“One is now gone. The other will be gone just as quickly.”
It dawned on him that she was talking about the honey-pickled peaches. He’d already given up on the hope that she would encourage him, but it irked him that she would slap him in the face with it like that. But he did his best to contain his wrath and humor her.
“You went there just to confirm it?”
Sadly, his wrath was just too great, and he couldn’t manage without slipping in the word “just.” He stooped down to untie his shoelaces and conceal his temper.
“Is that a problem?”
His hands stopped in mid-air at her rebuttal, and it took some time for them to resume.
“Nope. They’re one Lumione after all. I doubt there are that many buyers.”
“Really? That puts me at ease.”
Was that sarcasm? That was just what his frayed nerves needed right now. He resisted the urge to remind her just how much a Lumione was worth. Why was she going out of her way to irritate him? It was uncalled-for. Surely this was just some exhaustion-induced hallucination. He should just go to sleep.
Alas, he wasn’t going to be able to do that with her staring at him.
“Surely you earned a lot?”
Was she being hostile for a reason?
“So will you be done tomorrow? Or are you back tonight because seven trips was enough?”
She had already skipped her usual ant-like tactics, and was already stinging like a wasp. It made him react instinctively.
“Of course not. I earned seven silvers..”
“Seven? After all that work? How long will it take for you to earn a Lumione..”
He recalled just how puffed-out her tail was in the sunlight and knew she had been hiding the true reason for her anger. He just didn’t know why. Surely it wasn’t because the honey-pickled peaches were selling out, or because she was tired of waiting? He stayed quiet, both in exhaustion and confusion.
Her eyes were as scarlet as a rabbit’s being lit by the setting sun. At this level of anger, they might even scorch him away entirely. But as he brushed that aside in his mind, he realized how strange it was that she knew he had made seven trips. Not even the managers in the company kept track of that in a situation like this.
Had she been watching for him from the window? He shouted out in realization, and her ears perked up. Her tail also shifted in her lap. But her eyes were turned away and she sat there in silence, as if hoping the setting sun would just burn everything away.
“You were..”
He stopped himself when he saw the whites of her teeth.
“..Uh.. N-nevermind..”
She stared him over and closed her eyes. But when they reopened they were no longer directed at him, but at her hands. This wasn’t just about her worrying over him, it was about her loneliness. She’d told him that loneliness was like an incurable illness, and she even put herself into mortal danger to prove that point. Of course he hadn’t forgotten; why else would he be working so hard for her?
But apparently that wasn’t what she wanted. When her eyes finally settled on him again, he realized that no matter how tedious the job was, or how exhausted she was, all she really wanted was for him to ask her to be with him. At least, he felt, it was certainly worth taking the chance that was what she wanted.
He cleared his throat in a bid to buy time for his heart to settle. He couldn’t just invite her flat out. She was proud, and at this stage his own pride was already wounded. He needed to find a reason that would save face for both of them. And with his merchant’s mind working harder at this problem than any mere merchantry, it didn’t take long for him to find that reason. They were going to be on that road, after all.
“So, anyway, I don’t like the thought of being on that road at night, not with those wild dogs. If possible-”
He briefly paused to steal a glance at her response, and saw that the eyes looking at her hands were already free of loneliness.
“I’d like you to please help me.”
He did his best to make sure his “please” came across sincerely. Sure enough, her ears twitched. But also as expected, that was her only immediate reaction. Her pride wouldn’t allow any more than that, even if he said exactly what she wanted to hear. She couldn’t be bought that cheaply. Instead, she sighed and caressed her tail, turning her eyes up to look at him like a spoiled princess.
“No matter how?”
But she didn’t care about his pride; she wanted him to beg. He had to earn her back, and she had to prove that he was the one at fault.
“Well, I did ask for your help, didn’t I?”
He couldn’t help but be a bit slighted by her act. Her ears twitched twice and she coughed to conceal her grin.
“Oh, my my..”
She sighed and looked back up at him. Independent workers like him were set in their ways, always doing things alone. He grinned back at her, hoping she’d let his boredom and embarrassment slide.
“I humbly thank you.”
With that she finally laughed.
“Mhm.”
She curtseyed, obviously in a good mood. He’d paid his taxes and the collector was satisfied, so he heaved a great sigh and began removing his belt and coat. He didn’t even have the energy to properly lay out his coat.. he just wanted to sleep. Alas, even though he was already falling asleep, Holo wasn’t having any of it.
“Just what are you doing?”
He wondered whether his eyes had closed, or if all the light in the room had just been sucked away.
“Huh?”
“Hey, you have made your choice, and this is no time to rest.”
He rubbed his eyes and stared at her, proudly wearing her cloak and cap.
“Surely you jest?”
There was no anger in his voice, only meekness. He barely had the strength to look up at her cruel, devious smile and horribly happy tail. And having donned her outfit, she was now walking up to him with that same smile. It was just a bad joke.. it had to be. But no matter how hard he prayed, she just kept coming toward him.
“Hey, time to work.”
Her hand took his and tried to pull him up, but even he had his limits. He tried to gently pull his hand free while replying.
