But the reason he did not speak was because he had realized Lawrence already had the rest of the story.
“I think the reason Lord Tonneburg still agreed to the plan, despite knowing about the wolves, was because he could not really picture the problem. While I imagine he comes to the forest to hunt, he likely does so in camps where he’s surrounded by many beaters and those who are adept at finding their way around the forest, like Meyer.”
After a moment of hesitation, Meyer said, “Sir Lawrence, there are wolves in the woods, but I wouldn’t say they are particularly—”
“No, no, Meyer. They must be. How could they not? They are so dangerous, in fact, that it would take thousands of mercenaries to guard the workers that will be building the road from wolf attacks. The cost of such security will be absurdly high.”
After the bewildering, theatrical speech, Lawrence flashed Meyer and the smith a mischievous grin.
At last they understood what Lawrence meant.
“You want us to pretend there was a wolf attack?”
Lawrence nonchalantly turned to look at Holo before giving his answer. Holo, who had a feeling she was going to be roped into some sort of performance, gave him a look that suggested he was the annoying pebble in her shoe.
“We hail from deep in the mountains of Nyohhira, and droves of skilled hunters roam our area. Even their hunting dogs are often mistaken for wolves in other parts.”
While Lawrence and Holo were out traveling, it was a wolf spirit who was managing the bathhouse in their stead. Her brother and other wolves ran a monastery a short distance away from Nyohhira, nestled even deeper into the mountains. They managed the place of worship and received hot spring guests who wished to pray, all while maintaining a veil of innocence over themselves. They would gladly take up whatever favor Holo asked of them.
But discussing wolves attacking humans with Holo almost verged on taboo, and if the smith truly felt like he was in harm’s away, he would not hesitate to attack. And so Lawrence understood why she did not look so pleased, considering it could easily aggravate the relationship between wolf and human.
Lawrence, however, was a merchant.
He was confident he could sell ice in Nyohhira in the dead of winter.
“Then let us think of it this way,” Lawrence said, glancing briefly at Holo. “The wolves of the Tonneburg Woods might be troublesome and cunning in equal measure. But what if they put those sea dwellers in their place and taught them what it takes to survive in these woods? Doesn’t that sound exhilarating?”
The smith hummed, and Meyer dipped his head in agreement.
Lawrence redrew the lines of friend and foe.
Even the smith, who considered himself an enemy of the wolves, would side with a fellow forest dweller when it came to making a stand against outsiders. Needless to say, that should have been true for Holo as well.
Wolves were not automatically hostile toward all humans. Things changed drastically if they were fighting alongside the humans of the forest, all to preserve their pride as forest people.
It was not long before the smith said, “It is a good opportunity, yes, to show the sea dwellers just how dangerous the forest can be. I don’t want people to think the wolves of the Tonneburg Woods are the same as any old wolves they can find anywhere.”
He showed respect for how formidable his enemy was.
Holo observed the smith, an indescribably tickled look on her face.
Lawrence wondered what would have happened if he had brought up this very topic the previous night.
She may have grown fearful about coming into conflict with humans and rejected his plan.
But she, too, should have understood that the smith did not simply hate wolves by watching his reaction. If circumstances were slightly different, they could have been friends.
She eventually gave a weak little sigh—she finally understood that, from the perspective of a wolf, this was not such a terrible idea after all.
“I am a merchant. People hate losing more than they enjoy their profits. There are terrifying and onerous wolves in this forest; once they see with their own eyes that it will cost a fortune to make their road a reality, then the sea dwellers of Karlan and Lord Tonneburg will have no choice but to reconsider.”
If they were truly going to build a road through the forest and set up new smithies, then they had quite the extensive survey to conduct. In which case, all Meyer had to do was take the regional lord out hunting under the pretense that the forest would soon grow much louder with the bustle of activity, so he should enjoy this lull before the storm. And once Lord Tonneburg understood the threat the wolves posed, then the cost of making things safe would most certainly push things beyond budget—and that, the lord would be forced to understand.
That was precisely what Lawrence came up with the night previous when he was playing with Holo’s tail.
“What do you think? If both of you can help me with this, then I can immediately send word to all the hunters I know.”
Meyer and the smith exchanged glances, then both turned their attention to the wolf pelt on the wall.
Those who spent much of their time in the forest knew very well the fear that came with seeing a wolf.
“Sir Lawrence.” Meyer approached Lawrence and extended his hand. Lawrence grasped it in return, and the smith himself scooped them both into a big bear hug.
Holo understood the merits of the idea, but somehow she was not quite so eager about this little scheme.