Wolf & Parchment, Volume 2 Page 5

As he watched her run innocently around the stalls, he prayed that they could continue to live in peace like this for a long time.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The ship they were to sail on was much nicer than Col had imagined, large enough to squeeze a hundred people if they were herded on board like sheep.

  However, it was not a vessel meant only for them, nor did it belong to the Debau Company. One of their trade ships was apparently just now on its way back from the northern islands, and it would have been a waste of time to wait the several days it would take to unload then reload cargo. Instead, they decided to contract the ship of another company.

  They did not tell the captain of the ship their true intentions, since if the pirates who controlled the area found out they were working on behalf of the Kingdom of Winfiel’s political motives, then they might be watched or cause unnecessary misunderstandings. So they were acting under the premise that they were traveling priests, journeying all over to find a place to build a monastery on the orders of a certain noble.

  It seemed Hyland was aware that Col was rather conscious of how lying went against God’s teachings because she told him that one of her aristocratic relatives was truly thinking about searching for a spot to build a monastery. There were several deserted islands in the north, and as they were all desolate, their story would not attract doubt. What’s more, under the pretense of a monastery, it would be easy to ask about the Black-Mother, so it was the perfect plan.

  Their destination was a port town on the biggest island among the northern islands, Caeson. The journey was roughly two, three days long, and they went from island to island as if they were stepping-stones.

  They were instructed to ask the large number of merchants more about the northern islands while at the Debau Company trading house where they would be rooming on the first island.

  For the time being, they had to make sure they did not attract undue attention from the pirates who controlled the northern seas while investigating their true beliefs. The decision of whether or not to court them as allies was also a political decision, and of course, even if their faith was heretical, they would certainly make no attempts to convert them.

  “I’m grateful to hear that”—or so Hyland had said to them through the mouth of a messenger as they were about to depart.

  Considering how busy she was and how many subordinates reported to her, there was no way she could hold their hands for every step of their journey.

  Her consideration for them was clear enough in that she had sent them a messenger and put them on the biggest of commercial ships. Col had renewed his determination to work his hardest.

  “Well then, we will be your eyes and ears in their land.”

  He relayed that to the messenger, exchanged a firm handshake, and crossed the ramp onto the ship. The port town of Atiph was lively as always. Overhead was a beautiful blue sky, and there was no harsh wind. Col considered that it could be an easy journey.

  “I saved us a spot, Brother.”

  As he stepped onto the deck, Myuri’s face popped out from among the cargo. She was already wearing the practical deer leather wrap he had picked for her in the market around her waist and a woolen scarf from the Kingdom of Winfiel around her neck. On top of that, a hooded linen cloak rested on her shoulders. She was more than ready to face the coming cold. She had complained that it was not very cute, but that meant it had the advantage of making it difficult to discern her gender. A wandering priest searching for a site to build a monastery who traveled with a young girl would only create bad rumors.

  “You didn’t need to get any sort of…What, you mean here?”

  She was waiting at the back of the ship, beside a mountain of leather.

  “Why not the hold below deck? Isn’t it too cold to be out here?”

  The spot may have felt open underneath the sky, and perhaps the cargo was packed in a way that offered some protection from the wind, but he at least wanted walls. It was decidedly cold on deck.

  Then Myuri put her hands on her hips and tilted her head in astonishment, sighing.

  “Sheesh. This is why you are a novice when it comes to ships.”

  “What?”

  “The hold is dark and damp and a hotbed for rats, mites, lice, and flies!”

  The ship Col boarded on a long time ago had not been so bad, but Myuri had recently done a bit of menial work for the companies here in Atiph. Her experience from unloading cargo at the port could not be disregarded.

  “Erm…Fine. However, if it gets too cold, we’ll go downstairs.”

  Myuri shrugged.

  The work crews finished loading all the cargo before long. The ramp and the rope mooring the ship to the pier were removed, and then the anchor was lifted. There were about five people who were running the ship. There were about three or four others traveling as passengers besides Col and Myuri; they were all merchants.

  “Brother, look down.”

  Myuri, clinging to the ship railing, pointed to the surface of the water. He peeked over and watched just as long oars that reminded him of the bones in a bird’s wings slithered out. There were two on this side, so he surmised the ship was steered by four in total.

  “It’s because they can’t really use the sail in a port without wind. The plan is that once they get offshore and set course on the current, all that’s left for them to do is sleep until they reach the north.”

  He was shocked by Myuri, who delivered a confident explanation about something she likely overheard while working as an errand boy. Col smiled as he leaned against the railing and looked up at the sky. He could see a fine sail, waiting for its turn, as well as two masts for it—one in the front and one in the back.

  The ship was half as wide as it was long, seemingly stocky. It was typical of commercial ships to be filled with cargo instead of people. Coming from the northern seas, it would be laden with fish, amber, and ores such as iron; on the way there, it would carry wheat, wine, and dried meats, as well as finished metallic or wooden goods, or even leather goods like what surrounded them today.

  There were other larger ships moored at the port, but this was more than enough to store the entire market of a small town on board. Though he had traveled with a merchant when he was a child, Col keenly felt that trade conducted on the seas was on an entirely different scale.

