The Year Of The Bear - Ep.10
(Start at the beginning)
Kodiak whirled around, drawing his knife, poised ready to strike. Carmel joined in the alarm, his own sword at the ready, and the two scanned the area upto the river in search of the threat. The air remained quiet except for the babbling of the brook, then the eventual giggle that broke over Kodiak’s back.
He turned, confused, only to see Julia looking at him laughing, having a merry old time. Dolev couldn't help but broach a smile, and the two laughed at Kodiak’s expense much to his chagrin.
“Like that?” asked Julia.
“What.. she’s a fucking mummer too!” Kodiak growled, all riled up and red with anger. “Fucking southerners.”
Carmel lowered his weapon and cracked an unavoidable smile, “Come on.” He nodded his head toward the house and made his way along, leaving the foolery behind.
~
A search of the town revealed little. Whoever dwelt there was either presently absent, or had left in a hurry. Carmel noted evidence of women and children, so couldn't imagine the former was likely. The dwellings were recently lived in, and presumably abandoned in a hurry. Many chores and tasks had been left unfinished. Suspecting the nearby mine might offer answer it was checked too, but to no avail. The town stood silent, a mystery without a soul to answer for it.
“I don’t like it. It’s as if the heart were ripped out of a body, but the corpse is still warm.” Carmel said as the group reconvened on the porch of the large house. “I don't think we should stay here.”
“It is strange, but I don’t suspect these buildings pose any threat.” Dolev offered a more even headed view, aimed at calming nerves. It was strangely potent given that it was coming from her.
Julia didn't seem fazed by any of it. “I came through here a few weeks ago. I saw whole families at work. Perhaps they went to Ipswich for some reason?”
Carmel thought better of it, “And leave their livestock unattended? I don’t think so.”
“What does it matter? They were here, now they’re gone, just like us the sooner we get moving.” Kodiak had adopted a sour mood ever since the trickery from Julia. Carmel couldn't decide if it was due to wounded pride, or the unease set upon him by this place.
“They’ve grown wise to the shackles of their world, and moved on with sincere abandonment. Why else would they leave their worldly possessions? The Yos move far and wide, they embrace all, I smell the scent of sweet salvation in this place.” Kass breathed deep through her nose, savoring some unsmelt sensation like it were a whiff of honey carried on a spring breeze.
Everyone paused to look at her, laying on her back on the grass, staring up at the sky. For the first time since Carmel met her, she was smiling. He knew it wasn't the right way to think about things, but that smile unnerved him more than anything.
Nobody seemed to know what to say. Before long, Julia filled the silence.
“Hmmph, funny that, she sounds like that Yos preacher back in Ipswitch.”
There was a note of innocence in the tone of which Julia spoke but Carmel thought more gravenly of the observation. Perhaps some of the flowery speech had stuck, Kass had been made an impression upon after all. But then up until this point she’d been all barbs and youthful angst, spitting out threats and insults more than trying to make sense of things.
The town had drawn out another side to her for some reason, and now that Carmel had been lead to think about it, the words she’d spoken rang with the same confusing sentiment the Wilderman had had trouble wrapping his head around back in Ipswitch.
“Hey, keep your mouth shut or we’ll have to gag you.” Kodiak said sternly.
“Perhaps it would be better if we did move on.” Dolev, with a sudden change of mind. “It would appear something unseen hangs over this place.”
“What do you sense, Shamen?” Carmel looked on seriously at Dolev with his big furrowed brow.
She looked back. “Nothing, but she obviously does.” Her finger lead to Kass. “And remember, I am just a Bear.” She reminded, turning away.
Carmel didn't believe that, but then he saw no reason to push the issue.
“It’s settled then. We leave now and find camp along the road. How far to the next settlement?”
“Two days, barring any trouble.” Kodiak answered. Of everyone in the party, he’d been the most traveled throughout the region. Whatever his talents, and despite his conflict inducing tension, he served well as a guide. While he might not have been Carmel’s first pick of the Bears on this journey, he had certainly been a welcome volunteer. Though Carmel constantly wondered about his motivations for doing so.
Dolev was equally a mystery in that regard. The Spy made sense, given she was forced to go and also had the extra benefit of making the trip back home, to the safety and security of her Mistress.
Whatever was going on in the Bears’ heads, one thing Carmel was sure of was that both Dolev and Kodiak’s motivations were independent of one another. What was most interesting to the Wilderman was his sneaking suspicion- that both Dolev and Kodiak had come along expressly because of the girl. Precisely why that was, or proving it, were far beyond Carmel’s means.
Kassandra: what foolery had taken over him to bring an ensorceled maiden under his wing. Dolev had seen through Carmel’s thin veil easily enough, but how could he have had any idea of the chaos he’d run into at Ipswitch?
He’d come south of the High North looking for help but so far had only adopted trouble. It was never going to be an easy trip, he knew, but beyond the physical trial of the mountain, and perhaps the task of tracking down some sage to offer him guidance, the width and breadth of difficulty that faced him had been obscured.
There was no doubt, The Lady had her hand in his affairs, though as always he’d be loath to admit it. Until such time as she stepped out to convince him of it he’d preferred to maintain a healthy level of disbelief.
Still, if there was one thing Carmel liked to think he knew, it was the hands of a woman at her affairs, and given how things were going, he couldn't help but feel the oddly familiar sensation of being fucked.
“Let’s get the horses,” Carmel stepped down onto the grass and grabbed Kass by the bounds of her wrists, hauling her to her feet. “We ride.”
(Continue to Ep.11)
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