In Which Norwan Sees the Ugliest Color

December 4, 1158

There was a distinct rustling sound coming from Norwan's field, and it did not sound like the mere work of the wind. No... someone was there. Someone was trespassing.

Perhaps it was his whore of a wife, trying to rob him of his crops in order to support herself, wherever the hell she was living. Well, no matter where she was, she certainly wouldn't be coming back here, that was for sure, or at least not if the baby was a boy--in that case, she would leave the baby to him, and if she stayed on his property for a minute longer than she had to, he'd damn well kill her. If it was a girl... well, he'd have to put up with Thetis for at long enough to assure himself of an heir.

The baby had to be a boy. It had to be.

Angrily, he pushed open the gate and stormed into the field; to his great surprise, the trespasser wasn't Thetis at all. In fact, it wasn't even a single person.

There were two of them. Two small children, a boy and a girl, playing some sort of game, completely naked.

What was this? What sort of awful parents let their children run around wild at this ungodly hour? And in the buff, no less? And shouldn't these brats have at least had the decency to stay on their parents' own lands?

"What in the hell are you doing here?" he demanded of the two children; startled, both of them hurriedly leapt to their feet. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Get your worthless hides back to your own homes!"

The girl shuddered slightly. "Brother... maybe we leaves now, yes?" She seemed reluctant to look Norwan's way--the boy, however, faced him with a small smile. Norwan found his eyebrow raising as he noted the child's odd, gem-like eyes, as well as the strange black markings on his face. What sort of thing was this? Surely just some painted little prankster who happened to have eyes of a color even more bizarre than Thetis's?

"Sorry, Dovan-man," he addressed Norwan in the same odd manner as his sister. "You see... we plays here sometime, yes? Ground soft here. No worry though--we no eat you foodses. Plants is yuck... gives us rooserly Spanards, yes? Or buttery Frenchs?"

Norwan scowled. "Filthy little bastard! I have no time for your nonsense--either you leave my land with your head, or stay without!"

"That what Grandmama say, no? But she scary--everyone know she eat Grandpapa's ballses after Papa born, yes?"

"Disgusting!" barked Norwan. "Stupid little fucker! Why in the hell would I want to know what your whore grandmother does to your grandfather's... you know what? Just leave! Now--or God help me, I'll get my knife and fertilize my crops with your flesh!"

Again, the girl trembled, but the boy's unnatural eyes widened in what could only be described as excited curiosity.

"What is 'knife', Dovan-man?" he inquired brightly as his sister shied away behind him. "Is it foods? It it a naminimal? Ooooh, is it pretty, 'luptuous lady?"

The girl cringed as Norwan ground his bottom lip between his teeth. "Tavrin..."

"No worry, Iata, Dovan-man just--"

She let out a childish shriek as Norwan drove his fist across her brother's face. It felt immensely satisfying, making this kid finally shut up, putting the little ass-rag in his place; the girl's frightened squeal only added to his pleasure.

"Consider that a warning!" he shouted. "If you aren't gone by the time I count to ten, I'll do much worse to you! One... two..."

Slowly, the two of them backed away--he'd have much preferred it if they were quick about it.

"Three... five... nineteen..."

He'd given them ample time to hurry, but they had not seized the opportunity--useless little fuckers.

"Forty-eight... seventy-two... sixty-nine..."

They were still in the field. Why in the hell were they still in the field? Their blood was on their own hands.

"One hundred and twenty-eight... t--"

"Step away from my children, human."

Norwan had to blink--several times. As if he had materialized out of thin air, there was suddenly a man standing between himself and the children.

Well, if he could call it a 'man'. He was certainly male, his nudity revealed--but it was just as evident that whatever he was, he most definitely was not human. His skin glowed in the moonlight, a strange reddish design across his face. His magenta hair was held back in a tight braid, and his ears narrowed to fine points, like those of an elf.

"Did I fail to make myself clear?" the creature spat as Norwan did not comply. "I understand that these children are foolish young half-breeds who have yet to understand the concept of private property, but as their father, I command you to leave them alone!"

Defiantly, Norwan remained as he was. He was only a peasant, but he figured that he outranked this creature by sheer virtue of being human. Besides, this didn't even seem real--chances are, it was only a dream.

