Chapter 5: Sunshine

   Bowen & his Great Grandfather Elric made their way through the tastefully decorated halls of The House of Blackwood.   

The House of Blackwood was a large stone and wood manor complex, complete with mansion, guard barracks, fortified walls, farm, garden & bathhouse.        Generations of Blackwoods have added to the House's construction and decor, and the result was one of the most beautifully decorated and historical manors in the entire continent. 

But Bowen & his Grandpa didn't pay attention to the decor or the beautiful marble stone floor mosaics  & rich carved blackwood wooden beams, as they made their way to the house kitchens to raid the larder. 

Rounding a corner, Bowen came face to face with his parents, arm in arm.

Lady Ursula Blackwood & Lord Aaron Alberidge - Blackwood.

 "Grandpa Elric! Bowen! You startled me! Hahaha" His mother smiled and laughed, a beautiful, rich sound. 

Bowen's mother, the Lady of House Blackwood, Ruler of Dàsos, was a tall vibrant woman with long dark wavy hair and dark eyes.      She was graceful, and her flawless skin made her look not a day over twenty-five, even though she was in her fifties.       She was half human, and half Majeia, with pointed ears, but not the Manastone.    She was fond of wearing white silk dresses and always smelled of lavender.      Despite being ruler of a nation, she did her best to be as proper of a mother as she could to her son & daughter"

His father reached out and ruffled Bowen's shaggy brown hair.

Bowen looked annoyed, he hated having his hair messed with.

"How are the studies going, Son? Are you winning?"  

 His father said with a smile, knowing that Bowen hated having his hair ruffled and doing it anyway.      After all, it was a father's job to annoy their children.   

His father was a strong and stocky man, just a bit shorter than his mother at around five foot and ten inches.    He kept his thinning blonde hair cut short & neat.    He had clear blue eyes with crows feet wrinkles.  The wrinkles were from smiling often, the best kind of wrinkles to have.   He frequently wore a leather jerkin, the kind you wore underneath armor.     His father acted as general of the army of Dasos.           He was his mother's lord consort, and thus could not take ownership of House Blackwood.   But that never bothered him. He was content being the general for his mother.     He was a man of easy humor, and frequently made his wife laugh. 

His father was fully Human, making Bowen only one quarter mixed.  

"Grandpa Elric, I took the liberty of having the cooks make you your favorite dish" Lady Ursula said with a smile.

 "Ahh, thank you my lady. An old man like myself couldn't ask for a better Granddaughter"  Grandpa Elric said with a slight bow and a wink just for her.

"I'll be taking young Bowen into the forest for our lesson today"

Lady Ursula looks worried for a moment.

"I know that your sorcery can deal with any foe, but please be careful Grandfather and keep Bowen safe"  Ursula said.

 His Father patted his mother on the hip          "Now dear, you're being too overprotective. A boy needs a little bit of adventure. Why back in my day, I hunted in the forest almost every day when I was Bowens age-"

 Bowen stopped listening.   Getting impatient with his family's boring chatter, when they could be doing better things.    He was wondering how much longer this was going to take.

"I should let you get on the lesson then, Grandfather"

"Finally, it's over!"   Bowen quickly says his farewells and tries to hurry his grandfather to the kitchens so they could be on their way.

His Great Grandfather never hurried for anything however.   Almost always displaying an easygoing attitude wherever he went and no matter what he was doing. 

  His grandfather didn't walk - he strolled.

The worst part was knowing that his grandfather could move surprisingly fast when he wanted to, he just always chose not to.    Every morning his  ancient looking great grandfather jogged around the walls of The House of Blackwood. A feat that many greybeards would find impossible.

After what seemed an eternity, Bowen and his grandfather opened the door of the kitchens...

And were immediately greeted by some of the most euphoric smells.    

Fresh baked bread, Freshly churned butter, Garlic hanging from the wall, Herbs & Spices both fresh and dried, Barrels of salted meat & fish as well as pickled vegetables, Fresh fruits,  and a rich hearty rabbit stew bubbling on a fire.   It was... Divine.  

A kitchen scullion was plucking some chickens.   Bowen stared at the featherless lumps of flesh.   

A child first learns about the concept of Death in the kitchen.   They learn how brutal, yet easy it is.  And they learn how good it tastes.

