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Chapter 4: Consequences

Gaius was jumping straight out of his bed as he suddenly was hammered awake by a heavy knocking sound coming from his door. He took great care to not wake Septimus or Ayontunde as he took his loincloth and put it on before he then finally opened the door.

Aldric was standing there with his walking cane, behind him Leofwine and Jocelyn, both equipped with their armor and swords. "Sorry Gaius, we do have a dire problem with Vidar, again," the badger said calmly as he saw that the fox and the lioness were still sleeping. "It's not even midnight, so this is the third time today that we need to save his butt."

"And considering those two have their weapons and you are probably just using your magic, he was kidnapped, right?" Gaius stated as he yawned heartily and took some steps into his hut to take a spear he had standing on the side. "A sword would be suicide without an armor, so I hope this is going to do."

"We do not have time for idle chatter, follow me!" Aldric told the wolf as he run towards the forest as fast as he was capable of.

Gaius, Leofwine, and Jocelyn followed the shaman and had an easy time to keep track as Aldric lacked the endurance to keep up his speed after five minutes and just walked fast at some point. "You are not very good at running, are you?" Gaius told the badger as he was walking with his spear on his shoulders to pose a little bit with his upper body while running. He soon found himself stuck between two trees and fell down to the ground.

Aldric made a smug expression at that and didn't say anything as he stopped in his track and went into a crouching position. "Alright, I can get five scents, one belonging to Vidar," the badger stated as he ordered the other three to stay down for his instructions. "Then there is one belonging to Durandt, and an unwashed polecat. The other two appear to be a boar and a deer."

"Some mercenaries from another settlement I assume," Jocelyn stated as he took a peek over the bushes and looked for anything suspicious. And he did smell something in addition to the other scents. "They made a small fire, and I do fear that may be for heating up some iron for burning fur and flesh."

Leofwine gulped at those words. The memories two days ago were still fresh in his mind and he was already wishing to throw up again at the memory. But even more he got sick on the thought of Durandt torturing a defenseless Vidar in his usual sadistic demeanor. "How about I and Jocelyn take out the boar and deer, while you and Gaius take care of the Durandt and the polecat."

"Not too bad actually. But considering physical capabilities a boar and a deer would be of a heavier build, so I and Gaius are more suitable for those, while you two can take out the other two," Aldric replied as he pointed to the northwest of his. "The boar and deer are currently standing there and do nothing, except breathing maybe. You go slightly away from that and attack from the east. Use lethal force, if necessary."

The last sentence wasn't making it any better for Leofwine. He was absolutely against using lethal force in any regard towards even someone like Durandt. He hoped more that they were able to solve the problem without resorting to it.

Vidar slowly opened his eyes as he was finding himself out in the open without anyone of the others nearby. He had just emptied the burden of his bladder and then suddenly was hit on the head by something and lost consciousness. And he began to panic as he could feel the rope that tied him against a tree, just like when he was captured two days earlier by Incitatus. Even his muzzle was bound close again.

"Oh, did the prince finally wake up," a rather cocky voice said and the wolverine could identify it as Durandt, the weakling that terrorized Leofwine and had him lose his patience rather fast the day before. The brute otter looked slightly bruised from the ordeal that he went through by Vidar's fists, but his grin was just as mean as before. "Good, then we can proceed."

Vidar looked at the hand of Durandt and his eyes went wide as he could see a long rod of iron with a flat tip that was used as a torture device to his knowledge. His muffled screams were making him remember the exact same thing from two days before, the pain of fire burning his fur and skin while the smell made him want to vomit. All that he could do in his restrained state however was shedding tears of pain and to endure the procedure. It only got worse as the hot iron touched his chest and made him try again to scream.

"I should have done that a long time ago, it's rather satisfying," Durandt stated as he threw the iron into a bucket of water and grabbed the wolverine at the throat. "But it's a bit too impersonal, don't you think?" he whispered sadistically into Vidar's ears and punched him right on the nose and pushed his head against the tree. And again, and again, and again.

Vidar was almost about to lose consciousness again and he could smell nothing but his own blood running from his nose. But that relief didn't come as he now felt a kick in his stomach and how its contents went up his throat, but thankfully not enough to suffocate him.

"Maybe I should skin you next," Durandt said as he now took a very sharp knife from its sheath and held it close to Vidar's leg. He then thought about it some more and moved upwards to the gut and pondered, if he should start there.

"Just do it already, you idiot," a polecat mercenary said as he looked bored at the otter's torture experiments with the larger mustelid.

Durandt just rolled his eyes and went back over to the mercenary. "Those things need to be done delicately, slowly, and with much pleasure."

"That guy is kind of sick, Nils," a male voice belonging to a deer with rather polished antlers grunted a bit away from the fire place, next to him a boar that was looking rather sleepy as he was just keeping guard.

Nils was giving him a nodding agreement. "Yes, Halli. It lies in the family. His father was just like that when we raided the village on his request, which was fun however," he chuckled and took a look at Durandt as he was deciding to use the iron again instead of the knife.

"Well, as long as I get my money, I am, wait do you smell that?" Halli said as he took his bow and shot an arrow past his partner into the forest. He could hear how it shrieked up a mallicauda, but otherwise he heard nothing. "Sorry about this, Arnorr. I am a bit nervous considering that this is essentially a secret torture meeting."

