Origins: A Deepwoods Book - a Collection of Deepwoods Short Stories (Deepwoods Series 0) by Honor Raconteur Page B

to support
more people.” Grae ticked things off on his fingers. “We want more enforcers, a
trader, and an apothecary or surgeon of some sort.”
    So they did realize that they were short on the specialties
an escorting guild needed, they just hadn’t been able to do anything about it
until recently? That made sense to him. After all, Deepwoods was very new. The
assurance that they would be looking for an enforcer after this trip reassured
him.
    After another stretch of silence, Grae said in realization,
“I don’t know anything about Reske, or your family. Will you tell me about
them?”
    Slowly, haltingly, Erik tried to describe his home and
parents and siblings. Whenever he paused, unsure of what to say, Grae would ask
another question, gently leading him along. Eventually, it became more natural,
and Erik started to ask questions in turn, learning more about Grae and
Siobhan’s families. (They had apparently grown up next door to each other.)
    The night passed easily, without their notice, until
eventually they grew tired of speaking and their rears went numb from sitting
on a hard wood floor. Calling it quits, both men gave each other a genuine wish
for sweet dreams, and went back to their beds. But this time, as Wolf crawled
back onto the mattress, he knew he’d sleep well.
    ӜӜӜ
    After spending half the night talking in the hallway, Erik
did not wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He growled at Siobhan as she
knocked on his door with a wakeup call, then growled at Beirly when the man
tried to get between him and the breakfast table. People more or less deemed it
wise to give him space until he had at least eaten, and scattered to different
tables.
    With two plates of very good omelets in his stomach, he felt
less inclined to murder anyone. Siobhan sank into the chair next to him,
putting a mug on the table as she did. Using just one finger, she pushed it in his
direction, like a woman distracting a hungry wolf with a chunk of prime meat.
“Good morning?”
    Amused by her caution, he grinned at her as he took the mug.
“Morning.”
    Relieved at his response, she fanned herself with a hand,
the motion exaggerated. “Phew! It’s safe everyone, he’s back to being a human
being!”
    There was laughter from most of the group and even Erik had
to chuckle.
    “You earned your nickname all over again this morning,” she
informed him, crossing her legs comfortably and sipping her tea. “You didn’t
sleep well last night?”
    “Not until the wee hours of the morning,” he answered
honestly. “Grae and I stayed up late talking.”
    Siobhan blinked. Then blinked again. “You and Grae. Talked.
For hours.”
    With a shrug, he raised his mug and drank deeply.
    “Well, well, well. You realize that the people that Grae
comfortably talks to can be numbered on one hand? No? Yes, it’s quite true.
Welcome, Wolf, to a very exclusive club. You are now counted among the people
that Grae trusts.” Leaning forward, she murmured for his ears alone, “And that
is no mean feat.”
    He had absolutely no idea what to say to that. Or how to
feel about it, for that matter.
    Smiling, she drained the mug before plopping it loudly on
the table. “Alright, everyone, let’s move out!” she called. Getting to her
feet, she clapped her hands, motioning for people to go. Under her directions they
went, shuffling around each other and grabbing up bags of personal belongings
and weapons as they headed for the door.
    Erik, of course, was right behind her.
    Loading and unloading the caravan was oddly enough the perfect
opportunity for pickpockets and sneak thieves to attack. With people coming and
going, and all of the activity mixed in on the city streets, one more person
could mix in without being noticed. It was for this reason that Erik did not
join in and help with hitching up the teams, but instead stood so that he could
see most of the wagons. Beirly and Siobhan were also positioned around so that
they could cover the angles