When the new year came, so too did an array of new problems. We no longer had anything to our name. the dried meat had run out and the coin we got from selling horse sheep was also starting to run out. By this time, even the city folk were starting to reel from the bad weather.
Food was more scarce than ever. My father resorted to hunting, something he and our other neighbour, Girm, shared an interest in. Girm was of a lean build, quick and clever too. He had auburn hair and green eyes that liked to wonder. He was also a master huntsman, something that probably kept his family alive in the winter.
I hear that he and Rick became good friends when he first moved to Flemming. When Ricky boy said he wanted to hunt Girm was more than delighted by that. He offered him a master class, and in no time father was a pro. He went on long hunting trips with the other men that could last for days and even sometimes weeks.
Whenever he came back he would have a large haul with him, rain deer meat, dire-wolf, and even hooked bison. His new hobby, though more like a profession, managed to sustain us for a while. Meat was about the only thing on the menu, with rye bread that we got from the capital also being a common food now and then. He'd also bring with him wild fruits and veggies.
However, one day tragedy struck. Girm usually led the hunting trip, but that week he came down with something awful, an illness I had never heard of in my old world. He was incapacitated, but they couldn't call off the trip. It was decided that they would have to go without him. They were all experienced hunters, but that decision would prove to be a fatal one.
We did not here from father for 2 weeks straight, and more than that food had started to run out. We had dried the meat but now we were rationing it so that it would last longer. After two weeks of Ricks absence, we began to notice a change in the menu. What used to be a combination of wild fruits and veggies and dried game slowly started to turn into just the veggies or sometimes just the meat.
Ash even tried to go out hunting since he was taking lessons from father. He had even gone on a trip before, he was now fifteen years old after all. Perhaps father deemed him worthy or something. His trip produced no results at all as he came back empty handed most of the time and more frustrated than the last time. He was starting to resemble father in that regard, and his appearance had even started to look a lot more manlier than before.
A third week passed by and it was now certain that we would run out of food the next week. The situation was not looking good especially with father not around. No one wanted to think it, but I suspected he may have met his end. was I saddened by the whole ordeal? I don't know honestly. I admired the guy, he was everything you needed in a man, resourceful, strong and reliable too.
However even with all that, he was not my father. He may have been Alywick Herodson's father but he wasn't mine. I had a father, a man I respected even more than I do Rick. I imagine he was depressed about me going before him and all but nothing to do about it now.
"Im going to the market. Aisia look after the kids, you too Ash."
One day mother decided to use the last of what we had in change for food. She had Aisia and Ashford be in charge while she was away. I knew that 3 silver pieces was a lot from what I gathered, but it wasn't enough to last long, maybe a few days at the most.
It took a whole day to travel to and from the market, but mother returned early that day, in the afternoon no less. She wasn't that fast so I figured she may have had a second thought on the way, however there was someone else besides her. It was Girm, and he had a large deer on his shoulders, smiling ear to ear in a wide grin.
"Hello there everyone, thought you might use this."
He said whilst setting it down on the porch. We were happy that day, Girm had saved the day. The deer meat was prepared by Asisia and mother while Girm made off with the entrails. There was something about entrails that he liked he once said.
After that he would occasionally visit us with wild fruits or even money for us to spend. He would talk to mother for hours after that before heading off at sunset. At first, it seemed odd enough. Ashford liked him, I knew that much. He got hunting and fighting lessons from Girm after all. As for Acre, he became quite skeptical about the entire ordeal the second day that Girm came back.
He was always the one most protective of mother. He was her loyal son, he did everything she told him to without a second thought. Acre was quite the loose stone from my experience as his younger brother. We occasionally had sibling spats once in a while and the fact that he was physically stronger than I made it less than fair. However, I soon found myself around that and I can even say apart from mother and father I might be the one he fears the most.
"Hey you're a smart kid, have you noticed anything strange about that guy. Like how he's always hanging around and stuff, its a little odd if you ask me."
He said to me one time as I sat on a large boulder next to the road that led to the market and many other locations across the country side. I was playing a game where I was throwing stones to see how man times I could accurately hit a tree in the forest, I suppose there isn't much you can do in the medieval era anyway otherwise it wouldn't be much of an old era.
