by Taft, Nicole
“What the hell was that?”
“Giant, probably,” he said, smiling down at my hand on his arm.
I stepped away from him, trying to figure out why my heart was beating so fast. “Giant?”
“Falling down. They do that from time to time. They’re quite clumsy.”
The sun arose slowly, its rays cut into wedges by the trees. I’d been so preoccupied before, I hadn’t noticed that it was springtime here, not fall. Little flowers with white teacup blossoms emerged from the carpet of dead leaves here and there. Occasionally a few birds flitted by, chirping to one another. I didn’t see any small animals like I usually did though. No chipmunks bouncing along branches lying on the forest floor. No squirrels rustling in the underbrush on the hunt for fallen nuts. No rabbits munching on the green shoots sprouting up. I suspected it had something to do with Wolf being nearby.
Wolf looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “Last night you said you protect wolves. How?”
I shrugged. “I just tell people about them. I explain how without wolves, the deer and other animals would overpopulate and cause problems. That wolves aren’t the kind of threat everyone thinks they are and how they’re really quite afraid of people. I talk to a lot of kids too. I go to schools and tell them about wolves and how they should be protected. A lot of farmers get angry when a wolf kills a cow. They think the entire pack is going to eat their herd. Bunch of idiots.” I kicked a rock.
He stared at me, awestruck. “Does that work?”
“It’s taken time, but yes. Wolves were almost completely wiped out at one time where I come from. Killed by farmers and hunters and ranchers. People who thought wolves were dangerous and would kill all their livestock and attack people. But a few people realized the opposite was actually true and campaigned to have wolves protected and given the chance to come back. Our,” I paused, unsure if he would know the word government, “rulers made it illegal to kill wolves for a very long time. It worked. Now I just look after them and keep people aware of their importance.”
I shrugged again, like it wasn’t a big deal. But it was. At least to me. I loved wolves. I thought they were intelligent, powerful, beautiful creatures. Another reason it was so disconcerting to be in a world where wolves were so…different.
I realized Wolf was staring at me, an avid expression on his face.
“You are a champion for wolves.”
I laughed. “Yeah, well, I don’t know if I would say that. It certainly doesn’t pay very much.” Not like I cared what it paid.
“You would be revered among wolves here. Hated by humans, yes,” he added as an afterthought, “but still revered.”
I cleared my throat. I wasn’t used to this sort of praise. I changed the subject. “So how did you become a half-wolf?”
He looked at me as if to say, “Isn’t it obvious?” That very same look also said in a very devilish manner, “Would you like to find out?”
“Hah. Okay.” I tightened the straps on my pack. “But one of your parents. I mean, they couldn’t have been a full wolf, right? Or can full wolves take, um, human form?” I stumbled over the question, unable to believe that I’d even asked it.
“Oh yes. If he or she chooses, a full wolf can become human. Or at least, they look human. But both my parents were half-wolves.”
I did the science in my head. Made sense. “Could you have been born full human?”
“Oh that’s rare, very rare indeed. Just as rare would be full wolf.”
“I see.” At least basic biology still worked here.
We’d only gone a few more steps when Wolf froze. He held out a hand.
“Shh.” He cocked his head from one side to another, sniffing. “We’re close.”
“Close to what? The slave traders?”
“Yes. They’re in a town. Probably pretending to be something other than slavers, though I doubt anyone would care. Well, maybe someone might, but I doubt it.”
We hurried through the trees, hoping to get to the town in time to buy Marianne back. I wondered where her village was and if she’d be able to take us back to it. Maybe Wolf could pick up the scent, using Marianne as a start and then following the smell back to where she lived. I hoped she didn’t freak out when she saw Wolf. The thought gave me pause.
“Wolf, wait!”
He skidded to a stop. “What?”
“Am I okay? Will anyone think I’m strange dressed like this?” I gestured to my green t-shirt and khaki shorts.
“No. They’ll think you’re visiting from a neighboring kingdom. Everyone dresses different no matter where you go.”
