“A small price to pay for my life.” Graham said, as he continued deeper into the space, “but if you think it’s nice so far, wait till you see the rest.”
The thought of a place to safely decompress elated him, though encroaching on someone else’s space once again made Alex feel like a drifter. Registering the wolf’s actual words a moment late, he wondered if they were meant to be ominous, or just another turn of phrase. He wasn’t oblivious to how this last week had made him a bit paranoid, the constant need for vigilance would do that to most. However, up until that point his track record for actually seeing through traps was rather low. If the wolf was going to make a move, he’d need to be ready, but spending every moment analyzing every interaction was counterintuitive to his long-term success.
For the beast’s part, he was nothing but the perfect gentle-wolf as he led Alex through the tour. Nothing about the circumstances suggested he’d have any way to know about his week at the moneylenders, and there wasn’t anything to raise his suspicions further, at least not until they reached the cave. Standing inside the enclosure Alex could see it was artificial in a way Sixth Sense had failed to pickup from a distance. The dimensions were too precise to be natural, though that was not what caught his attention, rather it was the series of thin carvings that covered every inch of the barren space.
Even with his Perception nearing fifty, they were impossible to see with the naked eye, but Sixth Sense had managed to point out the fine lines. Initially they’d seemed like an odd but unimportant feature, however, after he’d realized the network of points, lines, and shapes they created, the relevance, and potential danger screamed at him. Rather than let his mind build the situation up larger than it was, Alex casually walked back as Graham continued to speak. Once he was close enough to the exit that he could relocate out, he asked his question.
“What’s the art for?”
The wolf didn’t even turn to look as he paused his explanation of the lack of any furniture. “The runes are just for warmth and a bit of environmental protection. The pool had a similar set, and the outskirts of the space have a set of alarm runes.”
This was his first time hearing about runes but if Graham was willing to answer so casually, he assumed they were pretty much common knowledge. If there were runes on the outskirts he’d missed them, but if their main purpose was to add a magical effect like what he knew from earth culture, the claims would be verifiable soon enough.
“Anyway, I can leave some furniture if you need,” the wolf offered, continuing his prior statement, but Alex waved him off as they moved on with the annotated tour.
The sandy area was meant to serve as a training ground. Graham kept a few sets of logs, boulders, and straw dummies scattered about, the last of which was also covered in various lines he explained to be more runes, these focused on durability. It was crude, but if the area could withstand the strength of a creature in the high fifties, Alex hoped he could get some use out of the arena.
“So, what do you think?” the older wolf asked, as they stopped in front of the central pond.
It was nice, but Alex still had a few concerns. Barring any suspicion on the wolf’s part, the entire space was just too enclosed. His short time outside a city had by no means made him a survivalist, but a single exit cave, and cliff wall to his back seemed like a poor design choice. When he mentioned as much to the wolf, Graham bared his sharp teeth in a terrifying smile.
“Of the few people I’ve brought here, only one other has raised such concern. It would be a valid one, if not for one key piece of information. When we entered do you remember how it felt to see the area for the first time?” The question was odd, but Alex let himself consider it and, now that he thought back, it had been strange. Sixth Sense had essentially failed to see the space until he’d physically entered, though for some reason it had seemed normal at the time. Not wanting to expose his skill set Alex modified his answer before responding.
“Exactly. You see this space has an especially interesting feature. It’s similar to your camping grounds, but this effect works on both people and beasts. Any creature that gets within fifty meters of that boundary without knowing the exact location of the habitat, will find themselves being subtly turned away.”
Alex had to admit it was a useful feature, and he asked a few follow-up questions as Graham seemed amenable to answering them. Exiting alone would not leave him unable to reenter since he’d been guided in by the wolf, but he wouldn’t be able to lead others in with him. Though Alex was a bit suspicious of that second claim, what if he just lured beasts to this part of the forest and sprayed arrows at them as they ran around unable to find them. He didn’t have a bow, but the point still stood. It seemed much more likely the old wolf just didn’t want Alex to try to bring others in which he had no reason to do anyway. Their discussion about the space ended shortly after that as Graham seemed entirely unwilling to discuss how exactly it worked, and Alex didn’t press the issue.
