Origins: A Deepwoods Book - a Collection of Deepwoods Short Stories (Deepwoods Series 0)

by Honor Raconteur

“True,” Tran agreed, grinning in spite of the fact that the shivers were hard enough to vibrate his words. “You’re welcome.”

  Beirly had to suck in his gut but he managed to squeeze past the wagon and come around. “How are we back here? Everyone in one piece?”

  Wolf waved his naked arm in the air with an apologetic grimace. “Sorry.”

  “It was weighing him down too much, I couldn’t get him up with it on,” Tran explained when Beirly looked at the bare arm with horror. “Sorry.”

  Swearing aloud, Beirly stripped off his boots and jacket and without a word jumped straight into the river.

  Siobhan groaned aloud. “Really? Beirly, you fool, get back up here!”

  “I am not making him another hand this month,” Beirly shouted back, still swimming for the area where Wolf had dropped.

  “This month?” Tran repeated, looking down at Wolf.

  “They’re a little fragile,” Wolf explained, perfectly serious.

  An iron hand was fragile. Riiiiight. “Do tell.”

  Fei started chuckling. “We all feel the same way about it, but he breaks a hand on average of every three months.”

  The ferryman called back to them, “Is everyone on board?”

  “Not yet!” Siobhan called back. Under her breath, she grumbled, “Due to various degrees of foolishness. Tran, is he diving in the right area?”

  “Vahh.”

  “Beirly’s our strongest swimmer, aside from Fei,” she said while keeping an eagle eye on the spot where the man had disappeared. “I’m not too worried about him coming back up.”

  That expression on her face, and the way she leaned toward the river, as if tempted to join in, said otherwise. Tran turned and kept a better lookout himself. “If he’s not up in another minute, I’ll go back in after him.”

  Siobhan beamed at him. “You’re a true friend, Tran. Oh, wait, no need. There he is. I swear, I don’t know who’s more attached to the hand, him or Wolf. Tran, give him a hand up and call to me when he’s on board. Sylvie, tell Grae that we’re switching the order around and making Tran go in with Wolf to the city. The sooner they’re in dry clothes and seen to by an Apothecarist, the better.”

  “I’m fine,” Tran protested. “Dry clothes are all I need.”

  Siobhan was shaking her head before he could get the words out. “I need someone who can haul Wolf around and you’re one of the few that can manage it. We can handle things on this end, but make sure he’s seen to.” Dropping to one knee, she wrapped the blanket more snugly around Wolf. “And next time,” she chided him gently, “remember that I’m lighter and easier to haul out of a river than you are.”

  “If I think about it, certainly,” he retorted, not in the least affected by this rebuke.

  Grinning, she shook her head. “You stubborn man. Come up, Beirly, and let’s get you all to shore so you can dry off.”

  Tran liked the sound of that.

  Chapter Six

  Grae managed to squeak the last part of the caravan in before the sun grew too weak, and so they all made it to Vellshire without any further incidents. Tran greeted them at the inn with dinner already on the table. They all thankfully dropped into it, each person beyond tired after having to cover for two people most of the day.

  Siobhan didn’t even give him a greeting, just piled a plate high with food and consumed half of it. Tran wasn’t entirely sure she was either breathing or chewing, just inhaling. Only after she had cleaned the plate, and had another serving, did she look up and properly greet him. “You were smart to have dinner waiting for us.”

  “I wasn’t sure if you would have a chance to eat anything until you arrived,” he explained with a wink. “Good thing I did. Wolf-maee is sound asleep upstairs. An apothecarist came and took a look at him and said the water didn’t do him any good, but he had a strong medicine to combat it, and the man’s lungs sound clearer now.”

  “I’m relieved to hear it. Grae did relay to me before the last leg that Wolf was seen to. Thank you, Tran. Honestly, Wolf’s one of the healthiest men that I know, but when he is down it’s a nightmare. None of us really have the strength to support him. We would have been in serious trouble if you weren’t with us today.”

  Truly. Tran had strained to get Wolfinsky out of the water and into the barge, and that was with two people helping. How would they have managed to rescue him alone?

