It paused for a moment, then began to wiggle about. Ean watched it, confused about whether it was a good or bad sign, until the creature stuck out its arms in a pleading gesture. Glancing at Zin and receiving a shrug as a reply, Ean placed his finger directly in front of the sprite.
Sinar flowed up and around his hand, twisting around and through his fingers. It felt cool to the touch and left a small mist on his hand wherever it touched. It swirled about for a few moments longer, then returned to the pot. Drifting on the surface, it looked like a child floating in a bath.
"I'll take that as a yes," Ean said, rising. "Ready to go to a much larger home?"
Four tiny jets of water shot straight up and came down back into the pot.
"Alright then. Let's introduce you to the people of Rottwealth."
Chapter 4
"I've made a horrible mistake," Ean whispered under his breath.
Zin let out a quiet laugh at his side. "Probably. But too late to go back now."
They stood at the edge of the marsh, the pot containing Sinar sitting at Ean's feet. Lotrug stood off to one side, his four arms crossed in front of his chest. The Crux wrinkled its nose, probably at the smell of the Rottwealth that grew in the marsh that gave the village its name. Ean had picked Rottwealth for most of his life. He had learned a long time ago to ignore its pungent smell. What he wasn't used to was standing in front of the hundred or so villagers that had gathered to watch the day's event.
As far as he could tell, everyone was there, spread out in a semi-circle in front of him. Most of the faces he recognized, although he found it difficult to remember the names that went with them. He had avoided most people unless he was helping Cleff, the man who had raised him, treated them for injuries or disease. When any of the villagers saw him with Cleff, they held their tongues, but when he was alone running errands in the village, almost every one of them went out of their way to curse his family for what his parents had done. Hopefully, by returning a water sprite back to the marsh, he would erase that old prejudice towards him.
He recognized the face of Mayor Erikson. He stood between his two strapping sons, Krane and Bran. Bran's father–the mayor, Bran the first–shot angry looks at Ean along with his sons. Even with everything Ean had been through, the sight of Krane made him cringe just the smallest bit. Back in the day, more so than any of the other villagers, Krane had made it his job to torment him on a daily basis. In his nightmares, Ean took a twisted sort of pleasure in taking revenge against the young man, but upon waking, it left him feeling even more disturbed. He had always thought about getting his revenge against Krane. Now that he could, he feared that the temptation could be something that pushed him down a dangerous path. He let his gaze move on before dark thoughts started to creep into his mind again.
His eyes found Jaslen's parents and he quickly moved on. Who knew what they thought about him now? It was hard to believe she would ever leave Bran like that, but he hoped wherever she was, she was safe.
His gaze met another woman's and it took him a moment to realize it was Allie Bale. The creature that had invaded the mine three seasons ago, just before Ean had left Rottwealth, had made her husband, Lane, its first victim. Lane had been the last person in Rottwealth he had tried to save before leaving. Tried and failed. Allie had been very appreciative of his efforts though, and had offered Ean a few kind words and an occasional smile before he left.
He gave her a wave, hoping to have at least one ally in the crowd. She gave him a strange look and turned away. Did she not recognize him? Ean often forgot that he no longer looked like the scrawny brooding young man he had been before the change. Now he was a tall, broad, brooding young man, and if he could believe Azalea, he even looked handsome. Of course, Allie might know who he is and not want to be associated with him. Who knows what lies Bran's family had been spreading. Or what truths . . .
"Why don't you get on with it already?" Zin said, interrupting his thoughts. "The longer you wait, the more nervous you will make yourself."
"True. I'll just get the speech out of the way and then let Sinar get to work on the marsh."
"Wait, you're giving a speech? I didn't prepare anything. Did Azalea?"
"I'm perfectly capable of speaking for myself, Zin."
"I guess we will see, won't we."
Zin took a few steps back then opened his hands, signaling for Ean to proceed. Well, no time like the present.
"Attention, everyone."
The crowd continued to talk amongst themselves.
"Excuse me," he tried a little louder. The only ones that paid him any attention were Bran and his family. The looks they were giving him were less than supportive.
"Ladies and gentlemen—"
"BE QUIET," Lotrug yelled in the human tongue. Silence descended over the gathering instantly as every eye swung to Lotrug, and then to Ean.
Well, this is it.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ean began, "I am sure most know me now as the resident of the mine. But for those that haven't recognized me yet, my name is Ean Sangrave."
A murmur grew in the crowd.
"The healer's apprentice?"
"I thought he was a twig of a boy . . . "
"Always knew he was trouble . . . "
"Certainly has become more handsome . . . "
"Should have drowned him with his parents . . . "
Ean stifled the rage that threatened to overwhelm him with the last comment. Lashing out would not make the situation better, and besides, he couldn't determine who was saying what. Best to move things along.
"As I was saying," he began, but the talking continued. It wasn't until Lotrug took two steps towards the crowd that they grew silent again. "Apparently, many of you remember me and the negative views you held towards me. I'm well aware of the fact that I control the mine has not had a positive impact on what you think of me now either. But I called you all here today as a way for both the people of Rottwealth and myself to come to terms with the changes coming to our village."
