The Wolf Queen

OVER A WEEK HAS passed since the fight with the Redcaps. Channin has slowly come back around, but still seems to be lost in her own thoughts at times. Raoul has continued to teach her tracking basics and the lessons have been paying off. Runir and the other Elves teach her to set a snare trap and which berries the animals eat at which time of year. She picks everything up quickly, clinging to the new information.

A blanket of snow has covered the ground by the time the troops reach the forest city of Paedleigh. The city has changed since Will and his troops were through the last time. War has torn most of the city apart. Houses have crumbled to dust. the fields and orchards around have been burnt until there isn’t much left.

They set up camp on a ridge overlooking the city. Channin notices two more groups of soldiers, both flying the King’s flag.

“What’s going on?” Channin asks, pointing out the flags as she pulls her bundle from Alloumera.

“It’s a show of force.” Raoul answers, untying his own, “King Svetozar is showing just how many soldiers he can spare in this endeavor.”

“If this doesn’t work, he’ll put a permanent camp up, after that, he’ll burn the whole city down.” Runir adds, ruffling his sand colored hair.

“Ian?”

The Vampire tenses and follows the sound of his name. A small group of soldiers approaching. The tallest one, wearing a dark cloak. Under the hood, Channin can still pick out pale features. Pink eyes and hair so light it might glow. The man on the left is human, dark hair and dark skin. He’s built to swing the Warhammer he carries. The last man is the Orc from before, Lorbeck. He is now wearing armor and a general’s badge. His weapons are two small axes, easy to maneuver and lethal when used properly.

Ian looks confused still, until the stranger pulls his hood down. A set of three scars run across his face, from above his right eye across to the left side of his chin. “Able?” Ian finally picks out a name and pushes himself up.

The Vampires embrace, “It’s good to see you again, brother.” Able smiles, “How’ve you been?”

“Great.” Ian returns, “These are my companions. Runir, the best archer I’ve ever known. Raoul, don’t let him frighten you, he’s soft. General William Starker. And Channin Ozera.”

Able’s smile fades when he sees her, “What is she doing here?” he mumbles to Ian.

“She’s been traveling with us.” Ian explains.

“Ian, you’re traveling with the strangest band of soldiers I’ve ever seen.” Able shakes his head, “When Abarrane said you had joined the great William Starker, I expected more.”

Raoul stands up, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Able sizes up the werewolf, “It means what it means.”

Raoul drops his Warhammer and takes a step forward. Channin leaps between the two, “Raoul, he isn’t worth it.” She puts both hands on his chest to stop him. She’s small enough that her could easily move her aside, but doesn’t.

The werewolf retreats a step, relaxing.

“See?” Able says, “Stopped by a little girl.”

“I’ll have you know, that girl is a skilled swordsman, archer and horse rider.” Will’s tone is enough of a warning to back Able off. It’s the first William has spoken since the arrival of the other generals.

“It’s hard to develop a skill you have no use for,” the Vampire states. “Tell me, Princess, of the wars fought in your stone palace.”

Channin recoils, almost shrinking even. For the second time, she’s being questioned on her experience, and for the first time, she questions herself. Maybe she didn’t belong out her. Maybe her place was in her stone tower, where she was safe. Like her Father. No. It couldn’t be. She wasn’t tucking her tail yet.

“That’s what I thought. You can’t be a true soldier if you’ve never faced true war.”

Will stands up, “Unless you’ve got business to report, I would recommend you leave. We have come quite a way to be here and need our rest.” It makes her nervous to see how quickly he went from calm to fierce.

Able nods, “I’ll be off then. Ian, if you ever want a true military experience, come find me. That goes for the rest of you too.” The Vampire and the human leave, but Lorbeck stays.

“Can I shoot him?” Runir asks, hopeful.

Raoul shakes his head, “As much as I’d like that, no.” Channin frowns, disappointed.

“It’s good to see you again, General. And you, Princess Channin.” The Orc turns to them, bowing.

“You too, Lorbeck.” Channin smiles, hiding the fact that Able’s words sting, she invites him to sit with them.

The Orc does and the company shares the tale of meeting his mother and the redcaps. Raoul, as usual, making the story much more grandiose than it ever was.

Lorbeck tells his own tale of growing up in Ozim and the backwards way he became a General.

At the mention of Bowen, Will is reminded of the compass he found. He had put it in the back of his mind and forgotten all about telling Channin that her friend was in the ravine with them. There’s never a good time for something like that though.

“Will?” her voice catches him and brings him back to reality, “Are you alright? You seemed a little lost.”

He nods, “Just thinking.” He quickly lies

“About?” she inches closer to him.

“Paedleigh.” He lies, “If they aren’t paying taxes, I’d almost guarantee that it’s because their fields were destroyed.”

Channin looks around, “Do you think the King knows?”

Will shrugs, “I don’t want to leave the city unprotected to go tell him.”

“What if I went?” she offers.

“No. I need you here in case fighting does break out.” At least someone believes in her.

“I can.” Lorbeck suddenly speaks. They didn’t even realize he was listening to them. “I can tell General Isaac and he can tell the King.”

