Capítulo 8: Meeting my new grandpa
In the the dark night another man finds it hard to fall asleep.
A man crosses the entrance hall and right in front of him a wooden door has written on it 'Do not enter'. He doesn't seem to care and pushes the handle. In the room a big table is near the window. Piled papers are careful arranged on it. On the other hand, on the floor ink is spattered on some of the papers that lay in a messy manner.
The room was the place that Kai was using it as a work place. Important files and information about the kingdom are in all those shelves that occupy the west and east walls.
The man looks around and lifts some of the papers reading with attention.
"A ship that is missing… two weeks ago... it had wheat and corn…"
He flips the page and reads what was written on the second one.
'The Leader of the Golden Riverland assassinated..."
"Didn't they announced at the Circle he died of a heart condition? …...What is happening here, Kai?"
Lukas tosses the papers and frowns. He knows that many of the previous leaders were killed but recently lots of leaders are killed. The cause of their death was health problems, that's what they told at the Circle. He was the leader of their village, Lupis, so he was part of the Circle.
Kai was lying. Could it be orders from their father, Didrik?
Kai was the right hand of the current leader – Didrik. He was doing reports and was preparing to be the next leader. The reason he was preparing to be the next leader was the wish of their father and the refusal from Lukas' side.
Lukas can't believe what he just found.
"We will have a talk, my brother. "He leaves the room.
How can Kai lie to to the whole kingdom? Was not he suppose to warn all the leaders to protect themselves?
. . . .
A new day is welcoming Sigurd that doesn't have the power to open his eyes. He feels a tight feeling around his waist. His hand, head and leg are on a comforting warm 'think'. The blanket can't be this solid and have a pulse, right? But he is too sleepy to realize that under him is a person. A person that wiped his ass last night. Well, if he knew what happened last night he will sure not sleep so peacefully now.
Sigurd nuzzles against Karlen's chest. As Karlen's heart beats faster, Sigurd's head moves on the rhythm. Irritated by the 'think' that suddenly moves under him, he slaps Karlen's face.
The painful moan awakes Sigurd who is confused.
"How the fuck is ruining my sleep! Nissa! " He screams and yawns. His eyes are finally open and the view is not the image of an energetic Nissa. A pair of well-defined pecs and some abdominal muscles that he envies are close to his face. He grips and another moan is heard.
"My mouth ... hurts."
Karlen is having a duck face. Sigurd's hand doesn't lose the force he applies on his poor cheeks.
Sigurd rises and keeps his hand on Karlen's face. He frowns.
"What did you do to me? You had your hands on me! Speak! DUCK FACE!!"
Karlen is struggling to talk. He renounces to try and waits for Sigurd to calm down.
"I knew you were suspicious! How dare you to touch me! I will kill you with my two hands, understand!"
Karlen takes an undefensive position.
"Why the fuck are you naked?! What did you try to do! Put your hands up!"
Sigurd pins both of Karlen's hands above the head.
Karlen's long hair is messy … the muscles are plump and shiny inn the morning light…. his mouth covered by his hand…. his eyes that are half closed give him a sexy look.
Sigurd bites his lower lip. His gaze devours the man under him.
Karlen is glad Sigurd calmed down. But if the Sigurd will keep him pined down like that, he will be the one to calm down after. Sigurd's red hair is contouring his face and his eyes that are fierce ignite in Karlen something that Sigurd wouldn't be happy to find out. He looks cute in his night wear. The way he bit his lower lip and the frown reminds Karlen the unholy last night.
"I will let it go …. But from now on never touch me carelessly. I hate people that touch and betray me."
Karlen doesn't understand what Sigurd's last words mean.
"..."
Sigurd gets up and goes in his room.
Karlen sighs.
'What did he mean by people betraying him…..."
While he thinks of this, Sigurd is getting naked in his room.
The reason: to see himself in the mirror. No marks! Does it mean Karlen was not the one to fuck him that night? No way.
Then who?
He poses in the mirror to see all his body. Slim arms and long legs. He is dissatisfied. The clothes are around the closet one here, one there. He chooses a pair of pants, shirt, and a leather jacket. His feet go in his usual combat boots.
After shoving the clothes in the closet, he shakes the blanket a bit and spreads it even on the bed. The scent of the blanket relaxes him.
