RONNUsing a map looks easier than it actually is. Argell had a certain fluidity to it, the way he'd tilt his head and frown impressively while he stared at the very same map I now hold in my hands. And all it is to me is a network of blue lines, red dots and yellow impressions. I can barely make out the name, "Tussel" and even then, the lines jumble up the whole thing.They don't mean a river, though, I'm sure of that; the creek runs across the plains and ruins of Eldad behind me, separating these parts from the forest that line the borders of Asthan. No, these lines mean something else, most probably some secret meant for the "inner circle".And where are they now? Argell, Veesa, Haron, Jenna. The twins. Caivan. The son of a bitch who had vanished immediately those beasts attacked. I had caught a whiff of his scent, above the starks smell of smoke, but was in no mood to go for a bleeding scout. And definitely not in a mood to see his face. There is only one place they would all have
CAIVANThere is a reason these back roads are not plied regularly, or at all, for the same reason the valley is called Delagad. They are not the safest to follow, especially not when winter is close, even if they are removed from clear sight. Gazens constitute a major part of my angst, however; one or two we can handle, but a herd? Lian; the name had come naturally to me, the Sneyan name for Lupion's forerunner, and he seems to like it; sniffs at a cluster of purple flowers beneath a large tree to my left. I'm about to point out that curali are not exactly nose-friendly when he sneezes violently, backing away from them with a snarl. 'Keep your nose to yourself,' I caution. Not that I should bother. This wolf is particularly bull-headed. I squint down the path that winds through the tress ahead of us like one giant snake, crossing my fingers with superstitious instinctiveness at the thought of the dreaded creature. I've only taken the back roads this far south once, and I had been wi
CAIVANBy the gods, they are fast, even for me. There is no telling their number and that has got to be the scariest fact that faces me (or in this case, pursues me). I take a sharp turn, veering off the path and into the unmarked parts of the forest. Another warning tugs at my mind, one that I studiously ignore. Lian, the big brute, is a long way ahead of me, too fast for me to follow, and a sure temptation to transform.Come now, Caivan. You can evade them. No need to give in to that scary part of you.Something catches at my foot, and I go tumbling down a slope I had not seen in the first place. Plants catch at my hair, scratch my cheeks, have at my clothes. I reach out sharply as soon as the ground becomes smooth enough for my grip, and dig my claws into the earth, just as a pond comes up to meet me. Lian growls softly at me a little way to my left, half-hidden beneath some bushes. The beast must had tripped me up, bless his hide. I limp over to the small outcrop overlooking the
CAIVANI eye the bow in her grip with an old fear. There's something about the way she wields it that sets me off. Most wolvens are fast, usually quicker than weapons. Arrows seem to find that fact amusing and untrue. It's no wonder Gylen lost his eye to Cyran, though it would have to be close enough for him not to notice it on time. As this one is. Daena notices my uneasy stare and cocks her head. 'You don't like bows?' she asks. 'No,' I reply evenly, 'Just don't trust people that carry them about'. Camille makes a small noise, like she's stifling a snort. 'I saved your life back there,' Daena says, a little too quickly. 'I did not exactly call for one. Regardless, it looks to me like you two need my help more than I do yours,' I point out clearly, and she purses her lips in silent agreement. 'We told you everything, sir. We are not your enemies'. I find myself nodding quietly, because they are not, I realize. Not in the least. The blonde one keeps shooting glances behind us, down
RONNI turn the map around again, this time upside down. The blue lines seem to mock my efforts, remaining prickly, little puzzles. I still can't place where a village might be, or the waterways, for a quick drink of water at least, or a hand in the right direction. 'Fuck you!' I toss it down the path with a snarl, and Sirgil gives me a look of disapproval. 'Right. You don't give a hoot anyway'. I take a look at the road behind us. Taking the main road might have been a bad idea, as it's just one straight, unstopping stretch of hard sand and gridstones. Now and then, I'd see mirages in the distance, perhaps owing to the heat; at sometime past noon, the sun had taken a brutal turn for worse. A positive prelude to rain. I'd feared the possibility, but that was a long while ago. Now I spot the lining of dark clouds in the horizon, I'm definitely uneasy.Something brushes past and sits next to me quietly. He growls once, swishing his tail against me. 'Of course I'm sad, we're in the midd
RONNHe slowly lowers the crossbow when I finish talking, but that hard glint does not leave his eyes. Grey, like stone, like clouds before it rains. Like mine. 'Say you ain't one of them freaks, eh?' he asks in a funny, clipped accent. I can only guess where he's from, and it's not this far south. 'No, sir, I am not,' I reply with as much honesty as I can muster. He grunts. 'Well, I suppose there's room for one more,' he says, 'But I ain't going as far as the city. Gotta drop stuff off at Patrain. Still got a little way ahead, but then, these beasts are the best I seen'. He reaches down and pats them fondly. Great black geldings that seem to listen or respond to his touch only. I've never liked horses, and these ones are no exception. They snort or sway their great heads whenever they cross eyes with Sirgil. I turn back to their master as he speaks. 'Come along, master Rolenn. I reckon them clouds'll be upon us in a mo, and there's only so much we can cover in a few minutes'. I gri