The boar yawned and scratched his back without giving the deer any sign that he even listened or cared at the moment. This however was quickly changing as he saw a stone being thrown directly at him. It was too late to dodge and thus his tusk got hit rather badly and shattered at its tip. "Darn it! Earth mage!"

"In a way, Arnorr was it?" the rather mocking voice of Aldric said as the badger came through the woods with his staff held firmly in his hands. "I suggest you run before I will use more than just a pebble."

"Pfft, Poser," Arnorr said as he took his massive war axe and got ready for battle as Halli took aim at Aldric with another arrow. "Any last words, badger?"

Aldric just remained silent as a smile showed his satisfaction. He took his staff and rammed it into the earth as Halli shot his arrow right at his head. As he expected the arrow hit a wall of rock that he summoned from the ground. He used the momentum of the situation rather fast as he focused for another spell and disappeared into the darkness of the night.

"Where is that little sow?" Halli shouted and immediately regretted it as he saw his partner glaring at him. At least for a little moment as Arnorr suddenly jerked up and fell over, Aldric standing right behind him, holding his staff as if he just swung it down on the boar. The deer now threw his bow aside and unsheathed his sword and held it towards the badger.

Just before he could strike however Gaius rushed out from the bushes and hit Halli with the blunt side of his spear in the neck, causing the deer to momentarily fail to pay attention as Aldric took another hit on his head, which apart from knocking him out also shattered his right antler.

"You overpaid them it seems," Nils noted as he now pulled out his sword and analyzed his situation against the two warriors. "Durandt, stop playing and help me out here, okay?"

Durandt rolled his eyes as he let the hot iron fall out of his hands, purposely in a way that let its tip fall on Vidar's leg, and took the sword he was keeping to cut off the wolverine's head later on. "Nils, do you think that shaman can keep up much longer with all that magic?"

Nils smiled wickedly as he took a step to the side and grabbed a small vial from the set of tools they brought along with them. "He is powerful and hard to defeat with force alone. But nobody is undefeatable, as you will now see!" he shouted and threw vial towards Aldric and Gaius.

Effortlessly Aldric was able to form a shield from the earth around him, but as the vial shattered against it a small cloud of powder surrounded them and made his eyes and nose burn in an agonizing pain.

Gaius was able to close his eyes and put a hand on his nose in time to drag the badger into safety from the chemical solution and put him next to a tree away from the battle field before he got ready again to fight the otter and polecat. "A foul trick, you cowards!"

"At least nothing in the league of Leofwine," Durandt hissed between his teeth as he stepped closer to the wolf with his sword ready for a killing blow. "You can't win against the two of us."

"I wouldn't be sure of that," the voice of Jocelyn called out behind Nils and Durandt, of which the former turned around to see that the young ermine was holding his sword ready for battle. "Durandt, your actions here will not be tolerated. I will make sure that the Court of Diamond Lake will have your head for this."

Nils just snorted as he looked past the ermine to see Leofwine cutting the robes around Vidar and dragging the wolverine away from the battle field. "And he brought some coward with him. Oh well, Durandt I will finish that mongrel, you take out this guard and then do whatever you want."

Durandt smiled as he switched position with the polecat and took the first strike against Jocelyn and almost hit the ermine's body directly, but was deflected in time by the smaller mustelid's sword.

Jocelyn then retaliated with a kick against Durandt's lower abdomen that pushed the otter slightly back and made it easy for the ermine to strike against the left side of the otter, but he was also deflected as Durandt was still in full control of his sword arm.

Meanwhile Gaius was dodging and blocking every attack of Nils, but was unable to find an opening for a counter attack and only delayed the fast fighter to give Jocelyn and Leofwine a chance to deal with Durandt. "You fight like your pants sit to tight."

"A compliment I give right back at you, Urbulchemian flea rug," Nils said casually as he was striking another time at the wolf and got blocked by the metallic spear shaft yet again.

Durandt however was getting angrier by the stalemate as he was already seeing Leofwine and Vidar getting away and telling everyone at the village about this occurrence. In a desperate attempt he stopped blocking Jocelyn's attacks and let himself get stabbed through his left shoulder. He screamed from the pain but was able to get ready for a fatal retaliation.

Jocelyn realized too late what Durandt was planning and in the last moments of his life he saw how his enemy's sword was swinging towards him. His life ended swiftly as his head and body separated and fell to the ground.

Leofwine stopped right in his track as he saw how Durandt coldly just murdered the ermine and was going straight towards him and Vidar. He wasn't able to walk fast enough with the heavy wolverine on his back, so he carefully put him down on the ground and unsheathed his own blade. "Why? Why did Jocelyn have to die and why did Vidar have to suffer? What's just wrong with you, you crazy bastard!" Leofwine shouted with tears running from his eyes.

"Eye for an eye. I don't take kindly of getting hit in the face over and over again and then being humiliated by that badger," Durandt said as he examined the position of both Leofwine and Vidar. "You know, that day I saw you and that stinker over there returning from the lake and I wondered a little. Doesn't the stench bother you a little? Or maybe it doesn't at all, you little moll."

"Not that I care about what you think. I am no longer cowering away from you," Leofwine said confidently, but without being able to hide that his legs were shaking. The death of Jocelyn was waking his dreaded fears again and he was sure he wouldn't be able to deal a killing blow if he should win. "I admit, he smells more pleasant than you."

