he quickly cleaned himself up, donned a clean
doublet and trousers, and started making his way to the royal hall.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
page outside the door recognized him and smiled in quite a friendly
manner. Gaden smiled back not wanting to be offensive. The page
turned his attention to the door handle and drew a deep breath.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"GADEN
OF TENBY PRESENTS HIMSELF AS COMMANDED BY HIS MAJESTY, KING HALBEN OF
ADENGAAN!" The page announced.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
looked forward, but caught Brunaulf out of the corner of his eye. He
walked down the carpeted aisle, stopping halfway to the king and
dropping on one knee with head bowed.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"How
may I serve Your Majesty?" Gaden politely asked.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Rise,
Gaden," King Halben commanded. As Gaden stood up he continued,
"We know you are new to the guild, but we may need someone with
magical skill, and we have already sent too many others on
assignments."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"We
have recently received reports that caravans are being raided along
the major routes leading to the five major city-states. We have
dispatched aid to assist, but alas there are two routes which will be
our responsibility to investigate as they have had increased activity
far more than usual. One route is from Iphale to Ascot and the other
is from Ascot to Adengaan. We are to send you, Gaden, to investigate
the route from Ascot to Adengaan. Reports indicate a surge in
raiding roughly two days south from Ascot."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
contemplated the information, then spoke. "Does Your Majesty
wish me to acquire additional intelligence on the matter, or shall I
try to eliminate this threat?”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You
are to do everything in your power to prevent future raids" the
King answered.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Does
your majesty have any additional information on these raiders?"
the mage asked.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"We
do have reports but they are contradictory or inconclusive. Some
report kidnappings, but others are only interested in specific wares.
We surmise there is magic involved based on some accounts, but exact
details of the magic involved are sparse."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
turned this information over in his head. It seemed risky, but he
thought he figured out a way to broach the subject he wanted to
tactfully.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Your
Majesty, " Gaden bowed, "I would be honoured to investigate
and rout these raiders if it is in my power. However, I would want
to maximize my chances for success. I am skilled in magic of course,
but my skills in combat are sparse. I humbly request one man to
accompany me. A man with combat skills will greatly increase my
chance to please Your Majesty with my results."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He
nodded in the direction of Brunaulf, "I have seen Brunaulf on
the training fields and he seems to be a man other soldiers respect.
Moreover, being First on your honour guard implies greater combat
skills. Therefore, I humbly request Brunaulf be allowed to accompany
me on this mission, Your Majesty."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On
the outside, Brunaulf showed no emotion. On the inside, he thought
Gaden was out of his mind. And Ascot was the last place he wanted to
go.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Your
arguments have merit, Gaden of Tenby." The King smiled. "Very
well. Brunaulf, you are to accompany Gaden on this mission. You
will both leave at once. We expect you will use magical means to
start in Ascot and work your way south. They may expect
investigation coming from Adengaan."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes,
Your Majesty" Gaden said, bowing and backing up to leave the
chamber.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well
clear of the chamber, the young mage began walking down the hall
leading out when he heard heavy armoured footsteps behind him.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Are
you out of your damn mind?" Brunaulf asked trying to catch up,
"this isn't a game in the training grounds. This is real!"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Relax,"
Gaden said quietly and looking around to make sure he wouldn't be
heard. "Besides it gives us more time to spend together. Since
when is that a bad thing?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"So
you've made your decision?" the werebear asked hopefully.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Not
yet," Gaden said as Brunaulf's face showed disappointment, "but
I'm not saying no. This is all still so new. I just need time,
that's all. Give me some time."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
werebear stood there, facial expression unchanging, studying the
Gaden’s face. Snorting out through his nose, he started walking
away and out of the palace.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Be
at my house in two hours."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two
hours later the mage arrived at Brunaulf's house. He went to knock
on the door, but the door opened before he could knock.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Come
in Gaden." Brunaulf offered. Gaden entered the foyer and as
soon as the door was closed grabbed the werebear in a huge embrace
and gave him a kiss. Brunaulf returned the kiss putting his hand
behind the mage's head. A gravelly voice interrupted their kiss.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"SO,
just WHAT are your intentions toward my son?" Karn said from
the dining room, smiling. Gaden broke away and turned to face the
large man.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Hi
Karn," Gaden said warmly, "how are you?"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Understanding
what the mage was really asking, Karn replied, "Better, thanks."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
told him about the stunt you pulled," Brunaulf began.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"And?"
Gaden questioned.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
thought it was cute." Karn offered smiling.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">"You're
both nuts." Brunaulf said flatly. "Anyway, if we're going
to do this, there are two conditions. First, my papa</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">comes with us. Two werebears doubles our chances. Second,"
Brunaulf's tone went dark, "I have some 'affairs' to wrap up in
Ascot. Whatever happens, you are NOT to interfere. Do we agree?
Not that you have a choice, but I want your word."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He
looked at the man he loved, searching for information. His face was
scowling. Whatever he had to take care of in Ascot was making him
visibly upset. Maybe he could help somehow. Gaden began to speak.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"In
Ascot, maybe I could..."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"NO!"
Brunaulf bellowed. Realizing his tone was way too harsh, he started
again, softer.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"No,
you couldn't. These affairs are mine, and mine alone. I trusted you
when we went to Tenby, I need you to trust me now. I may explain in
time. Regardless, no interference."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
looked at the werebears. They both had serious looks on their faces.
If he needed to handle this on his own, so be it.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
don't like this," Gaden started, "but you have my word. I
will not interfere in Ascot with your affairs."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seemingly
satisfied, Brunaulf drew his lover into a big hug and gave him a
kiss.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Thank
you, Gaden. I have to prepare tonight. As much as I'd love your
company, I need to focus. We'll leave in the morning." The
werebear smirked.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Don't
eat breakfast."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
parodied his smirk before giving him a hug and a kiss. He had some
preparations of his own he wanted to make. The King mentioned there
may be magic at play. He could take care of himself against magic,
but he wanted assurance Brunaulf would have some "magical
leverage" against wards, fields and traps. Gaden remembered
seeing a blacksmith in the western quarter and got the perfect idea
for the big man: an enchanted sword. Wandering through the western
quarter he eventually got his bearings and found the blacksmith shop
he saw on one of his travels in the area.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Good
Morning!" A big, burly, red bearded man greeted him as he stood
up from his anvil.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Good
Morning!" Gaden replied, "I was wondering if I could
commission you to make a sword for me. Its for someone... special."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
blacksmith put down his current project to give the man his undivided
attention. As he approached the counter he reflexively sniffed in
the air as if something tickled his nostrils. His already pleasant
demeanor brightened a little more as he spoke.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> "The
name's Garret, and of course! I love making special work for..
<i>special</i> people. Give me the details of what you want."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
wasn't sure what the man meant by the emphasis he put on "special",
but let it pass as he explained what he needed.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Thirty
nine and a half inch blade. Thirty nine percent silver, fifty seven
percent iron, four percent carbon." Gaden continued, "those
metal proportions must be exact."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
blacksmith turned the numbers around in his head. "Challenging
work, for sure, but I think I can handle it. I can have it ready for
you by the end of the week. Thirty five percent over standard rate
though, 'cause its not a typical sword."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
need it tomorrow," Gaden countered. "I'll pay double.
It's important."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Garret's
smile waned slightly, "I appreciate the offer for extra coin I
really do, but this isn't the kind of job I can rush. Tell you what,
leave me your name and where you live, and the second it's done I'll
send someone to have you collect it. No promises for tomorrow, but
I'll try."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
accepted that. It was better than nothing. If it couldn't be ready
in time they would have to delay their departure. He would figure
out some excuse to explain the delay, but it was important to have
the sword before they left. He could enchant it on the road.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"My
name's Gaden. I'm a mage at the Guild."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Gaden"
Garret repeated. He took another long sniff. Recognition spread
over his face.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Is
this for Brunaulf?" The blacksmith asked, beaming with
happiness.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Uh,
yes. How did you..."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You'll
have it tomorrow morning. Come by at ten. I have to get to work if
you want it tomorrow. I have a late night ahead of me." He
reached out a huge hand to shake on the deal and immediately turned
to the forge to stoke the fire. Slightly confused, Gaden left the
shop to return to his room and prepare for the journey.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
next morning, he returned to Garret's shop promptly at ten where a
shiny sword was waiting on the counter.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Good
morning Gaden!” Garret greeted.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Good
morning Garret,” the mage returned the greeting, “it looks
beautiful!”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He
picked it up carefully holding it in his hand. The double edge blade
felt light and balanced in his hand.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Some
of my better work,” the blacksmith offered, smiling, “if I may
say so myself! It was a late night that's for sure, but the effort
seemed to pay off.”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
concurred. “Your payment, double rate as requested.”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Garret
split half the coins off and pushed one stack back to the other side
of the counter. “Normal rate. Friends and family get rush jobs
free of charge.” The burly smith winked as he smiled. Gaden
accepted the coins back, smiling, and wrapped the blade carefully in
a leather wrapping to conceal it, then strapped it to his pack.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“He
loves you… you know.” Garret stated.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What?”
Gaden was unprepared.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Brunaulf...
he loves you.” The blacksmith said simply. “Came to visit me
about a week ago. It was 'Gaden' this and 'Gaden' that. I know love
when I see it in a man's eyes, believe me.” Garret smiled wide.
“He loves you. Remember that as you contemplate the choice.”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Slightly
unnerved about a man he never met knowing so much about his personal
life, Gaden thanked Garret again and headed off toward Brunaulf's
house. It didn't take long to arrive and once again the door opened
without him knocking.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Must
you do that EVERY damn time?” Gaden asked with a faked pained
look.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
can't help it if I'm psychic!” Brunaulf quipped.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They
gave each other a huge hug and a long kiss. Karn cleared his throat
before speaking.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So,
ready?”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
broke the kiss to address Karn but stared directly at Brunaulf.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
didn't eat breakfast, if that's what you mean” he said wryly. His
big lover couldn't help himself and smiled. “Let's do this.”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Now
guys,” the mage started, “I've never been to Ascot, so I'm going
to have to attempt something a bit unorthodox. Since you seem to
know Ascot, Brunaulf, I'm going to need to concentrate as hard as you
can on a </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">place</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> there. Do not think of a person. People are
useless. I need a fixed point. It doesn't matter if its a rock, a
house, a tree, whatever. Concentrate on that place and where it fits
in your 'mental map' of the world, got it?”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brunaulf
nodded.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Each
of you, stand on one side of me and give me your hands. I want to
make absolutely sure the link doesn't break.” The two werebears
stood on each side, hands interlocked and squeezing tightly.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Ok
Brunaulf,” Gaden said, taking a deep breath,”go ahead”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brunaulf
started thinking about Ascot, putting his focus on the carriage house
in front of the orphanage. He put all of his effort into remembering
every board, every bale of hay, every thatch in the roof and where
the building was in relation to the town.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
reached his mind out to his lover's trying to tune in on the images
he was seeing. The image started to take shape in Gaden's mind as
the link strengthened.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Good
Brunaulf,” the mage encouraged, “concentrate hard!”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
big man redoubled his efforts, trying to bring every detail of that
carriage house into sharp focus. With the image clearing in Gadens
mind, he opened a connection to the ether and pushed with all his
might to teleport himself and his two companions to the image he was
seeing. In a blink they were outside the carriage house.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It
worked!” Brunaulf was amazed. “I didn't think it would work!”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gaden
was on all fours vomiting up bile.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Gee,
thanks Brun” and proceeded to vomit again.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another
ten to fifteen minutes later, Gaden felt well enough to stand. He
hated the fact that he seemed to be the only person in the world who
got sick when he teleported which is why he usually preferred a horse
and carriage. Still, the nausea was passing and it was time to get
to work.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So,
I think the first thing we should do is get supplies and...”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
thought was interrupted as the three heard a boy scream in the
background somewhere on the other side of carriage house. Brunaulf
was startled hearing the scream. As if recounting a memory, his face
held a moment of fear before immediately switching to rage. Eyes
squinting and striding with purpose, he marched around the other side
of the carriage house toward the sound of the scream, his two
companions in tow.</span></span></p><br /><p></p>UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-90859036194778196702021-06-26T13:04:00.001-07:002021-06-26T13:04:17.127-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Six<p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter 6</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">by MC
</span></i></p><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Morning,
Gaden!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Scared
the shit out of me,” Gaden replied smiling, playfully pushing him
in the shoulder so he fell backward. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Sorry,”
Brunaulf apologised, smiling, “couldn't help it. The stars, the
fire, a good man, the freedom. I wanted to sleep like a bear.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “So,
see you tomorrow?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “See
you tomorrow.” The big man confirmed, squinting a little as his
soft smile broadened.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “That's
odd,” Gaden said out loud to himself, “I'm surprised someone like
Jamder wouldn't know something about werebears.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i> 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...</i></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Welcome
back, son!” Uncle Karn beamed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
dropped everything and ran to his adoptive father, embracing him in a
rough, strong bear hug.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
missed you, Uncle Karn! How was home?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn's face was a mixture of surprise and happiness.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Really?
You MUST tell me more! Come, have a drink with your old man and
tell me about it.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
see,” Uncle Karn commented, “looks like you won’t have to tell
me anything.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
knock at the door prompted Brunaulf to get up from the kitchen table
and answer the door smiling.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
bear's smile evaporated at Gaden's tone.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Of
course, come in. There's someone I want you to meet.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
led Gaden to the kitchen where the mage was introduced to another
brute of a man.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Gaden,”
Brunaulf began, “this is my Uncle Karn. He's the... werebear...
who raised me.” He turned to his Uncle, “Uncle, this is Gaden.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “So,
you're a werebear too?” Gaden queried.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “That's
right,” Uncle Karn answered. “I take it that since you're a
candidate my son has explained to you what we are?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Agreed,”
Gaden capitulated. He moved to the foyer and rolled up the sleeves
on his short sleeve shirt.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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!</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Leave
me be,” Gaden said between heaves, “it happens every time I
teleport.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Come
with me,” Gaden said grimly, “its time to get some answers.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Which
town is this?” Karn asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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...</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We
need to talk” Gaden said simply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hello,
Jamder” Uncle Karn said, his voice low and soft.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden's
head snapped around to the big man. He knew him? How?</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Yes...
I suppose we do. Please, come in.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “So,”
Jamder started checking the wood in the stove, “what do you want to
know?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden's
questions came in rapid succession.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn recognized the pendant and spoke up.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn scoffed, rolling his eyes at the explanation, but Jamder
continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn raised his voice as he stood up, startling both Gaden and
Brunaulf as he spoke.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “FOR
HIS OWN GOOD?! IS THAT HOW YOU RATIONALIZE DENIAL OF WHO <i><b>YOU</b></i>
ARE? WHO <i><b>HE</b></i> IS?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Jamder's
cool exterior started to crack. It was obvious these two had
history, but neither Gaden nor Brunaulf had any<span style="color: red;">
</span>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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Everyone
deserves to know their <i>full potential</i> 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 <i>chance</i> 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 <i>do</i>
know about fairness, don't you?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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<span style="color: red;"> </span>compared to this. He
looked at the door, then at Gaden, then the door again.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”
</span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Jamder
calmly removed the boiling kettle, poured some tea for himself and
his former pupil, and sat across from him at the table.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
old man took another sip of his tea as his eyes grew distant.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> His
eyes seemed to return to the here and now as he focused on Gaden.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
rose from the table and came around it to sit next to his former
teacher.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Go
inside,” Gaden said softly, “if you want a chance to say goodbye,
this is it.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I’ve
missed you, Karn,” Jamder said.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I’ve
missed you too, old man, “ Karn said trying to laugh, a tear
rolling down his cheek.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
had to leave, you know,” the old mage started, “you just wouldn't
take 'no' for an answer.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
know,” Karn said sniffling slightly, “I just hoped... I wanted...
Our paths...”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “...
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?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “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.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
love you, old man,” Karn whispered through the tears standing in
his eyes.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “And
I love you, my big, gentle bear,” Jamder replied.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 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.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-20419298889490348792021-06-24T16:09:00.000-07:002021-06-24T16:09:12.220-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Five<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> The Werebears of Adengaan <br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">MC <br /></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Chapter
Five:</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
dog barking in the distance woke Brunaulf. He turned to face Gaden,
still sleeping, his back side to him, and smiled. The man was
absolutely handsome, and even though he had known him for only a
short time something clicked in his subconscious about pair-bonding
with this mage. He drew in a long breath, sniffing from the small of
his back up to the nape of his neck. His cock became rock-hard at
the intoxicating scent from the man. Fighting the urge to rouse him
from sleep, he rose from the large bed they shared and padded his way
to the kitchen, naked, leaving the door cracked open. Soon after the
sound of frying could be heard from the kitchen and the pleasant
smell of seasoned meat wafted into the bedroom. Gaden woke to the
smell and smiling left the bed to join his companion in the kitchen
wrapping his arms around him in an embrace.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Morning,
Brunaulf." He kissed the solder from behind on the cheek, his
semi-hard cock rubbing against Brunaulf's muscular crack.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Morning,
Gaden," He smiled, "breakfast is almost ready. Tea?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Please."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
soldier poured a mug for the mage and handed it to him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thanks,"
Gaden said simply, "look, about last night, I'm sorry I..."
He paused, searching for the right words, "...didn't return the
favour. It just felt so good and I was so sleepy and..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Don't
worry about it," Brunaulf blew the issue off, then sarcastically
joked, "You got your ass kicked twice in one day. You needed
the rest." He put a plate of food in front of his companion.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Speaking
of which," Gaden put a forkful of meat in his mouth, "it
was a good thing you were there when you were. Thanks, for all
you’ve done, I might not be alive, were it not for you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
welcome" his host said simply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "By
the way, did you happen to see anyone else there while you were
there?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
as a precaution went into soldier mode, keeping a neutral expression.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What
do you mean? When I got there, you were on the ground, practically
unconscious. I didn't see anyone else. Why do you ask?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Well,
I think there was someone else there… I think. It all happened so
fast and I could barely see out of the eye that wasn’t swollen
shut, but it looked like someone with a bear's head or something was
there."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
laughed slightly at the mage. "I don't see why someone would
wear a mask like that at that time of night, and unless someone can
shapeshift, I don't think..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
word shapeshift jerked Gaden to attention, cutting off Brunaulf's
line of thought.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "OH
HELLS! What's today?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "The
fourteenth"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Damn,
damn, DAMN!" Gaden bolted from the table and ran for the
bedroom, putting his clothes on at a frantic pace, "Today is my
exam on transmutations," he called from the bedroom, "I
have to go." He danced on one foot from the bedroom as he put
his shoe on the other foot. "I'm so sorry, but I must go, damn
it!" He came around the table to the big brute who stood up and
he gave him a hug before hurrying to the door.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
mage paused for a moment after opening the door and turned to face
the burly soldier.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Hey
Brunaulf, um, any chance I can see you again? You know, to thank
you?" Gaden asked somewhat embarrassed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
brawny man grinned ear to ear. "Count on it."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
mage smiled and closed the door behind him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
next two weeks were a blur for both men. Brunaulf had a new set of
recruits to whip into shape, and Gaden was dealing with entrance
exams to see what was most important for his next level of studies
while also starting his service to the King. Despite their hectic
schedules they managed to spend time together with quite a few
intimate moments along the way. On one particular occasion, about a
week after the assault, Brunaulf was staying in Gaden's room at the
guild. He woke early and refused to fight the urge to manhandle the
sleeping man. He roused him by licking Gaden's member. Brunaulf
began sucking his cock until it was as hard as a sword hilt. In
times past he would simply masturbate after Gaden was satisfied, but
this morning he was going to make it more interesting for himself.
Moving from Gaden's cock he tickled his balls with his beard,
flicking his tongue under his ball-sack, and after raising his knees
slowly, methodically, moved his tongue closer to Gaden's hole.
Eliciting a gasp from Gaden, he began to probe with his tongue in and
around his hole. He could feel his lover starting to loosen and
relax so he used the opportunity to slip one of his fingers in.
There was a loud yelp of pleasure from Gaden and he started to relax.
The powerful brute started to work the hole with his finger. Gaden
was painfully stiff, precum leaked like a faucet as Brunaulf found
and massaged his prostate with expertise. The smaller man’s
muscular body quivered as be begged for more from his lover.
Deciding Gaden was ready, Brunaulf removed his finger and roughly
pulled him to the edge of the bed where he was standing and lifted
his legs up.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I'm
a little large," was all Brunaulf said as his cockhead pressed
against Gaden's hole. There was some resistance but with a little
push he was able to get his head inside. Gaden let out a gasp, part
pleasure, and part pain while Brunaulf paused so his smaller, taut
companion could get used to being penetrated.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That's
a good cubby," Brunaulf cooed, "I told you it was a little
large."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “You’re
not a <i>little</i> anything, Brunaulf”, Gaden quipped, making the
brute chuckle.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Slowly,
gently, the he began to push himself in all the way to the hilt.
When he was satisfied the smaller man was okay, he slowly pulled out
only to quickly bury himself to the root in his muscular companion.
Every thrust elicited a different reaction, some were whimpers, some
were groans, some were loud, and all were pleasure. It didn’t take
long for Gaden, experiencing another first in his life, to scream in
pleasure and explode all over himself. Huge thick ropes splattered
all through his chest hair, his beard, and part of the bed. Seeing
the vigorous show from his partner, Brunaulf pulled out and sprayed
his seed all over the floor in thick puddles. Both were well spent,
giant crawled back into bed and caressed his lover, enjoying the
afterglow of their passion.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Soon
after he kissed his cub on the forehead and got out of bed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
have soldiers to train," He said simply as he used the basin in
the room to wash himself up. He took the used wash cloth and cleaned
up the seed he’d left on the floor, donned his armour in about
twenty minutes, and with a last glance at Gaden still lying in bed
relaxing, left the room just as the clock tower rang six. Several
members of the guild opened their doors as they heard the beefy
soldier walk by in his heavy armour, staring at him, then at Gaden's
door, then back at him, exchanging looks of curiosity and confusion.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
his two weeks of exams over, and the results in, Gaden had a two week
respite before he started formal studies as well as his service to
King Halben. He was found to "need improvement" in
Herbalism and Esoteric Studies - two subjects he hated anyway - and
had a "pass with commendation" in Enchanting. His other
areas were found "satisfactory". Brunaulf, meanwhile was
finishing his role in training the new recruits before handing them
off to the next section leader. The two took it as another
opportunity to spend more than a night in each other's company. They
mutually agreed to take a few days to go camping in the woods. A
weekend of fresh air outside the city would do them both good. For
Brunaulf it was an opportunity to broach the subject of what he was
and what he knew about Gaden. They prepared a small cart of supplies
and left the city late morning, following the road west through the
grain fields.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
relaxed, leaning back while his burly companion skillfully tended to
the reins for the horse. Away from the hustle of the city and the
frenetic pace of exams, the mage had time to study and appreciate the
man he was falling in love with. He loved how a man could be so
huge, so strong, and yet handle a horse with such deft and
gentleness. To be strong as an ox and yet could tenderly caress
someone when injured. The experiences of infatuation and love were
new to him and he allowed himself to be consumed by the excitement as
he looked forward to the uninterrupted time with the enormous man.
Brunaulf was also falling in love and with that he began to wonder
how he would broach the topic of what he was. Some were direct,
others indirect, none completely satisfied him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Oh,
I passed this cairn the other day," Gaden said, breaking
Brunaulf from his musings, "I was out for a run and found this.
Seemed like a good turnaround point for a run."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
stopped the horse and pulled it to the side of the road.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
know this cairn," the big man volunteered, "I set it up.
Marks good camping nearby. Great places to spend the night."
He dismounted from the cart and started removing his clothes.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It
also makes a great marker to know where you left your clothes."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
had a lopsided grin.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What?"
Brunaulf grinned back, "We're in the wilderness. All the other
animals are naked!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
demurred on going naked, just yet. Brunaulf put his clothes in a
sack and buried it under some of the stones of the cairn.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Bring
the horse and cart off the road a little more, and grab some camp
supplies and," he pointed northwest, "head up the hill
there with the horse. Just past the top it flattens out. Just pick
a spot in the clearing and I'll be there in a bit." He started
walking north.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Where
are you going?" Gaden asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
turned back around, arms at his sides palms facing out, shrugging,
"To get supper, of course!" He turned around again,
laughing a little.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Part
perplexed, part amused at the hairy hulk going completely naked to
get supper in the woods, Gaden went up the hill to set up camp. He
found a great spot on the edge of the clearing. Enough tree cover to
keep the afternoon sun off them, but not so much they couldn't enjoy
a night under the stars. About an hour after he set up camp Brunaulf
still hadn't returned and he began to wonder exactly what he might be
up to. A mischievous grin split his brown beard, he decided he would
play a prank his lover by sneaking up on him in the woods. He
concentrated for a moment to open a conduit to the ether and cast a
spell that would silence his movements. It was a "sonic
dampening field" in that any sounds that tried to pass through
it would be muted. Satisfied, he made a reasonable guess which way
the naked mountain of muscle went and headed that way. It wasn't
long before he encountered a small stream. The mage noticed a few
fish jumping and suspected Brunaulf might have tried his hand at a
crude form of spear fishing. He decided to follow the river toward
where he thought he would be if that was his plan.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
was having the time of his life. He had been cooped up in the city
for too damn long and it was nice to be free of form constraints. He
was in his full bear shape, sitting in the water at a small three
foot waterfall, watching. Three large fat fish were on the riverbank
still flapping their tails in protest of being captured. One more,
and they would have plenty to eat for a while. Patiently, he sat and
watched. A broad, plump fish attempted to jump the fall in one leap.
Quick as lightning his jaws clamped down on the fish. Satisfied
with the prize flapping in his mouth, he stood on all fours and
walked the river bank. After giving himself a quick shake to get the
water out of his fur, he dropped the fish and began his
transformation back to human form. The familiar feeling of tendons
popping and bones stretching flooded his senses. But something else
was tripping his senses as he changed. It was a smell, a sweet,
delicious smell on the wind, one the powerfully built werebear lusted
after. After finishing the transformation to human form he quickly
turned his head toward the wind and saw him. It was Gaden looking
from behind a tree, wide eyed. The young mage came out from behind
the tree, astounded by what he had just seen.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Why
didn't you tell me you had magical skill?" Gaden asked, "That
was absolutely amazing!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big man did not expect <i>this</i> reaction at being caught shifting
form, but then again he was with someone who drank from the well of
the supernatural as his trade, not some commoner who knew nothing but
the mundane life inside the city walls.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No,
it’s<span style="color: red;"> </span>not magic." Brunaulf said.
He offered no more information. With no more information being
offered, Gaden tried to fill in the blanks.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
don't get it. Are you cursed or something?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
thought about his physical strength, his abilities as a werebear, and
his way of life and laughed, "No, I'm definitely not cursed,
quite the opposite I would say."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Well
then what?" Gaden pressed while picking up some of the fish, "I
don't get it."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Given
the mage's experience, Brunaulf chose a direct response.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I'm
a werebear."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "A...
werebear?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yes.
A werebear" he said as if it were the most mundane thing to
say.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
wracked his brain, trying to find any mental entry, some recollection
from Jamder, about anything to do with werebears. He came up empty.
Brunaulf picked up the other two fish and started walking in the
rough direction of the clearing with Gaden correcting his path
slightly and restarting the conversation.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "So
what exactly is a werebear? I take it its some kind of blend<span style="color: red;">
</span>between a man and a bear?" The mage asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
could say that," Brunaulf started to explain, "most of us
start out life as ordinary humans but a few among<span style="color: red;">
</span>us started as bears. Think of it as having both a "bear
spirit" and a "human spirit" at the same time. It
happens through the exchanging of a "vital" fluid from a
werebear to a candidate. The candidate then transforms over a period
of time, usually a few months, becoming one of us. It's quite an
amazing experience."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
young mage turned this over in his head. The idea of this kind of
transmutation made sense, but he couldn't figure out why Jamder never
discussed the subject. He would have to research this when he got
back to the city.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "The
thing is," Brunaulf stopped walking and stared intently at Gaden
as if trying to convey information with his facial expressions, "if
someone <i>is</i> a candidate, any werebear is going to know it, but
it’s up to the candidate to make the choice freely to join our
brotherhood.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden's
face belied his processing of the explicit and implicit information.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It’s
an odor, a particular kind of musk,” Brunaulf offered before the
“How?” question could be asked, “and it’s the most amazing,
heady, alluring, intoxicating smell.” He stepped closer to the
mage, “any of us can smell it, but the more 'compatible' you are
the more irresistible, the more seductive it is. And let me tell
you,” Brunaulf in one step closed the gap, “you're smelling quite
tasty!”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
enormous bear grabbed Gaden behind the head and pulled him in for a
kiss. His cock stood rigid, pulsig with each heartbeat, leaking from
the dizzying scent. Gaden wrapped his arms around the beast and
kissed him back for a few seconds before Brunaulf broke it.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “There'll
be plenty of time for this,” he smiled, “let’s get back to camp
and have a meal where I can tell you more and show you some of the
'advantages' of being what I am.” Gaden nodded and they walked
back to camp enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. On arrival in
camp Brunaulf surveyed the site Gaden had chosen for their weekend,
smiled and nodded his approval.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “How
about you get the fire going while I clean the fish?” he offered.
“Then we can have some fun.” Gaden looked at the fire pit,
kindling already in place, and then looked at Brunaulf, shaking his
head.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
have a better idea,” Gaden offered as he walked over and started
playfully pushing his lover backwards with one hand while fondling
his ball-sack with the other, “how about you lie down on the soft
grass here and I'll suck your cock?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
werebear didn't have to be asked twice as he laughed and made a show
of falling backwards on the ground. Gaden pounced on his strong,
thick legs and enveloped the large cock in front of him in his mouth.
His deep rumbling growl seemed to vibrate his whole body as he
received oral pleasure. The young man was getting good, <b>really</b>
good, at this. His tongue ran up and down the shaft, tickling the
head every now and then. Brunaulf slowly shifted into a half form,
letting his fur sprout all over his muscular body. His hands became
paw like as he lightly mauled the head of mage so skillfully tending
to his needs. It wasn't long before the big bear was ready to blow
his load, so he grabbed the young man by his head and pulled him up
for a kiss while he jacked himself off to a finish. His entire body<span style="color: red;">
</span>quaked as he unloaded volley after volley on his own chest and
beard. After a few minutes his breathing returned to normal.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “So,”
Brunaulf said as he began reverting to full human form and turning to
kiss Gaden next to him on the forehead, “we're never going to get
any food without that fire going.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
turned his head the other way and looked at the campfire. With a
snap of his fingers the kindling roared to life with a nice fire
starting to build.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Fringe
benefits,” Gaden said, laughing. Brunaulf let out a small chuckle
as well.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
they prepared and cooked their fish it was time for Brunaulf to do
some more explaining about werebear life. He went into some detail
about how one undergoes the transformation and the different ways
“vital fluids” can be used to start the process. The penny
dropped in Gaden's mind. It explained why Brunaulf was so careful
never to come inside him or to let him suck him off completely. He
discussed some of the benefits of the metamorphosis to his body and
went into some details about the “werebear brotherhood” as they
ate and the sun went down. The stars started making appearances and
the two snuggled together by the fire, Bruanaulf still naked and
Gaden with just a pair of shorts.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “That's
why our community is so far west in the mountains,” Brunaulf
concluded, “it helps protect our privacy and maintain our secrecy.
But my, oh my, the fun times you have when you go home.” His eyes
went distant and his cock started to stiffen, “The first time I
went with my Uncle Karn I was shocked. So many beautiful, bearish
men, a true feast for the eyes. Uncle Garret was there too. He was
the one who gave me his seed to start the transformation process.
Probably where I inherited my stout build and larger size. I
guarantee you, you'll NEVER forget those three months you spend there
getting bigger, stronger, and hairier. It's quite the experience.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
was starting to chub up at the description of what seemed like
paradise. The descriptions of the kind of man you would become, the
brotherhood you would share, and the thought of having a permanent
home and family among the like-minded appealed to him greatly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
want you to think about it,” Brunaulf said, “Don't make a
decision now. Just think about it,” the bear-man playfully teased,
“do some research in that way you mages do before making decisions.
When… or if… you decide to join us, let me know. I want to be
with you. I want to be the one that brings you into the brotherhood.
It would be the greatest of honours.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
kissed the mage gently, tenderly, letting the hunger slowly build for
what would be a night of passion under the stars as the fire glowed
softly well into the evening.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-54794492858658699432021-06-21T09:47:00.006-07:002021-06-21T09:47:55.584-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter Four<p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Werebears of Adengaan</span></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">MC <br /></span></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Chapter
Four:</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
was an exciting day for the young Brunaulf to meet the king. The
sights, sounds and pageantry of the Royal Hall captivated his senses.
What moved him the most was seeing the honour guard, ten brave men
in the service of His Majesty, in shining parade armour flanking the
man who rules this prosperous city. Uncle Karn was absolutely
beaming with pride at his charge. He had grown up so much in the
past five years and time flew so fast. It seemed like it was just
yesterday a starving boy begged him for help and now here he was, as
tall as himself with a young man's body honed from physical training.
He hoped no one spotted the tear of happiness running down his cheek
as the young man accepted the charge from King Halben to defend the
city should it arise in a time of need. The young man decided then
and there he wanted to follow in the footsteps of the man who taught
him so much. He hoped someday he could have a place in the honour
guard, a man to be looked to and respected. Brunaulf committed
himself to register to serve in two years’ time.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Back
at the house, The Fealty party for Brunaulf was in full swing,
completely packed with people and even spilling out the front door.
Uncle Karn had many friends in the city and it seemed to be a
non-stop parade of people passing by to give their congratulations to
the young man. Brunaulf had a few friends from his archery and
equestrian lessons stop by to congratulate him, but he really looked
forward to spending time with his many uncles chatting in the dining
room and kitchen. He was particularly fond of Garret, a red-bearded
blacksmith in the city. He first met the burly man about two years
ago when he started equestrian lessons. Uncle Karn took him once to
get a set of horseshoes. A man of character and principle, the
blacksmith exerted a subtle, but supportive influence together with
Uncle Karn in Brunaulf's life. As Brunaulf came into his own,
however, he started seeing Garret as more than a blacksmith - he saw
his physical traits as the kind of man he wanted to be, and be
involved with. Powerful arms from pounding metal and seeing him
sweat over the forge working his craft excited the young man. His
adopted father knew the young man was gay especially by the way he
looked at Garret, but said nothing.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Ah!
