Aides and the Scent of Apple Pie
As one's status rises, aides naturally gather by their side. Just as the Wendigo had his excellent right and left hands in Skadi and Geron, they too had their own such figures.
In Skadi's case, Osa functioned as a sort of secretary and advisor.
In Skadi's hut, Osa brewed tea for her and served it with a smile.
"You've had a hard day today as well."
"Osa, you've had a tough one too, treating the warriors alongside me."
Skadi took a sip with a clear smile, and Osa waved her hands bashfully, grinning ear to ear.
"Far from it—this was precious time where I could learn so much just by watching. More than anything I picked up wandering alone, I've learned far more under you, Lady Skadi."
"Hehe. Thanks, even if it's just flattery."
"It's true!"
Skadi sipped her tea modestly, and Osa gazed at her with eyes full of admiration. Talented shamans were a dime a dozen, but those who combined skill with character were as rare as hen's teeth. As proof, Osa brought out thank-you gifts left by the warriors and showed them to Skadi.
"Among all the shamans I've seen, you're the only one who gets gifts like these. Your skill is one thing, but why else would people give them if they didn't like you?"
Luxuries hard to come by in the forest—like fine clothes, jewelry, and scented pouches—were gladly offered to Skadi. Though they weren't for her, Osa beamed with pride. To her, Skadi was a role model.
"Lady Skadi, you should boast about yourself more to people."
"Hmm... I'm not sure."
Skadi traced the rim of her teacup, embarrassed. She was more mature now than before, but she'd had her clumsy moments in the past.
"Honestly, if I hadn't met Lord Wendigo, I might not be much different from other shamans."
"The Spirit is certainly benevolent."
"No, that's not what I—"
Skadi smiled awkwardly, reminiscing. Truth be told, inciting people to fanatically worship Wendigo was a bit of a black mark on her history.
If I'd messed up, I might've created a cult of fanatics following Lord Wendigo...
She imagined herself making fanatical gestures and ranting speeches before crowds while sipping her tea. Meeting Osa's eyes, a wave of shame hit her even though it was just a what-if.
"Lady Skadi? What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing! Um, want some apple pie I made? I made extra for Lord Wendigo."
"Yes!!!"
Osa tossed aside their conversation at the mention of Skadi's apple pie. Scarred by hunger in her childhood, she went wild for good food.
As Osa squirmed and drooled, Skadi smiled like a mother and brought over a plate of pie. Tart apples finely sliced, filled with honey, cinnamon, and cream, topped with maple syrup on crispy crust.
"Aaaah..."
"Osa, you're drooling!"
*Slurp.* "S-sorry. I've never seen apple pie that looks this delicious... Can I really eat it?"
Osa clutched her utensils while begging permission, staring at Skadi like a puppy eyeing a treat. Skadi nodded and cut a slice herself. Osa watched reverently as the apple scent wafted and the crust crackled like autumn leaves, making her mouth water uncontrollably...
"Lady Skadi! Osa! The Spirit Lord calls for you urgently."
"......"
Skadi froze mid-cut. For the usually accommodating Wendigo to summon her urgently meant something serious. She gave Osa a regretful look and asked carefully,
"Osa... Should we go and come back to eat?"
Osa's face crumpled like the sky had fallen, her lips trembling. She knew she had to go, but leaving the pie...
If I say I'll eat on the way... it'll ruin the shamans' reputation.
Such behavior would embarrass not just her, but Skadi and the other shamans too. Osa bowed her head.
"...Yes. We have to. No matter how good that apple pie looks, if Lord Wendigo calls..."
"I-I'll keep it warm. It'll still be delicious when you return. We'll eat together after."
Seeing Osa's most dejected look yet, Skadi soothed her like a child. Osa nodded, then sneaked a tiny bite before leaving—just a taste.
*Crunch.*
...Even sad days can taste this good.
Skadi's apple pie was the best Osa had ever had, and that fact made it all the sadder.
Before Wendigo, Skadi and Osa received a report on the delegation. Skadi figured it was important since they'd come all this way...
"F-for that reason, I missed out on apple pie..."
Learning it was about Syr made Osa stagger. For something like that, any other shaman would've sufficed!
...She said she'd help later!
Osa cursed the unhelpful shamans—though she knew they were off aiding people in the forest. Petty as it was, with apple pie lost right before her eyes, such details didn't register.
Skadi patted Osa's pitifully shaking shoulder.
