Chapter 14 - Winds Of Change

The way back to Katerial took us longer than we expected it to. Not only did we find more loot than we originally expected, we never accounted for there to be slaves either. This forced us to leave some crates and chests for later retrieval and the march back home still proceeded much slower. Most slaves were malnourished and beaten pretty badly, making it difficult for them to walk long distances at once. This forced us to take frequent breaks. It didn’t seem like anyone minded, however. The soldiers were all in good moods, having finally got rid of one of the biggest nuisances in the region. Additionally, they will likely receive a portion of the loot as well as a reward for risking their necks, so it was understandable they felt rather happy about it all. Delays were still delays, though, and the longer we took to return, the more anxious I was getting about meeting with the king. The wolfgirl from earlier was rather aggressive to anyone near either her or her younger, I assumed, sibling. When I tried to talk to them, I was met with the usual mockery from the older one but, leaving both of us surprised, the younger one seemed to be less prejudiced towards me and asked her sister to at least give me the benefit of the doubt and give me a chance to prove myself. It took some time but the aggressive one finally gave in. I fully understood their apprehension towards me but, in fact, from their perspective, this was the best shot they had. Best case scenario, I’m not lying and I really want to help them. Worst case scenario, I’m the perv the older girl takes me for and nothing really changes for them there. Having them acknowledge the fact that going with me was a gamble in which they realistically had nothing to lose didn’t help them warm up to me much but, at least, I now had my chance to prove to them I really mean well for them.
After returning to the castle, the two wolfgirls, dressed in some more proper clothing that we managed to “liberate” from the bandits, hesitantly accompanied me to meet with Gurthan. The younger one, who seemed to look like a ten-year-old version of her sister, was hiding behind the leg of the older girl, afraid of everything surrounding her, and mostly of other people. While the castle wasn’t big by any means, given how small she was, she likely still felt overwhelmed and tiny in comparison. The other one was looking around with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. I couldn't blame them for their honest reactions, though. Liyanne didn't seem content with my idea yesterday, when I explained the situation to her but since she figured there’s no stopping me, instead of deterring me from doing it, she simply decided to leave me to handle this myself and not interfere. I wondered if she had history with the Red Wolf Pack or if it were her paladin teachings getting in the way of her morality. I figured it wasn’t the best time to ask about that, I’ll probably learn it all sooner or later anyway.
When we entered the throne room, the two girls suddenly stopped, as if only now realising where they were exactly. The king was not yet present, so the older girl, who I just realised I still didn't know the name of, tugged me at the sleeve and whispered in an unsure, slightly shaking voice:
-We're not meeting the king of this country, are we?
-Of course we are. Who else did you expect to meet inside a castle?
She frowned at me, slightly annoyed at how I emphasised the last word, but she knew better than to make a scene now.
-Some lower ranking official, maybe? I don't know! Why are you bringing us in front of such a figure? Who the hell are you, really?
-I told you, I'm just a guy from far away who really hates slavery. And, I guess, I do simply happen to have some ties with the local king, that's all.
She didn't seem to like that answer but before she could say anything else to me, the side door to the room opened and Gurthan walked in. He took a moment to observe the two girls, who immediately kneeled down and bowed their heads even before the door managed to fully close behind him. After that, he walked over closer to us, not bothering to sit down on the throne, as one could expect him to do, and placed his hand on my shoulder, looking me straight in the eyes with a piercing gaze.
-So, Edward... I feel like I know what this is all about but, please, do tell.
His voice sounded a little sad but understanding, like that of a parent who just couldn't quite get angry at their mischievous child, being already used to their mishaps. I straightened my posture a little more and looked right over the king’s head. Normally I would lock eye contact with him but I didn’t want to look down on him due to his height.
-My king, I got used to many customs of these lands, but persecuting a particular race of humans simply due to a distinct feature of theirs is one thing I will not tolerate.
-Is that why you want to ask me to shelter those two Red Wolf Pack girls?
-That is correct, my liege.
The old man stared at me for a moment. She shot a glance at the girls, who were still kneeling. Come to think of that, that wasn’t a reaction I expected from them. They did it so rapidly, too… was there an objective behind it, was it caused by fear or anxiety of meeting an important figure or, perhaps, it was just muscle memory kicking in from one of their customs? Hearing the king sigh, I stopped my mind for wandering and refocused on our conversation.