"So you are a moll after all. Oh well, nothing new," Durandt replied as he stepped closer without even bothering to rise his weapon. He knew of Leofwine fears and was sure that he wouldn't do anything to kill him.

And he was right, Leofwine was unable to use his sword as Durandt stepped closer to him and grabbed him at his throat. "You know, I wanted to have so much more fun with this, but I think I will just let you watch how I kill your friend and then continue with you, Gaius, that badger, that bat, and then your siblings," he whispered into Leofwine's right ear and threw him against a tree to proceed in his agonizing pace towards Vidar, already eager to spill more blood. "Oh wonderful irony, the son of the Beheader will be losing his head tonight."

It was to Leofwine as if time was slowing down with every step Durandt made and without even knowing what was driving him he looked around himself. His sword was too far away for him to grab, but there was a bigger stone right next to him on the ground. Time was getting faster to him now, as he jumped up, ran towards the unsuspecting Durandt, and smashed the rock on the side of his head.

"You little bastard!" the larger otter cried out as he covered the right side of his face with his left hand. And he was too afraid to pull it away as he could feel that the impact did shatter parts of his eye socket and probably even did damage to his eye. He shrugged it off as he was just deciding to let a healer treat him later on and was now about to use his sword on Leofwine first.

But the smaller and more agile otter was not going to give him that satisfaction. Fury burned through his heart and eyes like a forest fire, and it was easy for him to use that hatred and anger as he nimbly dodged Durandt's attack and hit his chest with the hand he held the stone in. He could see his enemy go to the ground and dropping his weapon as he feel, as he now pressed his own knees down Durandt's chest and watched the fear in his eyes Leofwine let the rock rush down on the other's head again. And another time, and another time, till he felt no more resistance. His eyes went back to normal as the adrenalin in his body was slowly decreasing and he saw the image of death he painted onto the ground when his mind shut off a few seconds ago. It happened fast and he was not knowing what was going on, he just acted as an urge took over his mind. An urge that deep inside had brewed for years, but was suppressed by himself and his own fears, but now it broke free and he was shaking as if he was exposed to the deepest winter. "I. I did this. I have become. A murderer." Conflicting thoughts went through his mind as one part of himself saw it justified considering what Durandt did to him and Vidar, and was about to do, but another part of him brought up the images of the day his village was raided and his parents killed, images of the corpses of Vidar's squad, how Vidar killed Incitatus and Asterion. It was too much for his mind to handle as he stared in his hands which were stained of his deeds. It was a relief to him as he felt how someone was dragging him off the corpse and embraced him in a loving hug.

"Everything is okay, Leofwine. Everything is okay," Vidar gently said as he held the otter in his arms and let him pass out on his shoulders. He was feeling pain, but he ignored it for the sake of his friend as he stood up and carried Leofwine in his arms towards the river.

At the same time Gaius was still defending himself against Nils, but he found that the polecat was not easy to disarm or attack in the flurry of hits he had to block. His arms also were tiring out as the impact of every blow was beginning to hurt.

Nils however was so focused on the wolf that he didn't notice the footsteps behind him as he was pulled and thrown to the ground in the fraction of a second. His eyes saw Aldric with one eye open glaring down at him and pressing the tip of his staff against his throat. "Do you really have the will to kill me, shaman?"

The badger just glared at him and pressed further down with his staff. "Don't assume I am leaving you unpunished."

"Then just do it, if it makes you happy," Nils spit out as he relaxed his body in acceptance for whatever he was about to receive. He could see how Aldric turned his staff away and was now stepping on his chest. Before he knew what was happening he saw how he sunk slowly into the ground, till only his head was above the surface. A moment later the rock began to cover him around the muzzle and he was no longer able to talk

Aldric than moved up his arms and a layer of rocks formed around the spot he just dug in the mercenary. "Return to the mother in your death," he said as he walked closer to the spot where he could see the dead body of Jocelyn. He took the head from the ground and put it on the chest of the ermine. "May you find rest in the bosom of the earth."

"Still got Durandt's corpse over there," Gaius pointed out as he went past Aldric and towards the corpse of the now unrecognizable Durandt. "Well, he kind of did this to himself. I never imagined he would go such lengths just for getting humiliated like this by Vidar and you."

"He wasn't even the worst I have encountered in my life. The court of Scathsolas had to execute some criminals of his kind that had no motif other than pleasure." Aldric now stopped as he looked over the distance to see Vidar returning from the river, holding Leofwine carefully in his arms. "I will let the ravens have their feast. We need to leave Topaz Lake anyway."

"Considering we just killed the chieftain's son, maybe you are right," Vidar said as he put Leofwine's head under his chin. "You know, I was scared. I was just taking a leak, then knocked out, then I woke up bound and got tortured, and then I was almost killed by that little meinfretr. Leofwine saved me, just as you did before Aldric. Thank you."

"Not that I helped this time as well or anything," Aldric remarked with a raised eyebrow as he looked at the mangled body of Vidar, which was covered in marks from the hot iron and bruised at different spots. "Gaius, you may apply some magic to him."

