When the Defender Need Protection
7th of Ashan 710
Jasper Rel Ardiechy
“We must become so alone, so utterly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bitter suffering. But then our solitude is overcome, we are no longer alone, for we find that our innermost self is the spirit, that it is God, the indivisible. And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet undisturbed by its multiplicity, for our innermost soul we know ourselves to be one with all being.”
― Hermann Hesse
“We must become so alone, so utterly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bitter suffering. But then our solitude is overcome, we are no longer alone, for we find that our innermost self is the spirit, that it is God, the indivisible. And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet undisturbed by its multiplicity, for our innermost soul we know ourselves to be one with all being.”
― Hermann Hesse
The boy stood in the warehouse where the cask of product would age before they were sent out. The skinny boy moved quickly between the barrels avoiding touching them at all so that they wouldn’t be disturbed. Jasper wasn’t to worried about just being casually caught in this warehouse. While each location was routinely checked it was late enough in the trial any check up on the product should have already been done. The boy was more concerned with leaving any trace for his brother to find him and finish what he had started.
It took a little while, longer then it normally would, since the boy was extremely jumpy and paused with any unexplained sound. He eventually did find his way to the spot he knew would be there. It was a spot that he had retreated to before, but usually just when he wanted to be alone in the ever-crowded hold. He had an old pillow, in desperate need of more feathers, he also had a blanket with holes that with his mothers permission he had taken before it was made into scraps.
He would read here or just think on the world around him here, but not on this particular trial. He sat down and grabbing the blanket threw it over his head and focused on his breathing. He had resisted the urge to cry, but now alone, it threatened to overwhelm him. So with the blanket over his head he rocked back and forth, forcing his breath in and out so as not to cry. He could feel his left eye beginning to swell even as he focused on his breathing. His stomach also hurt and he was general sure he was bruised in other places.
Jasper actually wasn’t worried about his parents seeing him cry, just being caught being weak by the person who had perpetrated this beating. He also knew that crying would give his spot away and that wasn’t something he was willing to do. This was his place this was his spot. The breathing seemed to help as he had less crying like sounds escaping from his lips anymore. To say he wasn’t crying would actually be wrong, the tears were coming, it was just the wails that he was fighting to suppress. Eventually Jasper lay his head on his pillow and continued to breath, and continued to focus until he drifted off to sleep.
It was a while later when Jasper awoke, he could hear his name being called. Jasper stayed where he was until sleep had drifted away and he was able to identify the voice. It was his cousin Erik. He was sixteen arcs old, and had always been kind to Jasper and his other younger cousins. “Jasper, I am alone, you can come out.” He was saying. The boy wasn’t sure how long he had been asleep, but it was long enough that he was struggling to see out of his swollen eye. He carefully moved between the barrels which was hard to do while crawling, but Jasper was thine and made it work.
Or at least though he did. When he got close enough, Jasper could see Erik squatting by the barrels looking at the crawling boy. His cousin’s expression instantly dropped from amused to concerned. The second son of Lynond Ardiechy sighed and finished crawling out. As soon as he stood up Erik moved him so they were in better light. Jasper didn’t resist because the moment he stood up his stomach tried to rebel and bring up his breakfast. The older boy carefully looked over Jasper’s face and then checked him out so see where else he was injured. “Where all does it hurt.” The boy stood quietly his stubbornness showing. He like Erik but he wouldn’t let it be known that he was complaining. He stood up straight and fought to keep his breakfast down. As had many children though out the ages, he lost that battle, but he had the good sense to turn his head away from his cousin. Jasper had been sick before but this time he just kept throwing up.
The boy eventually sat down exhausted as his cousin knelt down and asked. “Did he punch you in the gut?” Erik asked. Jasper nodded as he tried to heavy again. “Lets get you home.”
“No.” Jasper gasped. “I am not going give him the satisfaction….” Jasper didn’t finish before trying to heavy again.
Erik nodded his head and stood up. Jasper sat there feeling miserable and alone as his cousin left the warehouse. Jasper couldn’t say how long he sat there before the door opened again and Erik returned with his parents and even his grandmothers. Jasper found himself wrapped in both of his parents arms. His mother whispering. “My brave boy, my brave foolish boy.” She whispered as held him.
“We are proud of you.” His father said. “The younger boys told us what happened.” He said holding his son and wife. Jasper looked into their eyes and saw worry and pride.
