The Wolf Queen

ATHEDOR IS A COUNTRY made entirely of islands. It is smaller than Laneyth and the Northern-most kingdom. It is mostly covered with tundra and evergreen forests. The coast is barely a two-day ship ride from Dragonspire, but when they land, Channin is thankful for the dry ground.

Bridges connect most of the islands to the largest island, where the castle is located. A gold and emerald carriage is waiting at the dock for them. It is closed in, with gold ferrets wrapped around the corners. They have small emerald eyes and Channin wonders if it’s only a coincidence or if it has to do with her family lineage.

The dock is empty, aside from the carriage. The pair settle into the dark hold, green curtains block out the sunlight.

“I figured there would be a celebration.” Will says to Channin.

“So did I. Not that I mind, but it is odd.” She races her hand over the green velvet bench.

The castle of Athedor is smaller than Dragonspire and lacks an official title. The stone walls form a box-like structure. It is much less imposing than the massive towers and halls that Channin is accustom to. The Ozera family flag hangs next to the Bader family flag above the door to the castle.

“I don’t think I can do this.” She mumbles, backing up.

Will keeps a hold of her, “You can do this. You are Channin Ozera. You are confident, strong and bright.”

“It’s calm, poised and polite.” She corrects, “And that will not help.” She tries to pull away from him. Will refuses to yield.

“Let go.” She demands.

“Believe me, I want to.” He admits out of impulse, rather than strategy.

“Then do. Let’s just get back on the ship and not talk to anyone. Go home to Laneyth and tell the king that Aaron was already married.”

“I can’t lie to the King.” Will snaps, “Now put on your brave face and go in there.”

“And do what? Make a fool of myself and my kingdom?” She twists her wrist around in his grasp. Why did he have to be that strong? She knows she won’t wrench herself from his grip.

“Show them the woman you are. Any real man would love that you.”

“What?” She stops struggling.

The doors open before Will can answer. The two are standing at a full arm’s length away from each other. Both pulling in opposite directions.

The entire court shares a similar confused expression.

A man clears his throat and Channin allows Will to lead her through the doors. Prince Aaron Bader has light brown hair and bright blue eyes. He’s between Will and Channin’s height and muscular. He’s clean shaven and he keeps his hair short.

“Lady Channin.” His smile is huge and a little unnerving. “You are more lovely than the stories.”

She tightens her grip and takes a small step closer to Will. Just a few minutes ago, she had been desperate to get away from him, now, she refuses to yield his arm. “You are Prince Aaron.” What should be a question is a statement.

“Indeed. Welcome to Athedor.”

She looks around the hall, timidly. “This is General William Starker.” He is her escape, the only thing she can cling to, a distraction from the prince.

“I’ve heard of him.” Aaron glances over Will, “But I think in a fair duel, I could beat him.”

“You choose the weapon and the place.” Will forces a smile, “I’m sure the people would love a good show.”

Aaron leads the two of them to a room off the entrance hall, a library. She walks along the shelf, searching for any books that stick out. Channin knows all of them.

“Have you ever seen so many books?” Aaron asks, “They are all filled with knowledge, passed from generation to generation.”

“My library in Laneyth is bigger.” She circles the library again. Her library is bigger. It’s filled with books from all over the world. Books written in languages she can only begin to understand.

Will holds his breath to avoid laughing at Aaron’s surprised expression.

“You mean your father’s library.” He tries to correct her.

“I meant what I said.” Channin turns to face him.

Aaron shifts uncomfortably, “General Starker, I hear you have just come back from saving Laneyth.”

“I would not say I saved Laneyth. She does not need saving. Not yet, anyway.” Will fights to keep the prince’s attention on him for a moment, “How is your military here?”

“The ground troops are no match for Laneyth, but our naval fleet is stellar.” He smiles again and Channin decides that is what makes him unsettling, “I’m sure that would change with the alliance of the countries.”

“Getting the other generals to follow another king will be difficult.” Will sighs, “But I’m sure some of them can be bought.” Channin is certain he heard that from her father.

“And what about you?” Aaron tilts his head inquisitively, “There’s only one General I need to swear allegiance, the rest will follow. Like ducks in a row.”