GYLENIt patters down slowly at first. Drop by drop, until it increases to a steady beat, hitting down hard without remorse or stopping. It doesn’t usually rain this hard, this early in the fall. Maybe a bad omen.As the thunder rumbles, I recall something someone had once told me all those years ago. Something about thunder indicating the wrath of the gods. Well, if anyone should be furious, it should be us, their supposed creation who are always at the receiving end.I wrap the blanket around myself more tightly, as the wind threatens to rip it off my shoulders. I’m as safe as I can be here, in the hollow of the diwan tree, in the thick of the forest, but not from the howling gale that threatens to rip off the trees. For the nth time, I send a shiver down my body, turning out the cold and shaking off the waters.As a wolven, its relatively easy to turn out our fur, as insulation against the cold. Even so, we would be required to curl up properly….or wind up in a tree hollow, like me
SAELYNAIt's not exactly a village. Neither is it a hamlet. It certainly doesn't look like one. We climbed the slope when we found the pines, just when the first drops of rain came down on us. Sure enough, there were tendrils of smoke in the distance, and that's where we headed, while Dell insisted one keeping Elwyn in front.He was right. Sort of. It turned out to be a camp. And not just any camp.Outside the tent where we now eat, thunder utters its last threats as the rain reduces to nothing more than soft patters. Ryon hands me another piece of bread with a soft smile that I can't help returning. He looks to be an elder, I think, well into his mid-forties. His hair is a dark shade of blue that catches the light from the fireflies that hang above us, on every inch of the tent's roof. He has deep set blue eyes that are welcoming at most, above a straight nose and a small mouth, all placed in the middle of a perfectly round face. It's hard to feel uncomfortable around him.He had wel
Reflections Their progress was slow, and the constant motion did little to lessen the stress that weighed heavily on their hearts. Each minute brought them closer to the witch, closer to the woman who threatened the safety of the people of Eriu and their future. Every inch took them further away from home, further away from their families and their friends. Time was running short, and soon enough they would be forced to make a choice. Either they could save their Kingdom or die trying. They had lost track of the number of times they had narrowly escaped the clutches of the witches; yet, none of them gave up hope. A feeling of uneasiness settled inside of them, an uncertainty that they were approaching the center of the witch’s domain. Finally, the group reached an intersection, and all eyes turned in unison towards the hallway that split down the middle, one path leading to freedom and the other to destruction. The Queen raised a trembling hand towards the rightmost passage, ta
Their progress was slow, and the constant motion did little to lessen the stress that weighed heavily on their hearts. Each minute brought them closer to the witch, closer to the woman who threatened the safety of the people of Eriu and their future. Every inch took them further away from home, further away from their families and their friends. Time was running short, and soon enough they would be forced to make a choice. Either they could save their Kingdom or die trying.They had lost track of the number of times they had narrowly escaped the clutches of the witches; yet, none of them gave up hope. A feeling of uneasiness settled inside of them, an uncertainty that they were approaching the center of the witch’s domain.Finally, the group reached an intersection, and all eyes turned in unison towards the hallway that split down the middle, one path leading to freedom and the other to destruction. The Queen raised a trembling hand towards the rightmost passage, taking a deep breath,
With the amulet clutched tightly in his hand, Caivan rejoined Saelyna and Gylen, his expression determined. “I’ve found it,” he declared, his voice filled with a mix of hope and determination.As Cyran continued to engage the witch in a fierce battle, Saelyna stepped forward, her eyes meeting Caivan’s. “Give me the amulet, Caivan. It will amplify my magic and weaken her grip on the Queen.”Caivan nodded, passing the amulet to Saelyna with care. “Use it well, Saelyna. We’re counting on you.”Saelyna held the amulet close to her chest, feeling its power resonate within her. She took a deep breath, channeling her courage, her determination, and the collective strength of her friends.In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The air crackled with anticipation as Saelyna prepared to confront the witch head-on, armed with the ancient incantation and the newfound power of the amulet. The final battle was about to begin, and Saelyna was ready to seize their chance at victory.The room puls
