Furion's Trials (Book Two of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Gerieg’s tone worked and the steam had gone cold inside him. Without looking away Alex asked “You mean the spasms and tremors?”

  With an understanding that no other could, he said “Exactly. Since you know about them then you know how painful they are. What you fail to grasp is that if you remain untrained and the episodes continue to be triggered they will only get worse.” Blood drained from his face and Alex suddenly felt cold, even with all the summer air and fire’s heat around made no difference. Gerieg didn’t miss anything. “What you must know above all else, the tremors will continually get so severe that your body cannot handle the stress and will rip itself apart.”

  The only sound for the next five minutes came from the crackling fire.

  My body would destroy itself? So he was understating himself for Lily’s sake. Alex knew he wasn’t lying because those memories of the shakes were all too vivid. The most violent attack was back in the queen’s palace and that memory collaborated with what Gerieg said because it was much more severe than the first time his body had reacted.

  Then a memory resurfaced.

  “Gerieg, there was one time that the spasms weren’t as severe.”

  His brow came together and he leaned forward. “Tell me what happened?”

  Alex shook his head which angered him, but only slightly. “I will, but only if you agree to tell me what my mother looks like. If you tell me that I’ll explain.”

  He quietly contemplated for a minute until Elo pushed his nose to Gerieg’s shoulder. The the monstrous cat nodded only once. Then Gerieg conceded by saying “Very well, but I shall only describe her. Then I need to hear what happened. Are we agreed?” Alex nodded to the terms, feeling triumphant. Hesitantly the blonde and grey-haired Furion said “Your mother was a beautiful young woman. She was tall and slender, but not as tall as either of us. She had raven black hair like you inherited and it hung low on her back. Her eyes were a striking grey as well and she was fair beyond all other women besides my late wife.” His jaw clenched as he said “That is as much as I’m comfortable to explain at the moment. Will that satisfy your curiosity for a time?”

  Alex smiled “Aye,” and looked away from Gerieg to stare at the canopy and stars that peeked between the leaves. He took a minute of silence to imagine what his mother looked like and neither Gerieg nor the others interrupted his silent imagination. Once he had taken enough time Alex looked to see everyone patiently waiting for him to continue. “Do you remember Lily?”

  Elo nodded and said “The fierce looking lioness with moonlight hair? Yes, we remember her. She is quite strong and protective of you.”

  ‘hmm,’ Sheer snorted and looked away.

  Elo raised an eye to her. “Jealous?”

  “Maybe,” She said and glanced at Alex to seemingly smile happily.

  Wanting to continue Alex said “Aye, that is her. A few months ago Shade, Marlin and I rescued her from being executed in Central City.” Three sets of eyes widened, but before any of them could enter the story he continued. “During our escape that powerful feeling overcame me for the fourth time. As we ran from the city I must have ran nonstop for over fifteen miles that nighy. When we were safe I only had small, but manageable tremors and soon they were gone.”

  “Now I understand what happened.” Gerieg said. “What you did to alleviate the consequences of using your ability was in spending the excess energy through an exercise over vast distances. When your training begins, that will be the initial way to release your power until you learn total control. And since I’ve told you that, you will run for as long as you need to, should you be overcome by your power. While you are with us on the journey I do not believe you will need to have use of those skills nor do I want you to try initiating them, but should they happen you will run for as long as it takes.”

  “If you truly believe that then you are a fool.” Alex said evenly, after learning the key to saving himself.

  “What was that?” Elo rumbled and his brown mane bristled in anger. He tried standing, but Gerieg placed a securing hand on his left foreleg.

  “Peace, old friend.” He said while keeping his focus on the lad and reigning in his own rage. When Elo settled back down Gerieg said in a tight voice “Why did you just call me a fool? Remember, though you are only in the beginning of your prime you are not even a match for me so do not try my patience.”

  “Then you should not underestimate me.”

