Chapter Three: Downpour<\/b><\/p>\n
Every few moments, a drop of water would persist through the thatch, landing rhythmically in an old wooden bucket beside the young man\u2019s bed.\u00a0 The pitch had consistently risen throughout the night, but it was a sound Maximus was used to.\u00a0 As his eyes fluttered open, he focused instead on the rapid descent of the rain outside.<\/p>\n
He sprung up then, stifling a growl.\u00a0 Rushing to a small table just beside the door, he gathered a tattered old tunic, and hurriedly stepped out the door.\u00a0 His father\u2019s door remained shut, and Maximus breathed a sigh of relief.\u00a0 That knowledge did little to slow his pace.<\/p>\n
When he opened the door of the cottage, he understood why the bucket beside his bed was nearing full.\u00a0 The storm was torrential, not unheard of for the early autumn in their region.<\/p>\n
Maximus fell to his rump as though he had been pressed down by a heavy weight.\u00a0 He reached to his side though, gathering up his old and worn boots.\u00a0 They were immediately placed upon his feet, laced then tied.\u00a0 He clambered back to a standing position, watching the rain for only a few moments longer.<\/p>\n
The young man took a deep breath, and stepped outside, shutting the way behind him.<\/p>\n
He neglected to consider how cold it would be.\u00a0 Every drop of rain that fell upon his skin had an almost icy bite.\u00a0 Not a single thought was given to the prospect of retreating back indoors, though.<\/p>\n
His eyes focused on the building in front of him.\u00a0 The stable was adjacent to the pen, but the gate had been closed for the night.\u00a0 His father warned of the portending clouds, and Charcoal was relegated to his sanctuary.<\/p>\n
Maximus dipped his head, and jogged in that direction.<\/p>\n
The rain pattered down on the roof of the building like an insistent drum.\u00a0 That tempo was unyielding, urging the lad on quicker.\u00a0 He sped into the stable, shaking off the excess water that hadn\u2019t absorbed into his frigid skin.\u00a0 Still, he could not shake his smile.<\/p>\n
The stable was dark, but he could see the typical tools of his day.\u00a0 A shovel was near the far end of the building, and against the entry wall, a wheelbarrow sat.<\/p>\n
Charcoal stuck his head over the railing, eagerly anticipating his visitor.\u00a0 Maximus stepped closer and placed his hand on the steed\u2019s muzzle.\u00a0 Nudging against those fingers, the horse seemed content, despite the disparaging weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got you,\u201d the young man said.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t think for a second that I\u2019d let a little rain stop me from taking care of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
His words were disingenuous, however, for it was not some paltry amount of precipitation.\u00a0 It sounded like hail upon the roof, yet not all of it was held at bay.\u00a0 Just like the thatch of his room, there was a hole above his horse\u2019s stall, just at the corner of the stable.<\/p>\n
Maximus entered the stall and lightly pressed against the massive steed\u2019s neck, spinning Charcoal around.\u00a0 Both faced the leak, and the puddle that had formed upon the floor.\u00a0 A pile of leavings was just at the edge of the small room.\u00a0 Combined with the scent of the intruding rain, the scent was quiet potent indeed.<\/p>\n
Taking a step back, the young man reached over the failing, moving his arm around the corner.\u00a0 He awkwardly grasped at nothing for a few moments before retrieving the shovel.\u00a0 A quick sigh was the only respite he allowed himself before he scooped up the straw beneath the horse feces.\u00a0 He deftly swung the shovel, landing all of the refuse within the wheelbarrow across the way.\u00a0 He turned, then, to the damp straw beneath the puddle and collected that as well.<\/p>\n
He took care with that bit, turning Charcoal back the other way while he carefully balanced the shovel with his other hand.\u00a0 Once he was out of the stall again, he dumped the contents of the spade into the wheelbarrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou hungry, boy?\u201d Maximus asked.<\/p>\n
The horse stamped and snorted in response.<\/p>\n
The young man reflexively smiled, but that mirth quickly faded.\u00a0 He turned toward the darkened corner of the room, where a tall wooden barrel stood.\u00a0 He ground his teeth together as he hesitantly approached.<\/p>\n
Another sigh escaped into the air when he was beside the barrel.\u00a0 He laid his hands upon it as though it held the most ferocious of beasts within.\u00a0 Swallowing hard, his face contorted, but he was finally able to lift the lid from the container.<\/p>\n
Inside, it was nearly black.\u00a0 A potent smell lifted from its depths, powerful enough that Maximus had to peer over his shoulder to breathe.\u00a0 He swung back, and as his eyes continued to adjust, he confirmed that the barrel was not as empty as it appeared to be.<\/p>\n
A wriggling black mass of flies congregated on the contents of the barrel.\u00a0 Their endless orgy was foul, but not as foul as what lay beneath, the young man knew.\u00a0 He gagged at the mere thought, and looked away.<\/p>\n
Charcoal eagerly leaned out from his stall, his ears pointed toward his friend.\u00a0 After several moments of convincing, Maximus finally began to nod.<\/p>\n
Just beside the barrel, a small iron pan leaned against the wall.\u00a0 It had seen better days, but it still served its purpose well.\u00a0 The young man bent down and retrieved it, savoring every action as if the delay could somehow save him.<\/p>\n
