The Wolf Queen

CHAOS. EVERYTHING IS MOVING too fast to follow. The remaining men standing with Will are assaulted. they try to strike when they can, but they are too overwhelmed. Their advantage is being cavalry. A horse stumbles, pitching his rider. Fear sinks into Will, they don’t have a chance. A riderless horse breaks from the mass, galloping full speed for the forest. He watches the pale, ghostly creature for a moment, and the fear grows to panic.

Raoul reaches Channin first. He knocks the soldier away. The pike snaps in half, bringing a yelp of pain from Channin as the second half falls from her side. It could have gone deeper, thank gods it didn’t. She’s on the very edge of the fight and he slips on the gravel to get to her.

“Hang on kid.” He says, looking around for Will, “We’re getting you out.”

“No, Raoul.” She’s holding her left side, blood seeping between her fingers, “It’s okay.” Channin is standing, but he can see her shaking.

Kaiser slides up next to them, sending up a cloud of dust. “What happened?” Will demands.

Raoul easily picks Channin up, “No time. You’ve got to get her out of here.” He puts her on the horse.

Will and Channin start to argue.

“Get out of here!” Raoul shouts, “I’ll get the others.” He smacks Kaiser on the hip.

The bay horse tosses his head and races for the woods. Will stops at the top of the hill to look back. He picks the pale form of Able out, standing against the gates to Paedleigh, holding a torch in his left hand. He would swear that the Vampire is looking at him.

Will turns the horse back around and urges him into the forest as a roar splits the air. Raoul has unleashed his wolf to help his surviving brothers escape.

Kaiser races through the trees, dodging them with ease. The horse has lead them way off the path and finally slows down. “Where are you taking us?” Will asks. The horse only snorts in response. He crosses a bridge and stops outside of a cabin.

It’s empty, but in decent shape. Will slides off the horse and pulls Channin down after him. She’s pale and her left side is soaked with blood. He pushes the door open and stumbles in. It’s one room with a bed in the middle of the north wall. A fireplace against the south wall and a broken chair between them. After helping Channin on to the bed, he tears the room apart looking for anything to stop the already slow bleeding.

“Will?”

He comes back to her, “Right here.”

“You’re okay.” She tries to smile, still holding her side.

He nods, “You need to stay awake.”

She agrees and he continues his search. He finds a roll of snare line and an old piece of deer hide. He rushes back to her. She’s pale and seems to have passed out. He ties the line around her and positions the hide over the wound. The minutes pass like hours as he waits to see if it has worked. When he wipes away the edges of the makeshift bandage, new blood doesn’t replace it. It’s either worked, or she’s dead. The thought scares him enough, he checks to make sure she’s still breathing.

He paces the floor a few times before going out to find what dry wood he can. Kaiser is standing close to the cabin wall. Will looks around for a second and finds a few branches on a tree that seem to be a little dry. He breaks them off and notices the smoke rising into the early dawn in the distance. He watches, hoping Raoul and the others made it out. He tries to push the thoughts of the villagers off.

He drops the branches on the floor near the fireplace and breaks some of the smaller pieces off. He makes a neat pile and goes back out to Kaiser, rummaging through the saddle bag until he finds a tinderbox. Ever since the ship wreck, he’s tried to keep one nearby. Channin has kept the one from the lighthouse, she tries to keep it hidden, but he’s seen it a few times.

He strikes a few times. No smoke. Will takes a deep breath to steady his hands. Three more strikes and a thin trail of smoke rises. When the flames begin, he leans back against the bed.

At some point, Will must fall asleep, because he’s woken up by the sound of horses. Armor ringing like bells as they move.

His hand moves to his sword. Kaiser makes a small noise and the other horses stop. The fear doesn’t stop. Kaiser would recognize the horses of the men who switched sides before the skirmish and would probably greet them.

The horses get closer, moving slower this time.

“Will?” It’s Runir.

He lets out a sigh of relief and steps out the door into the blinding sunlight. His eyes adjust and he takes in his troops. Or what’s left of them.

Five men and six horses. Raoul, Runir, Ian and two humans, Mack and Timen.

“Where’s everyone else?” Will asks, dreading the answer.

“Gone.” Raoul answers coldly, “He had a wolf too.”

Timen sighs, “We aren’t staying, Will.”

“When times get hard you just dessert?” Ian growls, “What about all the times Will has lead us through this?”

“We’re enemies of the King.” Timen returns, “I’m sorry, but I’ve got a family.”

“It’s fine.” Will says, staring blankly at the snow, “I understand. You two can leave.”

Timen turns his yellow horse and looks over his shoulder, “I am sorry.”

Mack follows Timen without saying anything.

Will returns to the cabin, Channin hasn’t moved. Raoul and the others follow him. Runir looks over Channin.

“Will, she needs a healer.” The Elf says.

“Isn’t Ioanna a healer?” Ian asks, “We could get her.”

“We can’t exactly march into the castle and kidnap the Queen.” Raoul mumbles, standing close to the fire.

Runir unties the makeshift bandage, “Whatever we do, it needs to be done fast. It’s really deep.”

Ian perks up, “We can’t march into Dragonspire, but I know someone who can.”

“Oh? Let’s not point fingers here, but if your little buddy hadn’t come over to say hi, he wouldn’t have had such a personal problem with Will.” Raoul growls.

Ian ignores him and looks at Will, “I need to get to Dawncliff.”

“Take Runir and Kaiser.” Will nods, “Be careful.”

They leave and a few seconds later, the sound of two horses racing off fades into silence.

“I tried Will.” Raoul sighs, “I’m not cut out for leading. I couldn’t even get ten men out.”

“It isn’t your fault. Able is just crazy.”

Raoul tries to force a smile, “Not as crazy as you.”

“That remains to be seen.”

Dawncliff has made improvements since the last time Runir was there. Where there were once temporary homes, tiny cottages now stand. A Vampire stops them at the door, “Ian, what is he doing here?” he motions towards the Elf.

“We are here to see Abarrane.” Ian warns, “It’s very important.”

The new Vampire hesitantly backs aside, but doesn’t take his eyes off Runir.

“Stick close. Unless you want to be dinner.” Ian warns.

Runir follows close to Ian. Abarrane’s home is decorated in pastel colors and black. She looks up from the table where she is showing a few dwarfs the designs for something.

“Ian.” She smiles brightly, revealing dual fangs, “And, thing.” Her smile fades, “Did you bring snacks for the road?” she laughs at her own joke.

“You’ve met Runir.” Ian says, “I need your help.” He ignores her remark and jumps to the important part.