  “Us,” Shade corrected. Then he set is unwavering eyes on Elo. “Though you are all wise and strong, do not take us for helpless pups. I am with Alex. Though we still have much to learn we cannot be led somewhere on blind faith for each of you. We have only met this day, but you know nothing of what we have had to endure. The two of us are with you to learn and it doesn’t matter where we are destined to go, knowledge can be learned anywhere. I’ve kept quiet because I know this training is mainly for Alex’s benefit, but it is also for me. We both already have our abilities we were born with, so either teach us when we take breaks in our travels or we will turn around and go back to the rest of our pack.”

  Sheer’s eyes narrowed upon him and she asked in an aloof tone “Really? Then if you leave, your master will die without Gerieg’s teachings and knowledge.”

  Shade grinned and it shocked her. “He won’t, now that he knows how to release his abilities safely thanks to your master’s words.” This stunned her and the others, but Shade had caught it too and Alex smiled at hearing how well he knew him. “Through time and experience he will come to understand what his body does, but no longer must he to worry about dying from those seizures.”

  Elo rose to his full height to open his massive jaws and roared loud enough to frighten them all to the bone. “Do not test me, pup!”

  Shade shot to his feet and growled murderously. His lips pulled back, exposing lines of razor sharp teeth and his sabers flickered in the firelight. “Do not think me a pup! Though our ages are vastly different I will fight you to the fang and claw, half-tooth!”

  Before Alex could be by his side, Gerieg let out a booming laugh that disarmed the situation instantly. All eyes turned upon him and when he quieted he looked at his eldest partner. “Half-tooth! I love that epithet! It sets you apart from your cubs and brethren. Elo, be not quick to judge, maybe they are mentally prepared and we’ve yet to give them due credit. I’m also at fault for not realizing that my words could be interpreted so quickly. They are quick on learning the subtleties of words and harnessing them for their own purposes. We are also doing the training differently than any other masters before us. Keep your peace and lay down again…half-tooth.”

  Elo snorted to his friend and they waited for several breath-held seconds until his mane relaxed. He looked at Shade and gave a compliment no one expected. “Though I am the king of our destination, I must admit you will grow into a good Alpha…one day.” With that he relaxed back down on the ground.

  Shade nodded curtly and went back to his resting position as well.

  The only one of the group who hadn’t moved was Kikren. He remained off on the other side of camp, sitting cross-legged and watching each of them with honest amusement.

  Alex’s attention returned as Gerieg said “Since the threat displays are over for now we can learn about each other. Perhaps we should have started our evening that way.”

  “How would you like to begin again?” Alex asked while sitting by Shade’s side, cautious of what to do next.

  Gerieg mirrored him and began petting Elo’s golden coat and down his back. “How about you each tell us about yourselves, what you’ve done and your journeys that you’ve survived through; until we’ve met this morning.”

  Chapter 2

  Another session of silence filled the time for the next few minutes, but it was a storm of ideas, question and memories inside Alex’s mind. Shade was the same way and having the same difficulties.

  Finally his golden eyes settled on his siblings and they were full of conviction. He opened his muzzle
to say “I’ll go first since my beginning isn’t as long as yours.” It was a welcome turn of events so Alex nodded.

  Shade turned his attention to their guides as he began recounting his life. “I was born in the Waget isles and on the same island that Alex lived on. My parents ruled the island together as the pack alpha and beta. Though there weren’t many of my kind on the island I was the strongest of the pups of my age. My mother had a litter before me, but when I was born I didn’t have any siblings to grow up with, not that they would have lived for very long.” They all heard the tone of his voice slightly change and fill with emotion as he explained the untimely demise of his parents at the fangs of his uncle. He even spoke on how it took a few days for his uncle to track him down. The story took only a few more minutes until he ended it by saying “He was distracted and left me alone, but never came back. When I followed the coppery scent of his blood it led me to Alex. Since then, we have become brothers because we had no other direct family members. But as you have warned us so shall I warn you. I do not kill or hunt in cold blood or deceit nor do I kill them by surprise. That is dishonorable and I do not do it. I either alert my presence or reveal myself. If they run than I’ll catch them or if they stand their ground I’ll face them. I will always give them a chance to survive, though it is rare that they do.”

