Spice & Wolf X (DWT)

“..”

  “What else do you see?”

  She looked at him wordlessly in response. Her expressionless face no longer seemed frozen, but rather more like the emotions under its surface were beginning to thaw. Her pale lips had regained some color as well.

  “So you do know how to be a little considerate, after all.”

  “Mind that you don’t fall ill.”

  He chose to say that instead of replying to her sarcasm. The moment she nodded, she sneezed and was under her covers the very next instant. He then stood up and shut the window.

  “Were I in my original form, I could watch for as long as I wished.”

  “Until you were completely buried, you mean.”

  She simply smiled at his words and pointed at the water jug. But as he passed it over to her, she took his hand in hers.

  “I told you nothing would happen even if it snowed, did I not?”

  She revealed a faint smile as she spoke. For her, a snowy day wasn’t suitable for capering. She’d lingered for centuries in Pasloe village where it never snowed, unlike her homeland of Yoitsu. He clasped her icy hand and replied.

  “How can I be sure, when you’re not the frail kind of maiden whose always in tears? It wouldn’t surprise me to see you running around in snowy fields, all full of energy.”

  “..”

  With a silent smile, she straightened her body and drank from the water jug. But as she did, the smile turned into a frown and she glared at him.

  “Why is this not wine?”

  “Foolish girl.”

  He imitated her scolding tone of voice, to which she shoved the jug back into his arms and flung herself onto the bed like a child throwing a tantrum.

  “What? You’re still gonna sleep? Today’s breakfast should be quite something, you know.”

  Snowflakes indeed tended to bring melancholy with them wherever they fell. And yet, delicious food indisputably spread joy in the same way.

  * * *

  Just as one might expect from a land where shepherds thrived, there was a leather pouch chock-full of butter in the food they had brought back with them the night before. Holo wore a joyous expression as she spread that butter on a slice of oat bread and proceeded to stuff her face. Cole, on the other hand, didn’t even have his usual meager appetite; he’d been awakened too early, and Holo’s table manners weren’t helping.

  “So what - mmph - shall we do - mmph - next?”

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full. Deutschmann said he’d introduce us to a company belonging to the Ruvik Alliance, so for now let’s just wait for them to contact us.”

  “Very well - mmph.”

  Holo paused to breathe after finally swallowing her mouthful of oat bread, and just as he thought she was opening her mouth to say something else, she took another huge bite.

  “Are you getting ready to hibernate or something?”

  “That is - mmph - not a bad idea either.”

  Nothing anyone said would seriously register in her mind when there was delicious food in front of her to enjoy. Lawrence pinned some mutton in a slice of bread that he’d warmed up over the fire and took a bite of it.

  “But it’ll be pretty tough traveling in such freezing, snowy weather, won’t it?”

  Cole finally cut in, having cheerfully watched Holo and Lawrence while sipping on a cup of warmed sheep’s milk.

  “Yeah. Speaking of which, how’d you manage to travel on your own before?”

  “The weather wasn’t too rough when I left home, so it wasn’t too bad, but when I crossed the Roam river it suddenly got really cold. I eventually learned to avoid the snowy places as I traveled.”

  “I figured as much. With those clothes of yours, if you’d happened to get caught in snow heaven knows whether you’d wake up again if you fell asleep.”

  Lawrence removed a chunk of fat that the boy had stuck to his cheek. Cole laughed, but Lawrence couldn’t tell if he was more embarrassed about that or his shabby clothes.

  “Well, people take precautions in areas covered in snow. They set up signposts at regular intervals with small cabins near them, in case there’s a blizzard. I once went to a place named Arohitostok, where the blizzards are savage, but because of that at least you’ll never run into bandits. Even bears and wolves retreat to caves for shelter from the terrible cold, making it surprisingly easy to travel.”

  Note: Holo also casually mentioned Arohitostok in volume 1 when she and Lawrence first met.

