Chapter 32.2

That evening, they stayed at a small village, which treated them with obvious suspicion despite some villagers recognising Fang and Red. They rented out a farmhouse and a stable, while rotating guard duty to help make the locals feel more safe. As all their guides noted, large groups might attract Frost Giants, so they needed to help ensure the safety of the village.

As a village that was out of the way, the only real local entertainment was an alehouse, which they chose not to attend. Similarly, the locals wanted payment in money or goods, nothing that could be theoretically poisoned. All their guides were used to this treatment, chitchatting with the locals without coming across as overly curious.

The next morning, Red went up to the villagers just as they were about to leave. "I need to ask, are there any overly aggressive Dire Wolves in the area? Not ones that are simply defensive, but aggressive ones you would prefer removed?"

To no surprise, they all eyed him warily. "That almost sounds as if you're trying to help us, good sir. Which sounds too good to be true. May we ask for your motives?" Polite but suspicious. Just from this interaction alone, Eirwen could put a face to what she had read about the local protective culture.

Red smiled, not too wide as not to come across as deceitful, but enough to indicate he understood just fine. "I'd like to gift the lady a good pelt, but the current market prices make that far too expensive. So I'll have to hunt one myself and show off while I'm at it, but without ruining my reputation, or the lady's."

He looked back at the wagons. "Also, there's no way we can transport an entire pack, and I'd hate to waste good meat. So I figure working with you and not causing you trouble is a good way for me to handle things. So, any wolves you know are a problem worth solving?"

They still were suspicious, but after brief deliberation, they shared directions to a nearby village which had been suffering from overly territorial wolves recently. Red thanked them with some coins and promised to pass on that they had suggested it.

Meanwhile, Fang translated for the rest of them. "Killing a wolf pack leaves a gap that draws in others and might cause a territory fight, and injured wolves are a bigger threat than healthy ones. Which all endangers the villagers. People gossip when that happens, so mindless pack killing is a good way to earn a bad reputation. That's why Red specifically wants to target a problematic pack. He also offered to share the meat, and since they referenced us, they hope the other village will in turn share some with them as gratitude."

The Iceheart knights masquerading as supporting guides chuckled. "He's also openly declaring he's courting you, miss Snow. Since he has a reputation, eventually that will begin to spread. Means people know why he returned, and to stay out of your way or earn his ire."

Somehow, that felt really flattering. In these regions, he still was someone. His actions still mattered. And here, in the last place where he still had any form of influence, he was proclaiming his love for her. Everything he still had, the things he could have used to build a life without her, he freely offered. His individual wealth, his reputation, his allies, he used it all for her. It made her really glad she had brought him to the mountains. And it grew her desire to give him a name, so he could stand by her side with pride even outside the mountains.

It took them roughly two hours to reach the other village, the road not maintained well but still able to handle their carriages. This place was even more out of the way, so its habitants were obviously extremely suspicious about their presence. Several people eyed them warily from behind the palisades, spears and bows at hand but not directly aimed at them.

Again, Red took the lead in the conversation, explaining they were looking for the problematic wolf pack. He asked them if full extermination was desirable, discussed what kind of involvement they would prefer, and how they would like to deal with the spoils. And while the villagers treated them with great suspicion, a deal was still struck. Obviously, their group wouldn't be allowed inside, but a few hunters and even carts were arranged.

To not scare off the wolves, they split their group. Eight knights, two healers, Eirwen, Red, Fang, and three hunters would venture forth with two horses pulling carts. The wolf pack numbered five, the locals said, and had proven hard to injure. As such, the villagers were forced to move in larger numbers and had given up on this part of the area. They adjusted their weaponry to suit the situation, focusing on weapons that would let them strike specific points or use plain brute force.

As they made their way up the path, all of them began to slowly gather their mana. Most subtle, but Red was tangible. Fang chuckled at that. "Red, are you seriously picking a fight with the wolves?" She smiled at Eirwen's confused look. "This guy earned a lot of money as a wolf hunter, going deep into the mountains to find wolf packs and hunt them for their pelts. He had the nickname Red Wolf for a while. And right now, he's practically challenging the pack leader with the way he's flexing his mana."

