The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 19

Kane
The world had gone even more insane than usual. My daughter was back from the dead. She was here, in my camp. I was in charge of an elite group who went after raiders. And now she was married to the monster who took her. And they had a son. My grandson was Lycant.
I had lost count a long time ago of how many lycants I had killed. I hadn't always taken an ear, and even then some had come off the string. They had never been anything but monsters who had killed my only family.
It had been Joann and I for years. She kept me going after the blight had taken Iris and Alex. We struggled, but did so together. She would make me smile on even the darkest days.
When I found she was gone and there had been lycant raiders I went looking for her. I killed my first raider that evening. He had another girl from a nearby plantation. I never caught up to Joann. She was gone. I hoped she had gone to the camps to be with Eric, and had not been taken. She was nowhere to be found though. I fell into despair and started home. Then I heard about some raiders going after a nearby plantation. I didn't want that to happen to any father or family ever again. I found dead people. Then I found a lycant, and killed it. Then another. And another. And that had been the last year and a half. I was the monster hunter.
I walked steadily through the camp. Smoke from fires scented the air. I could hear people in the background. Soldiers sharpened blades, oiled leather. Some were eating. Then I heard a crowd of women.
"Oh Lord! How sweet! Mag, have you ever seen such gorgeous eyes?"
"Sweetest thing ever."
I heard splashing sounds and looked over. A large bucket had him in it. He was splashing happily for two washer women. His fur was like his fathers, but there were hints here and there of Iris' brown locks. He was laughing a baby laugh. It was contagious, and I smiled.
When was the last time I had smiled? The morning before she was taken. He might be part lycant, but he was part elemental too. Even the washerwomen could see that.
I continued my walk to the river. The water flowed past. I pulled the string of ears off and threw it as hard as I could into the middle of the current. Then I headed for the baths. I had my clothes cleaned, hair trimmed, a shave, and a hot bath.
The woman who ran the baths teased, "And who is it you are seeing today Kane?"
"My grandson."
Her eyebrows went up, "Well then, that is special."
Joann had no hair, but she seemed well. Could she actually love that lycant as much as I did Iris? Or as much as Iris loved me? I wasn't much more than a beastly, stupid, young man when Iris turned my head. Could Joann have had that effect on a lycant?
A lycant son in law. It left an awful taste in my mouth. He hadn't killed me though. I had done everything to provoke him to attack me in that tent, even stabbed him. He had been nothing but respectful. If he were Veneran he would be a keeper.
That was the biggest fly in the ink. He was not Veneran. That would take some getting used to. A lot of getting used to. If I ever could get used to it.
"Hey Captain, how many of those mutts did you get last night?"
It was a young man from my team, Markus. He was very anxious to prove himself. If he continued at his normal pace he could lead, given a handful of years. If he survived. He tended to take unnecessary risks. "Two raiders last night, Markus."
"Hey, did you hear that high command had one prisoner? Why would they want to keep one?"
Rumors spread fast here. I would have to quell them soon. "Actually, about that subject, could you gather our men at our usual space? I will be there in an hours time, maybe a bit longer. I need to speak to Lord Eureces first."
He nodded then smiled slyly, "You are all cleaned up. Meet a lady in camp?"
I thought of Joann, "Of sorts."
Markus smiled and left to gather men under my command. This meeting would be interesting. Should I continue to lead them? How could I when my grandchild was lycant? Would I have to? If given the choice to leave, who would be best to take over my command? What would I do if I were to leave?
I found myself before Lord Eureces tent. The guards barred me. "I'm here to see my daughter."
"Lord Eureces wants to see you at maps."
Maps. Crap. Those meetings could take hours. "Let my daughter know I will return."
I turned and headed for the driest tent in camp. It contained detailed maps of Venera, and sand boards, and colorful pebbles to represent men who would be slaughtered. It usually held commanders with standing room only. When I entered it was just Lord Eureces.
He saw me and nodded his approval. "Captain Ristora you have been placed in a very delicate position. You are one of our fiercest veterans of this war. You have single handedly slain hundreds of lycants. No one could doubt your integrity. However, you are going to come under question because of how your daughter returned.
"I'm sure you can understand that I can't have a man leading your team that any of those men may doubt."
He was going to dismiss me. Shit. I set my upper lip and nodded. "Yes, Sir."
"There is a second you prefer?"
"Harris. He is level headed and effective."
Lord Eureces nodded, "Good. He will take over your duties as Captain today."
I did not want it to, but my head dropped an inch or two.
"Captain, the Host is not done with you. Not by a long shot. We need you for a special mission. Your grandson is unique to the world. He is not only Veneran and Lyngaran, but he is an extremely powerful caster. He may even be more powerful than I am, but he needs to be properly educated. Your daughter, and son in law have already agreed to serve in a certain capacity to Venera in exchange for Oceanus to attend the academy."