There's the man of the hour!" Uncle Karn called from the back
of the dining room out of his parade armour and back in casual
clothes, "Come here! Have a drink with your Uncles!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
young man made his way over to a smaller group of three burly men
huddled in the corner of the room, each holding drinks.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "But
Uncle Karn, I can't, it's against the rules."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big man smiled, then started laughing quite hard. After a few
seconds he brought himself under control, shaking his head with a
smile and letting out a bemused sigh.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What
is the rule of drink in this house?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No
drink for any boy in this house. Ever." came Brunaulf's reply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn made a show of looking high and low in the dining room as if
searching for something. He scanned the kitchen, then turned his
attention to the foyer, he even looked under the small table near
where they stood, as if he would find what he was looking for there.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
don't see any boys in this house," the big man replied turning
his attention from the foyer back to his protégé and offering a mug
of mead to the young man, "Happy Fealty Day, my young man!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
stared at the mug being offered for a moment before taking it as his
own. Peering into the mug the liquid seemed to be an amber colour
and smelled quite sweet.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Mead,"
Uncle Karn offered, "old Garret here," who made a bow with
an exaggerated flouirsh, "makes it in his spare time. He's been
sitting on this aging it for almost a year now. Come son, drink!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yes,
come Brunaulf, drink with us," Garret prompted.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Soon
a chant of "BRUNAULF, BRUNAULF!" echoed through the house.
He smiled at his Uncle who smiled and nodded. He took a tentative
sip of the brew. It tasted good! He went in for a couple of big
swallows to the cheers of everyone in attendance.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> So
began a memorable night for the young man. There was plenty of food,
lots of drinking songs, and revelry filled the air for hours. Uncle
Karn made a point of letting the young man feel like a hero for the
day, as he should. Though many see this as their one and only
opportunity to meet the king, Karn was well aware of the full gravity
of the oath. If the young man was old enough to die for this city
and the people he loved, he was old enough to be treated like a hero
by them this night. Karn let the drink flow freely, encouraging the
young man to explore, to socialize as a man, as an equal, with the
other men here who at the calling of Their Majesty would have to put
their lives on the line next to his. He knew he would have to modify
his rules for drink later, but tonight young Brunaulf deserved this
night of freedom.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
the night wore on the crowd began to thin and many of Brunaulf's
adopted uncles said their final goodbyes and congratulations before
heading off into the night. The young man felt like he was on top of
the world, cheerfully going from person to person thanking them for
being here and hoping to see them again soon as only a drunk
seventeen year old can. He even freely gave hugs to a few of the
guests before they left to the bemusement of all. As the evening
wound to a close the only person left besides Uncle Karn and the
young man was Garret.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thankz
fer teh meed, unkel gawet!" the inebriated young man said giving
him a hug, "and thankz fer being teh bestest unkel, unkel kawn!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> They
both laughed at the man, "You're welcome, son!" Karn
replied.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Well,
I tink iiii gooo to bedz, now," as he gave them a drunken
salute, turned, and slightly staggered toward his bedroom. He broke
into song, completely out of key, singing "Iz lovez my Uncle!"
over and over. Both of the older men could her him still repeating
the same four words from the other side of the door as he flopped
into bed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Both
men looked at each other and busted into laughter.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "He's
a good kid, you know," Garret commented, "you did a fine
job with the boy."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Man,"
Karn corrected, raising his glass. Glasses clinked and they both
took a sip of their drinks. They chatted for about an hour of days
gone by, telling stories about the first time they got drunk and how
for Garret it didn't end well, or about their own adventures in early
adulthood.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Well,
old brute," Garret said, putting his glass down, "I think
it's time I head out."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Why
don't you stay?" Karn asked, "Tomorrow is Rest Day and it’s
been a while since we spent time together and… you know we'll have
fun. Or has it been so long you've forgotten already?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Garret
pondered it, staring at the closed door to Brunaulf's room.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "The
man's drunk," Karn interjected as if reading his thoughts, "he's
not going to hear us. I bet we could even get a little rough, <i>if</i>
you can handle it."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Garret
smiled as the two rose from the table and made their way to the
bedroom.<span style="color: #c5000b;"> </span> It didn't take long for the
two of them to strip their clothes and face each other at the foot of
the bed. Slowly, each began to paw at the other exploring furry
chests, powerful arms, sensitive nipples and erect, leaking cocks.
The blacksmith looked into Karn's eyes longingly, and put a thick,
calloused, hand behind his head to draw him in for a kiss. Beards
and tongues intertwined as each began to enjoy the scents and tastes
of the other. Garret turned so that Karn's back was facing the bed
before he broke the kiss, picked his black bearded companion up under
each arm, and threw him on the bed so he would land on his back.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Remember
the night you chose the path?” the blacksmith asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
nodded. He knew Garret's style would be to use allegory to convey
his desire to be the top. The soldier's nod conveyed two meanings:
that he remembered that night, and that he wanted to experience those
types of sensations again. Garret, smiling, gently massaged the
insides of Karn's sturdy legs, slowly letting them spread farther and
farther apart and giving the blacksmith access to the brute's hole.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Slicking
up his fingers with precum, he started the ritual Karn always enjoyed
from Garret. Sticking a single slicked up finger in Karn's hole, he
probed for the prize he sought: the prostate. His efforts were
rewarded with a soft, low growl from the furry black brute on the
bed. The larger red bear of a man slowly worked both the prostate
and the hole, eliciting more growling from below. One thick finger
became two, two fingers became three as the feedback increased in
intensity and the soldier brute was writhing in ecstasy and leaking
precum like a faucet. It was time for the smith to give Karn what he
really wanted. Pulling him to the foot of the bed he substituted his
cock, glossy with precum, for his fingers in Karn's hole.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was on his back at the end of the bed naked with his legs in the air.
Garret was facing him at the foot of the bed, body covered in red
hair matching his beard, glistening with sweat, with Karn's feet over
his shoulders. The muscular blacksmith, with a body that also
obviously appreciated food and drink, was pounding Karn with an even,
steady pace. Occasionally he would apply a little too much force and
the headboard would tap the wall, creating a thudding sound. Both of
them started sprouting more and more hair as if it was becoming fur.
Bones snapped and proportions began to change. They looked part
human, part animal, somewhere between a man and bear. The intensity
of Garret's thrusts intensified as the pheromones from his partner
started driving him wild with ecstasy and shifted a little more
toward bear form has he continued to pound the soldier brute below
him. The red bear's thrusts gained momentum and force, and the sound
of the bed hitting the wall went from sporadic to rhythmic. Garret
loved the way he felt inside Karn, and the panting growls from his
partner let him know the feeling was mutual.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
didn't know what time it was when he was roused to consciousness by
rhythmic thuds. The room was still spinning slightly so he turned on
his side to ease it a little when two more thuds came. Since he was
up, he decided empty his bladder in his chamber-pot before going back
to bed. That’s when he heard what sounded like Uncle Karn
growling. Loud thuds after aroused his curiosity as he quietly
opened his door to survey the foyer. Nothing there, but something
was happening in Uncle Karn's room. Drunken curiosity getting the
better of him, he crept over to the door and bent down to peer though
they keyhole. As he bent down and before he could look, he heard the
roars of what sounded like two bears from the other side of the door.
Curious he quickly looked through the keyhole and his eyes couldn't
process what he saw. Two hulking beasts half-human half-animal were
at the end of what seemed to be the throes of passion. The scene
unfolding before him was too much for the intoxicated boy to
comprehend and, completely startled by the situation, drew a sharp
breath in loudly almost like a gasp.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
two in the bedroom immediately stopped their enjoyment of the
afterglow. Two heads snapped looking at the door as their bodies
reverted back to a fully human looking form. Uncle Karn looked
furious, staring at the young man through the keyhole as if the door
didn't exist.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "BRUNAULF!"
Uncle Karn bellowed. The young man knew he was in deep trouble when
the man used his name with that tone.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "BED!
NOW!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
two men could hear quick footsteps and another door closing. The
mood broken, Karn and Garret slid to the top of the bed and drew a
light blanket over them.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "He
was going to find out eventually, you know," Garret consoled,
"it’s not like you could keep this from him forever."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big man sighed, "No, I suppose not. I just wish it didn't have
to be so soon."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It’s
better that he knows now," Garret waxed philosophical, "it
gives him time to think, to understand, to appreciate what this kind
of life can offer."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "And
what does this 'kind of life' offer, Garret?" Karn countered,
"A life where you watch some of those you love wither and die
while you live on?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Garret
remained silent. There was a scab over the wound Karn was feeling
and the blacksmith wasn't about to rip it back off through a poor
choice of words. He simply drew the big man in a tight embrace and
gave him a kiss on the cheek while they left each other to their own
thoughts.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
was a restless sleep for everyone in the house that night.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was the first to wake after a few hours of sleep. He looked over to
his large companion and gently started kissing him in different
places on his face. The smith roused to consciousness and smiled.
Karn put a finger to his lips and turned so his head was near
Garret's feet. Without a word Garrret moved down to the soldier's
erect cock. Gently they both started sucking each other off,
enjoying this simple pleasure in silence. The only noise to escape
was a muffled groan when they each released their seed. Each
transforming into a half form, balanced between man and bear, they
remained in their position for a few golden minutes, enjoying the
afterglow and teasing each other's cocks with their tongues.
Movement could be heard from Brunaulf's room so they decided to rise,
return to human form, and make a simple morning meal in the kitchen.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
was slow to come from his room, partially from being shaken at what
he saw the night before, partially from the tone Uncle Karn used, and
partially because he was hung over. He felt rotten, had a pounding
headache, and everything seemed so bright. He did make it to the
kitchen table with Uncle Karn and Garret waiting for him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Uncle
Karn's hangover remedy Juice," Uncle Karn offered the young man,
"It will make you feel better."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
accepted the juice and sipped slowly, not looking up at his uncle or
their guest.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
going to feel like hell for a bit," Garret offered, "but it
will pass. It’s just your body dealing with the drink."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I'm
never drinking ever again," Brunalf decreed putting down the
empty glass on the table.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
seriously doubt that," Uncle Karn said refilling his glass, "you
have too much of me in you, personality-wise anyway." He smiled
after the last comment eliciting a smile and a groan of pain at the
same time from his ward.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
soldier's smile faded slightly. "So Brunaulf, what's the rule
about privacy in this house?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
young man knew this was coming. "Don't invade your privacy when
the door is closed."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That's
right," Karn confirmed, "now, I will take the fact that you
have no experience with drink into consideration for your punishment,
but we have a more important matter to discuss. Son, you're old
enough to understand sex and your sexuality. You're smart enough to
have figured out what my preferences are based on who I've shared my
bed with, and your preferences aren't exactly a secret to me."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
looked up, surprised.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big man cracked a smile, "Come now, son, this is your Uncle Karn
you're talking to. I've watched you grow up from a boy to a man,
remember?" Getting a more serious tone and expression, he
continued, "What is a secret, at least for me, Garret here, and
a few others in the city, is what we are beyond our sexuality."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
mean what you became last night?" The young man asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yes".
Uncle Karn answered. "You see, there's a, uh... ritual we went
through... and..."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> There
were very few times Karn was at a loss for words when it came to
teaching Brunaulf life lessons. This was one of them. He was
searching for the right way to express what was going on but seemed
to stumble over his own thoughts. He looked to Garret with an
expression that asked for help.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "We're
werebears". Garret said simply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Were...
what?" The young man asked, confused.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Werebears,"
the blacksmith reiterated, "think of it as a cross between a
bear, and a man. Your Uncle Karn and I were both ordinary men at one
point in our lives, but we were sought out those who came before us
to join their ranks. So we chose to go through the ceremonial
process, and transformed into this. It’s who we are."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "We
as a group have been around for centuries, if not millennia,"
Uncle Karn added, "Our numbers are relatively few as it’s, to
some extent, uncommon for a man to bear the mark that they're
eligible for the change, and we like to keep our presence a secret
for various reasons."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
was processing this as best as he could through his headache. "So…
wait. You mean… you're basically a bear and a human at the same
time?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "An
over-simplistic explanation, but yes," Karn confirmed. “Want
to see?”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy nodded, and the two men started removing their clothes to
Brunaulf's surprised expression.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What?"
Garret quipped, "After last night it’s not like you haven't
seen me naked already. Besides I don’t want to ruin my good
clothes". Brunaulf blushed, but said nothing. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
they were naked, the young man watched in amazement as the two men
started transforming. Fur grew on their bodies, bones cracked, grew,
and rearranged and tendons stretched, their mouths pushed out
becoming muzzles, ears grew pointy and rounded. In short order there
were two rather large bears in the kitchen, one black, one red. They
both looked at the amazed young man before slowly reversing the
process.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "We've
been doing this for a while," Garret explained, "and as you
get experience, you get better at stopping halfway in between.
Certain things are..." and looked over at Karn with a leering
smile, "more fun... that way."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Anyway,"
Uncle Karn said, trying to bring the conversation back on track to
the point, "It’s impossible to tell when someone is a boy if
they are a candidate to become one of us. As they mature, they start
to exhibit signs, the most common of which is a strong odor. It’s
undetectable to humans, but to another of our kind it’s a powerful
aphrodisiac musk. Over the last year or so, I've started to notice
it, and Garret has too."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
looked at his uncle and then at Garret. They both nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "So,
while you have the mark, and are a candidate to join us, joining must
be of your own free will with full understanding of all the benefits,
responsibilities, and ramifications of that choice."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "If
you were to choose this path, the biggest changes you'll see are to
your human form body" Garret offered, "You're going to get…
big! A lot bigger than you normally would have, like me or your
Uncle Karn here. It all depends on how you express the mark and, of
course, who helps you on the path. You're definitely going to get
hairier, that's inevitable, and a lot hairier; a beard will be a
reality for you all the time, the growth is just too fast. Your
strength is going to increase and you'll never have to worry about
disease. Injuries heal in just a small fraction of the time and ones
that would incapacitate an ordinary man, you can recover from
completely. If you're intent on being a soldier, this would be a
boon for you!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "But…
there's a price…" Karn interjected, "you're going to live
longer, a LOT longer, than normal humans. You won't age nearly as
quickly. To give you an idea, some of us are hundreds of years old,
if not older. You'll have to start your life anew every so often, in
a new place with a new past. Your agelessness will be noticed if you
remain too long in a place." Karn drew another breath, lowering
both the tone and pitch of his voice, "And should you find a
unique pair-bond with someone who cannot, or will not join us, you
will not have the centuries you hoped for to love them. Both of you,
in your own ways, will be forced to make painful, difficult choices."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> There
was a pause and Brunaulf sensed a tension in the air he didn’t
understand.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Garret
took Brunaulf’s hand from across the table into his own mighty paw
and patted it. "But this isn't something you have to decide
today," Garret offered attempting to smooth the subject over,
"You have years ahead of you to make the choice… if ever. I
know what you've just seen and heard is a lot to take in. Think
about it, ask questions of us to help you decide. What I want you to
understand most about us is that in many ways, we're a brotherhood
and look out for each other. But we’re also a family who love each
other in many ways," he slid the big soldier a wink, “Becoming
one of us means you have more kinsmen than just your uncles, many
more. If you do choose this, we'll will of course help, but know we
will love you if you don’t, for as long as you live."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Young
Brunaulf tried to take this all in. It was so surreal, as if it were
a dream. But he wasn't dreaming. He had watched his uncles turn
into bears and back right before his eyes. There were so many
questions he couldn't formulate a single one in his mind.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Son,
now that you know this, I need you to keep it secret. This is not
going to be a 'rule'. Rules are usually for children to provide
structure and guidance. You showed yesterday, before His Majesty and
all of us in attendance, that you are a man. A man may be bound by
rules, sure, but there is something even more important than rules
that binds a man: his word."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Karn stepped around the table and put a hand on his son’s shoulder.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "My
son, give me your word you will never, never divulge what you know
about us, what we are or our existence to anyone until the day comes
should you decide to join us and you find a candidate. Our safety,
our very existence, depends on secrecy. Give me your word, son."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
was so much to expect from the young man. So much had happened to
change his world completely in the past day. He felt disoriented and
his hangover didn't help. The way that Uncle Karn spoke though, the
gravity, the sincerity in his voice... he trusted the man who had
saved him from starvation, who had loved and supported him, who had
taught him how to live and grow and be the young man he was today.
And that trust was implicit. He still didn't completely believe what
he was told, but if Uncle Karn wanted secrecy, it would be secrecy.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
have it, Uncle. My word, bound to you. I will tell no one."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn patted his son on the shoulder and moved back to the other side
of the table. He began cutting up sausages and put a kettle on the
small wood stove for tea. He switched to a more jovial demeanor as
if what transpired last night and this morning never happened.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
know son," Uncle Karn reminisced while changing the subject, "in
my day we didn't have hangover tea. We had to drink pickle juice!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
gagged a little to the amusement of the two bears.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-463361720358676992021-06-18T10:02:00.004-07:002021-06-18T10:02:49.799-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan - Chapter 3<p></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The Werebears of Adengaan</span></span></b></span></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">by MC </span><br /></span></span></span></b></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Chapter
Three:</span></span></b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
arrived for his audience with King Halben just before three. His
Majesty's page met him outside the royal hall and briefed the new
member of the guild on protocol when meeting the king. He was told
to bow before entering the room, always address him as "Your
Majesty", to bow before leaving and under no circumstances is
one to ever, ever, show their back to the king as they leave.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Satisfied
that the mage understood the protocol, he escorted Gaden to the
ornate, gold inlaid door. He looked at Gaden and nodded slightly to
ask if he was ready. Gaden nodded in return. With a flourish, the
page pulled on the brass handle to the king's chamber causing the
large door to swing open majestically.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "GADEN
OF TENBY REQUESTS AN AUDIENCE WITH HIS MAJESTY, KING HALBEN OF
ADENGAAN!" the page announced. Gaden bowed deeply as a sign of
respect and walked into the room taking the surroundings in as he
walked down a carpeted aisle toward the throne. Ornate wooden
benches, stained and polished, were arranged on each side of him.
Few people were in attendance today. Large, arched windows along the
walls on his left and right brought plenty of light from the outside
and allowed excellent views of the courtyard and the city. The gold
inlaid throne was on a raised dais on which the king sat. Garbed in
a regal outfit and a crown of silver and gold, he held a scepter in
one hand as he sat, surveying the room from his elevated height. On
each side of the king a royal honour guard of five men stood. He
knew from his studies at home the highest place of honour would
always be the first man at the king's right. The mage nearly tripped
when he recognized the big man in this spot as Brunaulf, but covered
his misstep well using the opportunity to get into a kneeling
position before the king.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Your
Majesty," Gaden began, "At your request I, Gaden of Tenby,
humbly present myself to you, to swear the Oath of Allegiance."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Rise,
Gaden of Tenby." King Halben commanded. Gaden rose to his feet
waiting for further instructions.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Brunaulf,
present the scroll with the oath to Gaden of Tenby," the king
declared.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yes,
Your Majesty," Brunaulf replied, his stoic expression remained
unchanged, but the intoxicating scent from the young mage was driving
him wild. His enhanced sense of smell was both a blessing and a
curse. Fortunately his armour hid the excitement he felt for the man
before him well. He moved forward and grabbing a scroll off a silver
platter, moved down the dais toward the handsome man standing in
front of his king. Arm's length away, he opened the scroll, facing
the words on the scroll toward the newest member of the guild. Gaden
began to read the oath from the scroll.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I,
Gaden of Tenby, on this the twelfth day of the seventh month in the
856th year of the city of Adengaan, do solemnly swear to His Majesty,
King Halben the seventh, that I will serve and protect his majesty in
all affairs where His Majesty deems my talents will be required. I
will obey all decrees from His Majesty and carry them out to the best
of my ability. I swear this today before you, Your Majesty, on my
life and my sacred honour!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
rolled up the scroll and returned it to the silver platter before
returning to his place beside the king. King Halben then went into a
speech about the history of Adengaan and its rich traditions. Gaden
forced himself to pay attention, but the black bearded man to the
right of the king didn't hear a word. He simply stared at the mage,
blood roaring in his ears, and feeling overheated under his armour.
It took a large amount of self-control to keep his expression
neutral, but he knew the rules. He would have order in his mind and
used the discipline developed through years of training to make sure
it stayed so.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> After
what seemed like an eternity to the big man, Gaden was dismissed by
King Halben. Gaden bowed, walked backwards to the entrance to the
room, and bowed once again as the page closed the door. The last
sight Brunaulf had of the man he desired was the mage rising from his
bow and making momentary eye contact with the big man just before the
door sealed shut. He hoped that was a sign the feeling was mutual.
He planned to find out.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
rest of the afternoon was filled with administrative tasks. While
the ritual of the oath was mandatory, the required signatures to
legally bind him to the oath were performed afterward in private with
a clerk and page of the court. Various rules and regulations of the
city were laid out for him, and signing various acknowledgements,
stipend verifications, and other paperwork were completed. An hour
later, he was finally a free man. He looked forward to getting back
to his room and change into more comfortable clothes. The mage was
also feeling pensive, agitated. Between the travelling,
preparations, and the huge brute of a man running through his
thoughts, he realized he hadn't had a good run in almost two weeks.
Running always cleared his mind, provided focus. Going in circles
around the training ground seemed boring, and he missed the freedom
running in nature provided. On returning to his room Gaden changed
into some comfortable shorts and shoes and headed out. He hated
running with a shirt on and while going shirtless was immodest it
wasn't "illegal" so he opted to go without it. Besides,
feeling the wind whip through his chest and back hair gave him a
feeling of being connected to nature. Just as he was about to leave
he felt like he was forgetting something. On a hook next to the door
he realized what it was. Donning the pendant of the bear, he made a
mock salute to an imaginary Jamder.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Fit
body, fit mind," he said aloud as he closed the door to his room
behind him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
took a few minutes to stretch in the fresh air. He figured he could
get a few miles in and still be back in time to grab a meal in town
well before taverns closed. It was a great opportunity to explore
and see what the unknown terrain held for the man. This challenge
was calling him and he was glad to accept it. Beginning at a slow
pace, he used two sides of the field to warm up before turning for an
open gate. It was only down the road, left, and down another road to
a main gate before he was outside the city and into the wilderness.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
pair of eyes from a guard tower observed Gaden start his run,
watching the man's taught muscles contract and relax in rhythmic
cadence. He certainly was a fast runner, controlled, disciplined,
with a gait that exhibited power that he seemed to be holding back as
he ran through the city streets. He admired the man's body and had
thoughts of ways he wanted to explore it. The observer's thoughts
were broken by a clang of metal against stone behind him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
relieve you, Brunaulf" a tenor voice called from behind.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf,
shook from his musings, turned to face Therin, the soldier behind
him. An automatic response from doing this thousands of times, he
lifted his right foot and slammed it down against the stone floor
bringing his body to rigid attention.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thank
you, Therin. I stand relieved" was the standard reply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
briefed his relief on the activities of the shift. It had been a
quiet one so only a minute was required. From the top of the spiral
staircase leading down from the tower he took one more look to see if
he could locate Gaden before going down, spotting him as he was
exiting a main gate on a road leading to the fields outside the city
walls. He watched as the strong man's fast pace quickened another
notch, bounding away on the road from the city walls with grain
fields on each side like a predator chasing prey. Brunaulf watched
Gaden, amazed at the pace he was setting without wavering, lustful
thoughts danced across his mind as his cock sprang to attention.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Something
wrong, Brunaulf?" a guard's voice called from behind.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Motionless,
but snapping back to reality, he replied, "No, everything’s
fine" and without turning around and headed down the stairs.
His thoughts returned to Gaden as he walked out of the royal sector
into the main city toward home. He knew Gaden was a candidate, a
strong candidate, and all it would take is one night to change him.
But to do this without knowledge and without consent was absolutely
against the rules. This was also personal. He found the man
absolutely handsome. His ripped musculature, his tight beard framing
his face, even his slightly crooked nose obviously broken in his past
added to his masculinity. He walked the rest of the way home with
his cock rock hard under his armour and leaking slightly. The five
minute walk to his small home in the west quarter seemed to take an
eternity. He approached the door to the home he had known since he
was twelve and let himself in. It was empty now as Uncle Karn had
been released from his duties to tend to "personal matters"
in the west. It wouldn't have mattered if he was there anyway. The
burly man stripped off his armour as fast as he could in the foyer.
He wasn't going to wait another minute longer than he had to. This
mage captivated his thoughts, taunted him and driven him wild since
he came to town yesterday. He needed release. Pieces of armour were
strewn about the floor in the foyer as his beefy hand wrapped around
this thick member, stroking hard from the tip all the way down to the
bottom of the shaft. It took less than a minute before he closed his
eyes and felt his balls contract, a guttural growl escaping his
bearded lips. As he felt the pressure finally released across the
floor the tension subsided. He gave himself a minute to let his
breathing come to normal, savouring the release like a cool wind
across his body on a hot day. The big man opened his eyes and
surveyed the carnage around him. With a sigh, he began to clean up
both the armour and the floor.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
crossed the threshold of the city wall and felt like a free man,
quickening his pace in celebration and turning west. Strong men with
tanned skin were finishing their work for the day in the fields as he
ran by, but his thoughts were focused on one man and one man alone.
He had never seen someone of Brunaulf's size before. The strength,
power, and masculinity the big man had fueled his thoughts. He
thought back to the way Brunaulf's green eyes pierced his soul as a
big hand reached out for his papers at the gate. He remembered the
baritone voice commanding the new recruits in the training fields
demanding respect. The mage in his mind could see practically every
whisker in that gorgeous, thick black beard as the soldier
confidently held the oath scroll for him to read. Gaden wanted him,
he wanted to explore that raw masculinity but he just didn't have the
experience to know if he should try. The soldier's expressions
always seemed to be neutral, professional, but there were one or two
moments giving him hope that his feelings might be returned. Gaden
turned more attention back to the woods he was running through and
less on the man he desired when he came across a cairn of rocks.
There seemed to be nothing special about it except that seemed to be
in the middle of nowhere, but it would serve as a good marker for a
halfway point in a run. Taking a moment to collect himself after
studying the formation, he turned around and began heading back to
the city allowing his thoughts to return to more mundane matters. He
was getting hungry and was looking forward to a good meal, but kept
his focus on a fast pace as he headed back toward his new home, the
afternoon sun warming his back as he ran.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> After
returning to his room and cleaning up, Gaden decided to explore the
town. He walked to the square in the city center and looked around.
Every direction seemed to have something to offer and after a
moment's hesitation he decided to check out the western quarter of
the city. It was a good decision. It was fun to discover the many
traditional shops selling meats, clothing or other goods. They were
closed for the day but he made note of them for future reference.
The many taverns were just coming beginning to stir with activity,
filling with patrons seeking food and drink. A cozy one at the
corner of a main and side street caught his eye and he decide to
enter. A boisterous crowd was enjoying a group of minstrels playing
a happy tune while other patrons danced in a corner. The young mage
took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink and some bread and meat
while enjoying the scene unfolding before him. The friendly, cozy
atmosphere reminded him of the way Tenby's tavern came alive after a
good harvest and he decided to stay long after his meal. The cool
summer night and mild drink made him feel at home. A few hours had
passed since finishing his meal and Gaden, in pleasant spirit and
with a light buzz from mead, left the tavern to return to his
quarters, humming a folk tune softly to himself. The night was clear
and a network of constellations filled the sky in anticipation of the
moon. The slightly intoxicated man decided to wander the local
residential streets, taking in the sights and enjoying the calm of
the area.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
opened his bedroom windows as he finished his evening ritual.
Cleaning the last piece of his patrol armour by lamplight, the burly
man stood up - his hairy body naked except for a loose fitting shirt
- to place the arm piece on the armour stand. After walking over to
a basin to wash and dry his face, he crawled into the
larger-than-king-sized bed as he let his mind organize the next day's
events. He was snoring lightly, barely holding onto consciousness,
when traces of a faint scent came in through the window and tickled
his nostrils. Reflexively he sniffed deeper as the tantalizing, and
intoxicating aroma dragged him back to consciousness. Brunaulf knew
that smell. It was unique and he knew exactly what, or rather who,
it was coming from; Gaden. What was he doing around here and at this
time of night? Curious, the bearish man roused himself out of bed,
put on a pair of shorts and shoes to go with his nightshirt, and
padded into the night to investigate.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Adengaan
at night was absolutely stunning, Gaden decided. Soft lights
reflected by shadows in all directions creating intricate patterns
against the street and houses. Whoops and cheers could be distantly
heard from the far taverns that continued to serve those who would
stay late into the night. The few who were on the streets seemed to
be enjoying themselves and in no hurry to be anywhere on such a
pleasant night. It made him feel at home and long for Tenby at the
same time. He rounded a corner onto a smaller side street head down
in thought, when he heard footsteps and felt a searing pain from a
blow to the side of the head as a man grabbed his arm. Another set
of footsteps from behind and he felt a man covering his mouth while a
third man grabbed his other arm. Unable to move or speak, a fourth
man emerged from a shadow created by some shrubbery and walked toward
the mage reeling from pain. He was holding a bag in one hand and a
lantern in the other.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Why,
hello there!" The man said in a mockingly joyous tone holding
the lamp to his face, "Remember me?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
fought through the pain of being sucker punched and scanned the man's
face. After a minute he realized where he had seen this man before
that realization dawned on his face.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That's
right," the man affirmed, "I was the one who needed
'convincing' at the gate yesterday. Isn't that right?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Fear
began pumping adrenaline through the mage's body. He wanted to fight
back, but with his mouth gagged and his arms restrained there was
little he could do for the moment. The guard, who tonight was in
plain clothes, put the lamp down turning it off, and opened the bag
removing a gauntlet. He slid it over his right fist. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
think it is <i>I</i> who will convince <i>you</i> what a mistake that
was. Make sure he stays restrained and can’t utter a sound."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
guard reached back and with a gauntleted fist punched the mage in the
gut with all his strength. A loud expulsion of air could be heard as
the mage tried to double over unable to breathe, but was held up by
the other three. The guard with a malicious grin cocked the mage
square in the eye with a down-stroke eliciting a whimper. Surveying
his captor, the assailant without hesitation punched him in the side
twice. The mage felt something crack on the second deliberate blow
as he tried to scream in agony. Blood started coming out of his nose
and tears of pain clouding his vision.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Convinced?"
the guard said in parody, mocking the same question asked to him.
"No? Okay I'll keep 'convincing' you". Another shot
across the face made him see stars. A punch to the abdomen and he
felt something rip inside. The guard reached back to deliver another
blow when a large hand pulled on his arm and spun him around. The
other three guards watched as the man seemed to levitate about a foot
in the air desperately clawing at something around his neck before
being thrown about six feet to one side. The three holding Gaden
looked at the looming figure unsure what to do.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
figure spoke with a speech that sounded slurred, almost like it had
marbles in its mouth. It managed to say two words to the three
holding Gaden up.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "LEAVE!
NOW!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
three men after seeing what was before them did not have to be told
twice as they let go of Gaden letting him collapse to the ground and
bolted as fast as they could. The figure lumbered his way over to
the mercenary guard. Gaden, head sideways against the pavement and
unable to move tried to see, with the eye that was not swollen shut,
what was going on. His mind couldn't process the scene. Through
blurry vision he thought he saw a man, but it was as if the man was
covered in black fur. His shoulders easily three feet wide split
open a shirt he was wearing hunched over as he bent down in front of
the guard. The "man" had something of a black beard but
also a... snout? Like a bear? Gaden watched as his attacker was
effortlessly picked up off the ground and slammed against a wall
maybe four times, his dizziness made it unclear. What was clear was
that the mercenary cried out in pain on the last and hardest slam,
and Gaden could swear he heard something snap. Whatever this man
looked like was enough to make Gaden’s attacker piss himself.
Gaden's defender spoke again with that slurred, marble mouthed<span style="color: red;">
</span>speech that was like a growl. He couldn’t quite make out
what was being said, the ringing in his ears made it unclear, but the
sound of seething menace and barely controlled rage was very clear.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span>Though
Gaden could not hear what was said, the trembling guard heard
clearly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Touch
him again, you die. You understand?" the last of that came with
a guttural growl.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
shock, no response came forward.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
larger man shook the guard and demanded, "UNDERSTAND?!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
guard nodded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "GO!"
the man commanded and threw his captive toward the main road.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
attacker took off like a shot, clutching at his side as he ran.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Relieved
the immediate danger was passed, Gaden closed his eye to compose
himself. He used all his will to concentrate, to manage the pain.
So much pain he simply wanted to lay there forever and not move. He
knew something was wrong though. Blood was coming out of his nose
and mouth. He had to try to move, to cast a spell, to stop the
bleeding, but even breathing was difficult. Heavy footfalls
approached him but he didn't have the energy to open his eyes.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Gaden?”
a rich baritone voice called to him, concerned.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Gaden!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
an effort, he opened his good eye to see Brunaulf standing in front
of him. What the hells was he doing here? He didn't know and he
didn't care.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Brunaulf?"
Gaden managed to say, weakly.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Yes,
it’s me."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Help...
me..." was all the mage could utter before he passed out.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
assessed the damage. His eye was swollen shut, possibly fractured.
Maybe a broken rib and blood was coming out of his mouth. It was
bad. He had some field training as a medic, but this was something
beyond his skill. He had to get him to some help. Gingerly, he
picked him up and carried the mage the short distance to his house
and placed him in his bed. He could help him immediately, but
dismissed the thought. It was against the rules. After trying to
make him comfortable, he headed back into the night for help.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Late
the next morning, Gaden's eyes fluttered open in surroundings he
didn't recognize. His head pounded and his side hurt. The
disorientation didn't help his recollection of the night before. He
was assaulted that much he remembered, and he thought he saw Brunaulf
helping him, but there was someone else. As hard as he tried, he
couldn't bring the memory into focus. He groaned softly as he tried
to move and reached down, feeling bandages on his side. His noises
alerted someone else nearby he was awake and heard heavy footsteps
coming toward the door from the other side. The big door opened and
Brunaulf looked inside.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
awake," the big man confirmed, "that's good. The herbalist
did his job well."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Where
am I?" the mage asked, confused. He tried to sit up, but the
searing pain from his abdomen told him now was not the time. The big
man came over and put his hand on Gaden's shoulder discouraging him
from getting up.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
in my house. You were assaulted last night near here, this was the
closest place I could bring you that was safe. How do you feel?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Terrible."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
big oaf smiled in spite of himself, "Getting the shit beat out
of you will make you feel that way. Just rest," he patted
Gaden's shoulder gently, "there's no need to move now. I've
sent word you've been incapacitated. The Guild will wait." In
no position to argue, the mage closed his eyes again and drifted into
a light sleep as Brunaulf, sitting in a chair beside the bed, used
two fingers to lightly stroke his hair in comfort.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
magical teas brewed by the herbalist accelerated healing but had to
be taken every two hours. Like clockwork Brunaulf offered his ailing
friend the tea which he had to drink - no exceptions - and some food
should he feel up to it. Gaden refused food the first four hours,
but it didn't take long for his appetite to return with a vengeance.
By evening the young mage was feeling about ninety percent restored.
