volk in začimbe vol 6 chapter 1

8/13/2019 Volk in zaimbe vol 6 chapter 1

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"Hey, idiot! Draw back the bow! We're loaded with silver for Imidora coins!"

"What! We entered first! Bastard, you're the one that should withdraw!"

Such shouts were continuusly flying around, ship hulls were knocked against eachother and often caused the water to spray up. The port of Renose was in such acommotion as a pierced beehive, wondering whether it was a battle cry or a deathagony scream of a captured animal, there was also the sound of something falling in the water. Usually the water surface was flat like a mirror, but it was allwaving now. On it, shaking off the angry roars and jeers, trying to be first toleave the conflict riden port was a ship that was probably fully loaded with furs. In case of that ship there was always only one rower, the human superexpress.

Common to all trades, it is right that the one that first comes makes the biggest profit, you could say it's natural. Howerer, Lawrence was looking with cold eyes at what they were doing. Certainly because one of those that will come firstand earn thounsands of silver coins will be the ruined aristocrat loaded with furs.

"Hey, do not be so fascinated, quickly find a ship!"

"It's late, are we still going with a ship?"

To find a ship that will take two carefree travelers on board would really be considered lucky.

The row of departing ships was becoming something like an ant procession.

"The one that said going by cart will take too long was you, right?

"That's right, but"

You couldn't see it all to good from here, but sometimes a dreadful voice was heard coming from the vicinity where the river flowed out of the port. Perhaps thepeople who wanted to stop the furs from leaving the city were trying to block the port.

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"You do not look too interested"

"No, of course I am"

After Horo heard the answer that even children would know was a lie, she raisedone eyebrow and stared at him.

"If that is the case, then quickly find us a ship"

Because he quickly understood that he wouldn't find a ship that would carry a horse down the river, he left it at a stable that wasn't making any business as they had already lent out all the horses. The stable owner even lent a part of theloading platform to the port for loading purposes. Even if they were not reluctant to travel with the cart, it was impossible now. Because it was probably already swarming with merchants that had spare time to cross over during the winterto Kerube, they really don't let out any chance of doing business.

No wonder Lawrence's heart faltered.


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"I get it, I get it, well, because I'll be searching for a ship, with this....could you please buy some supplies from a street stand in the vicicnity. For 3 days should be enough. As for wine, the stronger the better"

He took two glittering silver coins out of the wallet and handed them to Horo.

"What about wheat bread?"

Horo who had quite an understanding of market prices, understood that she couldn't buy wheat bread with that.

"Bread is skillfully leavened with yeast. Then it's probably the same for moneymeant to buy bread."

"..."

The conversation at the in was the reason why he won't buy wheat bread.

Horo noded as if mourning even though she really wasn't. That's why she quicklyraised her head and said.

"But why strong wine?"

It seemed as if Lawrence was trying to figure out how to say that he liked it because it was easier to drink. In case of a tailor or shoemaker, if you were to enter the shop and they would already know what you wish, that would be pleasant,he wished the same here. Of course he didn't show that with his face and shortly answered.

"You'll understand eventually"

A while after hearing those words, Horo, as if misunderstanding something, happily hit him with her hand.

"I will buy a lot of good wine so you will loose your resolution"

"No amount of wine could do that"

"Yes. Well is it alright if we meet somewhere in this area?"

"Yeah"

Lawrence noded, at that moment he felt pain in the swelled up cheek that Ebb hadhit. It swelled up into a purle blue color, just as he was worried wether he should prepare the ointment he got from the pharmacy he accidently noticed Horo'sthoughtfull face. Like worrying about this and that, maybe that's even a good thing.

"I pretty much understand what you are thinking, but"

"Since I was little I was taught that honesty is a virtue"

"Do you feel the same?"

Horo tilted her head while smiling with an open heart.

"No, I learned from my master that honesty is stupid"

Horo's smile became even wider and said in a teasing way.


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"You will win because of too much stupidity "

And in a dancing manner she turned herself and walked into the crowd. Lawrence shrugged his shoulders, made a sigh and scrached his head.

____________________________________________________________________

He laughed, because he was enjoying such conversations. But, thought Lawrence.

"Is there a way to get the initiative back?"

I have the self-confidence to take back the contract, but by doing that I mightstart being a poor looser.

I like you.

Even though it's been a while since he said those words facing Horo. Each time that he thought back upon that, Lawrence was tormented by that undefined feeling.A weird feeling as if suffocating or getting a cramp. Despite that he didn't think it was a bad feeling. It gave him the sense of security similar to that whensomething vague gets a clear shape.

Just a little, no, perhaps he was just really embarrassed.

There was a slight regret though, loosing in the match, probably because of thisfelling.

"What match anyway"

Lawrence laughed in order to ridicule himself while watching Horo disappear. Heshrugged his shoulders and walked towards the pier.

He was happy or rather pleasantly surprised to find a ship right away.

The port was jammed with ships trying to be first to leave, but if you were to calmly search there were still a lot of ships still loading their cargo, it should be easy to reach an agreement with one of those. He thought that they would tr

y to raise the prices by saying that they are busy, but the fare was fair. Whenhe said he was traveling with a female companion the face of the old enough to know better shipowner loosened up, Lawrence pretended not to notice it. Abe hid her face, hiding the fact that you travel with a woman is something a merchant would do and he understood it.

