Dunmel was often either in high places or standing unnoticed in a corner. Even after an hour or two of talking with the other White Wolves in the same room, there were times when it was hard to remember whether he had been there. Since the incident where an assassin snuck in and attacked Gerald, Dunmel had become even more elusive.
“Dunmel?”
Kassel asked.
“Right now? He’s probably on the roof.”
Azwin was in the brightly lit training ground, instructing the soldiers.
“Everyone’s working hard.”
Kassel observed the training ground.
“It’s thanks to Jarlan.”
Azwin’s duel with Captain Jarlan had caused unexpected reverberations. Many of the castle’s guards, who were expected to be cowed by the brutal ending of the duel, voluntarily sought to learn swordsmanship. In fact, Captain Jarlan’s generosity had also played a part.
‘I didn’t want such a duel. Lying in bed, I kept thinking about it. It seems I wanted to experience the romance of the knights in old tales.’
Yesterday, Jarlan had limped over to Azwin and spoken. His subordinate knights and the royal soldiers were also present.
‘But I guess I failed to create such a splendid duel. I apologize formally. So, if my foot heals, can we try again? This time, officially.’
‘I’m not the one who should apologize. Don’t you remember the one who slapped you?’
Azwin had scolded without mercy, even though her opponent had approached so courteously.
‘But I want to apologize to you.’
‘Hmm, is that so?’
Azwin had walked up to Jarlan, snatched his crutch, and hugged him tightly. Jarlan couldn’t even resist, so surprised was he.
‘See? If you’re gentle, the other person becomes gentle too. Heal your leg first. We can duel anytime.’
As Azwin released the embrace, Jarlan stepped back, adjusting his collar. Despite pretending to be a cool-headed knight, he was in reality just a young man who had never even held a woman’s hand. A few of Jarlan’s men, who had been watching the reunion tensely, let out sporadic laughter.
Jarlan cleared his throat and said,
‘Anyway, please send my apology to Captain Wolf as well.’
‘The captain doesn’t care about such things. He probably thinks I took revenge too far.’
‘That’s a relief then… Ah, I have one more favor to ask.’
‘Go ahead.’
‘Can you train my subordinate knights?’
Azwin paused. How many men could say such a thing to a woman who had mercilessly trampled them? She replied quickly.
‘Well, if they are willing to learn…’
‘Thank you.’
But Jarlan’s subordinates didn’t seem eager to learn. They were more uncomfortable with Azwin than Jarlan was. Surprisingly, it was the royal guards who volunteered to learn. When Gerald joined the training, promising his support, the training ground quickly buzzed with activity.
The soldiers, without being asked, naturally organized the training structure. Captain Jarlan naturally took the center of the training. Though limping, he commanded every hour, and his subordinate knights began to appear at the training ground, though reluctantly.
With the situation turning this way, Azwin felt even sorrier for having injured his foot. But Jarlan courteously assured her that it was a valuable life lesson, though Azwin shook her head, not understanding what lesson could be learned from that ridiculous duel.
Explaining her awkward position to Kassel, he came up with a good idea and stepped in on Azwin’s behalf. He called Captain Jarlan to a strategy meeting with General Jean Seigey and abruptly said,
‘…Please select the most talented soldiers from the royal guards and form a new royal knight division, Captain Jarlan.’
Jarlan, who had been called into a room full of high-ranking officials without knowing why, was very surprised by these words. He even looked at Captain Kassel, the man who had casually granted him this high position despite slapping him, with suspicion.
Kassel shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.
‘Count Dunathan and Count Luror have already examined your accomplishments, and they’ve judged that you are sufficient to sit in the captain’s chair for the royal knights. Please take charge of the captain’s position until this emergency regime is over.’
Jarlan struggled to look composed as he asked, ‘Isn’t the appointment to the royal knights more difficult than this?’
‘Of course, it is. I’m only conveying His Majesty’s words. This is temporary, and if Captain Francis doesn’t return, the position will be formally given to you. If you don’t like it, you can directly refuse to the King.’
