32 Complications
1500 Words
Another set of howling and Janus' heart kept beating. The world began to spin and his knees just buckled under the weight.
"Your highness!" One of the guards stationed to him ran in to assist. A young man named Elgar.
"I'm okay, just a little flustered that's all." Janus had never heard of wolves before, and his nerves failed him. Memories of his latest encounter with death came back to him. He froze. There was no book that could help him now. It seemed like there was nothing he could do.
Except...
Another set of hands came and grabbed him by the back. It was Dulfo and Millen, who were assigned with clearing up the roads. Sir Arthan came to closer to check in on him. When the knight saw him stand up he nodded and gave him a reassuring look.
"Rally the guards," Sir Arthan said. "Everyone who is able to fight will have to bear spears to protect the wagons and the livestock. Captain Caleb! See to it that we have a good ratio of men who can guard each wagon. Millen, I have something for you to do." He started giving orders to the others.
"Our safety is a top priority here, so we will have to arrange the wagons in a more tightly packed formation. The wolves will not attack a large group such as ours if we have a stable formation, the same as they will not attack large herds of Bison. Millen, I need you to check every group of wagons and see if there are animals that are sick or lagging behind. Master Ringo has a list."
Sir Arthan walked closer to Janus.
"Prince Janus, I have a proposition but it will cost us something. Will you hear it?"
Janus spoke up but his throat wouldn't give. He asked for a drink. After he had calmed up for a few seconds he spoke.
"Are you planning to leave behind some of the animals for the wolves?"
"Only those who are sick and weak, who will inevitably not make it to our destination in the long run. We will be staggering them of course, to keep the wolves busy. Maybe leave one behind for every few hours. Until we don't spot any more wolves around."
"That is a good idea if I have ever heard one." Master Ringo chimed in.
"Then let's do it. And give me a report of how many animals we've given up so I can track our supplies."
"Certainly." The steward said.
Millen went and did as he was told. Captain Caleb ordering guards and workers to arm themselves.
The Knight approached Janus and looked him in the eye.
"You okay your highness?"
"Not at all. I'm sorry Sir Arthan. I panicked. That was my first time hearing wolves in the wilderness. Thank you for your quick thinking. I couldn't have made a better plan myself."
"It is my pleasure sire. Keep your head up high, we will need you to remain of sound mind. Leave our security to me and the others."
And the Knight went on to lead the front. Janus sat by himself back in his wagon. Trying to keep his head straight as best as he could.
#
They went from journeying in a straight line to adapting a more compact circular formation until they were certain that the wolves would leave them alone.
The terrain went from thick forests to rocky mountains. The wolves never went in the open, they remained behind the line of trees. People around Janus pointed and called out whenever they saw one, but he would be too late to notice it. The creatures were simply too cunning.
At the end of the day, they had built campfires and formed the wagons in a tight circle. Patrols had to be stationed in the surrounding areas to defend them. Today they had to leave behind three cows to the wolves. It seemed to work as the howling stopped and the sightings lessened.
Those cows had pulled wagons containing grain, salt, and wine. Leaving behind such an important cargo was not an option, so they decided to swap the animals for the wagons carrying iron and stone. Those items weren't essential during the trek and would only slow them down, it was also something that they could get back safely once they arrived in their destination. Better leave that behind than food.
The night passed with no incident, but a guard reported this morning that the wolves had already taken down the cows that they had left behind the day before, as seen by the last scout that was marking their way on the rear.
They had to keep up their pace, lest they give up more animals. They started their trek during dawn and were forced to have breakfast on the way without cooking. Oxen jerky wasn't really something Janus liked, but they had no other option.
Janus was operating on less sleep than he had ever been in his entire life. He noticed that his attention was fleeting.
Kazzuk caught up with him that morning. The goblins' wagons were mostly stationed in the middle of the pack. They must have a good reason to come to him. He was accompanied by two guards, and the female goblin poet named Preeni. She wore something different this time, a white robe was draped around her body, and she wore a headdress made of bird feathers and twigs, with a few geometric iron necklaces that were surely made by Adduk.
"Princey! We have something to tell you. Important." The goblin chief called.
"What is it Kazzuk?"
Kazzuk gestured towards Preeni. She curtsied before speaking.
"Your Highness, huge storm is coming tonight. Caravan not safe, caravan need to find shelter."
"Are you sure of this?" The weather seemed fine, the sky was halfway surrounded by clouds but there were patches of clear blue all around.
"How can you tell that storm?"
"I can sense it Princey, the spirits called."
"The Spirits?"
"Aye Princey," Kazzuk answered. "Preeni has the talent to listen to the spirits."
"Is this common among goblins?"
"No, not very common this is Princey. But you must have heard stories of goblins who can sense the iron and the gold in the rock, yes? A talent that dwarves envy with all their drunken rage. There are some of us who can listen to the spirits, there are many spirits in the land and some goblins can listen to some more than the others. Prospectors are blessed with the earth sense and they can hear the spirits of the rock. The rock will tell them anything."
"So, what does Preeni have?"
"I have the air sense, I can sense the paths of the wind. The air today is thick, I can taste it in my mouth. It is a drowning feeling. There is a storm coming tonight, and it would be best to prepare."
"How strong is this storm?" Janus asked.
Preeni blinked. She licked her index finger and raised it up to the sky.
She sat there for a few seconds, standing on her tippy toes and reaching for the sky. Changing direction like a weathervane rooster, twirling back and forth. This went for a few more seconds before Preeni opened her eyes and spoke.
"Strong winds, lightning, heavy downpour. Something that homes and castles could withstand can blow out a goblin hut.
Janus sighed. He signaled everyone for a quick break and called up the Steward.
Master Ringo came waddling in carrying stacks of papers on one hand and an abacus on the other.
"How close are we to our destination?"
"If the landmarks are accurate, then we must be close. We should be arriving in about one day's time."
"How about our supplies?"
"Full meals enough for four days. We could stretch it to a week with heavy rationing."
"No, not good at all," Janus said. He didn't want them to need to hunt and forage when they weren't at their destination yet, but there was no choice.
"We start rationing today. A storm is coming. And we have to prepare every carriage to be protected against it."
He rounded up the managers, guards, and wagon leaders again.
This time they were to distribute clothes and hay and anything they could use for roofing so that they could be sheltered.
Scouts were assigned to look for places with high vegetation and a huge canopy of trees. Something that could protect them from the strong winds and minimize the downpour. The engineers were made to plan out ways in which they could convene the wagons to keep everybody sheltered.
They had covered a lot of ground by noon that day, but by the afternoon, the sky started getting darker and darker. Brimstone volcano disappeared and was covered by layers of swelling mist. The wind blew louder and louder, and the men started getting concerned.
They stopped just before nightfall to round out the wagons in a circular formation. Everyone had work to do, laying down ropes and roofing to keep them and their perishables dry. Salt and grain had priority as well as their rations of food. Empty buckets were also kept outside so that they can collect water for themselves and for the animals.
Then the first crack of lightning struck.
- Writer
