The Wolf Queen

ALLOUMERA IS WAITING FOR them at the cabin. He’s filthy and has lost a considerable amount of weight. Channin is overjoyed to see him, Will is more relieved than anything. Gray and the other horses are huddled together too.

Will pushes the door open, the entire room turns.

“I thought they found you.” Amaryllis cries, “You had us worried sick.”

Channin allows her to hug her, “We were checking traps.”

“I see that.” Raoul takes up the dead rabbit, “But what were you really doing?”

“She’s been down for a while, she needed a run.” Will answers quickly. He is able to answer questions under pressure. Channin doesn’t say anything when the others look to her for validation. The conversation turns when Abarrane speaks.

“We think we know how to take back Paedleigh.”

“How?” Will and Channin both ask, happy to have the topic away from their new relationship.

They turn to Runir to explain, “The trail their supplies travel goes right past Dawncliff. If we intercept them-“

“Their troops go hungry.” Channin doesn’t seem to like it, “The fields were burnt and the ground might be too frozen to plant more.” She motions towards the window and the growing pile of snow.

“And even if we get the supplies, where are we taking them?” William asks, “We can’t put the Dwarfs and Vampires in danger by going back there.”

“He’s right.” Ian nods, “If they choose to fight, that’s one thing. But dragging them into it unwillingly isn’t right.”

Runir frowns, “I guess I didn’t think about it.”

“Let’s work through this.” Will say quickly, “It’s a great idea. The best we’ve got so far.”

“What was your plan?” Ian asks.

“Probably just march into Paedleigh and take it back without asking.” Raoul grumbles.

“Let’s stick with Runir’s.” Will glares at the werewolf. Channin knows the pair well enough to know that Raoul is right with his assumptions about Will’s character.

Channin paces to the window, “So we need someplace where the King can’t find us, but close enough to get the supplies.”

She looks down at the compass, still spinning in her hand.

“It should probably be easy to defend,” Runir adds.

The compass stops. Channin looks up from it. “What’s that way?” she points the same direction.

“West?” Will studies the compass for a second, “Not much. Tokia. Voscer. But that might be it.”

“What’s with the compass?” Abarrane takes it and looks over it. The compass points to Dawncliff.

“It’s enchanted.” Channin explains, taking it back. “It will always guide you home. Isaac gave it to Bowen before he left Dragonspire.”

“Dragonspire is more north, isn’t it?” Runir is looking west with Will.

“It isn’t pointing to the capital.” The general observes.

“Then where?” Ian asks.

Channin shoves the door open, “Only one way to find out.”

She climbs onto Alloumera and the others follow her. Runir pulls Amaryllis up after him.

Channin leads, her small white horse doesn’t sink in the snow as much as the heavier warhorses. She soon is just a speck. Allou flicks his ears at every sound.

“Channin, you’ve got to slow down.” Will calls to her.

She ignores him, watching the compass needle shake every few steps, like it is second guessing the direction it wants to send her. Rather than slowing down, she surges forward. Kaiser neighs for Alloumera but he doesn’t answer.

“We won’t be able to catch her.” Raoul stops his horse.

“Follow the tracks.” Will sighs, he’s disappointed in her for continuing to run off.

Her horse leaps through the snow. Channin, watching the compass more than the ground ahead, fails to see the ditch until they slide down it. She falls forward, hitting her head against his neck. Alloumera is just as surprised as Channin, locking his front legs and stopping. She gently urges him forward, keeping her attention divided between the compass and the horse.

Allou’s tracks take a sudden left and turn into a narrow canyon. It’s only wide enough for one row of horses. If it weren’t for the tracks, they would have passed it. Channin and Allou stand at the end.

“My Lady?” Amaryllis calls.

She glances back, “What took you so long?”

“We can’t all ride tiny horses.” Raoul grumbles, riding past her.

“He really hates losing.” Will points out.

“I’m sorry I’m such a sore loser.” He glances back.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Runir asks.

