A/N Real quick I just wanted to let people know to not worry if anything happens between Holo and Ranger. NOTHING ROMANTIC WILL EVER EVER HAPPEN BETWEEN HOLO AND RANGER. PERIOD. I have too much respect for the characters to do that. Anyway new chapter up and have a merry christmas!


Chapter 10

Wolf and the Information Broker

We now take leave of Lawrence and Matthias as they have been given up to the despairing arts of torture and human suffering and return to our adventurers seeking to avenge their pain. The setting is where they were last left at the cabin which now served as a dismal tomb for a less fortunate soul in the backwoods of Valenfurt. The scene was altered since it was last observed, for the corpse that hanged by its neck to die was set loose and at the request of Holo, was given a proper burial. Unfortunately, the stench of rotting flesh still remained, making the edifice nearly impossible to abide in for the she wolf who found the malodor more than unbearable for her liking.

She took sit upon a nearby stump as Ranger scavenged within the cabin for anything that could be of use for their journey. Despite all the harrowing encounters befallen her in the last few days, her bosom was filled with gratitude. For in this dark and dismal chasm of spiritual despair, shined a shimmer of hope, which came in the form of a union between her and the masked man. She was not fool enough to suppose their working together would be accommodating to their personalities, but there was a willingness to be one in purpose, which was all that could be hoped for.

Ranger eventually took leave of the cabin with a few articles and placed them in the wagon, namely items that could either be bartered or used for their own benefit. Holo could not help but reflect upon the words scripted in blood upon the wall. 'Can the warrior still conceal the fight? Can the wolf withhold the bark yet yield the bite?' It was obviously a message from their aggressors who simply wished to taunt and ridicule their efforts, however there was something more devious at play.

Holo eventually arose and addressed the swordsman, "Well then, what is our next state of play? For that was your contact was he not?"

Ranger still kept his back turned as he proceeded to load the wagon as he responded, "He was only a middle man."

"How is it then, that you intend to inform the count of what has happened here?"

Ranger turned and pointed to the vegetated horizon of the thick forrest behind the cabin, "There is a pigeon coupe beyond the loins of the forrest fence. Word shall be sent from there, to warn him that this area has been compromised and possibly more."

"More?" inquired the she wolf with some uneasiness.

Stopping his function, Ranger replied with a hint that he was attempting to exercise patience, for much was on his mind, "We know not the full scale of their foreknowledge. This may have been the only outpost to be exposed, or every ranger may now be at risk. Only time shall tell."

Nodding then asking with more innocence in her voice, Holo said, "Who and where is this contact of yours then?"

The hooded man looked out to the horizon, "Even the wisest can never tell. He will contact us shortly."

"How do you know he has not perished?" inquired Holo with a confused thirst for more knowledge on the matter.

Ranger's eyes stayed their position with their icy trance, "He is very cunning and resourceful. He can blend into any crowd and remain unseen, yet can know all at the mere want to desire it."

Holo marveled at this and only pondered out loud, "How fortunate to have one as thus to be recruited to your cause."

Ranger saluted his head slightly in the negative, "The count is more of a client of his."

"Who is he?"

"We only know him as an information broker."

Holo sighed with pain at the words for she knew all too well what else it would imply, "I suppose then, he will not so much as utter a noise in our favor without being well compensated for it, yes?" said she.

Ranger let out a huff through his nose, "You speak true tis why we must council at this moment to secure our fortunes."

Tapping her chin with her delicate index finger, Holo pondered and offered a few recommendations, "To play off this ruse of us being merchants, we must have a wagon full of merchandise. Therefore we must make our investments in bulk, so we can not only sell the illusion but also provide for ourselves income all at the same time."

Ranger shrugged, "How can we invest if we have not enough to spend?"

Holo's brow creased as she was becoming deeper in thought, "Winter is vast approaching and I am sure this alone will drive the prices of fur higher as people will need the means to keep warm. We have the deer carcass whose skin could be bartered with."

"The meat and bone as well." commented the masked man with a tone to sound as though he wanted to secure the most of what could be gained.

Holo frowned slightly for she knew the venison could be sold to a local butcher, but at the expense of her own appetite whenever the need to slake it would arise. "I do not know, for we have not the means to preserve it, a butcher may not buy it, and if he does, it would not be for a high price."

Ranger then withdrew his bow and called Kaytaff to his side then informed, "We shall go to the pigeon coup and slay beasts along the way."

Holo nodded and allowed the man to depart. She stood and thought of more resolutions to their predicaments until Ranger stopped and stared at her. She took note of his queer observation and returned his glance with an inquiring one of her own.

"Have I forgot something?" she asked of him with uncertainty.

