5.
Rovenhold
As they neared the entrance Goneck laid out their plan.
“I am going to follow you guys in like I am your dog, you, Nami, are going to be Jord’s sister. Nobody, I am guessing, will think I am a wolf, I don’t think these people know too much about nature than they know about skinning a rabbit. So, when we get in there we are going to Don’s house. I know where it is, and lets hope to God he is there. If he isn’t there we still don’t know whether he went out of his house or he actually went to Garrowand so just in case then I will leave a mark on the door, he’ll know what it means. Are we set?”
“Wait, what happens if the Barringtons recognize me on our way?” Jord asked.
“Then we high tail it out of there and we try again tomorrow. Agreed?”
Then the trio waltzed in.
Rovenhold was a regular sized city it had 4 towering pillars that stood at the 4 corners of the city marking the line at which the city began and ended. There was no wall around the city just like where Nami lived. The people were just like Jord had explained. There were children that ran around playing and laughing. There were the beggars that sat on sidewalks hoping that a generous person might pass by and toss them a coin or bread.
As they walked deeper into the city past the rows of common houses, they noticed that as they went farther into the city there were less of the commoners. Women draped in jewelry and silk glided past with their heads held high with hair that was piled atop their heads. Men strutted past also with expensive clothes and nicely trimmed beards and mustaches. Nami even recognized a few people with whom her father had worked with.
“Was Don rich?” murmured Nami.
“No, he’s on the other side of the town. The rich people live in the center.” answered Jord in a barely audible tone, while hardly moving his lips. They kept walking and looking around, acting like they were having fun and laughing. People paid them no heed until Jord noticed a man staring at Goneck. Jord realized that it was because it looked as if Goneck was actually leading them and he also wasn’t acting like a normal puppy would. He was quiet and he walked in a straight line as if having a destination.
“Act like a dog, run around or something!” whispered Jord while saying it forcefully and at the same time looking at the man from the corner of his eye. Goneck yipped and started wagging his tail and bounced a few steps and ran in a circle around them, ran forward and waited for them, then ran back and barked as well as he could. Jord noticed that the man looked away and kept looking back from time to time wondering if it was just his thinking. Jord gave out a relieved sigh when the man finally stopped trying and just walked away.
"That was close!” exclaimed Jord.
“Why? What was it? What happened?” panicked Nami. Jord explained what had just occurred. “We need to be more careful. Especially because we don’t have Don with us, he knows this town better than anyone.” Jord said. Nami found that some people were staring and shaking their heads. She realized that it was because they were commoners and they were in the rich part of town.
They way they dressed didn’t actually let them blend in that well. At first she felt hot with rage and put out for rich people of the same class as she was to be shaming her but then she realized that she did dress like a commoner and she was quite dirty from sitting on the floor and these people didn’t know that she was the daughter of a high powered lawyer for she was walking around with a raggedy looking boy. Nami just stood up straight at walked past all of them in a huff.
They soon passed the fountain at which they were all fascinated by, passed the park, and once again entered the part of the city where commoners lived. They saw more children and other dogs, and laughter. Nami had to agree with herself that it was more joyful when you didn’t have a status that you had to set yourself up to. Goneck led them to a house that was closely situated with all the others. It had the shape of a setting sun, etched into the wood of the door.
Since it was Jord’s father they let him take the liberty of knocking on the door. He took a deep breath and rapped his knuckles on the door 3 times. There was no answer. Disappointed Jord was about to turn away, when the door opened about a foot and a unshaven, frowning man’s head popped out from behind. He looked at the two kids standing front of him. When his eyes alighted on the boy a small flicker of surprise came up but soon vanished after a closer look.
He was about to say something curt but when his eyes traveled down to the small wolf he stopped himself. He narrowed his eyes his to get a better look and realized what the crest was. Without a word he opened his door and motioned them in, took one look around outside and closed the door.
He turned on two oil lamps. It was light outside, but his curtains were closed. The house looked musty and as if it hadn’t been inhabited for quite a while for there was a layer of dust on almost everything besides the couch and a wooden table. A wilted vase of flower occupied the space on top of a bookshelf where there were stacks and stacks of unorganized leather back books. Nami, Jord, and Goneck stood in the middle of the tiny living room. The ragged looking man looked them over and frowned.
“Who are you people? I understand that you are a Giant Wolf for you wear the crest of one,” he muttered indicating to Goneck. “but I don’t know who you others are.”
“I’m Goneck. You may know my father Duketup Feliv.”
“Hmm… yes. That name does sound familiar.” He folded his arms. “But what are you doing so far away from home?”
“It’s quite a long story. I actually came out on a quest of some sort.”
“What sort of quest?” Don asked with a frown.
“I plan to bring the Giant Wolves back.”
“What are you talking about? How do you expect to do that?”
“In my opinion we have been in hiding for much too long. We are creatures of vitality and life! There is no reason for us to be hidden in the confined bars of forest trees. At the moment we have many options lied out before us which we can choose from.”
“Like what? Giant Wolves are remembered as some of the most dangerous magical creatures of all time. Have you ever even seen some historic paintings which early painters have portrayed your type as? Their vicious, gory, and overall monsters! How do you intend to change views which have been intact for the past two hundred years?” Don was now frowning angrily while breathing hard. Nami was quite taken aback at seeing Don get this angry for she saw no reason for it.
