16 Explanations

Alfolthrul

Neither of us said anything until Bjarke walked back into my office, a look of annoyance riddling his face.

"So care to explain exactly who you are and why you're still here," Bjarke growled, staring at Liam as he took a place against the wall, arms across his chest.

Just like your father, I see.

Ah yes, it may have slipped my mind to explain everything to Bjarke which is a lot aside from quick basics.

Oops.

"No, you just like being cryptic and waiting until the last minute to inform people. It's quite sick," Madrick piped, flashing a pointy grin.

'Tis true.

I can't re—

"Who am I? Who are you, exactly," Liam growled as he shot up from his spot, causing the chair to fly back.

Pups and their pissing contests.

"I'm her BROTHER," Bjarke shouted and moved to stand directly in front of Liam, chest to chest.

"Some brother you are, if that's who you really are! Where the fuck were you while she was captured, tortured, raped and had her mind repeatedly wiped all these months," Liam shouted back, shoving Bjarke away from him.

"I was running a pack so our father could help in the search and try controlling her unstable mate," Bjarke spat, his body vibrating as he fought to keep Rokolth from taking over and shifting.

"So you—," Liam began but I stood causing both men to look in my direction.

"Yes. Hello boys, I am still here. If you want to fight, take it outside later but I would prefer my office not be reduced to rubble. Now, if you don't mind, sit. I can explain everything," I said before taking my place back in my chair.

Growling at one another, both boys calmed down enough to become docile, Liam sitting in his chair and Bjarke, who once again, took his place against the wall.

"Now that we are good, ready," I questioned.

At this, the boys' demeanor changed as they looked at one another then back to me, a worried expression on their faces. When they nodded, I sighed.

Good.

"Bjarke, come here."

Without hesitation, the young Alpha-to-Be pushed himself off the wall and walked over.

"I am going to show you what I've seen from both Noir and Liam. These are memories of the time they were captured. Liam's extends a bit further seeing his role is of a bigger plan. Do you understand," I explained then asked.

When Bjarke nodded, I continued.

"I'm allowing this simply because you are her brother and everyone that has met the child and was in the Dark Wood pack when things happened, have lost all memories of her, including her mate, except you and a few others. Before I share this with you, you have to give me your word that you will listen to everything I have to say before making any rash decision(s)," I said, speaking the last bit slowly and in a voice that demanded acknowledgment and acceptance.

"I will respect your order to listen," Bjarke said.

With this, I looked at Bjarke before grabbing his wrist.

His eyes flickered repeatedly and his body began to shake.

Bjarke jolted as if his brain was being shredded from the inside. Pain flowed out of his every pore. From his mouth came a cry so raw that even our hearts were suddenly met with a wave of pain. He grabbed onto my arm so that his violent shaking would not cause him to fall and from his eyes came a thick flow of tears.

Finally caving under the weight of what I was showing him, Bjarke let out one final scream before he forced himself to rip his hand away, gasping for breath.

Jumping up, Liam looked at me and leaned over the desk.

"Show me! I need to know," he nearly shouted.

I just stared at him and said, "—every fortnight thrice has past, make your way to Gailen's Pass."

I'm uncertain what Liam was actually expecting but the moment I spoke the words I plucked from his mind his first day here, further marking him by Olufemi, his face changed and almost all color drained from it.

"Boy, sit down. Kaem!"

No sooner did I shout for my Beta, he entered the room.

"Alpha."

"Go grab us some water, please."

Bowing again, he left only to return moments later with a pitcher of water and three cups before dismissing himself once more.

Pouring both Bjarke and Liam a glass, I sat back and watched the two.

"When you're both ready, let's continue."

Downing their cups' contents, both Bjarke and Liam were sitting in front of me, Bjarke's chest still heaving back and forth from earlier but when he nodded, I sighed.

"Both of you boys know your significance here: Bjarke, being your status and your lack of memory loss; Liam, you being an unfortunate pawn in a game of Tablut. With this being said, I will explain to you your roll in this from what I've gathered," I said, looking at Liam as I finished.

"Liam. You were observed by Olufemi before Noir was ever even captured. With you being a bastard child out of wedlock of the Alpha of Fallen Grove then punished for speaking your mind on a heartfelt matter, Olufemi took the precautions to ensure his plan was flawless. Has it even occurred to you once why your pack's elders were so quick to dismiss you and why you received coordinates for a location you, otherwise, would of never checked?"

