Born Isu

“Fucking Örlendr the lonely” Ragnor mocked with his group of friends watching as they pushed the young boy to the ground. “Ragnor we are brothers!” “Only because my family took you in. Nothing more!” Ragnor mocked throwing mud at him, “Filthy mutt!” Ivan yelled throwing water at him as they chased him through the streets, “Get back here you rat!” “Boys enough!” Helga snapped but ignoring the older woman Ragnor continued the chase before tripping him up Ernak fell hitting his head on the table. Blood trickled and weary eyed Ernak groaned feeling the kicks reign in but feeling one pair not hit him he heard Ragnor growl, “Guys enough this isn’t fun anymore!” “It was never about fun!” the tallest spat kicking Ernak in the face hearing the nose crack.

“Get up!” a voice spoke booming in his head and accepting he was seriously hurt coughed feeling like someone was strangling heard the deep voice growl once again, “I said get up boy! I won’t have you giving up!” Ernak tried to get up but feeling another kick into the ribs heard the voice growl, “Again! This time grab the foot!” Ernak tried once more and hearing the command, “Now!” caught the foot and pulled him forward forcing the assaulter to fall to the ground. Ernak stood up groggily and hearing the commands from the voice that he will help stopped to hear Ragnor gasp at the sight of Ernak snapped, “This has gone on long enough!” “Go ahead side with that mutt!” Ragnor punched the first of them, trying to defend his younger brother but being pushed to the side by Ivan he was met by a block of unused steel from the blacksmith to the head. Ernak spat more blood out and groggily walking forward heard the voice snap, “To the left” clang another shot to the head of Ivan’s gang and hearing the group run away Ragnor gasped seeing the severity of the wounds, “Ernak… I’m sorry. I thought we were only messing. This went too far!” and looking back Ernak spat back, “Is chasing me fun? I’m not having fun. Every other day this happens to me. I didn’t choose to be different!” he looked down and hearing the voice of, “They will regret this!” Ernak muttered, “I’m done. Another broken nose!” “Hang on… I will fetch mother and father!” Ernak looked down and crying from his pain Helga immediately rushed out from the tavern and snapped, “Ubba strong ale now!” Ubba nodded and seeing the wounds spat, “Everyone get out. Arne, help him inside!” “Why he’s just a mongrel!” “Shut up and help him!” Ernak pushed their hands away and trudging off spat, “Don’t let this filthy mongrel put you out of your way!” and slapping her son Helga cried out, “Ernak wait!”

Ernak slumped against the tree and groaning heard the voice once again speak to him, “I forgot how much it hurts to feel pain!” “Agony!” “Don’t sit down. It compresses the ribs. I learned that the hard way. Use the tree for support” Ernak felt an imaginary hand pull him up and push him against the tree before overlooking the village stared at the wagons pulling in. Then seeing the man with two young daughters sit expecting Sigurd to meet them. Ernak could seeing everything that was transpiring and seeing the Sigurd explain the emergency, Ernak smiled seeing the eldest daughter look up and her eyes meeting his. She grasped and beginning to hide his face thinking it was scaring her he heard her cry out, “He’s up there. Help him! He needs help!”

Thirty minutes had passed and pacing back and for Sigurd growled at Ernak, “Stop picking fights. How many times do I have to tell you. The sixth in two weeks!” “I wasn’t… they…” “Yes, yes. Ragnor told me that they were name calling and you tried to fight them because they mentioned your parents. We are your parents. Sorry if you don’t like it!” “But I…” “Enough Ernak! It’s bad enough I will have to pay compensation to the lads family’s for the damage you have done!” “Enough Sigurd. Let Ernak speak!” his wife interrupted and falling silent Ernak cried, “They pick on me, beat me up, chase me through the streets as they name call me and throw mud at me. Every time I see them. It’s there game!” “Who?” Sigurd questioned, “Ragnor and his friends!” “Ragnor helped you! How do you explain that?” “Only when he knew they had gone too far. Look at me they did all this too me!” “He’s lying!” Ragnor protested and getting up Ernak replied, “Should have guessed. If they found out the truth you would be the perfect little son!” “Enough Ernak. Lying wont help!” Sigurd growled and getting up Ernak spat, “Why bother. No one ever listens to me!” “Ernak wait!” Alfhild protested trying to pull him back to finish getting treated but seeing him stop Helga and Ubba walked in and said, “Sigurd Ernak is telling you the truth.”

Sigurd raised and eyebrow and waiting for Helga to speak she began, “They hounded him down the streets, name calling; throwing mud at him until he was tripped up. I demanded they stopped but they ignored me so trying to find my husband I saw what transpired. He was tripped by your son! Thanks to him, Ernak’s head hit the edge of the table and almost killed him. Of course Ragnor understood how serious Ernak’s state was so he pleaded for them to stop but they didn’t listen and he tried to fight them off. The group kicked Ernak repeatedly and Ivan broke his nose and your son; who is scared by the trouble he will be in lied!” Sigurd glared at him who looking down muttered, “I’m sorry!” Sigurd grabbed Ragnor by his collar and growling spat, “Sorry! Sorry! You almost killed him! Ernak…” “Don’t bother… it’s clear I need witnesses every time something happens instead of believing me!” “I will make them pay for this. Mark my words!” then meeting a slap from Alfhild she spat, “Apologise to him!” but it was too late, Ernak trudged away clinging his head and stopping only for a moment heard the new young woman ask, “All you alright?” “NO!” he muttered before walking away.

“Ernak what happened to you?” the Seer questioned helping him into her house and clutching his head Ernak muttered, “Head aches and I can hear a booming voice speaking all these big words and commands to me!” “You suffered a knock to the head didn’t you?” “Feels worse!” she nodded and preparing a solution said, “Drink. It will make the pain and voice go. Stay here whilst I find resources to fix the wound” he looked down and seeing his sight go blurry heard her snap, “Stay awake!” too late his eyes fell shut.