I eyed him. “And where do you think I’m from?”
A sly grin appeared on his face. “Oh, I know you’re not from anywhere I know of. You smell too different. I like it.”
I shivered. He had that hungry look on his face again, and it wasn’t for food. I switched subjects. “Is it safe for you to go into a town? You know, with people?”
He scratched at his neck, confused. “Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because you’re, well…” I shrugged as if to say, “A wolf that everyone hates, remember?”
“Oh. Yes, well.” He took a deep breath and smoothed back his hair, standing up straighter. “I haven’t been to one in a while, but if I conduct myself with serenity and decorum, there won’t be any need to worry, will there?”
“And can you?”
“Of course I can,” he said, insulted.
“People can’t tell you’re a wolf?”
“Not unless I show them.”
“Show them?”
“Like the giants wanted you to prove you were a she-wolf.”
I wasn’t sure what all that meant. Wolf sensed my confusion and came up close to me, staring straight into my eyes. Suddenly his flashed from hazel to a glowing gold-red.
“Oh my God!” I yelped, putting my hands to my mouth. I hadn’t been seeing things. His eyes really did change color. The red disturbed me the most though. Wolves did not have red eyes. Ever. There was something very, very wrong about that.
“You all right, my sweet Caroline?” he asked innocently. He trailed a few fingers over my jaw line as if to make sure.
I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Yes.” I nibbled on my thumbnail. “I’ve just…never seen that before. Ever.”
He shrugged. “Perfectly normal for a wolf.”
Not where I’m from it’s not. I controlled myself. You’re not at home, things are different here, just go with it.
“So that’s it?” I asked.
“No, there are more things. That’s just one of the easiest.”
The teeth, I thought. I’d noticed his abnormally sharp canines pretty early on. I guessed if he didn’t go around grinning at anyone or they were too stupid to tell the difference…
“Marianne knew you were a wolf,” I said, taking a few steps away from him and then continuing forward toward the town Wolf claimed was ahead of us. “So I was just worried others might be able pick you out too.”
Wolf frowned. “She knew? I never showed her.”
I just shrugged again. “You must have done something, babe, because she knew.”
He didn’t look at all pleased with that information, falling deep into thought as we traveled.
Soon I was able to hear the sounds of a village. The hustle and bustle of a marketplace, people calling out the goodness and benefits of their wares, haggling prices, shouting at the occasional person that they’d touched it, now they had to buy it. Animals brayed, trinkets jingled, and in a few more minutes we emerged from the forest edge to a long line of buildings made of wood with thatched roofs. Many of the buildings had people in front of them with carts piled high with goods. Vendors shouted at passersby in the street, holding out necklaces, live birds with vibrant plumage, or foreign fruit or squash. Far down the street there were more houses, but I suspected those were living quarters, and down here was the business district.
Wolf nestled his chin on my shoul
der and inhaled. I started, but didn’t shift away. Act normal, I told myself, though I wasn’t entirely sure what normal was.
“Markets always smell so good,” he said. “All the fresh meats just cut or still clucking or crying, so juicy and tender.”
“Get a hold of yourself before you start drooling on me.” I patted his cheek and he took that as a sign to slip his hands around my waist. My mind skipped back to our kiss in the cave and I had to stamp down the tiny thrill that tried to flutter around. Now was not the time for that sort of thing. And why was I even thinking that anyway?
“So where are the slave traders at?” I gazed around the market. No one seemed to be selling people—at least not outright anyway. If they didn’t want to be seen, they’d have to do it undercover. Was there some kind of code? “Come buy a fresh, young kid!” when kid actually meant a person and not a baby goat?
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” Wolf whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Excitement gleamed in his eyes. He flipped open his jacket and plucked out a small leather bag. It jingled when he shook it. “I have plenty of money here to get you something nice.”
“I want to find Marianne,” I told him, my voice stern.