When I said this, I observed Liam's expression go from eager to dark.

Ah, so he didn't.

"Do you even know where you were sent and on impulse, so blindly went," I questioned.

After a moment, Liam replied, his voice dangerously low.

"Gailen's Pass."

Hmm. So he isn't so dense.

"That is correct. Do you know what Gailen's Pass is exactly?"

Before Liam could say anything, Bjarke spoke.

"Aside from it's obvious physical appearance of being a valleyed canyon and being one of the main passageways between Dark Wood and Crest Valley, it is also ground for raw magic; witch, warlock, fae— any supernatural being with any magical power, has enhanced magical abilities while at Gailen's Pass but only every other fortnight when the moon is at it's fullest."

"—every fortnight thrice has passed," Liam mumbled, his voice barely a whisper.

"Yes, "every fortnight thrice has passed," meaning every 6 weeks. As odd as it may seem, Olufemi isn't the main enemy here. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up owing a despicable man in whom he gave an oath to."

When no one said anything, I continued.

"Liam, aren't you the least bit curious as to why you remember Noir despite being almost side by side with her at Stonehenge Keep?"

"I— yes but I thought they finally broke her but it seemed odd she knew things about my pack when she, as far as I know, knew nothing about Fallen Grove."

Ah.

"And did it not occur to you or at least Grænn that she was mated?"

With this question, Liam didn't respond and avoided eye contact but that only lasted a moment before Grænn pushed forward, looking at me with scintillating eyes.

"Don't speak out of turn, pup," Madrick came forth and spoke.

"We can't help who we imprint on," Grænn said slowly causing Liam to unintentionally grind his teeth with every word.

"It makes no difference to me. I simply don't care as a whole. Anyways, what did they tell you about the concoctions they were forcing down your throat," I asked.

"You should already know," Liam rolled his eyes.

"Answer the question, boy," I snarled.

"They were using me to experiment on to find different methods to immobilize our kind," Liam finally spat.

"Wrong."

"What?"

"You're wrong. The concoctions given to you regularly were personally mixed by Olufemi. He ordered them to be fed to you once he discovered what Calder wanted him to do. The concoction itself was to counteract the spell he used so it wouldn't effect you," I said slowly so Liam could process it.

"Do you know what spell was used on Noir that has made her lose her memory?"

When I asked this, both men looked at each other then back to me, shaking their head.

Sighing, I reached into my desk and pulled out a piece of parchment paper and spoke.

"Come ye as the spell is made.

Odin above and Hel below,

Fenrir of the night,

Lend your power unto the spell,

And work our will by magic rite.

By all the power of land and sea,

By all the might of moon and sun,

I call the earth to bind my spell,

Air to speed it well.

Bright as fire shall it glow,

Deep as tide of water flow,

Count the elements four fold,

In the fifth the spell shall hold,

I release you and I decree,

it's the best for you and he

Maní above who's bond was set,

Now is gone and so's the rest.

I purge ye mind of thoughts and sins,

of memories both bright and grim.

No longer dwell in your heart and head,

Begone all memories before this stead.

Not just of your mate but your friends as well,

may your pack join you in hell.

Twist and turn and bind the mind,

Powers and emotions hide,

A warlock's heart is where it hides,

Help her with her agony,

Bless her with false memory."

When I finished, both Bjarke and Liam looked stupefied.

Gods', help these two to read between the lines.

I passed the parchment to Bjarke first who read it repeatedly before passing it to Liam who scanned it before looking at me bedeviled.

It was Liam who spoke first after a prolonged period, surprising even me.

"In order for her to regain her memories completely, the warlock has to die."

Finally.

"Correct. He altered the spell so there was a way to reverse it."

Bjarke then spoke, asking the question I've been waiting for.

"It seems that Olufemi is still, in a sense, loyal to Dark Wood. What I'm not understanding is why he is helping Calder yet helping his Luna as well despite repeatedly doing what he did to her and killing Dark Wood's heir."

Ah, he caught on to that in the flash of memories where even Noir was oblivious.

"The answer is quite simple," I said, sitting back, running a hand through my beard.

"Calder saved Olufemi's daughter thus in return, owed Calder."

"He has a daughter? Who is she," Bjarke questioned.

"Evenora."

Tablut - A king attempts to reach the edge of the board, which has nine rows of nine squares. Eight defenders aid him in his quest, while sixteen attackers attempt to capture him.