Crazy week for work. Been bouncing between meetings and trying to adapt to a sudden, major change for the project I work on. Plus, I'm way behind on my budgeting work. So glad the weekend is finally here.
Despite that, we've got a lengthy chapter incoming. Gave up a long time ago on trying to aim for certain lengths, so you never know how much you'll get. This one came in just under 7.5k, which is around average for In RWBY's Shadow. Seems I'm getting longwinded early in this story.
The next month dragged by for Adam. Recovering was just so boring! He had less chores, but that just meant more time studying. Worse, Father Bernard had forbidden him from riding until he fully recovered. After three days of sheer boredom, Adam had claimed to be all better in an effort to get back to normal, despite the obvious bruising still present.
A little prodding from Father Bernard poked plenty of holes in his story.
Morris had only stayed the first night. His survey of the area didn't turn up any more Grimm, much to Adam's relief. After dinner, Morris had shared some of his stories from all his traveling. The massiveness of the ocean. The glimmer of the capitol. All of it excited Adam right up until bedtime, leaving him to dream of life on the road and the adventure that would come with it.
The next morning, Morris left for Katai, saying his caravan had agreed to wait for his return. In reality, they wouldn't dare venture forth without him. Instead, they'd decided to do some trading and rest the horses until he came back, then push on to the next city on their way to the capitol. The journey was long and treacherous, but the many stops along the way made it doable. Meanwhile, their visits tended to boost the towns' economies and helped improve safety for the villagers. Mankind had a way of adapting to even the most perilous circumstances, and the trade route proved no exception.
With larger towns like Katai not far away and the amount of activity on the trade route, Grimm rarely bothered with Shizukana. Father Bernard called it a blessing from the Brothers, but Morris preferred to credit planning over luck. The hills and mountains to the north provided a bit of a barrier on one side, while the activity of the trade route on the southern edge meant any Grimm venturing from that direction were likely to encounter a caravan before ever reaching the village.
And no merchant would dare make that journey without some sort of security.
Whether through man's machinations or the Gods' grace, Shizukana had enjoyed many years with only the rare Grimm encounter. Adam could vaguely remember having to spend the day in one of the shelters a few years ago, waiting until the all-clear was sounded. Such was life outside of the major cities.
Life carried on, but Adam felt stuck. With all the lessons and forced naps, Adam looked for any excuse to go outside, even if he wasn't allowed to do much yet. Eve would often wait impatiently by the fence for him to come visit, confused by the sudden change in routine. Despite Mrs. Wilde's demands, nothing happened to Eve for kicking Dorian. Adam only loved his horse more for getting revenge on the bully for him. The one solace he had during his recovery was knowing Dorian would take longer to heal, meaning he was bully-free for now. Otherwise, he might've gone crazy.
Father Bernard could clearly pick up on Adam's cabin fever and did his best to help. He invited the merchants to visit them at dinnertime and share stories of their travels for Adam's enjoyment when they passed through the village. Subtle reminders of how often they used his stable often helped convince them to be the night's entertainment. Some gave them little trinkets and gifts to help cheer Adam up. And Father Bernard even took a nap with Adam from time to time, saying he could use the extra rest too.
Despite all the efforts to keep things positive, though, Father Bernard knew it wouldn't be enough to stave off the inevitable.
"But Dad!"
"No buts," Father Bernard instructed. "You can't go to Katai until after you've recovered."
"I'm all better!" Adam insisted. The bruising had pretty much all faded away, and he wasn't even that sore anymore. "And you promised!"
"That was before you decided to pick a fight with Dorian," he reminded his son.
"You said you were proud of me!"
"And I am. But just because you do the right thing doesn't mean there aren't consequences." As much as Father Bernard wished otherwise, the good option was rarely the easiest…or the most rewarding. "I'm not saying we won't go. Just that we'll wait a little longer."
"How long?" Adam asked impatiently.
"One month."
"That's what you said a month ago!"
"And that was the plan," Father Bernard answered. "But plans change sometimes. I need to make sure you're ready to make the ride before I schedule the trip. Maybe tomorrow we'll do a short ride together. It's about time we got you back in that saddle."
"Really?" And just like that, Adam went from despair to hope again.
"A short ride," Father Bernard emphasized. "We're gonna ease back into it at first. Once I'm satisfied that you can make the trip…and that you can follow instructions," Adam ducked his head at the reminder of his disobedient riding while his dad was gone, "I'll start getting things ready for our trip."
"Yay!" Adam cheered, rushing to give his father a quick hug. "I can't wait! Can we go ride now? The sooner we start, the sooner I can show you I'm ready!"
"Tomorrow." Father Bernard laughed at his son's eagerness, patting the boy's head. "It's a little late tonight. In fact, it's almost bedtime."
"It's not that late. And I'm not even that tired!"
