Wolfe Pack (8 page)

“You wish to talk?”

Keera nodded ever so slightly and he waited, there was no need to push. She sighed,

“I am an ass.”

This time Wollfen said nothing, he knew she wasn't expecting anything in return just yet. Then she went on,

“You know I have spent so many years seeking love from so many men, I bed them all and when they are done I am cast aside.” She paused staring, Wollfen kept quiet still waiting. Then she went on, “What's wrong with me Wolf? Why can't any man love me?”

“Sex is not love Keera, it's a good feeling, it can certainly drive your passion as well, but that's not what love is.” She looked somewhat confused,

“So what's love?”

This time it was Wollfen's turn to be quiet, how was he going to explain that?

“It's a hard thing to explain Keera, love is something that goes far beyond physical attraction or sexual desire. It's something that gives you a desire to be with another in many other ways, wanting to share everything you do, but then it can also mean other things too. I am not sure I am doing a good job of explaining.”

Keera lay there quietly thinking about what he had just said, it wasn't much but for her, it was different to what she knew.

“I've only known physical attraction thinking that's all that's needed, I haven't felt more than that before, is it something I can learn?” He nodded,

“Of course it is, you are young and still changing, it will come with some work.”

Keera looked on in quiet contemplation, so many thoughts were rolling around in her head.

“I realized something tonight, I was walking around thinking so much and it struck me, I feel so empty inside, all my life I haven't gotten anywhere, I really don't know what I want.” He smiled, that was normal for any young person,

“A lot of people feel that way, we can spend so many years of our life finding our place in the world, but it will come. As you learn and discover, you will get to understand what you need.” She looked at him carefully now, his words meant a lot to her.

“You sure do know a lot huh? I think I could learn a lot from you. Us meeting wasn't just chance was it?”

“I don't think that there is any such thing as chance in the world, I think all things happen and play out with some higher purpose.” Keera looked on in slight wonder,

“Are you speaking of the gods?”

“Heck, maybe so, but I am not going to say I am any sort of expert, let's just say I have been around long enough to see that things do seem to follow a pattern.”

Keera's demeanor brightened and she took solace in his words, it made her feel better about things including her life. This was something she hadn't experienced before and it was in some ways a little exciting. Yes, meeting this man had opened her eyes to something new, what that was she wasn't sure but it gave her a sense of purpose to be with this group. She got up and walked over to the chair nearby sitting herself down,

“Thanks Wolf, you given me a lot of food for thought, mind if I spend the night right here?”

“You don't want to get a bed from the tavern owner?” She shook her head,

“No, I'm not going to sleep, too much on my mind. Don't mind me, I am fine in this chair.” Wollfen wasn't going to argue, he was tired,

“Very well, if you need a blanket I think there is a spare in the chest at the end of the bed.”

Wollfen then rolled over pulling his blanket up and promptly fell asleep.

The next day found Wollfen sitting in an office of a low level official by the name of Oberton discussing the border situation in regards to orcs, there were no surprises here,

“Over the past year we have seen increased activity by orcs attacking caravans traveling the eastern most roads and also attacking the more isolated farms. I can't say we have seen any organized effort by any orc groups. That attack to the far north on the Nightclans a year ago appears to be an aberration.”

Wollfen mulled the news, it was true all along the eastern borders. While there was increased incursions by small numbers of orcs there was nothing like what had happened up north. Was it in fact just a local reaction by orcs in the north to the presence of the Nightclans? He didn't think so, the clans had been riding those wilds for hundreds of years.

“Well, if you could give me a written report attesting to those facts it would be most appreciated, I will return all such communications to Lord Cazzara in Gevalia.” The official thought that to be odd,

“Why Lord Cazzara? His influence certainly doesn't carry this far south. Heck, not even Kassandrea bothers sending anyone here.” Wollfen understood the mans confusion,

“Yes under normal circumstances the administration wouldn't bother with having come here but since Lord Cazzara was charged with obtaining a complete picture of the orc question and its possible ramifications he has taken the responsibility to heart and is making sure that a proper job is done for all the Kingdom. That includes this place.” The man nodded with a grim smile,

“Kudos to the Lord for bothering.”

Wollfen understood the man's cynical view, Outrock was almost a forsaken backwater of no interest to anyone in the Kingdom.

“I will write up a report within the next couple of days, I have got much work to do. I take it you will wait around for it?”

Wollfen nodded and considered the time frame, he certainly was not looking forward to sitting around for the next few days though,

“I tell you what, I will lead a scouting party to the south east maybe a day or two ride from here, I want to see for myself what the land is like anyway.” The officer waved his hand,

“What you do with your time is your business, it won't cost us anything. Wait, this journey won't be charged to us will it?”

“No, all my expenses are being covered by the crown, you need not worry, I won't be dipping into the town's coffers.”

“Very good, come back on the morn of the third day and your report shall be ready.”

Wollfen nodded and walked outside. He looked up and noted the sun was harsh today, it would be a hot one for sure. There wasn't a cloud on the sky either. There was no rain and no cloud cover to give relief from that biting heat. He sauntered back to the tavern and caught up with the other three sitting in a booth.

“We won't be moving out today, the report won't be ready until three days from now.”

The others gave an audible moan, sitting around in this sun bleached backwater with no entertainment would drive them all crazy.

“Have no fear, I intend on us taking a short journey to the south east, I want to have a look around.”

There was no cheer at that either, it wasn't a much better prospect, instead of sitting around drinking ale in this heat they would be out on the trail in the direct sun and there would be no ale at all.