He rolled his head around and half-growled, but put the moneybag away. We slowly walked down the street, merchants calling out to us, waving around their wares. More than once I had to smack Wolf on the shoulder to get him to focus. He didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he looked rather pleased that I was touching him. We finally stopped at a large tent, striped in worn orange and yellow. A cart driven by a pair of oxen sat behind it. I spotted a single chain running along the planks in the cart. One man, tall and burly, stood at the entrance to the tent. He looked like he could be the genie inside the magic lamp with his elaborately decorated vest, piercings along his mouth, eyes, and ears, baggy pants with a bit of shine to them, and his arms folded over his chest. He was like a bouncer and a genie all rolled up into one. I turned to Wolf and pretended to adjust his coat.
“Is that them?” I asked quietly.
“It is indeed.”
“So how do we get in there?”
“Easy. We ask.”
Chapter 5
I made a noise of protest, but he’d already slipped from my grasp and sauntered up to the man, who was as least a foot taller than him.
“Good day to you, sir,” Wolf said with an elaborate bow. “My mistress wishes to see what you have to offer inside your fine tent.”
The Bouncer-Genie said nothing. He gazed from Wolf to me to Wolf again. I tried to look more regal and less worried out of my skin.
“We’ve nothing to sell.”
Damn it, I thought. But Wolf didn’t let up.
“A shame, for she has some lovely, amazing things to trade.”
“Does she now?”
“Oh indeed.” Behind his back he gestured for me to come up next to him.
I tossed my hair back. I’d acted once in eighth grade; I could come up with something. I walked up beside Wolf and gave the man the best impassive stare I could muster.
“Tell me sir, have you ever seen a stick that lights itself afire?”
If anything, Wolf sure was a smooth talker when it came to getting things his way.
“I have not. Is she a witch?”
“Only the finest you’ve ever seen.”
Bouncer-Genie eyed me. “Why have I not seen your face before?”
I sneered. I’m a witch, a powerful witch. And powerful witches don’t take shit from guys like him. “Do you think that I flaunt myself? That I want all my special secrets to be known to the entire Kingdom?”
I surprised myself with how bitchy I sounded, and just managed to catch myself before saying, “And who are you to judge so quickly?” because I really had no clue who the hell this guy actually was. Even Wolf looked surprised, gaping at me for a few seconds before recovering.
“Perhaps my lady would be good enough to give you a demonstration of her wares so you can see for yourself,” he told Bouncer-Genie, who still wasn’t impressed.
“Fine,” I said, acting pissed. I reached up to search through the top part of my daypack for the matches. “Though I see no reason why I should waste perfectly good magic on such nonsense. And out in the open too.”
I picked a match from the small plastic container and struck it against the side. Immediately it flared to life, burning steadily in front of us. The man’s eyes went wide and he bowed slightly.
“My apologies to you my lady. I did not realize. Your appearance is nothing like a witch.” He stepped aside and held open the tent flap for us.
“Yes, well,” I blew out the match, dropped it on the ground, and smashed it thoroughly into the dirt with my boot, “appearances can be deceiving. Keep that in mind next time.” I poked Wolf in the chest. “Remain here. I see if anything must be done, I must be the one to do it.”
I stared at him hard, trying to convey the concept that if Marianne saw him, she would just freak out again. He caught the hint.
“Indeed, my mistress.” He took up my hand, kissed it, and backed off a few steps.
I strode into the tent. I tried not to let my surprise show—the tent was bigger on the inside. A row of people ranging in age from perhaps six to thirty lined the edge of the tent. They each wore manacles on their hands, but weren’t chained individually. Instead, a single chain began on one side of the tent and wound its way through links on each manacle, chaining them all together without the need for dozens of keys. They were relatively clean and maybe even well fed. No one looked sick or malnourished.
At least they took good care of their livestock.
Then I spotted Marianne, her face streaked with dried tears, between a cocoa-skinned woman and a tired looking man. She looked up and saw me, her eyes growing wide. I gave her a hard look. Don’t get excited. Don’t act like you know me. Luckily Marianne was a smart girl. She bit her lip and tried to look elsewhere. But her feet were bare and her toes wiggled excitedly.