The head chef waddles over and places a couple of plates on a table in front of Bowen & his Grandfather.   On the plates are two sandwiches.   The sandwiches were his grandfather's favorite, a simple dish comprising of sliced toasted bread, scrambled eggs, sliced salt ham, and a melted white cheese with holes in it.

 Bowen knew there was going to be no rushing his Grandfather as he was enjoying his meal, the old man had a blissful expression on his face as he savored every bite of his favorite dish.

  Instead Bowen decided to busy himself by idly eating and looking at the kitchen staff.

All the workers of House Blackwood were treated well.  They were paid handsomely, and never mistreated.

Bowen watched the kitchen staff as they hurried about their business, whistling a happy tune.

 The head chef, Archigos was a round Alcyoneus man that was built like a boar.  Short for his kind, at only six feet, he was almost as fat as he was tall.    He had dark brown skin that gleamed like metal when light hit it just the right way,  small upward tilting horns, and a big bushy beard.

 His gold nose ring and small pointed ears, combined with his horns gave him a bullish appearance.

  Grandpa Elric put down his sandwich for a moment to compliment the Chef.

 "Spectacular as always Archigos!  I can never get enough of these sandwiches!"

Archigos beamed with pride, and puffed up a little. 

  Looking past the old majeia, Archigos focused on Bowen.

Putting his hands on his hips, he chided Bowen     "Young Master, yer far too skinny. A young calf like you has to eat big if ya wanna grow big & stronk like me!"   he said while flexing his large biceps, which were very noticeable underneath all of his bulk.

 "Now I don't normally allow people to eat in MY kitchen, that's what the dining rooms are for... But I can always make a exception fer you master Elric... and you too young master".     Archigos said, while holding a dirty wooden spoon as if it was a kings scepter

Spotting a kitchen Scullion who was neglecting the rabbit stew out of the corner of his eye

 "OY!   WHAT DO YE THINK YER DOIN YOU STUPID FUCKING DONKEY!!!"  Archigos roars and strides up to the startled scullion, whacking him on the head with his wooden spoon.

Bowen quickly revised his previous thoughts, about the workers of House Blackwood being treated well.

The workers of House Blackwood were all treated well, EXCEPT for the poor kitchen scullions who worked under the Tyrant-King of the Kitchen, Archigos...

 

After wolfing down his lunch, Bowen & his Grandfather proceeded to the front courtyard, where around 50 of the House Guard were being drilled and sparring with each other.

 The House Guard comprised of Hoplites, the heavily armored infantry soldiers wearing black laquered steel from head to toe.

Bowen thought the House Guard Hoplites looked the most heroic and intimidating out of all of Dàsos's armed forces.

      The Guards helmets were round, smooth and frill-less, comprising of holes for the eyes, a nose-guard and a face plate that went below the jaw-line, leaving a small opening at the mouth.        They had heavy steel breastplates, pauldrons, gauntlets, and greaves, as well as scale mail for the spots that had to be flexible.     On their breastplates and black cloaks, was the symbol of Dàsos & House Blackwood: A leafless black tree on a white circle.

 Bowens eyes sparkled as he watched these heavy armored men sparring and exercising.  He wanted be one of these warriors more than anything. 

Learning history, mathematics, and statecraft seemed so much more boring by comparison...

 

Suddenly Bowen felt a large object collide with his back, nearly knocking him over.

He stumbles and tries to look behind him but two small arms wrap around his neck, and two black hands cover his eyes.

  "Guess who~"  asks a mocking childish voice.

*sigh*  "Is it Jenáh?"   he says exasperatedly

The hands let go of his face, and the child jumps off of his back.   Turning around Bowen looks at his best and most annoying friend Jenáh.

  She was two years older than him, at age nine, but was even more immature, She had dark grey skin, almost black. with short wild black hair hiding small pointed ears, and big jade green eyes like a cat's.    Her mischievious grin showed two pairs of fangs in her mouth, two on top and two on bottom.  She frequently wore boy's shorts and shirts, but always got angry when Bowen said she looked like a boy.

 "Yup. Yup. You got it right on the first try~"  She grins as she puts her hands behind her head

 Grandpa Elric walks forward with an easy smile and gives a polite bow    "Good afternoon Lady Jenáh.  Were you hoping to play with young Bowen today?"