Channin watches him consider this and then look away. Why had he chosen to stay in Laneyth? Surely he had some sort of family to go home to. Where had he said he was from? He hadn’t said anything about growing up. His accent wasn’t Loskayzian though. She makes a mental note to figure it out.

“Everyone has a price, William.” Aaron tilts his head, smirking now.

Will glances over to Channin, she’s watching very intently to see what he says, “Swiching sides tends to put a price on one’s head. Not to mention the questions that it raises about loyalty.”

“And what are you if not loyal.” Aaron’s tone becomes slightly mocking.

Will’s response is empty, “Exactly.”

The conversation ends there. Channin is whisked away to a set of rooms on the top floor and Will gets a ground level room. The next time Will and Channin see each other is at dinner. Even that is just a fleeting glance though. The citizens of Athedor are very welcoming towards Channin, less so to William. After the meeting in the library, Aaron avoids Will.

Morning comes, and Will hears secondhand as Aaron offers Channin a ride around the islands and she hesitantly agrees. Leaving Will to explore Athedor on his own. For the size and elaborate decor of the castle, the towns around are small and ramshackle. His mind returns to Dawncliff when he first arrived. A small group of Elven children play in the street, using sticks as swords. When they spot William, they run quickly the other way.

Three human women are sitting on a porch, sewing a blanket. One shushes the other two as Will draws nearer.

“You sew beautifully.” He tries to speak to one of them.

“Thank you, sir,” she mumbles, not making eye contact.

The blanket they are working on is muted colors of brown, green and red.

“If you don’t mind, where are the men in this village?”

The oldest woman stands up. She is incredibly short with long gray hair. “They are out in the fields to feed the royal scum you are.”

Will is taken aback but laughs at the sudden courage from the old woman.

“Mother.” The middle one hisses, “Sit down, you’ll get yourself killed.”

“I’m not royalty. I’m General William Starker from Loskayze.” He introduces himself, “You don’t have anything to be afraid of.”

“You’re awfully pale to be from Loskayze boy.” The old woman grumbles again.

Will laughs again, “I’ve lived everywhere but Loskayze was by far the most comfortable.”

“Where were you born?” the youngest one asks, she appears younger than Lady Peytra. Red hair, large gray eyes, typical Athedor pale skin and a very small frame add to her youthful appearance.

“In Atra, but I didn’t stay there very long, I moved to Loskayze with my teacher and now I live at Dragonspire in Laneyth.”

“So, you work for King Svetozar?” The middle lady seems interested for the first time.

“Kind of, I am-“ A scream and shouting cuts him off. A group of soldiers stand in a circle. “Excuse me, Miladies.” He quickly bows and walks over to the circle.

A blond soldier holds one of the Elf children up by his arm, “-should take you to the Prince and let him cut off your hand himself.” The soldier is heavy set, his green uniform is adorned with a golden ferret badge. This man is captain of the guard.

“I didn’t mean to do it.” The boy pleads, “Please sir.”

Will pushes into the crowd, “What’s going on here?”

“Move along citizen.” Another soldier snaps, “Unless you want to be next.”

The soldier drags the small child over to a tree stump, “Teach you to disrespect the soldiers of Athedor.”

It takes two soldiers to force the boy’s arm across the wood, the captain raises his axe and swings it down. It glances off William’s sword.

Shock travels around and the boy manages squirm free and race off.

“Let’s try that again.” Will growls, “What is going on here?”

Someone knows his name and it moves around the circle. Making it all the way around to the man with the axe.

“This is the great William Starker?” his laugh is deep and hoarse, “You’re a still a child.”

“In my twenty years, I’ve seen more war than you ever will.” He pulls his sword back, “And I don’t bully children.”

“The little forest rat disrespected my men.” The soldier snaps.

“What did he do?”

A small girl steps forward. Dirt covers her pale hair, the tips of her pointed ears sticking out. Another one of the Elf children he saw playing, “He acciden’ly bumped into him.”

“Did he hurt him?” Will crouches to her level. She can’t be more than 6.

She girl shakes her head fast, “No, my brother fell down.”

“See?” he stands up and turns back to the soldiers, “No harm, no foul. They were playing.”

