Shadow Master (1st Book)

Chapter 2: Repercussions

Morning came all too soon to Brom, who was still praying to the eight divines of Magnus. He continued pleading and praying until he realized that it was already morning.

He got out of bed, and went into Alianor's room, thanking the gods that she was not disturbed, and thankfully, she still wasn't up. He gently picked her up, went out of Alianor's room, set her down a chair, strapping her tightly but lightly, with leather straps, and prepared breakfast. During his preparation, Alianor awoke from her slumber, and immediately she began wailing.

At least Mordred's too drunk to mind the noise. He grimly mused to himself.

After he was done, he alternated between feeding Alianor and then himself. After breakfast, he put Alianor to sleep again, putting him back to her crib once more. And as he had done everyday, did his chores, he briefly hunted in the woods, but he was no good with a bow and arrow, he only caught 2 rabbits and through some luck, he killed a wolf. He skinned the wolf and the rabbits. The wolf pelt and the rabbit meat, along with some of the crops, he sold in town. The boy used the money he earned to buy supplies, mainly food and clothes, he also bought Alianor a wooden toy. Words cannot contain how happy he was because he had finally earned enough money to buy new clothes and food that he forgot about the events from last night.

Almost.

Sunset came when he came home. He walked through their front door only to meet the haggard looking face of his father. Mordred sat on a chair, looking over the fireplace. He seemed calm and collected, unlike the Mordred he knew.

The boy involuntarily gasped and the groceries he held were dropped, because for the first time in over 10 years, he was not drunk. But, not being drunk does not mean that the boy will easily forgive his father for everything he had done to both him and Alianor. Mordred's ears perked up at the sound, and he turned to face his only son.

"Brom." Mordred said, and to the boy, Brom, it felt like years of torment from his father was instantly erased. He wanted so badly to hug his father, to tell him he loved him, but he didn't, for reasons unfathomable to him.

Maybe for a fact that he beat you incessantly for the past few years? His mind bitterly suggested, but he shook it off.

"Yes, Mordred?" Brom replied coolly.

Mordred winced at the emotionless tone coloring Brom's voice, but said none of it. "Nothing my son."

Brom was confused, Mordred sounded so sad. "I just want to say I love you son. I love you and Alianor so much. Forgive me for hurting you. I was not myself those days. I was maddened by grief because of Elwyn's death." Brom stiffened at the mention of his late mother. Elwyn passed away moments after giving birth to Alianor, and ever since, Mordred had blamed him for his mother's tragic end,"I am so sorry for everything I had done. I.."

Brom held up his mind to silence Mordred, and his father complied, shutting his mouth. His mind became blank, his father was begging for forgiveness, something that was rarely seen in Mordred, an example of a man who does not back down or accept faults. He understood now that even if he refused his apology, Mordred would not care, all he wanted was to show his own son that he loved him.

"I... forgive you, father." Brom said silently,"I love you too father." Brom was surprised but delighted when his father suddenly stood up and hugged Brom. Brom immediately returned the affection. Oh, how good it is for his father to be back again!

"I want you to do something, Brom," Mordred smiled, but it was a doleful one, as if something very bad was going to happen.

"What is it, father?" He asked, becoming concerned at the expression carved on Mordred's face.

"I want you to get Alianor and hide in your room, lock the door and don't get out no matter what!" He was saying it in hushed tones like he didn't want anyone to find out.

"Why? What's going...." Brom tried to say but Mordred interrupted.

"No time to explain! Go, get Alianor and hide in your room! Hurry!" Mordred sounded and looked desperate. His eyes pleaded with Brom to agree with him and somehow he did.

"Fine." Brom ran off to Alianor's room, got her out of her crib and was about to run off to his room when he heard Mordred say,"I love you both."

Brom didn't respond, carrying a still sleeping Alianor to his own room. He put the babe in the mattress, but he was still curious, why was his father so desperate to hide the two of them? Then he remembered the man wearing white from yesterday, and he remembered the threat the man gave to Mordred,"Tomorrow night Mordred, if you do not pay, your life is forfeit." The boy felt many emotions as he reminisced about the man but fear overpowered most of the others. What if Mordred didn't have any money? What if the man held true to his word? Brom did not want to imagine that scenario happening. Hours went by without anything happening, so the boy drifted off to the land of dreams.

The sound of glass breaking jolted Brom from sleep. He looked around and out of his window, and he guessed it must be midnight. He yawned, scratching his back and drifted off to sleep once more when another crash was heard. Brom was instantly awake and aware of his surroundings. What was that? He heard voices outside. He checked for Alianor, and she was still asleep. Abandoning his father's words, he picked her little sister up, and stepped outside.

Just to drink in the sight of that same man from yesterday wielding a sword that was again inches away from slashing Mordred's throat, but unlike last time, Mordred was shaking. Fear seemed to silence him as he stood there, unmoving, fearful of what will soon transpire.

"I told you," The man said silently but clearly,"you need to pay tonight."

"I know!" Mordred replied, shaking,"Gi-give me another day Fendrel! Please! I-I can pay you tomorrow!" So Fendrel was his name.

The man dropped the sword, eliciting a sigh of relief from Mordred, but that sigh turned into a groan as Fendrel punched Mordred in the gut,"I told you, tonight or die." Mordred fell down, clutching his stomach, while Fendrel towered over him, wielding the blade. Brom screamed in fear, surprising Mordred and Fendrel. Mordred did not look all too happy to see his son there,"Run, son!" Brom stood still, dumbfounded,"Run, you idiot!" Before being stabbed in the chest by Fendrel.

"No!" Brom screeched. Mordred coughed up blood for a second before becoming still, lifeless. Dead.

Grief and horror was beginning to envelop the young Brom that he did not notice the man Fendrel coming up behind him. Suddenly he felt something hit him on the back of his head, hard. He blacked out, him feeling grief and his thoughts becoming chaotic.

As he drifted off into the land of nothingness, he mustered enough strength to call out,"Mordred. Alianor."