One evening, they forgot to lock the door to my tower room. Or perhaps it had been done on purpose, I wasn't sure. As promised, I was only kept cloistered in my room during the day. But every night, the key clicked shut while I was at prayers or sewing my time away by the window, finishing the embroidery that Theodric's mother had begun many years earlier.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcf1fPWJfz
My stomach growled. Though I hadn't fasted since that day Argath had reprimanded me, I was growing hungrier as the babe grew inside me. An intense longing for venison jerky filled me. I was only glad my craving was for something I could obtain. Especially now with the door unlocked.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWQFVRHNZu
I threw a sleeveless, green linen robe over my shift, the edges trimmed in rabbit fur. Tossing my heavy braid over my shoulder, I approached the door. The howls I had heard my first night at Gegar Red had not occurred again for some time. But those monstrous figures in the moonlight still haunted my waking thoughts. copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡmun9vKpk4R
The babe kicked and my appetite spiked, stomach clenched in hunger. Perhaps if I were only a few minutes from my room, it was still early in the evening. There was a chance the beasts in the men had not yet awoken.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr9GsR0vOQ
Snapping back the bar over the inside of the door, I peeked down the silent curve of the stone stairs. The torches in the sconces on the walls had been doused. A snowy wind blew against the tower, whistling through the cracks in the stones. The storm was picking up strength. Even if there was a bear roaming the woods outside, I would never be able to hear it over the gale.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSCc6X5XE5
Retrieving the rushlight from beside my bed, I tip toed down the tower steps. The halls were dark. My brother had been bed ridden for days but seemed to be getting better. The door to his room was shut but golden firelight peeked out from under it. I drifted past it, careful to keep my footsteps light.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡHal78wEVsR
The great hall was dark except for the glowing embers of a dying fire in the hearth. A small archway in the corner led down to what I assumed were the kitchens. I drifted down them, peering around the edge of the wall to make sure I was alone. From what I could tell, there were no servants there. Theodric kept a small household so it was rare I ran into one. copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡeixoBTnNTW
I entered the warmly lit scullery, the log in the roaring fire popped with heat. It sent sparks onto the hearth stones. A fire was also burning in the oven, the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the room. The golden loaf was steaming in the middle of a sturdy table before the hearth, a bowl of dried meat sitting next to it. A canter of watered mead caught the gleam of my candle as I set it down next to it. copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyQ830N1xR
My stomach lurched at the smell, hunger pains striking like iron to anvil inside me. I couldn't wait till I was back in my room. I snagged a knife from nearby and cut into the bread. Picking up the crumbling slice with a ragged strip of venison, I sat down by the fire to eat.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgm3ESOUyH
I was about to slice another piece of bread when a rumbling vibrated through the door leading to the courtyard outside. I froze, hands hovering over the table. It could only be the storm outside. Another rumble and then a throaty growl. I couldn't move.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx4hsStNxN
Scratching at the flagstones outside, claws scraping the icy rock. Then a knock. I scoffed despite my terror. Three sharp taps like a man rapping a cane against the wood. It was such a human sound, it left me puzzled. Three more knocks. My curiosity over rode my terror.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3K1CehPR8
Grasping the bread knife at my side, I edged towards the door. The iron ring was freezing under my fingers as I tugged the door open. Peeking out into the dark, I sensed a looming mass huffing with cold. Hot breaths rose in the frigid air as snow whipped around the heaving body. A huge head lifted, golden eyes shining out in the half light. The scream rose from my gut but was stopped short as the bear studied me, cocking it's head to the side. Such a human gensture.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡi454xMagND
“Please, open the door, Lady Hania. The snow is brutal out here.” A rough growl formed words and left me dumbfounded. I gaped back at the talking bear. It grunted and nudged the door. “Please.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZkUw5arGW
I opened the door and the beast lumbered into the room, it's black fur caked with ice. Rolls of snow were balled up around it's paws and thick neck. It shook it's head, droplets scattering across my face, stirring me from my spell. I closed the door to the night and pressed my back against it, my knuckles white as I clenched the knife. copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwAugxuEu1
The bear shook it's fur again, pacing in front of the hearth. It grunted and shook. I blinked. The fur was smoothing out to skin, muscles shrinking, paws melding to human hands and feet. Snow dripped into puddles around him as Theodric's huntsman took shape. Where a bear had stood moments before, now Éibhear huffed, naked and trembling. His thick red locks were plastered wet to his bare shoulders. He sank to the floor, his breathing hard with the exertion of the moment. copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡesJFQMmYpg
“My lady, it is cold,” he panted.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0q6QbQ2nw
