We Leave Together, стр. 64

We are men, more than we are wolves, my love. Jona was not as close to the source as Salvatore. At least, we don’t know how close he was to the source of the stain. You love me and sacrificed yourself, as Jona did. We serve the world of men as no true wolf could. We are Walkers not wolves. We stand on two legs and walk these lands as man and wife. You are my husband, and my beloved. I would die for you, old wolf…

Don’t.

Just as you nearly did for me.

I am a wolf that wears the skin of men. That is all.

He rolled over. The wolfskin was pulled across his back, and he turned from me, with his ears twitching.

***

The guard tower at the edge of the dead valley used to be the altar of arcane mysteries that Sabachthani used to cast his wicked magic. The giant bowl of mortal blood was covered in sticks and doused in kerosene. Soldiers had hammered a rough roof to guide the rain away from the pile unless a hard wind blew. The lord that owned this particular hillside preferred to keep his grape vines on the other side of another hill. He didn’t like to risk poisoning his wine so close to the dead valley. On a windy day, the red dirt soared up the side of the hills leaving a small trail of dead and dying plants.

When the rain came—and a little rain came every day—the poisoned earth leaked into the groundwater, and flowed into the ocean.

My husband and I had spent countless weeks experimenting with methods to break the spell without ingesting the dust ourselves.

We still seek our solution to this day.

***

When the three men got to the final tower, Jona gestured at Salvatore to wait outside. Sergeant Calipari opened the door as if he owned the place. He stomped inside, and coughed at the stink of two men living in close quarters. Piles of animal bones rotted in a heap in the corner with the husks of vegetables and broken dishes. The two men had their cots on the other side.

A table had a deck of cards abandoned mid-game. One of the chairs was broken, and someone had shoved it under the table.

Someone was sleeping in his cot. Someone else was undoubtedly up on the top level, staring out across the red valley, and watching for fires from the other towers.

Jona found a lamp next to the barrels of kerosene against the far wall. He dug around for a new match, and after he lit the match, Sergeant Calipari had already pulled out the broken chair. He was trying to fix it so someone could sit down in the chair. The seat had cracked in half, and one of the supports had been completely ripped out. Calipari rolled his eyes. He threw the broken chair in the corner with the remains of food.

The sleeping fellow rolled around from the wall.

“Who’s there?” he said.

“Your vigilance is an inspiration,” said Calipari.

“Nicola Calipari, that you again so soon?”

“Hello, Corporal.”

“Haven’t seen you in a long while.”

“It’s been a year. I get stuck with this detail because no one thinks the Pens needs a sergeant for long.”

“Well, inspect away. Try not to be too loud. I’m trying to sleep. I have to take night watch tonight.”

“Get out of bed you lazy oaf. I want you to meet someone.”

“I’ll meet him later.”

“Get up! You’re about to meet Lord Joni.”

“Who? A lord?” said the sleeping sergeant. He rolled back around. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. He had a wide face, and a neck creased with fat. He had the kind of puffy features that push up against the seams of his loosely-buttoned uniform as if it had never fit. “Did you bring me some kind of joke?”

“No,” said Calipari, “I told you. I brought Lord Joni.”

Jona bowed gracefully. “Corporal Lord Joni at your disposal, sir.”

“A corporal? A lord? I’m going back to sleep, Nic. Make yourselves at home.”

“At least introduce yourself first.”

“Howdy, Corporal Lord Whatsit. I’m Corporal Belari.”

“Come on, that’s not all of it. How many medals did you win in the war?” said Calipari.

“Seven,” said Belari, “but I don’t win medals anymore. I just watch the hills and wait for something to happen. When it does, I light the torch for the soldiers to come and stay out of the fighting. Me and Nic fought together, you know, way back when. How many medals you win, Nic?”

“I didn’t win medals,” said Nic, “you know that. I was just a kid. Kids don’t win medals. Mostly kids were fodder at the front of the line.”

Belari laughed from his chest like he was wheezing. “I forgot,” he said.

“I run the Pens Station now. My girl and me are getting married, and got ourselves a nice farm southeast of here already. How come you ain’t out, yet?”

“I stayed in the army too long.” He rolled up. “You bring me anything good?”

“I got something for you. Your partner up on the roof. What’s his story?”

“Him? Terrible card player. Terrible temper, too. He broke the chair. Private Ginoa. He’s been here about six months.”

Jona glanced over at Nicola and nodded at him. “I’ll go up and say hello,” said Jona. He tested the ladder before he started to climb it. He adjusted his cloak and his sword. The wood bent and groaned beneath his boots. The wood stank like it was rotten and needed to be replaced.

On the roof, Jona opened the trapdoor. He looked around for Private Ginoa. The private had his back to the trapdoor and didn’t turn around.

Jona snorted. “Aren’t you going to say hello?”

Ginoa glanced over his shoulder. “I’m on duty,” he said, “What’re you here for?”

“Inspection.”

“You need anything from me?”

“No.”

“Good.”

Jona nodded. He walked the perimeter of the roof. He looked down at Salvatore, waiting below with the mule. He nodded at him.

Jona pulled a knife from his boot. Private Gino turned at the sound of the