Embracing the Shadows by Gavin Green Read Free Book Online

turned back to Barnabus.
"Not that I don't appreciate it, Mr. Merritt, but why did you get
me a cat?"
    Barnabus leaned back and crossed his legs.
"There were two reasons for that," he said. "The first, as I stated
a moment ago, was because a request was made to find you a suitable
pet. The second reason filtered my choice. Given the vague
parameters, I asked Ms. Page what type of animal she thought you'd
be inclined to favor. Without hesitation, she said that you wanted
a cat. She was correct, I presume?"
    "Huh, yeah, she was. But," I said, petting
Thunder while he sniffed at the supplies, "you said something about
befitting the circumstance. What circumstance?"
    "The circumstance of a pioneering endeavor,"
Barnabus replied with conviction. "Thunder is not merely meant to
be a pet; he is also the focus of your continued training. That I
am aware of, you will be the first minion to put effort into
learning the Gift of Fauna. The attempt itself is an auspicious
occasion."
    "Fauna . . . you mean like how my commander
controls rats, or how Ragna can do some wild shit with her dogs?
I'm supposed to learn how to do that?" I asked skeptically. The
Gift of Shadows was one thing, but becoming a 'beast master' like
that stupid 80s movie? "Look, Mr. Merritt, I get along fine with
cats and dogs, but I didn't really grow up with 'em. I'm out of my
depth here."
    "Then if only to appease your lord," Barnabus
said evenly, "you will strive to attain an understanding of it."
His voice was calmer when he added, "My own ability of that Gift is
laughable compared to that of your lord or elder Ragna.
Nonetheless, I can offer a few simple instructions that may set the
course for your initial approach."
    I huffed out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, that'd
be great, thanks."
    "Afterwards, your lord will assume the duties
of your education. On that note, he also asked that I give you some
details of historical value this evening."
    "History was never my best subject in
school," I said with a frown. "But if he wants me to learn it, I'll
do my best."
    Barnabus nodded. "I believe that there are
two elements to help a student succeed. The first is a proper
attitude, which you at least somewhat possess. The second is an
interest in the subject matter." He leaned forward, aiming that
bulging red eye at me, and asked, "Do you have any idea what 'the
Veleti' actually refers to?"
    I only had a vague notion that the Veleti was
a tribe or clan or something, and that Viggo was once one of them.
I'd always wanted to ask him about it, but he seemed reluctant to
divulge anything. I was being given a chance to learn about my
commander's past, so hell yes I was interested in the subject
matter.

    HISTORY
    I set up the litter box and food bowls for
Thunder and left him on his own to explore his new home. Not long
after Barnabus and I went upstairs to the lounge to relax for my
history lesson, the big shaggy cat joined us. Apparently, he wasn't
the solitary type. I didn't mind that at all.
    Barnabus first explained why he was giving me
this information rather than Viggo. It was a matter of perspective,
he said; my commander felt that a third party would offer the facts
with more objectivity. Fortunately, Barnabus was one of the very
few beings in existence who knew those facts.
    Viggo was born in the mid-fifth century CE in
an area that is now eastern Germany. He was brought up in a time
when his parents joined with other Slavic common folk to repel the
last remnants of Roman oppression from their lands. That group
formed into a strong tribe, calling themselves the Veleti. They
ventured north to expand the holdings of the tribe's growing
numbers. Coming across smaller tribes, the Veleti either
assimilated them into their ranks or conquered them if there was
resistance.
    Expanding into and settling of what is now
northeastern Germany, the word 'Veleti' became a blanket title for
all of the smaller tribes that formed under its rule. Viggo
belonged to the original body of the