Matter of Trust
Chapter 21
Kratos came back two weeks after the stranger left Izoold. The autumn winds stirred his short sleeve tunic, tousled his bandana and what hair that it did not slick down. He paused for just a moment tasted the sea laden wind with its touch of ice. He walked through the town in mid-day, when all the fisher folk were out in the seas, were occupied with their tasks. Those few he saw, those too elderly or too young to be set to task, he said no word to them. He made no move towards the pub that so many of his co-workers frequented when they decided that they would have a day off. His somber eyes warned off any who would think to talk to him. His eyes were filled with shadows, though he had cleaned himself of his deeds, there was blood on his hands. Any who knew him could see it, could see it in the distant way he took in all around him. Luckily there were very few he knew, very few who knew how to read the darkness in his eyes. He picked his way across the dusty road, passed his neighbors homes with only a slight glance. At one home he actually paused, paused to look at it. Seeing nothing wrong he went on his way, mounted the familiar two steps and on the porch of his house he hesitated.
A familiar barking on the other end made him smile. He whistled a shrill note, and the barking stopped, or rather it changed. Once aggressive the barking became joyful. He turned the handle, and before he could take a step into the house was bowled over by a hundred pounds of protozoan. He was actually knocked off of his feet, and sent sprawling onto the small wood deck. His vision was filled with green and silver, he squirmed, tried to avoid it. The tongue came out, and Kratos could do nothing more then endure the licking.
Laughter, he heard Anna's laughter, and after the days of silence he had endured it was a welcome sound. Noishe barked, sat on his master's chest and proceeded to take advantage of his new found weight and power and lick Kratos all the more.
"Noshy, enough!" Anna whistled and the protozoan with a happy bark hopped off of the Seraphim. "Well look at what the dog dragged in... or more accurately, what the dog threw out."
Noishe barked, his tail wagged madly.
"That..was not my.. idea... My God Anna... what have you been... feeding him?" Kratos rubbed his chest, told his lungs that they were free to draw as much air as they wished.
"What you do, he's been going through a growth spurt, again."
"Huh," Kratos took in the protozoan, before he had left the protozoan was level with his waist, now Noishe could at least reach Kratos' chest. "I wonder how big he is going to get?"
"No idea." Anna looked at him, saw the darkness in his eyes and a faint sadness touched her face. "Was it bad?"
"Not as bad as it could have been, we will talk about my business trip inside." Kratos pulled himself to his feet. Noishe swatted him, and the Seraphim dodged the attack. "That is enough Noishe." At his tone the protozoan whined, and cocked his head. "I need to rest, it was a bit of a hike to get back in town."
"A hike... there's no rough areas until the Ossa..." Catching his look Anna let the thought go. "Alright dear, lets get you cleaned up for lunch at least."
"Lunch sounds nice..." Kratos closed his eyes, allowed a bit of wariness to touch his face. "What I probably need is to lay down for a bit after we are done eating."
Anna only held open the door for him. And he entered his home while Anna tended to him the best she could. When Anna went back to close the door she froze, one of the fisher folk wives stared at her, one of the nastier ones. Telling herself that it didn't matter Anna closed the door, then firmly locked it.
Xxxxx xxxx xxx xx
Kratos didn't sleep, merely lay on the floor watching Lloyd snuggle with his stuffed rabbit. He matched his breathing with his little boys, and watched him sleep. There was a touch of envy in his eyes, he envied that his boy could sleep and he could not. He was also grateful, eternally grateful that the existence he endured would not be inflicted on his son. Anna yawned, watching Lloyd sleep always made her sleepy.
It was mid afternoon, a few hours after Kratos had come back. They had yet to talk about the trip, they only enjoyed the moment with each other and their son. Most other people would not have. He could see any other woman nagging him, demanding details, or making small chat to break the silence.
Anna was different though, she had learned to enjoy each moment, to savor it. Being what he was Kratos savored every moment that had to do with life. He enjoyed the silences of life, because they were not silent. The beating of a heart, the whisper of breath being drawn. A soft muttered word, the affection that could dwell in the eye. Those things he lived for, and Anna shared that love of life with him. She smiled, sat on the floor as quietly as she could, and watched as he watched. He felt her hand grasp his hand, felt the pressure of her touch, felt the whisper of her pulse as if thrummed against the skin of her hand. He smiled, but did not need to look away from Lloyd. Her fingers playfully caressed his palm.
"I've missed you." She whispered softly, after a long span of time.
"As I you beloved."
And that was all that was needed. No other words were nessicary. Hearing a familiar voice Lloyd cracked open an eye. He saw his father and fully woke up.
