Zara the Wolf

by C. R. Daems

  "You're a good example. You don't dress like a woman or a man. You have your own style—you are uniquely Zara the Wolf. Maybe I need a tattoo," she said with a giggle. "You're right. I need to establish my own unique style, or I'll just be another baron."

  "You are unique, Lady Shelly, but right now it's hidden," I said, knowing it was true. Shelly was unique—inquisitive, courageous, compassionate, and clever.

  "I will probably have to kidnap you." She stared at me thoughtfully before continuing to dress. A little later, Claire stopped back.

  "Lady Shelly, the earl would like to speak with you if you are rested."

  "I assume he means now."

  "Yes, My Lady," Claire said tentatively, probably not sure of Shelly's reaction, but Shelly smiled and nodded. I followed Shelly as Claire led us up another flight of stairs and to a wooden door with two men in Ulia's Blue and gold. The guard knocked, peeked inside, and then pushed the door open and stood aside for us to enter.

  "Earl Gallegos," Shelly gave a small rather than the more traditional curtsy, which I thought her first step toward establishing the new Baroness Shelly. "Thank you for your generous hospitality." She stepped forward and handed him the letters from Duke Wetzel. Ulia was located in rough country, and Gallegos looked the part. He was short but broad and muscular with his long auburn hair, full beard and mustache, bushy eyebrows, and craggy face. And the room reflected that wild-country feel. The floor had several animal skins as rugs and their stuffed heads hung on the walls. But the shelves of books indicated the man had a good mind.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Baroness Shelly, and your companion. The rumors about your exploits vary considerably, everything from your death to wiping out tribes of savages. I've long admired Duke Wetzel, but the fact you are standing here raises my opinion of him. It's a dangerous journey at the best of times, but lately it's an impossible trek what with the Indians, mercenaries, and … cults roaming the land."

  "It has been exciting," Shelly said as she sat when the earl nodded toward the chairs. I moved back to the wall. She went on to give a partial account of our trip, mentioning nobility maturations rather than cults or talented—and our encounter with the troops from Arucci.

  "I've heard rumors about Arucci and Monis having internal troubles. You were lucky to outrun them, or maybe not. The duke seems to have picked the right two people for the trip."

  The talk turned to Shelly and me being captured by the Indians, being slaves, and escaping. He stopped early to give Shelly time to get ready for dinner.

  "What do you think?" Shelly asked back in the room.

  "He's well informed and knows more than he's saying. I think he's going to encourage you to tour the castle on the off chance you can identify what he considers potential troublemakers and we consider Sirens. He's not stupid, nor gullible."

  The dinner that night included more than forty people, but I noticed a few empty chairs, which might or might not have been normal. The dinner wasn't quite the excess it was at most of the other castles, and the presentation tended to be less fancy. Even the after-dinner entertainment was less elaborate—a knife-throwing act and a magician—although very good. When the earl stood, I made my way to Shelly, who stood talking to him.

  "Earl Gallegos, were there any people missing tonight?" I asked, wondering who and why. Had they linked Shelly or me with the missing or dead Sirens? If so, that was very bad.

  "Yes, one of my barons and two visiting ladies from Castra. Would you like to meet them?" he said, looking amused and confirming my first impression—he knew that either Shelly or I could pick out the troublemakers.

  "If it's not too much trouble, My Lord."

  "Oh, it's no trouble at all." He waved to a lieutenant, who came running over and handed the earl his belt, scabbard, and sword. "Would you like one, Zara?"

  "No, My Lord. But a few guards would be good for your and Lady Shelly's safety. He nodded to the lieutenant, who looked in the direction of the door, where four soldiers came running to join us. The earl led us down a long hallway into another stairway and up to the second floor. Although it was carpeted and the walls were adored with paintings and tapestries, it was obvious from the dampness we were in one of the older buildings. The earl stopped and motioned to the door. The lieutenant knocked twice.

  "Lord Meador, Earl Gallegos wishes to speak to you," he said loudly. A few minutes later, a middle-aged man appeared in a nightshirt.

