by Peter Saenz
“Don’t try to move Devin.”, he tells me. “You’re not quite done healing yet.”
Very groggy, I ask, “What happened?”
With a very concerned look on his face, my father says, “We can go over the details later, but suffice to say, you and Damon were successful in surviving the trials. The Archons just got out of conference and are ready to give their verdict.”
“Verdict?”, I ask. “We won. We followed their rules. Why do they have to give a verdict?”
Soothingly, and with immense gratitude on her face, Gabriella says, “Shh, mon ami. Nothing like this has ever happened. We will stand by your side but we still must see how all this plays out.”
I look over at Damon. He is smiling at me. The look of hope and sincerity is etched across his young face. You’d never know he was just in a battle for his life. I smile back.
“Thanks.”, I tell him. “If you hadn’t have used the bolo and poison dart, I probably wouldn’t have made it.”
Damon’s face looks slightly confused. He says, “I did what I had to. You saved me too several times over during the fight. Only, Devin, I helped you with a bolo I found laying on the ground. I didn’t have access to any poison darts.”
What? If Damon didn’t shoot the dart to help me, then who did? I look around the room and see Nicholas. Once he realizes I am looking directly at him, he turns to look out the window, almost out of embarrassment. Was it him? Was he the one who secretly helped me from being killed?
Across the way I can see Jason glaring at me. I’m too tired to return the favor so instead I close my eyes to mediate. I can feel my body repairing itself. As each minute rolls by, my strength level increases. I focus on my breathing, imagining the stress my body has endured is expelled with each exhale. My mind then wanders to Tobias and the others. I hope they are alright.
The Archon Gregoire approaches me and my group. Speaking as if I weren’t there, he asks Gabriella, “We’re ready to speak to the arena. When will he be ready?”
Gabriella answers, “He’s ready now, but still very weak. I’m sure...”
Cutting her off, Gregoire says, “Good. Have him and Damon meet us downstairs in 15 minutes.”
At that, he and the remaining Archons turn and leave the room. I ask my father, “I already know Jason has it out for me in the worst way. What about the other Synoro Archons? Do you have any idea on which side they will be on?”
Adam replies, “They are very loyal to the old ways. Ryan, Shaun, and Brice’s families have been Archons for several generations. They will side with the majority in order to keep the peace. Clayton on the other hand is very loyal to my father. They grew up together in childhood. I can almost guarantee they both will be working against us.”
Gabriella says, “My father is very traditional also, as are the other Archons in my clan. He does have some affection for Damon, but I can tell he doesn’t care much for Devin at all. His vote is up in the air.”
“It’s the luck of the draw then.”, I reply. “We’re just going to have to explain to them that according to the rules, we should be allowed to live.”
Damon then says, “Over half of the wolves in the stands are either from the Basque or Synoro clans. I’ve noticed none of them have left since the trials ended. They’re all waiting for a response as well. I’ve met almost all of them. If we can somehow get them to side with us in front of the Archons, we might have a better chance at having a say.”
My father then asks, “They’re waiting for us below. Are you going to be okay to stand Devin?”
I force myself to sit up, feeling a sudden rush as the world around me tilts slightly. I push through it and swing my legs over the side of the cot. I then use what strength I have left in my arms to push myself up to my feet. I initially lose my balance somewhat, but my father catches me, giving me support. Determined to see this through, I let go of my father and make myself stand on my own. Fenrus jumps off the cot as well and stands by my side.
“I’m ready.”, I tell them.
My father gives Gabriella a look of concern, but I walk towards the door before they can protest. To my surprise, Nicholas reaches it before I do and opens it for me. I look directly into his face and tell him, “Thank you”. Silently he mouths back the words ‘you’re welcome’. Surprisingly, Fenrus doesn’t growl at him once. The four of them hurry to catch up to me after Fenrus and I leave the room.
