The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 6

The daylight was becoming more and more scarce. I wished I had a lamp for most of my work. The barn was not the best place for a candle flame, and Vam had a limited supply of lamp oil, which we kept in the house.
He started doing serious hunting late at night, and I kind of missed him during those times. His presence was reassuring. One night I was asleep when the door opened and closed. The footsteps did not sound like Vam's so I opened my eyes. A huge Lycant stood staring at me. He wore leather armor and battlescars as easily as he did the sword at his hip. He laid his ears back flat in anger and bared his teeth at me. "So Vam now keeps chattel in his den. He always was worthless."
I said nothing, but got up and retrieved a bowl for him and silently poured warm broth for him since it was cold outside. Keeping my neck respectfully bared I handed him the bowl. He took it and made a sour face after having a drink. He grumbled about how it tasted like rodent. Then he sniffed me like I was a warm loaf of bread. I decided it was time to speak.
"Vam didn't tell me to expect visitors, otherwise I would have prepared something better than rabbit broth for his honorable guest. My name is Joann and I would be happy to make your stay more comfortable. What would you like?"
He snarled at me, "I would like chattel to sleep in the barn, where they belong." It was freezing out there, but I did not hesitate to leave the den.
The barn was drafty and dark. I found my way to the large pile of straw and made myself the best burrow nest I could. It was itchy. And cold. Very cold. I don't think I had ever been so cold.

* * *
My nostrils were filled with the scent of the large boar I had found. I had rarely even seen one this size, let alone bagged one. I would be able to sell some for gifts. The rest would make a wonderful Midwinter Festival dinner. I wondered if Joann liked roast boar, or if she had a certain way she liked it prepared.
I set the boar down outside the barn. I would have to butcher it there where the large hoists were. My back muscles popped as I stood up straight and drew in a deep breath. Something was wrong. Joann was in the barn and someone was in the den. I hurried to the back of the barn.
She slept in the hay, shivering a lot. My heart broke to see my friend this way. Especially after all the work she had done today. I gently picked her up from the hay and headed to the den.
I picked up his scent of leather and treated metal. Oyarg, my cousin. He was always welcome in my home. It was where he had grown up after all. His father had gifted me the farm when Oyarg joined the battlepack. We rarely saw him.
I opened the door and stepped in, still holding Joann gently. Oyarg sat at my table, oiling his battle scythe. "You have a fine looking blade cousin. Is it made with Denari steel?"
Oyarg sniffed, " I do not share a room with Veneran chattel. Send her back to the barn."
"She is not chattel Oyarg. She is my friend. I will not have her sent to the barn where she will freeze to death." I set her next to the fire on the rug I had moved there for her.
Oyarg tilted his head in disbelief, "Friend? No, you have been fooled by her Veneran sorcery. Her kind and ours are ancient enemies and always will be." He glared at her, "And she is pregnant with more Venerans from the smell of things."
I decided to tell him. I never could keep secrets from him. Besides, it would come out eventually. "No, not Veneran. Lycant."
He was confused a moment and said, "Just because the sorcerer is born on this soil does not make it one of us."
I had to spell it out then. "No, Oyarg. She is pregnant with my cub." His eyes widened in shock, and I told him the tale of everything up until now.
He kept shaking his head and asking for clarification. At the end of it all he eyed her again, slightly differently. "You intend to let it live?"
"I am not worthy of raiding even, let alone being a warrior. It's always been known in the family, but never spoken. We all know it. I will never be allowed to court one of our kind. I live alone, with no hope of a glorious future, like you."
"You have shamed the family and plan to leave a stain on its name forever."
I looked at my cousin-brother, my oldest friend in this world and said, "I am already that stain. Let me have some joy in my battlesong." I recalled the feel of the little one, so vibrant.
That stopped him. He went back to oiling his battlescythe for a minute. "Fine. But I will not share the rug in front of the fire."
He was going to be okay with this. My cousin. My family. I smiled, "Want to see the boar I just bagged for Midwinter Festival?"
He nodded and stood. "But first get your Veneran off my rug."
The rug was large and took up most of the room. I picked her still shivering form up and laid her in my bed.