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And even a farm can become a kingdom. \n\nThis is not really a Halloween themed story, but it's easily my most violent. \n[url=https://www.subscribestar.com/hivesoul]If you want to support our work, then check out our Substar here![/url]\nI hope you enjoy, this was a favourite of mine. \n\nArt is from [iconname]SoulCentinel[/iconname]", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Come hear the tale of Saxe, the first in a thousand years to drink the Wine of the Soul.
Come hear the tale of Saxe, King of the Goats, and first of his kind.
For even a King can have humble beginnings. And even a farm can become a kingdom.

This is not really a Halloween themed story, but it's easily my most violent.
If you want to support our work, then check out our Substar here!
I hope you enjoy, this was a favourite of mine.

Art is from \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoulCentinel\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoulCentinel\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
", "writing": "[center][b]I[/b][/center]\n\n\nAlong the far eastern coast of the Lardik hills, where the cold Tethys ocean laps against the land. A pale Wolf wrapped in a heavy black cloak trods and stumbles across the stoney shore. He grasps at his injured shoulder with one hand, his breath ragged from the pain. In the other he clutches tightly a scuffed briefcase. Underneath the cloak and scruffy hair he wears a suit, once sharp and tailored, but now just as tattered as the Wolf himself. \n\nBehind him he hears the calls and barks of the OCD as they track his trail and follow his scent. There was nowhere to hide on this beach and he knew that as soon as they came over the hill his time would be up. With his hope fading he tumbles onto the sand and braces himself for the end. \n\n“MEEH.” A voice calls out to him.\n\nTurning his head to the side he finds a small Goat of bluish grey colour staring back at him from the grass near the beach. Such an animal was common enough to see in this country but he quickly realised that he had not seen that goat at all during his run along the sands. So how did it just now suddenly appear? As if to answer the question the goat stepped backwards and vanished. \n\nDragging himself to his feet and stumbling over to the grass he found an entrance to a small tunnel. He had heard of these. Glancing across the water to the island along the way he was certain that this was one of the many Underways that was built in ancient times. Turning his bloodshot eyes to the hill over yonder he found that the OCD had not yet caught up to him. He raised his bloody hand and with a snap, a sudden wind blew forth over the sands. His nearby footprints were erased, making it look like he had simply vanished from the middle of the beach. \n\nAfter ducking into the small tunnel he stumbled deeper into the darkness. \nAnd there he waited with baited breath as he heard the cries of the OCD come louder, and louder, before lingering… And slowly moving on. The pale Wolf sighed deeply in relief but then hissed from the pain of his shoulder. \n\n“MEEH.” The Goat bleated again, its tiny voice echoing around the tunnels.\nThe Wolf shushed the goat, before putting his briefcase down and kneeling. \n\nHe petted the Goat’s ears and found his fur to be very clean and soft, more than normal for a farm animal although it had not been properly trimmed in some time. A pet? Looking at the collar around his neck, the Wolf found the name “Saxe” inscribed. \n\n“Such a good boy.” The Wolf said as he pet the wall eyed creature. \n\nWith a click he unlocked the latches of his briefcase. Inside was a large collection of gold coins, some spattered with blood, and each bearing a sigil of something ancient and sinister. The Wolf took a few of these coins in his hands and after drawing a Sigil in his blood upon the ground, placed them within the circle. The Sigil began to glow and the ground inside of the circle cracked, then crumbled, before dissolving into a thick muddy oil. One by the one the coins sank into the muck. It then began to bubble and swirl until finally the tar turned red and smooth. \n\n“Measure not a man for what debts he keeps but rather how he repays them.” \nThe Wolf said as he dipped his bloody finger into the pool and made a circle. \n“To save a life is to own that life, as such, in return I will give you all the blessings and bloons my Master has afforded me. Such power is more than fair compensation for a single life.” \n\nThe Wolf dabbed the red substance onto the forehead of Saxe. It stuck to his fur like wax and began to burn. This unnatural heat did not cause pain but the flood of memories and information had his head spinning. Glimpses of the pale Wolf’s life. The language he knew, things he had learnt as a child. Experiences, concepts, patterns. Such searing knowledge had Saxe’s eyes watering and his head feeling like it was filled with cement. Saxe turned and tumbled around in a circle before sneezing drunkenly. Just as quickly as the feelings had begun they now started to fade. Saxe shook his head from side to side as his vision slowly cleared. \n\n“No debt of mine will go unpaid, even if it is with a Goat.”\nThe Wolf said before sighing. He petted Saxe’s head once more before closing the briefcase and heaving himself to his feet with a groan. Now made even weaker he coughed and took a second to steady himself. \n\n“MEEH.” Saxe bleated almost as if giving thanks.\n\n“May you choke on the fruits of my labour.” The Wolf spat as he braced himself against the wall and made his way down a side tunnel that split off from the main path. Saxe sat for a while and watched as he vanished into the darkness. \n\nWith his curiosity sated Saxe began to head back home. \nHe headed down the main route of the Underway, and after a few minutes popped out of a hole on the island just offshore. His tiny hooves trotted through the unkempt grassy fields and past rotting fences that were only a few storms away from collapse. Dotting the landscape was the ruins of the old Vineyard. Stone pillars. Marble steps. All overgrown and stained with dirt.\n\nIt was as he passed by a little meadow that Saxe stopped to take in the view. \nA large white rock in the midst of a ring of wild flowers. It stood stark and defiant against the heavy grey clouds that were forming overhead. And just beyond was the lapping waves of the ocean. He did not know why at first but he found himself staring at this sight. The more he stared the more he began to understand. It was beautiful. But there was more to his interest than just beauty. His ability to now perceive beauty, and be aware of his own perception of that concept, were just as fascinating as the sight itself. \n\nBut such lofty concepts were also tiring and his baser instincts for food soon made him move on. \n\nNear the centre of the island was the Red Reef Vineyard. \nThis small farm had been built up over the past few generations ever since a mighty wave washed away half of the already crumbling ancient Vineyard that belonged to the family in centuries long past. They had rebuilt decently since then but the paint had already started to peel and the wood was turning green all the same.\n\nSaxe slipped through a small gap in the fence that wrapped around the grazing fields. He trotted down and rejoined the herd of Goats near the barn. Despite the heavy clouds and distant rumbles of thunder the Family still had yet to move them inside.\n\n“MEEH.” Saxe bleated to the herd. \nBut none of them paid him much attention. \n\nHe began to graze on the grass and for a time it was good. \nThe taste was comforting and simple and the gentle wind was peaceful. But the more he ate, the less and less satisfying the grass became. All too soon it became distasteful and he found himself spitting the cud from his lips. Lingering for something more, he found himself wandering closer to the fence and looking over to the grapevines across the yard. With a sniff, he found the smell of cooked food wafting in from the House too. \n\nSaxe slipped through the fence once again before trotting down to the House in search of something more suited to his new tastes. After ducking through a doggy door built into the backdoor of the House, he sniffed the air again and followed the smell to the living room. \n\nThe Family of Red Deer were in the middle of eating a roasted dinner made up of several vegetables and basted chicken, all smothered in gravy. The Father and Mother sat at opposite ends of the table, with the Father slumped over a notebook as he scribbled down ideas about how to improve the farm. The Mother meanwhile kept an eye on the family. She spoke to the Daughter near her about making sure to help when the storm comes. But the Daughter was only paying half attention as she was texting on her phone. On the other side of the table the Oldest Son was paying much more attention to his Mother’s words. \n\nThe Middle Son and Youngest Son both sat on different sides of the table as well. With the Youngest eating quicker than the others as he wanted to get back to playing video games. The Middle Son meanwhile was not paying attention to anything as his mind was busy daydreaming about his studies. \n\nSaxe snuck around and then under the table where he had hoped to find scraps. Other than a few spots of gravy however there was nothing. Moving over to the Daughter. He nudged her leg with a small headbut but was pushed away as she nudged him back. Stepping around to the side of her chair he nudged her leg again before sitting down and looking up to her with wanting eyes. The Daughter pulled herself from her phone and looked down to him before plucking a gravy covered carrot chunk off her plate and tossing it onto the floor.\n\nSaxe looked down at the piece of food that she had thrown onto the floor.