-It is surprising how formal and well court-behaved you become when you are asking for something, compared to how nonchalantly you usually handle yourself. Still, this will be difficult.
-That means it's not impossible, then. What must be done?
Gurthan looked at me and smirked. Perhaps it was seeing my enthusiasm in seeing it done that appeased him, perhaps it was something else, but it seemed that his mood lightened a little and he started talking with a less official voice.
-I could shelter them but the people will not simply accept that two girls they believe should be slaves are living a normal life. I cannot change their minds on a whim. While I am against slavery and the Holy Alliance for propagating it, a lot of people here are still putting their trust in them and until their situation improves and we become properly independent, I cannot just denounce them and enforce such changes. This also makes it a little difficult considering your status…
Crap, this was something I didn’t think about until now. I had assumed that it was the Holy Alliance pushing their purity ideals that led to the propagation of racism and the development of slavery. But I forgot I was introduced as an envoy from said Holy Alliance, and as such, me suddenly going against their policies could be seen as at least as strange, if not radical, and cause the more religious part of the population to quickly turn against me and, by extension, Gurthan. In the heat of the moment, I failed to consider the potential political implications of my actions. Still, it wasn’t like I cared much. I still valued my morality above all else, and I did promise those girls. I can’t just back down now, there has to be a way…
-I suspect that's a tall order but perhaps changing local laws...
-That cannot happen either. Not now, at least. Our country is as lenient as it can already be in those matters but we are still dependent on our sovereign. We cannot overwrite the core laws of theirs just like that.
-Damn it… Well, you wouldn’t be bringing this up if you didn’t already have an idea of how to solve this, right? So, my liege, what is it you're proposing, then?
-First, please do tell me, Edward. Do you really want to change the world's perspective on slavery, or do you just want to give those two girls a humane life?
-I... That's actually a good question. I'd like to stop all unfair treatment based on race and similar aspects but those changes will likely take generations to solidify... For that, just giving them a decent life and ensuring their safety would be a good starting point.
-And do you know how you yourself can do it?
-No, my liege, I have no idea... No, wait… wait, wait, wait, wait, wait a bloody moment. You're not suggesting I take them in as my slaves, are you?
-This way you can give them the best life they deserve, no?
-Isn't that hypocritical, though?
-Perhaps, but let me lay it down for you, Edward. All you have to do is take them in as your slaves, so that no one else tries to capture and sell those girls off. Of course, they would be tied to you still, so that they do not get mistaken for runaways and recaptured. But as long as you will not mistreat them as slaves, will they really be ones?
-If they become my slaves, they won’t be properly free, even if I try to give them the best life I can. Then again, I guess they won’t be able to freely move about without this anyway, sooner or later someone will try to hunt them down again…
-Exactly. And while they might be limited to only staying in your vicinity, at least they would be saved from the constant fear of slave hunters attacking them out of the blue, no?
-True… Still, this is not really my decision to make then, is it? You two can stop bowing down and stand up now, you'll only hurt your necks staying like this.
The two girls looked up at me, slightly confused. The older started to complain about not wanting to be rude to the king but when Gurthan ensured everything was okay and asked them to stand up as well, they did. In all honesty, I was expecting her to be a lot more rowdy after the display she gave me when we first met. I guess she really did think I was making fun of her and just now started to realise otherwise. Or she was so deep in the slave mentality that she simply couldn’t bring herself to be the firefly soul in face of an overwhelming authority.
-So, what do you say?
The older girl turned to me when I asked her again. She glanced over at the younger one, who returned to clinging to her leg, although this time seemingly more shy than scared, unlike before. After thinking for a few seconds, the older one looked me dead in the eyes, showing determination but also, to my slight surprise, remorse.
-First, I wanted to apologise for my behaviour earlier, when you came to rescue us. I...
-I understand. It was insensitive of me as well, so it's only natural you reacted the way you did. Let’s just leave that behind us, shall we?.
The girl opened her mouth and closed it, unsure how to respond. Finally, she simply smiled and continued with what she wanted to say, now in a slightly higher spirit.
-I was mistaken in my judgement of you, Sir. If you truly stand behind your words and mean better for all of us, I'd be more than glad to offer my life to you if it means being able to help implement those values you preach.
