Chapter 39: Gray Ear
The day after clearing out the bandits, Violet went to the Ice Wolf Clan camp again. This time not to borrow wolves. To return something.
Ulric was brushing Gray Ear's fur. He used a bone comb missing several teeth, stroking down the wolf's spine in steady passes. Gray Ear lay on the ground, tail sweeping occasionally, eyes half-closed. Looked very comfortable. Violet crouched beside them and watched a while. Then she placed an object on the ground. A new comb. Iron teeth. Made by the blacksmith. Much denser than the bone comb. Much sturdier too.
"For you." She said.
Ulric looked at the comb, picked it up, and weighed it in his hand. "Iron?"
"Iron. The blacksmith made it. No charge."
"Why no charge?"
"Because Gray Ear needs brushing. That bone comb of yours is missing four teeth. Can't brush smooth."
Ulric stared at her for a few seconds. He ran the new comb down Gray Ear's back. From neck to tail. One smooth stroke all the way through. Gray Ear's tail wagged twice.
"He likes it." Ulric said.
"Good that he likes it."
Violet reached out and touched Gray Ear's head. Gray Ear's ear turned. Didn't pull away. She touched him again. Gray Ear rested his chin on her knee.
Ulric's eyes went wide. "He doesn't let people touch his head."
"He lets me."
"You're the second."
"Who's the first?"
"Me."
The corner of Violet's mouth curved.
She pulled a piece of dried meat from inside her coat. Broke it in half. Fed half to Gray Ear. Wrapped the other half and placed it back in her coat. "The other half I'll feed tonight." She said.
Ulric watched her. "You came just to deliver a comb?"
"No. Came to discuss something with you."
"Speak."
"When the beast tide comes, can you lend me your wolves for a few days?"
"Lend them for how many days?"
"Don't know. Until the fighting ends."
Ulric tucked the comb into his belt and patted Gray Ear's head. "Gray Ear. Come here." Gray Ear stood and walked to Ulric's side. Ulric crouched down and cupped the wolf's head in both hands. Touched his nose to the wolf's nose. "She's asking to borrow you for a few days. Do you agree or not?"
Gray Ear huffed a breath from his nose. Ulric released his hands and stood. "He agreed."
"How did he agree?"
"He huffed. That means agreed."
Violet looked at Gray Ear. Gray Ear looked back at her. Pale yellow eyes. Pupils a vertical slit.
"When the beast tide comes, you follow me. If I say charge, you charge. If I say retreat, you retreat." She crouched down and met Gray Ear eye to eye. "Do you understand?"
Gray Ear's ears swiveled.
"He doesn't understand." Ulric said.
"He understands." Violet stood. "He just doesn't want you to know he understands."
Ulric paused. He looked at Gray Ear. Gray Ear turned his face away.
"You talk to it?" A voice came from behind.
Violet turned her head. An Ice Wolf Clan warrior stood there. He held the lead of a young black wolf. Gray eyes. Long legs. He looked not yet twenty. His expression somewhere between curiosity and disdain.
"What's wrong with talking to it?" Violet asked.
"It doesn't understand." The young warrior said. "Wolves don't understand human speech."
"Whether a wolf understands human speech isn't about the ears. It's about here." Violet tapped her own chest.
The young warrior's face flushed red.
"What's your name?" Violet asked.
"Ak."
"Ak. Who's that you're holding?"
"Gray Eye's pup. His name is Black Stone."
Violet crouched down and looked at the black wolf. Black Stone's ears stood up. He stared at her. A low rumble came from his throat.
"He doesn't like you." Ak said.
"He doesn't not accept me. Because you're his master. It's not that he doesn't like me. He's not sure if I'm a friend." Violet reached out her hand, palm facing up, and placed it before Black Stone's nose. Black Stone sniffed. The rumble in his throat grew quieter. But didn't disappear.
"He sniffed." Ak said.
