Chapter 26- Slayer Scrolls

Chapter 23- Borazon and Samuel

Day 14 – Afternoon-

East Road of Falls Creek

The day was nice with just the right amount of sun, cool breeze, and temperature so that the trip to the camp was a pleasure. This encouraged Embers energetic mood, much to Nelly's dismay making it a much faster trip than it had been before. When they arrived at the camp, they found that not much had changed except for some animal had run off with one of the bedrolls. Borazon went to work tying the horses up while Samuel and Zira started collecting the herbs she wanted. While they were working Samuel found the bedroll half stuffed in an old, rotted tree stump and said animal having its kits in it so he placed a few berries where she could reach them then continued.

"There it is." Samuel says as he points out a cave hidden behind some Naco berry bushes.

"Are we sure there isn't a bear in there?" Zira leerily asks.

"There isn't." Samuel quietly says while picking a few of the berries.

"Are you sure."

"I didn't go in, but I don't think there is." Samuel answers.

"Only one way to find out." Borazon remarks as he lights up a travel lantern on his belt then draws out his bow and notches it while ordering them too. "Stay here."

"Grampa you don't need …"

"I said stay here."

"Okay."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Zira asks as she preps a spell. To which he gives her a smart-ass smile then heads into which Zira remarks to Samuel. "Your Grand pa is nuts."

"Yup." Samuel says as he is collecting the berries not worried about what was to happen. "You might want to step back."

"Why?"

"You'll see." Samuel says as Borazon comes running out like he was being chased by the devil himself except it was a small black and white creature coming out looking around.

"Here you go." Samuel says as he hands the momma skunk some berries from the top of the bush. The momma comes over to him like they were old friends and takes the berries. Five baby skunks come out and take a different berry from him.

"You knew." Zira laughs.

"I met them when I was picking them last time I was here." Samuel answers with a shrug as he continues to pick the berries. "She seems to like the dark blue ones but her babies like the red." Samuel says as the babies head back in with their treat.

"Samuel!" Borazon could be heard yelling just before he dove into the lake.

"Stay over there and you are walking back." Zira comments as she gets a whiff of a very drenched man when he came back.

"You could have warned me." Borazon seethes.

"I tried. And you really should stay back there as the little momma may come back out again." Samuel says with a sly smile but in a warning, tone causing Borazon to step back.

"So how do I get this stench off?" Borazon demands.

"You have to soak in hot water and Mikin soap for about an hour. Then use the cleansing shower for at least 3 full soaps down with Jazzin soap. Repeat until the smell is gone. When it happened to dad, he had to do it 5 times." Samuel remarks with a smile. "Mom wouldn't let him back in the house for almost a week."

"Why if all it takes is bathing?" Borazon asks as he didn't remember hearing about this.

"I ask her that too." Samuel said.

"What did she say?" Zira asks as she starts filling the bags with the berries.

"Leave the berries in the middle on that bush. It's the easiest for the momma and babies to reach. Mom said Daddies shouldn't piss off mommies." Samuel answered. "She gave him the bathing routine when he apologized for something he did.

"What did he do?" Zira asks as she skips the area Samuel said to.

"I don't know. I am just glad I didn't do it." Samuel answers. "By the way there is no hope for the clothes same goes for your bow. They will have to be burned. And don't put any new ones on until after you bathe."

Even with his stench Borazon was able to get a deer. Ember carried the deer with she and Nelly pulled the carts that were full of herbs. The stench coming off of Borazon was so bad that Nelly kept trying to pass Ember on the way home as Borazon was walking behind them.

"Samuel why don't you take Nelly down the path through the hall. Borazon will have to head for the bath house, and I don't think anyone will want the Halls smelling like that." Zira says as she points at Borazon to which he gave her a jester he had seen Chrissy use on one of the bandits she had taken out.

"True but what if?" Samuel asks.

"I think he will run from that stench." Zira laughs then instructs as she sees Borazon starting to go near the cart. "Don't you even think about touching that cart until you smell better. Samuel and I can hook it up to mine."

