Chapter 13: Virtue
Chapter 13: Virtue
Minetz stretches in the early hours before watchers light. Shivering in the dark attic of the workshop he takes quick account of his plans and springs to his feet. His paws thud upon the floor and cause Renno to stir.
Minetz freezes. _No no no no no, stay asleep._Renno snorts and continues snoring softly. Minetz sighs in relief before he notices his next obstacle. _Oh no, his paw is covering the trap door._Taking a moment to think he tiptoes across the floor to where the old lift used to be. He peers over down into the darkness. Carefully he dangles his feet over the ledge and drops down to the second floor with a soft thud.
He holds his paw to his long soft ear... _Good, no one has awakened._The only light, the orange glow of hot embers in the fireplace calls him over with a crackle.
The fireplace, elevated off the floor so it can be used to heat tools and reduce the risk of a hazardous fire, has nearly burned out from the night before. Minetz gathers some loose dry wood scraps from the second floor storage area and fuels the pit. His head rises just over the lip of the stone is the perfect height for him to blow on the hot coals. A wild spark nearly singes his whiskers. He smiles in the glow of the reborn flames.
Satisfied with his efforts Minetz stretches and yawns before making his way across the room is a second fireplace identical in design. The old chimneys rise through the central structure of the building doubling as its support. A dual chamber design allows smoke to circumvent the upper chamber and share a chimney to the roof for times long forgotten when the forges outside would also be lit where the chimneys begin beneath the overhang.
Minetz has never bothered to light this second fireplace. It's been cleaned out and re-purposed to store his food. Sealed up by a door and left open at the roof to draw in cold air in the winter time. He pulls out a pair of bowls, an empty one for himself and a full half frozen one of Tanoi stew for Kyra. He stands there holding the bowl in his paws.I hope Kyra is okay. His heart sinks, but only for a moment. _No, I'm sure, she's fine, shes Kyra!_He puts it down and bounds towards the stairs. A noise catches him suddenly off guard. It's faint but clear enough in his large sensitive ears. He scrapes to a halt at the top of the steps.
Above Renno groans in the loft and rolls over. But much to Minetzs delight after a few moments he falls back to sleep gently snoring.
Minetz takes his cue and tiptoes down the stairs.
Laying in the corner on the cold floor Kyra remains in the same position she fell into the night before. The bowl of stew left for her is empty though. Minetz smiles and quietly picks it up from her side. Well, she ate, that's good. Eating is good.
The fire on the second floor crackles as it comes to life. Minetz opens the back door and grabs a bucket full of packed snow he saved hanging from the roof of the old wood storage area.
Upstairs he takes a large metal pot and scoops the snow into it. Once full he hangs it over the fire and warms his paws standing on a stool close to the opening of the fireplace. He takes the frozen bowl of Tanoi stew and carefully rests the bowl with lid in the water to heat the contents without burning the wooden bowl.
The soft gentle silence of a dark winter morning takes over the loft. Minetz relaxes as the boiling water and steam occasionally interrupted by the crackling fire churns away. It's times like these that make him feel almost at home. Sadly it was not to last. The bells of watchers light ring in the darkness of predawn Aht'Regania. Minetz turns to the shut windows tracking the sound. He rushes to get the stew out of the pot feeling it to make sure it's good and ready. Ohhh, I wanted to have this done before she got up! He runs balancing the hot bowl tenuously as he rounds the corner down the flight of stairs into the lower locker area.
Kyra lays motionless in the corner.
Minetz sets the bowl of hot stew down and kneels beside her.
"Momma Kyra?" softly spoken he beckons her attention. He softly strokes her hair. "I brought you some stew."
She stirs and brushes his paw away but says nothing otherwise. Afterwards she remains still staring into the corner with her back to him.
Minetz ears pivot to the upper floor. He looks back over his shoulder at the stairs alerted by the closing of the loft door. Placing the bowl on the floor he leaps to his feet. Running up the stairs he intercepts the marten before he takes a seat at the workbench hugging onto him.
"I'm so glad Kyra is back!"
Renno holds his arms out to the side awkwardly. "Okay, that's great, go hug her then not me."
Minetz scrunches up his face cutely in an act of childish condemnation. "I hug everyone."
