Feminine voices stir Carr from a lengthy slumber. Fighting to open his eyes, finds vision is badly blurred. Trying to reach up to rub the eyes Carr's arms feel as though they are tied down. Even finding rolling from side to side difficult. What's going on? Am I tied down? To a wooden table with a blanket? What's that smell? Carr sniffs the blankets that cover him. New born babies? Smelling the blanket some more Carr's hand touches his side. Oh, I'm not tied. Struggling to move any limb they feel as heavy as gold.

Vision starting to clear Carr can make out the shapes of the timbers in the ceiling and walls. I think I know this room. Managing to get an arm up to his face feels his chin. My whiskers are gone. Turning his head to the side Carr notices a simple lantern on a small table. I've seen that before.

Outside the room two female voices can be heard but they are not loud enough to recognize or understand. Occasionally a male voice cuts in.

Like trying to push big rocks Carr struggles to remove the blanket. Finding it easier to wriggle out from under them Carr flops face first on the wooden floor.

The sound of him landing on the floor alerts the others, they rush into the room. The room door is opened fast, slamming into the wall.

Looking at the floor Carr asks, "who's there?" He feels a large, callous, hand firmly grab his shoulder and turn him over.

"Hey Carr It's me Hal," the tall half Elf smiles, "I see your, ah, about." Chuckling he points to the doorway, "Your Ma is here too."

"Oh yeah?" Still unsure where he is and can't properly make out any faces Carr smiles, "Hi Ma. I love you Ma."

Teary eyed his little mother pushes Hal aside to give Carr a big hug, "I love you too. Even if you are a stupid bastard."

Being hugged a bit too tightly Carr struggles to speak, "Yeah Ma. I was a stupid bastard."

Receiving a glare Hal stops chuckling, "Ah, Violetta sent word to have your mother brought here."

"Oh, Violetta's," Carr figures out where he is and that he's most likely in trouble. He makes out her lean, curvy silhouette in the doorway but can't see her staring at him with a raised brow, "I'm sorry Violetta. I at least didn't come knocking in the wee hours."

"Not personally," Violetta states, "Come on Hal. Give me a hand with him."

"Sure, sure." Hal inquires, "back to bed?"

"No. I'm tired of feeding him," Violetta points out of the room, "Lets put him in the armed chair."

"Feeding me?" Carr asks as they help him up, "How long have I been here?"

"Five and a half days," Ma informs him, "you almost died you know."

"Five days?" Carr mumbles while hobbling assisted into the kitchen, "What the hell happened?"

"You damn near got yourself killed!" Ma answers agitated with him. "That's what happened. I wish you were healed so I could beat your ass."

Violetta remarks. "Go right ahead."

"Come now." Carr's seated in the chair. "Can't even raise a hand here."

Violetta tells them, "he's only weak because he's been asleep for so long."

"Yeah, I don't think I could even defend myself," agrees Carr.

"Perfect," Ma cuffs him across the back of the head.

Carr's head jerks forward, "hey."

Hal and Violetta control a laugh at him and a little more watching Ma feeling bad for doing so, but pushes his head back up hitting the back of the chair. She jerkily pushes the chair close to the table. Cutting up some fruits and vegetables into bite sized pieces Violetta sprinkles some herbs on for strengthening.

Hal has to ask. "So, Carr do you remember your journey. The villagers say your fight was something else. And that there was a Bugbear too. Is it true?"

Looking at Hal, Carr tries to recount the events since they last met.

"Hal, don't encourage him," Violetta frowns at him, "He'll want to go running off again."

Ma threatens. "Before he's strong enough to run, we should shackle him."

Aware of all that's happened and the past year Carr states, "no more."

In disbelief Violetta rolls eyes in a shaking head.

Hoping he'll stay true to that Ma kisses him, "Finally beat it into you eh?"

"What?" Hal doesn't believe it either, "What about your palace?"

Carr tries to look towards Hal, "I found out, if I live underground, I don't need heat."

