FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 10 "Balthazar's Journal"

Garrock rolled an unsplit log over to Raku and seated himself on it. He folded his hands in his lap, the braids of his beard hanging on either side of his legs. Something was bothering him, Raku could see it on the dwarf's dirty little face. His gaze lifting slowly from the fire to match the dwarfs.

"So?"

"So?" Raku parroted. Garrock shook his head, a little annoyed now.

"What were ya plannin on doin at Firebrant's?" Raku looked a little confused his eyes falling to Reecie before shooting back to the dwarfs. Garrock shook his head. "Dont gimmie that dog, I think you were lookin for something an yer little mistress here muddled it up getting left out in the cold. Any other slave would of let their owner die for a shot at freedom. So what's your game? You gonna lie to me and tell me some shite about how it's different?" The wolf's eyes narrowed as his chops curled defensively.

"What are you getting at dwarf?" he growled. Garrock pulled a partially crumpled scroll out of the collar of his shirt and pointed it at the wolf.

"You know what this is..dont you?" He watched as the wolf's eyes fixated on the scroll for a long moment before his ears flattened against his head.

"Don't do this dwarf." Raku warned. Garrock wasn't phased by the threat of the beast, crossing his arms. "I don't want to hurt you...but I will if I have to." The brute continued. Garrock didn't budge. The two of them locked eyes for a long moment. The fire crackling softly in the background.

"If yeh think turning you in would grant me some sort of fortune and fame yer more warped than I dog. Ah've been here fer a hundred and fifty-two years, and in all that time if I've learned one thing it's that Black Rock is a human city with human motives. I've seen the crown change three times over. Not once have I ever even been recognized for my service to it. Nah, way I see it there's nothing in this city for the likes of you, me, or her. You should be dead...I know it, you know it yet here ya are sittin in my home. Like some kind of lost soul." The dwarf leaned forward some putting his hands on his knees. "You're not here for the cat's bounty.. you're here for yours." The dwarf chuckled looking to the fire himself now. "All this time Firebrant had you under his greedy little thumb. Collecting bounties in exchange for your continued freedom and a large chunk of the reward for himself I bet. This would be pretty damning in the wrong hands."

Garrock got to his feet looking at the scroll as he took few steps to the fire before tossing the scroll into the flames where it shriveled and burned. " My family, my friends, my entire world disappeared overnight. A whole city, gone! An all this time I been wondering, why me? Why did I not vanish too?" Garrock turned to face the wolf, leaning against the stone chimney. "I think our destinies are intertwined, you and I." Garrock pointed a stubby finger at the brute."I want in on whatever trouble you're bound to get into, you and yer elf. Consider this a debt settled. You want to bury your past so bad, now it is done, may your future outshine your past." The dwarf sighed looking down to his boots as he kicked a bit of dried mud off the side of one. " I just know that I'll never find out what happened to my people here, and I'm tired of stagnating in this shit hole. Your the best chance I've seen in a long time to get out of here. So whenever your set to leave this place, let me know... I'll be ready to fight at your side.." Garrock gave the wolf a warm smile before heading back up to his loft. Raku didn't know what to say, his jaw hung open slightly as the dwarf left, eyes fixated on the ashes of the scroll until even those disintegrated. What...just happened? Did I, somehow make a friend of this dwarf? Or did he make a friend of me? Garrock would be a powerful ally no doubt. He looked down at the sleeping elf entwined in his limbs. Perhaps for once, things were starting to change for the better. With the burden of his life, long bounty lifted he felt invigorated. His tail almost always limp slid from the back of the blanket where is swished softly on the stone behind him.

A tightness developed in his chest as something he had never felt before ignited deep in his core. It was such a foreign feeling to the brute. Was this joy? Happiness? Love? Raku was too exhausted to make sense of it all at the moment. His eyes went half-lidded with a reluctant yawn. Giving into slumber his head slowly fell forward, chin settling across Reecie's chest. That faint scent of lilac flowers he had become so accustomed to over the last few days put him at ease as sleep was soon to follow.

Reecie awoke the next morning to the smell of warm dog breath and blinding light reflecting off the snow outside, tiny drifts had formed in the corners of Garrock's lone window. She sat for a moment curled up against the wolf as she took in her surroundings. Much of last night was a hazy blur, at least the parts she remembered. But as comfortable and warm as her furred friend was his morning breath was something else.

"Ugh" she turned her head away, patting the side of his muzzle to try and wake him. The wolf twitched a little at first before those brilliant green eyes popped open rotating to look at her for a moment then the hand cupped around his snout. "Get up. Your dog breath is killing me." she coughed. The brutes head lifted as he sat up and unfolded from his hunched-over position. Getting to her feet to stretch before she gave Raku cold scowl and a rather displeased frown. "How is your shoulder?" Raku blinked then looked at it sort of rolling it in a circle for a moment.