  “That is an admirable trait,” Sheer said thoughtfully. “but do not forget our enemies aren’t as honorable and will certainly strike while your back is turned toward them. I have seen many deceivers and cutthroats in my time.”

  “Who was the one to kill your uncle?” Elo asked Shade. “You said you followed the scent to meet Alex, but who did the deed?”

  Shade looked to his sibling and smiled proudly. “Go ahead and tell them, big brother.”

  Not wanting to anger Elo again Alex laid his staff on the ground and contented himself by stroking Shade’s soft fur along his neck. “I’ll explain it all soon so listen to my story.” Elo conceded and raised a paw for him to go on.

  “The earliest memories I have was when I moved in with my Uncle Gambit and my mother’s death when I was but five years of age…” Gerieg, Elo and Sheer listened attentively to his childhood. They all seemed upset on how he described himself as a weak slave child, born without an item and was the local town outcast. But despite their expressions, they seemed pleased on how he liked to read and how his loving uncle guided and took care of him like his own child. Then Alex explained about the discussion between his uncle and cousin joining the Royal Guard. They chuckled as he explained about leaving the house through an escape hole in the wall of his room and left all the hate to read in peace. Then Alex said “During my late night reading, my life was forever changed.” Those words pleased them even more than the story they listened to. “There was a lone person outside during the night with me, but she couldn’t see me. Well my curiosity decided to follow the person. During my tailing of the person I heard two strange voices. Only then, I thought they were human and the uncle had killed two innocent people. Anyhow the person I was following made a sound and the killer turned his sights upon the intruder.

  “It was then that I felt my heart pounding like never before, for the first time.” They had gotten excited about hearing this part of the tale. They listened as Alex broke a stick from a tree, practically flew through the woods, pushed Lily into the stream and met his very first Shadow Fang. They thought he was being humorous when they learned how Alex dispatched Shade’s uncle and Shade defended him by adding more details until they realized the seriousness of the young Furion’s words. Then he said “After meeting Lily for only a minute or so did I suddenly collapse. Shade’s uncle scratched me with his neurotoxin and before I believed my end had come Lily left. Somehow I managed to survive.”

  “I can explain.” Gerieg said with proud satisfaction. “What I was trying to say earlier in your story is that you do indeed have an item. You are not itemless.”

  “What?” Alex asked in a thunderstruck tone.

  Do I have an item? If so where is it? What kind of item do I have? Then his words began to sink in. What if my item… Alex began to get excited about this sudden prospect in his life. Somehow he wasn’t as much of an outcast as he first thought. Images of his past could finally be put to rest and an old pressure seemed to be lifting off his shoulders. It was a feeling like he’s only felt until recently when Lily told him that she loved him and wanted him to be with her. This joy was twin to his love for her. When this is all over he’d have much to tell her.

  Before his thoughts became any more rampant Gerieg spoke with reverent pride. “Aye, Alex, you do in fact have an item, but one unlike any other and the greatest gift to ever be bestowed. Your item cannot be held or used by another nor can it be seen, and that is our greatest advantage. Most items are born alongside the human babe, but we Furions are completely different.” Gerieg grinned as he said “Our item is part of our body, is our body. We have the greatest items of them all. Items have special properties that their wielders can use, but a Furion’s item enhances our physical bodies beyond any other human will ever hope to achieve. We cannot lose it. You will learn many techniques in your lessons, but pertaining to this manner I can enlighten you without fear or worry.” Then he glanced at Shade for a moment before saying “When the toxin entered your body your item instinctively neutralized and built an immunity against it forever. It was dangerous to have happen nonetheless, but we all one day become immune to many things capable of killing any another. If you were a normal human you wouldn’t be sitting here with us now.” Then he glanced at his Beran companion to tell Alex “before I make any more judgments about you, please continue your stories.”

