Rewind- part 4 (Caramon)

Having been released by those filling in as the tribes healers, Caramon being the actual healer for his people, he decide to stop at the fest hall for a tea before returning to his quarters. A sudden mist seemed to creep and cling to the village as Caramon got momentarily turned around on a trip he had taken thousands of times in the past. Quizzically he finally found the hall and stopped, glancing behind him as he swept the door furs aside revealing the threshold he knew. Stepping through the portal Caramon encountered a wall of silence cast by the few occupants as he made his way to the serving bench.

“What have you, priest?” the burly bear of a man asked Caramon as he settled himself into a stumpseat.

“Greentea, if the water is hot.”

“So shall it be.”

Glancing around Caramon felt he could almost feel the stares penetrate his skin.

“You seem to have fallen from grace, they fear you.” The barkeep said handing Caramon a kiln fired mug full of steaming tea.

“If they rush me a may have need of that peculiar rod.” Caramon said referencing an ornately jeweled stave that Greyshore always kept handy in a tree bough behind the bar.

“If the rod be raised this night it will be so by me. I will brook no damage to my hut.” The viking replied bending down to peer into Caramon’s eyes.

As he sipped his tea one of the tribesmen broke away from the increasingly agitated pack and approached Caramon.

“You and I would have words…priest,” the tribesman said spitting the last word.

“Yes, Aglea?”

“Where is the sprite,” he asked surveying both of Caramon’s shoulders.

“I set her loose when I was attacked. No sense in keeping her obligated to a ‘dead’ man”

“Dead you should be, shaman. Why is that not so?”

“The fates have other plans I reckon” Caramon replied sipping from his mug. He had also started mumbling, in his head, the glamour that would result in a word of power.

“Why did my Faydre not have the blessing of the fates, or Palerg, Santre or even young Lomkte? Why could you not secure the favor of the fates for them, saving it only for yourself.”

Caramon could very the tension increase to an almost palpable level, noting the increase in rumblings from those in the pack that agreed with Aglea’s words. Greyshore also felt the emotion in the aire sliding nearer his protective ‘rod’.

“I did not seek the fates favour, they bestowed it themselves.” Caramon said setting the mug down, having finished his mental incantation.

“Were you bitten by the Wormwood?” Aglea asked, stepping back from Caramon.

“Not that we know of.”

“I hear tell you were. When next the moon fills the night you will change.”

“What is your concern Aglea, why hound me?”

“You are of the Infernal Caramon. No man can survive what you did, nor wield the powers you do without succumbing.”

With that pronouncement the pack charged Caramon.

“Stop” Caramon bellowed charging the air with the glamour be had stored within his mind. At the utterance of the word the group of men found themselves unable to move, their muscles frozen. They did however retain control of their senses.

“If I were of the Infernal I would kill you men for the insult to my person, rest assured I will not.” Caramon said rising from his seat. Finishing his tea he set the mug atop the serving log.

“Thank you for the respite Greyshore,” Caramon directed at the burly Viking, a subtle indication that no more aggression would in sue.

“Indeed wizard, indeed.” Greyshore replied relaxing his grasp on the jewel encrusted battle stave.

“Aglea, I am who I have always been. The tribe entrusted to me their well being. I have not strayed from that path. If it is decided that my time as priest is at an end then so be it.”

“The tribe will speak of that very thing on the morrow. We fear you and want you gone…lycan.” With those parting words Aglea passed out through the portal and was gone.

Rubbing his face Caramon digested all that had just transpired. “They will thaw in a bit,” he said to GreyShore in regards to the glamoured pack of tribemen. Slowly turning the shaman/priest also exited through the same portal Aglea had used.