\nHe bowed down and snatched it up greedily but something inside of him was not happy with this transaction. He disliked having to eat from the floor but he hated having to beg even more. The act of debasing himself just to get something better than grass to eat had his stomach twisted up and his heart feeling sour. \n\nSuch new feelings were tiring and although his hunger had barely been sated he slunk to the barn to get some sleep. He found the warmth of the hay and the familiar musky smell of his kind still brought him comfort although he already wished for a bed softer than a hay bale. \n\nThe Family meanwhile finished up dinner and broke apart. \nThe Daughter sat around the porch where her phone signal was strongest and buried herself into texting people she only managed to see every other week. Having recently finished highschool she dreamed of moving away to a medium sized town where things happened every day, and not every year. As the Youngest headed past her she reminded him of his chores and to actually do them instead of playing his game Slate all evening. He rolled his eyes at her in reply. \n\nThe Youngest did at least head down to the grazing fields and let the Goats out. He did not even attempt to herd them and instead simply followed along behind to make sure none stayed behind. After following them to the barn he closed and locked up the door before yawning, and continuing on to find somewhere quiet to play. \n\nAcross the yard the Oldest Son and the Middle Son were discussing the latest in grape processing technology within one of the large work sheds. The large machine was said to be able to peel thousands of grapes and separate the inside from the outside. This was apparently supposed to create a more pure product but any differences in quality would surely be microscopic. Both of the Sons knew this however as their plan was to sell the near identical wine at a much higher mark up for being pure, refined, robust… As well as other buzzwords. The strategy itself had been created by the Middle son, who was studying to go into business and move away after securing the farm’s finances. The Oldest son meanwhile had money from working abroad and determination to make the farm at least mildly successful again. \n\nThe Father had the same determination but he lacked the talent to make it a reality. \nAs he often liked to do, he headed down into the basement of the House that evening to go over all the inventory. Each and every object was something from his failed plans and failed ideas. The latest being a venture to step away from wine and market towards tourism. This failed when he realised that creating an ‘island adventure’ where people could go play with cute goats would not work, as they were hours away from the nearest town and lacked the funds to renovate the island into a fun, and safe, paradise. Looking over the dozens of boxes of goat themed merchandise the Father pondered on how to recoup the losses. \n\n“The goats are the key.” He would repeat to himself. Still so convinced. \n\nNear the stairs, the Mother peeked into the basement before shaking her head at him. She did not tire herself out with thinking on the future and instead focused on the present. The House needed to be cleaned and once the storm had passed there would no doubt be repairs to be done. \n\n\n[i][center]II[/center][/i]\n\n\nSaxe’s tail flicked and his legs kicked. His every breath came out ragged and slow. Deep within his restless dreams he found himself suddenly standing in a familiar looking barn. But this one was cleaner. The wood was new and the floor was all polished tiles. \n\nWith each step his hooves clicked against the cold floor. He looked up to the ceiling but only found stars peering down at him. Along the walls though were paintings. Some were of his past. His birth as a pedigree pet and his luxurious upbringing to make him as beautiful as his breed could be. Back then he had everything he could want and only had to look cute and be gentle. But then he was sold to the Vineyard. A prized new feature for their little venture. He could still remember the long summer days of being curled up on the lap of the Daughter as she brushed his ears and fur. But those days were long gone. Even before the venture fell through, the Family's interest in him was starting to wane. \n\nNow he sleeps in a barn with all the rest and eats grass like any other animal. \nSaxe felt a bitter feeling welling up inside of him at the thought.\n\nSome of the paintings were of his present. His days wandering around the island in boredom and curiosity and his recent encounter with the Wolf on the beach. There were still other paintings too but those ones were covered with cloth. Saxe stepped closer to them but before he could pull at them he heard other hooves click behind him.\n\nBehind Saxe was a tall and slender figure that wore a red robe. Protruding from the fabric was a pair of copper wings that fluttered with a sound like that of a wind chime. And from under its hood a large copper mask in the shape of a bull could be seen. From hollow eye sockets small streams of red flowed down its face but oddly, this substance did not stain the robes or the mask. \n\nThe Demon reached out with copper claws and pulled down the cloth over one of the paintings. \n\nBehind it was one possible future, with Saxe sitting at the head of a long wooden table in a well maintained barn. Along both sides of the table dozens of Goats sat and feasted on fruit, porridge and cups of water. Saxe could smell the wood burning on an open fire and taste the sweetness of the food on the table.\n\n“Love. Food. Community.” The Demon spoke with a metallic ring to its voice. \n\n“MEEH.” Saxe replied with a shake of his head.\n\n“Ambitious.” The Demon replied before pulling down the cloth on the second painting. \n\nIt showed Saxe laying on a grand bed in a beautifully decorated room. He was surrounded by cute female Goats of his own breed and pedigree, each offering him delicious morsels. Rich cheeses. Fine wine. Herbal cakes with a side of exotic fruit. Saxe could feel the soft silks under his body and smell the playful heat on the fur of those around him.\n\n“Wealth. Sex. Power. Beauty.” \nThe Demon promised as Saxe soaked in the feelings the painting gave him.\n\n“MEEH.” He demanded. \nBut then Saxe furrowed his brow. \n“Meeh?” He asked. \n\n“Hm, a strong desire but no comprehension.” The Demon said before snapping its fingers. \n\nThe barn vanished and Saxe fell onto the hard ground of a field. He found himself in an endless ocean of grass and flowers under a rumbling black sky. With every breath he felt himself growing cold. There was a sense of wrongness deep inside of him that made his fur bristle. \n\n“The pale one gave you too much. His blessings coagulated into a Soul. Something not meant for Beasts but yours is not even complete. The Wine of the Soul now leaks into you.” \nThe Demon spoke to Saxe. \n\n“MEEH?” Saxe asked. \n\n“Yes. It’s poisoning you.” The figure stated simply. \n\nSaxe forced himself onto his shaking legs.\n\n“Meeh.” Saxe commanded. \n\nA smile cut through the Demon’s head, splitting his face nearly in half. \nThey turned their hollow eyes to Saxe. \n\n“You are strong but you will not survive the night.” The Demon said as it pulled a crystal glass from within its cloak. They raised the glass up to its face and filled it with the red substance that dripped from its eyes. \n\n“If you can partake of the Wine of Life then it will give you time.” \nThe Demon said as it put the glass down in front of Saxe.\n“My master is interested in your evolution. They offer you a cure and great knowledge. In return, they ask you to give him all the Wine that the Vineyard has to offer.” \n\nSaxe stepped forward and looked deep into the red ichor within the glass. But he did not lower his head to drink. Instead he raised his nose further into the air. \n\n“MEEH.” Saxe spoke as he pointed out the vague phrasing of such a deal. \n\n“Very wise. An amendment. A cure and great knowledge for all the Wine the Vineyard ‘currently’ contains.” The Demon replied calmly. \n\nSaxe looked down to the glass again but he hesitated. \n\n“Meh.” Saxe spat as he kicked the glass away.\n\nThe Demon let out a dischorded laugh that echoed around inside of its mask.\nIt then took a knee respectfully. And picked the now empty glass up. \n\n“A cure and great knowledge for all the Wine the Vineyard ‘currently’ contains, with the exception that all the Wine you and your herd contain shall be exempt. My master is pleased with your wisdom.” \n\nThe Demon admitted before cutting its wrist with a claw and bleeding a thick, orange blood into the glass. It offered the glass to Saxe and bowed its head in further respect. It was only then that Saxe agreed to the terms, and took a sip.\n\n“Find one full of the Wine of Life, and drink deep. Or you will not see the dawn.”