Untamed Gift (Book One of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  “I can only tell you what I know, but it isn’t much. Furion are highly secretive in who and what they are. There is very little text on them because they teach mainly by word of mouth. Even Takka could only find thirty two related pages in his specialist’s item that weren’t in my enclave. That is how secretive the Furion clan is. And even those documents we gathered are mostly hearsay, but I shall tell you the few truths I’ve uncovered about them. And what I say from now on doesn’t leave this room.” Alex nodded automatically, uncaring of what the others said at the moment as the queen looked to each of them. “Furions that live today are instantly recognized in two profound ways. Firstly they are born without an item of any kind and secondly they can speak with fiends and other such creatures. Like I’ve just witnessed again, they are excessively stronger than anyone else.” She gestured to the splintered wood. “They are blindingly fast, smart and unpredictable. When I was given the report from Rakkian’s little brother, Takka, about a man who Angie couldn’t see and had punched a hole through solid stone with his bare fist; it made me curious.”

  “Wait, you are Takka’s older brother? Honesty?” Marlin asked and started laughing in his seat. “You two are polar opposites. He’s so relaxed and you are so uptight. That is quite humorous.”

  The queen cleared her throat and Marlin understood her rebuke and said “Sorry.” with all honesty.

  She nodded and continued. “You see, Furions are more powerful than any item I’ve ever witnessed, well beyond any level five, but they are also exceedingly rare. Unlike most humans, Furions are linked by blood and thus always are never born with an item. Like a normal newborn babe, their item comes into existence by chance, and the powers the items use are pure luck, it is destiny who decides the item from the Ancients gifts, not their parents. For instance; two weapon’s class parents can have a strong bodied child, but the child’s item can be anything, any classification. Parents do not choose their young’s item. But Furion parents are different in that they always have Furion offspring. And as of this moment I know of only three living Furions, Alex. You are included in those three. That is as much as I’ve been able to gather. Like I said, they are very secretive and elusive.”

  Only three? And here I thought there were many more because she seemed so excited. Alex grumbled in silence. He thought there might be hundreds, but his assumptions were completely crushed. But at least he knew he’s not alone, there are others like himself. There is someone else out there like me and they might be able to explain things to me like none other ever could. He surmised with a thrill. They might even know what is happening to me, whatever is going on with my body that is. Wait a minute…

  Alex leaned forward. “So there are two others like myself? Who are they and will I ever get to meet them?”

  Something like worry or pain crossed her expression before she covered it up in a calm mask. Whatever it was caused much inner turmoil. During the expression she glanced at the picture of her parents, behind her throne for only a moment before meeting Alex’s gaze directly. Her expression became passive and her voice was even. “Undoubtedly, you will meet one of them one day soon I imagine, but you will not like what I’m about to tell you. Though this pains me to my core, you must pay heed to this.”

  It was then that her sudden expression, that she covered up made sense. It was a flash of terror from her past, a horror she witnessed firsthand. Alex hoped he was way off in his assessments, but the hope felt vain. “What did one of them have to do with your parents?”

  Allahandra’s eyes widened and she gasped at his observation.

  Lily touched his shoulder hesitantly, seeing if his temperature had cooled and when he leaned back to look at her she asked in a tense whisper “Alex, what are you doing, asking something like that?”

  Her eyes widened as Alex smiled calmly and patted her tender hand. “Just trust me. This needs to be taken off her chest.” He turned back to the queen as she was trying to compose herself, it proved to be too difficult so his voice rose to her aid. “You can tell me clearly, your majesty, and I will help with your heavy burden that you’ve carried alone for so many years.”

  General Rakkian was looking between this Furion and his queen with unadulterated confusion just like Marlin and Lily were doing. Shade was being patient, silent and studying everything. He had heard all of the translated conversations. This was the first time he has ever been so silent and Alex wondered what in the world he was thinking, but Shade remained still and eerily silent. It took another minute for Allahandra to steady herself, then she began saying “Before I explain…” There were three loud raps on the door. Allahandra sighed at the interruption then exclaimed “Who’s there?”

