Wolfs Soul

by Jane Lindskold

  “Your story is beyond belief,” Orten, the Five Spirits Alchemist, snapped. “Would anyone give up artifacts of such power?”

  “We didn’t give them up,” Wythcombe repeated with more patience than Firekeeper thought merited. “Sykavalkay’s creator…”

  But if Wythcombe was prepared to repeat the explanation, Ranz had had enough.

  “As ‘beyond belief,’” Ranz interjected, his voice icy with fury, “as that an entire community would give up blood magic?” He used the Pellish term, not the Rhinadeian “anathema art.” “Even when that renunciation meant accepting the deaths of mothers in childbed and their unborn babes with them? Even that? Having learned the half-truths that underlie what we’re taught as Rhinadei’s history, I wonder if the renunciation was always so complete. Perhaps my father’s greatest crime was publicly admitting what he’d done.”

  “I think Ranz has them there,” Blind Seer said, shifting his posture in case his fellow apprentice needed defending.

  “Ranz, leave your wonderings for another time,” Wythcombe said kindly. “They are valid, but we must stay focused on the issue at hand. Counselors, we have presented the truth regarding what happened here. If you stop panicking, you’ll realize there is no way we could conceal artifacts of such power from your august selves. What needs to be resolved is whether you will accept my offer—and Kabot’s—to remain here and do what we can to bolster the shield now that Guulvalkay is no more. Consider…”

  Bordyn, the Chief Elementalist, tried to interrupt, but Wythcombe silenced him with a gesture so fierce Firekeeper resolved to remember it.

  “Consider this, if you take our offer, Rhinadei will be in a perfect situation to monitor us. If you do not take our offer, then we will take our leave—all of us.”

  “Not Kabot!” Bordyn insisted. “He has broken the law. He must pay.”

  With a cool hiss of metal on metal, Laria drew Volsyl and stepped in front of Kabot. “He’s not your prisoner. He’s our prisoner. Where do you get off claiming the right to punish him? You’ve been forgetting that most of us don’t acknowledge your rule. Our chase ended here, sure, but that doesn’t give Rhinadei’s rulers any rights.”

  Varelle asked gently, “Laria, from what I was told earlier, Kabot kidnapped you, injured you. Why are you protecting him?”

  Laria shrugged, but didn’t lower Volsyl. “Kabot was idealistic, stupid, like a lot of idealists are. I think he’s learned. Part of the price paid for Kabot’s lesson was my blood, my fear. The only way to keep that from being wasted is for me to believe that somehow good can come out of what Kabot put all of us through.”

  Erldon, the Lore Lover, turned to his associates. “Even if you want to argue with young Laria’s philosophy—which I, for one, don’t—she has a point. Kabot is not in our custody. We can accept Kabot’s surrender and his desire to make reparations, and so keep him where we can monitor him. We can accept Wythcombe’s offer to serve as Kabot’s custodian. Or we can fight those who claim Kabot as their prisoner. In the process, a great deal of harm would surely be done. The shield is weak here, and should not be subjected to undue magical energies. Remember, among those who stand here, ready to oppose us, are several potent spellcasters. Even those who do not use magic are not so in awe of us as to stand idle.”

  Firekeeper grinned a wolf’s grin. “Erldon is wise.”

  Hanya, the Dance Warrior, added, “I would be happy to join Wythcombe in his vigil. The counsel would then have a member in residence.”

  “I want to stay, too,” Ranz said. “I’ve barely started my training. I think Kabot and I need to learn many of the same lessons.”

  There was more grumbling, a few protests, but Firekeeper could tell these were the posturing of wolflings who did not wish to be seen backing down too easily.

  Blind Seer eased back on his haunches. “The scents are changing. Orten and Bordyn are now worried where they were not before. Greed is fading in place of fear of what will happen if they push Wythcombe—and us. Varelle—she is the hardest to read—but I don’t think she ever doubted our story. Erldon is philosophical by nature, and Hanya has a fondness for Wythcombe, although he will probably never return it.”