"But, what business do you have in Kerube? Going that late this season, there isno ship going there directly"

The shipowner called himself Ibn Ragusa, not a very familiar sounding name, he probably came up north from a deserted village on the west coast though Lawrence.

People living in the North had a tight body and pale skin, also sharp features a

round the eyes gave the impression of reticence, Ragusa had a strong voice in abulky fat body and a drink-reddened face.

"Probably involved in the fur business"

"Huh?"

Ragusa was looking at Lawrence from head to toe in order to figure him out, twisting his head that was almost burried in the shoulders.


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"But I don't see any cargo"

"Maybe he's stealing a march on his companion"

Just as Ragusa pointed at Lawrence's swollen face he began laughing, almost resembling a blowfish. As things were already like that, the tap on his shoulder probably meant "So, where is your companion?" thought Lawrence.

"Right now she's buying food"

As Lawrence wanted to turn towards the place where the street stand was, he noticed something at his side. As if already standing there for many years, there was Horo.

"That's her"

"Ho! That's some nice cargo!"

Seeing Horo Ragusa clapped his hands making a loud sound, the rather loud soundmade Horo shrug her shoulders in surprise. Generally boarding a ship is a loud affair. It might be too loud for Horo's ears that can hear the sound of a wrinklevisiting a person's eyebrow root.[That's a hell of way to describe that somebody has sensitive ears]

"By the way, her name?"

Did he think they were a married couple as he asked Lawrence instead of Horo?

At least, it seems he's different from the moneychanger who immediatelly tried to seduce Horo.

Horo was carrying a sack probably packed with bread and other things over her shoulder and holding a small barrel under her arm. Horo was looking up at Lawrencelike an aprrentice nun that had been on an errand.

Lawrence thought that one of the reasons why he couldn't get anrgry at Horo evenwhen being teased was that when in public she did what was best for him.

"My name is Horo"

"Ho, that's a good name! Nice to meet you. I'm Rabusa, master of the Rome river"

Men always try to put up a show infront of a beautiful girl. Because Ragusa didn't think it was strange to call Horo a girl he said those words and lifting hischest he held out his massive with beans covered hand.

"But, with that the savety of this trip down the river is guaranteed"

"Why is that?"

Ragusa cleaning his teeth and loudly laughing tapped Horo's slender shoulders and said.

"Usually the price for the safety of the voyage is a beautiful girl praying at the bow of the ship!"

Indeed ships that were traveling very long distances usually placed a statue ofa beautiful girl at the front of the ship.

Those became paganic godesess, there were women canonized in the history of the


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church, it was believed that women always protected ships, that's why there arealso many ships with women's names. If they were going to a mausoleum to pray for safety Horo being a wolf would be perfect, but as they are going to a place onwater that was slightly unreliable.

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Also, he almost started laughing when he imagined Horo swimming using doggy paddle.

"So are the preparations going well? As you can see I plan to earn money with furs, but I have to hurry"

"Ah, yes, we're fine. You bought the food, right?"

Lawrence asked Horo and she nodded slightly. As espected from a wolf, she was good at pretending to be a cat.

"Then sit down in a suitable empty place. It's ok to pay later"

Deferred payment was a custom as it would be extreamly hard to travel surroundedby water without a ship.

"Well, I should probably also go on board"

And saying things like that while smiling was also common to all sailors.____________________________________________________________

Ragusa's ship might have been one of the smaller ships carriying cargo up and down the river. There was no sail, the bottom was flat and yet the ship was long and narrow. With a small ship like this a boatman with bad arms would certainly cause it to capsize.

In the center of the ship where Horo stood was a big, hip high jute sack, by what was spilled from the bag you knew just by looking that inside were wheat and beans. Near it was a mountain of similar sacks, there were also a few wooden crates at the stern side. What was inside those he couldn't know without opening them, but what kind of crest was that, the procedure was completed with burning the

mark on the crates, that meant that probably something very expensive was inside them. Saying that he was carrying things that needed a hasty delivery was no mistake. It's a merchants thing to be always interested in the contents of the cargo.

He was transporting them from somewhere upstream, in that case maybe it was orefrom a silver or copper mine or maybe even a smaller ammout of coins from a mintnear the mines. You wouldn't put tin in that kind of crates and if there were jewels it would have been strange without an escort.

The weight of the cargo was kept low, probably because the water level of the river had decreased. During this season there isn't much rain and in the mountainsit snows so the water is frozen and it doesn't supply the river. And because th

ere isn't much water they simply load less cargo to prevent the ship from running aground. As you know what to do when a cart gets stuck in mud on a rainy day the same applies when a ship runs aground. It is necessary to throw the worst cargo into the river and as you would hinder the ships coming after you if you remained stuck, that's also part of the sailors code.

Among the people steering ships up and down the river for years, it is said thatthere are such who can do it with their eyes closed.

Now, I wonder how it's with Ragusa?


