HEO 61

A naked man suddenly teared through the fog. A long, sharp spear pierced through his lower body, protruding from his wide-open mouth. His face bore three eyes. Both side eyes were closed, while the single eye in the center of his forehead glared wide open. It was a ‘Bone Stake’, something Silver had seen only three or four times in his entire life.

While ordinary tribes typically adorned their bows with animal heads, the ships of the Stoll royal family were different. Guarding the bow was an ominous statue: arms spread wide in a cross, impaled by a spear. The Bone Stake, aimed straight ahead, exuded a strong odor of death. Indeed, it was said that the people of Atania would flee in terror at the mere sight of that prow from afar.

The water surged and churned in all directions. Following the prow, the sails came into view. Four masts stretched straight as spear shafts. Gray cloth billowed tautly. It resembled a giant beast’s ribs covered in membranes. Next, the dark red hull emerged like a bruise. The massive hull trampled the waves as it advanced ahead. With the first ship leading, the second, third, fourth… dozens of warships followed in a long line.

It was an overwhelming spectacle, yet the sight of those bone stakes still felt unsettling. Back when the Stoll royal family was merely a tribe called the ‘The Crow That Burns the Night Sky,’ the Bone Stake was said to be a heroic warrior who sacrificed himself to protect the tribe. Though descendants later adorned their bows with his image as a sign of respect, to Silver’s eyes, it looked like nothing more than a tortured soul trapped in eternal torment. By the way, was the prince’s mother aboard one of those warships?

Silver jabbed Black Weasel’s side with his elbow.

“Hey. Those are the royal family’s direct-line warships.”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

“Didn’t you say the prince’s mother and brother were staying at some lakeside castle for a while?”

Black Weasel shrugged one shoulder.

“I heard that much, but… Who knows? Both White Deer and that prince are too old to be all giddy about a honeymoon. Maybe the next king and queen set sail to tour the entire eastern region. The Stoll royal family only represents the tribal confederation; it doesn’t hold centralized power like Atania. That prince bastard, now that I think about it…”

The rest of the words naturally transformed into ★×∽ as they passed through Silver’s ear.

“Quit making fart noises. It’s boring.”

“This bastard… the moment things get a little complicated… Alright, change course. We’re following those guys.”

“What if it’s a waste of time?”

“At least we’ll know where the next king and queen are staying. It won’t take long. Those bastards probably want to eat on land too.”

Silver kept his mouth shut and rowed. His palms were clammy with sweat. He hadn’t expected to run into the prince’s mother so soon… This wasn’t part of his calculations..

If things went wrong, Wolf would get kidnapped by Bingapsu today. What should I do?

Wolf and Red Eagle were holding each other’s hands tightly. They were anxious about the sudden turn of events, as the ferry suddenly followed the warships. Silver’s mind raced. The situation was complicated, time was short, and communication was impossible. What was the best solution? The only answer was one: fists.

He’d wait for a chance, smack Black Weasel on the back of the head to knock him out. Then drug him, allowing him to have sex with a woman with a large butt in his dreams for several days. In the meantime, he’d get Wolf and Red Eagle to safety. The end.

Wait, the end…?

The end with Wolf?

Suddenly, Silver’s chest grew cold. An intense pain through his stomach like he’d swallowed metal. Behind the emotional turmoil that erupted like a ripple, a question followed a beat late. Why am I like this?

It felt similar to that time. When he’d mistaken Wolf for being mad at the stone passageway, he’d been overcome with strange emotions like green fallen leaves. His fingertips twitched like when he was drunk, and excruciating pain, like flesh being torn, overwhelmed him. Even though Wolf was just a fleeting presence in his life.

Silver rowed his oars and lowered his gaze to his feet. He stared at himself as if he were looking at a bare wall where the wallpaper had peeled off. Why did I act like that back then? Why did I do that back then?
Why am I so hollow now, so dazed, my fingertips so stiff?

The answer was obvious. Because he was afraid to part with Wolf. Because he didn’t want it to end like this. Because he didn’t want to face the end.