"Osa, chin up."
"Yes..."
Osa nodded weakly and explained about Syr: the Freyr tribe's origins, their founder, how purely she carried the bloodline...
"Syr's also an exceptional merchant. Among shamans, there's a joke that her warehouse is overflowing with endless catalysts and reagents."
"A merchant, huh. Then her joining this delegation means she's calculated it all out."
Osa nodded. That sounded just like Syr—never rash, always calmly assessing before acting.
With nothing more to add, Osa bowed politely and stepped back. Wendigo drummed his claws on the throne armrest out of habit, organizing his thoughts.
Merchant. Merchant...
Merchants meant deals were possible, but Wendigo stayed wary. Just thinking of the human-faced ones showed how outrageously cunning this world's traders could be.
If it sells, they'll dig up and sell human corpses.
Not all were like that, but Syr was both top-tier merchant and shaman. The suspicious aura from those two traits made her hard to trust.
Problem is, it'd be a shame to chase her off without meeting.
As owner of one of the North's rare cities, she was worth seeing once. Having decided, Wendigo beckoned Geron.
"Tell the riders to escort the delegation here. She's not in the plan, but meeting her could be worthwhile."
"I'll have them watch for suspicious activity."
"Good. Relay that they can attack if anything odd happens."
Geron nodded and left the temple. Naturally, only Wendigo, Skadi, and Osa remained.
"Lord Wendigo, if it's alright, may we take our leave?"
"It's rare for Skadi to want to leave first... Something urgent?"
Wendigo was puzzled. Skadi usually clung to every moment, even sharing trivia like how OneTon was picky with food...
"Ahaha, well..."
Skadi glanced at Osa, whose face was paling, losing warmth by the second.
"I-I was researching a new ritual back at the hut!"
"Ah, bad timing on my part. Go on. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you! Come on, Osa! Let's hurry!"
Tormented by guilt over fibbing to Wendigo, Skadi grabbed Osa's hand hastily. Osa latched on with shining eyes, grasping her savior(?). Wendigo noticed Osa's shift and wondered.
Has Osa been overburdened lately? Doesn't seem so.
But he couldn't ask. Their footsteps were heroically resolute. Surely some grave matter he didn't know!
Wendigo's orders were always relayed by the forest's swiftest ravens. Jaken, leader of the Blue Mane tribe and de facto captain of the wolf riders, checked the missive.
[Escort the delegation, including the shaman Syr, to the Spirit Lord's temple. However, if they engage in suspicious activity, kill them without hesitation.]
"Hm... If the Spirit Lord permits it, no choice."
"You sure? Bringing an outsider shaman into the forest..."
A warrior voiced unease. The others hid it but thought similarly. To them, any shaman outside the forest ones were selfish opportunists.
"Honestly, aside from our shamans, they all seem like bad eggs."
"They passed the Spirit Lord's trial, so they're different. Heard the invaders were trial dropouts."
"Quiet! This is the Spirit Lord's will. We just obey."
Jaken's firm words quelled personal gripes. He was right— if the Spirit allowed it, no need for their judgment...
Then, a wolf howl rang out, and a shadow bolted past Jaken.
"Woof! Woof woof!"
"Who goes there! Who disobeyed orders?!"
Jaken scowled, scanning around. Be it ambition or loyalty, defying orders was unforgivable. But...
The warriors stood firm, awaiting command, pointing ahead in shock.
"OneTon! OneTon charged out!"
"What!?"
Jaken whipped around in alarm. Why invoke that cursed spirit the Spirit Lord had crushed?!
Of course, it wasn't that OneTon. A rootless spirit couldn't survive. What the warriors pointed to was the massive wolf favored by Wendigo.
Jaken realized and sighed.
Why'd the Spirit Lord and Lady Skadi name a wolf OneTon of all things...
"C-captain? You okay?"
A warrior approached cautiously. Jaken shot him a look—like, what kind of question is that? It was a wolf, not some devourer spirit.
The warrior glanced around.
"OneTon—the wolf—bolted toward the delegation."
"......"
Jaken's face hardened in panic. If OneTon mauled them, it'd be on the riders.
"Damn it! Mount up, all of you! We beat that mutt to them!"
"Knew naming that wolf OneTon was trouble from the start!"
"Argh, seriously!"
Grasping the situation, the warriors spurred their wolves, cursing OneTon all the way. Clearly, the name was a mistake.