Werewolf Knight 4, page 5
“So,” she giggled back. “What’s next?”
“Well, it feels like it should be nightfall, because this has been the longest day of my life,” I sighed. “But in reality it’s only just past noon, so after this party I think that we should probably get started on approaching your fathers.”
“Well, first things first, you’re going to have to look smart,” Sybil laughed. “But I think your armor is too formal. My family are simple, country folk.”
“Hmm,” I said with a nod. “And I have to bring the beans, so to speak?”
“Mmmhm,” she agreed. “That’s the way to propose to a peasant girl.”
“Alright,” I said, and I sought out one of the young page boys from the servants. “Well, I’ll slowly get everything together while this nice little gathering runs its course.”
“Ernie,” I said, and I called over a lithe, freckled boy with curly flaxen hair. His eyes lit up when he saw me gesture to him, and he practically skipped over.
“That was a most noble feat, Sir Henry,” he said in a high-pitched voice. “We were all watching from the window. None of our fathers could catch the serpent, but we’re glad we have you.”
“Well, it’s in the job description,” I laughed. “But I have a question. Could you get the men to collect me two horse-worth of moon beans and attach them to a bundle for Casanova to take into town?”
“Two horse-worth, coming up,” the boy said, and he fumbled with the handle of the front door before running outside.
“Two horse-worth?” Sybil asked, and she blinked a few times. Her eyes were glowing bright green with excitement, and she crossed her arms.
“Well, yeah,” I said.
The only real Lupercalian measurements I knew were either sacks or horse-worth. And one horse-worth was considered a lot, so surely two horse-worth would be more than enough to convince Mr. Foreman that I was the guy for his little girl. I mean hell, not only could I supply a cup of coffee for every meal, at this point, I could’ve probably built her a house made with coffee beans if I felt like it.
“Hank, they’ll never have to fetch their own moon beans again,” she laughed.
“It won’t offend them, will it?” I asked. “I’m not trying to buy you or anything, I’ve just got a lot of beans…”
“Of course not,” Sybil said, and she shook her head. “They’ll be most grateful for the beans.”
“Maybe you’ll even get a pig in return,” Tabitha said, and the mischievous blonde sidled up to Sybil. “Oh, wait, looks like you already did.”
“I could see that coming from a mile off, just so you know,” Sybil replied and rolled her eyes.
“Alright ladies, you get ready for this journey to Stock,” I said. “I’m going to make myself look good for Mr. Foreman.”
I flashed a smile at the girls and then darted back up the stairs. I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t wear my armor, because I was pretty impressive in it, even as a human. But I understood Sybil’s point, so I peeled off my armor, set it on the mannequin, and then opened my wardrobe.
There wasn’t much variation to my Lupercalian clothing, but I wanted to look sharp, so I pulled out a pair of navy-blue leggings and bright red socks. I pulled on the cotton leggings, my boots, and a dark red tunic that would make me look like I had just stepped out of a tapestry.
I pulled the tunic over my head and decided to put my chainmail back on, just for a little flash. I didn’t need to wear my full armor, but a little bit of metal was fitting since I was a knight.
I took a quick look in the mirror and decided I was looking rugged and handsome AF. I had the beginnings of a beard, and my dark hair was starting to curl a little just above my eyes. I hadn’t cut it in a couple of months, but the new look certainly seemed appropriate for Lupercalia as well as my new persona back in Jersey.
“But I don’t want to look too gruff,” I muttered.
I spotted a glass bottle of water with rose petals that Sybil kept and splashed some of it onto my hands. Then I ran it through my hair, and after another quick check in the mirror, gave myself a thumbs up.
I made my way out of my room and back down the stairs, where the shower was still in full swing. I grinned as I took in the scene, and I noticed that several of the kitchen ladies flushed pink and started to giggle when they spotted me.
“What is it?” I asked with a smirk. “Is there something on my face?”
“Yeah, your handsomeness,” Imelda guffawed, and her skin glowed white with lust.