The wolf obeyed swiftly as he focused his mental energies and casted it upon Vidar's entire body at once. "A bit of an advanced form of the spell. I prefer not to get to intimate now that I have this cute picture before me," he chuckled and put his hand on Vidar's shoulder. "We should get going. By dawn we have to be outside the settlement's reach."

Khaba was looking into the forest as he saw Aldric and the others approach the sleeping settlement. The fruit bat just woke up and dug himself out the blankets as he noticed that the three mustelids were missing in the room. He noticed Vidar carrying Leofwine in his arms and stepping ever closer. With a fast diving motion the fruit bat descended and landed right before them. "Aldric, Vidar, what happened?"

"Just saved Vidar a fourth time this week and Leofwine killed Durandt," Aldric replied casually as he leaned on his staff to support his tired body. He had some difficulties breathing, thus his voice was slower when he spoke.

"Not a great loss," Khaba replied as he flew on the back of Aldric and held his wings across his head to focus his healing magic in order to help out the badger. "Better?"

"A lot, thank you," Aldric replied he went further towards the settlement with Gaius and Vidar following him. A few minutes later they already entered the Topaz Lake settlement and were immediately greeted by a rather unexpected sight.

Pharamond and Yannic, the two guards that welcomed them into the village the day before, were waiting on the carriage and the hornflincher that Aldric and the others came into the place with and both otters were looking rather distressed as they looked around and behind the others. "Where is Jocelyn?" Yannic asked as he ran past Aldric and looked around if the ermine was somewhere behind them. "What happened to him?"

"He is dead," Gaius mentioned as gentle as he was capable of, but he could see the anger that now came to Yannic's face. "And so is Durandt, Leofwine smashed in his skull with a rock."

Pharamond locked slightly surprised as he went to his partner and patted him on the shoulder. "Jocelyn was a naïve young lad, not at all formed for combat. It's a shame he had to end like this."

"One can only hope, but there are three mercenaries that may have some things to spill out for you about Cerdic," Aldric said as he went on to the carriage and turned his head to look straight to Khaba. "We will be splitting up from here on. I, Vidar, and Leofwine will be heading to the north, you will return to Urbulchem with Gaius I will send you a bird once we reach Jokulldal."

"I see. Take care of yourselves, and try to avoid dangers," the fruit bat said as he flew off from the badger's back and onto Gaius to be carried forth to the hut of Leofwine and his siblings.

Vidar now jumped up the carriage and carefully knelt down next to some straw that was probably put by Pharamond and Yannic there to rest on. He put Leofwine on the pile and took a blanket to cover the otter gently. He then saw how Gaius returned to the carriage with an axe and pile of clothing.

"Here is your axe and some winter clothing for Leofwine. I will take care of our departure, so don't worry about us," Gaius said before he ran towards his own hut in order to wake up Septimus and Ayontunde.

"Vidar, we got what we need. Gaius will take care from here," Aldric called quietly over to the wolverine as he got the hornflincher moving and drove the carriage out of the settlement, not looking back anymore as it disappeared in the dark and distance.

The pain subsided from Vidar's body over time as he was resting on the hay pile while Aldric was driving them far away from the home Leofwine could never return to after tonight. He felt guilty again as it was in the end all leading back to him losing his temper and attacking Durandt. "Aldric, how do you feel after this day?"

"Grumpy, because I have slept little and saved your butt twice," Aldric gave him as a snarky remark as he tried to keep his eyes open to keep the hornflincher on the road while only the moonlight brought sight of it.

"I am honestly not trying, but sorry," Vidar replied a bit more distant than usual. The first time was an incident, the other three times not so much.

"It's okay, I am just a bit sleepy," Aldric replied as he looked up into the sky and took a deep breath. "It took me three weeks to get to Argentflux with earth magic to form a smaller, traveling platform. For all three of us that won't work so well."

"We are in no hurry, my father only expects me back for the winter solstice, unless I finally go and have someone in bed with which I can produce a child," Vidar said in a similar exhaustion.

"Helps that wolverines can't produce hybrids, else you would have several children after what I could find out," Aldric said and chuckled a little bit as he could see Vidar giving him a look that was a mix of anger and embarrassment. "You and your father came to Scathsolas last year, and while I haven't been at the ceremony or the tavern, I do know some people. You used a false name and seduced the daughter of the innkeeper of the Dancing Miner."

"So, how was I?" Vidar tried to hide his embarrassment be using the same confident voice he remembered from the last occasion in his mind.

Aldric sighed and rolled his eyes simultaneously. "The Innkeeper caught you, threw you out, and burned your clothing right after. How can you forget that you were hilarious?"

The skin under Vidar's fur was blushing as the memories of that day came back to him. The innkeeper in question was a badger about a head smaller than himself, but one who really had a lot of strength in his small body. And the tavern was rather far from the royal palace. "Oh Odin, why did you dug up those memories, Aldric?"

The shaman shrugged. "I am a badger, digging is in my nature. Also, I need something to laugh about right now," he replied and gave the wolverine a very mean and cocky smirk. "Also I am not in the mood for you moping around, so instead I make you remember the lovely memories you made. For Fionnbharr at least they were."

"Fionnbharr? Ah, yes the second child of king Tighearnach, the one who got no stripes on his head," Vidar chuckled as he remembered the young badger. "He gave me a green robe when I came back, he mentioned he noticed it was my favorite color and he personally preferred blue."