 "Oh. Umm.. yep yep. Its Bowen's turn to be the 'criminal scum who violated the law' when we play guards & bandits today" Jenáh said.

  "Stop right there!" yelled Bowen a little too loudly "Me an' Grandpa Elric are gonna be goin into the forest for my lesson today" said Bowen tauntingly while putting his hands on his hips.

 "Whuut! Thats not faiirr! I wanna play in the forest too!" 

"We're not playing, its a Lesson"  Bowen taunted while wagging his finger " You cant even remember your plus's & minuses so you dont get to go! Dummy!"

Jenáh Growled and narrowed her eyes at Bowen.

Bowen feels a Sharp pain as the back of his head is slapped by his grandfather, and Jenáh's growl turns into a snicker that she purposely fails to hide behind her hand.

Bowen furrows his brow and turns to look at his Grandpa.

His Grandfather just looks down and smirks at him "There was a wasp, young Bowen. But don't worry, I got it "         Elric kneels down in front of the girl 

"It is true, that we are having a lesson. But if the young lady Jenáh promises to stay near Bowen and I, and pay attention and be good, then you can join in on the lesson. Do you promise?"   The girl nods vigorously  

"Then lets be off!" Elric said cheerily

 

A quarter mile away from House Blackwood lied the Blackwood forest. Miles upon hundreds of miles of woodland & mountainous terrain, much of it unmapped.   

  As Bowen neared the edge of the Forest he looked upon the sea of white that was The Great Blackwood forest. 

The Blackwood tree, his family's namesake was a tall tree with a wide and rough-barked base with sprawling limbs that were easy to climb up.  Its Bark and wood was completely black, but its leaves were a beautiful pure white.   When the sun was overhead, and you were under the tree, the sunbeams gave the trees a golden appearance.

 The young boy marveled at the forest's beauty every time he saw it.

"Wow! So pretty~"  Jenáh exclaims

"Indeed young lady.  I feel grateful that I can live near such a beautiful view in my old age"   

"Now, stay close children.  There are dangerous animals in this forest and I don't wish to tell your parents how you were eaten by a Tiger while under my watch"  Elric said, beard and blue robes flowing out behind him as he set a smooth, brisk pace in front.

  "Be quiet now children, speak quietly and only when you have to, and we may be able to spot some animals"   The old Majeia said in a low quiet voice.

"First lesson: to walk silently in a forest.  You must walk 'heel to toe'. Like this"  His grandfather explained while putting the heel of his foot down first, then slowly put the tip of his boot down making very little noise on the leafy ground and underbrush.     "This is how you can remain silent enough to view wildlife"

"I walk like that ALL the time, its how i sneak up on you so many times bowen"  Jenáh said while making the same motion with her thick boy's boot, making almost no noise, just like Elric.

"Shhh"  His grandfather shushed her .   Crouching down, The old man dug into the ground, pulling up handfuls of dirt, and rubbing them into his clothing.

"Here, rub this dirt on your clothes children, and it will help to hide your smell from animals"

Bowen frowned as he rubbed dirt on his nice white shirt.  Jenáh didn't even seem bothered by it.

 "Now, another thing you must keep in mind in the forest wether you're exploring, hunting, or gathering herbs, is that you must always try to hunt with the wind in your face. If animals are downwind of you, they will smell you"  The old man said with a smile as he flared his nostrils sniffed the air.

"Now children, which way is the wind blowing?" The Old Man asks while stroking his long white  beard with his dirty hand

"Umm, that way" Jenáh points to a random direction.          Bowen just shrugs his shoulders.

Elric's blue eyes went sharp as he rubbed most of the dirt from his hands.   

"This" The old man said as he stuck his still dirty index finger in his mouth and pulled it back out: wet with saliva "Is how you tell which way the wind is blowing when its just a light breeze"   He held his finger in the air 

"Now try it and tell me which way this breeze is blowing"

Bowen stuck his pinky finger in his mouth and brought it out, allowing him to immediately feel the colder temperature of the breeze on his wet finger.

