The Wolf Queen

WILL STUDIES THE map in front of him. His small band has only been at Dragonspire a few weeks and the King is already sending them out. The Battle room is a cabin style building, set at the end of the garden. Opposite the stables. It’s got a cozy feeling, with a small fireplace and a massive oak table in the center. The walls are covered with antlers and skulls of wild creatures.

Channin’s boar isn’t there. She notices that quickly. Is her first hunt not worthy of the wall? She tunes into Will, trying to ignore it. He looks up from the map every few seconds to the trophy of a spotted cat with huge fangs. She’s almost certain they are extinct now. The cat was one of the only things left in Dragonspire from Aleksander Ozera, the first king of Laneyth.

“The Dwarfs and the Vampires both have a claim to this land,” Isaac points to a place next to the vampiric city of Dawncliff. “My son Bowen and his men rode out this morning, otherwise I’d send them.”

“What good are they if they aren’t doing anything?” Channin speaks for the first time in the meeting.

“She has a point.” Raoul laughs loudly.

Will sighs and Channin wonders if he regrets bringing the burly werewolf along. “We don’t mind. A little land dispute is nothing we can’t handle.”

Isaac and Channin both recoil and share a surprised expression.

“Did you not hear him?” the girl asks, “Vampires and Dwarfs.”

“My dear girl, we’ve faced entire Empty armies before. I doubt a small bicker between two little tribes is something we can’t handle.” The werewolf reminds her.

Isaac starts to defend Channin, but she holds up her hand and leans over the table slightly. This should be fun.

“I’m going to forget that last remark because you clearly don’t know what you are about to get yourself into.” She’s eerily calm, “I’ll make sure you-or what’s left of you- makes it back to Loskayze.”

“Is that a threat?” Raoul looks between the other three, “She just threatened me.” He’s trying his best to be insulted.

“Enough you two.” Isaac scolds, “Channin, you are here to observe not terrorize.”

She sits back, folding her arms across her chest and smirking. It doesn’t matter, she’s already unnerved him.

“When do you want us to leave?” Will asks, studying the path between the capital city and Dawncliff.

“As soon as you can.” Isaac states, “It’s a three-day journey.”

“Raoul, gather the men. I’ll need to speak to the King about supplies.”

The werewolf does as he’s told, leaving the three of them alone.

The girl looks between the two Generals. She can pick out the sound of a mouse in the wall through the silence. After a moment, Channin speaks, “I want to go.”

“Absolutely not.” Isaac and Will say in unison. They use the same forceful tone and she is reminded that Isaac taught Will most of what he knows. The mouse stops.

“Why not?” she argues, “I can be useful.”

Isaac takes her shoulders, “You can and someday, you will. But for now, your place is here.”

She backs away from him, “Here? In Dragonspire. Where it’s safe.”

The old General grows concerned, Channin rolls her eyes, “Yeah, I thought so.” She leaves without another word.

Will hears Alloumera whinny and then the sound of a horse leaving.

“Go talk to her.” Isaac suggests, “You know you want to.”

“She’s just upset, she’ll cool off and come home.” Will opens the door. Isaac follows him. The Battle hall is set at the very edge of the orchard, easy to access but still giving the King his privacy.

“If you take this trail,” Isaac motions to a small path on the other side of the fence, “It’ll lead you up to where she’s at.”

Will makes a puzzled face before Isaac explains further, “I practically raised the girl, I know where she is at all times. Even when she thinks I don’t.”

He finds Kaiser and unties him, still considering if he should follow Isaac’s advice. As he takes Kaiser from the post, he passes the patch of Aster flowers and sighs.

“Let’s go find her.”

Channin pulls Alloumera to a stop, “Don’t worry Channin, you are meant for great things,” She mocks, forcing her voice comically low, “How can I do anything great if I’m stuck in Dragonspire?”

Allou shakes his head, his white hair falling back into place. “Exactly,” She says, “At least someone understands.” She pulls an arrow from the quiver on her saddle, “I mean it’s not like I’m asking for much.” She stops to think about it, “Well, yeah. That’s actually quite a bit.”

She shoots towards a target and hits the very edge of the center circle

“You aren’t bad.”

She spins around, bow drawn and narrowly misses William and Kaiser.

“I’m so sorry.” She quickly apologizes.

“It’s not the first time we’ve been shot at.” He rides up next to her and moves Kaiser’s mane over. A small patch of white hair at the base of his neck stands out against his dark coat. “He took an arrow in Loskayze. He nearly died from infection. Thankfully, I had a Centaur friend at the time. He was able to save him.”

Channin looks back down to Alloumera, staying quiet. She can see the very top of the castle over the trees. The grass is still green, despite the increasingly cold nights.

“Channin, do you know who the Council is? What they do?”

“They rule Loskayze, right?”

He considers it for a second and nods, “You aren’t wrong. But do you know why?”

Her mind races. With all the books she’s read, surely somewhere there was something about The Council of Loskayze. Anything?