The creature's eyes were black where white should have been, and showed not the slightest trace of a pupil. Their eerie red was the very shade of blood--a color that Norwan had seen many times before, but had never truly noticed. Now, he saw it for what it was; it was the ugliest color in the world, even uglier than the color of Thetis's eyes.

"Wrong answer, human!" screamed the thing as it clenched his neck in its hands, squeezing and pressing as if the existence of the very world depended on it. His airway was blocked... his spine, cracking...

The color of the creature's eyes was the ugliest color Norwan had ever seen--and as, fate would have it, it was also the last he ever saw.

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Avine Invokes a Demon's Wrath

May 25, 1158

During her childhood years back in Dovia, Avine had always been the fastest little girl in the village, the only one who could consistently challenge boys to races and come out on top. Her running prowess had not faded with womanhood, marriage, and motherhood--but today, no matter how fast she ran, she felt lacked the speed of a mere babe toddling along after the lanky young men.

Not for the first time in her lengthy sprint, she prayed against all logic that Thetis was home. Thetis, she knew, always came to get Byrn before returning home, but today had to be exception. It just had to be.

Gasping for breath, Avine through herself against the door, continually pounding. "Thetis!" she screamed. "Thetis!"

It was no use; no one answered.

Frustrated, she began to pound, biting her lip so hard her teeth might have pierced through her skin. "Thetis! Oh, God, Thetis! Please be home, please! God dammit!"

Suddenly, the door flung open--however, the person it revealed was not Thetis.

Avine had never met Norwan, nor had ever had any care to, but here he was, just as Thetis had described him. He was not a large man--in fact, he was rather short--but his angry scowl, cruel eyes, and very aura made him a fierce, intimidating presence. He wreaked of a vile mix of sweat and ale, and altogether gave Avine the distinct impression of being rather troll-like. She could not fear him, however; there were far fouler things at work today.

"Who the hell are you?" he spat sourly, his voice invoking the sudden mental image of a rotting fence board with jagged, rusty nails sticking out of it from all angles.

"I--I live in the village," panted Avine, struggling to catch her breath. "I--Thetis--she leaves Byrn with me--sometimes."

Norwan barred his teeth, his foul breath seeping into the air; had Avine been in a state to be any more aware, she would have recoiled out of sheer reflex. "Can't be bothered to take care of her own son, can she? Little whore! She's in for it when she gets back, that's for sure! Now, if she shows up with Byrn again, you just tell her to get her scrawny ass back here, you hear me?"

Avine trembled uncontrollably. "I... don't think..."

"You don't what?" demanded Norwan, shoving her backward, causing her to very nearly fall into the fence. "God dammit, woman! You filthy whores have a code or what? Vile wench! Now, why the hell are you here?"

"I came to tell Thetis--"

He gave her no chance to finish. "Well, Thetis ain't here, is she? Now, you tell me whatever the hell you wanted to tell her, or I'll rip those whore braids right off your head!"

She didn't know how to begin, especially under this pressure. What should she say? Why hadn't she thought this through? Was it possible to think something like this through? "The horse... he's usually calm, I swear! Something must've startled him, it was the damnedest thing..."

"I don't give a rat's ass about any damn horse!" Norwan snarled dangerously.

Once again, Avine panicked--why hadn't she sent Bernver instead? "But if I would've thought... I wouldn't have let him... never was a tamer horse, I swear it, and..."

"To hell with the fucking horse! You start talking sense now, or God help me, I'll tear you to shreds!"

Avine couldn't hold it in any longer; as she slowly walked away, she raised her hands to her face and began to cry. "It's... it's Byrn," she wailed, her voice barely even audible to Avine herself. "He's dead."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Norwan Takes Back His Own

January 7, 1156

"So you're back," Norwan sneered between gritted teeth. "Now I won't have to clean my own house anymore."

Thetis didn't reply. Stupid as always, she stood between the two men, her dull eyes cast upon the baby she held. It was a boy, Norwan had been told, named Byrn after his mother's father--it seemed as though Norwan had wasted wishes by hoping the boy wouldn't take after her. This little thing was just as ugly as his mother, and probably one hell of a lot noisier too. But he would grow to be much tougher than she, that Norwan would make sure of.

Scowling, Lord Severin leaned toward him, his eyes two mahogany daggers. "I'm warning you, if you hurt either of them in any way, I won't hesitate to take action."

