The Bear's Lair

The sun rose and I felt its warm caress on my cheek as my eyes flicker open. I look to my side and see the fiery top of Elsie’s head as she nuzzles against me shoulder. I run a hand through her hair, stroking it as she wakes. Even after all she has been through in the last few hours, as she sees me looking at her and comforting her in bed together, she smiles for a moment. Then it fails as she remembers everything.

“Good morning” I say as I plant a kiss on her forehead

“Mhmm” she groans as her embrace of me tightens

“I know, I know” I say softly, smoothing back her hair. I feel an embarrassing stretch in my breeches as I feel the curves of her chest rubbing against my torso. I glance down to check that it isn’t noticeable through the blankets.

“We need to get up. We need to deal with…” I look down at her face and don’t want to ruin the serene expression that came with her sleep, “… with him” I finish

Her lip trembles for a moment but she nods her head, and we slide out of the bed. I walk towards my closet and change out of my nightclothes, feeling her gaze on my body as I undress. I can’t help but blush, knowing how much she likes it, how attracted to me she is; a few years ago I had some rolls of fat where my abs are now and would have been embarrassed to be seen without a shirt, let alone someone like Elsie seeing me.

I see the dress that she wore last night when she arrived at our home laying folded on my table, my mother must have brought it in this morning once it had dried. Elsie removes the clothes that I had lent her and dresses herself in the green dress with long skirts. Like her, I can’t take my eyes away and watch her; my gaze runs up her long, smooth legs and rests on her shapely rear. I can’t help but feel somewhat disappointed as the jade fabric of her dress conceals it.

As she turns around and sees me watching, I flush with heat but quickly recover myself. “Come on, an early start can only be a good thing” I say, offering my hand.

She takes it and we step out of my room, I open my mothers’ door to see if she is in but just see Mia fast asleep in the bed, a stream of drool hanging from her mouth. Elsie smiles as she watches her little sister “She looks so peaceful” she whispers

I smile, “yeah, I wish I was as carefree as she seems to be” I say as I softly close the door, stepping back out into the hallway.

Coming downstairs, we see my mother sat with Canis at the kitchen table, they look up at the creak of a step when we come down. Both of them wearing grim expressions.

“Elsie” Canis says in greeting as he gives me a nod, “how are you feeling? I’m sure last night was… a lot” he says, trying in his own way to be comforting as he scratches the back of his head with the four fingers of his left hand

Elsie gives him a soft smile, glancing at the patch he wears where his eye used to be, “Yeah” she says quietly, “but I’m not worried about how I’m feeling. I’m worried about my mother”

Mother stands up from her seat and comes over to the two of us, taking Elsie’s free hand in both of hers as she clutches it and looks at her face.

“Of course child, come on. I’ve told Canis everything that you said last night. He’s going to come with us today, if Motten won’t listen then we’ll make him” she says as she walks us to the table and sits us down, fussing over Elsie before she brings us some bread and cheeses for our breakfast.

We thank her as I break off a chunk of the bread and chew on it; Elsie does likewise, also cutting a slice of the cheese and eating her food far more delicately.

“Ay, I knew that cunt when I was active. Ran into him too many times for my liking” Canis says as he glances at my mother.

I look across the table and see her hand in his, their thumbs playing with each other. I look at her flushed cheeks, that warm smile that Canis never has. Are they together again? I think to myself, looking at the affection between them, Did they… No I don’t even want to think about that

“He killed a friend of mine, challenged him to a duel for scratching him in a training session. Ended up having that bear of his maul him to ****. Always wanted to get back at him for that” he chokes up something to spit but sees the expression of my mother and swallows it again.

“Why didn’t you?” I ask suddenly, a bit angry that no one has done anything about him in all these years, “Why didn’t you challenge him, maybe then he wouldn’t be causing us trouble”

Canis shakes his head at me, “Boy, I know you think I’m some epic adventurer from the stories, but I never was, my spirit is pretty weak compared to his” he says, pushing the remnants of his food to the side “his spirit is one of the rarest of his goddesses, not the rarest but it grants him six abilities. Mine only grants me four and most of them aren’t useful in combat. The ones of Harod’s that people knew about were only four, but they were powerful. The other two he kept secret. If I hadn’t been killed by his bear, then I would’ve been killed by him” he finishes talking

I go quiet, I hadn’t realised how powerful an adventurer Motten was “oh” I say at last feeling embarrassed. Canis was right I had always thought of him as so strong but if even Canis wasn’t among the most powerful of them then I would have a lot more training to do when I arrive at the capital.

“it’s okay” Elsie breaks the silence, “All that matters is that we deal with him now”

My mother nods her head, “What about that son of his?” she asks, “what was he like, is he going to be trouble”

Elsie shakes her head. “I don’t know, I didn’t really see much of him in the manor. I think he was settling in for the most part, but we heard some of their household servants talking and apparently, he has had a lot of training. He’s going to take the test of divinities this year and he’s had the best trainers in the capital for the past ten years. Apparently, he’s upset that he has no magical ability though” she says, recounting all that she knows.

