The Wolf Queen

“CHANNIN, MAYBE THAT’S A bit extreme.” I say, swishing my tail across the grass. As soon as I say it, I regret it.

“Coming from the last dragon.” She pauses before mounting Alloumera. “I thought maybe you would agree.”

“I think King Svetozar needs to pay, yes. But setting fire to the Castle that our ancestors created isn’t justified.”

“Because there’s always a peaceful alternative, isn’t there?” she rolls her eyes.

William steps between us, catching Alloumera before Channin rides away. “That’s enough.”

“Listen to your leader, Omega.” The Princess attempts to taunt me. It doesn’t work, but it gives away how mad she really is.

“I meant you.” He turns on her in a second, “I get that you’re upset, you feel guilty-“

“No, I don’t.”

He holds up his hand and silences her, “You don’t see me yelling at animals for anything.”

“I don’t-“

“You don’t yell at animals.” He’s not yelling, but he’s not totally calm either. It’s a combination that Channin hasn’t seen before on him. “Channin, my soldiers were executed. I stayed with you rather than put a stop to it all right then. My closest friends were captured, and again, I’m here with you. I’ve spent weeks working to build you a city.”

Channin leans forward and flips Alloumera’s bridle over his ears, “I never asked you to stay.”

The white horse flicks his tail and canters away. Channin steers him with her body weight until tears start down her cheeks. She can’t see through the blur of water and ignores the storm that starts. Allou slows down to a walk and she doesn’t protest. He walks through the gates of Ravenguard, an Orc soldier tries to stop him, stopping only when he sees that Channin is alive.

The white horse walks straight into the stable and Channin slides off, then sinks to the floor. The scent of the straw surrounds her. Her wet clothes clinging to her, make her feel smaller than she is. Allou sniffs her hair and then nudges her, Channin is only strong enough to lift her hand and place it on his nose.

By the time William finds her, Channin is fast asleep.

“Should we wake her up?” Abarrane asks, pulling her saddle from Gray’s back. The massive mare pushes her new rider, following her to the tie post. Abarrane pulls a carrot from the saddle bag and holds it out. Gray happily eats it and goes back to her stall.

“No.” Will sighs, “You go on inside and get warmed up.”

Abarrane nods and heads for the house, sliding the barn door closed behind her.

William pulls the door open and kneels in front of Channin, “Milady?”

She stirs a little, but not enough for her to actually be awake. He sighs and scoops her up, closing the stall door behind him proves to be a challenge, but he manages without waking her up. When the cold rain hits them, Channin curls up closer to him. He carries her inside and is met by Raoul at the door.

“Is it true?” he shouts, drunkenly, “Those bastards have Ian now?”

“Shh.” Will motions to Channin, and nods.

“What’s the plan?” Raoul asks, only lowering is tone a little.

William glares at him again, “Channin wants to invade the capital.”

“And you don’t?” The werewolf tilts his head. His eyes catch the dying firelight and sparkle.

“I don’t want to discuss this.” He pushes past his friend.

Raoul half laughs. “Figured as much.”

William turns back to face him, a questioning expression on his face.

“Ever since you met Channin, it’s the rebellion this and the true heir that. When does it stop?”

“You think we should turn ourselves over for Ian?” The words sound worse coming from his mouth than they did in his mind.

“I think that this war, if you can call it that, ends messy.” The werewolf faces his General, “Who else do we need to lose? Hmm? Let’s count them.” He ticks off soldiers on his fingers. “Lyari, Fairen, Folred, Paeris, Runir. There’s your Elves. Thymoli, Nofaed, Haddan. The Dwarves got out before it got too bad. Brugo didn’t. He stood with us at Paedleigh.”

William warns Raoul with his eyes, the werewolf continues, “Lewis, Glen, Cicero, Elias, Peter, that kid we called Squire,” In one breath he adds six names, “Are you catching on? Or do I need to keep going? Cause I can. Mack. Timen. Isaac. Ian.”

Will starts up the stairs, Channin is starting to get heavy.

“When does it stop? Because if we march on Dragonspire, we won’t seize the city. Hell, we won’t make it past the gates. Able will be waiting. I’ll be damned if I’m going to lead another brother to the slaughter. You should feel the same way.”

Will stops, he’s halfway up the stairs and could easily keep going and ignore Raoul.

“I’ll ask again. Does it end if I join them? What about you or Channin? Lady Abarrane? If you try to take the city, everyone dies for nothing. Do you want to go through that again?”

Will walks up the rest of the stairs, feeling Raoul’s eyes on him as he goes down the hall to Channin’s room. He puts her down on the bed and sits on the edge. He brushes her hair back from her face and watches her sleep for a few seconds.

