Beyond the Walls: Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

The hearths flames licked the air, some flames danced, others swayed, my mind lost in the tranquility it provided the room.

“Does it still hurt?” Mama asked with quiet concern. I hadn’t even noticed I was touching my cheek where that burning scratch had been. I quickly put my hand down in my lap.

“No, Mama, it doesn’t hurt. It’s just so weird that it’s gone now, I can’t stop thinking of what happened, and… well now that the scratch is gone it really does just seem like a dream.” I looked at Kye’s back, as he lay in front of me, soaking in the warmth of the fire, his body is so big, it takes up the whole area rug beneath him. I stared at his coat, huge streaks of fur missing. The size of the claws that got him… I can even imagine how big the creature must have been. The skin beneath his fur is white, quite the stark contrast compared to his black coat. I’d never seen his skin before, his fur is so dense, there’s no way you could see it.

“What did it look like? Before it healed?” I asked, still staring at my sweet mutt.

“Oh, Finn…” Mama sighed, “I don’t quite know how I can explain it. Uhm, he was in a lot of pain but he got you safely back here before he collapsed. Your father picked him up as soon as he could and ran him to Mata. So, I only saw the wounds briefly, and they looked like claw marks in shape, but, the skin itself looked as if it had been burned… Mata said that, before she could really even help and dress the wounds, he was already healing. I don’t understand it… well to be honest, I don’t understand any of what’s been going on the past two days, but—”

A sharp pounding on the door interrupted her. She stood to answer the door, Kye grumbled but didn’t get up. Mama motioned for him to stay, and he did so, but he was alert and watching the door.

“Can I Help you?”

“Need a room, if you have one ma’am.” The voice was deep and gravelly, a traveler looking to stay at the inn. He walked in, Mama went to the counter to write his name down in the guest book, and sort out payment.

“Do you need any extra pillows or blankets, food?” Mama asked as she usually had with everyone. The man looked around the room as if he was looking for something.

“No.” He said sternly. “But I wouldn’t mind a bath, I’ve been on the road a while now.”

“Alright. Jasper?” She called out to father, he always took the guests to their rooms when he was home.

“Oh, shoot, I forgot he’s out right now. Finn? Would you mind taking this gentleman to room 4?” She held up the key, room 4 was at the end of the hall from the room we were in. The furthest away from our home.

“Of course Mama.” I stood from my seat and stretched a bit, Kye standing up behind me. Never taking his eyes off the man.

“Finn, huh?” He asked, “I like that name, I’m Ra’vaan.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.” I wasn’t sure if I should invite more conversation with this stranger, he clearly wasn’t from near here. I’d never seen anyone like him. He towered over everyone here, wearing a cowl, I couldn’t see his face, but as he walked in front of me I saw… a tail…

I didn’t say anything, I tried my best to not stare, but… a tail??

“This is your room here.” I handed him the key and said if he needed anything else we would be in the rooms down the hall. He thanked me and I started to walk away, when he cleared his throat to get my attention.

“Where would that bath be, young one?”

“Oh! I’m sorry, Mama- uh, Viranee, will come get you when it is ready.” I lowered my head a bit in embarrassment, but he just chuckled.

“Thank you, Finn.” He went in the room and closed the door, and I heard it lock.

“Mama?!” I said in a loud whisper.

“What?! What’s wrong??” I made her worried, I didn’t mean to, but I had to ask…

“That man has a- a tail?!…” I said very quietly

Mama looked a bit shocked.

“A tail? Well, what kind?” She whispered back.

“Well, like, a really, really long one! It was shiny black and covered in short dense looking fur!”

“Finn! Don’t be rude, I take it we have a guest?” Father looked at Mama to confirm his question.

“Yes, dear. He is in room 4, and has requested a bath. It should be ready now in fact. I’ll go fetch him.”

Mama grabbed towels from under the counter and hurried off down the hall.

“Finn, I’m sorry if I sounded harsh, but you can’t judge people like that-”

“I wasn’t judging father!! I-I…” I lowered my head, I felt embarrassed and ashamed.

Father looked at me, seemingly frustrated, but his expression softened.