“The whole lot of them need to learn. The only way you can train those creatures is by brute force.”

“Those creatures?” Will raises an eyebrow, “You mean the Elves?”

“Show no weakness.” The solider growls, “The Human race is the dominant one.”

Never mind that the Shapeshifters rule every. Will looks between the soldier and the Elf child, “Tell you what. I’ll dual you, right here. And if I win, you will go to the Prince with me and tell him everything you’ve been doing.”

“And when I win?” the soldier doesn’t seem interested.

Will decides to up the stakes, “I will pay the price for the child.”

“I accept.”

The soldier moves first, swinging the axe towards Will. He is easily able to deflect it and step in closer, using his shoulder to push into the soldier, Knocking him off balance. The soldier brings the axe back around, Will’s sword meets the handle and connects with the curved edge. This force sends the axe into the dirt. The soldier growls and pulls a dagger from his belt.

“This is hardly fair.” William sighs, he sheathes his sword and hands it to the Elf girl, “Don’t lose this.” She nods happily.

The soldier runs forward as Will has his back turned, the general quickly steps back and sends the attacker into the mass of other soldiers.

“I was trying to be nice and you go and do something like that?” Will sighs, feigning disappointment, “I thought I could trust you.”

The soldier launches another attack and Will’s arm meets the soldiers with a cracking sound. He grunts in pain and drops his dagger. Quickly scrambling to pick it up with his left hand.

“I will give you that you are persistent. But this is painful.”

“I’ll show you pain.” The soldier rushes again, this time, Will sweeps his legs from underneath him, sending the soldier to the ground and the dagger into the air. The General leaps forward, pinning him to the ground and catches the dagger as it falls.

“What was that last part?” he positions the dagger against the Captain’s throat.

Will allows him up and rearms him. He takes his sword from the Elf girl, whose brother has now rejoined them.

The youngest woman from the porch races forward, “Aspen, Brier.” She quickly pulls them both into a hug. Will now sees the family resemblance, small frame and gray eyes. “Thank you, sir. Thank you so much.”

He nods and starts back towards the castle. Having to turn back and grab the soldier by the shirt and drag him along. As the sun sets behind the castle, it looks much more imposing than in full daylight. Will notices the window to Channin’s room is lit, she’s still awake.

Servants are cleaning the castle when they make it inside. “Where is Prince Aaron?” Will asks when he doesn’t find him. They continue to work.

“General Starker.” Will turns to face the Prince’s advisor. He’s a weasel of a man, older than Isaac by several years. “I am Ferdinand, Advisor to the Prince. We weren’t expecting you back.”

“Where is Prince Aaron? He needs to know what his soldiers have been up to.”

Ferdinand suddenly seems fearful.

“What is everyone so afraid of?” Will demands. A sudden and terrible feeling hits him. He drops the soldier and bounds up the stairs. Straight for Channin’s room.

The princess is tied in a chair, her right wrist bleeding. Aaron half stumbles half falls away from her as Will enters.

“William, welcome.” The prince half smiles, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

“We are leaving now.” He tries to stay calm, striding over to Channin.

Aaron scrambles to his feet, shakily. “Come on, Will. You’re a soldier. Surely you know what it’s like.”

He ignores the Prince and moves to untie Channin, “Are you okay?” He asks, pulling the fabric from her mouth.

“Okay? Will, what the hell is going on?” She’s clearly not okay. She is in a state of panic, and he regrets removing the gag.

“I’ll explain later, but we are going back to Laneyth tonight.”

“You can’t take her.” Aaron stammers, “I need her.”

Will spins around and hits the Prince, he falls again. “You will stay away from Channin Ozera and her family.” He says through gritted teeth.

“You’re going back to Laneyth? Where they teach you to read and swordfight?” Aaron wipes blood from his nose, “A queen here is an ornament, a beauty to behold.”

“I am not a doll to be placed on a shelf for all to admire.” Channin snaps.

“You can forget the union of Athedor and Laneyth.” Aaron shouts as Will helps Channin to her feet.

“Already have.” She growls.