“Imelda, if you’re going to hang around with us, you’re going to have to come up with some smoother lines than that,” Tabitha said with a laugh.
The door opened again, and the young flaxen-haired boy peeped in and beckoned toward me.
“Sir Henry, Casanova and the bundle are ready,” the boy whispered.
“Perfect,” I replied. “Alright ladies, let’s get going shall we?”
“Oh, I can’t wait,” Imelda said, and the blonde priestess twirled her way to the door.
The girls and I followed her out the front door, where we found Casanova with a large burlap bundle belted around his stomach. The direwolf looked enormous when I was in my human form, and I rarely rode him while I was just plain Henry Baker. But the girls had made it clear that I had to ask for their families’ permission while a human, and besides, it was good exercise.
I managed to swing one leg over Casanova’s back, though it felt like I was straddling a buffalo. I patted the direwolf once I was comfortable, and then I reached down for whoever was going to sit behind me.
“I claim the seat right behind Hank,” Tabitha declared as she took my hand. “Because I’m the pregnant one.”
“Fair enough,” Imelda replied as she and Sybil climbed up. “But we’ll remember that when one of us gets pregnant.”
“Are we ready to go?” I asked as I felt a blush creep up my neck.
“Let’s ride, Hank,” Sybil said. “And we’ll see what my dad says.”
The gate was already open, and Casanova pawed at the ground like he was ready to run for miles. With a gentle nudge, the direwolf trotted past the gardens and the fields toward the gate. The scent of coffee followed us, even after Casanova ran through the gate and started to gallop.
Even though we hadn’t been gone long, I was glad to be racing through the hills of Lupercalia again. The wind whipped through my hair, and I could hear the girls laughing behind me. I felt Tabitha squeeze my waist tighter as she nestled her head into my neck and practically purred into my ear.
“You remember how to get to Stock, don’t you?” she teased. “Or are you going to need my navigational skills to guide your way?”
“Don’t worry, Tabitha,” I laughed. “I think Casanova could find his way to Stock even if we blindfolded him.”
The giant pup growled in agreement as he took off toward the west. The small village was where I had first arrived in Lupercalia, and the royal castle was just beyond that. We rarely stopped in Stock these days, so there was a feeling of nostalgia as the village appeared in the distance.
The small specks slowly materialized into cottages and even a few large houses. Smoke trailed from the chimneys and joined the gray clouds that had started to fill the sky. Despite the threat of rain, I was grinning as we charged toward the small collection of homes. After all, we were here so that I could ask the most important question I’d ever asked anyone in my life, and I couldn’t wait to see the look on Sybil’s dad’s face when I did.
I pulled back slightly on the reins to slow Casanova to a trot. By now, the town of Stock was fully in view, and I could see the good citizens as they went about their everyday labors. Cobblers and iron workers smashed with their hammers while a group of women sat nearby and spun wool while they watched the toddlers. There were people in the nearby fields, and pig noises became the soundtrack for our ride.
Casanova finally slowed down to a walk when we got to the end of the village. The locals all knew us, but that didn’t stop a few of the women from whispering as we rode along the street.
“Hey, Maria,” Sybil called over to a diner girl with a long burgundy dress who was retrieving water out of a well. “How are you?”
“Hey, Sybil,” she laughed. “Looks like you’re certainly having a lot of fun today.”
“Oh, I am, Maria,” Sybil replied with a bit of snark. “But not more fun than you, surely.”
“I’m getting water for the cows,” Maria said as she put her hand on her hip. The ginger looked over to me and lifted an eyebrow before looking back at Sybil.
“Oh, well, bless you,” Sybil said sweetly. “I’m sure those cows will appreciate that. In fact, I’m sure they appreciate all you do for them.”
“They certainly do,” Maria said, and she forced a smile. “Anyway, I have some real work to do, so I can’t stand around and chat. Maybe I’ll see you later, Sybil?”