-Remember, you'll be slaves only on paper to help ensure your own safety. You'll be living here, in the castle. You'll have food, shelter and an open-minded company here.
-You two can work around the castle as maids, this way you will not look this out of place and will be able to move somewhat freely around the city, in due time. While still limiting, you will help by laying the groundwork for future reforms. I hope this is fine.
The older girl looked over at the king as she considered his proposition. Glancing over at the younger one hiding behind her, who was in turn looking up expectantly at her, it was clear the decision was already made. The kid's eyes betrayed her so easily. There was no surprise in this either, she was enticed by the prospect of living in a castle and being given free food. Even if they were stuck doing regular slave duties, they had much higher standard of living than what they could expect anywhere else and being tied directly under the king and myself also gave them a feeling of safety. The older girl let out a content sigh and looked back at the king. She tried her best but even she couldn’t hide a tear of happiness and relief when answering:
-This will be more than fine, your highness. We're extremely grateful for the consideration. However...
-However?
The girl fidgeted a little, feeling anxious.
-I'm not good at cooking or other houseworks, your highness. Instead, I used to be a hunter and a warrior. I don’t think I’m suitable to work as a maid for you...
-The maids will teach you. But if you feel like this is not for you, sir Edward here will start adventuring into the Frontier soon to get more acquainted with the land and perform other field duties. Having someone skilled guarding him will certainly put me at ease.
I shot the king a quick side eye, annoyed he has decided this in my stead. Well, I wouldn’t have turned such an offer down anyway, so there was no harm done here, but still, I’d like to at least be asked for an opinion beforehand. I guess this was Gurthan’s way of getting back at me for bringing this problem to the table in the first place, so I wasn’t going to complain. Having the girl near me would also help boost her image and further our goals, as well as letting her get to know me better and start trusting me more. As such, I happily entertained the idea.
-I wouldn't mind a skilled warrior to watch my back. I'm willing to put my trust in you but I'll need to see how good you are first. Don’t worry if you fail, I can still tutor you, I just need to know your baseline, like with any other soldier.
-I understand. I will put up with any trials and training you push me through. I once again thank you for the opportunity you are giving us. We will work hard to repay it.
With their consent out the way, the king summoned the head maid to take the girls away and have them properly washed. In the meantime, Gurthan wanted to deal with the paperwork but that's when we both realised we don't even know the names of the girls yet, so that will have to wait. Being temporarily free of obligations, I went looking for Mearyl. It just so happened she was cleaning my room at the time, so I asked her to help me get out of my armour. Seeing how she was always curious about the outside world and various adventures, I used this time to describe to her how the raid went and she listened intently to it, often stopping me to ask for more details. Then I mentioned the two wolfgirls. She paused for a moment, surprised they'll be staying at the castle, but she quickly brightened up. She was excited to hear stories from them. Mearyl's curiosity really knew almost no bounds but that fact also made me let out a sigh of relief. I still had my doubts as to how other people around the castle will react but it was nice to know that at least some folks will make the two girls feel more welcomed here. With time, others should warm up to them too.
Once that was done, I asked Mearyl for one more favour. I expected the girls to be malnourished. After all, they haven't eaten anything proper through the day, although that applied to everyone returning from that raid, and I had no idea when was the last time they had shared a decent meal as slaves. I soon learned I was wise in my judgement as they not only ate everything incredibly fast but also asked Mearyl for seconds. This was starting to turn into a rather costly favour, especially since the maid made their portions slightly bigger and fuller, but I'll just have to stomach it. It's not like the castle is short of supplies and, if need be, I can go on half ration for a while if that makes them two happier and healthier. They had it rough for God knows how long, so it should be fine to spoil them a little now. Not too much, though, so that they don't get any nasty habits, so I secretly instructed Mearyl to not give them any extra servings after that or snacks between meals today but to prepare a little extra food for them for supper instead, once again, adding to the cost of this favour. Once the two girls finished eating, I started asking them some questions.
-So, can you tell me about yourselves a little?
-Of course, Sir. I apologise for not introducing us sooner. My name is Miyaennesqa from the, how you call it, Red Wolf Pack. This is my little sister, Fiyanndrea.
-Would you two girls mind if we just call you Miya and Fiya?
-No, it's fine, Sir.