“Well at least we won't be bored.” Quipped Kane.

“Don't worry, I think we shall leave the start of our journey until later this afternoon, it is a hot day.” The others welcomed the news, “I am going to go have a look at the pitiful excuse for the markets they have here, I want to see what wares can be had.”

The rest nodded as Wollfen turned and left again, he was welcome to go, they wouldn't be following.

It was maybe a five minute walk to the center of town where the traders had their stalls set up. All manner of spices, fabrics and farming tools were readily seen and of no particular interest, it was the typical range of goods you would normally see. After walking along awhile having the vendors each push their wares in his face and be rejected by him.

Wollfen finally came to a stop in front of a small stall that gave off a range of different fragrances. The table was covered in small blocks of something that he didn't immediately recognize, picking one up he smelt and felt it. Of course, it was soap, a local home made variety too. He picked through a couple of them smelling each and feeling the texture. There was sandalwood, jasmine and some sort of musky smelling odor to one too. He looked across to the vendor, a young woman fanning herself as she sat sweating lightly.

“Do you have any rose smelling soap?”

She nodded and pointed to the rear row on one corner. Picking it up Wollfen once again gave it the smell test, it was quite pleasant. He picked up another and then chose eight assorted bars of the other scents. Looking across with a questioning look the girl held up five fingers,

“Five coppers thanks.”

He handed her the coins and she placed the soap in a small cloth bag for him,  giving his thanks he moved off.

Wollfen spent maybe another twenty minutes doing the rounds but nothing else caught his fancy and he returned to the tavern. Keera was still there drinking an ale but the other two were gone. Sitting down he gave her a questioning look to which she pointed towards the rooms with her thumb over her shoulder. He nodded in understanding and dumped his purchases on the table,

“Here take a pick of two bars for yourself, the rose smelling ones I am keeping.” Keera gave him a curious look,

“You want to smell like roses?” He chuckled,

“No no, they are for Darkling back in Comberwell.”

“Yeah, I am sure you will smell quite dapper after your next bath.”

He didn't even bother answering her tease, just rolled his eyes and took the rose soaps out. Keera picked two different scents for herself and laid them on the table set aside from the rest.

Wollfen meantime signaled for the barmaid to bring over a drink. He looked around and noted the place was very quiet. Keera was quiet too, but she seemed to be fine. He was sure after last night that she had come to her own decisions. Earlier in the morning she had given him a hug when he awoke. During breakfast they talked about their continuing journey and he understood she meant to stay.

The afternoon wore on and the other two came and joined them, there was some idle chit chat but nothing of consequence, no one was really looking forward to the ride. Out there it would be dusty, dry and hot.

Finally Wollfen motioned for them to move and they all fell in line. Walking out to the stables they saddled their horses and tied their packs with supplies on the back. Mounting all at once they led off through the doors and down the road heading east. Once outside the gates of the town Wollfen scanned the far mountains and surrounding countryside, it was all pretty typical for the area but he did make mental notes of landmarks for their journey.

Ten minutes into the ride he swung southward at a fork in the road, ahead it looked far less traveled than the other, it was what he wanted. Anything happening further out on the more commonly used road would have reports filter back as a matter of course. No he wanted to see if there was any orc activity in the less traveled areas. He knew there were outposts and farms that kept to themselves. Even some loners who liked living apart from everyone else. They spent the rest of the afternoon slowly making their way along the partially overgrown lane, the further on they went the less obvious its existence.

The four of them were grateful for the late afternoon start, even now the sun was biting.  It finally started getting cooler just before the edge of the sun hit the horizon behind them. It was a good thing to have it at their back too. As evening closed and darkness started to fall Wollfen motioned for them to halt in a valley up ahead, there was  the sound of a large stream too and they pulled up near it. Dismounting Wollfen motioned to Kane and Solynne who without word began preparing a fire as he went to the pack horse and removed a sack of food. Keera grabbed a couple of bedrolls and laid them out next to where Kane was preparing a pile of twigs.

Within minutes Kane had gotten a spark going care of a flint and striker he carried, he was good at this sort of thing having been a blacksmith's apprentice. Wollfen rigged up some branches pushed into the ground either side of the small fire and set it up with a third stick over it on which he had pierced some partially dried meat. Three of them sat cross legged on the rolls with Keera stretching out beside Wollfen. They spent their time watching the flames as the meat started to give off a rich aroma that made all their mouths water in anticipation.

“Hey, do you think we will see much tomorrow?”

Keera was looking up at Wollfen, he shrugged his shoulders with a slight shake of his head,

“I can't say, there hasn't been any signs along this track all afternoon of any activity at all, not even any sighting of settlements. I was hoping to come across a farmer or some such person I could talk to.” Kane didn't think there would be anything,

“You know apart from that incident with those orcs a couple days out of Outrock it has been very quiet down in this region, I don't think the orcs are traveling down this far south.” Wollfen agreed with his observation,

“Yeah I think you are right Kane, I think the orcs are only menacing the Kingdoms more populated areas which is strange too. They could easily travel around here and not run into any resistance at all down here and even further south. Yet they seem to be in greater numbers wherever there are more people.”

“I wonder what it means?”

No one had an answer and they sat in silence once more staring at the flames, all of them lost to their own thoughts.

Wollfen was thinking about Darkling and how she was doing, hoping she wasn't fretting. He was actually looking forward to starting back to Comberwell, this scouting trip had proved uneventful and rather dull. Oh well, it was only a few days more and they would be on their way back, he had a mind to go slower as well. There was no rush, Dark would still be recuperating from her wounds.