The Heir of Dominion: The overcomer

Heir of Dominion: Chapter 5 (Free Sample)

Chapter 5: Surprise

The next morning Virhos woke up, the sun was barely peeking out. The morning was quiet, just the rustle of a gentle breeze. Virhos went outside and found everyone gathered around a bonfire. He saw the pelts of five wolves outstretched on makeshift t-frames hanging where the fire wouldn't damage them but the smoke would be used in the preservation process. Hroth was consoling Ghiert as he threw the remains of a kid goat into the bonfire. Virhos walked up to the group when Eobar saw him. Eobar put on a smile and said, "Good morning Virhos. How are you feeling?" "Good morning Eobar, good morning all. I am faring better than I should." Ghiert walked toward Virhos, put his hand on his shoulder briefly in a greeting and said, "Good morning, glad to see you are getting better." He forced a smile through his grief and walked by. Fraehast soon followed and greeted Virhos with a hand on the shoulder as well and said "All is well. Ghiert lost a little one that strayed from the rest last night, but other than that all is well. He will be too," he said this light heartedly, smiled and winked before following Ghiert leaving Gahilda, Eobar, Hroth and Virhos by the fire. Virhos looked in the direction of the forest and began to think. "What say you, young man?" said Hroth. who seemed to be very intrigued by Virhos. Virhos paused for a moment, looked at the burning remains of the animals, looking at the skins hanging, looking at Eobar and Hroth, then back at the forest. "I do not know what to make of all I see," Virhos said. "Oh?" said Hroth "What do you mean?" "Why all the deception?" Virhos quickly replied. Caught off guard, there was no response at first, just a look of shock for a split second over the face of Gahilda, but Virhos noticed. Eobar and Hroth could refrain from making such faces. Eobar piped up, "Virhos, what do you mean?" "Whoever that is out there didn't show himself, did he? I see no signs of conflict on you or Hroth whatsoever." Hroth said, "No he did not." Then Virhos continued "look at me, I have grave wounds from the bite of one of these beasts, they are nearly my height but look at you! Not a scratch on any of you!" Eobar spoke up quickly, and slightly stammered "When I got to you there was three of them and one of you. There was three of us and five of them this time, and one was preoccupied with a kid." Almost ignoring Eobar, Virhos continued. "I slept the whole night. I didn't wake up once to whatever happened last night. I have only known animals to be quiet hunters. An owl makes no noise as it swoops for the prey, not even in flight." Hroth spoke up and calmly asked "What is it you are saying?" So, then Virhos spoke blatantly, his eyes flashing with a fire. "Why have you all been deceiving me? I do not know what to make of everything, but you are not who you seem. I have witnessed Eobar move in ways that I do not think a person can." Virhos' voice began to rise. "My father was half the age you are and had not the strength you have. I only sleep when Gahilda sings to me. She sings and my mind clears! It is like a misty fog leaves my mind and I am no longer troubled. I heard thunder before Hroth entered but there was no rain at all and it ceased as quickly as it came. Are you even people? What do you want with me? Why treat me with such kindness but try to deceive me?" Virhos shaking, was visibly afraid and upset. Gahilda looked at Eobar and Hroth, then went over to Virhos and knelt down by him. "We have no intention on deceiving you whatsoever. I think at this point it seems hiding our truths from you is doing more harm than good, but know that it was only because you were very distraught and we were only trying not to upset you any further. If nothing else, know that we care for you as if you were our own and that is the truth." Virhos looked into Gahilda's eyes and she looked back. Virhos could see the honesty in her eyes. Virhos took a deep breath and calmed down.

Eobar walked over and kneeled down by Virhos and said, "You are right Virhos, we are different from you, however we are a people too. Did your parents ever explain how things began?" Virhos shook his head no. "Did they ever talk of Solwae?" Virhos shook his head no again and asked "What is that?" Eobar for the first time, for a brief moment showed a flash of sorrow and sighed, only to quickly put a grin back on his face and said, "If you will allow me, I will show you something." Virhos nodded in agreement. Eobar went to his house for a moment and came back with some things. He again knelt by Virhos and showed him an old bronze sword. It was pitted, it was chipped and since Eobar had taught Virhos to read, he could see an inscription running down the middle of the fuller on one side it said, "I was made by Eobar," and on the other side it said "I belong to Torc Kunningir." "This sword I made for my closest friend." Eobar sighed and said "he taught me how to smith metal. He was the greatest man I have ever known and even inspired me to be who I am today." Eobar paused for a moment then continued "I made this for him over two hundred years ago and had it ready on the eve of the final night before he would give his life to save his people." Eobar put the sword back in its wrappings and put it back in his house came back and said "We have much to discuss Virhos, and I indeed want to talk these things with you. However, we have a more pressing matter at hand. We need to take care of our guest in the forest." Eobar looked at Hroth and said, "If Virhos could see what he saw concerning the wolves, then our friend in the forest can as well and more." Eobar responded, "Then we should start making plans - " Then Ghiert came running back quickly and said "I do not know when, I do not know how, but this haebeorg slaughtered all my flock, all of them and left their skins splayed out on the ground." Virhos could see that though Ghiert maintained complete control over his facilities, he was writhing mad and his hands shook when he spoke, his jaw stiffened and if it were possible, a fire was in his eyes. Then Virhos realized, "Not a sound was made." Ghiert asked, "What was that Virhos?" Then Virhos said a little louder, "The animals did not make a sound, and we did not hear a thing." Virhos said as he stared in the distance, deep in thought. Then He looked at Eobar and said "You didn't hear anything did you? Can you hear better than... " Then he paused for a second then continued, "... Better than people?" Then Eobar said rather quickly "This is a rather difficult question to answer, as I am, I do not think so. However how could I really know?" Then he turned his back to Virhos and but turned his head to Hroth and they conversed rather quietly.