The Silver Crown

by William Bridges

  "It is indeed. It was written in the late Renaissance by a Silver Fang Galliard..."

  "I thought you said this was a recent source."

  "I said 'relatively.' Understand that most of the written lore for the Silver Crown is truly ancient, older than Rome. It has fallen into common lore and become the source of many rumors and legends among the other tribes since then. But this Lay seems to be authentic and written by the last person to have seen the crown. At least, the last who has told of it. The author's name is Vassily Hearthcenter."

  "I have heard of him," Eliphas said. "He is somewhat famous. Wasn't he a chronicler of the Clan of the Crescent Moon?"

  "As far as I can tell, yes," Antonine said. "I will read you the Lay, but I am going to have to paraphrase much of it. The actual written language is a bit hard to understand if you're not familiar with its idiom. So, in the tradition of oral storytellers, I am going to take his story, mixed with what other lore I have concerning the crown, and tell my own tale. One which I believe aims sure at the truth."

  Evan and Mari nodded. Albrecht said, "All right. Let's hear it."

  Antonine took off his reading glasses and placed them in a case on the floor next to him. He folded his legs under himself and seemed to be meditating, centering himself for the tale.

  "It begins, like all things, in the Dawn Times… Long, long ago, before humans learned to think and their Weaver tools were but a dream unborn, the tribes of the Garou warred among themselves."

  "There were few tribes then, but those there were had only come to their status recently. They had become separate from their brethren through migrations away from others of their kind, and the changes made on them by time and place. There was the blood of the original wolf, the Silver Fangs, and then many children who had strayed. The Children of Gaia spread far and wide and loved all which walked and crawled on and in the earth. The Get of Fenris went to the chill north to mold themselves into Fenris' hammer. The Fianna moved to the west, following the faint but beautiful music of the fae. And so on with the other early tribes."

  "But it happened that they began to fight among themselves, either for right of territory, right of breeding flock, or simply for glory. They had fallen far from their first ways. The Silver Fangs, leaders of them all even then, tried to stop them, but the others would not listen. The Silver Fangs, purest of the pure, ordained to rule the Garou by Gaia, knew not what to do. They went to their totem, mighty Falcon, and asked of him a solution to their problem."

  "Falcon's eyes gazed down at them, judging them. Finally, he spoke. 'One among you must choose to travel the road of sacrifice. On this road are four gates, and at each gate is a guardian who must be passed. If all gates are passed successfully, this one shall be given a boon greater than any given unto a mortal being before. He who bears this gift shall be king over all, and shall command all things of the earth to stay their proper courses, as is the will of Gaia."

  "The Fangs talked among themselves and finally decided that there was one among them who was best suited to travel the road. They went to him and told him of Falcon's words. He thought for a while, and then said, "I shall undertake this quest. I so choose." In the morning, he left."

  "He walked for a long time, following the portents Falcon laid before him. Soon, he came to the first gate. It was but an opening in a rocky pass, with no portal to bar the way. The Garou looked about and saw no one, so he walked through the pass. But before he could get there, a beast leapt down upon him from the rocks. It was a Garou, a tribeless one, mad and snarling with rage. The Silver Fang shifted forms and fought with the ronin for a while. This was a strong ronin, one who ignored his wounds and kept fighting, as a mad thing with no control. Finally, the Silver Fang killed it, although he was hurt. He left its body there and went through the pass."

  "The next day, he came to the second gate. This was a wooden fence with a door between two posts. There was a beautiful woman there, a human female. The Garou had never seen one so pure before, so perfect. He knew that she would birth many Garou if given the chance. Remembering Gaia's desire that the Garou spread their seed across the world, he got down to lie with her. He then saw a falcon fly high overhead, past the fence, and he remembered his quest. He stood up again and walked through the door, knowing that the comforts of hearth and family would not be his as long as the world was in danger."

  "Is that really a part of the legend?" Mari said, her eyes narrowed.

  Antonine chuckled. "Yes, I'm afraid so. They saw things differently back then, Mari."

