Spice & Wolf VI

by Isuna Hasekura

  It would no longer be fast enough to catch up with Eve.

  But since catching a horse would be even more impossible, this was the only other way.

  “Then, once we’ve strong-armed whatever that company was called, we’ll come back up the river to the town from yesterday. And after that?”

  “The Jean Company, yes. And we’re not going to strong-arm them. We don’t have the resources for that. I just want to put out some feelers. And after that...” Lawrence looked far off into the distance, then back at Holo. “We’ll decide when we get there.”

  Holo knitted her brow at this, but this alone could not be helped.

  What Holo truly hated was that the conversation would end here.

  “Always so stubborn,” said Lawrence with a smile.

  “Who’s stubborn?” asked the stubborn Holo.

  She was apparently determined to feign ignorance.

  Instead of challenging her on it, Lawrence decided to get right to the point. “It looked like you wanted to bring Col along.”

  Holo’s lips visibly curled into a sneer. “I was only trying to bring him over so that when I leave, you wouldn’t be too lonely. If you’ve no use for him, there’s no need, is there?” she shot back, her speech rapid-fire.

  It had actually been a simple explanation, free of emotion.

  But Lawrence said nothing and just looked at Holo.

  He knew that she understood well enough herself.

  As he expected, eventually she could take it no longer, and she finally spoke.

  “You’ve gotten rather tough.”

  Her expression was hardly one he would expect a compliment to come from, but he took it as a compliment nonetheless.

  Holo seemed to resign herself. “I don’t remember when it was, but once I met a boy and girl about his age on my travels,” she said, exasperated.

  “Oh?”

  “The pair were like baby chicks and didn’t know right from left. Nothing is more dangerous than such ignorance. I cared for them for a while, traveling with them. It was rather fun, in truth. This makes me think of that.”

  No doubt she meant it.

  But the truth of something was not everything.

  “Also, I simply like the boy,” confessed Holo flatly. “Is that enough for you?”

  She looked up at Lawrence through narrowed eyes.

  “Would you really turn jealous of a child like that?” her impatient eyes demanded.

  “I wish I could say, ‘Right then, let’s bring him along,’ of course–” Lawrence shrugged. “But I can’t.”

  “I’ll just bet.”

  One reason was because he was about to approach some dangerous business dealings.

  Another reason was that it would make hiding Holo’s true identity continuously difficult.

  And the last reason–

  “What’s the last reason?” it was Holo’s turn to ask.

  If he didn’t spit it out, she’d tear his throat out.

  “I like traveling with just us two.”

  But there was no longer any stubbornness or embarrassment in saying so.

  Therefore, it was not something Holo would tease him about.

  It was hasty to believe that familiarity bred contempt.

  At Lawrence’s words, Holo’s expression suggested that she understood, and her hand squirmed a little ticklishly in his.

  “I guessed the reasons were something like those, yes. And also–”

  “Also?”

  “You said it when we first met him, did you not? That if he wouldn’t seek his own salvation, you wouldn’t venture to help him.”

  Which meant that if Col didn’t ask to come along, Lawrence wouldn’t offer.

  Lawrence was about to reply, but stopped.

  He thought of Col, stumbling over his words as they parted.

  Surely he had been about to ask to be taken along.

  Col surely had overheard Lawrence and Holo’s conversation about the wolf-god’s bones.

  And if so, then he could hardly fail to take interest–having himself come from a village not so very far from Yoitsu.

  If Lawrence intended to verify the truth of the stories, Col might well wish to know.

  It was entirely plausible.

  But when he had become tongue-tied, the reason it had tortured him so was no doubt because logic told him to return to school as quickly as possible.

  Lawrence was sure this was true. “Well, even if he’d asked to come along on our travels, I would have refused.”

  Holo was about to protest that that wasn’t what he’d promised, but without some selectivity, she would be in trouble.

  “Now if he’d said, ‘If you turn me down, I’m prepared to die,’ I might think about it.”

  “So you’re saying you don’t want anybody interfering with the two of us for less than that, then?”

  A short pause.

  “Fine, fine.”

  “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

  “I did not.”

  Though their words seemed meant to drive each other away, the two continued to hold hands as they walked.

  Lawrence, of course, understood that Holo had unilaterally decided to get close.

  As for what Holo was thinking–it went without saying.

  “Well then, do you think we can safely stray from the road now?”

  Even if they were to look behind them, Ragusa and Col were out of sight.

  The Roam River flowed silently beside them, and no one was around.

  If they were to walk at a right angle to the river, they would be in the middle of vast plains. And there, Holo could become a wolf unwatched by human eyes.

  Fixing his grip on Holo’s hand, Lawrence started to head into the unpopulated wilderness.

  And then– “What’s wrong?”

  Holo had stopped.

  He looked back at her, assuming she was playing at something, but she was looking dumbly back down the river.

  “Is there something there?”

  Lawrence felt a faint premonition.

  And it must be said, a certain anticipation.

  Near a town was one thing, but farther out than that, and these roads were near deserted come early morning.

  Yet Lawrence saw a single figure running toward them up the road.

