Chapter Nine: Omina Okie Doke Ominea
Grenn had wrapped the remaining rabbit meat in leaves and stored them the previous night. Now he went and retrieved it from his pack and lightly placed the bundle directly into the coals of the fire. Soon the smell of meat filled the campsite. Grenn preferred them prepared this way. He had added a few herbs he had spotted nearby inside the wrap, and the smell that wafted from the fire was indeed pleasant. After a few minutes, he pulled out the meat and split up the rabbit into two large leaves. He pulled out a small roll of hard bread about the size of a baseball from his pack and ripped it into two pieces. Then he set one of the portions on the log beside Marc. He sat down cross-legged next to the tent and started to eat his breakfast.
At first, Marc just picked up the food. Grenn smiled stealthily as the boy struggled to take a bite of the bread. He watched without comment when he knocked the roll against the hard wood of the log issuing a hollow wooden thunk. It was clear this child had no experience outside the wall. Camp rations were a special existence for the hunters and soldiers who spent days without the soft comforts of a city. Soon enough, however, the boy came into his hunger and was gnawing on the bones and pulling off small pieces of bread to soften in his mouth. This mysterious boy at times displayed the maturity of an adult, but then the next moment would show the ignorance and naivety of a toddler. Not to mention the magic. This was the biggest surprise and point of great concern to Grenn.
It was common knowledge that children awakened to magic around thirteen. Then it would take a few more years to see if they could cultivate their abilities to manifest to the level of an external practitioner. Grenn had only known a handful of children able to display even one skill before fifteen and even then it was always a simple and unimpressive basic ability. But this mere child had used storage magic right in front of his eyes. Space magic was rare enough to begin with, but to be able to manipulate a storage skill took years of study and practice to accomplish. This child had effortlessly produced some strange-looking object, then just as quickly made it vanish.
Not only that, but his appearance itself was odd. He had all the Markers of a rich, spoiled noble child from a kingdom. His hands were smooth and unmarked by any labor. His teeth were flawless, surely a fair amount of gold had been spent to keep his appearance and health so pristine. Even nobility could have difficulty getting access to healers who could accomplish this. It raised the possibility of royalty, but there was no way such a child could have made his way all the way to the border of the Ged Mountains. News of a kidnapping would spread before anyone could get this far.
Appearance aside, the health of the boy was also a concern. After his short fight with the Vorpal Rabbits, the child was indeed gravely injured. A deep cut from the horn of one rabbit and heavy bruising on his side and back would have been lethal in just a few hours. The dislocated knee would also have taken days to heal, even for a healthy, well-fed youth. But hours later with only some basic first aid the boy seemed nearly fully healed. Even under the care of a competent healing mage, this would have been noteworthy. This “Marc” had some sort of powerful regeneration skill. Something that Grenn had never heard of in one so young. Maybe that person could do something like this, but that made it all the more disturbing.
Finally the second name. “Marc Churchill” the boy had clearly said. “Churchill”, a second name Grenn had never heard of and couldn’t begin to grasp at its meaning. It was like no noble family he had ever heard of and a child with the impudence to claim to have a second name to an adult was beyond foolishness or arrogance. It defied explanation. Grenn sighed. His regular weekly escape from the house to play hunter had well and truly backfired and now he was deep in a pit of unknown and foul-smelling dung. He was clearly out of his depth and he had to get help from somewhere. He was hesitant to even bring this to the Guild Head now. At least not without knowing what kind of mess he had wandered into. Grenn knew there was only one place he could go to for help this serious. Somewhere he was loath to go. He couldn’t see any other option but to take the boy to see The Witch.
“How are you feeling boy?” Grenn asked.
“Better, thank you.” Marc quickly responded.
Grenn was glad he had been able to confirm that small detail. His examination had not been that thorough, but the quick reply helped alleviate the remaining doubts he still held about the child’s gender. His diminutive form still had him doubting his earlier appraisal. Not that it was a big deal, but he worried what would happen if he showed up at the door of the Witch dragging a small girl-child. She might drown him before he had a chance to explain anything. Then again, she might do it anyway.
“Marc, was it? Would it be alright if I ask you a few questions?” Grenn again was staring straight through the boy’s eyes. Digging in deeply as though to burn out the truth with his gaze.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Marc swallowed audibly. “Umm, sure. Ok. If I can answer. But I don’t know what is going on.”
“Are you alone? Do you not have any guardians or escorts outside the wall?” Grenn asked calmly.
“No! I mean… I am alone. I don’t know how I got here. I just found myself wandering the hills here. Then I was attacked by those rabbits.” Marc stopped at the last word and then glanced suspiciously at the small pile of bones next to him.
“You have no idea how you got here?” Marc lowered his head, slowly shaking it from side to side.