"His entire fur is white, as he is an albino," Aldric told as he put the reins into Vidar's hands and went to the back to take some hay for a private pile to rest on. "Plus, his father would have laughed for hours, if he would have learned about this, and that can get annoying very fast."

"So, you do have contact with the prince?" Vidar asked as he looked back and gave the hornflincher a kick to go faster, but eventually just got the beast to purposely go slower.

"Sure, the prince may always be around two bodyguards, but he goes around town, talks with some people, and uses services," Aldric explained as sat himself straight up and looked over Vidar's shoulder to make sure the wolverine wouldn't take the wrong roads. "Amongst other things also spiritual guidance, which is what I can offer. You as well I assume?"

Vidar laughed a little bit into himself. "Thank you Aldric, I guess I need a bit to get my mind off things right now."

"I am just mocking you, because I need to distract everyone from the fact that I buried someone alive without blinking an eye," Aldric said as he saw a path on the side approaching. "Take the road to the left, it leads straight into the territory of Scathsolas after a while."

The sun rose and engulfed the forest in its magnificent radiance. Leofwine slowly opened his eyes and rubbed them with his webbed hands as he got up and looked around himself. He saw Aldric sleeping on the other side of the carriage and Vidar holding the reins and steering the hornflincher. "What are we doing out here? Where are Crawford and Lucille?"

The wolverine turned around with his sleepy eyes having a bit of trouble to stay open. "We had to get out of Topaz Lake after we killed Durandt. Gaius brother came via a portal spell, so I assume they might be already in Urbulchem in safety."

"I sure hope they are safe. All this, it all happened so fast," Leofwine almost whispered as he sat down and leaned against the wolverine's back. So many emotions were going through his head, but they all conflicted so much with each other that only confusion was left. "I am a murderer. I could have stopped, but instead I took the rock and hit him time and time again."

Aldric now opened his eyes and glanced over to Leofwine. "A bit of sleep would have been nice right now, but let me ask you one thing, Leofwine," he said and stood up from his sleeping spot. "Tell me, who was this Durandt? He tortured and almost killed Vidar, he made you suffer every chance he got, and that's probably just a fragment of everything."

"I know rather well what a man he was. He was a monster. He forced people to do anything for him be blackmailing them, or be beating them senseless," Leofwine replied while he avoided looking into the eyes of the shaman. "It honestly is not the first time he tortured someone. His father just never intervened and stopped anyone else to do so."

Aldric took a deep breath. "So, why do you feel guilty if you rid the world of such a worthless creature?"

"It's not easy to explain. I have endured him a long time, but what happened last night made me go into a frenzy and I fear of what happened to me back there. The feeling of pleasure and satisfaction, as if I enjoyed killing instead of dreading it," Leofwine was digging himself closer into the hay as he was getting more and more nervous with every minute. "It's not as much guilt as it is confusion and shame about this situation."

"Guilt and shame are similar, but I see what you mean. Alright, let me tell you something," Aldric now sat down next to the otter and relaxed his mind a little bit to appear a bit less annoyed than he was from the day before. "Imagine what would have happened, if you did nothing. Durandt was about to kill Vidar, would have chopped his head right off in the blink of an eye. Tell me, in this alternate scenario, how would you feel?"

"Even worse as it would be just like back then, when I helplessly watched how my mother was murdered," Leofwine replied as he looked up to the badger with teary eyes. "I listened to what those mercenaries said. They were involved in the massacre, and so was Cerdic. Probably in order to eliminate his predecessor and competition."

"And Durandt used the very same, showing how little he cared," Aldric concluded as he grabbed the otter and pulled him upright and held him in front of himself. "Now, considering all those details, don't you think that eventually you did the right thing? One life would have ended anyway, and you picked the better option. If you doubt that, then I see no reason to think that you know who your friends and enemies are."

Leofwine rubbed the tears out of his eyes and sat down again into the hay. "You are a blunt bastard, you know that? But a blunt bastard that is right, it was eventually going to be either him or Vidar and I would not have chosen Vidar to die, never. And never think I would, Aldric!"

"In that case, we are fine," Aldric said as his face eased a little bit and formed a brotherly smile. "How about we stop at Sùil Cascade, they got nice beds in their inns and a big lake for you to swim in?"

The otter smiled weakly and got up from the pile again. "The settlement lies on the lake itself actually. And the lake is surrounded by a waterfall that was created by Erlendr and Avelina to celebrate their wedding. A strange thing, this settlement is the only place in Bijulac that is moderate about marriage between different species."

"It used to be more open in Bijulac as well, but that changed a lot over time," Aldric stated as he tried to remember the historic accounts of Bijulac he had read so far. "It is rather strange how someone that brought peace is seen so differently in some places."

"You know, there is something that I should tell the two of you maybe?" Leofwine's voice was getting even more nervous than before and his heartbeat got faster. "Actually, never mind. It's not really important."

"The 'I need to tell you something, but never mind it's not important' usually means that you were going to say something, but now are afraid of what we would be thinking of you," Aldric stated as he looked at the otter from head to claw. "And it has to do with the way marriage in Bijulac is handled. You are in love with someone from a different species?"

Leofwine blushed a little bit. "Actually, that and I also have to admit that there is a big issue for people from Bijulac with something else," his heartbeat now got increasingly faster as he sat down and stared at his feet.

