Who Is My Husband
Scene 41

Through the clouds of dust, the bull charged forward. He was charging in anger as he stampeded ahead.

“Kailee!”

She heard a muffled voice yell at her. She had stood there watching the chaos unfold. But had not moved from the middle of the road. She instead was standing right in the path of the bull. Her posture was perfectly straight as the wind-tossed her hair to the side. She didn’t cower backwards. Instead, she waited for the bull to make his move.

She felt herself being pulled backwards as Lance drew a sword standing in front of her. He shoved her backwards into another body who pulled her behind him. She glanced up to see the back of Phil, the guy who worked for her uncle. The bull continued to charge towards Lance and then dirty clouds swarmed over them. The loud sound of him stomping his feet and snorting echoed in front of them. She couldn’t see clearly but she was certain she saw Lance hold his hand out and shove the bull backwards before swinging his sword towards the animal.

As the dust settled, Kailee looked at the angry bull as he stomped at Lance. As she leaned more to the side of Phill her eyes met with the animal’s eyes. She could see him regarding her and then she could almost see his body relax. She pushed forward to walk past Phill.

“Stay back, it’s dangerous.” Phill said, keeping a protective arm outstretched in front of her.

“I need to see.” Kailee ducked under his hand and walked towards Lance.

“Kailee.” Lance said, warning her.

“He’s okay, Lance. Look at him. He looks like he is scared, aren’t you fella? What has gotten you so upset?” Kailee asked and a quiet moo came from the bull’s throat. She walked to Lance’s side and he immediately gripped her arm holding her in place. She tilted her head to him and smiled. “Lance, you can see for yourself he is calm now. Besides… I think he understands me.” Kailee whispered the last part to Lance.

“Did something scare you or hurt you?” Kailee asked in a sweet soothing voice. She watched as the bull turned his head to the side looking towards his back.

Grum walked up to the side of the bull, and he stomped slightly at him.

“It’s okay. He won’t hurt you. Just let him have a look, okay?” Kailee continued her soothing tone, and she could swear she saw the bull nodding his head to her. She looked up to Grum who then proceeded to look the bull over.

“There’s the problem here.” Grum pointed to an area on the animal’s rear. “Someone has hit him with a stone dart.”

“A stone dart?” Kailee asked, looking up at Lance.

“It is a rock that has been carved to a point. It is blown out like you would a spit ball. Also called stone shooters. Usually, they stick in your skin and you have to pull them out.” Lance looked up at Grum. “Is it still in him?”

“Yes.” Grum said with a frown.

“Well can we pull it out?” Kailee asked.

“Not without making him mad again.” Grum said, shaking his head.

“Mr. Bull, you won’t get mad again if we pull that dart out, will you? You understand that it might hurt but it is to help you, don’t you?” Kailee smiled and this time the bull moved his head up and down several times.

Grum chuckled. “I swear bull if you turn on me you are dinner. And I don’t mind eating my steak on the rare side.” He reached his hand out cautiously and placed it on the animal’s rear. He looked up towards the bull and waited for him to protest but he didn’t. He raised his eyes, sighed and grabbed onto the stone, pulling it out. The bull stood there obediently, and his skin only twitched.

Grum walked up to Lance and Kailee and held up the stone dart. “Looks like some kids were up to mischief.” He said loudly and gazed around looking for the culprit.

Phill walked up with a rope and then slid it over the bull’s head. “While he is being so calm, I’m going to get him back where he belongs.”

“Bye Mr. Bull.” Kailee said and waved to him.

Will laughed and walked up to the group. He looked back at the bull walking obediently behind Phil and then back to Lance. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you are a bull charmer Lance.”

“Well, what can I say? I have a way with animals.” Lance said and shot a side eye towards Kailee. They were lucky no one picked up that she was actually able to talk to the bull.

Will chuckled and then looked around the area. “Where is Reggie at?”

“Reggie stayed back at the estate today. He is keeping the lord’s guest company.” Lance said with a sigh.

“Is that right? It wouldn’t happen to be a lady guest, would it?” Will asked in almost slight irritation.

“You know how Reggie is.” Lance said with a shrug.

“Yes… all too well.” Will said with a sad sigh. “Still… I’m surprised he has left this little filly’s side. He seems pretty protective of her.” He said looking at Kailee.

Lance smiled and nodded his head. He reached back and wrapped his arm around Kailee’s shoulders. “Yes, we all are. Our lord actually managed to replace someone that we have all taken a liking to. She is the little sister we never had.”

“Awe.” Kailee bumped into Lance’s side. “You guys are my obnoxious, annoying, overprotective brothers who I still love dearly.”

“Reggie fits all three of those, so I am going to assume all of those pertain to him.” Grum said with a snort.

