“Concerned for the mother wolf, they kept tabs on her, monitoring her changes, if any. The pups were born during our silver moon…. The uncanny way events play,” he murmurs.
He goes on, “What they didn’t know is the pups were born under the light of the Silver Wolf Moon phase. Funny, this would never have happened, had the female not been pregnant. It’s as though the universe wished this species to be in existence…. I mean had it altered by one event, it would not be possible to have these Silver Dires roam our planet now.”
“What happened next, Master Aoes?” Cory asks, sounding intrigued.
“The wolves were born in Shadow Vine Forest. It’s here where the mother wolf raised her young and taught them to hunt. When the pups reached adolescence, they began to accrue changes. The changes happened on a silver full-moon night. These species that were created by the hands of a witch’s spell, and the magic of sorcerers, rested now in the Dryad’s hands.
“The dire wolves were found by a scouting dryad, and he couldn’t believe his eyes at what he witnessed. Their transformation sent many questions through the small community of the Shadow Vine Forest. Of course, this dryad scout aided his furry new friends, for these wolves had transformed to humans right before his eyes. The Scout gave what little clothing he had, and brought them to his home, where he fed and clothed them.
“This angered the Dryad Kingdom that this scout would bring such creatures to their home, but soon they discovered this would work to their advantage. Word spread to the elves at Pine Willow Valley.
“When they discovered that the Silver Dire Wolf species could communicate with the other animals in the forest as well as the humans, it gave the two factions an advantage. The dryads and elves helped the wolves learn how to change at will, rather than just on a silver moon night. There, began a treaty among the wolves, dryads, and elves.”
“Is that why the Light Witches are so scarce now? Because the dryads, elves, and wolves killed the witches?” I ask.
“No,” Aoes says. “The Light Witches are scarce because the Dark Witches wish to have all the magic. That, too, is another story and not for now. You, Rory, are a direct line to one of those dire wolves.”
“Say what?” Shock pours throughout my body.
The wizard gives a small chuckle, comes around to his desk, and sits in his chair again. “I know this is hard to take in. But the only reason I know for sure you are of that line is because you have silver eyes. And the only ones that can have silver eyes come from the bloodlines of the Dire Wolf Pack.
“That means my sister, Redmae, is a Silver Dire, too? Are you saying the Waxlily triggered this?”
“Yes. The two of you are connected by blood. You can communicate telepathically. It will give you an advantage to control her inner beast when the time arises. The queen has asked you to find Redmae and bring her back, to cure her of the ailment that has taken over her. At first, it was assumed she was infected with the werewolf gene Madame Moyer concocted, but now, seeing your eyes, my dear, I most certainly can conclude your sister has changed permanently back to a Silver Dire.”
“You mean, she’s to remain a wolf forever?” I ask. No, this can’t be.
“The only thing I can foresee is your sister must return to Ladorielle sooner rather than later. To receive a stinging Waxlily dose of medicine to slow down the genetic infection she acquired at Storm River Manor.”
“So, if we manage to get that far—I mean slowing down the infection—are you saying there might be a cure for her?”
“You and your sister will always have the blood of a Silver Dire Wolf, but she’s been cursed to only become human on a full moon.”
“Full moon?” I begin to understand the context. “So, this must be the werewolf gene you mentioned. This is the reason she turns human when the moon is at its fullest? Do the others in her pack turn human, too?”
I see an expression on Cory’s face, as though he’s confused. As though my question has triggered one for him, he asks, “What about the wolves that don’t change? This doesn’t make any sense.”
I can feel Cory’s thought process, but he’s blocked me from reading them. So, I ask another question, “Can you tell us what Redmae has to do with Wynter’s trials? How is she connected to that?”
“Unlike our moon phases here on Ladorielle, in Earth’s galaxy this year, there is a rare stage where two full moons happen in the month of January. This small window of time, when Redmae turns back to a human, will be your chance to save her. She will be coherent, and she’ll have questions. This will be the moment you want to give her the antidote.
“What antidote?” Cory asks.
The wizard gets up and paces to an area where there are beakers, test tubes, and scientific instruments.
“Master Aoes,” I press. “With all due respect, you still haven’t answered my question. What does rescuing Redmae my sister, have to do with Wynter’s trials?”
I can tell the wizard is hesitant to answer as though the secret he carries must be handled delicately. He picks up a beaker filled with clear liquid and pours it into a larger beaker that boils fluid on the Bunsen burner. “If we can bring her home and give her an antidote, it can slow her genetic mutation enough to battle alongside our fellow people once the Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse happens between both our galaxies.”
“And?” I press.
“And Wynter’s trials play a key role in defeating Sarmira and her gang of ghouls. Redmae will be 'your' eyes.”
“What do you mean by that?” I ask
Aoes stiffens as though he’s put on the spot. He turns his back, and I watch him reach for something in a cabinet above his head. He retrieves it without the use of his hands, as it floats down onto the counter. “Redmae will be lost to the underworld, and her ascension cannot be completed. She, too, must go through the trials.”