Will doesn’t have to wake the ship’s crew, word travels fast in Athedor. Within an hour, they are off the island country. Channin sits quietly in her room. When Will brings her a cup of tea, she almost can’t answer the door. Her room has a small bed and a little table. She’s pale and looks exhausted.

“Let me see your arm.” He says quietly. She carefully lifts her left arm for him. “The bleeding looks like it’s slowed down.” He wraps it in a bandage. “Is that too tight?”

She shakes her head. It could be a little tighter, but she doesn’t want to look at the gash in her wrist again.

“I’m going to talk to the captain and see if we can’t get this kept quiet. Will you be alright?”

She shakes her head again. No, she won’t be okay. Will kneels in front of her, “Do you want to talk?”

Channin has fought the tears since she first saw Will enter the room and she can’t do it anymore. Once the first hot tear comes, they don’t stop. She struggles to catch her breath between sobs.

“Hey, it’s alright.” He tries to be supportive, she puts her head against his shoulder, “You are safe now, I promise you.”

“I’m so confused.” She says after a moment.

He moves to the edge of the bed with her, she keeps her head against him, “Ask questions. I’ll answer them.”

“What was that?” she’s slowed down and can breathe again. Of all the things in the world, why did it have to be something she didn’t know much about.

Will struggles with how to word it carefully, “You know how Vampires need blood to survive. Well, the blood of different races each have different effects. When humans learned this, some of them started drinking too. I guess it’s less extreme on humans, but it does still have an effect.”

“Like what?” she asks, looking at the bandage.

“For shapeshifters, it’s heightened senses and dulled reflexes. I guess bliss would be the word.”

“And the other races?”

“Werewolves, like Raoul, it’s invulnerability to pain. Dwarf blood allows you to focus but can also bring some anger issues. Elf blood makes everything feel like an illusion, you could stare at the fire and have a good time. It’s all different. Understand?”

She nods slowly, “And when he asked if you knew what it was like?”

Will studies her for a moment, her green eyes captivate him, and he can’t lie to her. “I’ve tried, but it doesn’t seem to work for me. I still feel pain, my reflexes are still good, and I have the attention span of a toddler.”

She half smiles, “It’s not something I’ll encounter often?”

“If you join the army it is, but you’re a lady. There’s no reason for you to.” He brushes her hair back from her eyes.

“General.” The ship captain says from outside the door, “With the time we left Athedor, we will be arriving in Laneyth at sunset tomorrow. The coast might prove an issue.”

Channin hadn’t thought about it until now. Laneyth has sandbars and rock reefs all around the entrance to Dragonspire. If you missed them, tiny islands dotted the coast as well, and the ships they had stolen lie beneath the waves, ready to bring another down.

“Can your men handle it?” Will asks in return.

“If not we can anchor and take a smaller boat to shore.” The captain leaves.

Will yawns, “I should probably get to sleep.”

“Alright.” Channin says quietly.

He stands to leave, hesitating at the door. “You’re going to be okay.”

She nods, “Goodnight, William.” Everything in her screams for him to stay. To beg him to curl up with her, or even have him hold onto her wrist again.

“Goodnight.”

Channin picks up a book about the races of the world and glances through the pages. She isn’t tired and sleep doesn’t sound like an option tonight. She reads through the night, looking for any mention of blood drinking and its effects. A mere 20 minutes after falling asleep, a knock on the door wakes her. It’s William.

“Did I wake you?”

“No, I’ve been up for a bit.” She lies, yawning.

“Me too.” He says, “I thought you might want to see something.”

“Uh, sure, let me-“ he grabs her arm and drags her from her cabin and onto the deck. “It’s freezing Will.” She grumbles.

“Watch.” The sky is pale gray. Streaks of sunlight break across it, turning the whole sky red then orange and finally yellow as the sun appears. The water reflects the changing colors and she feels as if the sun itself has swallowed them.

“It’s beautiful.” Channin whispers.

“Comparatively speaking or on its own?” Will asks, receiving an elbow shortly after. She knows he is watching her, with that content smile.

Channin can’t help but smile back. Will spends the day in her room, Channin reading from her book, pausing to share stories.