  "I'm not so sure. I know many legends where the hero was a female and only changed to a male by a later storyteller. This could be the case here."

  "Perhaps. But I have no evidence for it. So I shall continue my tale based on what I do know."

  "The following day, he came to the third gate. It was constructed of stone, but well made. It was an arch, with a gate under it. A spirit waited at the gate, holding a bag, out of which light glowed. It was looking in the bag as the Garou came up. When it saw the Garou it quickly sealed the bag, shutting up the light. The Garou asked what was in the bag, what the source of the wonderful light was. But the spirit said it was a secret, and that only the truly enlightened could look in to see it; otherwise the secret could destroy the world. The Garou said that he was the representative of his tribe, and thus the most enlightened among them. He asked to see into the bag. But the spirit said that he had to prove his enlightenment first, that he would have to come to the spirit's home and pass an initiation."

  "Now, the wonderful glow within the bag had awakened a great curiosity in the Garou. He desperately wanted to know what was in it. Perhaps it was something that could help his people? Perhaps it was the gift Falcon had spoken of? He had forgotten whether he had been through two gates or three. He was afraid that if he did not take the spirit's offer, he would be denied the special wisdom forever."

  "Then he heard, from far ahead down the road, barely audible, the cry of a falcon. And he remembered his quest. He opened the gate and walked past, realizing that he would never know the secret but that others one day might."

  "The day after that, he came to a great city. There was a huge portal before him, with two doors which opened outward when a large wheel inside was turned by ten men. Humans could be seen in the windows above, looking down at the Garou as he approached. He looked up at them and asked to be let in. They laughed and said, 'that his kind did not belong there. They told him to go home and chase deer.' He persisted, asking what he could do to get in. The humans talked among themselves and then said, 'You must give us your pelt.' The Garou was horrified. But he knew his quest. He knew he had taken the road of sacrifice. And so he nodded and said yes. The great doors opened, swinging slowly out at him with a rumbling, grinding sound. The humans came out with silver knives and carefully approached him. They stopped before him and said, 'We can't take your pelt if you have claws. We must cut them off first, to protect ourselves.' The Garou nodded and put out his hands. The humans chopped off the tips of his fingers, leaving him clawless."

  "Then the humans said, 'You might still fight back as we take your pelt. You might bite us with your fangs.'" He opened his mouth, and they took tongs and pulled out all his teeth. He was fangless. They then began to carve into his flesh, flaying off his hide. Soon, he was skinless and red, exposed to the world.

  "They stared at him in awe, however, impressed with his resolve and wondering at his mission. They led him into the city, closing the great doors behind them. They placed him on a chair and lifted it up, marching it to the center of the city, to a great palace. They walked him up the stairs and led him into a room where the sun shone down from a hole in the celling above."

  "There, on a dais in the center of the room, was a gleaming crown, made of pure silver. Its brilliance under the sun nearly blinded the Garou, but he knew that this was the gift he sought. He asked the humans if he could have it, and they nodded, motioning him to the crown. He took it in his hands and pla
ced it on his head."

  "He screamed with the pain as its silver burned into his raw skin. He tried to yank the hurtful thing from his head, but it would not move. It had burned into him, and become a part of him. He cried in pain, tears blinding him, and he begged Falcon to save him."

  "He heard a voice, one commanding him to open his eyes, and he did so. He was standing in a field at night. The city was nowhere to be seen, although he knew that he was still standing in the same place. The pain was gone, and his pelt had regrown, along with his fangs and claws. His head felt uplifted, drawn to the heavens by the lightness of the crown. Falcon stood before him, his wings wide."

  "And Falcon said, 'You now know what the Garou must sacrifice to be more than beasts. But you also know that it is a painful sacrifice, one many will not be able to bear. Return to your people and rule them wisely. All Garou will follow you now. Know that the pain of sacrifice is only because your people have forgotten the ways given them by Gaia. Were it not so, sacrifice would not be necessary. Whenever your people forget, remember that one among you must bear the burden of pain to help them remember.'"