Renno rolls his eyes at him "Yes, I've noticed."
"Besides," Minetz breaks in. "I don't think Kyra wants a hug right now. She's still down there in the corner."
Renno lets out a long concerned sigh. "Is that normal for her?"
"She never wants a hug. But I give her hugs anyway just in case." Minetz says without concern.
"That's not what I meant. What I'm trying to say is..." Renno's words trail off as he walks over to the railing. He looks down at Kyra. Unable to hide his concern he asks. "Is that normal?"
Minetz contorts his face and raises his paw to his chin in a cartoonish effort to express thinking. "I guess not."
"I'm going to check on her." As Renno approaches her Kyra speaks stopping him in his tracks.
"Leave me alone."
Renno takes a moment to choose his words before speaking to her. "Did something happen on your trip? Are you okay?"
Kyra remains silent her gaze fixed on wall her back to Renno.
He gently insists. "Kyra?"
Her voice strained. "Go away."
Frustrated, Renno speaks assertively. "I'm just trying to help. You helped me remember?"
Kyra snaps back at him. "If you're so concerned about it then go back to your stupid cave and freeze to death. I'll be fine right here without your help."
"What's wrong with you Anorans. Yeah, thanks for saving me, then feeding me another person for dinner. You're a really great friend. What kind of a monster eats people."
Kyra stirs slow and stiff. The fur on her face wet from old tears. An angry piercing gaze meets Renno. "The kind with sharp teeth and claws. What exactly do you think you are."
Renno stares into her eyes not fully grasping her intent.
Kyra shifts her gaze from his face to his paws.
Renno lifts his paws and stares into them. He extends his claws and examines them.
Kyra lectures him in a low aggressive tone. "Do you think your self above nature? Are your people the prey of others? Or do you think they take what by nature is their right? What they need to survive?"
His mind races for any thread of a memory that might reveal knowledge with which to refute her. Not his past or even his so-called feelings grant him an argument of any merit. Still, he insists. "I 'feel' it's wrong, there has to have been another way." He looks up to find her laying as he found her with her face to the wall and her back to him.
Kyra does not rebut his claim.
Feeling defeated he gestures to her dismissively despite her not looking and returns to the upper floor.
Minetz watching from the top of the stairs shuffles his feet as Renno approaches. "We should go tell Tharen."
Renno, feeling exhausted, his stomach aching from his hunger strike. "Not Tharen, I don't want to talk to Thraen." He sits at the workbench between the fireplaces and puts his head down.
Minetz tries to plead with him. "Well, then at least eat something. I promise I cleaned the bowl as best I can." Minetz pushes a hot wooden bowl slowly towards Renno across the workbench.
Renno raises his head just enough to look over the offering. Reluctantly he concedes and accepts the meal. "Thank you."
A grin spreads wide across the face of Minetz.
Renno looks at him and raises an eyebrow.
Minetz takes it as an invitation. He runs around the table to Renno's side and hugs him.
"Okay, okay." Renno pats him on the back.
. . .
The hours from Watchers light into dawn pass in relative silence. Each one consumed by their own agenda. Renno, contemplating his plans to return home. Kyra sulking by the lockers recovering from her injuries. Minetz studying his books looking for solutions to his crude templates. The three of them share only one thing now. A single solitary desire for the silence to remain and for a while the watchers grant them this. However, as all things must come to an end, so to does the silence with a knock at the door.
Renno is the first to answer the call. He drags open the old broken doorway.
A stern woman's voice first crosses the threshold "It's you." she states.
An unfamiliar Anoran stands before him her arms crossed. The woman is none other than Kota. She looks Renno up and down examining him.
"Can I help you?" Renno nervously invites her in.
"Well, I certainly hope so. Where is my girl Kyra? Has she returned yet?"
Renno looks to the corner where Kyra lays.
Kota pushes her way past Renno. "Kyra, my darling. The shipment. I have a wonderful order to fill. When can I expect it to arrive? I would have thought it to be here by now."
Kyra ignores Kota remaining motionless on the floor.
Kota stands over her. "Kyra? Are you listening? Dear?"
Kyra rolls over to look her in the eyes. "It's gone." Her voice solemn, her face covered in fresh tears.
Dramatically Kota wails. "It's gone, by Miran what happened?"
