AN so this chapter has some more character development in it, if you think it's boring, don't worry I got some big things coming up that will make up for it.
Also I forgot to mention I made one final Spice and Wolf Amv "I felt free" if you would like to see it on my Youtube channel. Oh Yeah I also made a Spice and wolf Parody featuring voice overs from south park called 'spice park' which can also be viewed on said page. type in BetweenThePipes49 and it'll show you what I got.
Chapter 18
Wolf and the Hearts of Men
Though Edmund's life was spared it was not as comfortable as he would prefer it in the moment. Against his own will he found himself laying in the back of the wagon with his hands restrained due to the mistrust of the one who willed it to be so and laden with a blanket atop him so that any passerby would not see that he was being detained. The party of three were on the move after having very little sleep which was only served as intermissions between times of travel.
Holo, after suffering from yet another episode of restless nights and morning sickness, was curled in the corner opposite of the missionary and slightly shivering from the effects of the morning air. Despite being a creature of pagan worship, Edmund had the most profound of sympathies for her and would not have minded parting with his blanket so that she would suffer less from the cold but knew Ranger would not allow it for their hostage was to be disguised as a guest.
Holo grasped her own mantle about her more tightly to shield herself from the cold while her face was pale and monotoned in expression. Her eyes were halfway open and she breathed deeply as she agonizingly awaited with some patience for the plague of nausea to dissipate from her senses.
Ranger was seen exactly were he was expected, sitting in the driver's box while Kaytaff was nestled next to him who, from time to time, would turn his head back to check upon the specific cargo who was being carried.
The sky was just turning an crystal blue with just enough transparency to see the moon and remaining firmament. Edmund always admired the hand off of glories in the day's cycle, the greater light rules the day the lesser rules the night. He tenderly looked upon Holo's vexed state and asked quietly, "How are you feeling my dear?"
She glanced at him from where she was and mumbled, "It will get better."
"Do you fall ill often?"
Still in a state of grog she answered weakly, "It is not like that, I am with child."
Edmund's eyes lifted high in deep regard to the delicate conditions the female body operates when creating life, "My poor dear, how did you ever come across such grievances as this?"
Even in her ailment Holo could not resist a tease, "You see when a woman knows a man."
Edmund, though a simple and kindhearted fellow, could see that she only jested as such for the truth of how her circumstances molded in what they were were too harrowing for her to account. Her humor was a shield against distressing emotions in which Edmund told her in a tone that implied what had just been written, "That's not what I meant."
She sniffled in sickly fashion and questioned if it would be defiance or cooperation that would betray her. She concluded it to be the latter and realized that she was still mending a broken heart whose remedy could only be found on the spiritual plane, the tools of which resided in words of comfort.
The masked man was no such physician but Edmund was, therefore she began to open her mouth and speak. She started with how Lawrence and her had first met and how through the course of their travels they had fallen in love and had settled in the town of Nyohhira and began their new journey as a family. From there she explained the invitations of both Wolf Trading and the Safeguard Association and the events they led to. Then ending with; the recurring circumstantial tragedies of how her and Ranger were united, who they were hunting and the motives of their enemies and what they have endured until this point in time which blatantly took the course of nearly an hour.
In regards to Edmund's expressions during Holo's annotation, he stayed relatively neutral with a faint raising of the eyebrows as first responders to the more shocking details. He began contemplating the tale unfolded with great care as he set his eyes towards the moving foliage then said, "If what you're telling me is true then it is one of the most outlandish adventures I have ever met someone being engaged in."
"It is all true, I swear it." said the she wolf who was now well enough to sit up.
"And so this man I encountered last night on the road was Evgeny?"
"Yes."
"And he provided the raft that your husband was taken in in which you interrogated him for more information on his whereabouts which is what brought him to his afflicted state?"
"Yes."
"And this Evgeny and this Jurgen are worshippers of the moon hunting bear and you believe this is why your family was targeted?"
"If the assumption is true then yes."
"And now your next plan is to venture into the deep north of Yoites to reclaim your husband while unknowing what lies beyond?"
"It all may sound like a fool's errand,' said Holo, 'however we will exhaust any resources that we can to help navigate my ancient home."
"These resources are?"
"As far as I know there is an associate of Fivel's (for she used Ranger's alias) who may know a few things concerning its layout."
"You do not know the way?"
Holo tightened her grip on the blanket that was about her shoulders, "It has been so long since I was last there that much of the knowledge has gone from me. Hundreds of years can do extraordinary things to the memory, even for the wise wolf of Yoites."