Father Bernard fully believed that. Adam was always a little bundle of energy, even without all the extra napping. "Well I am." Adam rolled his eyes. "And I was serious about making sure you can follow instructions…"
"Goodnight!" Adam shot off to his room, eager to prove himself worthy of and ready for their trip. Waiting an extra month would be a pain, but at least he'd finally get to start riding again. Hopefully, the second month would go by faster than the first.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
"Are the horses ready?"
"Yep!" Adam buzzed around the stable, tightening the riding tackle on their horses and triple checking their supplies. Content that he'd done all he could, Adam tugged Father Bernard toward Abel. "C'mon! They're waiting for us!"
"Hold your horses," Father Bernard said, stopping Adam in his tracks. "What about you? Do you have everything?"
"Ugh! Yes, I'm ready. For the hundredth time."
"Did you pack the camping gear?"
"Right here," Adam replied, patting the rolled pack strapped to Abel.
"Extra blankets?"
"On Eve. Not that we need them."
"It gets pretty cold at night," Father Bernard assured him. "Your books?"
"Unfortunately." Studying was the last thing on Adam's mind, but Father Bernard insisted. At least he had a few stories to read before bed.
"Your water?"
"Of cour-" Adam froze as he reached for the canteen on his belt but came up empty. "Wait. Where's my water? I filled it up this morning and-"
"-left it on the counter," Father Bernard finished, handing Adam his full canteen with a shake of his head. "I know you're excited, but you can't get ahead of yourself. A little extra time at the start will save you a lot later."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize. Just make sure you learn for next time. Now help me up." Adam linked his hands together, giving his father a small boost to reach Abel's tall back easier. "Whew! Abel needs to get a little shorter."
"Or you could get a little skinnier," Adam joked under his breath.
"I heard that!" Adam paled at being called out. "But maybe you're right. I have put on a little weight recently. But like I always say, no one takes a preacher seriously unless he's fat or bald."
"Or both," Adam added unhelpfully. The recent formation of a bald spot on the back of Father Bernard's head had come as a shock for the man, even if it was just a tiny patch missing
"Laugh it up, Adam. Someday, age will catch up with you too."
"Then we can be bald together!" Adam laughed, hoisting himself into Eve's saddle before patting the horse's neck. "C'mon, Eve. Let's make sure the old guys can find their way to the trail."
"Ignore him, Abel," Father Bernard replied, leading Adam out toward the front of the church. "Those two will be singing a different tune by tonight."
The pair rounded the church front to find Brother Wilde waiting for them as usual. He'd agreed to watch over everything while they were gone. The two older men ran through the usual, Father Bernard giving the same instructions as last time while Brother Wilde nodded along patiently. As the business part of the conversation wrapped up, Father Bernard predictably moved on to more personal matters.
"How's Dorian doing?"
"Pretty much back to normal," Brother Wilde began, "but with strict instructions to stay away from your horses in the future."
"For his safety, or theirs?" Adam silently cheered his father on at the prodding.
"Both," Brother Wilde acknowledged. "He and I had a long talk about his behavior. You and your boy let me know if he causes any more trouble."
"Will do. And tell your wife I said hello. Haven't seen her around in a while."
"I kind of doubt you will," Brother Wilde admitted. "She's still a little upset about what happened. Maybe once things calm down she'll come around, but for now, I think I'll be flying solo at services while she looks after Dorian."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Adam wasn't. As far as he was concerned, Mrs. Wilde and Dorian could go jump off a cliff. "Well, if there's anything your family needs, don't hesitate to ask!" With that, Father Bernard turned Abel around and headed through the village. "Come, Adam. We'd better get going before the merchants get antsy."
The pair quickly rode through the village, careful to give plenty of space to those walking around town at the start of their day. A few looked their way, but most were too focused on their own tasks to take much notice other than a quick glance. Within a few minutes, they reached the merchants, who were waiting impatiently. Father Bernard had assured Adam beforehand that they were always like that, no matter how early you might arrive.
"There you are, Father!" A rather tall, lanky merchant called, waving them over. "And this must be your son. First time traveling to Katai?"
Father Bernard nodded a greeting, waiting silently for Adam to answer, having told him it was important that he speak for himself. Apparently, the merchants would respect him more if he did. "Y-yes, sir."
"Excellent!" The man's smile was a little short of genuine. Adam had seen the same smile on many adults over the years. A forced pleasantness that many of the merchants wore by default. "Are you ready for the journey?"
"I think so," Adam answered.
"Be confident, my boy!" The merchant laughed before climbing into the front of the first covered wagon. "This isn't our first time on the trail, and with Maz traveling with us, there's nothing to fear!"
So saying, he pointed to a large, dark woman at the front of the procession, who glanced their way silently before turning back to scan the treeline ahead. Her black horse made Abel look small in comparison. Had its face been white, Adam would've sworn the thing was some sort of Grimm. Father Bernard waved for Adam to follow as he slowly rode to the front.