"You are not coming?" he returned.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said that 'we shall go.' Us; together."

Holo was stifled a moment, for Ranger's desire to have company and assistance was something of an anomaly to her. She joined him rather bewildered yet he seemed persistent in gazing upon her with dumbfoundness.

"Now what is it?' she murmured, "Do I have something on my face?"

Ranger made a calm yet keenly response, "We are hunting, are sure you wish to go as you are?"

It was then that Holo knew what the man desired. He wished for a fellow hunter, not a petite woman. She pulled the wheat pouch from her neck and said causally, "Excuse me."

She removed herself from view behind the cabin as Ranger waited somewhat patiently. Then in due time Holo returned, this time the great wolf of legend was in place of the girl. Ranger could not help but notice that within her massive jaw was the wheat pouch.

"Here." she said dropping the pouch into his palm. He looked up at her as if insulted by the fact that he must be burdened with one of her possessions. The wolf scowled at his unappreciative posture and snarled, "Well I cannot carry it in this form! How else am I to hunt if I cannot have use of my teeth!?"

Ranger pocketed it then looked yonder towards the cabin, "Are you not going to take care of the clothing I have provided for you, or shall it be laid to waste in the dirt?"

Holo growled, "Oh do not worry, once a sizable profit has been obtained I will forever cast those raiments away and fit myself with something more appealing to the eye!"

Twas the first moment she had ever complained about the color clash of her garb, however grateful she should have been to be bestowed with something to conceal her nakedness, she was a woman non the less and very captious of how she appeared in front of others.

Ranger gave a shrug with his eyes and turned to leave into the woods. It was then that something odd occurred within the mind of the great wolf. It was an oddity so grand that it caused the proud beast to stumble in thought. It was a tease; a jest, a lighthearted comment to agitate the nerves of the wise wolf. Most stunning, that of all men in the world to have delivered it, it was the Ranger.

As she was about to walk the path of his retreat she looked down and saw Kaytaff who stood his ground and flashed his fangs at at her. The giant wolf returned the gesture and replied, "I could swallow you whole if I wish, now run along like a good boy."

The shepherd dog huffed and trotted to heel at his master's side with the she wolf in tow. As they were thus venturing into the thickets Holo made an odd request, "If we can store some of the blood of the animals we hunt I would greatly appreciate it."

Ranger kept his bow lowered with an arrow seated in the draw string and replied while looking about, "For what purpose wolf god?"

"I can take upon this form only if I consume the wheat or blood of a living thing."

Ranger stopped and turned his head towards her with frustrated curiosity, "You cannot simply change at will?"

"No, a sacrifice is required in order to do so. And take care of that pouch, for if it is to be burned, buried or consumed I am likely to disappear."

Ranger quickly began to see the wider picture, "So that is why, when Wolfgang was about to cast it into the fire, you begged for him to stay his hand?"

"I DID NOT BEG!" came her hot tempered response, "I simply did not wish my life force to be burned."

Ranger made a rather callously dark recitation, "I believe I heard the exact words, 'no please I beg of you.'"

Growling with more agitation Holo defended her stand, "That was not over the wheat, that was about what those men planned to do to me!"

"And I do so recall having to come to your rescue as well…" said Ranger dully.

Holo was astounded at the boldness of the man until realizing that, once again, he was in his own way, teasing her. However she was less than fond of his dark sense of humor. In fact, he was the very type to portray himself in such a manner that one would never know if he was in high spirits or was simply being his brooding self.

As they were vaulting over fallen logs, Ranger asked of her, "Will any blood do?"

Keeping her eyes acutely aware of her surroundings, Holo responded, "Yes,' then as a means to create a morbid jest of her own said, 'but the blood of a human is always preferred."

Ranger made a sudden pivot to face her and declared daringly while looking up at the great beast, "Very well but know this. I forbid you to ever consume the blood within my veins…!"

Holo was put off at the fearlessness of the impudent being before her. To so daringly come across in this manner in front of the wise wolf was beyond expression. She could only respond with a heavily annoyed vocation, "Is your blood so precious that only the most privileged of gods and kings can have access to it!?"

Ranger cocked his head, "It would not be appropriate…"

The ears of the wolf perked then made a toughened reprove, "I am sure it would taste much too foul for my liking anyway."

They continued onward rather grudgingly until coming upon a monument that was blatantly out of place, like a black sheep among the flock. It was the pigeon coup which stood atop a pillar. Gathered about some of the horizontal pegs were the the small birds who suddenly took flight at their appearance.

Ranger looked up at the great wolf god and stated his opinion as though it were fact, "Perhaps they have been startled by your presence…."

Holo chortled inwardly, "Despite my appearance, I am something that still belongs in the wilderness. That would make you the intruder here then, would it not?"