Channin and Will exchange looks, “It’s worth a shot.” She forces a smile.

Lorbeck takes his leave and a few minutes later they watch a torch vanish into the woods, heading north.

The troops are tired and each turn in early. Soon, Will and Channin are left up alone. He puts another piece of wood on the fire before it dies.

“This is the first time we’ve kind of been alone in a while.” Channin observes.

“That’s what happens in the real world.” Will says in a mocking tone, “You don’t get time alone.”

She smiles and it fades, “Do you really believe what Able said?” She stares into the heart of the fire.

“No.” he answers quickly. “Absolutely not.” He sits down beside her and pulls her head to his shoulder. “Channin, you’ve already proved your worth to the others. I mean, Runir was going to shoot him. Little, quiet Runir was going to shoot a Vampire in the back.”

Channin smiles slightly, trying to laugh.

Will brushes a piece of hair out of her face, “You’re one of us.”

She looks up at him and her smile grows, “Be careful what you wish for. You might just end up stuck with me.” He kisses the top of her head. She looks up at him, smiling brightly now. He leans towards her.

“Get a room you two.” Ian mumbles, throwing a pinecone at Will, it hits the back of his head “Some of us are trying to sleep.”

Channin laughs and thinks of a question that came to mind seeing Able. “Hey, Ian?”

“Hmm?” he rolls over, trying to pass it off like he doesn’t want to speak to her.

“Why do you have blue eyes? If Vampires have no pigment, why aren’t they pink like Able’s?”

The Vampire rolls back over and props himself up on his left elbow, “You really don’t get out often. Able and I are both Vampires, yes. But we are two different types. He’s Born, his mother and father are Vampires. Wonderful people. I’m Turned, my parents were blacksmiths. I think.”

He tilts his head and in the fire light, Channin can see the thin scar running from his left ear down to the front of his neck and the place where his collarbones meet. It’s easily missed in the dark and his cloak covers it during the day. “Dad didn’t come home, so mom sent me to find him. I guess he came home while I was gone, because when I got there, blood everywhere. Both throats torn out.”

“That’s awful.”

“I’m just messing with you, I have no idea what happened.” Ian laughs, “I remember going to sleep and never waking up. And that was a long time ago.”

“How long?” Curiosity has completely overwhelmed her.

Ian thinks about it for a while and eventually says, “Do you remember Queen Danilovna?”

“She’s my mother’s grandmother.” Channin states, confusion setting in.

“I remember when she was born. I was really young, but I remember it.”

Channin counts backwards, “That means you’re at least 175 years old.”

He thinks again and nods, “That’s about right, I’d say 190 just to be on the safe side.”

“Well, how old’s Runir?” she asks, beyond confused at this point, she looks to Will for confirmation.

“He just turned 200.” Will says, “The thing with Elves, they’re all born about the same time. Right before the deer grow antlers.”

“Runir is older than Ian?” Channin’s eyes light up.

“The two of them are older than most trees.” Will taunts.

Ian sighs and sits up, “I can see I’m not- What’s going on?”

Channin and Will turn to see lines of soldiers heading into Paedleigh.

“Guess we aren’t waiting.” Will jumps up.

Their little army assembles quickly and they intercept the larger army outside of the city.

“Able, what are you doing?” Ian shouts.

The Vampire stops his horse, “We are taking this city in the name of King Svetozar Ozera.”

“On what grounds?” Will asks.

“The ground it stands on.” Someone responds, “You question the King’s orders?”

“We question everything.” Raoul snaps.

The twenty-three men and one woman are all that stands between Paedleigh and the King’s army.

“You’ll all be branded as traitors for defending this city.” Able warns.

A few of the men shift uncomfortably, “He can’t do that.” Will says quietly, “The King will hear you out.”

“This is your last warning.” Able’s horse, a massive red creature with a white face, shifts under him, nervous at his voice, “We will attack without discretion.”

“And we will meet your attack.” Will draws his sword.

“Men, William Starker is an enemy of the King. He and anyone standing with him will perish here or in front of the King.”

That’s enough for most of the men. Fourteen of them cross the line and stand with Able.

Raoul sighs, and starts forward.

“Not you too.” Will rolls his eyes. Channin can hear the annoyance in his tone. Raoul has made jokes about leaving before, but she never believed he would turn his back on them.

“You know, William. It’s been a good run.” He starts walking backwards, “But the whole enemy of the King gig isn’t my style. I always thought you were kind of a pansy as it was. What general doesn’t like bashing skulls in? No hard feelings, right brother?”

“None whatsoever.” Will shakes his head, strangely calm.

“Right then.” Raoul stops next to Able and his horse, “I’ll see you in Valhalla.” He waves, grabbing Able’s horse by the head he pulls it over his shoulder and brings it down on top of the Vampire. He knocks a spear out of the way as it comes for his head. His hammer comes out, “You call yourselves soldiers? Fight me.”

The larger army draws back a few steps and races forward. Raoul easily knocks some of them to the ground. Will’s remaining army braces itself.