"Good morning, Mazarin," Father Bernard said as they came alongside the intimidating woman."Thank you for waiting for us."
"Hmph. Don't let the windbags fool you. They overslept." Mazarin rolled her shoulders back, stretching slightly. Her armored gauntlets reflected the sun off their smooth, dark blue surface. Mazarin wore a matching breastplate and graves over a simple, black shirt and pants. The large sword strapped to her back looked almost as tall as Adam himself. "This your boy?"
"Introduce yourself, son."
Adam gulped nervously. Where the merchant feigned friendliness, such warmth was nowhere to be found with the woman before him. "Hi." Adam waved hesitantly. "I'm Adam."
"Stick close to your father, boy. Whatever he says, you do it. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am." Honestly, he'd have done pretty much whatever Mazarin said right now. Her words carried such force that disobedience felt dangerous.
"Good."
"We'll get out of your way, then." Father Bernard seemed less fazed by Mazarin's abruptness, calmly leading them back to the lead wagon from earlier. "Don't mind her. When there's a job to do, Mazarin is all business. I'm sure she'll warm up a bit when we stop for the night. She always does."
"You've traveled with her before?" Adam asked.
"Twice…" Father Bernard paused, mentally debating something. "No, three times, since you were born. Who knows how many times before that. Haven't seen her for almost a year, but it looks like she hasn't changed much."
"Do you know many Huntsmen?"
"I know a lot of the guards, but most of them aren't Huntsmen," Father Bernard amended. "Some failed Initiation at the Academies. Others retired or were contracted out by some of the larger companies, like the SDC. They don't take Huntsman contracts anymore, so they're treated as mercenaries legally. They aren't required to maintain their certification and can't be forced to respond to emergencies, but in return, the Kingdoms aren't liable for their actions."
"They won't help in an emergency?"
"Most would, if asked." Father Bernard nodded to the front of the caravan. "Mazarin still keeps in touch with the Huntsman Agencies in case an urgent need arises nearby. She's helped protect a few villages in the area over the years. But she didn't have to. She chose to." Adam still looked a little confused, so Father Bernard elaborated. "Huntsmen are required to respond to any local emergencies. The Agencies can check who's nearby and contact them with details. Mercenaries are sometimes contacted as well, but they can choose whether or not to respond. They also get less of a reward from responding, typically."
"What if a Huntsman refuses to respond?" Adam asked.
"Then they lose their license."
"Are you ready yet?" Mazarin called from the head of the caravan. "The sun will not wait for you!"
Adam looked to his father, but the man shook his head. Instead, the response came from within the covered wagon behind them. "Neither will our customers!" The merchant from before clambered out of the wagon's bed and into the seat, shaking the reins for his pair of horses as he settled in. "So let us be off! Yah!"
With that single command, the caravan set off from Shizukana. Mazarin stayed in the lead, guiding them along the small trail for almost a mile before it reconnected with the much wider trade highway. The wagons rattled as they left the dirt trail and turned onto the stone highway, even as the steady clicking of horse's hooves against the paved path announced their arrival.
The highway was wider than he'd expected, easily enough for three wagons to travel side-by-side. Beyond that, the trees had been cleared for at least twenty yards. Adam imagined the highway looked like a reverse mohawk among the trees and hills, as if someone had shaved a path through Remnant itself.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" The merchant's voice tore Adam from his thoughts. He turned to find the man watching him with a bemused smile. "The highway runs across most of Anima, though this is one of the wider portions, what with the land being relatively flat and all."
"How'd you-"
"-know what you were thinking?" The man laughed at Adam's bewilderment. "I wish I could say it was some sort of skill or Semblance. I daresay I could make a fortune if I could read people's minds. I know that's what you're thinking because it's the same thing I thought when I first made the journey."
For the next hour, the merchant regaled Adam with the history of the highway, inviting the boy to sit on the wagon with him while Father Bernard agreed to lead Eve alongside them after a brief stop. The birth of the highway turned out to be more practicality than design. As the capitol and other cities grew, their need for resources increased. As more and more merchants began bringing in goods, they established a main route of trade. The heavy travel meant the paths had to be widened and eventually paved, since the ground was quickly being torn up by the sheer number of wagons and surrounding forests were often pushed back to give better line-of-sight against bandits and Grimm. Little by little, necessity led to the development of the major thoroughfare they found themselves on now.
Adam had read much of the same information in his history books, but hearing it from someone who practically lived on the highway made it so much more interesting to him. He peppered the man with questions, leading Father Bernard to apologize for the constant badgering.
The merchant didn't seem too phased by the interrogation. "Nonsense! The boy hungers for knowledge, and I'm happy to feed that appetite. Besides, it'll help pass the time for both of us. These treks can get rather dull."
