by Gavin Green
***
Dawn reluctantly came, and brought with it a drenching drizzle and patchy fog. Just within the edge of a tree line, on the shore of a small, calm lake not far from Ballaghadaere, two fae sat in discussion under the boughs of an evergreen. Aldritch of the Old Wood sat cross-legged across from a known acquaintance of his, who mirrored the pose.
It wouldn't have been true to call Kazimir a friend, although the two had known each other for long and long, and without any hardships between them. Not even on this occasion, one of civility, where a small boon was owed for a minor but unintentional infraction.
Where Aldritch was all height and sharp angles, Kazimir was girth and broad contours. The morpher, while only just over five feet (tall for his race), was massive. There was little definition in his bare and hairy arms, but they were overly thick from activity and battle. Wide-bodied, heavily boned, and broad shouldered, Kazimir resembled a furry boulder whenever he sat.
Kazimir kept a trim black beard on his strong jaw, hiding a few of his facial scars. Vivid orange eyes, an owl's eyes, looked on from under shaggy brows. His black hair was pulled tightly into a long tail, which blended into his overly long bear-fur vest. Under his broad nose sat a mouth that, while normal (albeit with scar indents on his lips), stretched at the corners to allow tusking teeth to jut out.
The big morpher's affectations were simple and spare. A necklace of carnivore teeth rested on his hairy chest, and his breeches and boots were made from stitched buckskin. The morpher embodied a rustic lifestyle and brute power.
Kazimir had been given the title, 'of the Callous Ruin'; words not of his choosing, but he bore them without chagrin. On a number of occasions, he had been invited to gathering war parties to put down a troublesome pack of ogres or other such adversaries. In the heat of battle, the morpher sometimes became a berserker, and struck out at anyone near him, friend or foe. Allies soon learned to keep their distance and leave him to his frenzied melees. Kazimir had a tactic in battle to only wound or cripple opponents - to ruin them - so that they might be hesitant or unable to ever face him again.
On this occasion, though, the only casualty of violence was a red deer found freshly dead within one of Aldritch's domains, and with Kazimir nearby. Even though the morpher explained that the large buck was in rut and aggressive, he admitted error in bringing down a beast on the elder dryad's claim. They calmly discussed the debt as they sat on dry ground in the dense woods, and came to terms of agreement.
"Is this debt something I might pay off soon? I would be venturing back to my Lore lair soon, and for a time," Kazimir asked in a gravelly voice, accented with a mix of Irish and Slavic.
Aldritch pursed his lips. "It would only be a minor boon I would ask in recompense, good Kazimir. I am sure we could..." The tall dryad's words faded off, and he stared absently into the distance.
The large morpher waited a few respectful moments before asking, "Is there issue abroad?"
Aldritch returned his mint-green eyes to meet Kazimir's orange gaze. "There is, and if you would accompany me, I might find cause for you to fulfill your obligation without much delay."
