Chapter One. The Beginning

“No time like the present” Skonch thought as he removed the eye patch. The sting was strong, but subsided quickly. By the time he had made his way through the mostly empty streets to the hall his sight had returned to normal. The blur faded and a dull headache took its place, but it was good to have both eyes in working order.

 

            He stood at the base of the steps leading up the hall and marveled at the massive blood stain still on the stairs above him. How he could have lost so much blood and still lived he doesn’t know. Jareb must have used some powerful magic to keep him alive. He strode past the morose memorial of his arrival back in  ShadowGale and pushed open the doors of the Great Hall.

 

            It was as he remembered, little had changed, even the smells were the same, roast pig, yeast, and of course the scent of too many people being in too small a place for too long a time. It was full tonight, not packed, but lively. He made his way to the bar and ordered himself a right sized pint. With it tucked away in the crook of his slinged left arm he went and found a table in a corner. It wasn’t exactly dark, but it would suffice. He was hoping to remain out of the way, he didn’t want a bunch of  people bothering him. He wanted a pint and to find his room. He’d just taken the first draw off of his pint when two men dropped down from the rafters. Only to call them men would not be quite accurate. They were bipedal, but they were lizard-men, something he never thought he would see in the likes of ShadowGale.

 

            “So! You’re the one that got dropped off by the devil are you”? The two were nearly identical. Long green tails trailing out behind them, elongated maws with sharp teeth sticking out at odd angles, one carried a golden trident, the other a morningstar, both covered in green-purple scales and wearing little more than leather breeches.

 

            “Yeah, something like that”. He took another tug of his drink, “and who the hell are you two”. He simply couldn’t believe that these two were in the hall and not being shot at. Jesus so many years ago he’d been reviled by most of the nobility here for being an outsider, but at least he was a human.

 

            “I’m Havelock” said the one with the trident strapped to his back, “and that is Havekey” Havelock hitched a thumb at the other one. Havekey reached into a pocket on his breeches and pulled out a fist full of golden coins and stuffed them into Havelocks chest then leaped back up into the rafters and slunk away.

 

            “What was that about”? Skonch was glad at least one of them went away but couldn’t help his curiosity.

 

            “Ah, just brotherly stuff. He bet me a hand full of galleons that you’d kick the bucket. I bet him you wouldn’t. Guess he figures if you are here, drinking and talking he lost his bet”.  He pulled up a chair and sat down against the wall next to Skonch where he could see the rest of the hall.

 

            “So look partner, no offense but how is it you and your brother have found a place here. I came here so many years ago and they barely accepted me. Even when I went to war and took lives for their causes”. Skonch drained the rest of his drink.

 

            “Yeah, we heard this used to be a pretty rough place to be different, but everything changes my friend. I suppose when the trading routes opened up and they opened the market place to travelers they had to get used to it. Can’t exactly turn business away if you want to make money.”  He glanced over at Skonch and nodded in the direction of the doors to the hall.  “Take this guy for example, the one walking in now, Sam is his name. We all call him Simian Sam, he came here looking for your old friend Jareb. Was all set to do him in because he blamed him for his…uh…condition”.

 

            Skonch looked him over and found that he did have what he would call a condition. He was about the same height as Skonch pushing that seven foot mark but he was considerably broader. Not fat either, just broad. Massive shoulders and arms that were indeed ape-like. His head was large and his brow and cheek bones were prevalent along with a wide heavily set jaw. He looked like one well placed blow to the head with those ham hock sized hands could fell a foe permanently.

 

            “So if he came here to get at Jareb, why is he still here and Jareb still alive”? Jareb was an accomplished wizard and Skonch knew if he was faced with this man he probably would not have struggled to dispatch of him.

 

            “Jareb found him, convinced him that his life was not so terrible given the strength he now possessed and found him a place here in the stronghold where he has been accepted by the people.” Havelock stood and waived Sam over to their table. The huge man stopped at the counter, snatched up a wooden keg from behind the bar and a few glasses and walked them over to the group. “Oh I forgot to mention he’s one of the bar keeps here in the Hall”.

 

            “Havelock, how does this day find you friend”? Sam’s voice was thick and very low base. It sounded almost more like a growl than a man’s speech, but he spoke slowly and was easy enough to understand.

 

            “I am good. I was just sitting and telling our new comrade here about your story”. He sat up as Sam popped a tap into the barrel and drew three large mugs. He slid one to Skonch and one to Havelock and kept one for himself.

 

            “Ha, I’m sure you filled him in on all of the details right? Someday Skonch, if you and I are ever close enough to give a crap about each other’s stories, I’ll give you the full story.” He drained his mug and poured himself another.

 

            “Jesus everyone around here knows who I am huh? The more things change the more they stay the same I guess”. He took a pull of his draft and shakes his head. “So do either of you know a woman by the name of Shae? Should have a child about 12 years old”. And there is the question of the hour. He wanted to sleep tonight, but as he is faced with sitting in the hall with these two for a time he might as well gather what info he can.

 

            “Shae, yeah, everyone here knows Shae. She’s a freaking mess my brother. Her kid got all crazy and big and nasty and her husband ran out on her and her boy, that kid spends half his nights in the dungeon and the other half out prowling the woods outside the stronghold.” Sam shook his head and sighed. “Sad story that. I guess the kid used to be really sweet and lovable and then he started to make the transition into manhood and went bonkers.” Sam had not been around long enough to learn the history of that situation, nor had Havelock. But in this case that was fine by Skonch. This way he was able to get the information without either of them trying to soften the blow.

 

            “Funny story that. Someday I’ll share it with you. For now my new friends, I am going to have to bid you farewell.” He stood and made his way out of the hall into the Big House. He figured he would wander around until someone offered to show him his room. For now he had a lot consider. He knew now he had a son, and by all accounts he had begun the transition. Hopefully he could convince Shae to let him spend time with the boy and help guide him through this change. For his people, this was more than a simple biological maturation. If he were with their tribes in north he would have been trained and probably taken a beast of his own by now.  He would sleep on it tonight and seek Shae out tomorrow.

 

Author's Note

Appreciate all feedback, good bad or otherwise.