  Reassured, Firekeeper let her hand drift from her Fang. Doubtless the humans would continue to argue about the fine points. In the end, no one would have precisely their way, but none would be too shamed.

  Blind Seer added, “What we cannot mention, since we have decided to hide Zazaral’s role in this, is that Kabot will have great incentive to keep Rhinadei’s shield strong. Zazaral will not easily forgive him his mutiny, weak as it was, and he knows she has his scent. Kabot will need protection, lifelong. Staying with Wythcombe will give him that.”

  “What about you?” Firekeeper asked. “Will you stay here to learn from Wythcombe? I have not forgotten that it was your search that led us here, what you learned here that let you give me—even if for a short time—a wolf’s shape to fit my wolf’s soul. Rhinadei is not the land I would choose to live in, but I would choose less to go without you. The decision must be yours.”

  “Let me see how this is resolved,” Blind Seer replied. “When I know, then I can answer.”

  Blind Seer suspected that not all the emergency council had fully accepted the tale Arasan had spun, but their reasons for doubt differed so greatly that he also felt certain they would never come to a consensus. After much discussion, the humans decided that since Kabot’s mutiny had never been widely publicized, all that would be said was that he had overreached himself and been trapped for decades. Wythcombe had tracked him down, freed him, then had taken him on as an apprentice, along with Ranz. Why the Mended Shield had been chosen as their new residence would not even be of interest to most, since the fortification’s role as an anchor point for Rhinadei’s shield was not widely known.

  Knowing these members of what had been his pack were secure was good, because Blind Seer had made up his mind as to what he wanted to do next.

  When the emergency council had departed, Blind Seer explained, “I do not wish to stay in Rhinadei. This tormented land, even the ‘healed’ areas, make my paws itch. I want healthy soil, clean hunting, free from the suspicion that we ingest old secrets with every breath.”

  Firekeeper paused in her translation and asked. “But we bring you here to find a teacher, and the teacher we find you, he must stay here.”

  Blind Seer replied. “Wythcombe has taught me a great deal. Without him, I would not have learned how to store mana. Nor would I have understood about channels. And the lessons about wizards’ tools… I have thoughts there, too. But I have also learned that my magic is very different from human magic. I think I need to hunt after more learning on my own.”

  To Blind Seer’s pleasure, Wythcombe did not seem in the least insulted. “Goodbyes will be sad, but not forever. Rhinadei will be pursuing at least limited contact with other lands, and if you have questions, you know where I will be.”

  Blind Seer bowed a long, low wolf bow in acknowledgement.

  “So we go to the Nexus Islands, then?” Firekeeper said.

  “Yes,” he said, “and farther still. Perhaps you and I should go back to the wilder parts of the New World, find an area where we two will threaten no pack. There I could hunt after my own way to channel magic. I wonder if there are other yarimaimalom spellcasters, keeping their abilities secret as I have done.”

  Firekeeper did not translate this last, but replied only for his ears. “I’ve wondered about that too. That has made me wonder something else. Why haven’t we found any trace of yarimaimalom except in the New World? Oh, there have been a few here and there, but they all trace their origin to the New World. Once I believed we would find others everywhere we went, and certainly we have not seen all the world, but still…”

  Blind Seer huffed out through his nose. “That is a hunt to pursue some other day. For now, I want to go home.”

  Firekeeper grinned, dark eyes dancing with merriment. “Me, too! Derian wi
ll be so astonished with all we have done. It’s going to be fun to watch him when we tell him there are other Meddlers than ours still playing games.”

  When Arasan, assisted by Firekeeper and Laria, had concluded their report, Derian—who had returned for the occasion via the Hawk Haven gate—rubbed his face with both hands. “Just when we think we have matters settled… Firekeeper, I’m beginning to believe Chsss is right, and you really are a Meddler. What do you plan to do next?”