It was then that Edmund crooked his head rather inquisitively, "Exactly how many years have you walked the earth?"
Holo looked up as if to calculate, "It was not until I watched over the village of Pasloe that I began to keep track of my existence on the human calendar. Let us see, I was there for merely six hundred years yet I must also factor in my time spent before then. If I could estimate I would say no less than eight hundred."
Edmund let out a cough, "I had heard that the pagan gods could live for centuries and still appear strikingly youthful however to behold this with my own eyes is quite the marvel nonetheless."
"Do you hold any resentment towards me for not revealing this to you the day beforehand?" said Holo with her usual jesting tone to ensnare men in her usual mind games.
Edmund paused then said, "To be honest, the way you had inquired of my opinion concerning God's dealings with the deities, I could not help but assume the possibility of this." He then adjusted himself and followed up, "So the large beast I saw last night, that was you?"
Holo held her head up with some haughtiness and said with dignified pride, "Yes, it is my preferred form. What you saw was Holo the wise wolf of Yoites enacting her justice upon those who cross her."
The missionary then spoke subtly, "Be wary on your quest for revenge, for the lengths one will go to for vengeance may puff them up with pride and ultimately lead to their undoing."
"How do you mean?" asked Holo slanting her face.
"It is like a slow acting poison that starts as an emotion which eventually will influence our thoughts. Our moral compasses will begin to point in other directions from the straight and narrow and before you know it, who you were and what you stood for will have fallen so far out of line that you are unrecognizable and very well may become the evil you fought to destroy. If you do find these men and are forced to slay them to save your husband, do it for defense and love of your spouse not out of revenge for you will never feel content in the days afterwards."
She blinked a few times in horror at the thought that should she be reunited with her beloved there could be a possibility that their relationship would be effected grievously due to the change in Holo's nature. She had already slain a handful of men in the past few days, though she could easily have justified it she realized that that type of thinking was exactly what Edmund was warning her to avoid.
With some concern in her voice she asked of him, "Do you believe as a man of God that there are times when one would be forced to kill?"
"Absolutely."
She was nearly blindsided by his blunt honesty that seemed to contradict what he stood for. How could a man claim to love the Lord yet say killing could be justified? It was about to be answered.
"Explain yourself then." said Holo.
Edmund attempted to make the cords around his wrists more comfortable before answering, "When I had told you that I had found differences between the original texts the Holy book was translated from and the Holy Book itself, there is one that comes to mind. The Holy Book does state clearly, 'thou shalt not kill,' however when comparing it to its original language the context was more comparable to, 'thou shalt not murder.' Is it a sin if the only way to ensure you are not slain at the hands of our enemies, when they are the instigators, to ultimately have to slay them? Many of God's children in the Holy Book had to fight off rival nations in order for theirs to live. But then you have those who kill for selfish gain or to appease their emotions and dislikes towards their fellowman. This is different, this is murder."
"Men like Jurgen." huffed the she wolf.
"Precisely so."
Holo's ears then perked and she began to scratch the left one, "These men kill, lie and steal to serve their god, I only want to save my family and live in tranquility and peace."
"This is noble and admirable and I would daresay that the almighty God would side with you."
She giggled then winced as she continued to pick the inside of her ear, "God siding with me, a deity?"
"Deity or not, you have a role in this world and are fairly harmless unless provoked. I wish you would not feel as though the Lord looks upon you as a blight upon the earth for I know he cares for you and loves you deeply."
Still being satirical she asked, "How can you be so sure?"
Edmund then leaned forward and said with such tenderness that it seemed to still the very environment, "Because the worth of souls is great in the eyes of God."
He then continued as his eyes began to moisten, "I too have murdered many of God's children, or should I say that I led them to destruction with my words and deceiving. Yet even through it all the Lord saw it fit to stretch forth his hand in his mercy and call for me. I was a liar and deceiver in my past Holo, your crime was simply providing a bountiful harvest for a village. What harm was in this? This is why I left the church, they seek and aspire the honors of men saying lo here and lo there. They only know of the Lord, but they do not know the Lord."
Holo shifted slightly, "Do you think then that men like Jurgen can do what you have done? Do you think that they can repent?"
"Can they? I believe they could, all men have it within themselves to change, but would they? I have a difficult time imagining it. You see the hearts of men are like unto four types of ground that seeds are cast upon. You have the land of vines and thorns, the one with the bedrock underneath the dirt, the wayside were the birds will peck them up before they take root and then you have the good soil that can sustain life."