"Forgive me, my lord, but you have no power here," hissed Norwan in reply. "This is King Roderick's shire, and you can't get to me without going through him."

The other man seemed quite unfazed. "Believe me, Goodman Ciramel; King Roderick will be no trouble."

Norwan knew how to pick his battles--he was in need of a less formidable foe. "Thetis!" he addressed his wife.

"Bring him inside, then make me some lunch!"

"Not even a friendly 'hello'," sighed the stranger who had accompanied them. "You were right, Severin; his soul is an appalling dump heap with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable."

"Mangled up in tangled up knots," Lord Severin added. "Thetis, it isn't too late to take up my offer, you realize."

"Thetis, if you don't get inside the house right this minute, the king will know about this!" barked Norwan. "And you don't want to cause any trouble for this nice lord, do you?"

Thetis shook her head weakly. "No..."

"Good! Now get in the damn house, slut!"

Little Byrn looked up at his father, out of those same scared teal eyes Norwan saw every time he looked at Thetis.

His tiny lip quivered, just as hers often did; the resemblence was uncanny. He would need to somehow find some assurance that this was actually his child.

Nodding, Thetis slowly filed past him and toward the front door. Norwan glared at Lord Severin and his companion. "I understand that you're the lord of the next shire, but since we're in this one, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"You be good to her," the noble warned him. "You'd better treat her like a goddess."

"That's a sin."

"So is treating her like an animal."

Animal, Norwan thought bitterly to himself as the two men started down the road. I sure as hell don't treat her like an animal. No... I treat her like a woman.

Angrily, he burst through the door and shoved past Thetis, who had been mindlessly loitering just inside.

"Why the hell are you just standing there?" he demanded of her. "Useless woman!"

He could see a tear welling up in her eye, but once again, she kept her mouth shut.

"Put him to bed, Thetis."

"Yes, Norwan," she whimpered in reply.

She glanced down at Byrn, the two identical pairs of eyes locking. Two of those eyes were bad enough--now there would be four. At least there would never be six, he could assure himself; now that she had born him a male heir, he wouldn't bother to force her. The local whores, he was sure, would be much more fun.

He watched her as she placed the infant in his crib. She had retained very little of the baby weight, he noticed; if anything, she looked thinner. Surely that lord had fed her well; how was it that she was still as bony as ever?

"You, uh... wanted lunch?" she asked him timidly as she emerged from behind the baby's curtains.

He couldn't help but bare his teeth as he looked at her. She was a mother and a wife, but she looked like a common tramp. No half-respectable woman would walk around looking like that.

"First, I want you to do something about your hair."

Thetis gaped at him. "Sorry?"

"Your hair, idiot girl!" he snapped. "You look like a harlot with it hanging down like that all the time. Now that you're a mother, I expect you to start looking like one, so go put your goddamn hair up or I'll tear it all out!"

"Oh... oh please, N-norwan," she stuttered, placing her face in her hands in a vain attempt to hide her tears. "My m-mother wore h-hers like I d-do..."

"Your mother was a filthy whore, just like you!" roared Norwan. "Now go and do as I said, you insufferable wench!"

Defeated, Thetis trudged into the bedroom, sulking all the while. She would no longer be sleeping in that room, he had decided months earlier. No, she could sleep at the table, on the floor, in the field... he didn't care. As long as she was on his property and out of his bed, he didn't give a damn about where she slept.

Since she was now out of his sight, he now felt free to take a good look at the baby--as annoying as two of those eyes were, four were much worse.

"You better pray you're mine, brat," Norwan muttered darkly to the infant. "You got no idea what I'm gonna do to that mother of yours if you're not."

That lip quivered once more; it would be a challenge, making a man out of this boy.

But it didn't matter. He had an heir now. He had a son to help him in the field and to pass on the house to when he died. He'd make a man out of Byrn even if he'd been born a mouse.

Norwan took a seat at the kitchen table; he was getting hungry, and Thetis owed him the best lunch she'd ever made in her whole pathetic life.

He turned to look as the bedroom door creaked open and she emerged. Those eyes seemed even more prominent now that all that hair was out of them, and he didn't like the look of her cheek bones, as well as her large ears. Oh well; an ugly, respectable wife was better than a slightly less ugly wife who looked like a whore.

"Better," he assured her. "Now get to work on that lunch!"