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While thinking this he sat down in an empty place at the bow and covered himslefwith the blanket he was carrying. Because the water in the port was waving likea drunken man the ship was constantly shaking a little. It's been a while sincehe last felt nostalgic and a he smilled bitterly. Long ago, when he went on hisfirst boat trip he was so afraid that the boat would turn over that he was justholding the edge of the ship. He just coudn't handle it at that time. Horo slowly sat down beside him with her usual face devoid of seriousness. And then Horoholding the barrel under her arms, puts the good smelling bag on the ground andnoticing Lawrence's look returns a glare.

"Are you smiling?"

The voice was humble, it wasn't an act for sure.

"Yeah, I'm quite surprised myself"

"Well. I would not say that I hate water, but....still, I am scared of the shaking"

It was unexpected that she admited being scared like that. Lawrence was surprised and Horo pursed her lips a bit.

"I have exposed a weakness because I trust you"

"Fangs are flashing under your lip"

When he pointed that out Horo smiled maliciously. It was probably scarry for sure, but she did that with her mouth on purpose.

Whether it was obedience or the opposite, he really didn't understand it to well. The moment he was thinking that, Horo suddenly stood up.

"I can not. I must not get along so well with you."

Saying that she turned away her sad face. No matter how enjoyable it was, by reppeating it for to long you would get used to it and then the impression will wea

ken and Horo already said she was scared of that. In that moment Lawrence becamesurprised as if touching a hot object.

Just, it wasn't like Horo seriously said that but he quickly corrected his thought. Even if the words were said they don't confirm anything, something between the two must be avoided, somehow he understood. If he didn't know where the trapwas he would walk in fear, but if he knew where the cliff was, walking closely to it wouldn't be difficult. By saying that so boldly, Horo is trying to admonishherself and not trying to give Lawrence a warning.

He thought it was probably the opposite.

He will end this travel with a smiling face.

Because he promised it, there is nothing to be afraid of.

That's why Lawrence calmed down and answered.

"Sounds like lines from a theatrical play"

It was treated like forbidden love, of course he couldn't say that but the bottom of his heart muttered that. Horo wishing a confrontation, as she probably found the way Lawrence didn't get confused boring, turned around.


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".....Will you please keep me company for a bit?"

"Only if you won't make that vicious face"

Horo, her eyes looking up and making a lonely face, slowly smiled and then smacked her lips. She really is a wolf who can change her facial expressions as she pleases, Lawrence smiled with an amazed look.

Soon after that Ragusa came down the pier with large steps and shouted with a loud voice as before.

"Well then we'll departure soon!

He quickly untied the rope that held the ship and threw it onboard and then jumped on as easily as children jump into a river. Even as a flattery you couldn't say Ragusa was thin and if he were to jump on a ship it was an absolute truth theship would shake. The ship shaked so much that he was inclined to think it would sink. Lawrence barely somehow kept his cool. It seemed to much for Horo, her body became stiff and her face seriuos. That her hand griped Lawrence's clothes was probably no joke.

"You won't find anyone better at handling ships!"

With a powerful shout Ragusa violently trusted a long pole against the riverbed,his normally red face became even redder due to the effort.

Shouting against the ship showed no reaction for a while, but before long the ship slowly started to depart from the pier, Ragusa easily raised the pole and this time slightly changing the direction and trusted the pole again.This cargo loaded on a cart would need 4 horses to pull, but the same cargo loaded on a ship needs only the strenght of one man to move.

It is said that there are many amongst sailors who like to boast and brag, but he also somehow understood. Because this ship was being moved by Ragusa, just oneman, that's why.

Finally the ship moved away from the pier and Ragusa used the pole to skillfullyguide the ship towards the river route. As usual there were a lot of other ships coming and going but almost like a miracle he didn't collide with any of themeven a little and skillfully continued gliding on water. Most of the ships theypassed seemed like ships from acquaintances, they cheerfully exchanged greetings, but sometimes jeers are mixed with hits with the raised pole. As the speed wasgradually raising, the stability of the long and narrow ships was also improving and at last they reached the exit of the port. At the watch tower that was standing on the boundary between port and river was a group, people that didn't want the furs to leave the city, breaking through the city guards they went up thetower and were cursing those ships that already passed by.

Ups and downs in life are something repeating for a long time.

A group of people wearing chain mails and steel helmets arrived at the tower entrance at last. Most likely temporarily hired mercenary knights.

Just when the boat Lawrence was on passed the tower, the people who cursed before was swiftly captured. He didn't feel any sympathy for them, but at least he wished that nobody died. However, just remembering what he saw happen in the city,the thought vanished.

In this moment for them life is the most important thing, just like it was for L


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awrence just a while back .

When Horo said the journey is over he was really surprised, as was he surprisedby the reason. After all Lawrence went through being selfish, but he thought forsure Horo wished the same. Remembering that, he thought he should be kinder toHoro who seemed a bit timid on an unfamiliar ship.

But, that kind of kindness always becomes useless.

Before he knew Horo was standing and seemed like she was her usual self, yet shewas still holding at his clothes, as if she had forgoten this she was looking towards the ship's destination with great interest. The profile of her face was almost like the one of a young boy.

"Huh?"

Inclining her head together with that sound Horo looked up at him after noticingLawrence's look. Horo's gesture was like she was trying to understand how to respond to a another person's look but ran out of options.

Lawrence was weary and together with Horo turned to the opposite side and lookedat Renose while they were passing the city. They heard a strange laughing voice.