  The ship drifted from the port toward the river by going under the giant chain that prevented naval attacks from the sea. He was finally starting to feel like they were truly departing on a sailing journey.

  “By the way, Myuri, do you get seasick?”

  From what he had heard from a merchant earlier, the best way to prevent seasickness was to avoid standing on deck as much as possible, focus on something far away, or simply sleep. He also warned him that no matter what, he should not look down and stare at his feet.

  “No, not at all. Look, Brother, look at all those fish! I want to jump in with a harpoon!”

  If her tail had been out, it would have been wagging excitedly. He looked up into the sky in exasperation at her typical attitude only to spot singing seabirds above them, perhaps suspecting there was fish in the cargo.

  Before he knew it, the ship had exited the port at the mouth of the river as the oars steered toward the coast. When he finally began to feel the wind on his cheek, he noticed he no longer heard the oars on the water, and then sweaty men emerged from below deck. They manipulated the rope that connected the yard and the sail, slowly turning the ship’s course northward.

  “Brother, Brother, we’re on top of the ocean! It’s so cool!”

  Myuri’s eyes sparkled beneath her hood. She had been born and raised deep in the mountains, so everything about the sea was new to her. Even if that was not the case, she was still much more excitable than others, and she would be adorably satisfied with her trip even with the wind gusting in her face.

  As Col watched her, he thought that allowing her to come along with him was really not that terrible a thing. At the end of the d
ay, there was nothing better than Myuri being happy.

  The sky was clear, the wind was not too strong, and between the cries of the seabirds and the lazy rocking of the ship, it felt like a drunken weekend day. In reality, he wanted to think about conveying the scripture into the common language and translations of abstract words that he would be satisfied with, but he suddenly felt drowsy. He suddenly found himself soaking in the baths back in Nyohhira during the daytime. Even though he knew it was a dream, he could not fight how relaxing it felt.

  While that was happening, the sound of rustling cloth jolted him awake.

  “Mm…Myuri?”

  He looked beside him, and there sat Myuri, hugging her knees. Her eyes were closed, but she did not seem sleepy, and her throat occasionally moved as though she was swallowing something.

  The ship was rolling back and forth, back and forth.

  She noticed him, and she looked as though she had heard a suspicious noise in the middle of the night.

  “Myuri, you’re pale…”

  That was all he managed to say before she suddenly stood and stuck her head out over the side of the ship. Before he could say anything, her back shivered and he could hear her retching. It seemed she could not stay the energetic and invincible girl she was.

  But for some reason he was glad, and though he felt sorry for her as he stood, he could not help but smile when he rubbed her back.

  “This is because you do not listen to me.”

  He took the opportunity to scold her and she glared at him, her face pale, but that energy was once again overwhelmed by nausea.

  She groaned for a while, but sicking up seemed to relieve her discomfort for the time being. She rinsed out her mouth with a drink from the waterskin, then spread her wrap out on the floor and loosened anything that was snug on her body, like her scarf. From what he had heard from the merchants at the Debau Company beforehand, the last step was to lie with one’s back on the floor and sleep; she would feel much better afterward.

  Laying her on her back, her complexion was terrible, and her breathing was quick and shallow. And yet, when he placed her head on his lap, she felt around for his hand and gripped it tightly. She was always throwing barbs at him for being an idiot or this and that, but there was still this sweet side to her, too.

  He felt safe in knowing that people could not die from seasickness as he felt the need to get some payback.

  “How would you be able to save me when the time comes like this?”

  Her eyes that were scrunched up in pain opened slightly as she pursed her lips, annoyed. To top it off, she sunk her fingernails into the palm of the hand she was gripping.

  “Brother, you…bully…”

  “I know, I know.”

  He patted her head. She immediately closed her eyes, perhaps thinking that she could not win no matter how hard she tried. He looked down at her, smiling, wishing she would behave at least half as well as this normally.

  “…Brother?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m gonna barf.”

  “What?! Just—just hold on a second!”

  Disregarding how flustered he was, Myuri rolled over onto her side, then glanced back at him. Her curled back shook violently several times as though she would vomit, and even Col’s face lost its color.

  He did not know whether to keep holding her thin shoulders or let go, but he needed to get her to the edge of the ship…And then, he finally realized it.

  “Eh-heh-heh…”

  Her expression still strained, Myuri smiled, having somehow gotten back at him.

  He would never be able to beat her in teasing and trickery.

  “Honestly…”

  He sighed in relief and irritation as Myuri rolled onto her back again. Of course, her head lay on his lap once more, and he had not let go of her hand. She was as white as a candle, but her stiffened lips had relaxed a bit.

  He was more impressed than angry with her spirit.

  “You’ve beat me.”

  He admitted defeat, eliciting a slight smile from Myuri, who then exhaled deeply. It seemed the tension in her body had eased; her breathing slowed.

  The best way to overcome seasickness was to sleep, he had heard.

  As he stroked his tomboyish little sister’s head, he bade, “Sleep well.”

