Brothers 7 and 8
Here are parts 7 and 8
Part 7
"I come from the house! I'm let you know that the lord of the house is being informed of your presence and we would deem it most polite if you would await his arrival!" it said with a human voice. De Lar sighed a sigh of relief, something was happening at least and he hadn't been met with any 'real' force. He strolled forward halfway between the werewolf-border and the men to meet the figure from the house.
"I am Captain De Lar.' he introduced himself 'the wagon driver bought this letter with him after the wagon's last visit. My liege lord..." He stopped as the corpse held up his hand to interrupt. "Dear sir, few creatures here can read let alone write. Other than that the only one with authority enough to even dare send anything to the humans is the Lord. I trust he will be along shortly. Excuse the Mindless Ones Captain, we have no control over them and even to us they are an annoyance." De Lar simply nodded at the man, puzzlement apparent on his face at being addressed so civilly. He considered the crooked form before him then thought better of saying another word. Returning to his men he ordered the issue for three quarters of them to stand down and rest while the last quarter was to intercept the "Mindless Ones".
A short while later the light hadn't changed at all and it was impossible to determine how much of the day had gone. The men had stopped talking, the depression of the surroundings mulling their spirits. Some had taken out some of the travel rations and chewed listlessly on hard biscuits while others prayed or simply sat trying to get comfortable on the hard blackened ground. One man shouted "Ye gods! Will you look at that!" he pointed towards the house.
De Lar turned his eyes in the direction shown seeing a huge dark shape restlessly moving towards them. It seemed like a pitch black cloud descended on them and more than one man had his sword out expecting trouble from this form. De Lar noticed his men's distress and attempted to calm them while hiding his own fear at the aura coming towards them. "Stand! We have not been seriously harmed yet. There does not seem to be any aggression..." A bow twanged and De Lar watched in horror as a shaft from a longbow flew through the air at the mighty figure. He stood wide eyed for a moment feeling a chill run up his spine. The shaft flew true and disappeared in into the blackness of the cloak. The figure paused a moment then the Captain noticed that another man was walking next to it. It started moving again, toward them. De Lar turned to see it was the man who had been bitten by a zombie who had shot the arrow. The soldiers stared at the man who seemed to have gone blank. One soldier near De Lar whispered "It's impossible, not with that hole in his shoulder." De Lar was about to speak then the man's eyes cleared, he stared at his companions then crumbled to the ground screaming in pain. "For everyone's sake quiet him down! Sergeant!" the sergeant appeared "Sir?" "Knock him out or something, we're in a spot of trouble I think. We'll find out later what happened." De Lar turned to the assembled company then said "Stand ready, be vigilant but I want no hostility until we are threatened. Any man causes any more trouble than we already have will be flogged to death if we survive conflict. Clear!?!?" some answered vocally while others just looked gaunt in the grey light.
De Lar turned and waited for the approach with his heart in his stomach.
Part 8
Wufy handed the shaft to Jarel walking next to him. "Imagine that Jarel, they shot a sharpened stick at me. It might have made me think they're hostile if it wasn't such a novel idea. Tell me what I'm about to experience here Jarel; you were human, what is all this? Men in iron shooting sticks with riding animals, horses I think." The lord had his eyes fixed squarely on the men a short distance in front of them.
Jarel hobbled next to The lord, chuckling as he considered the question and how to answer within the current context. "Milord you forget that I have been here for a very long time, more than one man's lifetime." he paused almost as if fearing disapproval from the creature next to him "It's a company of soldiers lord. They are part of a larger body that's supposed to protect their lands. Now that I think of it they are almost like the wolves we use to accompany the arrival of the dead or for patrolling the borders. Instead of the obedience that they show you, human soldiers are dependant on discipline, knowing that one man on his own is not worth much when in armed conflict..."
Wufy nodded "Like the Mindless One?"
Jarel considered "Yes lord, like the Mindless Ones, exactly like them. When working as a unit every one man's weakness can be bolstered with the strength of another and the teamwork they possess makes a group of well disciplined men much more efficient than the same number of them individually."
Wufy considered a moment as they continued their walk toward the soldiers. "It seems I need to consult with you more on human customs and this idea of soldier and discipline. How would you know so much about this Jarel? Were you a soldier?"
Jarel chuckled "Heavens no milord, I was part of the army but I was an administrator much like I am now. Distribution of food and weapons, handling of cargoes and rationing were my duties." Wufy held up a fur covered paw saying "Come let us see what they want. Feel free to interrupt if you think I'm missing anything obvious."
Jarel nodded in the affirmative.
They reached the 'border' where the wolves sat. Wufy stood next to one absentmindedly patting its head.
"Who seeks to disturb our lands?" He bellowed, his voice carrying clearly and loudly seeming to make everything tremble slightly. He noticed that many of the men wore fear stricken expressions across their faces.
One man strode through the men tentatively and placed himself halfway between the other men and Wufy. He answered "I am Captain De Lar" he bowed low to Wufy "sent by my liege lord concerning a certain letter that was bought back with the driver of the wagon. My lord is suitably curious about this and also deemed it fit that this be an opportunity to make a proposal."
