Chapter 34: Chapter 34

ARIN’S NEW LIFE

When Michel reached me, I rode back alone with Taran. Should Arin return to camp, Eric should be waiting for him. As we rode through the town gate and crossed the yard, Bea came stock-still towards us. She swallowed hard and didn't beat around the bush at all.

"Benedict found a loophole, Avan. He took Arin away!"

Suddenly it felt like an ice-cold fist was gripping my stomach. Taran's mouth fell open, desperate tears running down his cheeks. My head was buzzing. Oh, Arin... I would have never ridden away.

Bea began to tremble and handed me a sheet of parchment. It was an excerpt from Father's will.

...should Avan actually still urgently need guardianship, then I hereby allow his advisor Benedikt Wafes to take over this. Requirements: No costs, no losses and Avan must agree. My son knows what is good and will respond to advice.

Henry Campbell

I shook my head, almost stunned. Such a dirty, bald Vernatieker!

"Oh, Avan. Forgive me, I didn't know what to do. Benedict made a deal with the baker. I couldn't do anything..."

I stroked her cheek. "It's a fake, Bea. The seal is fake. Benedikt knew you could never see it. He also knows that I can see it. That's why he immediately drew up a contract and took Arin away before I could do anything..."

Benedict simply forged my father's seal, his coat of arms! The excerpt of the will was a fiction. This bastard could pack up. He will regret this blunder! He played my cards with it. If everything went smoothly, that would mean: abuse of his power and responsibility and thus his immediate dismissal. I just had to explain it legally...

Suddenly Bea began to sniffle, but she struggled for control. "Avan, I swear to you: I will do everything to help Arin."

I smiled sadly and looked down. "Now I just have to find him."

Arin never imagined missing eight brothers. But the very next morning, when he rolled off his straw bed, it was like that. He put on his brown peasant trousers and shirt, which was still white, ran his hands through his black hair in surrender and silently shed a few tears.

Shortly before it got dark, he and his new parents arrived at the bakery in the middle of the neighboring village. Renta and Anders went to eat in their living room, Arin had to go straight to bed. And he wasn't even that angry about it. Renta had taken him with his new things to the little room under the roof and lovingly prepared the bed for him. "And when you wake up in the morning and have eaten, you'll get along better with father. He might be angry very quickly, but you learn to read his mood." She told him.

Arin sighed. I guess I collect fathers like that, he thought sadly. No sooner is one Jezorny Bastard gone than I'm put in front of the next...

The bakery was clean and always smelled of fresh white bread. The smell made his hungry stomach rumble. Anders stood in front of a pile of dough, divided it into several piles at the table and pushed them into a stone oven. Without looking over his shoulder, he called Arin over.

"Morning."

Arin decided to at least try to behave until Avan arrived. And he would. There was no doubt about it. So he took a deep breath. "Good morning, sir."

As a reward, Anders stuck a piece of still warm black bread in front of his nose. He had to stand on his ten toes to take the piece. "Many Thanks."

"Then you take a broom and sweep the shop. Then you do all the work that comes up. And woe to you lazing around."

"No, sir." Arin could hear that soft undertone in his sleep.

Anders nodded once. "Wash yourself outside by the fountain as you should."

That ended the conversation. Renta came by the well and brought him fresh linen and smoothed his clothes. After that he was supposed to deliver bread all day long and calculate the money for Anders, clean and help Anders clean up...

Tired and yawning, he followed his father up the creaking stairs, into the living room above the shop. Renta beamed at Arin and poured thin beers into mugs on the table.

"You look tired, Arin. Come sit down."

Anders, a damn taciturn man, just nodded at a bowl of water. Arin washed his hands and slid into the chair between his two parents. It was terribly exhausting with Anders. After all, Arin was eight years, Taran accustomed to the Swabian little bully.

Last but not least, this circumstance was schooled in that Arin could hardly keep his eyes open. Renta found the sight of the little fellow adorable. His little songs that fell over and over again, his round little hands that rubbed his little eyes and the little hidden one pouted when children got tired. She would have liked to weigh him on her lap. But the boy would hardly want that.