"We don't want a change!" someone shouted from the back.
"Leave and take your monsters with you!" a female voice added.
Lotrug started stomping towards the crowd, his arms extended and his fists clenched. He was muttering something in Crux, but Ean only caught a few words.
" . . . lesson . . . inferior creatures . . . death . . . "
A sudden fear gripped him, mixed with anger and frustration. Memories of dreams flashed through his mind. Creatures from the Abyss killing humans. The destruction of Rottwealth. Death. Torture. And Ean watching it all and laughing. . .
"Enough!" he shouted, taking large strides towards the crowd until he was between them and Lotrug. "I know what most of you thought of me before, and honestly, I don't care. If you want to continue blaming me for something my parents did, that’s your choice. But understand this: The mine is my home now whether any of us like it or not. For reasons I don’t feel the need to explain to you, I can’t leave. And if you think Lotrug here is intimidating, think about your chances against five more of his kind. So clearly, you won’t be forcing us out any time soon. So how about instead of fighting me every step of the way, you let me try and doing something good for our village?"
Pausing to let his words sink in, Ean surveyed the crowd. He inwardly groaned as he saw fear in many of their eyes. The point wasn’t for them to fear him but to understand that working together was something that had to happen. Again, flashes of his dreams raced through his mind and dried up his throat. He needed to alleviate their worry. Make them understand that they didn't have to fear him or anything that lived in the mine.
"Everything that lives in the mine is at my command, and I have every intention of making sure they not only never harm a single person of Rottwealth, but also aid the village when there is need. My followers can help fix up buildings, plow fields, and scare off animals that come down out of the mountains and eat your livestock. With me here, we certainly won't have a repeat of when that mon
ster invaded our home. I can keep you safe."
That got the crowd talking, and Ean heard some positive words mixed in with the doubters. Maybe he was making some headway with them.
"What I want to know," the Mayor said, stepping forward. "Is what will protect us from you?”
The crowd immediately grew quiet for their leader. Many were nodding in agreement with him.
"Despite what most of you think of me," Ean responded. "Rottwealth is my home. I grew up here. Cleff raised and taught me everything I know. . ."
"And he left the ownership of the marsh and the Rottwealth that grows here to the entire village," the Mayor jumped in again. "So don't try to claim that as well."
"I . . . never said I was going to. I was just trying to say that I want Rottwealth to flourish just as much as Cleff did. All I'm asking is for the villagers to stop judging me based on the mistakes of my parents."
"Hard to forget with the results sitting right behind you!" Krane taunted, trying to make Ean look stupid. Some things never changed. The young man would do anything to make his life difficult.
"Which is why we are all gathered here today. I want to make amends for the mistakes my parents made in the past. I know our village is starting to grow and prosper, and I want to do something to aid its future. Or at least try." Ean mumbled the last part.
"I've learned that the water sprite my parents drove off, which resulted in changing our bubbling spring into the mess behind me, is actually called a Vunvuanima. And I happen to have a new one here in this pot. I plan on letting my little sprite here free in the marsh so that it can fix the mistake my parents made so many years ago."
The reaction from the crowd was mixed. A few of the children tried to move forward to look before their mothers grabbed them and pulled them back. Some of the men, including the Mayor and Bran, did walk up and take a closer look at the pot. Ean even thought he heard a few claps, but they stopped as fast as they started.
"This little thing is going to clean up the marsh?" the Mayor said, staring down into the pot. He sounded more curious than doubtful, which Ean took as a positive sign. Sinar was happily swimming about near the surface. Whenever someone leaned too close, she shot a playful spray of water up at them.
"Yes. I know she looks small, but they are supposed to grow fast with a ready supply of water, and the marsh has plenty of that. I'm not claiming that she can heal the marsh overnight, but from what I know, she'll want the marsh changed into a clean spring just as badly as the rest of us." At least, Ean hoped.
"Huh . . . " was the only reply he got. Still it was better than he expected from the mayor. Maybe Ean's perceptions of the man were just as faulty as how he himself was perceived. He would have to try and put away some of his own prejudices if they were going to work together.
"Well then," Ean said, shooing the men back and picking up the pot. "Let's let little Sinar here go to her new home."
As the men moved back, Ean picked up and carried the pot to the edge of the marsh and put it down. Tilting it forward, he let a little of the mucky, brown water mix in with the water in the pot. Whenever that water came close to touching Sinar, the mud seemed to dissipate and the liquid turned clear.
A good sign.
"Alright, Sinar," Ean coaxed. "Go explore your new home."
Sinar paused its swimming to look at him for a moment, then shot out of the pot in a blur of movement. The water sprite was easy to follow. Where ever it zipped around in the marsh, a trail of clean water followed along behind her. The dirty water quickly overwhelmed the clean, but around the Vunvuanima, the water remained clear at least.
Ean turned expecting to find an exuberant crowd. Instead he saw half of the village walking away while the other half returned to talking amongst themselves. A few of the older residents were watching Sinar move about the marsh. Smiles lit up their faces. A few even looked at Ean and nodded appreciatively.
“Well, that’s a start,” Ean mumbled to himself. Searching the crowd, he spotted the mayor amongst those leaving and was about to go after him when Bran stepped in his way.