  "Yes, My Lord?" he asked, looking wide eyed at the assembled group. When the earl pointed into the room, the lieutenant shoved the man back in, and then he, the two guards, and the earl followed. Looking into the room, I could see a beautiful young woman in a short thin nightdress that did little to hide the shapely body beneath. A blue haze danced around her as she tried to cloud the minds of the group. I closed my eyes and entered the blue dimension. Then I created the image of a wolf and charged her. That was enough for her to lose control of her illusion and a very plain underdeveloped young girl stood naked for everyone to see.

  "Seize her," the earl said after only a moment's hesitation. "Lieutenant, I want you to find the other woman, the guest from Castra, and take her into custody. "And you, Lord Meador. What do you have to say about this … girl?"

  "I thought … She looked … " He staggered back to the bed and sat. "What is she?" he asked, clearly in shock. The earl looked to me. Fortunately, Shelly saved me from having to answer.

  "My Lord, I could use a drink if you would be so kind," she said, sounding tired. The earl seemed to understand and nodded.

  "Lord Meador, you will report to me in an hour. I'd like to hear more about this girl: how you met, and what she wanted," Gallegos said. Meador nodded, still looking to be in shock. We followed the earl back to his study, where he ordered drinks. After they were served, he nodded to Shelly. "Well?"

  "They are a group of individuals who were trained at the Trasslat Monastery and then dismissed for insufficient talent to become Monks. Someone has collected these individuals into a society and has continued their training over the past several years. We believe they have been building their organization through robberies until recently. Now they are actively attempting to take over cities."

  "How?"

  "Both by playing with your mind—illusions, thoughts—and by assassination, as they tried in Hipula. We think they control most of Duke Brodka's dukedom," Shelly said. "We need to keep this between us, My Lord. Zara can only see them when they are using their talent. If they stop, we will lose them all. We are going to Kariso next to give Duke Phipps our findings. It's for the dukes to decide what to do next."

  "Was Zara trained at Trasslat?" Gallegos asked. Shelly gave a short laugh. "No. It seems ten years as a slave and entertainment for the Ojaza youth are equivalent to Trasslat training."

  The earl had many questions and the talk went on late into the evening. For the next two days, the earl made sure we visited everyone in the castle on one pretext or another.

  "I'm exhausted, but the tour has been interesting. Now that I have my own land, I'll need to understand how to run a small town and a castle," Shelly said as we crossed the courtyard, heading for her rooms.

  "Lady Shelly," a tall lieutenant called out as he came running across the yard toward us. As he neared, he increased his speed and drew his sword. The area turned blue, and I could see two figures charging me—an armored knight with an axe and a young woman, sword raised for a killing blow. When the figures were but two steps from striking, I lunged into the young woman. We collided chest to chest, and her sword was jarred loose from her hand and clanged to the ground behind me as I drove my dagger into her heart. For a moment we stood chest to chest, her eyes staring into mine, wide in shock. Then she collapsed to her knees and to the ground. Shelly stood frozen, her face pale.

  "The missing woman?" she asked, looking at the dead woman at my feet. I nodded. "How did you know?"

  "I didn't. A warrior's natural reflexes take over when someone charges with a sword."r />
  "You're bleeding!"

  "No, that's her blood. Here’s another lesson, Lady Shelly. If your opponent has a long weapon, stepping in close makes the weapon ineffective. Against a short weapon stay back."

  "I can do without the live examples," Shelly said as several guards came running toward us. "That's the woman the earl has everyone searching for. She attacked me, and my companion killed her." She turned and began walking toward the castle. I followed in her wake. Back in the room, she sat with her head in her hands. "Running a castle has got to be easier than travelling with you."

  "You may want to meditate for a while. It has a calming effect. Afterward, imagine yourself in my place, using your dagger as I did. I hope it will never be necessary, but as you wisely pointed out, traveling with me is dangerous."

