Alric and the Wolf Ch III
By Robbie Ashmore
Alric got up from where he had fallen, brushed himself off and climbed slowly back onto the stone that he had been sitting on. “But the old gods are Evil, aren’t they? Why do they care what happens to me?” Alric ducked down as he asked the question, shielding his head with his arms as quickly as he could. For years he had been beaten whenever he questioned anything to do with faith and now he expected no less.
But Soden made no move to strike him; in fact he only looked at him sadly, shook his shaggy head and said, “The gods are just like you and I, only more. Each of us has an equal capacity for good and evil. The she-wolf that kills a lamb is seen as evil by the shepherd. But to the pups she feeds, she is seen as their protector and provider. In most cases good and evil are like that: A matter of perception. That’s why we follow virtues and ideas, instead of commandments. You have within you the seeds of greatness. You are a part of this world, as this world is a part of the greater cosmos; and all are contained within the Great Tree Yggdrasil; and Yggdrasil is contained within you. We each have within us the potential to be god-like; to become more through the evolution of the soul. But it is up to you to achieve these things. You cannot ‘pray’ them into being. It is only through living a life of worth and honor that you take your place among the gods.” Alric looked at the Wolf thoughtfully for a moment, tilting his head slightly, “So you are saying that I could one day have a place among the gods? Not spend eternity just praising them?”
“You are only limited by your choices and desire young Saxon. Our gods do not ask you to kneel before them; they do not want you groveling at their feet. They want you to be brave enough to face the world, strong enough to protect your family, kind enough that others feel they can turn to you, honest enough that others believe in you, wise enough that you choose the correct paths in life; and they want you to be happy; so happy young Saxon, that others may see them in you.”
Something began to stir in young Alric. A fire that had been beaten almost to ashes, was flickering into a small flame. For the first time in over a year he thought of his mother and father; how could he have let himself believe that they were evil? He remembered the strength of his father’s arms as he hugged him and the love and pride he had felt as he held his father’s calloused hand and walked in the forest near their home. He remembered his mother’s kind eyes and warm smile; the smell of bread in her kitchen and her sweet voice as she sang to him. His father had always kept his word and loved his family; his mother had always been so kind, so gentle and spent her days helping those around her. How could he have thought they were burning in some foreign hell?
Suddenly Alric was ashamed; ashamed that he had turned his back on the memory of those that had loved him most, ashamed that he had allowed himself to be beaten into submission. As tears filled his blue eyes he looked up at Soden. The Wolf placed one huge paw softly on Alric’s shoulder and looked away.
“What do you want me to do?” Alric asked, wiping the tears from his eyes and suddenly sitting up straight. “I am going to give you a choice” Soden said, smiling, although a smile on a huge wolf was still scary. “Your father was given a choice over two years ago at Verden. He made the right one. Although he was murdered for his choice, his ancestors greeted him as a hero. You see Alric; he chose to be true to himself; to his culture; to his kind. If you would like to learn the ways of your people and win glory for your name, then your adventure will begin; if you do not have the courage or desire, then I will take you back to your monastery, where you will forget this meeting ever took place. Choose wisely young Saxon! For the path I would have you walk is fraught with danger! But the rewards are great. I will meet you at various points along the way; but only after you have completed each task! The choice is yours.”
Alric got down from the stone and walked around the small fire. He was still very afraid, and not quite sure if Soden would actually take him back to the monastery or just eat him if he refused. “Soden” Alric asked, “I thought you said you were going to eat me if I refused the path? Will you really take me back if I ask you to?” “Hmmmmm?..Well now…..maybe I did say that and maybe I didn’t.”
Soden mumbled while picking his teeth with a sharp stick that he had found. “But you have shown me that you are no lamb, however much you tried to be. You were brave enough to climb aboard my back and take the Wild Ride. You have been brave enough to question me when I could have eaten you in one bite……no Master Alric,” said Soden as he straightened himself up to his full height then made a sweeping bow,
“No I will not eat you, My offer stands as spoken. You have the word of Soden the Wolf and as anyone in the Nine Worlds can tell you, my word is my bond.” “Well then Master Wolf,” said Alric, while making his own clumsy bow. “I will take the path of my ancestors, for the memory of my father and mother that I do not wish to lose again.” “Hahahaha!” bellowed the Wolf. “I knew you would!” “Come then my young Saxon, the adventure begins! But now that you have chosen, I must tell you how funny you looked there upon the trail when we first met, hahahahahaha, and I have never seen anyone as frightened as you were when you fell from the stone! Hahahaha! I wish you could have seen your face!” The wolf nearly doubled over with laughter.
Alric felt as if he should be angry with Soden, but the Wolf’s laughter was infectious and he soon found himself laughing as well. “Well why did you try to scare me so?” Alric asked, still chuckling. “I had to make sure there was still enough of the old Alric left to complete this adventure; and now my young Saxon,” the wolf said slowly, his lips spreading in a fearsome grin. “If you think that was scary….watch this”
And with that Soden threw back his head and howled, clapped his front paws together, lightning flashed from between them and the world went black.