The masked man soon distanced himself from her and carefully approached the coup then tenderly extended his hand towards the frightened creatures. One small bird, when associating the human hand with a designated purpose, descended and allowed itself to be enclosed in his fingers. He then searched the rest of the perch to find parchment and a charcoal rod for writing.

The script thereon read,

"To the head of the safeguard association. The Valenfurt branch has been closed down, clients moved to competitors."

Holo eventually approached behind him and read the note over his shoulder, "You speak in code to inform him of what has happened, yes?"

"Indeed, for if the message were to be intercepted, non would be the wiser to decipher it true meaning."

Ranger gave a lift and release with his hands and the bird flew away in a scurry off to destinations unknown. Holo gazed upon the winged creature for as long as it could remain in sight then looked down upon the masked man and inquired with a pressing tone, "Well then, shall we begin?"

Ranger assented to her eagerness and stated, "The earlier the merrier. Our efforts may hasten if we go separate ways."

"Very well,' concurred Holo, 'I will hunt near the slopes of the mountains."

"What drives you there?" asked Ranger with well meaning innocence.

Holo looked towards the summit and replied with ethereal certainty, "I sense that I have passed through this way before when leaving Yoites those many centuries ago. With winter approaching many animals will be preparing themselves for hibernation therefore they will be out scavenging for food and whatever else they will need. I feel that I am likely to find the most game at the foot of the mountain."

Ranger bid farewell and called back as he was leaving, "Let us reunite here before sundown."

The wolf let out a huff of adrenaline as the granted freedom to toil in her most desired of all habitats unleashed a flood of unbound excitement in her soul as she bolted from view. She panted hard and embraced every moment to enact her agency to her fitting as she leapt over logs, cricks and rocks to find the destination her senses were leading her to. To once again embrace the natural instincts allotted at birth and were not exercised in centuries was a tender and most endearing privilege the wolf thought she would never appreciate again up until now.

This was life as it was always to be preferred by Holo. Heavy thuds and dints of her paws while rushing about the pines, sages and underbrushes with the wind flowing through her fur like the currents of water that slide over the rocky river bed. Her dashing endeavor came to a halt as her nature commanded her to do so. She had caught a scent.

Putting her snout to forrest floor she vigorously sniffed through the dead pines and aged old soil. The buck was not afar off (for that is what was detected) therefore she went prone and navigated carefully through the erect trunks of the spruces, pines and maples as to not frighten her prey. Peering around a thicket with eyes of steel and a posture of stone, Holo found the adult deer grazing about what remained of the greens.

The wolf abided it's time for her pristine moment to strike. The buck raised his head allowing the jagged points of his rack to face the heavens and curiously looked about for it suspected another presence yet had not the means to confirm it. Holo's face was eternally locked and focused on the game with eyes that forever sealed a stoney gaze. The buck made it's flaw by choosing the leisure of nurturing itself over securing it's own safety.

Holo leapt from her vegetated asylum and had the deer within the lock of her mighty jaws with unimaginable swiftness. The creature kicked and scurried fruitlessly to escape, but the wolf's jaws were as an iron trap that slowly suffocated and crushed it, all the while taking especial care not to damage the hide. Eventually the futile struggles ceased and the animal was still and dead. Holo restrained from the delightful sensation of blood on her tongue that urged her to consume the beast and appease her appetite by devouring it then and there.

She let the carcass free and marveled at her kill with dignified pride and satisfaction. It was then in this euphoria of reconnection with her animal half, that Holo saw something else in place of the buck. In her mind's eye it seemed as though, for only a moment, she saw a poor and frightened man huddled in the fettle position and trembling with fright.

It was Lawrence, or to say it was the memory of Lawrence when he first beheld Holo in her wolf form. Her mind was recalled to that day, when she was given the option to leave the merchant and pursue her own courses, returned to ensure his safety.

Her eyes softened tenderly when re-approaching the memoir. Most astounding when recalling the event was the question she secretly begged of herself; why did she stay? Though bound by contract to reimburse him she was, it was a contract that could have easily been thwarted by her might and cunning.

She was quickly removed from her trance when her sense of smell and hearing detected more game yonder. Time was of the essence, and product was to be gained, therefore she stored her trophy kill in the branch of a nearby tree so that it would remain unhindered by any other predator and swiftly moved along.


The afternoon sun was in full effect by the time the great and proud Holo was found at the pigeon coup laying on her stomach with her paws crossed in front while waiting for the return of her companion. Holo's ears detected an unnatural sound that was not common among forest noises and signified to her that Ranger was a man of his word. The wagon was being hauled through for the purpose of transporting the game in one haul.