We all nod our heads as we listen, “Well, it’s not like we can actually hurt Motten anyway” my mother relents, “From what you said last night, it sounds like most of the carriages were filled with his own guards. Having his son add to that won’t make much difference”

Canis grunts his **** agreement, “Well, no point in just talking about it. Let’s get going. We’ll have your mother back for lunch” he says, giving Elsie’s hand a soft pat.

Having changed into my training clothes, my mother and Canis wearing leather armour over the shirts. The two of them arm themselves with their weapons, my mother with her sword and Canis with his bow. The weapons are present less for their practicality and more for their negotiating ability.

We take to the path to the manor, leaving Mia in my mother’s bed to enjoy her sleep. Canis had borrowed a wagon from one of the farmers that buys his pelts, and we rode the way there. Taking far less time than by foot. Canis however seemed frustrated, insisting that he was able to move faster on foot.

Arriving at the manor, we see the beginnings of the construction of a rickety wooden building on the outside of the manor walls; presumably the new servants quarters and an unpleasant looking one at that. Having left the wagon outside of the walls and the horses fastened to a fence. We walk the stone path to the doors of the manor, flanked on each side by elaborate topiaries and colourful flowers. Before my mother can knock on the door with her fist, it is opened by a hunched servant who welcomes us inside and guides us to an area where we can await Lord Motten’s pleasure.

I had only been to Lord Beckront’s manor a few times and can’t help but stare at the grandeur compared to the wooden house that I live in with my mother. Whilst some of it is familiar from my previous visits, I can’t help but feel uncomfortable as I see the Bear Crest of Lord Motten having replaced Beckront’s crest already. I blush as I see one of the women that was riding in the carriage with Harod and Zarin on their arrival. She is wearing even less clothing than before, her golden blonde hair curled past her shoulders as her heavy cleavage almost spills from her dress. She smiles at our group as we enter, showing her full red lips and what looks like a small tattoo on her neck before she continues her journey up the stairs.

We were kept waiting for over half an hour before the Lord of the manor finally deigned to see us. A wiry man with glasses and a twitching expression opens the door after telling us of his master’s decision. We fill the room; my mother and Elsie taking the two chairs in front of Harod’s desk as Canis and I stand behind them trying to look menacing, Canis able to do so naturally.

Harod chuckles as he sees the people before, “Hah, was this meant to impress me?” he says, twirling a pen in his hand. “Bringing these decrepit creatures to talk, and whatever excuse that is” he says as he waves a hand in my direction

I see my mother put a hand on Elsie’s arm as she grits her teeth, her eyes piercing Harod’s skull.

“We’re here for you to release Rosaria” my mother says slowly, carefully pronouncing each word.

“Who?” he asks

Elsie starts to make a motion but my mothers’ grip on her tightens

“The servant that you arrested last night” Elsie says as she forces herself to control her anger

“Oh, that one. Terrible traitor. Can you believe she violently assaulted me; I should have her hanged for that. Now why would good folks like you be wanting to associate with traitors” he replies, stroking his hand through his trimmed beard as he talks, as though this is a particularly difficult conundrum

“LIAR” Elsie screams at him; my mother gives her a glare, telling her to calm down. Elsie looks at her and nods her head, “She didn’t **** you and you know it” she says.

“My, my , you need to control yourself girl. Calling your better a liar? I’m sure there’s one law or another against that” he says with a smirk

“Enough, you’re going to let the woman go” my mother says, getting tired of his arrogance

“Let her go? And let the peasants think it’s okay to go around violently attacking their superiors? My, the whole world would devolve into anarchy. It’d be worse than the thousand wars” he says, seeming to enjoy the torment that he provides.

“You can’t kill her” Elsie says quietly, knowing now that for all their righteousness and the weapons they brought, there is nothing that they can do to **** the lord’s hand.

“I never said I would kill the wench, simply that I ought to. It would be the proper thing to do with traitors like her” he says before letting out a sigh, “But curse it, I am a merciful man. My better nature too often gets the best of me” he pauses. Elsie looks on hopefully, thinking this means that he will let her go. My mother just gives him a fixed stare, not believing a word that comes from his mouth

“But alas, I really cannot have the lesser species thinking that it is okay to **** me. For the safety of my son of course. But I see that she has a daughter who cares about her deeply, two of them if my memory serves me” he says as he looks at Elsie, ignoring my mothers’ stare, “There is an option to pay a fine” he checks a small ledger that lies beneath an assortment of papers on his desk.

“Ah yes, assaulting a noble: punishable with a twenty-gold fine or execution at the discretion of the victim” he recites.

Elsie’s eyes go wide as she hears the sum, “Twenty gold!?” she demands, “There’s no way that I can afford that”, her eyes pleading

The broad man shrugs his shoulders, “I don’t make the laws girl, I have simply been entrusted with the authority to enforce them” he looks at something on one of the papers, “Yes, I believe it was the crown that gave me this power”, smirking a little at the redheaded girl.

