Wake The Fire Inside Of Me

Áskell held his tongue though he was curious as to what his companion was saying. The language wasn't entirely foreign. He'd hear the macaque mutter in a strange tongue from time to time, usually out of frustration with something his wolven charge was doing.

Ari listened intently and as Hanzō introduced himself the macaque bowed again. He had been born on the outskirts of Iga and his sister, Naishi, had served the Ono family which was part of the overall Iga clan. His heart raced at the revelation but the macaque knew better than to press.

Áskell looked back to the horned man a he addressed the young wolf directly.   He shook his head. "I… no. That name does not sound familiar to me. My father is… was… Harbringr Klein." He looked questioningly at Ari and the macaque sighed heavily. He had hoped Harbringr would be around to tell his sons the truth of their mother one day but it would seem that burden would fall on his shoulders. Ari rested a hand upon Áskell's shoulder.

"But your mother is. My Lord, this is the son of Ono Izumi. I believe you will have heard of her family," he stated giving the family name first. "It is a long, story. Shall we say… circumstance-" Before Ari could say more Áskell shook his head. "No, no. My father told me my mother was Mariah Windchaser, a nomad. A nomad who wanted nothing to do with me or my brother." Áskell scowled, trying to figure out what the macaque's angle was. He trusted Ari immensely. The macaque had been a loyal and faithful servant, but surely Harbringr wouldn't have lied to him?

Ari patted the boy's shoulder. "I will explain more later. Please, I assure your father only had the best of intentions for you and your mother. Just know that she would have kept you if she could have. She would have loved to share her culture with you. This is Hattori Hanzō, heir to your mother's clan. Please, show him the respect he deserves and I will explain all I can."

Áskell bit his lip, head spinning with all that Ari was telling him. Questions piled up one after another. If his mother wanted him why wasn't she here now? Was she still alive? What was Nihon and what was the culture? He knew Ari was a skilled blacksmith from a land far from here. Áskell swallowed sharply and bowed respectfully to Hattori. "Are there other wolves from your clan here? I… I would like to know about my mother's clan." He truly would. He'd lost his father. He'd lost his brother. He felt distant from his Klein family. Knowing the truth of his mother's lineage offered a tantalizing hope for new connection. For a casting off of his sorrowful past for a new future.