Kyra abruptly sits up propping herself up with one arm. The other grasping her ribs. "It wasn't my fault I swear!"
"Kyra, I'm going to need a better explanation than that. This is a serious matter. I'll have to shut down for the winter." Kota's tone becomes increasingly serious.
Kyra lays back down upset and indignant. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Kyra, if you're not going to tell me I'm going to have to get Keeta involved."
Kyra sits up again now crying. "It wasn't me I didn't do anything please, give me a chance I can make things better I promise." Kyra clasps onto the hem of her dress with her paws.
"I'm sorry, but this is far too serious a matter. I shouldn't have trusted a child with such an important task."
Kyra loses her temper and snaps back at her. "I'm not a child!"
Kota jarred by the unexpected outburst reclaims her dress and takes a step back. "Then perhaps I should get the guard." she turns dramatically for the door.
Kyra thrusts her paws to the floor to lift herself up to but the sudden sharp pain in her ribs causes her strength to fail. She falls to the ground and crawls towards Kota reaching out with one paw. "No, please wait, I can fix this I promise." Tears roll from her eyes into her fur.
Kota brushes Renno aside and exists. She grabs hold of the metal ring on the door and attempts to slam it shut. Like everyone else, she struggles to drag it across the floor but manages with enough of a thud to punctuate her exit.
Renno looks at Kyra sympathetically. Something must have happened while she was away, clearly, she's been hurt."
"What are you looking at." Kyra glares back at him. Before he can answer she rolls back into a ball in the corner.
"Would you like to at least come upstairs? It's pretty cold down here. I could-"
"I'm not cold, go away." she interrupts him.
What's the use? Renno sighs and returns upstairs. Minetz having witnessed the whole exchange waits at the top clinging to the banister. "Come on Minetz, let's go have a seat."
The silence returns, this time it is unwelcome and awkward. Renno finds himself wearily leaning on the fireplace staring blankly into the flames. Minetz scribbles away on some ill-conceived plans for his next device, but unsatisfied erases or scraps entirely sheets of paper one after another. Kyra silently thinks bitterly of all the people she blames for her situation.
Before long the silence is interrupted again. This time there is no knock. The door is violently thrust open without effort. A loud blasts through the loft startling Renno and Minetz. They rush to the banister to find Rozen standing in the doorway. His massive paw holding back the door which has at long last come free from its failing hinges.
"Kyra, By Miran Kyra, what happened to you." Rozen hurries across the room and takes a knee in front of her.
Kyra already facing him. "Rozen, it wasn't my fault I'll find a way to help Kota I promise."
Rozen grabs her shoulders. "To the wilds with Kota. What happened to you. Are you okay? Let me see." He pulls Kyra to her feet, she winces but complies holding her side. "Can you raise your arms, let's get a look."
Kyra slowly tries taking her shirt off but has trouble. She fumbles unable to pull her arm in through the sleeve.
Rozen grabs her. "Here, it's in tatters anyway." He rips open the side of her shirt where she was kicked. He puts his paw around the side of her chest and feels out the injury. "Well your not bleeding but I'm sure it's broken. Did you fall? Did the caravan make it?"
Kyra replies angerly. "Oh, the caravan is just fine."
Rozen looks at her with a confused expression on his face. "Just fine? Then what happened?"
The tears return. "I was just trying to do my job. But this, this letch, Korzon. He lied to the inn and I had to sleep under a cart. But that wasn't enough for him-"
Rozen cuts her off furious. "He didn't!"
"No, not like that. He was drunk, he came out to relieve himself and found me and called the guards. He said I was a thief. I was just trying to stand up and defend myself and he kicked me and-" Kyra clings to his shirt. "I'll be okay I can fix this I promise."
"Calm down, tell me the rest. What happened to the shipment."
"I couldn't push anymore so they replaced me. I had to walk back alone. When I got here Rivaus said he was keeping it. The cloth and the lichen." She brushes the tears from her eyes with her sleeve.
"Lichen? What need have you for Lichen?"
"It was for Ellons. I owed him a favor."
Rozen shakes his head disapprovingly. Ellons, you shouldn't owe him a damn thing." He turns to Renno. "You, grab Kyra and follow me."
Kyra opens her mouth to protest but a look from Rozen silences her.
