Book 1 Chapter 15: Research

It had been a few weeks since Vero had finished learning the old language. He had learned it faster than The Ulrika, but with matters of state and the humans, he didn’t have nearly as much time to participate. He did dropped in as much as he could since he was curious about this new information. Though the exercises Ylva put him through made Vero’s head spin. She was purposely making it harder for him than for Vero and he was somehow content with that.

The more that they read, the more displeased Ylva and Filtiarn seemed to become with how the church ran and how it worked. It was nothing like how the black wolf had organized it under the direction of Veles. It was more similar to that cult that liked to worship him instead.

Vero kept notes of what they discovered so that he could sum it up whenever Filtiarn came by. As the three learned of the truth, the more serious the studies became. When Ylva and Filtiarn were together, they would discuss what could be done about it. Filtiarn had a better grasp on the dos and don’ts on how to approach the Priests about this, and the more they discussed it, the more they saw that in order to go back to the simple truth, the more they needed to get rid of the priests and their corrupt followers who would use the black wolf god as a means to have control and gain power. The only thing was that there was no way a group so ingrained into the culture would be able to be taken out easily and the thing Ylva and Filtiarn wanted to avoid was a civil war and the conflict that could lead to it. Vero could only imagine the possible outcomes of such a revolt.

All the ways that they could address this could lead to civil war and Ylva seemed to be growing impatient as the days trudged on. They began to hope that something that the black wolf, who was more of a prophet and a soldier, wrote would give them the last piece they were missing, since he seemed to know about their time and their situations.

Vero noted the displeased look that Ylva had on her face as she closed a book in frustration and left. He had found a rhythm to her routine that she had begun to build. After studying as long as she could endure, she would seek out a small opening in the woods outside the library hall where they had set up some training equipment. She would remain there until hunger drove her back, the priests sought her out, or Vero fetched her. Sometimes he would join, but often, his patience would prevail against her own. Despite that, he did admire her perseverance in such a laborious topic.

After reading through his book, he closed and noted the position of the sun. Knowing that Filtiarn would want to dine with them this evening, he decided against fetching another book.

He cleaned up and left, making sure to lock the library behind him, just in case any members of the church came snooping about.

As expected he found her training hard. He noticed she stopped for a moment and wiped the seat off her brow. She had hacked at a wooden dummy, seemingly to free a sword that she had lodged in there. Impressively, she had drilled till she had pierced it at about the shoulder height. She took the two weapons and seemingly had decided she was done. As she cleaned and checked each one, making sure to sharpen it, Vero approached her.

“Good Evening. Training again?” he asked, making sure not to use her title. She really didn’t like it and he found clever ways to sound formal yet not include it.

“Found anything Vero?” Ylva asked. Vero shrugged.

“There are many books to go through, even you know that. Though it does help when you can read half of them,” Vero responded. Ylva nodded briskly and eyed the papers in his arms.

“I’ve been compiling the notes,” Vero said softly, noting where her gaze was directed to. He handed her one and she looked it over. “It’s not much but since Filtiarn is going to be coming around today, I figured it would be better to get started on it then not have it at all.” Again Ylva nodded as she read the paper. Ylva glanced over and closed her eyes as she sighed.

“You might have misinterpreted the last part,” she said softly and Vero looked at her with a questioning expression. “In the book you were referencing, it isn’t to be taken literally but figuratively. It’s a story that people can relate to,” Ylva explained. His ears perked up in curiosity.

“So what does it mean?” he asked as she set down the weapons and began to walk back. He followed after her as they talked.

“Well the story here talks about changing, or in other words becoming new,” Ylva began. “Even though it says they were divided into alpha and omega, according to this story that doesn’t mean that we treat them below us as that will become our destruction.”

“Wow, you got all of that from a story?” Vero asked in surprise. Ylva nodded. They came to the door to the library and Ylva opened them quietly and slipped inside, Vero following shortly after. Filtiarn was sitting in his favorite spot with a paper, quill and old book. He wore a focused expression as he tried to slowly translate what he was reading. As Ylva and Vero approached him he looked up and then set the quill down as he realized it was them. He gave a wry smile as he sighed.

“I don’t know how you can read this Ylva. It’s so complicated,” Filtiarn said with a weak chuckle.

“It was hard at first for me, but you’ll get the hang of it. And it will be important for when we figure out what to do,” she replied as she sat on the table’s edge, leaned over and peered down at his paper. Vero watched, curious. Her grasp on the old language was astounding for someone who hated reading. She had continually brushed it off, stating her master had grilled it into her, despite her protests. And Vero believed she enjoyed finding use for the skill, as well as teaching it.

