The Children of Fenrir: Eir

Chapter 8

“Ah, fetch it lad. I suppose we’ll be off.” Frode called as he pulled off an apron.

I answered the door to find one of Sage’s sworn guards there. Asmund or Dagny, I didn’t know who, was out of breath.

“It’s one of the pups. They’ve broken an arm.” She said.

“We best get on our way before it heals itself and we have to rebreak it.” Frode came behind me with a bag slung over his shoulder. “At the practice fields then, Dagny?”

“Yes, sir.” The twin, Dagny, turned to lead us. I followed my mentor out the door. 

“Now the trick with pups is that they will always heal much more quickly than us grown folk. It is simple to rebreak the bone and properly set it, I’m sure you are wholly capable of accomplishing that. Sometimes half the fight with our people is beating our damned fast healing. What it comes down to is that it is simply more upsetting for pups and I don’t like doing it, so off we go.” Frode spoke as he walked. He moved quickly for an old man and I lengthened my stride to keep up. As we walked Frode was greeted by everyone we passed and he slowed down for none of them, focused on only getting to the practice fields.

I smelled her before I saw her, hunched over and comforting the howling pup in her arms. Frode knelt next to her and waved me closer, the pup’s forearm was at an ugly angle and he had it in his hands. “A nice clean break, little one, it’ll heal right up.” His voice was gentle and even as I kneeled next to him, “Have you met my friend Eir? I bet he would be happy to fetch the honeyed cherries out of my bag, would you like that? Fetch the cherries, Eir. Did I ever tell you of when Hel hurt her arm? And Fenrir had to help her?”

I hurried to find them and opened the jar, passing it to Sage. Frode launched into a tale about a young Fenrir fetching his mother. The pup was so entranced between the sweets and the animated storytelling that she barely noticed her arm being set and wrapped tightly in a splint. Asmund came running with her mother as Frode was finishing binding it, telling her about how Angrboda rushed to her daughter’s aid. Sage passed her to her mother’s arms, still feeding her a steady stream of sweets as she sat next to me. I was very aware of our closeness, crowded around the pup and her fussing mother. Frode fashioned a sling from her mother’s scarf and told her how brave she was, that she would make a fine and fierce warrior. 

“She’ll be fine in a few hours,” He said to her mother, “she needs to be still and rest for the afternoon while it heals. I will send Eir by this evening to make sure it has healed properly, though I foresee no issues.”

Sage stood, brushing her hand along my side as she did. She offered her hand to the child’s mother and pulled her up, “I'm so sorry about this Alynda, poor thing has no fear. She went flying at one of the others and must have landed on it wrong.”

Alynda held the pup close to her chest, “She’s my third one Alpha, yet whenever I think I’ve seen it all they find a new way to bang themselves up.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Frode stood, grunting.

“That’s why we breed them sturdy around here.” Alynda smiled, helping her daughter stand up, “Isn’t that right little one? Say goodbye now.”

The pup raised her good hand which was covered in the same sticky honey that dotted her face and the front of my mate’s light leather armor. She waved to us with a toothy grin and then took her mother’s hand. Asmund and Dagny had set the rest of the pups to a task across the field. It looked more like they were playing a game than training for battle. They formed two lines, each line holding hands and facing each other. Alternating turns, each line sent one of theirs to attempt to break through the others’ line. They were all laughing and loudly teasing one another.

“What are they doing?” I asked Sage.

“It’s a game I devised!” She beamed at me, “They are too young to do much physical training, none of these have experienced the shift yet. We do a bit of basic sword and knife work but mostly we make up strategy games to help develop their growing minds. Imagine if the opposite side was a shield wall? Or a line of warriors in wolf form? Being able to quickly spot and use a weakness is an important skill, as is knowing how to hold a line.”

“Our young Alpha is quite the strategist,” Frode said, repacking his bag. 

Sage ducked her head with modesty and my instinct was to reach for her, craving her touch. I wanted to pull her close and let the whole world know she was mine. My desire to respect her and consider her wishes in all matters regarding her warred with this instinct. I stayed quiet, not trusting myself to say the right thing.

“We best be on our way, still have to get those salves jarred. Give your mother my regards, Sage.” Frode hefted his bag to his shoulder and began walking towards home.

“Meet me in the clearing again tonight,” I whispered, leaning into her ear. I followed Frode but looked over my shoulder to catch her smile. I was counting down the hours until she was in my arms again.