My eyes snapped over to a heavy woolen blanket on the table that I had overlooked. A neat pile of clothes were laid out on the chair beside it. I shook out the blanket and laid it over his shaking shoulders, turning my back out of decency. Fiddling with the knife in my hands, I heard him struggle to his feet and dress in the loose, white tunic and trousers.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVNoDIUtRZ
Bare feet slapped the stone floor towards the table. I turned to find him sitting crossed legged in front of the fire and devouring what was left of the bread, a tankard of mead at his side. My mind reeled. Only moments before he had been a beast and now looked more like a starving child, crumbs littering his full beard. copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyoX0FUd7g
“I know this all must be so strange to you. Its funny for me to think of that now, how the Changing can look to someone who has never seen it,” he mumbled out the side of his mouth. Éibhear swallowed and smirked up at me, his blue eyes twinkling with memory. “I recall the first time I saw it. I thought I was dreaming.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnERLNabkH
“Can you tell me about it?”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡa85uBzqfUT
His gaze shot down to my hands. He chuckled. “Only if you will disarm yourself, Lady Hania.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvZZxPn4fF
I flushed red, glancing down at the bread knife still clutched tight in my hand. Not much good it would have done me against a real beast. It was dull as chalk. I set it down on the table, wringing my hands together as I edged towards the fire.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s8esi9QVe
Éibhear motioned to the chair. “Please seat. You look tired.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3Q9fiwZTo
I obeyed in a daze. “When did you first see it? When you were a child among your people?”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m6XtVEub9
“Yes, a summer night. It had been hot that day and I had gone swimming. The air was so heavy, my hair was still damp from the stream. We lived north of here, on the border between the forest and the base of the mountains. I wasn't sleeping as I should have been but looking out the window of my loft at the stars. The summer constellations are my favorite.” He smiled to himself at the memory. “My sister was asleep though. She was always so good. My parents' favorite and I couldn't blame them-”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTnzTfrkNQ
“Where is she now? Your sister?”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzty0lnRNu
Éibhear met my eyes thoughtfully. His lips parted as though he were about to tell me but he shrugged off the notion. “It doesn't matter. Anyway, I heard rustling in the wood. The moon was full and gave enough light for me to see. It was a bear but unlike any I had seen before. In it's jowls it carried a rabbit carcass. The earth shook as it moved. It came into the clearing before our cottage and...well, changed. The bear became man. It was then I noticed a change of clothes sitting outside our front door. The man dressed and opened the door of the cottage. I scooted over to look down below and saw my father greeting Argath.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4gOIHYDR8
“When did you first change?” I shifted in my seat, stiff from sitting captivated by his story.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF3GVHa3Jf
“When I was thirteen. Its common for Tormod families with the gift. The men who inherited it come into the ability along with their voice growing deeper and beard growing fuller. Its as natural for us as the changing of the seasons.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfAMF6DgKq
He rose to his feet and retrieved a pipe sitting on the mantel. He lit it and blew a perfect ring that hover up towards the dried herbs hanging over our heads. Éibhear held out the tankard towards me but I declined. I wasn't hungry or thirsty anymore. Fascination had driven those impulses far from my mind.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡjReJfAZVan
“When you change, does it hurt?”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnM37X6mfg
He shook his head, damp hair steaming with the heat from the fire. “Not at all, my lady.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EDnXRIfXF
“What is it like then?”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcFgaD4IsL
“Like breathing, eating. Like your heart beating but you don't have to think about it for it to happen.” He smiled, the apples of cheeks gleaming pink with warmth. “Though when I am in the bear body, I feel a richer man than when I am only the Tormod huntsman of Theodric Vultuff.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfY2BaMnXi
The door creaked open to the outside and Tubor bustled inside, shivering violently. I guessed he had been out finishing the last of his chores in the stables. Remembering I was still dressed in my night shift and robe, I rose to my feet. copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyROI5x54s
“I must bid you good night then, Éibhear.” I nodded a farewell to Tubor and moved towards the stairs to the great hall. “Where is Argath, by the way? Has he returned from...his own excursions?” I could only assume he was still lumbering about in the forest, leaving clawed tracks and hunting rabbits as he had when Éibhear was a boy.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46J9uqCpi7
“He is on an errand to Primiad. He received word from Theodric to join him there. I'm sure he will be back by tomorrow evening.”copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzGwKKwwpo
I nodded slightly and walked back up towards my tower. My conversation with Argath from the other day resurfaced. If the Changing was as easy for those born with the gift as Éibhear said, certainly it wouldn't hold my son back from his destiny. If anything it would be a strength, just as Argath had predicted. I could only pray to Dylene that he would return with good news from the royal court concerning the future of the bear king growing in my womb.copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI0CTGQtlU
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