  Siobhan set her fork aside and focused on him. “Also, it speaks volumes that you dove in so readily. I heard what you told Sylvie, about your lack of confidence in swimming, and I saw that you struggled to keep both you and Wolf above the surface. It was a true risk on your part, going in after him like that.”

  Tran blinked at her, beyond startled at this observation. He had not jumped in after Wolfinsky due to some internal calculation. An enforcer’s instincts were engrained after a certain point. It didn’t matter if it was a defenseless guild mate or another enforcer. “Of course I had to.”

  This won him a smile, a brilliant one that was like a second sun. “Thank you. Truly.”

  Not knowing what else to say, he smiled at her and went back to eating dinner.

  “Siobhan,” Sylvie waited until the woman turned to face her before speaking, “we are staying a day or so here in Vellshire, aren’t we?”

  “Perhaps more, depending on how Wolf does. Why?”

  “We were hoping to do some trading, pick up some goods here.”

  Siobhan immediately looked interested. “Who’s we?”

  “Tran, Fei, and me.”

  “What are you buying?”

  “Saffron or white wine, depending on the prices.”

  Giving the woman a mock pout, Siobhan pointed a finger towards her nose. “I don’t get invited in on this?”

  “You can if you want to.” Sylvie shrugged, saying she didn’t mind. “We’re heading into the market in the morning.”

  “I’m going with you.” Siobhan said firmly. “Grae, Beirly, what will you do?”

  Beirly looked torn. “Grae and I were talking about doing some shopping of our own. There are a few specialty items down here we both are wanting.”

  Tran frowned as he heard this. If the men were going out as well, they would need protection (mostly for Grae) which meant that the enforcers couldn’t all be in one group. He looked to Fei. “Men or women?”

  Fei paused as well, considering. “Beirly-ren, what specialties?”

  “New tools for darksteel forging,” Beirly explained. “I need Grae to go with me to calculate the weight and make sure I stay in limit.”

  “Not to mention he’s promised to make me a few tools,” Grae put in.

  “Men,” Fei decided. “I also want a look at these tools.”

  “You have an interest in forging?” He didn’t know why it surprised him, it just did.

  “He often helps me,” Beirly stated. “Between the two of us, we can get a new hand made for Wolf in under three days, we’ve gotten so good at it.”

  Tran really, really needed to stop underestimating the kid. “Then I’ll escort the women.”

  “Beirly, Grae, you’re welcome to go in on the trade as well,” Sylvie offered.

  “Can’t this trip,” Beirly said, but with a smile to show her he appreciated the offer. “Have tools to buy after all. But ask me next time.”

  “I want to pitch in a few kors,” Grae stated tentatively, gauging her reaction. “But most of my money needs to be saved for tools as well.”

  “That’s fine. We’re looking at triple returns, unless the market has changed.”

  “Then I’m definitely giving you a few kors. When do you need it by?”

  “Morning is fine.”

  “Understood.”

  Siobhan stared uncertainly up at the ceiling. “Who thinks they can be back first?”

  “Worried about Wolf?” Beirly’s tone said he already knew the answer. “I don’t think we’ll take more than one or two hours, truth told. I can only buy so much because of the weight restricti
on.”

  “Then I’m counting on you to sit on him and make him take his medicine.”

  “Me?” Beirly asked doubtfully. “Ah, Shi, you realize that the only person that can make Wolf do anything is you, right?”

  “Threaten him with her,” Grae suggested.

  “Oh, now that’s a good idea.”

  Under her breath Siobhan muttered, “Why am I always the heavyweight in this guild. I swear.” Clearing her throat, she raised her voice back to a normal speaking tone. “Alright, everyone, I’m off to bed. Sylvie, we meeting here?”

  “Sure. We’ll leave after breakfast.”

  “Alright then. Good night, everyone.”

  ӜӜӜ

  If women have the promise of a shopping trip to look forward to, they can be ridiculously early risers. Tran only realized this because his room was in between Sylvie’s and Siobhan’s and he heard both women get up at minutes apart from each other. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, he threw on clothes and came out into the hallway at almost the same time as they did.

