by C. M. Lance
Giselle asked, “Where would we hunt?”
Sig said, “We could go to my place in Minnesota. We’ve got four hundred acres of woods with some decent deer.”
Rick shook his head. “Too far, that’s what, at least eight hours driving? A relative in Wisconsin, a few hours from here, has four thousand acres of woods filled with deer. He told me to come and hunt any time. He wants the deer culled. He says there are too many.”
“He’s got that right. Cars in Minnesota hit and kill more than thirty thousand every year. They’re a menace. Mom says we have more deer than rats.”
“Wisconsin has a lot more deer strikes than that.”
Sig asked, “It’s not deer hunting season. Your relative wouldn’t mind?”
“Naw, not if it’s for food. He’s not into the trophy thing. He wants to keep the population down so he only allows me to hunt does.” He smiled. “Besides wolves can’t be arrested for poaching.”
Giselle asked, “This relative of yours, is he …”
“A Were? Yes he is. He is the proverbial ‘Lone Wolf’. An uncle that married a witch and fought for the right to live outside a pack. He’s the biggest wolf I’ve ever met. He still has to fight occasionally, but the fights are getting fewer because the results are always the same. He still lives outside a pack.”
“So we wouldn’t be competing with a pack for the deer?”
“No. That’s the main reason for the fights. He doesn’t allow the pack to hunt there.”
“But he lets you?”
Rick grinned and polished his fingernails on his shirt. “He’s my godfather as well as my uncle. I get special privileges.”
Sig looked at Rick and Giselle. “Let’s do it. When?”
“I’m free next weekend.”
“Me too.”
“That makes three of us.”
Rick asked, “Have you ever hunted with a wolf?”
Sig and Giselle exchanged glances. ‘No. Have you ever hunted with humans?”
Rick shook his head and laughed. “We’re all in for a new experience. You can join my mini-pack.”
Giselle curtsied and said, “I’d be honored.”
Sig gave him a sweeping bow. “Enchanté.”
She asked, “Who’ll drive?”
Sig looked sideways at her. “I guess that would be you. Rick’s car can’t drive at night and… you’re not going to believe this ... my car got totaled by lightning last night.”
“Again?” She asked incredulously.
“Someone or something threw a lightning bolt. I blocked it and tried to deflect it away from the people, towards the parking lot…”
“I heard about that. It was your car?” She started laughing. “You knocked the lightning into your own car?”
Rick laughed.
Sig looked between the two of them; both laughing hysterically, and then he laughed too. “I guess it wasn’t the brightest thing I’ve done. I did try to miss the Maybach.
Chapter 46
Sig’s phone rang after Giselle left. It was Mom. “Are you OK?” There was concern in her voice.
“Sure, I’m great.”
“How is the Professor?”
“He’s upstairs sleeping. He’s a little under the weather.”
“You’re sure you’re both OK?”
“Why are you asking?”
“I had a strange vision. When I told Fiona about it, she said that since my powers are still emerging and the vision was so unclear that I should wait and see if it clarified. I wanted to call you about it, but she said wait two days. I guess she’s right. I had the vision for two days, and today - it’s gone.”
“What was the vision?”
“Oh, it’s silly. And since you and Professor Herman are OK, I’ll just forget about it.”
“Mom, I’m interested in what’s going on with you. Will you please tell me?”
“Then I’d have two people thinking I’m nuts you and Fiona.”
“Mom, c’mon.”
An audible sigh heaved across the airwaves. She spoke rapidly, “I saw an owl riding a giant wolf, carrying a flaming sword. It cut off the professor’s arm but it grew back. You fought the owl and you batted a lightning bolt into a homerun. There was a man with black and white striped hair, but I don’t know what he did. OK, is that enough?”
Sig was stunned. It was the Cliff Notes of last night. OK, maybe a drug induced version. No, the real episode was drug induced. Hers was a blurry vision of the real thing.
“Sig, say something. Do you think I’m nuts?”
“Mom, if you have any more visions that I star in, please tell me about it - in vivid detail.”
Silence echoed.
“Mom, are you there?”
“Did anything in my vision happen?”
“Well, the Professor’s arm didn’t get cut off. His shoulder needed stitches. He came home from the hospital the same day. Otherwise… pretty close.”
“Uh- huh.” After a pause, she hollered, “Fiona, will you pick up the extension? Please.”
Sig heard a click, a clatter, and then Fiona’s voice, “Hello, I’m here.”
“Fiona, Sig’s on the phone. So I don’t have to repeat it, Sig will you please tell us about what happened last night.”
When Sig finished telling them, there was silence on the line.
Fiona asked, “Herman’s OK, but two Amazon’s died?”
“He’s upstairs sleeping. As long as his arm isn’t infected, he’ll recover. The women won’t.”
“I didn’t see it on the news.”
“You won’t. The Amazons took care of their own. Last night the police missed the sword stuck in the parking lot. Rick witnessed it disappear this morning. My Jeep was struck by lightning, just not natural lightning.”
“Your Jeep?”
“Didn’t I mention that car I deflected lightning into was my new Jeep? How did I miss that?”
