Chapter 14
Ivar
The people began to murmur among themselves.
"I tell thee, the gods are watching o'er us. Only they can decide what they want for us," Papa said. "But let not that shake thy faith. We must continue praying and hold hope for answers that shall come."
My mama glared at the crowd. "Even now, I see some of ye standing here with the faces of beasts, though ye wear the guise of men."
The murmurs grew louder among the people.
"I dreamt vision last night, and I saw the beasts. They plot to rid themselves of men and take over this village. I tell ye, they're among us."
I felt uncomfortable with Mama's words. Why would she say such a thing? That there were beasts among us? These were our people, and they are human.
I saw the people start to look around at each other in confusion.
She stepped back, turning to me, and it was as if she wasn't looking at me. Her gaze was on Ragnar, who was standing behind me. I really did not understand my Mama's hatred for Uncle Ragnar.
"They wish us dead," she continued. "But mark my words, the gods shall hear our cries soon. On that day, we shall hold a ceremony for the passing of these beasts."
One day.
But that was what my grandmother always said before she died—that the gods would answer our prayers and kill the beasts. And when she died, my Mama became a strong believer in the gods. She would tell me that my gift of healing people was from the gods.
"Ye say thy prayers are unanswered. What think ye will come to pass if the beasts sink their fangs on us and turned us all into their kind?" she asked. "Many among ye have not known the terror of the beasts, yet ye stand here and blame the gods for silence. Hast thou any thinking what shall become of us if the gods turn their backs? Think ye can survive two summers without rain? Do ye understand how hard it would be if our fields and women are barren?"
My mama opened her mouth to speak again, but her lips pressed shut as she scanned the crowd with her sharp eyes. It was as if she'd seen something strange.
I felt a strange cold—not because of Ragnar behind me, but it was something else.
The people looked terrified after hearing my Mama's words, and they raised their hands to the sky to pray.
I turned to my side, and Ake stared at me, raising a brow. "Are ye well?"
Was I all right? I couldn't tell.
"We owe thanks not only to the gods but the warriors for their protection," she said. "Should the gods really forsake us, we will not survive a single winter without them. They would send the beasts after us, and if ye be lucky, they would kill ye without leaving turning," Mama said.
"Most of ye wouldn't be lucky. They would bite ye, and leave their mark on thou. Ye would turn into their kind, consumed by agony, until thy own kin are forced to slay thee."
"Is thy Mama meant to calm these folks or soothe them after an attack?" Ragnar whispered.
I turned over my shoulder. "My Mama is consumed with wrath for thy folks lay blame at the gods."
We have been praying for the wolvens to leave us for many years, but we haven't gotten any response. I don't see why my Mama would scold people who just lost their loved ones like this.
I scanned the crowd, and my gaze fell on a big man with long black hair and a long thick beard, which was braided. His skin was as white as snow, and he had piercing blue eyes like Uncle Ragnar. He was staring at my Mama with his lips pressed into a thin line. She hadn't noticed him yet, but she continued speaking about how the gods were going to kill the beasts soon.
Just one glance, and I could tell he was not from our tribe.
I continued looking around and recognized at least four others who looked like him. Their faces were etched with deep frowns as if they weren't happy with the speech.
Who are these people?
Ake stepped closer and leaned down. "I see strange faces here, Ivar."
I nodded, turning to look at him. "Aye. About five of them."
"Stay alert," he said. "I shall inform thy father what is on."
"Okay," I nodded.
I turned to the big man again, and for a moment, I noticed a red flicker in his eyes. Did his eyes just change colour, or was I just seeing things?
Ake walked to where my Papa stood, bowed his head, and whispered some words to him.
Papa nodded before walking toward my Mama, speaking something to her. She nodded and stepped back.
"Each day we offer prayers to the gods on behalf of everyone," Papa said. It looked like he was about to wrap up the speech. I caught sight of warriors closing in.
"We shall continue praying!" a woman cried out from the crowd.
Ake walked toward me. "We must leave. Now."
My heart raced as he tugged my arm gently and began pulling me out of there.
"We have heard enough!" I snapped my head at the voice and saw the big man. "The gods have abandoned ye, just as they have abandoned us."
"Who art thou?" Mama demanded.
It felt like I already knew what the answer would be, but I didn't want to hear it.
Another man sneered. "Ye speak of the beasts as though we are naught but a plague to thy people. But I shall remind thee, lady, twas thy gods who brought this upon us."
"Blasphemy!" Mama spat.
My eyes widened. They're the beasts disturbing my people every month.
"For centuries, wolvens have been hunted, slaughtered, and driven from their lands. For what? All for the gods' favor? Thou survival? Tell me, how many of thou people have been torn and butchered like animals just because ye want to rid us all?"
"The gods shall smite thou for blasphemy!"
"The gods have no power in this era—not after being gone for a thousand years. Mark my words, woman. One day, we shall rise. Thou people shall burn, and ye kind shall kneel before us. Humans shall become prey hunted by wolvens."
Before the warriors could do anything, a loud growl echoed from the crowd. It came from the four others who had been standing still.
The warriors closed in with their swords, slaying the heads of the men before they had the chance to shift.