Durro delivered the plunder to a nearby village. He had his pack pile all the bags in the middle of the town and before anyone could thank him, they ran on without saying a word. This was the diurnal occurrence and Durro's pack quickly became known as the hooded crusaders. Arriving back at the castle, Durro found not his mother, of which you know where she is from the last chapter; so as not to be bored his grabbed he entertained himself by playing a harp. Reiach had just come from exploring the castle (an event he highly enjoyed) and sat at the table listening to the wolf play. He was quite good, never once hesitating to hit to correct string. Durro saw that he had an audience of one, but continued to play as not to interrupt the solo composition.
“Play any instruments?” said the wolf.
“Well,” said Reiach stretching his arms. “I know the fiddle very well.”
“No, you don't” said Durro playfully.
“Yeah, I do.” said the otter assertively, “I can play any fiddle any time.
“I want you to prove it,” said Durro ceasing to play.
“I know Casey has an old fiddle in his room..”
The fiddle was retrieved and given to the otter. And to Durro's surprise, Rieach played in perfect harmony with his song. They played slow and then fast, and with every note Durro played Reiach was able to compliment it. In a grand finale both instruments came to a stop and Durro jubilantly bang the table with his hands.
“Outstanding, you're better than I thought!”
“I told you so.” was Reiach response.
“You know what, I want you and your friends to join me on a raid tomorrow. I going to hit my other brother's windmills up northward. It'll be a two day journey.
Reiach felt a ball in the pit of his stomach.
“We're not going with you.” he said placing the fiddle on the table. “Excuse me?”
“My friends will not steal for you and neither will I.”
To this Durro chuckled, but not in the way that said he was happy: it was in the manner of Are you out of you mind?
“I'm your leader.” said Durro, “And you will obey me.”
“I have a greater leader,” said Reiach standing on the table, “God does not want me or my friends to sin---in fact He doesn't want it from you either.”
Durro wiped his face with his hands in amazement. How couldn't believe that he had inducted a preacher into his band of bandits, and a bold one at that. The white wolf was looking for any signs of weakness, but found that the otter was firm in what he had said. “Well it looks like you're not going to budge on the issue,” said Durro taking up his harp again, “And neither will I. So let's change the issue and play another song.”
The harpist continued to play and was expecting to be joined by the fiddler, but the fiddler was disturbed by something.
“What's the matter?” said Durro strumming the harp, “Are you fingers tired?”
“No,” said Reiach, “Why are your brothers trying to kill you?
Durro gave him a curiously look, rolled his eyes, and simply said, “There's a lot of history behind it; its too intricate to explain.”
“Try me.” said Reiach.
“They don't like me,” replied Durro.
“Why?”
“Because they don't.”
“That's not a reason,” said Reiach, “ there's something going on here.”
“Look we just hate each other, o.k.”
“You've said that already---what's the real reason.”
“Just mind you business, otter.” said Durro sternly.
“I would if not for your mother: every night since I known her she cries in her sleep.” Upon hearing this Durro stopped playing. His face that was calm due to the tune of his harp quickly became a mirror of distress and woe.
“I killed their father.” he said simply, “His name was Golan. He was the alpha male of his own gang. Gangs were more prevalent then and my family was killed in a gang war.
Bertha was the alpha female and for some reason, she was able to persuade Golan to spare me. So she took me in as he youngest son. Golan never liked the idea from the beginning, but only tolerated me because of her. Nape and Drake were his favorites while I was ignored even scorned by him. I was never really a son to him, no matter what I did.”
Durro stopped at took a deep breath and then continued.
“The act happened when I was sixteen. Golan came home intoxicated yelling at mom over something that I can't remember. Nape and Drake were not there. I came in the room and he when he saw me all his drunken rage was directed towards me. He started hitting and clawing me. I tried to run…I tried to get out of the room, but I couldn't! He planted his teeth into my shoulder: mom had seen enough and grabbed Golan from behind. He slapped her, sending her to the floor. I think she fell not from the force of the blow, but by the sheer fact that he laid a hand on her.” Durro paused for a moment again, and then continued,
“She was down and he came after her….I thought he was going to kill her. So I ran up from behind a pushed him. He tripped and fell to the floor; and strangely, he never got back up.”
The harpist placed his instrument in a cabinet and left the fiddler alone. Reiach was quite disturbed by the story and almost wanted to apologize for even asking.
However, in side Reiach God was dealing with him about the unsettling hatred between the brothers, the pain that Bertha held, and the unsettling peace in the country. Only the gospel could change this and at that moment Reiach clearly began to understand why God has sent him to Gosha.