“Then would you like to talk first, or see the only aspect of this place I haven’t mentioned,” he communed, gesturing toward the pool of water with his snout.
Before Alex decided, the beast began moving toward the pond, his form shifting to reveal a large, but clearly older looking man with bluish white hair covering the majority of his body. He’d not been caught completely off guard, having remembered the man’s earlier claim of such an ability, but it was still a marvel to see. Alex did find it a bit odd that the man was fully clothed in this new form since he’d have been twenty sizes too big for the robes a moment ago, but just attributed it to magic, which saved a bunch of time. Coughing as the transformation completed, his ears and tail the last to disappear, Alex noted that the wolf (man?) did look somewhat sickly, which only further lent credence to his tale.
Happy to get more confirmation, but not wanting to make too big of a deal out of the situation, he only watched as Graham pulled a small orb out of nowhere and dropped it into the liquid. At first nothing happened, then, with a flare of mana from the former beast, it began to bubble then eventually steam, a nice floral aroma filling the air.
“Well?” Graham intoned; the implied question obvious.
Alex wanted nothing more than to be rid of the week’s worth of dirt, grime, and muck that covered his skin, but still he hesitated on getting in. Graham had been nothing but helpful after saving his life, so that wasn’t the issue; he was simply feeling shy about undressing in front of another person. Sure his clothes hadn’t been covering much, with each fight only ruining his attire more and more. And maybe it had gotten to the point, he’d needed to tine one of Greyson’s former shirts around his waist in a makeshift loincloth, but fully undressing still made him uncomfortable.
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Wondering if it was the higher intelligence that helped parse illogical thoughts, he moved closer to the pond and stripped. Here he was fighting life or death battles near hourly, and now he was worried about propriety. Testing the temperature with a leg, Alex found it was definitely scalding, though not so bad that he felt pain. The center of the pool was around ten feet deep, though there were ledges at the rim allowing someone to only sit at about the two-foot mark. Ignoring that section for the moment, Alex went straight for the center, allowing the searing water to loosen the caked on dirt. Pulling out one of the dwarf’s rough shirts to use as a loofah, and some of the healers floral soaps, he began scrubbing, the task made a bit more difficult due to the missing fingers.
As Alex finally finished, all the grime having flaked off his skin and been dissolved from the pool, he leaned back and closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure if he’d dozed off for a moment, or had just been distracted from the relief, but the next thing he knew, Graham was stripping to join him. Alex wasn’t worried about the dirt since the water seemed to have a self-cleaning feature, the steaming liquid still looking crystal clear after the torrent he’d put it through. He did still feel a bit of awkwardness about sharing a bath with the man, but just leaned his head back once more as the man revealed a muscular form filled with scars and a multitude of other partially healed wounds.
The two sat in silence, enjoying the post-battle midday bath for a while. Alex knew he needed to get moving, but didn’t want to break the moment of tranquility. He’d never been much of a nature dweller, but had to admit a hot spring in the middle of a glade whilst surrounded by the sounds of nature was a spiritual experience. So he sat and relaxed, enjoying the time, until Graham finally broke the silence.
“So what else did you want to discuss, young one? It’s not the most urgent, but I am on something of a timer.”
“Yea, sorry,” Alex began, yawning as he stretched. “It’s just been a while since I’ve had the chance to relax like this. Last thing, I promise, but before we get into the nitty-gritty, I was wondering if I could buy a few of those orbs, and you show me how to activate this thing.”
Graham’s arms had been splayed across the thin layer of rock and Alex saw more muscles than he knew existed flex as the man chuckled. “I could do that, but I’m not looking to trade coin.”
“What were you hoping for then, I’m not sure if I have anything else you want.”
“Potions.”
“Oh, I see.” Alex replied dully, it wasn’t the type of deal he’d been hoping for, but a quick check of his inventory showed he still had thirteen left. These potions were much more valuable than gold, especially for these next few weeks. Still, because of the mat, he could afford to part with a couple if it meant he could take some real baths while he was out here. “I think I can do a potion per ten of those orbs.”
“I’m sorry,” the older man immediately said, a thin smile on his face. Alex couldn’t tell exactly why, but he felt a chill go down his spine. Nothing visible had changed, and he sensed zero hostility from the man, but it felt like his moderate grin was as predatory as when he was in his beast form. “The best I can do is one for seven.”