Caught in the crossfire SAELYNAQuain let out a long sigh, he was very curious, but, seeing how I answered, he thought he didn't want to disturb my concentration. I tried to concentrate as I thought about the sentences I had read from Gylen's writing.The sound of the door opening made Quain and I turn our heads. Caivan had just come out in the clothes he had changed into."Quain," Caivan called, causing Quain to raise half an eyebrow in surprise. "Me, Saelyna, Cryan, and Gylen are leaving. I trust you to take care of the others. Stay alert and keep an eye on the surroundings. Don't trust anyone except Prince Charles. I'll be back in a little over an hour, but if we're not back in an hour, I authorize you to take the others with you. Caivan gave Quain a message, then reached for me. "Leave the stone the queen gave to Quain, so he can access it if anything happens to us."I immediately nodded in understanding, it was only fitting that Caivan became an Alpha, famous for his ruthless wa
Walking togetherCAIVANThe one I've been waiting for has finally arrived. Saelyna and Cryan came into my room."There's Gylen too," Cryan said to himself, then Gylen told him to sit by his side while Saelyna sat next to me."Why are you all here? Are you having a little meeting?" Saelyna asked with a half-raised eyebrow in surprise."No, we're just having a little discussion," I replied, standing in for Gylen.While Saelyna just nodded in understanding. "What about when you met Prince Charles? What did you talk about?" Saelyna suddenly remembered and asked me and Gylen."I'll explain it to you, but first I have to ask you," I grumbled as I looked at Saelyna from the side, then I picked up a map and some notes we had made because it would be useful for Saelyna and we didn't have to go too far in explaining it. It was all done by Gylen before the two of them came to my room."Everything is summarised here. I'll explain later. But where are you going?" I said, wondering when I saw that
An unsolved mysterySAELYNA"Are you called the Queen?"I nodded my head as Caivan asked. "I will see her now." I quickly closed the door to the room as Caivan made way for me. Maybe Cryan had told him. "When I get back, tell me what happened while you were talking to the prince."Caivan followed my footsteps towards the room where the Queen was. "Of course, you must be careful. I will be waiting for you in the room." When we reached the centre room, with the Queen's room in front of it, guarded by several soldiers, Caivan told me to leave and that he would return to his room.Feeling my heart pounding, I steadied myself before walking over. The soldiers made way for me to pass, apparently they had been informed by the Queen that I was her guest."Excuse me Queen, it's a pleasure to be here and thank you for inviting me." I bowed slightly and waved my hands in front of my stomach.The Queen, who was in her seat, smiled at me and then told me to sit down in one of the empty chairs she
An unsolved mysterySAELYNA"Are you called the Queen?"I nodded my head as Caivan asked. "I will see her now." I quickly closed the door to the room as Caivan made way for me. Maybe Cryan had told him. "When I get back, tell me what happened while you were talking to the prince."Caivan followed my footsteps towards the room where the Queen was. "Of course, you must be careful. I will be waiting for you in the room." When we reached the centre room, with the Queen's room in front of it, guarded by several soldiers, Caivan told me to leave and that he would return to his room.Feeling my heart pounding, I steadied myself before walking over. The soldiers made way for me to pass, apparently they had been informed by the Queen that I was her guest."Excuse me Queen, it's a pleasure to be here and thank you for inviting me." I bowed slightly and waved my hands in front of my stomach.The Queen, who was in her seat, smiled at me and then told me to sit down in one of the empty chairs she
First mission CAIVANI saw the Prince's legs move, he was about to turn and face us. This was the first time we had met, and I had sent the Prince a letter before we had spoken by telephone."Yes, you are my people. And we should protect you if you need our help." The Prince smiled broadly, he was quite handsome and authoritative. He shook his robes back, then walked over to me. I sat up and looked at him seriously. "Have you looked around your room?" he asked again as we faced each other."I have, Your Honour." I wasn't the only one who answered him, my friends in the back also replied."All right, just call me Charles. Are you the leader of them? Is your name Caivan? It's good to see you here, I hear you're a great fighter. If you are not tired from travelling and have more time, perhaps we can have a chat first. Or if you want to bring your deputy with you, that's fine too.I smiled broadly at that, then nodded briefly. "At your service, Your Honour." Then I turned to look at Gyle
Prince's welcome SAELYNAI don't want to, he must be very tired. And who really needs to be carried by Caivan? We decided to walk together. Five minutes was not too far and long, we could observe each other's surroundings and make small talk."Later we will come to a village where people live a simple life and we have to be friendly, don't make any noise. Be polite if you want to pass through their area, when we walk again we will meet the market before entering the city park and there we can see the huge city of Lexington. Then our goal is to find one of the kingdoms there, the kingdom of Brahzeil is the largest and has a lot of knowledge we can seek. There is a prince there who will help us, I hope you don't make a fuss. This prince is called Charles". Gylen explained to the others as Caivan's representative, while they all nodded in agreement. There are ten of us on this journey. We had a well thought out plan and had made sure that we would not betray each other.After about five