  “I will, but allow me to say thank you.” His brow furrowed, but he allowed the lad time to elaborate. “Your words have lifted years of misery and self-pity from my shoulders. I was, and have always been, worried that I was completely alone in this world with these strange abilities. For the longest time I thought I was going insane from hearing all the voices when no one was around. I am deeply grateful.” The older Furion smiled humbly, and like earlier, it seemed similar to a dim memory of Alex’s past. Shaking his head he explained the next chapter of his life. “When I awoke I met Shade. It was about a year ago and you wouldn’t recognize him if you could see the differences I’ve witnessed.” For the next hour Alex explained how they became brothers and all that they’ve done together. Apparently teaching Shade to read wasn’t that big of a deal to those who sat across from them. It seemed both Elo and Sheer could also read and write.

  Then they listened to the accounts of Gambit’s execution. They each gave their heartfelt condolences. It was Elo who interrupted for a moment to say “We have all seen the suffering Runkamon’s rule has reaped. Until he is overthrown, many more will suffer and perish, but I hope that in the near future we will see a beacon of hope where oppression once cast its darkness.” After he said that Alex explained how Shade and he had to leave their home and find a way to join Freelan. Like the events happened he explained about buying a never-dulling knife and rescuing Marlin. Then finding a way in the Trade city, where they first met Kikren. Gerieg was already aware of their meeting, but didn’t think anything of it until a month ago when he was contacted by Janken. For a while Alex talked about Takka and what transpired with Lily. Elo commended on making the choice to rescue her as insane, but also appropriate. Neither of the three flinched when he explained how Alex killed the blacksmith with his very own blade and how Shade spirited him to safety.

  Then Alex spoke about Clift and the bargain that was struck, this amused Sheer to no end. Their journey through the Ruler’s Forest gained their undivided attention and Shade filled in some of the other details of their travels that Alex accidently neglected in the story.

  Nearing the main part of their story Alex grabbed the staff and said “Gerieg, see if you are strong enough to break this.”

  He tossed it to him and he caught it gracefully. Amusement danced in his bl
ue eyes as he asked “Are you sure? This is yours. But I wonder what a Furion wants to have a staff for…”

  “Try,” Alex said with obvious delight.

  Gerieg smiled as he grasped the staff between his large hands. Shade and Alex watched with much glee as he struggled in vain to break the staff. His eyebrows pulled together and his complexion reddened. They all knew he was using his superhuman strength, but the most he was able to manage was to bend the shaft by only a few degrees, but as he reluctantly gave up on breaking it, it snapped back into its original position. Then he looked more closely and let his fingers glide along its smooth surface. Then he asked in an astonished voice “Can it be? Is this made from the flesh of a Xeal tree?”

  “Aye,” Alex stated proudly. “that staff was given to me by the greatest Xeal I’ve ever seen. Now may I have it back so that you can hear the rest of the story?” Gerieg visibly swallowed as he returned the weapon back to his possession. Then they listened to their ordeal and the dangerous confrontation they had with the king of the Ruler’s Forest. Nearing the end of that story Alex went to his pack and revealed the three remaining seeds and explained his obligation and oath to them.

  Finishing that story Elo was the one to say “The four of you were indeed lucky. I’ve seen that tree in my youth only once and it frightened me. I’ve heard stories about that forest and have also heard that only three Furions of the past have survived that encounter with that forest guardian. Gerieg’s father and great-great-grandfather survived, but they never spoke of it with much happiness. They barely managed to escape his grasp only through their abilities.”

  “He is right.” Gerieg said in support of the words. “I dare not even enter that particular forest. It was reckless, but you were given treasures that cannot be replaced. Having the wood made into a weapon was unlike any story I’ve ever heard and getting seeds is unbelievable… I know lords and ladies that would gladly empty their entire treasuries for the chance to purchase such a rare wood. Xeal trees are known for taking their dead and burying them under their roots before anyone can take the deceased away.” Then he looked up to say “It is midnight. Is your story much longer?”