The pain in his side subsided and swollen eye had receded to a small
black mark in the upper outer corner. Brunaulf came in with the last
dose of tea and some cheese.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thank
you," Gaden said gratefully, "for everything. You must
have some people in high places if you know someone versed in
Sandor's Preparation." He had read about the mixture that was
part herbalism, part alchemy, part magic. The taste, smell and
effects seemed to match the descriptions from his studies. He made
four attempts himself to re-create it, none of which were "almost
okay".</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
welcome." He sat down in the chair next to the bed, “And yes,
I have some people in high places," Brunaulf quipped, "I
may not be the smartest oaf, but I'm smart enough to know people who
are."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
smiled at the comment, locking his gaze with Brunaulf. It was as if
a series of unspoken questions were passing between them when
Bruanulf broke the silence.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Look,
you might think you're okay but I want to make absolutely sure before
I set you loose on the city again," he chuckled. "Stay the
night here. It’s not a big deal and as you can see from the size
of the bed it’s not like I don't have the room."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
turned the invitation over in his head. It’s true, the bed was
huge. It could easily hold four or five people Brunaulf's size. He
searched the bearded face in front of him for clues if this was
genuine concern or if there was something more. He got nothing from
his neutral expression.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Of
course if you feel well enough to leave," Brunaulf continued, "I
don’t blame you for wanting to go back to your room. There's
always something nice about sleeping in your own bed."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
young mage took a chance as he made his decision.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Well,
to be fair," he pondered out loud, "I've only been in town
for a couple of days, so it doesn't really feel like my own bed in
that room yet. Besides, I'm pretty comfortable here," and
quickly added, "if I'm not imposing."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
flashed a large smile, but reigned it in quickly, "No, no
imposition at all. Just stay and rest." He got up from his
chair and went to the bedroom door. "I have things to do but
I'll be back." He reassured the man in the bed. Gaden closed
his eyes and drifted off into a light sleep against the noise of the
big man cleaning up elsewhere in the house. Several hours later,
Brunaulf quietly opened the bedroom door to see the man sleeping
peacefully in bed. Any signs of the assault were gone and he seemed
to be resting well. Quietly, the big man finished his evening
ritual. He went to don a shirt, but after seeing the man in bed
decided against it this night and went about washing and drying his
face before heading to bed. His cock sprang to life at the heady
scent emanating from the man he was sharing his bed with, but decided
against waking him. There would be time yet to have some fun. </span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Despite
being quiet as he crawled into bed, the rustling was enough to wake
Gaden from his light sleep. Opening his eyes, he saw the object of
his desires. A broad back faced him as the big man lay on his side,
black hair glinting in the moon light from the window. A large,
heavy arm resting above it was slowly rising and falling in rhythm
with his breathing. Gaden was getting aroused as he studied the man
in detail and decided to take a chance. Slowly, carefully, he moved
his way closer to his bedmate and put a hand on his back. He felt
the heat radiating from him and his arousal fueled his bravery.
Slowly, he started running his hand lightly up and down Brunaulf's
back, savouring the feeling of the brawny man's silky hair running
through his fingers.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What
are you doing?" a rich baritone voice questioned with what Gaden
thought was a hint of edge in his voice. Gaden froze, cursing
himself. He knew it was a mistake to think this kind of man would be
interested in him. He withdrew his hand quickly and quietly and laid
in place, motionless. With no answer coming, the big man turned
around to face the young mage, his own cock firmly at attention.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
didn't say to stop," he smiled, "Just wondering what you're
doing. Or plan to do."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gaden
was pleasantly surprised. Without wasting another moment, he moved
toward the big man and pushed his shoulder down so his back was
against the mattress. Climbing on top of the burly man and with a
hand on each side of his head, Gaden lowered himself to kiss the man
who showed him such compassion when he was gravely injured. It was a
short one first, but Brunaulf wanted more and he was going to get it.
He wrapped his strong arms in a bear hug around his smaller frame
and turned him over, pinning him on the bed under his weight, and
kissed him hard. He explored the young man's mouth, delighting in
everything. The texture of his beard when their lips met, his
pleasant musk, the way his taut, hard muscles rippled when he moved.
He was enjoying it all. His large calloused hands massaging every
inch of the body below him that he could reach as he broke the kiss
and slowly, methodically moved his body down, nuzzling the chest and
belly fur along the way, relishing every inch. The big bear moved
his way down to the prize he sought and enveloped the hard cock in
his mouth and started sucking.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
sharp inhale followed by "OH FUCK!" was all Gaden could
say. He never experienced anything like this in Tenby. In fact he
never experienced anything like this at all. This was the first time
he had ever lay with a man. He had an idea of what it might be like,
but those ideas were shadows compared to the sensations he was
feeling as this strong, hairy giant skillfully sucked on his cock
while a roughened hand played with his balls. Gaden was starting to
leak badly. Brunaulf could taste it in his mouth as his pace
quickened. He had wanted this since he saw the young man at the
gate, and now was his chance. He used his free hand to put one of
Gaden's legs over his broad shoulder, giving him access to his hole.
He started pressing a finger around it, teasing as he fondled his
balls and continued to suck.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
stimulation was too much for the inexperienced Gaden and with a yell
exploded inside Brunaulf's mouth. The big man relished every drop,
trying to coax every bit out from his young companion. Gaden was
seeing stars. He had "taken care of himself" as he put it
many times, but never did it arouse such a feeling of satisfying
emptiness as he felt now. He basked in the glow of the sensation as
Brunaulf gently put his leg down and moved next to him, caressing his
body as he enjoyed an absolutely relaxed state. Brunaulf, still hard
and leaking, started gently stroking his own member with one hand
while he put his arm behind Gaden’s neck, draping his muscular limb
over his front, caressing the man's chest hair. Without warning,
Gaden started snoring loudly. The big man chuckled to himself. It
was probably for the best, just to make sure he didn’t change
someone against their will. Gingerly, he moved himself from Gaden,
and brought himself to climax careful not to let any of his seed
touch the man who shared his bed. A quick cleanup was all that was
required and as he laid in bed, staring at the sleeping mage, he
hoped that someday he would be able to share everything with him.</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-48840284929321237662021-06-15T15:54:00.005-07:002021-06-15T15:56:04.026-07:00The werebears of Adengaan: Chapter 2<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Werebears of Adengaan</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> MC </span></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Chapter
Two</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
orphanage in the town of Ascot was far from pleasant. Not that
Elitha didn't try to make the best of a bad situation, but she feared
her husband, Fullas. Together, the town council gave them coin from
the tax treasury to take care of orphaned children. In return for
the coin they were not to turn away any orphan who needed help.
Elitha saw it as an opportunity to help those in need. Fullas saw it
as extra coin for more drink. It seemed to be a constant war between
the two on how to spend the money with Elitha losing far more battles
than she won.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Had
Brunaulf's parents not succumb to the Summer Fever, he might not be
here. Had his Aunt and Uncle - who never had children nor wanted any
- not packed up and left one day never to return, he might not be
here. But here he was, only twelve years old and already two years
into this miserable existence. He was a tall boy, taller than the
other kids and almost as tall as Fullas, but the treatment he
received at the orphanage was taking its toll, both physically and
mentally. He was thin, so very thin, and he wanted to leave so badly
and go anywhere, any place but here. The few times he was out in the
fresh air watching carriages go by he would hear stories of people
who had been to Adengaan. Today was one of those days where someone
was passing through from this great city on their way to Iphale about
three weeks to the north. It was a nobleman telling the people
tending his horses about the wonders of Adengaan and how he wished to
stay permanently someday. He described a city of wealth, where
people had plenty to eat thanks to huge fields of grains, and wore
well-made clothes and buildings rising high into the sky. The
description of the food made his stomach rumble with hunger. It also
sounded like it was about two weeks away south by carriage. To the
boy, two weeks might as well have been two years.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> His
daydreams were interrupted by a searing pain in his back brought
about by a leather strap. The boy yelped in pain.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "BRUNAULF!
WHEN I CALL, YOU COME! WHAT I SAY, YOU OBEY!" Fullas
half-bellowed, half-slurred, cracking him again with the strap.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "That
was only two, you owe me eight more when you get inside for your
disobedience!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy slowly made his way to the door, knowing what awaited him once he
was inside. It was a pain he never got used to, simply adapted as
best he could and prayed it ended quickly. He never had any control
over the beatings. Sometimes it was because he didn't listen,
sometimes it was simply because the old man was drunk. Often he
wondered why he deserved them - what he did to deserve to be in a
place like this. The only way he could act in defiance to this
treatment was to never cry. The boy would yell, scream, and
sometimes plead for it to stop, but he would never cry. He wouldn't
give the old drunkard the satisfaction of tears.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
went inside and made his way to the punishment wall, placing his
hands against it. Fullas lined the strap up carefully and with
purpose laid out eight more lashes against his back. Each one
methodical and harsh against the young boy's skin eliciting a scream
each time. Finally, when it was over, the lad lowered his arms and
gingerly made his way to the table where his orphan brothers were
sitting. A small bowl of soup and a piece of bread was waiting for
him. He was nearly the size of a grown man, and the meager serving
was not enough food for someone his size. He was always hungry. No
doubt though that Fullas' belly was full of alcohol though.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Later
that night he was wakened out of a fitful sleep by Elitha crying. It
sounded like she had been sobbing a while, begging Fullas about
something.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Please,
no, you're drunk!" She pleaded. Other boys began to wake up
from the voices.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
my goddamn wife, and you're going to fill your duty!" Fullas
demanded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
sounds of Elitha resisting and the struggle grew louder with the
passing moments until there was suddenly a crash, followed by a thud,
and then silence. At this point all seven of them were awake in
their cots, scared to move.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Stupid
bitch," the drunkard cursed loudly as staggering footsteps could
be heard coming toward their door, "well if you’re not going
to do anything for me, one of the boys will have to do".</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
froze under his blankets. Did he really just hear what he thought he
heard? He was old enough to know what the old man implied and the
thought scared him more than the strap. The heavy door from their
bedroom creaked open and the boy peeking from under the blanket could
see the woman who tried to care for them unconscious on the floor.
Blood was coming from her nose. The drunkard staggered from the door
surveying the room in front of him. Never in his life had he been so
afraid for what was going to happen next. Of the seven boys, luck
would have it that Brunaulf's cot was closest to the door. A rough
hand grabbed his arm through the thin blanket and tried to hoist him
out of bed.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You'll
do" was all Fullas said.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
tried to struggle to avoid this fate but it seemed to be of no use.
Being entangled in the blanket he couldn't get his arms free enough
to defend himself. He was thrown on the bed, blanket and all as the
old man let his pants fall to the ground. Saying "no"
wasn't an option as he looked over at the drunkard's wife, still
unconscious. Time slowed down and it seemed to take an eternity for
Fullas to lean forward and get on top of him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Waiting
for the inevitable, eyes squeezed shut, he felt the heavy body of
Fullas land on top of him. At that point, Fullas passed out,
motionless.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
young boy was stunned, unsure if this was real or a dream. Either
way, it was that moment he decided he couldn't live like this
anymore. Two years of beatings, two years of being half-starved, and
now this bastard was going to violate him? No. He had to leave and
he had to leave now. Carefully and quietly, he crawled out from
under the snoring man and made his way out of the bedroom. He
grabbed an empty flour sack and started throwing the few things he
had in it: an extra pair of clothes, his prized stuffed toy - the
only thing he had left from his parents, a couple of candles with
matches, and a pendant. After that a quick inspection of the kitchen
was in order. He tried locked drawer after locked drawer but the
only supplies he could find unlocked were a loaf of bread, a small
piece of cheese, and a bottle of water. It would have to be enough.
With sack in tow, he unlocked and opened the front door and, with a
final look at the carnage in the home, closed the door behind him to
escape into the night.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
thin boy was lucky enough to find water to refill his bottle after
the first day, but his meager food supplies ran out after the second.
Wearily, Brunaulf continued down the road but every step got harder.
By the end of the third day he was so hungry he could swallow his
tongue. By midday of the fourth he stopped by the side of the road
feeling like he couldn't take another step, and he still had so far
to go.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
noise in the distance caught his attention. It was regular, steady.
Horse hooves? His spirits soared in hope this was someone who could
help him. The sounds were coming from the south and getting louder.
It had to be someone coming from Adengaan! The carriage rounded a
bend far down the road and a hopeful Brunaulf stood up. There seemed
to be a rider on horseback on each side of the carriage, as well as
one in front and one in back. As the caravan came closer the hungry
lad started waving his arms trying to get the attention of the
carriage.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Please!
Stop! Please!" Brunaulf pleaded.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "MAKE
WAY! MAKE WAY!" the leader of the horse team cried.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No
wait! Please! Help me please!" the pleading continued.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I
SAID MAKE WAY!" the guard countered.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> And
so the carriage rode by. Whether they could hear him over the din of
the horses and carriage or they simply chose to ignore him was
unclear. The only thing that was clear was his hope of aid continued
down the road while he occasionally yelled, pleaded for them to stop
as they continued into the distance. The sounds of the carriage
faded and the sounds of the forest returned as they rounded a turn in
the distance.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
put his hands down and stood there motionless. The boy was in the
middle of the forest, absolutely starving, with no food and little
water. If he somehow made it back to Ascot who knows if he could
survive the beating he would surely get. Trying to continue would be
a death sentence by starvation. Two years of pent up frustration -
the beatings, the hunger, the hopelessness - all came to a head in
that very moment. He did something he refused to do since his first
beating at the orphanage two years ago.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
started to cry.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Something
in the woods was watching the sobbing, tired, hungry boy at the side
of the road with some interest. It wasn't clear just how the boy got
there and the curiosity was too much to ignore. Carefully, the
observer moved closer to the boy making as little sound as possible.
It wasn't until a branch broke on the other side of the road that
Brunaulf stopped crying long enough to look up. His vision, blurred
from tears, focused on the large, reddish-brown bear on the other
side of the road, staring at him intently.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
heard stories of bears and their ferocity. If he was anywhere but
here, he would have done something to get away, to survive, but there
was no point here and now. The uncaring caravan was the last straw
in his resolve and he resigned himself that this bear was going to be
the end of him. In some ways he almost welcomed it. It would be a
better way to end this miserable existence than being beaten or
starve to death. The boy brought himself to his feet, hands at his
sides, and closed his eyes to wait for the end as bravely as he
could. He heard the bear pad closer, hearing his breathing as he got
right next to the boy.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
end Brunaulf was expecting didn't come, and he started to wonder what
was going on. Opening his eyes, he saw the bear's face inches from
his own, staring into his eyes, motionless. The starving boy
couldn't take it anymore.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "WHAT
ARE YOU WAITING FOR? DO IT!" Brunaulf yelled as if the bear
could understand.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
bear simply chuffed in the boy's face. A smell of licorice filled
his nostrils as he began to feel sleepy.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Finally,"
was all he could say as he passed out and fell to the ground.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Dappled
sunlight through the trees warmed his face and woke him up. He
wasn't dead, or so he thought. Was it a dream? Bolting upright he
looked around. The surroundings were the same, the only exception
being a pack next to him. Pulling the heavy pack closer to him by
one of the straps, Brunaulf undid the single clasp. Quickly glancing
around to make sure no person or animal was going to come at him, he
lifted the flap and peered inside.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Food.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
hungry, thirsty boy stared at the bounty in disbelief. Dried meat,
fruits, nuts, bread and cheese were just some of the things in the
pack. Immediately he grabbed an apple and started eating, finishing
it at record pace. Next he grabbed a piece of bread and stuffed it
into his mouth, gulping it down with some water. The young boy
started to rummage around and take inventory of what he had. He was
still so very hungry, but if he was careful, this might be enough for
him to make it to Adengaan. Resisting the urge to feast he closed
the flap, stood up and donned the heavy pack. It burned against some
of the fresher welts on his back, but he didn't care. Carefully
looking around one last time, he quickly started south down the road
again toward the city that would hopefully be his salvation,
oblivious to the bear who had been watching from a distance the whole
time. After the boy disappeared from view the bear, seemingly
satisfied, turned to head west.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
the fortnight ended, since leaving Ascot, Brunaulf's spirits were
full even though his belly and pack were empty. The abandoned house
he slept in last night he took as a sign of good fortune. If someone
would live here, then more people may be nearby. Slinging the empty
pack over one shoulder and gulping down the last of his water, he set
out on the road again. Hunger gave way to determination that he
would make it to his goal. Even though it was hardly more than two
weeks since he left the torture of his old life, that past seemed
such a long time ago already. The forest seemed to distort time,
soothing wounds and making them feel distant, almost unreal. He
wondered how the others left behind were doing, but quickly pushed
the thought out of his mind after thinking about the fate he narrowly
escaped the night he left.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Day
turned to afternoon, and afternoon turned to evening. The sun
yielded its place in the west to a full moon ascending from the
horizon in the east. It would be dark but he could keep going if he
wanted. Sitting on a rock to catch his breath he opened his pack
just in case he missed any morsel of food. He hadn't. The boy's
stomach growled in anger at the lack of food when he thought he heard
a noise in the distance. Brunaulf froze, keeping his body still and
holding his breath, straining to see if what he thought he heard was
real. He heard it again, still very faint. He heard it again and
finally his brain was able to put together exactly what was making
the sound: It was a bell. A large bell ringing, announcing
something.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
was close.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> His
breathing came sharp and fast as he quickly donned his pack and
hustled down the road bursting with excitement and anticipation. All
of his thoughts turned to the city of Adengaan. He looked forward to
seeing the friendly people and the bounties of food he had been told
about. He ran many scenarios in his mind for the first meal he would
have in his new home, each more lavish and extravagant than the last.
As he left the forest for the clearing he stopped in awe at the
sight before him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Fields
of grain moving lazily in the night breeze could be seen under the
full moon on each side of the road. The city - even larger than what
he imagined - was alight with torches, sconces, and candles in homes
rising well over the height of the tall city walls, giving the brown
stone an almost gold appearance. He could make out a few people
milling about the two gates he could see and started running down the
road toward his new home. Brunaulf was over the moon with
excitement. The young boy had survived a journey that seemed like a
death sentence over two weeks ago, and he couldn't wait to get inside
as he stormed the gate.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Woah
there, young man!" an old guard chided as his black armour
blocked the boy's path to the closed gate, "where do you think
you're going?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Catching
his breath, Brunaulf looked up at the man. The guard was a rather
large figure. He could have been quite imposing, but the look on his
face was friendly, almost jovial.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
put his pack on the ground and pointed to the gate with one hand
while putting the other on his knee trying to catch his breath, "to
Adengaan".</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
guard looked the boy up and down.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Citizen
card?" the man questioned.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Citizen
card. You need a citizen card or a citizen must accompany you to
enter the city. Either that or a letter of invitation from His
Majesty. No exceptions."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
fought through a mixture of hunger, rage, and despair. The place
that could save him was on the other side of this gate, a place he
struggled to reach, and now a stupid card was stopping him from his
goal. In desperation he tried to run past the guard but the big
guard was surprisingly fast for his size. Two large hands grabbed
him by the arms and lifted him in the air. He noticed the boy was
light, just skin and bones as he turned around holding him, putting
himself between the boy and the gate once again.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Sorry,"
the bearish guard said softly, "rules are rules".</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> No.
Brunaulf refused this answer. There was no way he was going to get
by this man. He had no choice but to try and plead his case. He HAD
to get into the city.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Sir,"
Brunaulf started, "please help me. I have no family, no friends
for help. I've come all the way from Ascot. Please let me in. I
have no food left and I haven't eaten today. I can't stay outside
another night. Please!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
guard contemplated the boy's incredulous story, stroking his salt and
pepper beard with one hand. Ascot was over two weeks away. Maybe it
was possible, just maybe. He was quite thin and his clothes were
dirty so he may have been travelling, but from Ascot? His mind was
conflicted. If the boy was truthful, he needed help. If he was
lying, he would be violating code.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "I'm
sorry. Rules are rules."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Defeated,
Brunaulf turned around and slowly bent over to pick up the pack
behind him. The old guard watched as his too-small shirt rode up
revealing a few inches of his back. What the man saw shocked him.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Stop!"
The guard said, softly but authoritatively, "Stand up, and
don't move!"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy obediently complied as the guard took a step forward to close the
gap. With a strong hand in a quick motion, he lifted the boy's shirt
from the back. A crisscross pattern of welts covered the entirety of
the embarrassed boy's back. Some of those welts were made a while
ago, others were fresher. He had seen many torture victims in his
years as a soldier on the battlefield, but those were grown men. His
mind reeled at what a boy his age must have gone through. The gruff
man stared for a few more seconds before throwing the shirt down to
cover his back. His decision was made and decided on a plan.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "What's
your name, son?" The big man asked.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
boy turned around. "Brunaulf" came the reply.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Wait
here, Brunaulf" was all the old guard said before leaving his
post. Another immediately came as he left, blocking the boy's path.
He returned a few minutes later with a parcel and handed it to the
boy.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "My
shift ends in one hour," the guard said as the boy began to open
the parcel, "go over by the wall over there next to the gate
where I can see you." The starving boy's eyes lit up at the
contents of the parcel. It was a virtual treasure to the boy -
sausages, cheese, bread, and a flask of water.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Stay
there and eat this. You'll be safe. In one hour, you're coming with
me."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thank
you, sir," Brunaulf said gratefully.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Call
me Karn," the big man smiled, "When I'm done you'll come in
the city with me. I'm a citizen so we won't be breaking the rules."
The big man winked, "Now eat."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
obediently went to the spot he was told and greedily ate the bounty
offered to him. The guard returned to his post next to the gate,
eyes forward but studying the boy in his peripheral vision. He
contemplated what the boy must have endured and the raw determination
to make such a journey with so little in provisions. Someone with
that kind of drive was one in a thousand. If the boy was taught the
discipline to channel that determination he would make a fine
soldier. There was something else about the boy that he couldn't
quite put his finger on yet. He had his suspicions, but it would be
a few years before his suspicions bore any fruit. First things
first; this boy, who he decided in that moment to adopt as his own,
needed food and shelter.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> One
hour later, the only sound made as the two walked in silence to
Karn's house was the clanking of armour against cobblestone. The
house was a modest one on a small side street in the west quarter.
The big man turned the lock on his front door and ushered the boy
inside the foyer. As he closed the door behind him, he lit a lamp
and began his orientation of the house. The light of the moon and
the street torches bleeding into his house assisted his own lamp.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "It's
not much, but its home," Karn began, "to the left through
that door is where you'll sleep. There's only a few things in there
for now but it should do for the night. To the right is my room. If
you need or can't find anything that’s where I'll be. Through the
arch in front of you is the dining room. Turn left from there and
you'll see the kitchen. Help yourself to anything you want in
there."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf's
face brightened, "You mean I get a key?"</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Key?"
Karn questioned, confused.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "To
the cabinets where you store your food."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
was shocked. In which, if not all, of the nine hells had this boy
been through that food would be locked from him? His emotions
quickly flashed from pity to rage, but settled on sadness. Sadness
for his existence of beatings, starvation, and loneliness the boy was
forced to endure.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No,"
the big man said controlling the waver in his voice, "there's no
key. Just get what you want."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
dropped his pack where he stood and started to race for the kitchen
when Karn's big hand grabbed him by the upper arm. His soldier
composure returned.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Just
to let you know, there are rules to staying here. Rules bring order,
and order brings success. You're welcome to stay as long as you
wish, but you MUST obey the rules while you're here. We can go over
them later,” he released the boy, "now go and eat."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
resumed his excitement for the kitchen, taking the lamp and turning
the corner quickly. Karn took a moment to mentally compose himself
before walking to his room. The heavy footfalls of his armour
clunking echoed through the mostly dark house. The brute of man
wiped his misty eyes before closing the door softly behind him, and
started the ritual of removing his armour.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
had many rules the boy was to follow. They were simple at first -
make your bed after you wake up, clean up your mess in the kitchen,
and to check in three times a day on the days Karn was on duty. As
structure came into the boy's life, he added more rules. He was to
be educated to learn to read and write because "a man who cannot
read and write is no man at all." Another rule was physical
fitness. Once the boy got his strength back from sufficient food, he
was to train every day.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Rules
bring order, and order brings success" was a mantra burned into
young Brunaulf's brain. When he followed the rules, he was rewarded.
When he broke the rules, he was punished with physical training.
Karn vowed the boy would never feel the strap again, and instead
chose "punishment with purpose". If it was good enough for
a soldier, it was good enough for his boy.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en"> Weeks
turned to months and months turned to years. Brunaulf celebrated
many milestones in his life with "Uncle Karn" as he would
come to call him. The young man jumped his first horse over a fence
just after his fifteenth birthday, and shot his first deer with a bow
a little more than a year after that. Karn watched with pride as his
protégé grew from a boy to a strapping young man equipped with the
skills he would need to forge a positive, prosperous path in life.
In three years he would be eligible to be a recruit in His Majesty's
service should he wish to go. The big man hoped he would.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Brunaulf
came through the door after archery practice on his seventeenth
birthday to a houseful of people. Uncle Karn had invited all of
Brunaulf's other "uncles" to come and celebrate. Young
Brunaulf was introduced to many "uncles" since coming to
Adengaan five years ago. Some were soldiers, others were tailors or
blacksmiths or carpenters. About fifteen were packed in the small
house blocking the entrance to the dining room to celebrate The
Fealty.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn was in his immaculately polished parade armour. It was a
traditional black metal armour polished to the point where it almost
shone like a mirror. He opted to trim back his bushy beard to a
meticulously even collar length and was wearing a half helmet hiding
his short hair. The big man cleared his throat before beginning to
speak.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "A
man turning seventeen is a great day," Uncle Karn began, "and
it’s also a day that gives His Majesty great joy. For today is The
Fealty for..." motioning to his adopted son "...young
Brunaulf here. Later this day you will stand before His Majesty and
swear fealty. It shows His Majesty and all who witness you are an
adult in the eyes of the community and are willing to, at his decree,
serve and defend the city of Adengaan."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Cheers
and congratulations erupted from the crowd, many patting the stout
young man on the back in celebration. It was a time honoured
tradition for centuries in Adengaan that at 17 as a sign of being a
man, you could be called into service to defend the king, and at 19
you were allowed to join His Majesty's Service formally.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Uncle
Karn continued... "Now a man cannot go before His Majesty
looking like a boy, so I've arranged for a few things for you."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
if on cue, Uncle Karn and the other guests parted like a sea letting
Brunaulf see into the kitchen. On the table was an ornate doublet in
gold with green accents to bring out the young man's eyes. Black
pants finished the outfit. What his eyes were really drawn to were
an ornate bow and a ceremonial sword in its embossed leather
scabbard. He gingerly picked up the sword and unsheathed it about
six inches letting the afternoon sun coming through the window glint
across the silvery blade. It was gorgeous. Uncle Karn came over to
his adopted son and put his hand under his chin lifting his head up
to see him eye to eye.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Now
go clean up that scraggly beard of yours!" The big man smiled,
"We must be presentable when we see His Majesty."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
party formed a line on each side of the his path from the dining room
to his bedroom, cheering and congratulating him again as he took the
clothing to his room to change for his big day, grinning from ear to
ear as he went. The guests began mixing among themselves, talking,
eating, and drinking, remembering their own Fealty days and how
special it is to a young man. Below the din of conversation, one of
Karn's friends approached him. It was another large strong man. He
had a huge red beard and bald head.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You
did well with that, cubby!" The big man said softly, smiling.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Thanks
Garret,” Karn replied to the man, smiling.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "You're
right though. It's pretty clear he's a candidate. I could smell it
on him too."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn's
smile evaporated, "I know."</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "Are
you going to tell him?" the bald bear asked, concerned.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Karn
thought many times about doing so. After a long pause, he answered
his red companion.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> "No."</span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-80165343126218078752021-06-14T15:29:00.005-07:002021-06-14T21:06:13.312-07:00The Werebears of Adengaan: Forward and Chapter 1<p>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span><b>The
Werebears of Adengaan</b></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span><b>by</b></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span><b>MC</b></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span>Foreword:</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>I
can't remember the exact time I first ran across an erotic story
about werebears. I want to say it was somewhere between ten and
fifteen years ago. Those first stories were rather short “sketches”
compared to some of the epic novels that came after from PapaWerebear
and UrsusMajr, but they were enough to intrigue me and stimulate my
imagination. It was around 2015 when I came across their werebear
story archive that I followed the werebear stories in earnest. The
depth and complexity of some of the stories were inspiring, so much
so that I wrote to them to let them know how much I enjoyed their
stories. It made me contemplate writing a story of my own.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span> I
had always wanted to try my hand at a fantasy/D&D story and the
idea of werebears fit perfectly into that theme. Inspired by their
works I had sketched out an “epic scene” of two protagonists
looking down from a cliff at an enemy approaching in huge numbers
with a huge battle forthcoming. I had sketched this out in my mind
using D&D “rules” and “context” which in the end turned
out to be a detriment. Not only did I have to work within the
confines of the “rules” of D&D but I also had to work out how
these two protagonists arrived in the situation they were in now. I
gave it some serious effort back in 2015 but nothing I could come up
with satisfied me. I put my writing attempts on the back burner but
the idea of writing a story never completely died and I let the idea
churn in the back of my head for years. Coincidentally, my
correspondence with PapaWerebear and UrsusMajr also went on the back
burner though I occasionally went back to their bear cave to get my
fix of werebear lore.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span> It
wasn't until I rekindled a correspondence with them in the summer of
2020 that I had an epiphany about writing a story: If the rules
don't let you write what you want, throw out the rules! It was in
that moment of giving myself permission to create an entire fantasy
universe from scratch that included werebears that the ideas began to
flow. Well over half this story was written in the span of about two
weeks as the creative juices were flowing nicely. Personal events
forced this lower in my priorities but it never stopped me from
contemplating the story and how to tell the tale.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span> There's
a few people I want to thank for making this work possible. Of
course, PapaWerebear and UrsusMajr for their own stories and being
the shoulders on which I stood to make this story possible.
PapaWerebear's feedback has been invaluable motivation to bring it to
completion. I also want to thank a certain otter who has acted as a
sounding board and provided encouragement for this <span lang="en-CA">endeavour.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span> Welcome
to my fantasy world of magic and werebears! I hope you enjoy reading
it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want to let me know
personally, you can reach me at MuscleCub@protonmail.com.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span>-MC,
June 2021</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span>
</span></span></p><p align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chapter One</b></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> The
town of Tenby had a community pavilion. The thousand or so residents
of the town erected it almost a hundred years ago as symbol of unity
and community. It served the community well for life's events both
happy and sad. Tonight was a happy, special event and Samdir, a
man in his mid-forties, had reason to celebrate. His son Gaden had
been formally invited to serve His Majesty, King Halben, in the
city-state of Adengaan by joining the Mage's Guild. It was a rare
honour for someone from the countryside.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Old man Jamder had been Gaden's
teacher, though not for magic at first. When the white-bearded,
stout man came to Tenby about ten years ago in search of a more
peaceful life, he decided he could fill his days acting as a tutor
for the youth of the village. He would teach them to read write and
from there teach history and mathematics for those so inclined and
could afford to be away from the family farms. Twelve year old Gaden
was one of those fortunate ones to learn to read and write. It
wasn't until four years later that Jamder detected an unusually
strong spark of magical aptitude in his pupil. It was so surprising
the old man insisted to Samdir that Gaden be allowed to stay with him
full time to study and train.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> So
began six years of intense training and study. At first it did not
go well. Jamder believed in physical fitness and Gaden didn't
understand what that had to do with the arcane. Jamder would simply
reply "fit body, fit mind" before ordering him to go on a
run. He would sternly remind his pupil "fit body, fit mind"
as he watched him do pushups, sit-ups, pull-ups, or other strength
building exercises. Running was constantly part of his fitness
routine. One time early in his training he was told to run to
Eagle's Crag and back. Thinking he could outsmart his mentor, he
disappeared around the bend and simply waited resting in the sun by
the north brook. The young apprentice splashed water on his tunic to
appear sweaty and then ran back, acting exhausted.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> “So,
did you see what was on the rock?" Jamder asked, referring to
the large, flat rock about waist high at the summit of the crag.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Uh, yes, it was, uh,
nice." Gaden lied.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Cocking an eyebrow, Jamder
queried as his normally bass voice went up an octave, "Oh? What
was it?"</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Gaden's
stammered response brought about a gruff, angry response from Jamder.
He told the boy he had two options: He could either go now and
bring back what was at the Crag and face the punishment for lying, or
he could not go and face an even worse calisthenics punishment.
Gaden chose the former, and running in earnest found a silver pendant
of a bear on a silver chain. That silver bear would be the goal of
his runs for the next six years.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> The
two grew closer over the next few years. Jamder often had a gruff
exterior and was highly critical of the boy in all aspects of his
training. Sometimes he would be told to practice the same spell
again and again even when it seemed to be executed correctly. All
too many times his performance was "absolutely terrible",
but outside of training his teacher's demeanor changed. It was as
the warmth he showed for Gaden outside of training that demonstrated
he wanted to be a mentor, friend, and father figure to Gaden not just
about magic, but about life as well. He taught many life lessons to
Gaden in that time about valuable traits: loyalty, honesty,
compassion. And it was through these stories (or punishments) Gaden
realized that despite the old man's gruff exterior, he did indeed
want the best for his pupil.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The realization of this fact
was Gaden's 19th birthday. After a grueling run to Black Rock
Mountain and back, Jamder had a surprise for him waiting.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Good run?" Jamder
asked wryly, hands behind his back.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Fan..." Gaden
replied between heavy breaths with as much sarcasm as he could
muster, "...tastic..."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Good, then defend!"
and with that Jamder brought his arms in front of him, released an
arrow of magic energy, and fired it right at Gaden. The young
apprentice was startled but composed himself fast enough and with a
hand gesture created a shield that deflected the arrow harmlessly
into a tree before returning to breathing hard again.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Hmmm..." Jamder
contemplated... "Almost okay." He smiled ever so briefly
before the gruff exterior returned.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> And
there it was: "Almost okay" became the mantra for doing
well over the next three years. Three years of work, study, pain,
and sweat that culminated into being invited to continue to study at
one of the most prestigious guilds of the five city-states. </span></span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Many
times when Gaden asked Jamder about his past he would say simply "I
lived in Adengaan for a while." It wasn't until Gaden received
his invitation that mentioned the recommendation of Jamder, a former
guild member that a few stories of his time in the city came out.
The more he heard of this city life, the more he looked forward to
going. Now, the day had come where he would have his chance.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> It
was that invitation that his father, Samdir, stood and raised his
glass to the forty or so family and friends from the village. They
joined him raising their glasses and rising from the table.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Son," the brown
bearded man started, "this is a special day. Through hard work,
dedication, and of course, with the help of a very special man,"
he nodded in the direction of Jamder who nodded slightly, "you
are going to embark on a journey in life few of us could dream of.
I'm so very, very proud of you son, and as much as I wish you didn't
have to leave tomorrow, I accept that your path is going to take you
away from home."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "So, my family and
friends, join me tonight in celebrating the success of my son, Gaden.
