Chapter 5: Greater Than A Silver Coin
Kaelor sat slouched in one of the fur-draped wooden chairs within the dim parlour, the weight of his decisions beginning to sink in. Across from him sat Mildred, hands clasped tightly on her lap. Hound stood silently behind Kaelor, arms folded over his massive chest, each breath making it bulge with barely-contained strength.
His form was shadowed by the flickering firelight, and the room felt just a little smaller with him inside.
Mildred’s eyes kept drifting between them. Her gaze lingered on Hound the most, half in awe, half in apprehension.
"H–How do you feel?" she finally asked, voice hesitant.
Hound turned his sharp gaze toward her. A wolfish smile spread across his face, revealing pronounced canines.
"Great," he said simply, voice low and thunderous. "Like I’ve been reborn from brittle bones and tired muscles into a body forged from steel. My old strength feels like that of a boy in comparison. I feel... endless."
His words rang with truth.
He wasn’t boasting, just stating what he now knew to be real.
"I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this, though," Hound added after a pause, his expression growing distant with memory. "I’ve hunted since I could walk. Became the strongest in town. Brought down tigers, mountain bears, beasts twice my size. And yet, the people I fed turned their backs the moment I couldn’t stand. Dragged me like trash... to a stranger."
He looked at Kaelor.
"And that stranger gave me more than any of them ever did."