“Oh, I’m quite busy these days, Maria,” Sybil laughed. “So it might be awhile before I have the chance to just sit down and talk. But I’m sure I could squeeze in some time to catch up with old friends soon.”
Maria offered another fake smile that looked like a sneer before she turned and walked away with her bucket.
“Okay,” Tabitha giggled behind me. “That looked like a friendly interaction, but I know for a fact that it wasn’t. I know that tone of voice, and Sybil, if you don’t mind me saying, I’ve never seen you act like such a bitch.”
“Oh, don’t give me a hard time,” Sybil said, and even though I couldn’t see her face, I could tell that she was rolling her eyes. “Maria Chaucer has been tormenting me ever since I was a child. Her family thought they were better than us because they bred cattle instead of pigs. Also, my mother and I were practicing witches, and she had no witches in her family at all. Most people have respect for that kind of thing, but not the Chaucers. They consider it unclean. In fact, she never let me play with her and her friends because she was afraid I’d hex them.”
“Sounds like they were jealous,” Imelda said in a gentle voice. “I can’t think of any other reason why they would act that way around someone with magical gifts such as yours.”
“Well, Maria always had more friends than I did,” Sybil sighed. “All of the maidens in the village, in fact. But it didn’t matter to me because I always preferred to play music with my brothers and roam around the woods looking for plants rather than play dress-up with Maria. And look at me now! I’m about to marry Sir Henry Baker, eternal savior of Lupercalia!”
“Don’t be too loud,” Tabitha hissed. “I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”
I’d never imagined Sybil as the catty type, even if she did tease Tabitha sometimes. But that was always in good fun, and Tabitha gave as good as she got. I realized that Stock was just like small towns everywhere, and so I shouldn’t have been surprised that there were popular girls and unpopular girls.
“Up there to the right,” Tabitha said, and she pointed past my head at a cottage further up on a hill surrounded by fenced fields.
The thatched roof cottage didn’t look like the other stone and wood cottages in town. Sybil’s family home was round rather than the usual box, and it had been painted white so that it shone like a beacon among the dull browns of the rest of the town. The windows were arched rather than squared, though the thatched roof and stone chimney looked like the usual neighborhood staples.
“Hey,” Sybil said. “How do you know where I live?”
“It’s literally my talent, Sybil,” Tabitha said. “I’m good at remembering where things are. I’m the best navigator in all of Lupercalia, or have you forgotten that?”
“Well, maybe not in all of Lupercalia,” Sybil offered. “I’m sure there might be some other blueblood out there that could challenge you…”
“Yeah, my unborn child,” Tabitha snapped.
“Ladies,” I snorted. “We’re here on serious business.”
I nudged Casanova forward again, and as we got closer, I could see that the area behind the fence was a green field full of pigs. A small wooden shelter had been built nearby, and one very fat pig was currently sprawled in the doorway while the rest of the herd munched on the grass.
“Smells like pigs,” Tabitha commented.
“Smells like a farm,” I corrected as I felt the first raindrops hit my face.
“There he is,” Sybil said. “There’s my dad.”
A man emerged from the wooden shelter as we approached the field of pigs. He was wearing long beige pants tucked into brown leather work boots, and a white tunic with a brown vest. He wiped his brow as he threw some grain for the pigs, and he called each pig by name as he offered it some of the food.
When we were about twenty yards away, he spotted us and lifted his hand to wave. The pigs noticed and looked up as well, but the swine were not nearly as happy to see us. The pigs started squealing as they ran for the far end of the field, despite the grain that still littered the grass.
“Is that okay?” I asked Sybil as her dad made his way over to the fence.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “It’s totally fine. They just rarely see direwolves, so they’ll probably run around for a little before settling down and rolling in the mud. Good thing it’s raining, too.”
“Wow, Sybil, you know so much about pigs,” Tabitha remarked.
“Come on, girls,” I said before Sybil could reply. “I’ll tie up Casanova, and hopefully, your dad will allow us inside before it starts to pour.”
“Oh, he will,” the folk witch laughed.
