Making the Team
Part 2
“Save you!” Yavan was caught off guard, having expected some other form of reply entirely. Joren’s earlier exhortations came back to mind and that made him frown. “From the marsh imps?” he inquired, though he had the distinct impression that wouldn’t be what this was all about.
“‘Course not,” came the immediate reply. “Well, yes, that too actu’lly,” he kept on, crossing his arms as an adult might as he pondered, “but y’know, from the monster. In the fores’!”
Yavan sighed, a bad feeling coalescing. “What is your name, child?”
“Davrim, sir.”
“Davrim, call me Yavan, hmm?” he waited for him to nod before he continued. “Good. Davrim, I would like for you to tell me more about this monster of yours.”
“Well Mister Yavan, he’s been around forever. That’s what Ma says. An’ see, we all know not ta go into the forest or else we’ll never come back. Rickey’s cousin went in a few years ago. I was really little so I don’t really rem’ber but everybody keeps talking ‘bout it and tellin’ kids not to go near the forest. No one does no more, even the big kids. Mostly, anyway. ‘xcept a few hunters. Mostly Menzo now. Neelis’ Ma says he has a deafwish, whatever that is.”
“Hmm,” pondered the knight, not caring to correct the boy’s innocuous incomprehension of Neelis’ mother’s opinion. “So no other activity for several years then, apart from Rickey’s cousin.”
“Oh, no. Well, for a while we was fine but they say since ‘bout a year he comes out o’ the forest since we don’t go in no more.”
Yavan’s expression was sharp, his features drawn. “I beg your pardon?”