"An bhfuil tú ag mealladh chuig fir?[1]" Aldric asked with a now even more comforting smile than before. "There is no issue, really. Love is something wonderful, nothing to be ashamed of."

"Typical for someone from Scathsolas to say. It's considered a crime here, and the punishment is usually emasculation," the otter replied as he looked nervously at Vidar. "Um, you are okay with it as well?"

"I have not entirely understood what Aldric said, but love is love, right?" the wolverine stated as he stretched his body a little bit to counter the stiff feeling he got from sitting all night and morning. "Anyway, how far is Sùil Cascade from here?"

"About two hours from now on, so if you should get tired just say so," Aldric said as he got back on his hay pile and started dozing off again for the rest of the journey.

Leofwine sighed and sat down next to Vidar. "I will carry over, you should try to get some sleep in the meantime," the otter suggested as he took the rains and commanded the hornflincher gently to move faster.

Sùil Cascade was a magnificent sight to behold for Aldric, Leofwine, and Vidar. The enormous waterfalls engulfed the town in a light mist and people of all possible species were either walking on the small islands that were connected by bridges, or they were swimming in the lake and enjoyed the summer day. A prominent statue was put at the entrance of the town, picturing a naturalistic display of a male badger and a female otter embracing each other in a kiss and hug. The badger was once known as Erlendr, a man who united the north against Urbulchem three-hundred years ago, with him Avelina who accompanied her lover on his quest and married him as soon as Urbulchem was banished from the north. Sùil Cascade, the Hope Waterfalls, where created by them to symbolize the union between their people and themselves.

"It's beautiful," Leofwine said quietly in awe as he got off the carriage and looked at the amazing details of the statue and then at the waterfalls that those two powerful spell casters once formed.

"Well, they do idealize the appearance a little bit, Erlendr had a larger belly," Vidar stated as he got off the wagon to let Aldric handle the stalls. "Which in Kärmave is considered attractive to some degree."

"I did not refer to his body, Vidar," Leofwine said slightly annoyed and punched the massive wolverine softly into the stomach.

Vidar just laughed at this and patted Leofwine on his head as if he was just a little child. "We may should find some lodging for now. I have to sleep in something cozy." He and Leofwine then went down the path towards the west side of the town. To their surprise the place was much bigger than previously considered. Shops, houses, and warm public and private baths have filled up so much space that some of them were even built on floats, proving of the immense growth the place experienced over its long existence.

Vidar entered one of the inns at the very end of the isles and he was immediately feeling at ease with the rather bustling activity that was happening within. People that appeared to be from all over the lands were talking, dancing, singing, and hugging and kissing passionately, a sight he missed for a while now. It didn't take him long to drag Leofwine to one of the tables and sit down right next to two women, an ermine and a polecat, that were sitting there and chatting about the guys in the tavern. "I hope you don't mind if we sit here with you, but I found this spot has such a nice view with the two of you."

The polecat giggled as she gestured to the waitress, a young badger, to bring them some drinks. "You are a rather funny fellow. What brings you and your friend there to the Waterfalls of Hope?"

"Well, just a stop to our travel further to the North." Vidar replied as he put his arms on the table and put his head on them. "And you two?"

The ermine was looking a bit to her sides as he leaned closer to the wolverine. "We are residents. But this place is pretty good to catch someone for a good time, if you know what I mean."

"Oho, a good time you say? Let's say I wouldn't mind that myself," Vidar gave back as he was rather excited of how fast things went, while the waitress just brought everyone a mug of mead, except Leofwine who got peach juice instead.

The otter was rather bored since he had no interest in flirting with the two women and just slowly nipped from the sweet delight of his own drink.

Vidar however was grinning naughtily as he leaned closer to the polecat and ermine. "So, how about we empty those mugs and proceed right to the good time, what do you say?"

The two female mustelids looked at each other and nodded. A moment later they took their mugs and emptied them over the wolverine's head and got up. "Nice try, but we are not some whores that present themselves for your carnal desires," the ermine said as she went out of the tavern with the polecat leaving the payment for the drinks at the counter.

Leofwine couldn't help but laugh as he saw Vidar soaked in mead and locked in an expression of surprise and shock. "Seems like you fell for your own game, huh?"

The wolverine took a sip from his mead and made a sad expression as he glanced to the waitress. It wasn't entirely clear, but he was acting to gain sympathy from the young woman.

She looked at him looked around and shook her head. "My brother already warned me about a wolverine that was dropping his garments faster than he could count to three."

"Getting a reputation here, it seems," Vidar grunted as he dropped the act and leaned back in the seat with the mug of mead giving him a short-lived delight as he downed it all at once.

"You got an alcohol poisoning yesterday, shouldn't you perhaps drink water or juices instead?" Leofwine asked with a bit of worry that Vidar would again almost get himself killed. Which quickly turned to nuisance as he found the wolverine just gestured for a refill.

"Nah, water is like wet air and juices are for children," Vidar replied as he downed the next mug just as fast as before and gestured for another one.