"I need to repair the window …"
He gets out of the room with the kitchen in his mind.
Kai and Yrsa just enter the hall along with a man that looks like Kai. Why all men he meets look so similar? Muscles … blonde hair …. blue eyed. This man has wrinkle but his hair is short and tidy as his outfit. His straight posture is the reason gives royal feels in contrast with Lukas who looks like a housewife.
"If it isn't my sweet Sigurd! "The old man approaches Sigurd with the intention to hug him.
"Who are you?" Sigurd steps back and looks at the old man who seems disappointed.
"I am your grandpa!? You are suppose to hug a person that comes to you for a hug. Have you forgot the manners too?"
Didrik is frowning and looks at Sigurd displeased.
"I don't hug people. And I don't have manners to begin with. I am hungry."
Sigurd passes the old man who is boiling and looks at Jan who is opening the kitchen door.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING! I DIDN'T FINISH TALKING!"
"Dad, calm down! I told you he changed after losing his memory." Kai pates Didrik.
"Well, now you know how to deal with Sigurd. You dealt with me too." Yrsa crosses her arms at her chest.
"I still don't know how to deal with you! The only think I understood was to leave you alone."
"Come one father! Don't be mean! I have appreciated your sincerity. Just be yourself with him. Don't let his rudeness get to you. Let's go eat."
"The future of this kingdom is dammed…."
Didrik is mumbling. He will just need to talk with Sigurd more. This way he will gasp if the boy is good or bad.
Nissa, Waylin, Lukas and Karlen join. The meal is served.
"Sigurd what do you think of becoming a leader? I heard you will train in the camp. It is a good way to start preparing physically."
Sigurd swallows the mouthful and looks at responds with his eyes on the delicious food in front of him.
"I don't want to become a leader…. I will be a florist..." He munches the mushrooms with sauce.
"Florist!?Than why are you training?" Didrik's temple vein pumps furiously.
"I want to train my body…. to be big like you. Your muscles are awesome for your age."
"Thank you …. WAIT! You are basically saying that the kingdom will crumble while you plant flowers! Yrsa! Kai! Did you know this!"
Kai and Yrsa looks at each other and shake their heads.
"Don't you have something to say!?"
Yrsa sights. Everyone is eating like nothing is happening. They are used to Didrik's way of making sure that the right think is being done. He is the resemblance of a policeman in terms of the way he thinks.
"Father, I will never force him to be the leader. He can decide for himself. He is better off as he is right now. As long as he is safe, I don't care about anything else."
"He didn't transform? He is already twenty-three! He still has time to transform. We must not lose hope."
"Father! What I am saying is that he is alive. It is enough."
Didrik stops and understands what Yrsa is feeling. Every mother is like that. Just that her way of being overprotective is not the solution of all the problems. Didrik knows what Yrsa is thinking. He knows her too well. She will take the leadership if Kai will be dead; this will be her way of reconciling the goat and the cabbage. Not a good solution if she will end up dead.
Didrik is concerned. It is his role to care about the good of the kingdom.
"Grandpa, I can be the leader!"
Nissa is rising her fork and smiles.
"Of course! This will happen only if we want to to transform the kingdom in a circus."
"I like circus!"
Nissa smiles and doesn't care about the hidden meaning of her grandpa's works. Waylin frowns at the old man.
"I bet every one is curious why grandpa Didrik came earlier. Today is the day we will have a memorial of my mother. We will go after we eat, so make sure to dress in black."
Didrik is expressionless and he is lacking liveliness. Sigurd stops from eating and glances at Didrik.
'His wife died… was it natural?'
Thoughts are coming as he swallows a piece of pie. Didrik refrains from taking pie.
Karlen is also eating expressionless but there's no way Sigurd could think of the reason he is like that.
In Karlen's mind the words of the madam resound powerful ...'I WANT HIM DEAD'. The unexpected arrival of Didrik surprises Karlen.
"Why is you Karlen here?" Didrik asks Kai.
"He came for the camp. Yrsa promised to train him a little before the camp actually starts. He is also acting as Sigurd bodyguard."
"What do you mean bodyguard? He is not my bodyguard! "Sigurd cuts in the conversation.