Horo already realeased the grip on his clothes and said in a ticklish way.

"Your kindness is scary, scary"

Horo threw her head back in enjoyment and laughed, leaving a trail of white breaths from her mouth behind her.

When she is in that kind of devilish mood there is probably no way for him to beallowed to warm himself with her tail. Howerer, it's cold on the river. He can't allow to loose Horo's tail.

Lawrence slowly returned the words.

"I'm scared of your smiling face"

"Fool"

Horo seemed to enjoy this and her smiling face was sparkling under the hood._______________________________________________________________________________

Flowing past Renose and meandering its way from east to west was the Romu river,usually not even flooding the plains around it, it was a really slow monotonousriver.

It had a lot of water in spring and early summer, it was a spectacular sight when rows of wood descended down the river like a huge snake, but now you could see

only a row of ships going up and down at best.

After that, sheep gathering at the river to drink water and travelers walking along the river. Also slowly flowing white clouds in the sky.

Horo was lively only while she was curious, but after loosing interest she justplaced her head with a bored expression on the edge of the ship, sometimes touching the surface of the water to prevent forgetting how to breathe.

"Free time, huh"


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"Hey, be patient..... After that, huh?"

"Yes. After that"

While holding the hair he narrows his eyes, saying that somewhat like a spoiledkid was probably on purpose, but it's more likely that she's trying to turn awayher eyes from a dangerous risk than teasing.

In Renose they asked themselves what they could and could not do, the best solution they came up was a conclusion.

But, that conclusion didn't contain the real meaning of "After that".

"Since there is plenty food and amusement, it might be good to wait till the snow on the mountains melts in spring. Possibly, if we hurried and returned to Renose with a horse and then go north"

"To the mountain recesses of Loef, right"

In the direction from where Horo came.

It would take around a month if you hurried.

This journey would end in a matter of days if this were really serious.

Horo was obviously acting like a little girl, messing with the hair of her tail.

Lawrence also learned.

I want you to tell a lie, was what she was saying.

"But, the mountains completely change the people that enter them, right? Even bygoing up the Loef river doesn't mean we can't get lost.

"....Yes?"

After she played with the hair of her dark brown tail around the edge of the mouth to really make herself look like a sage he continued.

"If we were to go to Nyohhira, you would understand that? It takes approximately10 days from Renose to Nyohhira. If we don't wait for spring and we choose a path that passes as many towns and villages as possible, because it would be dangerous otherwise, it would take us 20 days"

To tell whether that was long or short, if he were to try to count it on his fingers, he didn't know.

The breaks would be short and the journey fast.

He only thought that because of the travels he did as a merchant, even though itseemed easy enough to do that, somewhere there was a feeling similar to guilt.When peddling, 50 percent of the selling price are tariffs, 30 percent are traveling expenses such as food and lodging and 20 percent then become the profit, soby slowing down the journey the travel expenses increase and that's nothing more then crime.

But, If he were to try to shorten the number of days he would probably regret it.


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While counting on his fingers, he stopped and stared at the finger while thinking.

In some way or another is there really no way to stretch this, or is there.

"In Nyohirra we will enjoy baths in hot water, for 10 days"

Horo stretched her hand and bent Lawrence's finger.

The way their hands were overlapping, they looked like a married couple warmingtheir cold hands.

Indeed, Lawrence started smiling, his hearth heating up.

Horo looked up, smiling at Lawrence.

It really was a dreadful smiling face.

To stay 10 days in Nyohhira. That is certainly something to be happy about. He didn't know how much it would cost to stay 10 days at a hot spring. Taking advantage of the visitors with high lodging costs, starting with bad meals that cost afortune. Fresh water diluted with stinking wine is unbelievably expensive. Youneed to pay a fee to use the spa and on top of that if the effect of the hot springs is to strong you must visit a doctor for medical examination twice a day.

No doubt it's in order to make a lot of money.

But still, it was told at such a good time so it can't be declined.

A sage is cunning no matter where.

If she had a full mouth and then started smiling, that would be a really heartwarming scene!

"That expression of yours, it is the one for counting money, right?

Horo said in a nasty tone and drew back her hand.

Her tail was slowly swaying in order to provoke him.

Rather then that Lawrence thought whether he should catch it and press it to hischeek.

"I have been among humans for quite a while and during that time I sometimes entered the hot springs in human form so I somewhat understand the concept. However, I am Horo the Sage from Yoitsu. If there was a place where no one was, it would only slightly increase the usual food expenses, right?"

Indeed that would work, but hot springs are a place where those gather that someone wished to kill but didn't die and are now trying to prolong their life, even

if only for a fraction of a second, using the miraculous hot water.

Displaying most of the aspects of a pilgrimage, it was located in a remote area,finding it meant going through several trouble and that also contributed to it's fame.

It was rather unlikely that Horo would be able to find a place where no one wasthere, but one thing was certain.

The "little" she said that she would add to the usual food expenses was absolute


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ly not little.

"Every time you promise that you would only add a little to the food costs, my dream goes a bit further away from me"

If he didn't hit the nail on the head, then it was a joke he didn't understand.

At that moment Horo's appearance was like she was really brave, but it wasn't conveyed over.

Even if he said I like you right in Horo's face, it was also perfect numerical inferiority.