  "The Garou thanked Falcon and returned to the Silver Fangs. When they saw the radiant crown on his head, it was as if they recognized it immediately, and they knew again what they had once known: Gaia's covenants of behavior. The Garou, now known as king, traveled to the other tribes, and the sight of him brought remembrance of the old ways back to them all, and they ceased to fight among themselves and knew the Wyrm for what it was."

  Antonine sat back. He shut his eyes and seemed to be resting.

  Albrecht coughed. "What was the Silver Fang's name?"

  Antonine slowly opened his eyes. "It is lost. He is simply the first king."

  Albrecht nodded.

  "That's quite a story," Evan said. "Very rich in symbolism."

  "Deceptively so," Antonine said. "It seems very simple and obvious at first, but it actually touches some core meanings."

  "Is there more?" Albrecht said. "What about the current location of the crown?"

  "Yes, there is more. Let me get some drinks and I'll begin again." Antonine stood up and went into the kitchen. Soon he brought a tray of drinks out and placed it on the floor in the midst of them. "Help yourself. It's herbal tea."

  Albrecht rolled his eyes. "Don't you have a beer?"

  Antonine sat down again. "Yes, but you'll have to get it yourself."

  Albrecht got up and went to the kitchen, where he opened the fridge and saw a six-pack of Samuel Adams. At least the guy has taste in beer, Albrecht thought. He took one and twisted the cap off, tossing it in the garbage can. He went back into the living room and sat down. "Thanks. Good beer."

  "Of course," Antonine said. "Now, I'll finish. There are some other legends that I'll skip because of time. But there's one from somewhere around 300 B.C. or so that I think is important."

  "A Silver Fang king named Ranix Hammer Claw ruled over a protectorate in what used to be called Gaul — France, today. He was known far and wide as a terrible leader, one who had squandered many of the treasures of his kingdom. So badly had he ruled, it is said, that even the spirits fled their fetishes when he touched them, fearful of being poorly used. His own warriors stayed away from him unless he commanded otherwise, for they feared his dictates."

  "He often sent his Garou off on dangerous quests for little return. While the Wyrm grew all around his kingdom, he was unaware, so busy was he sending his warriors out in search of new treasures. One day, his warriors returned with a chest. They placed it before him, and he looked suspiciously at it, still chewing on the boar's hind leg upon which he was feasting. They said that it was by far the greatest treasure yet seen in any kingdom, and they had been astonished at how easily they had won it."

  "They told the tale of its winning, of how they had come upon a dark glade in a sunny wood, and how three beasts attacked them there. One was a chimera, the legendary lion with the head of a dragon and a goat besides its own lion's head. The other was a great serpent with the head of a panther, whose eyes caused fear in all who met them. The third was a falcon."

  "The men drove the other beasts off into the woods, but they were afraid to attack the falcon, since it was the child of their totem. It ceased its attack against them and spoke: 'Since you have honored your vow to my father and left me unharmed, I shall give you something.' It led them to a rock in the glade and told them to lift it. When they had it up, they saw a chest in a hole. They pulled the chest out and replaced the rock as they found it. The falcon was gone. When they opened the chest, they were all stunned by what they saw, and knew they had to bring it back to their king."

  "The king sat forward on his throne of wood and hide, still chewing on his dinner, and told the warriors to open the chest. They did, and a silver brilliance shone forth from it. The king's mouth dropped wide; his half-chewed meat fell to the floor. He dropped the boar haunch and reached his greasy hands into the chest to pick up the Silver Crown, the long-legendary artifact of his tribe. He knew that if he wore it, everyone would obey him and would have to do as he wanted."

  "He cackled and placed the crown on his head. But then he screamed in pain as it welded itself to his skull. And he kept on screaming, for the burning did not stop. His very flesh began to melt about the crown, and he tried to pull it off. But as with the first king before him, the crown was now a part of him, and could not be separated. His flesh ran down his face in molten gobs, and his bones began to burn. The smell of it revolted all the Garou near him, and many fled the tent. He screamed for someone to help him, but none would dare. Soon his body fell to the floor, dead, his head a pool of ashes and sizzling grease."