“I’m sorry, son. I shouldn’t have expected you to know, I’ve never let you experience the world… and I never told you of the people beyond Thorn.” Father sighed, he rubbed his eyes, trying to rid the guilt from his face.

“What kind of…tail, does our guest have?” Father asked quietly and with a bit of shame in his tone.

“It-it was long and had dark short fur.” I said, I felt like I was being interrogated.

“Ahhh, you son, have met a-”

“A Skoja.” Father was interrupted by a gravely voice from the shadows. Removing his cowl, I saw his face, whiskers, fangs, large purple eyes and rounded ears atop his head. Reaching out his hand I saw claws.

“My name is Ra’vaan, you must be Jasper?”

“Yes!” Ra’vaan and father shook hands and exchanged a small chuckle.

“Forgive me, I’ve never taken my son away from this town, and… they don’t like outsiders much, here in Thorn. But you are very welcome here at our inn. Everything is to your liking I hope?”

“It’s lovely here, please do not apologize, I am used to the customs of other towns such as this, many are afraid of our kind. But I’ve seen you before,” Ra’vaan motioned to father with a grin. “You used to be a courier, no?”

“I did, I have visited your homeland many times. Beautiful region… what brings you out here, if I might ask?” Father seemed curious, and a bit confused.

“I was sent here to find Bakir Novett. Do you know him?”

Father, looked a bit shocked for a moment and then sadness crept over his face.

“I’m sorry, but Bakir… he’s gone. Assumed deceased. He uh- went out in to the woods after dark, he never returned. That was a few days ago.” Holding back his tears, fathers voice wavered a bit. Losing a friend like that has really been hard on him.

“Why would he leave the walls? Surely he knows the dangers of this area?” Ra’vaan sounded a bit skeptical but I think he could see the sadness in fathers eyes.

“He was your friend… I give you my deepest sympathies. Bakir was a wonderful man. I worked with him for many years before his wife…passed.” Ra’vaan looked at me, making sure he didn’t say anything to scare me I would assume.

“So you’re a baker too?” I asked out of surprise, he definitely didn’t seem like the type of person who’d make bread all day.

Ra’vaan seemed taken aback by my question.

“A baker??” He let out a chuckle, “no, no , no. I’m a mage! Bakir was my head research assistant back home in Skojaal!”

“Research?!” Father and I blurted out at the same time bewilderment written all over our faces.

“Wait, I’m sorry, uhm-,” father cleared his throat, “what research?”

“I see by your responses that you had no idea…” Ra’vaan let out a quick sigh, “where do I begin?”

Father and I stared at him, anxiously awaiting his response.

“We have been looking into the imbalances of nature, in all regions. We noticed that there seems to be something a bit different with Thorn. Bakir offered to come here to conduct his research on the surrounding area. But after the tragedy with his wife, he left without telling me. I have been here before to find him, but he wasn’t here. I searched everywhere, and now, after 14 years, I’m here again. I felt a pull to come here, something didn’t feel right.

“Then why would he pretend to be a baker- ahhh…. Bakir-baker…. It should have been obvious that it was a cover up. That and his bread was certainly not great when he moved here!” That was the first time I’d seen father laugh since Bakir disappeared. It was nice to see him smile again.

“He did have a witty sense of humor!” Ra’vaan laughed along with father.

“I don’t mean to interrupt the fun, but your bath is ready Ra’vaan.” Mother peeked around the doorway, as we all chuckled around the fire in the hearth.

“We shall speak more in the morning, my friends. Good night.” Ra’vaan nodded gracefully at us, and we nodded back.

“So what was all that laughter about? Did I miss a joke?!” Mama asked, she always loved a good joke, and would have been terribly disappointed if she’d missed one.

“You aren’t going to believe what he told us Vira.” Father patted the bench he was straddling over, motioning for Mama to come sit down in front of him and listen to the story.

Watching the fire dance in the hearth, I listened to the sound of my parents talking and drifted to sleep, soundly this time.

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How is everyone enjoying the book so far? What do we think of this new character and turn of events?

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Did you miss the first 3 chapters of Beyond the Walls? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Beyond the Walls chapter 1

Beyond the Walls chapter 2

Beyond the Walls chapter 3

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