Book 2 Chapter 2: Missing

The next few years were hectic at the castle. Poisoning wasn’t the only concern. Assasin attempts were made, and open murder. It put everyone on edge. Vero himself faced attempted murder, assassins, and even a few poisonings. He couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation. Thankfully, with the extra dilligence, it hadn’t led to much harm. A few scratches and close calls with the poisons, but everyone was still alive.

Though he and Filtiarn worried about Ylva’s darkening demenour. It was as if each problem they resolved only made her spirits falter. Eventually she convinced them to let her train, since she didn’t enjoy feeling like some helpless gel. The guards were more than happy to keep her safe and keep her company on the training grounds.

Vero sighed. The winter months would be approaching soon. He hoped they could finish preperations in time. At least the humans seemed content with resources pooling into inovation and research. They certainly were the creative type. Some Yowlume were also enjoying this change as it meant less skirmishes and wars.

Vero mainly hoped with these changes, they could discover a way across the sand seas so he could find out what Amarok had talked about in the extended works. A land with different trees than here, stone work like they had never seen, people of different shape and sizes. And peoples that were able to change into other forms.

He padded over to the training grounds to see it in a flury of activity. As he set his things down he caught the attention of the captain of the guard. He fliked his ears for the man to come and report what was going on and he watched as the captain commanded some men to get moving before coming over.

“Lord Vero, she’s gone missing,” he said in a rush.

“Who- Ylva!” Vero shouted.

“She disapeared last night, we’ve scoured the grounds but there’s-“

“Captain. We found something!” a guard shouted. Vero and the Captain ran over as the guard ran to them with something in her hand. Vero froze as he saw Ylva’s favorite throwing dagger along with two papers.

“What’s on those papers?” the captain asked.

“Sorry sir, I can’t read them.”

“Can’t rea-“

“There in some different language,” the guard said as she handed them over. Vero peeked at the paper and sighed. The captain grumbled and rightly so. It was written in the ancient tounge, of which only he and Filtiarn knew around here.

“May I?” Vero asked, reaching for the papers.

“Ah, certainly m’lord,” Vero scowled at him for continuing the title, but then turned his attention to the papers.

Vero, when you find these, I will be long gone. Don’t come looking for me. I’m not going to kill myself, but I can’t take it anymore. Truth be told, I debated writing at all, but as you have been so kind and took care of me, I thought it best to asuage any fears or worries. I’m in a safe place. I promise. Keep looking after Filtiarn and let him know… I’m sorry. I hope he finds someone else who can handle this better than I.

Vero looked over the other paper and raked his hand through his hair. He should have took note of her reasons for coming here. She could outmanuever the guards and overpower if needed. It would be easier to leave if she was here than if she was in the castle proper, and had to contend with Filtiarn. He signaled to the captain to call off the search before grabbing his things and leaving. The Master would need to know about this.

As he walked back to where the master was at, he noted how quiet it was. It was as if the very soul of the place was missing.

When he appraoched the study, he found the Master waiting at the door for him. He ran over and held out the papers with the dagger. At first Filtiarn seemed panicked. He hastily looked over the papers and then crumbled them up.

“I’m such a fool,” he growled as he walked away. Vero watched then thought better and followed after the Ulrika. “Get every soldier, every guard we have on staff and start searching for her. She won’t be here, and you and I can defend ourselves. But find her,” he said firmly. Vero paused and bowed. He knew this was unreasonable to have everyone searching. They still had to preapre for winter. The timing was impecable as this was when they could spare the least staff.

He sighed and began formulating their best option as the Master headed towards the main hall. As Vero began to follow after him, he signaled to the servants and guards to get to work on his plan. He made sure it was only those he knew they could spare right now. He also called for Bartemaus, Cogeslann, the captain of the Guard, Ha’tak, and their newest memeber, ________. He would meet with them after making sure the Master was fine.

They enetered the hall and Vero noted that Filtiarn was heading to the seats at the raised dias. He stopped quietly at the one that was set aside for Ylva and placed her dagger there.

“Never. I’ll never find another like you in all the land. I will find you. I promise.” Filtiarn said with hushed tones. Vero quietly left after that. He rubbed his face with exasperation. Love was a fickle thing, truly. If he didn’t know them better, this could sound awful, like the tale from the newer servant girl. She had come to work here to avoid her failed relationship. They hadn’t married, but the way she described him, it was cringe worthy.

He was grateful he knew the two Ulrikas, and he was certain it was like the other cases he and Bartemaus had to deal with. As loss fogged the mind, confused reality, and made spirits trodden down, he was sure Ylva was delaing with this, no different than that. He also, trusted her. If she said she was in a safe place, alive, then he would find her and just chat with her. Perhaps he didn’t understand her as well as he had thought.

As he met with the others, he still found it hard to grasp that she was gone, missing. Ha’tak appologized as he hadn’t seen her leave. The others formed their plans to keep things running while also sending a few to go and search. The numbers were small, and would hardly suffice. Vero only knew that they had to find her before the public caught wind and it caused an uproar.

This was probably the most surprisng thing to Vero. Why would she run away if she knew how the people would react? If she understood the kind of confusion it would leave in her wake… just why would she let all their hard work come undone because she couldn’t handle it anymore.

It frustrated him that she had thought so little of the situation and the consequences it would bring.

As he trained with the remaining guards, he let his frustration out in his strikes. Eventually the captain took up the training against him. Vero found himself beat and on the ground, clenching his fist.