He thanked him politely for the steaming bowl and waited for Anders to start eating before he shoveled in his stew himself. Arin hated himself for it, but he actually almost fell asleep. Anders murmured he should wash up and go to bed. So he got up. "Thank you for the meal, ma'am."

"What a good boy you are! Come here a moment, Arin." Renta looked at Arin almost mischievously before conjuring up a piece of candy from a small container.

Arin's mouth fell open for a moment. He had never eaten one. "I got it from a friend when she got married. Do you want it?"

"I guess I can't..."

She looked at Anders as if offended. "Don't you think he deserves it?"

"Because of good manners?"

Renta smiled. Arin finally realized how happy Renta was for him and how much he needed him. Nonetheless. A candy was so expensive...

"Take it." growled Anders. "Then go wash yourself."

Renta held it out to him again. Not wanting to be mean, he took the candy and smiled gratefully at her. "Many Thanks."

As soon as Arin was in his chamber, sitting on the straw bed and lifting his blanket, he was fast asleep...

Arin was still tired and strangely sad. He thought of his brothers. Kora preparing breakfast in the kitchen, Taran helping out in the feed barn today without Arin. Bea ogling Avan at the table and Michel with his great stories...

He looked into the bucket of water that reflected his reflection in the well water. Two tears ran down his cheek. Arin wanted to go home. Helplessly, he began to open and close his fists again. Helpless, powerless, lonely...

Angry at his feelings, the eight-year-old threw the bucket on the rope back down the well and stomped back to the store's back entrance. When he entered, he hid against the wall. Anders and Renta seemed to be arguing...

Renta stood behind the counter as usual, Anders stood in front of it. Arin recognized both faces very well. They were almost relaxed, although the mood felt different.

"He has to go back, Renta." Anders' voice sounded far friendlier than Arin had ever heard.

"Just leave me alone, Anders. Arin stays here."

Arin's heart began to race. So it was about him? And was he allowed to go home again? And Different was for Arin? It was too much for the little boy to take it all in at once. He didn't know the whole background.

Renta's usually gentle features were tight and sinister. Arin was surprised that this nice woman could look so self-conscious. "He's my boy now. No one can take him away from me."

Anders sighed. "He's not yours. He never was and never will. I told you from the start, Arin won't stay here."

"Then why did you hit him when we got him!?" Renta's melodic voice became shrill.

"Well, he just made me angry... He's a brat, so it can't hurt anyway."

Arin grimaced in insult. He didn't really like adults. They always thought kids were just dumb dolls to bully around. They said and did things next to them without realizing that no matter how old a child is, they can hear and see. You have to process it somehow when you call them annoying or a burden . Of course he wouldn't tell anyone. Arin often thought he was the only one thinking that. But he vowed a long time ago never to make his children feel like a burden to him... Otherwise, he simply couldn't bring a child into the world.

Anders sighed again, annoyed this time. Arin hadn't been listening, but Renta seemed to be testing Anders quite a bit. "Woman, do the boy a favor and leave him with Avan. Didn't you see how...empty his eyes are?"

Renta snorted. "Especially you want to get touchy-feely?"

Anders' voice grew dangerously quiet. "Don't try my patience any longer, Renta. Arin goes. If you want a son, then find yourself a half-starved orphan who begs on the street. You give him more than a well-fed boy who is knighted among eight brothers on a castle ."

Oh Anders, thought Arin, when I grow up I'll bring you every gold coin I can find, saint! Something rattled and energetic footsteps ran across the wooden floor.

"Arin stays! You can't do anything else! We have a contract that binds you! They won't accept my boy even in the dark! Otherwise they'll have to answer to the king!"

Arin got angry again. What a bitch that was! Anders was right! So could take in and mother so many poor boys! Why him!? What did his father always say? "You're a naughty little one, devil. Maybe you're hitting me more than is good for you!" So why him?

"I'm so incredibly disappointed in you, Renta. You're a selfish piece that only thinks of itself. You don't give a damn whether the brat dies with you, does it?"

"He's tough as we know."

Arin was too slow. And Anders too fast. When he heard his footsteps, Arin couldn't escape and was discovered by Anders. He immediately lowered his gaze guiltily.

"Have you been listening!?"

"Sorry..."