Down the hall I notice several armed guards. We walk towards them as a group. Silently they lead us down a set of stairs and into a larger meeting room. Just ahead are the open doors leading back out to the arena. Once the group of Archons sees us, they quickly march out to meet the now cheering crowd of arena attendees. We are about to join them when a group of armed guards stand in our way.
One of the guards then says, “You’ll wait here until the Archons have finished giving their speech.”
Something about the way the Archons are openly ignoring me has me worried. What do they have planned? I close my eyes and attempt a spell Anna had taught me during my stay with her. It’s also one that I never really had practice in using, which makes it all the more difficult.
I focus on the Archons and subtly feel for their thoughts as I try to enter their minds. The very nature of their being makes it extremely hard to do, but after enough persistence I manage to slip into one of the weaker minded Archon’s thoughts without him knowing. I become lost for a few moments, confused by the chaotic thought patterns running through his mind. Several different plots and ideas streak past me like lighting in his head. I try to focus as best I can on the one pattern of thought surrounding the trials and our fate. It feels like trying to stay afloat in a rushing river. I try to stand my ground, looking for what I need. Finally I see it. It’s as if a series of clouds open up, so I latch onto it as best I can.
In the memory, the Archon replays the earlier discussion he and the other Archons had just met for. Unlike Jason or Gregoire, this Archon seems to have an almost childlike excitement when my name is mentioned. Though a handful of Archons feel Damon and I should be killed immediately, the majority of wolf leaders express a desire to let us live for a short while, too afraid of a revolt. The Archon’s thoughts I’m reading shares that his own clan, the Neuri, would be very interested in having me join their pack. Delving deeper into his thoughts, I can see that the real reason he is so interested in me is that the idea of having a magic user in his pack to boss around and increase his profits is something he very much desires. Looking at the other’s faces, I can tell quite a few of them feel the same way.
A more base thought then attracts my attention. Something so subtle I almost miss it, but I dive into the Archon’s thoughts with a greater sense of determination. There at the back of his brain I sense it: distain for Damon. I can now see that this Archon has had private meetings with other Archons, both in his own clan as well as that of the Exallos. In those conversations they convey the fact that they are uneasy at the new bond the Basque and Synoro clans now have due to ‘the new Enopo and his guardians’. The two clans agree that if the Enopo somehow lives through the trials, they will see to it that he is killed and made an example of.
Suddenly full of fear, I pull myself back. Once I feel my thoughts have completely severed with the Archon’s, I concentrate on settling back into my own skin once again. The ordeal has put an added strain on my system. I feel as if I had physically been trying to swim up current after running a marathon. I pull myself together as best I can, trying to hide my exhaustion and need to retch. I don’t think anyone in my group is fooled.
I scan my eyes for Damon. Seeing him beside me, I pull him aside. My father, Gabriella and Nicholas notice, following us so that they too can listen.
“What is it Devin?”, Damon asks me.
With panic in my voice, I say to them, “I just magically read the mind of one of the Archons. Jason and Gregoire weren’t able to convince the others to kill me. They’re too afraid of upsetting their clan members. The other Archons are hoping I
choose one of their packs so that they can use me and my gifts to help make them more money.” I focus on Damon and say, “It’s you that the others want to get rid of. The Neuri and Exallos clans think you did too good of a job uniting your parent’s packs. As soon as they get the chance, they’re going to try to assassinate you to help destroy any friendly bond you’ve helped make.”
Angered, Nicholas says, “That’s incredible! They wouldn’t dare! To kill a member of another clan unprovoked is to declare open war!”
Damon says, “So what you’re saying is that if I choose to stay with either the Basque or Synoro clans, I could be putting them both in danger of war.”
I continue his train of thought and say, “And if you chose to become a member of the Neuri or Exallos clans, they’ll kill you anyway.”
Nicholas then says, “If another Enopo could be created, none of the clans will be able to lift a finger against one another. They’d have to create a new peace treaty.”