The bobbing mien of Gallavaun was seen through the trees as he pulled the wagon to the coup with Ranger holding the reigns and Kaytaff laying in the passenger side of the box. Gallavaun suddenly let out a startled nay when seeing the massive predator but was quickly put back under control through the whoa's of his master. Holo thought if fond that all that was needed, was the master's voice to calm the animal's fears.

She noticed in the bed were a collection of squirrels, which were the kills of Kaytaff most likely. Among the more diminutive wildlife was only one deer. This only fueled the pride of Holo for when she arose, it revealed that her body was concealing the sight of five bucks that were stacked like cords of wood.

Her ears pricked when seeing the consuetude of Ranger's dismount. He was favoring his right side and gimping. She went over to him and observed him temporarily; he was in pain yet attempting to continue on as though in good health.

"Are you alright?" she asked of him.

Irritated, the masked man responded, "Do not worry for me."

"You are injured."

"It is nothing."

He then walked over to the game that Holo had delivered and attempted to pick one up and hoist it over his shoulder and move into the wagon. He succeeded in the beginning with the first buck, but as he attempted to lift the second, his right side buckled and with an agonizing grunt as he dropped to a knee and cast the carcass aside to avoid a full topple. He stayed on his knee while panting with a lowered head and seemed to be filled with self loathing.

Holo, having compassion on the man, went over to pick the carcass up for him but he quickly refuted her, "I can manage it."

Forfeiting her assistance, she huffed back, "Forgive me for having pity on you."

"A moment's rest will do me more than your pity ever could." replied the spiteful man.

Holo shook her mien and left the man to his own devices and began to load the remaining deer into the wagon with the ease of her mighty jaws. During her ventures she would pause to take a moments glance to see how Ranger was fairing. In time he gave up the notion of carrying the animal on his shoulders and began dragging it through the dirt, all while making wheezing exhalations.

This time Holo went over and took it from him while snarling, "You will damage the hide that way!"

Ranger clutched at his lower ribs and glared up at her then shot back, "I told you that I can…!"

He was cut off by swift bark from the she wolf who was at her wits end with this charade of one upping, "No you cannot, you are injured and in pain! Is it such a blow to your pride to accept help when all efforts are exhausted?"

The masked man looked down and replied quietly with an almost pleading tone in his voice, "I cannot suffer my strength to fail me…not now…."

Holo's face softened as she lowered her head to his, "What happened out there anyway?"

The hood turned away from her in gaul of stubbornness. Holo was detecting something else within his sour disposition. It was not that he was overwhelmed, or that she was the only one who could help him. It was something more, something the masked man would never put into words.

Holo then spoke more gently and with reason, "We are partners now, are we not? I am here to help and you know you cannot do this on your own, why else would you extend you hand towards me to make this agreement?"

Ranger let out agonizing sigh that was a mixture of physical pain and emotional defeat. He motioned with his eyes towards the direction from whence he came and muttered, "Through there, you will find the answers that you seek…"

Holo casually rose up her posture and left for the area motioned to. Her powerful nose could sense the remains of a struggle that ended with Ranger victorious yet wounded. As she progressed she pondered to herself why she was assisting him, only to come to the conclusion that unlike him, she cared greatly for the sufferings of other people.

At last her nose lead her to where the stench of death was originating, for most predators could sense the deceased no matter how recently. When coming upon it, she nearly chuckled.

Back at the wagon, Ranger was found stretching his right side which left beads of sweat and perspiration soaking into his mask and caused the flesh of his face to turn pale. His body was trembling but he would not yield to the pain. He grabbed his right bicep and hoisted his arm over his head and bent over to the left to stretch the muscles and prevent further swelling. He turned his head to peer over the wagon to see Holo coming through the thicket with a full mouth.

"So was this your culprit?" she asked while dropping the carcass of a fully grown bull moose. There could have been no other explanation, for the massive beast had half his neck cut through and no fang or claw known to the she wolf could have caused it, only the markings of a sword.

Ranger grunted, "As I took aim at the deer, he charged my flank from the unseen veil of the foliage."

"Did he break anything other than your pride?" came the lighthearted tease of the ever so canny wise wolf.

Ranger simply pointed, "Load him up we have much work to do once we return to the cabin."

He then clambered into the driver's box of the wagon while fighting the resistance the sprain was vexing him with, then turned the shire around and headed towards the next destination. Holo walked side by side with the carriage and it was then that she realized what truly troubled the Ranger. He was afraid. Not of death or pain but of something else that most men fear and that is inevitable to their mortality. He feared that his best days were soon to be behind him.