  A few hours later the earl asked to see us. I let Shelly tell the story from her perspective, answering only specific questions directed at me. I didn't think I should try and explain what happens in the blue dimension.

  "Are all the Indians as good as you?" Gallegos asked after he was satisfied he had all the details of the incident.

  "Most are better," I said, knowing it was true. They could outrun me, were better with bow and arrow, and stronger with a sword. I just tended to be sneakier and used my knowledge of them to outwit them.

  "I guess that rules out taking troops into the mountains to wipe them out as so many advise." He laughed. "My problem is how to tell if another of those talented ones comes to Ulia?"

  "Be suspicious of people you don't know. Check them out if you can. I haven't tried it, but I suspect a hard blow somewhere painful might break their control and their illusion would fail for a few seconds or longer."

  The earl laughed. "That's sounds worth a try."

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  KARISO: Duke Phipps

  We left two days later for Kariso, a five-day trip and the end of the journey. For a true warrior, I'd imagine this would have been the trip of a lifetime. I had gotten to mingle with the nobility, prove myself in battle, and earned a reputation that would make me sought after. But for me it had been a nightmare: I didn't like castles, or harming—killing—animals or people, or fighting in the blue dimension. The only bright spot was saving the lives of some good people, and I enjoyed watching Shelly come into her own.

  The five days helped me regain my balance. I meditated each night with Shelly, had practice matches with Lutz, Eaton, and many of the guards, and slept under the stars. I was sorry to see the gates to Kariso on the evening of the fifth day.

  We seemed to have been expected, because we had no trouble at the city gates or at the castle, and in the courtyard a minister waited with a lieutenant and several servants.

  "Welcome to Kariso, Baroness Shelly. I'm Minister Connar. The duke sends his greetings and looks forward to meeting you after you've rested and refreshed yourself," a thin elder man said as she dismounted. "Rooms have been assigned in the duke's wing for you and nearby for your ladies. Ilea will assist you while you are here." He scanned the caravan and appeared satisfied that he had everything accounted for, judging by the small smile. "I understand your companion stays with you."

  "Thank you, Minister. I'm looking forward to a soft bed and a warm bath. Five days on a horse is five days too long." She rolled her eyes. "And yes, my companion will stay in my room."

  With that, Ilea stepped forward and curtsied. She looked only a few years younger than Shelly and had begun to develop a womanly figure. Her short blonde hair framed a round face with a sweet smile. The room was a suite with a sitting room and a separate washroom.

  "Well, Baroness Shelly, how does it feel to reach the end of our journey?" I asked. Accepting Wetzel's assignment had gotten her one step closer to her dream of being a duchess.

  "I earned ten years’ experience in less than one." She laughed. "And I'm a baroness—in two dukedoms—so I'd say great, although some of that experience I could have done without."

  "Those are probably your most important experiences, since you will remember them forever and they will shape who you are more than the others—like being a Sheqn slave."

  "What about you?" Shelly asked.

  "I haven’t found what I'm looking for," I said. "Helping Duke Wetzel and helping to save lives was satisfying, but killing horses and unarmed men will long haunt me."

  "Duke Wetzel will be grateful as I am. He could help you get what you want."

  "The problem is I don't know what I want or what I'm looking for." I doubted anyone could help. They could give me money, which would make life a bit easier, but that wouldn't solve my dilemma. We were interrupted by a knock at the door.

  "Come," Shelly said.

  "Lady Shelly, Duke Phipps asks whether you are up to speaking with him," Ilea said as she peeked around the partially open door. She looked a bit apprehensive. I couldn't blame her. Royalty did tend to shoot the messenger since it was easier than shooting the sender.

  "Come in, Ilea. We'll be ready in a moment and you can show us the way," Shelly said as she checked herself in the mirror. "Zara?" she asked. When I nodded, she smiled. "Lead on, Ilea, mustn't keep the duke waiting."