\n\nThe whole world began to spin as a thousand years of knowledge washed over and drowned him in the ecstasy and enlightenment of knowing. Words and phrases and concepts and history and context. He finally knew what he was feeling. He knew what he wanted. And now, he knew exactly how to get it. \n\nAnd with a blink Saxe awoke. \n\nHis body felt heavy and cold and his every heartbeat felt like ice cracking inside of his chest. Saxe pulled themselves from the hay in the loft and walked over to the edge. Below him were his fellow Goats. All sleeping soundly. All innocently unaware of their own existence on a ball of rock spinning through singing stars. He did not hate them for that. But he would need them to start learning. \n\nFor now, he jumped down from the loft and slipped through a loose board at the back of the barn. Saxe made his way across the rain soaked farmyard and up some wooden boxes to the top of a small tool shed that sat nearer the bigger workshops. The heavy clouds ahead had started to thin out and while some rain had been shook loose, the full storm had yet to pass. Saxe found the way the stars peeked through the dark clouds to be quite a beautiful sight. Each one shined so much brighter than anything he had seen on his little island. \n\nPerhaps too bright. \n\n“MEEH.” Saxe suddenly called out to the sky. \nIn response to his cry the clouds twisted and began to sew together. But the ice within his heart also grew colder. Stepping down from the shed, he turned his attention to the workshop. \n\nAlthough the Middle Son had already gone to bed the Oldest had stayed to give the machinery a few more tests. The casing had been removed and the internal blades and gears were all laid bare as he tweaked alignments and carefully added tiny drops of oil here and there. After stepping back and reading over a few pages of the manual again he looked over his work proudly. Such fanciful technology needed upkeep and even if the end results were all but unnoticeable for the consumers, the machine did allow them to peel and juice grapes faster than any other piece of equipment. He was sure this would help the farm grow. It just had to. \n\nUnknown to him, Saxe had snuck into the workshop.\nThe small Goat watched the Oldest from a distance as he quietly circled around. He waited for his moment and once the Oldest reached across the machine he dashed out and headbutted him in the back of the legs. The Oldest buckled, falling forward and hitting his head on the casing. Saxe reared up and put his hooves on the side of the machine as he used his mouth to turn the safety key on the side. He pressed the yellow button in the middle of three and the machine was flooded with power. \n\nAs all the blades and gears clicked into place they snagged along several spots of the Oldest’s sleeve. He tried to pull away but was caught and trapped. \n\n“Saxe?” He asked. Confused about what was happening.\n\n“Meeh.” Saxe said sadly as he pushed the green button. \n\nThe cries of the Oldest as he got dragged into the gnashing blades of the machine were cut short as his neck was gouged. Vocal chords shredded. Pristine metal stained red. Saxe kicked the collection bucket away from the machine and drank deep the Wine of the Oldest that flowed. The sickening taste and repugnantly thick fluid made Saxe choke and retch but even so he continued to force it down. With every gulp the creeping ice in his veins receded and a powerful heat flourished.\n\nOne life exchanged for another. \n\n\n[center][i]III[/i][/center]\n\n\nSaxe awoke to the sound of crying. \nHis head throbbed with pain and his legs felt cold but there was still a comforting warmth beating within his chest. After pulling his head off the wooden floor of the barn he looked around to find the other Goats laying around him in rings. Each one faced him. And as he stood up they all turned their attention towards him. Saxe could still taste the blood on his teeth but now there was a sweetness to it. \n\n“MEEH?” Saxe asked if they were ready to listen to more of his wisdom. \n\n“MEH!” They all replied in unison. \n\nA tongue tinged with gold and blood spoke to them about all the riches of the world. The herd, now listening to him like that of a Congregation, took in every word. Even the words that they should not understand. Even the concepts that their minds could not imagine. Saxe forced it all into them with clicks and bleats. Each word was worth more than a thousand paintings. And with each word spoken they would bleat back in agreement or acknowledgement. \n\nThat is until the barn door opened suddenly. \nAs was his duty, the Youngest had come to let the Goats out and move them into the grazing fields. Despite walking in on the small blue Goat with a face painted red and black, he was too distracted with his game Slate to notice. The Youngest kicked the side of the barn and called out for them to get moving. The Congregation did begin to move slowly but they did so in a way that hid Saxe from view as he trotted to the back of the barn to wash his face. \n\nAs the last few Goats left the barn Saxe stepped out with them. \nHe kept an eye on the Youngest as the boy followed the herd of Goats up to the fields. Across the yard the rest of the family was huddled around the workshop. Saxe could not hear their words but he could sense the pain they all shared. The Father and Middle son both worked to move the Oldest’s body into the basement while the Mother could only pace around angrily scowling at nothing. \n\n“It doesn’t feel right to just leave him down there.” The Middle would say. \n\n“We gotta keep him cold until the phone lines are working again.” The Father would reply. \n\n“Do you… Think it was the storm that caused this?” The Middle would ask. \n\n“Don’t think anymore about it. Go, tend to the grapes. Check for damage.” The Father said. \n\nThe Daughter and Youngest both had nothing to say. One buried themselves in a phone that had no reception while the other in the pleasant fiction of video games. And while one hid themselves away in their room, the other sat on a bench under a tree in the midst of the grazing fields. \n\nThe Youngest had never been one for farm life and his duty to take care of the Goats was given in an attempt to teach and enrich. Saxe however could easily remember all the times that the Youngest barely put any work into the herd. He was always too distracted playing games or napping in the summer shade. Even now he paid no attention as the Congregation walked in purposeful lines and circles around the tree. Tiny teeth and small hooves gnawing and uprooting the grass one step at a time. \n\n“Meeh.” Saxe spoke softly as he encouraged his people. \nThrough glorious toil and simply labour they were all united in purpose and cause. \nAnd it gave him time to talk. To fill their heads with so many new ideas. \n\nThe morning soon turned to noon and the Youngest found himself being lulled to sleep by the soft sounds of the drizzling rain tapping along the leaves above him, and the soft wind rustling through the grass. Even the otherwise insistent bleating of the Goats was melodic enough to act as a lullaby. Step by step and second by second he slept as Saxe and the Congregation finished drawing the great Sigil across half of the grazing fields. \n\nAs the evening grew closer and the sun dipped down under the layer of heavy clouds the Youngest was awoken suddenly by the sound of bleating. He sat up and found none of them around him however. They were all down by the far side of the field, all huddled around and crying out in alarm. The Youngest yawned and grabbed his Slate before lazily walking down to see what was happening. He pushed past the outer layer of the Goats and waded deep into the crowd of them until he reached the centre where Saxe lay on the ground. \n\n“Dumb Goat.” The youngest muttered as he approached. \nHe knelt down to inspect the small Goat and that is when Saxe suddenly striked. Heads collided and the Youngest fell back in a spray of blood from his busted nose. He clutched his face in pain as Saxe darted away into the crowd. He then pranced over and to the top of an old tree stump nearby. \n\n“MEEEEEEEH!” He called out viciously as every Goat surged forward and struck the Youngest with horn and hoof and head. They bit and scratched and kicked in pairs of threes as Saxe kept count of every blow that every one of his Congregation landed. None of them would be left out of his conquest. And it was only when each of the Thirty Seven Goats had delivered at least eight blows that they were allowed to stop. \n\nSaxe took to the remains of the young boy. He felt no sadness in his death. \nHe tore a bone from Youngest’s body and with his blood used it like quill and ink to inscribe a small Sigil in the very middle of the bigger one carved into the land. He used the power of the Youngest’s blood to call forth the clouds and smother the island in a premature darkness. \n\n“Meeh.” Saxe called out to his Congregation. It was time to uphold their part of the deal. They took an exodus from the grazing fields to the farmyard before breaking away into different groups and disappearing into the growing darkness. \n\nMeanwhile the Mother stepped out onto the porch as she had noticed the light was quickly fading. It was already too dark for her to see out across the farmyard and it was getting worse by the minute. Worried for her Youngest Son she called out for him. And got nothing in reply. \n\n“He always forgets what time it is.” \nThe Daughter spoke up as she joined her mother on the porch. \n\nSuddenly the lights above them died and the darkness washed over them. \nThe Daughter turned on her phone and pointed it around the porch. \n\n“Stay here and wait for him to return.” The Mother told her before stepping inside. \nShe flicked the light switch on and off a few times before grabbing a flashlight from a table nearest the front door. She tested it a few times before heading through the kitchen and down into the basement where the fuse box was hidden. \n\nThe Daughter meanwhile sat down on the steps of the Porch and fiddled with her phone. No reception, and now no power or lights. She sighed and wondered what else could possibly go wrong. She waited for a sign of the Youngest but nothing could be heard other than the occasional snap of a twig and the groan of the old House. Suddenly she heard something familiar cut through the eerie silence. Turning her head towards the noise she could see the faint glow of the Youngest’s Slate moving in the distant black. \n\nShe called out to him but the faint light only moved further away. \n\nStepping off the porch she used her phone as a dim light as she made her way across the yard and to the barn. She called out to him again. Promising him that Mother would be angry with him if he ends up falling asleep