Chapter Three-Family

Doran

A Nord was crouched in the wiry underbrush, his ice-blue eyes trained on an unsuspecting elk. How his wife Dana would love a new blanket made from its supple hide, and the meat…Doran Swift-Arrow's mouth began to water. But killing the animal would be stealing from Lord Barrid of Kynesgrove, who punished poachers by removing their right hand. Even if his subjects were desperate enough to kill take animals there was little to hunt in the scrubby wasteland, so little that if Doran wanted to bring anything home at all he had to go south. The little coven of witches that had made their home in the forest successfully kept away any of the Lord's men or any other poacher who would provide contest.

A quick swig of watered-down brandy chased the cold from his extremities and he reached for the bow at his hip. The beast before him was small and he was sure he could bring it down with a single arrow. Wouldn't want a messy kill….those damn witches would notice a blood trail and a chase would take too long. Dana expected him to be gone for three days and the last was almost over. He adjusted the trajectory of his aim slightly upward and over to the right, making sure to observe and low hanging branches that might interfere with his shot then finally released the arrow. It soared through the trees for a few seconds before burying itself in the animal's leg, causing the beast to give a slight screech of terror and pain. As it stood up to flee Doran leapt from his hiding spot and stabbed wildly at its chestnut flank.

"I apologise my friend, but it is as it must be." Doran murmured as the elk's majestic legs folded underneath it. Rivulets of musky blood stained the snow and he raised his knife to cleanly slit the animal's throat. This hide could've fetched a good price, it's too bad I can't sell it. He withdrew his knife and his arrow and began making preparations to skin the beast before cutting off as much meat as he could carry in his bag. It was dirty work and in the end he was covered in blood up to his elbows, but he had made his kill and now his wife and their two children would eat well for a month if they were it was cold the meat might begin to rot within the next morning, so he withdrew a bottle of salt from his pocket and sprinkled it over the meat to keep it fresh over the six hour walk. Finally he packed his burden into a leather satchel and slung it over his shoulder, unstrung his bow and headed home.

Except for briefly napping at the base of an ancient pine he walked the whole night, eager to see his children and have a home-cooked meal. The stars were just beginning to fade when he spotted their snug cabin at the edge of town. He and Dana had both come from poor families yet successfully scratched out a decent living, helped by his illegal foraging and hunting in Lord Barrid's lands. His daughter Laure was seven and his son Martin five, and they were the best things that had ever happened to Doran. And even if it means breaking the law, I will do anything to keep them from starving. He spotted Laure's tiny figure feeding chickens beside the vegetable garden and the lines on his face deepened as he smiled. Ignoring the ache in his joints he hurried to meet his daughter and unable to help himself he guffawed as Laure ran to him as fast as she could.

"Pa!" She cried as he whirled her in the air with some difficulty. "I missed you!"

"Me too, Laure…." Doran murmured into her soft brown hair. "Thank you for helping out your mother with the chores."

The little girl wriggled out of his hug. "I'll tell her you're home!"

"No, wait-" He was too late, for Laure had already wrenched their painted green door open with a bang.

"He's home he's home he's home!" She ran flung open the doors that sectioned off his and Dana's bed. "He's home!"

Doran set his satchel on the table and realized it was too late to keep Dana from being disturbed, as Martin had joined his sister in bringing the news of his return.

"Pa's home!" Martin shrieked as he jumped on his sleeping mother.

"Well look at you two little scoundrels!" Doran laughed. "What would've happened if a monster had come and I wasn't there to save you?"

"There are monsters around here?" Lauren asked, worry contorting her face.

Dana chose this moment to wake up. "Doran…" She sat up in bed, crumpled waves of sandy hair spilling down her shoulders.

Something squeezed in his chest. "Good morning, beautiful one." He gave a grand bow and grinning as he went to her bedside, giving his wife a lingering kiss. Martin and Laure made sounds of disgust and tried to pull their father away by his arms.

"Pa." Laure urgently whispered. "What kind of monsters are there?"

Martin adopted a fighting stance. "I can fight the monsters!"

Doran patted the boy's head. "Not yet son, but one day you'll be big and strong just like your pa and then you can fight monsters easy." He turned to Laure. "There's nothing to worry about, darling. Why don't you make us some breakfast? Martin can finish with the chickens and then we can all eat together."

When both of the children scampered away Dana got out of bed. "How much did you bring in?" She asked, still in her underclothes. There was a certain roundness to her midsection under the thick fabric, and Doran was struck with the possibility that a third child might be on the way. As much as he adored children the thought worried him; he was nearing his silver years, and Dana was older than most women who had successful pregnancies…..If it's true then she'll tell me when she's ready.

"Enough." Doran replied.

"It's always just enough isn't it…?" She said, surveying their Spartan home.

"I'm sorry love, it's the best I can do." He replied with a frown.

"I know… I'm sorry to sound so unappreciative." Dana began to put on a heavy woolen dress. "It's just… our children are suffering because of this bastard… I'm starting to think we should never have stayed here."

He placed a hand on her waist and slowly traced to her shoulder before withdrawing it. "You seem to forget that it was just as bad before."

"Yes, but at least then I could fight back…" She replied. "Here, I can do nothing but wait… and hope."

Doran shook himself. "This is not the time to speak of this." He said. "I have returned home, and would like some lighthearted time with my family."

"Oh yes, I can see you are exhausted." Dana walked into the kitchen and helped Laure lift the heavy kettle. "Now, come and eat with us."

"Thank you…" Doran said, making a grab for his son as soon as the little boy dashed in the door.

Laure set a few plates of gruel upon the stained table. "It's gonna get cold soon!" She announced to her family. Everybody pulled up a chair and sat down to the intolerably bland food. But Doran didn't care, and it actually tasted good when he was surrounded by the ones he loved.

For best results, read while listening to White Hinterland's A Beast Washed Ashore