The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 16

Lord Eureces
I was glad to have the time to walk through camp to consider this a bit. The woman was Veneran. She claimed the baby Lycant was hers. Her husband was not like those we had seen in battle. He was smaller, and did not wear armor.
Precious little was known about Lycants. They were considered monsters, as they stood 9-10 feet tall, had wolfish faces, furry bodies, and were vicious. But that this woman was with one proved there was more to them than that. And did she say the baby had an untamed element named Oarhu? That name sounded familiar somehow.
But babies did not have elements. I glanced over at the little one. He was curiously watching everything we passed. The flames, the soldiers, tents, blades. Then he smiled at the woman and said, "Omma."
"Yes Oshie, it's pretty isn't it?"
I had never heard of a battle camp referred to as pretty. How long had it been since she had been on Veneran soil? What horrors had she experienced and survived through to be able to come back to her shores? She must be a formidable woman with a mighty element of her own. My command tent was fairly simple with a table, some maps, and a cot. The Lycant was put on the floor and the soldiers glanced nervously from him to me. "You have latrines awaiting you." They left and my normal guard seemed on high alert outside my tent. As if I couldn't handle one Lycant.
I notified them, "We have honored guests. Notify the healers to bring a tub. Also get some clean rags for a child, and a warm meal." The runners were gone before I closed the tent flap.
The woman was grateful, "Thank you. I had to sell everything when we left. Even most of his nappies. The journey has not been entirely fun."
"I can imagine you have the story of a lifetime. I am Lord Eureces of Lupica. Who are you?"
Her eyes widened in shock and she fell to her knees, "I am one of your humble subjects, my Lord. I'm Joann, of the plantation Eyers."
"Eyers." I thought back, "It's been about a year and a half since Eyers was raided."
She paled, "Do you know if my father lives yet? The raiders were out to prove themselves for the warrior caste."
So that was why some raided. "I know there were survivors of Eyers. Plenty of them. Apparently one more than we had thought. I can't recall specific names. So much has happened since then. I am sure you have heard much about the war over there?"
She grimaced. "Only small bits. We are mere farmers and not deemed worthy of battle glory. But Vam's cousin has been very excited about possibly having his battlepack in the queue. My husband and I recently met with Ambassador Dura, but he didn't say anything about the war."
I couldn't withhold my excitement, "Dura!? What happened?"
The woman looked upset as she said, "Oshie's element makes him nervous. He basically told us to kill our son, or leave the country until he had it under control."
"That seems rather brutal."
"Oarhu killed just over 10,000 angry priests that tried to attack me when I was pregnant with Oshie. That was with one swipe of his tentacle. Just boom! Crush! Splat!"
Tentacle. One tentacle. "Who is Oarhu again? The name sounds familiar, but I just can't place it."
She raised her head and met my eyes, "Oarhu, my sons element, who has been watching him since before he was born, is a giant kraken. An ancient, very powerful, ocean spirit." She frowned, "There are many untamed elements there. He plays with them like toys. He must learn to control his powers."
I knew now. Oarhu was a great spirit. There weren't many of those anywhere. I had one that had been passed down through the generations. This lady must have a formidable element herself. "Who is your fury?" Perhaps she had a bear, or horse.
Just then the tub and healers came in. They froze when they saw the Lycant. One formidable matron eyed me, the Lord of Lupica, and said, "Do it yourself Eureces. I did not sign up to heal them." Then she walked out.
But apparently the baby knew what a tub was for. A tip of a large tentacle touched the cubs father, and healed him. Then the water receded back into the tub.
"Ay!" the baby bounced and shouted as his father came to.
The Lycant grumbled and rubbed his neck. Joann grumbled a reply. He looked up, eyed his surroundings. If he were going to try anything it would happen now. I held my element in check.
He reached out a large hand and said, "I am Vam, of the -the red moon green scythes clan." His words were not perfect, but I could tell it was the best he could do.
I shook his hand. He could have crushed my hand or ripped me open, but he did neither, showing his throat out of reflex. Then he went to his son and rumbled a greeting. He checked him over for anything.
Joann shook her head, "I'm sorry, you asked who my element was." A butterfly flew out of the tub. "This is Isa."
"A butterfly. And your baby has a kraken?"
Vam puffed out his chest with pride, "He has already slain 10,000 of those vile priests."
"You don't like your priests?" This was interesting.
He snuffed agreement, "They are not to be trusted. They are not-" he grumbled in frustration, searching for the Veneran words. "Honor. They are not honor. They do not fight with tooth and claw."
Joann said, "They are known for cursing bloodlines that do not do as they are told. Not all they do is bad, but they aren't exactly known for being upfront about methods or reasons for them. Many people give Oshie admirable looks. Mothers who lost 3 litters to blight, or fishermen who have caught nothing in 3 seasons."
"It sounds like a very different place." A crazy place.
"Not always so different. There are friends and families. Markets and holidays."
That reminded me. "What happens to the women who are taken by raiders?"
Joann looked very uncomfortable at the question. Her husband said, "Bad things, wherever they go. Priests use parts for ceremony. Wealthy serve them as food. It is wrong. Meeting Joann has changed many of my friends views."
"Why do you not have any hair Joann?" I asked, feeling sick to my stomach.
"I had to sell it to the tailor to afford passage on the ship. Truthfully, he is a friend and paid far more than it is worth as a kindness to our family."
I tried to imagine selling hair to escape a country where I would be forced to kill my child if I stayed. But, "What do you plan on doing now that you are here?"
"Going home. Leading a simple life," she answered.
Vam said, "I am a good farmer. I can till ground, plant gerg-"
Her son had a great elemental spirit. Their lives would never be simple again. "My concerns are simple. First, you don't look like an Veneran. Secondly, Oarhu. Your average Veneran has never come close to controlling anything even remotely so large. I would say only the actual lords and ladies of Venera even come close, and they-we- all spent years at school in the capital learning technique and then years of life experience before even being trusted with the family element. It is usually a deathbed inheritance, only passed on to the most responsible and ready." He was not understanding. Maybe I was talking too fast. Maybe he just didn't have the vocabulary yet. Short explanation, "People at a plantation will not be able to help your son. To help him he has to be educated with the children of the lords and ladies of Venera."