"Fine. But I want 200 gold for the buck." Borazon remarks.

"I am just glad it was small as I don't think Samuel and I could have lifted it. Speaking of which Samuel, I'll give you 20 for each horn." Zira smiles back at the thought of Samuel telling his grandfather not to touch it or the smell would transfer.

"25."

"Okay. Though there maybe one problem."

"What?" Borazon asks.

"I don't know if they'll let you in the bath house." Zira smiles back at him, and he gives her "What the hell am I supposed to do now" look back. "Don't worry I think there is an outside cleansing shower."

"Great I get to expose myself to the entire town." Borazon snidely remarks.

"I know of a few that wont mind seeing." Zira teases which turn Borazon a little red.

"What am I supposed to do for clothes if I can't' touch anything?"

"After I drop everything off, I will get Samuel and bring him to the bath house so we all can get cleaned up." Zira offers.

"Okay. Samuel are you okay with going to the Burial Route on your own?"

"I won't be Nelly is going with me. So, I will be fine." Samuel smiles as he starts down the path to the Burial Route with a happy Nelly following.

"Don't worry. That goat will protect him." Zira says as she sees Borazon watches Samuel go down the path even after the boy was out of sight. Borazon just nods his head.

Day 14 – Early Evening

Falls Creek

A little while later they arrive at the gate.

"Zira good to see you." A guard says with a smile until he smells Borazon. "By The divines. What is that?"

"Say it and I'll hug you." Borazon warns menacingly.

"Bath house is that way." The guard says with one hand pinching his nose closed while pointing with the other to a two-story stone building behind the sawmill.

"Thanks." Borazon says but the look on his face said. "Smart man." As he heads for the bath house.

"If one of you guards helps me unload the small cart you can have it right away." Zira tells them.

"I can help." A guard from the catwalk calls out as he heads down the stairs.

"Me too." A guard said as he ran out of the barracks pushing another guard out of the way.

"So can I." The guard who was pushed out of the way yells as he rushes out.

"Great with your threes help it will be done in no time." Zira says as she heads the wagon over to her shop.

"Nice buck. 150 since the horns are already gone." Nenya states to Zira as she is passing by the Jarls Lodge.

"250 or I sell it to Valga." Zira states with a smile.

"Fine." Nenya replies as she hands over the gold than looks over at the guards who was following the cart and orders with just one word and look "Guard." The guard she was looking at went up, got the buck off the horse, and took it into the jarls lodge.

"Oh, you might want to only feed that to your special guest." Zira warned.

"Why."

"The person who killed it got skunked." Zira says with a twinkle in her eyes that passed over into to Nenya's.

"I will do just that." Nenya smiles back as she heads into the lodge with a slight smirk on her face.

With the guards' help Zira was able to unload both carts quickly and efficiently. The guards took Nelly's cart to their barracks while Zira took her horse and cart to the stable where Gruffnar took care of it for her. She gave a slight smirk at how much better Gruffnar was taking care of not just the animals but the stables and barn since Borazon and Samuel had come. Not only was the barn and stable clean but the roof and walls had been repaired.

"You might want to save room." Zira says.

"Huh?"

"For more wards." Zira remarks as she points out the runes on the outside pens, barn, stables, and each of the stall doors.

"I got lots of room for more if it means keeping me and what's mine alive." Gruffnar retorts than asks. "You got me some starts?"

"Yeah, they are in my shop you can pick them up in the morning." Zira says as she puts her horse in its stall.

"How's?"

"They are doing okay but our large friend got into a little trouble." Zira seriously told him.

"What?"

"He got skunked." Zira laughs which causes Gruffnar to laugh.

"I am glad he is staying where he is. That smell doesn't come out for weeks." Gruffnar laughs even harder.

"Actually, there is a treatment."

"What? Since when?"

"Our little friend knows of one."

"What is it?"

"He has to bathe a lot with Mikin soap and Jazzin soap until the smell is gone."

"Mikin soap? I think I would rather stink. That stuff itches."