May his path always be lit from the light of good family, good
friends, and good men." The man downed his drink in one, and
many others, followed suit.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Now
come everyone! Drink, drink! Celebrate with my son, for tomorrow he
leaves us!" Cheers and congratulations flowed across the table
as soft happy tune began to play again.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> The
drinking was quite heavy through the night and Gaden, not used to
drink, was intoxicated quite quickly. It didn't take long for his
speech to slur and his gait to stagger. It was a night of happiness
and joy, at least until the drink really caught up with him late into
the night. Most had either gone home or passed out at the pavilion
with only a few managing to stay upright in their seats, talking
softly and nursing the last of their drink. A sole musician playing
a recorder was the only one left trying to play a happy tune, out of
time and horribly out of tune.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Come,
Gaden," Jamder beckoned, "time to go back to the house."
Gaden lifted his head from the table where he was sitting, almost
passed out.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "uhhh
c'mon jhzamderyrrrrr," Gaden pleaded, "can’t we jas
wahlk? Yew knows I gets zeek when theleporhtun!"</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "You're in no condition to
walk," the old man countered, "Now come here."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Gaden
managed to rise and half stumbled, half fell into the old mage who
grabbed him around the waist. With a quick flourish they blinked
from the pavilion and appeared at the front door of the mage's house.
His student promptly threw up.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en">A
lot.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> All over his master before
falling to the ground and passing out. Jamder looked down at the
mess on him and on the ground and sighed.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Great...
just... great."</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> The
morning activities of the town of Tenby tugged at Gaden's
consciousness. It couldn't possibly be morning already and he refused
to accept it. Groggily, he opened his eyes praying that it wasn't
really morning yet. His prayer unanswered he flung his legs over the
side of the bed and slowly rose to a sitting position. His head
throbbed no doubt from the drinking the night before. At that moment
he swore off drinking ever again.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Gaden
stood and steadied himself against the spinning room. Tonic, he
needed tonic. Staggering to the shelves in his room he found what he
was looking for - a small vial with green liquid. He uncorked it and
downed the contents in one swallow. Almost immediately the dizziness
and headache subsided.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Always
use your ability to help those who are less fortunate," he
repeated the mantra of his master out loud to no one in particular,
except in this case he was the less fortunate one, or so he told
himself. Feeling somewhat normal again he went to his basin to
splash some cool water on his face. Each splash sobering him up to
the reality this was the last day he would perform this morning
ritual in this town. The steel mirror held his reflection as he
stared at his face and attempted to etch every feature of himself in
his mind to remember the end of this chapter of his life. His eyes
worked their way up from the bottom of his face to the top. His
neatly trimmed brown beard he prided himself on having for over three
years now. His gaze moved to his nose, slightly crooked after being
broken in his youth.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en">"It
was worth it. The bastard got what he deserved in the end for
stealing from me" he thought as he smiled. His hazel eyes
squinting slightly as he smiled also revealing dimples that never
quite disappeared as he grew into manhood. He began to comb his
short brown hair when a familiar voice called from outside his
window.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "GADEN!"
The old mage Jamder called, his bass voice ringing.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "GADEN!
Just because you leave today doesn't mean your get a pass. Outside
in five minutes!"</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "ON MY WAY!" Gaden
yelled back. He didn't want to keep the old man waiting, but took
just another moment to study himself in the mirror as he uttered
another mantra that had been burned into his brain: "Fit body,
fit mind".</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> It
was as if he was seeing the street for the first time when he exited
the house. Things felt strange, foreign, as if he didn't belong. He
wondered if this sensation was because his conscious mind didn't
accept he had a new path in life, but his subconscious his mind had.
Gaden was roused from his thoughts by a slap to the back of the head.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Welcome
back from the dead, my boy,” Jamder said, excessive sarcasm ringing
through his gravelly voice, "you know the drill. Today its
Eagle's Crag and back." He held up the familiar pendant of the
bear. "Get going."</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Yes,
SIR!" Gaden retorted with a mock salute and began his run down
the road and off to Eagle's Crag. Jamder watched as he ran, stroking
his long white beard with his thick fingers. He had joined the guild
as a strapping young lad when he was only twenty-one, a year younger
than his pupil and one of the youngest to be accepted, ever. And
now, fifty years later he watched what would be his last student
start his last run under his tutelage. The old man believed in
physical training, and it was that training along with mental
discipline that gave him the looks of someone twenty years his
junior. However, in this moment as Gaden turned to disappear around
a hedge, he realized he would never teach another student. That
realization made him feel old.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden had done the run
countless times and probably knew every twig, rock, and tree along
the way. Three miles out, three miles back. The first few minutes
were always the worst. Despite all the years of training his body
refused to come online for the first half mile or so. It felt
excruciating. Once he got his rhythm though he could let his mind
wander. Today, his thoughts were a mixture of excitement and
sadness. Part of him didn't want to leave the familiar comforts of
his home town. He was going to miss his family, the fun times
fishing with his father or the breakfast smells from his mother
waking up as a kid. His extended family, his friends, and even those
he fought with, he was going to miss them all. But part of him was
also excited! No one in his family had ever been to Adengaan. He
would be the first to see if the stories were true about the city.
Stories of tall buildings and clothing made from gold leaf. Of pubs
and music and... men.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> That part excited him the most.
Tenby was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone's business
and being gay was a part of him he wanted to keep private. Besides,
except for a few who moved here like Jamder, he grew up with everyone
here and that seemed to cool any attraction to anyone in the town.
Getting a fresh start in Adengaan was nothing short of a dream come
true.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> His thoughts were interrupted
to make the final push up a steep incline to the waist-high boulder
at the top of Eagle's Crag. There it was: the pendant the old man
was wearing when he started the run. He donned the necklace for the
last time and, after a few quick breaths to take in the eagles lazily
riding thermals, began the descent from the Crag and back to town.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "How
is using magic to put the pendant there helping the less fortunate?"
he questioned in his mind. Jamder had many sayings in the ten years
he taught Galen, but there were two that he repeated more than most:
"Always use your talent to help the less fortunate" and
"Fit body, fit mind". Galen had started making a mental
list of all of Jamder's sayings when he stopped dead in his tracks,
snapped back to reality and breathing heavily. To the left of him
was old man Emered's hedge, and the street of his adoptive home in
front of him. This run, this last run, was over when he turned the
corner. It was in this moment he realized of all the things he was
going to miss about that town, it was going to be that gruff old man
waiting for him around the corner. He was going to miss his wisdom,
his guidance, his knowledge. At that moment in Gaden's mind, it
seemed like an eternity of contemplation as to whether he wanted to
turn that corner, to really close this chapter of his training with
such finality. To a casual observer, it would have looked like a
momentary pause before he started running again.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Well,
well, well... almost okay," Jamder commented as he took the
necklace from Galen's outstretched hand, bent over huffing from the
exertion of the run. "Catch your breath and cool off. No
calisthenics today. We have more important matters." He turned
without saying another word and headed back to his small house.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Gaden
was relieved. He liked that part of training less than the running,
in fact he used to think that all of this was useless compared to
alchemy or magic. It was hard to deny it was this very training that
gave his body a hard, muscular look, and over the last couple of
years he came to embrace the way he looked especially with a "man's
beard". Still breathing hard he stripped his shirt off and went
over to his water bucket to ladle out some cool water, pouring it
over his head and shoulders and letting it run through his beard,
chest and back hair. He loved the relief the water brought and was
glad he wouldn't need the whole bucket today for a change. His
breathing returned to normal as he walked slowly to Jamder's house.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden let himself in as the
door was slightly open. Jamder was sitting at his study table with a
second chair placed opposite his. All of the shades were drawn
making the house dark. Without saying a word Gaden closed the door
softly and sat down in the chair. Jamder's icy blue eyes seem to
penetrate his soul as he spoke.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Light the candles,
Galen." Jamder softly commanded.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> With a snap of his fingers,
four candles on the table lit up. He remembered when he first
succeeded with one candle years ago. Now it was old habit. Jamder
sighed at the unnecessary flourish of snapping his fingers before
speaking.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "It's been fifty years
since I joined the Guild in Adengaan," the old man spoke softly,
"and I've been training new students in magic for about forty.
When I moved here about ten years ago, I never thought I would
encounter someone out here," he waved his hand around to motion
to their small rural town, "that would have your ability. You
may think I've been especially hard on you at times but I have my
reasons. I knew that you needed strict guidance to temper that
ability."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> The
young mage wanted to protest, but he seemed to understand, in
retrospect, the motivations of his teacher. The old man raised a
hand up to stop Gaden from interrupting and continued, "You need
to know that I'm very proud of you. You have such a bright road
ahead and, being my last student before I finally retire, I'm glad
that I could be a part of shaping who you are, not just as a student
of magic, but as a man.” He smiled softly and pushed a necklace
across the table toward Gaden.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Gaden
stared down at it. It was the bear necklace he must have retrieved
hundreds of times on his various runs. His teacher wouldn't let him
come back without it despite trying and failing a couple of times.
He looked back up at his teacher, his mentor, and in many ways a
second father in his life who nodded at him to take it. He gingerly
picked it up and hung it around his neck, the silver contrasting with
his brown chest hair.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "There's
something else I want to give you,” and with that he reached under
the table and placed on it a thick leather bound tome with various
sigils and seals embossed on its cover. He turned it toward Gaden.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "It's a compendium of
different subjects and information in arcana. Think of it as an old
man's magical autobiography and encyclopedia all in one. You might
find some things useful in there as the years go by." He opened
the cover to reveal an inscription:</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> TO
GADEN. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. MAY IT SERVE YOU WELL. - Jamder</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden was stunned. He knew
underneath the gruff exterior was a man who cared deeply for his
training and success but he never expected it would be shown like
this. More often than not his efforts would get an "almost
okay" from the old coot. And here was a book that shared his
fifty years of knowledge and wisdom.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Jamder started to stand at the
table and Gaden followed suit, the younger about a head taller than
the elder. The elder mage came around the table and put his hands on
each side of his pupil's head. Pulling him down to eye level, he
held his gaze before pulling him further down to kiss him on the
forehead and then grabbed him for a tight embrace. After Gaden
returned the embrace, holding each other tightly, his gruff exterior
returned as he broke the embrace. The book was picked up off the
table, and placed at the young man's chest.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Time for you to leave."
He said simply.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden stared for a moment,
etching every detail of the old man into his memory before taking the
book under his arm and walking by him to go to outside again. Sounds
of the town intruded into the small home as the door cracked open.
He turned at the doorway to face his teacher one last time, but the
old mage didn't turn around.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Goodbye Jamder," it
was the first time he addressed him by his name, as an equal. </span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Not knowing what else to say,
he simply said to the old man, "Thank you."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> He
waited for a moment, hoping for a reply, but none came. After one
final look Gaden turned and left. As the door closed softly behind
him, the old man remained motionless. The door clicked shut once
again shutting the town out and returning the home to silence. The
motionless old man had a stoic expression betrayed only by a single
tear falling to his beard, reflecting in the flickering candlelight.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "You're welcome, Gaden."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">**********************************************************</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> The
city of Adengaan was a majestic sight as he emerged into the clearing
from the forest road. Nestled against the edge of a cliff, it was
big, so much bigger than he expected. Gaden stopped his horse for a
moment to take it in before coaxing the horse back to a walk for the
closest open gate. A gate that continued to loom larger as he
approached it. By the time he was at the gate he guessed the walls
must have been forty feet high, and he could see buildings taller
than that behind it.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> A mercenary guard blocked his
horse's path at the last minute, startling the horse to a stop as it
whinnied in protest.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Your business?" the
guard said gruffly.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "To join the Mage's Guild
of Adengaan" he said simply.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The guard in his shining steel
armour looked the young man up and down carefully before an
incredulous look came over his face.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "You? Join the guild?
Right, and I'm King Halben!!" He started laughing. "Look,
I don't know what kind of stunt you're trying to pull, maybe trying
to hawk some trinkets you have in that rickety cart for some decent
clothes or whatever, but we're not having it here. This is a proper
city, so why don't you go back to whatever village you came from,
okay?"</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The young mage's blood was
boiling at the insults. Years of controlling that boil were paying
off as he maintained his cool to explain the situation.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "I
have a letter of invite here from the Guild that proves..."</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "I
DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE!" the wiry guard retorted,
trying to puff himself up, "Look, you're not going to be able to
convince me with some forgery you're joining the guild." He
moved in closer, and spoke in a softer tone, "but if you have
some OTHER way you can convince me, perhaps I can overlook this."
His outstretched hand indicated he expected a bribe.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden could feel the heat in
his face and the blood pumping through the veins in his neck. It was
taking a lot to control his rage but he knew this was not the time
nor place for a confrontation. It was then the words of the guard
turned in his head. It may not have been the right time or place,
but he couldn't help it. With a malicious smile, he formed a plan.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Sure, I think I have a
way I can convince you." The young mage acted like his right
hand was reaching into his pocket, but instead of coming out with
coin thrust his hand forward, fingers out, palm facing left as a wave
of nearly invisible energy left his fingers. It struck the guard in
the chest, knocking him off his feet and hurling him backwards
against the wall where he slumped down on the ground. </span>
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Convinced?" Gaden
asked wryly as the guard tried to shake the cobwebs from his head.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The guard was not amused and
any sense of decorum was gone. He stood up cursing, drew his sword,
and began to walk with purpose back toward the cart. A few other
guards who had seen the situation fell in lockstep with their
comrade. Gaden's anger was quickly replaced by fear. Four against
one and they had swords. His temper had gotten him in trouble
before, but this wasn't his old master in town. These were guards,
in Adengaan, and he was alone.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "IS THERE A PROBLEM HERE?"</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> A
booming baritone voice froze the guards in their tracks. Gaden
looked to where the voice came from to see an enormous man. The
young mage was taller than average and this man was probably a head
taller than him. He seemed to be as wide as he was tall, as if the
shiny black armor could barely hold the strength contained inside. A
thick, bushy black beard and short cropped black hair framed his
square face, and if his frame didn't command respect, his piercing
green eyes did. He looked to be about ten years older than him and
he seemed to command respect from everyone around him. Apprehension,
fear, and curiosity all fought for control in his mind as he tried to
take in the situation.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "No, no problem at all,
Brunaulf" the smaller guard responded, "just getting rid of
some riff-raff"</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Really? Because to me it
looks like you're trying to shake someone less fortunate down."
The big man retorted, striding over to the scene, "I mean, I
HOPE that's not what I just saw, right?" He got in the man's
face, looking down his nose at the smaller man.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "n-no,
sir,” the smaller man stammered, "you didn't see that."</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Good!" He turned
his attention to Gaden, "So, what brings you to Adengaan?"</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden stared at the man,
somewhat dumbfounded. This mountain of a man captivated his
imagination, and awoke feelings in him he hadn't experienced before.
He felt an attraction to this man and felt himself sinking into
thoughts of seeing this powerful man out of his armour. He broke the
train of thought quickly, and seeing the fear this man put in the
other guards gave him some courage to speak his mind.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Well you see, sir, I have
been invited to join the Mage's Guild of Adengaan. I have an
invitation letter that I was going to show them but he didn't believe
me and said I needed to convince him."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "That's when he threw me
against the wall!!" The guard interjected.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "I never laid a hand on
him," Gaden retorted, smiling, "that's how I convinced
him."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The big man stood there without
expression. There was something about this young mage. His bearded
face caught his attention as did his taut frame. He involuntarily
sniffed the air, his hypersensitive nose catching the man's scent.
It was intoxicating, inviting, and he felt something stir under his
amour. However, any interest he had in the man he hid well and
reached out a thick, large hand.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Papers, please?"</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden fished out the letter and
put it in his hand. Brunaulf inspected the letter carefully.
Everything seemed to be in order. The usual pleasantries, the offer
for room and board in exchange for service to His Majesty and the
date to take the oath. Present was both the signature and seal of
His Royal Majesty.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "It appears your paperwork
is in order," he determined, "but let me give you a piece
of advice. Adengaan has laws. These laws are our rules. With rules
you have order and with order you have success. I expect you will
follow the rules of our city and obey His Royal Majesty, King
Halben." He returned the papers and stepped aside to allow the
horse and cart to pass.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Welcome to Adengaan,"
he concluded.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden took the papers back and
tucked them away carefully. As he turned to place the papers back in
his satchel Brunaulf noticed his bear pendant sliding out momentarily
before being hidden again when he sat upright. With sideways glances
at the group and the big man, he walked his horse through the gate.
Brunaulf stared at him, studying him from behind as he drove his cart
down the city street catching one last smell of him before mixing
with the other scents of the city.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "What
in the hells just happened?" Gaden thought to himself as his
horse slowly drew the cart down the street. Mentally, he was shaken
at the encounter that just happened. Not even in the city walls and
he almost had to fight for his freedom or his life. He swore to
himself and tried to calm his thoughts about his stupidity. The
sights and sounds of the city seemed to pass him by as he was lost in
thought. The hooves against the wide cobblestone road barely
penetrated his consciousness. The quiet residential street
transformed into shops and street carts with merchants peddling
wares. Soon he came to the square in the city center where the young
mage stopped his cart in shock as he snapped back to reality. Over
half of Tenby’s population could have been here. There were
hundreds! People gathered talking, laughing, or selling wares.
Street performers mixed in the crowd entertaining small children.
Never had he seen anything like it. Scanning the right side of the
square he spotted the landmark: A fountain with a statue of the
city-state's patron, King Halben, regally standing behind it. The
road next to the fountain led to his destination.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> He
wanted to stay and take more of this in, but there would be time
enough for that later. It was a ten day journey from Tenby and his
oath was tomorrow. Gaden coaxed his horse back to a walk as his
thoughts returned to the man at the gate. He wondered if, in such a
big city, their paths would ever cross again. He certainly hoped so.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> About
ten minutes later he arrived at his destination, an area of the city
segregated by a smaller wall from the rest. Several well-spaced
guard towers overlooked both sides of the wall and could see all the
way to the forest beyond the grain fields. Behind the wall were
three major facilities: The royal palace which housed His Majesty
King Halben, the Royal Guard's training center and barracks, and the
Mage' Guild of Adengaan. Unlike the gate to the city, this smaller
gate seemed to be manned only by men in reflective black armour like
the large man captivating his thoughts.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Good day, sir!" The
guard pleasantly chirped.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Good day to you,"
Gaden replied, relieved at the friendliness. He began fishing
through his belongings and presented his letter, "I'm here at
the invitation of both His Majesty and the Mage's Guild of Adengaan."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The guard perused the letter,
noting the signature and seal with care, before carefully handing the
letter back.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Thank you for the
credentials." The guard continued, "After you pass through
the gate, turn left. You will pass by the recruit training grounds
on your right. Past that, on the right, you'll see a three story
building with stained glass on the north side. That's where you want
to go. If you come to a garden with a well, you went too far."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden thanked the man for his
help and followed his directions making careful note of the recruits
in the midst of their training. Some of them were drilling in
swordplay with wooden swords, others were involved in strength
training lifting heavy stones onto and off of a table. Still others
were running on a path that surrounded an athletic field. A few he
even found attractive.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Fit body, fit mind"
He said to himself as he smiled and continued on to the building.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gaden stopped his cart near the
main door of the building described to him by the guard. The ornate
building with its arches and intricate architecture spoke volumes for
both the timelessness of the building and the reverence for which its
occupants maintained it. The young mage wrapped the large knocker on
the door, the solid oak reverberating deep thumps into what felt like
a hollow interior. After a minute a short but well-dressed gentleman
of about fifty arrived at the door.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "You must be Gaden,"
the clean-shaven man said in a tone that implied it wasn't a question
nor was this is first time orienting new members, "My name is
Nadis. I'll be your guide and proctor for the next month as you get
oriented. Come with me and I'll show you to your room."</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Gaden
grabbed an essentials bag from his cart - he would come for the rest
later - and followed Nadis, a balding man in a green tunic with gold
accents. The man did not share the "fit body, fit mind"
philosophy which was obvious from his paunch as the turned and
started down the hall.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "For
your first two weeks here you will have restricted access to the
grounds," his proctor began in a somewhat bored tone as he
continued to walk down the hall, "this is so you will focus on
your entrance testing. No entry after ten, no departures before six.
Common meals should you choose to engage with... </span></span><span><span lang="en"><i>them</i></span></span><span><span lang="en">..."
cocking his head toward the trainees outside, "are at eight,
one, and six."</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Nadis came to a stop in front
of a door at the end of the hall. He eyed Gaden up and down, seeming
to appraise him for the first time since he started speaking. With a
snap of his fingers a card appeared in his hand and handed it to his
charge.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "This
is the name and address of the guild's tailor,” He looked the young
man up and down again, "see to it that you see him well before
you see His Majesty at three o'clock tomorrow." He then reached
into a pocket and handed the young man a key.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Your room key. If you
need anything let me know." He turned and walked back down the
hall without saying another word.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "Charming
fellow" Gaden said to himself as he turned the key to the lock
and let himself into his new home. It was a fairly modest room
consisting of a double bed, a couple of dressers, a bookcase, and a
small stand with a pitcher, basin and a mirror on the wall behind it.
A work desk with chair completed the sparse furnishings. He
returned to his cart to grab the remainder of his belongings and
bring them to his room.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> A
clock tower in the background struck one o'clock as the young mage
was making up his room, from outside his window a single baritone
voice carried over the field.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "OKAY
RECRUITS! MEAL TIME. GET THAT CHOW IN YOU AND STAY AWAY FROM THE
CAKE! IF I SEE YOU EATING CAKE I GUARANTEE YOU, IT WON'T BE THE LAST
TIME I SEE IT TODAY!"</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> Gaden
knew that voice. He hurried to the window and opened it to have a
look. Sure enough it was... what did that guard say his name was?
Brunaulf?... barking instructions to the recruits. His large stature
and brawny build was unmistakable. He sat at the window, simply
admiring the man's rugged features, surveying the men under his
command, scratching his thick beard in contemplation. As the big
man's eyes scanned the field, he looked across it to the other side
and his eyes locked on Gaden's sitting in his room.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> The
young man froze like statue as he felt as if his heart stopped.
Their gazes locked for about a five count when Brunaulf, expression
unchanging, turned his attention back to his men.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "THIRTY MINUTES MEN,
THAT'S THE RULES," he started striding toward the mess hall
bellowing, "RULES BRING ORDER, AND ORDER BRINGS SUCCESS!"</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> With the big man's back turned,
Gaden closed the window and finally exhaled the breath he realized he
had been holding the whole time.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en"> "What
the hell is wrong with me?" he cursed to himself, "I'm
acting like a little kid!" He looked at the card he realized he
had been holding the whole time as well, and decided to focus on the
tasks at hand needed for tomorrow.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-10530987425557165442020-04-22T10:11:00.000-07:002020-04-22T10:11:13.548-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">It's A Small, Bear, World!</span><br />
by UrsusMajr and Papa Werebear<br />
<br />
(sung to 'It's A Small World')<br />
(Warning! Ear worm!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's a world of bulk,<br />It's a world
of fur;<br />You can call them 'Cub'<br />You can call them 'Sir';<br />Their
face they don't shave,<br />Their bodies, the same,<br />It's a small,
bear world!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's a bear world after all, <br />it's a
bear world after all, <br />it's a bear world after all,<br />It's a
small, bear, world.<br /><br />It's a world of muscle,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's a world of fat;</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's a world of ink</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hidden by fur mats;</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yes, they're really quite butch,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(But they're just a soft touch),</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's a gruff, bear world!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's a bear world after all, <br />it's a
bear world after all, <br />it's a bear world after all,<br />It's a
small, bear, world.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-26639605035170662742019-12-22T11:40:00.000-08:002019-12-22T12:29:18.762-08:00Meyers and Sons Paint and Auto Body - Chapter 12<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Meyers
and Sons Paint and Auto Body</b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">By
Papa Werebear and Ursus Major</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Chapter 12</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 1:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The drive back from the
ranch took two hours. It had taken him a little under an hour to get
Charlie settled in his room, so he’d left around 6 am; it was now a
quarter past six and Royce was starving. He hadn't eaten since last
night at the restaurant, and that seemed like ages ago. He rubbed
his slightly rounded belly and gut, still partially full of Charlie’s
sperm. The bracelet was doing its work, beginning his changes.
Royce felt like he could eat a side of beef right now. He headed to
the nearest fast food joint, knowing that there’d be plenty of high
fat, carbohydrate- and protein-rich food available.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">'Carbs and protein for a
growin' bear,' Royce thought.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He pulled into a Big Man
Burgers. Their commercial slogans said, ‘Meals to satisfy a Big
Man, even if you’re a little guy’, and they showed a burly dad
biting into a burger, then cut to his son, doing the same with the
‘Little Guy’ burger. You could order anything on their menu any
time of day, so Royce ordered six triple Big Man Burgers with double
cheese and double bacon, no veggies or sauce, large bacon fries with
each burger, four real ice cream ‘Big Boy’ chocolate shakes, and
two sausage and egg “Bigger Breakfast” biscuits, with extra
cheese.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He pulled up to the window
and the young, short bearded, chubby guy who took his money and
handed over the food gawped. The young cub said (because he really
wanted to say something to the handsome biker bear with the cigar in
the corner of his mouth, poking through the thick salt and pepper
mustache), “Didja get stuck doin’ the food run this mornin'?
Takin' food back to your buddies?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Nope!” Royce
answered, drawing on his stogie and puffing out a huge cloud of
smoke, “This is all for me.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The cub stared in
amazement, not knowing if the biker was serious or not. “All of
it?” he asked.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yep!” Royce growled
out in a sexy low voice, obviously stroking the front of his jeans as
he looked into the young man’s eyes, “I’m a HUNGRY ol’ bear,
and I got a huge appetite I gotta satisfy.” Royce let that sink
into the cub’s brain for a few seconds, knowing what he was doing
to the kid, “Oh, and… I’ll need a fist full of napkins, I plan
to get messy.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The cub, rock hard at this
point and slightly stunned by the overt sexual innuendo, was like a
deer in the headlights. His eyes were slightly glazed as he imagined
what it would be like to have this biker daddy pounding him from
behind, growling curses, and talking dirty to him around that fat
cigar in his mouth. It was something he’d wanted since he was a
twelve year old boy and had seen a group of hairy, tatted up, big
bearded bikers ride down Main Street. One particularly beefy, salt
and pepper, furry daddy biker had turned and acknowledged him with a
nod, smile, and military style salute at his wide eyed wonder at
their passing. It’s why he rode a motorcycle himself; he wanted to
ride too, even though all he could afford was a Japanese bike… at
the moment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Royce took the cigar out
of his mouth and said, “Uh, napkins?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh… uh… right!”
the cub responded, grabbing about three inches of folded napkins and
handing them over to Royce who put the cigar back in his mouth and
took the napkins.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">You take care of
yourself, cub! And have a good wank in the restroom on your next
break thinkin’ about big ol’ hungry, hairy daddy bears, OK?”
Royce smiled around the cigar. He’d jotted down his address
quickly on the back of a napkin and handed it back to the kid. “I’m
gonna be busy for a couple of days, but if you wanna drop by I could
give you a night you’ll never forget… maybe more. Just come by,
Daddy will take good care of you, I promise.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The cub blushed from head
to toe, but said, “Ummm… really?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Fuck yeah, really!
Wouldn’ta made the offer if I didn’t mean it. You get your furry
butt up the hill, I’ll take care of the rest, sexy.” Royce winked
at him and smiled. “Bye!” he said as he rolled up his window and
drove out back onto the highway.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The cub was absolutely
sure he would. Sure he’d hop on his Yamamoto bike and ride up to
this hot beast’s house. Sure that offers like this didn’t come
but once in a lifetime and he was NOT going to pass this one up. He
was off shift in an hour and he’d hurry home and beat off furiously
thinking about the hot, hungry biker daddy fucking him stupid on the
back of his Harley up in the mountains, at his place.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Hey! Get your sorry
ass in here, boy... order's up!” the cub's boss bellowed from the
kitchen. Still dazed, the Cub turned and refocused on his job,
adjusting his pants as his cock slowly subsided. It didn’t matter,
he’d be home soon and he could forget about this place for a while.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Royce headed toward the
cabin he’d purchased which was only about ten miles farther on from
where he’d taken Charlie.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">It
was now 6:35 am by the dashboard clock. The sun was up, thankfully
it was behind him, not in his eyes, so Royce could dig into the bags of food with
his right hand and hold his cigar between his fingers with his
left hand on the steering wheel. He couldn’t exactly eat the
burgers as sandwiches while driving, so he’d grab a bun off the top
and eat that. He’d work his way through the burger down to the
bottom bun, piece by piece. After the first two burgers, with an
order of fries between, he was somewhat sated, but still hungry.
He’d gone through several of the napkins, wadding them up and
tossing them on the floor of the passenger’s seat next to him when
they’d become too soiled to be of any further use.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He thought about the kid
at the fast food place and rubbed his cock. Taking his tight,
possibly virgin, hole would be hot. Him and the kid alone up in the
cabin. Daddy Bear needed another Cub… daddy needed family, it was
something he felt so deeply. He’d grown up lonely, isolated, and
it made him long for the bond of family. Royce had a profound need
to procreate, he needed to breed offspring, and that kid would make
one fine werebear son, as would his other boys. Royce would be
father to them all!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The cabin was a very nice
place, and frankly a steal even at the price he’d paid, considering
how spacious it was and what had been done to it. The previous
owners had renovated only a year ago with a new roof, refurbished the
all wood flooring, and installed brand new appliances, all with the
intention of selling. They had over-extended themselves on other flipping projects and sold this one for cheap to generate some needed income. The whole place came furnished, newly
purchased of course, so it was a ‘ready to move in’ sort of deal
and Royce wouldn’t have to take much at all from his house to be
comfortable up here with his sons. He had purchased it by cashing
out his inheritance which had grown substantially in the years since
his folks had passed on.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">It had a spacious basement
with a large recreation area hooked up for an entertainment system.
Royce could easily make it his new dungeon play room and home gym.
There was a second master suite, complete with oversized shower, down
there and a small bar and galley-style kitchen. It was obviously
designed for entertaining and as guest quarters. Upstairs on the
first level was a large modern kitchen just off the stairs down to
the basement, and a laundry room attached to that just on the other
side next to the garage.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Rounding out the first
floor was a spacious dining room, a sunken living room that
overlooked a valley full of trees through huge picture windows. There
was a lake in the distance, the boats on it looking tiny from where
the cabin was, which was fine by Royce... he liked the isolation up
here, away from the little lakeside town. To the other side of the
windows on the outside was a huge covered deck and a large hot tub.
At the side of the cabin was a small shed which held the backup
generator, which would supply the cabin with power should it be
needed. The rest of the first floor was taken up with a medium
bedroom, a den, a mud room and foyer, a ¾ bath just off the foyer.
Up the stairs were two large bedrooms, a full bath between them, and
a master bedroom with an Alaskan king sized bed. This room had its
own deck which served as the roof for the deck below. The suite's
bathroom included a large whirlpool tub and a huge walk-in shower
(big enough to fit him and all four of his boys).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">By the somewhat frugal
standards he’s grown up with, this was palatial; and he thought it
the perfect place for him and his boys to start their new lives as
werebears.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">By now it was 8:30 and he
was almost to his cabin. It had been a little over two hours since
he’d left the cub gawking at him with a boner at Big Man Burger.
He’d just passed the rundown barn where he’d taken Charlie, ‘so
ten more miles to go’, he thought. He stuffed the last of the
fourth burger in his mouth as he looked over at the barn. He thought
about the old guy living there, how he might have lived out his life
completely active had it not been for the horse bucking him off,
crippling him, and confining him to a wheelchair. He felt sorry for
the guy, who would be moving to a care facility as soon as he’d
sold his land. Certainly it was sad, but it was one less thing he
nor his boys would have to worry about.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He’d read extensively
about werebears, and how they healed at miraculous rates from
devastating wounds. He thought about the old man again, ‘How awful
it must be to have to get around without the use of your legs and
then have to move to a nursing home because you can’t care for
yourself anymore. It’s a damned shame’.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A half hour later he
pulled into the driveway of the cabin, shut the engine off. He
paused for a moment, listening to the wind in the trees, the sound of
birds, the smell of the pines. ‘This! This is where bears
belong!’ he thought.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He then gathered up what
remained of his breakfast and the trash. There were two burgers
left, two now melted shakes, one carton of cold fries, and the two
breakfast biscuits, and Royce was STILL hungry. He took everything
into the house, put the remaining food and the cigar box on the
kitchen counter, packed his pipe, and lit it, tamped it down and
re-lit. The pumping equipment, tarps, and other things that were in
the back of his vehicle could be moved into the garage later; right
now, he needed to address his continued hunger. He sat and finished
off the rest of the food and when his belly was full, he patted it
and grunted contentedly. He took off his shirt, and stroked his
firmly rounded belly, enjoying the feel of his palm on the furred
skin. 'Soon, I'll be a fucking carpet,' he thought happily. For the
moment, he was truly sated.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Knowing this would not
last he went to the freezers in the garage and started pulling out
hamburger and sausage. There were also the cold cuts, ice cream,
starchy side dishes, ready to eat microwave dinners which were
convenient sources of energy; and he moved these to the fridge
freezer. He left two five pound packages of fatty burger meat and
sausage out to make into meatloaf later in the afternoon. He also
took a few cases of beer and sodas back into the house to chill in
the fridge. There were lots of calories to be had from these drinks
too. He also had twenty cases of canned liquid meal replacement
drinks, just in case.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He puffed on his pipe as
he moved into the living room, taking the cigar box with him, placing
it on the coffee table. He stripped the rest of his clothes off,
tossing his riding leathers into a recliner along with his other
clothes. He looked himself over, and it wasn’t just his
imagination! In the time since around midnight when he was with
Charlie and now, he’d grown more hair on his body. Looking over at
a mirror over the living room fireplace, he raised his hand to his
face and ran fingers through his beard. The short beard had grown
out substantially, it was now at least an inch and a half of thick
salt and pepper beard, his mustache was longer and thicker too,
looking very walrus-like. More than that, he felt stronger, even
more so than when he’d carried Charlie into the motel room only a
couple of hours ago. His densely furred chest and belly hadn’t
grown much more fur, but his arms and legs seemed to have increased
and he noticed that the stray hairs on his shoulders had been joined
by more of their kind. He turned and looked as best he could for
back hair and saw at least a little in the mirror. This was new!
