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Spice and Wolf: Settling Down

Chapter 1

Wolf and Reconciliation

It's been a long difficult journey back to Pasloe as it was still midwinter when they left the former sight of Yoits and Holo has been her usual charming cranky self the whole way. They're now on the last leg of this journey and the weather is a bit warmer, at least during the days, as spring has sprung which is putting Holo in a slightly better mood but still not very happy with their destination.

"I don't understand! Why Pasloe of all places to set up your shop? It's such a small village. What kind of business do you think you can do there?"

"Well, first I've already got a good reputation built up with the merchants there which will put me off to a good start and It's a nice place I think of many of them as my friends. Besides I'm not completely set on Pasloe. I just think we should check it out first."

"But that horrible person will be there. Tell me the truth. Is she the real reason you want to go there?"

"Holo, sigh, Of course not. I married you after all."

"Yes, and what a wonderful ceremony it was. Just you and me and the priest and me in my nun disguise hiding my ears and tail for a rushed ceremony in some strange town we passed through on the way. How romantic."

Holo's sarcasm was not lost on Lawrence. It never was.

"I know and I am sorry about that but I thought it was important to get that out of the way before we start shopping for property to build our home on and besides, for a long time I've been eager to be able to introduce you as my wife without it being a lie."

"Well, That last part does make me happy.", said Holo clinging to Lawrence's arm. "But I'm still not happy about where we're going."

"I think there may be advantages to Pasloe that you haven't considered.", said Lawrence.

"Like what?"

"Well, Holo the beautiful and wise wolf is already well known there. If you just explain the necessity of the occasional poor harvests to allow the land to recover the way you explained it to me I'm sue they'd understand. And just think, How nice would it be to be able to live somewhere where you didn't have to hide your ears and tail? You might even be able to strike a new agreement with them since they no longer need to worry about the harvest you could perhaps offer the village your protection from mercenaries or any would be thugs for that matter."

"Well, I do like the way you never neglect to add the word beautiful in that."

"By the way while we're on that subject. I think if Chloe is there we should talk to her first. Smoothing things over with her should be top priority before we even consider setting up shop here."

"You can't be serious. She was going to turn me over to the church!"

"Yes, but your not completely innocent in this misunderstanding either. Think about it. Even when she had us cornered in the sewers you didn't bother to explain about the poor harvests. You have to try."

"Alright but I can't promise I won't just eat her instead. grumble grumble, Oh, and I am so very hungry too."

-2-

"Hey Lawrence! Welcome back! Odd time of year for you to visit though. We've only just started planting this years crop so I'm afraid we have no wheat to sell at the moment. And I see you're not alone this time.", said the Pasloe villager.

"That's okay. I'm actually not here for wheat this time. Oh and this is my wife Holo."

"You're kidding! Holo? That's incredible. Oh sorry about my reaction Holo it's just that our village has a legend of wolf deity named Holo that supposedly provided us with rich harvests all though to be honest we've always had as many poor harvests as any other village."

"Holo, calm down.", whispered Lawrence.

Holo was doing her best to keep quite but Lawrence knew full well how offensive Holo would find such comments.

"Is Chloe in town by chance? We need to speak with her.", said Lawrence.

"What, one woman isn't enough for you?", the villager jested. "Just kidding. She's here somewhere. Probably talking to the mayor arranging some big deal or something. She's become quite the negotiator for us."

"I bet.", said Lawrence. "We're going to head to the inn to eat. We've been on the road for some time. If you see her could you tell her I'd like to talk to her"

"Yeah sure. I'll send her over to the inn if I see her."

"Thank you."

-3-

"Mmmm, This is amazing. It's so sweet. What's it called?", said Holo before resuming stuffing her face with the new desert.

"Cherry cobbler. It never ceases to amaze me how many foods you don't know about given your passion for sweets and how long you've been alive.", said Lawrence who then continued eating the fish dinner he'd ordered for himself.

"It's fantastic I must have more. MORE CHERRY COBBLER HERE PLEASE!", shouted Holo impatiently.

"You should probably just bring the whole pie.", said Lawrence knowing full well where this was headed.