"He is not your official bodyguard yet so he is just acting."
Karlen grips his fork. What is madam up to?
Sigurd finishes eating.
"I don't think he will be my bodyguard…..I am going to change."
Nissa takes a slice of bread and follows Sigurd up stairs.
"Why are you coming with me?"
"We have to talk." She is smiling at him and her attitude is giving Sigurd mixed signals of what kind of talk to expect.
In the kitchen just Yrsa, Lukas, Kai and Didrik are still eating. Lukas is in a foul mood and everyone could see that.
"Say what you have to say!" Kai looks at his brother with a nonchalant look.
"You told us just lies at the Circle. Why didn't you told us that the leaders were assassinated?"
"Where do you know this?"
"I just needed to lift some pages of the ground to find the truth."
"Why are you sticking your nose into? Don't you know a curious will die faster?" Kai frowns. He hated when people mess with his stuff.
"Don't get al smart with me! The truth should be always told. Isn't it father? "Lukas glares at Didrik.
"You are right but how can we tell people that leaders get assassinated? They will feel scared and also no one will want to become a leader. There are some reasons I chose to keep it secret. We are searching for the killer."
Lukas calms down and leans on his chair.
"Have you found something?"
"We just know that the killer is sadist and a master. He works clean. The bones were dislocated and putted back in their place. The doctor's examination was spot on. The insides of the victims were on another level: crushed lungs, the liver and the heart were gone and like a screw pass through his stomach everything was a mess."
Didrik is explaining looking at Lukas who is getting sad.
"The victim was alive while this criminal was playing whit them: suffocation, contortions, the vital organs being crushed and cracking their necks as the last dish."
Yrsa summarizes what Didrik said. She is feeling the anger but tries to calm down so that she wouldn't go crazy. It was cruel the method the killer used.
"We need to find him before he will try to kill on of us. Sadly, we don't have any leads."
Kai is looking at Lukas and sees the pain on his face.
"Let's wrap this up and go to the grave. Mother is waiting for us. " Yrsa rises and smiles sadly.
. . .
Waylin and Karlen listened what they where talking. They are sitting at top of the stairs.
"You need to protect Sigurd. " Waylin looks at Karlen who is listening calm.
"…." He sighs.
"You don't want to protect him?"
"Is not that…" Karlen lets his head fall down in his hands.
"I will be the one to kill that bastard." Waylin growls.
"Right... Nissa will be with you." He feels dizzy.
"She will be safe. She is strong. Of course, I will protect her."
Karlen rises his face. Waylin is shocked.
"You are pale! Is that how scared are you to lose Karlen? I didn't gave you the credit but now I support you. " Waylin helps Karlen stand up.
"I am fine." Karlen assured Waylin and walks towards his room without the boy's help.
Waylin smiles and waits for Nissa. He sits on the stairs.
. . . .
"Why don't you turn your head?"
Sigurd glares at Nissa and she turns like a good she is. He takes his shirt off and starts to search in the closet.
"You don't remember grandma, do you? Can I tell you about her?"
"Say … I am curious a little..."
Nissa tells him what she remembers herself. It's been five years since she died.
"She was a kind person, fun. You two were very alike. She loved flowers. If I stay to think, the only thing that remained the same about you is that you love flowers. I find it cool that you want to be a florist…... What's your favorite flower?"
"Out of nowhere? I would say …. lily flowers."
"Grandma's name was Lily. You two have a connection…"
"That is odd …" He takes a black shirt on. He closes the closet.
'It is just a coincidence…'
"She loved you more because you helped her a lot. I was the one that ruined her flowers. But she never scolded me. She was somewhat like Lukas…"
"Can you tell me how she died? "Sigurd sits on the bed next to Nissa who is looking towards the balcony. She clearly is trying to keep her tears from falling.
"Why don't you ask grandpa about this? "She lets her head fall back and tilts it looking in his eyes. Sigurd knows that it must be painful to talk out this. She talked like she was loved her grandma very much.
"Why, you little!?" Sigurd slaps her head lightly and she starts to laugh.
"Are you scared of grandpa?" Nissa provokes him.
"No! He is just a little annoying. Also, he caught me in a bad mood. "Sigurd gets up and takes his jacket on.
"You are always in a bad mood! " Nissa giggles.
