The Giver

Cutting was my specialty but not with this median. What was normally soft was hard and chipped easily. The tool used was very different and left me to thinking about dropping the unequally weighted thing. Keeping the family warm was necessary though, especially in the weather that was coming. When I finished I picked up the wood and carried it to the house. Little Ania sat with the dolls I made not too long ago, fixing their straw hair and giggling with her mother, Anastasia, as she fixed up patches in the clothes. My women looked up at me and both gave cheery smiles.

"Daddy, daddy, look it, mommy taught me how to braid," Ania giggled and ran up to me. I picked her up in my free hand and touched foreheads with my little girl.

"That's great, maybe someday you could braid mine like your mother does," I smiled. She giggled and kissed my nose.

"So why did you do it? Why did you hurt mommy, daddy," her throat grew a thin line that soon gushed blood down her chest. I sat up in a cold sweat. The furs that were draped over me pooled into rumpled waves as the waiting woman next to me bowed.

"My lord, you were dreaming again," she took the furs and folded them up. The cold air was hitting me hard and I shivered subtly, refusing to let her see. "Do you need anything," she asked as I stood. Her shining white hair hung in a single braid, something all the servants and soldiers adopted. She moved behind me and did the same to mine that was hanging down to my hips.

"Have my soldiers drunk all night," I asked at the red mark on her skin.

"Y-yes my lord," she replied. I touched it and she stared at me, slightly panicked at the intimacy of the area of contact.

"Who," I questioned. It sounded more of a command to her from her reaction of flinching. The women here didn't quite understand my tone, no one understood it like my Anastasia or my little Ania. I sighed as she winced from me. "Look, it's obvious you didn't want this done to you so who did it?"

"Lord, it does-"

"If you say it doesn't matter then should I punish you for an act you didn't wish to commit," I scolded. The wording caught her off guard and she stared at me in shock. "Men can be disgusting, I can admit that. You are not married, you shouldn't have been forced through that. I'm trying to help you, understood?"

She started tearing up and hugged me, "yes my lord." I stayed and hugged her awkwardly, scared I would hurt her like I had my wife unintentionally. Another servant came in and stared at the sight slightly amused.

"Lord Peter, you sure do know how to treat a woman," he chuckled.

"Shut up you Slavic ass," I sighed. Of course he didn't. He was a good friend and we never took each other's teasing literal. I tapped the girl on her shoulder. "Who was it now?"

"The guards of 29 my lord," she sniffled. I twitched. That single group of men I found repulsive. They didn't treat woman as they should have and it created a tense air around Peter and them. "May I ask a question my lord?"

"Yes," I replied and stood up! moving to my wardrobe. I pulled out an adorned shirt with my colors and pulled on pants that were torn and tearing.

"Why do you care," she asked. I turned to her immediately upon why and advanced on her.

"That isn't for you to know," the Slavic servant gave me a sympathetic look as I went to my armor. "Assist me," I ordered.

----

"Guards of 29, up and I want you running, now," I barked at the hung over men. They all got up with moans and groans. Thi earned a swift kick to the closest ones head, "I said get up you maggots!" This hurried them and the one I had kicked lay dead with an indent in his skull. That was an accident but no one would say it was so I left it. They were running outside, sending glares my way. The white haired servant trailed her way to me. After hither laps I had each give up some of their rations to her and then continue with their jobs. I had so much I needed to do when I returned to the castle.

Guests of other lords migrated into my living space as I waltz in. Most greeted me warmly, others not so much. They greeted with cold stares from past threats from me, of their lust for my land and the wealth of my people. We all seated to eat, those of good intent becoming boisterous. One in particular wishes to speak to me and was constantly moving closer and closer to my seat. "Lord Leoneharte," he bowed to me.

"Good evening Count Greenehorn," I replied and nodded to him.

"I wish to know what you think of the kings input is on expanding our great country," he smiled. I sat and stared at him, knowing well it was his intentions and not the kings. His ambition would be the end of him, he adorned himself in gold embroidered cloth, had violet dyed shirts and treated leather. It disgusted me as his own children were in normal garb. My daughter had at least a purple ribbon and a nice pair of boots. I choked slightly, inaudible to the people around me. My eyes automatically restrained the mourning tears that threatened to fall at the thought of her.

"I think it's ridiculous," I finally replied. "There is no need for our mother land to expand beyond it's reaches. If he thinks clearly, he would be able to see that it is difficult to take care of ourselves here during our winters and the invasions from the Huns and Germans take a toll on our men. Not to mention the Mongol scum."

He tapped his chin for a moment, "what if he had a new weapon against them all?"

I glared "then he would have to think of the finances that would go into this new weapon of his and the people that would need to learn to use it would need to be specially trained for combat with it."

He stared at me, a grin in his eyes, "why yes, he would now wouldn't he? But how would you train someone to use something totally out of human comprehension?"

"You speak blasphemy," I rose slightly from my seat. "You speak ill of man, gods greatest creation by demeaning our own minds!"

"Don't you do the same brother? You stay under the king even though his age tells him to hand his thrown down," he guffawed. I raised my sword to him immediately. The dining hall went quiet and all stared at the spectacle my temper had created when it flared.

"There are sides you do not wish to be on," I growled to his terrified face and slowly lowered my blade, "And people you should not cross. The king is one of them for I am loyal to him. The treason you speak of in my home shall not be tolerated." He stood to scurry out as fast as he could. His children went to follow. "You all shall stay here if your father wishes me to stay silent."