After the pie Holo of course wasted no time getting started with the mead right away and of course she'd downed three pints while Lawrence was still nursing his first.

"Thank you Lawrence. I don't think I've ever thanked you properly. You've shown me so many delightful treats I can't tell you how much I appreciate that."

Just then Chloe appeared in the doorway that Holo's back was to. Dagger's shot from her eyes as her gaze fell on Lawrence who was sitting facing the doorway.

"You.", she said with a scowl. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up around here.", she continued while approaching the couples table.

Just then Holo turn her cloaked head up to look Chloe in the eyes with a threatening glare and a low growl.

"Holo, Calm down.", said Lawrence.

"NO! You! and you... you brought her with you!... Keep her away from me!" said Chloe stumbling back a few steps in terror.

"Relax Chloe. We're just here to talk. Isn't that right Holo?"

Holo's glare turned to Lawrence but remained a glare for a moment before finally softening to acquiesce.

"Yes.", said Holo reluctantly almost choking on the word.

"Please have a seat Chloe."

"I have nothing to say to either of you.", said a bitter Chloe.

"Well, that's actually good because all you have to do is listen. Please sit.", implored Lawrence.

Chloe sat nervously never taking her eyes off of Holo expecting an attack at any moment.

"Go ahead Holo.", prompted Lawrence.

sigh, "I'm very sorry. It seems us being at odds is partly my fault. Providing a rich harvest every season was taxing on the land and I had to occasionally allow a bad harvest to allow the land to recover and I never bothered to explain that to your people and if I had we might have avoid all this."

"That was very good Holo. I'm proud of you.", said Lawrence.

"I AM NOT YOUR PET DOG! DO NOT TREAT ME AS SUCH!", barked Holo ironically.

Chloe is still trying to wrap her head around what was just said thinking, "The bad harvests were for the land's sake? and we turned our backs. and I... I..."

Chole's mix of hatred and fear was now turning to pure fear as the full scope of the situation began to set in. "She's real and I attacked her, captured her and threatened to turn her over to the church. Oh damn I could be in deep trouble here.", she thought.

"I'm... I'm... so sorry Holo..." stammered chloe as she dropped to her knees to beg forgiveness from the wolf goddess. "Please forgive me. I didn't understand and I committed the worst sins against you imaginable. I beg you spare me oh Holo the wise wolf."

"And beautiful.", added Lawrence knowing Holo always enjoyed that little insertion.

Holo was surprised at Chloe's change in attitude. She didn't really believe a simple apology would be so effective.

"You are forgiven.", said Holo enjoying the sudden reverence.

"You can get up Chloe. All Holo really wanted was your forgiveness. You don't need to worship her. OUch! Holo!", said Lawrence reeling from the kick Holo launched under the table.

"Well, yes of course but I'm not really sure what all this means.", said a confused Chloe.

"To put it simply, What it means is that I just want us to be able to be friends. Your village has no need of my services in the field any more. That much is obvious. And if Lawrence and I wind up living here we should be able to get along amicably .", said Holo.

"Wait. You and lawrence living here?"

"That's right I've finally put together enough money to open my own shop and I was thinking of doing that here and since Holo is my wife she would of course..."

"WAIT! YOU"RE MARRIED!", interrupted Chloe. "Well, I guess if I had to lose you to another women I can't feel too bad about it being a goddess." she added.

Lawrence's face turned beat red at that comment.

"HA HA HA, He is so adorable when he is blushing. Is he not?", said Holo.

"haha yeah. So have you two picked out a place yet?", asked Chloe.

"No we thought before we even tried we should try and smooth things over between you and Holo first."

"Good choice. If you want any help negotiating a price with the Mayor just let me know. Maybe I can even put in a good word for you."

"Thanks. But the Mayor and I get along pretty well on our own. I think we'll be fine."

"MORE MEAD PLEASE!", shouted Holo. "Chloe. Please drink with us. Or drink with me at least. I do love Lawrence but I must admit he's a bit lame as a drinking partner."

grrr Lawrence grimaced before saying, "Alright well, you two drink. I'm going to get us a room. We can talk to the mayor tomorrow."