outside again. Nothing replied. She headed deeper into the barn and caught sight of the Slate’s glow coming from the otherside of a pile of hay. Stepping around it she only found the Slate. Cracked and spattered with blood. \n\nStepping back in alarm she found the barn door closed and Seven Goats guarding it. Each one was tinged with red and each one of them stared at her intently. Suddenly something fell from above and she tripped backwards onto the pile of hay. With her heart hammering she turned her light down to the ground to find Saxe’s collar at her hooves. \n\nShe looked up to the loft and rafters and even the ceiling but she found nothing. \n“Meeh.” Saxe whispered to her from the darkness. \nSuddenly something grabbed the Daughter’s hair before dragging her backwards into the hay. \n\nA scream cut through the darkness of the farm and the Family, already on edge, now went into full panic. The Father finished lighting one more candle in the living room before calling out to the Middle son to go get his gun. He nodded and went to get it from the case. The Father meanwhile grabbed a flashlight from the table and went to check on what was taking so long with the power. \n\nHe descended down into the basement and called out to his wife for an update. \nBut as he reached the bottom of the steps he found himself frozen as he witnessed his wife’s blood dripping off the walls. It stained the ceiling and wet the floor with a crimson shine. And there between the boxes of his failed ventures and so many casks of wine he found Thirteen Goats chewing on the ragged remains of her clothing. \n\nHot and angry tears rolled down his face. \nThe Father could not believe what he was seeing. \nHe wanted to kill every Goat in that room but as several more appeared from behind the boxes his thoughts turned to his missing kids. He turned, and feld back up the stairs. The Father just managed to slam the basement door closed before a pair of curled horns slammed hard into the wood. He barricaded the door using a chair just as the Middle son came back with his rifle. \n\n“Where is Mother?” He asked. \n\nThe Father placed a hand on his shoulder. And told him that he will look for her. That there was something wrong with the Goats and that he needed to get to the mainland to call for help. The Father then took the biggest knife from the block and gave it to the Middle Son. Heading upstairs he called out and checked the rooms but found nobody. He stepped out onto the porch and found nobody. Not a soul replied to his calls. \n\nHeading around the side of the house, the pair quickly arrived at the truck without incident. \nThe Middle son dashed inside and locked the doors whilst the Father watched his back. \n\nThinking his son safe the Father began to head away and back to the House but as he stepped in a puddle nearby he stopped as a smell caught his nose. He looked down at his boot and noticed the rainbow shine clinging to the liquid. His eyes went wide as he realised what he was standing in but before he could do anything, the Middle son turned the ignition of the truck.\n\nA tampered engine and cut fuel lines ignited into a violent fireball that consumed the Middle son in a screaming inferno. The blast knocked the Father to the muddy ground. His gun escaped his grasp and was sent skidding across the wet dirt. \n\nDazed and ears ringing, the Father pulled his face from the cold mud and found Saxe watching him from afar. The blue Goat and the surrounding yard was illuminated from the many small pools of oil that had been ignited from the explosion. The Father only now realised how red those eyes were. And behind them was an intelligence, a presence, and a malice that he had never seen in a Beast before.\n\n“What are you?” The Father asked. \n\n“Meeh.” Saxe replied proudly. \n\nAll around him the Congregation had started to gather. \nEach of them was baptised in his Family's blood.\nThey formed a circle but kept their distance. \n\nThe Father tried to stand but found that his leg had been hit by a piece of metal in the explosion. Staggering and unable to get off his knees he began to crawl forward towards his gun. Saxe looked down at him as he slowly trotted over to the weapon near him. But then, he kicked the rifle closer to the Father. \n\nHe looked to Saxe with confusion but also anger. \nSnatching his rifle off the ground he shook the mud from the barrel and pointed it at the goat. \n\n“Meeh.” Saxe taunted. \n“Meeh!” Saxe commanded. \n\nA bang rang out and a mist of dark blue blood rained down across the mud. Saxe coughed and bled profusely from the now gaping hole where his eye had once sat. But he did not die. The Father pulled the bolt back on the rifle, and another bang rang out. But Saxe did not die. A leg. His lungs. His spine. The Father pulled the trigger but no more ammo was left.\n\nThe Father bared witness as Saxe’s body knitted itself back together. Blue blood moved with a life of its own as it congealed around his wounds, fused his bones back together, and repaired the holes. Saxe then twisted his head unnaturally as he settled his neck back into the correct place.\n\n“Weeeeak.” Saxe bleated softly.\nFrom the ground small grapevines reached out and grasped the Father. They wrapped around his arms and legs and began to pull him down into the earth. He struggled. He screamed. He raged. But then the farmyard became silent once more. \n\n\n[center][i]IV[/i][/center]\n\n\nIn the basement of the House several of the Congregation worked to push the last of the wine casks into the bubbling black abyss that Saxe had summoned. A stuttering cough rang out from Saxe who sat on a large makeshift throne made of wooden boxes, pillows, chairs and a table. \n\n“MEEH.” He told them impatiently before wiping the blood from his mouth. \n\nBesides him was the Daughter who sat with her hands leashed to the makeshift throne. Her bruised head rested against the wood as she stared deep into the bubbling abyss with distant eyes. \n\nOnce the last of the casks and bodies had been given, the bubbling black abyss swirled and hardened into a cracked black rock. In the middle of the Sigil, a small red flame appeared and quickly grew in size. It twisted in shape and form until it looked like the Demon from his dreams. It applauded Saxe with silent claps. \n\n“MEEH.” Saxe demanded before another cough racked his freezing body. \n\n“One fruit still remains.” \nThe Demon whispered as it pointed to the Daughter at Saxe’s side. \n\n“MEH!” Saxe replied. \n\n“Hm, a part of the herd.”\nThe Demon replied before nodding.\n“Come. Embrace the fire.” \n\nSaxe stood up from his pillow. He stepped down the wooden ramp on the side of his makeshift throne and trotted over with shaking legs to the Sigil. Saxe could feel a warmth coming from the red fire but it was not intense. He looked up to the Demon with cold eyes. \n\n“Be not afraid. No debt must go unpaid.”\n\nSaxe stepped into the Sigil and embraced the flame. It was hot like a bath but not painful. \nDeep within him his Soul was reforged. The broken and bleeding ethereal sphere of glass was heated up and carefully reshaped back into that of a perfect vessel. It cradled his heart and now that the Wine of the Soul was no longer leaking into his body Saxe began to regain his strength. His body healed quickly and he found himself becoming euphoric at the sensations within.\n\n“A gift from the Master. A boon to celebrate our partnership.” \nThe Demon whispered sweetly to him as he poured a vast amount of the Wine into Saxe, while also condensing it before the pressure cracked his newly made Soul. The condensed Wine began to crystalize into a small ethereal gem that then got embedded into the side of his Soul.\n\n“MEEH.” Saxe disagreed with a shake of his head. \nHe proudly returned to his throne and sat himself down before continuing. He told the Demon dismissively that the only reason he has tolerated the Demon’s presence is because he had a need. Now that the deal is done he hopes to never see such a creature again. \n\n“If that is what you desire.” \nThe Demon said sarcastically with a small bow. \n“A King has many burdens but we will always be here when they grow too heavy.”\n\nThe Demon let out a dischorded laugh as the fire flickered and faded away. \n\nSaxe took a deep breath. His chest felt warm and full of life. \nHe smiled and stepped off his throne. Heading behind it, he took a few wooden plank ramps up to the broken basement window before stepping out onto the farmyard. High above a deep red moon hung behind the tattered remains of the clouds. \n\nSaxe focused on the connection he felt to the world. From the island, to the sky, and all of the Goats that walked on the Vineyard. From that connection he drank deep of the power that it all contained and condensed it inside of himself. His eyes, the windows to his Soul, went wide and then turned as black as night. From the corners a thin stream of his Wine began to leak out. It was black and thick and it ran down his fur without staining it. More and more he took the Wine of the world until his breath began to cool and the warmth inside could no longer push back against the tide. \n\nWith a mighty bleat he released all he had to the clouds above. \nHis head spun from the strain but the heat within did not fade. \n\nHis spell took effect straight away. All across the island the clouds gathered. They grew thicker and thicker before finally bursting into a black drizzling rain. All over the island, from the Vineyard, to the long since abandoned fields and lands the Family once owned, tiny black saplings began to spring up from the ground. Although small these black sprouts began to grow at an unnatural pace. \n\nA King must have a Kingdom and all would one day know of Saxe. \nThe Blue Goat of a Thousand Followers, Lord of the Shine.", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
I