Like his shoulders, his back had a very light covering of hair, only
really noticeable when up close or when he was wet. Royce growled
and felt a tingle in his balls as he thought about the increase in
fur. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">“Gonna be a fuckin’ fully carpeted beast at last!” he said
out loud as his cock grew thick and hard, thinking about what he was becoming.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He turned the copper
bracelet around on his arm, looking at it. The gems set in them
glowed briefly and then dimmed and repeated in a slow pulse. This
was something he’d never seen the artifact do before. Certainly it
had never done it when he’d worn it before, and it hadn’t been
doing that when he’d left town. Royce took it to mean that the
magic within it was active and working on his body.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He reached down and felt
his balls. His sack was still full of Charlie’s cum, but it was
loose enough now that he could actually grasp his balls within it and
GOD... they HAD grown! A man knows the size of his own balls, he
plays with them often enough; and Royce could feel that his balls had
grown to the size of what he’d guess to be large, maybe jumbo
chicken eggs. His balls were marinating in Charlie’s sperm, and
they were undergoing transmutation, growing; becoming bear balls
meant for breeding… breeding cubs, making family… bear family.
He briefly jacked his cock, intent on satisfying his lust, when he
remembered something and had an idea. Puffing on his pipe, moved to
the sofa. He opened up the cigar box and took out The Enhancer. He
slipped the bronze cock ring on, down to the base of his rigid
member. At first, it was tight but he felt the ring grow to
accommodate his size… also something new! He had worn this ring
before, while fucking his boys but never experienced it growing to
fit him. He’d always felt the ring was just a bit too small for
him and wondered how a big werebear could possibly wear it. Now he
knew! When worn by werebears, these items activated and that meant
that he was already a werebear… well, at least enough werebear for
the relics to work. The items ‘came to life’ on a werebear.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He
could feel a mild hum or vibration from The Enhancer, which caused
his balls to tingle pleasantly. He felt a surge of lust wash over
him and his cock was rock hard and veins bulged all over it in
seconds. He was harder and more lustful than he’d ever been in his
life! He stroked his meat and it was ultra-sensitive. He knew it
wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge into orgasm. Precum
began oozing from the tip of his cock, down over his knuckles. He
took the pipe from his mouth and licked the back of his hand clean. A
rivulet of the sweet clear sticky cock nectar spilled from the tip of
his cock and puddled on the floor in front of him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Filled with lust and need,
Royce pulled the coffee table close to the leather sofa so that the
cigar box was within reach, should he want one, and then he lay on
the couch and began jacking. He didn’t need lube, the profuse
precum he was pumping out did a fine job of making his cock slick.
He drew hard on his pipe as he jacked, and thoughts of Charlie and
Ron, fucking hairless younger men, filling them with seed while
huffing on cigars, filled his head. In his mind, he saw them,
shooting their huge loads into their boys, breeding them to be bears.
They kept fucking them as their boys grew fur all over their bodies,
as beards sprouted on their faces and quickly became dense, and
bushy, covering cheeks high and thick and completely obscuring their
chins. Their thin frames expanded with muscle and fat, their cocks
grew longer and their balls swelled as they absorbed the seed from
their werebear sires. One of the young men morphed into the kid at
the fast food joint and it was no longer Ron or Charlie behind him,
but Royce. The young man became a long bearded, furry bear man, and
then his body began shifting into werebear shape.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Royce had only been
jacking for a few minutes, but as the young man in his mind matured
and changed into a strong, proud, magnificent werebear, with Royce
behind, his cock buried deep in his newest cub, Royce felt himself
moving faster toward the edge of bliss. His burger cub was changing
along with the young man Charlie was fucking. They both pounded
their cubs like pistons from behind and abruptly Royce was catapulted
into full on, stupefying orgasm. He hauled on his pipe, deeply,
exhaling huge clouds of smoke as he shot stream after stream of thick
creamy cum all over his full beard, furry chest, and belly... and it
just kept coming, minute after minute. Royce was completely lost in
pleasure, watching in his mind as the young man under him grew hugely
muscular and well padded. Fur engulfing his young, cubbish body as
he changed shape from huge, hairy human to burly, barrel shaped,
furry, primal BEAR! Nothing mattered for Royce except the next spasm
that followed, putting another gush of hot, thick, white, seed on his
torso. He rutted, fucking his squeezing fist for five minutes until
finally it subsided.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Royce was breathless,
panting, and spent. He'd never had an orgasm like this one, not even
the first time he had fucked each of his boys and those had been the
absolute best fucks he’d had up until now. He’d thought taking
them for the first time as their daddy had been the ultimate sexual
high. Now he knew there was more.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He took the pipe from his
mouth, knocked the ashes into the tray, and placed it in the rack
where it belonged. He was exhausted and covered in his own cum, but
too tired to get up and clean off.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">And then he felt it; the
tingle. He felt his balls… they’d grown even more! He was sure
of it! His lust and need begin to rise again. He knew it was the
enchanted cock ring, gearing him up to breed again. It grew a little
tight to capture blood in his cock to make him rock hard again. He
gently pulled on it and it grew less tight as it began moving up his
shaft from the base. He took it off and set it on the table and
almost instantly, he felt lethargy wash over him. He put his hand on
his belly and felt the cooling cum in his fur. He yawned, and began
rubbing the seed all over his torso, rubbing it into his fur, coating
his skin. Bear cum was precious, it was not to be wasted. If it
wasn’t consumed, it was rubbed into the skin to be absorbed. He
knew it really wouldn’t be absorbed, but it was a fantasy he like
to nurture. After he’d finished rubbing it into his beard, he
thought, ‘I’ve been up for more than twenty-four hours, no wonder
I’m tired,’ and shortly, with only the sound of birds and the
wind through the trees outside, Royce was deeply asleep.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Nick had called Ron right
after he’d had the nightmare. He told his Papa that Bubba had the
exact same nightmare and they’d both been in it together.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">By now, Ron had settled
into his hotel room and Casey, Quinn and Olaf were playing next door,
playing rather loudly, in fact. Ron took a moment and pounded on the
wall, “Keep it down in there! I’m on the phone!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Immediately there was
laughter and the growling and cries of, “Fuck me, Daddy” grew
louder.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Animals!” Ron said
into the phone, smiling, “Sorry, Cub, the neighbors are fuckin’
rude and rowdy tonight”.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">So, what does it mean,
Papa?” Nick asked, still more than a little upset.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron's humor sobered. "I really don’t know,
I’ve never heard of such a thing. It’s very strange though.
It’s not a normal dream, it’s a vision, that’s for sure." Ron paused and rubbed his forehead. "I
suppose I could go next door and ask Olaf, he's been around, dabbled
in some of this shit and has more experience with mystic stuff… I
really wish Charlie was here, he’s been around even longer, and
he’s a Shaman. He’d be even more likely to know.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Uncle Charlie’s not
with you?” Nick asked. A cold shiver worked its way down the
younger bear’s spine.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">No, we figured he
stopped off somewhere and is doing the ‘pre-game show’, playing
around somewhere with some hot piece of furry trucker or biker ass he
met on the way. You know Charlie; B’ars ‘n’ ‘Gars doesn’t
officially start until tomorrow at noon, and you know that ol’
fucker doesn’t pass up an opportunity to get some tail if it’s
presented to him... particularly if it’s a hairy one,” Ron said, unable to suppress a chuckle.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Papa… what if this
dream is about Charlie?” Nick asked, the worry plain in his voice.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I dunno… that sounds
a bit iffy. Charlie wasn’t actually in the dream, was he?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">No,” Nick admitted.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I think... I'm sure
Charlie’s fine. He’s a big bear, no one’s going to get the
drop on him,” Ron said. He was trying to convince himself, but a
feeling of dread was beginning to creep into him, too.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I hope you’re
right,” Nick said. “Look, maybe it’s a vision, or maybe it’s
just a weird coincidental dream, and that’s all it is. But ask
Olaf in the morning and get back to me, OK?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Alright son, I will,”
Ron said, “Get back to bed and kiss your brothers for me, OK?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Alright Papa, but I
don’t know that we’ll get much sleep.” Nick rubbed the back of
his neck and rolled his shoulders, trying to relieve some of the
tension he was carrying. “Still, we should try, gotta open up the
shop in a few hours. Goodnight, love you!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Night Nick, Papa loves
you too!” Ron said with a smile.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Take care, Papa.”
Nick said, and hung up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Wherever you are, you
ol’ horny fucker, I hope you’re alright,” Ron said out loud
after hanging up, then reached over and turned out the light. Next door, he could
faintly hear the sound of Olaf and the other two having sex. They
had quieted down, they actually didn’t want to be rude to every
other bear who might have already come in for pre-registration
festivities. He’d have joined them, except he was frankly both
worried and tired. 'Time enough for play later,' he thought with a
yawn, and soon he was asleep.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">In the morning Bubba,
Cody, and Nick got to the shop just a bit early with the others. It
would be a full day, two of the cars were going to be picked up
tomorrow, their paint jobs had been finished and the upholstery
installed on one of them and final touches had to be made. The
‘Sons’ in Meyers and Sons could rebuild a car both mechanical and
electrical, do the body work, reupholster, paint and have it from
clunker to classic, and do it all in-house. One of the cars was a
total, tires-to-roof restoration while the other was simply a strip
and new paint job. It cost to have the boys work a restoration, but
then the guys who wanted their vintage vehicles show room new would
pay for the care that Ron’s shop was known to put into their
vehicles. There were three more projects in the works and it would
be all hands on deck as there were deadlines to meet with each of the
vehicles. One of these was a classic 60s era Chevy C-10 pickup truck,
a favorite of Bubba’s.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">When Bubba got into the
office, he saw that there were three messages on the machine. He
played them back. The first was about one of the finished cars,
confirming a pick up time of 10 am tomorrow. The second was about
the other finished car. The owner was saying he couldn’t make it
tomorrow, an emergency had come up, but that he’d be in the day
after, so no problem there. It was done and could sit around for the
owner. The third message, however, was an alarming robotic-sounding
message about Charlie and where he was. Bubba was on the phone to
Ron seconds after he’d listened to the recording a third time to
make sure he had the details right.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When Royce woke up, the
late afternoon sun was streaming through the trees out the picture
windows in the living room. He was so deeply asleep that he’d not
even dreamed, at least that he could remember. He closed his eyes
and gathered his thoughts. It took him a moment to remember where he
was and what had happened. He noted that he was full on hard again.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He reached down to his
balls and felt them. He smiled as he rolled them around in his paw.
They’d absorbed all of Charlie’s seed and now were truly larger
than they had been this morning. He estimated that they were
probably the size of duck eggs, easily half again as large as jumbo
chicken’s eggs. But something was off and he didn’t quite know
what. He reached up to his belly and felt it, and then he realized
what it was.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He felt itchy, he rubbed
his belly, which had been rounded by the seed he’d taken into
himself and the heavy intake of food earlier. He felt the butt plug
still in place, but his belly was now back to normal, so he’d
absorbed all of Charlie’s sperm; but that was not what was strange.
No, what was strange was all the lose hair on his belly. He opened
his eyes, raised up a bit, and realized that all the hair on his
chest and belly had fallen out. That was what was causing the itch,
just like at the barbers with loose clipped hairs on your skin. He
examined himself further; his arms and legs were bare, not a single
hair on them, his chest and belly were covered in hair that had
fallen out. In a bit of a panic, he felt his face. His beard was
gone! The whiskers were lying loose on his neck and on the sofa.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">No!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Full on panic hit and he
jumped up and ran to the bathroom just off the foyer. He flipped on
the lights and looked at himself. He was hairless, completely, as if
he’d been shaved from head to toe, but it was worse, at least he’d
see a shadow from the hair follicles on his face and scalp if he were
shaved clean. This was different, there was no hair on his head,
none on his face, arms, or torso, and looking down, none on his
crotch or legs! Every follicle had shed its hair, he was completely
smooth. He didn’t even have eyebrows or lashes! The only hair on
him was what had fallen out and still clung to him due to his dried
cum.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">NO! No no no no
nononononono!” He stared at himself in the mirror. “This can’t
be happening! I’m not supposed to be smooth! I’m supposed to be
a fuckin’ thick bearded, full pelted, fur-ball!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Certainly, this was not
anything Royce had ever read about… ever… “It didn’t happen
with the kid that Ron fucked… Connor? Caleb? Cody! That was it!
When Cody had taken seed, he didn’t lose all of his hair!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He looked at the bracelet
on his arm and considered taking it off. Maybe it was some sort of
strange reaction to the bracelet? And then he thought better of it.
“No,” he said, “let’s ride this out, see where it’s going.
Maybe this is part of the process while using the bracelet”.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Royce scraped off the
stuck on hair as best he could and got into the shower to wash off.
It felt strange, particularly on his head, it was the first time he’d
ever felt water beating on him without any hair. His skin felt more
sensitive without the fur he normally had. While in the shower he
removed his butt plug and rinsed it off and cleaned himself out with
the handheld shower head. He still wore The Inhibitor around his
neck so he wouldn’t randomly change into a bear while he slept.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">After drying off, and
ridding himself of waste, he padded back into the living room and
looked at the sofa, it looked like some animal had shed all over it…
‘Well, in fact, some animal HAD’, he thought, and got out the
vacuum to clean up the mess.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Royce felt hungry again
and though the huge breakfast he’d taken in was processed, it
didn’t produce as much waste as he’d expected. It seemed his
body had absorbed more of the mass he’d consumed than it usually
would.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">He moved into the kitchen
and began making a ten plus pound meatloaf and divided into three
portions. He puzzled over his hairlessness, trying to think of a
reason the artifacts would cause his loss of hair. He took out a
large package of tater tots, and some frozen broccoli on the side…
what the heck, right? Bears were omnivores, after all.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Half way through making
the meatloaf though, when the loaves were formed but not in the oven
yet, he was overcome with the urge to eat some of the mixture raw.
Royce liked rare meat, he’d even had steak tartar and enjoyed it,
but… this was different. This was a compulsion, he had to eat it.
He grabbed a fist full of the mixed beef and sausage and began eating
it. As he ate, he was oblivious to the jewels in their copper
setting, pulsing with soft light.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Before he knew it, he’d
eaten one of the three raw loaves and was thinking about eating
another, but stopped himself. Three pounds of raw meat, gone in less
than ten minutes. His belly was full and he was temporarily sated,
but he knew he’d want more, soon. So, into the oven went the other
two loaves, the tots would follow half way through.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Knowing that he just ate
three pounds of raw meat, without pausing, and knowing that he would
eat more as soon as it was cooked, he decided to take more frozen
meat out to thaw. It would not do to have nothing to eat because it
was too frozen to consume. He could see eating it partially frozen
and raw, but not solid. Altogether, he took out thirty pounds of
hamburger, sausage, and chicken thinking that it would do for
tomorrow. If he got desperate he could eat raw burger while the
chicken cooked. He wasn’t exactly sure if he could still get sick
from salmonella, so he wouldn’t take the chance. Sealed in their
airtight plastic bags, he took out a galvanized metal wash tub
usually used for ice, sodas, and beer and filled it with the meat.
Then, he filled the tub with water for faster thawing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">By the time dinner was
ready, Royce was again famished. It was close to 8 pm and dark. He
sat with the food on the table, and served himself a huge, piled high
plate. He finally noticed in the low light of the dining room that
the bracelet was pulsing again. It didn’t seem to do it
constantly, like there were times it was more active than others.
Right now, with him famished, it was pulsing. Maybe it was pushing
his body to change, and that’s why he was so hungry? He’d pulled
three bottles of beer from the fridge to help him wash dinner down
and there would be ice cream for dessert. Royce was going to enjoy
this! “Eat all you want, get fat!” he said to himself out loud.
“A fat bear is a successful bear!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">And he dug into his meal.
After he’d finished, and had two large bowls of ice cream, he put
the food away and the dishes in the washer. He went upstairs to the
master suite and prepared for bed. Before though, he looked at his
hairless body in the full length mirror. Looking at his naked body
usually made Royce horny, and he hadn't jacked since before he had
awakened on the couch. But oddly, he felt no desire, possibly
because the sight of his naked and utterly hairless skin put him off.
“God I hope I don’t stay this way,” he said, then got into bed
and turned out the lights.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After getting the call
that morning from Bubba, Ron was at Olaf’s door, knocking. Quinn
opened the door just in time for Ron to see Olaf rumble deeply and
dump a huge load of bear cum into Casey’s ass.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh FUCK!” Casey
moaned, “Fill me, Daddy Bear! Give me your seed! God! I can feel
it spurting into me, change me, Daddy!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron was a bit shocked. He
hurried in and closed the door behind him. “Uncle! You? You’re
breeding?!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf turned his head,
cigar in his maw and smiled around it, smoke curling around and
through his mustache</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yeah… felt it was
finally time I started a family. Ain’t never had cubs before an’
since both of these sexy fuckers fall under the category of
‘kindred’, now I’ve got two of ‘em! One for each nipple!”
He said, the pride in his voice evident, and then he grunted out
another load into Casey’s ass.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Casey turned his head
toward Ron and smiled. Ron looked at Quinn and he nodded, knowingly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, uh…
congratulations… then… and, ummm… welcome to the family?” Ron
said, still a bit confused at Olaf's uncharacteristic behavior.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Quinn pulled Ron into a
hug and then held him at arm’s length.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Daddy showed us what
you two are last night. Casey and I, well… we were stunned... but
so fuckin’ eager and so turned on! We stayed up very late talking.
Olaf told us about everything. There were some tears, especially
from me because of Hal, he would have become a werebear, I know it.
In the end we all wanted the same thing; Casey and I wanted to be
werebears and need a family and Olaf wants a family. Well, sons, I
guess.” Quinn smiled and rubbed his ass with a bit of a wince. “My
Daddy’s a bit bigger than I’m used to.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">You can fuckin’ say
that again!” Casey said as Olaf pulled out of him gently, “I
ain’t gonna be able to walk right for a month!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf beamed, “My boys!
Braggin’ on their Daddy. Makes a Dad proud. But you’ll get used
to my size soon enough, I’m gonna fuck ya every chance I get!” He
drew on his cigar deeply and then swatted Casey on the ass hard
enough so that the smack could be heard outside the room if anyone
had been listening.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Ow! God damned, ASS
fucking, COCK sucking, BALL licking, BOTTOM BASTARD! What the
Goddamn FUCK was that for, you flea infested son of a BITCH?!”
Casey said and rubbed his ass, chuckling.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">One to grow on!” Olaf
said, “And it’s son of a SOW, not bitch, we’re bears not
wolves. Trust me, you’ll be growin’, I guarantee! ‘Sides, I
like seein’ muh big red paw print on your ass. Leave my mark on
you for a while.” He smiled and handed Casey his cigar.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">In spite of the general mood of festivity, Ron interrupted. “Well,
it’s always good to have more family, and I REALLY couldn’t ask
for better cousins than the two of you! Honest!” His face showed
both happiness and worry as he sat on the side of the bed. “But
I’ve got some news; bad, I think. Bubba called me, he got a
message on the shop’s answering machine about Charlie.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf, hearing the tone in Ron's voice, suddenly focused intently on Ron. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Who left the message?”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">We don’t know, the
voice was… mechanical… you know, so you can’t tell who was
talking. Anyway, the point is someone apparently dumped the ol’
fucker off in that motel on Bryant, said he wasn’t harmed. I’m
going to need Quinn to drive me in his rig, because from that
message, I don’t think Charlie will be in any condition to ride
back on his Hawg and he’ll need somewhere to lie down.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Why?” Quinn asked
before Olaf could.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">The message said he was
sedated. Someone drugged him and dumped him. Like I said, the
message said that he’d be fine, no harm was done to him, but I’m
not believing that until I see him. So one of you has to come, too,
and leave their bike here so he can ride Charlie’s back”.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">One of us? Fuck no!
We’re all goin',” Olaf said, “I’m not sittin’ here waitin’
to find out what happened to my brother.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">And I love Charlie as
much as I love you Ron, have for years”, Quinn said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“’<span style="font-size: medium;">Sides, these are my
boys now, they’re kin to Charlie, too!” Olaf said. “They’re
gonna help anyway they can, ain’t that right boys?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Fuck yeah!” Casey
said and Quinn nodded and added, “Damn right!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron smiled at them. Damn,
he loved his family.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I’ll leave my bike
and ride Charlie’s back,” Casey said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Good boy!” Olaf said,
kissing his new son on the cheek. Casey beamed around the cigar.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">OK, so, get dressed.
I’ll meet you in the parking lot in fifteen minutes. I’m going
to call the boys back and give them an update,” Ron said, and
opened the door.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Minutes later, the four of them piled
into Quinn’s truck. It was just the tractor portion of the whole
unit. There was a full sleeper in the back, and though it was not
technically legal to ride in the sleeper unless using the bunk
restraint, the law was pretty much unenforced. No highway patrol
officer wanted to climb up into a trucker’s ‘home’ to check if
his work mate, husband, or wife was strapped in.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The tractor truck pulled
into the motel's lot and braked to a stop in front of the office and
the four piled out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The front desk attendant
was reluctant to open up room 21 and so called his manager. The
manager was also loath to enter the room.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf very softly and
calmly suggested that he would pay for all the damages he was going
to do to the door or to room 21 in the process of ripping said door
frame out of the wall… as well as any medical bills incurred by
managerial employees, should they decide to stop him. He scratched
his belly, being sure his massive bicep flexed visibly, and smiled.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The manager looked at the
phone on the desk and Olaf said, “You really think the cops would
get here in time?” The manager looked away from the phone quickly,
having had his intentions read so clearly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">And, what exactly did
the person who paid for the room look like and did you get video of
his vehicle, with a license plate?” Olaf asked.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The young guy behind the
front desk quickly volunteered a description of Royce and said that
they didn’t have video cameras on the parking lot or the front desk. Being the kind of
business that they were, clients didn’t appreciate being on camera.
Further, it was a purely cash transaction, with a generous tip.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">With a deceptively pleasant
voice but an ice-cold stare, Ron said, “We need to be in that room
now. If my cousin dies because you delayed us in getting to him,
please know that none of us really much care about the legal
ramifications of our actions which will follow that discovery.
Besides, I believe instructions were left for you in the event of our
arrival, were they not?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The day manager looked at
the men in front of him wide eyed and nodded rapidly. He suddenly
saw the logic in letting the large, scary looking men into room 21.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">They hurried to the room,
the manager trailing just behind them. Quinn was pacing back and
forth outside room 21. The door had a do not disturb sign on the knob.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">When the manager let them
in, Ron was immediately at Charlie’s bedside. The old bear lay on
the bed in his riding leathers. Ron felt his neck for a pulse.
Immediately, Ron began sniffing around Charlie.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The manager, taken aback
by Ron sniffing around, stood nervously at the door, but said
nothing. He found he had been holding his breath unconsciously, and
when it was confirmed that Charlie was still alive, exhaled in
relief.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf looked at him and
said in an dismissive tone, “You can go now.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The manager paused,
“You’re not planning… anything… I mean, legal or otherwise,
are you?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf snorted, “Legally
is not the way we handle things like this. If you are worried about
us suing the motel and your possible… termination… (Olaf let the
double meaning of the word dawn upon him), you can stop. Now... You. Can. Go”. Olaf sad the last with a bit of a growl in his voice.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The manager almost fell
over himself leaving, closing the door behind himself clumsily.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">How is he?” Quinn
asked.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron pulled Charlie’s
right eyelid open and looked into his eye with a small flashlight
from his key chain, checking for pupil reaction. “His pupils react
to the light, if a bit slowly, but I expect that’s the sedative…
whatever it was. Other than that, his pulse is strong and normal,
his temperature seems normal… he’s just out of it.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron did some more
checking, moving Charlie’s limbs, opening up his vest more and
checking under his shirt, but seemed satisfied that nothing was
additionally out of the ordinary.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">He doesn’t seem to be
injured in anyway. Whatever drug was used might have been injected or
he was given an IV, can't really tell. Any marks would have healed hours ago. I suppose it’s possible someone slipped
something into his food or drink, but again, that is just a guess.
There are tasteless sedatives, but they’d have to use a LOT to
knock one of us out, and it wouldn’t last THIS long.” Ron stood
still, thinking. “I picked up scent on Charlie. Two people were
involved because I could smell two men, but one must have not had
much contact with him because the smell was much fainter. I say we
take him back to the hotel and let him sleep it off where we can keep an eye on him. We'll see what he
can tell us when he wakes up.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Could you recognize
either of the scents if you ran across them again?” Quinn asked.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Absolutely!” Ron said
and tapped his nose, “I’m better than a bloodhound and with a
considerably smarter brain. You’ll see what I mean after you’ve
changed. There’s a whole world of scent that humans are barely
aware of.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Casey looked at the
sleeping bear appreciatively. “DAMN! You weren’t kidding when
you said he looked like Ron… Well, Unkempt Redneck Santa Ron. If
you trimmed his beard and hair, neatened him up a bit, you two would
be hard to tell apart from more than twenty feet away”. Uncle
Charlie’s fuckin’ HOT!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron gave Casey a withering
stare, “I do not look like Santa.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Quinn laughed, “I see my
new brother thinks with his cock about as much as I do. I know it’s
a serious situation and all, but… damn Charlie just doesn’t stop
being hot, even when he’s completely drugged up.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I don’t normally say
this,” Olaf interjected, “but you two boys need to keep it in
your pants right now, a little respect for your Uncle if you please.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, Daddy,” the two
said in unison, in a tone that was not entirely contrite.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">And yes, you do look
like Santa, nephew,” Olaf said with a chuckle.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron leveled the same look
at Olaf as he had at Casey, not that it did him any good.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">OK, so!” Olaf said,
clapping his hands together, “Let’s empty the room, get all of
Charlie’s stuff in the truck, load my big brother into the sleeper,
and Casey can ride the bike ahead of us on the way back.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">They all searched the
room, and found nothing out of the ordinary in the dresser or closet It was a prudent measure nonetheless.
They loaded up Charlie’s booze, cigars, the water bottles, protein
bars and other items that had been in his saddlebags. Olaf threw the snoring Charlie over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and got him up into the
sleeper.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Casey lit up a cigar and
fired up Charlie’s scoot and soon they were on the road.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">As they left, the day
manager sighed in relief, and said to the young guy working the front
desk, “I don’t care how big the tip is; next time, especially if
there’s a biker involved, we don’t let them dump someone in a
room.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, the biker doing
the dumping was pretty… big… and a little scary… saying 'no' didn’t seem like an option,” the front desk receptionist said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yeah… well… stick
to policy and call the cops if you have to; it’s not worth dying
for.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">"That's what I was trying to avoid," the clerk said, shrugging his shoulders. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron and Olaf rode in the
sleeper. Olaf sat upright with his back to the head of the bed,
cradling Charlie against him, absently stroking his brother’s
bearded cheek with his furry knuckles. The bear snored occasionally
and mumbled a few times, but was otherwise decidedly non-reactive.
Ron sat at the foot of the bed with his back to the side wall and
held Charlie’s hand.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I swear, someone’s
gonna pay for this. You don’t mess with my family,” Olaf said
quietly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron nodded as he looked
Olaf in the eye.</span></div>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-51246850504143316882019-08-06T16:52:00.000-07:002019-08-07T20:35:39.703-07:00Meyers and Sons Paint and Auto Body - Chapter 11<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Meyers and Sons Paint and Auto Body</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Papa Werebear and Ursus Majr</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Chapter
11</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf
returned to the table with a huge grin on his face.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron
just had to ask, “What’s that canary-eating grin for, Uncle
Bear”?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf
sat, picking up the beer he’d ordered for before the meal arrived
he took a long pull on it, and said, “The biker I gave my card to
met me in the bathroom, his name is Casey, and he’s a damn good
kisser. Asked me what I was doing this weekend and I told him about
'Gars ‘n’ B’ars. He and his buddies are headed up north on a
bare bones camping trip, you know, ‘Rough it like a man, just a
tarp for a tent and your knife’ stuff. He said my thing sounded
more fun and comfortable, and asked if maybe he could join us if it
was OK. So, of course I said it was OK.” Olaf took another pull
from his beer and grinned even wider than before.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron
rolled his eyes and Quinn chuckled. The appetizers arrived then and
when the server left, Olaf continued.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">So,
he’s going to fake an illness, ditch his buddies, and join us in a
couple of hours. Says he’ll catch up to us on the road. I told
him what route we’d be taking and told him to look for my bike, he
couldn’t miss it. He says, ‘The big one that looks like you
butchered a bear and glued it to an ape sized Harley, right?’ and I
told him that was not the most flattering description I’d ever
heard, but it was accurate. He said he could spot that on a moonless
night on a dark country road, and that he’d find us.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Sounds
like you got another companion for your bed,” Quinn said a bit
sourly.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf
patted the trucker on the shoulder, “Aww, buddy, it ain’t like
that. You know sex with us is a ‘more the merrier’ kind of deal.
Besides, I saw how you were checkin’ Casey out, I bet you were
measuring his butt hole for your cock just like I was.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quinn
laughed, “I suppose I was at that”.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Actually,
he’s interested in playing with all three of us, I told him it’s
in fact four, because Charlie hasn’t showed up yet. He thought you
both were seriously hot.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quinn
brightened a little at that. “So… two queen sized beds in your
room. You’re going to need one to yourself as big as you are…
that means me and Casey…”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Olaf
grinned, “We’ll get to know each other in the biblical sense,
yes; after I’ve romped with you </span><span style="color: black;"><i>both</i></span><span style="color: black;">
enough and need a bit of a nap, or head over to Ron and Charlie’s
room.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">OK,
I’m good with that,” Quinn said and stuffed a jalapeño popper in
his mouth and smiled.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway,
he asked what Charlie looked like and I said, ‘Imagine that hairy,
white bearded fucker back at my table. The biker who looks like Bad
Santa”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">HEY!
You did NOT just call me Santa”! Ron interjected.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf
smiled impishly. “Yes I did. You look like the hot sexy fat man,
and so does big brother Charlie, only a bit wilder… you pay more
attention to grooming… actually, he looks more like redneck, hung
over Bad Santa. Besides, you don’t seem to mind around the
holidays when some cute, lil’ bearded Cub wants to sit on Santa’s
lap, hold his sack, and rub the ‘North Pole’ up and down, now do
you?”.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron
smacked Olaf’s shoulder only because from his seated position he
couldn’t reach his head.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf
continued, “…and so I said, that’s my brother Charlie’ and
then he said, ‘Wild, redneck, Santa, eh? And Bad Santa too? Oh, I
feel a case of food poisoning coming on… I just know I’m gonna
have to tell my buddies that I hurled in the John and I’m gonna
check into a motel, then head home when I feel better.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Olaf
paused, a popper on the brink of being devoured in front of his
bearded lips, “By the way, where IS Charlie, shouldn’t he be here
by now, even if he did stop to fuck someone or more than someone?”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
don’t know, but I think after dinner we need to maybe start
looking,” Ron said, “Maybe head back down the way he came up, see
if he’s stranded… or worse. I’ve called his phone three times
already and it must be off, because it goes right to voicemail”.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
don’t think it’s a good idea to backtrack his route. We can
check online to see if there’s been any accidents on the way up to
here. I think it’s better to get to the hotel and wait a bit,
because if we go looking he’s going to get to the hotel and we
won’t be there when he is. Better to be where he expects us to be
when he finally shows up,” Quinn said, and took a sip of beer.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
suppose,” Ron said, “but he hasn’t been late to anything like
this in decades. Last time he was this late it was his bike and that
dirty carburetor, remember? But I doubt that’s it now, I checked
his ride over myself last week, gave it a full tune up. It’s
probably running better than mine is… wonder what the Hell is
keeping him? If it were sex, he’d send pics to brag; this just
ain't like him.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe
he just got tired and decided to pull over at a motel?” The others
shrugged. “Maybe before we leave town, we’ll go check that
no-tell motel on Bryant Road he likes to take his last minute
playmates to, maybe they’ve seen him,” Olaf suggested as the
server arrived with the entrées and more beers for the meal.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">OK,
we’ll do that, but you know how tight lipped they are,” Ron said.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh,
I think I might get them to talk, size and demeanor have their
advantages,” Olaf said and flexed his right bicep for emphasis and
it bulged into a muscle bigger than most men’s heads.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron
smiled. “OK, after we check, if they haven’t seen him, we’ll
head for the hotel,” Ron said, feeling a bit better about the
situation now that they’d talked it out and had a plan.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At
that moment, Casey hurried past their table in the direction of the
bathroom, giving Olaf a wink as he passed.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Aaaand
ACTION!” Olaf said quietly, and laughed. “I think my new buddy
Casey, there, just came down with a case of the stomach flu”. Ron
and Quinn chuckled as they dug into their meals. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the bathroom, Casey made for a stall and made a bit of a show
pretending to puke, enough to cause the couple of guys that were in
the bathroom when he entered to leave. One of his biker buddies came
in after to ask if he was OK and Casey said he’d let him know.
When his buddy left, he briefly considered giving his raging hard-on
some relief, but decided to save up for what promised to be a very
satisfying romp with the sexiest big, bearded fuckers he'd seen in
ages. He exited the stall, made for a urinal, unzipped, fished his
rigid cock out, and willed himself to relax so he could empty his
bladder. After a few moments his stream started, strong, yellow, and
noisy. One of the restaurant employees came in and took the other
urinal, next to Casey. He looked over, nodded in appreciation, and
said, “Sometimes a really good piss is just what the doc ordered,
innit?” </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">A'yup,”
Casey nodded, tucked his now only semi-rigid meat back in his jeans,
washed his hands, and headed back out as the employee finished his
business. He was going to go back to the table and give a
performance for his friends so they’d believe him when he said he
was sick, so he could ditch them for what he hoped would be the best
sex he’d had in years.</span></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1.00pt solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in; padding-bottom: 0.01in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">As
Charlie put his helmet on and got ready to start his hawg up and lead
</span><span style="color: black;">Reece, the ex-cop, to the motel on
Bryant</span><span style="color: black;">, he felt a bit light headed. His
hands and feet felt a bit numb and he was feeling high and drunk at
the same time. The next thing he knew, Reece was asking if he felt
alright.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I’m…
uh… Feelin’ lil’… uh… high…” Charlie responded.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Well,
you just had a couple of beers…” Royce offered as an
explanation, but was interrupted by the silver bear.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">But…
I coulda had ten an’ not feel it, I think… I’m gettin’…”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Let’s
get you to my truck, let you sit a bit. Get you some water,” Royce
said.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
he helped Charlie stagger over to his pickup and sat him down. He
gave him a bottle of water and Charlie took a large drink from it.
