The discussion that followed Vilkas' bath was entirely inappropriate for the breakfast table. He wouldn't disgrace himself by turning green or vomiting in Kodlak's sitting parlor, but he did set his bitten apple back on the table carefully.
"He ate him? Farkas ate the town drunk?"
"Most of him," Skjor replied. The description that followed ensured that Vilkas would not finish his apple at all.
"Where's the rest of him?" asked Vilkas slowly, not sure if he actually wanted to know.
Kodlak crossed his arms and glared at Skjor. "Somebody was too worried about a she-wolf and didn't collect the corpse in time. The guards found the body immediately."
Skjor pointedly ignored the jibe about Aela. "I did get rid of the bloody trail leading back to us," he said defensively.
"Ah yes. That is true. However, the blood is the least of our worries. Several citizens reported wolves howling in town last night, so this morning, the Captain of the Guard issued an exorbitant bounty on wolves. Normal wolves."
"So our secret is safe," Vilkas said with relief.
"For now. In addition to keeping our heads down, we have informed your brother he is not to transform without a Shield-brother present. We're not sure why he had so much trouble with his wolf. Did you or Aela have much difficulty?" Skjor inquired.
"I think drinking the blood bothered him," Vilkas began hesitantly; "it bothered me as well. It brought back terrible memories of before we came to live here. As far as the beast inside goes, I learned that it is easier to work with the creature in me than to fight it. Farkas is more likely to have fought it."
Kodlak nodded approvingly. Vilkas was a very intelligent youth to have caught on so well. He had a fire in his soul that was a match for having a beast spirit.
"Sir? Does Farkas know that he ate a man?"
"No! By the gods, son, do you think we're so cruel that we would tell him over breakfast? We were actually hoping to get your input on the situation first." Kodlak explained.
Vilkas mulled it over for a moment. He was good about keeping his head, even when he was dealing with the fact that his twin had disemboweled and partially eaten a man.
"I don't think you should tell him at all," he finally said. "You should just tell him he almost ran away or something. Farkas looks tough, and he is tough. But his soul is gentle. Romantic even. This might be too much of a shock to his system."
Skjor nodded, but added gravely, "What if he eats someone else? We can't let this continue. We'd have to kill him."
Vilkas looked up at the older man with fire in his eyes. What he wanted to say was on the tip of his tongue. 'What if your precious Aela had eaten that man instead of my brother?'
"I won't let him lose control again," was what he said instead.
Kodlak cleared his throat to call attention.
"Now, we can't really punish Farkas because he wasn't in any state to comprehend his actions. His first turning did cause a lot of problems for the city's guards. Therefore, I suggest that you and your brother offer them some help with their other duties for a while." Kodlak's suggestion didn't sound like a suggestion so much as an order.
"And to keep an eye on them to make sure they keep thinking it was a real wolf?" Vilkas inquired.
Skjor laughed heartily. "You're right Kodlak. He does catch on quick."
Author's Note: Sorry for the pitifully small update today! I've got a lot planned for this, but this portion of what I wrote doesn't fit in well with the next chapter so it sits alone.