  “You’ve been to Arohitostok? Isn’t that one of the northernmost towns?”

  ”I was asked once to deliver the belongings of a deceased traveler there. Just that once. It’s in the northwest, even remote compared to the Dolan Plains. I bore witness to that legendary land that’s like the surface of a tranquil sea. Quite a breathtaking sight that was.”

  It was said that long ago a dragon stirred up an intense gale as it soared to ends of the sky, pulling up all the trees and grass by their roots and only leaving behind that barren tract of land. Because all the precipitation in that expanse was snow, it was surprisingly dry near Arohitostok in spite of the cold. It was such a desolate place that one would realize just how small they really were.

  “According to legend, saint Alajai spent thirty years there in self-meditation. Having visited there, I feel I can truly understand why he’d be called a saint for that.”

  “Amazing..”

  Cole gasped as he listened intently to Lawrence’s story. Holo’s mood had lately grown sour after she finished eating, but there seemed to be nothing they could do about it. Unlike Cole, she was never willing to patiently listen to Lawrence, so it only made sense that he’d show her a different attitude. He inwardly hoped that the heavens would forgive him treating them unequally.

  “I learned the names of towns everywhere when I was in school, but really I’ve been to so few of them..”

  “It’s the same for just about everyone. It’s because I very rarely join any merchant caravans or fix my trade routes that I’m able to travel to such remote places and see all the things I’ve seen.”

  “Have you been to any southern towns?”

  “Well I expect you’re more familiar with them then I am, but I’ve also been to countries in the east-”

  Lawrence paused, but it wasn’t because Holo had finally burst into tears from her isolation - there was a knock at their door.

  “Coming!”

  Cole spiritedly responded and stood up, being accustomed to taking care of these kinds of menial errands. Holo was still eating her breakfast, but Lawrence only needed a quick peek at her to see that she was in a bad mood - she didn’t even bother to put on her hood. He reverently pulled it over her head for her.

  “Who is it?”

  Cole opened the door to reveal a man dressed from head to toe in traveling gear, who reminded Lawrence of Eve. He wore a turban and a scarf around his head and face, and had two overcoats going down to his ankles. On his shins were animal skins still with their fur, and he had a gunnysack slung over his shoulder.

  He truly seemed ready for an immediate and long hike through the snow. In fact, there was already some snow on his head and shoulders. He threw a curious glance in their direction from deep under

  his turban before unwrapping it, appearing to have arrived in town just recently.

  “Is this the room where Mr. Kraft Lawrence is lodged?”

  His voice was surprisingly young. It was followed by the man’s equally young face as it emerged from under his turban.

  “Yes. I am Lawrence.”

  “Then it is you. I apologize for not being dressed more formally. I only just received word from Mr. Deutschmann, which is why I came at such an inconvenient hour.”

  Lawrence rose to his feet and walked toward the door. For Deutschmann to have sent this man meant that he was a member of the Ruvik Alliance.

  “Please don’t say that. We’re the ones who should be paying you a visit. Please do come in.”

  “Please pardon
my intrusion, then.”

  The man entered the room with light steps; he was slightly shorter than Lawrence but it was strange that he could walk with such an easy gait while laden with all the baggage that he carried. If he was a traveling merchant, he was surely one who traveled through harsh regions for a living.

  “Wow! What a splendid room.”

  “Normally, we wouldn’t be able to afford anything like it.”

  ”Haha! I suppose this counts as a professional perk. I too spent a time of luxury here at the start of the fall.”

  The man’s blonde hair was quite striking, perhaps because it had been cut very short. He had a cheerful tone of voice that made him seem quite amiable. Even Holo seemed surprised by it.

  “Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m a member of Phils Company, affiliated with the Ruvik Alliance. My name is Lago Pisky.”

  “Then allow me to reintroduce myself as well: I am Kraft Lawrence of the Rowen Trading Guild. I normally do my business on set routes on the mainland.”