A man flanked by two others sat at a table, a sheet of paper and a fountain pen set before him. His belly bulged out over his pants in a rotund stomach covered with shining purple and green striped fabric. He looked like a melon, but a wealthy one. Rings set with sparkling jewels practically covered his fingers. His bald head gleamed in the dim light. I guessed the slave trade was good business. He smiled pleasantly, as if he weren’t surrounded by a line of depressed people in chains. Or maybe that was why he smiled so happily.
The two men around him were scarier, unsmiling and openly displaying wide scimitars at their waists. Both of them looked like the Bouncer-Genie.
“Good day to you. I am Joran, finest flesh trader you’ll ever buy from. I’m always so pleased to receive new customers,” he said, sounding genuinely delighted. “Barra was truly impressed with what you have to offer.”
Did he mean the guy at the front? How did he know that? The thought was unsettling.
“So.” Joran folded his hands. “What is it that you are interested in?”
I gazed around the row of faces, pretending to survey what he had in stock.
“Is this all you have?” I asked, as though slightly unimpressed with what I saw.
“For now, yes.”
“Mmm.” I strolled around the tent, wishing I could free all of them. They looked so tired and worn down. My heart sank for them, but I did what I could to keep it from showing. Finally I stopped in front of Marianne.
“Lovely young girl.” I toyed with her now limp curls. “Such golden hair.”
Joran raised an eyebrow. “Golden?”
Damn, did they not have gold here? “Hair that shines like the rays of the sun.”
“Ah, I see,” Joran said, toying with the fountain pen. “Yes, we acquired her just yesterday. She may be a bit wild though. Apparently she was traipsing through giant territory.”
Yeah, because of me. “Well, that’s no matter. I have very specific tastes.”
Joran chuckled.
“Doesn’t everyone.”
“What would you have for this one?” Hot damn, I was doing a good job at this role.
“The young ones are always difficult to price,” Joran said, standing up and strolling over to her. His keys jingled on his belt. One of them was bigger than the rest.
I really hoped he wasn’t going to start haggling. I hated haggling. I didn’t even really like shopping all that much. I go in, buy what I want, and leave.
“How about twenty of those fire sticks you have?” Joran asked, settling his hand on Marianne’s head. She squirmed a little under his touch, but didn’t move away.
Yep. We were haggling. “No. I know you only paid those giants six cows. So my offer is six.”
Joran’s eyes went wide for a second before he recovered from my would-be all-knowing witch power. “Fifteen.”
“Nine.”
“Ten.”
“Deal.” I brought out the matches again and counted out ten of them while Joran bent to remove the manacles Marianne’s hands and feet. I paused for a moment as a strange sensation crept over me. I looked around. What was that?
Then Wolf burst into the tent, and all hell broke loose.
Marianne’s eyes went wide and she screamed, “Wolf!” while scrambling back into the side of the tent. Joran swung around, his face a mix of shock and anger.
“No, no,” I yelled, hoping to calm her down and waving Wolf away, but he grabbed my shoulder.
“Something is coming.”
“Wolf!” Marianne screamed.
“Kill him!” Joran yelled.
I gasped, almost more astonished by Joran’s belief in a slave rather than his intent to kill us.
The two bodyguards immediately advanced, their scimitars already out and pointed at Wolf. Behind us, Barra charged into the tent, his own sword drawn. Everything seemed to go by in a blur.
I surprised the men by swinging my daypack into one of the bodyguard’s faces, knocking him to the floor. Wolf took on the other one, snarling and dodging his blade. He knocked away the sword and charged the man, crashing into his chest and knocking him down. Barra lingered for a moment, unsure of who to attack, me or Wolf, before choosing Wolf and dashed over to find the perfect time to strike. The people in the tent screamed and cried, trying to clear out of the way of the fight as the two rolled over the floor.