“The last King of Loskayze only had one son. This son went off to war and was killed. The King died the night he got the news. A broken heart, as the legend goes. But he never named an heir. Without an heir, the Council stepped in.” He watches her fire another arrow.

“And they’ve run the country into the ground.” She sighs, laying the bow across her lap, “What does this have to do with me?”

“Milady, I promise that you will go with me one day.” He says after a few seconds, “Just not today. You are needed here. To protect Laneyth from the same fate as Loskayze.”

She raises her eyes, but does not meet Will’s gaze.

“You have my word.” He continues.

Channin nods.

“Come on.” He pulls Kaiser’s head around, “We should get back. Before more rumors fly.”

She turns Alloumera around and rides next to him for a bit. How could the Council that bad? William had worked for them. That much she knew. He had dropped them awfully fast for a stranger king’s invitation. Maybe that said something about them.

The journey to Dawncliff does take three days, as Isaac said. It would be faster if supplies didn’t slow them down. A single rider could make it in a day. When the soldiers arrive, they are met by the empty field.

“Uhm, General.” Raoul begins, “I thought you said there was a city here.”

“They are under ground.” Will explains, “The Vampires can only handle a small amount of sunlight. So, their cities are underground.”

“It’s literally a land dispute.” The werewolf raises an eyebrow.

William nods and starts towards the cliffs. A narrow path winds down to the entrance to the city.

More riders approach as Will and his men dismount. He recognizes the King’s symbol on their flag, an h with a cross on it.

“General Starker.” Bowen steps down from his red and white horse, “Good to see you again.”

“Blatz.” William greets him, “The King sent you too?”

Bowen shrugs, “We were in the area.”

Kaiser whinnies, trying to make friends with the new horse. Bowen’s horse pins his ears back and nips the larger horse’s nose.

“Paint.” His rider scolds. “Do you have a plan of how to address this?” Bowen asks.

“We usually divide up and get both sides and then regroup and plan from there.”

Bowen agrees and takes a few of his men to the Dwarf side of Dawncliff. Leaving Will to take the Vampire side. He takes Runir with him, leaving the other men to set up camp.

The vampire side is small and cramped. Tiny houses are carved into the rock, pieces of tin serve as doors and shutters. Small torches light some places and others are lit by glowing blue mushrooms. Runir and Will are only a few feet in when they are greeted by a Vampire.

He’s taller than Will and very thin. His skin and hair are both white and his eyes are pale blue. “I’m Ian. You’re from Dragonspire, right? The King sent you?”

Will introduces himself and Runir.

“I’m glad you’re here, General.” Ian sighs, “I’ll take you to see Abarrane.”

Will and Runir trail after Ian as he makes his way through the narrow passages. Abarrane is small, even for a Vampire. She has the same white hair the rest of the born Vampires have. Her eyes are pale purple, a trait passed in the royal family line. She waives her company away when they enter. She stands up, she’s wearing a floor length black dress, the skirt has a red lace covering and a red ribbon is tied around her already small waist.

“General Starker, I presume?” her voice is soft but strong.

“Lady Abarrane.” He responds, “It’s an honor.”

She sits back down. “The King sends a Human and an Elf to do his bidding,” She crosses her legs under her dress, “How typical.”

“Everything seems to be in order here.” Will observes, “Why send for us?”

“It’s the Dwarfs. Again.” She is agitated, “They continue to expand their city and force their way into ours. How are we supposed to have peace, if they will not cease digging? My city was once beautiful, now it lies in ruin because my people have to pack up and move whenever the Dwarfs decide to break the wall.”

Abarrane and Ian continue, each telling of the wrongs the Dwarfs have done against them. It only takes Will a few minutes to form a plan, but he still needs the other side.

Bowen and Will meet at camp that night. The fire light is just beginning to die when Bowen sits down.

“The Dwarfs say that the Vampires are too stagnant. They don’t move, their numbers don’t grow, they have no need for the land.”

“The Vampires have to keep rebuilding their city because of the Dwarf’s expansion.”

“And what’s your plan?” Bowen asks.

Will thinks it over for a moment, “If we tell the Dwarfs to expand eastward rather than west, they can expand, and the Vampires can stay where they are.”

“General Starker.” It’s Ian. His eyes reflect blue in the firelight. Behind him, a pair of dark purple ones, Abarrane.

“Ian, what brings you?” he greets his new friends.

Abarrane speaks first, staying behind Ian. “We smell them. I didn’t think they would come.”

“What are you talking about?”

“William.” Bowen is looking around the campsite. Eyes peer back at them from every side, “Werewolves.”

“They aren’t too fond of the King or his men right now.” Ian mumbles, “Being locked away and forced to fight.”

Bowen and his men stand and draw their weapons, William stays sitting.

“You can’t fight them.” Raoul moves in front of Bowen. There is a foot in height difference between the two, but Raoul is nearly twice as wide, “They’ll rip you apart.”

“And what do you suggest we do?” Bowen growls, not relinquishing his sword.

“Let me talk to them. See if we can’t reason with them.” The werewolf leaves without another word, dropping his Warhammer to the ground as he goes.