Channin nods and points ahead of them. The canyon opens into a valley. A house is built on the top of a small hill. There is a low fence around the base of the hill and the house looks strangely imposing, despite the only slight change in terrain.

The lower front wall is made of large river stones. A matching rock archway leads to a small porch and the front door. The second story is sections of white stone with dark wooden frames. The gray roof comes to three peaks. One above the door, one above the round outcropping and the third running the length of the house.

“Think it’ll do?” Ian asks.

Channin shrugs and rides towards the front yard. Alloumera stumbling through the snow.

“What if someone lives here?” Ian stays put.

The blonde stops halfway off her horse, “I’m the Princess.”

“That doesn’t mean you can just take houses from people.” Will scolds her.

Runir shrugs, “It kind of does.”

“Good point, Road Snacks.” Abarrane leaps from her horse.

“Again, that isn’t my name.” he growls, “Rune, like a rune stone. Ear, like the thing you don’t use.”

She spins in a few circles away from him, her dress flaring out around her, “What was that? I can’t hear you, Road Snacks. I don’t have ears.”

Channin slowly approaches the house, ignoring their argument. Something feels familiar about the house, but she can’t place it. The second step from the top squeaks when she steps on it. A familiar sound.

“Channin?” Will asks, keeping his voice low, “Are you alright?”

She looks around the porch. On the inside of the archway, near the bottom are two small handprints. She kneels to study them, the slightly larger one is red and the other is blue. The opposite paint colors spell names underneath them. Channin and Peytra.

“Amaryllis, do you know anything about this place?” She runs her hand over the railing.

She shakes her head, “It was before me.”

“Anyone older than us know anything?” Raoul shoots a glare towards Abarrane and Runir, still arguing.

“I know that Ioanna’s parents moved to the southern part of Laneyth after Svetozar took over.” Ian gives up trying to stop the fight, “But that’s about it.”

“Did you visit your grandparents?” Will asks, turning back to Channin. She’s already entered the house, looking around. He sighs and follows her.

The first room has a massive fireplace and dark wooden floors. A staircase wraps around to the top floor in the left corner of them room. A door under the stairs leads to what could be a kitchen. Ahead of him is a wide glass door with a few more steps down into the main room. Channin stands in the center, slowly turning.

He cautiously follows her. There are a few closed doors on the right of this room and an open archway to the left. This leads to a long table and another way into the kitchen.

“Chan?” he repeats.

She sits on the edge of the couch, like she’s struggling to take everything in. “We would visit during the summer. Isaac, mother, Peytra and I. I couldn’t have been more than six.”

“Why did you stop?” he sits next to her.

She shakes her head and shrugs, “I don’t know.”

“This place is almost perfect.” Abarrane appears from the dining room, “It’s secluded and hard to find.”

“Close enough to the supplies, but far enough away from Dawncliff that the others are safe.” Ian adds.

Channin looks around at them, “It just needs a name. Every good fortress has one.”

“I’m guessing House of Ozera is out?” Raoul smirks, “Den of Shadows.”

“More like the Den of Outcasts.” Abarrane rolls her eyes.

“We aren’t outcasts.” Ian mumbles, moving some dust with his foot.

“You’re right. We’ve got a werewolf that loves kids, a general that fell from grace, the princess on her white stallion, an herb witch, the turned Vampire and his queen, and snacks for the road.” She rolls her eyes, “No, we aren’t outcasts. We are misfits.”

“What about Ravenguard?” Runir asks, looking between them. “Ravens symbolize change and rebirth, right?”

Channin nods. Ravens are renowned in Elven culture, seen as guides through trying times. That was really what she wanted, someone else to lead so she could escape.

“Ravenguard.” Will tests it out, “Not bad.”

“I like it.” Abarrane shrugs.

“Good job, kid. You named a house.” Raoul slaps him on the back.

The blonde stands up and moves to the first room again. She stands in front of the fireplace and carefully puts the compass on the mantle. A small reminder of Dragonspire and the destruction it had brought.