The Way of the Beast

***

  The weather remained warm enough that the next passing shower didn't turn to ice, although the cold rain met little resistance from the thinning autumn canopy of the forest. Nonetheless, Stenhelt and Chohla decided the conditions were fair enough to explore for a few days before they made their way into Duuvinhal.

  Out in the northeastern Den Forest, the two travelers kept themselves occupied. In the evenings around a campfire, Chohla helped Sten become more fluent in Locan. When Sten was told that the formal language was actually one of the ancient tongues of Chohla's people, mastering it had more appeal. From just before dawn into mid-morning, Sten hunted so that he'd have furs and meat to barter with. His old snowshoes were in poor condition, and his small stone chopping ax was dull.

  Strolling into Duuvinhal on a brisk and muddy but sunny morning, they paused at the low peak of the arcing stone bridge from the east to view the bustling place. Sten realized how much more structured the village was than his own. Carved out of the woods as Bruvaal was, the slightly larger Duuvinhal felt more insular and bordered.

  There were many small fields along the northern side of the village with another muddy road dividing them. The larger meadows were for crops of corn and winter wheat, while the smaller were sheep paddocks enclosed by stacks of river rock. "I'm not overly fond of lamb," Chohla commented with a frown.

  "There is a fishery just over there," Sten pointed out, "and I can smell a pig pen in the distance. If you'd rather, though, we can make camp along the trail and cook some of the bear meat."

  Chohla was quiet for a moment before replying, "You should sell it while it's fresh. Not to wound your pride, Khoveyo, but your meals can be bland. More than that, I haven't had pork in a while. Snow is coming; it might do us well to dry off before then."

  The two travelers continued to study the village. A squat guard tower stood at the end of the bridge, and a large stone garrison sat further off in the village hub. Along the rear of many of the outlying buildings were high walls or spiked pickets. Sten and Chohla shared a curious glance at the wary atmosphere of the village, and then continued forward.

  Duuvinhal's outer décor and namesakes were influenced by wild animals, mainly wolf-themed. One shop had a wolf skull over its entrance. Wolf jaws or fur pieces hung on various doors. The double doors of the village hall had a wolf's head carved into them. The lumber mill stamp was a wolf's paw. Of the two inns, one was named The Dancing Bear, and the other The Grinning Wolf. Both Chohla and Stenhelt surmised that the village had an issue with those beasts, and that the Den Forest was aptly named.

  Their suspicions were confirmed by the barkeep in The Grinning Wolf. Food in the Den - mostly caribou and rabbit - was usually thinned by predators as winters came. Den wolves were said to have been bigger than normal, crafty, fearless, and ran in large packs. At least once a cycle, usually more, one pack or another came from the south to test the village defenses and feast on penned livestock. Any villagers outside their homes were targets as well.

  When asked why the people of Duuvinhal stayed, the barkeep said he and his fellow villagers had a stubborn pride to fight for the place they prospered in. Sten understood the feeling. He then asked if any hunter ventured out to thin pack ranks. It was explained that lone hunters who went out never returned, and that groups of men had a stronger scent and became the prey. Most everyone was content to stay and defend if need be.

  Out in the village commons, a circular area surrounding the garrison, Chohla stood by while Sten attempted to barter his goods for supplies. There seemed to be a fair need for furs, but Sten was poor at haggling and received low offers for his goods. The only exception to counter Sten's frustration came from a traveling trader from the capital city, Vallo. He saw that the young hunter had a rare sun-fox fur and offered a handsome exchange of coins for it.

  Soon after Sten secured his money, he heard the unfamiliar clang of hammer and anvil - a metal smith had begun his day's work. Iron was uncommon, and there was no crafter of it in Bruvaal. Intrigued, Sten made his way over to the smith's open shop. He watched for a time as a burly, thick-bearded smith pounded and tapped on yellow-hot spearheads, and then was approached by another smith who'd been tending to the forge.

  Sten hoped to purchase iron supplies to replace his bone or stone items. Bronze was stronger than iron and would fare better outdoors, but he assumed it would be more expensive. It was, and all of it was much more than he expected. The coins he made from the fox fur would only afford him a metal knife and whetstone.

  Disappointed, Sten was about to walk away when the second metal smith leaned closer and said, "A hunter, then?" Sten nodded. "Mayhap, if you trust your skill, the village elder would see you. He might offer good trade. I'd wager it'll be risky work, knowing him."

  Showing no sign of his confidence, Sten calmly asked, "How can I meet him?"

  The smith pointed to the large village hall across the way. "Speak to the guard out front. Good luck, young hunter."