Anders forced him to look at him with his fingers on his chin. "Don't get your hopes up. There's not much I can do about a contract. So get used to your straw beds and get to work."

Avan rarely if ever ate. Only drank when I refused to get up earlier in front of his desk. He only washed himself when he got up, snapping at Eric and Ben in a bad mood when they tried to talk to him...

The other Campbells were like kicked dogs too. They only grumbled softly and only when it was necessary. Taran was hardly found. And when he did, it was like his better half had disappeared. Even the servants could no longer find joy together. Because Arin often played in the castle and was very well known.

That the section of Henry's will was forged could easily be proved. However, the contract that was in force remained in force. Avan racked his brains in desperation, but still couldn't find a way to disarm the contract...

When I entered his study with cold bread and beer, he was once again sitting in his upholstered chair. His elbows on the tabletop and his head in his hands. He didn't have to look up to know who had come. Avan knew it could only be me when it was noon. That's the only reason he didn't bark out an order or an unfriendly farewell.

I placed the plate next to a pile of expensive paper and ran it through his messy hair. "Can't you write to the king? Maybe Edward will understand."

"He doesn't care about that. Some assistant will probably decide... and that's too risky for me."

He slowly raised his head, laid it back and leaned back. Trying to keep my nerves calm, I returned his gaze until he squeezed his eyes shut in pain. "He's waiting for me, Bea."

For a moment his desperation almost killed me. In fact, I immediately saw the little black-haired boy waiting on a stool in a lonely pool of light. Nervously kneading his jerkin...

Avan sighed, sounding desperate. "I'm not hungry. I'll eat in the evening."

He wouldn't do that. Like last night, the night before and before that...

Avan leaned forward again, opened a book and traced the lines with his fingers... A moment he looked at him. It almost didn't resemble the little boy in the painting anymore. Once again he seemed ten years older. With a slight shadow of the beard, the clenched jaw and the severe facial features. Avan would not rest until he knew his family was together again.

Eric was unnerving. Ben provocatively quiet. They didn't help me and just stood in my way. Eric sat comfortably in a chair in front of my desk and whistled while bouncing a small ball of fabric. Ben just stared at me. At the end of my tether, I knocked over a stack of parchment, it fluttered in my brothers' faces.

"Out!"

Eric grinned. He tried to be in a good mood to infect the others a bit. But I recognized his dark circles and the reddened eyes. He didn't seem to sleep any more than I did. "Hey, Avi. What's that about? Keep thinking."

It sounded bitter. I was too angry myself to just leave it at that. "What do you mean by that?"

Ben suddenly grabbed Eric's arm. "Be so good as to shut up, Eric."

But Eric didn't think about it. He looked me straight in the eye. "You'd rather brood over the idiot here than just fetch the little one."

I felt my vision become cloudy. It had been a long time since the last time that had happened to me, but I was on the verge of an outburst. "What should I do then?"

Ben could tell by my voice, we all Campbells sounded like that when we boiled over. Eric noticed it too and aimed for it. "You're supposed to get him, dammit!"

"It's not that easy."

Eric jumped up, slammed his palms on the table in front of me and glared at me. "Oh? Do you have two healthy stilts? Do you have a sword? Do you have a horse!?"

I did the same, only I felt my blood boil. "Do you have any idea where he is exactly? Do you have any idea about laws? Do you have any idea what happens if I break the contract!?"

Eric and I stared into each other's eyes for a long time. Instead of getting better from the sudden silence, it just got worse. The thought of grabbing my brother's throat, who is only a year younger, became tempting. Suddenly I felt Ben's hand on my chest.

"Stop it! We really don't have time for something like that!"

Eric sneered. "While the little one stays alone somewhere, you sit here and think."

My breathing was heavy. When was the last time I rammed my fist in Eric's face? I balled my hands into fists. Ben looked at her, grabbed Eric by the collar and pushed him back a few steps.

"No more word."

"Why not? Because it's Avan?" He eyed me disparagingly. "He's not even man enough to steal my brother from a baker! What does he want against a blacksmith who is also a knight!?"

My mother's face appeared before my eyes. She hated it when Ben, Eric and I would raid. Neither jokingly nor seriously. But here it was over. I grabbed the edge of the table, threw him to the side, and stomped the few steps toward Eric. Ben pushed Eric again and tried to calm me down.