In that moment there were two people across the field from where we sat, it was mother and Girm. Girm would say something and mother would laugh very hard at it, or he would show her something up close just to find a reason to touch her skin. They were acting like a couple in love, so much so that even a child could see through it. That child was Acre of course, a mere 12 year old. S
"Don't let it get to you, father well be back soon and everything will be back to normal."
I replied him. The little boy was not convinced. He seemed to be more worried about Lilicia than father. He was like that, a mothers boy.
"No this has to stop."
He said…
"I don't like the way he looks at her, don't you?"
He said. I figurd he just wanted someone to say this to, not an opinion or anything like that. Si looked toward Girm and Lily, honestly I didn't care much about whom Lilicia played around with, it was none of my business. However, Girm was a different matter. He did all those nice things for us, went out of his way sometimes even and you cant not expect for there to be an ulterior motive. I was even starting to doubt whether or not e had been sick at all.
The day went on as normal, however Girm stayed until night time that day. It was odd, but that's when I started to feel that something was off. We had dinner as usual, it was mostly meat that Girm brought for us. After supper Girm was playing with Bell, a game where he hid a tiny object and she had to guess where the ball was in.
He would occasionally address Lily who was cleaning the dishes outside through an open window, but that was it. The process of cleaning dishes was done by both Aisia and mother, but that night Aisia wasn't feeling too well so mother had to do it all by herself.
"Boys you can go to sleep if you want…"
He said suddenly as the 3 of us sat around the table doing nothing in particular.
"I can help your mother with the last of the dishes. I'm sure you want to rest, especially you Ash, you've been working hard all day."
Ash really had been working hard all day that day. He had been scouring the nearby forest for anything we might cook. In the end he came back with one rabbit and two red falcons.
"Yeah you're right. I can barely feel my own skin."
He replied with a smile on his face as he stood up and went to the room that we shared. That left Acre and I.
"You too boys, ill handle everything from here on out."
He said once more, trying to get us to leave. Now I was even more confident than usual that he was up to something. Acre was unrelenting.
"Are you planning to stay here the whole night? Father could be back any time you know."
He said with a stern expression on his face.
"No don't worry I wont do anything. Its just that its dangerous for a woman and her kids to stay alone, you don't know who or what could come knocking."
He said while brushing his fingers through his red head.
"I know that but…"
"Come on, your safe with me. I've known you since you were sucking the teat, you're like my own kids now."
He said trying to convince Acre. The boy was not convinced, but he was trained to listen to adults in the very least. He stood up from his chair and followed after Ash, leaving me alone. Girms expression was one of relief, thinking he had overcome the biggest obstacle that was Acre and stubborn attitude as well as his overprotectiveness of his mother.
"!!??"
However, he really had forgotten about me. I had time to think that day, and I came to the conclusion that my admiration of Ricks efforts might obligate me to take a stand in his stead. I had to get rid of Girm, the how part I was unsure of. I sat there looking at him with a neutral expression. He smiled at me, hoping to put me at ease like how exactly an adult would.
He was expecting I would become shy or something and then scurry off, but I did nothing of the sort. I made sure that my glare made the tension in the room rise to abnormal levels, and I saw Girms forced smile start to break, slowly. He was now nervous, his trick wasn't working. I had like more than 12 years on him, there was no way anything he did would work on me, except if it involved punching and kicking.
"Ah, whats wrong buddy?"
He asked, but I dared not answer him. My silence had made him uncomfortable, I guessed the guilt from his thoughts was now coming over him. Feeling sure that I had accomplished, I headed for the room….
Or I pretended to at least. As soon as no one was left, Girm stood up and walked out of the cottage, I knew where he was headed of course. I walked into the boys room and woke up Acre, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have backup.
We peeped from the wall outside the cottage as Girm approached mother. He had something in his hand, a small leather sachet it looked like.
"I brought you a gift, came from the capital today."
He said as he approached her. Lilicia was about done with the dishes and was packing the plates and pots into a straw basket. When she saw Girm she smiled and gladly received the gift.
"What is it?"
She asked as she unstrapped the sachet to reveal a dark brown substance. I knew it was chocolate from my experience in my past life, but I can imagine this was a luxury in a world that resembled the middle ages.