  “We go to the mainland, run for a while, not meddle in anything,” Firekeeper answered, and Blind Seer grinned at how she had learned to summon an aura of almost girlish innocence when needed. “I think Arasan and Laria, they have plans of their own.”

  Arasan nodded. “Maybe I’ll make some goodwill journeys through the gates, especially into the Old World. While I’m at it, I’ll sing a few songs, pick up any interesting rumors. Rhinadei has shown that isolation is safe only as long as no one threatens you. Our experience with Zazaral is a reminder that not all enemies may be corporeal. I thought Laria might come with me.”

  Laria tugged at her beribboned braid, considering. “Maybe for a bit, but I’ve been thinking that what I really need to do is get some formal education. If the Nexus Islands are going to keep doing business with monarchs and all, we’re going to need to be sure they treat us as equals, not just as people who stumbled onto a treasure and are stubbornly keeping hold of it.”

  Derian nodded. “I’ve seen how some react when they learn I was born a horse-carter’s son.”

  Ynamynet added, “And it will be long before spellcasters are respected, rather than feared. The Mires might be a good place for you to go to school, or Azure Towers. The nice thing is that with the gates, anywhere is close to home for you.”

  Blind Seer listened, but felt no need to comment. He thought again of the questions Firekeeper had raised. Were there yarimaimalom elsewhere? If not, why had they originated in the New World, not elsewhere? Interesting questions, but they could wait, as they had waited for centuries.

  For now he was content to know that he and Firekeeper would continue to run side by side. With the new arts he had learned, sometimes they would run on two legs, sometimes on four. Most importantly, he felt certain that they would always run together.

  GLOSSARY OF CHARACTERS

  Note: This glossary is intended to facilitate reading Wolf’s Soul. Therefore, references to most characters from the first six novels in the series have been removed. A comprehensive glossary of characters from the first six novels can be found at the end of Wolf’s Blood.

  Characters are detailed under their first or best-known name. Initials following a character’s name indicate nationality: B.B. (Bright Bay), H.H. (Hawk Haven), N.K. (New Kelvin), L. (Liglim), N.I. (Nexus Islands), R. (Rhinadei).

  Amparee: (R.) spellcaster; spouse of Payley; mother of Migyan and Ransom.

  Anitra: monarch of Azure Towers.

  Arasan: (N.I.) Once Dead. Called “Two Lives.” A musician. See also “Meddler.”

  Bitter: (N.I.) a Wise Raven.

  Blind Seer: a Wise Wolf; partner to Firekeeper.

  Blysse Kestrel: see Firekeeper.

  Bordyn: (R.) Chief Elementalist; member of the Rhinadei Emergency Council.

  Caidon: (R.) spellcaster; master of Uaid.

  Chaker Torn: (N.I.) captain of fishing boats; father of Junco and Symeen.

  Chsss: a new name for an old problem.

  Daylily: (R.) spellcaster, ally of Kabot.

  Derian Counselor: (H.H.; N.I. ) also called Derian Carter; unofficial co-ruler of the Nexus Islands; spouse of Isende.

  Dirkin Eastbranch: (knight, H.H.) King Tedric’s personal bodyguard.

  Elation: a Royal peregrine falcon; also “Fierce Joy in Flight.”

  Elexa Wellward: (Queen, H.H.) spouse of Tedric.

  Elise Archer: (Lady, H.H.) daughter of Ivon Archer and Aurella Wellward; heir to Archer Grant; diplomat; spouse of Jared Surcliffe; mother of Elexa.

  Enigma: (N.I) a Wise Puma.

  Erldon: (R.) the Lore Lover; member of the Rhinadei Emergency Council.

  Eshinarvash: (N.I.) a Wise Horse.

  Fash: (R.) a trader.

  Farborn: (N.I.) a Wise Merlin.

  Firekeeper: a wolf; partner to Blind Seer.