"Huh?" Bewildered Hal wonders if the boy's mind is okay.

Usually eager to tell his tales Carr sighs unsure how to feel about it all. "It wasn't a Bugbear. I fought something uglier, an Owlbear named Vis. And the job was a worthy one. It just went badly."

Violetta points out the obvious, "we noticed." She sets the bowl of food in front of him, "You got to eat it. And if you want to move properly again you got to get at that too."

Surprising Violetta Carr lightly touches her hand and looks into her eyes and says with confidence, "I love you too Violetta. Not just because you saved my ass so many times. You're a truly good person. Who has, taught me much in life."

Unsure where Carr is going, Violetta queries, "You're not going to purpose again are you?"

"What's this?" Ma wonders what she's just heard or if something has gone on between them.

Snickering about the thought Hal's face shows disapproval in the idea.

"No," with a bit of wit Carr continues, "not today. I promise you I'll stay on the farm for now."

Ma smiles widely, "Really Carr?"

Sensing sincerity in him Violetta is curious to what occurred but doesn't show it. She sets Carr's hand in the bowl, "Just eat would you."

"Alright." Carr picks up a piece to eat, "That's right Ma. What's worse than me almost dying is the number of deaths I've on my hands. This past year, and what happened out there."

"Oh, my," Ma doesn't want to know, just has to, "Was it an ambush?"

Hal has too as well. "Was it? Or were you chased all over the country side?"

"Country side would have been nice," Carr slowly picks away while explaining the latest venture in great detail. He tries to keep a few secrets.

All find the skunk encounter amusing getting a rare smile on Violetta's face. As she now knows why he and his armor smell the way they do.

Hal becomes interested in the arrows Carr found, but there's none left to show.

When Carr tells them who summoned him, he just says Jasmine was only a ranger with spell powers.

Cutting in Ma says, "I told you she was a ranger."

Hal thinks aloud. "Pretty rare to hear about a ranger that uses magic."

Violetta is skeptical, "maybe she's a magic user in the guise of a ranger."

Wanting to believe she was a ranger Ma shares her thought, "maybe, but she seemed such a genuine person and all she wore and how she carried herself, said to me a ranger for sure. What did she want from you?"

Telling them she wanted an anklet and whom it belonged to, all have their suspicions of what it could ultimately be.

Wildly thinking Hal toys with an idea that it might be something needed to open a secret door or locked object.

Knowing what it's like to get back a token of a lost loved one Ma wants to think that's all it is. She does think it could be an artifact.

Thinking the anklet might be magical Violetta asks for a description.

Barely recalling what it looked like Carr shows them the approximate size and carries on. No one likes where he had to go to get it.

Shaking her head disapprovingly Ma points a stern finger at Carr, "You shouldn't have taken this job if you had to go there. I never liked it when your father went there. It's full of assassins and thugs. You could've gotten killed just for trying to enter there."

Hal agrees. "Yeah, of all the bad places to go you picked the worst one. I wouldn't have gone there alone."

Knowing it now Carr nods, "I didn't think it through. I just about didn't make it out either."

Carr tells them all about his time inside the guild. The only one entertained by the tricks and fights, was Hal. When they found out he took on a known assassin it was easy to see the women weren't amused. None had concern for Marten's death, just the possible price on Carr's head. Ma gasps as Carr gets to the fall off the cliff edge. Violetta just shakes her head at what could've ended his life right there.

Hal teases, "wow, two flights in one year."

"Ah, yeah. I guess," Carr makes it known, "I didn't care for that one. It had an awfully hard landing, or two."

Violetta wonders if Hall knows more about his first flight than her. So much so she doesn't catch the details of his climb out of the ravine. Continuing his pursuit Carr skips past a few hazy details getting to something more exciting to him. His underwater ride down the Cirran River. This idea seems quite ingenious to the household.

"That was very smart of you," Ma pats his shoulder.

Violetta adds, "that's what your head is for, thinking."

