“Be still.”
Holo forced his head back into its original position, then began running her comb through his hair. There was a blanket wrapped around the boy, so it was clear she had been trimming his hair.
In the meantime, Elsa held a threaded needle. Cole’s shirt had been removed, since he was under the blanket anyhow, and so Elsa was applying her skills to mend it. She kept eyeing it like she could salvage it - in much the same way she had eyed Cole himself earlier. She and Holo were both hoping to mend his destitute image, and Lawrence couldn’t help but imagine Cole felt quite the same way he had, when he was caught between Holo and that waitress.
“Well well, with tidy hair you are a completely different lad.”
Holo was right, it certainly was an improvement. Her proud smile was matched by her stance. And yet, Elsa wasn’t satisfied.
“It is all for naught to call something tidy when it will just be a mess again after a nap.”
Only someone who lived the life of a priest could get away with saying something like that. Elsa had just finished her own task. Despite the glower on her face, it was clear from her sigh that she was at least satisfied with her own mending job. As she handed Cole his shirt back, he fearfully put it back on.
“..”
It was dead silent in the room as Cole stared in disbelief at how nicely his shirt had turned out. Holo’s silence seemed to be born of her trying to keep her dignity.
“A torn wine skin will do nothing but leak. But it needs not be lavish, it only needs to be properly maintained.”
As he listened to Elsa, Cole seemed more like a serious apprentice than some pathetic wandering student. It didn’t matter that he still looked destitute.
“Messy hair is bad enough, but clothes make the man. And even they pale in importance to manners. Being polite and well-spoken should be everyone’s goal. Of course, strong faith is more important still, but we must all find that path on our own.”
It was like Elsa was delivering a lecture on a pulpit. She finished with a smile directed at Cole, leaving Holo too speechless to even show her displeasure. For Elsa to be preaching to Cole like that meant that Holo had probably started her fight while Lawrence was out.
Lawrence guessed that she’d probably just argued that manners were trivial. Someone like her could afford to say that, because all she needed to do was keep her fur tidy. Everything else was inconsequential. Lawrence was similar in that regard; function meant far more to him than form. That’s why he could be with Holo, after all.
Lawrence had no trouble dealing with a tarnished business image, but Cole wasn’t aiming to become a merchant, so he had little he could truly teach the boy. In this respect, Elsa was way ahead of him. She believed in helping others first, and she led by example.
Holo’s position wasn’t very good against someone like Elsa. Lawrence’s smile could only encourage her so much, so he prepared to open his mouth, but by then Cole had already turned to face her.
“I have never had my hair combed before..”
He was embarrassed.
“I’m so glad you were the first.”
Holo’s eyes went round, and she smiled in delight. Cole was worrying about her, even if she was losing to Elsa.
“Oh really? Then seek me out whenever you need to be set straight again.”
Elsa frowned, interpreting Holo’s words as an indirect attack, but Lawrence understood she was really grasping at straws. Not only because it was a tad unsightly of her, but also because she had revealed such an unnatural smile. But as Holo studied his mended clothes, she spoke up again.
“I can see young Cole growing to become a great man.”
“Which will hardly be a problem for him if he follows my instruction.”
Elsa couldn’t pass up the chance at a childish counterattack. But Holo didn’t even want to be beaten at being childish, so she stuck her face and tongue out at Elsa. Rather than growing angry, however, Elsa recoiled in surprise. Seeing that made Cole smile. Deep down, he was still on Holo’s side.
But deep down he was also realistic. He knew that he had to listen to Elsa over Holo. And that’s why Holo’s smile was also tinged with loneliness. She was a Wisewolf; she knew that even if Lawrence tried to push her to be more true to her own desires, it wasn’t going to happen overnight.
Being a tyrant wasn’t easy. Of course, Lawrence was just as realistic as Cole, but Holo didn’t have to worry about whose side he was on. That’s why he wasn’t surprised to see her ears flip up, or her face turn to his with a devious expression.