The older girl shook her head, probably used to people having difficulties saying her full name. The younger one was probably used to people shortening her name anyway.
-Who were you in the Red Wolf Pack?
-Like I mentioned earlier, I was a hunter. I have experience using bows, spears and knives but I'm not that good with heavier and more cumbersome weapons. Fiyanndrea was supposed to become a priestess, so she spent more time studying. She specialises in plants and medicine.
-I don't think we have a dedicated pharmacist here in town, do we?
Mearyl looked at me for a moment, probably trying to figure out the meaning of the odd word. My guess is that people here usually just refer to medics as healers or simply herbalists, if not witches and druids. After a few seconds, probably figuring the meaning from the context, Mearyl spoke:
-We have someone who can use some healing magic but they're not good with diseases, only small cuts and such. The hostility of local fauna and flora makes the life of a herbalist difficult, as it’s dangerous to gather resources, so no one settled here and we had to import medicine and potions from other cities. But they cost an absolute fortune, so there’s never enough of them.
-Fiya can help, Fiya knows lots about medicine. I can even make potions already!
I glanced over at the small wolfgirl, who was excitedly bouncing on her chair. I was surprised to hear her speak about herself in the third person but I’ve heard some kids tend to do that, so I probably shouldn’t be concerned about her then. Miya also giggled hearing her little sister so excited, meaning there was likely no reason to worry at all. Mearyl, meanwhile, clapped her hands, also happy to see the enthusiasm the little one brought to the table.
-Seems like she likes her new nickname already. We'll be honoured to have your help, Fiya. I’ll help you gather what you need later, and Edward will go pick up the plants and other resources you’ll need. I’m sure your medicine will help a lot of people here.
I let out a sigh, annoyed that I was, once again, roped into something without a say in it. Then again, I would agree anyway, so I just tried my best to ignore it and simply put on a soft smile and nodded my head. Fiya, after being encouraged like that, put on a smug face. She seemed to be handling everything pretty well so far. I guess that being shown some hospitality, a few friendly faces, good, warm food and a perspective of being useful and helpful to others while doing something she enjoys really boosted her spirit. Given her young age, I was worried she would be more traumatized by the events but maybe they have been slaves for so long already that she got used to it and was just happy for some positive change? Or, perhaps, a kid’s mind is just this much better at healing or blocking off traumatic events and staying optimistic. Let’s just hope she doesn’t develop any PTSD later due to that. Miya also seemed to be relieved, looking at her younger sibling. Seems like she was also pretty worried about her mental state. Seeing that this topic died down, I used this chance to continue with my questions.
-Do either of you have any magical talents?
-Not really, it's rare for beastfolk to be versed in the arcane. But I have a few Skills to help boost my physical capabilities. I can lighten my step to be able to run faster or jump higher as well as greatly increase my endurance. I can also do some basic fire manipulations, but it’s weak and unstable.
-That's useful to know. Those sure are some useful perks for a hunter. What about Fiya? I know she’s still young but has she manifested anything yet?
-She hasn't used any Skills or magic just yet, at least not with anyone around. However since she was to become a priestess, she was not trained in combat, so we may just not know. Normally, she wouldn’t start studying magic until she became an adult.
-Why so?
-It’s just our custom. I don’t know if there’s a specific meaning to it or not, I’m not the most spiritual myself, but that’s how it has been done for generations.
I scratched my chin, thinking. This action made me realise that I haven't been shaving my beard since I arrived in this world. I still didn’t know if there’s a barber in town but by this point, that beard was starting to get on my nerves. Back in my world, I was always adamant on staying clean-shaved and I was feeling really uncomfortable because of it now. Although, once I start travelling more, a chance to get a clean shave will likely only appear in bigger cities, which will likely be fairly rare. I might just have to cut my losses and get used to it, no matter how much I hated that idea. I even had trouble imagining myself with a proper beard, I’d likely look like some homeless bum. No, I had to do something about it at some point, but right now I had more important things on my head.
Anyway, those damned Skills. I read up quite a bit on them but nothing I read consisted of anything more than speculations or an observation report. Truth is, people of this world know surprisingly very little about them. It's a common assumption that people are just borned with a set of Skills and need to go through certain individual processes to unlock their potential and learn how to use them properly. This doesn't fully disprove the theory that anyone could potentially learn any Skill as long as they completed the prerequisites, however no Skill seems to have a set set of prerequisites either. One soldier can unlock a powerful attack simply by swinging a sword in a very particular manner a hundred times a day, for a hundred days straight. Another one might simply use the Skill unconsciously as they were fighting for their dear life. Some other guy might simply pull the attack off despite never training with a blade, having the Skill unlocked from, seemingly, the beginning.
