Chương 105: Chapter 9: New Paths – Part II

Kaelen POV By the time Garrick and Elyrion begin another round of sparring, I quietly excuse myself and leave them to it. The steady crack of wooden practice swords follows me only as far as the edge of the Grove before fading beneath the familiar chorus of rustling leaves and evening birdsong. Whatever lessons Elyrion intends to teach, I suspect they are better learned without an audience offering unsolicited advice. Besides, I have work of my own.

The past several hours have kept me almost entirely within the Garden. Between Lorcan's arrival, Garrick's Communion and Father Aldren's inspection, I have scarcely stepped beyond the eastern district. The Grove continues to grow, but Fallowspire exists beyond these walls as well. The forests surrounding the city never stop changing, and neither do the creatures living within them. If I'm going to call myself this city's Grovekeeper, I should know what waits beyond its gates.

The Adventurers' Guild seems the best place to begin. I make it only a dozen paces before something drops from the branches overhead. A warm weight lands squarely across my shoulders. Instinct almost sends my hand toward my blade before a familiar rumbling purr reaches my ears. I turn my head just enough to meet a pair of bright amber eyes.

"... There you are." The Hollowmane cub blinks at me before rubbing its head against my cheek with complete satisfaction. For several moments, it simply continues purring. I can't help smiling.

"I was beginning to wonder where you'd disappeared to." The cub answers by stretching lazily across my shoulders as though the question hardly deserves a response. Its tail flicks once before curling comfortably around the back of my neck.

"So that's your explanation?" Another contented purr.

"I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything more." For nearly a full day, it has wandered the Grove entirely on its own, appearing just often enough to remind everyone that it still lives somewhere among the Heartwoods before disappearing again. Merrow claims she catches glimpses of it sleeping high within the Silverwood during the afternoons. Aibell insists it follows her lessons from the branches overhead. Garrick swears the cub somehow steals dried meat from the kitchens without anyone ever seeing it happen.

None of us has managed to prove any of it. The Hollowmane seems perfectly content allowing the mystery to persist. I reach up to scratch gently behind one tufted ear.

"So..." I continue toward the old garden gate.

"... are you planning to accompany me?" The cub answers by tightening its grip slightly before settling even more comfortably across my shoulders.

"I'll take that as a yes." The guards stationed outside the gate glance toward me as I emerge from the Garden. One of them notices the Hollowmane first.

"I didn't know you'd adopted it, Grovekeeper."

"I wasn't aware I'd been given a choice." The older guard chuckles.

"It certainly looks like it made one." I glance sideways at the cub. It closes its eyes, utterly unconcerned by the conversation. Perhaps the guard is right. Together, we leave the eastern district behind and make our way toward the heart of Fallowspire, where the Adventurers' Guild waits beneath the lengthening shadows of evening. Evening has begun settling over Fallowspire, drawing merchants toward shuttered stalls while the smell of fresh bread drifts from nearby ovens.

The day's work is ending for most of the city. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Mine, it seems, is only beginning. The Hollowmane remains comfortably draped across my shoulders for nearly the entire walk, drawing more curious glances than I do. A few children wave excitedly as we pass. One little boy points openly toward the cub before his mother gently lowers his hand, offering me an apologetic smile that I return without thinking.

The cub watches the exchange with complete indifference. Apparently, admiration is something it has already decided to accept as its due. The familiar sign of the Adventurers' Guild comes into view at the edge of the central square. Warm light spills through the front windows, accompanied by the dull murmur of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter drifting into the street. Some things, at least, remain reassuringly unchanged. I push the heavy door open. The guild hall falls noticeably quieter.

Several adventurers glance up from their meals before returning to their conversations, though more than one pair of eyes follows me as I cross the room. I recognize a few faces from my previous visit. This time, however, the curious looks carry recognition rather than uncertainty.

"Grovekeeper." The familiar voice comes from behind the reception counter. Liora smiles as she finishes recording something inside a thick ledger.

"Good evening."

"And to you."

"I was beginning to think the Grove had decided to keep you permanently."

"I've been... occupied."

"So, I've heard." There is amusement in her voice, but also something else. Before either of us can continue, another voice joins the conversation.

"I leave the city for three days." Guildmaster Darran Vale emerges from a side doorway carrying a bundle of rolled parchments beneath one arm.

"And somehow you've managed to convince the entire eastern district that enormous trees belong where abandoned gardens used to be." His grin widens.

"I should hire you to improve property values."

"I suspect Havlar would object," I say. Darran snorts.

"Havlar objects to most things."

"I heard that," Liora remarks dryly from behind the reception desk without looking up from the ledger she is writing in. Darran doesn't even bother turning around.

"So did I." A few nearby adventurers chuckle quietly. Only then does Darran's attention drift upward. His grin slowly disappears. His eyes settle upon the Hollowmane. For the first time since meeting him, the Guildmaster says nothing. He steps closer instead. The Hollowmane opens one golden eye, studying him with equal interest before releasing a slow, contented purr. Darran exhales quietly.

"Well..." He folds his arms.

"There's something I haven't seen in a long time."

"You know what it is?"

"I've seen two." His gaze never leaves the cub.

"The last one was nearly twenty years ago." I raise an eyebrow, "I thought they were rarer than that."

"They are," His smile returns, though it carries less humor than before, "Which is why seeing a cub calmly sleeping on someone's shoulders is... unusual."

"I didn't exactly ask it to."

"So, I gathered." He chuckles, "Hollowmanes have a habit of making their own decisions." The cub responds with another rumbling purr, as though approving the description.

"I'll take that as confirmation." Several adventurers have abandoned any attempt at pretending they aren't listening. One finally speaks up, "So that's actually a Hollowmane?" Darran glances toward him, "It is."

"I thought they were aggressive."

"They are." Another pause, "When they have reason to be." The room grows quiet again. No one approaches. No one reaches toward the cub. Even among adventurers, common sense still survives. Darran finally tears his attention away and looks back at me.

"I assume you didn't come here simply to show off your newest companion."

"I need a contract." His eyebrows rise, "So soon?"

"The forests don't stop changing simply because I've been busy." A satisfied nod answers him, "I was hoping you'd say that." He gestures for me to follow him toward the contract board, "I've been holding one back." We stop before a parchment pinned near the center of the board. Unlike the larger bounty notices surrounding it, this one bears only a single line written beneath the title.