Wulfger: The Revenant [ENG]

The hooves of the horses made hardly any sound on the firm, loamy ground; their steps were drowned out by the creaking of the wagon in which Adhamh and Leith were transporting their goods. The two merchants spoke incessantly to each other, as if the groaning of the wooden wheels was not enough, as if they had to fill the world around them with noise. Wulfger sat on his horse and rode ahead of them, while Skramur and his five mercenaries followed the wagon and kept to themselves.

Wulfger had encountered the merchants and their escort two days earlier. He had been on his way north, to the fortresses on the edge of the northern plains, to deliver a message from his lord Nabor, when he met the men.

“We are on our way to Vlakas,” Adhamh had explained.

“Nabril’s city?”

“You have been there before, warrior?” Leith asked.

Wulfger shook his head. “No, I have not been there yet. But I know Nabril, and I know Tiernan, who is in his service.”

“A powerful sorcerer, this Nabril,” said Adhamh, rubbing his hands. “They say the market in Vlakas is flourishing. We hope to do good business there.”

Wulfger nodded. “Vlakas is a large city.”

“Won’t you accompany us?” Leith asked. “The roads are full of dangers, and it is good to have a battle-hardened warrior at one’s side.”

“You have enough men to protect you,” Wulfger replied, glancing at Skramur and his mercenaries. “They seem capable.”

“They are,” Leith assured him quickly. “They have already warded off one or two threats. But a battle-hardened warrior is something else.”

“You are battle-hardened, aren’t you?” Adhamh pressed. “Don’t misunderstand me, Master Warrior. But you seem very young to me.”

Wulfger laughed. “Honest words from a merchant’s mouth.”

Adhamh gave him a sour look, but Wulfger waved it off.

“Don’t take it amiss, Master Adhamh,” he said. “A careless jest. But yes, I am battle-hardened. I may seem younger than I am; we warriors age more slowly than those without magic. You may believe me: I have gathered my experience.”

“Many fights?” Leith asked.

“Enough to know that other paths are often better.”

Wulfger had also spoken with Skramur. Skramur was still young, but not inexperienced, and he had made a good impression on Wulfger: he seemed calm and level-headed. Together with Tomasz, his adjutant, he led the small mercenary troop purposefully and efficiently.

The farther north they traveled, the more restless the two merchants became.

“Have you served in the north, Master Warrior?” Adhamh asked Wulfger, tearing him from his thoughts.

“Yes.” Wulfger nodded. “Two years with the border units. Duty for every warrior.”

“Have you had much to do with orcs?”

Wulfger turned in the saddle. Adhamh and Leith were hunched forward on the coachman’s seat, Adhamh holding the reins in clenched hands.

“I have had dealings with orcs,” Wulfger answered after a short pause.

The merchants were silent for a moment and exchanged an uncertain glance.

“We have never been in the north before,” Adhamh admitted at last.

“You fear attacks by orcs,” Wulfger stated.

Adhamh and Leith nodded. “Orcs, bandits, call it what you will. That’s why we hired Skramur and his men.”

“Bandits are certainly a danger,” Wulfger agreed. “But orcs? Your path will not lead you far enough north if you are heading to Vlakas.”

“So no danger?”

“Unlikely.” Wulfger shook his head and saw the relief in the merchants’ eyes. “There aren’t many of them left,” he continued. “In my time in the north I only saw a few. They hide in the caves of the northern mountains, dwelling deep beneath the rock. When they come out, they stay close to their lairs. They don’t roam far.”

“So only bandits?” Leith laughed.

“Mainly bandits.”

“What are you doing in the north, Master Warrior?” Adhamh asked after a while. “Are you on your way to your new lord?”

Wulfger shook his head. He thought of the central territories, of Nabor. “No, no new lord. I have been in the service of my lord Nabor for years. He has sent me north to deliver a message.”

“A warrior for a message?” Leith’s eyes widened. “It must be an important message.”

