‘Yes, that’s going to vex them quite nicely. Thank you for explaining.’ Jack now understood and approved the reason for what had seemed an unnecessarily circuitous route. However, if he’d truly been alone he probably wouldn’t have thought of it, being too scared and physically weak to think of anything other than taking the nearest exit and running as far and as fast as he could. That would probably have got him caught almost immediately.
Freddie certainly moved fast. Jack was hard pressed to keep up in his weakened state and was glad for each pause, which enabled him to catch his breath. When they stopped next, Jack realised they’d crossed to the far side of the garrison using the rooftops and were now close to the perimeter wall again.
The perimeter wall was lit up at regular intervals and featured a small battlement and walkway along the top. This was the very place the guard overseeing the compound walked. From the roof Freddie had brought them to, they could leap directly onto the wall. The distance was greater than an ordinary man could leap but they were not ordinary. Everywhere else the distance to the wall was far too great, even for them, and would necessitate having to go down onto the ground. Dogs could pick up their scent if they did that. From ground level they would have to cross open space before running up one of the stone stairs, which were particularly well lit, to reach the battlements. The stairs could also be seen for most of the guard’s patrol. It wasn’t a sensible route if they could manage this leap.
‘Ok,’ Freddie whispered watching the guard moving away with his back to them. Freddie backed up, ran and leapt across the gap. Natalya and Jack followed suit, landing on the battlements beside him moments later. Keeping to the shadow cast by the wall, they followed the guard on silent paws, until they reached the small tower at the corner. Freddie paused to peer into the open doorway, making sure no-one was inside. Casting a wary eye at the guard still walking away but who could turn at any moment he ducked into the open doorway. Jack followed him closely, sure by the wolf’s slow careful steps and pricked ears that someone else was close by.
‘Don’t fight and don’t change unless you really have no option,’ Natalya whispered to them both, aware the leopard in particular disliked feeling weak and helpless, remaining as small as a domestic cat. ‘I am shielding all our presences, but that wizard is closer to us just here, and might sense the power spike of a change. Of course, teeth marks are just going to get this garrison riled up and on our backs too.’
Wolf and little leopard exchanged frustrated glances. Whilst their animus predatory forms could take care of most human threats in moments, she had a valid point. They had also just gone to considerable trouble hiding their escape route. That effort would be wasted if they drew attention now. Being sensible didn’t mean they had to like it however.
Freddie inched forward into a dimly lit room. An off-duty guard lay snoring in a chair. No one else was in here although they could hear another man working in a room nearby. Freddie crept past the guardsman almost having to brush the man’s lax arm flopped over the side of the chair. He glanced round, Natalya followed on his heels and the leopard brought up the rear defensively. Freddie had to wriggle to squeeze through the narrow window but he made it. Once there he sprang forcefully off the window ledge well away from the wall.
‘Leap hard. You need to clear the moat and land on the raised bank the other side,’ Natalya told Jack mentally while she climbed out onto the window ledge. Wasting no time at all she leapt. Landing, she looked back; a spotted face was in the window watching her.
Jack realised once again the reason for insisting he stay small. His leopard would never have squeezed through this narrow window. Even if he had, he would not have had the space to get his legs under him sufficiently to spring. The wolf had only just managed it. He suspected the wolf had had to consider the trade off between shrinking to get through more easily and the then reduced ability to leap. A wolf was not quite as good at leaping as a cat.
The courage and bold ingenuity of this pair was what was most astonishing. The cat and wolf stood waiting for him at the edge of the treeline. He could be discovered at any moment. It was a considerable distance they’d leaped. Usually he would have had no qualms about the distance, but he was in this smaller form and his deprivation meant he was not feeling remotely strong. He also did prefer to look before leaping, especially when they spoke of a moat. Splashing into that would be loud not to mention unpleasant. The little tabby cat abruptly backed up more and urged her wolf to do so as well, giving the leopard more room. Perhaps she realised he was unsure of his strength in this form and might inadvertently land on them. The snoring guard made an odd noise. Jack hoped he hadn’t woken and be about to see him. He leaped immediately, before his luck did run out, expecting at any moment to hear a shout or feel hands grabbing at him. He sailed through the air, easily clearing the moat and landed a little heavily on a grassy bank near the trees. He trotted quickly for the shelter of the trees his new friends stood under, before shaking his jarred legs one by one after such a huge leap. They’d all made it across uninjured. Success!
2. Escape
‘Welcome. I’m Freddie. I believe you are Jack?’
‘That’s right,’ Jack agreed looking up at the big reddish wolf. Jack reverted to his leopard’s normal size and no longer felt disadvantaged. He noticed the cat wave a paw and the deep prints each of them had made landing on the soft bank were erased, as were the lighter tracks leading to the forest. She closed her eyes, shimmered and became a large black, white and grey marled wolf. Jack gaped at her. She’d mentioned she wasn’t just a cat, but seeing her change from one animus creature to another was shocking. A wolf was quite different in temperament to the domestic kitty too. Her wolf was beautiful, and it was clear Freddie thought so too.