  “Ah, then this is surely God’s work! I’m sure you can tell by my manner of dress, but I too am a traveling merchant.”

  After a quick exchange and handshake, Lawrence discovered the man’s palms were as rough as his own, and felt slightly more relaxed. Holo had picked up her breakfast and moved to the edge of the bed, so Lawrence invited Pisky to join him at the table.

  “So Mr. Deutschmann tells me the three of you plan on heading to the Brondel Monastery, correct?”

  Pisky didn’t strike Lawrence as hasty. He seemed the type that Lawrence rarely encountered; the type who’d rather spend his free time shaving the edges of silver coins then making idle conversation.

  “If possible, we want to head to the merchant-exclusive branch that’s closer to the main branch, and not the branch established for pilgrims.”

  Lawrence had no intention of revealing that they were searching for the wolf-deity’s bones. They had been unaware of the bone’s whereabouts prior to this, but having learned they were likely to be at the monastery made it a reckless thing to blurt out. Especially since Pisky was a member of the Ruvik Alliance.

  “..Since you were introduced by Mr. Deutschmann, I won’t inquire as to your purpose. But from what you just said, I take it that you’re not going to purchase wool?”

  His eyes looked straight into Lawrence’s. For someone to request a guide to the monastery, yet be unwilling to reveal why.. well, it only made sense that the guide would react thusly.

  Lawrence, however, was undaunted. He was convinced that Keeman and Eve’s trust bought him not only Deutschmann’s, but Pisky’s as well. Trust was like an invisible form of currency. Pisky’s face soon broke into a smile.

  “Well, whatever your reasons, I often guide people interested in witnessing our competition with the monastery first-hand, for a bit of side profit of course. I won’t push you any further. Besides, simply gathering some people often draws a much larger crowd.”

  A business deal couldn’t be established without potential customers. Taking that into account, one could see how attractive it was to do business in a place where many merchants gathered. Of course, it was important to not carelessly mention the kind of business one intended to do, if they sought large profits. Pisky was naturally aware of that.

  “The banner of the moon and shield shall always sway in the wind, so little things do not concern us.”

  Lawrence of course knew the unspoken line that was meant to follow that one: “However, anyone wishing to interfere with our business won’t be let off easily.”

  “My thanks. Of course I’ll have a large gift prepared as a token of our gratitude.”

  Pisky revealed a sincere smile at that, proving that he was indeed a merchant. They shook hands once more to symbolically establish a contract.

  “Then, as I am an impatient person, I wish to discuss our departure with you right away. Will everyone here be going to the monastery?”

  “Indeed. Will that make it difficult to use the purchase of wool as an excuse?”

  Setting aside Cole, Holo certainly didn’t look like anyone related to business.

  “Not at all, not at all. It’s not unusual for one to bring a clergy member along when seeking spiritual peace on a business journey. Besides, the atmosphere at the Brondel Monastery’s merchant branch is festive at the moment, so no matter who comes now he or she won’t particularly stand out. As long as you manage to pass the gates at the front entrance, you should be fine.”

  “That’s great news.”

  Lawrence did his best to sound relieved. He wasn’t putting on an act to fool anyone, but rather because Pisky sounded a bit too easy-going – it was a reminder to not let his guard down.

  “So, about our departure time..”

  “We can leave at any time.”

  “I see. To be honest, I’ve taken on the role of a liaison between the monastery and the trade companies on the mainland, so I must part ways as soon as possible to increase my own value.”

  Pisky’s self-conscious words seemed to be an intentional imitation of the roundabout way Winfieldians spoke. Lawrence looked at Holo and Cole. Both nodded to indicate that they had no problem with leaving right away.

  “This was our request, so even if we must leave straight away it won’t be a problem for us.”

  “Excellent. In that case I plan on departing at the noon-time bell.”

  “Will we go on foot?”