“I couldn’t let him cheat and bully the younger children.” Jasper said in explanation.
“Your grandfather taught you well.” One of his grandmothers said.
“Yes he is, just with out the right hook.” The other said. She looked at Erik. “Erik my boy. Do you feel up to giving Jasper some defense lessons.” She gave her grandson a loving humorous look. “I suspect given the people involved here that this will happen again.”
Erik nodded. “Lets get him better first, then gladly.” Jasper could see his father nodding his approval even as they helped him stand up.
It took a little while, longer then it normally would, since the boy was extremely jumpy and paused with any unexplained sound. He eventually did find his way to the spot he knew would be there. It was a spot that he had retreated to before, but usually just when he wanted to be alone in the ever-crowded hold. He had an old pillow, in desperate need of more feathers, he also had a blanket with holes that with his mothers permission he had taken before it was made into scraps.
He would read here or just think on the world around him here, but not on this particular trial. He sat down and grabbing the blanket threw it over his head and focused on his breathing. He had resisted the urge to cry, but now alone, it threatened to overwhelm him. So with the blanket over his head he rocked back and forth, forcing his breath in and out so as not to cry. He could feel his left eye beginning to swell even as he focused on his breathing. His stomach also hurt and he was general sure he was bruised in other places.
Jasper actually wasn’t worried about his parents seeing him cry, just being caught being weak by the person who had perpetrated this beating. He also knew that crying would give his spot away and that wasn’t something he was willing to do. This was his place this was his spot. The breathing seemed to help as he had less crying like sounds escaping from his lips anymore. To say he wasn’t crying would actually be wrong, the tears were coming, it was just the wails that he was fighting to suppress. Eventually Jasper lay his head on his pillow and continued to breath, and continued to focus until he drifted off to sleep.
It was a while later when Jasper awoke, he could hear his name being called. Jasper stayed where he was until sleep had drifted away and he was able to identify the voice. It was his cousin Erik. He was sixteen arcs old, and had always been kind to Jasper and his other younger cousins. “Jasper, I am alone, you can come out.” He was saying. The boy wasn’t sure how long he had been asleep, but it was long enough that he was struggling to see out of his swollen eye. He carefully moved between the barrels which was hard to do while crawling, but Jasper was thine and made it work.
Or at least though he did. When he got close enough, Jasper could see Erik squatting by the barrels looking at the crawling boy. His cousin’s expression instantly dropped from amused to concerned. The second son of Lynond Ardiechy sighed and finished crawling out. As soon as he stood up Erik moved him so they were in better light. Jasper didn’t resist because the moment he stood up his stomach tried to rebel and bring up his breakfast. The older boy carefully looked over Jasper’s face and then checked him out so see where else he was injured. “Where all does it hurt.” The boy stood quietly his stubbornness showing. He like Erik but he wouldn’t let it be known that he was complaining. He stood up straight and fought to keep his breakfast down. As had many children though out the ages, he lost that battle, but he had the good sense to turn his head away from his cousin. Jasper had been sick before but this time he just kept throwing up.
The boy eventually sat down exhausted as his cousin knelt down and asked. “Did he punch you in the gut?” Erik asked. Jasper nodded as he tried to heavy again. “Lets get you home.”
“No.” Jasper gasped. “I am not going give him the satisfaction….” Jasper didn’t finish before trying to heavy again.
Erik nodded his head and stood up. Jasper sat there feeling miserable and alone as his cousin left the warehouse. Jasper couldn’t say how long he sat there before the door opened again and Erik returned with his parents and even his grandmothers. Jasper found himself wrapped in both of his parents arms. His mother whispering. “My brave boy, my brave foolish boy.” She whispered as held him.
“We are proud of you.” His father said. “The younger boys told us what happened.” He said holding his son and wife. Jasper looked into their eyes and saw worry and pride.
“I couldn’t let him cheat and bully the younger children.” Jasper said in explanation.
“Your grandfather taught you well.” One of his grandmothers said.
“Yes he is, just with out the right hook.” The other said. She looked at Erik. “Erik my boy. Do you feel up to giving Jasper some defense lessons.” She gave her grandson a loving humorous look. “I suspect given the people involved here that this will happen again.”
Erik nodded. “Lets get him better first, then gladly.” Jasper could see his father nodding his approval even as they helped him stand up.
