Benayle smiled. “I never miss a Sajani Tail.”
“I never miss them either.” Fenther’s stories were good propaganda and were even somewhat popular in Therfass, or so she’d heard, but she often found the way that he retold the events as being a little over the top, even for her.
“My dear, please,” Benayle said simply, “we…I want to thank you for what you’re doing. Vharkylia might not be safe from danger yet, but you’ve made it safer. You did save me from danger and while I don’t think much of my own life in terms of the good of this nation, there are many who do. We all want to thank you for what you’re doing and I grew tired of having to relay that constantly through second hand messengers.”
Sajani looked down briefly and then said softly, “Sorry, old wolf. Simon and Fenther do include that with every message from you. I’d hate to seem ungrateful.”
“Well, then,” he took a knee before her and the crowd actually gasped in surprise to see him do that. Holding his hands out to her he then said, “Had I a sword to proffer in your service, my lady, I would. I kneel before you on behalf of a grateful nation. We pledge our hope and prayers to your service. May the banner of the Lady of Rust fly high and proud.”
He said it loudly and there was little doubt that most of those gathered heard him. There was complete silence as they waited for her response. She could feel all their eyes on her.
One step at a time was all it took. Three steps and she stood before him and proffered her hand to him to rise. As she did, she pulled him close to her so that their cheeks touched and she whispered to him. “You old drama hound.”
“I’m not sure who taught whom.” He responded.
The two stepped apart and there were a few moments of laughing and cheering. They kept holding each other’s hands and turned their backs to the council. I always wanted to turn my back to them, Sajani thought to herself. She didn’t do what she did for the council, she did it for the people she was now facing.
She took a deep bow one last time and then stepped back over to the rope that was still hanging down from the Wisp. Wrapping her gloved hand a few times around it, she gave a shrill whistle and her crew began hoisting her up. No sooner had her feet left the ground than she let out a triumphant howl that was answered by all present.
“You really are your mother’s daughter.” Benayle shouted up after her.
“No,” she shouted back, “I’m not. I am the Copper Wolf.”
Epilogue
Chass’s hand trembled slightly as he returned the book to its shelf. He noticed it shaking as though it was for the first time and realized that age was beginning to take its toll. One hundred and eighteen was getting old, even for a wolf, but not as old as the captain and not as old as Benayle. Most of the old crew were gone now. Fenther had passed away decades ago and Chass still couldn’t shut him up. Simon and Mauro had barely made it past the end of the war, both dying rather young of natural causes. No one ever expected Tess to live to be old. Old was not something she could have done, nor would she have wanted it.
The books were well written, but almost completely fictitious. ‘fang was not mentioned anywhere and surprisingly he missed that. He thought that her memory being brought back from the books would have been more painful than having her left out, but that wasn’t the case. Oh, how he missed her still. Fenther held her position as master gunner in the books.
He was still the second mate, but Fenther drew him as a heartless monster who kept the crew in line through intimidation and fear. He was also made to look uneducated and slow. Sajani—his blood still boiled a little over it—Sajani was an attention starved brooder who took every chance she could to gain the good graces of the author.
It was all wrong and everyone thought that it was exact history. There was no way he could change the mind of the world. There was no way he could completely correct the story. But he could write what he knew.
Maybe someone would read it and maybe at least one person would know the truth.
Back Cover
Warning!
The government of Vharkylia is not responsible
for the possible death, dismemberment,
or personal injury of any non-wolf within its borders.
For millennia, Vharkylia’s wolf-like residents have endured the fear and superstition of the surrounding human lands. But when the elves invade the World of Terah and begin quickly conquering nation after nation, it is the leader of the wolves, Benayle Ramisa, and his Minister of War, Sajani Adida, who must forgive past wrongs, forge alliances, and fight against the elven juggernaut.
Can a wolf leader and a Minister of War turned pirate queen succeed where entire nations have failed?
Wolf's Pawn (Sajani Tails Book 1) Page 33