But talk of a highway could only last so long. They soon moved on to other topics, the pair's voices being the only sound other than the movement of the caravan. The merchant told him of some of the exotic wares he'd transported over the years. Chests of raw dust. Rare animals. Enough silk to clothe an entire village. Every trip could be an adventure, if only the travelers would let it.
"Plus, you meet so many interesting people on the road."
"Like Maz?"
"Bah!" The merchant waved a hand dismissively at the head of their procession. "I said interesting people, not dull piles of muscle. I mean the different towns we visit! Small villages like yours where everyone knows each other by name. Large settlements filled with strangers from all over. And the cities! You could meet a thousand people there and hear a different story from each. Why, I once met a man from Vacuo who told me of a great turtle taller than any building that roamed the sands. Or that faunus girl from Atlas who told me of the floating city."
Adam perked up suddenly. "Wait. What?"
"A floating city! It literally just hovers up in the air like a bird!"
"No, not the city. The girl! You said she was a faunus? Like me?"
The merchant smiled. "Not quite. She had a tail like a dog. I swear it wagged when I bought her a drink."
"Other faunus?" Adam could hardly contain his excitement. "How many have you met?"
"Hundreds. Maybe thousands!" Adam's eyes lit up. "And all types, too. Cat ears. Monkey tails. Scales. Claws. Even one with a fish tail instead of legs! You didn't think you were the only one, did you?"
"N-no…" He knew there were others like him, but it was easy to forget when you were the only one around. "It's just…I've never met another faunus before."
"Really? Not even your mo-" The merchant caught himself, then hurriedly changed the topic. "Well, you're bound to meet some in Katai. There's a few shops run by faunus, and there's even some at the inn, too. Not to mention the children."
"Kids like me?"
"Yep! There's several families in town. Always a few at the orphanage, too. Madam Gael de Thom cares for all sorts of children in Katai. Most of them are from other villages that-"
"We'll be stopping soon," Father Bernard announced, coming up alongside the wagon. "Should only be a few miles to the rest area. As for you," Father Bernard focused on Adam, "I think it's time to get back to Eve."
"But we were-" Father Bernard furrowed his brow, cutting off Adam mid-sentence with a silent reminder to follow instructions. Instead, he carefully hopped into Eve's saddle when Father Bernard brough her alongside the wagon. "Thanks for the stories!"
"My pleasure, young man," the merchant responded, nodding to Adam as he and Father Bernard pulled ahead once more.
"When we stop, I want you to help gather some wood for a fire. Everyone chips in, especially those that sat in a wagon all day…"
They soon reached a large clearing that showed clear signs of use. A fire pit in the center still had a pile of ashes from the last visitors, surrounded by a pair of benches and some large stones that could serve as seats. Near the edge of the clearing, a stack of chopped wood stood ready for their use. Adam followed the merchant from before, the two carrying over enough wood for a large fire before returning for a second load.
"A lot of us stop here on the way to Katai," the merchant explained. "No one wants to chop wood after a long day of travel, so the last caravan refilled the stockpile before they left. We'll do the same in the morning so the next group has wood aplenty when they come through."
"That's awfully kind," Adam commented.
"It's business," the merchant replied. "If I leave the pile empty, the next caravan will do the same. Then, when I pass through with another load, it'll be empty for me. Our work in the morning is our payment for the convenience next time."
With help from Father Bernard, Adam selected an assortment of timber, stacking it carefully before adding some kindling they found at the edge of the woods. Once Father Bernard was satisfied, Adam pulled out his flint and steel to get to work. Instead, Father Bernard gently pushed him aside, accepting a small capsule from Mazarin. He carefully rolled some paper around it and tucked it into the middle of Adam's arrangement, waving Adam back before lighting the paper.
Adam jumped as a loud popping sounded before the pile burst into a roaring fire.
"Fire dust," Father Bernard explained. "A little goes a long way."
"Then why did I have to learn the hard way?" Adam asked indignantly. He'd fully expected to have to start a fire himself as Father Bernard had made him practice before the trip.
"You won't always have the quick method available," Father Bernard pointed out. "Traveling with merchants has benefits beyond protection, though."
It took only half an hour for everyone to finish their evening work, tying up the horses and securing the wagons. Soon, everyone gathered around the fire, enjoying a hearty stew another merchant had prepared. They all ate together, except Mazarin, who stayed on the outskirts watching the forest as the sun dipped below the horizon. Once the bowls were emptied and stomachs filled, the businessmen gathered off to the side to talk shop, leaving Father Bernard and Adam on the other side of the fire alone.
"You're riding Eve tomorrow," Father Bernard commented. "It was nice of him to let you ride in the wagon, but you need to get used to spending the day in a saddle."
"Yes, sir."
"Make sure you thank him for today. He didn't have to entertain you for the entire ride."