‘My true animus form,’ she said with quiet pride. ‘Come with us Jack,’ she invited. ‘We need to get further away from the wizard and the garrison. I’m still shielding us, but putting distance between us is best.’ She immediately trotted away, Freddie at her side.
Jack considered for a moment then followed. He was a leopard in his prime; he did not usually run with others. However she made sense and right now he was feeling very weak and alone. He also liked, understood and respected wolves. They were bold and decisive in character and had integrity. As he trotted, focussed on keeping Natalya’s pale grey tail in sight, he wondered where they were going. Ruefully aware he was too weary to think about it, he supposed all that truly mattered was that anywhere an animus led had got to be better than where those inquisitor soldiers had been taking him.
One thing about wolves, Jack was forced to concede as they disappeared out of sight, was that they could move remarkably fast and with little apparent effort. They weren’t trying to lose him either and kept stopping to wait for him. He knew he was slowing down their escape and thus compromising their safety. He tried harder to keep them in sight, waving them on when he saw them again waiting for him.
After about an hour he caught up with them in a tiny camp. The minutes he’d spent completely alone when they were out of sight reminded him of his current weakness and the helplessness of his captivity. He didn’t like it one bit. Normally he was perfectly comfortable with his own company and solitude but being so far from home, too weak to fight and in someone else’s territory made him uneasy. This journey was also proving the extent the week of deprivation had weakened him physically by.
‘Come and sit down,’ Natalya invited and waved to Jack from the shelter of a tarp strung between the trees. It shielded them from the steady drizzle as well as the prevailing night breeze. There was no way he could be trapped in that unless she was too and he went in without hesitation. It was good to be out of the rain and be able to rest somewhere dry. She opened up a backpack and brought out three pies. Freddie joined them in the shelter, his posture a little defensive of her, but they ate together in companionable silence.
‘Feeling better?’ Natalya asked once they’d all finished and drank from t
he water skin.
‘I can’t tell you how glad I am to be out of that cage. Thank you,’ he said softly.
‘Where will you go?’ Freddie asked. ‘Do you have somewhere safe?’
‘I must find and release my wife and daughters.’
‘They were taken?’
‘Yes. While I’d gone ahead to find a safer route they were wizard snared. There were too many to fight; I think two squads. My wife is pregnant; she could not run far or fast enough when they came for us and neither could our young children.’
‘I’m truly sorry to hear that,’ Natalya said quietly. She was well aware that exact fear was what occupied Freddie’s nightmares. ‘My father was killed defending my sister. My sister and I have both escaped captivity. We were both considered animus. Mother is still missing. She is wizard but being married to an animus man she was abducted too.’
‘Do you have any idea where they were being taken?’ Freddie asked.
‘You think Natalya’s mother may be in the same place?’ Jack asked sensing more than a casual interest in the wolf for this answer.
‘Possibly, but I’m hoping your family are being taken to wherever the rest of the animus women are being held. Many of our men would gladly go on a rescue mission if they had a clue where they might be. We certainly wouldn’t be deterred by storming an inquisitor compound, but we’d rather know which one.’
‘Who are you? You are no lone wolf.’
‘I am the alpha leader of Clan Green Bear’s guardian wolf scouts,’ Freddie said proudly.
‘Ah that explains much,’ Jack said now knowing why a wolf was prepared to risk himself breaking out an animus stranger. It didn’t really explain why he would also risk his lady’s safety. Freddie was not alone; he was part of a big and well respected warrior clan. Over the years of the king’s persecution of animus people, Clan Green Bear had lost more than most. Being almost unique in that they were mainly animus, they were picked out and driven from their homes. Their lord’s home and lands were forfeited to the crown too and many of their people, including their elderly and children, had been murdered or abducted if they didn’t leave in time. He heard the Clan had learned to move like ghosts, rarely staying in one place more than a few days. They sought to avoid conflict, but when cornered had turned and fought savagely and successfully enough to instil fear and respect into every adversary. Their resilience and defiance were a source of pride and inspiration to other animus.
‘I don’t know if you know this,’ Freddie said, ‘but the inquisitors are seeking out our women and children especially. They don’t normally chase lone men. You must be important in some way for them to go to such trouble transporting you. They must have had something in mind for you.’
‘I don’t know why we were targeted. I’m but a simple wheelwright and my wife’s a baker. We were no threat to anyone and kept to ourselves.’
‘Perhaps someone reported what you and your family are and it was just your turn to be rounded up,’ Freddie remarked sadly. ‘However, there is no justification for such cruelty just because you are animus. I imagine, after seeing you pee in their dinner this afternoon, you’ve been causing them plenty of grief. I must admit to liking thwarting our enemies where we can. We can certainly always use more warriors of your calibre. So, do you have any clues where they were taken?’
‘Yes. But before I say, I’d rather have some assurances that no one’s going to try and stop me going after my family. I won’t be left behind or sidelined if someone thinks it’s dangerous.’
‘Ok, but equally we need to know that you will not attempt to cut us out and go alone. There’s too much at stake. If you found all our women, you wouldn’t be able to get them all out on your own. You’d likely ruin our chances of a rescue.’