“And whose instruction will you follow, oh foolish one?”
At least the loneliness in her smile was gone when she said that. But what could he do? Holo was Holo. Just because she felt comfortable with him didn’t mean she wanted others to know it. He knew that because he was the same way. She wouldn’t have said that if she wanted him to be honest.
“Only the Lord above knows for sure.”
He continued her exaggerated act, and sure enough she turned it right back on Elsa.
“And since He does not reveal his will to me, I shall never know.”
Cole grinned, but Elsa was no naive girl. She shot out an immediate reply.
“Only one with no faith could say something like that.”
Holo’s tail then shot out, loudly enough for Lawrence to flinch into action. His business smile shot out, and he hopped up, instinctively putting himself between the two of them.
“Oh, that’s right! I nearly forgot!”
* * *
The room was silent in boredom after Lawrence revealed what Lou had told him. Holo was the most bored, as usual.
“I certainly could help him, but it would be time-consuming. You’d end up having to head back to Yoitsu on your own after that.”
Even the Wisewolf couldn’t find the words to reply. Helping Lou would also help ease one of Holo’s greatest concerns. But as always, time was the problem. If they stuck to their original plan, they would only end up worrying until they heard what happened with the book.
In the worst case, they would have let a chance to prevent a disaster slip through their fingers. Only regrets would remain if that happened. But time wasn’t on their side. Holo knew that better than anyone. She couldn’t even look at Lawrence, and just frowned at the ground.
This was just a simple question of whether or not they went to Yoitsu together. But Lawrence had invested so much of his life for that promise that she couldn’t look him in the eyes right now. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to make a decision. Letting her emotions sway her was not something the Wisewolf would permit when making such a decision. She had to protect that principle.
Lawrence wanted to speak up, but this was ultimately her choice. He knew what she would end up saying.. well, at least he believed he had it pinned down. That’s why he was patiently letting her think, and it was also why he let himself make such an error. She sighed and looked up at him.
“We can only chase after the fruit.”
Clearly that was the Wisewolf talking. He was surprised to hear that tone and see that smile right now, and it made him angry enough to speak up.
“Are you-”
But he stopped when he saw her glare back at him. She only did so long enough to get her point across though; reality wasn’t going to let her allow Lawrence to keep his promise to take her back to Yoitsu.
“You know what you promised me, but our actual terms were simply that you help me find my way home. And you have helped me find the way already, so now I have to take the least sad route there.”
That was true. The problem Lou uncovered was indeed the more pressing one, and anyone who followed the path of wisdom wouldn’t let their sadness cloud that judgment. It was true. He had no choice but to accept it. But it still didn’t help him feel any less crushed. This meant the world to him.
“I also remember that was not the only promise you made me.”
“It wasn’t?”
He w
asn’t sure what she meant. She stole a glance at Cole and Elsa before she continued with a smile.
“No, it was not. I owe you money, remember? You were so cruel that time, when you said you would chase me to the ends of the world if you had to, like the bitter merchant you are.”
Elsa and Cole didn’t believe her for a second, but when they saw how red Lawrence’s face was they gasped in shock. He had forgotten all about that.
“Did you really-!”
Elsa’s own face was suddenly red, and she was already turning on him. After all, tying someone down like that over a debt was too cruel to believe. Especially someone they cared about. Clearly Elsa saw nothing but pure evil sitting next to her.
“Wait, no! I can explain-”
“So you see, if my doing this will at least earn you profit enough to repay my debt, then even the stubbornest god should be able to forgive me.”
Elsa couldn’t believe what Holo was saying, and by the time she finally turned to see Holo’s fang-filled smile, she groaned in frustration and clapped her hands together in prayer.
“Lord help me, I do not have the strength to deal-”
“Speaking of deals, you told me it was ten days away, did you not? Then we should have just enough food and wine to keep me happy until we get there.”