“Please, I am not a beast of burden..”
He knew saying that was iffy, so his eyes shot up to hers to see her reaction. And yet, he only saw her smile.
“Of course not.”
He strongly suspected that her anger still hadn’t burned itself out after all, but only until she happily sat down next to him.
“Hey, did you think I was angry with you?”
Clearly she wasn’t. Judging by her face she had only wanted to make him angry. Simply put, she’d pulled a fast one on him.
“You clearly are of the mind that taking a nap now will let you earn more efficiently at night, yes?”
She was looking outside, as if she’d seen right through him. He nodded, his eyes practically begging for her to just let him rest.
“Then you are that stupid.”
She clutched his beard and swayed his head back and forth, but in his state it felt a bit like being rocked gently in her arms.
“You sacrificed eating breakfast with me, worked the entire day away on that wagon, and only just returned. And yet, you only have seven silver to show for it, no?”
“..Indeed.”
“I have not forgotten that a Lumione is worth thirty-five silver.. and just how long would it take to earn the peaches at that rate?”
Even a child could work it out.
“Five days.”
“Well, that is simply too long. Not to mention..”
She didn’t even give him a instant to cry out.
“..That the road is so crowded that you planned to rest now until it became clearer at night. And yet, what is so special about you that makes you think you are the only one who thought of that?”
She flared her ears proudly. She’d clearly been listening in on the discuss
ions in the loading bay from their room.
“You mean, everyone-”
“Indeed. It will be just as awful at night. And the workers who remain are no slouches. Where you could probably stand five days, they could probably stand eight.”
She was probably right on the money. He nodded, feeling utterly stupid. She poked his head, and he was too tired to even want to avoid it. His body tumbled back down into bed from the momentum, whereupon he did his best to keep his eyes open and talk with her.
“What’ll I do..?”
“You pray that the peaches will still be there..”
His eyes were definitely closed now.
“..Or?”
“Find another line of work.”
“..another..?”
Hauling goods was already so profitable that only a fool would look elsewhere. But before his mind could settle, she continued.
“I also heard about them, so I shall expel the wild dogs. And.. there is a faster way to earn.”
Which is..? Lawrence fell asleep wondering what it could be.
* * *
Lawrence decided to rent a two-wheel wagon - they were smaller, but faster. He also bought ropes, blankets and baskets, and some coins. He drove up to a certain building with all of these, whereupon the shopkeeper ran out to greet him.
“Ah, I’ve been waiting. You’ve got it?”
“Mhm. You?”
“All set. Geez, I thought you were just a tourist when you knocking on my door this morning.”
His cheerful smile contrasted sharply with the oily grime and bits of dough stuck to his clothing.
“So I hear you hunted down the bakers last night, and woke up the craftsmen before a monk would rise? They must have been furious!”
The shopkeeper laughed and called for the people in question. Two strapping lads came out with a large cauldron.
“This’ll be enough for all fifty of ’em. They took one look at my shop and got worried that we couldn’t handle it.”
“Well, that’s no surprise given how rushed everyone is. Still, thanks for this.”
“No, no, we’re usually stuck only doing so much business, so I’m more than happy to make some more on a side job.”
The boys placed it up on the wagon deck and tied it down firmly so it wouldn’t rattle and cool off as quickly. It was a mutton stew with onions, still bubbling. They then loaded the baskets with sliced bread, and added two tankards of wine. By the time the wagon was fully-loaded and Lawrence was asking the shopkeeper to make sure they were properly secured with ropes, his horse turned to Lawrence accusingly. If he could talk, Lawrence knew he’d get an earful.
“Looks like we’re all making out well here..”
That’s what the shopkeeper said as he handed everyone their wages; maybe it was just his custom to say that when they were able to make some profit on the side. The boys happily wandered back to their rooms with a few worn coins.
“But will you really be alright? You’ve gotta make it through the forest, after all..”
“You mean the wolves and wild dogs?”
“Yeah, that temporary road the Ohm Company made’s infested with ’em and they’ve no fear of humans. You’re not the first to have this idea, you know, but everyone else gave up.”
Holo had overheard that sort of thing in their room; if there weren’t any dogs to contend with, the town could sell food to Lowia village, which had an unstable water supply.
“Well, we ought to be fine.”
Lawrence smiled in reply as he watched a thin girl cover the goods in their wagon with boards. There was something furry under her dress, like some sort of fancy belt or sash, and when she’d finished her task she sat on the same boards and nodded to Lawrence, then smiled at the shopkeeper.
“Boats have the protection of goddesses, and I have mine.”
“Wow. You’re trying to say she’s gonna keep the dogs away?”
After Lawrence nodded in reply, the stunned shopkeeper said nothing. He must have seen people pray for many things, maybe even to keep snakes or frogs away. At any rate, he just received his pay from Lawrence, but ended the discussion.
“May you go with God.”
With that, he stepped back.
“Thank you. Oh, right..”
“Hmm?”
Lawrence hopped onto the wagon before continuing. The sight of a two-wheel wagon wasn’t anything special, but the sight of a happy girl on one made passersby stare at them, and kids wave their arms happily to Holo.