  “No, we’ll go on horseback. Though the snow here still hasn’t piled up, the monastery grounds are already covered in a thick layer. I’ll prepare the horses myself, but please do prepare your own food. Oh! And..”

  He smiled before mysteriously continuing.

  “There’s no need to exchange your money into local currency.”

  The first thing traveling merchants did when they came to a new region was exchange their currency. Lawrence made no attempt to hold back his laughter upon hearing a joke that only traveling merchants would understand.

  Chapter 2

  They rode on horseback, with Cole sitting up front and Lawrence at the rear, but it didn’t feel too crowded, even with Holo stuck between them. Long-haired horses were used to drag sleighs across the snowy plains of Winfield, which were as vast as the rumors claimed.

  “Curses.. such an arrogant-looking thing.”

  Those were the words that slipped from Holo’s mouth when they rendezvoused with Pisky and she lay her eyes on the horse he had prepared for them; those words left a deep impression on Lawrence.

  Of course her true form was considerably larger than the beast. Her indignant response to its giant physique was likely from her frustration at being so oblivious; the world she knew was tiny and insignificant compared to the vastness of the real thing. Mainland horses of this size were exceptionally rare.

  “Are you all set?”

  Pisky asked his question from atop the more modest horse he had straddled and taken the reigns of. Lawrence indicated that they were ready, though he left their own horse’s reigns alone: it already had a driver to guide it.

  Its immense body would have gone to terrible waste were it only carrying people. Even a humble mule could carry the carefully-positioned baggage of four adults, even if it could barely carry a child without panting.

  Lawrence looked back and saw it was pulling a cart with a mountainous pile of goods. On it were such things as food and liquor for the monastery’s merchant branch. He’d heard that by the time snow had covered the roads, such carts were replaced with sleds. Pisky’s job was to travel to and fro between the monastery and mainland companies, relaying information and transporting such goods.

  “Then let us pray to the gods for a safe trip.”

  That seemed a fitting ritual to begin a journey to a monastery. They made their departure after praying, in conjunction with the noon-time tolling of the church bell.

  The day’s weather was far from ideal and it was extremely cold. Although the “lid hadn’t covered them” ye
t, the snow on the dirt road had created a muddy, pant-leg-soiling mess for travelers on foot. And yet once they’d left town, the harvested fields that stretched farther than the eye could see were almost entirely covered in snow.

  The scene before them truly befit a kingdom nicknamed the country of grassy plains; the world was pure white no matter where one looked. They tracked a muddy trail behind them that stretched out beyond their range of vision.

  Everyone had dressed in several layers, and effectively looked like big round lump. On top of that, Lawrence and his companions had wrapped themselves in animal-skin coats and gloves that they borrowed from the inn.

  In spite of their dress, the freezing wind eventually found its way through to them as they rode on horseback. Before they knew it, Holo was holding Cole close to her and Lawrence was holding her.

  Silence presided over their journey. All they heard was the snow falling on their hoods and their own breathing, intentionally slowed to warm the freezing air before it entered their lungs. Even those sounds rang out clearly in the deadness. It was now apparent why northerners spoke so little, and why they didn’t open their mouths much when they did.

  In fact, it was also easier to see why silence was one of the rules monks imposed on themselves while on spiritual journeys: to conserve energy. The heavens were obscured with snowflakes, and it soon grew dark. Their journey hadn’t been particularly long, but they were still exhausted when they finally arrived at their lodgings after their first day.

  One revered monk had given up on speaking altogether, saying that talking “was a luxury.” The truth behind those words might be evident now, but Lawrence and his party were worldlier people than that monk. Holo was probably the worldliest of all, and her nerves seemed frazzled after that monotonous silence.

  She fell straight into bed without so much as brushing the snow off of her hood. Lawrence had no intention of scolding her. He knew the expression on her face was probably the same one that was on Cole’s right now, who had slumped onto a chair in exhaustion. It was the kind of soulless expression that revealed just how close one was to physical collapse.