‘Understood,’ Jack said. It wasn’t often someone challenged what he wanted to do. He was leopard and that instilled a wary respect in most people. This wolf was not intimidated however. Instead he was smoothly negotiating and treating him as an equal. If he truly was a member of Clan Green Bear then he would have many useful skills essential to fighting and travelling distances unnoticed. Freddie could be the backup Jack might need to successfully free his family. ‘Is your leader close by?’
‘Fairly. You’ll join us then?’ Freddie pressed. ‘Or at least for the hunt.’
‘For the hunt definitely,’ Jack agreed. He watched the wolf’s reaction closely, but Freddie seemed satisfied with his answer, certainly for the time being.
‘Feeling strong enough to carry on?’ Freddie asked.
‘We should leave the area yes,’ Jack agreed but didn’t rise to his feet. He needed to conserve his meagre strength as much as possible. He watched Freddie shimmer into a fur covered man, which was weird indeed. He’d done it without his lady’s help too. Jack observed that Freddie could now untie the tarp, shake off the water, fold it and stow it, along with the few bits of their camp kit, into a backpack. Freddie swept the ground with a leafy branch, erasing evidence of their camp. He put his arms through the pack’s straps, knelt and regained wolf form. It had taken less than two minutes to be ready to go. Jack recognised long practice and experience in his efficiency. He decided there was indeed much to learn from this man.
Soon Jack was panting. It did his temper no favours to know the two wolves, effortlessly trotting in front of him, were not travelling as fast as they could. In fact they were considerately trying to slow their pace to his. Leopards were not designed for this kind of travel. Stealth and ambush was his forte. Usually he walked in complete silence or sprinted in short fiery bursts. His powerful muscles were designed for springing and wrestling large prey to the ground. He contented himself with thoughts of retaliation and what he was going to do should he come across his captors. He had scent marked them and their equipment. Once his family was safe he would seek them out. People that cruel didn’t deserve a long happy life. He could certainly relieve them of it.
He noticed the wolves’ ears flick back towards him regularly but they didn’t stop. He knew they were right to press on to put as many miles between them and that garrison as possible. He just hoped they would gain their hiding place soon. Jack grimly ignored his sore feet, tight burning muscles and the weakness that made him clumsy. His world narrowed to keeping his legs moving and following the grey tail in front of him.
Jack hissed, tripping on a dead stick that moved under his paw and smacked him on the nose. He’d been sure he was going to step around it. The trees were thin and straggly here, the ground at least more cushioned with a carpet of dead pine needles.
‘Let’s take a break,’ Freddie announced turning. He could tell the leopard was struggling back to awareness at his words. He was clearly at the end of his strength, yet had not complained.
‘Rest?’ Jack panted and only just managed to stop the automatic motion of his legs to avoid running the wolf down. At the nod, he stopped moving and his legs simply folded beneath him. Too tired to care if he was truly safe, all he could do was glance about him determining that they were alone, before his eyes closed and he was immediately asleep.
‘He’s stronger than I thought he’d be after such deprivation,’ Freddie commented quietly.
‘That’s his pride and willpower keeping his legs moving rather than physical strength. We’ll have to watch that. You’ve impressed him,’ she added. She assessed Jack’s body for injury while he slept and frowned. ‘He’s got many small wounds, sores and splinters embedded in his skin that are going septic. That can’t be helping his strength.’
‘Treatment can wait until we get back though?’
Natalya moved to Jack’s side and placed her paw on his to connect them and thus “see” him better. ‘He’s been trusting of us, but I doubt he’ll be comfortable with another wizard touching him sufficiently to treat him later. He’s unconscious and unaware right now. I know what to do and he needs all the help we can give him.’
‘I suppose you’re right. It’d be safer to do it now when he
can’t object or instinctively retaliate to any pain the treatment causes. Are you sure you’ve the strength though?’
‘Yes. Nothing is serious or difficult to mend.’
‘Ok then.’
She methodically treated Jack from head to tail, magically extracting the many small foreign bodies stuck into his skin and closing the sores and multiple small wounds she found. Whilst in his animus form these problems might be visually masked by fur, she knew they were there, causing pain and weakness. She also felt more comfortable treating a leopard rather than looking at a naked man in such detail. ‘There, treated,’ she said in satisfaction, rising and stepping back to Freddie’s side.
‘How are you holding up love?’
‘Tired, but we haven’t far to go now. I suppose I’d better call ahead.’
‘You don’t think you should wait for a more reasonable hour?’ Freddie asked, glancing at the grey light on the horizon slowly relieving the darkness. ‘You know how Jim is when I wake him.’
‘I know, but as soon as Jack’s recovered a little I’d rather get home. I’m ready for some rest but I’m not going to relax before we’re safely back. You know it’s always better to avoid anyone seeing us, particularly in animal form.’
‘True. Call Cassy then, she at least can tell Drako.’
‘Shall I ask them to send the pack?’
‘Good idea.’
Forging Alliances: Wizards of White Haven Page 3