#assorted-alvin

                          “and the sweet mare near the hearth grazed                             his heart loyal and strong; never questioning                            the intents of the other steeds; who would feed                   him to the wolves, his pound of flesh to deal with survival.”

His mother bore him. Then she grew quiet. Though, they did say she never spoke much. Once there was a murmur if he was Knoth’s child. It was censored as Knoth did not proclaim the child, large, heavy fisted from birth, as his own. Wouldn’t have even if it had been his own. Truth was out that his father had been the one that was burnt three months before his birth. At a nice pyre in the Central Town Square. One of the children had lit the torch. Later on, it was whispered that it was Laird Byron. Well, Laird was one of them.  At that time, he was a disabled young boy who could only walk with a stutter. As he kept growing, his body keep remaining short and his legs were no longer able. Laird too fiercely to archery to strengthen his hands. He rode upon the pony until the pony died from drinking too much from the lake. People stated once the lake had sweeter tasting waters. Though it was not sweet spring water. The sweetness tasted of something different. 

Nick would often go to the lake as a child. he found solace and peace there. He would see Marta there as well at times. From a young age, he had liking for the taller girl. He had heard people teased her height. Like they teased his voice, already deep if not broken yet. Some of the girls and boys seem to like it but most of the time he was teased. So, even when he knew something in the schoolhouse he would act dumb. Not wanting to be teased for saying anything. It was still hard for him to learn things. Still, he would practice night and day, lamplight of the candle and took extra lessons from his mother. His mother had once helped the schoolmistress so she knew how to teach him with tricks and toys. So, even though Nick seemed “dumb” to everyone, he was better versed in some things and could write better than most of the children. who were worked hard day and night at home and in the fields not always caring to learn more tha prayers. Their exhaustion was to blame. Also to blame was the abusive parents who were always an authority they disliked so they rebelled in their own ways. 

Nick was large and worked in the fields too, but because he liked listening to hymns and hearing his mother read he wanted to be adequate in the written word. Nick was also stronger than most children. He found kinship in this with Marta who was also stronger than other children. Nick would come back home from the fields at early evening, at around 5pm, freshen up and eat his dinner. Then he would walk outside and tend to the plot of his land his mother and he owned. After sleeping for an hour, he would wake up and practice for 3-4 hours straight writing and reading with his mother before they finally retired for bed. 

Bedtimes in Temple Gate varied. No one had an assigned time and some people were seen at around midnight either feeding the horses or even working. Nick was one of those people. Sometimes he would be called even after midnight to help carry bags of wheat or corn. He was rewarded with extra food or nice trinkets, like a pencil or a soft box made out of wood, or a toy made out of feather and leather, or even a wood shaving. Nick would be glad to help. From a young age, he felt working for the community and the others would be a great blessing and rewarding.

This is where Laird came in. Laird was a young boy when he was allowed to be with Knoth and join them on the journey from Albuquerque to temple Gate. he had been a beggar and pickpocket with some other youths in the town. Laird was illiterate. He would go to the school house though he was seated with the younger children. Laird was bad at learning because he focused more on daydreaming and thinking lustful thoughts about their teacher. One day the teacher gave him a punishment to stand up somewhere and realised he couldn’t so she told him to stay with Nick. Laird noticed that Nick could write down some things pretty well enough. After a while, the teacher paired them up and Nick, large in size, could accommodate Laird on his back, who had trouble sitting on the chairs anyway. When Nick was shy to answer anything , Laird would read off his paper and the teacher, and mostly everyone else, started treating them as a singularity. 

This wasn’t always helpful. Nick didn’t always mind as he liked Laird as his constant companion, however, Laird did show some envy. Laird wanted companionship with females. He felt he was witty and could pick up things. His mental faculties were not bad.  The girls always went for Nick more. He didn’t have a bad body growing up. More endowed that most boys his age, which got the interest of many a girl or woman. Laird felt angry at the attention Nick sometimes got so he decided to go to the places for hunting. Nick was able to track animals down and Laird could shoot. They could pick birds. The desert had no deer  though Elk and Big Horn Sheep did sometimes come by and were eating at the feasts held in Temple Gate from time to time. Nick was happy he could provide food for the community. He had interest in females but Laird always seemed impatient when he talked to them. 

After a while Nick saw Laird rise as a deacon due to the skill of archery. People did say that part of it was Nick’s credit as Nick was able to stalk prey and give a platform for the archer. This made Laird furious enough to hurt Nick but slapping his face or biting his ear. Nick just was quiet. 

For the longest time, things were quiet for Nick. There were at times when from the shadows women called him. There would be no Laird then. And, he found himself in the naked arms of a beautiful young female. Even if he was initially clueless and still was, he would try to satiate. He liked the kisses and the caresses of these women. He also liked when his privates meshed with theirs. He didn’t always know why but he liked it. 

As he didn’t talk much, Laird didn’t always know where he was and what he was doing. 

Though a smile. A particular smile at times from those women if they were encountered in the street made Laird mad and he would slap Nick now and then.

His lives had been quiet.

Perhaps, too quiet?

One day he saw the marks on his body.

Laird had them too.

Before he knew it, he was told to say to his mother: goodbye.

And, then he and Laird went somewhere where other people had those marks.

And there it was never quiet.

People screamed, vomited, howled in pain, prayed and did all sorts of things even if it was nighttime.

From gentle soul to Scalled

Nick was put somewhere he didn’t understand

But he always felt it was a blessing to serve the community.

Yes Marta is her name

dick crusher ? you mean, Marta?