Click to confirm you are 18+

Ep.22 - The Year Of The Bear

ButonflyJan 15, 2019, 2:03:46 AM

(Start at the beginning)

Lady Fareamay had entrusted Julia with a map. It was an old dated leather roll of a land she barely recognised, the major geographical landmarks being the only thing that still tied it to its intended purpose. The Eastern Hills, of which Fareamay was sending them, was home to the last bit of civilization at that end of the kingdom. It was known for its long string of homesteads, families of people who etched out a favorable life through hard work, tilling, mining, and harvesting the land. It was a homely existence, beloved by those who’d thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the effort, an investment spanning generations, intended to pass on through legacy. As far as Julia was concerned, it was entirely too mundane and monotonous for someone with her worldly ideals. Still, she’d enjoyed her past time there, brief though it was, learning all there was to love about such a place.

It wasn't all sweat and sunshine either. Beyond the Homesteads, past that area known as the Eastern Hills, at the place where the Kings lands came to an abrupt end, a flat expansive of tundra began that spread for out to the distant east. These were the lands of the Heesh, a barbaric people said to live by brutal savagery. From the circle of the civilized world, even as far north as Ipswitch and the territory of the Bears, tales were told of the Heesh and their murderous skirmishes. Bloodthirsty men on monstrous mounts pillaging the unprepared and stealing away with slaves, or if one was lucky, hostages intended for ransom. Julia had no personal experience with the Heesh but she’d heard the stories first hand, spoken from mouths marred with physical scars caused by such accounts. She knew as well as anyone that time spent along the Heeshian border was time that would lead to an inevitable encounter. This was all well and good had they been merely travelling to one of the homesteads, with their able bodied men watching from well crafted defenses, and with thoughtful strategies in place. But they weren't.

Julia considered the map as she waited for her companions at the edge of the market. Carmel had insisted on leaving at first light which meant the one day stop over at the Fareamay Estate was over all to soon. While she loved being on the road and off in search of her next adventure, typically it was at her own pace, with the trimmings of civilization on hand to ease the next leg in her journey. It was all well and good living a life of frivolity, traipsing about the wilderness, stopping from place to place, but those pauses at places in between made it all feel a little more manageable. Now travelling with the Bears, whether by force or instruction, it seemed they never stopped, and if they did it was only to involve themselves in some sort of trouble.

The road rolled out beneath them, a jaunt across the tamed fields of Landon’s countryside, with its well worn roads and common folk working the land. They stopped in small towns and roadside Inn’s as they travelled, a welcomed change to the endless rides broken only by sleeps on hard earth under unobscured stars. For days they travelled, making good time, a good company, lighter and more free now that the burden of Kass was lifted. While leaving her where they did had stirred a deep conversation between Carmel and the Bears, Julia too for that matter, in the end no one contested the decision. Never had a decision been made more amiably, since, before that point, the solutions offered for Kass’ predicament had been anything but pleasant.

Kodiak, being most extreme of mind with regard to Kass had also been the most quiet about her passing to Lady Fareamay’s care. While Julia had always anticipated shame to result from his constant calls for her execution, to her surprise it never had. She’d come to regard him as a man of concern, though his concerns tended to revolve around the nearest threat, of which he perceived to be many. So when Kass was suddenly removed from the parties presence, so to was the turmoil that reverberated around much of the group. His conflict with Carmel in particular, the two seemingly on the edge of physical violence much of the time, was now gone and replaced with something else entirely. To the point where Julia now saw him as a different man, particularly when one day he thought to broach the topic with her.

With Carmel forging the path up ahead, and Dolev lagging behind, Julia found herself riding boot to boot with Kodiak, his horse reigned back to pull up beside hers. In her eyes, Kodiak was a wild man, tamed enough to be able to function within the social fabric of others. He was jovial much of the time, making light of others shortcomings, laughing when he thought something funny, playing when it might amuse him. But he also had a glint of ferocity in his eyes, like a sharp edge held in the wing waiting to lash out. She had barely seen any of it, perhaps a flash here or there when tensions were heightened, or during the moments of conflict with the Yos in the North. What she had noticed about him, more than anything else, were the long thoughtful stares dolled out to everyone each and every day. Often times from the edge of firelight, when no one thought to look, Julia would turn to find his gaze locked on hers, musing, questioning, calculating, or some other unknown pattern of thought turning over in his mind. More often than not he’d continue to stare, well beyond the point of discomfort. Julia often wondered why that was but had never been brave enough to push for an answer. Even when she had probed, inquiring with a simple ‘what’ or something similar, he had simply shrugged and keep on as he was, forcing her to look away and try to think on something else.

Kodiak looked over at her again now, but this time with something to say. “About your Lady, that normal her taking in strays like that?”

Julia realised Kodiak was referring to Kass and wheeled from her idle thoughts to the topic at hand. “Strays?” She cocked a brow, “Yes something like that.”

“A bit odd don’t you think, taking people in on demands. Seems like a special kind o’person who puts themselves in that position.”

Julia pondered for a moment, wondering where Kodiak was getting his ideas, and more importantly where he was going with them. “Special, what do you mean?”

Kodiak shrugged, “Lady with her wealth and influence seems to get her way is all. Makes a Bear wonder to what end,” He sniffed, looking away nonchalant to the distant countryside.

“If you’re worried about Kass, you needn't be.”

“Worried? Ha! About her? Glad to be rid of the Peste before it could spread or do us some harm.”

“Well, whatever your concern, I’ve never witnessed any ill intent. She took me in when I was a girl, and I wasn't a stray. Just someone prone to mischief who she saw promise in. My parents agreed to leave me under her tutelage. I think for me it turned out well.” She said in a chipper tone.

“She taught you to spy then?” Kodiak mocked

Julia gave Kodiak a wry smile. “No, she taught me to write, and gave me direction.” She paused then added, “Spying was always in me,” She flashed a grin.

“Heh, I’d believe it. So what’s in the box?” Kodiak nodded to the parcel tied to the rump of her horse.

Julia shook her head, “I don’t know,” she shrugged. “M’Lady said it was none of my concern and to leave it alone.”

“And you’re not curious?” He raised his brow.

“Of course I am, which is why she told me to leave it alone. She knew I’d have it open and in my hands the moment I stepped out the door.”

Kodiak hummed and thought on that for a moment before continuing. “What did you say she saw in you, promise? Sounds like she has you wrapped around her little finger.” and he clicked his tongue.

It wasn't clear if it was the words or the click that annoyed her more, but something got under Julia’s skin.

She frowned “Well if I were more of a vagabond perhaps I’d be more accustomed to rummaging through other people's things.” Tugging on the rein of her horse she turned back the way they’d come, peeling away from the conversation, and Kodiak entirely.

Kodiak strolled on but leaned back, calling out one last jab, “You promise?” He laughed and waved his arm dismissively.