Holo looked out the window as she carried on, as if her joke was itself a joke. Lawrence was so overcome he couldn’t even squeeze out the question his instincts were driving him to ask: did she really think that she would be able to bid him a fond farewell just because they had some good food?
He ended up swallowing that question along with his pride. Asking it would change nothing. She still couldn’t go back with Lawrence, and she was so used to forcing smiles that he wouldn’t be able to stop her if he tried.
“Then that is our choice. Go tell him. If you pass this chance up, you will regret it. All of that profit.. that should be reason enough for a merchant like you.”
He knew she was struggling just to force those words out. She wanted to be satisfied, and see him off as the merchant he was when they had met. The embarrassed smile on her face was begging him to not worry about her.
No matter how hard he pushed her to be willful, how forcefully he tried to get her to be true to herself, she couldn’t even do so to keep Cole with her. She was too embarrassed to admit being so defeatist, but Lawrence was the only one here she wouldn’t retreat from. He had to accept his fate, and take it with a nod.
“Of course. Here’s to an end as happy as the beginning.”
He did his best to end it on a beautiful note, but Holo was wholly unhappy with his words.
“You never know when to shut up, do you?”
“Wha-?”
He saw Cole smile, and decided all he could do was sigh and smile along.
* * *
Lawrence grabbed his coat and took a look out the window. With so many people on the road, evening mass was probably about to begin. His mind started wandering, realizing how strange it was to call it evening mass when church-goers attended it even before the sun began to set. What part of this was evening, especially during winter when they had to start even earlier to beat the sun?
At any rate, he had to hurry before the bell rang and all the shops closed on account of evening mass. The shops would be winding down now, so Lou might not even be around to talk to Lawrence. After all, Holo was right: if someone else beat him to the punch, he had no use for Lawrence anymore. He couldn’t afford to take his time.
“You’re not coming?”
Already set, he looked back at Holo as she lay in bed.
“What kind of Wisewolf would chase after such meager profit?”
He resisted the urge to call her out on how un-Wisewolf-like she looked sprawled out on the bed while combing her tail. His time was up, so he just shifted his glance to Cole. But before he could even ask if Cole wanted to join him, Holo beat him to it.
“Young Cole, at least you will stay with me, will you not?”
Elsa had already left to attend evening mass. If Cole left too, Holo would be all alone. But that wasn’t really a problem. This was just Holo’s last chance to spend some time with the boy. If she couldn’t beat Elsa directly, she could at least try when her back was turned. Ever the cunning wolf.
Cole stared at Lawrence, then Holo. He finally gave up, and shot Lawrence a look of apology.
“Fair enough, then I leave Holo to you. You know the drill; don’t open the door to strangers, don’t let her order all the food in the inn, and make sure you let the innkeeper know if you two head out. Right?”
Lawrence had to get his shots in while he could. Cole just smiled as he took a seat next to Holo. She was the furthest thing from cute, but what else was new? With that thought, Lawrence headed out.
* * *
Lawrence made his way through the crowds toward Flynn’s shop. Odds were that was where Lou was, and if he wasn’t then it was still a good place to start. Lawrence also had to prepare for his new circumstances. He was still traveling up north, but not to Yoitsu. He needed more than just directions.
He looked up at the steeple of the church in Lenos as he passed by. Most church-goers, including Elsa, would be congregated there right now, so now was a good time to see who was faithful. Anyone still working now wasn’t exactly the firmest believer. Otherwise they would have closed up shop and headed to mass already.
That didn’t mean everyone attending mass was a firm believer, of course. There were quite a few people who cared little about God, but still drank the holy wine. Just putting on such an act would improve their lives, whether they cared more about the flavorful wine or the teachings of God.
As he’d hoped, Lou was talking and drinking with Flynn when he arrived. Lou spun around quickly and stared at Lawrence, showing just how experienced he was at dealing with people like him.
“I accept.”