“Well, this is what I got so far,” Filtiarn said as he bit his lip. He shifted the paper around so she could look at it then he slid the book over to her. She ran her finger over the book as she looked between the two and smiled.

“I told you, you’re getting better,” she remarked. He sighed with relief and she chuckled.

“An Ulrikan should know this stuff though, I still don’t know why your father said it was taboo nor why he forbid the books,” Ylva commented.

“He must have been told that by grandfather and who knows how far back it goes.”

“Well, it’s stupid to hide truth from rulers and for that fact even the common folk,” Ylva remarked and Vero and Filtiarn nodded in agreement. Vero went over to the book he had been working on. He read a few more lines and then paused.

“What if we brought the truth to the people or at least out in the open?” He asked and Ylva and Filtiarn looked at him then pondered it.

“We’d be asking for a revolt or riot then against the church, and those get dangerous and violent,” Ylva said quietly, her arms folding as she contemplated it deeper. “The destruction that follows that unless carefully planned, executed and controlled, would be more costly than just forbidding the religion and banishing the priests.”

“But it says right here that those who are looking for truth are waiting for it,” Vero said and Ylva and Filtiarn looked at the book he was pointing at. Ylva cocked her head to the side. Vero knew that she had read this one before, but she seemed to have missed that. She watched as he set down his things and grabbed the book and opened it with purpose. He handed the book to her keepping his finger hovering over a scribed rune from the old language to direct her attention to it. She stared at it then grew wide eyed as she took in the surrounding runes. Filtiarn came closer to peek over her shoulder.

“What is it?” he asked, still obviously unfamiliar with the old tongue. Ylva bit her lip before reading out loud.

“It says here that; when the land is in need of a black wolf to lead and guide them, their first task will be to publish truth. Both to our lands and beyond,” Ylva said slowly as she summarized the page. Vero and Filtiarn looked at one another as they pondered on these.

“Guess that’s the answer we were searching for, but it’s still not an easy one,” Filtiarn mumbled. Ylva seemed to agree. However, Vero could see the worry etched on his expression.

“We’ll look into this later,” Ylva said, breaking the tension that had been steadily growing in the room. “For now, we will ponder and seek inspiration, but only after we eat and get some decent sleep.” Filtiarn looked at her confused and she sighed. “I know that you haven’t been sleeping at night, searching for an answer to this. And don’t try to hide it. I’ve followed you a few too many times to here,” she said waving her hands at the archives. “In the middle of the night no less. You’re trying to learn the old language just so you can find those answers.”

He looked at her in shock but she wasn’t done yet. “And on top of all of that, you are still trying to do all you royal duties and fill your obligations as the Ulrika.” She brandished a finger at him as she scolded him and he retreated back with his hands held up defensively as he slid back on the table. He flailed his arms when he came to edge before falling off and sending papers flying. Ylva and Vero quickly came over and looked at him in concern as he moaned and rubbed his head.

“Should have realized you were catching on,” he muttered and then Ylva let out a scoff as she rolled her eyes. The silence only stretched for a moment before Ylva burst out laughing in which Filtiarn joined. Vero sighed as one of his ears drooped. Filtiarn and Ylva had developed quite an interesting relationship. Strangely enough it was enjoyable to watch, but he didn’t dare get in on it. Ylva still could put on quite the intimidating aura and Vero didn’t want to press his chances at getting a rougher training session.

“Guess I deserved the ridicule,” Filtiarn commented as Ylva helped him to stand.

“Only when you’ve been an idiot,” she replied and he chuckled. Before they could say another word, a loud rumble reached their ears. Vero hunched as he sighed, he knew he should have gotten something to eat before finding her, but he didn’t expect there discussion to go on for this long.

“Don’t tell me that was your stomach,” Ylva said as she leaned down and poked him in the ribs.

“Regretfully, yes Mi’lady,” Vero mumbled.

“Regretfully?” Ylva repeated in surprise.

“Just means that we can’t keep studying eh lad?”

“Sure,” Vero replied.

“Well, can’t be helped,” Filtiarn said and ushered them to the entrance. “Best get something to eat or I’ll loose my hearing at this rate,” Filtiarn chuckled as Vero’s stomach growled again.

“Hey!” Vero complained and Ylva laughed lightly at the exchange.

The group found their way to the mess hall and despite the obvious surprised reactions from the servants, ate with joyous laughter as they mingled with the common folk. The servants at first were a bit surprised to have the Ulrikan family with them but after much gentle rebuking and kind laughter from them, they all settled in comfortably beside them and talked as if there were no distinction between them.

Vero knew this was just a way to avoid the priests as they wouldn’t ever dare dine with the servants, but it was comforting to see how different the Master was around his wife, particularly when there was food around them.