Chapter 54: Fighting Back
Sir Gunnar expected the intimidating sight of Sir Arthur to appear shortly. Considering how long ago he sent the letter using the Duke’s messenger hawk, the knight imagined the man had ridden all through the night to check on his child.
He truly was one of the best fathers Gunnar had ever witnessed. It seemed that the way to become the best was to love his children relentlessly and unashamedly.
"There is something amiss with the monsters," Gunnar admitted. "You know as much yourself. Were there monsters in the valley as there were when we visited the blacksmith a few weeks ago?"
"There were many goblins in the valley," Sir Arthur confirmed. "It would seem as if none of us exhausted ourselves last winterization to clear the mountains of monsters at all. However, I remember the struggles we faced and how impossible the task felt. The monsters that escape us in the mountains seem to only multiply wherever they settle in the forests. However, my concern at the moment isn’t regarding the monsters particularly. How in the hell has a mere arrow caused such weakness in my child?"
His voice took on an edge by his last words.
If Gunnar didn’t know Arthur, he would have certainly blamed himself based on the tone. He nodded as the other man spoke, allowing him to finish before he would continue.
"The issue with the monsters is very relevant to what happened to Iro," Gunnar admitted. "It isn’t simply their movement through the valley that vexes me. The arrow Iro was shot with had a grey substance on it. It’s not quite like poison but it certainly sapped your child’s energy as if it was. The maids I spoke to have never seen anything like it."
"Go on," Arthur pressed, devoid of emotion.
"The wound itself is grey and the head maid drained it the way you would a bite from a venomous snake," Gunnar continued. "It seemed to have lightened up the overall appearance but it’s clearly still affecting Iro by the way he can’t keep down food and only has had a bit to drink."