Smiling in wonderment Hal queries, "did you see anything under there?"

Staring blankly for a few seconds Carr responds, "you know, I can't recall." He shrugs and continues.

Describing the carnage in the old ruins, Hal was enthralled in the tale wishing to have seen it. Ma felt bad for the animals summoned by magic and to their death. Having seen many brutal battles she doesn't feel bad for the male thugs that died.

Trying not to get mad Violetta has a viewpoint to share, "I can't begin to understand why a ranger would summon animals to their deaths. I don't care if she did heal most of them. Why would you two fight on sacred ground like that?"

Hastily Carr answers, "no one lives there anymore. It's not like good souls were put to their death."

That answer gets Violetta mad, "there are people who still pilgrimage to there! That spots now contaminated! What the hell, were yous thinking? All that death over an anklet? There's got to be more to it. I'm going to have to go there in the spring and spend a week cleansing the place. You're lucky I detest violence. Hal could you?"

"Okay." Hal turns to Carr, "sorry," then cuffs him upside the head.

Carr takes the hit, "I deserve it and more." He looks to Violetta, "I'll go with you and help."

Violetta's eye twitches, "No!" Pointing her finger at him, "You make sure you stay on your farm and help your mother. Ca..." She starts to pace. "I paid off the village to get rid of the thieves you killed and to stay quiet about it. Luckily for you the local kids idolize you. Two days ago, some men rode through here looking for you and their thugs. The villagers said little. Some kids told them their buddies were chasing you towards Lahfee."

Staying quiet Ma listens to the tongue-lashing, knowing Violetta is carefully saying what she'd like too. Hal just knows to say as little as possible.

Carr makes an offer, "I'll pay you double what ever you paid the villagers."

"Hah," Violetta relays some disheartening news, "I paid them with the coins, gems and pearls from your backpack."

"What? Ooo," sighing Carr knows it was a cheap price to pay, "I guess that's fair."

Unaware of that detail Hal feels bad for Carr going to all that trouble for nothing, but sees Violetta noticeable upset with Carr. "At least you're still here to tell the tale."

"And you lost that horse I got you. Right?" Arms crossed Violetta stops and glares at him, "and didn't I ask you to get rid of that poisonous blade?"

"Ah," Carr stammers out, "I didn't mean to lose the horse it was a great one too. I got rid of the sword like you asked. Like I said I found the other one in the church ruins on a Halfling. I don't know if its' any consolation to you, but I know Jasmine was noticeably worried and posed the question. How will our Gods feel about it on our judgment day? She even admitted going too far for a mere object."

That's one of the few things Violetta was glad to hear but explains, "When you use magic, especially negative magic. You leave a bad mark. Plus, it's bad for your Karma. Those that die horribly, their energy lingers. Bad souls linger the longest and cause problems. And any ranger should know, the deaths of many animals, attracts the Deities of the woods. Gorstum the boar and Brathin the dire wolf. They will be out to avenge the death of their kin."

Noticing Ma is worried for her son Hal says. "Oh, those are just myths."

"Oh, they're real." Carr catches their attention finding the right time to start on a promise made, "They showed up alright and made sure Jasmine healed all she could."

All surprised by Carr's meeting with Deities they get him to continue. He firstly points out the names they prefer to be called and the deal he made with them.

They all had the wolves figured wrong. Hal does point out that carcasses found of pack kills usually seem to be smaller than normal. He also says he'll talk to his fellow hunters about wild canines and being extra careful of the animals south of the village. Learning something useful Violetta eases her tension with Carr. Ma's happy to hear they don't have to worry about the chickens being eaten. Seeing his favorite women are more at ease Carr tells them about Jasmine's magic leaf boat. The talk he shared with Jasmine as the floated down the Cirran River. Saying nothing about possible future visits from Jasmine or her kind Carr quickly gets to the all-day trek into town.

Aiding Carr's story Violetta tells them about three thugs that showed up in the village before Carr did. She tells them a couple kids saw the Owlbear but didn't know what it was, so no one believed them.