  They passed several small islands and skerries, but there were no places that looked like they could serve as a stopping point for the ship. Journeys where he could not grasp the direction and distance were rough for Col, which was only exacerbated by traveling on unfamiliar seas.

  While he occasionally adjusted Myuri’s covers as she turned in her sleep, the sun finally started setting. The wind stung him while the sound of the waves grew steadily more unbearable, when a rather massive silhouette of an island came into view. Realizing the ship was headed straight in that direction, he felt relieved. It was likely where the Debau Company had a trading house that Hyland had described.

  “Myuri.”

  He shook her small shoulders and she opened her eyes, seeming quite groggy.

  “We’re almost to the port. It’s almost time to get off.”

  Though she was most certainly looking at him, he was not sure if she was completely conscious yet.

  “Do you still feel sick?”

  There was no response besides an unsteady stare. Then, she closed her eyes and nodded once.

  She seemed like a weak, young child.

  “So you’re all right.”

  He patted her on the head, and she groaned deep in her throat.

  “We have lots of luggage, so I won’t be able to carry all that plus you. You’ll have to get ready on your own.”

  She was sulking deliberately, which meant she had recovered considerably. After finally conceding, she sat up either because she knew he saw right through her or because she remembered that she was in the middle of an adventure. That being said, she was still not in the best condition, so he wrapped the blankets and other bulk items onto his luggage.

  “When we get off the ship, make sure you don’t fall into the water.” He spoke seriously, but she just lightly slapped his back with a frown.

  The ship steadily drew closer to the port. By the time Col could see the faces of the workers on the ships moored there, the sailors had already begun to efficiently fold the sail. Then, the pilot stood at the bow and shouted orders to the helmsman at the stern of the ship. The vessel glided across the water and safely came to rest in port.

  A ramp was set into place, and soon men who looked like dockworkers rushed onto the ship at the same time. The sailors and merchants began their exchange with them.

  Col was unsure if it was all right for them to simply disembark, but it occurred to him that he and Myuri would only be in the way if they stayed on deck, so he pulled Myuri’s hand and they quickly got off. The ramp was not as solid as the one in Atiph, which made him nervous, but they crossed safely in the end. Feeling solid ground after half a day at sea gave him a great feeling of relief.

  “All right, next, we’ll be staying with the Debau Company trading house…”

  In the middle of readjusting the luggage on his back, he noticed Myuri had stopped, staring blankly. He approached her, thinking it could have been vertigo or anemia, but as she gazed at the island, she murmured, “…It looks so sad.”

  The chaotic sight consisted of seabirds circling annoyingly above people jostling or hustling against one another, while stray dogs and cats skulked around, hoping to pilfer fish from fishermen who were nowhere to be seen. There were several docked ships, including many large ones, but besides the sailors actively working on them, there was no one around. He could count the number of big buildings on one hand, and most were fenced in.

  On top of it all, behind those buildings were bare hills without a single tree in sight. Had they been blanketed in snow, it would have been a different story, but the remaining patches of snow that dotted the landscape only made it seem even colder. White, bone-like drift
wood was scattered along the beach that extended from the port, emphasizing the loneliness.

  Even the sailors who had arrived on the same ship as them had not let slip a peep of chatter as they walked hunched over toward the building that would be their inn for the night. This was not the sort of place that impressed the need for friendly banter.

  To a girl born and raised in Nyohhira, a village filled with song, dance, and the sounds of laughter nestled deep in the mountains, such a bleak atmosphere was unimaginable.

  “I’m here.”

  He gripped Myuri’s hand through his deerskin gloves, and she stared up with beautiful eyes between her hood and scarf.

  “You remind me of yourself sometimes, Brother.”

  After she said that, she bumped him with her shoulder.

  “And? Where are we staying tonight?”

  “We’re about to search for someplace to stay, but I do not think we’ll get lost.”

  “I want to be by a fire as soon as possible!”

  The coastal sunset was certainly terrifying and cold. Together, they walked along the empty, lonely port.

  There were few buildings along the beach, so it was not difficult to immediately pick out the Debau Company trading house. It looked like the stately house from Atiph was trying to pass the winter here as the wind blew against it. The raised flags also blew lifelessly in the cold wind, almost as though they had long given up resisting.

  He knocked on the heavy door, perhaps meant as a measure against storms. Before long a hairy, round-bellied merchant appeared.

  “Oh? This is unusual. A traveling father?”

  “We are on a journey to the northern islands for certain reasons. Here is a letter of introduction from Sir Stefan from the trading house in Atiph.”

  Of course, it was something that Hyland had written on his behalf.

  “Oh?”

  The merchant narrowed his eyes, and when he took the letter, he moved his large body to the side.

  “Well, it’s cold out there. Why don’t you come in?”

  “Thank you.”

  They stepped over the threshold into a needlessly large atrium where the floor was exposed, packed earth, exactly the same as it was outside. Obligatorily placed there were small tables and chairs, ill matched for the size of the space. Far on the opposite wall hung a map of the region and a flag displaying the company’s emblem. The room’s leisurely atmosphere slightly softened the bleak air that permeated from outside.