“Is it repairable?”
“Uh, no. The gas tank exploded and caught it on fire. It took firemen fifteen minutes to put it out. The fire was so hot it melted the pavement.”
Fiona said to Meredith, “Girl, like I said, you are a witch; you even got the burning car right. I guess you graduate.”
They were celebrating his car burning? First Rick and Giselle laughed and now this. “Damn. You knew my car would burn? Now I really need you to tell me your visions. I would have been more careful if I knew.”
“Young man, watch your language. Yes, I will tell you in the future. I’m glad you’re OK. I love you.”
“Love you Mom. Bye Fiona.”
He clicked off. It was nice to know that he could provide entertainment for everyone he knew while demons tried to kill him.
Chapter 47
The Professor returned to work after a few days. He told those who asked that his arm was in a sling because of an old rotator cuff injury. He wore his sport coat like a cape. Sig was sure he considered it dashing. Apparently, some of his female students thought so too.
Rick, Giselle, and Sig huddled together over pizza and beer to plan their hunting trip. Rick received clearance for their visit to his uncle’s land in Wisconsin. In fact, his uncle was enthusiastic. He hadn’t participated in a human-Were hunt and was looking forward to the experience. He offered them a remote cabin in the woods, on a creek. They would need a four-wheel drive to get close enough to pack in the last two miles, which was fine with them.
His uncle’s property, surrounded on three sides by state parks, had few roads, none paved, and no access roads from the parks, which reduced almost to nil the chances of encountering a game warden.
Their excitement built as the day of departure drew near. To-do lists were completed and essentials packed.
Giselle reminded Sig that Mary Beth, the tribe’s Training Master wanted to meet him. She asked that he come prepared to spar. Sig called to make arrangements.
On the phone, he introduced himself and said, “The last time I spared a mature Amazon, my li
fe passed before my eyes.”
“I heard about that. We won’t have a repeat. As Training Master, I don’t look on skilled opponents as the enemy. They are a training resource. I want to get an idea of your skill level by watching from the sidelines when you spar with some of the girls. If it looks like we should spar, we can discuss it.”
“I miss working out with the tribe. I’ve learned a lot. I found out how much recently when I fared much better against a previous opponent. I understand I have to get your approval to continue.”
“That’s true. I’d like to be armed with good arguments when I confront the Commander.”
“When should I come?”
“Does tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 fit into your schedule?”
“I’ll see you then.”
†††
Sig arrived at the training facility at 1:50, changed, and asked where to find Mary Beth. She was observing a fencing match when he found her. The match finished and she offered pointers to each of the contestants.
Sig decided as he watched her that she wasn’t what he expected. Somewhat shorter than the typical Amazon at under six feet tall, and more full figured, her hair was a mass of black waves that hung half way down her back. From the deep timbre of her voice on the phone, he had pictured a tall, lean blonde with close cropped hair.
She acted less the drill sergeant than he anticipated after his encounter with the Commander and more like a teacher; handing out compliments, mixed with constructive criticism, and technique demonstrations.
When finished, she walked to Sig and extended her hand, taking his firmly and warmly. “I’m pleased to meet you. It looks to me like you’ve been a positive influence on the girls.”
“No more than they have been on me.”
“A fair trade favors everyone. You’re dressed. Are you ready?”
“Give me a minute to stretch. In what discipline will we compete?”
“I want to start with hand-to-hand.”
“Start? Usually a match with one of your tribe wears me out.”
“Let’s play it by ear.” She turned and called “Giselle, are you ready?”
Sig’s eyes widened. Giselle and he hadn’t competed previously.
Mary Beth turned and saw his expression. “Surprised? She told me that you two haven’t practiced. I was disappointed. She’s one of our best at hand-to-hand, but we all can learn.”
“I thought Arianna was the best.”
“I’m sure you heard that from Arianna. Arianna won most recently and claimed the title. In the long view, Giselle and Arianna are well matched. Amazons are nothing if not competitive. However, sometimes I think Arianna received both her own and Giselle’s share. This will be good for you to workout with a new opponent and put you at a slight disadvantage. She has watched, and familiar with your technique. You have less familiarity with hers.”
Giselle was ready when Sig finished stretching.
After preliminaries, they circled, striking, and kicking, while watching for an opening. Sig observed her footwork, and then feinted a kick, which she blocked. He shifted his weight to follow through and stomp on her instep before she pulled her foot back. When she was unbalanced, he grabbed her and threw her over his hip onto her side.
He followed her landing with a knee drop to her kidneys and a blow to her temple, neither of which he completed.
He stepped back, clasped his hands, and bowed to her. She climbed to her feet, bowed back, and then attacked.
She closed on him with a flurry of hand strikes, most of which he managed to block. Two blows caught him in the face, one under the right eye. By the end of their round his eye was swelling. Before the round was over, he threw her twice more, delivering potentially crippling strikes when he had her down.
During the break, they traded observations. Sig noted, “You have blazing hand speed, which you over-rely upon. As a result you have lazy footwork.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mary Beth nodding.
Giselle observed, “You’re a male chauvinist pig, who beats up on defenseless girls.”