"Fine I- OWE! Hey!" he yelped as Reecie suddenly punched it as hard as she could muster.

"That's for forgetting about me!" Before Raku could react she clocked him across the snout as well. "And that's for being a creep all night!" She crossed her arms and huffed. Raku looked genuinely confused as he held his stinging snout for a moment.

"I was making sure you didn't freeze to death! Do you think sleeping like this is comfortable? I can't feel my ass!" Reecie huffed at his obvious deflection.

"Not that dummy the other stuff, the licking, the biting, dragging you stupid claws across my skin?"

"W-what? I've never...Did you have some kind of fever dream?"

Reecie's eyes slowly widened as she started to remember. Oh gods, was that JUST a dream? Her cheeks started to blush a bright pink as she remembered it all coming back like a crashing wave in her brain. The two of them in front of the fire. Raku ran that warm velvet tongue across her neck before nipping the skin of her right clavicle. She let out a sharp moan grabbinge fur of his giant neck pulling him closer. B-but it felt so real.

"You sure none of that happ-" Reecie stopped as an idle hand felt over her neck only to find no marks, no bruises, no raw skin from constant licking, nothing. Brutally embarrassed she clapped her hands over her face and shook her head, her ponytail bouncing as it whipped back and forth. "I-I'm so sorry I can't believe I... oh gods" she stammered wanting nothing more than to just disappear.

Raku glanced up to the loft seeing Garrock was nowhere to be found. Working the gate likely. His eyes fell once again to Reecie. Quietly he got to his feet stretching a little more, unsure if he should try and comfort or just leave her be. The slight jingling of his full coin purse reminded him he needed to get his gear from the smith. Turning to the door Reecie had managed to compose herself somewhat.

"Wait where are you going?" she asked. Raku stopped, half turning to see Reecie gathering her cloak.

"To the smiths."

"I'll come with, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." She replied securing her cloak around her shoulders and flipping up her hood. Outside it was clear Winter was here to stay. Much of the main roads had been cleared of the soft inch or so of snow that had stuck from the night prior. All of Black Rock had a very monochromatic appeal to it now rooftops all had a fine blanket of white. In areas where the wind could barrel through without resistance from standing structures and the like left the air sparkling in the morning sun. Reecie shivered a little holding her cloak tightly to her body.

"You're not cold at all?" Reecie couldn't help but wonder after all Raku was still wearing only his trousers and a collar. Somewhere in the city, the church bells rang calling the locals to morning prayer, Something about the cold made great echoing sounds like that so much crisper and clear to the ear. Raku just shook his head to her question. "Summer heat must be miserable for you with all that fur." she imagined him working in a field sweating to death, or would he pant? It dawned on her just how little she knew about beast people in general.

"Is this what you wanted to talk to me about? How beasts folk deal with changing seasons?" Raku raised a brow looking down at her.

"No..." she hesitated having lost her train of thought for a moment before looking up at him. "I wanted to ask you about the amulet you gave me."

"Do you not like it?" He asked sounding somewhat annoyed.

"No it's nothing like that, I just wonder, there's nothing else about it you might have forgotten to tell me?" Raku shook his head once more the muscles in his jaw going taut. The constant questioning and distrust she continuously brought up was really starting to get under Rakus skin. Is she ever going to trust me about anything? Ever? The wolf sighed.

"I've told you all I know and for the record I haven't lied to you since we left your farm, not ONCE Reecie. The constant doubting is starting to get old." He grumbled that last part. Reecie glared a little. Why's he in such a mood? Jerk. One hand went to the necklace tracing the chain down to the amulet in question.

"You don't need to be such an ass. I'm asking because a Luthalve confronted me about it yesterday and it's got me worried." This however peaked the wolfs interest as he slowed his gait to better match hers.

"What happened?"

Reecie blinked trying to recall what exactly she was told.

"It was like he could sense it on me, I don't think he ever actually saw it but he said it reminded him of the ancients magic? And something about a new seal?" She still didn't quite understand it but whatever it meant clearly upset Raku as he sighed and shook his head as if that was the last thing he wanted to hear. "What? What does it mean?" She asked eager to get some answers. Raku took a deep breath before letting it out in a slow long agitated sigh.

"It means another visit to Skal and Skor." he groaned. It seemed as though peace never quite lasted for him. As the two approached the blacksmiths one could see a ring around the smithys where the snow remained melted from the sheer heat that radiates from a forge. Reecie enjoyed more than most the slight increase in temperature standing out front offered. Seeing the two from yesterday the smith ushered them into his little outdoor area over to a cloth covered table near the forge itself. He pulled back the fabric unveiling Rakus restored and polished gear. Most of it looked brand new save for a few gouges here and there and there was a new hammered steel pauldron riveted to the left shoulder to boot.