Though merely a measure to improve the awkward relationship, this announcement significantly boosted the soldiers’ morale. Jarlan was enthusiastic, and his subordinates no longer had any complaints.
Unexpectedly, Gerald found joy in teaching the eager novices.
Relieved that things on this front were progressing smoothly, Kassel was now looking for Dunmel.
“Dunmel’s on the roof? Why the roof?”
The soldiers who were training quickly bowed their heads in greeting when they saw Kassel. Though they were growing accustomed to treating him with formal respect within the royal palace, it was still a burdensome etiquette for a man of low birth like a farmer. Therefore, Kassel humbly received their greetings. His modest attitude of greeting each soldier individually quickly became famous, but it proportionately increased the pressure on him.
“Why the roof? Well, why not? Perhaps it’s because he always feels uneasy if he doesn’t constantly check his surroundings? That’s a question I’ve never thought of.”
Azwin, leaning back, spoke as she walked across the training ground.
“We all know that we don’t really understand what Dunmel thinks. He was already inexpressive, but it has gotten worse since the assassin incident. He used to engage in small talk and jokes.”
Kassel stood by a torch, scanning the training ground. Seeing the sweaty men, he was filled with a strong desire to join them. But if he did, his inability to use swordsmanship would be immediately revealed.
“What do the soldiers look like to you?”
“Pretty good. They’re a talented bunch, chosen to guard the royal family, so they’re learning quickly.”
“But we’ll still be short on numbers, won’t we?”
“Starting tomorrow, soldiers from the main army will join the training, but even with all their numbers combined, it’ll only be about one battalion of the Red Rose army. What does General Jean Seigey say about that?”
“He’s wrapped his head with a map right now. Seems like he’ll pull out all his hair soon.”
Azwin chuckled and then pointed her finger at a distant place. Kassel thought her finger was pointing at a star.
“It’s there.”
“What is?”
“Dunmel.”
“Where? I don’t see it.”
“The third tower’s roof.”
Though he still couldn’t see, he roughly knew the location.
“Can you see it?”
“I can identify a human figure. But who else would be on the roof at that height except Dunmel?”
“I see. Well, I’ll go then.”
As Kassel was about to leave, Azwin grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back abruptly. Barely maintaining his balance, he found himself in Azwin’s embrace.
“Hey, Captain. Hold on.”
Used to such occurrences, he was not surprised. Kassel, leaning against Azwin’s chest in a state of imbalance, said, “If the teacher embraces another man like this, the students will be jealous. And lately, you seem to be embracing too many men.”
“Ho, you notice such things? Anyway, Captain, it’s not just General Seigey who’s losing hair. What are you studying so hard every night? You were up all night again yesterday, weren’t you?”
“You knew?”
“Of course! I was wandering around, wondering who to embrace while sleeping, and I saw your room’s light on. The candle’s not free, so what are you working so hard on? I went in this morning, and the desk was stacked with all sorts of books.”
Azwin poked him in the side as she embraced him from behind.
“Studying… Yes. There’s a mountain of things I need to know now, and there are things I can’t ask one by one. Can I go now?”
“Hmm, how are you adapting to me so quickly? I wanted to see you more bewildered,” Azwin released Kassel, who straightened his clothes, saying, “It’s not like you think of me as a man, Azwin. I can tell right away. Once I give up on that, it becomes easier.”
“That’s a rather gloomy way of thinking. You need more confidence with women. Don’t you see how the maids within the castle or the maidens of Normant look at you with heated gazes?”
“That’s probably because I’m Captain Wolf, not because I’m Kassel. I’ll be going now.”
Kassel then walked away briskly, as if running away on purpose.
Azwin did not try to stop him, only waved.
“What are you doing?”
Gerald asked as he approached during a break in training. Azwin was shaking her head with her hands on her hips.
“If he were my younger brother, I would have beaten him up.”
“Who? Kassel? Why would you beat him?”
“He has the worst personality as a man. But it’s the best personality for a captain of the Wolf Knights.”
Gerald seriously considered Azwin’s words.
“Well, he does have to deal with those damn disobedient guys.”
The two mulled it over, and then spoke simultaneously.
