Chapter 20 - Young Love

Many of the villagers had come in to ask questions, and soon it was the talk of the town. Everyone was coming to shake hands with the Earthborn and ask them to tell their storry.

To tell them of Maltetious.

Soon Connie had had enough and closed the windows as well as barred the door, and with a humph - she began to take out plates and set them around the table.

“It is nearly dinner time and you have still not told me the entire story Erin,” Connie said grumpily with another glare directed towards Chris. “Will you please continue as I prepare the food?”

Connie began to scrub potatoes and peel the skins as she said this.

Erin warily glanced towards the old woman with a hesitant undertone, already sensing the coming storm if she said or did something that was further out of place. Clearing her throat and folding her hands together, she took in a deep breath. “There isn’t much more to tell, but very well. After the slavers were killed I had assumed that these three were vampires, and that they were there to eat us.”

Taking some of her hair in one hand, she began to brush it with one of the combs Connie had provided.

“So I ran up and tried to stab Chris.” Erin let on a small smile, then giggled and shook her head. “He stopped me and talked me down, but I nearly put a knife in his back!”

“That would have been most unpleasant,” said Chris with raised eyebrow.

“Afterwards-” Erin continued, with a snort in his direction. “Now that I had no family and was no longer a prisoner to be sold to the highest bidder, I decided that I would instead give myself to one of them. So I offered myself to them with a life debt, and Chris picked it up.” Looking slightly embarrassed, she gripped the comb tighter and blushed. “Though he had no idea what he was even doing at the time.”

Chris held his hands up defensively with a deep blsh gathering in his own face, and his boots scraped against the wooden floor as he nearly lost his positioning in the quick act of trying to save face. “Nanipe’s husband was the one who told me to take it! If I had known what it meant, I wouldn’t have taken it, I promise.”

Erin looked startled, eyes growing wide in shock - and then her lips began to tremble. It was as if she had been struck across the face, and she slowly placed the comb down onto the table's edge with a wavering voice. “Oh… Well I am sorry I offered it to you then.”

With that she got up and left, walking out the front door without ever looking back - eyes downcast to the ground. Verick was quick to follow her out, and he didn't look back either.

Michael shook his head, inspected his nails, and casually sighed. [English Dialect] “Way to go dumbass.”

Connie sat down next to Chris and looked him square in the face. [Human Dialect] “That was a very mean thing to say Chris. Though I don’t like this situation, not accepting a life debt is an insult... and what you just said probably made her feel worthless.” Slapping him hard across the face in a surprise act of aggresion, she pointed to the door. “You need to go apologize, now.”

The three Earthborn were very obviously startled by the violent approach this old bitch had taken.

Embarrassed, confused, and sullen, Chris got up and followed Erin out the door to try and catch up - while thinking about the things he could say to repair the damage he’d just done.

Now it was only Connie, Gaften, Taen and Michael left in the room.

"What a fucking thundercunt..." Michael muttered under his breath while giving the older woman a poorly concealed glare for striking his friend. He was half tempted to hit the bitch back on behalf of Chris - and do it twice as hard as she'd done.

Connie regretfully put her head in her hands with a dramatic humph, ignoring the looks Michael was giving her and not caring in the least about his opinion. “Poor boy. Verick had been saving up to buy his own property. He was going to ask Erin to marry him after he had everything set up and ready to start a life. Now with her having a life debt to your friend Chris, it means that Verick must ask his permission to do so.”

She smiled sadly, turning in her stool to meet Taen's eyes. “Is your friend Chris a good man?”

Michael tried to stifle a laugh and covered his mouth pretending to cough.

Taen, however, spoke up with enthusiasm and genuine undertones as he nodded adamantly. “I believe so, yeah. And honestly Connie - I wouldn’t even worry about it, Chris isn’t the sort of person to get in the way of something like that. I mean good hell, they’ve only known each other for what, four days? Something like that anyways. The most I have seen so far is just some flirting here and there and that’s the extent of it. I think you’re overthinking this, Chris and Connie haven’t even kissed. I don’t know the customs and traditions regarding life debts but where we come from, people do not OWN other people; and Chris isn’t about to change that now.” Getting up to go examine the odds and ends in the trading post, he snorted in Connie’s direction for doubting the character of his friend. “If Erin wants to marry Verick and Verick wants to marry Erin then I’m sure it’ll work out.”