"That's why he has to use Jazzin soap."

"Still itches." Gruffnar mutters as he shakes the feeling.

"What are you two talking about?" Lotz asks as he walks in.

"Oh, just a certain friend getting skunked and having to bathe in Mikin soap." Gruffnar informs him.

"I think I would rather stink." Lotz affirmed.

"That's what I said."

"So, what are you hear for?" Zira asks.

"Just to inform our friend that his weapon is waiting for him at where he is staying."

"He's going to need a new bow and arrows." Zira informs him.

"They got nailed too?" Lotz asks.

"Yup."

"If the stink is off, have him stop by early in the morning. I have a few he can choose from." Lotz says with a yawn as he leaves. "I am heading for bed early, tonight. Goodnight."

"Night." Both Zira and Gruffnar call out.

"Why don't you head out too. I'll finish up for you." Gruffnar tells Zira.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I know you have a few things to do before going to bed." Gruffnar says with a smile.

"Thanks, I have to sneak over and get our little friend. Have you heard how the pain is?"

"He is in Jail over by the west gate." Gruffnar smiles.

"Why?"

"Healer ordered it."

"That is nice to know. Night."

"Night."

Day 14 – Early Evening

Bath House Falls Creek

"Oh! I don't care who are what you did, or how sexy you are. You are NOT coming into my bath house smelling like that." A flamboyant man says with the snap of his fingers.

"Fine. I was told you had an outside cleansing area where is it?" Borazon almost begged as the stench was making his eyes water.

"It's around back but I don't know of anything that will get that out."

"I soak in Mikin soap then wash with Jazzin soap." Borazon answers sheepishly.

"I think I would rather stink than bathe in that. You realize that what we use to clean privy cloths."

"I don't care. Can you please help me?"

"The privy cloth tubs are around the back. You can rinse in the outdoor cleansing shower right next to them." The man says as he points around the corner.

"Do you have Jazzin soap?"

"Yeah, I'll bring it to you." The man says as he closes the door.

Borzaon heads around the corner and sees several tubs were already soaking with privy cloths. He found an empty one that just needed the soap and water. He was thankful that the fire to heat the tubs hadn't gone out completely so all he had to do was add a few twigs to get it going. It didn't take long for him to have the water going on the cast iron kettle. He wishes the kettle was big enough for him, but it was only half the size of the tubs and those were barely big enough to hold him sitting down cross legged. He wasn't sure if it would be enough to get the stench out. He fills a couple of wood buckets in the cleansing shower while the kettle was warming.

"Why on earth are you cooking the kettle?" The man from the bath house asks.

"To heat the water." Borazon barks back.

"Red chain is for hot water blue is for cold." The man says as he points to each chain.

Borazon gives him a look that screams "Really, damn do I feel stupid."

"Now what do you say to Hensee for making your life just a little easier?" Zira says as she comes around the corner.

"Thank you." Borazon grumbles. "Hensee is there some kind of privacy screen out here?"

"No but I can bring one out if you ask nicely." Hensee says with a wink.

"Would you please bring me out a privacy screen." Borazon says nicely but with a bit of a huff on the end. As the man leaves Borazon tosses his destrung bow and arrows into the fire.

"Well, I do have that one I was about to throw out I could bring you." Hensee remarks as he gives Borazon a lustful look but from a distance.

"Then please go and get it." Borazon sort of barks out causing Hensee to sashay back around the corner.

Zira starts giggling at the action between the two.

"Where is Samuel?"

"He's already inside."

"I don't like him in there alone."

"It's okay Lotz's wife Millie is in there and she'll keep an eye on him. In fact, the whole town will keep an eye out for him since what happened."

"Thanks. I just don't want…"

"I understand. I brought you an old towel and scrub brush. You can keep them or better yet burn them." Zira snips as she puts the items on an old wood bench that the cloth cleaners used to rest on during breaks.

"Where are my clothes?"

"You won't need them for a while." Zira says as she leans against the wall to watch.

"You staying to scrub my back?" Borazon teases.