"Daee!"
Kratos was then buried in a tackle. Well it was more of a fall, as Lloyd firmly wrapped his small arms around his father in a bear hug. Lloyd giggled, looked over his "daee" shoulder, and the seraphim was tackled by someone a little more adept at the art then his Son. Noishe barked into Kratos' ear, and Lloyd nestled into his father's shoulder. Anna wisely retreated before the protozoan decided to drag her into the pile too.
"Men," She snorted. "Why must you tackle each other all the time to show affection?"
Noishe whined and cocked his head, then aptly put a paw on the back of the seraphim's head. Having his face pressed against the wooden floor Kratos couldn't reply. Noishe went into a string of yalps and whines that almost sounded like he was trying to explain. Anna laughed, reached down, ruffled his fur, then bent down and tweaked her husbands wild hair.
"Sorry Noshy I don't talk dog. Explain to Kratos then maybe he can explain it to me. Well since you all are keeping each other busy I'll go out for a bit. I need to pick up some food at the market. Noshy be a good boy, and keep these two out of trouble while I'm gone."
Noishe barked, and his tail smacked into the Seraphim's leg as it wagged.
"Good dog, now I'll be back in a bit."
"He's not a dog!" Kratos managed to gasp, Noishe smacked him with a paw, and the seraphim glared at his pet.
Noishe only barked a goodbye, then plopped down to get more comfortable.
"Fuzzy!" Lloyd chirped, snuggled with the massive protozoan. Kratos was little more then a rug for them both. Then his son crawled a little bit and found his daee's hair. Kratos winced as his boy's hands descended and began their inevitable tugging.
Xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xx.
"Well well well this is a sight to be seein' no doubt of that."
Kratos snapped an eye open, and glared at Syt as he came in his hands loaded with a basket full of food. Anna came in behind him, and Syt's wife after his own. Syt's wife tittered, and Anna rolled her eyes.
"Your Anna was sayin' how you were weighed down and all, but Goddess I didn't think she was serious about it!"
"That is quite enough, someone help me!"
"And wake up your tyke? Naw, we'll just leave your food in front of you and you can eat it with your dog."
Kratos snarled an oath into the floor boards, Noishe smacked him.
"Heh, I think he thinks he's master of the house now."
"Damn it Syt, help me."
"Noshy, Kratos said a bad word, smack him again please."
Kratos winced as the paw hit him.
Syt's wife, a plump dark haired woman was all but crying in laughter. Anna smiled a smug self satisfied smile and went to the fire place to begin making dinner. The obviously pregnant Issia joined Anna, and they began to cook and talk of woman things. Syt was only leaning against the wall, taking in the sight of Kratos pinned under Noishe.
"Never thought I'd see the day you were bested."
"Shut up and help me!"
"Noshy..."
Kratos was yet again hit.
"This is just rich!" Issia's shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter. "Anna, could I borrow you dog sometime?"
"No you may not!" Kratos gasped, he flinched but the paw never came down.
"Aye, don't think about it woman! You just stick to poisenin' me with your cooking!"
"I cook wonderful meals!"
"For dead folk you do!"
"Why is it every time you come here we get dragged into your domestic issues?" Kratos grumbled.
Noishe, having enough, walked off the seraphim. The protozoan thoughtfully picked Lloyd up by the scruff of his tunic, and placed him gently on the floor some distance away. With a groan Kratos straightened, rubbed his back, though it did not ache nor did he feel any strain from being trapped in the same position for a few hours. He could have lain like that for several more hours and not felt a twing of discomfort.
"Dunno? Hey, take a look there."
Kratos turned, and saw to his wonder that Noishe was looking at Lloyd with a thoughtful expression on his canine face. With a whimper Noishe nudged Lloyd and when the boy's face was tilted just the way he wanted it to be he began to lick. He groomed the youngest Aurion, slicked hair back until it looked as much like Kratos' as the protozoan could manage.
"Oh Noshy, bad dog, uhh now I have to give Lloyd another bath..."
Kratos smiled, and Noishe winked at him.
It was nice to have a pet that had a sense of justice.
Xxxx xxx xxx *
"So how'd your trip go?" Syt asked over the stew Anna had prepared. Kratos glared at the man and Anna flinched. That was not a safe question, or topic. But after having been caught up on all that he had missed it was now the Aurion's turns to talk. If only it hadn't been that subject.
"Well enough."
"May I ask why you suddenly disappeared?"
"You can, I wont answer though."
"Ruian, we're friends aren't we? At least tell me why you can't tell me!"