"Not very impressive . . . Ean." The way the young man said his name was full of doubt.
"Yes, well like I said, Sinar will grow over time. As she does, the cleaning effects will spread. Eventually, she will have the whole marsh returned to the clean body of water it used to be."
"I suppose." Bran's tone left little doubt to what he really thought. "And then what is your plan? Going to charge the villagers a few coins to safely use the water?"
"Bran, I told you, I want to work with the people of Rottwealth, not exploit them. I wouldn't charge them to use–"
"You charge them to use the mine."
"The mine belongs to me!"
Bran took a step back, a combination of surprise and worry on his face. Whatever he was feeling, it couldn't match Ean’s surprise at his own outburst. Where had that come from?
"It does?" Bran said after recovering from his surprise. "Did you dig it out? Build the supports? Where were your beasts when I single-handedly removed the monster that had taken up residence?"
"Bran, I'm not having that argument with you again. Today was supposed to be a positive day–"
"Of course you won't have the argument." Throwing his hands in the air, Bran stormed away. "You know you have no argument. But you go ahead. Claim the mine. The villagers will grow tired of you eventually. Then we'll see how much of a claim you have to it."
Ean watched him go, trying to contain his own anger. The man would never accept him here. Was it because of what happened to Jaslen, or was he putting what he thought was best for the village first? In the long run, it didn't matter. Auz couldn't be moved. The mine was his home now. He just had to make sure that he did enough good for the village so that the rest of its inhabitants would accept him being there.
"Go back to your hole, freak!" one of the villagers shouted from the crowd.
Ean had no idea who it was, but the comment made him grind his teeth. The nerve of these humans . . .
These humans? I’m human. Why do I keep separating myself from them . . .
Lotrug began to stalk towards the crowd, which got those that were standing around talking to move and those already leaving to move faster. Ean raised a hand, causing the Crux to stop his advance.
"We're going, Lotrug." Ean kept his voice calm as he waved the Crux over. Lotrug didn't deserve to feel the brunt of his anger, and as much as Ean wanted to rage at the ingratitude of the people of Rottwealth, he wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. Instead he reached down, grabbed the pot, and walked as dignified as he could back into the mine.
Chapter 5
Entering the Heart, Ean threw the clay pot into the nearest corner. It smashed against the stone floor, sending broken pieces and water out in every direction in a spray of destruction.
"What else can I do to show these people I'm not a threat?" Ean growled.
Zin followed close behind him. "At this point, my guess would be to leave for good."
Ean shot him a glare that made the imp stop in his tracks.
"That's not exactly an option, Zin. Auz has to remain here, and we can't just leave him behind."
"I know, I know. I think you just need to give them time. From years of living here with you before our adventure, I've noticed that the people of Rottwealth are already wary of anything that hasn't lived in the valley for a few generations. Add to that, all of the stigma behind the Abyss and the fact that you have what they consider to be monsters at your command, and you have a lot of negatives stacked up against you. Give Sinar some time to grow and clean up the marsh, go a few seasons without the Crux crushing a few of the villagers, show you can be generous and help out the village in other ways as well, and they will come around."
"Maybe . . ."
Azalea came running in, hands raised as if she were about to pounce, her head swinging around as her eyes scanned the room.
"What's going on? Did the villagers riot? Are we
under attack?"
"No, Yulari," Zin said with a laugh. "Our leader is just a bit put off by the village's lackluster reaction to his generosity today."
"Oh."
Ean watched as Azalea instantly relaxed, although he could feel a little confusion drifting to him through their bond. She stood there, glancing about, the indecision of what to do next painted on her face. It only lasted a moment before her usual condescending smile returned.
"Well, with the amount of anger coming off our boy here, you can't blame me for thinking we were under attack. I could smell it from my room, and its affects were doubly strong through our bond."
She winked at Zin, who in turn bared his teeth at her. Ean wondered if Zin would ever get over the fact that Azalea and he were bonded for life. The imp acted almost jealous about it. Best to say something before the inevitable fight began. He certainly was in no mood to hear anyone yelling but himself right now.
"Of course I'm angry. I didn't expect the villagers to fall at my feet. Even if Sinar had cleaned the entire marsh as soon as I set her free, I wouldn't have expected to have the whole village right in my pocket. What I did expect though was a little bit of gratitude. Maybe a pat on the back. A few people replacing the scornful looks with a few smiles. Bran coming up and shaking my hand instead of threatening to do everything in his power to see me gone. The only way the day would have gone worse is if Sinar had started attacking people."
"Would that have been so bad?" Sidling up to Ean, she wrapped her arms around his body and nuzzled her head against his chest. "Better to be feared than hated, right? If Sinar had dragged a few of them into the marsh, maybe drowned one for fun, they would probably put more effort into appearing grateful that you did something nice for them."
"Azalea, I don't want them to show me gratitude out of fear!"
"I'm telling you, one or two deaths would be good for your reputation."
"There is no way I will allow a single villager to be injured if I can help it!"
"A maiming then? A few broken bones?"
Enemies and Allies (Bound to the Abyss Book 3) Page 4