"It's that way!"  Him & Jenáh said at the same time

His grandfather chuckled.  "Good, lets move on"

 

  Bowen had a difficult time walking silently, he had to concentrate on his feet, but whenever he did his grandfather would flick his forehead and quietly tell him to be aware of his surroundings. And when he concentrated on watching his surroundings, he would inevitably snap a twig with his feet, earning a frown from his Grandfather

Crouching down, His grandfather motioned the children to come closer.  At the old mans feet was a small green shrub with pointy leaves.

 "This, is Bitterleaf. It grows almost everywhere and can grow in almost any conditions.  It tastes bad, looks ugly, and can ruin your garden." The old man said while pulling the plant up from its roots  "And it will also save your life"     

"Bitter leaf helps fight infection and disease if you put it on a wound."   The old man said while gesturing with the plant.

 "More people have died from infection than any war, any beast, sorcery, or natural disaster.  Always keep some ground bitterleaf  in your home or in your pack if you are travelling"  The long-eared elder explained

"Jenáh. You are a Vrykolakas. You & the Lycaon are completely immune to disease and infection, so you never have to worry about getting sick.   Other Elder Races like myself are resistant to disease. We can still get them, but most sicknesses heal within a few days, and we become immune to most diseases after a few years of having them."    The Old Man pointed at Bowen   "But you, young Bowen are a different story.  You are mostly Human, and as shown when you got sick last year, you are vulnerable to disease & illness."

   Jenáh stuck her tongue out at Bowen "Ha! Weak little human, get sick so i can laugh at you"

Bowen stared daggers at her.

"Enough, lets move on"  Chided the old man

 

Bowen was starting to get better at walking silently, he now only broke half as many twigs

This part of the forest was filled with energetic birdsong, it was the beginning of summer, and all manner of birds & insects were making their natural music.

 A bird flies directly overhead, landing on a tree branch in front of them.   On closer inspection Bowen realizes its a small grey snake with with feathery wings.

Whispering excitedly, the boy points at the snake creature       "Grandpa Look!! That snake has wings!"

"Ahh, That is the Ophis Pteretos, or Winged Serpent.  Don't worry, they are harmless. They mostly hunt birds, and make their nests in trees."  The old man says while making calming gestures at the children  "Their venom paralyzes birds, it hmm... it keeps them from being able to move if they get bitten, however it only causes numbness in people"

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The serpent flicked its tongue out, tasting their scent on the wind, and flew off towards another tree.

Bowen thought that the way they flew was majestic-ly funny.  They made a wiggling motion through the sky, but their feathers were beautiful when the light hit them.  On a closer look, it didnt 'wiggle'.  It had a small fin on its tail that it used to swim through the air like a fish.

 Jenáh's eyes were wide "I wanna catch one!"

Elric chuckles "Indeed, they do seem like they would be interesting pets. However, do you know where they come from?"

 She shakes her head  'no'

  "Like the Elder races, they came here during The Cataclysm, thousands of years ago.    There are many beasts that came with us into this land, many of them dangerous.  Nobody knows much about the two worlds before The Cataclysm, and Nobody alive knows about the place that the Elder races & that Winged Serpent come from.  But just like that little winged serpent, this world is now our home"

 The Children's eyes sparkled with wonder at the idea of another world...

 

               As the group made their way back to the edge of the forest, The old Majeia stops them.  The old teacher gestured to a particularly huge blackwood tree.   

  "The mighty blackwood tree...    This tree is your namesake Bowen.  It is the namesake of all the generations of Blackwoods who came before you and will come after you.   It is the reason our small nation of Dàsos has prospered as much as it has.  In fact, most of the wealth of our country can be laid at the roots of this tree"  Said the old man appreciatively 

 "Every part of this tree is valuable.  Its wood is hard and strong but also light, making the most durable homes, tools, and furniture" The old man explained while running his hand over the ebony bark  "And instruments made from the wood carry a rich, deep tune"

  "Its sap can be used in potions, and its resin will make a powerful glue"

 "Its fruit is delicious and energizes the body, and the nuts are quite nutritious.    But the most valuable thing about it by far, is its leaves.  The leaves of the blackwood tree are used to create mana potions" 

The children looked in awe at the tree, as if it were a thing from another world

  "This tree only grows here.   It will grow in no other land."  The old Majeia said mysteriously  "No one can get it to grow anywhere but this forest.      As a result, the people of Dàsos have prospered greatly by maintaining and monopolizing the production of it..."