Kratos sighed, moved the food around in his bowl. He had eaten all of five bites, much to the Syt's family worry. Having friends made it very difficult to keep his cover, and Kratos was regretting being as open with them as he had been.
"My past is very dark, I have several enemies in high places." Anna coughed, excused herself. Said something about checking on Lloyd. "These enemies have the power and resources to destroy villages, to send assassins, I have to be on my guard and make sure that their agents do not find us."
"What'd you do to..."
"I exist, and possess free will, that is enough for them."
"How long you've been runnin'?"
"Long enough."
"How long Ruian?"
"Almost four years now."
Dead quiet, a tense quiet. Kratos sighed, ground a bit of bread in his hands and tossed it in the stew. He pushed the bowl away from himself, stood.
"I wish you'd telled us sooner Ruian, there might be somethin' we could do to help you out. There anymore secrets we need to know about?"
"If I tell you anymore you would both be in grave peril. I would have no choice but to kill you, because what I know would destroy everything for you. And if you so much as thought on it, and the wrong person was about, Izoold would be little more then a ruin."
Syt swallowed, his wife looked frightened.
"How much does Anna know?"
"Enough to guarantee that if those I flee from capture her, question her, she will face years of torment."
"She has one of those ex-sphere things that the Desians make, doesn't she?" Issia whispered.
"Yes," Anna had told him to do this, had told him to break what news he dared. "The Desian's are one of our many enemies."
"You certainly have a way of makin' some mighty powerful folks ticked, you know that?"
"It is a habit."
"More like a hobby." Anna grumbled, she came back from Lloyd's room.
"I thought you did not want to be present for this?"
"Like I'd abandon you, or trust you, to break something like this gently."
"Anna, how could you..." Issia began.
"I love Ruian, I endure it. Just makes life interesting, that's all."
"Aye, you're a brave one lass... Here I am gettin' faint hints of the storm and all and I'm still quakin' like a babe."
"It takes some getting used to." Anna sighed. "Come on Issia, lets go for a walk."
Kratos snapped his gaze up, shifted his eyes from Anna to Issia. Anna catching the look nodded. They had discussed this in Angelic, and had agreed that if Anna felt Issia couldn't take it the women would go for a walk. Obviously Anna dubbed Syt's wife not to be strong enough to bear what little more was to be said.
"That.. that was planed wasn't it?"
"Yes," Kratos sighed, forced himself to sit though he felt more like pacing. "It was."
"Your real name isn't Ruain isn't it?"
"No, I can not tell you my real name. That alone would damn this whole town to instant annihilation. Of my enemies those you can help me with are the Desian's... the others are far too powerful for one man to challenge. You asked me what you can do to help me, now I ask knowing just the edge of all of this, will you still help me?"
"We're friends." Kratos blinked, and for once he was shook, caught off guard. "I don't abandon my friends, not ever, even when they're in deep."
"If only I was worthy of such a comrade as yourself..."
"Oh shut up Ruian! You've helped my family, taught me and my kids how to read, and you've covered for my ass more times then I can remember. Ask and you'll have it."
"Be watchful, keep an eye out for Desians, half-elves can pose as humans but there are ways to snif them out. Once I teach you that, what I will need from you is a way to make sure you always keep your guard up. And if any come asking for me, no matter the story they weave, no matter the guise they wear, do not tell them of Anna. And if there is any good in you, you will not even think of my son while they are around. If they capture him..." Kratos swallowed, looked to the dying fire. "I would rather not think of that, what they did to Anna was horrid enough. Even though it has been four years, she still bleeds when she thinks of what they did to her."
"What..."
"I do not know all of it, and what I do know is frankly non of your damned business! It is between me and Anna, and Lloyd, when he is old enough to understand."
"Alright, I'll help you, I'll protect you best as I can. And if they come we'll hide Anna, and your boy, and you, if need be."
Kratos lowered his head into his hands. A familiar sickness was in him. He was dragging innocents into this, sacrificing those who were willing. If he did that then what kind of man was he, worse then Mithos most certainly. Syt didn't even know all of it, just a sliver. In this the man was as much a victim as the poor soul who was chosen for world regeneration.
"Don't go beaten yourself up for this Ruian. And thank you, for what you've told me. I'll be seein' you tomorrow on the docks?"
"In all probability, yes."
"Good, the boss been naggin' me and I was runnin' out of lies to feed him."
"You can lie?" Kratos rose an eyebrow.
"Only to those who deserve it. An' I'm not all that good truth be told."
"Huh, I'll see you tomorrow then I guess."
Taking the hint Syt left. Off to find his wife and get both of them home. If only Kratos could merely walk a few feet, close a door, so to lessen the danger to him and his own. If only...