Seeing her expression he sighs again, “I really am too kind” he mutters quietly, “I suppose that other payment can be taken, you could enter a **** contract to pay off your debt. I think a ten-year contract would suffice”

My mother’s eyes go wide at that, “Slavery is illegal in the kingdom” she says firmly

“Yes, yes, yes. That family, thinking just because they have pretty golden hats, they can make us have to pay the peasants. How do they expect us to make a profit with that waste” he groans again as he leans forward, looking at my mother now. “However if you read the law in regard to slavery, you will remember that **** contracts are perfectly fine. After all they can only be entered willingly and have a pre-set time limit which cannot be altered” he says.

I seethe at the idea of him even suggesting making Elsie a ****, For 10 YEARS! I want to step forward, to hit him, to kill him but I hold myself back. I know that my mother needs me to stay controlled, I know that it won’t help anyone; but still I want too

Harod looks at Elsie, seeing her growing uncomfortable with spending the next decade of her life as a ****, and owned by someone like him. She opens her mouth to say something, presumably to object or ask for another way, but he cuts her off before she can make a sound

“Of course I understand that this is a difficult choice to make. I do” he says, putting an echo of understanding into the notes that escape his mouth, “that is why I will be generous enough to give you a month to make the decision. You can spend the time however you wish, trying to find the money, getting your affairs in order, or even running away” he says with a chuckle at the end. “But I will be holding your mother prisoner in that time, for the safety of everyone. If the fine is not paid in one form or another, then she will be executed” he says.

Elsie goes silent, obviously thinking on her choices, thinking of a thousand things, none of which I am envious of.

My mother starts to speak but the black-haired Lord raises his fist in the air, “I have spoken, that will be all. I am a busy man, and that Lord Beckront has made a mess of these lands in his time. They’re barely profitable at all. I have a lot of work to do, and you will leave”

With none of us satisfied at how this conversation went but knowing that anything else on our behalf now would only make matters worse, we stand up and make our way towards the intricate doors; the door handles alone are probably worth more than the twenty gold he is asking for.

As we open the door, my mother and Elsie step out of the office, but I think of something and look back to Harod.

“Oh, Lord Beckront said that he left some money set aside for me” I say, “May I have it?”

The new lord chuckles as he looks at me. “Of course I’d be happy to provide you with that, I am sure you have a contract detailing the agreement with you”

My face burns, having not thought about that and realising now that I have no proof of the promise that he had given me. “Uh, no. He just told me that he had set it aside for me. He died before he could tell me more”

Motten laughs again, “it’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one that was with him when he died, the one that got him killed” he reaches a hand to his face, gesturing as if to wipe away a tear from his cheek. My anger grows as he talks about Lord Beckront, already feeling guilty about not having been able to protect him from the ogre

“Oh don’t worry lad, if I feel the need to fight some ogres, I’ll be sure to not to ask you for help. Then again, I doubt I’ll need the help, that Beckront was weak” he chuckles as though this was the funniest thing to happen all week. “But no, you won’t be getting any money from me. There’s a reason that Beckront was a nobody in the nobility if he gave away his wealth to the likes of you. I don’t intend to be so foolish” he says, suddenly calming from his outburst of humour, “Now leave” he finishes, the tone leaving no room for question.

With the wiry man closing the door behind us, we are shown the way back to the doors of the manor. On our way a young man with dark hair passes us, an elegant blade attached to his waist. The son, Zarin.

“Ah, some locals!” he exclaims, giving us that same charming grin as he gave during his speech. “ I trust that you are well good people” his eyes rest on Elsie for a moment, looking as though he is undressing her in his mind. His mouth twitches into a smile for a second before his expression falls, “Ah. You must be the daughter of that woman” he says

Elsie nods her head, “er, yes… my lord?” she says, sounding unsure of how to address him, “Rosaria, my mother”

He nods his head, a serious expression plastered across his face as his brow furrows. “I am sorry about the… unpleasantness. My father can be cruel at times. When I heard, I tried to have him release her, but he doesn’t listen when he is like this. I will keep trying though, my thoughts are with you of course” he says as he steps forward and rests a hand on Elsie’s shoulder, I notice his eyes glancing at her cleavage as he does so.

“Well? Can you pay the twenty gold that he wants then?” Canis demands, clearly caring little for the etiquette that a building like the manor demands.

The young man shakes his head, looking genuinely sorrowful. “I’m afraid not. My father has control of my finances and if I were to ask for such a sum, I don’t doubt that he would know what it is for. If I can’t talk him out of this, then he surely wouldn’t allow me to pay for what he wants from you”

His hand still resting on Elsie’s shoulder as he speaks, his dark velvet clothes fitting firmly to his chest. “How rude of me, I haven’t asked you your names” he admonishes himself

“Oh, I’m Elsie… Lord Zarin” she says meekly, understanding that he cannot do anything to hrlp

“A gorgeous name, I will do everything that I can for your family… Elsie” he says smoothly, Elsie blushing at the use of her name.

“We need to leave; I’ll try not to hold my breath waiting for your father to change his mind” my mother says as she takes Elsie’s hand and yanks her away from Zarin’s hand.

“Oh yes of course, I didn’t mean to hold you” Zarin says, “It’s always a pleasure to see new faces, and such beautiful ones” he adds, glancing at Elsie with those words

“Right” I say as we leave the manor, sure that Zarin is watching as we walk to the wagon