He made a face and said, “Tastes like a copper penny.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yeah,
tap water at my place is kinda high in minerals,” Royce said, “You
should finish it, it doesn’t taste that great, but it’ll keep you
hydrated”.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Charlie
was more than a little suggestible at this point and downed the rest
of the bottle of colloidal sliver. He was beginning to yawn, his
eyes were drooping, and Royce put his legs in the car. By the time
he’d fastened the seat belt Charlie was almost out.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Thank
ye kindly, Reece… don’t know why…” and he slumped against the
back of the seat, head tilted back. Charlie was out like he’d been
given an anesthetic. Royce adjusted the seat so the Bear was leaning
back comfortably. He snored lightly as Royce loosened his vest,
opening the clasps that held it together so Charlie would be more
comfortable.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Ol’
Reece will take good care of you, Charlie, real good care of you,”
Royce said, taking the helmet from Charlie’s head, putting it at
his feet and shutting the door. He took the keys from Charlie’s
hands. He’d need them to get his bike on the trailer.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He’d
secured his prize, but now was not the time to get careless. He put
his leather gloves on as he didn’t want to leave fingerprints on
Charlie’s bike. He looked around the lot for any observers; there
was a family, mom, dad, and two pre-teen boys loading up in their
SUV. The couple from the bar, headed to what Royce assumed was the
man’s car; the woman still had her nose in her phone and their
backs were to Royce as they walked further away. No one was paying
him any mind at all and there were no cameras watching this side of
the lot.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
lowered the ramp on his trailer and, mounted Charlie’s bike, and
rode it up and onto his trailer. In less than ten minutes Charlie’s
bike was covered with a tarp, beside his own, and secured. Royce
paused and looked at his watch. It was 7:37 in the evening; it would
be dark not too long from now and he’d have to rely on his GPS to
get him to the place. He desperately wanted to take out a cigar and
light up, but no; he would save that reward for when all was
finished. He needed to focus and careless traces of ash were not
smart. It’s why he’d had his truck detailed. It was squeaky
clean and had many less trace fibers than it might have had. He
returned to the passenger side of his truck and clipped the key ring
to the chain on Charlie’s belt that secured his wallet.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
closed the door and paused to think. He was sure he could find the
place he wanted even if his GPS failed up here. Royce was good at
landmarks, and he’d memorized the route in the preceding months.
He’s scouted out a barn some months back among other places he’d
looked into using within a thirty mile radius of the restaurant. The
one he’d chosen was secluded, the next house being at least three
miles down the stretch of two lane highway, ten miles from the little
town of Mill Creek. Mill Creek had a gas station, small grocery, and
a post office, and was quite a ways from the nearest town of any real
size. The place was out in the sticks, literally surrounded by
pastureland and national forests.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
owner was elderly and wheelchair bound and it looked like it had been
awhile since he’d been able to raise cattle. Indeed, his land had
not been used in some years and looked as though the forest was
starting to reclaim it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When
he’d asked about buying the barn and the property and using it for
horses and cattle, the ol’ guy had said it wasn’t for sale right
now, but he’d been considering doing just that himself. He’d
offered that he hadn’t been down to the barn in more than a decade,
ever since he’d lost the use of his legs, and that it likely leaked
and might be too dangerous to use without serious repairs, so he was
thinking about getting it looked at by someone, to see if it could be
salvaged. Royce said he’d be back in a couple of weeks to see if
the old guy had changed his mind, but that he was definitely
interested in the place.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
came back later that night after the lights at the farmhouse, a half
mile from the barn, were out. It would be perfect. Despite what the
old man might think about the condition of his barn, though it was
leaky as evidenced by clumps of grass growing in spots on the dirt
floor, it was also sound and mostly obscured from view of the house
by a small copse of trees between it and the barn. Better yet, the
area where he’d park when he would need its use was obscured from
the road by a couple of small equipment sheds.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
climbed into his truck, started it up, and headed for that secluded
barn he’d scouted. When he arrived, well after dark, the farmhouse
was quiet and all lights except a porch light were out. The old man
was likely sound asleep.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Charlie
was completely out and still snoring gently as he pulled his pickup
behind the barn to conceal it from view of the house. He’d managed
to secure an ambulance gurney from second hand medical supply place
on the net. It was simply amazing what you could find online. He’d
gone to great lengths to obscure any identifying information that
could be found on the device as he planned on leaving it behind in
the barn after he’d gotten what he needed. He’d again waited
until dark and stowed the gurney away in the barn just last week.
That was a risk, but Royce felt comfortable taking it. He went to
the barn door and opened it, hoping that no one had discovered it,
and sure enough, it was there, just as he’d left it. He looked
around once more to assure himself that there was no one around.
Satisfied, he wheeled the gurney around to his truck, stopped to
switch out his leather gloves for latex ones, and with a little
difficulty, managed to get the werebear onto the gurney, secure him
to it, and wheel him into the barn. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
flipped a rather antique looking switch and a light bulb came to
life. He removed Charlie’s clothes, neatly putting them in a large
zip-top bag designed just for that purpose. He didn’t want traces
from the environment on the clothes. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
took a moment to admire the werebear’s naked body. He was, quite
simply, beautiful! He was just like Ron, they could be brothers in
both their form and in their features. A full, thick, silver pelt of
man fur all over him, obscuring the tattoos underneath it. Thick,
full, long beard, although Charlie’s was wilder looking.
Well-developed brawn beneath a thick layer of padding. A beautiful
round belly and, of course his crowning glory, what had to be ten
inches of flaccid, thick meat resting atop two huge balls nestled in
a dense forest of silver fur. At a distance, the two could be
mistaken for twins. Royce had been hard since he left the
restaurant, and it had softened just a little while he drove, but it
had never completely gone away. Now, looking at this God that walked
among men, he was completely, and painfully hard. He indulged only a
half dozen strokes on the front of his pants before he cried out in
orgasmic pleasure as he shot a hot, thick load into the pouch of the
adult diaper he was wearing. Ron had thought of that too, he wanted
there to be no semen evidence. It was a needed release, and it
cleared his mind.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
then hooked up the IV drip, prepared Charlie’s left arm, found a
vein, and began giving him the silver compound. It would keep
Charlie under for as long as he needed and likely it would keep him
under for a good three days after he took the drip out, which would
be more time than he needed.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
then took the hair he’d gotten from the barber and scattered a
little of it around. Clumps would be suspicious, but traces, a few
here and there, would be evidence IF it came to that. He included a
few more on the werebear’s clothes he’d put in the bag.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
took a blanket out of a sealed package, right from the department
store, and covered Charlie to keep him warm. There were more
preparations to be made before Royce could continue.</span></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1.00pt solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in; padding-bottom: 0.01in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
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<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Bubba
was sound asleep, holding his new little brother Cody in his arms
after a rather pleasant fucking they’d shared. His golden blond
pelt covering his furry arms no less thickly than his Papa’s pelt
covered him. His meaty paw rested on Cody’s arm, covering the bear
paw and skull beneath the auburn pelt that matched his face fur.
Bubba had trimmed his long golden beard so that his chin was naked,
save for a layer of thick evening stubble, making for long mutton
chops. They connected to the thick ‘stache he’d let grow out to
walrus-like proportions and grew on the sides into his beard. The
‘stache had been braided into the two long chops. It was a
different look than most of his brothers sported, but he'd felt like
experimenting a month back and rather liked the look. It was a wild
and tribal look, especially with his long hair braided down the back,
and he felt fit. After all, he </span><span style="color: black;"><i>was</i></span><span style="color: black;">
a member of a very close knit tribe.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On
the other side of Cody, Bubba's copper-red brother Nick with his
bushy, fiery red beard, lay cuddled up to Cody in the same protective
way Bubba was, looking for all the world like an avatar of Thor or a
Celtic chieftain. Cody’s face was nuzzled in Nick’s beard.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
would have been a blissfully peaceful scene, had it not been that
both Bubba and Nick were both having a very unquiet dream. In fact,
the same dream.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
wasn’t a nightmare, exactly. It was surreal, unnerving,
discomforting, and foreboding. It was night, and they were both in a
barn. An old outdoor lamp fixture hung overhead with an old
incandescent bulb, surprisingly bright, lighting up the scene. Each
was strapped to what looked like some sort of medieval torture
device, like a rack or a St. Andrew’s cross. The form of their
restraints seemed to morph between shapes, sometimes being a modern
hospital bed, sometimes large logs to which they were strapped, and
even a kitchen table. The bonds also morphed, sometimes
straitjackets, sometimes bondage leather, sometimes bound rubber
suits, or duct tape mummification or simple rope. Both knew that
they could change to their bear shapes and break their bonds easily,
but for some reason they were unable to. It was as if they were mere
humans again and unable to change into their greater shapes.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
looked at each other, confused as to why they were there. They
didn’t need to wait long to find out. The barn doors opened and a
large machine rolled in, it was barrel shaped, and had two hoses
attached. It moved of its own accord, but following it was a tall
bearded man, his face obscured by a shadow so that neither of them
could see who he was. What they could see was that there was a star
upon his chest and it shone bright gold as if the tattoo ink were
fluorescent.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
pointed and commanded “Take it from them!”, and the machine moved
between the restraining devices to which the brothers were strapped.
The hoses moved as though they were tentacles and as they watched,
the hoses split so that the ends were forked. They moved toward
their groins, snaking up their muscular, furry legs until the tips of
the hoses reached their cocks and balls. The end of the tube that
pushed against their balls grew wide and enveloped them, the other
end engulfed their flaccid cocks. After a moment of massage from the
end on their balls, they both felt the machine begin to suck. They
both grew hard, their need rising within them though neither of them
wanted to give the machine what it was trying to take. They watched
in horror as the machine begin to extract not only their seed, but
what both understood as their essence, their glowing energy. The two
cried out in fear and loss as they fed the machine, the viscous,
milky-white semen rising up the tubes in rhythmic jerks. But after
only a few orgasms, the machine detached from them. They both felt
weakened by the extraction.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
then watched as a third tube emerged from the top of the machine.
The figure with the shadowed face said, “At last! At last I will
be complete!” and the single tube slithered up his hairy body and
attached to the glowing star over his sternum. It began filling him
with what it had taken from the two bears and they watched as he grew
taller, hairier, more powerful, more virile, and finally took the
form of an enormous grizzly. The Bear roared out in triumph, and
both Bubba and Nick awoke with a start.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
looked at each other and both said, “I just had a nightmare.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cody
stirred and woke. “What?” he said groggily, but something was
wrong; both of the bears knew it. Instinctively, they knew that Ron
needed to know of this, and quickly.</span></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1.00pt solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in; padding-bottom: 0.01in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
removed the cover from Charlie. It'd take about a half hour to
remove the equipment he needed and set it up on tarps and hook the
devices up with extension cables to power outlets. Royce truly hoped
the power draw would not cause some antiquated fuse box to fry a
fuse, otherwise, he'd have to go about what he wanted to do the old
fashioned way. There was a device for stimulation, a collection tank
with a gallon and a half capacity with another half gallon overflow
tank which could also feed the contents from the tank out via a
separate tube. There were three, 100 ml hypodermic syringes and a
specially designed, rather large butt plug that had a tube built into
it with a one way valve. The purpose of this was to plug it in,
insert a hose into the plug, and pump fluids into the large
intestines so that they would not exit, but be absorbed. He made sure
everything was clean, the plug was lubed, and all was in working
order. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally
he took the carved cherry wood cigar box from the truck. Inside was
a supply of cigars, but also three artifacts from his collection.
The first of these was the Nordic silver medallion with the bear
chained to a rock on one side and the runic spell on the other, 'The
Inhibitor' as he thought of it. Next was the wide copper bracelet
set with the semiprecious stones and spirals, 'The Accelerator' as he
thought of it. Finally, the bronze cock ring with the carved bears
having sex, 'The Enhancer' as he thought of it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first thing Royce did was to place the medallion around Charlie's
neck. He was pretty sure that the silver compound he'd given him
would keep the werebear from changing during the extraction, but
being who he was, Royce believed in back up plans. It would not do
for Charlie to shift shape in the middle of the procedure and become
conscious. Next, he placed the bronze cock ring at the base of
Charlie's cock. The reaction was immediate. Charlie's cock grew
excessively stiff, to the point of large pulsing veins standing out
prominently on what became what Royce estimated to be a fifteen inch,
three to four inch wide cock. Charlie, even in his sedated state,
grunted and moan in pleasure. Having worn the ring himself, knowing
how it made him, a mere human feel, he could only imagine how good it
was making Charlie feel in his sleep. Lastly, Royce put the jeweled
copper bracelet on himself. It was large enough to wear half way up
his muscular forearm, but he imagined that it wouldn't be long before
that bracelet would fit comfortably around his wrist.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All
was in readiness.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
stood naked, except for his shoes, in the cool air of the barn. He
checked the settings on the control screen, no sense of risking the
collapse of the catheter or the bear's cocks, not that there was much
chance of the latter. He put on the latex gloves while the admired
Charlie's thick body. Naked on the gurney, the bear's thick, broad
shoulders extended over the edge of the gurney pad. His heavily
furred torso had the classic pronounced round bear belly that was
obviously backed with a strong layer of muscle. The fur extended in
an almost continuously thick pelt from neck to toes. Even the tops
of his feet were furred. The fleshy, flaccid cock lolled to one side,
lying on the top of the right thigh. The hood of uncircumcised skin
was only partially retracted, revealing only the very end of the tip.
He reached for the alcohol wipes to semi-sterilize the catheter. His
persistent hard-on throbbed as he wiped down the thin tube and
applied a small amount of Surgilube around the first inch of so of
the catheter.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
machine made use of a sheath that covered about five inches of the
penis, and was fitted with a short catheter the went a few inches
into the shaft of the subject's penis. Electrodes around the sheath
provided some external electro-stim. A separate anal probe, shaped
like a thin butt plug, provided more pronounced stimulation to the
prostate.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
took a deep breath to help center his mind, then reached for
Charlie's cock. He felt the heat even though his gloves and chucked
to himself as he thought, 'Hot fucker!' He skinned back the foreskin
so it cleared the coronal ridge. The stretching of the skin spread
open the slit just enough so he could begin the insertion. Charlie
grunted, then groaned, but otherwise remained in his comatose state.
Royce took his time, threading slowly and carefully, smearing more
Surgilube as need. Once he had enough of the tubing in place, he
rolled down the outer sheath over Charlie's organ. Charlie groaned
again, and his legs twitched some against the restraints. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
rolled Charlie over onto one side then took the anal probe and lubed
it. Then, with one hand he raised one leg and thigh slightly and
gently inserted the butt plug into Charlie's rectum, being careful of
the wires on the penile sheath and the anal probe. This brought
forth a deep sigh from Charlie. Royce rolled Charlie back on his
back, and tugged gently on the tubing and sheath. It held. Time to
start the process.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
turned the electro-stim on, it was programmed to begin with a gentle
electric stimulation and build to bring Charlie to climax. This
would happen in waves so that the werebear could be milked until
Royce had as much seed as he desired. With the bronze cock ring on,
he imagined the ol' bear would produce much more seed than would be
needed to change Royce, but Royce wanted more. Royce wanted to take
pleasure in partaking of the seed.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
turned on the pumping machine, and then waited. It was a full
fifteen minutes before the first load exploded out of Charlie's cock
and emptied into the tank. During his orgasm, Charlie twitched,
moaned, and trembled, but he did not awake. Royce was now confident
that things would be as he had desired them, and he would be able to
collect all the semen he desired. Royce was desperate for a cigar,
but he was disciplined and would treat it as a well earned reward
when he was finished with the task he had set himself.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
next ejaculation happened fifteen minutes later, but Royce noticed
that this time, the orgasm seemed to last longer. Intrigued, he
decided he would time how long Charlie's orgasms lasted. He
decreased the ramp up time on the electro-stim machine from fifteen
to 10 minutes. The cycle again repeated, and this time he timed
Charlie's orgasm. The bear shot for a good two minutes before the
fluid stopped flowing into the collector. Already, there was
probably two and a half cups of semen in the tank. This process
continued, and each time Charlie lasted longer, filling the tank with
more seed. Royce inspected Charlie's balls, cradling them in his
hand. Big as they'd been when he'd taken the opportunity to admire
the bear, he was sure they were growing. Now, they were the size of
small oranges, up from being the size of hen's eggs. He imagined
that Charlie's Cowper's gland and prostate had probably also grown to
accommodate the increased sperm production.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This
made Royce's mind race. Once he'd take Charlie's seed and become a
werebear, he too could wear this ring and oh, the fucking he would
give his sons! He would fill them with the bountiful flow from his
huge bear balls with mind-blowing extended orgasms!</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
milking process continued, and Charlie's balls continued to swell,
but eventually they leveled off. The two balls had grown in his
scrotum to the point that it looked as if he had two larger than
average oranges between his legs. The flow was now steady, and
Charlie was experiencing one continuous orgasm. The artifacts were
certainly doing their work.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere
around one in the morning, when the gallon and a half tank was full
and the machine shut off, Royce turned off the electro-stim, and
finally, Charlie was still. He'd sweated profusely and soaked the
sheets that were under him. The heady, musky smell of bear filled
the air of the barn and Royce was almost giddy with the scent. He
removed the sheath, but Charlie wasn't quite done yet. His cock shot
a thick load all over Royce's face as he removed the tube. Shocked
by the unexpected hosing, he opened his mouth just in time for a
second shot to splatter over his chest. He realized that Charlie was
still under the spell of the cock ring, and so removed it. At last,
Charlie lay still and seemed to go into a deeper stage of sleep.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Royce
set the ring down on the sheet between Charlie's legs, and began
rubbing the bear's seed all over his face, into his beard, an all
over his torso.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
looked at the tanks on the machine, full of werebear seed. Now, at
last, he could take the seed into himself. He opened the container
and filled the three syringes with werebear cum and closed the
container. This was only the start, the musky smell of bear cum all
over him had him raging hard. He then took the filled syringes and
began injecting the seed into his sack. 300 ml of werebear cum
filled his scrotum and inside that rounded sack, his testicles
marinated in the potency of a superior being. He expected that the
hypodermic needle would leave a hole that would allow the seed to
escape, but as soon as he removed the needle, there was only a slight
oozing of thick white fluid, and then the hole apparently sealed, as
he couldn't even find a trace of where it had been after he rubbed
the cum off his balls.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next,
Royce attached the special butt plug to the hose for pumping the
tanks out and then inserted it into his hole. He struggled a bit
with that. It had been years since the last time anyone had fucked
him, and even though he occasionally used a dildo and had been
stretching himself in preparation for this, it was still a tight fit.
That was, however, just what he'd wanted. He didn't want there to
be any leaking, he wanted to keep the seed inside until his body had
assimilated it all. Once he'd inserted it, he was ready and switched
the pump on. The seed began traveling down the tube and the air
release valve on the tube was opened so that air would not be pumped
up his ass. Once the seed was almost at the release valve, Royce
shut it, and the semen began flowing into his gut. He watched and
felt as his gut filled. He could feel it bloating him slightly, and
he rubbed his belly as it gurgled. The seed was still warm. He
stroked himself gently, and almost immediately his hard cock shot a
load that he caught in his own fist. He quickly consumed his cum and
what was left he rubbed into his chest hair to join the seed Charlie
had shot on him. When a gallon of cum had been pumped into Royce's
guts, he turned the pump off. He rubbed his distended belly with
pleasure, feeling Charlie's seed slosh inside of him. He smiled and
admired it for several moments, rubbing it in the way pregnant women
rub their bellies. Royce knew enough about human anatomy that one
gallon would have distended the normal person's gut to the point of
rupture and beyond. Still, he had faith in the power of the
artifacts he was working with; and it certainly appeared that his
faith was not misplaced.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
this brief reverie, he detached the hose from the butt plug. The
last half gallon would be consumed. He would eat the seed, fill his
belly with werebear cum. Putting the hose to his mouth, he once
again turned the machine on and fed. It was a bitter, salty, with a
slight bleach like taste to it and just a bit of sweetness, but to
Royce, this was nectar! This came from a werebear. This cum, now in
his guts, in his nuts, and in his belly would change him, and with
the bracelet he wore, he would be a werebear not in four months, not
in a single month, but in a week! He would rapidly transform, and
for that he'd already set aside food to feed ten men for two weeks at
the property he'd purchased up in the mountains.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
the last of the seed made it's way down the tube and Royce felt
uncomfortably full from consuming two quarts of semen, he looked over
at the glorious being who had provided him with the means to achieve
his transformation. Charlie's balls had returned to their normal
size... well, almost. It was possible that he'd keep the larger
testicles, or perhaps they'd return to normal; Royce did not know.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
was time to clean up.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
removed The Enhancer cock ring from the gurney where it lay. Royce planned on wearing it back at his mountain cabin while
The Accelerator bracelet worked to speed his transformation. Royce
wanted to be in a constant state of arousal, with the ability to cum
whenever he pleased. He removed The Inhibitor amulet from around
Charlie's neck and placed it around his own. The medallion would
allow Royce to remain human, even as his body potentially became more
and more that of a werebear. This would give him control over the
timing of his first change.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere
around three am, he had everything packed up. Charlie was back in
his leathers and in the front seat of his truck. Royce noted that
the semen was already making changes to himself. He felt stronger,
and indeed it was almost easy now to lift the unconscious bear from
the gurney and into his truck. He felt full of energy and vigor. It
was as if he were ten years younger and could bench a hundred pounds
more than usual. He did three checks to make sure he had everything
packed up and there was damn near no trace that he'd been there all
night. By three thirty he was on the road, headed back to the motel
Charlie had mentioned. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By
five am, he was renting a room for the next day for 'himself and his
husband' and had parked Charlie's Harley in front of the room minutes
later. It was here that he put the bear into bed, put his helmet and
keys on the night stand, left a case of bottled water in the fridge,
a dozen protein bars on the dresser, and the contents of Charlie's
saddle bags on the second queen sized bed. He then made a call on
Charlie's cell phone to the Meyers and Sons auto shop leaving a
message with the voice altering device telling them where Charlie
was, what room he was in and that the front desk would be expecting
them.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With
that, Royce checked on Charlie who, it seemed, was healthy enough to
be left alone while his friends came to get him. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before
climbing into his truck and departing, Royce removed his jacket, and
then his shirt, and looked at himself. His belly, less distended
now, had absorbed a good amount of Charlie's sperm. He rubbed it and
looked at his arms, which seemed thicker with muscle, and hairier.
Pleased, he made one last check of the room and Charlie, put his
shirt and jacket back on, and exited the motel room, pulling the door
shut behind him.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He
took a cigar from the carved box in the passenger's seat, he trimmed
it, toasted it, and took a long pull on it, filling his lungs with
rich smoke. He clamped down on it, fixing it in the right side of
his mouth and puffed away as he started up his truck, pulled out of
the no-tell motel lot, and headed for his cabin for the next week,
anticipating the most glorious metamorphosis any human could
experience.</span></span></div>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-24100963277165022622019-05-17T16:09:00.000-07:002019-08-06T16:44:07.894-07:00Meyers and Sons Paint and Auto Body - Chapter 10<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Meyers
and Sons Paint and Auto Body</b></span></span></div>
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<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">By
Papa Werebear and Ursus Major</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>Chapter
10</b></span></div>
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Ron packed his saddlebags with
emergency provisions; protein bars, beef jerky, water<span style="color: black;">,
the usual supplies he packed. He COULD forage if he had to, but this
allowed him to take care of himself if something happened without
having to ditch the bike and go off into the woods to change</span>
to hunt down dinner. He made sure he had his travel humidor stocked
with a dozen and a half of his favorite cigars, tins of pipe tobacco,
a couple of pipes, and matches as well as his lighter. He was set to
hit the road. He and Charlie were brothers by virtue of a
round-about relationship of their respective daddies. Truth be told,
they were more like cousins, but the brotherhood they shared couldn’t
be closer if they’d actually had the same daddy.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
'Uncle Olaf’, as most of the younger
Bears called him, truly <b>WAS</b> Charlie’s brother. The two
shared a sire, Haki Magnusson. The great red Bear who had invaded
Charlie’s territory all those years ago when the only white men in
this country were the Norse, long before Columbus. He’d made a
werebear of Charlie from a four footed bear. Olaf was Charlie’s
younger brother by many generations having been sired by Haki
centuries after. Age differences really didn’t mean that much to
werebears, given their near immortality. It was Olaf that he and
Charlie were going to meet up with for a gathering of the older
Bears. Neither of Charlie’s sons, and none of Ron’s, were truly
old enough to attend the “Elder’s Meeting”.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was held under the cover of being a
bear smoke out gathering called 'Gars ‘n’ B’ars which was an
event Olaf had started almost forty years ago. There would be plenty
of human B’ars with big beards and head to toe fur at the
gathering. Unbeknownst to them <span style="color: black;">they would be
mingling with shape-shifters, some of them far older than their
great-great grandfathers. The werebears truly enjoyed their time
with the human Bears and, on occasion, recruited new members for
their families from events like this one, or various bike rallies and
other bear gatherings</span>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At Gars ‘n’ B’ars, Ron knew he
could count on some regular fuck buddies to attend, ones with which
he would enjoy some nice condom clad, hot and rough bear fucking.
They all respected his limitations, never asking why he wouldn’t
bareback them, and a few had some limitations of their own. The
thing Ron and the other werebears usually kept a close eye on was
their alcohol consumption, because a wasted werebear might sire
unwanted Cubs. Their capacity for alcohol was in the realm of
heroic, so they would often outpace any of their human <span style="color: black;">competition.
Still, downing an entire fifth of whiskey in a few minutes WOULD
make them much less</span> responsible fuckers, as even a werebear
would have impaired judgement after that… at least for the next
hour or so.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of Ron’s favorite bears, who
would be in attendance at this event, was a man who’d been in the
bear porn scene since the early ‘90s and thus was pretty much <span style="color: black;">one
of the founders of the genre. The bear world knew him by his porn
name ‘Jack Potter’, bu</span>t Ron knew him as Thom Martin. Ron
would have LOVED to have offered Thom the chance to become his Cub,
but the man was sadly not kindred, so ineligible for <span style="color: black;">transformation.
Cautionary tales abounded about the often disastrous results of
changing someone who was not kindred. This did</span> not preclude
him from spending a lot of time between the sheets with Thom and his
husband Wyatt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sadly, Ron resigned himself to the
truth. He would watch this genuinely nice man, whom he’d seen rise
in his early twenties as a bear porn icon, grow old, turn grey (as he
had already become), and eventually succumb to death while Ron lived
on. It was something that was just a <span style="color: black;">fact of
werebear life. Humans were like fields of grain that were sewn in
the spring, grew and flourished, becoming mature</span> through the
summer bringing forth their seed. Then dry up and wither away by
fall with nothing but the scrubby stubble half buried in snow in the
winter of their lives. Their short lives did not mean they were
‘disposable’ to Ron, far from it. Ron cherished them, as they
would be gone far too soon. This was all the more reason for Ron to
make these meetings. He loved bears like Thom and Wyatt, and they
loved him too, and as short lived and fragile as they were, he never
knew when he would never again see them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ron had done for Thom the next best
thing to making him his Cub, he’d played matchmaker and found Wyatt
for him. Thom could share his life and live in love with a man who
would truly be there for him through thick and thin<span style="color: black;">.
Wyatt returned to Thom all the love that was given. The two always
told Ron how grateful they both were for pushing them together at
Gars ‘n’ B’ars back in ’85, and Ron always took the pair out
to a nice restaurant</span> for their ‘first date’ anniversary.</div>
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Ron smiled as he started up his Harley and headed down the road.
He’d meet up with Charlie and Uncle Olaf at a steakhouse on the
state border called Bronco Bill’s Beef Bistro, (or 4B’s as they
all called it) for dinner. It was a tradition to tank up on some
good solid red meat before riding another 300 miles to the hotel that
hosted the event.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Royce had started out a few hours
earlier than Ron had that day, hauling his Harley on a trailer
hitched to the back of his truck. It could accommodate two bikes,
but Royce only had the one on there this time. He didn’t ride it
as often as he would <span style="color: black;">like, but then he didn’t
have anyone to ride with, loner that he was. Royce didn’t relate
to most men other than in a professional, distant way, and honestly,
he didn’t want to. He was… different. It was more than just
being gay; it was his hunger to be more than human, his need to be
part man and part bear. He instinctively knew that none of them
would ‘get’ him. Even most men in the leather community, as hot
as they were and as accepting of kink as they could be, wouldn’t
und</span>erstand him. As friendly as a lot of them were he just
didn’t feel like being ‘friends’ with them, let alone riding
companions. Any interaction was role-play, not true intimacy like he
shared with his boys. None of the men he found in those environments
would have met the standards Royce required.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As a result, he took his bike out on
solitary rides once a month, just himself, off into the mountains or
down to the <span style="color: black;">beach. However, his self-imposed
solitude would soon be a thing of the past. He’d buy his sons
hawgs of their</span> own, and teach them to ride, after he became
the Bear Daddy… having sired his werebear sons. To that end, he’d
packed the necessary artifacts from his collection, the as yet
untested “Silver Bear’s Bane” potion, and some provisions for
the trip.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In his mind, he
had planned out a half dozen contingencies on how he was going to
obtain Ron for what he needed.</span> They were all themes and
variations on a central plan. The trailer would carry the two
motorcycles, and after he’d given Ron the colloidal silver, he’d
get him in his pickup, put his bike on the trailer, and drive him to
a location he’d secured where he could extract from the werebear
what he needed. Royce knew that Ron’s ETA at the restaurant was
around seven to seven <span style="color: black;">thirty. If all</span>
went well he was certain Ron would be right on time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Royce knew that his timing was
everything; he knew that there’d be approximately a forty-five
minute window for him to act before this ‘Olaf’ showed up at the
steakhouse. He knew he could drug Ron and get him to his truck
within twenty minutes of his arrival. He would even be likely to use
his badge to help him obtain Ron if someone asked uncomfortable
questions on his way out of the restaurant. No one would be looking
at two guys in a truck with two motorcycles; one of them slumped over
against the passenger window asleep. They’d just assume they were
taking shifts driving on a long trip to some bike rally. In the end,
he also knew that if he missed his chance this year, that he’d have
a chance next year to do this as Ron attended Gars ‘n’ B’ars
<span style="color: black;">annually. He really didn’t want to wait a
whole year though, if the stars aligned and he got his perfect chance
at this now.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
From what he could tell from his
research, the concoction would not only act as an extreme sedative
and would neutralize the werebear’s ability to shift, but moreover
would act rather like rohypnol on them, leaving them without
memories, or severely muddled memories, of the events that occurred
after they were under the influence. This was a new piece of
information he’d run across while doing research on a <span style="color: black;">few
dark web sites. The old medieval texts guaranteed that it would
subdue a shape-shifter; the modern</span> websites were not as time
honored, but all seemed to agree, from various sources, that it would
do a memory wipe as well - time would tell.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Royce’s did not intend to harm Ron;
indeed, he damn near worshipped and revered him (as he would all
elder werebears) as the embodiment of a physical perfection, the
ultimate father figure<span style="color: #c5000b;">. <span style="color: black;">He </span></span><span style="background-color: black;"></span>had no
desire to hurt him; he merely wanted<span style="background-color: white;"></span> to take his seed to become as he
was. He had the deepest desire to be a father like Ron was - the
perfect masculine being.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He had equipment for extraction in his
truck; machines for milking Ron’s balls and storing his precious
sperm which would be consumed and injected into Royce’s body in a
couple of ways. He would take Ron to <span style="color: black;">an
abandoned location for this, which was far from prying eyes. </span>When
he was done, he’d make a call from Ron’s phone, playing a digital
voice message from a recorder to notify Ron’s companions of his
location, for retrieval. He would leave all of Ron’s possessions
with him, including his Harley.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The plan would mean that the voice
would be untraceable as it was electronic. The phone would be Ron’s,
so the call would be traced back to its owner. He’d leave no
fingerprints, wearing leather or latex gloves as he handled
everything, so no trace that <span style="color: black;">way either. He
had collected samples from a local barbershop’s dumpster with a
good mix of hair</span> to help disguise any stray hairs he might
leave. If Royce’s were one of hundreds in the samples, it would be
a ‘needle in a haystack’ <span style="color: black;">type of
camouflage. Taking forensic countermeasures on a kidnapping, where
the victim was retrieved unharmed</span>, was probably going over the
top, but Royce didn’t want to take chances that he’d be linked to
the crime. He knew that Ron might remember his face, and so a police
artist might render a sketch of him, but after a few months, they’d
be looking for a face that no longer existed. After his
transformation, he’d likely look substantially different. The
final thing he would do to mask his identity from the Bear was wear
sweaty clothes he’d stolen from a guy’s bag at his gym. He’d
wear the pre-scented clothes under his brand new plaid shirt, jeans
and a brand new leather vest. If he used a neutral scented deodorant
and kept the AC cranked, as high as it could go so he wouldn’t
sweat, then he would smell more like the stolen clothes than himself.
All was ready, but he continued to think about his plans on the long
drive to the restaurant.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Charlie had packed his saddlebags the
night before and, wanting a leisurely ride to 4B’S, had set out
somewhat earlier than Ron had, before dawn. If he arrived a little
early, that was fine; he’d go in and wait for Ron and Olaf to
arrive. It’d been a year since he’d seen his brother. Olaf took
after their father Haki to a great extent, so much so that he was
damn near a twin to the huge red bear or at least a twin to him when
he had sired Charlie. Haki now was as white furred as he himself
was, with only a hint or two of his former ginger coloring, mostly
blond touches in his beard, head, and body hair that gave his silver
a very slight golden cast in the right lighting. It had been a good
ten years since he’d seen his daddy, however, Olaf had just had a
visit with their dad and Charlie was excited to catch up on what ol’
man Magnusson was doing. Like his brother Ron, Charlie had packed
some necessities for the trip and emergency backup things. He could
live off the land, but it wasn’t as pleasant as having back-up food
and a good cigar if you were stranded. Frankly, he was looking
forward to the solitude of a relaxing lone ride to the steakhouse.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 5.00pt solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-bottom: 0.01in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ron pulled into the parking lot of
Bronco Bill’s Beef Bistro and looked around. It was just after
dark, around 8 pm, a bit later than he planned to be here. He
reflected as he began driving around the restaurant parking lot.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The afternoon had been well spent, and
he’d filed his horns down a little when he’d made a pit stop at
one of the public rest stops along the way. There were only a couple
of cars and a single semi-truck in the lot. Initially, he’d
stopped just to rub a couple of loads out in the restroom; rides like
this always made him a bit horny, of course, but for some
inexplicable reason he was super horny today.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luckily, a huscular, hairy, thick
bearded, middle aged trucker with a sexy patch of silver beard on his
chin looked over the stall’s partition when he heard Ron cursing
under his breath and asked if he might, ‘Get a little of <span style="color: black;">that
long, thick meat</span> he was tenderizing’.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ron smiled and thought, <i>‘It looks
like help has just arrived’</i>! <span style="color: black;">Ron got up,
dick in hand, and opened the door, standing aside as the trucker
stepped in. The trucker growled in a low voice, “Damn but you’re
a sexy silver bear, aren’t ya? Nice and furry too, from what I can
see!” The trucker's jeans were tented and his eyes danced with
desire, Ron pushed him up against the wall and forced his tongue into
the trucker’s mouth, kneading his rock hard cock through jeans Ron
could feel were damp from probably a day’s worth of leaking.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“God DAMN, I
need to get fucked!” the trucker said breathlessly, “It’s been
a fuckin’ week since I got plowed last!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Well! You're
in luck then,” Ron growled, “’cause I need ta fuck an’ you
look sturdy enough to take what I can give ya”.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Damn right I
am!” the trucker said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">He watched while
the trucker lowered his jeans, having trouble getting them over his
stubby, leaking, jutting cock. Ron reached a paw down and rubbed the
trucker’s thickly furred ass. “I like me some hairy ass.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The trucker bent
over, bracing himself on the stainless steel handicapped bar. He
offered his butt to Ron. Ron fished out a condom, and rolled it on
over his own straining cock. He spat in his paw and massaged it into
the trucker's ass, but the trucker stopped him. “Here, try this,”
he said, producing a sample packet of Rifle Grease from this flannel
shirt pocket.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Ron growled, but
took the packet, tore it open with his teeth, and applied the thick,
slick fluid to the trucker's butt and to his own, sheathed cock.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“I don't mind
if ya go bare,” the trucker said, “…would be honored to have
seed from a beast like you in me while I’m sitting in my rig on the
way to my next stop."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Nah... Best
play safe.” Ron said as he centered on the trucker's hole. He held
the trucker's waist and with a grunt, pushed in.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Ah! Fuck me,
big boy. I fuckin' love a big, thick, bear cock in my ass” his
hoarse growl was in a tone low enough for discretion, “The guy last
week was good, but not nearly as well hung as you."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Ron chuckled to
himself, “This poor guy is starving for dick”. He began a steady
fuck rhythm, hilting himself repeatedly in the trucker's warm tunnel.
