Blutbad Chapter 10 – Judgement
The council spent most of the day deliberating over the fate of Mr. Barr along with attending to the usual business of running the town. Discussing plans to expand the fields further away from the towns borders, the amount of man power it would take to clean the trees in that area and how long it would take before they reaped the benefits of such labor. With winter fast approaching they also addressed the issue of their supplies, did they have enough to see them through or should they send out more hunting parties further into the woods to gather more. For the further you were from the towns borders the more you were on your own with the dangers you could face, not only from wolves but also the undead or wondering vampires. For though the council had an arrangement with Eddward and his group, they knew their tenuous alliance was only held in place by the vampires need for food.
A constant thought was in the back of all the councils mind, that if the vampires no longer required them, if they found another source of food for example, would their alliance still hold or would they just drain this town dry. Such is the way of the world now, trust often comes at a price, and can be so easily broken. These facts plus what has befallen them at the hands of certain wolves is without a doubt why some of them are loath to put their trust in the young man. But humans have this uncanny knack to find the good even in the hardest of times, the light within the darkness. This is why, even in a world as cruel and unkind as it is now, they will stop and smell the roses or listen to the birds sing in the morning, or find love in the arms of another. For to give up on love, hope and trust would separate them from the best parts of who they are, regardless of how bad the world around them has become.
The council reconvened the hearing on Kevin's fate late that afternoon, the chairwoman graciously sending word to the doctor so he would be aware of when to be there if he chose to attend. The messenger didn't have to travel very far, as he had been waiting all day to discuss the matters concerning Kevin's incarceration with her, but unfortunately her duties that day prevented any such meeting from occurring. Bringing their "guest" before the council shackled at the wrists and ankles, Edd couldn't help but notice that the young man looked dead on his feet, with bags under his eyes from lack of sleep.
"Mr. Barr," the chairwoman addressed him, "The council has come to a decision. We have taken all that has been said to us under advisement and have decided, by a narrow margin, that to judge an entire group of people by the actions of a few individuals would be to dishonor our positions upon the council." The doctor and Edd both let out a sigh of relief upon what seemed to be a favorable judgement, "We have chosen to allow you to stay here under a few conditions. The first being that an armed guard will escort you to wherever you need to be and remain close to you at all times. Second, that you will have a seven o'clock curfew each day that you must adhere to and that you will remain a resident at the garrison until such time as you have earned our trust."
"Madam Chairwoman," the doctor interrupted, "There is an issue that must be addressed."
She motions for him to step forward, "What issue has arisen between last night and now sir?"
"As you are aware Madam Chairwoman, Mr. Vincent and myself went to see Mr. Barr last night to bring him some food, and the condition in which we found him in is our concern." He went on to explain the restraints in which he had found the boy in last night and how they prevented him from sleeping, "That is why he appears so sleep deprived today." Lifting the boys chin gently, "And as you can see there are fresh cuts around his neck that were not their yesterday, no doubt from the collar rubbing and cutting his skin."
Her eyes were filled with displeasure as she turned to the man who she knew was most likely responsible for this, "Captain Miller are these accusations true?"
"The restraints are meant to ensure the safety of the town," he replied without so much as flinching under her gaze.
"I don't even want to begin to imagine how many of our citizens you have used this device on."
"None Madam Chairwoman," he replied quickly, "They were created to secure any wolf we might capture."
"Yet again, Captain," she seethed, "Mr. Barr is not our prisoner yet, and even then, I would not condone the use of such things on anyone, even on a prisoner of war."
"Sometimes a gentle touch is not the best approach, Madam Chairwoman. In times like these one must be willing to get their hands dirty to secure the safety of the town," he took a breath and was going to continue his rant but she held up her hand to tell him to stop there.
"From this moment on your little torture device is no longer to be used, I will be personally checking up on our guest from time to time. And if I find so much as one new scratch upon him, or any sign that he has been restrained in such a way while in your care," she narrowed her eyes at him, "You will be the one banished good sir, do I make myself clear Captain?"
"Crystal clear," he said under his breath in an angry tone.
"Good," she turned her attention back to Kevin, "You may remove the restraints from Mr. Barr." As the guards did as they were told she continued, "The third condition to your residency here is that you will be on probation. I do hope that you understand the trust we are placing in you sir."
"Yes Ma'am, I understand," he massaged his wrists once the shackles were removed.
"Good, because if you break that trust, we will have no choice but to immediately remove you from our borders without a second thought." As she spoke, Stephanie could clearly see the new abrasion upon his wrists. And though she was in a position of authority and should remain neutral, the heart of a grandmother broke for the boy. "Dr. Williams, please attend to Mr. Barr's injuries and ensure that he is physically fit to go to work tomorrow, I will be by your place shortly to talk to him about the job we have planned for him."
"Yes Ma'am," the doctor replied as he motioned for the young man to follow him, Kevin fell into step behind him with two guards in tow, the captain close behind their group.
"Stay Captain," Stephanie called out, "We have a few matters we would like to discuss with you before you go."
Edd looked over his shoulder and watched the frustrated captain turn back around and head back to stand before the council as the doors closed behind them. Stepping out of the building, Kevin took a deep breath of the fresh unconfined air, then fell back into step with Edd and the doctor, who had a renewed pep in his step. "This is good my boy," he said patting Kevin on the shoulder, "You've taken your first step at being accepted here."
"They might be baby steps, but I'll take 'em," Kevin replied helping the elderly man down the street.
Reaching his home, the doctor bid the two guards to remain outside as he stepped through the door, "Edd take care of Kevin's wounds while I put some tea on." He slowly walked toward the kitchen as Edd directed Kevin to sit on the examination table. Fumbling around a few of the drawers he looked for the supplies he would need, "Left cabinet, top right," the doctor called out from the kitchen.
