This choice: He has a friend that owes him a BIG favor... • Go Back...Chapter #5A debt owed to be paid by: who-me   "Come on Bowhan, think," he thought as he held the beastly baby, "You can't keep it. And there is no one in town who would keep it alive. I don't, can't kill it. It's my child." He continued down the dark road, trying to think of some place he could drop the kid off and never come back. "Him, that man! I'll go find him!"
And so Bowhan's journey began as he carried the monstrous child with him, he kept reminding himself this was for the best. Bowhan traveled far to the north, avoiding caravans and travelers quite often. He was going to a place he hadn't been since he was just in adulthood.
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It was about fifteen years ago far in a northern village on the base of the Athren Mountain range in the midsummer. A man clothed plainly was walking along the path. Physically, he was bald and lanky and seemed like a strong wind would knock him over. His long staff seemed like it was a third leg. Suddenly, he was surrounded by a band of thieves.
"Hand over all your money and possessions," said one thief to this man.
"What I have holds no value to you. Please do not try attacking me," the bald one said.
"We'll see about that," said another thief who charged the man. But before the traveler could defend himself, a young man on a horse appeared.
"Leave that man alone you thieves!" the young Bowhan cried charging head strong at them. He jumped off his horse and landed between the traveler and the thieves.
"A hot headed boy comes to try and make us stop," the leader said, laughing. "Get them both," he said coldly. The one closest to Bowhan tried attacking, but Bowhan defended himself well and disabled his attacker. Then two men came at the young knight. But they two fell to the ground. So, now only the leader and one other stood standing.
"Is that all you got?" Bowhan asked with a cocky attitude. The leader growled.
"I'll distract the boy, you take out the bald guy with your dagger," the leader whispered before approaching Bowhan. "Come on kid, let's see if you can handle a man," the leader said, drawing his sword. He lunged at Bowhan and he defended himself well. As they clashed swords against each other, the last man quietly drew a knife and it at the traveler. In the corner of his eye, Bowhan saw this and jumped back. This caused the leader to fall forward. Without thinking about it, with his only desire being to protect this man, Bowhan took the knife to the chest and collapsed to the ground.
"Stupid kid," the leader said, standing up. His comrade drew his sword. "Now old man, give us what you got," the leader said.
"Such a foolish boy," the traveler said, "He needs to learn to look before he leaps. That trait may cost him many times in the future. As for you gentleman, you desire what I have and you will have it." With a powerful motion, he stabbed his staff into the ground and from no where, a powerful gale came, pushing the fallen thieves towards the leader. The wind also seemed to revive them from sleep. They stood and wondered what happened.
"My god, he's a mage!" the leader yelled, the color draining from his face "Retreat now!" His men, not fully understanding why, followed anyway. The mage looked down on the weakened Bowhan. He knelt down and removed the dagger from his chest. Placing his hand over Bowhan's wound the mage spoke an incantation.
"Oh spirits of the water and air, I beseech thee. Heal this one who was harmed defending me," he spoke. And in moments, the wound was healed and Bowhan awoke.
"What happened?" Bowhan asked, seeing the bloody dagger and a hole in his shirt.
"You did a valiant, brave, but foolish deed," the mage said, "But in doing so, you tried to save my life. For that, I am in your debt. Should you ever need my help. Come and I'll see what I can do. My name is Fionn." He rose and then left Bowhan on the ground.
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And once again, Bowhan returned to the Athren mountains for the first time since that day. It was just coming dawn of th fourth day after his journey began. He was tired and weary. It did not help his travels that his child had grown to a foot tall and was almost 30 pounds of muscle. With a heavy breath, Bowhan screamed out the name, "Fionn!"
"So, why have you called me, great slayer of beasts?" came a voice from behind Bowhan. Bowhan turned and saw the man who healed him all those years ago and not a day seemed to of affected him. But his, which looked upon Bowhan was not of happiness or curiosity. But of discontent. Fionn disliked killing for no reason and saw Bowhan's profession as just that.
"I need a favor," Bowhan said, "This beast, will you care for it?" Fionn looked at the child standing by its father's leg and saw its beautiful blue eyes, like Bowhan's.
"And why would the slayer of beasts be so concerned with the child of one?" Fionn asked, not moving.
"I found him after my last job," Bowhan said, which wasn't a lie. But Fionn saw through it regardless.
"You mean after slaying another minotaur, you were seduced and conceived this cursed child?" Fionn asked. Those he spoke softly, Bowhan felt the words cut deeply into him.
"Yes, I can not care for it," Bowhan said, "Please, will you take this child as payment for the favor you owe me?" Fionn stared at the man before him and then to the cursed child.
"So be it. My debt to you is paid," Fionn said, "Now leave." Bowhan looked at his child. And small tears formed.
"This man will be your father now," Bowhan said to his child, "I'm just too weak." And with that, Bowhan ran past Fionn and never looked back. The small minotaur tried running but fell and started crying. Fionn approached the child and comforted it.
"There there," Fionn said, "I will raise you as my own." The child stopped crying and looked upon Fionn.
Sixteen years later, the babe was now . . . | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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