Cutting him off, Damon says, “No. I won’t have anyone else go through what I did. Enopos are not objects to cast aside when you’re done using them. We’re living, breathing, beings. I won’t have someone else sacrifice their life just to save my own.”
Concerned, Gabriella asks, “Then we’ll stay on as your guardians to make sure you are safe.”
“Ama,” Damon says to her tenderly, “I am not a child anymore. In the clan’s eyes, I am now a man. It will be seen as a sign of weakness to hold you on as guardians. We have to let that go.”
“Then what else?”, my father asks. “We’ve got to do something!”
“No.”, I say. “Not you. Us.”
One of the guards interrupts us, shouting, “Oy, the Archons just called for you. The two of ye need to join ‘em now.”
The group of us make for the doorway to the arena, but the guards stop Adam, Gabriella and Nicholas from following us. Damon, Fenrus and I turn to look back and hear the guard tell them, “I said the two of ‘em. The rest of you have‘ta stay ‘ere.”
Damon says to his family being detained, “We’ll be fine.”
The three of us then enter the arena, feeling a little more exposed. The moment the wolves in the stands see us they erupt in a cheerful roar. They look at us with frenzied happiness in their eyes. I was too busy fighting for my life before to notice just how many people there are. I wonder if this is what the Archons saw when they made their judgment to let us live?
Now wearing a headset, Jason puts on a false smile for the audience. Seeing that the cheering has not yet stopped, he puts his hands up into the air, hoping to bring silence from the crowd. The headset amplifies his voice saying, “My dear wolves, you have just seen a historic event among our people. Not one, but two Enopos have survived the trials. They have proven their worth to stay among our kind.”
More cheers erupt around us. I turn to Damon, but he is staring straight ahead, trying to keep his cool. He has on the same blank expression Nicholas and Gabriella seemed so masterful at achieving. Raising his hands into the air again, Jason says, “Tonight, two new members will join our ranks. They have proven to us all that no matter which clan they choose to live among, they will strengthen our race with their talent, strength, and skill.”
Still more applause. Jason speaks over them, saying, “It has been agreed that neither of these Enopos truly know what the individual clans can bring to their lives. Because of this, the Archons of the four clans present have all agreed to allow both wolves to each spend a week living among them. The territorial rule will be put aside for these two in order to have the rare opportunity to let each Enopo take part in the daily lives of each clan.”
Inside I know that it’s during one of these visits that one of the clans will try to murder Damon. Not wanting to waste another moment, I will for Jason’s headset to switch off. I then will for my voice to amplify instead, allowing me to be clearly heard by all of the wolves in the stands. The exertion to use my magic twice after regaining consciousness causes my head to spin slightly, but I push past the discomfort.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Both Damon and I humbly appreciate this opportunity that all of you have given us. We are both proud and honored that you, members of each clan present, have obviously accepted us now as one of you.”
Now standing to their feet, the audience wolves stomp and cheer, showing their agreement.
I continue, saying, “That is why, while we truly appreciate the Archon’s kind invitation to stay among them, we must regretfully decline.”
Confusion and shock sweeps over the crowd. They take their seats again, unsure of what they just heard to be true. Behind me I can hear the Archons becoming flustered.
I put my own hands into the air and say, “We do not decline out of disrespect, but out of love. As you all know, Enopos are created to help unify the wolf nation. They help squelch problems and animosities that develop between our people that, in all honesty, shouldn’t exist at all. We are all wolves. We all are descended from one great city-state of wolves who lived in peace with one another for many years. Damon and I wish to continue to bring that peace to our clans. Not as members of a select pack, but as representatives of ALL packs. We wish to represent all of you in the handful of years we have left on this earth. No more internal wars among our kind. No more needless bloodshed spilled. No more Enopos created, only to die once a temporary truce is made. We wish to act as Ambassadors to all of you as members of our own clan. We cast aside territory, profit, and all the other things that have brought our people division and strife for so many years. Instead, our only goal in our new union is to see that you and your children, the next generation of wolves, will have a better chance at life as a more united wolf nation.”