"The words that make fun of you in various ways are in my possession, but beforethat"

After clearing her throat with a small cough she said while waving her tail.

"You abandoned the dream of having a store when you came to pick me up?

As if testing she turned her eyes up.

With a white breath that escaped between her thin lips, her amber eyes were glittering.

"I abandoned it only for the time being. I didn't give up"

Just ignoring that excuse Horo took a deep breath.

Besides, those words were actually a lie to some extent.

Horo can simply see through human lies probably because she was doing it for such a long time, but before he figured that out he already confessed to her.

"However, well, you might say that I more or less seriously abandoned it"

"Is leaving loopholes by using vague words also something a merchant would do?"

As if shocked by what she said, he changed what he said to "seriously kicked".

"In that case wasting money is also probably alright, but why I am saying this is because I heard the reason why you abandoned it"

Accepting the luck, although he still worried whether it was necessary to answer, so he answered shrugging his shoulders.

"If I had a shop, certainly the fun from trading would probably reduce by half"

"...yes?"

"If I had a store now, my feelings would be mixed. If I obtained the store thenafter that the adventure would be finished, that's what I'm talking about"

It's not like the smell of money making didn't attract him.

It's just that, after deciding on his priorities, in order to never loose the road straight ahead no matter in what kind of storm, he stopped thinking that he wants to make money.

If he obtained it, it would just feel to good.


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Because he always chased after it, he did nothing but looked that way.

Just a moment ago Horo, pretending to be a joke, made a clean sweep, after that,he muttered "I see".

No matter what kind of fun someday it will become boring, Horo who lived a longtime feared it, probably already experienced it before.

"Well, even so I believe it's also because it was such a long-cherished dream, that's why I wish to consider it. Because if I had the store, it's not like I would be unhappy"

Horo nodded slowly, but after that she said with a slightly disturbed expression.

"That's... I see. It's misfortune"

"H..huh? Misfortune?"

Not understanding the words at all, Lawrence stared at Horo as if asking her tosay it again, Horo was already showing her usual expression.

"That is right. The reason is that you seriously abandoned your dream when you w

ent to meet me. I see. These are already the words of someone who was chasing two rabbits and after he could not obtain one, he just shrugged his shoulders, right?"

Lawrence opened his mouth with a whack as he really felt like that and turned his head without even closing it.

Now matter how many times he checked, Horo's words meant only one thing.

Abandoning one rabbit after he already chased one, but didn't obtain it.

As expected an unpleasant feeling like dropping a wallet arose in Lawrence's mind.

Even if it's a joke, I want it to stop.

After seeing Horo's face for just a moment before he averted his eyes he thoughtthat her face looked like she was pitying a sick person.

"Are you alright? Please pull yourself together. Because it's not like you didn't obtain anything, right?"

Was it anger or was it sadness or was it maybe even something totally different.

That moment Horo seemed like she was talking in some foreign language, both edges of her lips were lifted up and her malicious tongue was dangling out.

"Well, you did not reach out for my hand, did you? Obtaining something without reaching for it, what kind of mysterious hand did you use?"

It was not the time to think that he wanted to drown Horo in the water.

Because he would see his face that he didn't want to see, was the main reason.

"Muahaha. Well, it is not like I actually put a rope around my turf. It dependson you, how you think about this"


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She came closer to him like a wolf would come draw near another wolf and said that while looking up at him.

Her warm white breath brushed the back of his neck.

When seeing that you would think she lost.

And the moment you thought that, you would definetely loose.

"Well, as it's something I also wish for, I hope you didn't seriously abandon your dream. Also, if I am satisfied with the shop, even getting an apprentice might be a good, right? As this is rather profound, there will be no time resting "

Said Horo and while cackling she draw away her face.

He though that his mood was like the body of a fish that was eaten to the bone.

At this point struggling would not change the situation.

At least, not to further expose his unsightly behaviour he took a deep breath and continued breathing like that.

Horo was quietly laughing enjoying the reverberation.

"But,how could you take an apprentice?"

Again his voice was rather stiff, but Horo missed that.

"Hmm? Yes. Because I am the Sage Horo from Yoitsu. There were many who wanted tolearn from me"

"Really"

Lawrence had already forgoten the previous conversation and was obediantly admiring her.

Then, Horo became embarrassed as she didn't expect this.

Maybe because the teasing was to successful she tried to counterbalance it by saying something exaggerated as this on purpose.

"Althought it might be very doubtful whether they were apprentices... at least they thought that they were. Well, anyway I was the leader of the group. I thinkyou should also take my lessons. That is if you can wait for the other 100 in line"

Horo changed instantly, talking inflated with pride, but Lawrence couldn't laughat it as usual.

If he thought about it, Horo was just this kind of person.

However, with the dignity that should be there no matter what all he felt was incompatibility, probably because so many Horo's memories revived.

Even if someone told him Horo was an existance living above the clounds able tocry, smile, get angry and sulk, he couldn't really feel that way.

While Lawremce was thinking about that, Horo's expression changed into a tendersmile and she took Lawrence's hand.


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"Of course, you never asked me to teach you, it would be as unusual and desperate as trying to grab my reins. And that is hopeless to succeed, although it is true that we have similar views. I was always alone in the mountains. Just lookingat them from below was a bitter experience"

To be worshiped as a goddess resulted in isolation.