“Her ascension?” My mind reels with this sudden information.
“What?” Cory is pulled from his thoughts.
Aoes turns to face us. “Sarmira, must be defeated during The Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse. If we fail, there will be no ascension for Redmae or Wynter.” He dashes some of that ingredient he brought out from the cupboard into the boiling liquid. “Or,” he continues, “the Wolf Moon phase that will come next year will seal the fate of all Dires forever. If Sarmira isn’t defeated during the phase of this particular Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse, there will be no more Silver Moon, Wolf Moon phase, or any other phase in our world. The underworld will be in complete power, and that includes control over Dragonscale.”
“Impossible,” Cory interrupts, “the Underworld doesn’t have the ability to have such power.”
Aoes gives a slight grin. “Remember The Twelve Council I mentioned earlier? That they hold the balance of magic? If the Underworld takes control, the magical scale will be tipped, thus, destroying the moon phases that The Twelve Council created all those years ago. No, Cory, I’m being quite serious.”
He reaches for an urn standing upon one of the shelves and pours the liquid that’s boiling, which has turned green, into a small bottle. He then links the small vessel to a necklace and hovers his hand over the item, chanting in a foreign language. His palms begin to illuminate a bright green and the glow that was in his hands transitions to the bottle of liquid. The container glimmers for a few seconds and then disappears, becoming a clear fluid once again, instead of the green a moment ago.
“Take this and keep it around your neck at all costs. It will keep you cloaked and invisible to lurking evil. The liquid inside will be a temporary antidote to Redmae. Even when the vial becomes empty, the container itself will still protect you.”
“But I already have the ability to become invisible because I’m Elvin.”
“Your abilities are no match for the sabretail prowlers. Although a very good observation.” He pauses, saying “It’s a theory, mind you, but because you now have the power to see, you may have an upper advantage. Test it, but do be careful. If those dogs s
pot you, it’s all over.”
I nod. “How do I know it will work? The antidote for Redmae, that is. And what are these sabretail prowlers?”
“We don’t. This has never been done before. We’re assuming it will do the same as it did, all those years ago, on the first wolf. Allowing you to communicate with her, while she’s in wolf form. Right now, the infection grows in Redmae’s body. Perhaps, this will help you bring her mind back from the hell it is in now. It will slow the poison, but it will not cure her. As for your other question, sabretail prowlers are Moyer’s domestic pets. Her invisible dogs, so to speak. They have a tail as sharp as a sabre, and it’s their most dominant defense. They prowl during the day most of the time, undetected.”
“Assumptions? You’re basing my sister’s life off assumptions? And these prowlers? How are we to get past them, if we cannot see them?”
“We’re hoping it will work.”
“We?”
“The Twelve Council. They suggested it. Besides, if it doesn’t work, at least we gave it our all to bring Redmae's mind back.”
“So, she’s your lab rat, is that it?”
Master Aoes looks offended.
“Rory,” Cory whispers.
I ignore him. “What will happen if this doesn’t work? What if this kills her?”
“I assure you, young lady, it will not harm Red. The worst that may happen is she will not be able to communicate with you as a wolf. This antidote is to protect her mind,” he repeats.
My stomach churns at the thought. “And what about my eyes, Master Aoes?”
“Yes, the eyes,” he says. “You’re now a seer, like those who have been healed by a Waxlily in the past.”
“Meaning?”
“It means you have the power to change from a wolf to human at will because you are of the Silver Dire bloodline, but you also have the ability to foresee, physically, intellectually, and psychically.”
“You added Waxlily to this bottle, didn’t you?”
“I did mention it’s an ingredient to the recipe.” He pauses. “You must find out for yourself how to shift into your wolf form. It will give you great power and an advantage over your enemies. And it may very well help you to communicate much faster with Redmae before she ends up tearing you to pieces.”
“Lovely, thanks for the visual.”
“Your sister is a reverse werewolf—I’m not sure if that’s even the right label to place upon her, so I don’t know what you could call this unfortunate event—changing to a human rather than a wolf on a full moon.
“War is coming, Rory. We need all the allies we can get, back home. If this land is destroyed of all that is good, the balance of power will be destroyed, too.”
“Great, no pressure,” I say. “It still doesn’t answer my question about the sabretail prowlers. How will we get past them?”
“As I said before, keep that necklace around your neck. It should allow you to see them.”
Should? It doesn’t comfort me knowing we have more than wolves and Shadow Walkers to deal with.
“Wait, Master Aoes,” Cory cuts in. “What about her porting abilities? She can’t remember them.”
He points to the chain I’m wearing. “They will come to her soon, as long as she wears that necklace. Don’t take it off. I will, however, give you this.” He hands me a stone. “I imagine, once you remember how to use it, it will do the rest.”