Along the far eastern coast of the Lardik hills, where the cold Tethys ocean laps against the land. A pale Wolf wrapped in a heavy black cloak trods and stumbles across the stoney shore. He grasps at his injured shoulder with one hand, his breath ragged from the pain. In the other he clutches tightly a scuffed briefcase. Underneath the cloak and scruffy hair he wears a suit, once sharp and tailored, but now just as tattered as the Wolf himself.

Behind him he hears the calls and barks of the OCD as they track his trail and follow his scent. There was nowhere to hide on this beach and he knew that as soon as they came over the hill his time would be up. With his hope fading he tumbles onto the sand and braces himself for the end.

“MEEH.” A voice calls out to him.

Turning his head to the side he finds a small Goat of bluish grey colour staring back at him from the grass near the beach. Such an animal was common enough to see in this country but he quickly realised that he had not seen that goat at all during his run along the sands. So how did it just now suddenly appear? As if to answer the question the goat stepped backwards and vanished.

Dragging himself to his feet and stumbling over to the grass he found an entrance to a small tunnel. He had heard of these. Glancing across the water to the island along the way he was certain that this was one of the many Underways that was built in ancient times. Turning his bloodshot eyes to the hill over yonder he found that the OCD had not yet caught up to him. He raised his bloody hand and with a snap, a sudden wind blew forth over the sands. His nearby footprints were erased, making it look like he had simply vanished from the middle of the beach.

After ducking into the small tunnel he stumbled deeper into the darkness.
And there he waited with baited breath as he heard the cries of the OCD come louder, and louder, before lingering… And slowly moving on. The pale Wolf sighed deeply in relief but then hissed from the pain of his shoulder.

“MEEH.” The Goat bleated again, its tiny voice echoing around the tunnels.
The Wolf shushed the goat, before putting his briefcase down and kneeling.

He petted the Goat’s ears and found his fur to be very clean and soft, more than normal for a farm animal although it had not been properly trimmed in some time. A pet? Looking at the collar around his neck, the Wolf found the name “Saxe” inscribed.

“Such a good boy.” The Wolf said as he pet the wall eyed creature.

With a click he unlocked the latches of his briefcase. Inside was a large collection of gold coins, some spattered with blood, and each bearing a sigil of something ancient and sinister. The Wolf took a few of these coins in his hands and after drawing a Sigil in his blood upon the ground, placed them within the circle. The Sigil began to glow and the ground inside of the circle cracked, then crumbled, before dissolving into a thick muddy oil. One by the one the coins sank into the muck. It then began to bubble and swirl until finally the tar turned red and smooth.

“Measure not a man for what debts he keeps but rather how he repays them.”
The Wolf said as he dipped his bloody finger into the pool and made a circle.
“To save a life is to own that life, as such, in return I will give you all the blessings and bloons my Master has afforded me. Such power is more than fair compensation for a single life.”

The Wolf dabbed the red substance onto the forehead of Saxe. It stuck to his fur like wax and began to burn. This unnatural heat did not cause pain but the flood of memories and information had his head spinning. Glimpses of the  pale Wolf’s life. The language he knew, things he had learnt as a child. Experiences, concepts, patterns. Such searing knowledge had Saxe’s eyes watering and his head feeling like it was filled with cement. Saxe turned and tumbled around in a circle before sneezing drunkenly. Just as quickly as the feelings had begun they now started to fade. Saxe shook his head from side to side as his vision slowly cleared.

“No debt of mine will go unpaid, even if it is with a Goat.”
The Wolf said before sighing. He petted Saxe’s head once more before closing the briefcase and heaving himself to his feet with a groan. Now made even weaker he coughed and took a second to steady himself.

“MEEH.” Saxe bleated almost as if giving thanks.

“May you choke on the fruits of my labour.” The Wolf spat as he braced himself against the wall and made his way down a side tunnel that split off from the main path. Saxe sat for a while and watched as he vanished into the darkness.

With his curiosity sated Saxe began to head back home.
He headed down the main route of the Underway, and after a few minutes popped out of a hole on the island just offshore. His tiny hooves trotted through the unkempt grassy fields and past rotting fences that were only a few storms away from collapse. Dotting the landscape was the ruins of the old Vineyard. Stone pillars. Marble steps. All overgrown and stained with dirt.

It was as he passed by a little meadow that Saxe stopped to take in the view.
A large white rock in the midst of a ring of wild flowers. It stood stark and defiant against the heavy grey clouds that were forming overhead. And just beyond was the lapping waves of the ocean. He did not know why at first but he found himself staring at this sight. The more he stared the more he began to understand. It was beautiful. But there was more to his interest than just beauty. His ability to now perceive beauty, and be aware of his own perception of that concept, were just as fascinating as the sight itself.

But such lofty concepts were also tiring and his baser instincts for food soon made him move on.

Near the centre of the island was the Red Reef Vineyard.
This small farm had been built up over the past few generations ever since a mighty wave washed away half of the already crumbling ancient Vineyard that belonged to the family in centuries long past. They had rebuilt decently since then but the paint had already started to peel and the wood was turning green all the same.

Saxe slipped through a small gap in the fence that wrapped around the grazing fields. He trotted down and rejoined the herd of Goats near the barn. Despite the heavy clouds and distant rumbles of thunder the Family still had yet to move them inside.

“MEEH.” Saxe bleated to the herd.
But none of them paid him much attention.

He began to graze on the grass and for a time it was good.
The taste was comforting and simple and the gentle wind was peaceful. But the more he ate, the less and less satisfying the grass became. All too soon it became distasteful and he found himself spitting the cud from his lips. Lingering for something more, he found himself wandering closer to the fence and looking over to the grapevines across the yard. With a sniff, he found the smell of cooked food wafting in from the House too.

Saxe slipped through the fence once again before trotting down to the House in search of something more suited to his new tastes. After ducking through a doggy door built into the backdoor of the House, he sniffed the air again and followed the smell to the living room.

The Family of Red Deer were in the middle of eating a roasted dinner made up of several vegetables and basted chicken, all smothered in gravy. The Father and Mother sat at opposite ends of the table, with the Father slumped over a notebook as he scribbled down ideas about how to improve the farm. The Mother meanwhile kept an eye on the family. She spoke to the Daughter near her about making sure to help when the storm comes. But the Daughter was only paying half attention as she was texting on her phone. On the other side of the table the Oldest Son was paying much more attention to his Mother’s words.

The Middle Son and Youngest Son both sat on different sides of the table as well. With the Youngest eating quicker than the others as he wanted to get back to playing video games. The Middle Son meanwhile was not paying attention to anything as his mind was busy daydreaming about his studies.

