“Oh!”
The man has a young face. His eyes open wide when he sees my master, but when he spies me he gasps in surprise. I take the chance to leave. He’s a foot taller than my master, but young. I just scoot between his legs, and he staggers back as if a hellbeast has walked by him. Once outside, I turn around and bark and my master finally joins me.
It seems like the man wants to say something to me, but thinks twice when he sees my stare. He turns his gaze back indoors in fear. I’ve no idea who he is, but he smells of metal. I hate that smell. He holds the door and watches my master for a moment before disappearing behind the door as it closes.
Nothing is heard after that, and my master and I just stand there. She’s so tough and calm when she’s leading sheep with her staff, but that staff is in the inn right now. She’s no longer a fine shepherdess, she’s just a simple traveling girl. She wants to cry, and I can’t blame her. I rub my head against her foot.
* * *
“..Hey, Enek..”
The sun’s setting as my master talks to me in the inn.
“I.. I’m awful.”
I’ve only ever seen my master sleep on a bed five times. One of those times, she was crying in her sleep. Her voice is just as hoarse now as it was then. She drinks some water as I notice this.
“Half of the people here died.”
Her water skin is black. It looks like it’s in bad shape, and in fact I’m surprised it doesn’t leak. I thought Alice was hostile, but apparently my master still saw her as a good person. Her kindness always surprises me. She’s silent for a while, but she isn’t lying down like I thought she would. She’s sitting on the bed and massaging my back with her feet.
“I’m just like a merchant.”
Merchants always lie, frame, trap, and betray others. They’re brave, but not the same kind of bravery that my master shows. My master can kill a sheep out of mercy, but that’s hardly the same as a merchant. She also doesn’t want to earn money from the misery of others. I sniff her feet, which are cleaner than usual, but she pulls them back.
“So many people died.. but I’m only thinking about myself.”
She plops herself down in bed. I can tell from the sound that she’s curling herself up into a ball. Damn, if she didn’t blame herself for everything, she’d have a much easier life. And yet-
“Hey.. Enek?”
And yet I have nothing against that side of her. At least she’s honest this way.
“It’s alright.. ah, enough already, you’re itchy, hey!”
We play like puppies for a bit, but after a few seconds she grabs me and buries her face in the fur on my neck.
“We can’t stay here, can we?”
I love how my master looks when she’s wandering the fields like she owns them. I bark, and she hugs me more tightly before letting me go.
“Let’s go see the bishop.”
Her eyes are swollen like she’s had a good cry, but her smile is genuine.
“I think.. I’ll feel better once I’ve talked to the bishop. I’d like a confessional.”
Master! Are you going to ignore how I curled my tail up, asking you if I’m not good enough?
Sadly, she just hops off the bed and starts getting ready.
“Quick now, don’t just stand there looking like you want me to let you out!”
I’ve never been more happy to be unable to talk. We head back outside, and look at the dark red sky. We’d normally be asleep right now. She even yawns, but that might just be from crying a moment ago. She catches me looking at her, and turns away to hide the fact that she’s yawning.
The streets are still empty. The setting sun makes it look even sadder here. My master dislikes the dusk too, and as we walk along in the street she keeps touching my neck. I can’t blame her, the dusk sucks. My shadow is never that long, and neither is hers even when we’re on a hill. But during sunset, shadows get long enough to become frightful. Even sheep have horrible shadows now.
But right now, it’s only our elongated shadows wandering the streets. It makes me feel rather alert. All I sense are things in alleys, usually dogs. When we get to the church and see the other townsfolk, my master finally relaxes. Makes sense.
“I hope the bishop is alright..”
I wouldn’t know, of course, but judging from his condition last night it’s up to his God. Humans have weak bodies. I know why my master is breathing deeply, she’s tensing herself up because she doesn’t want to back off from visiting Joseph even if he’s in rough shape.
“Oh, you’re..”
Someone talks to us as we go in. Some fat women are talking at the entrance. I can’t tell who they are, but they have white cloth covering their arms and head. They’re probably here to care for the ill. At least when you have strong people watching over you, you won’t feel hopelessly alone.
“Um, I’ve been worried about the bishop..”
“Ah, I see. He’s sleeping right now. He’s severely wounded, so we were just praying for him.”
Where there are three individuals, one becomes the leader. That’s just the natural order of things. The strongest-looking woman is talking while the others nod.
“Really? That severely?”
“Yes. He’s a bit better after having slept a while, but he is old.. well, still, he was saved by the Lord, so he should recover soon enough.”
She flashes a beatific smile, the kind that even the dead would smile back at. Even my master, who isn’t one to smile much, does so.
“And how about the other.. man?”
It’s even less clear how well that man would be doing. He looked a lot worse off than Joseph.
“His head is fine, he just looked bad because of all the blood. He isn’t awake now, but it looks like he’ll be alright. He should be up anytime now.”
My master nods at the encouraging remark.
“May I see them?”
“Hmm? Yes, sure. The bishop has been attending to holy duties, but he has asked about you and..”