  “You’re up,” Siobhan greeted, chipper. “Good. Let’s snag breakfast in the market, it will be hot and fresh that way.”

  Agreeable, he trailed after them, listening as they conferred on where to go and what to buy. Of course, his eyes roved all around, taking in the place and looking out for trouble, but he had a smile on his face, listening to them talk. Hearing happy women was always a kernel of happiness to men.

  The Vellshire market was not the largest that Tran had ever seen but it certainly wasn’t the smallest either. It didn’t crowd in on itself as some did, but instead seemed to stretch in all directions, like a spider’s web would. Also like a spider’s web, it trapped the unwary, enticing you to buy things you probably didn’t need or couldn’t really afford. Tran was just as glad that his money was in Sylvie’s hands because it kept him from several impulse buys. Mostly food. The smell in this place would make any gourmet beg.

  Sylvie stopped dead in the street, orienting herself. “They’re usually near here…Tran, do you see a cinnamon bun vendor?”

  “Ahead two stalls to the right,” he responded promptly. It was that smell that was driving him the most insane.

  “How about that for breakfast?”

  “I’ll need at least six,” he informed her seriously. Six might not be enough either.

  Siobhan laughed and led the way. “Six it will be. I can barely eat two, which is a shame, as that never satisfies my mouth at all.”

  The vendor had a little bit of a line, but he had plenty of rolls, so he handed over a dozen to their group without any haggling. Tran didn’t think the girls had bought that many in case his six didn’t tide him over to lunch. Likely, they thought to bring at least a few back for the other men. It was very, very hard to restrain himself, though, as six filled his stomach but did not curb his mouth’s impulses.

  They ate and walked, for all the world appearing like nonchalant tourists. Sylvie stopped several times, fingering something, or asking questions, before she took them off to the side and lowered her tone to a more confidential one. “Bolts of fabric are cheap here.”

  Both Tran and Siobhan leaned in, immediately interested. “How cheap?” Siobhan pressed.

  “Almost dirt cheap. I just remembered that they have a great many cotton fields southeast of the city. That’s likely why. But I’m seeing bolts here going for a fraction of the cost in Goldschmidt. Even if the market has fluctuated while we’re gone, we’ll still make a very nice profit from it.”

  Siobhan chewed on her bottom lip. “It’s true the cloth would be easier to transport. Less fragile.”

  “Also not as heavy. I also haven’t seen much selection of wines so far. I wonder if they had a bad crop this past year?”

  “They might have.”

  Sylvie turned to peer down the street. “Really, when investing, it’s best to diversify as much as possible. Two products are good, three are better. Besides, if we buy cloth here, that means we can set two or three bolts aside and make Tran some better clothes.”

  Blinking, he stared down at her. “When did we decide I need new clothes?”

  “When I realized I haven’t seen you wear one thing that doesn’t have either a mended tear in it or a frayed hem,” she responded promptly.

  “There’s no way that you will be able to find ready-made clothes to fit you,” Siobhan stated confidently. “I know this because of Wolf. He’s impossible to shop for. But there’s a tailor near our Hall that can whip up a set of clothes quickly. If we bring him bolts as payment in kind, we can likely get at least three new outfits sewn up for you at a fraction of the cost.”

  “Three?” Sylvie gave her guildmaster a dismissive snort. “Who do you take me for? I can get at least five. Especially if we bring him glass buttons too.”

  “Oh, now there’s a good thought.”

  Tran knew when he was outmaneuvered. And it was true that most of his clothes were becoming rather threadbare. Besides, it made him happy that both women had not only noticed what he was dressed in, but thought enough of him to do something about it. “This, I take it, will cut into my investments?”

  “Only by a little,” Sylvie promised. “Not even a half a kor, I think.”

  That cheap? “In that case, I’d be a fool to pass it up. Are you sure, though?”

  “Positive,” she assured him, patting him on the arm. “Let’s go back to the second merchant I spoke with. He has the best selection.”

