Chapter 35 - The Cave

By the time he reached the peak, he was very tired and hungry. As he went near it, the dim light became brighter. He soon found that it was a cave which was guarded with a heavy wooden door. Thick bushes and some fallen rocks on the side of the entrance obscured the door. Ivy wound around the cave and hid the entrance. Through fissures, he could hear water running somewhere beside the cave. Perhaps the water was feeding the springs in the forest he had just left behind. The cave was looking like a travelers inn.

He shape shifted back into a human and knocked on the door. A few minutes later, a werewolf opened the door. It was an old werewolf in front of him. He was not in his human form. When he saw Ed, he growled.

"What do you want?" asked the old werewolf.

"I am a traveler going north and I was looking for a place to stay. When I saw the lights coming from your cave, I turned towards this side. Do you have any place to stay?" asked Ed.

The werewolf growled again and let him in. Ed entered the cave with a smile, wondering what was that old werewolf doing in deep dark forests in the middle of nowhere.

Ed greeted him politely and walked inside. Inside, it was dim. There were only two small fires burning in the corner. The cave looked neat with a few stalagmites hanging above them – the stalagmites appeared rounded, irregular, and concave-shaped. The walls were stone, and were shining as there was nothing growing on them. There was a small woven mat made out of dried grass in the far corner and a roasting pot near it.

Ed could see a strange beast sitting and yawning in the background. He was shocked when he saw that this was the same beast he had come across the charmed forest. Scared that he had entered the charm of the forest, he turned around to look at the werewolf with questions in his eyes.

The old werewolf growled again and said, "There is no need to worry. That is my pet, Mun. He is also my guard, and has been keeping an eye on you ever since you entered the enchanted jungle."

Ed breathed a sigh of relief and didn't say another word.

As he walked further in, he came across another opening which was again guarded by a wooden door. Soon, he realized that there were four such openings. He admired the upkeep of the place and wondered if the cave even received guests.

His thoughts were broken when the old werewolf said, "You can stay in the cave at the far end."

Ed bowed and opened the door of the room. As he walked inside, the old werewolf called, "Dinner will be ready in half an hour."

Ed smiled and felt the warmth inside. There was a small fire in the corner which kept the temperature under control. There was a small window which opened out. He peeped out to see that there was a deep valley right beneath it.

There was a neat bed made from dried grass. He shook his head at the thought of his own comfortable bed in his cottage. Tired, he laid down on the bed and let his body bathe in the warmth of the fire.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep, he heard the old werewolf coughing loudly. He got up immediately and went outside. He was pleased to see that the dinner was ready. The old werewolf was feeding Mun and eating from the same piece of meat.

Ed sat down and started eating. Over the meal, he asked, "How much do I have to pay for this?"

"I will let you know," came the answer.

"What is your name? How come you have an inn in this sort of place?" he asked out of curiosity.

"Oh, formal introductions!" The old werewolf shook his head and continued, "I am Grant. My herd abandoned me some 150 years back, and since then, I have been living here. Now don't ask me how I came here," he paused. "The usual guests of this inn are wizards and witches that fly from the north and are looking for a place to rest."

Ed was getting intrigued and wanted to ask more but he refrained. He ate his dinner quietly and left. He had to conserve his energy for the next day to travel to meet the council, and he knew that the journey would be all the more difficult.