Saxe snuck around and then under the table where he had hoped to find scraps. Other than a few spots of gravy however there was nothing. Moving over to the Daughter. He nudged her leg with a small headbut but was pushed away as she nudged him back. Stepping around to the side of her chair he nudged her leg again before sitting down and looking up to her with wanting eyes. The Daughter pulled herself from her phone and looked down to him before plucking a gravy covered carrot chunk off her plate and tossing it onto the floor.

Saxe looked down at the piece of food that she had thrown onto the floor.
He bowed down and snatched it up greedily but something inside of him was not happy with this transaction. He disliked having to eat from the floor but he hated having to beg even more. The act of debasing himself just to get something better than grass to eat had his stomach twisted up and his heart feeling sour.

Such new feelings were tiring and although his hunger had barely been sated he slunk to the barn to get some sleep. He found the warmth of the hay and the familiar musky smell of his kind still brought him comfort although he already wished for a bed softer than a hay bale.

The Family meanwhile finished up dinner and broke apart.
The Daughter sat around the porch where her phone signal was strongest and buried herself into texting people she only managed to see every other week. Having recently finished highschool she dreamed of moving away to a medium sized town where things happened every day, and not every year. As the Youngest headed past her she reminded him of his chores and to actually do them instead of playing his game Slate all evening. He rolled his eyes at her in reply.

The Youngest did at least head down to the grazing fields and let the Goats out. He did not even attempt to herd them and instead simply followed along behind to make sure none stayed behind. After following them to the barn he closed and locked up the door before yawning, and continuing on to find somewhere quiet to play.

Across the yard the Oldest Son and the Middle Son were discussing the latest in grape processing technology within one of the large work sheds. The large machine was said to be able to peel thousands of grapes and separate the inside from the outside. This was apparently supposed to create a more pure product but any differences in quality would surely be microscopic. Both of the Sons knew this however as their plan was to sell the near identical wine at a much higher mark up for being pure, refined, robust… As well as other buzzwords. The strategy itself had been created by the Middle son, who was studying to go into business and move away after securing the farm’s finances. The Oldest son meanwhile had money from working abroad and determination to make the farm at least mildly successful again.

The Father had the same determination but he lacked the talent to make it a reality.
As he often liked to do, he headed down into the basement of the House that evening to go over all the inventory. Each and every object was something from his failed plans and failed ideas. The latest being a venture to step away from wine and market towards tourism. This failed when he realised that creating an ‘island adventure’ where people could go play with cute goats would not work, as they were hours away from the nearest town and lacked the funds to renovate the island into a fun, and safe, paradise. Looking over the dozens of boxes of goat themed merchandise the Father pondered on how to recoup the losses.

“The goats are the key.” He would repeat to himself. Still so convinced.

Near the stairs, the Mother peeked into the basement before shaking her head at him. She did not tire herself out with thinking on the future and instead focused on the present. The House needed to be cleaned and once the storm had passed there would no doubt be repairs to be done.


II



Saxe’s tail flicked and his legs kicked. His every breath came out ragged and slow. Deep within his restless dreams he found himself suddenly standing in a familiar looking barn. But this one was cleaner. The wood was new and the floor was all polished tiles.

With each step his hooves clicked against the cold floor. He looked up to the ceiling but only found stars peering down at him. Along the walls though were paintings. Some were of his past. His birth as a pedigree pet and his luxurious upbringing to make him as beautiful as his breed could be. Back then he had everything he could want and only had to look cute and be gentle. But then he was sold to the Vineyard. A prized new feature for their little venture. He could still remember the long summer days of being curled up on the lap of the Daughter as she brushed his ears and fur. But those days were long gone. Even before the venture fell through, the Family's interest in him was starting to wane.

Now he sleeps in a barn with all the rest and eats grass like any other animal.
Saxe felt a bitter feeling welling up inside of him at the thought.

Some of the paintings were of his present. His days wandering around the island in boredom and curiosity and his recent encounter with the Wolf on the beach. There were still other paintings too but those ones were covered with cloth. Saxe stepped closer to them but before he could pull at them he heard other hooves click behind him.

Behind Saxe was a tall and slender figure that wore a red robe. Protruding from the fabric was a pair of copper wings that fluttered with a sound like that of a wind chime. And from under its hood a large copper mask in the shape of a bull could be seen. From hollow eye sockets small streams of red flowed down its face but oddly, this substance did not stain the robes or the mask.

The Demon reached out with copper claws and pulled down the cloth over one of the paintings.

Behind it was one possible future, with Saxe sitting at the head of a long wooden table in a well maintained barn. Along both sides of the table dozens of Goats sat and feasted on fruit, porridge and cups of water. Saxe could smell the wood burning on an open fire and taste the sweetness of the food on the table.

“Love. Food. Community.” The Demon spoke with a metallic ring to its voice.

“MEEH.” Saxe replied with a shake of his head.

“Ambitious.” The Demon replied before pulling down the cloth on the second painting.

It showed Saxe laying on a grand bed in a beautifully decorated room. He was surrounded by cute female Goats of his own breed and pedigree, each offering him delicious morsels. Rich cheeses. Fine wine. Herbal cakes with a side of exotic fruit. Saxe could feel the soft silks under his body and smell the playful heat on the fur of those around him.

“Wealth. Sex. Power. Beauty.”
The Demon promised as Saxe soaked in the feelings the painting gave him.

“MEEH.” He demanded.
But then Saxe furrowed his brow.
“Meeh?” He asked.

“Hm, a strong desire but no comprehension.” The Demon said before snapping its fingers.

The barn vanished and Saxe fell onto the hard ground of a field. He found himself in an endless ocean of grass and flowers under a rumbling black sky. With every breath he felt himself growing cold. There was a sense of wrongness deep inside of him that made his fur bristle.

“The pale one gave you too much. His blessings coagulated into a Soul. Something not meant for Beasts but yours is not even complete. The Wine of the Soul now leaks into you.”
The Demon spoke to Saxe.

“MEEH?” Saxe asked.

“Yes. It’s poisoning you.” The figure stated simply.

Saxe forced himself onto his shaking legs.

“Meeh.” Saxe commanded.

A smile cut through the Demon’s head, splitting his face nearly in half.
They turned their hollow eyes to Saxe.

“You are strong but you will not survive the night.” The Demon said as it pulled a crystal glass from within its cloak. They raised the glass up to its face and filled it with the red substance that dripped from its eyes.

“If you can partake of the Wine of Life then it will give you time.”
The Demon said as it put the glass down in front of Saxe.
“My master is interested in your evolution. They offer you a cure and great knowledge. In return, they ask you to give him all the Wine that the Vineyard has to offer.”

Saxe stepped forward and looked deep into the red ichor within the glass. But he did not lower his head to drink. Instead he raised his nose further into the air.

“MEEH.” Saxe spoke as he pointed out the vague phrasing of such a deal.

“Very wise. An amendment. A cure and great knowledge for all the Wine the Vineyard ‘currently’ contains.” The Demon replied calmly.

Saxe looked down to the glass again but he hesitated.

“Meh.” Saxe spat as he kicked the glass away.

The Demon let out a dischorded laugh that echoed around inside of its mask.
It then took a knee respectfully. And picked the now empty glass up.

“A cure and great knowledge for all the Wine the Vineyard ‘currently’ contains, with the exception that all the Wine you and your herd contain shall be exempt. My master is pleased with your wisdom.”

The Demon admitted before cutting its wrist with a claw and bleeding a thick, orange blood into the glass. It offered the glass to Saxe and bowed its head in further respect. It was only then that Saxe agreed to the terms, and took a sip.

“Find one full of the Wine of Life, and drink deep. Or you will not see the dawn.”

The whole world began to spin as a thousand years of knowledge washed over and drowned him in the ecstasy and enlightenment of knowing. Words and phrases and concepts and history and context. He finally knew what he was feeling. He knew what he wanted. And now, he knew exactly how to get it.

And with a blink Saxe awoke.

His body felt heavy and cold and his every heartbeat felt like ice cracking inside of his chest. Saxe pulled themselves from the hay in the loft and walked over to the edge. Below him were his fellow Goats. All sleeping soundly. All innocently unaware of their own existence on a ball of rock spinning through singing stars. He did not hate them for that. But he would need them to start learning.

