Verge of Darkness

  *******

   

  Aeneas sat on the floor, Ripper's huge head resting on his lap. Both had their eyes fixed on Pagan. The subject of their fascination sat on a chair in his room, holding his sword by the hilt while he ran a whetstone along the edges with long even strokes.  On the floor next to him were several star-shaped metal objects resting on a square of oiled leather.

  “What are they?” Aeneas asked, reaching for one of the objects.

  “Careful now,” Pagan cautioned. “They are very sharp. They are called shuken, and can be deadly weapons in the right hands.”

  Aeneas picked one up and experimentally ran a thumb along an edge. He winced, and looked up at Pagan, who smiled, shaking his head. “I told you they were sharp, but guess you had to find out for yourself.”

  “Why did you stand in front of the Bahktak at the park?” Aeneas asked, his eyes serious. “It would have killed you.”

  Pagan was silent, the whetstone rasping against his sword as he continued working on it. Eventually, he put the stone aside. He ran a thumb gingerly along the edges of the blade, nodded in satisfaction, and placed the sword next to the shuken.

  “I couldn't stand idly by and do nothing. I had to try to stop it.”

  “But you had no weapons, it would have killed you.”

  “Perhaps, or I would have killed it. As it leapt, I saw...what I believe is a vulnerable spot on its throat.”

  “Do you think Ripper saw it too?”

  “I don't know, son. Perhaps, but animals usually attack the throat when going for the kill.”

  “Ripper was amazing, wasn't he?”

  “Yes, he was Aeneas. He is a good dog. Brave and loyal. You are lucky to have him.”

  “I know. But my father didn't want to keep him. Said he was a mean killer with too much wolf in him, and would turn on me.”

  “Your father was right. Ripper is a mean killer, but only to his enemies and those who would seek to hurt you, and those you love. But I doubt he will ever turn on you.”

  Aeneas nodded, then turned to the hound, laughing as he tugged on its ear. Ripper growled low in his throat, pushed the boy onto his back and licked his face.