  Behind the door a voice announced with calm clarity “It is I, Allahandra. Your meals are here.”

  “Please, come in, Mistress!”

  The double doors opened and the older woman entered the room, carrying a single covered tray. It had a wide circular base and a domed covering. It fit just over the palm of her hand. Behind her, the two young ladies from earlier followed silently. One of the girls held six circular trays under her arms and they were empty. The other girl carried a small basket of polished silver utensils. They proceeded to walk around the table and walked around Rakkian’s side.

  “I hope things are going well.” The mistress said while eyeing Rakkian’s items that sat before him. She stopped by Rakkian and the little girls proceeded to give each person at the round table a tray along with a fork and knife. “Before I give you your meal little Rakkian, I’d like to know what you’ve been sentenced for. Tell me.”

  “Absolutely nothing, Marge” He stated evenly, looking up to her. “I was given a second chance and I’ll not try it again.”

  “You do that.” she then looked at each of them. “I hope you are hungry.”

  She walked between Rakkian and Allahandra and sat her covered tray on the table and pushed it as far away as she could, towards the center of the table. The Pack wondered what she was doing and Alex was the first to realize that the covered dish was an item. She grabbed the handle on the top and lifted. As she lifted the tray’s dome, the bottom plate began expanding across the table, into almost impossible proportions. And on the growing plate was expanding and growing food. Not only had the plate shrunk, so was all of the food, but now it grew back to its original size. It was difficult to believe how useful the mistress’s item was for carrying a large amount of food, or anything else it was capable of. On the dish was a fully cooked buck, five thick slices of beef, six large buttered biscuits, a bowl of berries and other chopped fruits, a large bowl of water and five mugs of mead in crystal glasses.

  Mistress Marge looked at Alex expectantly. “Young man, please ask Shade to give me a hand. I am not strong enough to carry his meal.”

  He explained it to Shade and he grinned. “Gladly,” When he got off his haunches Alex stood up as well. The remaining woodchips on his lap fell to the floor with a raining sound. The mistress eyed the boy more suspiciously.

  Allahandra said she would have someone clean it up and repair the damage he caused. Her tone was like she knew something like this might have happened.

  The headless and fully cooked deer was on its own platter so Alex dragged the mass towards the edge and lifted it up off the counter to set the platter on the marble flooring. Marge took the large water bowl and sat it beside the venison.

  Shade then had Alex translate his gratitude before he tore into the meat with mildly subdued vigor. Alex was told to sit back down as Shade consumed the flank of his meal. Then, with the girls help, the mistress brought each of their meals to the waiting guests.

  Once everyone gave their gratitude to the head mistress, she shrunk her item and silently left the room with a smile on her lips.

  They all then ate in silence, but it wasn’t eerie. The silence was broken as Shade began crunching the bones of his meal, in his powerful jaws. They were famished so silence continued its reign until they each finished thei
r meal. The food was the best any of them ever had, and before any of them knew it, their plates and drinks were barren. Shade came back to where he sat before, by the queen’s side, and began licking his paws clean. He was enjoying the taste that still clung to his paws and teeth. They all smiled at him.

  Alex collected everyone’s tray and other things and stacked it over on the end of the table, closest to the double doors.

  Once he sat down again Allahandra cleared her throat and wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. Then she calmly looked him in the eye.

  “You asked about the correlation between my parents and a Furion. You are correct about there being a connection and it is indeed a painful memory. None, but Mistress Marge, know of this exact story in its entirety. It involves the untimely demise of my parents about seventeen years ago when I turned sixteen years of age.

  “My father was a wise and powerful man and my mother was the very essence of beauty and compassion. Together they ruled this land with a soft guiding hand. Another land had sought to destroy us and they could have if they so wished, but my parents had decided to negotiate a truce with the leader of the powerful land. They had come up with a peaceful bargain to save many lives with but a single condition. I would be wed to him.