"Yes, sir."
"And make sure to stick your feet in the fire before bed."
"Ye- what?"
"Oh good! You are paying attention." Father Bernard turned to face Adam better, studying him for a moment before asking, "What's eating you, son?"
"Huh?"
"You've been distracted all evening," Father Bernard pointed out. "Couldn't get you to stop talking on the wagon, but as soon as we settle in here, you clam up. Are you that tired from sitting all day?"
"No. I'm fine." Adam's insistence failed to impress. "It's just…well, I've been wondering…" Father Bernard waited patiently as Adam sought for the words. "Why am I a faunus?"
Father Bernard clearly didn't expect that question. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, how am I the only faunus back home? I've read enough to know faunus are only born to other faunus." Adam reached a hand up to touch the horns on his head. "So…where did I come from? Was my mom a faunus?"
Father Bernard stopped for a second, carefully considering how to proceed. He rubbed his chin for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Your mother was a faunus, just like you, Adam."
"I knew it!" Adam excitedly exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "What happened to her? Why don't we have any pictures of her in the house?"
"Adam…sit down." The way he said that sucked the enthusiasm out of Adam in a flash. He quickly obeyed, waiting for more answers, even if a part of him suddenly didn't want to hear them. "I guess you're old enough to tell you." He paused for a moment, debating whether or not to continue. "I never knew your mother. She and her husband traveled to Katai to have you at the hospital there. Unfortunately, your mother died giving birth to you."
"She died…because of me?"
"No. It wasn't your fault," Father Bernard hastily assured him. "She had a heart problem, and it gave out after the delivery. The nurses said she got to hold you before…well, before it started. She was so proud. Her husband…he was a little less enthused."
"Didn't he want me?"
"You have to understand, Adam, not all faunus have obvious traits like your horns. Some are more subtle. Like your mother, for instance. Even the nurses had no idea she was a faunus at first. Apparently, she kept it hidden, even from her husband."
"Hidden?" Adam didn't understand. "Why? How?"
"She had patches of thicker, discolored skin," Father Bernard said, holding his hand against his stomach. "It was tough, like leather. A weird skin condition, she claimed. Turns out it was more than that. Of course, when they noticed the small horn buds on your head, it became pretty obvious. But he wouldn't hear it.
"He refused to believe his wife was a faunus," Father Bernard continued. "When they showed him your horns, he declared that you were a demon." Adam gasped at that detail. "It was probably just the grief at having lost his wife, Adam. They eventually calmed him down a little and released the two of you the next night. He seemed a little better when he left, but evidently not well enough.
"Three nights later, I woke up to the sound of someone hurriedly riding away from the house. I thought someone was stealing one of the horses, but nothing was there when I came outside. I checked the stable and nothing was missing, so I headed back to the house when I heard a strange sound. I heard you."
"Me?"
"There was a basket outside the church with a baby inside. If you hadn't cried out like that, I probably wouldn't have found you until the next morning. And with how cold that night was…" Father Bernard shuddered at the memory. "Anyways, he must've brought you to the church, hoping I'd find you and take you in. So I did."
"H-he…abandoned me?" The realization hit Adam hard. "B-but…he didn't even want me?"
Father Bernard pulled Adam closer, gently burying the boy's face in his jacket to catch the tears that had begun to fall. "People make terrible decisions, and that night, he made the worst one of all." Adam pulled back, wiping his eyes as he looked up at Father Bernard. "He gave up the most wonderful blessing anyone could ask for. You."
"What happened after that?"
"Well, I took you inside and warmed you up, then rushed you to Katai in the morning for a medical exam. I was worried because you were all red when I found you. The nurses there recognized you, but couldn't tell me much about your parents other than what they remembered."
"So…" Adam snorted before continuing. "You're not my real father, then." His head dipped as he realized what he was - an orphan.
Father Bernard's hand grasped Adam's shoulder, pushing him back to force him to look up at the man before him. "I'll have none of that now. That man wasn't your father. No father would abandon his son like that. A father cares for his son. Teaches him. Corrects him. Loves him." Father Bernard pulled him close once more. "We may not be related by blood, but you're my son. And no one's ever gonna take that away from me. Not even you."
Adam let himself be held there, desperately clinging on to the only man who had ever truly cared for him. His own father hadn't wanted him, but Father Bernard did. No. That man wasn't my father. This is my father.
After a few, long minutes, Adam felt Father Bernard lean back, marking the end of their solemn silence. Father Bernard had red streaks running down his face to match Adam's own. He did his best to smile at Adam. "No matter what happens, always know that I love you, son. From the moment I named you-"
"You named me?"
"Of course! How else did you think you got your name?" Father Bernard asked. "It's not like you chose it."
"I just assumed I came with a name tag or something, I guess."
"Nope! It was all me," Father Bernard proudly informed the boy. "You were all red when I found you, so I named you Adam."