“Why think that far…”
“He’s only temporary, why…”
They looked at each other, taken aback.
“You thought that too?” Gerald asked.
“I want to take Kassel to Aranthia. You too?”
“Yeah.”
☆ ☆ ☆
Dunmel was sitting at the very top of the tallest tower roof.
At that moment, someone opened a window and was stepping onto the roof. It was Kassel. He set his foot on the roof, looked down, and closed his eyes as if dizzy.
“Dunmel.”
Even though he knew that Dunmel was someone who didn’t need him to shout, Kassel called him loudly. Dunmel waved at him. Once Kassel reached the roof, he found Dunmel and waved back. Sweat was beading on his forehead.
Dunmel signaled briefly, ‘Be careful. It’s slippery there.’
Kassel also responded simply in sign language, ‘Me, that way, going.’
At that moment, Kassel stepped on the slippery part that Dunmel had warned about, and he slid backward. Kassel desperately tried to pull his balance forward, but the roof was sloping downward, and he couldn’t pull his already-falling body forward. Kassel fell backward onto the roof.
Dunmel rushed to Kassel, thinking, ‘He’s survived all kinds of dangers, only to die in an accident like this.’
Dunmel grabbed Kassel’s hand just before he rolled off the roof, pulling him back and collapsing to the side.
Kassel lay flat on the roof, hitting his head, quivering. It looked like the shaking wouldn’t calm down until the next morning.
Dunmel got up and helped Kassel to a more comfortable sitting position.
“I almost made the grand news as the captain of the White Wolves who died from a slip on the roof.”
Kassel mumbled. Dunmel gave a faint smile.
Kassel sat down and checked the stability of his position several times before finally lifting his hands off the ground. He then spoke in sign language, though it was very simple. However, he was still adapting, avoiding words he hadn’t memorized yet.
‘Like high places?’
‘I like them.’
Dunmel made it easy for Kassel to understand.
‘Not scared?’
‘I don’t fall. Fear comes from the assumption that one might fall.’
Kassel asked about the unknown word by moving his lips, and Dunmel answered. In this conversation, Kassel learned the word “assumption,” and subsequently, he learned several other words in the same way.
Dunmel was puzzled. Why was he learning?
Dunmel asked Kassel out of curiosity.
‘We won’t be together much longer. When this is over, we will part ways. By the time you learn half of my sign language, you will have no use for it. What’s the reason for learning so diligently?’
Kassel looked slightly hurt and slowly spoke in sign language.
‘Now, White Wolves. So, learning.’
Kassel continued in a slow, deliberate sign language.
‘White Wolves, continue, can’t do. I know. But I want to learn.’
‘To continue as White Wolves, but you want to learn?’
‘To continue with White Wolves, no, but I want to learn.’
‘Why insist on learning?’
‘For conversation.’
‘Conversation?’
‘For conversation.’
Kassel quickly mimicked Dunmel’s sign language.
‘If communication like this is possible, it’s enough. Friends around me will also help.’
Kassel again stumbled over the word ‘communication.’
Dunmel explained its meaning with a smile and said in sign language.
‘You don’t know how much effort I put into teaching this sign language to the Wolves. But nobody has tried as hard to learn it as you have. Half of the Wolf Knights still need an interpreter when I speak in sign language.’
Kassel burst into laughter.
‘You’re already at the point where you can hear my jokes and laugh. That’s incredibly fast.’
‘Among the White Wolves, who’s the best at it?’
‘Sheyden. Just a bit slower, but almost the same as me. The other three spend a lot of time with me, so understanding me, even if I sign quickly, is no trouble. But Loyal is a little awkward.’
‘About Azwin…’
‘About Azwin?’
‘What do you think of Azwin?’
‘In what way?’
Kassel struggled to pinpoint the question, then asked.
‘About hugging men.’
Dunmel laughed silently.
‘I don’t particularly pay attention to women. I abandoned sexual desire long ago. But occasionally, seeing that sort of thing amuses me and pleases me. If you get used to it, there’s no woman as comfortable as Azwin. She’s free-spirited, but she doesn’t just hug anyone. In my view, Azwin likes you.’
