Origins: A Deepwoods Book - a Collection of Deepwoods Short Stories (Deepwoods Series 0) Read Online Free Page B

escorting guild,
faster, and I give him breaks sometimes on fees. I’ve been very careful to make
myself as irreplaceable as possible.” Thinking back, she added, “It was just as
well Grae had us with him, as he was overwhelmed with strangers for months, and
was tongue tied quite a bit of the time.”
    “So he wasn’t exaggerating when he said the guild was formed
just for him.”
    “Not in the least. Once he got used to the place, he liked
it fine, and it’s hard for a man to not become attached to a place that clearly
adores him. We had no trouble with the city, no serious trouble, until I
brought Wolf home. Only then did fights start, mostly from idiots that thought
Wolf was a fun challenge.” Just remembering those early days gave Siobhan a
headache.
    “Do ya still feel that someone else should be guildmaster?”
Rune asked this out of curiosity and nothing more.
    Siobhan chewed on the question for a while before answering,
“No. I now understand that Beirly and Grae didn’t have the temperament for it,
even back then. And honestly, no one else in the guild would have thought to
take either you or Wolf on, and where would we be without you? I need to be
guildmaster for one reason: I take chances that no one else will take.”
    “Like forming a guild in a city ya’ve never been ta before?”
    “Sounds insane, doesn’t it?” she admitted, laughing. “But
where would we all be if I hadn’t? If I had turned Grae down that day, then
Deepwoods wouldn’t exist, and I shudder to think of that possibility. As crazy
as my life is now, as hectic and painful as it sometimes gets, I wouldn’t trade
my present life for anything.”
    “I’m selfishly glad ya did,” Rune said softly, a smile on
his face. “I’m glad, too, that my master had the courage ta step outside of his
comfort zone.”
    “That’s the hardest thing to do, to let go of what’s safe
and comfortable, and try for the unknown. Grae’s a shy man, likely always will
be, but of us all I think he has the most courage.”
    “I hear you, Siobhan!” Grae called from the front of the
cart.
    “And you’re likely blushing and embarrassed at the praise,”
she called back. “But I won’t let up! Your punishment for making me guildmaster
without my consent is getting teased for the rest of your life!”
    Grae groaned, making the rest of the guild laugh. “You’re
never going to let me live that down, are you?”
    “Never, ever, ever,” she agreed, sing-song.
    “We’re nearly off the bridge,” Beirly informed them all
dryly. “Siobhan, what’s first?”
    “Food,” she informed him. “Then, the usual.”
    Grae twisted on his seat, cheeks slightly pink, but a grin
on his face. “Build a path?”
    “Build a path.”

The Story of Erik Wolfinsky

Prologue
    The first night outside of Channel Pass was a little rough.
They’d spent the majority of their energy on gathering stones instead of making
camp, and so only the barebones were in place. Denney had thoughtfully broken
off an hour ahead of everyone else and went to prepare a thick stew—the easiest
thing to make while camping out. She also wisely made more than enough for
people to get seconds, or thirds, or (in Wolf’s and Tran’s cases) fifths.
    After eating, Wolf propped himself up on his bedroll and
seriously considered just falling asleep in that position. If he did, though,
he’d wake up with a terrible crick in his neck in the morning. And he hadn’t
sorted out who was taking which watch yet, either. So he really couldn’t afford
to fall asleep right here.
    Siobhan seemed to realize that full stomachs, plus hard
work, equaled tired people. She pushed herself to her feet and announced to the
group, “I think it’s best the watches go in pairs while we’re out here. We
might fall asleep if on our own. So Rune and Wolf first watch, Tran and Markl
second watch, Fei and Beirly third watch, and I’ll take fourth watch.”
    Since fourth watch was early in the morning, when