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Thetis is Rescued from the Troll

March 22, 1155

Not for the first time that morning, Thetis found herself struggling with a bout of nausea. Her illness had been reoccurring over the past few weeks--coupled with the fact that she hadn't bled in over a month, this could only mean one thing.

I'm going to have a baby. I'm really going to have a baby.

As she reclined on the bed, she couldn't help but smile. She had considered the possibility of her pregnancy over the past while, but with the memory of her past miscarriage, it was only today that it was suddenly a reality. Thetis couldn't help but smile as she pictured her future baby; would it be a boy, or a girl? Would it look like her, or like--?

"Thetis!" barked her husband as he barged into the bedroom. "Where in the blazes is my breakfast?"

Hurriedly, Thetis pulled herself to her feet and edged away from the bed; of all the things Norwan did to her when he was angry with her, rape was the punishment she feared most. "I'm sorry," she whimpered softly. "I... I forgot..."

"You forgot?" Norwan spat. "You forgot? Dammit, girl, I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times--when I come in from the field in the morning, I want my breakfast on the table, waiting for me! How many times do I have to tell you that, you stupid wench?"

Trembling, she turned away from him and sought refuge in the corner like a child who had just been spanked. "Never again, I promise!"

"You look at me when I'm talking to you, you ugly little tramp!"

Before she could react, he had grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her toward him. She cringed in fear as he raised his hand, bracing herself for the stinging impact that would surely follow.

His strike was quick, but firm. She felt the familiar tingling sensation spread throughout her cheek, then turned her eyes to the dirt floor.

"Yes... Norwan. I... I won't f-forget again, I p-promise."

"Good," he hissed. "Good Lord, you're lucky I married you, girl--God knows no one else would've, scrawny little witch you are. Now, I'm going to take a nap, and when I wake up, my breakfast better be on that table!"

Finding herself unable to speak, she merely nodded.

"Oh, and Thetis?"

"Y-yes?" she managed to choke.

Norwan scowled. "I'm not stupid. Don't think I haven't noticed you haven't been bleeding for a while. I'm warning you now; if you lose this one, there'll be hell to pay. You got that?"

This time, she did nothing, but the look in her eyes must have satisfied him. "Now get out!"

She didn't have to be told twice. Not only did she leave the bedroom, but the house as well. Unfortunately, she had nowhere to go but Norwan's field, where he toiled between meals and naps. This was his sanctuary, that she knew; however, she lacked one of her own, and currently, his was unoccupied.

Nobody lived within several miles of Norwan and Thetis; there would be no one to hear her crying, she realized, unless Norwan woke. She would have to take her chances with him--she couldn't hold it in anymore. This past year had been by far the most difficult of her young life, and for six months, she had been unable to express that. It was about time that those six months of tears were cried.

"Excuse me, young lady," a man's voice that was not Norwan's addressed her, proving her assumption wrong, "but I can't help noticing that you seem to be upset. May I ask why?"

Thetis looked up to see a tall man standing in front of her. She had never seen him before--he had not traveled from Dovia with the king's party as she and Norwan had. He was dressed too finely to be a peasant... was he a gentleman, perhaps? A lesser noble? His eyes betrayed his Eastern blood, but his fair skin labeled him a Luperian; surely he had not traveled all the way from that farthest region of Dovia to godforsaken Naroni?

"Well, first my papa d-died," she answered between sobs, "and then my m-mama died. And th-then I went to live with my uncle, and then, th-then..." she trailed off, her tears taking over once more.

"Does your uncle live in this house?" asked the man.

Thetis swallowed. "No, my uncle is back in D-Dovia. I'm here with my h-husband."

"Husband?" he repeated. "You're married? How old are you, sweetheart?"

"Th-thirteen," she stuttered. "Fourteen in May."

The man frowned. "That's awfully young to be married. What is your husband like?"

"Oh, I hate him!" she exclaimed. "My uncle made me marry him, just because he owed him some money! He beats me and he r-rapes me and he calls me stupid and ugly and--"

"Don't listen to him; surely he is only jealous, because he himself is stupid and ugly," her new acquaintance assured her.

She blinked. "R-really?"

"What reason have I to lie to you?" he inquired; she could think of none. "You are a beautiful, intelligent young woman, and you shouldn't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"But if I don't listen to him, he'll hit me!" she cried. "Or worse! And I'm pregnant--I don't want him to hurt my baby!"