But before he could say anything. I just pushed the sixteen year old aside. Eric and I raised our arms at the same time. Neither of us hit the other dodged, but I was too angry. That made me faster. Before Eric could think, I hit him in the jaw, in the stomach, and kicked his leg off.

Lying on the ground, he also kicked my legs off and nimbly threw me onto my back. He slapped my cheekbone twice. Blood pooled in my mouth and I bit my lip horribly.

When I pushed him in front of me, on his back, he barely caught my nose, which immediately spurted blood. Suddenly arms tugged at us, but neither of us were done yet. I met his eye, blood trickled from his brow, and grabbed his jaw with my arm. Without being able to prevent it, he gasped.

I leaned close to his face, trying not to yell. "No one is more miserable than me. No one. Because I have failed. They stole it from me's hands while I was splashing about. Because I wanted to go hunting, there's a contract that I don't know how to break. But I will damn it be if I don't do everything I can to fix my mistake."

With a jolt that made his head hit the stone floor, I released him and stood up. I was fed up with him and Ben and the castle and the family. I noticed that Samuel, Joe and Michel were the hands trying to separate us. I left the embarrassed faces behind me.

I was shocked when I entered our chamber. Not just because Avan was here for once, but because he was bleeding. My first impulse was to dip a linen into the washbowl and kneel in front of him to wash off his blood.

"I got into a fight with Eric."

It sounded so improbable coming out of Avan's mouth that I grinned. "You bad boy."

His hand gently stroked my cheek up and down. When I touched his cheek with the cloth, he twitched involuntarily. "I think I'm getting desperate right now..."

"It's not bad, Avan."

"I don't know if I can still think then."

"Yes you can. Because that's pretty much your trademark."

His forehead pressed against mine. "Maybe I'm thinking too much?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Eric. He said I should just go get him."

I couldn't even be mad at Eric. He and Avan were too different for him to understand Avan. In such cases, he just couldn't get enough to think about what would happen if a contract were simply broken.

"Eric is just a hothead. Like Taran."

Avan played wearily with the end of my hair. "So you think I'm doing the right thing?"

Avan didn't seek validation. He stood by his path, which he had carefully chosen. About he wanted to know my position.

I answered without hesitation. "Absolutely. Who would benefit from taking Arin and having to give him back for trying to circumvent the king's law?"

Aven smiled. "You're the only one who thinks that way."

However. The whole castle was against Avan. And it made me mighty angry. Because everyone was trying to take their frustration out for Arin on someone. And once again, Avan had to serve...

Arin walked alongside Anders in the marketplace. Renta walked behind the baker's cart and sold small pies from her basket. Arin was tired. He kept rubbing his eyes to keep from falling asleep.

The whole village was excited and happy about the last event of the summer. Everyone laughed, haggled over prices and drank heavily. And at such an early hour? the boy wondered. He didn't bother with the drunkards, though. The many smells of the roasting stands and the drinking stands. All the different goods and people... all of them interested him far more.

And although the exuberant mood should have spilled over onto him, he couldn't share in the joy. Every stance, every joke he overheard, everything he saw made him think of home. His homesickness had gotten so bad that he was no longer hungry. He always fell asleep crying and just couldn't manage to act defiant in any way. Not after hearing that he actually felt sorry for Anders.

When they finally reached their pitch, Arin was allowed to look around a bit. Even if Renta didn't approve. "Are you sure Anders? He's still so small. He'll just get lost."

Anders rolled his eyes and shooed Arin away. He didn't need to be asked twice and sprinted away. He ignored people. The village boundary was his goal. He ran past the stalls to a dark alley and of course ran straight into a large knight. For a moment he thought it was Ben.

"What do we have there? Aren't you Anders's boy?"

Arin nodded. He tried to appear inconspicuous. "Yes sir. He allowed me to look around."

"Oh yes?" His bright eyes narrowed. "But the market is over there. What do you want here so close to the edge of the village?"

Arin smiled his cutest dimpled Campbell smile and tilted his head. "I just want to stray a bit, sir. I'll tell him when I get home."