Michael interrupted with a loud belch, taking another glare from Connie and not caring about her opinion just as much as she didn't care about his. “I find it odd that you people get upset with Chris for accepting the life debt, and then get angry at him when he says that if he had known better he wouldn’t have accepted it. Don’t you think that’s a little bit illogical? Seems just a tad fucking stupid to me. You're being fucking stupid - there, I said it.”

Michael’s blunt and rather angry words took both of Verick’s parents off guard.

“I suppose to an outsider like you it would seem that way.” said Connie, smiling at them for the first time since they had met even if it was a nervous one. “But things are more complicated than that.”

Her husband Gaften, who had been spectating up until this point, decided to speak while scratching the back of his neck in an agitated fashion. “You know, I’m just happy that Erin made it safely here. Again, thank you for bringing her here. It saddens me that her family, who we were good friends with, perished. But at the very least she survived. I just want her to be happy, something that may be hard to do now that she’s lost everything.”

Looking out the door that had been left open in Chris’ departure, Gaften walked over to close it shut with a sigh. “That poor girl.”

***

Chris had seen Erin turn a street corner with Verick swiftly catching up to her. Chris slowed his pace, not really knowing what to say and feeling awkward as well as incredibly stupid for what had just occurred. He hadn’t meant to insult her, in fact it had been the opposite. Sighing and throwing his head back to look at the sky, he put his hand against his temple and dragged it down across his face.

“I’ve never been good with the ladies. This is definitely not my strong suit.” Gradually he gained upon his destination, and as he did so he began to hear Erin and Verick talking to one another in hushed tones just around the upcoming building. He stopped as to not intrude, but could definitely overhear some of what was being said.

“... No Verick I can’t take it back! Life debts are a sacred tradition, and you would have me spit upon it as if it were nothing?”

“Why not?! What is more important here? And why would you just decide to one day give yourself to some random stranger you have never met before? If you do this and keep your life debt intact, you will end up going away and we will never see you again! I will never see you again!”

“He is not a random stranger,” Erin angrily retorted. “They saved my life along with many of the other people of my village, and took vengeance upon our captors. I am honored to be in such a debt!”

Verick audibly spat. “You have known him less than a week and act as if he is a saint.” Verick paused and breathed in heavily. “Erin… I love you. And I want you to marry me.”

From around the corner where he stood, Chris flushed becoming bright red. Ticks of jealousy began to prick at his mind. Covering his face with both hands and leaning his back against the wall, he whispered to himself: [English Dialect] “God damn it, I’ve walked into a Romeo and Juliet scenario. And I’m the bad guy.”

Erin didn’t respond, and after a moment from around the corner Chris heard Verick quietly say: “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”

Chris’ heart jumped and he slunk to the ground, only guessing as to what that meant.

“I did not give you permission to kiss me, Verick.” Erin angrily remarked. “And if you were to marry me you would need Chris’ permission to do so now that the life debt stands. Discuss this with him if you wish to continue this further.”

Chris rolled his eyes at how ridiculous this all was. Shaking his head, he decided he needed to say something.

“Erin, you do not need my permission to marry someone. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in a long time.” Chris loudly stated as he turned the corner of the stone building to meet the other two’s surprised looks, and he bowed his head and folded his arms. “I wanted to come and apologize. I’m sorry for hurting your feelings or insulting you in any way. I’m not used to your customs here, and I can be a clutz even when I do know the customs. I give you permission to do whatever you want to do with your life and marry whoever you want to live it with. I don’t expect you to ask my permission for anything else ever again, you don’t need it.”

Turning to leave, he stopped and looked back before saying: “I do sincerely appreciate the gesture though, I’ve had a lot of fun over the past little while!”

With a final forced smile, he left and headed back to the trading post.

***

Michael grinned confidently, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back. [English Dialect] “I would have been like, ‘Bitch this hoe is mine! You dun messed with the wrong brotha, and she aint gonn mury you!’ Then I would have strapped a leash and dog collar to Erin’s neck and would have made her make me sammiches in the kitchen as he watched. Then I woulda done the dirty and made him listen!”

[English Dialect] “That’s abhorrent,” said Taen as he patted a distressed Chris on the back.

Michael stood up and pointed towards the back of the trading post, [English Dialect] “Women belong in only two places! The kitchen, and the bedroom! If they aint gonn make sammiches then they better be in the bedroom.”

[Human Dialect] "Would you like a pastry?” Connie asked smiling as she walked into the room.