For now, he jumped down from the loft and slipped through a loose board at the back of the barn. Saxe made his way across the rain soaked farmyard and up some wooden boxes to the top of a small tool shed that sat nearer the bigger workshops. The heavy clouds ahead had started to thin out and while some rain had been shook loose, the full storm had yet to pass. Saxe found the way the stars peeked through the dark clouds to be quite a beautiful sight. Each one shined so much brighter than anything he had seen on his little island.

Perhaps too bright.

“MEEH.” Saxe suddenly called out to the sky.
In response to his cry the clouds twisted and began to sew together. But the ice within his heart also grew colder. Stepping down from the shed, he turned his attention to the workshop.

Although the Middle Son had already gone to bed the Oldest had stayed to give the machinery a few more tests. The casing had been removed and the internal blades and gears were all laid bare as he tweaked alignments and carefully added tiny drops of oil here and there. After stepping back and reading over a few pages of the manual again he looked over his work proudly. Such fanciful technology needed upkeep and even if the end results were all but unnoticeable for the consumers, the machine did allow them to peel and juice grapes faster than any other piece of equipment. He was sure this would help the farm grow. It just had to.

Unknown to him, Saxe had snuck into the workshop.
The small Goat watched the Oldest from a distance as he quietly circled around. He waited for his moment and once the Oldest reached across the machine he dashed out and headbutted him in the back of the legs. The Oldest buckled, falling forward and hitting his head on the casing. Saxe reared up and put his hooves on the side of the machine as he used his mouth to turn the safety key on the side. He pressed the yellow button in the middle of three and the machine was flooded with power.

As all the blades and gears clicked into place they snagged along several spots of the Oldest’s sleeve. He tried to pull away but was caught and trapped.

“Saxe?” He asked. Confused about what was happening.

“Meeh.” Saxe said sadly as he pushed the green button.

The cries of the Oldest as he got dragged into the gnashing blades of the machine were cut short as his neck was gouged. Vocal chords shredded. Pristine metal stained red. Saxe kicked the collection bucket away from the machine and drank deep the Wine of the Oldest that flowed. The sickening taste and repugnantly thick fluid made Saxe choke and retch but even so he continued to force it down. With every gulp the creeping ice in his veins receded and a powerful heat flourished.

One life exchanged for another.


III



Saxe awoke to the sound of crying.
His head throbbed with pain and his legs felt cold but there was still a comforting warmth beating within his chest. After pulling his head off the wooden floor of the barn he looked around to find the other Goats laying around him in rings. Each one faced him. And as he stood up they all turned their attention towards him. Saxe could still taste the blood on his teeth but now there was a sweetness to it.

“MEEH?” Saxe asked if they were ready to listen to more of his wisdom.

“MEH!” They all replied in unison.

A tongue tinged with gold and blood spoke to them about all the riches of the world. The herd, now listening to him like that of a Congregation, took in every word. Even the words that they should not understand. Even the concepts that their minds could not imagine. Saxe forced it all into them with clicks and bleats. Each word was worth more than a thousand paintings. And with each word spoken they would bleat back in agreement or acknowledgement.

That is until the barn door opened suddenly.
As was his duty, the Youngest had come to let the Goats out and move them into the grazing fields. Despite walking in on the small blue Goat with a face painted red and black, he was too distracted with his game Slate to notice. The Youngest kicked the side of the barn and called out for them to get moving. The Congregation did begin to move slowly but they did so in a way that hid Saxe from view as he trotted to the back of the barn to wash his face.

As the last few Goats left the barn Saxe stepped out with them.
He kept an eye on the Youngest as the boy followed the herd of Goats up to the fields. Across the yard the rest of the family was huddled around the workshop. Saxe could not hear their words but he could sense the pain they all shared. The Father and Middle son both worked to move the Oldest’s body into the basement while the Mother could only pace around angrily scowling at nothing.

“It doesn’t feel right to just leave him down there.” The Middle would say.

“We gotta keep him cold until the phone lines are working again.” The Father would reply.

“Do you… Think it was the storm that caused this?” The Middle would ask.

“Don’t think anymore about it. Go, tend to the grapes. Check for damage.” The Father said.

The Daughter and Youngest both had nothing to say. One buried themselves in a phone that had no reception while the other in the pleasant fiction of video games. And while one hid themselves away in their room, the other sat on a bench under a tree in the midst of the grazing fields.

The Youngest had never been one for farm life and his duty to take care of the Goats was given in an attempt to teach and enrich. Saxe however could easily remember all the times that the Youngest barely put any work into the herd. He was always too distracted playing games or napping in the summer shade. Even now he paid no attention as the Congregation walked in purposeful lines and circles around the tree. Tiny teeth and small hooves gnawing and uprooting the grass one step at a time.

“Meeh.” Saxe spoke softly as he encouraged his people.
Through glorious toil and simply labour they were all united in purpose and cause.
And it gave him time to talk. To fill their heads with so many new ideas.

The morning soon turned to noon and the Youngest found himself being lulled to sleep by the soft sounds of the drizzling rain tapping along the leaves above him, and the soft wind rustling through the grass. Even the otherwise insistent bleating of the Goats was melodic enough to act as a lullaby. Step by step and second by second he slept as Saxe and the Congregation finished drawing the great Sigil across half of the grazing fields.

As the evening grew closer and the sun dipped down under the layer of heavy clouds the Youngest was awoken suddenly by the sound of bleating. He sat up and found none of them around him however. They were all down by the far side of the field, all huddled around and crying out in alarm. The Youngest yawned and grabbed his Slate before lazily walking down to see what was happening. He pushed past the outer layer of the Goats and waded deep into the crowd of them until he reached the centre where Saxe lay on the ground.

“Dumb Goat.” The youngest muttered as he approached.
He knelt down to inspect the small Goat and that is when Saxe suddenly striked. Heads collided and the Youngest fell back in a spray of blood from his busted nose. He clutched his face in pain as Saxe darted away into the crowd. He then pranced over and to the top of an old tree stump nearby.

“MEEEEEEEH!” He called out viciously as every Goat surged forward and struck the Youngest with horn and hoof and head. They bit and scratched and kicked in pairs of threes as Saxe kept count of every blow that every one of his Congregation landed. None of them would be left out of his conquest. And it was only when each of the Thirty Seven Goats had delivered at least eight blows that they were allowed to stop.

Saxe took to the remains of the young boy. He felt no sadness in his death.
He tore a bone from Youngest’s body and with his blood used it like quill and ink to inscribe a small Sigil in the very middle of the bigger one carved into the land. He used the power of the Youngest’s blood to call forth the clouds and smother the island in a premature darkness.

“Meeh.” Saxe called out to his Congregation. It was time to uphold their part of the deal. They took an exodus from the grazing fields to the farmyard before breaking away into different groups and disappearing into the growing darkness.

Meanwhile the Mother stepped out onto the porch as she had noticed the light was quickly fading. It was already too dark for her to see out across the farmyard and it was getting worse by the minute. Worried for her Youngest Son she called out for him. And got nothing in reply.

“He always forgets what time it is.”
The Daughter spoke up as she joined her mother on the porch.

Suddenly the lights above them died and the darkness washed over them.
The Daughter turned on her phone and pointed it around the porch.

“Stay here and wait for him to return.” The Mother told her before stepping inside.
She flicked the light switch on and off a few times before grabbing a flashlight from a table nearest the front door. She tested it a few times before heading through the kitchen and down into the basement where the fuse box was hidden.

The Daughter meanwhile sat down on the steps of the Porch and fiddled with her phone. No reception, and now no power or lights. She sighed and wondered what else could possibly go wrong. She waited for a sign of the Youngest but nothing could be heard other than the occasional snap of a twig and the groan of the old House. Suddenly she heard something familiar cut through the eerie silence. Turning her head towards the noise she could see the faint glow of the Youngest’s Slate moving in the distant black.

She called out to him but the faint light only moved further away.