Ah. So he really was trying to show off to her, then. Eirwen gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Don't overdo things, please." Then she studied his mana, while still keeping her sword ready and her senses on their surroundings.

Both the local hunters and Eirwen's experienced guides pointed out the tracks of the wolf pack, including places where they had hunted. A clever pack hid their presence and ventured far and wide, so they would always have enough prey to feed on. This one was more obvious. A sign of arrogance, which could turn into despair if they chased off their food supply. That really helped make clear why this pack was a problem that had to be dealt with.

Less than ten moments after leaving the village, Eirwen noticed a wolf at a distance. Carefully spying on it, she noticed the creature, which was as large as a horse, was observing them. She tapped Red's shoulder, who immediately mentally warned the others as he followed her senses and sensed it too. Good, they were getting close.

As they approached a clearing, the rest of the pack became noticeable. The leader was easy to identify, mana pumping through him much like what Red was showing off. That definitely came across as a challenge. Even from this distance, Eirwen could tell the wolf was raging at Red specifically. And she also recognised the mana flows. Boosted muscles, sharper teeth, and a defensive technique that would act as a weak version of the Carraig Defence. Difficult to injure indeed.

The hunters stayed back with the horses, healers, and two knights, as they came onto the clearing. The rest of them formed a loose formation, ready to spring into action. No other wolves were nearby, so they had nine melee combatants. Rook, Light, Fang, Eirwen all paired with another knight, while Red took the middle. Unlike the rest of them, he carried no shield, just the greatsword that Taran had forged for him. And he made it very clear he didn't think he needed anything else.

The wolves came out of the treeline. How arrogant. They would have been far more dangerous if they had attacked inside the forest, trees restricting the ability to form a formation. But no, they were confident enough that they could fight in the open. Or mayhaps not confident enough to fight in the woods, the dense trees potentially hindering their movement as well. Either way, this would make it easier for Eirwen's group to take them on, without forcing them to reveal too much of their abilities.

The wolves matched their formation, one wolf approaching each pair while Red walked forward with a theatrical grin. He was taunting the leader. But Eirwen's senses could tell, it wasn't just the leader interested in him. A wolf on his right was as well. With Eirwen on his left, she couldn't help him, but she had faith.

The leader held back, but the others pounced at the same time. Eirwen slid underneath the one lunging at her, her shield keeping its jaw away from her as she brought her sword up. It solidified its skin, which might have even held back a weak Verglassed edge, though not a thrust. But Eirwen's was far from weak and her blade sliced through the entire neck without much effort from her side.

The one on the right had indeed launched himself at Red, but he had simply wielded his greatsword with just his left hand, thrusting it into the jaw and Verglassing it just enough to thrust through the skull. Similarly, the others had made quick work of their opponents. Fang had thrust through the eye of the wolf that had lunged for the knight on her left, while next to Eirwen, Rook had countered a lunge with his spear so fast that the wolf hadn't even been able to bite through the spear before it pierced through its mouth into its brain.

Red had let go of his sword and was now approaching the pack leader unarmed. His skin was glowing from his defensive technique, while Eirwen could sense both hidden and deliberately noticeable spirals of mana coursing through him. The challenge was obvious and the creature refused to pack down, either by arrogance or by despair.

It lunged for him and he met the massive weight by ducking underneath it, his left elbow smashing into the jaw while his right fist smashed into its ribs. The sound of breaking ribs rang through the clearing as he let the creature roll over him, avoiding having all that weight slam into him.

The wolf rolled over and launched itself back at him, but it lacked the room to put strength into the lunge. Red took hold of its jaws, forcing its mouth shut as he repeatedly headbutted the creature. His own head protected by the defensive technique, while the creature's wasn't skilled enough to protect itself, he was the clear winner of the exchange.

As the wolf staggered back, he held it up by its neck, giving his other hand free reign to batter it with punches. Eirwen had a clear look of his face, no longer showing the taunting smile from before. No bloodlust either. Just grim resolve and focus on his opponent. When the creature fell to the ground, its body now utterly broken, he drew a knife and slit its throat. Soon, its struggle ended as its life flowed out of its body, the fight now truly over.