[Human Dialect] "Why yes please, and thank you!” said Michael as he took two of the pastries and shoved one into his mouth. He swallowed before he’d even finished chewing so he could continue his rant of stupidity. [English Dialect] “Even this bitch makes me sammich-like snacks. I don’t know why you’re being such a woman about this Chris. Nice guys finish last, it's a fact. You’re gona turn into Taen if you keep this up - a born again virgin.”

[English Dialect] “What makes you say nice guys finish last?” asked Taen. “There’s nothing wrong with being a nice guy.”

[English Dialect] “Nothing wrong with it if you don’t want to get laid. Chris, take Taen and I for example. I’m an asshole. Taen’s a nice guy. Who’s gotten laid more since we’ve gotten here?” Michael pointed to himself as if it were a stupid question. “Am I more attractive? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter, because I take action when action needs to take place while Taen just sits twiddling his thumbs and playing with his anus. Girls, like, assholes - the jerk type.”

Taen held up his hand to interrupt. [English Dialect] “What happens, Michael, when you find the girl of your dreams and she asks you how many girls you’ve slept with?”

Michael sneeredk, pretended to vomit, and then clutched at his heart dramatically. [English Dialect] “Dear lord, Taen you’re making me want to vomit with your romantic bullshit. Girl of my dreams? Pshhh, make that five girls that I rotate between throughout the week and you’ve got yourself a deal.” Leaning forward he gave Chris a confident grin. “But let’s say you’re right and I do happen to find the girl of my dreams. She asks me how many girls I’ve slept with? Well I lie of course. What they don’t know doesn’t hurt em! Take Petsy for example! When I get back, I’m sure she’ll be all over me never knowing I slept with her best friend! Will anyone feel bad or have hurt feelings? No! And I get laid twice as much because of it!”

Taen scowled, completely unamused. [English Dialect] “You’re a terrible person Michael.”

Chris just sat with his head propped up on his hands, staring off into space while ignoring the two arguing idiots to the left and right of him. Erin still hadn’t come back, neither had Verick and it was nearly two hours after the encounter. It was starting to get dark. Sighing, he walked over to the two caged rabbits. [Human Dialect] “Gaften, would you mind it if I let one out for a minute or two?”

Gaften raised an eyebrow. [Human Dialect] “Those things will be gone within minutes if you let them run around. They’re fast little buggers.”

“How much for one then? Would you trade for one?”

Gaften shrugged. “We can make something work out. What do you have?”

After a few minutes of bartering they came to an agreement, the rabbit was exchanged for the flute and toy horses the children from the northern village had given him as parting gifts.

Taking one of the small brown rabbits, he turned it around to look at it in the face. “I’m going to call you ‘Fluffy’, for your fluffy white tail.”

Setting it down, it immediately rushed towards the open door but then suddenly hit a barrier of celestial light. Chris picked up the rabbit and placed it squarely on his lap. “You can’t escape my saintly powers, little Fluffy. Resistance is futile.”

Setting the little cottontail rabbit down again, the same scenario was repeated and the little rabbit was placed back next to Chris who sat cross legged on the floor. Before Chris knew it, he was laughing again. Eventually it got to the point where the Fluffy the rabbit had given up trying to escape out the front door and instead was exploring the room enthusiastically.

Then - without warning - a furious Verick burst through the door, headed straight towards Chris. He pulled back a fist and threw a punch towards Chris’ head, putting everything he had behind the strike. Chris, while sitting down, deflected the blow and caught Verick by the throat with his other hand. Standing up slowly and letting Verick go - Chris backed away with Fluffy held tightly with his other hand as he did so.

“What are you doing!?” screamed Connie in anger, rushing over to slap Verick across the face. Verick didn’t respond and angrily thrust himself past his mother, up the stairs, and into the back of the trade house - closing the door behind him. Connie followed him up the stairs moments later, and shut the door to the back again with a loud bang.

A few moments later Erin walked through the front door as well, obviously upset. Her blonde hair blew with a gust of wind, revealing recently shed tears - but she made no eye contact with anyone.

Gaften stood up and went over to hug the girl. “I’m going to assume you two had a fight?”

She nodded and hugged him back while the three Earthborn remained silent. Chris stood there stroking the rabbit’s head as it nestled up against his chest, putting it’s head between his arm and body and hiding its face in the crevice.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Gaften asked the girl, and as she nodded silently they walked out the front door again.

Looking over at Chris, Michael just laughed. “Look at that! Poor Fluffy is traumatized!”

Taen rolled his eyes.

Michael saw Taen’s reaction and snorted. “Let’s go for a walk ourselves, I’ve been wanting to smoke some of da grey chief anyways. Maybe we can find a good place to relax.”