Shadows of wolves

Chapter 6

The town of Droste was bustling with activity, markets lined the street. It was busy despite the fact that the markets weren't open yet, the Arl of Droste, his lordship Karen Elkin the third, made laws that the markets couldn't sell their wares until the second hour past midday. Who ever ignored the laws would be publicly whipped thirty times, or got both hands cut off. It was a unnecessary, and pointless law that did nothing but make it harder for us farming people that lived a fair way from the town.

It would be just on dusk when we would reach home. Sighing I hoped down from Blitz's back and began to lead him on foot. It would be half an hour or so until the markets would be open, giving us plenty of time to set up a stall. I had my stall next to my father's and left Scarlet to set up my stall and manage it while we were in the town. I would give her a bit of the days earning once we return home.

I left Blaze tethered to the cart and almost immediately Scarlet set out putting up the stall. I bid her farewell as I walked down the streets and through back alleys. Many stalls were already set up, waiting for the time to pass so they could sell their wares. To much surprise I found a group of Narrian selling salves and trinkets.

They were not known for dealing with humans, not kindly anyway. It was only two of them, but still it was a rare sight. Maybe they could tell me more of my heritage and teach me things that could become help me in time to come. I just hoped they would acknowledge me as I was. "Hail there youngster!" An elderly Narrian man called to me, "come closer so I can talk to you easier, yelling over such a distance rasps my old throat." He absentmindedly rubbed at his deeply tanned throat. I was shocked that he would call me over and acknowledge me like that. It was as if he read my mind. I put up a mental barricade insistently, you could never be to cautious.

After I recovered from my surprise I came closer and followed him into a tent at the back of the stall. His companions watch me with interested eyes but smiled friendly as I walked by them. Creepy. I pulled back one of the blue flaps of the tent, it was beautifully embroidered and seemed to be coloured at random when you were close to it, but from a distance the colours had order and reassembled clouds lit up at sunset.

"You are lost and at such a young age to! You know only a little of yourself and even littler of your mother's people, even if we are only half so. Boy please sit and I will tell you as much a you wish to know," he gestured to a cushion opposite him. the Trent was quite large but only contained the essentials. It was still very impressive. I sat on the cushion that the Narrian had gestured to.

I gave a small smile,I didn't even know his name nor he mine but he knew much about me and I had not uttered a word. I admit he had the upper hand, for now. "Firstly, I would wish to know your name in exchange for my own, but I believe you already know my name, do you not?" I said softly. His friendly face broadened with a smile, a twinkle of pride played in his amber eyes.

"I am Cota, elder of the Narrian tribe that resides in the forests near Droste. And yes I already know your name, Ash." I suspected he knew as much. I took in his looks again more closely. His hair was gray all over, no way to show what colour it was before. he had a broad nose that looked like it had been broken a few times and had small scares spread out across the bridge. All of his shin was deeply tanned from years of working under a relentless sun. His face was clean shaven and could have been attractive a long time ago. He wore simple brown robe that had seen better days.

"Tell me, why are you trading in the town, don't yo- our people not like humans?" I bluntly said. It truly confused me. What need would the Narrian people have for money? "We heard of a young boy of sixteen with ash black hair who was part Narrian, who lives near this town. We found you." He spoke the last bit full of pride. Whether it was pride of his ability to find me or his pride of me, I couldn't tell you. I would normally go for the first suggestion, but something told me it was a little bit of both.

"Why?" the question blurred from my lips before I could stop myself. Cota smiled at this and stood, motioning me to follow suit. "Why not?" he walked to the tent flap and stopped. "We can't go in the north forest, the one the humans named after our people, the Narrian forest." he opened the flap and gestured me through. "Think about coming back with us to learn our ways and to be with your kin. Go now and we will meet again Ash son of Elizabeth."

That was the first time in ten years I had heard my mother's name. I walked out of the tent, eyes front and unseeing, stunned about how Cota knew her name. I came conscious to the fact I was standing in the town square and the bustling people in the street were pushing and shoving to get a look at wares in shops. Two hands grabbed each of my shoulders and dragged me backwards. I lost balance and started to fall, but was caught by two teenage boys.

Both of the faces above me broke out into laughter. I sighed and shook my head, smiling back at my friends, Jace and Kahn. They helped me stand up properly, before grabbing my upper arms and racing off in a random direction. We ended up at the west end of town at some food markets. "Did you bring your hunting gear?" Jace asked looking towards the Elk forest.

"No I did have enough time to get my bow," I said examining an apple, one of the few fruits that grow up here.

"To bad," he sighed walking to another stall. Have lived no far from my farm and had to go a fair way before he could go hunting in the forest. He was tall and lanky with lightly coloured skin and had short dark blonde hair that he never brushed. Most girls in Droste swooned over his looks and good nature. He had one sister and lived on the family farm. His family was poor but despite that he was one of the happiest people I had ever met. With so little he had so much.

Kahn on the other hand, well he wasn't unattractive but neither was he attractive, as Scarlet would put it. He had long red hair that was tied up in a top knot, and was thickly muscled from years of working as a lumberjack with his father. He lost his mother when she had bad trouble giving birth to his still born sister. The while town had mourned for them that day, his mother had been a wonderful person, so full of life and help everyone she could, everyone loved her dearly. As a result of the loss of his mother and sister at a young age, Khan was rough around the edges but once you got to know him, he was one of the friendliest and loyal friends you could have, a friendship I will always value.

For the rest of the market day we ran around terrorising some of the vendors and played tricks on unaware customers. I checked in on Scarlet for Jace's sake, he had a thing for my half sister, which made me laugh so hard the first time he told me. Before I knew it, it was time to go back to the farm, we would return next well for the markets again.