“I am telling you it was a wyvern. Les saw it with her own eyes. That is what burnt down the old mill.” A woman said to another as they were straightening up the town.

“What is a creature like that doing all the way out here?!” The other woman said shocked.

“Excuse me ladies, but what are you talking about?” Lance asked curiously.

“The old mill on the phantom’s estate burned down. Apparently, it was a wyvern.” The woman said.

Kailee’s body tensed at the mention of the phantom estate. That was her parents’ land. It had been abandoned for so long that she had heard the maids in her uncle’s place refer to it as the phantom estate. This had to be where these ladies were talking about as well.

“Well, I hate to ruin this for you, but wyverns don’t typically breathe fire. That is something more rare from those primitive creatures. Plus, I have never seen one this far north before.” Lance said simply and shrugged his shoulders.

The lady shook her head. “It only had two legs and wings. It was a fire breathing wyvern. Les is sure of it. And it burned the mill down.”

“Okay ladies if you say so.” Lance chuckled, shaking his head.

Kailee watched the two ladies continue their gossip as they moved to the other side of the road to tidy up. She looked up at Grum and then to Lance.

“Can we go see it?” She asked and watched Grum immediately shake his head.

“That is too far out of our way today.” Grum said tersely.

Kailee furrowed her brows. “It is not. It wouldn’t be a problem at all and you know it. I just… I just want to see.” Her voice whispered quietly.

“Sorry Kailee. I don’t think it is a good idea to go wandering around.” Lance gave her a sympathetic smile and she sighed.

Her shoulders dropped and she folded her arms over her chest. “Like I said, annoying and overprotective.” She kicked at a stone that skipped down the road. She saw Phill walking back from taking the bull back and by his side was another guy, Ty.

“I heard you guys had quite the run in.” Ty said as he walked up to Grum.

“Luckily no one got hurt.” Will said. “Lance here was able to subdue the beast.”

“Well I hardly think calling the bull a beast is fair. After all it isn’t his fault he was hurt. Someone hurt him and he got scared. He was trying to protect himself. Maybe in the future it would do you all some good to be a bit more considerate of those you consider ignorant animals.” Kailee turned her head to the side in agitation.

“Sorry Kailee. I didn’t mean anything by calling the bull a beast.” Will said and raised his arms up.

Kailee gave him a small smile. “I know. I’m just aggravated with these two annoying brothers who won’t let me do anything.”

“Awe, come on Kailee. We can do stuff. Let’s check out the games in the village. That will be fun right?” Lance smiled and tilted his head down to her.

“Maybe if I had better company.” Kailee quipped back. She wasn’t really mad at this point but was enjoying watching the men squirm a bit. She could even see Grum looking a bit uncomfortable.

“Lance might have a way with animals but not with women.” Phill laughed out and Ty chuckled with him.

Kailee felt something tugging at the side of her dress. She turned her head to see a little boy smile up at her. Kailee stared at the little boy curiously and then a realization hit her. She knew this child. She blinked a couple times and kept her gaze on the boy.

“Can you come talk with me?” The boy asked with a side grin.

“You boys better step up your game. Looks like she might have found a better brother.” Will chuckled and pointed to the small child.

Kailee gave the boy a weak smile and bit her inner bottom l*p. “Just for a minute.” She answered back quietly.

She followed the boy down the end of the road several feet. She was still in eyesight of everyone. She looked back at the boy and her smile fell.

“What do you want, Hawkins?” Kailee whispered out.

“You never cease to amaze me.” Hawkins grinned.

“Is this one of your skills?” Kailee asked as she motioned over the boy.

“The shifting is but I can’t mask it alone. I don’t have much time. But I wanted you to know that the goblins are backing you. When the time comes, we will follow your lead.” Hawkins whispered lowly.

“You are on my side then? Really?” She watched him nod his head. “Who all is working for my uncle?” She whispered out.

Hawkins shook his head. “You’ve got it all wrong. A weak man like your uncle doesn’t have anyone working for him. They are all working for someone else. They are not the head. Cresha, Balor and your uncle are all working for the order. And the order is working to bring Bane back.”

“The order?” Kailee asked confused.

“Yes. They are the high council, the ones in charge, they are followers of Bane. They are made up of the three most fearsome dark lords. Though nothing your ladyship can’t handle. If they replace out about you though… it is those around you who won’t be safe if you understand what I mean.” Hawkins said and glanced back to where the men were standing. “They are here protecting you for now, but soon it will be you who needs to protect them.”

Kailee felt a shiver race up her spine. The idea that her family would be in danger because of her was the most frightening realization yet. Her heart began to increase in rhythm as it raced her breathing became irregular. Her shallow breaths refused to fill her lungs of the oxygen that she needed.