He remembered that when he first met Horo she said she went on a travel to search for a friend.

Horo's face when she smiled was a bit lonely.

"Hey, You came to meet me when I asked you, right?"

Just with one sentence she made fun of him, but as she said it with a lonesome smile he didn't think she was actually trying to.

Instead Lavrence smiled bitterly and Horo showed a displeased face.

He placed his arm on Horo's shoulder turned her around and embraced her, she made a small sigh under his arm.

It probably wasn't his imagination that it was out of satisfaction.

"Now I am..."

When he moved again and turned her upper body, the face that he was looking at was totally different.

"Doing it this way, looking up at you from below, I am very very happy"

They we immediately there, those upturned eyes of a lovely girl.

Even if he grew accustomed to the conversations with Horo, he just couldn't getused to this.

"Probably because my face looks foolish when you look up at it from there"

That's why Lawrence frowned in response when the wolf girl clinged to him with adeligthed appearance.

Each time Horo's tail swayed with a rustling sound fleas flew out as that tail was full of them. It's probably so, murmured Lawrence in his mind when suddenly his vision was blocked by her bosom.

Horo was laughing while pressing it on his face.

Lawrence also laughed. Indeed, no matter how devoted the apprentice would be ifhe saw this behaviour, he probably wouldn't call it a stupid conversation with h

is master.

But as Horo wished for it can't be helped.

At least Lawrence had an excuse as he said it in his mind.

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Suddenly, he thougth that he noticed signs of a person moving behind the cargo,probably after using his arm as a pillow there was strange large mark on Ragusa'


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Ragusa's ship was slowly decreasing its speed and immeadiately approached the pier where one ship already stopped.

But even if he wasn't together with Ragusa who seemed to know even the ralationships between fish, he would understand that something strange is happening on the pier.

A soldier with a long spear was having an argument with someone.

He didn't hear what they were talking about, but he could at least notice that one of the two was shouting.

The captain of the ship in front of Ragusa's ship also stood up, made his neck long and looked in the direction of the pier.

"Disputes are rather unusual"

Ragusa put his hand above his eyes and opened his mouth in a carefree way.

"Maybe they are arguing because the taxes are to high"

"Nah. If it were about to high taxes then only the guys that came from the sea would be angry. Because they have to pay the horses to pull the ship upstream andthen still have to pay the taxes for the cargo"

Lawrence found it rather amusing when Horo yawned while hiding her fangs as shewas looking at the scene for a while.

"But is it not the same for the ships from the sea and those from upstream?"

When Horo wiped a tear from her eye in Lawrence's clothes and Lawrence lightly poked her face and said this Ragusa laughed loudly while raising the pole.

"Because the river is like a house for those like us who live on it. It's natural to pay a rent to live in a house. But for my colleagues from the sea there isonly one way. Probably each time they walk on a road in the city money is takenfrom them and they get angry"

Indeed, nodded Lawrence and admired the fact that there are various ways of thinking.

And in the time he was doing that he understood the whole story.

Apparently the person who was arguing with the soldier seemed to be a boy.

It was the boy who was shouting.

When he was breathing only a small white breath came out of his mouth.

"But, this is certainly the sign of the company!"

His voice still hadn't undergone voice break.

To make a voice like that, this boy certainly had to be very young.

He was 12, maybe 13. His unkempt hair looked greyish and he had a unclean face covered with dirt and mud. His body was such that Lawrence didn't know who wouldfall over if he bumped into the delicate Horo and the clothes he wore seemed like they would fall apart if he sneezed.


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His ankles were also very thin and it was clear he was freezing in his worn outsandals. If it was an elderly person with a beard who wore this attire he wouldlook like an eremit that people respect and put their faith in.

The boy was holding an old looking paper in his right hand, while his breathingwas like almost heavy he continued staring at the soldier.

"What has happened?"

Asked Horo in a displeased manner as if she was woken in the middle of a nap.

"Don't know. Wait, shouldn't you be able to hear what they are shouting about?"

"Aa...aah. Even I do not what they said if I am sleeping"

"You're probably right. As you can't hear your snoring either"

Immediatelly after that he was dismissed with Horo's kick.

Lawrence's objection was interupted when the soldier that was quiet till now raised his voice.

"I already said that this was a forgery! We also think you should stop with this!"

And he moved the long spear.

The boy draw his lips together, frowned and started weeping.

The ship's speed decreased even more and now they were almost beside the other ship, just a bit away from the pier. The captain of that ship seemed to be Ragusa's acquaintence as they casualy exchanged greetings when they saw eachother andthen he whispered.

"Who's that. The disciple of master Renon?"

The one that jerked his chin earlier, was the captain of the almost stopped ship

. He was a boatman probably a bit older then Ragusa and had some grey hair.

"If that were the case I probably wouldn't be on the ship with a worried expression"

"You're probably right. Aah, perhaps..."

While the two boatsmen were casualy talking to eachother the boy on the pier waslooking at the paper he held in his hand and his legs were shaking, maybe because he was cold or maybe because he was exited. His expression was like he stillhasn't given up, but he was chewing on his lip in front of the tip of a spear that could stab him.

