The river would quickly get clogged up if boats went both ways, but that hadn’t happened nor had the two of them managed to overtake any boats being dragged by horse. If they did now, it would vindicate him and maybe even cause a good laugh.
Holo sighed at him, murmuring “how wily of you.” She was being coy again, half in regret over not saving her kick for this moment, and half over not seeing through his trick. She’d been on a boat before, but it had been so excruciatingly dull that she hadn’t even thought about this.
“This wine must be better than I thought..”
She finally laughed when Lawrence did. But their laughter dissipated in the wind as quickly as it came. They had only been together a few months, even if it seemed like it had been far, far longer. These moments were flying by, and they would never return. That was exactly what the quiet smile on Holo’s face was saying right now, as she stared at the river.
If there was no such thing as eternity, then there was no reason for her to be depressed. Of course, emotion could trump such logic, as it was doing for Lawrence right now as he reached over to console her with a hug. It was Holo who stopped him short.
“Mmm. ’Twould not be bad to be in your arms..”
She dragged his hand back to his knee by the index finger. She did so gently, as only a young maiden could, but the smile on her face was downright grim.
“..But I would rather be in his.”
She motioned with her chin at the boy behind them. Normally she would be tidying her fur in the wagon, but this time she was intentionally sitting next to Lawrence in the driver’s seat. He knew better than to assume she had only wanted to be next to him, of course.
Lawrence knew just how dear Cole was to her. The boy was honest and obedient to a fault, so even if he was unsuited to thinking silently on his own, she gave him his space to think in the wagon and she sat in the front with Lawrence.
“Has he told you anything?”
“No. Not since he spoke with that girl.”
She was being impetuous in order to conceal her true feelings. By “that girl” she of course meant Fran. She couldn’t keep Cole from being influenced by Fran, but it was surprising that she hadn’t listened in on their conversation in Hugh’s thin-walled home. But Lawrence didn’t even get the chance to ask her why she hadn’t before her hand was painfully pinching his thigh.
“I am the Wisewolf of Yoitsu, not some gossipy town girl.”
“Y-yeah.. Sorry..”
Her scornful stare lingered as she let his thigh go, but it wasn’t long before that mask fell off.
“It seems that I am just not good enough.”
Lawrence knew Holo well enough to understand when she was acting tough. Her eyes mirrored her soul, and when they weren’t full of confidence, they revealed her soft, sweet interior. Once again, she was feeling unneeded, just as she had after centuries of servitude. That was why she’d made Lawrence deal with Fran alone earlier. Of course, that ended up backfiring and making her even more nervous, so he gently returned her stare and replied.
“Boys all grow up someday. Or would you rather that he always remained a child?”
A sheltered fledgling would never leave its nest if it wasn’t pushed out. Cole had begun his journey with a strong sense of determination, and he would lose that edge if he remained in Holo’s custody. Lawrence knew she didn’t want that. Sure enough, she averted her eyes and sighed. But he caught her peeking back at him through the white mist of her sigh.
“And I suppose you feel ’tis better this way?”
He wouldn’t shrink back from such provocation. In fact, his prior gentleness turned into full-out sincerity.
“Yeah, I think it’s for the best.”
Her fist pounded down on his thigh, but it remained there as if she had no intent to remove it.
“Indeed. I am not God.”
She made it clear just how un-God-like she was by raising her eyebrows like a maiden who was losing her temper. God was a righteous being clad in pure white, after all. But merchants could only love a slightly off, slightly less pure white. Her hand wasn’t alone for long.
“Yeah, it’s definitely for the best.”
And so, Holo didn’t lose her temper this time. She just rested her head against his shoulder. She didn’t pry into the affairs of others; she left that job to him. That made sure he would be sucked into her worries. It was just the kind of off-white strategy that suited her.
Her words were never kind, and she exuded power and unconcern. But those qualities were the furthest from the truth. She simply didn’t speak first, and wouldn’t add her worries to the worries of others. It wasn’t that she hated helping others (in fact she was happy to do so) but that she waited to be asked first.