Wulfger shrugged. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. The ways of my lord are not always clear to me. He did not urge me to hurry. But he has a reason. That much is certain.”

“Who is this Nabor?” Adhamh asked. “Also a sorcerer?”

“Yes.” Wulfger nodded.

“As powerful as Nabril?” Leith pressed. “Nabril’s name is known throughout the world, but Nabor? I have never heard of him.”

“My lord Nabor leads a withdrawn life,” Wulfger replied with a smile.

“A simple magician,” Leith whispered to Adhamh. They looked disappointed. Simple warriors served simple magicians. Powerful warriors served powerful magicians. Clearly the two had hoped for more.

Wulfger fell silent again while the merchants whispered. He glanced back and saw Skramur and his men behind the cart. Skramur smiled faintly. He seemed to have been following the conversation.

The cart creaked slowly onward, the men conversing. Then the team suddenly hesitated, the horses snorted uneasily, pricking up their ears.

“What’s wrong?” Adhamh asked nervously.

“Don’t you smell it?”

“Smell?”

“Wild boars,” Skramur explained from behind. “A sounder. Over there in the forest.”

“Where?” Leith and Adhamh tried to make something out between the trees, but the forest was dark and impenetrable.

“Ten animals, judging by the tracks,” said Wulfger. “Maybe more. They crossed the path a few minutes ago. The horses don’t like it.”

“Neither do I,” Adhamh muttered.

“The wild boars have no interest in your wagon,” Wulfger laughed.

They continued on their way, but after only a few steps the horses shied again. Wulfger looked around, peered into the forest, and concentrated on the energies around him. He noticed nothing. Then he saw the young man who stepped out of the undergrowth not far ahead of them. Tall, pale, slender. His hair clung matted to his head as if he had slept in the dirt all night, his eyes were dark and sunken, his gaze grim and hostile.

Wulfger placed his hand on the pommel of his sword. Skramur rode past the merchants’ wagon and joined him.

“Who is that?” Leith asked.

Wulfger and Skramur ignored him and rode forward together, then stopped their horses.

“Who are you?” Wulfger asked the young man.

The stranger stared up at him hostilely. His shirt was dirty and torn; so were his trousers. His shoes were worn out.

“What is that on your neck?” Wulfger pointed to a dark wound.

The young man’s hand moved to the back of his neck and felt the dark spot. It was not bleeding, seemed healed, but was not in good condition.

“Do you need help? Are you injured?”

The stranger had not yet answered. Skramur drew his sword, but Wulfger laid a hand on his arm and shook his head. He sensed grief in the young man, a sense of being lost, but he sensed no danger.

“The wild boars,” the stranger finally uttered. His voice sounded dull, croaking, hollow, unpracticed, as if he had not used it for a long time.

“Over there.” Skramur pointed down the path.

The young man’s gaze followed the outstretched arm, and his face hardened, becoming even darker.

“Did the wild boars injure you?” Wulfger asked. “How long ago? Your wound doesn’t look good.”

The stranger gave him a piercing look, then slowly crossed the path and stepped back into the forest on the other side. He walked straight in the direction where they suspected the sounder, as if he wanted to join the group of animals.

Wulfger and Skramur followed him with their eyes, but eventually he disappeared again into the darkness of the forest.

“Who was that?” Adhamh called from behind them.

Wulfger turned to the two merchants, who were staring at him with wide eyes. He shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

“The man gives me the creeps,” Leith said, shuddering. “Did you see his eyes?”

“Dead eyes,” Adhamh muttered.

“Sad eyes,” said Wulfger. “He has experienced something terrible.”

“He looked like he had a purpose,” Skramur observed.

Wulfger nodded. “Yes, he did.”

Then he glanced once more at the merchants, who were staring uneasily into the forest where the young man had vanished.

“Let’s move on.”

Skramur nodded, and the merchants breathed a sigh of relief. They continued on their way, and after a while the smell of wild boars disappeared from their noses.