"No." Zira says turns her back on him. "But I figured you want someone to watch it just in case."

"Yeah. Thanks what about my weapons?"

"Lotz said to come by early in the morning to replace what you had to burn."

"Thanks. Seems like I am thanking you a lot." Borazon says as he adds more wood to the fire.

"Are you kidding. You and yours have done so much for this town and myself."

"I didn't kill that thing." Borazon dejectedly remarks as he remembers the hollow look the little girl's mother gave him.

"Not just that. My shop is full of herbs which it hasn't been in over a year. Gruffnar has slowed down on his drinking and is actually taking better care of his Barn. If he keeps it up the Steward is talking about him running the Jarl's stables. The food at the Inn has been much better lately. The farmers are getting better crops."

"How are the farmers getting better crops?"

"Remember when Samuel told Gruffnar to sell or trade the shit to the farmers?"

"Yeah."

"There is an increase in the crops. Not by much but still it's increasing. Mayco the farmer he bought it from is now experimenting with the different shit to see what yields the best. He is even talking to Hogus the hog farmer about the stuff his pigs give out. And for those two to start talking again all these years later is amazing."

"Why does that matter?" Borazon says as he places the empty tub under the shower.

"Because those two haven't spoken to each other in over 20 years." Hensee remarks as he comes back around the corner with the screen.

"You want me to take that?"

"No, I got it you just step back over there. I'll leave it out here just in case this happens again. But I don't want it smelling." Hensee remarks as he waits for Borazon to move out of the way.

"So, he is breaking silence for shit?" Borazon smirks.

"Well, it's working." Zira informs them. "Though I am not sure if it's a good thing."

"Why?"

"They are a pit loud when they talk." Zira remarks as she remembers being woken up early this morning because of the two.

"There is a betting pool going on about how soon they'll stop talking to each other." Hensee informs them.

"Really?" Zira inquires. "That's not nice."

"Come on Hogus believes he is raising his hogs for Vampires and ." Hansee laughs.

"Werewolves are real, and they are enemies of Vampires." Zira puts in.

"I got attacked by 3 vampires and the only reason I survived is that Chrissy showed up." Borazon says from behind the screen. "Plus, Samuel sold vampire dust to Zira." Zira nods her head in agreement. "Where is the Mikin soap?"

"Here." Hansee says as he hands Borazon a glass bottle while trying to sneak a peek on the half-naked man.

"Unless you want to wear these." Borazon warns as he holds his wadded-up shirt in his hand ready to throw it at the man. "No peeking. Walk away."

"You are no fun." Hansee teases as he moves next to Zira and turns his back.

Borazon had only been soaking for about 2 minutes when he started itching in very uncomfortable places.

"Samuel said you better not scratch, or it will make the itch worse." Zira warns to which she heard him mumble something about "A little late." while she is using a stick to put Borazon's stinky clothes into the fire.

Samuel came around the back when Borazon was doing his first shower and he could hear his grandfather cursing in several languages.

"Zira you might want to bring my grandfather some sarry sav to help with the itching." Samuel suggests.

"Already ahead of you." Zira smiles while holding up a small wood box.

"Are you sure there isn't another way of getting this smell off?" Borazon starts to whine.

"Not if you want it off quick. Other than that, you, and anything you touch will stink like that for a month." Zira informs him.

"I think I would rather stink." Borazon mumbles.

"NO!" Everyone says at the same time.

"Grandpa take another bath. This time shouldn't be as itchy." Samuel gently tells him.

"It better not be." Borazon warns.

Day 14 – Late Evening

Bath House Falls Creek

With each bath and cleansing shower the itching got easier for him and those around him. It was almost a high moon rise when he was finally smelling much better, cleaned and dressed. They had just started to walk Zira back to her shop when they heard a howl.

"You don't think that thing is coming back?" Samuel asks.

"It's okay the howl was far off." Borazon says but they all freeze as the hear in that area some growls non-human unearthly screams.

"By the Divines what was that?" Zira says as a fire ball forms in her hand.