"Good thing I hadn't turned purple. Can't imagine being called Violet."
"Hey!" Father Bernard protested. "Naming isn't easy, you know. I thought it was pretty clever."
"What about my last name? Is that my parents' name?" Given how on-the-nose it was for a bull faunus, Adam highly doubted it.
"Okay, I'm a little less proud of that one, admittedly. But it works!"
"You named me Red Bull!" Adam laughed. "You literally took one look at me and just described me!"
"If it's so easy, then you try!" Father Bernard said, challenging his son.
"Alright, Baldy McPastorson."
"I'm not bald!" Father Bernard insisted, though Adam didn't miss how he pulled up his hood to cover the small, missing patch on his head. Adam couldn't help laughing at his father's expense. "Keep it up, and when we get home you'll be Grounded McBorington."
"Oh yeah? Well-"
"Get to the wagons."
Both Adam and Father Bernard turned at the unexpected voice. "Wha-"
"The wagons. Now!" Mazarin ordered, her eyes fixed somewhere beyond the campsite. Adam stumbled as he tried to retreat, only to be swept up by Father Bernard and rushed away. The merchants, seeing the commotion, dropped everything and ran for the wagons.
Adam peeked over Father Bernard's shoulder, trying to understand what was happening. At first, he didn't see anything. Mazarin slowly retreated toward them, but never turned her back on the woods. Adam followed her gaze, straining to see through the darkness of the night.
The darkness looked back at him.
"Run!" Came the call from Mazarin as she narrowly dodged the creature that leapt from the woods. A creature Adam recognized all too well.
They reached the wagons as Mazarin danced around the new arrival, striving to keep herself between the Beowulf and the rest of the party. Her large blade sliced through the crisp night air, cutting through the monster's chest with ease. Adam cheered the victory, reassuring himself that they were safe with their escort.
His faith wavered as a howl in the distance was echoed by another.
"Everyone grab a weapon," Father Bernard instructed, rummaging through the nearest wagon before pulling out a large knife.
"That won't do much against a Grimm," one of the merchants complained.
"It's better than nothing," another countered, pulling a shovel from the side of the wagon. Another snatched the axe from beside the woodpile. The rest of the party armed themselves with whatever they could find. None of them could hope to take on a Beowulf, but the simple act of arming themselves and standing together bolstered their fleeting confidence.
Adam grabbed a small log from the firewood pile nearby, jumping when a set of hands grabbed him beneath his armpits.
"Not you, Adam." Father Bernard hoisted him into the nearest wagon. "Stay there and keep down until the coast is clear." Adam nodded in agreement, still clutching his makeshift weapon tightly. He wanted to help, but the thought of facing one of those creatures kept him rooted in the wagon.
Seeing a Grimm was awful. Waiting for them proved far worse. Mazarin stood ahead of the group, placing herself directly in front of the fire. While the flames illuminated the immediate area for her, they also served as a beacon for the Grimm, highlighting the lone warrior. The horses shuffled nervously nearby, sensing the agitation of the group. Adam's eyes darted amongst the trees, convinced that each one hid a Grimm. The periodic howl piercing the still, night air served as the only proof of the coming threat.
After what felt like an eternity, a pair of red eyes caught Adam's attention. He tried to call out a warning, but Father Bernard shushed him. Mazarin stepped to the side, drawing the attention of the beast as it stalked out of the treeline. A second followed.
The third wasn't as patient.
"Come at me, you mangy mutts!" Mazarin screamed as a smaller Beowulf leapt at her, only for her blade to sever its head clean off. The other two didn't even spare a glance for their fallen comrade, each circling their target in opposite directions. "Oh no you don't!"
Mazarin charged the one on her left before they could attack from both sides, forcing the Beowulf back through the sheer force of her attack. Her blade bit into the ground, but she reversed in a flash, sending a spray of rocks and dirt at her foe. Its defiant roar against the shower of debris was cut short as Mazarin's sword lodged itself deep in the monster's chest.
The third Grimm saw the irresistible opening and charged Mazarin from behind. Adam screamed as the beast swung for her unprotected back. Mazarin raised her free arm, shielding her face from the coming blow, but Adam doubted that would do much good against such a hit.
Adam's jaw dropped as Mazarin's arm halted the attack entirely. Rather than be torn from her shoulder, she caught the Grimm's strike and deflected it to the side without so much as a scratch. Tables turned, she wrenched her sword from the monster's counterpart and swung for its chest. The unforgiving metal bit into the Beowulf's arm instead, slicing a deep cut through the mass of muscle. The weakened limb shot forward for revenge, claws screaming against the flat of her blade as she used the broadside to shield herself.