  Tran completely turned into a beast of burden. If something went down, and he was called to protect the women, it would take him a solid minute to put all of the purchases down, and the fight would likely be over before he could even draw a sword. He ended up carrying a rack of ten bolts of fabric on his back, plus another five under his right arm. Siobhan and Sylvie both carried five bolts on their backs as well, of course, as he couldn’t carry everything. But in his left arm, he had two cases of dry white wine that Sylvie had somehow managed to get for a song. Siobhan carried two large bags of saffron in her arms like a mother would her children. Sylvie kept her hands free until the very last minute, then she darted into a kiosk and bought a variety of glass buttons that sparkled in multiple hues.

  Siobhan stopped before they left the mercantile section of the market completely. “Sylvie, can you carry one more bolt?”

  “I think I can, why?”

  “I think I can as well. Maybe two. It just hit me that Wolf’s wardrobe isn’t faring any better than Tran’s. Perhaps we should buy a few more and get him outfitted this winter as well.”

  “It’s a good thought,” Sylvie agreed. “Guard my buttons, I’ll be back in a moment.”

  “Get blue!” Siobhan called after her.

  Tran shifted so that he was in between both women, not ten feet away from Sylvie, ready to drop the cloth if he needed to in order to react.

  Siobhan frowned in growing concern. “I realize she’s not far, but the crowd is getting thicker. I can’t even see her.”

  “I can,” Tran assured her, eyes locked onto the brunette’s back. “Although I don’t like the look of things. Siobhan-maee, can you get that bag of buttons?”

  “Yes. Do we need to get closer?”

  “Just in case.” Tran’s instincts said to move now, but he couldn’t leave Siobhan behind. He didn’t think that way just because Wolf would kill him for it later.

  It took a little pushing to forge a path through all of the people. Tran was five feet away and closing when Sylvie thrust a hand up into the air. “HUSBAND!”

  Swearing, he bulled his way through the rest of the people without care for who he knocked over, not stopping until he’d reached Sylvie’s side.

  Unlike the previous times, it was not a driver or some other caravan worker that was trying their luck with a pretty woman. This was another enforcer from the looks of him, and while not as tall as Tran, he had a wide girth of strapped muscle that matched the battle axe at his side. He sized up Tran with narrowed dark eyes. T
ran returned the look and judged that he could probably take the man although it wouldn’t be a quick or easy fight.

  “Husband?” he repeated suspiciously.

  Sylvie found an open spot on Tran’s chest and pressed up against him, a pout on her face. “Darling, this man won’t leave me alone.”

  Siobhan, behind them, coughed suspiciously as if she was suppressing a laugh.

  Tran tried to roll with this new twist on their signal and glared at the man in what he hoped was a jealous manner. “He’ll do that now. He doesn’t want to tangle with a married woman.”

  With a huff of frustration, the enforcer turned and melted into the crowd.

  Only after he left did Siobhan lose control and start chortling. “Husband? Darling? Wait, when did you agree on all of this?”

  Tran blinked, then realized that when he and Sylvie had done this before, Siobhan hadn’t been a witness to it. “We talked it over in Goldschmidt.”

  “Right before we left,” Sylvie elaborated, stepping back from Tran. “Because he can’t always tell if men are just flirting with me or if it’s about to become a sticky situation. So when I think he needs to help me, I call for a husband.”

  Siobhan seemed highly amused at this, her grin stretching from ear to ear. “Can I do it too? Please?”

  Tran was absolutely certain that if Wolfinsky caught her calling Tran ‘husband’ that the other enforcer would start a fight on the spot. “Of course you can.”

  Delighted, she chortled again, bouncing on her toes in a happy rhythm. “I almost wish someone would hassle me now.”

  “I know, right?” Sylvie agreed, evil hilarity in her face. “It’s quite fun.”

  Before they could actually go find some hapless victim to play with, Tran decided to re-direct them. “Ladies, cloth?”

  Sylvie gave him a look that suggested she had actually forgotten her original purpose for a moment. “Right, right. Let’s get more. Siobhan, you said blue, but there’s about four different shades of it.”

  Tran let them confer over things, turned sideways to watch both them and the crowd, and hoped they would be able to get out of the market before the women loaded him up to the point that he could no longer see in front of him.