Holo nodded, "Yes I am aware of the parable when Lawrence would take me to services on his travels. The seeds are that of God's word, the thorns are evil hearts that will choke them out, the rock bed are hardened hearts that will prevent the roots from fully maturing, the birds of the wayside are for those who quickly come to dispel any hope for belief. Only the good soil is where the seeds can grow, the hearts of men who God chooses I suppose."
"Not so,' said Edmund, 'though you are correct by it's representation in the metaphor and seeds can only grow on fertile ground. The grounds are not destined to remain this way, they can be changed. The thorns and vines can be uprooted and cut back, the bed rock can be plowed and removed, the birds can be chased away and all three grounds can be fertilized. Men's hearts can change, it takes effort just like it would to make the grounds fertile but it can be done."
Holo then rejoined, "Why then do you doubt that Jurgen could undergo such a change of heart?"
"Because it starts with the desire. Even when I was laying near death, I knew that the judgments of God had come upon me however this is not what inspired me to change."
"What was it then?"
"The revelation that perhaps the reason the Lord is willing to forgive is because He wants to forgive. The realization that I could come back, that it did not have to be this way, that there was joy and happiness beyond what I could comprehend, the pure love of God was within reach. I wanted this and I did what took to obtain it."
"What do you suppose it would take for one like Jurgen to want that as well?"
Edmund then bowed his head with deep regret, "That depends if he'd want it, we forget that there are men who prefer over the fertile ground the thistles and weeds. They love the darkness more than the light."
"What brings a man to this kind of ruin?"
"Because they lose their identity and their purpose and as a result their hearts will fail them in the end."
Holo nodded then looked up towards Ranger who was silent this whole time and requested that the wagon be stopped for she felt another bout of nausea coming upon her. The driver halted the wagon then said, "Do not go too afar off."
She nodded then disembarked hastily and jogged into the trees.
During this time Edmund took advantage of the alone time with Ranger and attempted to build bridges, "I do hope you know Fivel, that I do not hold any ill will towards you."
The stoney backwards glance of the warrior's eyes were set upon the the culprit of those words in which Edmund could not help but grin and say, "Indeed you have me captive yet at least I am not walking where I go, it is still a nice change of pace nonetheless."
There was no response, only a rather intense and inquisitive gaze that returned Edmund's peculiar optimism despite his circumstance. Even being captive, his heart could not bear the thought of another being wandering about without the knowledge of God and chose this time to effect his purpose.
"And what of you friend, do you believe in God?"
Not wishing to be pulled into the discourse of religion and superior beliefs the masked man simply stated, "God will judge our enemies, I will arrange the meeting."
The message was transmitted quite clear in which the understanding missionary held his peace and awaited patiently for Holo's return. Shortly after she did then mounted the back of the wagon with a more lively complexion than recently displayed. The coach was set back into motion once more and the two continued to talk for a little while longer until they both felt a need for a recess which was spent with Holo reading from her beloved novel which time and activity neglected her from enjoying while Edmund attempted to read from his Holy book which was a trial seeing how his hands had restricted liberties, but he made do.
It was a peaceful morning that despite the sun coming out into full view still left the air frigid and a bit undesirable. Upon coming around a bend which was in possession of a nearby creek and bountiful pines and maples, Ranger stopped the wagon and looked off into the distance.
"What is it?" inquired Holo.
"Winter has come earlier than expected this season." said he in reference to a great jagged mountain range whose grandeur seemed to reach the heavens themselves and had their peaks blanketed in white.
The moment Holo saw them she went to her knees and leaned over the wagon wall to get a better glimpse, obviously she recognized the landscape and observed the alps with the same demeanor an elderly would have for an heirloom not seen since their childhood.
Ranger dismounted and took up his bow from one of the chests and simply responded, "It will not be long until this land sees the abundance of winters fall. This will make food even more scarce throughout, therefore I shall hunt what game I can find while the time is still permissible."
He called for his loyal four legged companion to heel by his side and both were soon receded far into the thicket.
Holo was still greatly affixed on the mountains and could not help but show her excitement in the manifestation of her tail which shimmied up and down that lightly whisked Edmund's face in which he let out a series of sniffles. This broke the she wolf from her concentrated state and apologized to the man. Edmund frankly forgave her but must be noted that his mood was dictated by the fact that it was rather awkward to come face to face with a canine appendage which belonged to a human figure, especially a fair lass.