"It's a sweet, I had someone pick it up from the capital for you. Its all yours if you want it."
He said while smiling charmingly.
"Is that so, this must have been expensive so thank you, Girm. Can I eat it right now, the scent is irresistible."
She said while breaking a piece in half. She brought it to her mouth, licked it and then gobbled it up whole.
"Its sweet, very sweet."
She with mouth full of saliva. Soon she gobbled up the rest, and when she was done, she licked her fingers.
"its good right? I have a friend in the capital whos uncle makes them, his customers are those rich nobles and powerful merchants. He usually sends in a sample like this one for taste testing before he can deliver, that friend I mentioned sent me a sample as well and you're the first person I thought about."
He said. Now it was just small talk, but I knew what was going on. Chocolate wasn't just a nice give you gave to a woman if you wanted to get between her legs, no it was more than that. It was a gift you gave to a woman because you wanted to get between her legs, it was a strong aphrodisiac. However, then and there some signs started to show, it was fast.
"Oh, I'm feeling a little hot, could you hold these for me."
Lilicia handed the straw basket with the plates to Girm as she leaned on a wall while breathing roughly. Her face was flushed and she fought hard to say on her feet.
"What was… in that chocolate."
She tried to say over her rough breathing. Girm put the basket on the ground on top of the dry grass and approached mother cautiously.
"Lily, are you okay?"
He said while holding her waist, probably in an attempt to help her balance. However, it was a little too handsy even for him. And calling her Lily like that sounded a little too overly familiar if you asked me.
"I'm fine, just need to… catch my… ahhhh… a little bit."
Lilicia tried to pry away Girms hands over her body, but she was now shaking and lacked the energy for that, she was even starting to sigh more rapidly too. She probably lost power in her legs because she was about to fall over, however Girm managed to catch her. This time he was holding her more firmly. I saw Acre trying to rush into the scene, but I had to hold him back.
"No not yet."
I whispered to him while holding his hand back. He was physically stronger than me, but he also respected my opinions more than anyone else so it wasn't very hard to reason with him.
"But mother is…"
"She's going to be fine…"
I interrupted him,
"Just wait a little longer and I promise you well get rid of Girm forever. Act now and hell just come back again until he gets what he wants."
I said over a hushed tone. We needed Girm to make his move and for mother to lose trust in him forever. Girm had probably laced the chocolate with some powerful aphrodisiac, otherwise the chocolate didn't act this fast nor did was it this effective. He was now embracing her in his lean but powerful arms and Lilicia could not resist him. Besides, Girm was what she needed now more than anything else, a man to quench her sudden thirst for pleasure.
Ricky was nowhere to be found and there was no one else suitable. In other words, this could be considered consent. He did not waist anytime once he had Lilicia in his embrace. He brought his lips to her white and big forehead. I could see Lilicia shiver slightly. Girm then brought his lips a little lower this time, he was probably going for a kiss. He new a kiss would seal the deal. S
"No… we cant, I cant do this."
Whispered Lilicia while trying to hide her lips from Girms. She even went as far as biting them, but that served no end. Girm forcefully stole her lips and gave her a light peck on the mouth. It started off light, but then it got intense and intensely passionate. I felt Acres hand shiver under my grip, this was a boy boiling with rage.
The intense kissing lasted for a mere 30 seconds, and that was when Girm so an opening. Whilst holding Lilicia in his arms he turned her around so that he was now behind her. After that it was a free fall. He lifted up her brown dress and reached beneath it. He brought her to the wall of the cottage and pressed her against it while he dropped he dropped her white panties down her thighs and legs. As he was about to drop his own pants…
"Hey fucktard, what do you think it is that you are doing to my mother!!!!!!"
Acre, whom I could not hold back until now rushed onto the scene. I was waiting for Girm to actually do it, you know, the deal and put it in but I guess it was weird to make a son watch all that. In fact, I felt shocked that I was willing to let Girm stick it to the woman who gave birth to me while I watched. I seriously needed to reaffirm my moral compass, something was wrong with me.
Acre Girm with a log from the hearth, it was burnt slightly at the end but luckily it was not lit up. In fact, Girm barely dodged it as he jumped to side. The black tip grazed his face and left soot on it, but he didn't look injured. In fact, he looked mad, like that one time my kids walked in on me and my wife on Christmas eve. I remember feeling like the veins in my head were about to pop, and we ended up sleeping in the same bed that night with them.