Here is where I wished I got reincarnated into one of those fantasy-slash-game worlds like in the mangas that Lucas liked reading so much, where you have your status, all stats, list of abilities and the requirements for unlocking them, or simple arbitrary skill points to just simply acquire them. Essentially, a much simpler and more streamlined system than whatever the hell was going on here. But, sadly, that did not happen and now I had to keep pulling my hair out as I tried to figure out something that even the people living in this world for centuries couldn’t… I honestly have no idea why I even bothered with it, it seemed simply impossible to fully comprehend, but if I somehow managed to figure that system out, I would acquire knowledge that would help my students and close companions to, potentially, become a lot stronger relatively quickly and easily. While researching this would require a lot of work, the trade off was also seemingly immense, and this seemed like a good enough deal to me to keep trying, I guess.
Apparently, I've been sitting motionless and dead-staring at the wall for a while, because Miya's expressions switched to a rather concerned one. She was looking continuously between me and Mearyl, but the castle maid wasn’t particularly helpful, laughing it off and simply saying "He does that sometimes.". I slowly started to move my hand over towards her, in such a way that she doesn't notice, also giving Miya a subtle cue to not bring Mearyl’s attention to me, and flicked my finger towards her temple, not too hard that it would seriously hurt but not being too gentle with her either.
-Hey! What was that for?
-Do I really have to explain it? Don't just make fun of people. I'm not just zoning out for the laughs, I was thinking about something.
-Something particular?
I bit my tongue before I answered with "No, just random stuff, why would I bother with a conscious thought?". Mearyl loved to tease me and it was way too easy for me to step on all the mines she’s placing. Instead, I simply shifted my gaze towards Miya and ignored the mischievous girl.
-I'd like to see you in combat so that I can gauge your abilities.
-Of course, master.
I stopped mid-motion hearing how she just referred to me. Mearyl, in the meantime, started laughing so hard she almost fell off the chair she was sitting on. I almost wanted to help her fall off it but I managed to restrain myself. Glancing over at Miya, however, and seeing her surprised expression, I knew she didn't mean it maliciously nor was she in cahoots with this damn maid to make fun of me. I exhaled, straightened up and looked towards Mearyl with a stern expression.
-Don't you have duties to attend to? I'm pretty sure the head maid would love to hear about how, instead of doing them, you just wasted time idling and even laughed in the face of the royal guests, hm?
Mearyl suddenly stopped and looked at me but her surprised expression didn't last long, quickly turning into a soft smile.
-Alright, alright. I'm sorry. But you're right, I should be getting back to my duties. Don't be late for dinner again, you hear?
With that she stood up and left with a light spring in her step, humming to herself. I shifted my gaze to Miya at the same time as she glanced at me. She put on a polite smile and talked:
-You two seem pretty close.
-You’ll share my pain soon enough, don’t worry about it.
-Oh? She seems like a nice person, though?
-She is, that’s true. But she’s also as mischievous as a devil sometimes. Anyway, if you’re okay with it, let's head to the training field.
The girl nodded and stood up from the table. I also got up from my seat and headed towards the courtyard. Two days ago, if someone were to tell me today’s events were to happen, I’d probably punch him in the face, or at least call him all sorts of crazy. And yet, I just became a guardian to two wolfgirls, infamously despised for her race, taking them in as my de facto slaves while trying to protect them from actually ending up in slavery… eh, however I looked at it, it just seemed like a bad plot for a poor fantasy novel. Still, this was my reality now. I’ll really need to put in some extra effort now. I wanted the best for those two girls, I really did, and I feel like continuing with the direction Gurthan and I already wanted to take is the correct course of action.
But that was in the long run. For now, I needed to figure out what those two girls are capable of. Ideally, I wanted them to become mostly independent of me but that was probably still a far-away goal. Well, for now, I had to make sure Miya can at least protect herself and her sister. If she’s as good of a fighter as she claims, I might have some ideas how to help them…