"Alright that's enough for now, I have one final lesson before we head back home"   The old man said      "I want you both to climb this tree and pluck me five of the white leaves"   The Old Majeia gestured to the blackwood tree with twinkle in his eyes    "The one who gets five leaves first gets a special reward"

 "Hehehe!"  Jenáh smirked as she wiggled her fingers in Bowen's face.   From the top of her nails secretes a white kind of gel.  It forms and hardens into white bone-like claws with pointy, slightly curved tips.

"Theres noo way youre gonna be able to climb faster than me~"  She said with an evil grin

"Grandpa! Jenáh's cheating! Its not fair that she has tree climbing claws" Bowen whined

"Unfortunately Young Bowen" His grandpa said with a smirk "The world is not fair.  Now go!"

Bowen looks at Jenáh for a moment, then immediately shoves her, causing her to stumble, and giving him a head start.

"Now whos a cheater!"

    Bowen ignores her as he gets a running start straight at the tree, determined to win.  He puts as much strength as he can into his legs and ran three paces up the tree and jumped up to the lowest branch, catching it painfully in his chest, using all the strength in his slender seven year old boy arms, he hoists himself up onto the branch just in time to see Jenáh scrambling up the tree as if she were a cat.

  "You suck SlowBow!  Get rekt by a tree branch!"

Growling wordlessly, Bowen crawled as fast as he could to the end of his branch.  Not bothering to count the leaves, he just rips off a handful of them and scrambles back down the branch to the trunk, only to see Jenáh sliding down the trunk, leaving a long streak of gouges in the bark. 

 She was going to win.

Angrily Bowen takes one look down , and jumps off the branch.

The ground quickly coming to meet him, Bowen  instinctively tucks his shoulder in and rolls as he hits the ground.   

Sluggishly he picks himself up and looks over at Jenáh, whos eyes were wide with surprise and worry.

  His Grandfather strolled toward him and Bowen grinned, expecting to win.

"Impressive Bowen.   I was expecting to show you a lesson about life."  His great grandfather said in a calm even voice, the blue manastone on his forehead glowing blue.

"Instead you taught me a lesson about your tenacity.   And your stupidity."  His grandfather said through gritted teeth, looking down at Bowen with his piercing blue eyes.

"Tell me, what would you have done if you broke your knee?   I'll tell you.  It would leave you a cripple.   You would have to walk with a cane the rest your life.   You would never be able to run or climb trees again.   Think Bowen, Think!"   

Bowen hung his head, shamed.       His grandfather sighed, and put a hand on his great grand-child's shoulder

"There are consequences for every action Bowen, you must always remember this..."

 

 

 

*********

 

 

                  Duke Pendrake sat in his audience chamber chair, head in his hands.

His Son was dead.

His problem child Son who he had to constantly scold.

His unruly Child who had rebelled from his father's wishes to become a warrior.

His baby Boy who had kept him up all night with his crying when he was an infant.

His idiot Son, who he would never get to scold again,   Was Dead.

He looked over at his wife, who was sitting in the chair next to him.

She was despondent, lying in the chair as if she were dead, tears ruining her make-up and sending black streams down her face.         She was always a beautiful woman.   Always did her best to keep up appearances. But now she looked like a strong breeze would scatter her like ashes in the wind.

  "Bring him to me"   The Duke commanded the two guards waiting by the door.

The fully armored guards give a quick salute and exit the chamber.

 'This is MY fault.  I should have sent him to the barracks to live.  I should have come down hard on him when I first heard...  I should...        CURSE THOSE FILTHY DAEMON-KIN!!! This is THEIR fault!  They taint everything they touch!  because of  them, Byron is...  Byron is...'   

Feeling a pain in his hands he looks down to see blood running through his fingers and a crushed bottle of brandy he hadn't remembered he had reached for.

Hearing a subtle cough, he looks up to see his guards holding a skinny weasel of a man, filthy and shirtless & covered in cuts and bruises.   The man is gagged and his hands are bound.  The weasel's eyes are wide with terror, and he was visibly shaking.

This was one of the vagabonds that his son Byron kept company with.

"mmph!"   "mmmph!"  The weasel tried to speak through his cloth gag, in vain.