He stands up and walks over to the table near the fireplace. It’s small and round, just big enough for a tray, or, in Channin’s case, a drawing book.

He flips it open, glancing over to make sure she’s still asleep. She’s still fiercely protective of it. The first picture is of him, he’s brushing Kaiser. He isn’t sure when she saw him do this, but it’s in the garden beside the Castle. The next drawing is a flower in a teacup. Even without color, he knows it’s an aster. Isaac and Bowen on their matching horses. Runir shooting his bow, with Gray standing by. Raoul and Runir laughing at Ian’s expense in Ozim. The horses in a stable somewhere. Mack, Timen and Brugo playing a card game where Mack is clearly winning.

After Paedleigh, her drawings feature more people. Lady Abarrane practicing magic, Amaryllis cooking, Omega curled up in front of the fire, Raoul in the garden, Ian and Runir sitting on the fence. Him again, chopping wood, on the reverse side of the page is a detailed sketch of an amulet.

It’s a small serpentine dragon curled around to form an ‘S’ shape. Again, without color, he knows what it is, because it is his. The last drawing is everyone together for Abarrane and Ian’s binding ceremony. They all look happy in her picture, not quite how he remembers the day, but how it should have gone.

There are no more. Just empty sheets after that. He closes the book and his hand instinctively goes for the amulet. He turns it over and over in his hand. When does it stop? Channin would ride for Dragonspire in the morning. She might make it past the gates, if she did, Peytra would be waiting for her. Could Channin survive another encounter with her sister, or would she meet the same fate as her mother? What about Raoul and Abarrane? She could put up a shield and protect herself, but that would run out eventually. Raoul is powerful enough to take out a few cavalry riders at a time. Will forces aside the image of his only friend left being overpowered.

And what about him? There was nothing special about the Council’s pet from Atra. Sure, he was skilled, but everyone had their limits.

He hesitates and kicks Kaiser forward. Just as expected, the bolas catches his chest and he crashes to the ground. Kaiser races off and soldiers set upon his rider. They twist Will to his knees as a black horse approaches.

“The once great General Starker.” Able swings down from his horse, pointing his sword at Will, “I thought this would be a little more momentous. You know, something they’d build a statue of. It was like you didn’t even care.”

Will shrugs, “Guess the fugitive life isn’t something I’m cut out for.”

“You aren’t all wrong.” Able bares his fangs in a half smile, “What’s wrong? Tired of fighting the thing that created you?”

“Just tired.” Will says, trying to ignore the thoughts of Channin.

“Take him to the castle. The King will want him alive.” Able begins scanning the area around.

“You won’t find her.” Will says, being dragged to his feet, “She’s too clever for that. She doesn’t even know I’m here.”

“She’ll figure it out.” A man returns with Kaiser.

They lead him back to the castle, a few soldiers giving him a look of disillusionment. They go through the side door of the castle and down a set of stairs. They are underground. Able opens a door and the guards lead William in.

Channin wakes up as the sun rises over the edge of the canyon, casting its warm orange rays into her window. She stretches and looks around the room, no William. Outside, she can see a dark form on the roof of the barn, resting in the sunlight. I prick up and look over my shoulder and up to her room. I know she is up. Without any further interaction, I go back to watching the entrance. I don’t want to be around when she realizes what she has done.

She pulls a clean dress on and has to sit back down after a wave of nausea comes over her. It’s something she has grown accustomed to in the last month. She exhales slowly, before continuing down the stairs slowly. Raoul and Amaryllis are standing in the kitchen, talking quietly when Channin sinks into her chair at the table.

“How are you today?” the werewolf asks.

“If I had eaten last night, I’d be sick.” She mumbles.

“Ginger and lemon.” The werewolf instructs.

She lifts her head just enough to look over at them. Raoul is grinning proudly, Amaryllis pulls a teapot off the fire sheepishly. “You told?”

“She didn’t have too.” He grabs a piece of bread and takes a bite, “You aren’t the only one around here with wolf senses.”

She tries to smile, but puts her head back down.

“I assume you talked to General Starker yesterday?” Amaryllis pours a cup of tea and brings it to Channin.

She nods, “Speaking of, have either of you seen him this morning? I need to apologize to him.”

Amaryllis shakes her head. Raoul shrugs and shoves the rest of the bread in his mouth, “But he’s supposed to be here for a training drill.” The werewolf disappears, the front door opens and closes.

“I’m sure he’ll turn up. He loves you.” Amaryllis goes back into the kitchen.

Channin looks back out the window to where Raoul has gathered a few new recruits and begins a training session. I shift my weight around to watch them.