Renno helps prop Kyra with an arm over his shoulder on her good side. "Where are we going?"
Rozen sternly replies. "To have a talk with Rivaus." Rozen marches through the street. Through the alley towards the trade quarter. Through the back passage behind Brown Harth. He stops at the back kitchen entrance. His enormous fist pounds the door.
An angry Ellons throws the door open but when confronted by Rozen his tone changes. "Just what do you want."
Rozen informs him. "Your lichen has been stolen. We are going to get it back." He marches down the alley without waiting for a response.
Ellons follows behind. "And just what are you planning on doing about it."
Rozen throws up his paw signaling Ellons to remain silent. Before long the party stands before the warehouse. Rivaus stands at the front overseeing his workers moving goods and taking inventory.
"Rivaus!" Rozen's voice booms and the workers come to a halt.
Rivaus spins around on his heels to see Rozen Standing in the open street. A crowd begins to form in the plaza. "What is the meaning of this." He marches confidently towards Rozen. He sees Kyra and Renno behind him. "Did you come for the goods? They are mine now, by law. Your filthy street rag of a girl is unreliable. The influence of that Thono she plays around with and," he points at Renno, "whatever that is has worn off on her. You should cut your losses now."
Rozen towers over him. "You can discuss the goods with Ellons. I didn't come for the goods." Rozen grabs Rivaus by his shirt.
Renno now can clearly see how enormous an Airet Rozen is. Even compared to the others in the crowd like Rhal. Rozen, though aged beyond his prime has a good foot on Rhal. Though he has worked as a bartender for some years now his arms when compared are still massive. When compared to Rivaus, now squirming in his grasp he is at least twice the man if not more.
Rivaus unwavering in his temperament demands to know. "Then what did 'you' come for."
"I came for Korzon."
Rivaus pushes Rozen's arm and tries to pull away. Rozen lets him go. "My workers are none of your business."
Rozen glares at him, he grows tense. He cracks his knuckles and rolls his head but Rivaus stands defiant before him.
It is Rhal, in the background who betrays his fellow cart hand. Nodding his head towards the young Ieza Korzon.
Korzon with his back already turned to the confrontation in an attempt to escape unnoticed is no longer able to shrink away into the crowd.
"YOU!" Rozen thrusts his arm out pointing at him.
Korzon freezes in his tracks.
Rozen challenges the young man. "Come on, you're so tough, come face me. Show me how much of a man you are."
The crowd is too dense now. There is no clear escape for Korzon that would leave his dignity intact. "Fine, your right. I am Korzon. What about it!" He marches back towards the clearing where Rivaus and Rozen stand. He sees Kyra and Renno together to the back of Rozen. "Oh, all this? Over a filthy whore-"
Rozen grabs him by the throat and throws him to the ground before Kyra. "You remember her?"
Kozon rolls over and scrambles to his feet and circles around Rozen back towards the workshop. "She needs to learn her place."
Rhal raises his arm and swings at him. His mighty paw contacting Korzons face with all his might. Nearly twice as tall and more than twice his weight the blow alone makes a terrifying sound knocking Korzon clear off his feet. But a blow alone did not satisfy Rozen. His extended claws cut deep gashes across Korzons face. The kind of cuts that even though his fur is sure to leave permanent scars.
Korzon rolls across the ground a bloodied sobbing wreck of an Anoran curled into a ball moaning in agony.
The guards come running from the gate pushing their way through the crowd as fast as they can shouting.
Rozen marches his way across the cobblestone to Korzon.
Korzon rolls onto his back and throws his paws up in self defense.
Rozen steps on his chest putting a substantial amount of his weight on the young man and addresses both him and the crowd. "Is this the position of one who has found the favor of Miran? Does she favor the pathetic lecherous and violent child?" he pulls the fang-toothed bracelet from Korzon's wrist and holds it up like a trophy. "Does this pathetic excuse for a man deserve your honor!?" He throws the bracelet at Kyra and Renno's feet. "Or does it belong with those who work for their keep." He glares at Rivaus. "Does your honor belong to the lawful thief? Or the honest criminal?" he points at Rhal.
The guards, at last, break through the wall of Anorans and seize him.
Rozen complies allowing himself to be taken into custody.