“The first king of Laneyth was Aleksander Ozera. He saved a baby dragon from a hunter’s trap one day and the dragon told him that, when he was bigger, he would come back and grant Aleksander one wish. The years passed and the dragon came back. At this time, the whole world was in a war. Every race against every race. Aleksander’s wish was that there could be a country where the races could live alongside one another and be treated as equals. So, the dragon took Aleksander and the two of them pulled Laneyth from the sea. They made her walls high enough that the only way to attack would be from the Capital city. Where he built the strongest castle man had ever seen. Aleksander and his dragon ruled the land fairly.”

“Where did you hear that one?” William asks.

“My mother told it to us when we were growing up.” Channin closes her book, giving up on reading finally.

“Your mother is quite the storyteller. Isn’t she?”

Channin nods, “She loves to share stories like that. Sometimes she’ll just make them up and pass them off as truth. Like that one.”

“Oh?”

“You know how mothers are. They will tell their children anything to avoid crushing their spirit.”

“I never really knew my mother.” Will shrugs, “She died when I was 3. But that’s how my father was.” He seems lost in the faint memory that only partially exists.

Channin props herself up on her elbow, “You don’t talk about your family often.”

“We don’t have the best relationship. I left the family business to join the military. What more is there?”

Channin lays back down, “Are they proud of you?”

He laughs. “Not exactly. They were simple folk and I came along and went on this quest of self-discovery. ” She can hear the hint of confusion and pain in his tone. He isn’t telling her everything.

“Did you discover yourself?” Channin giggles.

“It’s always changing.” He leans back next to her, “One minute, I’m a soldier the next I’m someone’s friend, a brother.”

“What do you want to be?”

He thinks it over for a moment before saying, “A farmer.”

Channin laughs, “Why would you want to do that?”

He shrugs and lays down, “It would be just me and my animals. After this trip, you know what I miss most?”

“Raoul?”

“Kaiser.” He makes a questioning face as what she says sets in, “I don’t think I’ve ever connected with an animal the way I have him.”

“Are you sure you aren’t talking about Raoul?” Channin asks. He can’t tell if she’s serious.

“I’m sure. But being a farmer has always kind of appealed to me.”

The pair fall silent, listening to the waves against the boat.

“I never got to thank you for saving me.” She says after it becomes uncomfortable, “It was really brave of you.”

“I broke his nose.” He sighs, sitting up and rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. A nervous habit she’s noticed.

“Probably. Who knew William Starker could throw a punch like that?” She tries to cheer him up.

“It was a cheap shot and poor sportsmanship.”

“Because a real man would have just stabbed him. Instead, you left a physical deformity.”

“It wouldn’t have been much of a fight. Not if he trained his soldiers that is.”

“What?” She sits up, “Please tell me you beat up one of his soldiers.”

“I wouldn’t say beat up, but he definitely got an attitude adjustment.”

“You are the best.” She smiles over her shoulder at him.

Will pushes himself halfway up, “I also wouldn’t say the best. You don’t even know me.” His demeanor changes drastically. He’s now closed off. Silent and gruff.

“I’d like too.” Channin adds.

“Be careful what you wish for.” He doesn’t meet her eyes, so she flops back onto the bed. “How’s your wrist?”

She pulls the bandage off and holds it out for him. “Better.” She mumbles.

“That’s good.” He picks up her book and finds her place in it, “Shapeshifter politics. I like how they are basing the entirety of a race off your family.”

“What do you mean?” she pulls him over on the bed.

“Well, I’ve met a lot of Shifters.” He falters a bit. It bothers him. “They aren’t all like you.”

“And how do you know what I’m like?” she asks.

He turns to face her, “You’re smart and brave, you believe in equal opportunity. A true Ozera.”

She frowns slightly. “But that’s not what the princes want. Is it?”

“Forget them. While they squabble over who will be King, make yourself Queen.” Will raises an eyebrow at her, “If you fight for the people, they’ll fight for you.”

Channin smiles a little and puts her head on his chest, “That’s oddly comforting.”

“Part of the job.” He sighs, his voice echoes through his chest, she can hear his heartbeat.

An hour passes and Channin falls asleep. William refuses to move for fear of waking her. Until he too falls asleep.