Having traveled with her and Cole made this aspect of her character crystal clear, even to Lawrence. The fact was that she even treated Cole that way. Lawrence was the only exception. He seldom realized just how slow he was, but it really dug at him to realize it now.
He really wanted to redeem himself, and had been subtly trying to make up for it by treating her during meals. Holo wouldn’t have missed that her portions were always larger than his, but the fact that she remained quiet about it implied that she appreciated it.
* * *
The three of them pressed onward, even more quietly than usual. They thought to themselves in silence until some noisy fishermen broke the mood.
“Pull!”
The men were pulling a net from the river, spurred on by the beat of a drum. Others were keeping the net from getting tangled as they pulled it, and there were even some merchant-like men studying the creatures being dragged in the net.
The lord of the area laid claim to the river, so fishermen needed his authority to fish. That’s why there were also poker-faced soldiers overseeing the activity, carefully documenting the number of fish that were caught.
The fish were loaded into water-filled barrels on a wagon. Those barrels were soon marked with lime chalk, and the wagon began moving. Of the many boats on the river, those with fish were likely carrying them from far upstream, where tolls weren’t a concern.
As the net was raised it became clear just how heavy it was. The men roared to the beat of the drum, and only after the loudest of those roars did they finally pull it free from the river. It was likely full of huge catfish (a rare catch this time of year) and other fish that thrived on whatever was dropped by the boats passing over their heads.
It was a relief to see something moving in this cold, almost-dead winter landscape. Anyone would feel that way, even it was only relief, and not happiness to be working right now. Regardless, they all clapped when the wagon began on its way, with Cole and Holo happily joining them. Lawrence then popped some jerky in his mouth and turned back to them.
“Alright you two.. get ready!”
“For what?”
They looked at him in unison.
“I hereby declare this fishing expedition officially over! By the will of the merciful Lord Ozpy, any remaining fish are free to those who have gathered here!”
The official then lowered the spear he had raised, and everyone who had been looking on stood up. Many fish were left behind on the riverbank after these expeditions, and landowners loved this tradition of giving gifts to onlookers. It was a gesture of goodwill to keep them from doing any unauthorized fishing, and always made their subjects happy.
Men and women alike used their coats as nets to grab what fish they could. Holo and Cole stared at one another for a split second, then ran off into the crowd. Holo was so excited her tail nearly made an appearance. Lawrence happily watched the two of them as he chewed on his jerky, then joined some others who had lit a bonfire.
Today’s dinner was earlier than usual, but for once the roasted fish wasn’t salted to preserve it. Holo and Cole ate like they were competing to see who could eat the most between the two of them. Manners were the furthest thing from everyone’s minds, but that’s only because mirth m
ade them unnecessary.
* * *
Were Lawrence adhering to his normal trading routine, he wouldn’t be back in this city for another year. It was a routine he figured he’d always adhere to, but here he was, arriving in Lenos after leaving Gerube. It was hard for him to wrap his mind around it all.
“Huh.. you’re not upset this time? How rare..”
He put away Hugh’s letter of introduction before saying that.
Their wagon was loaded with expensive goods, the likes of which would levy a terrible tax if they were sold at the market. And yet, Hugh had taken that into account, and written a letter in the name of a local lord he was friends with, so Lawrence would be taxed at a lower rate.
Maybe they were used to art dealers exerting their influence, given how expensive their goods were, but at any rate the Lenos guards had treated the matter carefully. Lawrence had expected a quicker check, but they were even more strict than usual. Which is why Holo’s tail was once again referred to as a “cheap wolf’s tail” by a guard who didn’t know how lucky he was.
“’Twould be stooping to his level. Besides, even I must admit that such an exhausting trip would take its toll on my tail.”