"I remember those mountains.' said she, 'they were always a beacon for me and my pack mates when we would go out hunting or playing or even causing mischief for the human tribes, we could always find our way back by simply looking to those mountains."
Suddenly she was overcome with a most tender recollection which was empowered by the familiar sight, "There was a time when I was but a pup, I had wandered from my pack and I was lost. I whimpered and cried and even howled in hopes that I would be found but none came for me. It was then that I remembered…'
Her pause was unusually prolonged in which Edmund asked, "Remembered what?"
Her eyes glistened slightly, "I remember my mother telling me that if I ever got lost that all I needed to do was walk back towards those mountains and I would find myself home in the village of Yoites."
Edmund immediately discovered that the cause for this waive of emotion in the sea of memories was the recollection of the one whom instructed Holo in that time of need, her mother. She sat down and smiled so warmly that it was as if the morning chill had dispersed entirely, "I began running towards them and just as she had said, I found two wolves who were coming my way and rejoiced when they saw me. My mother and her mate….my father….I cannot even remember their names."
Suddenly the kind voice of Edmund tenderly replied, "I'm sure they never forgot your's."
She nodded then said, "When Yoites was destroyed many of the wolves fled, I do hope that they are still alive and well."
There was some silence as the two listened listlessly to the sounds of rushing water and swaying trees. He observed the book that lay next to Holo's thigh and asked innocently, "Good reading?"
She lifted it up and took a moment to examine it as if to relive its contents before saying, "It is your typical story of good versus evil however I have grown fond of the characters. Mighty swordsmen off to slay unspeakable giants. Tis' a shame that not all swordsmen are so poetic in their dealings." said she in reference to Ranger.
Edmund then began to look around then spoke up with a tone the was indifferent to the one he had used previously, "Interesting man, your companion."
Holo let off a perturbed chuckle, "You have no idea."
"Who is he exactly?"
"He belongs to a secretive sect known as the rangers, a vigilante guild who go about attempting eradicate the world of foul men. Apparently he is the best that they have to offer."
"They should do better then to educate their forces on how to discern friend from foe." said he with a snark.
"They did not train him, they found him or he found them."
"Explain."
"From what I have gathered he hails from a group of warrior from another country in the east, or at least that is what I am led to believe. He was working as a mercenary of sorts and eventually came into contact with an agent of the rangers known as Franz. I have not the heart to tell you what had happened to the young man but it suffices me to say that is how he wound up in their ranks."
"Interesting, have you any other clue as to his past, such as the name of this warrior clan he supposedly comes from?"
Holo shifted herself and gave voice, " He has never confirmed nor denied this however the only name I have come across that fits his moniker is the Mu-haulen Zhan-Shen."
Edmund's face suddenly became deathly sober, "Dear me."
Holo's subtle excitement on the issue arose when detecting that perhaps the missionary had heard of this society before. "Are you familiar with their story?" she asked.
"No, I'm not familiar with any group under that banner however the name has roots in those ancient languages I dedicated my time to learn when still a member of the parish. That name seems to be a derivative from the vocabulary commonly used by a forgotten tongue."
"Can you translate its meaning?"
"It would be rough and inaccurate, for this name is more of a description than an actual title."
"And this discerption is?" came Holo's kind yet stressing reply.
"The Ungodly Ones."
Holo leaned back with a face of bewilderment and slight terror upon this discovery, "Well I cannot say I am terribly surprised upon hearing this, all things considering."
"After what I have just experienced in my few hours of knowing him I'm sure he must be a very difficult individual to be around."
She tucked her knees to her chest and wrapped the blanket around them before responding, "He can be so terribly cruel at times and he is so difficult to predict. When we had first started alone together it was is if anything I said was taken as a thing of naught and my assistance had usually gone unappreciated. Yet then there are those very few moments when I see the good in him but then will quickly revert it in such a way that I wonder if I only imagined it."
"Men like him usually tend not to let themselves get attached." said Edmund.
Holo squinted softly and tightened her grip on the hems of the blanket, "Then there was what happened last night with Evgeny and Beatrice. He had become so hellbent on obtaining the answers he sought that he threatened to kill an innocent woman, at first I thought it was a bluff until he started cutting her!"
The missionary found this to be quite unsettling and asked carefully, "Has he ever done something like this before?"
"Well yes but only to those who sought us harm. I am afraid what this quest may be turning him into something more unfavorable than he is now."