The trucker pushed back enthusiastically, and Ron struggled to hold
off his orgasm. He was really getting into his fuck and wanted it to
last when his need betrayed him and the shot a heavy load into the
condom. He groaned and pushed in hard and held it in as his meat
pulsed, expelling his seed. He continued to thrust with such force
that the trucker’s head bumped against the wall, despite being
braced.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Once his
breathing had returned to normal, he pulled out, his cock still
semi-rigid. The trucker turned around and gripped Ron’s sheathed
cock and smiled. They shared a passionate, deep kiss, nuzzling their
beards together as they did. Ron growled softly as the post orgasm
massage he was receiving caused him to shoot the remains of his load
into the condom.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Your head OK?”
Ron asked, touching the trucker’s forehead.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“It’s fine, I
got me one thick skull."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Ron then stripped
off the condom, tied it off and pocketed it to be tossed it into a
trashcan outside of the stall.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Ron saw the
trucker’s thick stubby cock was hard and drooling. “Your skull
ain’t the only thing that’s thick. Let me take care of that for
ya,” he said and got down and took the whole of the trucker's pole
in his mouth and throat. It wasn't especially long but it </span><span style="color: black;"><i>was</i></span><span style="color: black;">
beer can thick.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The trucker
placed his furry paw behind Ron’s head and gently skull fucked the
bear. It didn’t take but a few deep strokes before he approached
the point of no return. “Aw, shit... I can't hold it!” the
trucker growled. “I'm gonna fuckin' shoot!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Ron nodded with
the thick meat still in his mouth and pushed the cock as far as he
could down his throat. Ron could feel the bones of his face pressing
as far as they could into the trucker’s pelvis. He’d gripped the
furry ass cheeks in both of his paws, digging his blunt nails into
the trucker’s flesh, sucking until he brought the trucker to
growling orgasmic bliss.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“God DAMN! GOD
DAMN! … FUCK!” The trucker panted as he continued to unload down
Ron’s throat, “Oh fuck, buddy, you’re good!” He said softly,
petting the big bear's head and beard as Ron sucked the last of the
trucker’s three-day load out of his softening cock. Ron stood;
squeezed out a last glob onto his meaty index finger, put it to the
trucker’s lips where it was sucked off with a moan of pleasure.
They kissed again and then began pulling clothes back into positon
and buckling and zipping things up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If anyone heard anything, no one said
boo about it when the pair exited the stall, and who would dare?
Both men were well over six foot and not to be messed with.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Outside, Ron
quickly jotted down contact information on the back of one of his
auto body shop’s cards and handed it to the trucker. Taking a
cigar from his vest pocket to light it, he growled around the cigar,
puffs of smoke swirling in the wind as he spoke, “If you find
yourself in town, you’re welcome to stay at my place. I can
promise you a warm bed, a good meal, and some hot playtime and you
don’t have to be gone by the next morning either. I like to take a
couple of days fuckin’ a hot ass like yours.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The trucker
looked at the card; his cock had already started tenting out his
jeans again. He took out the wallet chained to his belt from his
back pocket, and put the card in one of the front credit card pockets
for easy access. “Oh, I think I’ll be finding myself in your
town soon enough and I’d love to have dinner with you… and maybe,
you’d feed me your load for dessert?” He smiled lustfully,
taking the cigar from Ron, drawing on it deeply, and returning it to
its owner as he exhaled.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Ron grinned
around his stogie, “Maybe I will… just maybe”.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The trucker
patted Ron on the shoulder, “I’ll bring the beer,” he said and
turned to walk to his truck. Ron turned back towards his bike and
looked at his watch. Even with the hour-long fuck break he’d just
taken, he’d make it to the restaurant on time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4B’S was not a twenty-four hour
establishment, but it opened for breakfast at 8 am and stayed open
until midnight because hungry truckers, bikers, and other bearish men
liked meat any time of the day. Being just off the freeway in a town
where two interstate highways and two busy major state highways met,
there was a lot of demand for what they had to offer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ron looked around for Olaf and
Charlie’s scoots. He rode around the parking lot and saw a short
line of six hawgs parked on the west side of the restaurant. He
immediately recognized Olaf’s oversized beast parked over by a line
of semi-trucks. It was hard bike to miss.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The highly customized Harley was made
to fit a very large framed man. Above the headlight, between the
handlebars a synthetic resin bear skull had been mounted in such a
way as to incorporate it into the light fixture, as if the skull was
devouring the light. Parts of the frame, and other pieces of the
body of the bike looked like they were made of Bear bones. The gas
tank was encased by what was made to look like a rib cage, which
extended down either side of the front portion of the bike. This
enclosed the engine and radiator as well. The oversized tank itself
looked like it could have been a set of large metallic blood red
lungs. The spinal column ran from the back of the skull down the
back of the tank and under the front part of the seat down to where
the skeletal hipbones touched the back of longer than usual,
well-padded seat ending in a stubby, bony tail. The Bear’s front
skeletal forelegs extended out from the body to give the bike the
typical chopper profile with the front paws griping the wheel. The
femur and other leg bones came out as the twin exhaust pipes on
either side of the bike. There was no chrome on this bike. That
which was not painted deep metallic red, was painted matte black so
that at night everything would vanish beneath the contrasting bone
white skeleton.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">There was no
overlooking this bike... it was huge, macabre, and a completely one
of a kind piece of rolling art. The helmet was hanging from the
handlebars and looked like a Bear’s skull. Etched into the back
were the Elder Futhark runes that spelled out Olaf Bjørnen. The
whole thing had been done in metal and resins, and whoever had done
the job was a master</span> of those materials. <span style="color: black;">The
completed effect was to make it look as if Death, himself were riding
the back of skeletal Bear, crouched and ready to pounce. The
backrest of the blood red leather seat had “Døds Bjørn”
stitched into it and where</span> the rider’s ass cheeks would
rest, two huge Bear paws had been stitched.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ron looked over toward the semis as he
parked by Olaf’s monster ride and, just like his bike; <span style="color: black;">Olaf
himself was hard to miss. The Bear was simply gigantic, at least two
heads taller than Ron, as wide as one and</span> a half big men and
probably close to four hundred pounds, mostly muscle, but with a good
layer of fat over that, and a nice round bear belly.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He was jovially talking with one of the
truckers, a rather large, big bearded man who was never the less
dwarfed by the Nordic ginger giant standing next to him. Ron
immediately thought about the trucker back at the rest stop that
afternoon and his cock twitched. Both men were chuffing on the stubs
of large gauge cigars, laughing and gesticulating. The huge red
bearded bear, with a braided beard down the front and thick braid of
hair down the back that reached down to his waist, waived his huge,
furry paw at Ron as soon as he noticed him pull up.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Ron dismounted,
took off his helmet, hung it from his handlebars, and walked over to
the pair. He immediately recognized the man to whom Olaf was
talking.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Quinn Naughtan!” Ron said greeting
the trucker as he approached, “I haven’t seen you in… what,
five years?” They shook hands clasping each others right arms,
palm to arm just above the wrist and then pulled into a tight, strong
Bear hug.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Six, actually,” Quinn said, “this
big red oaf and I were just talking about that.” He reached over
and smacked Olaf on his furry forearm.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Ow!” Olaf said in a register a
couple of octaves above his usual rumbling bass, and then grinned
like a child.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Are you headed to B’ars ‘n’
Gars too?” Ron asked as he smacked Olaf hard as he could on the ass
and then craned his neck up, pursing his lips for a kiss, which Olaf
bent down slightly to complete with a huge kiss ending in a ‘SMACK’
sound.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Sure as hell am!” Quinn said and
stuffed the stub of his cigar in his <span style="color: black;">mouth and
drew deeply on it. He growled around the stogie, “And I’m this
hairy fucker’s roomie, seein’</span> as how I waited too late and
missed not only pre-registration, but any chance of getting <i>any</i>
room at all.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You still with that handsome hunk of
beef, Halden?” Ron asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Quinn looked away, down and to the side
for a moment, obviously trying to maintain his composure. Olaf gave
Ron a wide-eyed look that immediately said, <i>'Oh crap, wrong
topic!'</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Quinn then looked up meeting Ron’s
eyes and said quietly, “Uh… Halden, is the reason I haven’t
been around for the last six years, Ron. He passed away; it was a
brain aneurysm. It was quick, which I know he’d have been <span style="color: black;">thankful
for. I rode in the back of the ambulance while they worked on him,
but he was dead by the time the</span> EMTs got to the hospital.
After that, I guess I kind of shut myself off from everyone, holding
the grief in, burying myself in work.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Olaf moved close
to Quinn, pulled him into a side hug, took the cigar out of his
mouth, bent slightly, and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.
Ron moved to Quinn as Olaf released him and pulled him into a full
hug, and gave him a kiss. “You know, we love you like family.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“I know.
Better than family, actually,” he said with a lustful grin.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“We all loved
Hal too. I’m sorry I didn’t hear about it until now.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“No reason you
should have, I haven’t told anyone until now and I was the one that
sort of disappeared. I needed to sort myself out. I really miss
him, but it’s time for me to get on with my life and that’s why
I’m back and associating with biker trash like you guys again,”
Quinn said with a wry smile.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“So, when was
the last time you were on a scoot, Quinn?” Ron asked.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“It’s been a
couple of years. I was riding round after Hal passed quite a bit
when I wasn’t in the truck; just needed to get away. I had the
electricity and water turned off on me one summer because I wasn’t
around enough to pay the bills, grass in the front yard died. I
guess I was paying too much attention to death and not enough to
life,” he said with a shrug, “It’s why I need some time with
you bad examples,” Quin smiled and rubbed Ron’s shoulder.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And… Speaking of biker trash riff
raff… where the <i>hell </i>is Charlie? I texted him a couple of
hours ago, before I hit the dead zone going through the canyon on the
way up here. He was ahead of me getting here by about two hours,
said he’d be <span style="color: black;">waitin',” Ron said</span>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Oh, you know my big brother,
probably stopped at a liquor store to fill his saddle bags for the
party or stopped off to fuck a <span style="color: black;">trucker,”</span>
Olaf said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“No, that was
me. I stopped to fuck a trucker: nice furry ass and back I ran my
paws up under his flannel. He had a big, thick stub of a cock too.
Don’t know why, but I’m damn horny today, well, hornier than
usual,” Ron said as casually as if he were repeating something he
read from a newspaper article.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Olaf grinned, “Didja give him your
number?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ron nodded, “After a fuck like that,
I wanna meet up with him again.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Olaf chuckled.
“But back to Charlie, even if he’s banging three truckers, I
wouldn’t be too concerned... he’ll show up soon enough. Besides,
if we send out a search party, he’ll be back here gloating over his
dessert that we were nervous ol’ nannies when we get back,” Olaf
said, taking a last draw on his cigar nub and dropping it, grinding
it out under his heel. “I mean, Charlie can take care of himself
in much the same way you and I can Ron.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“True enough”,
Ron said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“So, hey, I’m
starved! Let’s go in and at least get some appetizers while we
wait for him to show up… and I suppose you guys might want
something too, huh?” Olaf grinned.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The three headed into the restaurant.
When they were being shown to their table, they passed a large table
with the owners of the six bikes parked outside seated around it.
Each of them were burly, bearded men, covered in fur and tats. Four
of them who could see him coming viewed Olaf with awe and as he
passed, the red bear gave them a leering smile.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the bikers returned the smile,
nodded, and said, “Hey <span style="color: black;">brother,” as he
adjusted his crotch. Olaf paused to return the greeting, shook his
hand as a way to pass a card</span> he’d discreetly taken from his
vest pocket into the biker’s palm. The biker just as discreetly
pocketed Olaf’s card. Olaf said, “Catch ya later, bro!” and
then walked on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You’ll get to take care of <i>that</i>
hunger later, Uncle, as will I," Ron said and Quinn chuckled.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Well, it’s
</span><span style="color: black;"><i>his</i></span><span style="color: black;">
hunger I’d like to take care of,” Olaf said, “and I suspect I
might at some point in the very near future. You already had a snack
from that trucker at the pit stop, so you’re not as hungry as I
am."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Don’t suppose I can help feed you
two; if he shows up at the hotel, that is?” Quinn asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Rest assured, Quinn, you’re on the
menu.” Olaf said and gave him a pat on the shoulder as they
reached their table, “And maybe Mr. Tasty with my card in his right
butt cheek pocket over there might become a regular dish <span style="color: black;">as
well.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You’re <span style="color: black;">insatiable,”
Ron</span> said with a chuckle.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And you’re not?” Olaf retorted.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 5.00pt solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-bottom: 0.01in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Royce pulled into the parking lot of
4B’s just after six o’clock. The sun had gone down behind the
mountains but it was still light out. He pulled around to a parking
lot where he had view of both the lot entrances. He’d await for
Ron here. He looked around for cameras and found that the place had
them. He got out of his truck and inspected them from a discreet
distance. Having a look at them, he determined that one was a
scarecrow, a dummy camera put out in plain sight in the lot to keep
people from getting up to mischief. The other two were a bit better
hidden and trained on the entrance and rear exit of the building. He
suspected there’d be a few more inside, probably around the cash
<span style="color: black;">registers, and perhaps</span> at the bar. Knowing where they were was important
so he could take measures to be out of the camera’s view.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Royce got out and went inside, being
careful of how the camera caught him. Sure enough, there was a
camera trained on the area around the front registers. When greeted
by the host, he asked directions to the bathroom after being seated.
He ordered a burger and made his way to the bathroom after the server
had left. Passing the bar on the way, <span style="color: black;">he noted
a camera there and one in the general dining area.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Returning to his seat, he waited ten
minutes, looking out at the entrance he could see from his <span style="color: black;">window
seat. His burger arrived and he consumed it and the fries quickly.
He was just about finished with his drink and the last bites of his
meal when he saw a bike pull into the lot. It was... no, not Ron,
Royce realized as watched the man approach on his motorcycle. The man
looked </span><span style="color: black;"><i>very</i></span><span style="color: black;">
similar, enough so that he could be Ron’s brother, ‘almost twins’
he thought. Same white beard, same build, same… indefinable aura.
As he passed by Royce’s window, he noticed the same motorcycle club
emblem on the back of his vest; whoever he was, he was likely a
werebear and, most importantly, he was alone! If Royce could do this
quickly, it avoided the need for many of his contingency plans and
involving Ron altogether.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The server came back as the biker
entered the restaurant. Royce paid the bill and offered a decent
tip, but not one that would draw attention to him and make him
memorable, telling the server to “keep the extra” handing her the
money as he got up from the table. He scratched at his short beard
and ran his finger and thumb over his thick, longer than usual
moustache, looking in the direction the biker had gone. He noted
that the biker had headed toward the bar, rather than being seated at
a table. Royce headed <span style="color: black;">toward the bathroom. He
needed</span> to prepare.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the bathroom, he took out the flask
he had in his vest pocket. There was more of the substance in the
truck; but he hoped that what was in the flask was enough
to get the werebear out to the parking lot. The colloidal silver, if
it did the trick, would start working within fifteen to twenty
minutes, thirty at the most.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As Royce came out of the bathroom, he
headed to the bar and noted that the biker had a half glass of beer
in front of him and was watching whatever football game was on the
screen. Royce noted that the biker was likely just at the edge of
the camera’s view, and beyond that, the end of the bar was not
covered, and that is where he’d sit. Royce headed for those
unmonitored seats and as he passed the biker, he dropped a
fifty-dollar bill behind the biker’s stool on the floor. This went
unnoticed by the biker who watched the game and sipped
his beer. Royce stood by the seat next to the biker and asked, “Mind
if I sit here?” <span style="color: black;">Royce, for the first time
tonight put his hand into his pants pocket and palmed the item there.
He felt a tingle from the small quartzite bear fetish and realized
that it not only detected items of interest concerning werebears…
it detected werebears too!</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: 5.00pt solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-bottom: 0.01in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Charlie walked into the restaurant
after determining that he was the first of the group to arrive. Not
surprising really, he expected he would be and that gave him time to
sit for a bit, enjoy a few beers, maybe order an appetizer or two.
He’d hit the liquor store before getting to the restaurant and
stocked up, filling the room he’d left in his saddle bags with<span style="color: black;">
some high quality, well-aged spirits to go along with the cigars he
and his buddies would be enjoying later at the event.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He sat at the bar and ordered a beer,
asking if Jack, the guy who’d been bartending in the evenings at
4B’S for the last decade or two was around, or if he would be in
later. The young, thin, clean-shorn, bartender told him that Jack
had the night off, handing Charlie his beer and turning his attention
back to the game. '<i>That’s a pity'.</i> Charlie thought as
he took a sip, '<i>Jack is one fine piece of sweet bear eye candy</i>'.
The bar was somewhat deserted, most folk were having dinner, not
drinks. There was a twenty something woman at the far end of the bar
busily texting as she nursed what <span style="color: black;">looked like a
‘girly drink’ he guessed was a cosmopolitan</span>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Charlie wasn’t afraid to order girly
drinks; in fact, he rather liked them. He loved Sex on the Beach
(both the drink and the activity) and in recent years, he’d tried a
Mojito and a Blue Hawaiian and liked them both. He’d tried the
various ‘in style’ drinks through the years and found he enjoyed
the fruit and herbal flavors with the various alcohols. He took some
good natured ribbing from some of his human biker friends who seemed
to think the only drink fit for a man was beer or Jack Daniels, but
Charlie liked what he liked and everyone else could get fucked… or
not fucked… if they were asses about it. However, at the moment,
he wanted a beer… a nice, tall glass of it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Charlie had lived long enough to see
many things in his life, this televised sporting thing was relatively
new and relatively trivial, but it had some appeal and so drew his
attention. He settled in and watched some football, not so much for
the sport which he didn’t care about, but for the nice male forms
in motion and, of late, a lot of those men in those tight uniform
bottoms, shoulder pads, and helmets were sporting thick beards, which
was a nice trend he hoped would continue for some time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He was about halfway through his beer
when a voice behind him asked, “Mind if I sit here?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Charlie turned and saw one hell of a
handsome man in some new biker gear, with some sweatshirt material
clothes underneath, obviously for the chilly ride up here. Such
things didn’t bother Charlie so much, but he understood why it
would be a problem for humans. His nose twitched as he caught his
scent, well, his scent, another man’s scent and some very good
cigars and pipe tobacco. The man smelled rather nervous, but then
Charlie was used to that, with the way he looked. Even larger
confident men, like this fine beefy, handsome fellow were sometimes a
bit on edge around him. It was as if they sensed the predatory
creature Charlie became when not in human form. Charlie decided to
affect his more ‘down home’ accent, it tended to put
authoritative guys like this more at ease, made him appear more
‘folksy’ and so less threatening. Not that he didn’t speak
like this normally, particularly around family, but he’d exaggerate
the accent a bit and lay the ‘southern charm’ on a little bit
heavier.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Not ‘t all!” Charlie said with a
broad smile and the man took a seat. The skinny bartender came over
and the guy ordered a beer, domestic, but not <span style="color: black;">cheap
lizard piss</span>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The guy was a looker, not pretty
though. Handsome with strong, manly features and Charlie could smell
arousal all over him, and the nervousness, which didn’t disappear
now that Charlie had not objected to him taking a seat within the
three to five foot circle that was his personal space. Charlie was
rather confident that he knew why: the guy with the thick, longer
‘stache (which told him he’d let it grow out well before the
young salt and pepper beard), was attracted and a bit afraid too,
which also happened even with big confident men. After all, the more
ego you have about yourself and your looks, the harder the hammer of
rejection fell, <i>if</i> it fell; and that could lead to jangled
nerves in a possible hook-up situation. <span style="color: black;">Those
nerves didn’t show physically, which meant the guy was used to
being in control and had learned to mask his nerves. So, possibly
ex-military or ex-cop, but Charlie had the advantage of a Bear’s
sense of smell. Even if it was somewhat muted by his human form, it
told him things that body language alone didn’t.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He looked to see if the guy was looking
at the rather attractive woman at the end of the bar, engrossed in
her cell phone, and as if to confirm his suspicions, he was acting as
if she didn’t even exist. Most straight guys, even if they weren’t
interested in a particular woman, would at least do a quick glance
over for the sake of evaluation, once or twice. Their eyes would
wander over at least every couple of minutes, but it seemed his focus
was solely directed at Charlie and to a lesser extent, the bartender.
He’d catch side-glances and surreptitious scans of things beyond
his seat on Charlie’s left side or in the bar’s liquor bottle
occluded mirrored back wall, making eye contact with Charlie then
looking as though he were interested in the bottles.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Charlie was sure this hot fucker wanted
a little private time with a furry badass biker, and the old Bear
wasn’t above a quick fuck in a gas station bathroom or no-tell
motel. It was why he always kept a supply of fresh Maximus condoms
on him when he was away from the homestead.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You ride?” Charlie asked in a
friendly way to break the ice, his deep voice having the effect of a
rush of arousal scent to come from the man.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Hell yeah, but
not as often as I’d like to.” the man said and took a sip from
his beer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Me neither,
brother! Could be on muh scoot five outta seven an’ </span><i><span style="color: black;">still</span></i><span style="color: black;">
wouldn’t git enough.” Charlie said and lifted his glass and</span>
it was returned with a clink.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“That’ll
change soon enough. I just retired and I plan do to a lot more of
the things I haven’t been able to,” the man said</span> and took
a pull on his beer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What’d ya do?” Charlie asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Career law
enforcement,” the man said, and took another sip.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Charlie smiled at
the guy and to himself and thought</span><span style="color: black;"><i>,
'Damn if I can’t call it! I </i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>knew</i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>
he was police or military.'</i></span><span style="color: black;"> “So,
ready ta go wild, with more time on yer hands? Grow th’ beard out,
hit th’ rallies? Sturgis?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Oh fuck yeah!
Couldn’t grow my beard while I was on the force and now that I can
want to get a lot more hairy and a lot wilder; let the beast out, if
you know what I mean,” and the man smiled broadly with a gleam in
his eye.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Oh ah do,
brother! Need ta let muh beast out pretty regular,” Charlie said
and laughed, raising his glass said, “Ta furry critters like us!”
clinking it with the stranger’s again who shared the laugh.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The man casually
looked down at the floor, behind Charlie’s stool and asked, “Is
that yours?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Charlie looked
down and saw a fifty-dollar bill on the floor. Wide-eyed, he got
off his stool and bent to pick it up, and while he was doing that
Royce took a quick scan of the bar; the bartender was talking with
the woman and her boyfriend who’d just arrived. Royce knew he was
out of range of the camera, the werebear was picking up the money, so
the opportunity to empty the contents of the flask into the bear’s
beer was now, and he took it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Charlie stood up,
with his back to the bar and examined the paper in the light
overhead. After a few seconds he said, “Looks real ‘nuff” just
as Royce had finished spiking the beer and slipped the flask back
into the breast pocket of his leather vest.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Well, it ain’t
mine, so I’m gonna ta put it ta good use!” Charlie said and
stuffed it in the bartender’s tip jar.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“You’re a
pretty giving sort, aren’t you? Not sure I’d pass up fifty
bucks.” Royce laughed, and raised his glass, “To sincere
generosity!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“I’ll drink
ta that!” Charlie said, clinked his glass and downed his beer.
“It’s jest money. Old as I am, I seen fortunes come an’ go.
It’s good ta pass a lil’ fortune on ta them that’s werkin’
hard. Tendin’ bar is a lot a standin’ an’ puttin’ up with
people’s horseshit, jes like waiting tables... Now… I think I’m
in th’ mood for ‘nother beer!” He got the skinny young
bartender’s attention and ordered another, and one for Royce who
accepted graciously after a few polite refusals.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The two sat
awhile, drank, and talked, Royce checking his watch occasionally.