"Sniffing means he didn't refuse."
Violet stood and brushed the dust from her hands.
"Ak. How many years have you been training wolves?"
"Three years."
"In three years, how many have you trained?"
"Two. Black Stone and his brother."
"Do you want to train more?"
Ak's eyes brightened. "You can teach me?"
"I can't. But Ulric can. Ask him."
Ak looked at Ulric. Ulric was brushing Gray Ear's fur. Didn't raise his head. "She told you to ask me, so you ask me?" He said.
"Asking."
"Three days from now. Come find me. I'll teach you."
Ak's mouth split into a grin. He led Black Stone away. After a few steps, Black Stone looked back at Violet. His ear turned.
Violet turned and walked back to Water City.
Halfway there, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned her head. Gray Ear was following her. All the way from the Ice Wolf Clan camp to the south gate of Water City.
"What are you following me for?" Violet asked.
Gray Ear's ears swiveled. Didn't stop.
She walked into the city. Gray Ear followed. She walked to the granary. Gray Ear followed to the granary. She walked to the door of her small house. Gray Ear lay down outside the door. Chin resting on his front paws. Closed his eyes.
By the time Ulric came chasing after him, the time it takes to brew a cup of tea had passed. He was panting. He saw Gray Ear lying at Violet's door. Froze.
"He followed you?" He asked.
"Followed."
"He doesn't follow outsiders."
"I'm not an outsider."
Ulric crouched down and patted Gray Ear's head. "Go back."
Gray Ear didn't move.
"Go back." Ulric's voice hardened a little.
Gray Ear opened one eye. Glanced at him. Closed it again.
Ulric stood and looked at her. "He's going to sleep at your place tonight."
"I don't have a wolf den here."
"He doesn't sleep in wolf dens. He sleeps in doorways."
Violet glanced at the doorway. Gray Ear had already curled into a ball. Tail draped over his nose. Breathing slow.
"He's cold." Ulric said.
Violet went inside and took out an old robe. Spread it in the doorway. Gray Ear shifted his hindquarters. Lay down on the robe. Tail draped over his nose again.
Ulric stared at the robe. "That's Gray Rock hide."
"Leon gave it to me."
"He gave it to you, and you give it to a wolf?"
"The wolf is cold."
Ulric opened his mouth. Said nothing more. He crouched down and stroked Gray Ear's head. "You come back tomorrow." He stood and walked away. After a few steps, he stopped. Didn't look back. "He hasn't eaten yet." He tossed a piece of dried meat on the ground and left.
Violet picked up the dried meat. Broke it into small pieces. Placed them before Gray Ear's nose. Gray Ear sniffed. Ate half. Left half.
"Saving it for tomorrow?" Violet asked.
Gray Ear's ears swiveled.
Night. Moon Silver had finished nursing. Old Egan carried it back. Violet placed it beside her pillow. It turned over. Its small paws kicked the air. Asleep again.
Gray Ear lay in the doorway. His nose pressed against the crack of the door. The wind crept in through the crack. Cool. He sneezed. The corner of Violet's mouth lifted.
She blew out the lamp.
In the darkness, Moon Silver's eggshell gave off a faint glow beside the pillow. Gray Ear's eyes shone pale yellow through the crack of the door. Two lights cast onto the ceiling. Like two stars.
She closed her eyes.
Tomorrow there would be more to do.
---
End of Chapter Thirty-Nine
Gray Ear followed her the whole way. From the Ice Wolf Clan camp to the south gate of Water City. From the south gate to the granary. From the granary to the door of her small house. Ulric said, "He doesn't follow outsiders." She said, "I'm not an outsider." Gray Ear slept the night at her door. Tail draped over his nose. He sneezed. Moon Silver turned over beside the pillow. The eggshell's light dimmed then brightened again. Two lights cast onto the ceiling. Like two stars. The beast tide hasn't come yet. But the wolf came first.