"Here is a question, is what you saw last night a symptom of him changing into something else or a manifestation of something that was already there and just now beginning to surface?"
This caused her to ponder greatly the possibilities of the man's dictations. Within the chambers of the heart are many foul intentions that normally can be suppressed, yet if triggered cannot be contained. Holo's eyes suddenly widened when she came to a stunning epiphany, "Cyrus…" she said in a harsh whisper.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Whenever he had become that dark it was always due when the topic of a man named Cyrus had arisen, who I believe is some kind of enforcer for Jurgen."
"Sounds like the two may have a bad history with one another."
Then within her mind's eye Holo recalled these words when Ranger was addressing the origins of the scar above his navel, "This one was the day I learned how quickly a bonding brotherhood could turn into a bitter rivalry."
The recollection of the scars upon his back when he had admitted it was his own people who were the culprits behind them caused her to suddenly exclaim, "Dear heavens it was he!"
Edmund jumped with a startle, "Goodness madam what has come over you and what words do you speak?"
"Fivel said he was betrayed by his own people and that a brotherhood had turned into a rivalry, and he has all the scars to prove it. Cyrus is the one! Yes that has to be the man who betrayed him, had him beaten and tortured and stabbed. I knew he had another motive aside from helping me reclaim Lawrence, he wants revenge!"
Edmund was astonished beyond words at the sight and sound of Holo suddenly losing her usual level headedness. "Forgive my dear however I'm a little lost in all of this."
Holo then took a few deep breathes to contain her excitement, "It all is coming more clear to me. Fivel has terrible scars that I have discovered were caused by his own people and he also spoke of a rival that was bitter in simpler terms. He is usually brooding yet collective until Cyrus becomes a topic, that is when I would see him become almost obsessed, wanting to know everything there was to know about the man. I have never seen him become more probing when it comes to another individual. Cyrus has to be this bitter rivalry, I can think of no other explanation behind Fivel's actions."
"You are sure of this?"
Holo straightened her posture and said with pride, "They do not call me the wise wolf for nothing."
Edmund sat back with the complexion of one who wishes not to see the the hidden truths yet ultimately submits to them, "That could very well justify most of his character I suppose." said he.
Then in a stunning recourse in the warrior's defense, Holo said, "He is not a happy man, nay I would not even go as far as to say he is a good man, yet despite the path he chose I have yet a chance at saving Lawrence thanks to his efforts."
"It is a thing I always wonder." said Edmund who had entranced himself in his own mental discourses.
"How is that?"
Snapping back to, the missionary explained himself, "You speak of the path he chose, I always wonder if perhaps certain trials did not befall certain people that they would live their lives differently. In this case I wonder exactly what made Fivel this way and if your wisdom is deemed true and he did have his fair share of hardships, then I am not at all surprised."
"In what way?"
"Well, I have noticed patterns with men whose hearts have become hardened. This did not happen all at once, but gradually as the confluence of events and choices surmount atop the human conscience we see that change is destined to take place."
"You think something made him this way?"
"In a sense, I like to think of trials and hardships as that of boiling water, throw in a vegetable and they become soft, throw in an egg and it becomes hard, throw in a tea leaf and it becomes something else entirely. The question is with Fivel, has his heart hardened or has it changed entirely?"
"Whatever his thoughts and emotions are, the way he is going about them are by acting upon them. But fear not, for he also confessed to me last night that he is on the side that wishes to see the evils of the world irradiated, even if his methods are a bit brutal."
"It is actually truly frightening." said Edmund.
"As I have said, you have nothing to fear it is not as though the man cannot be reasoned with. I was able to convince him not to slay you, does that not say something else about his character?"
Edmund's head slowly turned towards in such a disturbing fashion that it sent a waive of bumps to flow over Holo's flesh, "It is not he of whom I am speaking,' said he, 'but of this counterpart. Tell me, how effective is Fivel in combat?"
"Swift, efficient and above all else, nearly merciless." said the she wolf.
"And his dedication to his causes?"
"Unbreakable by my standards, he will even ward off sleeping and eating if that be deemed a burden to him."
Edmund nodded dismally, "Think of this, if Fivel is one who fights for what is right, what of one who fights for the darkness with the same unyielding conviction which you have spoke?"
Holo leaned back with a deathly chill complexion, "A man like Cyrus?"
"Exactly, for I have learned that whatever is good in this world must have a force of evil that is equal in force. Much like a balanced scale. If Fivel is considered a warrior of this Mu-Haulen-Zhan-Shen who fights for what is good, imagine the calamity that could be brought by one who is evil."
