This is a fictional story that is for a character from my current tale 'with the Ramgards' that I have been writing. A few were taken with the character Gorham. The the village guards lieutenant that I surmised the hot manly man needed a tale all his own. It tells of his need to help ypung men escape the clutches of an intolerant church. And the boys he saves. But this is told at the point of view of said boys. There may be man-beasts in this tale. But not the predominant fixtures of the story. It is for the hot and hairy Gorham
Do enjoy.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Lieutenant Gorham (Introduction)....
..... Gorham is the lieutenetant of the guard of his village. Bardale is a village It is a good sized village just beyond the Cartigahe mountains. In a lush valley that for the most part kept them safe. Kept them from attack. Gotham was the leader of the village guard. A big strapping fellow. Tall thick and strong. He had to be to make aure hia village was protected from intruders. Human as well as nome human. For this world was not dominated by the human species. They were but a secondary species to the man-beast. Creatures that were part man and part animal. A hybrid species that took over a millenia ago. And this species which came in many forms became the dominant species of the planet.
But this is not about those creatures now is it. The wolfen, the bears Kings and such.its about the humam species and this village out and away from everything. Its about the guard and the men who were part of it. Its about the leader of the guard in particular. Gorham. Gorham. The man was brought up to follow what we're called the sacred scrolls of truth. These lines and references to how a people should behave in worship and in their lives. Gorham was brought up to follow them with religious intent. Because it was how it was supposed to be. And he believed them completely.
That was until his younger brother was born. Vander was several years his junior. The smaller son as it were. And there were times that Vander seemed almost delicate. His mother worried of his aging and what some may think of Vander. He father loathed the boy. He would get all the beatings when something went wrong. And even Gorham teased him much as a child. Calling him girly boy and pushing Vander about. But the teases lessened with age. He grew to love his brother Vander. And even protected him against rough mean boys that would taunt the younger Vander
"You mess with Vander. You mess with me" he would say "And you don't want to mess with me"
And most didn't. For Gorham was always bigger and stronger than everyone else. He even outgrew his father by 17. He was near 200 pounds of big brute at that age. And anyone that were to know that Vander was his brother soon stayed quite clear of the younger Vander.
"My brother is Gorham the great" Vander would say "He will break you" "So do not bother me fool"
And being the big mans brother made Vander more confident and not so afraid anymore. He even would challenge many to scuffles to see how far he could take things. And as Gorham grew bigger and beefier. No one dared even to come near Vander. They would stay their distance. For fear of incurring the wrath of the huge man. A man who grew to an impressive 6ft 4 and 250 pounds of mass and muscle Its no wonder why the village elders sought him out to join the ranks of the guard. He was easily bigger than any of them. And was the most intimidating man around.
"You would be most welcome amongst us Gorham" he was told. "You would bring law to the village" "You would bring order" "You would bring the rule of the sacred scrolls to all"
And because he had believed so entirely on those scrolls, and he wpuld serve the God he had so believed in, he joined. He moved through the ranks quickly. Yet it was but a year in his rise to the power he so had now that his brother was brought to the temple. The brother he so loved. Even thought it was a surprise, he knew why. Vander sinned. He was a sinner to to the highest. One of the greatest if sins. Loving another man. It was forbidden. And even after Gorhams insistence that Vander does not follow hos desires, Vander did. Amd even with Gorham as his brother there was no lenience to his crimes.
"Your brother has been arrested" one of guards said "Were you aware of his sin?"
Gorham pondered his words. He knew that aiding a criminal was punishable as much so as the crime commited itself. He sighed a deep sigh and then spoke. Then told the take of his questioning of his brother. But returned with defense of Vander. Telling of his weekly visits to the temple. How hebdid the readings and followed the laws.
"I believed he was conquering his demons" he finally said
And this was the tale he told at the tribunal. There before his brother. Words to protect himself, not his brother Vander. The words he could see as they cut I to his brother. Tears poured from Vanders eyes. The betrayal tearing at his heart. But the younger brother held strong.
"Your God is a lie!" He cried "I was made this way" "I will not bow to such hate for my love"
Then he glared at his brother with a disdain that to this day haunts Gorham. That eats at his soul with each passing day. A disdain that has over the years forged what he waa to become. "I will not bow to you and you wicked ways!" Vander shouted at him. There Gorham stayed silent. Shame for what he was causing his brother. His own mother looking on, weeping from what what happening to her baby. His father stern and hands folded. Gorham knew he was pleased with this judgement. He never wanted such a boybin his house.
"Silence sinner!" The high priest shouted at Vander "You are the sinner boy" "You that have defiled the teaching of the sacred scrolls" "You who have brought shame upon your fathers house" "This great house of the order of the guard"
The priest looked at Gorham. A serious gaze that he gave the big man. Then he smiled at him. Finally the priest raised his hand to the heavens.
"There is a punishment we give that is just not sufficient enough for you!" He glowered "For you have shamed a noble house" "You must be made an example for this biy"
Evenone in the place looked at each other as he smirked. An almost wicked smirk as he brought his eyes back to Gorham. Almost tempting the man to say something as he spoke his next words "Oh no." He then said "Banishment is not enough for you"
Then there was a pause. A seemingly endless pause. Gorham was confused as banishment was always the punishment for men seeking men's affection. But the priest had something far more sinister in mind.
"Death!" He then shouted "Death for such shame sinner!" 'No" Gorham huffed almost silently
Then his mither screamed.and there was a huge echoing gasp from everyone else. Girhams mother rushed to Vander. Screaming and sobbing madly. She was jept from him by the guardsmen. Gorham rushed to her aide to pull her back
"Nooo!" She screamed again and again
There Gorham just held her tightly. Letting them take his brother away in shackles. Lowering his head at the shame he felt. Yet he had brought his brother to this somehow. He felt shamed at himself from that day forward.
"Your own brother" another guard stated "It brings shame to you and your family."
The guard patted hia shoulder as he stood there holding his bawling mother. Then as he stood there watching him brother being taken away, one if the priests came over to him. He looked at Gorham with pity. He touched the man back and tried to console the pain that he knew Gorham was feeling. Gotham shrugged him away. But the priest still stroked his back.
"He must be made example of son" he said "You know this" "You know this in your heart"
Gorham just held his mother as his own tears fell. He had failed hus family. Faiked Vander. And he never forgave himself even as he stood in the square as Vander was burned alive.
"Forgive me my brother" he sobbed silently. "Your death shall not be in vain" "Of this I promise"...... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To be continued