"There was no saving that, and I'm no leather worker so I hope that works for ya. Go ahead and throw it on so I can see if it needs any adjustment." The smith took a step back folding his arms as Raku slipped into his old chest piece. Reecie watched while cozying up to the forge for its warmth. "The rest should be the same it's just that shoulder I'm worried about," The black smith knocked on the steel before tightening some of the straps on the side of Rakus armor. "No pinching, rubbing or diggin into the skin anywhere?" The wolf shook his head. The smith nodded and gathered the cloth on the table up into a ball while Raku put the rest of his things on. "Id say about sixty gold for the lot of it and our business is done then" As soon as the smith was paid he shooed them out of his area. "Alright go on now before your fur catches a spark. I can't afford to pay for some burnt up slave."

With that business dealt with Reecie and Raku returned to the cart next to the smiths to tend to the horses and plan they're next move. Raku started taking the collar off. With his bounty no longer an issue there was no need. The infamous Aku was finally dead, just as he should be over two decades ago.

"Why are you taking that off?" Reecie asked sadly.

"I don't need it anymore." The buckle of it rattled as he looked it over for a moment. Reecie frowned.

"Awe, I kind of liked it... it looked good on you." Her gaze fell to her feet as she shoveled a bit of snow onto the toe of her boot. Raku rolled his eyes.

"Its degrading Reecie, my belt? Please?" He held his hand out. Reecie shrugged slightly.

"Ok,fine" she muttered unbuckling the daggers and handing them back. "So where do we go from here? Don't you need to see Firebrants place?" Raku shook his head as he put all his gear back in its rightful place, he also put the collar into the bench seat. I don't know why I'm even humoring the idea of wearing this again, have I become some sort of pet to her? He wondered before answering her

"Not anymore. Garrock, believe it or not found the paperwork for my bounty and burned it. I'm free to put all that behind me, permanently." He smiled throwing his cloak on.

"Well that was awfully nice of him, are you two all chummy now or something?" Reecie crossed her arms starting to wonder what all she missed last night exactly.

"Kind of?" Raku paused as he tried to find the right words. "Our relationship is more of a means to an end, hes convinced were cut from the same cloth. But you'll meet him soon enough. He will be traveling with us." Reecie gave Raku a displeased look.

"A smelly dwarf? Great,``she droned. Raku chuckled as he walked past her.

"Can't be any worse than a smelly wolf kin can it? " he glanced over his shoulder to nod for her to follow. "Let's go see if those Katts can tell us anything about that amulet."

A few short minutes later the creek of that familiar door alerted Skal to the duos presence. Her perky business smile melted to an annoyed grimace once she saw who it was that was in her shop once again. She was dressed much differently today with a stunning strapless red dress the center cut was a deep V that started just above her breasts and stopped at her navel. A lace criss crossed the up the gap holding the dress together tightly to her from the top was tied into neat little bow. To go with this she had a pair of small silver earrings adorned with sparkling red gemstones. Her fur looked freshly washed and brushed. All in all she looked stunning save for the expression on her face.

"Why is dog in shop AGAIN?" she scowled at him. Raku just sort of stared for a long moment as Reecie fished out her amulet.

"wow....Skal you look nice." Raku complimented. It only fell upon deaf ears unfortunately.

"Is for Festival." she glared daggers at him. Reecie set the amulet on the counter drawing the Katts attention. "What is this?" she asked looking down at it now.

Reecie looked to Raku then back.

"Raku said you might be able to tell me about this?" She slid the amulet towards Skal. The Katt looked at it for a moment before shrugging and giving Reecie a toothy smile. "Katt does not work for free, side services cost extra." Her eyes shifted to Raku who wasn't hiding the fact that he was checking her out still. " Joo know this." she growled. Raku shook his head with a sigh.

"Let's go Reecie shes not going-" Reecie took one of the Katts hands into hers as she begged her cutting off Raku in the process.

"Please Skal, a Luthalve threatened me about this. I need to know why." Skal's gaze snapped first to the elfs hands holding hers before lifting to match her gaze. Those slit feline irises dilated suddenly.