She sighed as she stretched, clearly kept in check by her need to take the higher ground. And yet, she probably was tired, given that Cole was the only one who seemed at all interested that they were in Lenos. Lawrence decided to chalk that up to this being his first trip to Lenos.
Frankly, it was more likely that Holo was mentally exhausted, rather than physically. Even after the excitement of their fishing encounter, she’d even hopped off the wagon to walk beside it several times. It had been enough to make Lawrence crack wise about her letting loose and running around in wolf form.
But he immediately regretted it when she seemed to actually take him seriously. He couldn’t take the chance that she wasn’t joking around just to get back at him. And if she was, then opening his mouth could only earn her wrath. All he could do was stay quiet and hope for the best. She went as far as to arch her back like she would howl at the moon. Deep down, he wanted to let her run freely, but it was still unnerving.
“When we arrive, I’ll make sure our hosts bring us hot water for a bath. We’ll all feel better once we wash the dust off ourselves.”
“Please make sure they bring their finest oil, too.”
Oil was something she needed to most effectively comb her tail. Lawrence knew that long ago, but he only realized how much of a difference it made when they stayed at Hugh’s residence. But it was also an expensive luxury, so he firmly declined.
She didn’t voice her protest clearly at that; instead she muttered weakly under her breath, “you cannot even do that much?” Perhaps her mood had just improved enough to let him off the hook already.. or perhaps she had intentionally started bargaining at a high price she knew he wouldn’t accept.
“At any rate, how long do you plan on staying in this city?”
She curled her arms around her legs and placed her chin on her knee. Clearly, this was more important to her. Lawrence had to think about it, but he still gave her an optimistic estimate.
“Three, maybe four days. We need information and clothes and such for traveling further north.. not to mention food.”
“Very well.”
It seemed that his answer agreed with her, given her gentle sigh and the pleasant way she flicked her ears. Lawrence cleared his throat and continued.
“That said, I may be being a bit optimistic. If others are heading north from Lenos, it’ll be easier on us.. but if we’re the only ones heading into the snow, we’ll have to be quite thorough before we risk the trip. After all, we’re heading to Diva Company, then Nyohilla.”
Nyohilla.. that was a name likely to stir up Holo’s heart, being one of the few names she still remembered from the past. Sure enough, she turned her eyes away, unable to conceal her melancholy. Lawrence smiled compassionately and tried to make up for his blunder.
“Hey Cole, have you ever heard of Nyohilla?”
He wasn’t sure what else he could do in this situation, even if it meant confusing Cole with such a sudden question. Thankfully, Cole nodded in response.
“I’ve.. heard the name.”
“It’s a hot spring town, quite old. I’ve been there once, it’s quite an amazing place.”
“How so?”
“Well, it’s like a social hub out in the middle of nowhere. Even the higher-ranking clergymen all go there, so they’ve been free of conflict for centuries.”
Cole couldn’t believe his ears. His own village had even preemptively praised God, but that didn’t stop the Church from attacking them. Thankfully, Cole’s reaction was managing to keep the atmosphere neutral.
“Yeah.. lots of suffering people get the idea to take a trip there for some peace.”
He gently rested his arm on Holo’s head.
“But that would only be temporary.. it’s not like conflict will ever end.”
“Of course. Even if hot springs can cure your ills and make you forget your pain, it won’t keep it away forever.”
Holo stole a glance at Cole and tossed out a few bored words of her own.
“The springs were so hot when I went there, that I fought to find a cooler one.”
Lawrence wondered if she was upset with him, but it wasn’t enough to make him nervous. He just rubbed her head and removed his arm to retake the reins, so he could navigate them around a pack of dogs barking on the road.
“The merchant that Fran’s introducing us to deals with mercenaries.. I’ll be happy if a soak in the springs is enough to soften a guy like that up.”
“I shall be happy enough if we stay in a luxury suite.”
The quality of their lodgings usually dictated the quality of Holo’s mood. Lawrence pushed Cole, who had stood up, to sit back down as he muttered to himself.