Lou intentionally remained quiet to give off a sense of appreciation. What a cunning guy. He then excitedly reached out for Lawrence’s hand.
“And here I thought God had given up on me.. I was this close to calling it quits.”
Still, the happiness he was showing this time clearly wasn’t an act. Courage, wisdom, luck.. merchants generally didn’t have a shortage of these things. It was cash they were strapped for.
“This is all way beyond my expectations. My intuition must be shot or something.”
Flynn couldn’t seem to believe they were shaking hands. He was holding a pen next to a ledger, possibly ready to act as notary. Actually, scratch that - promises were far more valued by a man who dealt with mercenaries, so calling him a mere notary would be underselling him.
“I still wonder why a guy with a girl and a kid would take such a risk.”
“This’ll be the last time.”
Flynn tilted his head and smiled, clearly taking those words lightly.
“Just how many times have I heard that from a mercenary, I wonder?”
That was actually more comforting to hear than Lawrence wanted to admit. He smiled inwardly at having such a naive hope.
“Well, I think you’re great. Flynn wouldn’t even give me the time of day.”
Lou was right back to normal again. Flynn didn’t stop writing, but neither did he smile. He spoke with open contempt.
“You’re kidding, right? I already deal with mercenaries. If I’m also seen dealing with those slave traders at Delink, I’ll be in real trouble. Hell, it wouldn’t just be the faithful casting aspersions.”
Town merchants had to stick to their guns. It was almost like they were being actively monitored. Traveling merchants could afford to just move on to another town if they got in a mess, but not town merchants. Any stain on their reputation would be there forever. That’s why vineyard owners never drank in bars, and why scale-makers never showed favoritism to moneychangers. They couldn’t afford the suspicion.
“Not us, we’ll be fine.”
Lou wrapped his arm around Lawre
nce’s shoulder, knowing Lawrence felt the same way. He wouldn’t have bothered Lawrence otherwise. They weren’t tied down here, and didn’t have to care about taking loans from slave traders. Their image wasn’t a concern.
Flynn sighed heavily, but at least he smiled. In his own way, he was probably wishing he could have a slice of their freedom. Being stuck in a city like Lenos could almost be as tough as having to make your way through the wilderness.
There was no such thing as the perfect place to be; that’s why people always ran themselves ragged to defend their tiniest bit of happiness.
“Damn, this is such a relief. I’m so glad I found you.”
“But all I can do is let you use my name to get in the door. There’s no way I can guarantee they’ll actually loan you anything.”
Lou nodded right away. Clearly he wasn’t just some dumb kid. He replied almost as quickly.
“I have to make sure they say yes. That’s my problem.”
He stood up tall, almost looking like some sort of gigantic pigeon.
“I’ll just overwhelm them with my mighty confidence!”
Lawrence simply nodded, having no way to compete with that kind of self-confidence. Lou finally decided to tone things down a bit.
“By the way, Flynn.. mind if we chat while you work?”
Flynn didn’t even bother stopping. He barely shot Lou a glance and a smile.
“Oh, was someone talking?”
Flynn was probably used to this. Holo would have grinned at that. Cole would be puzzled, of course, and Elsa would be irritated. Lou, however, happily nodded and turned back to Lawrence.
“You don’t mind either, do ya?”
Lawrence knew better than to object, so he simply nodded. Flynn kept right on working as they chatted away in front of him.
“There’s a town close to Endyma, the Ploanian capital, named Kinisen. One of the companies there has the book.”
Lawrence didn’t know where Kinisen was, but he had heard the name. He was disheartened to hear it was near Endyma, though. That was a good twenty days away. He was definitely stuck following Lou now, if Delink agreed to his loan. Otherwise if he did something stupid, it was Lawrence’s neck on the line, since he was the one who introduced him. Worse, this could easily take two months now. He would barely have time to make it back to the south if he left the moment this was all over.
Spice & Wolf XIV (DWT) Page 10