The knight snapped at Arin's arm. "Let's go ask him."

Arin kept smiling. "Save your way, Lord. I have to go back soon anyway. Because he expects me to mix with the people with the basket."

"Indeed?" The knight released Arin. He eyed the little boy, still suspicious. "And you're sure you're not running away."

Arin's heart tightened. No, he couldn't run away. He had tried twice, and again and again Anders found him and warned him. To try again, he had to think carefully.

"Why should I, sir? I always go to bed with a full stomach and warm feet. Why would I want to starve in a forest alone?"

"Do you promise to come back home?"

Home... echoed in his head involuntarily. "I swear."

The man nodded and Arin started running. He didn't want to risk the man changing his mind. He walked through the narrow streets of houses and after a smithy finally reached the edge of the village. The rolling hills that framed The White Knight were far off. You could hardly see her. His homeland was so far away...

"Arin!"

His heart stopped. That can not be. Arin turned left and saw Taran riding toward him on a horse. He felt his eyes getting wet.

Taran leapt from the saddle and threw himself into Arin's arms. Immediately he began to sob. "I missed you so much, Arin."

"Me too... How did you know where I am?" God, what a happy coincidence!

Taran pulled away and shrugged. "I've been looking for you the whole time. I hope nobody notices. Because then I'll probably be a head shorter." He grinned widely. "You're probably already well known in the village. They knew who I was talking about as soon as I asked about you."

Arin looked down. "Are you looking for me alone?"

"Avan is doing what he can, Arin. He'll probably starve himself to death if he doesn't get out of his room."

"Will you tell him you were here?"

"I'll have to. So that he knows where you are. And because I have to explain why I'm not at home for two days."

"Oh man... without saying anything?"

Arin was touched. He was happy that Taran was with him. And he didn't want to lose it again. And he dreaded the inevitable farewell.

Taran ran his fingers through his black hair. "You are my brother, Arin. There is nothing I would not do for you."

Now Arin felt hysteria rising. He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. But before he threw himself on the ground howling and beating the ground, he grabbed Taran's arm and dragged him to the village. Just to avoid running away with him and causing more trouble for Avan.

"Where are we going?"

"I have to get back to work. So mingle with the people and wait until I come back with a rejection. Then we can talk privately."

I

I tore my hair. Arin was gone for three weeks and I still hadn't gotten a step further. And on top of that, Taran was gone. This time overnight. The next morning I thought I was going insane. Two brothers in one month - just got lost! Then this afternoon I heard that Taran was back and was waiting for me in my study. Now I stood in front of the door. I didn't know if I wanted to jump at Taran and stretch his legs properly or just let the matter rest, dog-tired.

Taran sat in front of my table on one of the armchairs. His legs dangled, his hands clasped in his lap and waiting like a little sinner. I slammed the door and realized how good that little expression of anger felt. Taran remained unimpressed. I walked up to him and his gaze shot up to me.

"Where have you been?" My voice sounded rougher than I wanted. But I didn't sleep much, so my voice seemed weary and rumbling.

Taran blinked and bit his lip. "I didn't think you'd notice I was gone. I'm sorry."

"Why shouldn't I notice? Because I didn't notice Arin either?"

Taran's mouth fell open. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just thought you were busy..."

I rolled my eyes impatiently. "By having to worry about you too?"

Taran shook his head. "By finding Arin."

I ran my fingers through my hair. I trotted wearily to my side of the table. "Oh, Taran. You're a poor boy..."

"How come?"

"You're so damn like Eric..."

Taran tried not to smile, since he was supposed to show remorse. But I knew he didn't regret looking for Arin and risking a beating for it.

"I don't mind punishing you." Taran swallowed and waited for a sign from me. "Tell me why I shouldn't put you through the wringer for the shock."

Taran shrugged and hung his head. "You must know that yourself, Avi. But even if you do..."

Ah - so he was so sure that I wouldn't do it? My expression seemed to reveal too much.

"...I will ride on again anyway."

"Aha?" I actually got angry at that announcement, which was so uncharacteristic of Taran.

"Now that I've found Arin, nothing will keep me from him."

"Taran, you-!"

I caught my breath. Taran had found Arin?