"What?? What do you think you're doing kid, are you mad? You could have seriously hurt me with that, killed me even!!!"
He shouted with rage. He quickly moved towards Acre and grabbed the log out of his hands. He proceeded to place both of Acres hands under his grip. At this time, Acre was kicking Girm though to no avail. While he did, Girm pulled up his pants and in good time too. It was getting a little bit disturbing watching his crotch dangling around like that.
"Listen kid, if no one beats these manners into you then I will."
Girms voice was calm, but he sounded angry too. He started to slap Acre with his right hand, the one that wasn't holding onto his hands. Mother was now lying on the ground, struggling with her own self control. Acre saw this, and his eyes were tearing up, with rage. He kept on kicking and kicking until some of his energy was starting to run out.
He also saw no use in kicking Girm, his legs didn't even feel the impact. He tried to break free from his tight grip, but that too proved to be futile. There was nothing he could do as Girm slapped him to and from, first his open palm, then the back of his hand. Acres face started to swell up as tears began to fall down his cheeks. Girm was an adult male, there was no going around that. However, I had to do something, even if I didn't have the physical prowess for it.
I picked up another log from the hearth, and I approached Girm silently. His anger was directed at Acre and with it so too was his focus. I was now standing directly behind him. It was a new moon that night, well at least the one in the center was. The other two always disappeared when it was a new moon, but reappeared towards dawn. I swung my arms at full force. The log followed my motion. It was heavy, but I could use that.
I swung back again using my body's weight and when I had revolved my entire body, I let go of the log. I heard the sound of wood coming into contact with flesh and skull and I knew I had done it. Girm did not yelp let alone let out a scream. I imagined the pain was just that intense. He let go of Acres hands and stopped slapping him immediately.
He brought both his hands towards the side that had made impact and started to brush off the pain while groaning loudly. I imagine by this time the others in the house were awake. I was right, and big brother had arrived at the scene.
"What's happening here, what's the meaning of this?"
He said as he looked at the scene. Acre was sitting on the ground crying, mother was now sitting while leaning on the wall with her panties midway at her thigh and Girm was groaning in pain while kneeling and covering his ear. Ash was a grown boy now, and from behind the wall I spotted Bell who was holding her arms a sleeping Yon while desperately trying to make sense of the situation before us.
"I see, you need to leave Girm. But know that I will tell father of what happened while he was away!!"
Ash shouted at Girm angrily and with disappointment in his voice. I imagine he looked up to the man, but the scene before him explained more about his character than Ash had come to think he knew. Girm looked up at Ashford with a rage filled glare.
"Fool, your father is dead and I felt the courtesy to take care of his family in his stead. I brought you food I even taught you how to hunt and fight and when I sought a small price for all my services you treat me like less than shit."
He shouted angrily. Ashford was angrier though.
"Girm so help me ill hit you with that log, ill hit you to a bloody pulp if I have to. Walk away, you've lost all my respect."
He said while picking up another log from the hearth. Ash was turning fifteen years old, he was bigger than both Acre and I and his height was near to that of Girm himself. He would definitely put up more of a fight, he'd still lose, but I imagine Girm would suffer more damage than he cares to receive.
Girm then turned his fierce glare at me, an attempt to intimidate me I guessed. However, he found that futile. I smiled back at him, and he made an annoyed face. That's when he stood up, looked at Lilicia one more time and started to walk off in the direction of the road. All four of us, except for Yon who was asleep and mother who was temporarily incapacitated, watched his back disappear into the darkness down the road.
It was only when were sure that he was gone that we went back into the house. I remember Ashford staying up all night that day, even I couldn't sleep. Acre had worn himself out from all the crying, and mother retreated to her room, possibly to take care of herself.
As for me, I couldn't help but wonder, I knew Girm had a wife and two children, both boys. The older one was about two or three years older than Ash and the youngest around my age. His wife, Darling, wasn't too bad on the eyes, but I guess by village standards she was fine. However, even by village standards Lilicia was quite the looker, I cant not think about how many men have dreamt of bedding her. Well, at least everything ended without a hitch.