The Grimm roared. Mazarin yelled back. Their voices fought for dominance in the night, but in the end, Mazarin's won out as she plunged her sword through the Beowulf's chest. The silvery metal erupted out of the beast's back, lingering there triumphantly before, with a violent twist and a tug, Mazarin ripped her blade free, leaving behind a cavernous hole in her dead foe.
"Yes!" Adam cheered excitedly as they all breathed a sigh of relief. The small crowd of adults in front of him finally relaxed a little now that the threat had been dispatched. Mazarin watched the forest cautiously for a minute, then, satisfied that the danger had passed, returned her sword to her back. Despite her apparent ease, Adam noticed she kept scanning the treeline periodically.
"Well fought, Maz, my dear!" The merchants hastened to celebrate their champion. Unsurprisingly, the lead merchant made sure to turn it in his favor as well. "See? I told you she was the best around! And you wanted to hire that young boy instead, just to save a little lien."
Realizing that defending his prior position would mean insulting the woman who had just saved them, the second merchant wisely chose not to rise to the bait. "Her work speaks for itself. Clearly we made the right decision. She's worth every lien."
"And probably a few more," Mazarin commented with a sly grin.
"Now, now. Our agreed upon price covered this possibility," the lead merchant countered. "But rest assured that I will let the others know how reliable an escort the great Mazarin of Mistral is!"
Mazarin shook her head in amusement, fully aware that she'd have more luck squeezing an extra lien out of a Beowulf than a merchant. While the merchants fawned over their hero - likely in an attempt to curry favor - Father Bernard came back to the wagon.
"It's over, Adam." Father Bernard helped Adam climb down from the wagon. "Now you see why we travel in groups like this?"
"Mmhm." Adam nodded quickly. "Does this happen often?"
"Not really," Father Bernard commented. "Most trips, we don't have any trouble. I've run into Grimm…maybe six times in all my travels? Seven, counting tonight. Even got robbed by bandits one time."
"Really?"
"Yep. There were too many, so we agreed not to fight back for half of-"
Father Bernard's story ended abruptly, silenced by a deep growl from nearby. Slowly, they turned to see a menacing face glaring back from beyond the woodpile. A single Beowulf, much larger than the others, crouched low, concealing itself in the dark until they made eye contact.
Adam screamed as the Beowulf charged suddenly, roaring in triumph as it bore down on the two. Father Bernard shouted for Adam to run, shoving the boy behind him as he raised his knife and stood his ground. Father Bernard shut his eyes as he braced for the inevitable, knowing full well that he would prove only an inconvenience to the monster but resolved to buy every second he could for his son. Adam tried to flee, but he couldn't tear his eyes from the scene.
Father Bernard thrust forward.
The Beowulf swung.
A scream echoed through the woods as Father Bernard fell.
But it wasn't the Grimm that hit him. Mazarin crashed into Father Bernard, throwing him aside as she took his place. The Grimm didn't seem to mind the change in target, striking Mazarin in the side and sending her tumbling after Father Bernard. She landed with a roll, regaining her feet as the Beowulf lunged in, jaws aimed for her throat. Instead, its cruel teeth clamped down on the arm Mazarin had instinctively raised, causing her gauntlet to crack ominously.
"Gah!" With her sword arm trapped in those massive jaws, there was little Mazarin could do except punch at the Beowulf's face with her free hand. The Beowulf grunted from the strike but refused to let go, biting down harder in an attempt to snap Mazarin's arm off entirely. She struggled to free herself, knowing that they'd all die if she couldn't. The Grimm seemed to smile back, unwilling to surrender its advantage as it eagerly awaited its eventual triumph.
Until a knife plunged into the monster's throat.
The Beowulf roared in anger at the new attack, backhanding Father Bernard away. The brief distraction allowed Mazarin to free her arm, swinging her blade with a renewed shout, striking the Beowulf's shoulder. The beast howled as metal tore through a gap in its bone armor. Rather than try to pull her blade back, Mazarin lowered her shoulder and charged, pushing her blade deeper and driving the Grimm backwards. A final shove sent the monster tripping over a bench, Mazarin ripping her blade free as it fell backwards.
Directly into the fire.
The air filled with the putrid scent of burning fur as the Beowulf thrashed around in the fire, scattering the logs in the process. Mazarin leapt over the toppled bench, swinging down on the fiery abomination. The hardened steel struck true, smashing into the creature's face with a resounding crack. The bone plating of the Beowulf's face splintered, but saved it from destruction. Skin still smoldering and grievously injured, the Grimm did something Adam had never heard of before.
It ran.
Pained howls echoed through the night as the massive monster tore through the forest, chased by the victorious cheers of the small camp. "Anyone else want a piece of me?!" Mazarin called defiantly to the woods. Adam hoped nothing would answer. When silence reclaimed the area at last, Mazarin let out a loud sigh and practically fell onto a nearby seat. "Good, 'cause I've had enough for today."