Murmurs can be heard in the stands.
“Look around you. For the first time in some of your lives, you are not just sitting beside members of your own packs. You are sitting among other clans as well. And guess what? You are all at peace. The person next to you might have a different fur coloring than you, but you both share the same ancestry. The same legacy. It’s moments like this that Damon and I are hoping to bring more of. We stand before you, asking that you will give us that chance. Will you help us make sure your voice is heard?”
A few seconds go by as the arena attendees look at one another with uncertainty. Then, suddenly, the wolves get back to their feet, raise their fists into the air, and cheer. The sound is enormous. The excitement the wolves display puts a humbleness to my heart. I turn to Damon again, only this time he is looking at me with a huge smile on his face. He then takes my hand and raises it and his above our heads. The accolades continue, leaving me speechless.
Smiling, I turn around to look at the Archons. The contempt on their faces is almost palpable. Angered beyond words, Jason takes the headpiece off of his face and throws it to the ground. He and Gregoire then turn and leave the area. A few Archons follow them, but the majority stay. Obviously upset at the turn of events, they still give a weak attempt at clapping along with the audience in order to save face in front of the other clan citizens. I know this isn’t over by a long shot, but I do take pleasure in knowing that all eyes and judgment will be on what the Archons decide to do next. Definitely now, the plot to murder Damon has just became a lot more difficult to accomplish.
*******
The next few hours fly by quickly. The Archons have sequestered themselves in meetings, telling Damon and I that they will speak to us in the morning. This, fortunately, allows me time to regroup with my dad and others in the main house. The level of thanks and gratitude shown to me by Gabriella and Nicholas for saving Damon takes me by surprise. Gabriella swears her loyalty to me, saying that no matter what decision the Archons make, that I have earned my place in the hearts of all the wolves present. Nicholas, though still reserved in each of our interactions, takes an opportunity to take my arm in the wolves’ traditional way. He then swears his allegiance should I ever need it. My father, overcome with happiness, holds on to his
words. Instead, he stands by my side at all times, only straying away from time to time to stand beside Damon.
Soon after I realize Damon and I have become celebrity figures of sorts among the other clans as well. Between cell phones and internet access, the majority of the other clans around the world have already heard about the outcome of the trials. Every clan across the globe is buzzing with excitement. A large portion of wolves present have put aside their rules of non-clan interaction to speak to us. The majority of the introductions involve a bit of gushing on the wolves’ part, telling us that what we did was one of the bravest things they’ve ever seen. There is also a large amount of questions about my magic and about Fenrus. I only give general answers of course, not wanting to give out too much information. My father, Gabriella and Nicholas allow the meetings with the clan members to take place, but watch each wolf that comes and goes in the room, afraid of an assassination attempt.
Meeting so many wolves, I suddenly become aware that not all of them are warriors or assassins as I had previously thought. Some are business people and politicians, placed in key hidden locations of government by the Archons to help ensure the clan’s safety. Some are day-to-day organizers, seeing that the Archon’s wishes are peacefully put through to the lower level wolves. And yet others are simple families, trying to get by as members of a hidden society in the modern day world. Suddenly not everything is so black and white anymore.
The events of the last few hours finally take their toll. Weak beyond words, I excuse myself to collect my thoughts and rest. After a brief nap, my father sees to it that Damon and I are given a hearty meal. Afterwards, I shower and change clothes before I send out my mental call to Luke. They arrive within moments of my transmittal.
Seeing Tobias, Mika and my mother again brings about a great sense of relief for me. I can’t seem to stop holding them. Upon noticing their arrival though, Nicholas returns to his usual surly self. I can feel the new bond between Nicholas and I still exists, but his dislike for the ‘non-wolves’ also becomes very apparent.