"It sounds like a vampire… No that's sounds like several and they are fighting with whatever did the howl. Come on let's get you back to your shop so Samuel and I can get back to the hut." Borazon urges.

The three get Zira to her shop quickly then Borazon and Samuel sprint to the hut. They passed some guards who were adding more fire to the beacons with one hand while the other hand had their weapons out and ready. Other guards ran out of the barracks with bows ready with new silver tipped arrows that had runes etched throughout the shaft and tips. They were halfway there when Runil comes looking for them with Borazons axe in hand.

"Did you hear?" Runil asks as he hands the axe to Borazon who looks very grateful for getting it back.

"Yeah, let's go." Borazon says as he ushers them both back towards the hut.

They make it back to Runil's hut and bar the door. None dare to speak for a few minutes.

"By the Divines' it sounded like there was a major fight going on." Runil remarks. "What has happened to cause so much chaos now?"

"If I didn't know better, I would say the shit is only going to get worse before it gets better." Borazon remarks.

"Could it be because Chrissy came?" Samuel worriedly asks.

"No, she is the one good thing that has happened. Now that I think about it. She may have come because of this starting." Runil says. "I was talking to Sheldon, and he found some information about a prophecy."

"What prophecy?"

"In on the word wall they speak of a being of chaos, destruction, and death being resurrected. Yet that is only the beginning." Runial says.

"That doesn't sound good. What does it have to do with Chrissy being here?" Samuel asks.

All three turn and are ready to fight when the secret door opens.

"Oh, that is just the neatest trick." Sheldon gleefully says.

"Sheldon it's not safe to be out and about." Runial warns.

"I wasn't out I went through the halls of the dead and the Divines." Sheldon answers as a matter-of-factly then goes on. "I heard you telling him before me, so I came in quickly. If I translated, it right. The prophecy warned of a great evil hidden behind it all but then would come in the mist of all this darkness a chosen one that could be either our destruction or our greatest salvation. I am sorry I mean the world's destruction or salvation. I think that is what it said. The ancient language is quite hard to understand at times."

"You think Chrissy is our salvation?" Samuel smiles.

"It doesn't say for sure, but they were on the Dragon scriptorium and if she is the Dragon born then I believe she is. Trust me when I say I have never seen someone so small be so savage on something as big as a dragon. At one point I think she scared everyone there." Sheldon went on to say. "I would almost swear I saw her eyes change color. From normal color to a purplish Red."

"What are scriptoriums?" Samuel asks.

"Nord's call them Word walls. But they are so much more. To you and me we can read some of it. But to a Dragon born it can reveal far more. Did you say she was coming here. I wonder if she would let me travel with her if she goes to them?" Sheldon begins to ramble on.

"I have no idea if she would let you travel with her." Borazon says with a shake of his head.

"Well, we can travel freely I'll just see that I am travelling the same way as her." Sheldon remarks.

"Traveling with her could end your life." Runil puts in.

"Like staying here is any safer?" Sheldon says as they all could clearly hear the fight going on outside of Falls Creek.

"I wish she was here." Samuel quietly says which the three men just nod their heads in agreement.

Day 14- Late Evening.

Hidden Bandit Cave in the Wilderness not far from Falls Creek

"Vujadin, I don't like this?" A thin mage bandit whines.

"What know, Zivek?" Vujadin snaps back in annoyance.

"Our alpha has been gone too long." Zivek remarks in concern. "And don't you snap at me."

"It's only been two days and I didn't snap at you" Vujadin points out as he drinks some mead,

"Yes, but he went into Falls Creek." Zivek rebuffs as he thrusts his hands on his hips like a defiant child.

"So?" Vujadin shrugs while is thinking "If that prick didn't forbid us from killing each other I know this shit would be dead first."

"You saw what they did to him." Zivek rebuts.

"I repeat. So?" Vujadin dead pans as he tries to eat his raw deer leg.

"We should have gone with him." Zivek says interrupting Vujadin's meal.

"They won't dare touch him when he is in his elf's form." Vujadin states. "Now leave me alone I want to eat in peace."