"Until that night." Carr mentions the intentions of waiting until morning to visit Violetta, which she appreciated hearing.

For Hals' benefit Carr details the final fight as best he can recall. Matching closely with that all the townsmen are going on about.

Having always thought Carr's tales were greatly exaggerated, Hal is glad to know there are eyewitness accounts. Not showing it to the women Hal admires Carr's fighting skills and is proud of achievements in life, so far.

He may not show it but Violetta can detect that someone is proud of what Carr did. Figuring its' Hal she speaks to him, "Yes a heroic fight all males would revel in." She lays out the damage report. "What did Carr get from this fight? Let's see, bruising from head to toe. A couple damaged organs. Cracks in the shoulder, collar, jaw and rib bones. Three ribs were broken as well as his left arm. And your hand was most disgusting with the skin hanging from the bone. A face that was shredded, luckily your eye was okay. Not to mention the numerous puncture wounds."

She takes a deep sighing breath shaking her head. Pointing at Carr she raises her voice, "some of those wounds were festering with gangrene, stupid bastard. How many times have I told you to keep those wraps dry. No. What do I find but your whole pack is soaked. If that kid hadn't come and got me you would have died right in the street. I wasn't gonna resurrect your sorry ass. And that healing ring wasn't strong enough to save you either. It's bad enough I was aching for two days after healing you. I was also puking up all kinds of crap. Should, ah..." she turns to make a tea and calm herself.

Hearing all the damage done to her boy Ma hugs him tightly, "See what happens when you don't listen to us. Not only did you come close to dying, but you have to remember a healer takes on the pains of those they heal."

Hal pats Carr on the shoulder, "I don't think I'll be challenging you to anymore duals."

Carr holds his mother's hand, "I don't need any more injuries like that. I promise I'll stay on the farm as long as you're there." Thinking of the loot he's already got stashed, knows he can live comfortably on the farm for a long time.

Patting Carr's hand Ma says. "I'm glad to hear you say that. I'll just have to stay around as long as possible to keep you out of trouble. And don't worry about your horse. Violetta told us that Ebony is over at the stable."

"Really?" Smiling, Carr looks to Violetta.

Knowing Violetta is still not too happy, Hal tells him. "Yeah, I guess one of the bandits you fought, rode into the town with her. Lucky for you, eh?"

"Sure is," Carr humbly speaks to Violetta, "I am truly sorry for the disappointment and grief I have caused you and you Ma. Violetta you've gotta allow me to make amends to you for all you have done."

Standing by the fire with her hands on her hips Violetta shakes her head slightly, sighing, "A moment more of your time for now. I want you to fully understand, no matter what you do in life, it can affect someone or something else. Like a misread spell, who knows what could happen, nothing or something bad."

Carr replies. "I'm really beginning to understand that."

Not sure he does Violetta continues, "Breaking into King Darvel's tax building. Now his men are making more trips through here looking for you and whatever suits them. You took out a guild master, plus forty men. Are they going to be looking forever for you? Will bounty hunters be holding up in every town watching for you? That's three groups that see a price on your head."

Foolishly Carr speaks, "Well I knew there would be. Fortunately, they don't know where to find me."

Annoyed by Carr's thought Violetta reminds him. "Don't forget, for the right price or amount of force people will talk." Taking a calming breath, she reminds herself that at one time she too was young and foolhardy. "You want to do something to make amends? Then eat those damn vegetables. They're certainly not going to kill you."

"Okay," Carr quietly picks up a piece of carrot, feeling quite humbled. While thinking of a future of farming has a thought, of a different quest: How to win over Sonja's parents, in order to marry their daughter.

Unbeknown to him other plans are already underway for his future and those he cares for.

The End Of That Year

A Rogue's Tales: The Den of Thieves

Written by Robert A. Lancaster III

Composed 2006 Written 2007/8

Copyright # 1053280

Redone 2019/20