Once they arrived at the cabin, Ranger dismounted and went to the rear of the cart, dropped the gate and paused. Then, instead of attempting to unload the corpses, went to one of the chests usually kept up at the front. After opening it with a small key that he kept inside one of his side pouches, opened the chest and manipulated what provisions were inside then withdrew a white wrap which most likely was to be used as a tourniquet. There was was an oddity that did not escape Holo's notice, it seemed as though there was another object of unknown description that was concealed within the wraps.

He then put himself into the cabin while Holo found it meat to begin unloading the cargo while still having the brawn of her strength at hand. In due time Ranger quitted the cabin with an unusually brisk stride in his step. Holo took a rather keenly note of it and could not help but incline herself to comment, "That was a rather quick recovery, yes?"

The masked man slyly made the rejoinder, "I wrapped myself in a peculiar manner to relieve myself of the pain."

Once he closed his proximity to Holo her sharp nose caught a sickly scent, she moved her snout closer to his right side and began sniffing in a probing manner and said deviously, "That stench, I've smelled it before."

Ranger peered over but said nothing as he kept his shoulder turned while preparing the animals to be cleaned. Holo paced around him to put her face towards his, "The last time such an odor caught my nose was last night when you treated yourself with a mysterious ointment, before that was the treating of Jabari,' then cringing her eyebrows added, 'and before that was when a little boy lay in a cold sleep and was revived by an elixir of the same odor."

Ranger paused then said quietly, "Perhaps it is time for you to revert back into your human form."

Holo heaved a gust of hot wind and went behind the cabin with a disgruntled attitude. Her mass reduced and soon the fair young girl with the wolfish features returned and soon went to garb herself. She applied the raiments after giving each one a good shaking to fling the dirt and grub away, then came the final and most cherished article. It was the jacket of her beloved Lawrence which was the only clothing among the attire that was not cast into the dirt. She closed while pressing the collar to her face with closed eyes and inhaled the odors of the well worn coat through her nostrils so that she could attain some closure through a familiar scent.

She slipped her arms through and fastened it up before her ears caught an unnatural crunch. She placed her hands in the pockets only to have her face become white.

Meanwhile, Ranger was already in the process of tethering the carcasses and beginning exsanguinate them with a bucket used to catch the blood. The antlers were removed with some degree of hinderance for the sword was not a saw. It was then, as he was beginning to skin them, Holo approached him with an indescribable look of bewilderment.

"Is something the matter?" he asked of her.

She held out her hand which had in it's possession a letter in a white envelope and said with a chilling calm that could not hide her stunned amazement, "I found this in the pocket of my…Lawrence's….jacket. Someone else has been here."

Ranger gave her an uncomfortable look then asked a question which justified the glare, "What does it say?"

Holo, with eyes in a state of paralysis, slightly shook her head and extended the note towards the masked man who accepted it and undertook the liberty to announce the contents himself. He glared over the parchment then looked up to the sky, which drove the unwanted curiosity even further within the she wolf.

"Well, who was it? What did it say?" she asked.

Ranger spoke with an unusual glimmer of dismal hope, "Our contact, the information broker; he wishes to meet with us."

Holo, seemingly floored by the secretiveness of this man of shadows, inquisitively asked for more information, "When and where? And how did he know we were here?"

Ranger put up his hand to still her excitement, "There is a tavern within the town and all it said was to meet there at our convenience."

Holo shifted her jacket and pulled down on her shirt out of habit then inquired, "Should we go down now then, yes?"

"It would not hurt us to expedite our meeting."

"What of the carcasses, surely they will attract other animals."

"I will have Kaytaff stay behind."

He then turned to the hound who was laying on his side nearby a tree and quickly bolted to his feet when hearing his master whistle. Once the dog approached the swordsman, we was simply pointed towards the carcasses and was told, "Guard."

Ranger and Holo then began to mount onto the wagon. Before Holo climbed up, she turned to the shepherd dog and whispered, "If I find your teeth marks on my kills it will not be the wrath of your master that shall be your end."

Kaytaff let off a simple bark to show his dis-appreciation for that remark. Though his understanding and knowledge of human words were limited, when Holo spoke, he could understand her meaning clearly. Once the she wolf took her place on the coach, it was turned around and pulled down the road back to Valenfurt.


"Exactly what is the name of this tavern?" inquired Holo as the wagon pulled into the marshy streets of mud through Valenfurt which made the roads soggy and undesirable.

Ranger looked around at the wooden structures with the inhabitants scattering about their ways and responded, "If you had read the letter you would have known, after all it was delivered to your jacket."

"Yes but I felt that you would have made better sense of it than I." rejoined Holo's taxing tone.

The masked pilot of the coach inclined his head and said, "It is called 'The Gold Nugget.'"

Holo looked upon some of the people whose filthy disposition caused her to voice a non intending outburst, "Gold is not the word I would use when describing this town."