“Where were you before? Where is your family, your people?” Marc remained silent. He had no idea what to say, what he should say, what a believable lie would even be.
“Fine.” Grenn blew out a slow breath. “Just tell me what you can, when you can. For now, what do you want to do?”, the boy’s eyes shot open in panic. He quickly followed up. “Of course, I’m not going to just leave you here. I can’t leave a child alone outside the wall. If anyone ever found out I did something like that, I’d be run out of town.” The quizzical and offended look he received from that almost offended Grenn. “But if I take you back to the city like this, there will be questions. A lot of questions.” He emphasized the last part.
“I have a friend who lives outside the wall. She lives in a cabin by the base of the mountain.“ He paused, then added “It’s a safe place. She has it well protected from the beasts.”
The boy looked with skepticism showing on his brow. “It’s only about a half day’s walk from here. You can rest there for a while and we can get a hot meal.”
“I can rest there? Where will you be?” there was concern again in the boy’s voice. Damn, this child was quick and caught the nuance of his careless words.
“Look, I have to go back to the city and try to work things out so we can get you inside. I have some pull, so if I talk to my contacts I think I can get you in without an <#########>. Don’t worry. I won’t let any harm come to you.” He tried to make his voice as reassuring as possible. As if things could possibly be that easy. After a long pause, the boy nodded his head slowly.
“Ok. Thanks again and sorry for all the trouble.” Marc said, frowning.
Trying to lighten things up a bit Grenn jumped up with a big grin.
“Great! Let’s tidy this all up and get going.” And just like that, in a few minutes, all traces of the camp had disappeared. Marc stood by the buried firepit hand stuck into the pockets of his tattered hoodie. Grenn looked down at the strange white sandals the boy was wearing dubiously. Well in the worst case, he could just throw the boy over his shoulder and run. He weighed practically nothing. Then he handed the long black metal tube he had found to the boy. “Here. I think this is yours” He said, searching Marc’s reaction.”
The boy stared at the object. Several emotions seem to race across his face. Then he slowly, tentatively reached out and took the tube from Grenn’s outstretched hand.
“Thanks.” He said quietly.
“Go ahead and put it in your storage. You won’t need it for now and the weight will slow you down.” Grenn tested his response. Again the boy froze and even looked like he was going to make a run for it for a second. Then with a defeated look he slowly nodded. Glancing at his hand, Marc willed the flashlight into his inventory and it vanished into thin air. Grenn let out a low whistle.
“A shock to see that. A storage skill. I hardly ever see one. You are a pretty talented kid.” Again Grenn received a tight-lipped look of indignation in response. “Don’t worry, I don’t have any interest in your secrets.” He fibbed.
“You know, I may be young but I’m not a kid. I’m 19. You don’t have to treat me like a child.” Marc had been brisling at the condescending way Grenn kept referring to him as a kid or child. He was grateful to the man, but he wasn’t a helpless baby… was he?
“What? 19?! If you are going to lie, make it at least believable. If you are 19, I’m 25 and in my prime.” Grenn plastered a good-natured grin on his face. Then he checked the surroundings as he prepared to break camp. Using his detection to make sure nothing was nearby planning any surprises, he shouldered his gear and motioned for the boy to get ready to go.
“Seriously, I’m 19!” Marc protested. Then he stared defiantly at a large man, working on a strategy. “I am 19 and you are 48 years old!” Then he added, “Livgrenn Redshield.” Grenn froze in his tracks.
“How do you know that name? Do you know who I am? Is this some kind of trick?” The big man turned around with a menace in his face. Marc backed away hands raised.
“It’s a secret.” He said quietly. “But if that all is true, then you can trust me about my age. I’m not stupid and I’m not a child. I just don’t know anything about where we are.” Marc said adding a defiant strength to his stature. Grenn stared at the boy, then sighed and turned back.
“Fine, young master” sarcasm dripping off the words. Exiting the clearing and heading off towards the mountain range Grenn set a leisurely pace and started down the path along the forest edge. He checked to see if the “young man” could keep up and it seemed like he was doing ok. It was truly miraculous that he had been able to heal up in just a single night. Miraculous and suspicious.
Grenn reached into one of the pouches at his waist and pulled out the small blueish metallic amulet, keeping it hidden from his body from Marc. He gripped it tightly and concentrated as a faint reddish glow leaked out between his fingers. After a moment he placed the object back in the pocket and turned his head to call back over his shoulder.
“It’s a short walk to where we are going. Are you sure you are all right? How is your leg?” He called back.
“Fine. I’m fine” came the curt response, then in a softer tone, “It’s almost back to normal. I can walk for a while. Just not so fast ok?”
“Alright then.” Grenn set off at a slow hiking pace while Marc followed along clumsily.
“I said not so fast…” Marc mumbled to himself.