HEO 12

Black Weasel and Silver were walking ahead. Despite rowing for hours, they showed no sign of fatigue. They must have eaten their fill while they were trapped in the trunk. After much deliberation, Wolf made a decision.

He wanted to ask them to roast just one rabbit here before moving on. He’d try to persuade them that smoke wouldn’t be noticed by pursuers in the dead of night.

“Um…”

He opened his mouth, then quickly closed it. Black Weasel and Silver were whispering in Stoll again. Every time they spoke in Stoll, Wolf’s curiosity flared. What were they discussing now? A strategy meeting to shake off the pursuers? He hoped it was good news, like ‘Let’s quickly roast some meat and go.’

[Did you hear the prince whining about being hungry? Those Atania bastards have completely ruined White Deer’s son.]

[Bingapsu, I’m bored. Let’s make a bet.]

[What’ll you give me if you lose?]

[One rabbit.]

[Oh! Deal. What’s the wager?]

The long-running conversation between Black Weasel and Silver finally stopped. Wolf, pleased, started to approach but hesitated, then backed away. Suddenly, Black Weasel raised a hand. Was that a signal to duck?

Wolf quickly grabbed Red Eagle’s shoulder and slammed him face-down. They didn’t move for a moment, and could only raise their eyes slightly. A short distance away, Silver was pressed flat against a tree while staring at something. His hand was tucked inside his robe. Ready to draw his dagger and strike if necessary.

In the opposite direction, Black Weasel was also pressed against a tree as he gripped his axe tightly with both hands. His eyes glared into the darkness like a starving wild dog. Wolf buried his face in the dirt again. Did they sense pursuers?

A long time passed. Strangely, not a single footstep or sound could be heard. It was so quiet, it felt as if the pursuers had stuffed cotton into their shoe soles. Wolf pressed his ear to the ground. No matter how carefully one moved, the vibrations produced when a boot struck the earth could never be completely eliminated. He had to detect those vibrations.

…….

…….

He felt nothing.

Wolf slowly raised his head. Black Weasel and Silver were still staring into the darkness. They looked fierce, like wild beasts with their fur standing on end.

…….

…….

If he said, ‘Hey? Are you scared of the wind right now?’ in this atmosphere… The old man’s axe would definitely come crashing down on his skull. If he softened it to “Excuse me, I think you misheard the wind…”… the axe would probably come whirling through the air. Better to keep his mouth shut. To their ears, even an owl yawning over the mountain might sound loud…

Finally, Black Weasel straightened his back. Silver lowered his hand and caught his breath.

“It’s fine. Just the wind.”

Ah… fuck…

Wolf, feeling deflated, helped Red Eagle to his feet. His face was pale, and even his legs were shaking.

“Wo-Wolf… I-I wonder if it really was the wind? If not…”

“Calm down, Your Highness. It was definitely the wind. Uncle and Silver are guarding us tightly, so we’re safe.”

Wolf reassured Red Eagle. Black Weasel slung his axe over one shoulder and turned around.

“Let’s go.”

Silver, who had been following Black Weasel, suddenly turned his head this way. He simple gave him a quick up-and-down glance before turning away again. Wolf felt his mood sour instantly. Did that guy just laugh at us?

Why laugh… No… he did laugh…

To that dagger-wielding boy, they probably looked ridiculous. If Silver had raised his thumb or let out exclamations of admiration for his peers who were trembling and cowering face-down on the ground, that would be the weird thing. Wolf’s shoulders slumped like a donkey’s tail after rain.

Before the dejected Wolf, Black Weasel and Silver murmured in Stoll again.

[Silver, did the young masters take a nice, refreshing piss?]

[Hmph, neither of them peed. Not a drop.]

[I win. This rabbit belongs to this master.]

What are they babbling about now? Are they mocking us both as pathetic? Damn it, why did that prince have to run away from home for no good reason!

For the first time, Wolf resented Red Eagle. If he had even a shred of self-awareness, the prince would never utter another word about adventure. He should have learned his lesson well this time, adventure isn’t for just anyone.

Dragons and wizards were fictional creatures from third-rate back-alley novels. In reality, true adventure was murder and violence. That assassin walking boldly through the darkness and his young assistant were the adventurers. Seasoned ones at that.