  Still and silent, he stole a glance at Holo’s face as she watched the figure and sighed, amused. “You certainly do like children.”

  Holo’s ears twitched.

  To Lawrence’s faint surprise, it was close to the same twitch she used when he’d made a verbal slip.

  What did he say wrong? Lawrence thought it over and could think of nothing.

  Without looking at him, Holo spoke. “And what if I were to answer that I do like children–what would you do then?”

  It was a strange question.

  “What would I do? I don’t suppose I’d do any–ah...”

  He had unconsciously let go of Holo’s hand, but Holo would hardly let him escape.

  She snatched his hand up as though she were a cat catching a butterfly and pulled him back in.

  Beneath her hood she wore a combative smile.

  “I do like children, don’t I? Do I not?”

  “Urgh...” Lawrence cursed his careless choice of words.

  “Hmm? What’s that?” Holo’s tail flicked rapidly.

  Lawrence could think of no objections or retorts.

  The only thing to do would be to change the subject by force.

  Just then, Holo gave up her attack. “Ah, well, I am the one who came to travel with you, after all. I’ll leave such decisions in your hands,” she said, stepping away from him.

  Lawrence had a nervous sweat on his back–but the figures identity went without saying.

  Col was heading toward them.

  And he had hardly been sent to deliver some forgotten article.

  Lawrence cleared his throat, trying to clear his verbal failure from a moment before.

  From H
olo’s chuckling, there would be no further pursuit.

  “Well, if we wind up traveling together, you’re not going to be able to groom yourself as you please,” said Lawrence.

  Holo gave a great sigh; it was not a joke, and Lawrence winced.

  “Males always think themselves special,” she said.

  “…”

  “Think of where he’s from. I suppose we’ll just have to see whether or not he finds my form terrifying.”

  Lawrence did not reply to those words, as Holo’s face was suddenly timid.

  Unlike the Church, which would hunt her down as being demon possessed, a person from the northlands might simply fall prostrate before her.

  Having gotten along so well with Col, Holo certainly would have hurt feelings if she received such treatment from the boy.

  “Well, we’ll hear his reason and decide from there,” said Lawrence lightly.

  Holo nodded, and it was but a moment later that Lawrence was able to finally hear Col’s footsteps as he ran up the road.

  Col seemed to be running with all his might, and when he got within earshot of Lawrence and Holo, he abruptly slowed his pace; then, looking as if he might collapse, he stopped entirely.

  He did not come any closer.

  He was close enough for his voice to carry.

  Lawrence said nothing.

  Those who wanted something had to knock upon the door.

  “Um!” Col managed to shout, his breath ragged.

  He’d cleared the first barrier.

  “Did I forget something?” Lawrence asked, playing dumb.

  Col bit his lower lip.

  He was surely anticipating being refused.

  Children always assume that adults will fulfill their every request.

  He’d cleared the second barrier.

  Col shook his head.

  “I-I have a favor to ask.”

  Beside Lawrence, Holo stirred, perhaps trying to hide her face beneath the hood.

  If Holo’s caring for the boy hadn’t been a strategy to get Lawrence to take him as an apprentice, then she probably couldn’t stand to see him walk this tightrope.

  But Col cleared the third barrier easily.

  It took a lot of courage to ask what one knew would be re fused.

  “What might that be? If it’s traveling expenses, I can’t help you,” Lawrence said.

  Col’s eyes did not waver at the deliberate jab.

  Lawrence wanted to just say “sure” for once.

  If the rest went like his usual business, he would be able to readily agree.

  “N-no, it’s not that. I just–”

  “You just?” Lawrence asked, and Col looked at the ground for a moment, then balled up his fists and looked back up.

  “You’re going to go see the truth about the wolf of Rupi, aren’t you? Please take me with you! Please!” Col said and took a step forward.

  Col was hardly going to steal from them in the night, and his character was perfect for an apprentice.

  But that was exactly why Lawrence wanted him to be able to pursue his own goals.

  After all, he could not guarantee that his travels with Holo would henceforth bear much fruit.

  They were searching for the truth behind a dangerous rumor.

  “You may not make any money,” warned Lawrence. “And there may be danger. And the rumor might turn out to be a barefaced lie.”

  “I don’t mind if it’s a lie! I can put myself at ease. And I’m fine with danger. If it wasn’t for you, I would have died alongside this river!” said Col, swallowing hard.

  No doubt he’d gotten thirsty, dashing up this cold, dry length of road.

  Which was why when Col dropped his threadbare burlap sack, Lawrence assumed it was to get a drink of water.

  He soon realized that was not it.

  “I can return the money I received, I think. And–” He thrust his hand into the bag, then pulled it out.

  His small hand held something tightly.

  “P-please!”

  “You can’t go back to Mr. Ragusa’s boat now.”

  At Lawrence’s words, something like a tearful smile appeared on Col’s face.

  In Col’s hand was a red copper coin.

  Lawrence didn’t have to look closely to know–it was a newly minted eni.

  The boy was determined.

  Col looked straight at Lawrence.

  “...”

  Lawrence let go of Holo’s hand and scratched his head.

