***
The men turned quickly and looked beyond the gate. Eyes wide, mouths slightly agape, they saw the hunter Stenhelt out in the woods trudging toward them. Even with snowshoes, his steps were labored from the crude sled he was dragging behind him. It was piled with furs and wolf heads, strapped down with strips of tree bark.
"I'll be snowed," Nadvik said. "Come, Rysel, let's give the hunter a hand." Chohla leaned against a gate post while the two men respectfully took the sled and hauled it next to the tower.
As the sled was pulled past him, the ancient wanderer noted that Khoveyo hadn't used his Maker's tricks on the wolf furs. A wise move, he thought; the guards or other village folk would wonder how the hunter had prepared them with neither supplies nor time.
Limping in tow of the sled and catching his breath, Sten stopped in front of Chohla. Only the young man's face was uncovered while the rest of him was layered in leather and wool. Still, signs of combat were evident by the scabbed wounds on his face and neck, as well as his recently stitched buckskin pants. "I thought you were going to hunt the wolves, Khoveyo, not fight them," Chohla said with a grin.
"I - I only had five days," Sten replied as he let out a deep, frosty breath. "I didn't know if I had enough time to -"
"It's alright," Chohla interrupted, still grinning. "I'll wager you learned a thing or two out there, no matter how it was done." Sten only nodded. "So, did you get the thrill of battle out of your system, or has it made you hungry for more?"
Sten looked down and muttered, "I've had my fill, master Chohla. It soured my heart."
"But the cause was good, yes?"
Sten shrugged. "In the heat of battle, I had no mind of the greater good."
"I understand; your only purpose at that moment was survival. You'll find that sometimes bad things come with the good, Khoveyo. It is part of life's cycle. You've done well by these people; let that thought heal your heart." He placed a hand on Sten's shoulder, causing the young man to lift his head. "Despite your own doubts - or perhaps because of them - I'm proud to see the man you've become."
Sten placed his mitten-clad hand on Chohla's shoulder in return. "I'm honored."
"By the Triad, master hunter," Rysel the tower sentry said, "I didn't think we'd see you again, let alone see you keep your end of the bargain. Even better, there's more than twelve heads here!"
"Fifteen," Nadvik interjected as he looked through the stack of well-cut furs.
Sten said to Nadvik, "Under the furs you'll find some cuts of meat and two pouches of claws. I also stuffed a few cleaned stomachs with wolf hearts, if folks eat such things here."
"That they do, when there's a chance," Rysel answered for the big guard. "I'll wager that Elder Berik will want them. Once he hears of this, he may hold a banquet in your honor!"
"I'd rather he didn't," Sten replied somberly. "I only want what was promised."
Undaunted, Rysel went on. "Still, a joyous event, no? Songs will be sung of you!"
Nadvik frowned at Rysel and said, "Stop lathering the man with praise. It's plain that he doesn't want it, and your fawning like a girl sickens me. Go fetch two villagers and a proper cart."
Soon enough, Nadvik walked along with Sten and Chohla next to the fur-laden cart as they made the short walk to the trampled snow of the village commons. After posting another guard to watch the cart, Nadvik escorted the two travelers into the large village hall. There they met with Elder Berik and his advisors again, who were told of Sten's unlikely success. The furs, wolf heads, and other goods were brought in as proof.
Surprised and delighted, Berik said, "Well done, master Stenhelt! Well done indeed! Bards will tell the tale of this for cycles to come! You have done us a great service, and killed more of those damn beasts than I'd dared to hope for. Go and collect your winnings from the smiths. Tonight, we shall feast on roasted hearts and toast your name with my best ale!"
Sten only nodded, not committing to the offered meal. Nadvik led him and Chohla out through the commons, where many villagers were talking about the "great wolf hunter". A number of them smiled at Sten and uttered thanks, while others patted him on the back as he made his way to the smith's shop.
One man, the trader from Vallo who'd bought the sun-fox fur, shook his hand, asked his name, and then gave long-winded thanks. Sten was glad that what he'd done had also made the trail to Ikaali safe again for traders, but he didn't want to listen to the man blather on about it.
Sten was given all the quality metal goods he'd asked for, much of it in bronze. He then visited other vendors for any other needed supplies and gear. Chohla paid for those items with the coins he'd won from the guard, and then beckoned Sten to follow closely as he began to meander through the crowd. Sten asked no questions, but saw that less and less people took notice of him as they moved along until no one was paying any mind at all. Virtually ignored, the two travelers strolled away from the commons and toward the west gate.
Nearing the gate tower, Sten voiced his curiosity. "Master Chohla, what just happened?"
"You didn't want to stay any longer, did you?" he asked knowingly. "Receive more well wishes from a gaggle of strangers? Sit through a meal with so many eyes upon you? Having to recount your terrible battle over and over?"
"No, but..."
"Neither did I, truth be told. I know you didn't want the attention, and I didn't want to sit through the tedious affair. I simply found the right moment to walk away, and thought we should take advantage of it."
After a long moment, Sten commented, "I was taught a thing or two by a Maker, but I don't think I'm the only one of us who knows a few tricks."
"Perhaps," Chohla said with a grin.
"Ah, wait," Sten said as they approached the guard tower. "The sentry will come out, and may insist that we not insult the village elder and his feast by leaving. Your trick was for naught."
"It's possible," Chohla casually said, "but... can you not hear that?"
Sten craned his head, waited a moment, and then smiled. He and Chohla walked past the gate tower unimpeded and continued down the snowy, sunlit trail.
A few moments earlier, sentry Rysel sat eating biscuits at a small desk in the tower. Hearing a noise, he looked up, and then suddenly slumped over in a deep sleep, snoring loudly.
"Did you cause that as well?" Sten asked with a smile when he and Chohla paused a short time later to tie their new snowshoes on.
Pulling a leather strap taut, Chohla replied, "Perhaps he was just tired. Don't blame me for everything, Khoveyo." They stood straight, shared a grin, and then resumed their trek.