Leofwine was slightly annoyed at his friend's response and drank the juice slowly while he embraced the taste to its fullest. He then stood up and left Vidar by himself, "Gods, why do I even care so much," he snarled down to his feed before approaching the innkeeper. "Excuse me, but I may should be paying for me friend. Let's see," he opened a small bag that felt as if it was filled with coins and opened it carefully just to drop his jaw at the amount of gold coins he was suddenly holding. He took out two and put the sack back into his bag. "What is the situations for rooms?"

"For that money, I can give you the best rooms I have, which are located downstairs," the old badger said as he looked for the keys and gave them to the otter. "It got the largest beds for larger species. Or for your friend's general activities if I understood my daughter right."

"We do have a third man in our company. His name is Aldric and he is a badger shaman from Scathsolas," Leofwine stated as he went off again and outside of the inn to now finally just get his mind off from the stuff happening around himself. A loud sigh escaped his muzzle as he stepped towards the lake and put his left hand in there to sprinkle some water into his face. Thinking a little bit about his situation, a smile came over his face. "I am, finally free of you, Durandt. Nobody will miss you." He ran back into the inn again, past some of the guests, and into the room that the innkeeper told him about. To his delight, it appeared that the room had two extremely large basins filled with leaves and covered with clean cloth, pillows and blankets, while a large pool of warm water was at the side of the room for a bath. As tempting as hot water was however, he just undressed till he was only in his loincloth and went upstairs again and back out with a fast dive into the lake water. It was like he was a child again, with all worries being in an unrecognizable distance.

Aldric followed the scent of Vidar and Leofwine into the inn at the end of town, which was for his tastes much too crowded and the inn smelled from a lot of things. He went straight to the innkeeper gave him a formal nod. "I would like a room for the night, please."

"Aldric, I assume? Your friends paid for a room, so here is the key for the room opposite to them," the old badger said to his younger brethren and gave him a gentle smile. "The otter seemed eager to go for a swim, the wolverine to go for something different however. Just in case you wonder where they are."

Aldric wondered a moment about what the innkeeper was talking about with Vidar, but then he realized that it could only be one thing. "Thanks, I may just try to find some rest for now," he said and went downstairs towards the room with the number corresponding to his key. Much to his displeasure he could hear Vidar in the room opposite to his and his company. He quickly went inside his room and focused his wind based energies to stop the noises that were coming from the outside. It was rather fortunate for him to find a heated bath at the side of the room, as he stepped closer to it and dropped his garments to mediate in the hot water. His consciousness soon entered the ethereal state he was rather familiar with. "Fionnbharr, do you hear me?"

"Aldric? It has been far too long," a voice from the void said as the image of the white-furred badger appeared in front of Aldric's inner eye. "What have you found out so far?"

"The source of the phenomena was a gem from the times of the Old Ones. I am currently on my way to Scathsolas with Vidar from Kärmave, and an otter named Leofwine," Aldric replied dutifully.

"Wish I could see clearer images of the future, but it is rather difficult to say with so many variables," Fionnbharr replied as his eyes went to the side. "I will tell the Great Shaman of this, meanwhile just get back safely. Have a wonderful journey." With those words the vision faded and Aldric found himself back in the room at the inn. He leaned back and enjoyed the warm feeling as he finally found himself some time to relax from all the stressful days.

As the sun was setting Leofwine went out of the water and shook most of it right of at the shore. He noticed that several people were watching him, most of them rather curious and pleased. It made him blush a little as he realized that he publicly showcased his underwater choreography without even noticing it up to now. But eventually he just went back to the inn and was rather glad that he had the key for his room ready in his palms as he got to the door to his and Vidar's room. He was slightly dumbfounded as he saw that the wolverine was lying under a blanket with a female wolf as it looked like. They were sleeping, but Leofwine was not very eager to see much more from that display and just grabbed his bag to go into town instead before night fell.

"Hey, you are the guy who hangs out with that gigolo," a slightly familiar voice shouted out to Leofwine as he turned around to look at the polecat and the ermine from before. "I hope you don't mind that we gave him a taste of what it is like to be under a waterfall. Just with more mead than water."

"Not that it goes undeserved, he immediately tried to flirt with the waitress before probably flirting with everyone else and ending up with someone," Leofwine told the two as he chuckled a little bit about the situation. "I met him a few days back and so far, he has caused a lot of trouble in my life."

"Love or Stupidity?" the ermine asked with a very noticeable amusement about the conversation regarding the wolverine.

Leofwine chuckled a bit weakly as he avoided their eyes. "It's a bit of both. But, I should just not bother, it hasn't been more than a few days since we met and I just went into our room and he was in bed with someone."

"Not that I wouldn't mind some fun, but he flirted with the two of us, while you looked disinterested, so we knew where that was going to lead," the polecat said as she rubbed the back of her head. "Avoid getting to invested into him, people like him only want one thing."

"Yeah, I fear that is right. He seems able to show compassion, but I know he prefers to be unbound," Leofwine said more to himself than to the polecat. Deep inside he wanted to disagree, but he knew she was right. "I think I will just go for something to eat and return later to my room. Have a nice evening," he muttered and went further into the town towards a delicate smell he already noticed as he entered the town, a delicious smell of fish, nuts, fruits, and so much more, and it all was making his mouth water as he stepped into the tavern and took a seat at the counter. "I take some wine and salmon filet with Scathsolian mashed fruits;" he told the innkeeper, a large brown bull, as he put down another one of the gold coins on the counter.