He was backing off step by step, reaching the edge of the pier he had nowhere togo.

"That could cause trouble. Let's continue with the taxation"

Both boatsmen who were watching the conversation said it in one voice to start the procedure.

If he were to call it a spectacle he would be apathetic.


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On the paper in the hand of the boy that was now left alone Lawrence noticed something like a read seal stamped on it.

The boy seems to have been cheated by a bad merchant.

"He was tricked, right"

"Yes"

The ship of the boatsman with grey hair left earlier and in it's place went another ship, but Ragusa's ship quickly catched up and continued at it's side.

Lawrnce faced Horo on the rocking ship and spoke closely to her ears.

"It happens sometimes. False tax excemption privilege documents from the king ornotes demanding payment from the feudal lord. Perhaps even the rights for taxation on this river might be like that"

"Hmm..."

If that certificate were real the profit would be totaly diffrent from the sumhe payed to purchase it and that should arouse suspicion, but there are many ways to make the buyer think that what they got was genuine.

"I feel a bit sorry for him"

The ships going down the river one after another made a line towards the checking station on the water.

The soldiers who spend to much time at the station were busy with collecting taxes, the boy behind them was already completely forgoten.

As Horo said, if you saw his figure you'd feel sorry for him, but if you stoppedand thought about it you would understand that by doing that you would reward him for cheating.

"That should have been a good lecture for him"

When Lawrence answered like that Horo's glance returned from the boy back to Lawrence and she gave him a critisizing look.

"Is it not cruel to say that?"

"Did you feel the same at the time when your greed caused you to fail and you had to ask for asistance?"

He felt a bit offended, but if he were to give the boy some money or even just show mercy it would contradict the principles of a merchant.

"But I had asked for asistance myself"

"Yes"

"I think I'm not as hearthless to just shake off a request for asistance. However, someone who tries to help a person who doesn't try to stand up on it's own can't become a merchant. He should change his clothes and join the church"

Horo was thinking about something, but she probably still felt sorry for the boy.


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For Horo, who possesed such a stong sense of duty that she adiministered the abundant harvest of wheat in the same village for several hundred years even without recieving any gratitude, it was something she was unwilling to talk about.

Perhaps it's natural to give asistance to someone that is in trouble.

However, it's also true that there are countless people like that. In this worldthe number of gods is just way to small for the flood of people that need help.

Lawrence pulled the blanket and murmured.

"Therefore, if he stands up on it's own, maybe..."

Even the gentle hearthed and experienced Horo should understand.

He felt sorry for that boy, but the moment when Lawrence looked in the boy's direction it wasn't his eyes he didn't believe but his his ears.

"Teacher!"

A high-pitched voice resounded.

It came from that place that was like in a market place, mixed with conversation

s made in large voices. He knew he could figure out who made the voice in an instant.

The boy stood up and ran in a straight line withouth even informing the soldier.

Of course he ran forward and who was in the direction the voiced was directed.

Lawrence.

"Teacher! It's me. It's me!"

And this were the words that came out of his mouth.

"Ww..h"

"Ah, I'm so glad I've met you! I was already worried because I didn't have anything to eat anymore. I want nothing else as to thank the gods fot this happiness!"

There wasn't the sligtest bit of happiness in his face, he was standing there with a desperate look.

Lawrence was taken aback and just stared back and in his mind he franticly flipped the pages of the book with his memories he was so proud as a merchant checking whether he saw the boy's face before.

But, he concluded that he didn't know any boy who would call him teacher. Or wasis one of the children he thought while he was traveling to earn for his provisions.

And then Lawrence noticed it.

No, to recover from a desperate situation the boy gambled with this big play.

The moment he noticed this, the soldier at the checking station already saw the


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boy and knocked him down with the tip of the shaft of the spear, pushing it at his back so he couldn't move.

"Boy!"

This checking station was the symbol of authority of some influentual person.If a fraud would happen at this place it would ruin his reputation.

If the boy does it unskillfuly, drowning in the river might really be his fate.

But still, those dull blue eyes were still looking at Lawrence.

It was ghastly, trying to appeal with eyes saying failing here would mean only death, Lawrence was entranced with those kind of eyes and stopped breathing and only returned to himself when Horo poked him at his side. Horo's face was not facing neither the boy or Lawrence. Instead, don't forget your own words was written on the profile of her face.

Because the boy, on his own, stood up and raised his voice.

"You really got courage to dirty the name of the Deejin Company!"

The ships going down the river one after another made a line towards the checkin

g station on the water.

Their patience was probably at the limit with this boy who was just hindering their work because if there were a delay they would be blamed for it.

Pressing the spear at the back of the boy, probably aiming at his side he liftedhis foot.

At that moment.

"Please wait!"

Lawrence spoke almost at the same moment the soldiers foot swinged down.

The soldier couldn't stop the foot completely and lighty hit the boys body, "Guu" a frog like moaning sound was heard.

"Certainly, he looks like an acquantice of mine"

The soldier looked in Lawrence's direction, a little confused he lifted his footfrom the boy, but it seemed he immediately noticed Lawrence's real motive. Witha slightly displeased expression his look floated from Lawrence to the boy, comparing them, when he lifted the spear from the back of the boy with a sigh.