  “I had loved my people and didn’t want any to be hurt in a senseless war so I decided to be betrothed. My betrothed was to a Furion.” She then looked away from him for some reason as her bottom lip quivered. “He was a handsome man and I was instantly mesmerized by him like any young love-struck girl my age, but I was blind to the teeth he barred behind such a pleasant facade. It was to be a private wedding between our families as it was only my parents, myself and my betrothed. The overseer of our union was from his land. And just as our wedding started, his teeth were finally revealed to me. They wanted only to fight and control everything that there could be. By then it was too late.

  “Before I had time to blink he had grabbed both of my parents by the throats and lifted them into the air like they were nothing but newborn babes. He flicked his thumbs effortlessly and snapped their necks like a dry twig. For the first time in my life I felt loss, fear and it soon became replaced with anger and a need for justice.” She wiped a tear that escaped from her cheek. “He allowed me to leave unharmed and he told me to make him a challenge he wouldn’t forget and I did. I found the rebel group Freelan and offered them my complete support. The group had been fighting for years and now they had my home to call their own. We soon began to protect each other as a family. Soon the leaders of Freelan chose me as their leader and I accepted the burden. I think of everyone in this great land as my family. As such I’d do anything to keep them safe, but times are difficult.”

  Allahandra finally looked back at him and rested her hands on her lap. “The Furion I was to be wedded to was none other than King Runkamon himself. It was two years before he fully seized control of all of Ra’van, but by then his power was solidified and he’s only gotten stronger since.”

  Alex’s heart seemed to cease as did everything inside him. Everyone was completely silent at the sound of this unforeseen and terrifying news. His throat clamped shut and Shade wondered why his translation was cut short. King Runkamon is also a Furion. He is like me, but what is the connection. He was the ruler I was wanting to help usurp, so the lands could be free of tyranny. Alex’s thoughts grew like wildfire. He’s always wondered how Runkamon could rule like he has, but this was entirely unexpected. Alex wondered what kind of item he was born with to take control over all lands, but couldn’t ponder that he was also itemless. Alex has seen what he can do personally, but couldn’t imagine what Runkamon was capable of if he could dominate over anyone who dared defy him and his ridiculous law.

  What was worse is that Alex knew they were somehow related. If Runkamon was truly a Furion and the traits were passed along by blood, but then he could be Alex’s cousin, brother or worse… Somehow he managed to swallow a growing lump in his throat and his heart seemed to stop beating. “You think he’s …my…father don’t you…?”

  He didn’t mean to say it aloud, but it came out of its own accord. He felt instantly sick to his stomach from this realization, and revelation, his meal felt like it was coming back up, but somehow he kept it from escaping. His heart starting beating sporadically, but it strengthened him somewhat. His head started feeling light and bumps rose all over his body, despite the heat rolling off of him he felt cold, inside and out. I had to get away from all of this. I needed time alone to think about this, he contemplated. And Alex felt his other state surge again.

  It was impossible to look at a single person in the room as he made a decision and jumped from his chair and ran to the doors, harnessing the feeling that pounded in his body again. He opened one door and told the guards to relax before he blurred away down the hall, not that they had a chance to stop him. He descended down the spiral staircase, like a speeding ghost, and there were people on the stairs, but by the time they glanced, he was already gone.

  Alex made it to the hall and sprinted to the front of the castle.

  Once outside he slowed himself while descending the steps. He moved over to the edge of the stairs and sat alone on the lowest step. Placing his face in his hands, he tried to stop the violent spasms. This time the shakes weren’t only from struggling with his body’s sudden crash. It was also fear that knowing he was related to a man who destroys lives for fun and pleasure. It sickened him to know they had some bond of relation. Would he turn out like that tyrant as well? He felt that people entering and exiting the castle were looking at him, trembling like a frightened child who’d lost his parents in a large crowd. It didn’t concern him at the moment as what he thought of himself mattered more. How could he look at anyone again after hearing this recent turn of events? How could anyone ever be with me? How would I ever be able to face…?