Ranger corrected, "This particular settlement is used for the brunt labor of mining coal, silver and gold. There is a sister town a few small leagues from here where they who have better fortunes and skill make use of these minerals for the betterment of their society."

Holo then observed with a simple probe, "The people of the sister town oppress these ones then, no?"

Ranger was quick to reply, "They oppress themselves. You will not find one among these sort who will take the initiative to learn themselves in the arts of renovation and true business. You will find that more than half of the population of this town will be easily spotted at the tavern. They simply drown themselves away while blaming others for their hard run ins with with life. Not once do they take thought of what they themselves can do to improve their situations."

"What of the governing body? Surely they can use these resources for their own." inclined Holo.

His voice became more subtle, "They are foolish men who fear the imagery of appearing to be greedy, therefore they sell what was earned by the sweat of the laborer's brow without consent."

"So then if I am not mistaken,' concurred Holo, 'No one here is entitled to their earnings?"

"That is correct."

"Hmmm,' pondered Holo who then made a unique inquiry, 'Selling gold and silver would bring in a high amount of profit, where does that money go?"

Ranger assented with his eyes and said, "Look yonder."

Holo set her eyes ahead and found an edifice that clearly was inconspicuous to the rest of the scenery. Atop a small hill was a grand mansion made of granite exteriors and pillars of white marble. The great structure was at least four stories high with many levels with dozens of windows that all had silk curtains flaunting through its transparency. The doors which led into it were oak with handles of gold and knockers of silver. To complete this monument of superiority was a black iron fence which looked more as a barrier to divide the inferior from the superior than an actual means of a first line defense.

Holo could easily determine it to be the house of the governing body and replied heartlessly, "How typical."

Ranger then added to her disgust, "They also put a heavy taxation on these people."

"As if they would need it."

"They are told it is for the better good and how this money will be used to care for all their needs…"

"But I am sure that they see none of these benefits,' returned Holo with satirical gravity, 'From what I have learned from humans, is that there are only the idiots who lead them and the idiots who believe it."

The wagon was stopped in a designated area for carriages, before Ranger dismounted he turned towards her and replied with a remark that complimented her ideology, "From what I have learned from mankind, is that governments have only done two things exceptionally well; kill people and take their money."

As Holo let herself down she could not help but bring herself to say, "Finally something we can agree on."

Once the wagon was secure they made their way through the walkways and sectioned groups of individuals. The forecast was heavy as the sky was painted thick with the light led color of the unending clouds. Holo took an unlikable fancy to the eyes of the the passerby's who gave unfriendly glares as they passed by. As a precaution she double checked that the ushanka was placed atop her head to cover her ears, and to her relief it was so.

"Do these people find beauty a threat to their own livelihood?" said she with a sincere vanity.

"More likely they are wary of newcomers." answered the hood.

After a few moments of pacing about they alas found 'The Gold Nugget.' It was a typical saloon style edifice complete with a double swinging door that served as the entrance. Before Ranger opened the door he turned to Holo and said with hesitation, "About this contact…be patient with him."

Holo sighed and rolled her eyes in reference to the individual they were to soon meet, "Oh dear, one of those."

Cautiously they entered. The hostelry was filled with numerous round tables were men were sitting and enjoying their intoxicating beverages or playing a card game here and there. There were women, but only the type who were hired on only to take patrons to their personal quarters for extra gain. This of course caught the attention of a few groups near the entrance when Holo came on scene. For she was a very beautiful and young, yet modestly dressed and in the company of a very aggressive looking fellow, which heightened confusion as to what her purpose would be upon being here, and dashing their hopes that she was not for sale.

After peering around Ranger spotted an empty table with two chairs on opposite sides of each other that sat next to the wall on their left. They both moved towards while navigating around drunkards and gamblers who made certain displeasures known through their steely gazes which Holo found to be more of an annoyance than a threat. Once they took their seats they were quickly addressed by one of the servers who was a scantily clad woman who wore only a corset and short breeches which were obviously applied for quick removal when the need arose.

"Can I get yer somethn' to start with?" she asked in credulous accent with a tone that declared that she failed in mastering the command of her own native language.

"Oh I believe we will be fine for now." said Holo with a calm tone to avoid too much suspicion.

The maiden smiled with disrespect, "Ya must be new here sunshine. We are a saloon not a shelter."

Holo sighed while rubbing her brows, "A pitcher of water then."

The waitress made a ditzy, "Ya want water puddin' then I reckon who sink your pretty little face in the horse troff."

Holo shot an intimidating glare back and said, "Do you have a simple cider or punch then?"

