Embrace of the Lycan - Chapter 4

Chapter 4
Weeks went by, and the few villagers that remained became used to the new citizens. The Lycans made themselves useful, keeping busy doing repairs and making good use of neglected buildings, and already had a handful of dwellings in liveable condition. Farkas, one of Lucian’s men who had headed a team of miners back at Viktor’s stronghold, reported that there were some abandoned mines at the foot of the mountain. He felt they still had a lot of ore to yield. Lucian had commanded him to get a team together and start bringing that ore to the village. He looked forward to an opportunity to work in the forge, now that he had it fit for use.

Krisztina’s inn became a focal point for the Lycans. All the Lycans showed tenderness towards the inn’s keeper, never forgetting the kindness and charity she had shown them on their arrival. There wasn’t a one amongst them that would not stand between her and danger. Lucian, their Alpha and king, the first of the Lycans, was afforded the greatest respect. He could regularly be seen deep in conversation with a number of his men at one of the tables. Krisztina always made sure that he was fed, as she had noticed that he could become so deeply engrossed in his duties and care for his men, that he seldom remembered to take care of himself.

Early one morning, Krisztina was up in the loft area of the inn, where her bed was. There was a very small window towards the east, and she could see into the smithy. She watched as Lucian strode in and proceeded to light the forge. She watched for a while as he pumped the bellows, slightly ashamed at how watching him made her feel.

She decided to go over and talk to him, but did not want to go over empty handed. She went to the kitchen, and assessed the very sparsely stocked pantry. It looked like another piece of jewellery might need to be sold soon. She picked up a flask of wine, and some of the strudel she had made yesterday.

As she approached the forge, she saw that Lucian had taken his shirt off. The heat was quite intense even from where she was stood, and she could see that his skin glistened with sweat. The muscles in his arm were taught from the effort of the labour, and she could see all too clearly that he was in very good shape physically. He was massively muscled in the way that Raze was, but lithe and agile. With the noise of the bellows, he must not have heard her draw near. She was just about to shout for his attention, when she noticed the scars on his back. There were great wealds that from the pattern, must have been caused by a whip of some kind. The scars however, looked like they had been done with a blade. Before she realised what she was doing, her hand was reaching out towards the scars.

At that moment, Lucian turned around, and woke her from her reverie. He looked around, just in time to see her arm drop to her side, and was startled to see someone behind him. He smiled a greeting, which she returned.

‘I thought you may be thirsty, and brought you some refreshments,’ she explained, and placed the jug and the wrapped pastry on a bench to the side.

Lucian put down his tools, and took off his gloves. ‘Thank you, that is very thoughtful,’ he said as his chest heaved. Krisztina could not help but look at the small beads of sweat clinging to the hair on his chest. She forced herself to keep her eyes on his face. She blushed slightly, convinced that he would be able to see the very thoughts in her head with his intense gaze.

‘Someone has to look after you,’ she added.

‘And who will look after you?’ He teased her as he looked over the top of the jug while he drank straight from the vessel, not bothering to use the cup.

Krisztina was not sure how to respond, and for a brief second stood there with her mouth open. The moment was then broken, as they both heard some shouts from over near the inn. The saw Raze, who was carrying someone that looked like Sabas, and they were accompanied by a few of the men that Krisztina knew worked in the mines.

The two of them ran towards the group, Lucian easily sprinting far ahead of her. When she arrived a second or two behind Lucian, she saw that it was Sabas, and his right leg was broken very badly. So much so, that the tibia was poking sharply through the skin. He was obviously in a great amount of pain, but was hardly showing it. Krisztina did not hesitate in taking over. Practically shoving Lucian out of the way she proceeded to order the men about.

‘János! Go find me two pieces of straight wood. Lucian – go fetch me some water. Raze – follow me.’

Everyone did what they were told without question. Krisztina directed Raze upstairs into one of the three guest bedrooms, and directed him to place Sabas on the bed. Meanwhile, she quickly grabbed a few things from the kitchen and then followed. Lucian flew into the room soon after her, and handed her the water.

She passed some pálinka that she had brought upstairs with her, and poured some into Sabas with a remark, ‘For the pain.’

‘Raze, can you hold him steady, I need to set the leg. Lucian – can you hold his knee.’

She gripped firmly round the ankles, and looked once at Sabas. Her eyes full of sympathy, she said softly, ’This will hurt.’ She nodded at Raze, and with all her strength gave the leg a quick pull ensuring she kept it straight. Sabas let out such a howl of pain, that Krisztina was startled for a moment. She realised that there would be some outburst, but the sound had such an unearthly quality that it made the hairs on the back of hair neck stand up. Something in the sound tugged at the primeval fear in all humans of predators.

‘Where is János with that wood?’ But as she spoke she heard him running up the stairs. She passed a bed sheet to him in exchange for the wood, and asked him to tear into strips. While he did that, she poured some of the brandy over the wound to clear away some of the blood. The wound started to bleed faster again, but there was no bone visible. She got Lucian to press some of the torn bed sheet over the wound, while she threaded a small needle. She then passed the liquor back to Sabas and he took another swallow. She proceeded to sew his wound together with small and quick stitches. Then the wood was placed either side of the leg, and bound with the strips of bedding.

‘Let’s all leave him alone to rest now,’ and she ushered everyone out of the room. She strode back to the bed and placed a cool hand across his brow. Sabas grabbed it, and placed it to his lips. She smiled kindly, and told him to rest.

She left the door slightly ajar, and joined the others back down stairs. János immediately came over and thanked her profusely.

‘He is still young and healthy, I am sure he will heal just fine,’ she reassured him.

‘And I am sure he will be even more in love with you,’ he laughed, obviously very relieved at her assurances of his friend’s recovery. He left to let the others know what had happened.

She then entered her pantry, and gathered a few of the dried herbs she had there. She made a draft with some dried Camomile and Lavender to relax him and help him sleep, and also a herb poultice including Marigold that would reduce the inflammation. She slipped back upstairs to administer the treatments.

Lucian stood as she approached the table he shared Raze. ‘It seems that we are in your debt once again.’

‘Nonsense,’ she said. ‘You and your men have brought life, and vitality to this village. Eventually, others will move here, and it will have a future – and I might have a business again,’ she laughed.

Lucian wished that there was something he could do to repay her, and remembered that Old György said that she had sold jewellery and fine clothes to buy food for the villagers. He decided to make her something in his forge. His hand instinctively went to touch Sonja’s pendant, that was in his pocket. Not that, but something worthy of her. He would ask Farkas to keep an eye out for precious metals.