  “Alex?” A soft and deep voice rumbled behind him. “Look at me, big brother.” Shade said compassionately.

  A large and wet nose pushed against his shaking head with the gentlest nudge. Alex managed to finally take his head out of his hands to look up at his younger sibling. His large golden eyes were soft and compassionate against his dimly glistening black fur. The sunlight was just beginning to fall for the coming night so Shade’s features were striking.

  He moved down the steps to stand directly in front of Alex, consuming his vision to focus only on him. Shade then sat on his haunches and looked down upon him. A soothing rumble emanated from his chest and seemed to bathe Alex in comfort. His tone was soft and comforting. “I made sure the others would stay up there while I came down to check on you. They all tried following after you, but I wouldn’t let them even try. I didn’t know what was said at the end, but I can guess that it wasn’t all that great if you left us in the way you did. Tell me what happened and why you look so…lifeless and defeated, big brother.”

  Shade waited patiently as he summoned up the courage to explain. Alex began telling him the end of Allahandra’s story, about the king. His eyes narrowed as Alex began explaining his reasoning for his bursting exit. He could tell Shade didn’t like this news, but remained patient and didn’t speak until he heard it all.

  Finally Shade said “Who cares if he is your parent?” Shade brought Alex up short for an answer. “Come on, the only thing you could get from him would be your body. You have more of your uncle in you than anyone I know. Unlike the king, you strive to save life and see it set free, like all living creatures do. That is the only distinction I need to see and respect. Your mind and your deeds are your own and if anyone tells you different; I’ll eat them.” He grinned menacingly, but it shattered all of the tension Alex’s body accumulated and replaced it with laughter. Shade couldn’t look dangerous right now if he tried, and he was.

  The elder sibling stood up and wrapped his still shaking arms around his brother’s neck. Shade leaned in and it was exactly what they both needed. He was the one person who always kept my back. He was my brother and f
amily watch out for each other.

  Once Alex pulled away, after the tremors ceased, he patted Shade’s thick shoulders in appreciation. “They are probably still worried about us. We should go back up and finish up what we need to.” Shade agreed.

  Together they made it up to the top floor, and the worry that clutched Alex’s heart had slowly subsided during their ascent. He actually felt clearer minded after all was said. The guards were confused to see them again, but they didn’t stop them or speak this time. Opening the double doors, everyone was waiting close to the front of the table. Rakkian had attired his items again and stood at attention beside the queen. Marlin and Lily still looked worriedly at Alex.

  They were quiet as Alex raised his hand to let him be the first to speak. For the rudeness and departure he bowed to the queen. “I beg your forgiveness, your majesty. I needed some time alone and the outside air helped.”

  “The problems lay’s with me, ya. I didn’t foresee how quickly you would piece the information together.” Allahandra admitted. “I had misread the situation and forgotten how intelligent a Furion is at linking together the simplest of clues. Please may we continue? There is still more that you must hear.”

  Alex raised himself up after translating for his partner. Once Shade entered, the doors shut behind him again. Alex then walked back to his chair from earlier, in silent shame. He noticed that the woodchips below his seat had already been removed and the splintered table had been shaped and smoothed. His Xeal staff remained where he left it.

  Before the queen sat in her throne again, there was a strange sensation on Alex’s thigh. Looking down, Lily was gently rubbing his leg in a comforting way. Her hand was no longer red from touching his fire hot shoulder during one of his intense episodes. This was the first time she had honestly tried comforting him. He looked into her smile and then she realized what she was doing and jerked her hand back. She didn’t realize what she as doing until he gave her a moment to think. Alex wanted her to put it back, but shame still filled his thoughts.