“Because like all things, the truth always comes out. These painters only portrayed what they saw-.”
“Yes and what everyone else saw as well!” He interrupted. “Your efforts are going to be wasted and you might as well turn back and go home where you can spend the rest of your life safely.
“We cannot spend our lives safely Don!” Goneck barked. “You probably haven’t noticed for it seems that you haven’t seen sunlight for ages but our pack is starting to get ideas and these ideas are growing with every passing second. If we don’t do something soon then our pack will split up and go their separate ways and that is even more dangerous for us!”
“Well then maybe you should start with your own problems before making more-.”
“DON!” Goneck roared. “Are you part of this circle or not?!” Goneck’s size was what caused less intimidation then it should have but Don had finally backed off.
“I am.” He muttered refusing to look at the small black ball of ferocious fur which was staring at him with fiery eyes.
“Good.” Goneck said lowering his voice. “I’ll now introduce these two humans. This,” he said indicating to the girl. “Is Nami. Your cousin’s daughter.” Don looked up at Nami for the first time. He looked her over and then asked Goneck.
“Which cousin?”
“Brawhn Elswooth.” A strong look of disgust shadowed Don’s face. He grimaced when he looked into Nami’s innocent eyes, but he noticed that her eyes held none of the same disgust his cousin had for folks like him. He managed a small nod and Nami returned it with a warm smile.
“So your Brawhn’s daughter?” Nami nodded. “You don’t look much like your father. You must be more like your mother.” He observed. Nami beamed at the sound of her mother and her likeness to her.
“Thank you. You don’t really look much like my father either.”
“That’s a good thing then isn’t it?” he sighed loudly as he lowered himself to his couch. “And who is this young fellow?” He said pointing to the boy. Jord felt stung that his father didn’t recognize him.
“You don’t recognize me?” He asked in a pained face. Don shook his head but his eyes were glued to the boy.
“Sorry kid. But I don’t.” he stood up and went to the kitchen and got out a couple dishes and cups, his back facing them. Jord watched him for a second. It hurt him deeply to not be recognized by his own father. Although it had been two years, two years should not have been enough to alter his face or his father’s own memory of him.
“Dad it’s me.” They heard a loud clash as a dish fell on the ground and shattered. Don turned around in an instant. He looked in disbelief and then looking closer at the boy and realized that it really was him. Don’s eyes widened and a smile broke onto his face.
“Jord? Is that really you?! Oh my god!”
“Yea dad, it is me.” Don ran to his son and grabbed his shoulders. He looked into his face and realized that it really was him. He pulled his son into a fierce hug which Jord returned with as much enthusiasm as humanely possible.
“Why aren’t you at the Barringtons?” asked Don pushing Jord away so he could look at him.
“I ran away.” He said.
“How?” Jord recounted his events from the day he had run away and how he had met Nami. “Well that’s quite an adventure. And I thank you and Goneck both for taking care of my son. I am in your debt.” Nami and Goneck smiled and nodded. In a few minutes they were all settled down and sipping tea with the exception of Goneck whom Don had given some dried jerky to. Nami talked about how she had met Goneck and then how she had agreed to help him and go with him and leave her home, all the while Don listened intently.
“What about your father?” he asked quietly.
“Before I had left,” Nami started. “I got into an argument with him. It was one of those arguments that we have all the time. About what I wear, what I do, and all those other ridiculous things. I had ran away after that. He sent some of his men after me but I was able to avoid them.” She finished.
“It won’t hold him for long. He’ll come after you again.”
“I know which is why we must leave soon.”
“We will.”
Finally Goneck asked Don, “So what has happened to you? Why didn’t you visit your son or get in contact with us?”
“For the last two years I have been in hiding. I went to Burbon about a year ago. I was caught in a murder that I didn’t commit. I was just passing through. The person that was killed was part of a high class family. Whoever killed him must have been holding a very big grudge because I don’t know anybody who would actually risk killing somebody that came from a family like that. It was really awful.” Don started muttering words to himself that nobody could hear.
“Anyways, they’ve been looking for me, and there are still posters in towns with a reward for anyone who catches me. I haven’t been out of the house for ever. Remund takes care of buying my food for me.” Goneck knew he was referring to one of the other people that were helping them. He was supposed to be placed in Burbon, but he guessed that Don had brought him with him from there. That must be the reason why he was in Burbon, Goneck thought. He explained to Nami and Jord who it was.
“Wait, is Remumd still here?” Goneck asked.
“No, he went back home.” Answered Don, Goneck nodded in understanding. Don took a gulp of tea and then set it down before asking, “Do you want me and Jord to go on ahead to the caves? Or should I stay here?” Goneck looked around once and then answered. “I don’t see much reason for you to stay here. And anyways, you’ll be safer at the caves. So I think that you and your son should start ahead. Nami and I still have some more things to take care of.”
“Good. Since that is settled I will start packing and we can all go our separate ways tomorrow. Sounds good? Breakfast is complimentary!” He was trying to entice them, even though they didn’t need any. A warm home was better than any outside camping.
Soon Don had everything packed and they were all tucked nicely in warm blankets. Before Nami fell asleep she felt something warm and fuzzy lay beside her. She smiled knowingly and soon fell into a blissful slumber.