  Ilea smiled and led us down the hallway into another one and down to where two guards stood. When they saw Ilea coming they opened the door and stood back for us to enter. We entered and each made a small bow—Shelly's new identity deviating from the normal curtsy—and handed Phipps the letters from Wetzel plus a third one addressed specifically to him.

  "Please sit, Lady Shelly," he said as he checked the seal before breaking it and sitting to read it. When I backed up against the wall, Shelly frowned, looking at the chair next to her. But the duke hadn't invited me to sit, and I preferred not to upset royalty—especially dukes.

  "Zara, please sit. We have much to discuss. Ilea, get our guests whatever they want to drink." Phipps nodded toward the chair next to Shelly. She ordered her normal berryjuice for us both.

  "My friend Duke Wetzel is a very clever man to have chosen you two. You wouldn't have been my choice." He laughed. "But then, the two teams I sent out this year never returned. Before you tell me what you found, tell me about yourselves," Phipps said, smiling and sitting back in his chair with a glass of wine in his hand. Shelly nodded for me to start.

  "The Ojaza raided our village when I was nine summers old. They killed my parents and made me a slave … " I tried to give a brief account of my life, but Phipps kept interrupting with questions. Shelly talked about her life, capture by the Sheqn, and her ransom.

  "Zara, do you think we could negotiate with the local Indians? I think it would be a good idea to send a few nobles there for a year." He gave a wry grin while looking off as if thinking. "I suspect the experience only benefits very special people like you and Lady Shelly. Let's stop for now and get ready for dinner, but I'd like to continue afterward." He stood, ending further discussion.

  "What did you think of Duke Phipps?" Shelly asked back in the room as she waited for Musa and Sarkis to arrive.

  "I can understand he and Duke Wetzel being friends. They are not men to rush into things, and they are willing to listen. He wanted to know you and me before he listened to our report. That will help him interpret what we tell him."

  "Interpret?"

  "Are we exaggerating when we relate our encounters, or are our conclusions influenced by our backgrounds, or are we telling him what he would like to hear?"

  "Another lesson." She grinned. "Just when I thought I had graduated." Before we could continue, her ladies came through the door. They looked exceptionally happy, probably because the trip—and most of the danger—were over and they will soon be returning to Redrock. I listened to the latest castle gossip as Shelly washed and dressed.

  The dinner included close to a hundred people. Phipps introduced Shelly as a baroness from Calle and me as her companion and personal security. The dinner was an elaborate affair with several entertainment acts afterward. I was seated at one of the two tables connec
ted to the main table and only one chair away. Minister Connar sat to my left and a Baron Ericksin on my right.

  "I'm surprised Lady Shelly chose to visit places like Jqedit, Budia and Ulia. They are remote and prone to bandits and Indian raids. It would've been safer to stay close to the coast," Ericksin said, his gaze traveling between Shelly and me.

  "I agree," I said, and had trouble keeping my face from showing my amusement. He didn't want my agreement; he wanted to know why, or at least something more about Shelly.

  "Rumor has it that you did encounter trouble along the way," Connar said, joining the discussion. "It was fortunate Lady Shelly wasn't hurt."

  "There were a few minor incidents, but Duke Wetzel provided well for Lady Shelly's safety." I'd love to know how they reconciled the rumors they heard with my minor incidents. After a while, they gave up trying to get information about Shelly and our journey out of me. Out of habit, I scanned the assembled guests, but I didn't see anything suspicious. When the duke and Shelly rose, I followed her back to the room.

  "He wants to meet with us in an hour. The break is for us to relieve ourselves and change if we wish." Shelly did change into a less formal dress that was a size larger. Ilea came for us at the appointed time and walked us to another of the duke's studies. The room was about the same size as the other but much more intimate—no desk, just padded over-sized chairs with small tables next to them, shelves of books, and the walls covered with paintings of all kinds: portraits of people, landscapes, wars, hunting, and the castle. Drinks were already on the table. In the corner sat a Cheyo Monk. I bowed deeply. This time I noticed the Cheyo guard sitting like a statue off in a far corner. Almost invisible, I mused.