Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 61: Scene LXI — Respect for the Wife.
Steps filled with threat, resounding as they met the ground were given by her Barbaric Spouse whose intensity reverberated the air as the menace he was, approached the equally dangerous men finding entertainment in the young one’s unskillfulness
“Ivahr! Don’t throw tha axe, darn imp! Beasts aren’t idiotic. Losing your weapon makes you their dinner instantly. Hmph.. you won’t survive if ya keep being this useless, HaHa!”
The familiar and loud laughter of a man she had seen escape was heard as more distance was closed into the training grounds of the wild ones.
“Shut that mouth, pathetic Hrom! I’ll do better than you!”
“HaHa! HA!” — Amused, a mocking laugh was spouted by the lenient Hrom, who rested comfortably inside a loose trunk near the place a handful of young wild ones prepared their skills.
Resonating intensely, accompanied by the rest of the audience of men that also laughed at the unbelievable words the kid had dared to say.
“Ivahr.” — The one leisurely engaging in their training called the child’s attention. — “The one you should listen to the most is Hrom... see that belly?”
Pointing with his axe, the man showed Ivahr with a wide smirk the big stomach Hrom caressed carefreely as he sneered back and drank his mead. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
“When he left for the Framikanna ritual the bastard was thinner and smaller than you.”
“Hehe... That’s right! Hrom ate most of the beasts out there, hahaha!”
“HA! I suppose I did! HwaHa!”
“... what bull are you spouting...” — The child asked in disgusted doubt at the sight the mentioned man signified.
Exchanging glances with the other children, little Ivahr silently contemplated the truth the men were telling him. Aware that his people’s adults were difficult to understand if their sayings were truthful or a tease.
“... It’s true.”
“!... crap...” — Ivahr softly cussed regrouping with the other children.
Yet he wasn´t the only one.
“! Darn it. He’s here..... psst! Psst! Veneer Female!” — Raising in hast at the sight of the Archduke, Hrom moved quickly to the side as the others also raised to greet the one as respected but also feared... as their Village’s Head.
Cautious not to speak as her Husband had told Ewelina, she followed the man’s swift movements similar to those a beast would make and gestured the ignorance she held to what he wished to tell in a whispering yet not concealed sound.
“Did you tell the laugh?! Does he know??!” — In hast Hrom pressed to learn, receiving an immediate shake of her head that was softly made as to cover their exchange from the eyes of the other men paying attention to her Husband.
“Aie~ well done!”
Joyful, the craftsman jumped back to the place he had been laying, joining the others that watched Aslak bend to hold a large blade from the ground to play with it as a furtive glance over every eye was given.
He had gone around and come back to stare at those green ones that held enmity against him to say more on the issue they had been discussing.
“Hrom, as idiotic as he seems would arrive in the morning with new furs... although empty of any bone or flesh since he would have already eaten it all on his own.”
“And they were delicious. Ha Ha!”
“Tsk... Myrkzver’s lying!” — The young wild one said with rage. Reluctant to believe Hrom’s strength.
Nonetheless, his innocent act was not wise.
That one he claimed a liar was not a simple villager. The eyes of the beastly owner of Sortnafeigr glimpsed at the child who had been looking with disgust at the mocking Hrom, who at Ivahr’s utterings turned in nervousness, sighing to himself at the kid’s stupidity.
“Ivahr, is it?”
“...That’s righ-”
“You are lucky.”
Serious glances were exchanged by the few present. Some stood proud in approval, while others enjoyed the thrilling scene the stillness the always trembling land kept at the menace Aslak represented.
“If not because my mate is here, that tongue of yours would be warming the ground now.”
“.....”
“I am no liar. Cub.”
Ivahr’s pulse dropped at the pitfall he had found before the Archduke’s wild spirit.
Unable to look at the man’s amber hues, the youth’s head remained looking downwards in repentance to his impulsive spouts and became more ashamed after hearing the words Aslak was to say next. At which the others would burst into laughter, making the previous judgemental quiet much more enhanced in Ivahr’s senses.
“... I heard and saw your throw. And yet you say Hrom is pathetic?” — A mocking expression was given with contempt to the child, lastly turning to the others to laugh at the little one. — “Hah. Beasts would probably eat Hrom since he never leaves his axe, but they would spit before eating you, pathetic Ivahr.”
“Even my bones would be tasty! And the best part would be they eat the family that feeds this roundness, HAHAHA!!”
“Even your hair would be tasty, you piece of waste. I remember we would have to enter the green to get food because of you!”
“Aie~ It was fun~ The beasts were good opponents back there, Hwahwa. Thou should bless me!”
The men laughed and commented between each other, indifferent to the child burying himself in his shoulders meanwhile Aslak observed satisfied at the distracted and joyful wildmen.
Nonetheless, the man turned to watch the child become red in rage and embarrassment... And spoke. Walking towards him so he and the other children could listen to his words.
Always maintaining a proud and arrogant high stance to convey his power.
“... By throwing your weapon, you offer yourself to be eaten by fangs. Never do that again. At least if you are to die by the beast, injure it. Don’t leave the weapon that can grant you life and honour... It’s only you and your weapon out there. Once the returnees arrive... listen carefully to the names we won’t hear again and learn this meaning.”
“... When are they coming?” — One child from behind came forward to ask.
“Right... My mistake. If they arrive.”
A chill travelled the children at the aloof tone the man used to announce the dreadful truth they could also meet at the Framikanna ritual they were to join.
“... Young of Kleifar.” — He then called for the children’s attention. — “There are times names and their owners won’t be heard again in our lands. So I suggest you follow those brave that returned here and listen to their advice. I’m sure you don’t want to be remembered as the pathetic Ivahr... or as the lost defeated ones.”