I swung my legs over the direwolf and hopped off. Sybil and Imelda followed, and I helped Tabitha off of Casanova, much to her chagrin.
“No, no, no,” she said as she batted away my hands. “I’m not an invalid.”
“No, but you’re a lady, and a pregnant one at that,” I added. “I won’t let you strain yourself unnecessarily.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “But only while I’m pregnant.”
“Of course,” I assured her as we walked toward the gate.
“Daddy!” Sybil yelled as she ran toward her father.
The witch looked like she was flying across the ground, and her father had a huge smile on his face as he stepped through the gate and closed it behind him. I thought for sure that Sybil would wrap him in a giant hug, but she skidded to a stop in front of him and gave him a peck on the cheek instead.
“After all that...” Tabitha muttered. “That’s all we get?”
“She doesn’t want to get covered in mud,” Imelda whispered.
“How glamorous,” Tabitha said under her breath.
Sybil’s dad had gray hair, a gray beard, and the same kind, green glowing eyes as Sybil. He was still smiling as the rest of us approached, and he gave me a nod in place of a handshake.
“And I suppose that this is Sir Henry Baker, the most eternal savior of Lupercalia?” he asked.
He bent down on one knee and bowed his head, just like the nobles had done.
“Oh, please,” I said as I lay my hand on his shoulder. “It’s raining, and I don’t want you to get your clothes dirty.”
“I’m a pig farmer, Sir Henry,” he said with a laugh as he dusted his hands on his shirt. “So my clothes are always dirty. I know that my son has met you, but I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. My name is Goscle Foreman, and I am the head of the Foreman family.”
“Don’t let mother hear you say that too loudly,” Sybil giggled, and she took her father’s muddy hand in hers.
“No, you’re probably right,” he laughed. “And who are your other friends?”
“Dad,” Sybil said and glanced at the sky. “I’d love to introduce you to everyone, but it’s seriously starting to rain out here. Can’t we do this inside?”
I was too polite to say it, but Sybil was right. What had previously only been a small shower had turned into a barrage of marble-sized raindrops that bounced off my chainmail.
“Oh, goodness,” Goscle said and shook his head. “I suppose you’re right. I’m sorry ladies, but I usually just keep working, no matter what the weather is. But I know such fine ladies as yourselves would rather be inside where it’s warm and dry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tabitha laughed. “I love to dance in the rain.”
“And rain is just another miracle we can thank the Moon Goddess for,” Imelda added as she pushed a few damp strands of hair from her face.
“Just one thing before we head inside,” I said as I started to undo the leather belts that held the bundle around Casanova’s belly.
“Beautiful direwolf, by the way,” Goscle added as he looked on. “Does he have a name?”
“Casanova,” I answered, and Goscle gave me a puzzled look.
“Interesting name,” he said with a shrug. “Sounds like something from the south country.”
“Ummm, yeah,” I said. “It’s from an old story in my hometown, sort of.”
I finally undid the last strap, and Sybil shot me an excited look as I took the large sack from Casanova’s back and then gestured at Goscle to carry the other side. The witch’s father obliged, and we started up the path to the cottage with the sack swinging between us.
“Will Casanova be okay?” Tabitha asked as she looked at the excited canine, who was following behind us. “I don’t want him to catch a cold…"
“Oh, don’t worry,” Goscle wheezed as we made our way up to the cottage. “He can shelter in the herb garden. It’s just behind the house, and there’s a covered work area that should be high enough to protect him.”
I looked back and saw that Casanova was skipping around as he tried to catch raindrops with his big, pink tongue. Despite his massive size, my direwolf was still just a puppy, and I knew he still spent much of his day in play. But I loved him for it, and I felt like it helped keep me young in a way, too.
“I think he’s fine in the rain,” I said. “But if it gets worse, I’ll make sure he finds the cover.”
“We do have to ride him home,” Tabitha said. “And our butts will get soaked if he’s not dry by then.”
“It’ll be fine,” I assured her.