Several Amazons in the crowd watching the bout laughed.
Sig rolled his eyes and winced. He pointed to his eye, which was half way to swollen shut. “Defenseless?”
“OK, you’re a male chauvinist pig who thinks he can block punches with his head.”
Sig saw Mary Beth smile at that. He forgave her; he had to smile at it too.
They restarted and Sig decided to take advantage of his superior footwork. He launched a combination of kicks that kept her off balance. She tried to close so she could take advantage of her hand speed, but his kicks kept her at a distance. She retaliated with kicks that he blocked or dodged.
He hit her with kicks to the top of her shoulders and behind the head that shook her. She danced away from him, avoiding further damage. He pressed and she surprised him with a leaping, spinning wheel kick that slammed into the angle between his neck and shoulder, dropping him to his knees, stunned.
It was a gutsy kick; she landed on her butt after it hit him. He managed to lunge forward through his daze and grappled with her, tying her up on the mat in a wrestling hold.
When time was called, he hesitated before he rolled off her onto his back, and stared up at the ceiling. Lying on top of her felt amazingly good. She pressed up onto her hands and knees and looked over at him.
He rolled his head toward her and asked, ‘Was it good for you?”
She snorted. “You wish.”
He sat up. “I think that I’ll call it a day.” He reached up, rubbed the back of his neck, and looked over at her. “That was ballsy. If you missed, you were on your butt and dead meat. But since it connected, you won.”
He pulled himself up with the hand Mary Beth extended. “I wouldn’t say she won; you had her on the defense in the beginning and then she was rapped up at the end. But the match was closer than I expected, thanks to that ‘ballsy’ kick, as you called it.”
“It surprised me. Surprise is an effective tool.”
“I am going to recommend to the Commander that you continue working with the girls. You have very good techniques and are generous with your critique and advice. I can see why the girls have improved.”
Sig nodded. “Thank you.”
“Will you do one more thing for me?”
“What’s that?”
“I understand you can change forms, will you do that for me?”
Sig raised his eyebrows and looked around. All the women looked at him. “Right here?”
“I don’t see why not, most everyone except me has seen it already.”
He shrugged, grasped his medallion, and said, “Aðalbrandr.” Still uncomfortable with the roof rushing down at him, he ducked.
She looked up at him with her mouth open, and then shut it and said, “Ahh, a Battle Wizard.” She walked around him. He turned his head to follow her.
“My, but you are a big one. I think you’re the biggest I’ve ever seen.”
Sig rumbled, “That’s what I’ve been told.”
“Is your magic powerful?”
“I’d rather not discuss it.”
“Alright, who was your predecessor?”
“My Grampa Thor, Thorval Sigurd Arnsohn.”
“Ah ha, Thor, Son of the Eagle. I know him. How is he?”
“Not well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She looked like she sincerely meant it. “He is a good, good man. You say he’s your grandfather?”
“My Great-grandfather.”
She nodded. “I knew your Great-grandmother Giselle too.”
“Was she a member of your tribe?”
Giselle looked at Mary Beth; all the other Amazons looked at Mary Beth.
“No, she was elected the Commander of another tribe.”
Unexpectedly, Sig felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Mary Beth noticed the group of Amazons standing around evaluating Sig. She turned back to him. “OK, I’ve satisfie
d my curiosity as to what you are. You should change back now before some of them go into heat.”
Sig quickly said, “Koma aftur”.
“That’s better. If you didn’t know, many Amazons have an overwhelming attraction to beefcake. Your other self appears to be almost more beef on the hoof than they can bear.” She turned to the girls and waved her hands as if brushing them away. “Shoo, shoo. The show is over, back to work.”
Sig felt his face burning.
Mary Beth turned back to him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you, just warn you. It would be best if you don’t transform when you are here. There isn’t much point in you training here as a Battle Wizard. The whole bunch of them wouldn’t be a match for you.”
“You don’t think so?” Sig asked lamely.
“I saw a Battle Wizard take on a squad of elite commandos once. He went through a dozen tempered fighting men like a lion through a pack of jackals. I know he didn’t have your martial arts skills and he was probably eighty percent of your size. No, I’m sure not.”
“OK, I won’t change.”
“I’m not forbidding it. I just think it’s in your best interest. Keep in mind; they don’t want you, just your body.”
It was the most embarrassed he’d ever felt. He would have glowed in the dark if the lights were off. His face felt like a torch as he hurried out of the center.
Chapter 48
On the day of the hunting expedition, everyone arranged to leave early enough so they would have light when they hiked the last two miles to the cabin.
Their packs filled up the back seat of the Jeep. With hands on her hips, Giselle considered the packs.
Rick said, “Women always pack too much.”
“You’re gonna be happy that I did.”
“Negligee? I’m in with that. I hope it’s a black teddy.”
She gave him an exasperated look.
Sig looked at Rick over the top of the Jeep. “I’ll flip you for who rides on top of all that in back.”
Rick shook his head. “Nope, you can’t ride back there. Don’t forget the seatbelt law.”
“What’ll we do?”