“Right.. Arold’s place is likely closed.. we’ll have to find another inn..”
“I should think that a grand-looking inn would be the kind of place we head to.”
She squinted as she forced out those spiteful words. She had taken the higher ground instead of getting angry at Lawrence, so he really had no recourse now. He didn’t want her to force him into yet another game where they would part ways.
“Then let’s ask around.”
“Just who do you intend to ask?”
Her eyes made it clear that the last people she wanted to see were the uncouth men of the Delink Company. She was practically their hostage not that long ago, so going there was simply not an option. Their haughty arrogance was more than a match for a pompous noble.
They were the last kind of businessmen anyone wanted to deal with. But it wasn’t like Lawrence had a choice. They were an important business contact now. Even if it repulsed him to talk to them again, he would have to deal with them again eventually. It would be daft of him to sour relations with one of his biggest ties to the business world. He nervously smiled and scratched his nose.
“Well, thankfully I still know some others, who we’ll have to deal with to get the map anyhow. I figure we might as well break the ice by asking them if there are any other good inns in town.”
Mere weeks ago, virtually every merchant tied to the fur industry had been in Lenos. The town was still lively even now. After all, a storm couldn’t be kept in a bottle. They were passing through the tail end of that storm now, with Lawrence’s skilful steering. Mercifully, that meant he was given a moment of reprieve, permitted to silently do his job until they were finally blocked by a procession of people crossing the street with cages full of chickens.
“By them you surely mean that place, do you not?”
“Indeed. That place. The Beast and Fish Tail.”
“Yes, that place.. the one with that wonderful rodent dish.”
Holo adored that dish, so it would surely smooth things over if they enjoyed a meal there. With that thought in mind, he finally gripped the reins as the last of the nois
y chicken-carriers cleared the way.. only to hear Holo mutter dryly under her breath.
“How very kind of you.”
What? Was she being sincere or not? It took a few seconds, but the image of a certain waitress popped up in his mind. The waitress who worked at the Beast and Fish Tail pub.
“Ugh..”
His voice caught in his throat.
“Good thing I shall be heading to Nyohilla, where I can forget my pain.”
Her hostile eyes were full of scorn. Cole’s head tilted in confusion; Lawrence couldn’t look to him for help. Finally, someone shouted at him for blocking the road, snapping him out of it and giving him an escape route. But it was Holo’s malicious laughter that he really wanted to escape from.
The steeple of the Lenos church was visible from just about any street if you only looked up. That’s exactly what Lawrence was doing right now, in prayer.
* * *
Pubs generally saw the brunt of their business in the evening, and the Beast and Fish Tail was no exception. It was no surprise to see someone preparing for the eventual influx of customers, huddled around a bucket full of shells.
“Hello!”
Lawrence greeted that young girl brightly as he entered the pub, and she looked up at him while shielding her eyes from the sudden rush of sunlight sneaking in with him through the door.
“Oh? Back so soon, Mr. Merchant?”
“It’s hard to stay away from such fine service.”
Cole was dealing with their goods outside, so only Holo was with Lawrence. His inner prayers intensified as he commanded himself to not do anything foolish in front of these girls. Things seemed mercifully civil on the surface, but he didn’t need his merchant instincts to know the truth.
They were sizing each other up. He couldn’t help but feel a point of pride that he was the reason for this battle of wills, but he knew better than to get ahead of himself. This was more about two hunters preparing to fight each other, and not so much the prey caught between them. This was hardly something to take lightly.
“Are you here on business again?”
She casually shucked the clams as she spoke, tossing their shells into the bucket on her left and their meat on the plate in front of her. Her movements flowed naturally, and the sunlight reflected off her carefully-wrapped knife as she did so. She was so skilled that the slightest flicks of her wrist were all she needed to get the job done magnificently. Everything about the girl screamed confidence, to the point where Lawrence couldn’t help but smile. She smiled back and continued.