The Tale of Alar

2

“Ha! Take that! And up. Back. Thrust.”

Alar was a virtual fireball of red and white fur as he leapt and twirled about the practice yard out back of the forge. He moved with unparalleled grace, each step carefully measured down to the inch. His grip on his sword hilt was sweaty but firm, and each strike at the practice dummy was as neat as could be. Finally, he leapt back to his starting position, panting with the exertion but smiling with satisfaction.

“By your leave, sir,” he said, bowing elaborately to the dummy. He then walked over to a little side table and wiped off his sword with a rag.

“Oy, faggot!”

Alar closed his eyes and sighed. He summoned all his patience, then whirled around to face the unwelcome interloper with a cordial smile.

“Good morning, Grant,” he said.

“Aye, so it is,” replied the squirrel, who was Alar’s equal in stature and age, though with a permanent smirk adorning his features. A small but prominent scar marred his face just beside the right eye: a gift from Alar during one of their more vicious childhood scraps. He leaned on the wooden fence dividing the practice yard from the next street, leering at Alar with his most insufferable smirk yet. “The morning of my departure.”

“Oh really? Hope you have a nice trip.”

“What, ain’t you interested where I’m going?”

“You’re answering the call of the king to all great warriors in Kentros to take up his quest, I imagine.”

“Aye, that’s right. So you do know about it. Reckon you’ll be going too, huh?”

“Maybe. Haven’t decided yet.”

“Haven’t decided! Huh. I’d have thought you with all your fancy blade swinging would go for it without fail. What’s a matter, can’t live without your precious little princess to suck you off for a few weeks?”

Alar shrugged. “Least I don’t have to buy my blowjobs like some.”

Grant ignored the pointed remark and only broadened his smirk. “Ha! So that is it. Well, fine. You stay here and fondle your little girly boy. Me, I’m going on that quest, and I ain’t ever coming back to this dump. So long, wuss!”

With that, Grant left. Alar held his paw up in a gesture of parting until Grant turned his back, at which point, still smiling, he switched to a much ruder gesture. When Grant was gone completely, he let out a deep sigh and sheathed his blade. One more second of taunting from that squirrel and he might well have pounced.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit envious of Grant. His childhood rival would be leaving this aimless existence behind, answering the king’s call, and maybe even reaping that grand reward when all was said and done. Meanwhile he would be stuck here, living the same old dull routine day in and day out, waiting for another chance that would probably never come around.

He clicked his tongue for lack of anything else to say, then mopped his brow with the rag and slipped his tatty, oversized tunic back on. Its edges were ragged, it had several holes in it, and the whole thing was stained with soot, but it was the only one he had. The same went for his shorts. What he wouldn’t give for a fresh, clean pair! But neither he nor Ruskin had the money, and whatever spare pennies he found or saved up almost always went toward staving off the hunger that constantly gnawed at them both. Say what one would about Grant, but at least his father wasn’t riddled with debt. Not that he was a pleasant fellow to be around either.

Like father, like son, mused Alar, grabbing his sword belt.

He ran back to the house to put his gear away, then re-emerged onto the street and headed over to the western end of town. He always liked going this way. It was the main route out of the city from his quarter, and he often imagined himself walking on down the street, right past the gate, and on farther still without stopping or looking back. How wonderful it would be to actually do that someday! Though, if he were to head to the capital, it would be via the north gate.

“Good evening, Alar!” a voice hailed him from the side.

Alar stopped and faced the speaker with a genuine smile this time.

“Hello, Father Rufus!”

Father Rufus was the local parish priest. He had always been nice to Alar, and everybody else, really, so the young squirrel was never in too great a hurry to stop and talk with him.

“Off to the watering hole, I take it?” spoke the old red squirrel with graying whiskers.

“That’s right. I’m meeting Adam there.”

“Hmm. Sounds lovely on a day like this.” They ambled slowly along the avenue side-by-side for a bit as they continued talking. “How is your foster father doing?”

“Oh, busy as ever. No end of orders. But no end of debts to pay off either.”

“I see. And what of you, young buck? You seem in a good mood, though I dare say all is not as it seems.”

Alar sighed. There was never any hiding one’s true feelings from Father Rufus. “You’re right, Father. Something is troubling me.”

“And what is it, if I may ask?”

They stopped abruptly to let a couple of little urchins chase a ball across the street directly in front of them, then kept walking.

“It’s the king’s call for volunteers,” replied Alar.

“Aah yes, I saw that yesterday. Going, are you?”

“Well, that’s the thing. I’d like to go, of course. Serve the king, earn that reward. But Adam doesn’t want me to. He thinks it’s too dangerous.”

“No doubt it will be. All worthwhile endeavors entail a degree of risk. But ultimately it is for you to decide what you do, Alar. You are the master of your own conscience.”

“I know. And truth be told, I am tempted to go anyway. But I would like to have Adam’s blessing all the same. I’d be doing it for him as much as for the king or myself, after all.”

“You wish to use the proceeds to purchase a country home for the two of you, correct?”

“Some of the proceeds, anyway,” said Alar distractedly as he watched the filthy, wretched little squirrel kittens playing with their ball. His heart ached to see them in such misery, and yet be so oblivious to their own plight at once. It reminded him so much of himself long ago. “Failing that, I’ll get the materials and build it myself.”

“An admirable sentiment indeed. But you know, you need not have mountains of gold and jewels to find the happiness you seek. As I have said before, I would be only too glad to wed the two of you, if such you desired.”