“It’s alright to be frustrated lord Vero. Many would be in your situation,” the captain said as he reached out to help Vero rise. “But don’t let yourself dwell in it. Find out what you need to learn from this and take action.” He hoisted the lad to his feet. “Just be careful what you learn though. You may have to go through this a few times if you can’t learn the right lesson.”

“And what would be the right lesson?” Vero quipped. The captain huffed a laugh as he placed his hand on Vero’s shoulder.

“I don’t rightly know that, lad. But I’d ask Ulrika what he knows. His Master taught him a few things, and it might help him to recall those lessons.”

Vero stood on the field, watching the captain go back to his men and getting them back to work. His laughs and orders sounded confident and sure. Vero looked at the weapon he held in his hands. He felt like he still had a lot of growing to do. In a way, he felt like the young pup that had been tasked with taking care of Ylva when she first arrived.

He sure didn’t feel like this ‘lord’ that everyone liked to call him. He sighed and took the weapon back to its spot and decided to take the advice of his seniors. Besides, it would distract Filtiarn from the situation. As he walked back, he noticed how so many of the servants were starting to be his age if not younger. It was both humbling and startling.

One day he would be the senior that would be taking care of them, teaching them and encouraging them. That day wasn’t now, and he was grateful for that. But he would need to prepare for that eventuality. Besides, he was the Black Wolf. The one Amarok prophesied of. Call it fate, destiny. He preffered to think of it as potential. If he didn’t live up to it, then he doubted those responsibilites would be put on his shoulder. He wouldn’t handle it, couldn’t handle it.

He chuckled at his musings. He doubted many hundred sixty year olds would even have the opportunities he did to serve others like he had. What was that again in human lives? He scoffed. Some teenager, he believed was the correct term. He thought of those who were that age and while impressive, he doubted they could handle what he did on a regualr basis. Or even if they would want to. The same for the yowlume who were his age. They seemed to want to play, or cause trouble all the time.

“Well… not all the time,” he corrected himself as he looked at the younger servants, hard at work. Some were scolded, but mainly they focused on keeping their heads down, tails tucked and ears closed. Never rising to the challenge. It seemed like a sad existance, but was very normal.

He came to the main hall and didn’t spot the Master there, so he headed to the kitchen. Eventually he stopped a servant who knew where he was at, and he ran over.

The stables.

While the master could become a wolf and run just as fast as these animals, Vero had to admit that it was genius that humans had thought of taming them. It made it easier to carry more things around and made the work of merchants easier.

He walked in and saw Filtiarn arguing with the stable master.

“Ulrika!” Vero shouted while there was a lull in their arguement. Filtiarn paused and looked towards Vero. He looked back at the man and sighed.

“Another time,” he said back before the two dispersed and he walked to Vero.

“You weren’t thinking of taking off after her?” Vero asked.

“Perhaps… but I also asked if he had given Ylva any assistance in escaping.”

“Ah, I see. And?”

“No. Though he was pretty adament about even discussing about her here. Apparently she spooked some of the animals and hasn’t been back,” Filtiarn said as he walked passed and started to head out. Vero quickly followed and quickened his pace to keep up. Thankfully he had grown now, so it wasn’t as bad.

“Master, I heard you learned some lessons from your master,” Vero said, hoping to get his attention. “About emotions?”

Filtiarn stopped suddenly and tilted his head. Vero came up beside him to see his reaction. He watched the rise and fall of Filtiarn’s shoulder while he breathed in deep.

“Right. Come, lad,” Filtiarn said quickly. He followed him to the small grove of trees in the castle. Vero managed to keep pace as the Ulrika turned about and sat on one of the larger boulders. Vero sat across from him and watched and waited. He noted that Filtiarn closed his eyes and started breathing deep and rythmically. Curious he sat back and copied him.

As time went on, Vero would peek open an eye to see the Ulrika still breathing deeply. Then, when an undistinguishable amount of time had passed, his Master set paw to ground and Vero opened his eyes. He could sense that Filtiarn was calmer, and truth be told, so was he. His master sat on the ground and motioned for Vero to join him. He pulled over a stick and began scribbling in the dirt.

Vero watched as the words began to take shape.

“Remember that these are simple lessons Vero, and thank you for asking. I needed to evaluate my own lessons,” Filtiarn stated simply.

Vero nodded as the master drew some lines connecting ceratin words together.

“If you are feeling frustrated, then it is likely that what you are doing isn’t working. You’ll need to figure out how change what it is that you have been doing and you probably already know the answer to what you need to do different. The frustration came because you know you can do something else to get better results.”

Filtiarn began explaining several emotions and their meanings, but Vero focused on the first. It was so simple. He felt trapped in his decision about searching for Ylva. It had been too long since he had gone out into the world, so he didn’t feel certain he could track her down. But he had others who could. No doubt the Master had to work through his own frustrations with the situation. Vero also realized he could reach out to a few other individuals who had worked for the castle over the years and see if they knew anything. He would have to be choosy in how he asked since he didn’t want to tip anyone off that she had run away or that she could be considered missing, but there were more things he could still do.

He also didn’t enjoy feeling this helpless. He realized his training with some of the guards could incorporate outside skills like hunting and tracking. He may need those skills again if Ylva made a habbit of running away.

After listening to the Ulrika, he sat back feeling more calm and assured. They would find her. It was only a matter of time.