“We might have to come back to you tonight.”
The man smiled in response.
“My place is already full of boarders, there’s just too many workers and Ohm’s Company had nothing against the locals taking them in for a while.”
He laughed.
“Then, bye it is.”
“Yeah. Have a good trip.”
Their wagon crept slowly along. It wasn’t a struggle keeping their regular wagon steady in towns this early in the morning, but a two-wheeler was a real pain. Holo kept scolding him as she did her best to not fall off. After what seemed like forever, the wagon finally left town and was back in its natural element.
“You sure you’re ready for this?”
His question was answered by Holo leaning forward and wrapping her arms around him.
“This will be nothing; I am far faster than a horse.”
“But normally you’re the one in control.”
She was holding him much the same way he held her in those times. It felt as strange as using someone else’s money to trade. She rested her chin on his shoulder.
“Then I shall hold on tight, and try not to cry like a certain someone.”
“I don’t remember crying..”
“Oh ho ho.”
Lawrence sighed.
“..But I won’t stop even if you do.”
“Then-“
Her voice was drowned out by the horse’s neigh, as it took off as though it wanted to fly. They could just have a fun argument later if Holo somehow did end up crying. But now wasn’t the time. Two-wheelers weren’t as spacious and they shook like the dickens, but they were fast. Lawrence hadn’t used one for a while, but they were definitely what one needed to deliver hot food. Holding the reins of one of these made Lawrence feel like he was in control of the view itself.
Holo actually clutched him fearfully at first, but soon grew familiar with the wagon. They flew through the forest with her hands on his shoulders, laughing happily. Everyone else was so nervous about the dogs that they probably felt embarrassed when they saw a girl laughing in such a carefree manner. The two of them received many waves, and Holo nearly fell off the wagon waving back to them. His heart would skip a beat each time, but he didn’t want to drag her down by stopping her.
Any self-respecting wolf would of course be furious at intruders, so it wasn’t surprising when they heard a sudden roar in the forest. Everyone stopped in their tracks, but Holo simply roared back at the voice. They all looked at her, shamed by her courage, and roared along with her.
They eventually made it after all that cheer. It went without saying that the villagers, used to seeing wagons full of building supplies, were shocked to see a wagon carrying tankards, a cauldron and a girl. Holo stepped down as Lawrence stopped the cart, and began preparing for their next task as went in search of whomever handled administrative fees in the village.
Given that the village didn’t even have enough freshwater, they could easily sell meat and bread to all of those goods-haulers who hadn’t brought any food out of fear of dogs; of course the villagers themselves were quite interested as well.
“Hey, you there! Queue up like the rest!”
Even just simply slicing the meat stewing in the cauldron and pinning it between bread was busy work for them. They barely had any time to sell their high-margin wine, since it required twice the work. They would later wonder how they managed to sell it as well. And on top of that, when they’d sold half of their food a car
penter suddenly approached them.
“We’re all so famished, but we can’t stop working..”
Holo’s sympathy was always strongest when food was the topic. She looked over at Lawrence, who agreed to move their cart nearer to the workers. The cauldron was far from empty, after all, and with such steady business it didn’t matter where they were, they would sell out of food anyway
Of course, Lawrence was a merchant: just selling out was good enough for him. He would normally feel no need to move around, but in this situation he realized that news of their business was spreading, and he had to capitalize on that fact by expanding their customer base to include the carpenters.
His scheming didn’t have long to simmer, though, before his foot was stomped.
“Why are you standing there thinking?”
“I’m a merchant! Oh, alright..”
Lawrence handed the last sandwich he was holding and put the lid on the cauldron.
“We’ve only got enough left for twenty guys, alright?”
Carpenters were like starving wolves, and the Ohm’s company employed so many they couldn’t feed them all or provide them shelter. They were only taken care of because the villagers pitched in. But since they were paid by the hour, they had no desire to desert their posts for a meal. They’d heard of Lawrence, but didn’t want to even go that far. The people responsible for the water wheel didn’t even want to leave their hut. Lawrence and Holo stared at each other, realizing that they would be the ones that walked around to feed the men.
“Huh? This isn’t enough for me!”
That was the reply they always got, but they had no choice but to smile back at the men. The carpenters working outside had it the worst, but while no one was full, they had no reason to complain. It was better to feed more people. After all, one man couldn’t build the entire mill. If people started collapsing it could only lead to ruin. Even Holo agreed, who had watched over farmers tending to their wheat fields.
Her smile wasn’t a business smile - she was genuinely happy. They had paid for each drop of wine, but she always gave out more than she needed to. Lawrence knew it, but even he had no desire to stop her.
“Can we get two more pieces of bread back here?”
Someone called out from the site where the millstone was being laid. That area was covered in dust, but it wasn’t flour. It was sawdust. Holo couldn’t bear it, and had to wait outside. Her sense of smell was superior to humans, so it stood to reason that her nose would be more sensitive as well. And so, Lawrence walked down the steps and delivered the bread. Their customer wasn’t being pleasant, but then they were fighting with the gearwork for the mill.