The large bovine already filled a cup with some regional wine and gave the order to the kitchen and tended to clean the cups and mugs that the quests left him in a dirty state.

Leofwine listened a bit to the music of the tavern as several people from all different kinds of species were playing on flutes and drums. It was only a melody, but he thought about possible lyrics to it and it all spilled out of him:

"Long lost, hidden in the night, I cowered away from you,"

"The bitter frost, my endless fight, I can't see it through,"

"Stained in blood, all innocence has died,"

"The lips of a cruel god, give me an evil grin so wide,"

"A hero's lament, a golden heart turned to dust,

"I gave it all to you, and you shattered it all you damn cad,"

"Nothing could be done, I did the things I must,"

"The sunlight carries me through, and I regain what I had."

The bovine innkeeper applauded genuinely as he took Leofwine's dish and placed it before him. "You have a beautiful voice, lad. But I can hear that you have something you wish to talk about."

"Not really, I am fine," Leofwine replied as he started to eat from the mashed fruits and salmon on his plate. "It's just, today happened so much that I am not sure about and I have to figure it out myself."

The bovine smiled gently as he went a bit back and took a bottle of wine to put it next to Leofwine. "You paid enough for making three people drunk, so in case you want more just take as much as you want."

"Thank you very much, Sir," the otter replied as he drank his cup empty and refilled it right away. "By the way, you mixed that wine in beforehand?"

"Ever since I had somebody using a corner for, well you know, I have preventively mixing water into the wine to not forget it again," the innkeeper told him with a wide smile. "Of course, I would say just drink enough for some courage and pass your water in the bushes before you go to sleep."

"I am not going to ask about the events that make you say that," Leofwine replied as he took another cup and eventually two more while he was hungrily devouring the salmon and mashed fruit that were both prepared with Scathsolian herbs. After he was done he bid the innkeeper farewell and went back to the place he was lodging in. As soon as he passed through the door into his own room he happily realized that the wolf Vidar invited to their room was gone. That feeling would have last if he didn't realize something else is missing. "That bitch took my sword," Leofwine said slowly as he went over to Vidar and slapped him heavily in the face.

The wolverine jumped up and rubbed his cheek as he looked at Leofwine in confusion. "What was that for?"

"The stupid whore you had to shag stole my father's sword, you dirty brute!" the otter yelled as he punched the much larger mustelid in the face. "It's all that I had left of him and thanks to you it's gone!"

Vidar looked at the pile of Leofwine's belongings and realized that in fact the sword was gone. And with a glance to the side he saw that his axe and money disappeared as well. "I-I am sorry Leofwine, this girl looked so nice and,"

Leofwine just got angrier as he heard that excuse. "Of course she looked nice, because you jumped right into bed with her! Maybe that's why your father doesn't love you, because you are just one big disappointment!"

The moments those words were spoken Vidar's conscious went out as his cognitive abilities shut off and his eyes were showing his primal madness. He grabbed Leofwine and threw him right into the wall before he rushed at him and punched the otter in the stomach.

Screaming from the pain Leofwine tried to fight back, but he was just punched again in the head and could feel how his gum and nose started bleeding. The next punch made him spit out his bloody saliva and almost made him empty his stomach. He was scared, he feared that the wolverine in his rage would kill him before he realized what he was doing. Much to his relief he felt how he was dropped to the ground as somebody pulled Vidar away from him and pinned him to ground.

Aldric's eyes were glowing fiercely as he concentrated on the wooden floor to bind Vidar's limbs to the ground while he put all his weight against the wolverine. "What in the name of Danu are you doing, Vidar? Calm the heck down!" the badger said sternly as he slapped the wolverine in the face every two seconds.

Eventually Vidar got back to his senses and blinked in confusion, but being bound by the wooden floor made him feel very uncomfortable and he tried to break himself free to no avail.

The badger eased his concentration and his eyes went back to normal as the floor went back from the wolverine and allowed the two to get up. "Vidar, why? If I hadn't intervened, you honestly could have killed him." Without waiting for a reply Aldric went over to Leofwine to wipe out the tears and blood from his face. "You can have my room for tonight," Aldric said as he took his key from a pocket under his loincloth and gave it the shivering otter as he helped him to stand up again.

"Leofwine, I, I am so sorry," Vidar said with difficulties to look his friend into the eyes as his shame was nagging at him in a manner that made him wish to kick himself in the buttocks and groin. He slowly got closer, but what happened next was even worse than he hoped for

Leofwine jerked away and looked at him in a mix of hatred and horror. He was breathing fast and heavily and he just run to the room Aldric was previously staying in and locked the door.

"Well Vidar, you just caused physical and mental traumata to someone that already suffers from a trauma. Congratulations, you are officially the biggest moron and arse I have ever met," Aldric said while he tried to hold back his own anger. "He saved your life twice and that's the thanks he gets? You disgust me," without a bother about what Vidar had to reply Aldric just went out of the room and upstairs to get another place to sleep in for the night.

Vidar closed the door to his room and locked himself in as he stepped into his bed and just fell onto it. He looked at himself and felt nauseated as he realized that blood was all over his arms and chest. "I am such an idiot," he said to himself as he put his head into his palms and started crying himself asleep. It wouldn't be a delightful slumber for him.

---

[1] Irish: Are you attracted to men?