The academy. More powerful than Lord Eureces. These words echoed in my mind.
Lord Eureces continued on, "Oceanus will need to be taught how to be a caster, and a Veneran. Those are things his father can't teach him. He will also need to be kept safe from those in our society who will not be understanding of his parentage. I am assigning you to be his personal Sentry for now. I want you to escort them to Centris." He held out a sealed scroll, "This will get you into my residence on the upper terrace. You and your family may stay there for the first semester, until you find a place of your own." He handed me another sealed letter, "This is for the headmaster of the academy."
I was confused, "Most children don't start at the academy until they are like 11 years of age. Isn't that right sir?" What would I do with a powerful baby caster for 10 years?
He nodded, "For some classes, at first anyway, he will have tutors. However, some classes must be taken in groups. I will expect weekly updates on his progress.
"Also there may be times that I require both of his parents for their part in all of this. They will be flown where they are needed, but the child will stay in the capital with you."
This was odd. "Is he a prisoner?"
Lord Eureces contemplated that a moment. "Not precisely. However, Venera will need him on her side in the future. If something happens and his parents want to leave they won't leave without him. Also he will be less likely to be hurt or killed far away from the battlelines."
"I see. So my goal is to keep him safe, teach him about Venera, and to keep you apprised of the things he is learning?" I was to spy on my own grandson. That did not seem right, and couldn't last for long. I would seek metal working employment in the capital.
"It sounds like you understand." He considered me a moment, "I want to make certain you know that I don't want you to harm your family in any way, just help your country. Also know that if it isn't you doing this then there will be someone else."
Lord Eureces considered the sand table for a bit. "Gather your troops, let them know you are being sent elsewhere. Announce Harris as your successor. I will not be able to get a transport for you to the capital from here. Maybe from Bacille, but here it can't happen right now. I want you on your way today."
I nodded, "Yes, Sir."
"You may go."
I nodded and went to where my team would be gathered, by an oak tree on a knoll. Almost everyone was there. They were good men. They watched me curiously, but said nothing. I stood on the knoll waiting for the last three to arrive. When they did I said, "I have some announcements to make. I am sure you have all heard rumors about a Lycant being captured and held in a high commander's tent. That is partly true, however, he was not so much captured as he came in peace. He is a farmer, not a raider, not a warrior. In fact he didn't come alone."
I watched them. Some were puzzled, but most waited to find out the details. So I continued, "You all know how I got into this, how my daughter was taken. Well, she has been returned to me. This lycant farmer and my daughter have actually started a family." The looks that passed between the men would have been hilarious if this wasn't pertaining to my daughter. "Turns out the baby is already showing signs of being a caster, and he needs me. All of us had someone guide us through those childhood years of casting, and I will be getting to do this in my new post, Centris. Yes, I have a new post, and that means you have a new Captain. You are going to be under Captain Harris. I know he will do right by you men, and make wise decisions concerning who will be designated to certain functions. Congratulations Captain Harris."
He was shocked, as I stepped to the side of the top of the knoll. He stood at the top and looked out over the men. His men. "This is a huge honor. I hope to do as well as you have. I think I speak for all of us when I say congratulations on the safe return of your daughter, and becoming a grandfather. Also, if anyone were to suddenly find themselves with a lycant son in law I don't think anyone would be more prepared to handle it than you."
I chuckled, "I already stabbed him once. He took it pretty well. Who knows? Maybe all these lycant dogs need is a Veneran woman to whip them into line."
They all laughed.
"Do you know what your new post is?"
"Not entirely sure about the unit number and all that. I think I will find out when I get there. If any of you find yourselves in Centris please look me up and stop on by. My family and I will shortly be departing camp. I have to go gather them and some provisions for our journey. Stay safe. Walk downwind. Be silent." The last three was our groups mantra. When those rules were not followed men always died.
All the men saluted me as I left the knoll. I headed to my tent and took it down. It didn't take long. I rolled up my bedding, and soon had all my effects and belongings in the world in a rucksack. I had carried this sack all over the Southern coast in fights against lycants. Now I would be taking it to the center of the nation. There I would have a home once again.
I returned to Lord Eureces tent and opened it to find all three of them sound asleep on the floor together. It was rather touching. I knew Joann was exhausted from healing Vam, and Vam would be exhausted from being healed and loss of blood. I set my sack down and went for a few days worth of provisions.
When I returned the baby woke up. He blinked sleepily at me. His eyes were the same color as mine. He sat up. He was wobbly, and unsteady. I reached out and picked him up. He was wet. "Let's see if Grandpa can't figure out how a nappy works," I whispered.
He was hairy, like a lycant, but still very much a baby. "So, we are going to the capital. I have never been there, but I have heard a lot. You are going to get to meet new people and learn things even I don't know." I clumsily refolded a new nappy onto him.