"And one who works for Jurgen…" said she with a dark undertone.
Edmund then leaned forward, "If Fivel really does have a secret agenda to ultimately slay Cyrus along with this Jurgen I say to you not to hinder him in the slightest but allow him to move fast and swiftly for I feel that the longer these men stay on the earth the more sorrow they will afflict upon the children of men."
Holo nodded softly in understanding then could not help but point out with a tease, "A man of God wishing the death of others, my what has this world come to?"
Edmund kept his face in a solemn mold, "If need be, the Lord slays the wicked to bring forth His righteous purposes. Some men may be tools for His bidding without them even knowing."
Suddenly, Holo's face jolted towards the back of the wagon towards the areas of trail they had just traversed. "Someone is coming,' said she who quickly arose and assisted Edmund in getting up, 'come, come, out of the wagon!"
"Who is it?"
"I know not but I assume it may be a search party to avenge Evgeny." said the panicked she wolf who was placing her ushanka on.
Edmund leapt out and attempted to lend a hand to Holo but was not of much use with his hands constrained. As soon as she was clear they moved into the thicket and lay prone on their stomachs and keenly watched.
Just as Holo had predicted by means of her infallible intuition and senses, a group of ten men came around the bend, saw the wagon and went to investigate.
The two of them breathed slowly and watched with the greatest care to not disturb so much as a pinch of soil. The men at first glance could be interpreted as mere travelers and not those whom Holo suspected by observance of their garb. They were not dressed entirely as the guards of Cross Iron or the laborers of Nabokov trading and could be deemed harmless for they did not seem to have weapons for manslaughter, rather the simple tools for hunting game and catching rodents.
"They look like hunters." whispered Holo with a keen sense about her.
"Do they normally travel in such large groups?" came the delicate response of Edmund.
"Perhaps in groups of four or five, but not in the dozens."
The missionary then noticed that they were slowly approaching the wagon and carefully observing its surroundings but were cautious as Gallavaun was beginning to make a fuss.
"Oh no." moaned Holo, "If they do not mind themselves that horse is going to start kicking and run off."
After a few more moments of intense silence Edmund asked of Holo, "Can you hear what they are saying from here?"
The she wolf answered quickly without ever taking her eyes off the group, "Yes, they are counseling among themselves about who the wagon belongs to. They have a plan in motion to wait until the rightful owner appears who if he does not show, will claim the find for themselves."
"You think they are bandits?"
"It is too difficult to say, for they have not said anything about what they intend to do should the wagon owner appear."
Edmund closed his eyes and began to mumble a prayer that caught Holo's look before she set it back on the party. When he was done with his worship he turned on his side and presented his bound hands to her and said, "Untie me."
"What are you planning?" she asked with amazement.
"The way I see it there is only one option, I will meet them and pretend to be the wagon owner."
"Have you lost your mind?! That horse will not obey you and they will immediately know you are a fraud. Aside from this we do not even know if they are working for Evgeny."
He nodded then spoke modestly, "If they are seeking to avenge Evgeny, mind you they would be looking for you two not I. Also if we wait they will take the wagon which you cannot afford, or Fivel will return and who knows what will happen then. If bloodshed can be avoided let us pursue it. Have faith in God my dear."
Holo, though reluctant, realized this to be the best course of action according to Edmund's wisdom and there attempted to undo his bindings. "Goodness he knows how to tie a knot." said she in frustration to Ranger's handy work to untie the man. Ultimately she began to use her fangs to gnaw through the threads.
Edmund looked back and saw the group becoming more anxious to make off with their find. "Hurry my dear!" he exclaimed.
Holo then paused and could not help but slap her own forehead for she just now realized that she was in possession of the knife given her by Ranger. She unsheathed it from her waistband and cut through the rope giving the man his liberty back.
He arose and brushed himself off and said to her, "Pray for me will you."
It was then that Holo realized she had never said a prayer before, mostly due to her not knowing how the ritual was to be performed. She then said, "If you are in trouble, fear not I have the power of the wheat and I will come to your aid."
He nodded then said, "Let that be a last resort." and began to walk towards the wagon while whispering under his breath these words which Holo could depict clearly, "My Father who art in Heaven. I thank thee for preserving my life and ask that it be done once more according to thine will…"
Holo gritted her teeth and clutched at the earth, for Edmund came into view and every man was then alerted to his presence.
