Chapter 16

The fight with the Cambion had been rough on Vorbuk's body so the journey back to town had taken a few hours. Leo did not say anything about it because he knew that Vorbuk would not like him mentioning a thing about it. He had only needed to swing his sword to behead the demon, but the wolf had been enduring back to back collisions with the demon that could break the sound barrier.

When they made it back to town and entered the guild Leo went up to the half elf working there to gain his rewards for slaying the demon and report in the details about the mission. Vorbuk sighed to himself and laid down on the floor of the guild to relax while he waited for the prince to finish up his task. A familiar smell was in the air causing his eyes to wander around. Slowly he found himself glancing over at a table where a familiar face was drinking and talking to some of the other people around him.

"So it really is you!" The man shouted slightly as he stood up and came over to the wolf and lowered himself down to look closer at the wolf.

Daryl seemed to be studying the new Crystal and markings on the wolf. He was not sure what they were or where they came from, but they seemed unique and he could not help but to wonder where they came from. The urge to pat the wolf on the head came over him, but he controlled himself and pushed that idea aside. The thought of the wolf biting off his hand in annoyance was not an idea he would like to endure if he tried to touch him.

"Looks like you're still wearing the collar I bought you, but I heard you're wandering with someone else now. I guess they haven't replaced that yet." He smiled wryly at the reminder of how he wasted a gold coin just to buy the collar so the beast could enter the town without being ran out.

"Who are you? I wouldn't get too close he doesn't exactly like his space invaded by strangers." Leo stated as he walked over after finishing things up. He had never met Daryl before, so the wolf was not surprised that he would question the mans intentions for being so close to him.

"Oh? But i'm not a stranger... I was the one who paid for that!" Daryl smiled sarcastically at Leo as he pointed to the Silvervane collar around Vorbuk's neck. "I also gave him his name!"

"Still.. I would be careful! You might loose a hand!" Prince Leo felt annoyed at Daryl and he could easily see that Daryl was purposely trying to annoy him. He was not sure why Daryl was acting that way, but he tried to ignore it.

"So is he officially your companion or just another temporary person he's following around? He's not the type of beast you can just stake a claim on." Daryl asked as he tried to hide his annoyance with the prince. Daryl had been all over the kingdom and did not say it out loud, but he knew upon glance who the young 'rich kid' really was.

"He's not my official companion. He has no official master and I have no intention on forcing him into a contract. We are traveling together by choice alone." Leo scoffed at the thought of the man assuming he would try to force the wolf into a contract.

"Oh?" Daryl raised a brow at the prince's words. "So your traveling together by choice?"

"Yes! It's one of my abilities to be able to communicate with beasts telepathically. As long as he wishes to say something to me then I am able to hear him clearly and understand him as though he is another human speaking to me." Leo stated out clearly to Daryl. A part of him only spoke his ability out just to get a rise from Daryl. At the same time he also felt like a child for doing such a thing.

"Oh. That's quite the rare ability there." Daryl pondered over the thought for a moment.

"Yes, it is. I believe it is our time to go now if you're done with us. Vorbuk, let's go rest at the inn. The battle today was exhausting." Leo sighed as he walked past Daryl to leave.

The wolf raised his body up off the floor and followed after him. Daryl could see the wolf taking a glance back at him before he left with Leo and wondered about what the wolf was thinking. He could feel something was different from the beast than others. It was tempting to ask the prince about what the wolf really speaks about. The idea to find out what the wolf really wanted out of wandering local towns was tempting beyond belief because it wasn't something a regular wolf would do, but he was easily annoyed with the Crown Prince and did not want to bother with him any longer so he just left it be.

"So you're wandering around with the Crown Prince Leon... I can't even guess which one of you benefits more from that arrangement, Vorbuk..." Daryl spoke out loud, but he knew no one was around to even listen to him. It felt like he was talking to himself and in a way he might have been. His mind was curious beyond belief about the beast, but at the same time he knew there was no way or reason for him to try and force the wolf to follow him. The wolf had clearly chosen to follow the crown prince himself.

"How does the Crown Prince even befriend a beast that powerful?" It felt like a joke, but at the same time it felt like it could be a sign of things to come in the future. Daryl could not help the thoughts about what things could come from the joint power of such a beast working together with the kingdoms crown prince, Leo. Though at the same time he wanted to laugh because another thought crossed his mind.

"Not even an official contract! Knowing that beast he'll leave you in the dust eventually, Prince Leo!" Daryl laughed when he remembered the wolf was still free to walk off when the time comes.

Little did he know that Leo was also mumbling to himself about Daryl's stubborn personality towards him as they walked back to the inn!

"Acting like I stole the damn wolf from him..." Leo grumbled quietly to himself.