   Guard Captain Rainer steps forward from the side.

"My lord, the torturers have been working him all night.  His story checks out.  We believe he was telling the truth when he said that Lord Byron was murdered by Daemon-kin from the slums"    

 "Why was he even there at that late hour?..."  Asks the Duke

Captain Rainer's face pales, and he looks away.   "That is... According to him, they were using a daemon whore when they were attacked..."

Duke Pendrake's face goes hot with rage, his clenched fist dripping blood, he stands.

Captain Rainer, seeing the rage on his Dukes face, quickly changes the subject

"My Lord" He said while pulling out a couple of thick papers from a satchel  "These are sketches of the daemons made by our artist"

The Duke takes the pages from his captain, and holds them in his non-bloody hand.    He gazes for long minutes at the ones who murdered his Son.  A pretty young girl with dark hair, wearing a daemon bandana on her forehead stares back at him.  As well as a foul looking old man with grizzled features, unkempt beard & hair, and a vile expression on his face. 

There were notes written in the margins, describing the details that couldn't be seen from the facial sketch.

The Old Man-  

Age: roughly fifty

Height: six - six & a half feet 

Hair color: grey

Large build

Wears filthy rags, is likely a homeless vagrant

Extremely vicious, likely has had combat training

 

The Girl-

Age:  fifteen - twenty

Height: five - five & a half feet

Hair color:  black - dark brown

Slender build

profession: whore

 

The Duke finally sets the papers down in his chair, and walks in front of the cowering weasel, who looked as if he were going to piss himself

  "Are these sketches accurate?"   Duke Pendrake asks the bound and gagged man, who nods up and down vigorously

"Un-gag him"  The Duke commands.

The weasel's eyes grow wide as a belt knife is flashed in his face: only to cut his gag away

*Cough* *Cough*

The pathetic little man hacks as the cloth gag is removed from his throat.  

"A- Th- thank you Lord thank ye!" The man says in a raspy voice

 The Duke's face is a blank mask "Why did you come to me with this information, why did you not alert the city guard?"

The weasel stutters "M- my lord i- i f-figured that you should b-be the first to know"

Commander Rainer spoke up "My Duke, he mentioned a reward when he was first apprehended"

  'A reward? This craven left my youngest son to die in an alley and comes to me for a REWARD!!!'   

"You shall have your reward for your actions"     

The idiot's face actually looked hopeful

"Kneel him"   He commanded.    The two soldiers holding the  vermin kick the backs of his knees, forcing him down hard on the carpeted stone floor

"ARRgh...   L-lord what are you d-doin?? i dun under-s-stand"

"Rainer, give me your broadsword"    

The Commander hands his Duke a stout longsword with a wide blade, hilt first.

"No p-please, you were sposed ta give me- UNNGH!!!"       The duke strikes his face with the pommel of the sword

"OPEN HIS MOUTH!!"   Yells the enraged Duke

A guard holding him shoves his heavy gauntleted fingers through his teeth and into his mouth, then pulling down on his jaw, while the other guard grabs a thick handful of the little man's hair, and pulls back hard, forcing his mouth open.

"NOW HAVE YOUR REWARD!"

Duke Pendrake yelled as he shoved the broadsword into the man's mouth, cutting his tongue off. Cutting his esophagus as the sword was pushed down his gullet, through the heart and into the lower organs.

The Duke watched his eyes dilate, as the weasel choked on his own blood & twitched, coughing small spatters onto the Duke's face.

  Finally, after all the light dies from his eyes, the Duke kicks him over

"This Filth was a Liar. My son was not found in the slums.  That is slander to our name.  My son was killed as part of a Daemon plot! Understand?"   

  'This can never get out... If the church were to catch wind of this... Rainer is loyal, but these two guards may have to meet 'accidents'...the torturer too...'

"SEAL OFF ALL ENTRANCES TO THE SLUMS!!  BY MY ORDER, NO DAEMON CAN EXIT THE SLUMS"

 He shoves the sketches of the murderers into Rainer's hands  "Have these sketches printed & posted throughout the city"

Suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder.  Turning, he sees his wife,  Duchess Theodora with a cold fire in her eyes

  "Find The ones who murdered our son, And capture them ALIVE husband"

 

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