There was no such luck, he knew.<\/p>\n
Taking a deep breath, he braced one hand on the barrel, and plunged the pan inside.\u00a0 The color of his skin disappeared beneath the void, as if it had been instantly severed and thrown through the aether.\u00a0 He could feel the flies fluttering against his arm, buzzing this way and that as they sought out one of their myriad potential mates.<\/p>\n
Maximus looked up, concentrating on any other thought than the task at hand.\u00a0 An unpleasant burp escaped his lips, however.\u00a0 He could never truly escape that discomfort.<\/p>\n
He began lifting the pan, and stepped away, turning to look over his shoulder again.\u00a0 That desire was foremost to catch his breath, but he also saw the wooden bin against the wall.\u00a0 He quickly made his way beside it, dumping the contents of the pain into the long, narrow box.<\/p>\n
Black specks took to the air, attempting to return to their breeding ground.\u00a0 In their absence, they left a small, beige pile.\u00a0 Maximus was already aware of the contents, but he stepped closer anyway.\u00a0 Oats were stacked high, and their scent wafted into the air, mixing with the pungent rain and the acrid horse dung.<\/p>\n
Not even that awkwardly foul bouquet could induce the sickness in his stomach like the other small objects in the pile.\u00a0 There, moving in and out of the grain, little maggots burrowed.\u00a0 After a few moments, Maximus was unable to see the oats anymore.<\/p>\n
Charcoal eagerly snorted, and stamped his foot.<\/p>\n
Breathing out, the ranch hand dragged the bin to the barrel.\u00a0 He wasted no time, then, repeating his actions until the box was mostly full.\u00a0 Maggots squirmed through the grains while flies propagated on what remained.<\/p>\n
Finally, he was able to set the lid back upon the barrel.\u00a0 He placed the pan back in its spot, and lifted the wooden box into the air, extending his arms as far from his body as he could.<\/p>\n
The horse could barely refrain from burrowing his face into the box as Maximus approached.\u00a0 He lifted the bin over the gate, and then hooked the lip upon it.\u00a0 As he stepped away, Charcoal buried his head into the maggot infested feed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how you eat that,\u201d Maximus said.<\/p>\n
Full of delight, the horse raised its head, masticating all of the food that was in its mouth.\u00a0 The man almost retched when he saw a tiny beige maggot drop from Charcoal\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you enjoy that.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think you and I\u2019ll go out riding today.\u00a0 Too wet and too cold.\u201d<\/p>\n
The horse snorted in protest, but dove back into the feed.\u00a0 Maximus gently patted Charcoal on his muzzle.\u00a0 Too involved in eating, the animal never saw the young man pull the wheelbarrow out of the stable.<\/p>\n
The rain still fell at a feverish pace.\u00a0 Maximus grew tense as his skin felt the chilly bite of that precipitation.\u00a0 Gradually though, he began to acclimate.<\/p>\n
Bending low, he wiped his hands on the wet grass.\u00a0 His arm remained covered in black refuse, the foul remains of the flies and maggots.\u00a0 Still, it was somewhat cleaner than it had been.\u00a0 He sighed, pressing it out of his lips like an arrow he meant to fling over the far side of the field.<\/p>\n
He turned then, and grasped the wheelbarrow again.\u00a0 Without pause, he headed for the gate of the pen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Warm moisture coated his brow, and beneath the boughs of those trees, eh was able to avoid the cool reminder of many of the falling raindrops.\u00a0 Maximus looked up, knowing that the majority of those shielding leaves would soon be gone, stripped by the cold air and the autumn breeze.<\/p>\n
He lowered his head as one of those zephyrs shivered the branches.\u00a0 Precipitation shook from the leaves and fell upon his damp tunic.\u00a0 Focusing ahead, he attempted to remain ignorant of each drop of water on his skin.<\/p>\n
The sound of the nearby creek overpowered the light wind then.\u00a0 A babbling brook, the body of water stretched long to the south.\u00a0 There it became a powerful river, but behind the farm, it was calm and peaceful.<\/p>\n
The rain had ensured that the serenity of the creek was not so certain that morning.\u00a0 Water rushed forth like small rapids, and the clarity of its contents seemed somewhat diminished as well.<\/p>\n
Maximus shrugged, holding out his dirtied hand before him.\u00a0 He continued along, pushing the wheelbarrow through the wet grass until he reached the creek, and could better see the rush of the water.<\/p>\n
Bringing the wheelbarrow up against the creek\u2019s edge, he could feel the ground giving way beneath the weight of the odorous cargo.\u00a0 Eager to be free of that freight, he lifted, dumping the horse droppings into the stream.\u00a0 On calmer days, the water would have responded with a series of audible splashes.\u00a0 Beneath the sound of the rain and the running current, it disappeared without a sound.<\/p>\n
With the load lightened, Maximus easily pulled the wheelbarrow onto more solid ground.\u00a0 He walked back to the creek, keeping along the bank, until he was several feet upstream from where he dumped the load.<\/p>\n
He bent low, his knees almost touching the wet sand beneath him.\u00a0 His hands were submerged a moment later, and he rubbed them against each other furiously.\u00a0 The cold bite of the stream was apparent then.\u00a0 He lifted his hands from the creek, the breeze doing little to warm them.<\/p>\n