"The high elf swine joo say?" She sighed pulling her hands away from Reecies as she weighed the options in her head for a moment before caving to her own curiosity."alright, alright I will do this thing for joo. One time ONLY no more freebie!" She looked to Raku. "but not for joo, go shoo! Wait outside." Skal waited for Raku to fully leave and close the door behind him mumbling all the while. "Lock door." She nodded to Reecie before bending down to rummage behind the counter before setting a stack of heavy tattered books next to the amulet. Reecie slid a large bolt across the door sealing them in and more importantly Raku out. Skal was already pouring over the amulet as Reecie returned. She looked over the etchings on the front before flipping it over. The Katt ran a finger across the smooth surface before suddenly licking the back of it. "Hmmm, eck is swamp stone. Not possible to find any more. Very rare." She flipped it back over and felt the markings again glancing to Reecie for a moment. "Where did Joo get zis?" Reecie blinked for a moment.

"it's...I u-uh.. Raku gave it to me?" Reecie looked a little nervous, Afraid this would upset Skal. While it did draw an angry look for a moment from the Katt it faded quickly as she shrugged.

"Stolen most likely." she sighed. "Stupid dog does not think before act, always impulsive. Where Dog find?" Reecie blinked for a moment trying to remember what he had told her. I've had that amulet for many years and it never did anything like that in my possession She recalled from the conversation that had leading to Black Rock.

"He's never said exactly, only that he has had it for a long time." Skals lips scrunched up as she went quiet, thinking for a long moment.

"If Dog has kept this for many years, why am seeing now? What change?"

"It never did anything until he gave it to me...Oh I almost forgot! I think...I think it can sense danger?" Reecie replied. Skall appeared stumped by this before she reached down lifting her dress slightly and produced a dagger sheathed on her leg. Reecie couldn't see it at first until Skall suddenly dropped the amulet on the counter as it started to hum and vibrate on the wood surface.

"What is doing? Is this warning?." She raised her dagger as if to poke it.

"Yes! Every time I have been in danger that's what happens." Reecie was excited to finally get some answers. Skal stabbed the dagger into the counter, at the same time the amulet went silent again. "How did you do that?" She asked the katt. Skal gave her a slight shrug.

"To tell truth, was going to cut joo to test but as soon as I grab blade it begin shakey shakey." Reecie blinked and tilted her head looking at the dagger jammed into the counter.

"So it's like it knew what was going to happen?" Skall nodded slowly, leaning over to look at the runes on the surface once more.

"Seems so... is powerful magic to predict intent. These markings joo know them?" She looked up to Reecie again who just shook her head. " hmm, are familiar." Skal turned to the stack of books now pushing the first few off the top to the side and set one with a worn leather cover in front of her. "Balthazar's Journal. Old wizard who studied white woods long ago, is dead, now Katt have book." She explained as she started flipping through various entries and sketches before stopping on one and turned it around for Reecie to see. "Same symbols joo see?" Skal pointed to what looked like a drawing of several trees and rather detailed but destroyed village in the background. Many of the symbols carved into the trees matched those on the amulet. Reecie's eyes darted back and forth from the amulet to the page before Skall spun it back around going to another set of pages that had a few entries written. "Balthazar say symbols give power of one soul over another. Translations is rough" She hesitated reading a few more lines. "Look here is incantation." Skal read it aloud for Reecie. "Bind this damned and blackened soul...chain it to this trinket whole. make it powerless to the wearer's will! Shake and quiver when dangers near. When time is dire and death is close. Allow the blood to burn free of the demons host. Rise again and give new life to the beast " Skal looked to the amulet again Then Reecie who was still clearly trying to process this all.

"Is blood magic or necro...maybe both. If book is true, Dog may be tied to amulet somehow, maybe is possible. Many pages missing but spell mention trinket and shakey shakey make sense no?" Skal sighed and closed the book. "Katt wishes could tell more but. Balthazar last man to go into White Woods and live." Reecie blinked remembering that name before.

"Isn't that why the Luthalves are here in the first place? Because monsters are wandering out of those woods?" She asked. Skal nodded and grabbed another book set it on top of the journal.

"This book history of Meesari village. Long time ago deep in White Woods was village. Only place in Alta to find Swamp Stone, good for magic. White woods became corrupted from evil rot. It poison the land. Villagers go crazy start eating and killing one another. Become monsters. Some say same monsters we see today. Or that is how story go. Stone is likely from Meesari but must never go. Many try none return. To evil, to dangerous." Skal stacked her books once more before returning them under the counter. Reecie nodded, the gears in her head starting to turn as she slipped the amulet back around her neck.

"Thank you skal you've helped so much." Skal nodded before wrenching her dagger free and returning it to the sheath on her thigh. Reecie unlocked the door and opened it, Raku who was leaning against the wall outside turned his head to look. From inside they could hear Katt shouting at them. "Dont do stupid thing, stay away from white woods!" Raku raised an eyebrow as Reecie closed the door.

"The White Woods?" He asked. Reecie adjusted her cloak and nodded.

"You're good luck charm could be tied to you somehow. If we want to know for sure, Meesari village is the only place that might have answers."