He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter One Hundred And Forty Four - Thoughts of Vengeance

"What did you say or show Saewulf before he retreated into his mind?" Leif asked, curiously.

"I conjured some images of people I knew from the Kingdom," Elyas told him. "Friends, Teachers..."

"Show me," Leif demanded, so Elyas summoned his fire and concerntrated upon the flickering flames. Leif was lost for words for once as the burning element altered to reveal little humanoid sprites that resembled smiling boys, each with his own clear persona. These morphed into a lone boy, a different fellow with an obvious attitude. Lastly from these, the flames became the images of two men, both serious of face. Wulfgar sucked in a sharp breath as he stared at the magic that closely resembled that of the sun mage.

"I know what has upset him," he admitted.

*****

Leif cleared away the dinner plates and cups from the table, using purified water to clean them before returning them to the kitchen shelf.  Wulfgar made a cursory swipe of the table, spilling any remaining crumbs to the floor, before sweeping them together and towards the door.  He glanced over his shoulder at his small husband, the man lost to his own thoughts.  He had accepted the words that spoke of the assassins past quietly, while Elyas had held back tears and rage, fire seeming to burn in his normally warm eyes.

Once their cleaning had been completed, the two men retired to their room. Leif removed his many beads from his neck and Wulfgar divested himself of the black-stained leathers formed from the mountain beasts and favoured still by his family.  They crawled into the fur covered bed together and savoured each other's warmth.  It did not get particularly cold in the swamp, what with the ever burning fires and the rooftop fog that lessened the escape of any heat from the day.  However, in cooler months, the humid air and damp grounds caused a chill that seemed to sleep into bones and take root there.  Households would huddle together for warmth during those days and nights.

Leif nuzzled his cheek against the warm, though firm flesh of Wulfgar's chest.  "Is the whole of the Kingdom so unkind?"

"No," Wulfgar replied.  "Sae once had love from his parents.  It just could not outweigh their own selfishness.  I cannot remember mine, but I feel warmth when thinking of them."

"But these people who broke you, used you..." Leif began only to be hushed by Wulfgar's tightening hold.

"There will always be bad people," Wulfgar mentioned.  "We just happened to come across the worst of them. "

"Does it not want to make you go and seek vengeance?" Leif asked.  He recalled the number of times his Uncle had caused him grief and though his actions would not warrant something as drastic as death, he felt much satisfaction when he had finally been able to stand his ground against him.  Even more so when that man's own greedy nature had backfired upon him.  He would likely be serving his nine wives' whims for the rest of his life, as he had been vigilantly this past year, unable to flaunt his status and seek pleasures for himself.

"I have thought about it," Wulfgar admitted and a rare smile came unbidden to his plush lips.  "And then I am distracted from such thoughts."  He turned to gather Leif closer to him as Leif began to question his words;

"How...?" He was unable to finish his sentence, in fact he was unable to say anything coherent for a long while, but there were many groans that spoke of sinful pleasure.

*****

"I would kill that man should the opportunity arrive," Fleur grumbled, her hand stroking her swelling midsection.  The woman had not been able to chose between her most persistent suitors and now she and the five men lived in matrimonial bliss in a stone dwelling with a straw and clay roof.  The warriors adored her and worshiped her every move and she stood amongst them, their Queen and treasure.  With her appetites to sate, it was only a matter of time until she became filled with child.  And now, like a sabre worrying over its cub, thoughts of killing past threats to ensure its safety came unbidden everyday.

Oswyn (who was once called One) nodded in agreement, his cold eyes vividly chilling.  Had they not been in a hurry to leave the city that day, he certainly would have sought out that man and not have remained satisfied in the massacre of their handlers that happened to be in the building at that time.  His aura caused Lewin to flinch. 

At least once a month, those who had once been a part of the Kingdom came together almost as if there was an elastic cord binding them and they were unable to resist its calling.  While they had made lives here, new friends even family, they felt a need to be with their own sometimes.  Needless to say, the fact that Sae had remained locked into his internal world for close to a week had drawn them together this time. 

"I'm still shocked by it all," Herebert admitted.  Eulalia was sitting close beside him, her slight body almost pressed against him, but for once, he remained unresisting.  "I mean, the man is a Teacher..."

"Teacher or no," Lewin returned, calmly.  "Does not prove him to be a good man.  It simply reveals that he is clever with his disguise."

"Disguised and not hidden in shadows," Four, now known as Fulke murmured as if trying to understand this concept.  The youth had not adapted as well as the others to Village life, with the exception of perhaps Oswyn.  But Oswyn allowed his blade to talk for him, joining the hunts at every opportunity to keep the monster that dwelled within him at bay.  Fleur had her husbands as Sae and Samuel had theirs.  Eulalia had blossomed into a whole different creature with respect and awe for her powers enshrouding her rather than the fear and hatred that had tainted her in the darkness.  Fulke had never liked the killing, too much blood and often urine involved, he was happy to no longer need to continue such actions.  But without his family, he would have become a total recluse.

"What do you think?" Jenefer asked Elyas as he sheltered the distant Sae in his strong, but helpless arms.

"Honestly, I think I would happily kill him if it gave Sae some needed peace," Elyas replied after some thought.  "If it gave that to all of you," he added gazing upon Fleur's belly.

Wulfgar cracked his knuckles and Oswyn chuckled in response.  "Then why wait?" Fleur purred softly.