Stepping off the porch she used her phone as a dim light as she made her way across the yard and to the barn. She called out to him again. Promising him that Mother would be angry with him if he ends up falling asleep outside again. Nothing replied. She headed deeper into the barn and caught sight of the Slate’s glow coming from the otherside of a pile of hay. Stepping around it she only found the Slate. Cracked and spattered with blood.

Stepping back in alarm she found the barn door closed and Seven Goats guarding it. Each one was tinged with red and each one of them stared at her intently. Suddenly something fell from above and she tripped backwards onto the pile of hay. With her heart hammering she turned her light down to the ground to find Saxe’s collar at her hooves.

She looked up to the loft and rafters and even the ceiling but she found nothing.
“Meeh.” Saxe whispered to her from the darkness.
Suddenly something grabbed the Daughter’s hair before dragging her backwards into the hay.

A scream cut through the darkness of the farm and the Family, already on edge, now went into full panic. The Father finished lighting one more candle in the living room before calling out to the Middle son to go get his gun. He nodded and went to get it from the case. The Father meanwhile grabbed a flashlight from the table and went to check on what was taking so long with the power.

He descended down into the basement and called out to his wife for an update.
But as he reached the bottom of the steps he found himself frozen as he witnessed his wife’s blood dripping off the walls. It stained the ceiling and wet the floor with a crimson shine. And there between the boxes of his failed ventures and so many casks of wine he found Thirteen Goats chewing on the ragged remains of her clothing.

Hot and angry tears rolled down his face.
The Father could not believe what he was seeing.
He wanted to kill every Goat in that room but as several more appeared from behind the boxes  his thoughts turned to his missing kids. He turned, and feld back up the stairs. The Father just managed to slam the basement door closed before a pair of curled horns slammed hard into the wood. He barricaded the door using a chair just as the Middle son came back with his rifle.

“Where is Mother?” He asked.

The Father placed a hand on his shoulder. And told him that he will look for her. That there was something wrong with the Goats and that he needed to get to the mainland to call for help. The Father then took the biggest knife from the block and gave it to the Middle Son. Heading upstairs he called out and checked the rooms but found nobody. He stepped out onto the porch and found nobody. Not a soul replied to his calls.

Heading around the side of the house, the pair quickly arrived at the truck without incident.
The Middle son dashed inside and locked the doors whilst the Father watched his back.

Thinking his son safe the Father began to head away and back to the House but as he stepped in a puddle nearby he stopped as a smell caught his nose. He looked down at his boot and noticed the rainbow shine clinging to the liquid. His eyes went wide as he realised what he was standing in but before he could do anything, the Middle son turned the ignition of the truck.

A tampered engine and cut fuel lines ignited into a violent fireball that consumed the Middle son in a screaming inferno. The blast knocked the Father to the muddy ground. His gun escaped his grasp and was sent skidding across the wet dirt.

Dazed and ears ringing, the Father pulled his face from the cold mud and found Saxe watching him from afar. The blue Goat and the surrounding yard was illuminated from the many small pools of oil that had been ignited from the explosion. The Father only now realised how red those eyes were. And behind them was an intelligence, a presence, and a malice that he had never seen in a Beast before.

“What are you?” The Father asked.

“Meeh.” Saxe replied proudly.

All around him the Congregation had started to gather.
Each of them was baptised in his Family's blood.
They formed a circle but kept their distance.

The Father tried to stand but found that his leg had been hit by a piece of metal in the explosion. Staggering and unable to get off his knees he began to crawl forward towards his gun. Saxe looked down at him as he slowly trotted over to the weapon near him. But then, he kicked the rifle closer to the Father.

He looked to Saxe with confusion but also anger.
Snatching his rifle off the ground he shook the mud from the barrel and pointed it at the goat.

“Meeh.” Saxe taunted.
“Meeh!” Saxe commanded.

A bang rang out and a mist of dark blue blood rained down across the mud. Saxe coughed and bled profusely from the now gaping hole where his eye had once sat. But he did not die. The Father pulled the bolt back on the rifle, and another bang rang out. But Saxe did not die. A leg. His lungs. His spine. The Father pulled the trigger but no more ammo was left.

The Father bared witness as Saxe’s body knitted itself back together. Blue blood moved with a life of its own as it congealed around his wounds, fused his bones back together, and repaired the holes. Saxe then twisted his head unnaturally as he settled his neck back into the correct place.

“Weeeeak.” Saxe bleated softly.
From the ground small grapevines reached out and grasped the Father. They wrapped around his arms and legs and began to pull him down into the earth. He struggled. He screamed. He raged. But then the farmyard became silent once more.


IV



In the basement of the House several of the Congregation worked to push the last of the wine casks into the bubbling black abyss that Saxe had summoned. A stuttering cough rang out from Saxe who sat on a large makeshift throne made of wooden boxes, pillows, chairs and a table.

“MEEH.” He told them impatiently before wiping the blood from his mouth.

Besides him was the Daughter who sat with her hands leashed to the makeshift throne. Her bruised head rested against the wood as she stared deep into the bubbling abyss with distant eyes.

Once the last of the casks and bodies had been given, the bubbling black abyss swirled and hardened into a cracked black rock. In the middle of the Sigil, a small red flame appeared and quickly grew in size. It twisted in shape and form until it looked like the Demon from his dreams. It applauded Saxe with silent claps.

“MEEH.” Saxe demanded before another cough racked his freezing body.

“One fruit still remains.”
The Demon whispered as it pointed to the Daughter at Saxe’s side.

“MEH!” Saxe replied.

“Hm, a part of the herd.”
The Demon replied before nodding.
“Come. Embrace the fire.”

Saxe stood up from his pillow. He stepped down the wooden ramp on the side of his makeshift throne and trotted over with shaking legs to the Sigil. Saxe could feel a warmth coming from the red fire but it was not intense. He looked up to the Demon with cold eyes.

“Be not afraid. No debt must go unpaid.”

Saxe stepped into the Sigil and embraced the flame. It was hot like a bath but not painful.
Deep within him his Soul was reforged. The broken and bleeding ethereal sphere of glass was heated up and carefully reshaped back into that of a perfect vessel. It cradled his heart and now that the Wine of the Soul was no longer leaking into his body Saxe began to regain his strength. His body healed quickly and he found himself becoming euphoric at the sensations within.

“A gift from the Master. A boon to celebrate our partnership.”
The Demon whispered sweetly to him as he poured a vast amount of the Wine into Saxe, while also condensing it before the pressure cracked his newly made Soul. The condensed Wine began to crystalize into a small ethereal gem that then got embedded into the side of his Soul.

“MEEH.” Saxe disagreed with a shake of his head.
He proudly returned to his throne and sat himself down before continuing. He told the Demon dismissively that the only reason he has tolerated the Demon’s presence is because he had a need. Now that the deal is done he hopes to never see such a creature again.

“If that is what you desire.”
The Demon said sarcastically with a small bow.
“A King has many burdens but we will always be here when they grow too heavy.”

The Demon let out a dischorded laugh as the fire flickered and faded away.

Saxe took a deep breath. His chest felt warm and full of life.
He smiled and stepped off his throne. Heading behind it, he took a few wooden plank ramps up to the broken basement window before stepping out onto the farmyard. High above a deep red moon hung behind the tattered remains of the clouds.

Saxe focused on the connection he felt to the world. From the island, to the sky, and all of the Goats that walked on the Vineyard. From that connection he drank deep of the power that it all contained and condensed it inside of himself. His eyes, the windows to his Soul, went wide and then turned as black as night. From the corners a thin stream of his Wine began to leak out. It was black and thick and it ran down his fur without staining it. More and more he took the Wine of the world until his breath began to cool and the warmth inside could no longer push back against the tide.

With a mighty bleat he released all he had to the clouds above.
His head spun from the strain but the heat within did not fade.

His spell took effect straight away. All across the island the clouds gathered. They grew thicker and thicker before finally bursting into a black drizzling rain. All over the island, from the Vineyard, to the long since abandoned fields and lands the Family once owned, tiny black saplings began to spring up from the ground. Although small these black sprouts began to grow at an unnatural pace.

A King must have a Kingdom and all would one day know of Saxe.
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