The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 22

Joann
I watched Vam, dirty, and tired, pick up Oshie. He tilted his head and said, "Why don't we get started on our story tonight?"
I smiled, and said in Veneran, "Story time."
The girl, Ana, perked up. "Can I hear too?"
I nodded. "I will interpret." The girl scooched closer to me on the bench. Alden remained aloof a couple seats down, too big for storytime, but obviously listening. Franny had sat far away from us in protest.
Vam started off, and I translated for the two children before me. "This is a good story. A true story. The story of the clan. It all started long, long ago in the days of the first clan wars. Clans would fight each other over a misdirected sneeze that would offend the member of another clan. It seemed clans would nearly die out there were so many feuds. At that time even the children of warriors were trained in fierce battle technique. They went to schools with other children of clans they were allied with to use rods, knives, and sometimes even the saccharin, which is the traditional sword of our people, which is curved."
Ana's eyes were wide, "And children used them?"
"The ones that were good enough, who earned it. There was one child who surpassed everyone's expectations, a small girl, about your age Ana. She was fierce, and dedicated to her studies. Her name was Gyla, and though she was only half the size of her oldest brother, who was entering a battlepack, she could beat him every time."
"Wow!"
"Now, where warriors sent their children to learn battle, the children of farmers worked in the fields. They chopped weeds, milked goats, and canned food. You know the work, you do this work.
"One such family had a boy named Asha. Asha was the same age as Gyla, but had never met her. He dreamt of being a warrior, but had no weapons to train with. So as he cleared the weeds he pretended they were his enemy. His hoe was his rod, and his scythe was his blade. His family thought him very foolish and would tease that no weed stood a chance against the fierce Asha. It is very hard to become a warrior from a farmer. It is harder when no one believes in you. But he was relentless.
"One day his father took him and his brother on a journey to trade in the distant city of what is now called Gynta, but in those days it was called Nyjon. It was thought they could get a better price for some of their goods. Along the way they had to pay small tributes to other clans to peacefully pass through their lands. The journey was dangerous.
Just outside of Nyjon the boys grew very excited. A large battlepack of the Bloody Moon clan marched past in full gear, having just battled the Green River clan. The boys had never seen anything so amazing. Each warrior was very strong, and tall, and carrying a shiny saccharin, and clan pride and honor. It seemed the battlepack could triumph over any foe."
Now it was Alden asking, "Did they win the battle?"
Vam perked his ears up in joy, "Listen and find out."
Alden scooched closer. Even Franny seemed interested. "Now, on the way to the market they saw many things. One of these things was the dream of young Asha, a school for warriors in training. He watched wide eyed from the cart as rods and staffs and sachharins flew through the air in practice. His heart ached in longing for what he could never have.
"They went to the market, and started to sell their wares. So well did they do that their father gave each boy, who had worked very hard, a few coppers each. Asha's brother quickly found a small trinket, a-" I tried to find the word for this version of a battle drum, "a toy drum. He wanted to gift it to Asha for Midwinters. Parna was a very sweet, kindhearted boy. He was generous, and often thought of others. He knew his brother wanted to be a warrior, and thought maybe the drum would make him happy.
"Asha, however, went through the entire market with his three coppers swiftly. There was nothing that interested him. His feet seemed to pull him away from the market, and straight to the warrior training school. At first he sat across the way from the school, and just listened to the commands of the instructor and wood against wood.
"But it wasn't long before he had to get closer. He wanted to smell the oils and dust and fine armor. He could see through a slit in the fence what the children were doing. He tried to do what they were, but felt clumsy after seeing their discipline and even rows. Still, he tried.
"He never heard the warrior behind him, and was shocked when a large, grey hand gripped his. He looked up, and up, into the eyes of a well known warrior at the time. The warrior seemed amused, and asked who he was fighting.
"Destiny. I want to be like you, but my family are farmers."
The warrior chuckled, "Come in. You may visit today young master of the scythe."
"Asha yipped with joy and walked through the gates."
"Then what happened?" Ana asked.
Vam smiled gently, "Then the baby finally fell asleep, letting the rest of us sleep. We will continue this story tomorrow."
Late that night I felt Vam get up from where we slept. I knew he was going to continue working somewhere outside. He was missing the farm.

Kane
I had always been an early riser. Vam was up before me. He seemed comfortable in this setting. He had almost finished clearing the field that was only half done when we stopped yesterday. I went and helped him. What drove him so hard? Was it honor, a want to help, or just a love of working? Maybe some combination.
After the last weed was burning I asked, "What do you think of Venera?"
He took a deep, satisfied breath, "This is much like home, in some ways. Solid families. Strong ties to home. Good land needing work. Warriors and farmers. I could do this forever." He gestured to the fields and animals. "But I fear it may yet be a long time before I get to work the land again."
"I know how you feel. For the longest time I was the blacksmith at a place like this. I had a short moment where I could have been released from the Host to do this again, but it isn't to be."
Vam was hesitant for a moment, then asked, "Is your true assignment to kill me, or spy on us?"
He was not stupid, or naive. "I was not asked to kill you, but they are curious. Spying is not a job I want. However, if I am doing it then perhaps I can use it to help you and Joann be seen in a positive light. I will not report anything that would harm Oshie."
He froze, "You must not let them know about his Lycant destiny. That is a family secret."
How could I prove to him I meant it, that I wouldn't hurt the family? I held out my arm. He looked at it curiously. "I will shake on it. My word is my bond. Now, grab my arm. This is how men in Venera give their word."
He reached out and took my arm. I gripped his furry arm in turn, looked him in the eye and swore, "I will never, even on pain of death, tell anyone about the destiny of my grandson. Further, if I have to spy on my own family I swear not to give information that could hurt you."
"I too, swear not to do you harm." He nodded his awkward nod, a motion he was still getting used to, and released his massive grip on my arm.
Alden approached with a sleepy smile, "You already cleared the field? I guess it's ready for mucking and tilling then. Will Asha become a great warrior?"
Vam chuffed a chuckle, "All things in time. We will pick up the story this evening."
"Aww, shucks."
Vam reminded him, "I am here to earn your last goat with hard work, not stories. So we muck and till today?"
Alden nodded. He looked so much like his father then. We worked all day. It was hard work, but Vam pushed himself hard and did the work of 5 Veneran men in one day.