THE EYELESS ONE
Arthur stared up at his father, terrified that he was going to get scolded. His arrow was embedded in an oak tree, the rabbit long gone.
“I’m sorry Dai.” He managed softly, his eyes darting down to the ground in shame. Ivar smiled down at his youngest son and patted his blonde head with a hugmongus hand.
“Don’t be. It was a good shot.” Ivar looked about. “Now, run ahead to check the traps, alright?” Arthur nodded and began trotting ahead for a few steps before looking back at his father.
“You really aren’t mad?”
“Why would I be? You’re only a child, and this is your first time hunting live animals.” Ivar smiled at Arthur lovingly. “Now, go check the trap, and I’ll go check on your brother.”
“Yes Dai!” Arthur darted off, and watching the little brown ribbons soon found the trap.
Ivar smiled to himself as he walked over to where Allistor was hunting. He soon came across the boy, looking shaken and pale, but clutching firmly to his rabbits all the same.
“Allistor, what’s wrong?”
“I found a deer. It was dead.”
“So?”
“It’s eyes were missing.” Allistor began to shake a bit. “Then I found a fox that was missing its eyes, and a badger.” Ivar’s own brown eyes widened. “Dai? What could do that to them?”
“Suilean.”
“What?”
“It’s a demon. Come on Allistor, we have to go get Ar-” Ivar was cut off by a scream. “Come on!” Ivar thundered through the woods, Allistor following close behind. Arthur was leaning against a tree, covering his eyes, with blood trickling down from behind his left hand. There was a woman standing in front of him. Her hair was the color of tar, and her eyes were empty sockets. Allistor quickly realized he was seeing red.
“Dai! Give me your knife!” Without waiting for an answer, Allistor tugged the long dagger out of its sheath and charged the lady, ramming the knife into the back of her chest. “Stay away from my baby brother you witch!” The woman turned to him and laughed, plucking the knife from her back with ease. She began to speak, although Allistor couldn’t understand it, Arthur obviously could as he started to cry and shake. “Arthur!” Allistor ran over to his little brother and hugged him close, shielding him.
The woman turned and looked at Ivar, continuing to speak in the horrid language. Ivar pulled his great axe off his back.
“Allistor, take yer brother back to your mother, now.”
“Yes Dai!” Allistor pulled Arthur gently onto his back. Arthur clinging to Allistor’s back, sobbing. Allistor started to jog away, hearing the sounds of the battle increase behind him as he headed towards the little village.
Once he was sure that both boys were a safe distance away, Ivar let his eyes turn to a fervent, bloody red. He held the axe loosely in both hands, a lazy smile on his face as the demon charged him. He side stepped and took one of her arms with a single blow. She paused and screeched in agony and rage, before charging him again and scratching his arm with her putrid nails. Ivar simply began to laugh before cutting her head off and slicing her body in two.
Her corpse dissolved into ash and he sheathed his blade, satisfied with the victory. His eyes turned back to their natural brown and he saw Arthfael sitting at the edge of the clearing.
“Thanks for the help.” He called to her. The bear chortled and snorted, starting to head over to the village. Ivar followed and saw Allistor running back to him.
“Dai! Arthur’s fainted and he’s running a fever and there’s black stuff coming from where the lady scratched him!” Allistor panted out, doubled over and panting from his sprint. “Mama and Minf say we gotta get him to Epidamnos!”
“Alright, come on!” He whistled for Arthfael and as soon as she was near, tossed Allistor onto her back. Allistor clung to her fur as Ivar began to run back to the village; Arthfael just ahead of him.
When they got there, Allistor slid off of Arthfael and bolted into the house. Aoife was holding Arthur, bundled in blankets by the door. Ivar quickly took him into his arms. Allistor peeked at his brother; he was pale, sweating and there was a black stain on the bandage around his forehead.
“Minf’s gone to borrow the Lot’s wagon and horses.” Aoife said quietly. Ivar nodded. “Ivar, you need to stay here to look after everyone. They’re scared and they need a shepherd.”
“I know.” Ivar handed Arthur back to Aoife and crouched, looking at Allistor. “Allistor, I need you to go with your Mama and keep her and Arthur safe.”
“Yes Dai.” Allistor felt Ivar ruffle his hair. He hugged his father, clinging to him. “Dai?”
“Yes?”
“Is Arthur going to be okay?” Allistor’s eyes were filled with unshed tears and his voice was cracking. “Am I going to lose my baby brother?”
“Oh, no son. Your brother is going to be alright.” Ivar hugged Allistor close, letting Allistor cry into his cloak briefly. “Here. I have something for you.” Ivar pulled a ring from one of his pouches. It was made of a white material. He put it in Allistor’s palm. “That’s made from a dragon’s tooth I found when I was your age.”
“When you were my age?” Allistor looked at it. Ivar nodded.
“Whenever I get scared, I just look at that and then I feel better.” Allistor nodded and smiled a bit.
“I’ll keep it safe.”
“Good boy.” Ivar stood up and ruffled Allistor’s hair. He heard Minf pulling up in the wagon. “Alright, go watch over your mother and brother for me, okay?” Allistor nodded and grabbed the cloaks belonging to him, his mother and Minf. Following his mother to the wagon, he set them down as a sort of bed for Arthur. He looked over the rim at Ivar and smiled as brightly as he could.
“I’ll keep everyone safe Dai!” He called as Minf called out to the horses and they began a rapid, smooth trot. Ivar smiled as his son’s red hair disappeared in the distance.
“I know you will, Allistor.”