Fifteen, then twenty minutes passed and, Charlie, as they had
introduced themselves by now, still seemed unfazed by the silver
compound that had laced his previous beer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Royce was about
to excuse himself to go to the bathroom when Charlie leaned in, and
in a conspiratorial whisper asked, “If it’s not too forwerd, I’d
like ta ask...” There was a pause and Charlie looked to see if
anyone was listening. Satisfied that no one was he continued, “I
know it’s pers’n’l an’ all, but… you gay?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Royce was taken
aback. He’d never really tried to hide his sexuality, but most
people had no idea. He usually didn’t project his sexuality and
even those who knew him before finding out he was gay had often
commented that he didn’t seem to ping their gaydar. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Charlie
continued, “’cause if ya ain’t or not out the closit, then
pard’n muh question, I just kinda felt…”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Royce smiled
broadly and quickly interrupted, “Oh, no, I’m gay… A Bear,
actually… </span><i><span style="color: black;">AND</span></i><span style="color: black;">
I’m interested. What did you have in mind? Because honestly…
you’re about as a sexy a fuckin' Bear as they come!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Charlie returned
the smile and said quietly, “You up for a lil’ bear ta bear
action? I got me some pertection in muh pocket for special
uhkayshins. Know a nearby motel too; it’s clean, they don’t git
in yer business ‘bout who ya take back to yer room, an’ it’s
out a ways. You a top‘r a bottom?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“I’m usually
a top, but for a hot Daddy Biker like you?” Royce smiled, “I’d
catch what you’re pitching. So, Hell yeah I’m interested. Lead
the way, fucker!” Royce downed his
beer and put a twenty on the bar under his glass. Charlie did the
same and they headed out the door, Charlie adjusting his crotch as he
walked out of the restaurant.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0.11in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">Royce couldn’t believe his luck; this
beautiful creature was playing right into his hand. This would be so
much easier than he’d thought! It was as if fortune had lined
everything up for this. He reached into his jeans pocket and felt
the quartzite bear fetish. It was tingling with what seemed to be a
greater intensity; almost as if Charlie’s heightened, arousal was
bringing more of his bear out, making the fetish more active. Royce
wondered if it would tingle more in the presence of a fully
transformed bear. He would have to see.</span></div>
UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-73677825444060848542018-10-15T14:20:00.000-07:002018-10-15T14:31:46.934-07:00<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Respite In Chaos</span><br /> by E John Evans<br /><br /><br />(All rights reserved. Please do not redistribute in any form without express permission.)</div>
<br />It has been many years since Matt made his second change and became a Guardian; through all his travels he had met many Bears, along with a host of other Werecreatures including Elk, Boar, Moose, Wolves, Eagles, Falcons, and a Dolphin. Matt’s connection to nature came with a universal translator for all creatures; a fact he kept to himself. He felt as though his abilities were best kept secret from those around him since the missions he was being sent on tended to be the most dangerous and this was something he was getting tired of; always risking his head so others could sit and rule the Den. He knew he had committed himself to this but as time went by he grew very tired of it. <br /><br />Matt had just finished a small errand given to him by his Elder and was calling in to give his report; as the conversation with Robert, his handler, progressed he was left feeling hollow. It seemed as if he could do nothing right lately and even though his tasks were completed, he was always chastised for one thing or another. <br /><br />“... can you do nothing right?” Robert huffed on the end of the line, “You were suppose to end him, not mentor him and hope for a better tomorrow Damn it!” <br /><br />Matt paused, “What’s the matter, not killing someone didn’t fit in your little plan? You know what … I’m DONE. See you later Robert, I’m going to drop off for a while; when I surface you and I have some things we need to settle … in the arena, I think. Hope you’re ready. Bye now!” He quickly ended the call, and as he looked down at the phone resting in his hand it rang again. ‘Robert…’ chuckling, Matt closed the phone and turned it over to take off the battery cover to remove both the SIM card and battery. Finally, the caustic ring and vibrations were silenced. He easily crushed the chip and battery into bits; the phone was soon to follow as he walked down the street, dropping the pieces as he went.<br /><br />Matt needed a break! Coming to a bus stop, he hopped on the first bus there, paid his toll and sat down. He was lost in thought as the bus leisurely drove its route. Matt was organizing his thoughts and just taking a break, from the fever pitch pace he had been keeping lately. He was hardly home with Luke more than a few days before something would come up and he would have to leave again. He rode around for hours until the driver yelled “Last Stop”. Matt chuckled to himself as he got off of the now empty bus; he was smack dab at the base of Blue Ridge Mountain, at the corner of the state park and Lake Lure. <br /><br />“Well hot damn, maybe it’s time to pay ol’ Broken-Hoof a visit,” Matt said aloud and started to walk toward the lake and the entrance to the property of the oldest Elk he had ever met; actually the oldest werecreature of all. ‘Hoof’ as Matt had come to know him was old, wise, a better fighter than Matt, and always horny. Matt chuckled again, this Elk was hung like a horse to say the least and had rocked Matt’s world on multiple occasions.<br /><br />Hoof seemed to appear whenever Matt needed to be worked over or ‘handled’. Matt shook his head, smirking, as he walked; Hoof reminded him of a certain old Brown Grizzly that tended to ‘show up’ in a very similar fashion. After a few miles, he arrived at the entrance to the driveway. A cable was draped across the opening and locked to a substantial post on either side. To the left and right of the entrance were piles of rock before a sharp slope in the ground; it dawned on Matt that the property was on a bluff with only one way up and down, its sides were sheer rock faces. ‘Secure as they come ...’ he paused at the cable for a few seconds until a scent wafted to his nose, it was musk, Hoof’s marking. It was the pheromone essence of the beast and Matt could tell he was ready as always. Taking that as the sign to enter, Matt easily made his way over the cable and ambled up the path toward the cabin. <br /><br />As Matt walked he could tell his was being followed; from his left and right he counted four younger Elk, Deer, and Gazelle. He chuckled and spoke aloud to himself; “Growing quite a sizable herd aren't you old one...” <br /><br />Matt arrived at the cabin’s front door but before he could reach for the knocker he heard a series of grunts from around the deck to his left. He followed the call, roughly translated it meant ‘Get your cub ass over here, I want it!”. As he turned the corner he saw Hoof sitting on a bench up against the back railing of the deck, legs open, in his majestic half-form his arms resting on the top rail. Matt stood staring in awe of the beast until Hoof finally broke the silence. <br /><br />“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you? I hope it isn’t business, that elder of yours is trifling to say the least and it is time for the rut. You know Autumn brings out the beast in me and you’ve arrived at just the right time. Now, tell me ... tell me, why are you here?” He lounged and watched the little Moon-bear.<br /><br />Matt lowered his head and kicked the ground in front of him, sighing. “I don’t really know. I’m just tired of thinking I am wrong in everything I do. Frustrated really, and a little lost … you know … I-um …”<br /><br />“Say no more, come with me … you and I need some private time and we can work through some of this. We can’t have our Guardian all messed up in the head with no clear path and weighed down by angst and uncertainty. Besides, I can smell from here that it’s been a while since you’ve had sex or at least masturbated so we’ll take care of that as well. So, young one, are you ready to give in and let yourself go? Are you ready to just be for a while? Are you?” Hoof walked slowly toward Matt letting each word sink in. His antlers were wide this season and his chest was broad, giving him an intimidating presence. His fur was salt and pepper, mixed with the traditional Elk brown. His cock was ample inside its furry sheath, and Matt could already see the bulge forming at its base. <br /><br />“Leave your clothes here on the porch, turn off any devices you have and rid yourself of attachment. When you’re ready we will start in the sweat hut in the bluff. Go there, I’ll be waiting,” finishing his statement Hoof looked down into Matt's eyes and then walked away leaving him alone. <br /><br />Matt would have to take the first step and commit to healing and change; he would have to freely let go of all his attachments and doubt to see his path. After a few moments of standing still he allowed himself to open up. His senses pulled back and he let his vision shift, seeing the energy flow in the world around him. The entire area was bathed in blue green light. The bluff where the cabin and grounds rested was a natural nexus of energy and life. It was no wonder that Hoof always looked so good, the energy that bathed him kept him young, viral, and irresistible. . <br /><br />Matt shrugged off his clothes and left his things in a neatly folded pile on a porch chair. He was very careful to unload his sidearm and secure the blades he was carrying; in total he carried a sidearm, four blades, and two batons. “I’ve got to dial this down a little,” Matt sighed to himself looking over his things and turning to look out over the bluff to the small hut, where smoke was gently rising from its center. He could make out a few other were-creatures tending to things around the hut; this was going to be an adventure for sure. <br /><br />He made his way around the side of the cabin, and onto the bluff, as he approached he noticed several of the were-creatures tending to firewood and pouring water into the cisterns by the door. When he reached the entrance he lifted the animal hide flaps and stepped inside. The heat that hit him was intense, more so than he had expected. As his eyes adjusted he made out a raised stone area in the center of the room with water flowing through it; a fireplace was on the other side and he could tell the water was circulating through its firebox and back through the slab. Hoof’s voice came to him through the steam, “Get on the slab, rid yourself of your attachments, let go of your life and stop thinking … just BE.”<br /><br /> Matt got up on the table, the heat from it nearly burning his skin. He laid there for awhile drifting in and out of awareness. From time to time an attendant would douse him with ice cold water and add more sage to the smoke pot inside the hut. The smoke lulled him into a dreamy state, not awake but not quite asleep either. Time slipped away as his body relaxed and dehydrated; Hoof knew this wouldn’t kill the Bear but it was going to take an extreme amount of work to get him to heal. <br /><br />At some point Matt realized the Hoof had moved to his side and oil had been poured over him; three sets of hooves and hands were gently massaging him. The images came to him in waves, like the heat was breaking his sight. Even his sense nature and energy flow seemed to be distorted and off. He tried to speak but Hoof gently pushed two fingers down his throat. Matt responded by sucking softly on his fingers; this sign of release was just what the Elk was waiting for, not wanting to engage the Bear in sex unless he was invited. As intoxicating as Matt’s scent was to him it was a decorum between species to respect each other's wishes and boundaries. <br /><br />Hoof let Matt suckle on his fingers as he moved toward his head and the front of the slab. The other creatures gently slid Matt to the edge where a half-moon portion had been cut into the rock, allowing his head to lay back over the table. His suckling increased in intensity as the Elk guided his sucking mouth onto his raging hard cock as it edged from its sheath. Hoof's cock oozed a thick yellow fluid that was like nectar to the Moon-bear. Slowly Hoof increase the speed and depth of his thrusts into Matt’s mouth; all the while the other creatures around them rubbed and caressed Matt’s cock and throbbing asshole. Matt had gone so long without a meaningful sexual encounter he had forgotten what it was like, the total giving of a confident partner. The complete animalistic nature of sex with a were-creature was so far outside the scope of what was human, it had no comparison. <br /><br />This continued for some time. Hoof's huge bulge at the base of his cock had made its way out of its sheath and bumped against Matt;s nose and mouth with each deliberate steady downward thrust. Hoof was impressed that Matt could take the majority of his cock while in his human form, only gagging slightly. The other animals helping Hoof kept Matt right on the edge of orgasm, on the verge of sexual release; letting the tension build and build within the little Bear. The pressure inside of Matt was reaching the point of being painful; his balls ached as his cock swelled.<br /><br />Through the constant and insistent thrusts of the Elk in his throat, Matt began to beg for release. He tried to move but Hoof was holding him down by his wrists as he thrust rhythmically into his stretched mouth and throat. Hoof would not let him move, would not let him get his way, Matt would learn to let go and just be. After what seemed like an eternity, Hoof let his thrusting come to a slow stop pulling his cock out of Matt’s mouth with a sloppy pop. Looking down at him Hoof smiled and chuckled, the little Bear was covered in Elk musk and saliva froth that had built up in the thrusting. <br /><br />"Are you ready to be in the moment?" All Matt could do was nod his head. The others stopped their rubbing and slathered him with more oil before flipping Matt over. The ancient elk shifted just a bit further into his half form; this gave his rear legs the musculature he was going to need when mounting the bear. <br /><br />"Water … please," Matt pleaded.<br /><br />"No … only after you let go completely. You aren't there yet … now give me that ass, you little fucking Bear!” Hoof shouted as he got on top of Matt, holding him down with his weight, locking and grabbing Matt’s hands and stretching his arms out in front of him. The Elk’s knees dug into his back and his weight locked his legs into place. <br /><br />"Please … Hoof ..." Matt pleaded weakly the heat, dehydration, and foreplay had done its work; the Guardian was weakened, humbled, and helpless with the ancient Elk on top of him. <br /><br />"Let go, give into yourself, face your desires … face them,” Hoof grunted through gritted teeth and started sliding his massive, straining Elk cock up and down in the crack of Matt’s ass. Matt continued to wriggle and writhe around trying in vain to get free of the beast that was on top of him. He was struggling so hard and was so weak he would start to morph into his half form but then would revert back to human. Hoof let him wiggle and struggle until Matt started to raise his hips to match his prodding. It was a signal that Hoof was waiting for. "There you go puppy boy, this old Elk is going to breed you like the doe in heat you are ...," he growled and barked as he shifted his weight and slid the tip of his cock into Matt’s well oiled and open ass. <br /><br />Hoof slid his cock into Matt in one smooth and deliberately, achingly slow stroke all the way to his bulge at its base. The Elk’s cock was engorged past any former point -- Hoof was so wanting the breed Matt, he had wanted the young Bear since meeting him years ago. He was straining against himself to stay focused, to draw it out and to allow Matt to let go, to let him be, but his own internal beast was at the point of winning. This was a test of Hoof’s will and Matt’s inner demons and the Elk was determined to win. Not solely for himself, but for Matt. The Elk’s slow and deliberate thrusting into the Bear was producing a puddle of Bear pre-cum under Matt allowing his raging cock to rub against the slab, bringing him close to orgasm before Hoof was ready to let him have release.<br /><br />The Elk realized that Matt was right at the point of release, just on the verge of letting go; he was almost there. The wise Elk grunted into Matt's ear, "Reach up and grab my rack. Now you little bitch, puppy boy, do it now!" Wearily, Matt reached up. Guided by Hoof and grabbed a hold of his antlers. Then Hoof cupped the Bear with one hand under his belly and sat up, pulling Matt upward into a semi seated position, still impaled on the Elk’s cock. They settled in with Hoof sitting on the edge of the slab leaning back on his hands and Matt wrapped firmly around his cock holding onto his antlers. Hoof commanded, in a tone that was strained between lust, anger, and love, ”Now boy, you're going to get every inch of my cock in your ass. You’re going to Be! You’re going to to let go of your fear and want it. Tell me you want it, tell me you want your gut filled with my cum. Tell me ... tell me ... tell me."<br />
<br />
Hoof kept commanding as he gently raised Matt up, then dropped him roughly down on his cock. The huge base of the Hoof’s cock edging closer and closer to entry. After a while, the other animals started to throw buckets of cold water on the two, bringing Matt in and out of the dream state he had been lulled into, after three or four buckets of water the base of Hoofs cock slipped inside Matt, firmly locking the two together. Matt orgasmed from the pain and pleasure and finally Hoof let himself cum as well. Matt’s eyes snapped open as the essence of the Elk poured into him. The internal energy from this ancient beast ran through Matt like an electric shock. He and Hoof bonded. Hoof would forever be linked with Matt and Matt with Hoof. They had forged a bonding connection of trust, and friendship. <br /><br />Hoof collapsed backward onto the slab panting, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Matt just lay back on top of Hoof’s belly still locked in place by the massive Elk cock. Matt’s voice was weak, mumbling incoherently his eyes opening and closing.<br /><br />The other animals attending the pair shut off the flow of hot water through the slab and vented the hut. The pair was then washed in cool water to lower their body temperatures and bring them both back to some form of reality. After some time, Hoof’s cock slipped from Matt with an audible pop and Elk cum flowed out of Matt along with gallons of Elk urine; Hoof had urinated inside Matt to allow his cock to relax so he wouldn't hurt the little Bear. The attendants washed the two with a soft lavender and pine soap that reminded Matt of a ladies perfume and after they were washed Hoof, still in half form, scooped Matt up and made his way to the cabin. <br /><br />"Water?" Matt asked wearily. <br /><br />"Not until you are healed.” grunted the Elk.<br /><br />Matt was carried into the central chamber of the cabin, by Hoof still in half form. The space was small but open with a central fireplace, circled with floor cushions from wall to wall. Hoof stopped at the table across from the door before speaking. <br /><br />“On the table are three choices. All represent letting go of control, and trust in some form. Trust in a friend, a lover, or an enemy it makes no difference. The trust you place in someone must be complete and all consuming so your energy flows true. You must trust the journey to your path. You must let go and trust me not to hurt you, not to kill you, only support and protect you. Now, young guardian, Protector of the Guff... choose!"<br />
<br />tt wearily opened his eyes. For some reason his healing ability was not kicking in like it would normally and he was feeling weak, past the point of exhaustion, edging toward passing out. In front of him were a blindfold, a gag, and a set of restraints. Each of these items represented a different fear for Matt; a guardian must remain free of doubt so that they have clear resolve in action. Having this clear resolve helped with problem solving and getting to the bottom of the problems and challenges Guardians are often called to handle. The blindfold meant that Matt would have to stop looking for problems, he would have to drop his guard and just live in the moment not planning every move he’d make. The gag meant that he could not communicate or ask questions; for him talking and making inquiry was how he tested the water, how he gauged hostiles and non hostiles. The restraints were going to be the hardest for him to deal with. For many years Matt had carried the guttural fear of being tied up and unable to defend himself. With a shaking arm he reached out and grabbed the blindfold. Clutching it to his chest, he looked up into the Hoof’s soft yellow eyes and nodded to him as his bottom lip began to quiver. <br /><br />“Put it on,” demanded the Elk. Matt hesitated then slid the straps of the blindfold over the back of his head, hesitating just before pulling it down over his eyes. The last thing he saw was the Elk looking at him in a reassuring manner, his eyes full of concern. <br /><br />Matt could feel he was being laid down on the cushions around the fireplace. The soft crackle of the fire was the only sound he would hear for a while. Slowly, his breathing relaxed and his panic subsided; he was drifting in a state of relaxation, dehydration, and sexual bliss. He could tell that Hoof was laying next to him but for some reason his inner sight was not working. Matt started to sit up in panic when he was yanked down and across Hoof’s lap, face down; at some point a collar and leash had been attached around his neck, it made him panic more, when suddenly a CRACK and a searing pain across his ass snapped him back to pointed, focused, awareness. <br /><br />“Calm down and lay there until you’re told to move.” The Elk commanded as the paddle he was holding slipped slowly off the back of Matt’s ass, resting on his legs. <br /><br />“But-” Matt tried to speak, but another crack and searing pain came again from his ass as the paddle slipped slowly back to its resting place. <br /><br />“The next one’s going across your back. Calm yourself and lay there,” Hoof ordered through a yawn, as if this was all something of an annoyance for him and he wanted a nap. Matt complied, but his mind was racing trying to figure out why his inner sight refused to work, how had the collar and leash been placed around his neck, how Hoof got so fast … and many more rolled through his brain. The spiral of questions that could not be answered was staring to deepen and take over.<br /><br />“Let yourself just Be without any preconceived thought of what should or will Be,” Hoof said, once again through a yawn and then he started a soft snore. After a while the sound of the Elk's snoring, breathing and the crackle of the fire calmed the Moon Bear and he too drifted off into a peaceful sleep. <br /><br />Matt was startled awake as an tongue was being inserted into his ass roughly. He tried to move and protest but he was yanked back down and over Hoof’s lap again. “I told you to stay,” Hood whacked Matt again, this time twice as hard as the first and brought Matt back to a hyper alert state. His mind raced again, trying to work out the time of day, where he was in relation to everything else in the room, how many animals were in the room with him, on and on his mind tumbled. The tongue that was working his hole did not stop its urgency nor did it waver it its intensity. An Elk’s tongue is longer than a Bear’s and it was hitting spots deep within the little Bear. Matt’s moments of delight were almost instantly canceled out by fear and he jerked as if jolted by something. As the tongue action continued Hoof’s voice started.<br /><br />“Let go and Be” he softly muttered. Over and over it was repeated. Matt was trying but some part of the Bear would not let himself relax, wouldn’t allow it. “Let go … Let go … Be …” the words repeated over and over, lulling Matt into an almost hypnotic state. <br /><br />Ever so slowly Hoof slid Matt on top of him, the Bear’s face resting on his massive, softly furred chest. Very slowly and deliberately, leather cuffs were fastened around his hands and feet. Matt was so lulled by the action in his ass that he did not even notice it. Hoof continued mantra, “Let go … Let go … Be … Let go!” very slowly Matt relaxed. <br /><br />"Shift to your half form, you need to be a Bear young one." <br /><br />Matt unable to see slowly lifted his head and licked his lips. A long line of drool stretched from Hoof’s chest to the side of Matt’s face. As he went to sit up slightly, he realized he was restrained. Again the panic rose in him. Hoof’s voice was constant, "Let go ... let go … be ... let go.” Matt was tied to Hoof; the huge Elk had slipped into a harness that would lock them both into this eventual future. A lesson for the guardian, an act of true affection and caring for the Ancient One. Hoof knew in his heart that Matt was destined for a great battle and he had to have a clear path, he had to know himself so he could know and help others. <br /><br />Matt began to struggle and protest making a shift to half form. His teeth and claws came out as he started to attempt to free himself, not realizing what or who was around him. The part of himself that was locked away, the part of him that was taken advantage of, that never healed, a huge chunk of Matt that he never forgave himself for. He had the strength of many in his small body, but that strength was matched by the Elk. They rolled over and about in the living room of the cabin. Matt growled, barked and gnashed his teeth, snapping at any sound. He couldn’t see, his inner sight was not working and he was thrashing around lost and descending into an inner terror that he had never dealt with. Through all this commotion, Hoof was insistent in his mantra, "Let go … be ... let go … let go."<br /><br />Matt was restrained by his hands, feet, by his neck, torso and his knees. His otherworldly sharp talons were covered with mitts. At last, through his struggling, a gag was roughly forced into his muzzle, forcing his jaws apart and slightly cutting off his air. As time passed, Matt’s struggling subsided, his thrashing slowed, and his breathing settled back to normal from the raspy sucking that it had become. Hoof was bathed in sweat after wrestling with him. The big Elk was always amazed by the strength his little body held, even more now. <br /><br />In the brief moments between when Matt would stop thrashing around before he would start again Hoof took stock. If it had not been for the wearing down that they did and the stones that were in each corner of the room preventing his sight from working, he doubted that they would have gotten this far.<br /><br />After hours of rolling around and listening to the Elk, Matt began to relax. He gave in letting himself just be; he was living in the moment and trusting the people around him. He gave into peace. He invited it into his mind. As he settled down, a blue aura started to form around him as he connected to the healing energy of nature. Hoof laid him down and gently unclipped himself from Matt. The harness did its job, it allowed the Elk his hands and feet while restraining the Bear. <br /><br />Now the mantra changed, "Rest, be, grow, love,”over and over it was repeated. Finally released, Matt laid down on the cushions and opened his eyes for the first time in days. There standing over him was Hoof, still in half form, looking down at him and licking his lips.<br /><br />"Thank you, I can see clearly now. My path is open." <br /><br />"Only took you three days ... want some water and food?" Hoof asked.<br /><br />"In a minute," Matt reached up and grabbed Hoof’s hand and raised himself up, then he started to nuzzle and lick the sheath holding Hoof’s cock. There was a moan from the Elk as the two had deeply connected sex with each other, they were free to explore and have fun; for hours they rolled around. Hoof brought the young Bear to orgasm after orgasm. Matt was left exhausted and sated. After a few more weeks at the bluff, Matt went to get dressed and Hoof met him at the steps. <br /><br /> "Come ‘round anytime young one," said the elk. Trying not to look a little sad the the bear was leaving. They had gotten really close during this time. He knew that Matt would not stay, he was mated to Luke and that was that.<br /><br />"I will, in one way or another.” replied Matt, looking up at the Elk. Matt really wanted to stay. It would be easy for Matt to just disappear and spend a lifetime at the Bluff, but that was not Matt's calling, duty or purpose. <br /><br />Matt smiled, walked up to the Elk and kissed his passionately before turning and walking back down the driveway, to the street. There were no were-creatures escorting him as he exited. <br /><br />As he hopped over the cable, he noticed the shift out of the energy flow and back to the normal world. That bluff was a nexus of energy, and now that Matt had connected to it, he could sense it fully. <br /><br />Matt found his way back to the airport and then home to Canada. He slipped silently back into the house without being noticed and snuggled into Luke as he was sleeping, the big polar bear in full form cuffed a hello, pulled Matt in close and fell back asleep. There the two would sleep for a while, neither were really wanting to join the world, as long as they were together. UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-9930084174528045162018-10-09T19:05:00.002-07:002018-10-10T20:27:08.500-07:00<br /><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why Do You Fight?</b></span></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
A story written for Big Brother</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
By E. John Evans</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(All rights reserved. Please do not redistribute in any form without express permission.)</span></div>
<br /><br />Matt was riding along a bumpy dusty road heading out into the high desert of New Mexico. He had come here in his off time to train. His Sire, Elder, as well as a few others had kept him busy with training and learning new skills as he grew from a cub into a Bear. This trip was to learn tracking from a Pueblo Elder and a style of combat that was simple, yet brutal from the Apache Elder. This trip was deeply troubling to Matt. Something in the back of his mind was screaming at him to run away. Something was pulling at him to Not Be Here. Something in the world was off, but he could just not place it, could not decider the code that was running through his head like a never ending ticker tape. Stuffing that in the back of his mind, be sat and thumbed through one of his journal books. This particular journal had been written before Matt departed the military. Contained on the pages were some of his times abroad, with all the gory, ugly details. He flashed back to a few of the moments, but the way it was written was not quite how he was remembering it. Matt thought the difference was due to his more acute perception since becoming a Werecreature. His cell phone buzzed in his pocket. Taking it out, he noticed there was no reception. This was a bit odd since he carried a Global SAT Phone. Then it hit him, he had passed over some type of barrier. The air was cleaner, the sky suddenly clear, and the sounds different. He was in the different land. This was a place similar to the Hunting Grounds, however this was where you faced your fears and were either crippled by them, or made whole by them. In either case, he turned off the phone, took off his watch, and removed his phone ear piece. It was time to release all attachment and see what the Elders were going to teach him.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The truck lumbered to a halt as the sun dipped below the horizon and the night started to take over the land. Standing Matt took stock of where he was. Miles from anywhere, in the company of brothers, he was safe. The first thing he noticed was many were in full or partial forms, another benefit of being among kindred souls. Jumping out he was welcomed heartily and ushered into a small meeting space where a meager meal had been prepared. Entering, he paid his respects to the Elder and ate until he was about to pop. Many drinks and laughs later, he was shown to his very primitive hut. It was just what Matt liked. In short order he had laid out his bed roll, stripped out of all his cloths, weapons and gear. Laying down and shifting into his full bear form, for added warmth against the cooling desert night, and drifted into the void peacefully. <br /><br />In the void, Matt was embraced by something cold. It tingled his fingers and crept over his whole body. The cold was not painful anymore, it was a comfortable, and familiar embrace. The feeling of a well worn shirt, an old pair of sneakers, the familiar grip of his weapon. Matt floated in the void, somewhere between the darkness of dreams and light of the day. Slowly the dark faded and light surround him, waking him gently. <br /><br />As time progressed he fell right into a simple routine of training, helping the women and old ones prepare meals, hunting, and generally being Matt. He always helps were he can, tries to look out for anyone around him. The older females that would prepare the meals started calling him ‘Paayoo a Hoonaw’, or Bear of Three. Matt was still wondering why the ‘three’, but he just passed it off and hugged them every time he was able. In this village he learned tracking and spirit walking with the other animal spirits. It reminded him greatly of working with his mother and in some ways it felt right and perfect in his mind. As Matt often does he picked up the skills in no time and was rewarded with a new tattoo, given to him in the old way. A ceremony was prepared, drink passed around and foods shared. There was dancing and chanting, most of which Matt was struggling to understand. He had a basic understanding of Native American Languages, but it was childlike at best. Later that night the branding began. With barb, ink, and pain, a message to all was etched into Matt's flesh and bone. Many hours of laying bound by his hands and feet, stretched to make the skin of his back supper tight it was done. Matt now had wings that centered on a staff of truth, that spanned his shoulders and descended to the top of his furry nub of a tail. More drink was passed and Matt soon found himself in a dreamlike stupor, being led out of the village, not really able to resist, not overly caring what was happening. A few steps later his vision faded to blackness and the sounds of footsteps faded into the beating of his own heart, then nothing but blackness.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />— Waking up some time later, the sun high in the sky, with only his backpack and blades.—<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Matt sat up and reached for his pack, most of the contents were still there, all that is expect his weapons, electronics, water, food, and his journal book. Inside Matt panicked. Not that he could not survive without the items, but the journal book was irreplaceable. Looking around, nothing was recognizable. How long had he been asleep? Where was he? Why was he left with no food or water? Was this part of the training? After sitting in that spot for a few minutes, collecting himself he started to look around him and process his environment. From the looks of things, he had been dropped here; literally from the air. No doubt someone at the last camp was Avian. Matt chuckled to himself as he made the connection. <br /><br />To the West, there was only one trail leading away from this area, so the little Bear started walking. After a while he found some water and nibbled on some other seed plants he found along the way. His mood lifting as he walked. His guard was down, he was learning to be in the moment. To just Be, instead of always processing what was about to happen. Staying on the trail it eventually led to a rock face at the base of a bluff. From the approach he thought he could have made out some huts or pueblo type structures toward the middle and top of the bluff. With no better option, Matt started climbing.<br /><br />After a time, he made it to the first landing. Delightfully surprised; he found the start to a very remote tribe of were-creatures. Eclectic for sure, but non the less living simply and honestly off the land and with no connection to the outside world. In a way Matt envied them greatly. Wandering through he was greeted and shown to a hut where me met the Elder and several others that were training. Two he remembered from the previous camp, two he didn’t. This meeting was starkly different from the last. The Elder regarded each of them with disgust and guile. In the best he could make out if the broken English - Apache, was that they were to each be tested tomorrow and the training would be tailored from there. He picked Matt to be first in the morning. Then he walked away, leaving them to themselves, to prepare. <br /><br />In the morning, Matt woke confident and at peace. He was sure he would do well today and that this would be just as easy as the rest of the places and skills he had learned. Picking up his blades and getting dressed he returned to the same meeting spot as last night. The stones were removed, and now the area looked like a ring, with stone walls, roughly 20 meters long and about 15 meters wide. The elder stood and looked at Matt, then motioned him to the center of the area when he held a short spear in one hand and a knife in the other. <br /><br />The Elder was the first to move. Like lighting! Before the little Bear could even register the movement, Matt was struck through his shoulder by the small arrow head tipped spear. Reacting Matt turned and sliced empty air as the Elder had already moved out of range. Growling and looking at him, trying to process what was happening. Why had this gotten so physical so fast? Did Matt provoke this, or was this part of the training? How was the elder moving like that? Readying himself, he watch the Elder pull out a long blade and Tomahawk from his waist strap. Growling a little louder, Matt reached up and snapped off the small spear still in his shoulder, and took a defensive stance. I have to learn how this is happening, wait..don't attack just yet. Thought Matt as took a half step backward, and reversed the blade in his right hand. Matt was fighting with his favorite weapons, twin short swords. His own design. The handles were a bit wider and longer than most and fit Matt natural fighting style. The blades could also be joined in the middle and extended to made a double bladed short staff. <br /><br />A flash of movement as the elder buried his blade into Matt gut, ripped it sideways and clubbed Matt across the face with the blunt side of the Tomahawk. Dazed and spinning as he landed on the ground with a dull wet thud. Looking up helpless as the elder spoke. In a broken English/Apache “Who do you Love?” Trying to process the question, his vision faded to black as the void took him, as an ever widening pool of blood formed around him. <br /><br />Floating in the void, the question filtered through his mind, until he woke slowly. Waking up back on his rock slab, in his sleeping cave, bandaged around his middle and across his shoulder. Sitting up and putting his feet on the floor he realized his boots were gone, along with his shirt and jacket. “What the Fuck” Matt screamed and growled. Then looking up he noticed a small piece of paper stuck under a rock. It was a torn page from his journal that he had brought with him. On the page was a confession of his love for Luke and recounting a time where Matt had considered suicide. Thoughts of ending it all were really nothing out of the ordinary for military members, doing what Matt did. You can’t see and do that much bad without it being damaging on some level. There were times that Matt did question why he survived when others didn’t? Why a group attacked them or why he was protecting a certain few when so many were being killed in collateral damage. It was maddening at times. Crumbling the paper into a ball, crushing it tightly into his hand, the memories of that moment washed over him, with great sadness and guttural force.<br /><br />Matt was on the porch of their home in Texas. Sitting in the porch swing that hung from the porch rafters, rocking slowly, looking out over the vast acreage that was Luke’s family ranch. The wind was blowing steadily and easily from the East as the sun dipped down behind the very large three story home, casting a long shadow on the ground. Sitting there, on the swing watching the shadows move, he remembered the last 9 days. Sounds and images came in frightening clarity as he listened in his mind to the radio traffic, the sounding of the alarms, then the firefight that had erupted, and the teams escape. This trip Matt was part of a larger security detail. Things had gone horribly wrong. The intel not adequate. A perfect storm of bad events. In short order the team was cut off from each other. Then Matt had snapped, something inside of him rose to the surface and took over. It was like a cold fluid had been poured into his body, taking away all fear, anxiety, compassion, or remorse. The world seemed to slow down slightly, like he was moving faster than everything else around him. He protected his team and the visitors he was tasked with. He did bad things, evil things, he turned into a monster that day. All had escaped with there lives intact, some with minor injuries, but alive. Through the encounter had Matt enjoyed it. He actually enjoyed the destruction he was delivering. It empowered him. He had sent the team ahead, while he covered their escape and joined them soon after. Pushing the team forward, doubling back to cover the retreat. The process repeated with frightening precision. When he ran out of ammunition he used weapons from the dead. When those ran out he used his blades, when those broke he used his hands. Like a drug it tainted his being, raped his soul of all goodness, honor, and compassion. He fought without regard for his own safety, and in so, returned scared, both inside and out. Alive; but broken. <br /><br />So there Matt sat, with his service weapon on his lap, a single round in the chamber, clicking the safety on and off. Click, thunk. Thunk, click. Click, thunk. The motion and sound repeated without regard to time or space. At some point in Matt sitting there, Luke arrived home from work and found him. Knowing enough to approach gently, he slid the sliding glass door open, stepping out and closing it gently behind him. Seeing what Matt had on lap, he did not question it, and sat gently beside his mate, lover, and friend. After a few minutes of quiet swinging, watching the day become night, Matt was the first to speak.<br /><br />“Luke, am I a bad person?” <br /><br />“No, Matt, you aren’t.”<br /><br />“Well, after this trip I feel like a monster.”<br /><br />“You're not a monster. You do what you have to, but you're not a monster.”<br /><br />“Well, what if I told you innocents died so the team could come back?”<br /><br />“I would say you must not have had a choice.”<br /><br />They sat in silence. Quietly swinging, just being with one another. It was Luke that would break the silence this time. <br /><br />“Honey, why do you have your weapon on your lap?”<br /><br />“It's there for when I make a decision.”<br /><br />“If the decision is to kill yourself because you think you’re a monster, then so be it. I have never really been able to stop you; but know this. You are the reason I go to work each day. Working to make us a better future. You do the same thing. You fly off to god knows where to make the world a better place. I could not work on a global scale unless you did what you are doing, so if you kill yourself, you are killing the future for me, the children, and their children. Above all else know that I love you, No matter what shape our are in, No matter what you have to do. You come back. Understand that I love you, regardless of anything. I love you with eyes wide open.”<br /><br />More sitting quietly in the swing as time passed. The day became dusk and then night. A cool breeze had started to blow in and storm clouds were off in the distance coming closer. Matt spoke first. <br /><br />“I have to leave again in the morning.”<br /><br />“Then you better bring our ass back alive and in once piece. When you get back I will keep the nightmares at bay. I will make sure we live in a place where you will not be threatened, with space to call your own. I will make those dreams come true. I need you to come back alive. Do You Hear me?”<br /><br />“I hear you. Thank you. You know my love for you is why I keep doing this?”<br /><br />“I know… just come back. I will put the pieces back together.”<br /><br />Lost in thought. Matt did not notice that someone was at the entrance to his cave. Turning with a jump he noticed it was one of the other fighters that was training with this Elder. The young Elk motioned for Matt to follow. Leaving the cave, he followed the very young Elk in half form to the meeting circle. There were several rocks sitting around a central open pit fire. Food were being prepared by two female Bison. Matt found a rock and sat down. When Matt was settled and foods passed to him, the elder stood and spoke to them. He asked each of the warriors various questions and explained to them why he had asked it. Matt noticed right away that none of the warriors were without some kind of bandage or injury. The last to be asked, Matt was a little startled when the Elder all but yelled at Matt to answer him. Fumbling with his words he spoke.<br /><br />“I love Luke, my Mate.”<br /><br />“Why”<br /><br />“He doesn't judge me for committing the greatest sin of humans or were creatures. “<br /><br />“What sin is that?”<br /><br />“Killing another and enjoying it even though the killing may be justified.”<br /><br />“He does not judge you for anything then?”<br /><br />“Judgment is NOT accountability. I mess up stuff all the time. The love we have doesn’t excuse the mistakes, it lets us understand them and move forward, because leaving each other is not an option. I love him the same way. Is there a problem with my answer?” Matt glared at the Elder, his own emotions getting the best of him.<br /><br />The Elder just looked at Matt with those piercing green/blue eyes, then dismissed everyone with a warning. The warning was to rest and contemplate the training that would follow in the coming days, because this first day had only been a small test of skills. <br /><br />In the coming weeks, the passing of time was marked by pain. Matt was tested and trained in various forms of combat. He learned but it was slow. His normal ability to learn seemed to be cut off or stopped. Painfully, Matt did learn control, timing, patience, and cunning. Each day was a different test, some were puzzles that he needed to solve to get food and water. Others were combat tests were he would have to best another fighter to proceed on. The small Moon Bear did learn, and in time all his trials were completed and he stood before the Elder again. <br /><br />This time the questions were rapid fire. The Elder would ask and attack. Once Matt had defended against the attack or dealt a blow to the elder another question was asked. The barrage continued for an eternity. Slowly, Matt was letting go of himself. He was beginning to understand that emotions were not the path to his inner strength. He just needed to find his trigger, his way of accessing the endless flow of energy that coursed through every fiber of his being. Matt had been beat down his entire life, used, abused, and then abandoned. Luke had been the first to save Matt from himself, now that bond seemed to be a HUGE topic of contention with this Elder. Through all the questions, Matt kept asking why. Why was Luke so important to this Elder? Did the Elder know something? What was it? <br /><br />The Sky darkened and the wind picked up as the questions came in a more direct painful manner. The elder would sink his blade into Matt then ask his questions, not letting Matt free until he was satisfied with the answer. “How can you Kill without remorse?” Screamed the Elder with the blade plunged through Matt shoulder from the rear. The Bear was held on his tiptoes as the blade was twisting slowly. Gasping in pain, screaming his reply, “There is always pain, I carry the scars of every person I have had to kill. I never forget” Yanking the blade free of Matt, the elder kicked him to the ground, sliding him a few feet away, and egged him back into he fight.<br />
<br />A few exchanges later, Matt was on his knees, cut from his neck to his groin, the elders antler-hilted blade buried in his guts. “For Whom do you fight?” Growled the elder inches from Matt face. Gasping, panting, almost begging for death Matt muttered, “For Luke.” Grunting, the elder pulled the Blade free and kneed Matt in the face. The little Bear was losing lots of blood. He had to force his shift into his half form so his body would heal. When Matt shifted, something was different, something had changed. Static lit the ground all around Matt as his shift was slow and pronounced. Lighting built int he sky as the wind started a chilly circle around them. Nature was pulling itself to Matt as if by gravity. The static intensified into a loud crack, as several bolts of electricity arched from Matt to nearby onlookers. As Matt stirred from the spot he had been slid to. His paws stretched as his head came up, glaring at the elder. Eyes, glowing a bright blue, he stood, all paused to take notice, even the Elder took a cautious few steps backward. His coat was silver, long guard hairs covered his neck and back. Small stripes of back formed at his eyes and extended down his chest. Cloths falling away, the Bear stretched and flexed his body, inhaling and exhaling deeply. <br /><br />Then Matt roared. The sound came from some other place, some other being. The roar was long, loud, not common to a Bear, but more akin to a Lion or Wolf. Then it happened. The static charges stopped and all emotion departed from Matt. Something else took its place. Matt had healed himself, but in the shift, something fell into place. His breathing was normal, he was relaxed, finally at peace. At peace with himself and his Mate. His love for Luke and the bond they shared helped him attain inner peace. The one constant in an ever changing world, was their love for each other. <br /><br />The exchanges that followed were more on Matt terms, as he started to counter the Elder more and more as the fight went on. He had learned well from the pain. The pain had taught his mind and trained his body. He would counter the Elder and throw him away from him. Almost as you would taunt a cub into a fight. Matt was done with this questioning and this form of learning combat. He would not be cut again. At a deadlock of blades, the elder asked his last question, “Why is Luke the center of your World?”. Roaring again and using every ounce of his strength, he shoved the elder backward against the rock walls that surrounded them, shattering the Elders blade, and slamming the Elk hard enough to crack the wall, several of the Elders ribs, and startling many of the onlookers. Matt dropped his blades and spoke to the Elder, “He’s my world, because he saved me from the pit of despair, self doubt, and regret. He is my opposite and my equal. Although I subjugate myself to him in manner, it is my choice to do so. That choice cannot be forced or coerced. He is the center, because he is. Nothing more, nothing less. I WILL NOT continue this fight.” After standing for a few seconds, the Elder turned and walked away from Matt. The daylong lesson of pain was over. Looking down at his paws he noticed his fur was much more gray than he remembered. <br /><br />Matt collapsed to his knees, then to all fours and he panted. Letting the exhalation of the end of the training wash over him. He thought of Luke. He held the image of the man in his mind, holding onto the good times, all the love they had. After he recovered, Matt reverted back to human form, slowly collected his blades and made his way out of the arena. Turning he looked back at the small space, blood was everywhere, drying in the sun. This place was were you came to find your center, your purpose. Matt had found his, now it was up to him to take these lessons and move forward in life. <br /><br />Later in the day after Matt had washed himself, he returned to his cave. In the cleansing, communal bath, he washed away the dried blood, the dirt, and the shame. He cleaned his body in the warm water as his soul was cleansed in the burning kiln of combat. Inside the cave, he found all of his gear was returned. Matt reached for the journal book and opened it. The page that had been removed had been replaced, the page showing the signs of crumpling and the tape fresh. Matt hugged the book to his chest and sighed, “Thank you Luke, I love you. You are my everything and nothing. You are by equal and opposite. You are the reason I fight so hard. The reason I push to be a better person. I have to protect you, make sure you are always safe, just like you always took care of me.“ Matt laid down on his bed roll and fell fast asleep. Dreams of Luke came then, way back to when they first met and the instant attraction to the man. The way he smiled, the way he smelled, that devilish laugh. The way he kept the dreams at bay when they slept. A gentle touch that was enough to silence the demons and doubts. <br /><br />Matt awoke some time later. The moon was high in the sky and most had gone to bed. Wandering through the village, he stopped at a few fires to warm his hands. A few men congratulated him on his test that day. Thanking them, Matt kept moving slowly through the camp. He found the Elder sitting by a fire pit, beside a small hut. There he sat with the Elder and the two chatted as equals and comrades. The spoke to each other with eyes unclouded. Broken Hoof was now a friend and someone Matt could depend on. <br /><br />Matt would come to spend much time with Broken Hoof over the next lifetime, but that’s a topic for a different story.<br /><br /><br />—To Be Continued—UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026126447151211775.post-70311952153036819952018-10-08T20:10:00.001-07:002018-10-08T20:10:53.854-07:00Papa Werebear and I would like to introduce you to a new writer (new here anyway, though he's been writing for a while), our friend John Evans. He goes by E. John Evans when he writes, and describes himself as "an old veteran with a few stories to tell". He is WAY too modest, imho. The story that we are opening with is the first part of a longer story, the second part of which will appear next week. You will find them a bit different than ours, even though they involve shape-shifters, and specifically, werebears. There is a depth of spirituality that I think you will find involving. We hope you enjoy them!UrsusMajrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154604057427712735noreply@blogger.com0