Sigurd renounces at responding to her silly remarks. They are ready to leave.
Nissa almost falls over Waylin when he gets up.
"Stupid!"
Waylin catches Snow in his arms and ruffles her blonde curls.
. . . .
The horses are ready to be mounted on. Arvak is the only one who cares more to eat the green grass rather than stay still so Sigurd could mount on.
"Arvak!" Sigurd is puling the reins. No response. Like a dog he pulls Sigurd after him.
Karlen sighs. Here he goes again.
After Sigurd mounts successfully on the horse with Karlen's help, they can go. Karlen mounts on his Frisian horse. A black beauty that is very attentive to Karlen's commands. Not like Sigurd's horse. Arvak is a spotted black and white mustang that has a wild blood running in his veins.
Nissa's horse is white with long manes. Her white color shows how mush Nissa takes care of her. Not a single patch of dirt is on her body nor mane. Impressive!
Waylin is in front of them and his horse is a mustang like Arvak. Just that he isn't spotted but brownish and his manes are white. An interesting combination.
Snow is riding next to Sigurd while Karlen and Waylin are in front.
The road is through a forest. The trees are big and green giving a fresh air.
"Let's race! You know where is the graveyard."
Nissa grins at Sigurd who isn't exactly excited by her brilliant idea.
"I can't stop Arvak!"
"Don't worry! I will stop you! Let go!"
She slaps Arvak and the horse gallops passing through Waylin and Karlen.
"You motherfucker!"
Sigurd is heard in the distance screaming at Nissa.
Nissa is approaching Karlen and with a whistle the Frisian gallops like crazy after Sigurd.
"Take care of him!"
She yells at Karlen who is calm as always.
"Why are you playing the cupid again? You are going to anger Sigurd."
"Let him be angry! He needs to talk to Karlen. Didn't you see he ignored Karlen when he helped him with the horse. Something must have happen last night."
"Your meddlesome attitude will make you cry again. Stupid girl!"
Waylin whistles and his horse is running after the two boys.
"I don't care about myself. Karlen needs to get attach to Sigurd and Sigurd need to get attach to Karlen. That's the only way both will change. I should use my tricks for good at least once."
She talks alone like a mad man with Snow.
"Let's go girl!"
Snow gallops and the wind is blowing her mane that intertwines with Nissa's blonde hair.
. . .
A carriage is far behind the youngsters that are galloping to the graveyard.
Lukas, the old man, Yrsa and Kai are confined in the carriage. Must be the first time all of them regret having muscles.
"Father I can transform and run along the carriage."
Yrsa is ready to jump off. The old man is grabbing her hand.
"I can go too." Lukas wants to jump through the other window. Didrik grabs him too.
"I have to talk to you, kids."
Both of them sit and wait for the old man to finish what he wants to say. They will surely jump off soon.
"We all know the founding book of our kingdom.' The Beginning of a New Kingdom'; a book that has a legend along her wisdom."
"The legend of the human hero?" Kai thinking what Didrik wants to say whit this.
The legend was old and not a single human was the leader nor fight against some evil leader.
"I am thinking that since Sigurd is human, he might be the hero."
"What do you mean? No leader was a human. And, the legend says the human is half wolf."
Lukas is confused.
"Listen we, the Aura protects our kingdom, but don't forget that outside is the human world. There's only one way the hero can be a human and a wolf in the same time."
"You insinuate that the Ancestors reincarnated a human in Sigurd's body?"
"I need to pray to the Ancestors. They will reveal me the truth behind Sigurd's sudden resurrection."
All of them think in silence. The old man might be right.
"The sudden change in Sigurd's personality is odd. Did he regain his memories?"
"He did regain some memories" Yrsa tells Didrik how he remained about Jan's food.
"The change in his behavior is indeed odd…... if I stay to think" Kai looks at Yrsa.
"I want to talk to Sigurd …. alone. I want you three inform Karlen, Waylin and Nissa too. Make yourselves disappear with a reason. Can I count on you?"
"Yes, Father! " Didrik smiles satisfied.
Lukas with his military tactics, Yrsa with her wild ideas and Kai with his considerate techniques plan a decoy together. In the end thee agree and nod grinning.
What kind of plan? Hope it will function.
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