  Grateful Peace: (N.K.) former spymaster, currently valued counselor to the Healed One.

  Hanya: (R.) the Dance Warrior; member of the Rhinadei Emergency Council.

  Harjeedian: (L.) aridisdu serving the Temple of the Cold Bloods; brother of Rahniseeta.

  Hohdoymin: (Teyo) a regional leader.

  Ikitata: (N.I.) cobbler; widow of Ollaris; mother of Laria, Nenean, and Kitatos.

  Isende: (N.I.) Once Dead, spouse of Derian Counselor.

  Jared Surcliffe: (knight, H.H.) aka “Doc”; knight of the Order of the White Eagle; possessor of the healing talent. Spouse of Elise Archer; father of Elexa.

  Junco Torn: (N.I.) a sailor; son of Chaker, brother of Symeen.

  Jyanee: the Unweaver, a legend.

  Kabot: (R.) a freethinker.

  Kalyndra: (N.I.) Once Dead; mother of Skea.

  Kitatos: (N.I.) son of Ollaris and Ikitata; brother of Laria and Nenean.

  Laria: (N.I.) Once Dead; daughter of Ollaris and Ikitata; sister of Nenean and Kitatos.

  Lovable: (N.I.) a Wise Raven; mate of Bitter.

  Mata: (R.) servant/assistant to Varelle and the Emergency Council.

  Merial: a general of Azure Towers.

  Migyan: (R.) daughter of Payley and Amparee sister to Ransom.

  Meddler: (N.I.) a former spirit, now sharing a body with Arasan.

  Nenean: (N.I.) daughter of Ollaris and Ikitata; sister of Laria and Kitatos.

  Nergy: a retired soldier, current historian of Azure Towers.

  Ollaris: (N.I.) a cobbler; father of Laria. Deceased.

  Onorina: (R.) a spellcaster.

  Orten: (R.) Five Spirits Alchemist; member of Rhinadei Emergency Council.

  Payley: (R.) spouse of Amparee; father of Ransom and Migyan.

  Phiona: (R.) spellcaster, ally of Kabot.

  Plik: (N.I.) a maimalodalu.

  Rahniseeta: (L.) junjaldisdu; sister of Harjeedian. Former lover of Derian Counseler.

  Ransom (called Ranz): (R.) a young spellcaster. Son of Amparee and Payley; sibling of Migyan.

  Rhul: (N.I.) spouse of Saeta; father of Loxia and others.

  Rusty: (R.) a goat.

  Skea: (N.I.) a Twice Dead; member of governing counsel, spouse of Ynamynet; father of Sunshine, son of Kalyndra.

  Sunshine: (N.I.) daughter of Skea and Ynamynet.

  Sun Diver: a yarimaimalom golden eagle.

  Symeen Torn: (N.I.) a sailor; daughter of Chaker; sister of Junco.

  Tedric: (H.H.) monarch of Hawk Haven, spouse of Elexa.

  Trahaene: Once Dead, spellcaster, Azure Towers.

  Truth: (N.I.) a Wise Jaguar; possesses erratic prophetic gift.

  Uaid: (R.) spellcaster, ally of Kabot.

  Urgana: (N.I.) Never Lived; archivist, member of governing counsel.

  Varelle: (R.) the Gatewatcher; member of the Rhinadei Emergency Council.

  Virim: (N.I.) a very elderly sorcerer, creator of querinalo.

  Wjem: (R.) servant/assistant to Varelle and the Emergency Council.

  Wort: (N.I.) a Twice Dead, member of the governing counsel; quartermaster.

  Wythcombe: (R.) a hermit, a spellcaster.

  Ynamynet: (N.I.) Once Dead; unofficial co-ruler of the Nexus Islands; spouse of Skea; mother of Sunshine.

  Zebel: (N.I.) Twice Dead; member of governing counsel; a doctor.

  Zazaral: a busybody.

 

 

 
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