The waitress nodded with that ridiculing grin which the she wolf found to be insufferable, "We sure do but that ain't what we specialize in." She then turned to the brooding hunk sitting across and stroked his shoulder, "We only want to serve the things that will take a man's mind off his troubles. Which are spirits and flesh."

Ranger slowly set his head towards the groper with such a hard scowl that his eyes nearly bordered demonic. The offense was not the offer, it was simply being touched without consent. The waitress pulled her hand away while Holo said, "We are on a tight budget your cheaper and NON alcoholic beverages will have to do." She spited at the order somewhat, for a lugger to wash down her frustrations would be ideal in a moment such as this.

The waitress looked over Holo's body and face and replied, "Well darln' if ya got a thin pocket book, we could definitely help ya fill it. After all with a face and a figure like yours…"

"Not interested!" snapped the wise wolf who was becoming more testy the longer this ordeal was being carried out. The waitress only giggled and walked away.

Ranger sighed, "Let us try to keep a lower profile while we are here."

Holo only glared at him then could think of nothing else but to spit her tongue at him. She was hungry and fighting the hormones her impregnated body was skewing.

"How shall we know when your contact is here?" she asked with a slight fizzle.

"Leave that to me." replied the masked man.

She lifted her head off her hand when hearing the crowd noises die down again. This time it was a familiar face to Holo, but an un-welcomed one to everyone else. It was the independent Holy man who was preaching among the crowds in front of the silver statue of the wolf god Nazani. He took his hat off and saluted the evil stares with a kindly grin and walked to the bar where the tender was filling the rounds.

The Bartender did not even ask for his order, he only glared at him with a sulk while cleaning out small mug. The Holy man put his arm on the surface and decided to start by saying, "If it is not any trouble to you kind sir, would you happen to have white wine?"

The bartender spat in the mug then set it down harder than he should, then turned and grabbed a bottle. He uncorked it and began filling up the mug, then, instead of capping the bottle, continued pouring it all over the man's wrist, up his arm and back down. The Holy man nodded with a complexion of unusual understanding as if to accept that he brought about himself his own devices.

"Don't worry,' said the barkeep while taking up the mug, 'this one's on the house." he then threw the contents into the patron's face. He staggered back and began to wipe the alcohol from his eyes which irritated him greatly but would not give the satisfaction to the jeering crowd to hear his moan.

Holo went to arise and help the man, but Ranger caught her by the arm and had her sit down.

"Now let's get one thing straight!" ordered the bartender to the missionary whose eyes had gone red. "The last thing we need in this town is some fool telling us to believe in a God who tells us what we can and cannot do while hearing how we are all going to burn in some hellfire from a deceitful, power hungry villain once a week for the rest of our lives!"

The man, who surprisingly was not at all wrathful, replied, "Surely if I have caused offense I am sorry, I only wished to share the goodness of my life with others. No harm intended."

"Let me ask you something!' interjected the furious bartender, "The gods who we believe in say they dwell in the mountains providing us with gold and silver. What evidence do we have to prove this?" He then motioned behind him a type of glass box which had precious stones and metals encased therein. "See these? These are the signs and evidences of our gods and these are our salvation!" There was an approving cheer from the other patrons at the end of this speech.

The Holy man nodded and replied calmly yet so sweetly, "The fruits of the God I worship are not that of the earthly things but of peace, long suffering and good will towards all men."

"But you have never seen him?" replied the barkeep with doubting speculation.

"Without faith even seeing is not enough."

With a droll with bartender let out, "FAITH! It does nothing in acquiring true happiness!"

The Holy man replied tenderly, "True happiness comes from knowing the truthfulness of the gospel which has the power to change men for the better, I am the evidence of such a change."

Pointing his finger back at him, the skeptic challenged, "Tell me then, if God really exists and the church truly has turned away from his will, then where is he today? Whenever we worship Shalashaska or Nazani, we are not struck down. Whenever the church has its armies to march on pagan lands to make them submit even by the shedding of blood, why does he not stop it? Does not the Holy book say 'Thou shalt not kill?!'" Then leaning over and becoming more converted to his own convictions said, "And if you truly are on the Lord's errand, why does he not strike me down when I mistreat you?"

The Holy man looked down and said nothing in which the barkeep pointed towards the exit and said, "Get out."

The people clapped and cheered as the publicly humiliated individual quitted the saloon and was not seen again. Holo shook her head and said quietly, "Such a cruel town. How can they even think they are better than the church. Though I myself do not believe in such fantasies I still never…" she would have continued however Ranger's look caught her attention.

He was erect in the seat and looking past her. She checked over her shoulder and did not see anything unusual then asked, "What is it?"

Ranger then voiced a rather bizarre sentence, "Is there a special hour for the hollow?"

