The Heir of Dominion: The overcomer

Heir of Dominion: Chapter 3 (Free Sample)

Chapter 3: Salvage

Virhos had a moment where he consciously came to, but could not open his eyes or move on his own. His could not hear in what seemed like a lifetime, and would fade in and out of dreaming and awake. He seemed to be in a dark bubble he could not break free from. He would have moments when he was back home and carrying on life as it was, only to remember the horrors that had taken place. He would cry out "Help! Get me out of here! Am I dead?! What is this place?!" He would wake routinely in the darkness. Then suddenly it was different. Something calming, rising him from his darkness. What was it? He could hear the soothing hum of a woman echoing from the dark. He could feel something warm run from his shoulder down his arm. Someone was washing him. He calmed. Questions were being answered. He knew he wasn't dead, and he knew he was being cared for. Sudden relief from the anxiety made him rest easier and he drifted back to sleep. He dreamed he was at the edge of the woods by the prairie close to his old home and he could see Hida gathering from the ground. This time he had complete lucidity. He knelt down beside her. "What I would give to hug you again Hida." "I know, big brother." She responded back so calmly. "When you were born, I didn't know how we were going to live, but I was so happy you were here. I would help Mother to eat more and hold you as much as I could. You were my little joy in our sad lives. We always had to watch out in fear and we could barely survive, but those moments of happiness you brought the family made it all worth it. As you grew, my hope grew too. If our mother and father could have you, maybe there could be more people. Maybe we could be happy and not live in fear." Hida grabbed his wrist and said, "That is what you need to hang on to big brother; hope for people. Take all of this, the memories, the love, the pain, the fear, the struggles and use it to keep going. You do not need to worry about us anymore. Adlefir has us now and we do not need to fear. But I know he has chosen you and will use you to free the people all over. This time we part dear brother, but do not be sad. Adlefir has placed you in a new family and you must accept them. They will teach you much and they will show you the way." Hida wrapped herself tightly around Virhos and said, "I love you brother, with everything I am, but I am going back to the house of Adlefir where I will be complete. When I see you again you will arrive in his halls and I will welcome you with open arms and an open heart. Until then, live and grow Virhos. As you live, people will have hope!"

"Shhhh. Shhhh," Virhos could hear that same gentle voice trying to calm him. Virhos woke himself up weeping bitterly. With everything that had happened to him, the sorrow that he had to suppress in the moment finally erupted out of his broken heart. He was, after all, just a boy. "Eobar dear, could you come here please?" The gentle voice called out as she tried to hold Virhos. Virhos cried out more than his lungs could hold. Eobar came into the room and found him curled up, mouth agape but no sound, tears streaming and his body nearly convulsing with each silent cry only interrupted by loud gasps of air and one loud bitter wail. "Virhos lad," Eobar said in a gentle and broken tone, fighting back tears himself. He sat down and took Virhos and sat him up. "You are going to be just fine young man. I have lived a long time, and never have I seen such a strong will as you have. I have known many who have lost much, but never have I seen them so determined to fight like you Virhos. I was truly surprised to see you travel as you did after surviving an encounter with those monsters. I thought you were going to make a full recovery, and indeed you might have. If those wolves hadn't got to you. Forgive me Virhos, I could not reach you in time before even more harm befell you. I was worried that you might have been beyond Gahilda's ability to mend, but you pulled through, yet again. You are so strong Virhos. So strong and brave. We know the pain of loss as you feel now, and although I cannot promise you that you will never not miss them, I can promise with each day that passes that you can learn to overcome your grief. We are here for you, too." This calm voice and reassuring voice of Eobar helped Virhos to step back from the ledge of the grief that leads to the loss of sanity. Virhos wept until he had nothing left in him. Gahilda went over to a pitcher and put a rag in and wrung it out into an empty pot, then soaked it in another pitcher and squeezed. She came back to Virhos' side and Eobar leaned Virhos over to her to take care for. The rag smelled of lavender and other scents that Virhos was not familiar with. She began to hum another soft tune and clean his face. At this point he was a little more in control of himself and was trying to calm down. The warm rag and sweet smells helped him and when her tune was finished, she began to talk to Virhos. "Hello sweet boy, I am Gahilda. It has been two days since Eobar brought you here. You know, since he has brought you, he has been checking on you often. He has told us of your little journey together and how brave you have been. In all the years that we have been together I have never seen him like this. You have left a big impression on Eobar, and I am certain if we lost you, he would have mourned as if you were one of our own sons." She was rocking him as he sat beside her and checking on all his wounds from the haebeorg and the wolves. She was talking to him both to calm and distract. "Did I tell you of my sons?" She asked. "No," Virhos replied. "Soon enough I will introduce them to you. My eldest son is Ghiert, quiet and gentle. His younger brother is Fraehast, the taller of the two. I am sure Fraehast will befriend you immediately, for he never meets a stranger." She said this as she laughed a little. She stood up and went over to her flat stone range where she had a big, shiny reddish brown pot cooking something. She took a small bowl and poured some into it, then she took out of a hearth next to it a little round brown thing. She came over and laid those next to where Virhos was sitting. She then went back to the area where she was cooking and took another bowl and filled it with water from a pitcher and brought it over to him. "This is bone broth made from auroch. It will help you get your strength back. Here is a loaf of bread. You can break it and eat it or dip it in the broth and eat it. You especially need the broth dear boy," Gahilda said. "What did you call this?" as he picked up the bread loaf. "Have you not seen this before," she asked him. "No, and I do not know what an auroch is either." Tears welled up in his eyes but he was able to keep himself calm "Mother always told us that if we do not know what something is, we do not eat it. Since meeting Eobar, there are many strange things I have not seen before. May I ask something of you, please?" She knelt down beside him, "Of course sweet boy, what is it?" "Would you please take some of this for me," and he handed her the broth. "Of course, my dear," she said gently. She pinched off a piece of his little loaf and dipped it in the broth and ate the bread. Then, she smiled, touched his shoulder and stood up. "Thank you." Virhos said. "Aurochs are four legged beasts with horns on the sides of their heads and a snout. They have a black coat, hooves, and a tail. When you are well enough, I am sure the men will take you hunting with them." She went back to the pot, got herself a bowl and a small loaf from the hearth and sat down beside Virhos. "Is it alright if I sit with you, dear," she asked. "Yes please," he responded. She seemed very happy to sit beside him and eat with him. After they were done, Virhos let out a sigh of relief and paused for a moment. Then Virhos looked at Gahilda and there she was smiling at him. She had long, wavy dark hair. She was tall and slender with a dress made from a material of brown and black color Virhos had not seen before, but he was starting to get used to seeing things he had not seen before. "I am so happy to see you recovering," she said. "I am certain you must have many questions and I would love to answer them all right now, but most things it would be best to show you. Right now we need you to rest. We have to build your strength up and then we will answer all your questions."