“I know. And I am truly grateful for your understanding, Father. But I do this for myself as well as for my love. It was always my dream to have a place of my own in the country for as far back as I can remember. And that dream has become so much sweeter since Adam chose to share it with me. I can’t wed him without a proper home to go to. It just...wouldn’t feel right.”

“I understand, Alar,” said Father Rufus, placing a paw on his shoulder as they stopped. “As I said before, you must follow your heart. You have a good one. The Spirit resides in you, and will guide your paw to what is right.”

“Thank you, Father.” Alar stopped then looked down the street. “Well, I should be off now. Adam will be waiting.”

“Very well, my son. Have a good swim!”

Alar sped along to the end of the street, turned right, then turned left again. He paused to take in one of the few genuinely nice spots in the slum he called his neighborhood. It was the idea of a city mayor who had reigned before Alar was born. A long pool of water, constantly supplied with a fresh flow from a channel to the nearby river, stretched the length of a boxed-in little courtyard with a neat row of trees planted along the outer wall of the city. The smooth gray stonework, while not as dazzling as it once had been, nevertheless stood out starkly against the rest of the quarter. There were several grassy areas as well where squirrels could doze about or dry off in the sun after a good swim.

Today, of course, the place was packed with residents and their young ones taking advantage of the cool water to combat the scorching heat. Alar hoped there would be a little room for two more somewhere toward the deep end. He felt a touch at his elbow and turned to find Adam beside him.

“Evening, mate,” said the latter.

“Evening, Adam.”

“Shall we?”

“Of course.”

They undressed over by one of the trees. Nobody worried too much about their clothes being taken by someone else while they were swimming. Everybody wore the same thin, ragged tunics and trousers as everyone else for the most part, and no one left anything valuable in their pockets, so there wasn’t much reason to steal from another. And even if someone did see fit to pull such a prank, no one was much bothered by walking home naked if necessary. Indecent exposure laws were essentially nonexistent in a neighborhood where far more indecent activities took place on a regular basis.

As they neared the pool, Alar thought of all the wonderful memories he and Adam had made here over the years. They had come here with their guardians and on their own since they themselves had been mere kittens. This was the place where they had first learned to swim, made their first friends, fallen in love for their first and only time, and in a more secluded corner shared their first kiss. He sighed at the last memory. It was only a couple years ago now, but it seemed like forever. He had wanted to take things a bit further at the time, but Adam had insisted that they should wait until they were properly wedded. Despite his eagerness, he had agreed out of respect for Adam.

“Well, shall we do a few warmup laps first?” suggested Adam as they clambered over the low barrier wall.

“Sure,” agreed Alar.

Adam slid delicately in, but Alar dove in head-first. He darted down to the bottom of the deep end, tapped it with his paw, then performed an underwater somersault and sped back up to the surface. He shook the water out of his eyes and winked at his boyfriend.

“Never one for half-hearted measures, huh?” remarked Adam. “Right, to the far end and back three times?”

“Sure. I’ll race you!”

“You’re on, mate.”

And so, at the count of three, they shot off the wall and made for the opposite side of the pool. The competition was actually rather close, for while Alar was a more powerful squirrel, Adam was lighter and faster in the water. They finished in a near tie with Adam just slightly in the lead. Thereafter they swam and performed various tricks to try and impress each other, then returned to their starting position. When they were finished, they were nearly gasping for breath, but quite pleased with themselves nonetheless. They climbed back over the wall and seated themselves upon it for a moment to catch their breath. Then Alar rose.

“Well, what say we find a nicer spot to dry off, eh?”

Adam nodded and offered his paw, which Alar grabbed to help him up. They sauntered over to a spot away from the main activity of the pool near the trees and seated themselves there. The sky was suffused with the fiery hues of a summer sunset, and Alar sighed contentedly. He was happy here. He was at peace. What need had he of adventure when everything he could possibly desire in this world was right beside him? Adam seemed a little more distracted, though he tried to enjoy the moment as well. Sitting here watching the sun set, just as they had done countless times through the years. Finally, without turning his gaze away from the sky, Adam spoke in a low voice.

“You have my blessing,” he said.

“What?”

“To go on your journey.” He sighed and at last looked Alar in the surprised eyes. “I don’t want to hold you back. It was selfish of me to say you had to stay here when you long for the open road. I was thinking only of what I wanted, and not of you. But you must follow your heart, as you always have. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, Adam!” Alar grabbed his beloved and held him close. “My heart will always belong right here. But I do thank you for your understanding. And I promise I won’t let either of us down.”

“I know you won’t,” said Adam, smiling at last as he pulled away slightly. “You never have.”

Alar could not resist. He kissed his life’s love with sheer delight spreading through his frame, and Adam happily returned the favor, his tail twitching madly. It had ceased to bother them long ago what others thought of their open displays of affection for each other.

“I suppose you’ll want to be heading back so you can prepare,” said Adam as their lips parted.

“I suppose I will,” said Alar as they stood up. “Still a bit damp, but who cares?”

So, they found their clothes, got dressed, and bade each other good night.

“You’ll come and meet me by the gate tomorrow, right? See me off properly?”

“Of course.”

“All right.” Alar paused. “I’ll be thinking of you tonight,” he added with a wink.

“And I of you.”

“Well, ‘til tomorrow then!”

Thus, the two headed for their homes. Alar could barely contain his excitement and practically bounded down the street. There was no question in his mind that he had the most wonderful, understanding boyfriend in the entire world. He would go on his adventure, he would defeat that dark wizard, and he would earn that reward. Nothing and no one on this good earth could stand in his way now!