He was answered by a voice behind him which said slyly, "Only in the morning."

Suddenly, another figure moved into view from behind Ranger. He was a thickly hooded and cloaked man in a forrest green robe who pulled up a seat besides them.

"And you are?" asked Holo with distrust.

Motioning towards the masked man the stranger said with a slimy tone, "Why the information broker of course…"

"He is our contact." said Ranger.

Immediately, Holo began to fire off questions in hope and desperation, "Where is Lawrence? How do we get him back? What does Jurgen want?"

An odd hiss came from the broker's mouth, "I can answer all, if you have the money for it."

Holo's heart sank, "We only have two silver."

"Well that will be enough to get you on the path to discover everything else for yourself."

"Speak then." said Ranger.

The robed figure began speaking with a deviously cunning tone, "Fortunately my dear you are in pagan country which I am surprised you are not flaunting about to be worshipped already."

"How do you know that I…?"

"That you are the wise wolf of Pasloe?" interrupted the broker, "Or that your poor mate has been held captive by the insurer leaving his pregnant wife behind to stumble around looking for him?"

Holo was taken completely off guard, "How do you know that?"

"This world tell me everything, my hearing is greater than yours." he said with a smile which showed a yellowish flesh around his lips which bore a thin long fang in front of a forked tongue.

"You are a serpent god." stammered Holo.

"Indeed, you know that snakes can hear through the earth? Your little ears may perk at the sound of a lie but my skin can tell me more than your ears ever could." He closed his eyes and concentrated, "Heartbeats, tension, changes in breathing vibrations tell me all. I can know a state of mind without ever having to ask. I could put my ear to the ground and hear all manner talk. Even the most feared of gods came to me to gain information over their enemies. Even the quivering Dana Ruebens has come to me in search for answers."

"So why resign yourself to this work?" inquired the she wolf with a grudge.

The snake man flared his tongue, "The same reason you resigned yourself to yours."

Holo's raised a brow as she did not wholly understand his meaning who was answered as the broker continued, "The one thing in this world that gets you by is not mystical ability or monstrous strength, it's money. Knowledge is power, information can be weaponized, therefore the more valuable it is, the more men are willing to pay to obtain it."

"Speaking of information." said the Ranger who was hitting the height of his patience. He then put two coins on the table and almost demanded, "What are you selling us?"

The broker quickly snatched up the two silver and said, "Jurgen, or Lord De Buhr as he's known up here, is plotting to have the two of you taken out of the picture. If you make it far enough to his mansion you will meet resistance unlike anything you've ever encountered along the way."

"Such as?" asked Holo.

The snake man hissed towards her, "If you don't want information on how to find your love then so be it."

"Fine, where can we find Lawrence?"

Nodding but waiting as the waitress returned with the cider for her to depart once she served her purpose, the snake man then continued, "For two silver you only get this much, the sister town from here, Cross Iron, seek out the trading guild run by a man named Evgeni, you will find what you seek from there."

"Who is he?" asked Holo.

The broker sighed with an unfavorable tease, "You've hit your toll on that."

Holo nodded and began to serve herself some cider and sampled it. Ranger leaned forward and said, "I will determine how much our money gains for us. I want to know what Jurgen has planned concerning the girl. What is his motive?"

Holo looked up as the snake bowed his head, "The most I will say on that is that it concerns Irawa Weir Muheddhund."

Ranger sat back and contemplated with a posture of fear and conclusion. Even Holo raised her head as the phrase called to her mind as well. However she was not content, "Is that it then?"

The broker looked at her almost in a stupor, "Surely you can put the pieces together."

Holo declined her neck, as to say she was oblivious to the wider scheme.

Looking towards Ranger the snake said, "You mean he of all people has kept you in the dark, surely what he can tell you is more valuable than any gold you could ever have."

She looked towards Ranger with an almost offended gaze, "What is he talking about?"

Ranger shot his fiery glance towards the snake and said aggressively, "Keep your tongue behind your teeth!"

The snake hissed with a laugh, "Have you even told her where she is yet?"

Ranger snarled with his eyebrows in which the broker was becoming even more infatuated with Holo's ignorance. "Oh you have been away for so, so long that it has melted your memory, how amusing!"

Holo was gritting with hatred and nearly shouted, "Speak sense!"

"Tell me, when you were hunting, did you find any of it familiar?"

This quelled the anger of the she wolf as she responded, "It did, however that is only natural instinct."

"Or deja vu."

Holo was again silenced before saying, "What do you mean?"

Becoming more jester like the snake responded with sneaky superiority, "Even you should recognize your lost home."

"…!"

The broker then smiled with his eyes and flicked out his tongue, "That's right my little wolf, you're in the territories of Yoites."