From there began the most pathetic set of negotiations he’d ever had the displeasure of being involved in. He’d immediately protested the counteroffer, explaining, honestly, that the man was on his way to the city where he could purchase some potions. Alex was going to be stuck out here with no way to refill his stash for a while. Graham completely ignored his plight, however, rebutting with the fact that the potions Alex had were of limited effect on the older man due to his level. Ending with the implication that he might not even make it to the city, as he was now. Alex balked at the blatant lie, he literally looked strong enough to punch off the peak off a mountain.
Their conversation continued, their barter eventually culminating with Alex handing over two potions for a total of twelve orbs. He wasn’t even sure how he’d managed to be talked down another orb, but ended up taking the deal as to not lose out on another two of the magical bath bombs. Initially, Alex had thought of this a way to pay the man back some for the temporary shelter, now he just felt like he’d been the victim of a daylight robbery.
From there Graham taught him the simple process of activating a rune, Alex cursing the scammer out mentally as he did so.
“Good business.”
Overcoming his animosity at the failed negotiations on his end, Alex moved on to the next topic. From there they flitted from subject to subject, the man answering Alex’s questions about the forest, beast monarchy, as well as his view on the city and its ruler. For Alex, it felt like he was talking to a friend and, engrossed in the discussion ended up giving a very annotated version of how he’d ended up in the forest. Rather than mentioning the money or underground base he was now an owner of, he claimed to have run into some trouble in the city and was trying to let things cool off for a few weeks. By the end Alex had verified much of what Dora had said, even learning a bit more or getting a new perspective in other cases.
They exited the bath well over an hour after Alex had first entered, the old beast citing it was getting time for him to leave. Feeling the chill of the wind as he exited the bath, Alex pulled out one of the psycho-healer’s blouses and began drying himself, before wrapping some cloth around his waist as a makeshift towel. Graham might be leaving, but the orb was still active, so Alex planned to get straight back in after the wolf left.
“So, this might be a random request, but can you think of a way I can get in contact with the queen.” Turning as he finished straightening his robes, he raised an eyebrow.
“After all that we have discussed, your takeaway is that you want to interact with the highest powers of the forest.”
“Well not exactly, I might have some business with her in the future and based on the way you talk, it sounds like you might have some influence around here.”
“What kind of influence would an old guy need to have to be poisoned?”
Alex didn’t respond, not wanting to push the man in the wrong direction.
“I see, and you’re sure about this. I have a way, but once it is done, it cannot be undone.”
“What is it? Will it hurt me?” Alex inquired, his hopes at an easy solution dying some after such a foreboding statement like that.
Giving a final tug to his clothing, Graham transformed once again into that of a massive wolf, leaving Alex a bit intimidated.
“It will not hurt you, and if you come in contact with the queen it will assure she speaks with you, though not that she’ll listen, nor spare your life. I can do nothing for her husband, however.”
“Oh, if it’s only that then yea, that’s fine.” Alex was meant to kill the beast king anyway; he had no plans to interact with him before meeting his wife. Plus, if Theodora figured out another way to get in contact with her this whole thing could just serve as a backup plan.
“Very well then, I shall consider my debts paid with this.”
Putting a hand out while another held his improvised towel as the wolf got closer, Alex expected him to pull out a token or something of the like. Instead, the beast turned to the side, and as Alex seemingly processed the situation in slow motion, peed on him. It wasn’t much, maybe an ounce, the liquid splashing on his leg then into the dirt. Taking a couple steps back in horror, Alex began sputtering as words failed him.
“What the fuck,” he eventually got out. “Did you just fucking pee on me.”
The wolf sent chuckling through the wind, and Alex instantly regretted everything he’d done to help the weaselly mutt. He’d gotten scammed for two of his potions, and the oversized dog had fucking pissed on him.
“I did say you might not like it.”
“Who the fuck would like that shit? How is that going to help?” Alex asked as he pretty much dived into the water and began scrubbing at his leg like he could sand the disgust away.
Graham’s laughter only rose and Alex barely heard the words as the beast bid him farewell, his movements fast as he disappeared into the forest.
“Don’t go and get too pissed on now. It was good talking with you Alex.”