Raoul approaches and a huge black wolf breaks from the others. The man quickly puts him on the ground. Will can pick out the gold shine of Raoul’s eyes just seconds before he transforms. Even a wolf massive as the alpha isn’t a match for Raoul, it’s a short battle. The werewolf returns as the others disappear into the forest.

“What was that?” Bowen snaps, “You let him go alone without back up.”

Will shrugs, “That’s the thing about werewolves, they might be cursed, but they are honorable.”

Bowen sits back down, studying Will. “That didn’t worry you at all.”

“Should it?”

“That’s terribly arrogant.” Ian shakes his head.

Will sighs, “I’ve got someone to go back to Dragonspire for, I gave her my word. It’s courage, not arrogance.”

“I’d like to go with you. If that’s alight,” the Vampire says.

Will and Bowen both look him over and Will agrees.

“Most of our job is in the sunlight. But if you can handle that, I don’t see why you should be excluded.”

“Do you have any training?” Bowen asks, more as a point to Will.

Ian thinks for a moment and shakes his head.

“Reason number one.” The General laughs a little.

“Any man willing to risk his life for his country is worth his weight.” Will corrects, “Besides, we all started somewhere.”

Bowen studies them for a moment and looks back to the fire. This is not a battle he needs to fight. The risk of losing Will as an ally is too great.

Ian agrees to meet back with the others before they leave in the morning. The mix of soldiers eventually fall away to their beds, until William and Bowen are the last up.

“So, you’ve got a wife?” Bowen asks when Will stands to put another log on the fire.

Will smiles at the ground, laughing. “No, more of an acquaintance. I feel like I barely know her, but does anyone ever really know a woman?”

Bowen laughs, “I’ve got a lady. Well, more of an empty promise really. I could know her a hundred lifetimes and never understand her. I hope to. She’s wonderful, a skilled warrior, she could talk anyone into anything. Yours?”

“She’s bright in every way. She could outshine the moon and all its stars. Every minute I spend with her makes me crave two more. She’s air and I’m a drowning man.”

“I can beat that.” Bowen stretches his arms up, “Have you met the Princess Channin?” He knows the answer, and is asking more to make his point.

Will notices a section of discolored skin, it looks like an old burn on Bowen’s shoulder. He points it out, ignoring the name of his love, and changing the subject.

“It’s a birthmark. My father has one as did his mother and before her.” Bowen jumps back to the previous topic, “King Svetozar suggested himself that Channin and I wed. The Queen wouldn’t have any part of that though.”

William stays silent.

“Which is odd, she’s always been like a mother to me. I never knew mine though.”

Bowen turns to bed and William is left up alone.

Back at Dragonspire, Lady-in-waiting Amaryllis opens the door to find Channin hanging upside down off the bed. Her blonde hair touching the ground.

“What in Laneyth are you doing?” she sighs.

“I’m going to lose my mind. Both the Generals are gone, mother is afraid I’ll get frostbite if I’m out too late, father is too obsessed with the possibility of a threat for war.” She flips upright.

“You could sew, you could draw, you could read.” Amaryllis crosses the room to the window and pulls the curtains back, “The possibilities are endless for you.”

“I’ve read all the books. Sewing is boring and I have nothing to draw.” Channin moves to the window and sits in front of it, “When are they coming back?”

“It will still be a few weeks.” Amaryllis begins to stack papers, “You could always ask your mother for another lesson in healing.”

“For me or for you?” Channin laughs.

“I’m finally getting the hang of it.” She sighs, “I know how much you hate it, but I can do it.”

“Then you ask. She’ll be thrilled.”

“Ask who what?”

Channin and Amaryllis both spin around to face the Queen. She’s wearing an emerald green dress that brings out the color of her eyes. Peytra stands with her.

“Mother, Amaryllis wants to learn healing magic.”

“At least one of you does.” She narrows her eyes at Channin, “We must keep it secret. If Svetozar finds out, it won’t end well. And we will need a place to practice.”

“My library?” Channin suggests.

“If you would like too,” Ioanna nods, “You have all the books we will need.”

“Thank you, your majesty.” Amaryllis curtsies.

“You both need to get some sleep.” The Queen says.

Channin quickly perks up, “Mother, have you heard anything about General Bowen?”

She looks over her shoulder and sighs, “Svetozar is sending him to Ige, in the mountains. General Starker is to take his men to the eastern coast.”

“What does that mean?” Peytra asks in her small, mouse-like voice.

“They are going to the front lines.” Channin explains. “Ige is the third sister city. Paedleigh is on the coast. They won’t be home for a while. Will they?”

She looks at the map on her wall, she can easily point to both Ige and Paedleigh. She isn’t quite sure what Paedleigh does for the Kingdom, but everyone pulls their weight. Ige is in the mountains, much too high for crops of any sort

The Queen tries her best to smile, “I’m sorry dear. Maybe you can take an interest in things young ladies are supposed to.”

Channin sighs and looks back out the window. The stars are fading as the sun grows closer.