He was certain. This aching heart wasn’t some evil spirit’s manipulation. It was his true feelings. Like how the tip of the tongue knows first when taking a sip of strong liquor, doubting this feeling was like insisting the flames burning his fingertips weren’t hot. The emptiness that flooded him the moment he thought of parting with Wolf was that distinct.

I like Wolf. Did I, deep down, want to go to Atania together?

Silver’s gaze wandered. His eyes, which were searching for a nearby warship, fell upon the rippling river water. The river’s surface reflected him like a half-broken mirror. Instantly, the back of his neck grew cold. A pale face, hood pulled over it. A single tattoo around his eye. The swaying waves distorted his reflection.

You’re going to Atania looking like that?

He hollowly laughed. What a foolish thought. The ‘less bad place’ Wolf spoke of was a world reserved solely for those with two eyes. Even there, a one-eyed man would leave home each morning agonizing over whose silver purse to steal. His heart grew heavy. He felt like a fool who secretly peeked at the final page of a play script and got disappointed by an ending different from what they’d imagined.

Silver soon lifted his head. He pursed his lips and rowed with all his might. His gaze was fixed on the warships beyond Wolf’s shoulder. His ragged breathing was swallowed whole by the heavy roar of the waves. The wind was unpleasantly cold.

***

More time passed, enough for two candles to burn down.  The fleet of warships advanced, their gaze fixed on the road ahead. The fog grew thicker.

Silver paused rowing and sniffed.

“Hey. I think we’re screwed. They’re eating on the ships.”

Black Weasel closed his eyes and flared his nostrils.

“You’re right. Hmm, honey wine and buttered dried cod, cheese and jerky… Mmm…”

“Now’s not the time to be drooling. If those bastards keep using the waterway, we’re the ones in trouble. We didn’t bring any food.”

“You’re being hasty. They’re probably just having a snack because they’re hungry.”

“Who eats a snack that lavishly? That’s lunch and dinner combined.”

“Let’s make a bet, Silver. The harbor we stayed at last night is right up ahead. I bet they’ll stop there and enjoy a dinner feast. If I lose, you can flick my forehead.”

“I’ll win.”

Silver’s boast proved right. The fleet of warships had sailed right past the harbor. Silver smacked Black Weasel on the head.

“See? I told you it wasn’t a snack! What are you gonna do about it? Dammit, I’m starving!”

“Ow, this bastard’s fists are…”

Black Weasel scratched his head, then suddenly raised his head.

“There’s only one way! Let’s beg them to take us aboard.”

Silver didn’t even have time to groan. Black Weasel jumped to his feet and waved his arms.

“Please save this poor widower! I got robbed by bandits and have nothing to eat! You see? This old father’s got three sons tagging along, three!”

For the first time, movement stirred on the silent warships. The sound piercing through the fog was laughter. And it was snickering derision. Well, that was to be expected.

“Looks like they won’t even toss a piece of cheese? Forget begging for food and ask if the prince’s mother is there.”

“We know the next king and queen are aboard! If you don’t throw even a strip of jerky to a poor widower with three kids, you warriors will be in trouble!”

The laughter grew louder. Even through the fog, the middle fingers raised by the warriors, pointing this way, were visible. Then suddenly, Wolf kicked Silver in the shin. What the hell, you bastard? I’m already pissed off, and now you’re kicking my leg… Hic!

Silver flinched. Wolf’s eyes, looking in this direction, were like balls of fire. From that blazing gaze came a silent scream: ‘Translate! Explain the situation!’ Silver spat into the river.

[Bingapsu is begging them to take us aboard.]

[Why?]

Wolf asked with a puzzled expression. Silver gestured to the warships.

[They are warships directly under the Stoll royal family. The prince’s mother might be aboard. This waterway connects to her tribe.]

[That seems a bit… Well, Lady White Deer did marry the prince’s elder brother, but returning on a royal warship seems like a leap of faith.”

[What’s a leap about it?]

Black Weasel interjected with a quarrelsome tone.

[That’s a reasonable judgment, servant. Since White Deer married the prince’s half-brother, it makes sense she’d use her husband’s ship on her way back to her tribe…]

[What did you say?!]

Wolf and Red Eagle shouted in unison and jumped up from their seats.