‘Likes me?’
‘How should I phrase it that she likes you? Azwin likes all of us. Strictly speaking, perhaps Azwin is drawn to special men.’
‘Am I special too?’
Dunmel nodded.
‘In what way special?’
Kassel asked again.
Dunmel shrugged in lieu of a response. Kassel didn’t press further.
‘You still haven’t answered my question.’
Now Dunmel asked.
‘What question?’
‘The question that you don’t need to learn sign language just for a brief conversation.’
Kassel thought for a moment and chose the simplest words.
‘I want to understand Dunmel.’
‘Me? What about me intrigues you?’
‘Can’t explain, not yet. I’ll explain more as I learn.’
Kassel moved his hands and head vigorously to add.
‘To be friends, you must understand the other’s world. That world is known through conversation. So, I must learn your language.’
Dunmel just smiled at Kassel’s clumsy efforts with sign language.
‘But enough for today. I’m tired. I’m leaving.’
Kassel staggered to his feet.
Dunmel thought that Kassel had appeared to investigate something urgently, considering the appearance of the assassin group within the royal palace. The issue was still being hotly debated in the royal court, and a significant part of the responsibility rested on Kassel, the captain of the White Wolves.
Kassel would want to resolve this matter quickly, and the key to the incident was in Dunmel’s hands. It was unquestionable that what Kassel had come to talk about was related to that issue. But Kassel seemed content just to learn Dunmel’s sign language and then make his exit.
‘So blatantly telling me that you want to be friends makes me suspicious. Who would want to be friends with a mute who can’t communicate?’
Many within the Wolf Knights were wary of Dunmel.
‘Whatever the intention, Kassel is at least trying. I should reward that effort.’
Dunmel told Kassel in sign language.
‘Captain. I’ll be here, so pass this on to the others.’
Kassel, spreading his arms to balance, didn’t use sign language but asked instead.
“What?”
‘They’re coming.’
“Who?”
‘Blackfoot.’
Kassel froze, still in the position he’d taken to descend the roof. Dunmel was surprised at his astonishment. Had he truly not considered Blackfoot?
Kassel asked.
“How many?”
‘It’s not just one or two. But it’s not too many either.’
“Are we the target?”
‘Gerald being attacked surprised me too. But in Koholrun, we weren’t the target either.’
“Then who?”
Dunmel seemed to say it was only natural, pointing to the roof instead of using sign language. Kassel understood quickly and nodded.
‘Ah, and.’
Dunmel stopped signing for a moment. Was it really necessary to say this? But he was already signing.
‘Thank you for not saying anything about Blackfoot.’
“It’s just something I forgot.”
Kassel said.
Dunmel smiled silently and continued signing.
‘Blackfoot is strong. To ordinary people, their existence might as well be ghosts. I too was from there, and I was an apprentice there. My master before Master Quain Gant was the guild master of Blackfoot.’
Kassel said nothing, and Dunmel’s signing continued.
‘The reason I was startled when I found out that the assassins targeting us were Blackfoot is because of that. I have no lingering attachment to the time I was there, and there will be no assassins there now who know my face, but for me, the mere fact of Blackfoot is startling enough.’
“I understand. If I met people from my hometown here, even if they didn’t recognize me, I would be shocked.”
‘The assassination skills I have, their elites will have them all too. The guild master of Blackfoot who taught me was strong enough to face Master Quain head-on.’
“What about that guild master?”
‘He died. Before the Queen of Aranthia, by Quain.’
Kassel’s eyes widened greatly, but he did not ask any more. Instead, he indicated the conversation was over with a nod and turned away.
Kassel soon stopped at the edge of the roof. He was hesitating over something. Was there more to say? Dunmel looked in the direction that Kassel was looking. Guards were dragging dogs back and forth beneath the roof, looking as small as ants. Kassel finally took his eyes off the view below and said to Dunmel.
“Can, can you help me? My legs won’t move.”
Dunmel approached and extended his hand.
Kassel grabbed Dunmel’s hand as if it were a lifeline.
–TL Notes–
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