  "The warriors stared at their dead king. The crown was missing from his head, gone. But they remembered what they had long forgotten: Gaia's covenants, the Litany, which included the right to overthrow unfit rulers. They were ashamed that they had so long followed such a fool, and swore they would not do so again."

  Albrecht and Eliphas stared uncomfortably at the floor, aware of the parallels to their own situation.

  Antonine continued. "The last part of the Lay which I will tell you is from Vassily Hearthcenter's own experience. It concerns Dmitri Spiral Slayer, the last known Silver Fang to wear the crown. There had been a terrible Wyrm uprising in Russia. Remember, this is the late Renaissance, probably the late sixteenth century or so. King Dmitri led a pack of Silver Fangs against the queen of the deformed Garou, leaving all his other warriors behind to defend their caern. He admonished them before he left not to follow him, for if the caern fell, their future generations would fall with it."

  "Vassily went with the king's pack, to glean the tale of their heroism. After many harrowing adventures, they fought their way to the throne room of the Black Spiral queen. But the hag fled into the spirit world, and Dmitri followed, alone. He followed her trail through the hell hole that surrounded her Umbral throne and finally cornered her before a pit of bubbling ichor. They fought, tooth and claw, each tearing the other to bloody pieces. Finally, the queen reached out to crush Dmitri's skull. When her hands touched the Silver Crown, she screamed in horror and yanked her hands back, but it was too late: her hands had been burnt to a crisp by the crown, and she pulled back stubs instead."

  "Dmitri shoved the surprised and pained queen into the pit of boiling Wyrm's blood. That was the end of her. But Dmitri was sore wounded, and lay dying. He cried, for he knew that he had failed in one thing: the Silver Crown would be lost in this Wyrm place, fallen into the hands of the enemy."

  "But then Vassily arrived, having followed the scent of his king here. He had also entered the spirit world, but it had taken him longer to thread the Gauntlet. The king, seeing his loyal vassal, wept tears of relief, and commanded Vassily to take the crown and hide it far away where no evil could reach it. All of the royal line were dead, and there were none of the Seven to take the crown after him. But Vassily hesitated to touch the great treasure, fearful it would burn him. Dmitri put
his bloody hand on Vassily's shoulder and said, 'Fear not. You are but its bearer. Do not try to place it upon your head, and you shall not be harmed.' Vassily nodded and removed the crown from his king's head, whereupon Dmitri died."

  "Vassily left that place, crying because he had to leave the body of his king behind where it could be defiled by Banes. But he had a duty. He traveled far, searching for a place to hide the crown. After many days, he found it. He hid the crown at the Dawn, in the Wyldest Garden."

  Antonine shut his eyes, meditating again.

  Albrecht sat up from his slouching. "That doesn't tell us anything. Where the hell is the Dawn? I've never heard of it as a place. Or of any Wyld garden."

  Antonine slowly opened his eyes again. "It is what Vassily left behind. It is his only clue. I think I know what place he is talking about."

  "Where?" Albrecht said.

  "Pangaea," Antonine replied.

  "That makes sense," Mari said. "It is the most primordial place in the spirit world. It has the magic of the earliest times in it. All Garou are said to revert back to an earlier form when they enter it."

  "What? Sort of like in the film Altered States?." Albrecht said.

  Mari scowled at him. "No. I mean that the laws of reality work differently there. Things are more primitive, less formed. The Wyld is stronger, and the Weaver is but a shadow."

  "I see. The Wyldest Garden. A sort of Garden of Eden for Garou."

  "Exactly," Antonine said. "If you'll remember the first story, it took place in a Pangaea-like environment, except for the Weaver gates and city. I think Vassily was trying to hide it where it had originally come from."

  "Don't forget," Mari said, "it's a very dangerous place. The only rule is that everything there is hungry, and there are bigger things on the food chain than Garou."

  "Sounds like a challenge," Albrecht said. "So we go to Pangaea. How do we find the crown from there? It's a pretty big place, isn't it?"

  "It's huge," Mari said. "As big as this continent, at least."