“I’ve seen a stone like this before.” I wince, trying to recall where, but it doesn’t come to me. The stone is opaque in the shape of an oval, with a swirling symbol engraved on its surface. The rock begins to warm my palm and then glow. I watch in awe as the stone absorbs into my skin, giving me a tingling feeling. I can feel a numbing sensation travel up my arm and stop near my right shoulder. Stinging prickles seem to plant beneath my skin, making me wonder if this is like someone getting a tattoo. “What is that?” I ask.
Aoes smiles and strokes Krasin’s back, who’s now perched on his stand, and says, “The stone has attached itself underneath your skin. You now have the ability to port to the City of Ashengale. But heed my warning, do not return until you have completed your mission at hand.”
The bird hops onto Aoes’s shoulder. “It’s time for you two to get a move on.”
Cory nods. “Thank you for your time, Grand Master Aoes.” He pulls at my arm to follow him out the door. “Guess it’s field trip time,” Cory teases.
Chapter 6
Wynter Storm
The Past:
Ashengale Castle on Dragonscale Island
I set my teacup down and follow beside my grandmother Eleena, as we walk out the library to the grand hall. She leads us down the corridor to another set of French doors. With the flick of her wrist, they open on their own, revealing a beautiful sight beyond. It’s a large garden solarium. To the right is a stone wall, but to the left marble circular pillars stand in a row, and beyond it a magnificent oasis with water falling into a pool below. I can hear the singing of birds and the trickle of water. Rose bush vines crawl up the sides of the interior walls, with bright colors of yellow, fuchsia, and purple.
“Such a peaceful feeling,” I say.
“I do admit, it’s the closest to Heaven anyone will get without dying,” Eleena adds.
I turn around to see Garrick and Fran follow a few feet behind, allowing us some distance.
“Let me tell you a story that isn’t written in any history book,” Eleena begins, as we pace forward towards the garden. “Long ago, before these lands were corrupt by evil, this whole world of Ladorielle was a euphoric place of peace and tranquility. Vothule, the ruler of the underworld, lived on the other planet, Elleirodal. His planet and ours have a polarity that keeps the magic in both realms alive. However, Vothule is greedy and was bound to overtake the twin planet, Ladorielle. Eddar the god of light refused to allow such evil into his world.”
“I have heard parts of this story, I think,” I interrupt.
“Ah, yes, I’m sure you have, but there are a few details that have been kept from many who do not know.” She goes on, “You see, Eddar the god of light, a king and ruler of peace, was tricked. He had let his guard down, allowing the ruler of evil into his home. This evil ruler took the form of a woman and she seduced him. He thought she was the goddess of love, tranquility, and peace: his equal. When he found out the deception, he realized no living being should ever have such power as she. Evil would always seek to overthrow all that is good in the world, and good always needs to protect the innocent.” Eleena stops, overlooking the beautiful solarium.
“What happened?”
“He cast a protection spell over all the land. The whole planet. In doing so, he gave free will, destiny, and fate to all living beings. Allowing the living to choose their fate.”
“And this god, where is he now?”
“Everywhere.” She smiles. “He can take shape in anything, as he wishes. He is a god, after all. But he did do one thing…” Eleena moves toward the stairs and begins to descend to the garden below.
“What was that?” I ask, curious, following beside her.
“He gave a man of pure heart and soul of this land we call Ladorielle a glimpse of his power, to protect the people and their innocents, and condemn the evil that seeks to destroy it. That man would soon become the new king. You might know his name as Dragonscale.”
My mind reels with this new information. I stop a moment as I gaze upon the beautiful fruit trees growing in the solarium, stepping onto the soft plush grass beneath my feet.
“What are you saying? That this Dragonscale is some sort of demigod?”
“Dear Ladorielle, no, my child.” She paces to a bench that sits under a willow tree in the center of the garden. “That would be someone that is half god. No, he’s more like an immortal king with divine powers. And anyone born into his bloodline shall be bestowed the same gift as he, passing down from generation to generation. The first-born child is to be the reigning king or queen, should the previous
ruler expire.”
“But I thought you said, he’s immortal?”
“Aye, that I did. Just because one is of immortal flesh, doesn’t mean one can’t be killed. The Elvin people will live forever too, unless they die in time of war. They are, in most cases immune to sickness. It is no different in this situation.”
“How does this pertain to me, Grandmother?”
She laughs. “Come sit with me.”
I smile back. “Such intrigue about this story. Please don’t tell me I must marry now, too?”
My grandmother laughs some more, as though my comment is preposterous. “I should hope not yet. Traditions of the past have many marrying young, but I would hope you would wait awhile, hmm?”
That’s a relief.
“I will say this, my sweet granddaughter, the ancient ones have seen your future, and you will be the one to carry out the replacement of Dragonscale’s duties. This is why it’s so important to go through your trials. It must be done before your ascension.”
“I’m not ready to be someone’s queen,” I protest. I think my grandmother can see it, too, and she quickly changes the subject.
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