"Dad!" Adam ran to help Father Bernard off the ground. "Are you okay?"
"Never better," his father grunted, still a little shaky as Adam helped him limp over to the fire pit. They carefully stepped around the remains of their fire while one of the merchants hastened to set the bench back up for them. Father Bernard took a deep breath, wincing slightly as he sat down. "That thing hits like a truck."
"More like a train," Mazarin corrected, tossing her broken gauntlet on the ground before inspecting her arm. It was badly discolored already, but still in one piece. "Had plenty of preachers try and save my soul. You're the first to save my life."
"Can't convert the dead." Father Bernard's laughter quickly turned into coughing. Adam ran to grab his canteen and helped him take a drink. "I don't know what came over me."
"Well, whatever it was, I'm glad it did. I owe you one, Father." Mazarin cracked her neck before returning focus to her injured arm. "That's gonna smart in the morning."
"How'd you do that?"
"Do what?" Mazarin asked, confused by Adam's question.
"That…thing tried to chew your arm off." Adam could imagine those horrid jaws biting clean through a person without much effort. "It bit straight through your armor, but couldn't get through your skin?"
"That's the power of the Gods, Adam."
"The power of aura," Mazarin amended. "Nothing religious about what I do, Father."
"The Gods?"
"It's a gift from the God of Light," Father Bernard elaborated. "A blessing bestowed upon mankind to aid us against creatures like the Grimm."
"Wherever it's from, I've never been more grateful for it." Mazarin held out her arm - her uninjured one. "Let me show you. Go ahead. Hit my arm."
Adam hesitated, then came over and gently tapped the offered limb.
"Nah, I mean really hit it."
"I-I'm good," Adam responded. After the beating she'd just taken, he didn't want to risk causing her any pain. That, and he wasn't fond of the idea of incurring the scary woman's wrath. "Aura can do that?"
"That and more," Mazarin laughed. "Strength. Protection. Speed. I wouldn't dare face those things without it. Makes what your old man did earlier even braver. Gods or not, your old man's right about one thing. We wouldn't stand much of a chance against the Grimm without aura."
"Then why doesn't everyone have it?" Adam asked.
"They do…technically." One of the merchants joined the conversation while the others worked to restore the fire. 'We just don't all have it unlocked. Even then, you have to be trained how to use it. And that can take-"
"-a long time," Father Bernard interrupted. "We can go over all of it in one of your lessons, Adam. But right now," Father Bernard yawned, "I think we've had enough excitement for one night. Time for bed."
"But I'm not…" Adam couldn't stop the yawn that broke through, mentally cursing the power of suggestion, "tired."
Father Bernard laughed at his resistance. "Well I am."
"The hero needs his sleep," Mazarin added. She shushed Father Bernard before he could say anything. "None of that, now. Not many men have faced an Alpha without aura and lived to tell about it."
"An Alpha?"
"A bigger version of your garden variety Grimm," Mazarin quickly explained. "Don't see many of those around here. I'll see if someone can come look into that for you all."
"I appreciate that," Father Bernard responded, "but we really should try and settle down for the night. We're still hours from Katai and we'll need our energy in the morning."
Mazarin assured them they'd be safe tonight, saying the injured Grimm wouldn't be back anytime soon. Adam wanted to ask how she could be so sure, but Father Bernard shepherded him away. They unrolled their sleeping bags near the wagons, and it wasn't long until his father's faint snoring could be heard. Adam laid still, wishing he could succumb to sleep as quickly, but he couldn't help jumping at every sound. His mind summoned those glowing eyes every time he glanced at the trees.
It was going to be a long night.
Had to resist the urge to have another Grimm cliffhanger here and instead put the whole fight in this chapter. Didn't want to be too repetitive.
I'm sure some of you expected Father Bernard wouldn't survive the night here. I threw up so many death flags on the man and even had an Alpha Beowulf come after him. Gave him a heroic final stand and everything. Instead, our heroic preacher lives to fight another day.
Figured it was finally time to go into Adam's parentage. This was one of the earliest details I came up with. Imagine finding out that your wife passed away in childbirth and your son comes out with horns. Rough night. I like to think he abandoned Adam at a church just in case he actually was a demon. Better safe than sorry. Thankfully, Father Bernard steps up to be the dad Adam needed. Of course, I couldn't resist pointing out that Adam's name basically means Red Bull, especially after the mention of all his energy. It's the stupid things that amuse me.
There's a lot of little things being prepped in these early chapters. I'm really proud of one in particular, but I'll wait until it fully materializes to mention anything specific. Also, for those interested in names, Mazarin is a French word for a deep blue color. Coincidentally, it can also refer to a deep, metal dish. Didn't realize that until after I finished the chapter, but it works with her having a large sword that cuts deeply. If only I could be this detailed on purpose.
Next chapter: Time to check out Katai and put out a hit on that Alpha.