Maximus shook his hands in the air, the remnants of the water flicking off of his fingers.\u00a0 He looked up, distracted by the state of the sky.\u00a0 A dismal, dark color was returning once more.\u00a0 There wouldn\u2019t be much time to travel home before the clouds opened up.<\/p>\n
Lowering his head for only a moment, the young man looked up again almost immediately.\u00a0 There, high above and several yards downstream, was a bright red apple, clinging on against all odds, fighting past the furious wind that howled through the nights. \u00a0Somehow, despite many other apples falling to the ground in the days past, that one piece of fruit persisted.<\/p>\n
Wiping his hands on his britches, Maximus rose to his feet, and approached the tall tree.\u00a0 That massive sentinel rose high, as determined to grow as the fruit it bore was to cling on for one more day.\u00a0 Its highest bough reached out over the water, as if it believed it could mend the meandering gap between the banks.<\/p>\n
A wry grin crept to the man\u2019s face, and he placed his hands against the rough bark.\u00a0 Hoisting himself up, he could feel the tree\u2019s protest.\u00a0 Branches gently shook, quivering against the weight of the intruder.\u00a0 Settled precipitation was thrown from various perches, some landing upon the man\u2019s upturned face.\u00a0 Still, that did little to stifle his eager anticipation.<\/p>\n
Higher and higher he rose, until he was standing on a branch just beneath where the apple hung.\u00a0 He took small steps, gauging the strength of the bough beneath him.\u00a0 Unfortunately, he remained just out of reach.<\/p>\n
A quiet sigh passed through his lips, and he bowed his head.\u00a0 He was surprised, then, to see the man just beside the creek several feet below and several more feet away.<\/p>\n
The stranger wore grey britches that tucked into brightly polished brown boots.\u00a0 A long white tunic sank past his belt and opened up almost like a robe below his waist.\u00a0 Though Maximus could not see the man\u2019s face \u2013 for he stood with his eyes toward the southwest \u2013 he knew that the stranger was older than he.\u00a0 Bright greys had begun to pepper the fellow\u2019s dark hair.<\/p>\n
Briefly, Maximus remained quiet.\u00a0 He turned to begin walking back toward the trunk of the tree, but steadied himself, focusing intently on the stranger.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing there?\u201d he asked, curiously.<\/p>\n
With one foot splashing into the stream, the unknown man leapt into the air.\u00a0 He spun around, exasperated, looking out at the surrounding wilderness.\u00a0 His sight finally settled upon the young man in the tree, who gnashed his teeth, and subtly bowed his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou nearly scared the life from me,\u201d the fellow below said, stepping out of the creek.\u00a0 He shook his wet boot, the excess water flying off in every direction.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you doing up there?\u201d<\/p>\n
An ever growing look of disdain crept to Maximus\u2019 face.\u00a0 His lips parted, but before he began to speak, his brow furled.\u00a0 \u201cI asked my question first.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stranger stood up straight, his eyes lifting somewhat, as if he saw that question manifest before him.\u00a0 He nodded, his jaw protruding slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a fair point,\u201d he conceded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sanctifying this water.\u00a0 It goes down through Greenwood, and I want it to be blessed when it arrives there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maximus held on tightly, and stretched far, but managed to snag the crimson fruit from the branch above.\u00a0 Cautiously then, he released his grip on the guiding limb, and bent his knees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d move a few dozen feet upstream if I was you,\u201d he mumbled to himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing,\u201d the young man insisted.<\/p>\n
He wrapped his legs around the branch, allowing his body to swing to the underside.\u00a0 He tightly grasped the bough once more, but slid his feet apart.\u00a0 A moment later, he hung several feet from the ground, and dropped to his feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you were that hungry, you could have always come to our house,\u201d the stranger offered.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s no need to scrounge for food.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not for me,\u201d he informed.\u00a0 As the man\u2019s words hit him, he arched an eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cPardon?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I only assumed that you and I are neighbors,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cYour cottage is the only other one around for miles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou moved into that new, white house,\u201d the young man excitedly surmised.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d\u00a0 The stranger stepped forward, extending his hand.\u00a0 \u201cMy name is Richard.\u00a0 You and I might have been introduced sooner, but it\u2019s my understanding that your father isn\u2019t keen on guests.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo put it lightly.\u00a0 Oh.\u00a0 I\u2019m Maximus,\u201d he said, accepting and returning the gesture.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Maximus, now that we\u2019re properly acquainted, maybe you can do me the honor of answering my<\/i> question,\u201d Richard insisted.<\/p>\n