Their speech might be flippant, and when they laughed loudly, they looked like reckless pranksters, but in their profession, they were flawless. The icy chill that hung over their appearance like winter river water was their true nature. Being so meticulous, they wouldn’t have overlooked even the slightest rustle of wind.

Anyway, in this atmosphere, it was hard to bring up the words, ‘Let’s stop and eat for a bit.’ Even Red Eagle, who had been whining about being hungry, had shut his mouth. Wolf closed his eyes and clutched his empty stomach.

Carrying a load of provisions on his shoulders yet starving? This was the very “paradoxical situation” that appeared on the literature exam.

How long had they walked? Black Weasel and Silver stopped.

“We’re here.”

* * *

Wolf and Red Eagle scanned their surroundings. All they could see were steep mountain paths, trees, and thickets.

Black Weasel slammed his axe into the ground.

“Now, young masters! Don’t move. One wrong move and you’re dead.”

Wolf and Red Eagle huddled together, shoulders hunched. Nearby, Silver looked down while poking at the fallen leaves with his toe. Only then did Wolf spot a nail poking up from the thick layer of leaves. As Silver pushed the leaves aside further, a wooden plank was revealed.

“Here.”

Silver covered the wooden plank with leaves again and snapped his fingers. Black Weasel slung his axe over his shoulder.

“From now on, young masters, stay in a single file right behind me. No straying off to the sides.”

At that, Wolf positioned Red Eagle behind Black Weasel.

“Stay close behind him. I’ll guard behind, Your Highness.”

“I’m sorry every time, Wolf.”

Once again, Silver followed at the very rear. After just a few steps, Wolf tensed up. With every footfall, the planks shook. It was a suspension bridge camouflaged by fallen leaves.

“Stop.”

Black Weasel stopped in front of a thicket. Wolf scanned the surroundings. It was all hills.

He was starting to understand it. There was a cave inside the thicket. Black Weasel and Silver had dug a pit in front of the cave entrance, laid planks over it, and cleverly camouflaged it with leaves. They probably placed sharpened logs or something similar at the bottom of the pit.

Except for this suspension bridge, everything must be thin planks. Thin enough that a heavy adult male wouldn’t even take a few steps before it broke.

Wolf’s guess was right. Black Weasel pushed through the thicket and disappeared inside. The interior was dark, but less cold than the biting wind outside. Following Black Weasel, Wolf kept counting his steps. Five, six from the cave entrance…

After eight steps, Black Weasel’s voice came.

“Stop.”

Then came the sound of a door opening.

“Come in. Wait until the fire is lit, young masters.”

Wolf couldn’t move a muscle when he stepped inside. It was so pitch-black he felt like he’d been plunged into an inkwell. He could only hear Black Weasel and Silver chattering in Stoll and the sound of flint striking.

Soon, a fire bloomed in a corner of the darkness. The flame, no bigger than a fingernail at first, soon grew as big as a jar, illuminating the surroundings brightly. Wolf set down the food weighing on his shoulders and looked around. A cave… No, it wasn’t?

“Did you think it was a cave?”

Silver sneered, as if he had read Wolf’s thoughts. He was crouched in front of the hearth while stirring the fire with a poker. The room warmed quickly.

The ceiling was rounded, and the walls and floor were plastered. One side held stacked wooden water barrels, firewood, and crates. Wooden doors flanked both sides. Perhaps because he’d endured all manner of hardship in just one day, this dingy hideout felt like an attic crammed with old books and junk toys. Wolf was moved. White Deer had provided her son with exceptionally capable bodyguards.

Silver set down the poker.

“Well, sort of. This is the entrance leading to the cave. The smoke from this fireplace also goes into the cave.”

A wide layer of straw bales was spread out in front of the fireplace. Black Weasel flopped down onto the straw.

“We’ve had a productive day, so let’s get some good sleep! Silver, blankets!”

Silver fetched blankets from the chest. He tossed a blanket to Black Weasel and handed one to Red Eagle too. Next was Wolf’s turn. The moment he took the blanket from Silver, a sudden pang shot through his heart. A cold sensation brushed against the back of his hand. Silver’s eyes, gazing at him, were tinged ruby red in the firelight.