Words beneath pain

Simon couldn't move his right arm. Now that Oswald had regained his cool, there was no more overwhelming feeling, things went back to their normal place, including the bones in his body and the shape of his eyes. Before they turned back to their usual brown, he engaged conversation with the drunkard.

"Let's be serious, I didn't mean to hurt you. But let that be a lesson. Don't go back to that inn, I can't have a business partner as unstable as you."

"I am the one who's unstable! Dude, you got to be kidding me! I'm not chasing you from my property only because you're hot-blooded and I need at least one arm to drink."

Oswald's mind was still on fire, deviant thoughts taunted his mind as he focused to not get angry again.

"Okay. Listen, I won't force you to work, but I want you to keep in mind I have a family, a newborn sister and my mother to take care of. And you, the village's least sober man, you are preventing those two women from having a correct life. But remember, I can force you. I can. I'll do anything for my family." He wanted to make Simon understood how important his job was, by threatening him. Sadly it was not the best way to do so.

"If you do so, I'll tell the village about your behavior here."

"And you'll say what? The frail Bendis, sick of my attitude, threatened my life and broke my arm for me to work better? That's foolish."

Simon's sense of danger was numbed down due the many drinks he had, yet he could clearly see the person in front of him wasn't normal.

"Say, why are you trying so hard to drown yourself in wine?" Asked Oswald, hoping that'll in response he'll get a solvable problem.

"Because I want to forget I lost my whole damn family... If you're doing everything for your mother and sister, then you'll understand how empty is your life without them. I lost my wife long ago because she had an infection, and my two sons when the war begun. Don't blame me for drinking, my place lost its charm along with the living beings inside."

Oswald was moved, he never had a conversation this long with a stranger about their past. Having a common point with him piqued his interest. "I can relate. I lost one of my siblings years ago, a little girl, too young to perish."

Still, Simon couldn't move his arm without whining.

Oswald examined the man, he gently took off the man's jacket and looked at it. There was no blood nor swelling, he knew the kind of injury by heart because he had to deal with it plenty of times. He twisted the empty sleeve, shoved it in Simon's mouth and said. "Bite it."

He then struck the man's shoulder to reposition the articulation.

Now, Simon's back and shoulder were in the best shape ever reached in years. For this feat, the man will be grateful only when he'll sober up.

Oswald was about to depart when all of a sudden, he rushed toward the tanner.

He grabbed the man in a soft embrace and he whispered with an empathetic tone. "I'm sorry for your loss. I feel a little better because I talked about my problems to someone, I hope you felt the same too."

The overwhelming heat coming from his body struck the drunkard, the embrace was much welcomed, he missed human contact a lot, just like the boy.

"I can't tell you when I'll come back, but expect me in less than a week, as for the skins and the leather, sell as much as possible, else I'll give work to my mother, she'll make something out of it. See you, Simon." He was totally relaxed, his heart was light, and his eyes had the right color.

The next minute, the man fell asleep on his rocking chair, the quantity of emotion he had to switch with exhausted him.

Another day he came back quite empty-handed, except for the three kilograms of boar meat. A couple of fine steaks, cubes of fat and two hocks to enhance soup flavour.

He went to see the herd, one of his sheep was pregnant, her belly was obviously too round to just be full. He hoped for grass to be available for the rest of the month, snow still covered most of the land.

"How much people do you know in the village, mother?" Oswald casually asked during dinner.

"Most of them. Why do you ask?"

"Do you know about Simon Simons? The tanner."

"Yes dear, he's a little older than me but we used to be friend during our teens. He had all of his hair at that time. We're not close anymore, but he was pretty active down ther-."

"Mother! Stop talking about that. I know I'm old enough, maybe too old for my first time but keep this kind of remark for yourself. What do you know about Reggy, the hunter that came here few days ago?"

"Don't disagree with him, he's got that sour personality. That's it."

When Oswald muttered enough courage, he asked the third person. "You know little Tom, but do you know Adelmo? The tall hunter."

Meryl was about to reply, but something clicked in the corner of her head. 'Adelmo... Ah!'

"He's the one whom you're coveting the wife? You are willingly trying to steal one's wife?" Her tone was a little nervous, when she imagined the lean stature of the man, she couldn't help but go red. Her son chose to face quite of a sturdy rival. "Mommy is so proud of you!" She exclaimed.

Oswald slammed his fist on the table, making the whole tableware jump. "Don't you dare giving me advices on the matter!" His cheeks reddened.

"It's okay sweetie! I'm not mocking you, it's the opposite actually, you must get that woman! Fight for the girl, he won't stand a chance! They love it when you do so." Her encouraging made her son shudder. Nonetheless he nodded.

'Nothing stands a chance against monsters.' Both thought.