  Col had gotten this far; there was no reason to refuse.

  No matter how prepared he might be, just thinking about it, Lawrence could hardly turn him down.

  For reasons all his own, Col had come all the way south to Aquent to study, been kicked out, then wandered the land.

  And he’d never wavered, Lawrence knew.

  Lawrence looked at Holo.

  “Are your tests quite finished?” her eyes demanded.

  “Fine, fine!” said Lawrence, as though out of patience, and Col’s face broke into a huge smile, and he clasped his chest and slumped in relief at having made it across the tightrope.

  “However–,” Lawrence continued, and the boy winced. “If you’re going to travel with us, there is something you should know.”

  He knew he was being a bit overdramatic, but having gotten this far Lawrence, too, wanted the boy to come along.

  There was a chance Col had taken the night lookout duty in order to steal a copper coin from Ragusa’s boat, after all.

  “Er...what...is it?”

  Holo looked around, then untied the sash around her waist with a practiced hand.

  Lawrence wondered if the relish with which she did so was his imagination.

  Holo could easily grasp another’s thoughts.

  She had already long since anticipated what Col’s reaction would be.

  Though he didn’t yet understand why, Col saw that Holo seemed to be taking her clothes off, and he stiffened. Lawrence came over, and taking him by the shoulder, he turned him around.

  Swissh, swissh came the sound of unwrapping silk. Col looked up at Lawrence, his face red with confusion.

  Such a naive lad, thought Lawrence, but when he realized Holo must think much the same thing when looking at Lawrence himself, his thoughts were complicated.

  “–nchoo!”

  The sneeze was Holo’s.

  And as for the outcome of the bet–

  Holo was the winner.

  How can Cols reaction be described?

  He cried out, to be sure.

  And it was a grand cry indeed.

  But it was clear that it was not a fearful cry.

  His face was near a smile and near tears, as well.

  When Holo licked Col’s face with her great tongue, he fell clear on his backside, and Lawrence finally found the words to describe Col’s reaction.

  It was like a boy meeting his hero.

  That was exactly it.

  “You seem dissatisfied.”

  When Holo had first shown her wolf form to Lawrence, he’d mistakenly shied away

  So he could hardly complain when she grumbled this at him and nudged his head with her nose.

  Once Col had regained his composure, he’d made a hesitant request, which they were now fulfilling.

  “That tickles. Are you quite finished?” Holo swished her tail, and out from behind it appeared Col.

  Who would have thought that his first reaction upon seeing Holo’s form would be to ask if he could touch her tail?

  The request had surprised Holo, too, and she had been so delighted that her tail had wagged enough to make it hard for Col to touch.

  “I suppose this was fated somehow,” said Lawrence, folding up Holo’s clothes and packing them away.

  “Ah–er, so you’ll take me with you, then...?” Col realized that in all the fuss of seeing Holo’s true nature, he had completely forgotten his original request, and he quickly returned to himself.

  “We’d be in trou
ble if the Church found out about us. We can’t very well let someone who knows go free,” said Lawrence with mischief in his eyes, patting Col’s head. “But stealing copper coins from Ragusa s boat was going a bit too far.”

  The amount wasn’t much, but theft was still theft.

  When the chests arrived in Kerube, it would be Ragusa who would take the blame.

  “Uh, the–copper coins?” Col’s reaction was a bit strange. “I didn’t actually steal those.”

  “Oh?” asked Lawrence. Holo, too, seemed interested and lay on her belly next to the other two, listening.

  “Actually I figured out the reason why the copper coin chests don’t add up.”

  “Wha–?” Lawrence found himself exclaiming, leaning forward, and with more than a little frustration. “...And then what happened?”

  “Er, yes, well, I planned to steal some at first. Once I understood the reason the amounts didn’t add up, it seemed like it would be easy.”

  Lawrence remembered Col the previous night, lining up coins under the moonlight.

  Had he figured everything out by then?

  “That’s why I volunteered for the night watch. I thought even if I told you I wanted to go with you, you might refuse, and...but Mr. Ragusa had been really nice to me, and I couldn’t just steal from him, so...I told him everything. That I wanted to go with you and Holo and also that I wanted to trade the information about the copper coins for my boat fare.”

  Ragusa’s conflicted face came to Lawrence’s mind.

  “So where did you get those coins?”

  “I got them from Mr. Ragusa. But not out of the chests–he gave them to me out of his own coin purse. For luck, he said. And also–”

  “And also so that when you caught up to us, you could pretend you’d stolen them and couldn’t go back,” said Holo, and Col smiled apologetically.

  “That’s right.”

  Ragusa really had taken a liking to the boy.

  And yet he’d spoken out for him, despite his own feelings.

  Lawrence almost wanted to tell Col to give up on the path of learning and go become Ragusa’s apprentice instead.

  “So that is that. Shall we be off, then? People are coming,” said Holo, raising her head and looking far off into the distance.

  It would be bothersome if they were spotted by travelers.

  Lawrence and Col hastily got to their feet and resumed their preparations to leave, but just as Col was climbing upon Holo’s back (at her urging), Lawrence said, “I have one thing to ask you.”