Whoever saw this would understand that it was just the boy's big play.

Those eyes were softhearted, speaking in silence.

The boy was blinking with his eyes as if he didn't believe his play would go this well, but as soon as he understood the situation he got up and walking in an awkward manner boarded Ragusa's ship as fast as he could.

After Ragusa payed the tax midway tying the string of the wallet he stopped andwatched the situation evolve, at last when the boy boarded his ship he finaly returned to us.


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Even so he closed his mouth that started to open only after he met Lawrence's eyes.

"Hey, you'll be blocked later, quickly get the ship out!"

That's what the soldier shouted, when the problem transfered from the pier on tothe ship.

He wanted to get rid of them, but the ships were also quickly going down the river one after another.

Ragusa shruged facing Lawrence, boarded the ship and picked up the pole. He probably won't complain as long the ship fee is payed.

And after the boarding of the mentioned boy succeeded he reached the bow sectionof the ship where Lawrence and Horo were and collapsed there, maybe because hereached the limit of his strenght or maybe his hips just couldn't support him anymore.

Horo finally looked at Lawrence.

She was still a bit displeased.

"If it came this far, it probably can't be helped"

After Lawrence said that Horo smiled lightly for the first time and took the hand of the boy that rolled up at their feet that slipped from under the blanket.

He could see her usual making fun of people with her smile as her hobby but alsoacting in accordance with the appearance of a gentle hearted nun when it was about the boy.

When she was like that, Lawrence wasn't amused.

It's not like he didn't have confidence in his way of doing things, but why wasit that when he compared himself to Horo he looked like a cold-hearted human.

Knowing that the boy wasn't injured Horo raised his body and leaned it against the edge of the ship.

Lawrence brought some water with his hands.

He could see that the boy's hand in Horo's shadow was still holding the certificate.

His spirit was worth admiration.

"Look, water"

Horo received the water and tapped the boy on the shoulder.

And then, the completely exhausted boy slowly opened his eyes that were closed after fainting and looked at Horo who was in front of him and Lawrence behind her.

After that when he saw the embarrassing smile, Lawrence who once wanted to abandon the boy looked away.

"You...saved me"


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Whether the boy was expressing gratitude because of the water or because the bigplay succeeded he didn't know.

Whatever it was, he was embarrassed for a moment as he was not used to expressions of gratitude that were not made trying to make profit.

He must have been very thirsty as even in this cold he didn't hesitate to drinkthe water and after a violent cough he took a deep breath out of satisfaction.

The state he was in suggested he didn't come from Renose. It's likely he came along the river from the north or south because there are only a few main roads crosing the river.

On just what kind travel was he?

Just by looking at the worn down sandals above all in this cold he knew it wasn't an easy journey.

"When you calm down, it would be good to get some sleep. Is the blanket enough?"

Besides the blanket they were wrapped up there was another spare one.

When he passed it over the boy opened his eyes after experiencing unexpected joy

and nodded.

"You two, may god protect you..."

Wrapped up in the blanket he immediately fell asleep. He shouldn't be sleeping the way he was when it's night and outside on top of that. If he slept unappropriate he might not avoid death.

From time to time Horo looked at him out of concern, but it seems she was relived hearing the boy's regular breathing. She had a gentle expression even Lawrencedidn't see before and started to gently stroke the boy's forelock.

"Do you wish that I do the same for you?"

One half of what she said was teasing the other embarrassment.

"Acting spoiled is only a child's privilege"

He answered while shrugging his shoulders and Horo smilingly said.

"From my point of view you also look like a child"

While they were talking about this the speed of the ship going down the river was increasing just till a moment ago gradually decreased. It's true they came considerably close to the ship in front of them, but it seemed Ragusa suddenly hadan interest in the people on board the ship. He placed the pole and said behind

the cargo.

"Good grief. Is he safe for now?"

Of course it was about the boy.

When Horo nodded, he scratched his head and let out a white breath.

"He was probably tricked by someone, right. They didn't come this year, but every year when it get's cold many people come from the south and a lot of suspiciou


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s parties also come. Was it the year before this, someone wrote a really good false certificate and they didn't fool only children but also a group of merchants. Since everyone learned from experience there were not seen any recently. Perhaps he was cheated with a leftover from then"

Lawrence tried to carefully take the certificate from the boy's hand that was hanging out from under the blanket.

Hermann di Deejin Company's, assignment certificate for the rights to collect taxes from ships on the Romu river.

The only thing elegant was the name, there were instructions in rows regarding the authority transfer written with just difficult to understand words, but someone who saw the real thing would immediately understand it was a fake.

And of course at the end there was the company's signature, the seal.

"Ragusa. How do you spell Deejin?"

"Well, that's..."

When he compared it with what Ragusa answered and if he heard it right there wasa one letter diffrerence.

"The seal is probably also fake. If you forged a real thing you get hanged for it"

This was the interesting part.

If you make a forgery of the real thing you get hanged, but if you just make something similar it's not a crime.

Ragusa shrugged his shoulders in relief, Lawrence folded the contract and put itunder the blanket.

"But I will still charge the correct fare"

"That's.... Of course"

Horo was probably angry, because for everything in the world you usually need money.

volk in začimbe vol 6 chapter 1

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