The woman looks at me.
“The black knight.”
Is that why they weren’t shocked to see me? Ah, that makes sense. But my master is nervous when she hears me being called a knight. Why, master? You should be happy!
“Enek isn’t a knight..”
“Oh-ho, don’t be shy. The bishop says that he only made it because of this ardent knight. He is also quite thankful for the young angel who brought the knight with her.”
“Oh my gosh.. I, um..”
My master is so embarrassed she looks down at the ground. She’s been called a witch before, and suspected of witchcraft. But she’s not used to hearing kind words. Even I’m starting to feel embarrassed by her, so I bark and rub her foot with my nose.
“There, you see! Even the knight says you’re being too modest!”
My master stays silent, but I can tell from her face that she’s quite happy.
“Alright, well, come follow me and see them for yourself. Their sleeping faces should ease your mind.”
The woman sounds like she’s talking about her own children. But then, they did bring hope back to the town, so of course they should be proud of them. They’re even treating us well because of the part we played. It makes sense that we should be repaid, so we should stand tall and accept their praise. I do wonder, though, what they would think if they knew my master was a shepherd? I’m praying in my heart like a church-goer that they won’t ask her about that.
“Right this way.”
Perhaps God does answer prayers, since she just takes us into the church. Our previous employer was a church too, so we’re used to being in places like this. Rather sadly, this church isn’t in good shape. It’s the usual stone building, but it hasn’t been well-kept. That spider’s web around the candle is proof of how long it’s been unlit. And the dust on the walls makes it clear they haven’t been touched in years. Even the wood is starting to rot, so they have curtains instead of doors in places. So if they’re still in here,
that must mean they’re loyal to God, right?
“In here.”
She’s suddenly very quiet. It’s quite a contrast. She pulls the curtain aside and urges my master to go in. I thought she would stop me, but she even lets me in. I think I like this woman.
“It’s only been a day.. but he’s..”
I guess she was going to say “so thin.” The woman sighs and nods. It’s not because he’s in the dark, but because humans tend to become frail when they’re injured. That, and Joseph is quite old to begin with. My master clasps her hands in prayer, making me remember just how badly the Church persecuted her in the past. I’m not comfortable here, but I still kneel. At the very least, Joseph isn’t one of the ones who persecuted her, and since he appreciates me, I would like him to get well.
“God bless you.”
After she finishes, my master puts her hand on Joseph’s blanket as he weakly breathes. She then looks at the woman, and seems to communicate with her in that eyes-only language that humans use in situations like these. The woman nods and places her hand on my master’s shoulder, leading her back out. I follow them, but have an urge to look back. I might have been imagining it, but I thought I felt Joseph looking at me. Yet there he is, still asleep.
I wake up under the stars each day, so I can sense the very land with my skin. I know how the stars and land move, so maybe it’s for the best that I can’t talk or make complicated expressions like humans can. Otherwise I might be tempted to fool my master. And yet, Joseph’s face is genuinely asleep. He’s calm, so there’s no need to be sad. I leave the room behind my master.
* * *
When two birds meet they are noisy, so it isn’t surprising that talkative humans are even noisier when they band together. They won’t let someone off the hook so easily if they’ve met a bishop and his follower (who it turns out is named Luke Tellhoff).
“Hey, that Ruvinheigen.. where is it, actually?”
“Oh, I’ve heard of it before. They say it shines at night because of the all the churches proclaiming the glory of God.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I even hear that they polish leather with gold.”
“Gold?! Wow.. I wonder if that’s true?”
They keep bugging my master or talking over her. I just lie next to her and yawn. They’re as boring as sheep to me.
“The great Church city of Ruvinheigen.. they’re even building a steeple to pierce the heavens.. that’s what Father Nick said.”
“Is that true?”
They finally wait for my master to answer. I peek at her, and notice her expression change. Her smile becomes forced.
“It.. might be.”
The church they’re building in Ruvinheigen is tall, but if that’s the standard then even birds could be called angels. But disagreeing with a priest isn’t wise, unless you want to be called a liar. My master knows this from experience, and never speaks ill of the clergy.
“That’s why Father Nick says he wants to go back there again before he dies.”
“But then, Bishop Joseph goes there too. He passed through there this time. In fact, Miss Norah here led him from their church. I can only hope Father Nick gets his chance before the Lord calls for him.”
Everyone agrees, then insist on shaking hands with my master again. They thank her each time, making her even more nervous. I wonder if it’s because she’s not used to praise, or because she feels bad at being described as working for the Church. A shepherd is considered one of the lowest of occupations, right down with grinders, skinners, butchers and tax collectors. But my master isn’t lying, she’s just not been asked.
These people believe that Joseph was sent by heaven to rekindle their hopes. They already feel warmth for us, since we helped save him. We should just accept their thanks, no matter how difficult it is for my master. She speaks with them, but feels embarrassed when they give her gifts like sausages. Humans like to give gifts and words in thanks.
“But then..”
After all of that, one woman speaks up.