The man nodded. "I see. Well, why don't you come and stay with my wife and I in Veldora until the baby is born? My wife is also pregnant--when are you due?"

"Why--early November, I guess," she replied, smiling slightly. "Could I really stay with you?"

"Of course," he insisted. "My wife is due in mid October; you could help take care of our baby for a few weeks, so you'll be prepared for your own. By the way, young lady, you must forgive me... what is your name?"

"Thetis Larona--er, Thetis Ciramel," Thetis introduced herself, adding Norwan's surname with a hint of bitterness.

He smiled. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that last bit; you don't mind if I just think of you as Thetis Larona, do you?"

For the first time in months, she laughed; she felt like a princess who had just been rescued from a vicious troll by a handsome knight. "Oh, not at all!"

Instinctively, she flung her arms around his torso, burying her face in his shoulder. Chuckling to himself, he returned the embrace. "I'm sure you and Alina will be the best of friends by the time your baby is born."

"It's funny that I know your wife's name and not yours," she mused.

"Oh, sorry. It's Severin," he told her. "Severin Kemorin. You must excuse me, I'm notorious for forgetting to introduce myself; I met the Baron of Tetran a few days ago, and I don't recall telling him my name, now that I think about it. However, you, unlike him, were bold enough to comment--that can be a very useful quality."

"Norwan says I'm useless," sighed Thetis.

"That's because Norwan is a vile old lecher. Now come along--I daresay it's about time to get some breakfast into you."

He led her out of the field and onto the path leading from the front door to the road, a content sort of quiet falling between the two of them. Thetis, however, wished he would continue to speak--it had been so long since she had heard a male voice other than Norwan's.

"So you live all the way out in Veldorashire?" she inquired of him, attempting to break the silence. "What brings you all the way out here to Ambrin-Naroni?"

"Nothing particularly important--just some hunting," Severin answered promptly.

Thetis gasped. "Oh, I hope I didn't frighten away any game with my crying!"

"No need to worry," he declared, "for I was hunting for priests, and everyone knows that there are no priests in Naroni. I was actually riding into Dovia to retrieve an old friend of mine, but it won't matter much if I delay the journey a day or two."

As much as she felt she shouldn't, Thetis couldn't help but be jealous of Severin's Alina. Alina had a good man for a husband; she did not. Alina's baby would grow up with a loving father; hers would not. How had that woman come to be so lucky, whereas misfortune upon misfortune had befallen Thetis in only one year?

"Thetis, idiot girl! You forgot my breakfast again!"

Norwan was awake, outside, and angry.

"And who is this man?" he demanded of her. "Have you taken a lover, you little slut? I didn't think anyone would have you, you worthless piece of trash!"

Thetis didn't respond. She didn't have to; Severin already had. "How dare you accuse her of infidelity--can't you see that she's only a child? At her age, a husband is more than enough for her, even a husband as cruel and miserable as you are!"

"A man has every right to put his wife in her place if he has to," Norwan defended himself between gritted teeth.

Severin scowled. "Is that so?" he snarled. "Well, if you are such a devout believer of antiquated hierarchies, then bear in mind that a noble has every right to put a peasant in his place if he has to. I am a son of Lonriad, Duke of Luperia, and cousin to both King Roderick of Naroni and Celina, Duchess of Armion. I wed a daughter of Searle, Count of Valcria and currently reside in the castle at Veldora. Now, if your ancient ideas of class allow it, challenge my authority--I dare you."

"I... I..." stammered Norwan. "If you excuse my saying, my lord... it's my own free choice what I do to my wife--"

"Not while she's carrying your child, it isn't!" Severin shouted; Norwan jumped backwards in shock. "Now, I'm taking your wife back to Veldora with me, where she will stay until her baby is born--and longer, if you give her any trouble. Have I made myself clear?"

"Y-yes, my lord."

And with that, Norwan hurried back inside the house. Severin turned his back on the now closed door, an angry expression lingering on his face. Carefully, Thetis approached him.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that, Thetis," he apologized. "I loathe men like him."

She frowned. "Did you know one?"

Sighing, he closed his eyes. "It's not a story for young ears. Now, we should make haste away from here--you look half-starved, and you must remember that you're eating for two now."

NEXT CHAPTER: