by Sven Grams
“We have to touch it, Ma’am.”
“And you can do this for any wood or material?”
“No ma’am only very powerful Shaman can influence some different material, most lions can only change the standard issue Lion Empire staff and cloak.”
Trex didn’t mind talking so openly about this matter, as it was common knowledge in any case.
“And what are these things made of?”
“They come from a few sacred plants and a special type of crystal or metal, only the great alchemists now exactly how they are made.”
“And these things are not living.”
“No,” answered Trex honestly.
“So you can just leave them then?”
Trex thought about this, not really having contemplated it before.
“No, we have to oil the wood on occasion, and you have to use it, touch the equipment occasionally, otherwise they lose their properties, the wood… permanently.”
Realisation suddenly hit both Trex and Sara.
Sage Filfia smiled.
“You will find that the most powerful tool we as individuals have, is our perception. Things look very different depending on how we look at them, how we think about them. There are very few matters in life that are black and white.”
Sara and Trex blinked, the information seeping in.
“I have only one more thing to say for today about this matter,” Filfia stated kindly.
“There are many things that appear unseen in our world. Take for example emotional projection, heat from a fire or the sun, magnetism, or air, the force of the wind. The workings of physical bodies on one another, or of energy, all these things are all around us. Thinking of these things as separate or together, living or dead… is only a matter of perception.”
The Sage finished, looking at the world around her, contented. Silence returned, it was obvious to the two that the lecture was over.
Sara and Trex gave each other a meaningful look, empathising with each others mutual difficulty in working through what they had just heard.
Both returned to looking at the world around them, subconsciously relieved that they were not the only ones with a head full of unusual ideas.
- CHAPTER NINE -
Unexpected company
(The tale of Trex and Sara)
Trex did well to stop his mouth from dropping open as he gazed around him in overwhelmed silence. It was actually a good thing that the young Anthro lion male was so absorbed in the spectacular wolf city of Torstberg, as he would have been very self conscious, had he been paying attention to all of the glances he was receiving from the local wolves.
Though Anthro lion traders did occasionally travel to Torstberg, they were normally in large groups, and this was not a regular occasion in any case. Other then Captain Felx, it was very unusual for Anthro lions to travel to Torstberg at all. Trex’s appearance on a rarely seen camel was enough of a novelty to arouse attention.
Trex scratched at the large shirt that he had on.
“This damn thing itches in this heat,” Trex said while pulling at the shirt, “I only wear it when there’s at least a foot of snow outside.”
“I’m just glad you were told to bring it along,” replied Sara nearby, not sympathising with his suffering.
“If you haven’t noticed,” continued Sara, “your getting enough ‘looks’ as it is. You don’t want to know what kind of glares you would be getting if you were shirtless. Most of these wolves have never been to RefugeCross or the lower planes.”
“Ahh… ok then,” stated Trex, calming down.
Trex looked around for a second at the Wolves surrounding him. Many were very well dressed and carried a superior air. Trex kept forgetting that male wolves were obliged to cover their chests by tradition. The rules were more lax down in the lower planes.
There appeared to be a distinct caste system at work here in Torstberg. Many of the city-dwelling females having more elaborate dresses, obviously not designed for manual labour. Trex had to admit that they looked very attractive. Anthro lion females normally never wore such fine clothes.
Of the three, Sara was having the most difficult time dealing with the underlying hostility around her. Trex was mostly immune thanks to his training and his attention being elsewhere. Filfia, for her part, simply shone confidence and authority, almost relishing being in the company of someone who made others uneasy. Sara was the odd one out, but her years of being part of a social outcast family had steeled her resolve somewhat.
“This city is amazing,” said Trex to Sara out of the side of his mouth, not being able to tare his eyes away.
“You only say that because you’ve never seen anything other then RefugeCross,” replied Sara.
Sara knew the reaction. She had had the same when she had first visited the lion occupied city of RefugeCross a few months earlier.
Trex continued to stare at a large cathedral that was across the dominant cobblestone main square. A few large fountains were clearly visible between the market stalls that were scattered around.
Torstberg looked like a very rich medieval European trading town on our world. It was also set in a picturesque high valley flanked by snow-capped peaks.
The three riders crossed one of the many wide, stone bridges built with elaborate cast iron ornamentation. Carts and wolves bustled by as part of the normal busy daily traffic. Down below the bridge, the frigid snowmelt rushed by in one of the two main water courses that dissected the built-up city.
Torstberg contained many large richly decorated stone and timber houses, churches, public structures, guild buildings and the like.
Trex looked up at the main castle that towered over the rest of the city in front of them. It was built in the middle of the town, on a small island created by the splitting of the main river. Seemingly rising out from the rocky outcrop, the impressive structure dominated the skyline. It was built with the same dual purpose as the inner city of RefugeCross, a good defensive structure, but with aesthetic design and lots of ornamentation for the main living and working areas. This was not only a fortress, but the heart of the administration.
A small group of wolf children had been following the travellers. Trex noticed that they were mostly girls. They were eager to get a look at the younger lion on his strange camel, as well as the elusive Sage Filfia. They turned away sharply, however, as the three riders approached the outer gate of the castle.
Two older, unfriendly looking female wolf soldiers eyed the group suspiciously.
“Sage Filfia,” stated the older guard in recognition. She did not, however, get out of the way.
“I have an appointment,” said the Sage calmly, “with Mayor Petrice”.
“I am not sure that we can allow that lion to enter,” said the second guard, pointing dismissively towards Trex.
“I will escort him under my authority,” said the Sage calmly, “he is unarmed and still young. No one would consider him a threat.”
Trex couldn’t help but be slightly put down by the very obvious description.
The two guards were reluctant, but after one of them had rechecked the register, they had little choice but to let the three travellers pass.
After the grandeur and imposing nature of the exterior, Trex couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed at entering the main cobbled courtyard of the castle complex. Only a single fountain and a pair of large oak-like trees were at its cold, stony centre. Anthro wolves were obviously not one for gardens or mosaics.
“Have you ever been within these walls before?” asked the Sage towards Sara.
“No, never Ma’am.”
“I would recommend you remain on your most formal behaviour, irrespective of how I may act, is that clear?”
“Yes Ma’ma,” replied Sara.
“Trex, you follow whatever Sara does.”
“Yes Ma’am,” stated Trex, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice.
After dismounting his grunting mount Suzzi, Trex looked
over into the far corner of the courtyard. In front of a long barracks structure that came out of the thick castle walls a large group of female wolf soldiers were making preparations to get underway. Some of the wolves stopped what they were doing to observe the three.
The three travellers quickly secured their mounts. They passed another pair of sceptical looking guards as they entered the main hall through a heavy pair of large timber doors.
The main hall had a large rug that went almost the full length of the long tall room. Elaborate tapestries hanging from the pillars and walls. Tall, thin stained glass windows allowed in a limited amount of light. Large unlit brass chandeliers hung from the high vaulted ceiling, and there were two large fireplaces on either side of the room. Anthro wolf castles were not as open or airy as their lion equivalents, mostly because of the need for greater insulation during the long, harsh winters.
Trex and Sara could see a number of male servants scurrying back and forth in the background and down the corridors that led from the hall.
Sage Filfia guided them down a well lit side corridor, suddenly stopping at a solid timber door.
She knocked.
“Come in,” came a muffled calm voice from the other side.
The three travels entered the large room.
Trex was immediately impressed by the elegant and extensive decoration of the office. Obviously wolf officials saved the riches of their realm for their immediate surroundings and not the public spaces.
The office room was longer then it was wide. Two heavy dark desks on either side were flanked by bookcases. A large ornate fireplace was to one side and natural light came from one large window.
Looking through the window, Trex could see a small courtyard with a delicate flower arrangement. The main complex had more of these smaller courtyards tucked between the buildings to provide natural light.
An older, grey-furred wolf with light brown hair looked up from her desk. She gave Trex a displeasing once-over before focusing on the Sage. Next to the administration wolf sat a younger female, noticeably also with grey fur, she was probably a relative.
“Dear Madam Secretary,” said Filfia formally, “we have an appointment to see the honourable Mayor.”
Sara suddenly bowed elaborately, having waited for the Sage’s recognition of the high official.
Sara crossed her right leg in front of her left, crossed her right arm in front of her stomach and lifter her left arm to the side.
Trex was a little surprised. A slight bow was a normal greeting between Anthro lions, he hadn’t seen such an elaborate bow from a wolf before, if any bow at all, they normally just shook hands.
Hesitating for a moment, Trex copied Sara.
The secretary raised an eyebrow at the antics going on behind the Sage.
“Not like that,” hissed Sara out of the side of her mouth, “only females bow like this, just bow normally.”
Trex quickly put his hands and feet to the side, simply bowing lower then he would normally and without a formal Anthro lion hand gesture in front of his chest.
Sage Filfia smiled serenely.
“hmmmm” said the Madam Secretary disapprovingly, her eyes narrowing.
“Please tell all parties that Sage Filfia… and company, have arrived.”
“Yes Ma’am,” said the younger assistant, quickly getting up. The young wolf bowed slightly to the Sage before leaving the room through another door.
The dresses and skirts of the official and the assistant were much finer attire then Trex was used to seeing on female wolves. He had mostly only had contact with soldiers, or the farmers down in the occupied lower planes.
“You may take a seat,” said the Secretary, pointing towards some plush chairs against one wall with her writing quill.
The three travellers took a seat.
Trex and Sara both secretly enjoyed the sensation of sitting in such fine leather furniture. Sara glimpsed to see Trex flexing his tows in the thick plush rug, enjoying the sensation of the fabric between his digits.
Trex caught Sara’s side-glance and reacted sheepishly, his ears drooping.
Sara, sitting tall and proper, simply gave him a small smirk.
The sound of a writing quill filled the silent room, seemingly being kept in rhythm by a ticking pendulum clock in the corner.
Sara looked focused, Trex fidgeted and Sage Filfia gave the impression that she was meditating.
The door opened a few minutes later and the young grey furred assistant reappeared.
“You may come in Sage Filfia Ma’am, the others will be with you in a moment.”
Sage Filfia stood up, quickly followed by the two youths.
“The children can stay here,” said the Secretary in a firm voice.
Filfia paused for a moment as Trex and Sara stopped dead in their tracks at the stern tone.
“Miss. Kelgorn is my potential apprentice. And I have taken responsibility for Mr. Tristfull while here. They will not be in the way.”
The statement that Sage Filfia was potentially taking an apprentice was enough to momentarily shock the stern Secretary. Trex and Sara quickly rushed after the Sage, closing the door behind them before the Secretary could say anything else.
“But…” said the Secretary before she was cut off by the closing door.
Sara and Trex turned to see that they were not alone. In front of them and the Sage were the most powerful wolves in Torstberg. Mayor Petrice, Sara’s grandfather Mr. Thorntreck and a wolf Sara recognised as Mrs. Litzess, the head of treasury.
“Should they be in here?” asked Mrs Litzess, a little annoyed at having such young Anthros in the main council meeting room.
“Yes,” replied Sage Filfia simply.
Mrs Litzess looked affronted, but was getting no support from either of the senior wolves around her. Her long delicate sash twitched, indicating her tail was swishing back and forth a bit in irritation.
“Mayor Petrice, Mr Thorntreck and Mrs Litzess. I offer my most humble greetings.”
Sara and Trex bowed respectfully, Trex having payed attention for any indication from Sara.
“Thank you Sage Filfia,” said Mayor Petrice kindly, “please, take a seat.”
All six Anthros took their places at the large long dark wooden table.
“I was not expecting to see either you Mrs. Litzess, or you Mr. Thorntreck at this meeting today. To what do I owe the pleasure?” asked the Sage diplomatically.
“Mrs. Litzess, and Mr. Thorntreck will be taking over affairs here in the city while I am away. It is important that they are informed about this expedition.”
“Really… where will you be going Miss Petrice?” asked the Sage, genuinely intrigued by the unexpected development.
“I will be coming with you,” Mayor Petrice said simply.
Trex and Sara reacted with surprise, this was indeed unprecedented.
The sage, for her part, simply smiled.
A few hours later, many miles west of the Wolf Kingdom city, a small convoy of travellers was making its way through the Western Wilderness on a rough dirt track.
Sitting in the back of an open topped wagon, Trex was feeling decidedly in the minority. Opposite him sat Sara, but next to him sat a further ten female wolf soldiers, many of which were looking at him.
“Ahum,” coughed Trex, nervously.
Sara smiled, secretly pleased that Trex finally felt some of the discomfort that she had been sensing all day.
Looking forward, Sara could see that they were descending into a steep stony gorge.
Large cliffs loomed up on either side as the cart made its way down to the sea on a steep road.
Both Trex and Sara had never been at the small port that served Torstberg, nestled between the craggy cliffs on the unforgiving west coast. Having descended down the winding road to almost sea level, a large stone wall appeared in font of them, stretching from one of the high cliffs to the other. A sturdy iron and wood gate indicated that this was indeed just an outpost in the
wilderness.
Entering the fortified port, the small convoy crowded into an even smaller courtyard. Space was definitely at a premium. Trex jumped out the back of the cart, looking up at the cliffs around him. He was amazed to see that most of the buildings, including the stables, had been dug out of the rocky cliffs themselves. Windows, doors and balconies seemed to be chiselled directly onto the cliff face itself.
“Wow,” said Trex, moving over to Sara, “how were they able to build all these buildings right into a solid rock cliff?”
Sara looked around, equally as impressed.
“I have no idea,” she answered honestly, “but we have a lot of skilled miners and stone masons… they have their tricks.”
Trex nodded. Moving back to the wagon, he retrieved a small bag with his travel belongings, Sara doing the same.
No sooner had the carts been unpacked then the male wolf drivers turned around to leave, making some needed space.
Trex and Sara saw that Mayor Patrice’s horse had been tied up to one of the wagons.
Looking over to where the Mayor was, they could see Sage Filfia saying goodbye to her massive red steed. The now bare animal nuzzled the older wolf before turning away, trotting out of the gate on its own, ignoring the stares of those around it.
“So it’s just going back to the wild?” asked Trex, watching as the animal calmly made its way back up the steep track in front of the wagons.
“Until she needs it again I would imagine,” said Sara.
“Impressive,” said Trex, nodding his head.
Sara had to agree, though she wasn’t about to say it.
Turning back their attention to the small port, both of the young Anthros could see that the Wolf Kingdom fleet was seriously restricted in size and numbers. The docks had been chiselled out of the rock itself, including a large breakwater. It only had room for about fifteen small fishing craft in addition to two skiffs built for transport and speed. None of the vessels were longer then ten meters.
The Mayor and Sage were talking to the dock official and the captains of the transport, all rough looking females with darker fur.