“Why are you here? Did you come because you heard the rumors?”
We’re finally back on topic. But people living in towns think differently from people like my master, who have no hometown and care little about specific places, only people.
“Yes, I heard them.”
“So why did you come? Because of Joseph? Or did you feel called by God?”
The conversation’s getting closer to what we dread. I notice that the woman’s expression grows
a bit suspicious, and my master nervously denies being called by God. But now she’ll have to tell them the truth. She turns to me, and I remember Alice. We’ll probably be laughed at when she mentioned she came looking for a job.
It’s been a strange conversation, but at least it’s been a happy one. My master doesn’t want that to change, but no matter how natural that desire is I can’t help her. I can only curl my tail under my legs and look down. But-
“Oh, I’ve found you..”
A man has suddenly appeared, and with him everything changes. The people around us become like sheep trembling at a wolf’s advance. Surprised, my master looks over at what the other women are looking at and grows even more surprised. It’s the man we saw at the Tailor’s Guild. He waves at my master when he sees her.
“What are you doing here, you malicious spirit!”
My master is taken aback when she hears this. The women were so merry a moment ago, and now they’ve become entirely rude. My master shivers and I feel her hand on my neck.
“How dare you enter a church of God!”
“Now, now, stay calm. Am I not even allowed in a Church? I hear that God saves not just the kind, but also the wicked.”
He smiles, but it’s the smile of an attacker. I can’t tell who he’s attacking from where he’s looking, though. It’s a bit like me when I get excited. Another woman joins the first.
“Begone, you loan shark devil!”
She’s downright hostile, but he simply shrugs it off. He’s almost sneering as he raises his arms in surrender. A loan shark.. I see, that’s what he is.
“Yes, yes. Worry not, I’m not after your empty purses today.”
The women all put on a troubled expression.
“If that’s the case..”
I understand humans well as a dog. I can tell what they’re thinking.
“Y-you’re looking for me?”
My master speaks up after a time. The women keep warning her not to talk to him, but my master’s too kind, even if she hesitates. She still ends up talking to him. He smiles happily when she does.
“What do you mean? You were so brave earlier, so I told Alice she couldn’t just brush you off like that.”
“..what, what do you mean?”
Curiosity finally gets the better of one of the women, like a cat being tempted by someone dangling a string. The man shrugs again and responds.
“All of you, listen up. This girl came here to find a job.”
“Oh!”
My master is now quite nervous at being the center of attention.
“Everyone’s been leaving town, so Alice scolds anyone coming here looking for a job and drives them away.”
After he finishes, his words are replaced with silence. My master is probably having a hard time. I almost break the silence with a bark, but she’s holding me so tightly and nervously that I can’t bring myself to do so. Everyone’s looking at her, but for once they do so matter-of-factly.
In our old occupation, everyone looked down on her with fear, hostility and contempt. A shepherd’s staff was something to be driven from town. A witch. A pagan. A lowly shepherd. All three things were treated the same, and my master still remembers that treatment. She’s clutching my neck so tight that I’m worried she might choke me.
“Welcome to Gustav.”
One of the women takes my master’s hands. Her eyes are teary, and my master has no idea how to respond, so she just nods. She doesn’t know where to look a
s all the women come and join with her in a hug. Now she knows what it’s like to be nearly suffocated (though she’s still not letting me go).
The man isn’t smiling anymore. He knows how much they despise him, so he’s surely jealous to see them welcoming my master so warmly.
“Alice is stubborn. She won’t promise you anything now, but she’ll change her mind later. So don’t leave. Stay here. That’s all I came to say.”
The woman have surrounded my master. After he finishes his sentence, he can’t help but shoot one more in spite of himself.
“..And, please let me know when you’ve become a seamstress.”
The women hug my master more tightly.
“You shameless roach! Never ask for his help, Miss!”
“Right! Or you’ll end up with a life as hard as ours!”
All he can do is smile in response. He seems used to this treatment.
“My name’s Joam Ederssey. They call me a loan shark, but I’m really just a moneychanger.”
“You dare lie in a church-“
“I exchange today’s money for tomorrow’s money. I’m a moneychanger.”
He puts his strength on display, and the woman grow timid. He takes advantage of their momentary lack of courage to leave.
“That’s all I came for. Goodbye.”
He wears the trademark smile of a merchant, and leaves behind a room that looks like it’s weathered a storm. As his footsteps recede, the women finally begin talking again.
“Anyhow, people looking to work are welcome here. We want Gustav to become prosperous again.”
“Right, and it will be more fun to have new blood here.”
My master is puzzled at how different their reception is compared to Alice’s. When it sinks in that they aren’t lying, she finally smiles. It’s the same smile she wears when she returns to town after many days out in the field. I watch her as she smiles and nods.
Afterward, we head back to our inn where she massages my back again with her feet.
“What a busy day.”
That’s certainly an understatement. This new life is much more exciting than being a shepherd.
Chapter 3
Spice & Wolf XIII (DWT) Page 10