"He killed the only child in the town are you sure they won't?" Zivek worriedly asks completely ignoring Vujadin's not so subtle hints.

"We are to wait until Jaorn and Mirrei return before we do anything?" Vujadin says as a way to get him to leave him alone.

"Where did they go?" Zivek asks

"They headed for the town to buy some supplies but also to check on the prick." Vujadin

"Why wasn't I told? I should have gone with them." Zivek demands.

"To be honest they didn't want you to." Vujadin answers with a shrug.

"Why." Zivek demands energetically.

"You kiss the pricks boots too, much." Vujadin

"He is our alpha. Show some respect." Zivek snaps.

"You think we wanted this! I just wanted to earn some gold then go home but no that elf comes along and turns us all into werewolves. We can never go home. The only reason we listen to him is because he is the strongest and he will hunt us down if we don't. You saw what he did to our real leader." Vujadin yells in Zivek face.

"You are only being this disrespectful because a normal human got lucky and hurt him a little. Once he hunts down that meat then you will see." Zivek reasons as he steps back away from Vujadin.

"No, I am saying this because he killed a kid. I have a kid her age. That could have been my kid. And the thought of me killing my own kid scares me more. But because of this damn curse we have to obey him." Vujadin continues to yell as he lost his appetite and throws the meat off to the side.

"He has made us immortal what are children to us other than food. I am going to him and when I see him, I'll be sure to tell him of your disrespect." Zivek says while thinking "If my Alpha likes the taste of children, I'll be sure to tell him of yours."

Zivek stomps off to the entrance and goes to open it but as he does the door is forced open by a very bloody and panic Mirrei. Mirriei slams the door behind him and quickly locks it.

"What has happened?" Zivek demands.

"VAMPIRES! AND THEY ARE PISSED!" Mirriei snarls.

Panicked voices simultaneously call out questions "Why?" "What?" "What of our.!" "Did you lead them here?

"All of you Shut up!" The firm voice of Carpzov bellows. Everyone in the room immediately shuts up. "Now Mirriei what happen?" Carpzov asks.

"We went to town to check on things and get supplies like you said. We couldn't find him anywhere at first."

"I take it you found him." Carpzov reasons.

"Yeah, but he is in a bad way." Mirriei informs them.

"What do you mean." Zivek demands but is silenced by a glare from Carpzov.

"Seems he's sick. I heard the guards talking that he almost shifted but the stuff the healer gave him knocked him out. But the healer only gave it to him to help with the sickness."

"He shouldn't be sick." Zivek points out.

"He is delirious and running a fever from what I could hear." Mirriei relays but then inputs. "I am pretty sure they know what and who he is."

"Why do say that?" Carpzov asks.

"They locked him the stone Jail." Mirriei informs them.

"You don't think they'll kill him?" Zivek quivers in fear.

"No. At least not in his elf form." Mirriei answers.

"Then what are we going to do we can't just leave our Alpha." Zivek squeaks out.

"What about the Vampires?" Carpzov questions.

"I was on my way back, but Jaorn stayed to mess with the town's folk and that's when the vampires came. He had just started howling when they ruthlessly emerged from the shadows. They made it very clear that anyone turned by the Elf was to die! There was at least 6 on him ripping him to shreds."

"Crap. What are we going to do?"

"Shut up and let me think." Crapzov snaps at Zivek then turns and asks. "You don't think they followed you?"

"No, I stayed in human form because I reason that they couldn't tell I was one as long as I stayed this way. But man, my wolf side wanted to kill them. The only reason I could was because I kept reminding it, we had to keep the pack safe until our Alpha was free."

"Did you get a chance to talk to him?" Crapzov inquires.

"Sort of?"

"What do you mean sort of?" Crapzov demands leans against the wall of the den.

"He was taunting them that he had a large surprise coming for the town on the full moon."

"So, he wants us to attack on the full moon when we are at our strongest. Fine no one leaves until then. Let the vampires think they killed the only one he turned. We will feed on human flesh on the full moon."