Realization struck as Wufy thought about his letter to the driver to bring food suitable for human ingestion. It had not been necessary for Servi didn't seem to need such sustenance with her newly aquired life force. Wufy inspected the man and from what he could gather thought that the man was relatively young by human standards. He moved forward to meet the man. Soldiers shrank back as his huge form descended on their captain. De Lar held fast trying to hide apprehension as best he could under the circumstance. Wufy offered his paw in what he hoped appeared to be a non menacing gesture. He cocked his head to one side as De Lar stared at the only exposed part of his maw then at his extended paw.
"Yes Captain, I am not human now will you stint your honor by refusing to carry out, what I believe, is a human ritual of greeting." Wufy rumbled holding his paw in place. The man seemed to compose himself then tentatively put his own hand in the offered paw; it was completely covered then shook slightly. "You are violating an age old treaty by being here Captain. I see you have slain some the Mindless which is understandable as I presume they were trying to acquire sustenance. What is it you and your soldiers are here to propose?"
De Lar stood a moment "Milord three points I need to discuss with anyone of authority in these lands and I seem to have found an authority so very well. First is the matter of this letter' he took out the parchment 'apparently requesting some of our food instead of our usual offering of our dead. This raises the question of why you would need a small amount of food. Do you have a live human? If so I am to enquire about the purpose of keeping one of us."
Wufy's heart skipped a beat, he hadn't anticipated this and sensed that this was a small matter. He considered lying then decided to tell a part of the truth. He answered "I found a live human child, but sadly she died shortly afterwards Captain, though if you have bought some I'd appreciate it if you would let me have it, I wish to study human food. There's little in the means of entertainment around here" At this the captain seemed confused for a moment. He turned back and shouted the order for food to be bought over. Wufy took the package when it arrived thanking the captain. He then tossed it to Jarel who stood observing the proceedings but seemed then to have his hands full trying to keep an interested werewolf from grabbing it making off.
Wufy turned his attention back to De Lar "And the next matter?" The captain coughed uncomfortably "Milord, we know very little of the command structure of this place, few venture near enough to observe anything." he sighed again looking down as his boots were suddenly of immense interest "Some of the townsfolk have started going missing. Some have mysterious marks on their neck then disappear shortly after and many more have been dying for equally mysterious reasons. Some claim they see dark shapes, moving inhumanely fast. The country side seems haunted and the people are fearful. This has caused some of the churches to make mention of this place and retaliatory action has been suggested. This concerns my liege lord a great deal; he would like to prevent any such confrontation. He respectfully requests that these instances cease to happen. As you mentioned before lord, there is a generation's old truce."
Wufy cursed Bucher inwardly then interrupted "Captain you need to understand, nothing leaves here by accident, we have shaped laws and it is part of our nature not to venture from these lands. Yet, I will make inquiries but I think you need to look to your own people. I understand there are cults among your people who worship the dead, who worship us. Why? I do not know nor do I care, I feel you need to seek the perpetrators among your own."
The Captain nodded and was quiet for a moment then finally said "Very well."
"The last point of negotiation Captain, is?" Wufy asked.
"It has come to my lord's attention that there might be areas in the surrounding mountains that might be profitable to mine. He hopes that maybe, if no hostilities ensue he could pay a tribute of a sorts for the right to mine there without being harassed."
Wufy answered "I would not find that pleasing captain, however I am not the only authority around here and I will propose what you request." A scream tore through the air, it was the injured man and Wufy heard De Lar curse. "One of your men Captain?" The captain nodded absentmindedly shouting "Quiet him down for gods sake." Wufy peered over the captain at the group were trying to subdue the injured man. "Bring that man to me, we'll see what can be done." De Lar looked hesitantly at Wufy then back to his men then he seemed to make a decision. He ordered "Sergeant bring him here!"
A minute passed as the man was dragged closer by the sergeant and another soldier. They deposited the man then retreated from the giant shadow towering over them. Wufy stooped as if about to pet a cat with De Lar standing next to him looking dubious.
Wufy gathered himself holding a paw over the wound in the man's shoulder. First he sent out tendrils of the green sweeping down his arm reaching into the wound seeking the poison that he knew was evident in the Mindless Ones' bite. The red pulsed tentatively as if seeking a moment from which to jump out and explode into life. It was summarily suppressed and more power was given to the green. Wufy encountered the poison in the blood around the wound; the blood had almost stopped flowing completely as the pressure from the swollen flesh was closing off arteries. He closed the green around the poisonous fluids dispersing their very being with his own powers. Now he realized was the time for the red to make an appearance and he winced in anticipation. He took a moment then called forth a little of the red sending it into the arteries forcing blood through the closed off pathways. He sought out the heart and made it flow stronger by letting pulses through to it. Then he concentrated on the wound again seeking out the last traces of the poison to blast it out of existence. He faltered for a moment and was almost overwhelmed by the red again as he discovered some of Bucher's essence in the last traces of poison. That arrow, he thought was Bucher. Why does he seek to agitate me so?
Wufy stood up again and regarded De Lar "He'll be fine now Captain." De Lar let out a sigh of relief "Thank you... milord."
Wufy walked back to where Jarel stood and said over his shoulder "Your requests shall be considered and made note of Captain. You have clear way back to the woods when the wagon comes back.
With that Wufy moved towards the house, Jarel in his wake.