Even Ellons stands shocked among the crowd his paws covering his open mouth.
The guards hold Rozen's paws behind his back and walk him past Kyra. He effortlessly pulls his arm free and rubs her hair as he passes. She smiles at him briefly as the guards clasp desperately at his forearm trying to regain control.
Kyra pleads with the guards. "Don't take him away, this is my fault please."
Rozen shakes his head no at her and she backs down crying.
Ellons approaches Rivaus. "You will grant us our goods I assume. You know that man's wife is Keeta. You know me as well, do you not?"
Rivaus shakes his head. "To the wilds with all of you. Take your goods and leave me and my men alone."
Rhal motions to the other workers. The men collect themselves and start back to work. Before long they return with the shipments.
Kyra approaches Ellons. She says quietly. "I need to tell Keeta what happened."
Ellons raises his nose at her. "I am disappointed in you Kyra. Go home and get some rest. I will handle the shipments from here and inform Keeta."
Kyra looks down into the ground. "Yes sir."
Ellons looks over the contents of the crates. This would never have happened if Keeta and Rozen were more responsible. Raise the girl or leave her be. This half job is the result of a half woman, half child.
Renno picks up the bracelet from the street and looks it over. The thin firm twine band dangles from his fingertips. He examines the fangs each carved with the unfamiliar writing of the Anorans. "I think this belongs to you." He drops the bracelet beside Korzon.
Korzon still holds his face. He refuses to acknowledge Renno grasping blindly behind him at the ground where the bracelet landed as he sits in the street.
Renno passes through the dissipating crowd towards Kyra. "I guess we should be going now." He says timidly. He tries to lend Kyra a hand but she pushes him away.
"I walked all the way to town, I can walk back home from here." She storms off away from him. What is it going to take! Nothing I ever do for Ellons is good enough. The bastard. She shakes her head. I'm never going to prove my self if I can't make people like him respect me. I have to find a way.
Renno catches up with her. "What was that about Ellons?"
Kyra realizes she had been speaking her thoughts aloud. She stops in her tracks and turns around angerly. "None of your business that's what."
Renno nearly runs into her and stumbles. He loses his patience with her. "You really can be insufferable you know that? I don't know why everyone seems so worried about you. Tharen, Rhozen, and whoever Keeta is, all seem to want to help you and all you can do is be contemptuous and miserable."
Kyra marches away from him down the alley past Brown Harth. "How do YOU know Tharen?" The argument carries on through the alleyway out towards the main street. Their voices deadened by the snow but still loud enough to warrant the occasional stare from a passerby.
"He came looking for you. He seemed pretty worried. Oh and he was the one nice enough to tell me what is actually in the stew. Thanks for letting me know up front about that 'minor' detail."
She marches off in front of him and for a moment doesn't reply. Renno stands still in the alley as she walks away. Several paces later Kyra turns to face him. "You asked for it remember? Ellons gave you vegetables remember? Don't blame me. We don't even speak the same language. How was I supposed to know?"
She's right. I forgot. "Your right, okay, I'm sorry. But it still would have been nice to know."
Kyra glosses over his apology concerned for her own dignity. "What else did Tharen tell you? By Miran, I'll join Rozen if I see him."
"He told me a lot, about the bracelets," he pauses "about what happened to your parents."
"He doesn't know anything about my parents." She responds still on the edge of shouting.
Renno waves his paw and shakes his head. "Look, it's not important. Can't we just, I don't know. Start over or something?"
Kyra closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, she catches a sharp pain in her side and coughs a little. "Are you going to ask me all your stupid questions over again?"
Annoyed but still attempting to keep in good faith Renno replies. "What stupid questions? There are things I need to figure out to get home.
The expression on her face sends a clear message. I don't want to talk to you or anyone else right now. Stop.
He relents throwing up his paws and speaking calmly "Look, I'm sorry"
She crosses her arms. "You know what, let's just go back to the workshop and if you can go the entire day without asking me any more questions I'll consider it."
"Fine." They walk pass Kota's shop and continue down the street for a few moments without speaking. "What happened back there anyway?"
Kyra's head drops and she raises a paw to her face. "What did I just say?"
Renno clasps his paws to his mouth. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
"No more talking."
Renno nods.
End Chapter 13