Finding the supplies right where he was instructed he returned to the table and began cleaning the wounds upon Kevin's wrists. Cupping Kevin's hand he started with his palm facing up, cleaning the underside of his wrist, the young man flinching and hissing as the homemade antiseptic was applied. "Sorry," Edd spoke softly, giving him an apologetic look and smile.
" 's alright," he replied as he watched him continue his work. Turning the hand over, he started to work on the top of the wrist, "Has anyone ever told ya," the tips of Kevin's fingers mildly caressed Edd's wrist, "That ya've got the softest touch an' nicest bedside manner this side av the river."
A soft blush crosses Edd's cheeks at his blatant flirtation, "And who on the other side of that river have you told that to Mr. Barr?"
"N-no one," he stammered, "It's just'a figure av speech." He gives the boy a curious look, "You aint too use'ta bein flirted with are ya?"
Edd shook his head no, his mind going a million miles a second as he thought about how nice the touch of his hand was, to the reasons why he wasn't used to anyone flirting with him. His mouth opened but the only word to come out of it was, "No." Kevin's grin was playful as he continued to tease the young man with his flirtatious touches, savoring the final moments of contact before Edd started bandaging up his wrists then began cleaning the wounds upon his neck.
Edd's brain short circuiting a few times when their eyes met and that playful grin would dart across Kevin's lips. "Do ya need some help," Kevin asked as Edd's hands paused in their work.
"No," he would reply simply before starting again. As Edd finished securing the bandages, the Doctor walks into the room asking the young man to bring the tea tray into the parlor as he checked over his work, "And please open the door for our guest." Edd pauses and looks back at him cocking a brow in curiosity, a moment later a knock at the door lets him know that the good doctor was correct in his request.
Opening the door, he found that the head of the council was waiting on the other side to be let in, "Good evening Madam Chairwoman."
"Good evening Edd," she greeted him as she stepped inside.
"If you would like to wait in the parlor Stephanie," the doctor called from his work area, "We'll be with you in a moment. Edd will bring you some tea while you wait."
A small joy filled the doctors heart as apparently the woman had worked out her fear of him, since she came to his home without an escort. Or maybe he was reading too much into this since there was already two guards stationed outside his front door. Edd closed the door behind her and hurried to the kitchen as she made her way into the parlor. The doctor checked the stiches upon Kevin's chest and back to make sure they were still intact and free of infection before directing him to hope down from the exam table.
Entering the parlor, he sees her sitting upon the couch, he directs Kevin to take a seat in the chair across from her on the other side of the coffee table. Taking his own seat beside her as Edd entered the room sitting the tray upon the table taking the last chair beside Kevin. Pouring her a cup of tea he hands it to her as he spoke, "So Steph, what have you come up with for the boy to do?"
He offers her some honey to sweeten her drink, she declines it and turns her attention to the boy in question, "So, Kevin, how good are you in a fight?"
"I can take a lickin just as good as the next man I guess," he replied as he took the drink the doctor offered him, looking at the bowl of honey curiously.
"How about the other way? Can you dish it out just as good as you can take it?" She took a sip of her tea.
"I might not win, but they'd know I's there," he was paying close attention as Edd added the sweetener to his drink for him, doing as Edd instructed and stirred it in.
"It's settled then," she placed her cup back down on the coffee table, "Tomorrow you'll report for duty with the town guard."
Edd nearly spit his tea out, "Are you insane, they'll kill him."
"The Captain has already been informed that he will be personally held responsible if any harm comes to him outside of defending the town." She looked at each of them before she continued, "And if he should happen to fall in battle, the strictest scrutiny will be placed upon his death."
The doctor leans back in his seat, "So you would hold him to the highest letter of the law then?"
"Yes, believe me I thought about this long and hard, and the quickest way to earn the peoples trust would be to help defend the town from harm. Take the vampires for instance," she gestures with her right hand, "Here you have a creature that prays upon the living for their blood, but because they have defended us against danger, almost everyone here trusts them. Personally, I think that's a mistake, because if our alliance should fall through for some reason, we are all back on the dinner menu for them." She looks at Kevin sympathetically, "But it's up to you if you take the job, I think it is the best way for you to show everyone in the town where you stand regarding them."
Edd looks over at Kevin and sees him thinking it over, "You don't have to if you don't want to, I am sure they can find you another position somewhere doing something else."
Kevin ignores Edd's plea, "You certain this's my best bet?" She nods in response, "I reckon I'll give it a try then, he don't scare me anyways, no way no how."
"That's the spirit," Stephanie said enthusiastically with a smile upon her face, "I'll inform the Captain of your decision immediately and you will start tomorrow bright and early. Which reminds me, you should probably be getting back, it's almost time for your curfew."
Edd spoke out, "Is there any way to let him stay here and sleep, instead of having to go back to that cell?
"I'm sorry Edd, but the other council members were quite addiment on this provision," she replied shaking her head, "Maybe in time he will be given more freedoms."
"Yeah Edd, we should follow the rules," Kevin added, "Sleepovers will have to wait," he smiled as he bopped his nose playfully with his forefinger, winking at him before standing and heading toward the front door.
As the latch clicked back into position the Doctor asks, "How about the full moon? Did they agree to that?"
She shakes her head no, "We still have a couple of weeks before the next one, I am sure I can get them to agree to it before then, they just need to see that he is serious about this in the meantime."
Kevin willingly went into his cell, no restraints were put upon him that evening, the door closing behind him with a clang, the lock sliding into place. After his meager meal of bland porridge and a glass of water, he lay down upon the thin mat meant for his bed and quickly fell asleep.