That powerful tone had the young man standing up straighter.\u00a0 He hesitated for a moment before shrugging, a sheepish grin creeping to his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI come here at least once every three days to leave behind our horse\u2019s\u2026 leavings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, then I should leave you to it,\u201d Richard offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary,\u201d Maximus clarified.<\/p>\n
Richard\u2019s eyes widened then.\u00a0 He looked to the water beside him.\u00a0 \u201cOh.\u00a0 \u2018I\u2019d move a few dozen feet upstream if I was you\u2019,\u201d he repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry,\u201d Maximus said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter.\u201d\u00a0 As Richard spoke, however, he was already turning from his new acquaintance.\u00a0 He began back toward his spot at the creek, and just beyond, where a small brown satchel was waiting, nearly blending into the color of the sediment on the bank.\u00a0 \u201cI know what a mess horses can be.\u201d\u00a0 He gathered the container and returned to the younger man.\u00a0 \u201cHere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Maximus looked to the ground, and bent low, placing the apple at his feet.<\/p>\n
Out from the satchel, Richard retrieved a glass bottle.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t labeled, but had two thin straps of leather that crossed diagonally over its face and back.\u00a0 He handed it to the other man.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d Maximus wondered.\u00a0 \u201cHoly water?\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a cleaning agent.\u00a0 My friend Gregor left me with a whole chest of the stuff.\u00a0 It\u2019s like soap, but in liquid form.\u201d\u00a0 When the young man seemed confused by the offer, Richard rolled his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s for your hands.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve got a horse, I\u2019m sure they\u2019re filthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maximus drew the cork from the bottle, releasing the scent from within.\u00a0 He narrowed his eyes as he attempted to indentify the familiar bouquet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s extract of lavender,\u201d Richard revealed.\u00a0 \u201cNow, just a little on one hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young man dripped a coin sized amount into the palm of his hand.\u00a0 Without much time to ruminate, Richard snatched the bottle from him.\u00a0 He gestured toward him then, fiercely rubbing that hand with the one that yet remained free.<\/p>\n
Shrugging, Maximus did as he was told.\u00a0 A slight tingle rested upon his skin, and the aroma rose even more potently.\u00a0 More surprisingly, the darkness of his skin began to wash away, leaving his flesh unmarred.<\/p>\n
He looked up, a smile upon his face.\u00a0 Richard had replaced the cork in the bottle, and held it out once more.\u00a0 His young acquaintance began shaking his head and raising his hands to protest.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake it,\u201d Richard said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got plenty at my cottage.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t keep Gregor from giving them to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell\u2026 thank you,\u201d Maximus finally conceded.\u00a0 He received the bottle, and placed it into his waistband, his belt keeping it snugly in place.<\/p>\n
Richard nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThink nothing of it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll leave you to it then.\u201d\u00a0 He turned, and walked along the creek.\u00a0 \u201cOh, and Maximus,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cNow that we\u2019ve been properly introduced, I hope you won\u2019t be opposed to visiting us.\u00a0 I doubt your father would be inclined to accept, but you\u2019re always welcome at our house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nodding graciously, Maximus couldn\u2019t contain his smile.\u00a0 The older man gave a slight bow, and proceeded upstream.<\/p>\n
A sigh of contentment rose into the air, and Maximus bent low to retrieve the discarded fruit.\u00a0 He skirted around the apple tree, then, and reached his wheelbarrow.\u00a0 When his gaze led him back to the creek, he shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard,\u201d he said, gaining the man\u2019s attention.\u00a0 \u201cA few more feet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both shared a laugh then, before Maximus turned, and began back home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chapter Three: Downpour Every few moments, a drop of water would persist through the thatch, landing rhythmically in an old wooden bucket beside the young man\u2019s bed.\u00a0 The pitch had consistently risen throughout the night, but it was a sound Maximus was used to.\u00a0 As his eyes fluttered open, he focused instead on the rapid […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1UVey-ak","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":642,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions\/642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}