Empress of Wolves

by J. Aislynn d' Merricksson

  “What is that, Lord?” Cygfa asked.

  “It is a thief I caught stealing from me,” Manawydan replied.

  “What sort of thief is it that could fit in a glove, Lord?” she asked, wherein Manawydan told her the whole tale of how the mice had come and ruined the crofts.

  “One of them was very heavy and I have caught it; it is now in my glove and I will hang it tomorrow. By the One, had I caught them all I would hang each and every one!”

  “Lord, that would not be strange,” Cygfa said, “but it is hardly proper for a man of your rank to be handling that sort of creature. Do not bother with it, rather let it go.”

  “Shame on me if I did not hang them all- but I will hang the one I did catch,” Manawydan said.

  “Well, Lord, there is no reason I should plead for its life, save to prevent your being dishonoured; therefore do what you will.”

  The next morning Manawydan set out with the mouse. Reaching to Gorseth Alberth he began to construct a tiny gallows. As he did so, he saw a scholar coming towards him along the road, dressed in old, worn clothes. This disturbed Manawydan for this was the first person other than his own companions to have been seen in Dyfyd in many a long year.

  “Lord, good day to you,” the scholar said as he drew near.

  “The One be good to you and welcome. Tell me, where are you going?” Manawydan replied.

  “Lord, I come from Raven's Rock. Why do you ask?”

  “Only it is that there have been no other people save myself and my companions in this land for the past several years, not til you have shown up just now,” Manawydan said.

  “Well, Lord, I am merely passing through on my way to my own country. But what sort of work is it you are about?” the scholar asked.

  “Hanging a thief I caught stealing from me.”

  “Lord, what sort of thief. The creature I see in your hand is but a mouse and it is scarcely fitting for a man of your rank to be handling such a beast. Let it go.”

  “Between the One and myself, I will not. I caught it stealing and I will punish it appropriately.”

  “Lord, I will give you this sork I received in alms if you will but let it go,” the scholar said.

  “Between the One and myself, I will not let it go, nor will I sell it,” Manawydan replied.

  “Very well, Lord, do as you like. If it did not seem degrading to me to see a man of your rank handling such a creature I would not trouble myself,” the scholar said and went about his way. Manawydan continued his work, but soon enough another traveler came down the road. This time it was a monk riding a shaggy vykr.

  “Greetings, Lord, and good day to you,” the monk said.

  “The One be good to you and welcome. I would ask your blessing,” Manawydan replied.

  “The One's blessings upon you, Lord. What sort of work are you about?”

  “Hanging a thief I caught stealing from me.”

  “Lord, what sort of thief. The creature I see in your hand is but a mouse and it is scarcely fitting for a man of your rank to be handling such a beast. Let it go.”

  “Between the One and myself, I will not. I caught it stealing and I will punish it appropriately.”

  “Lord, I will give you three sork if you will but let it go,” the monk said.

  “Between the One and myself, I will not take any price in place of what it deserves, which is to be hanged,” Manawydan said.

  “Very well, Lord. As you will,” the monk said and rode off. Once more Manawydan set about his work, drawing a string about the mouse's neck and preparing to hang it, when a priest came down the road. The priest stopped near his work.

  “Priest, I would ask your blessing,” Manawydan said.

  “The One's blessings upon you,” the priest said. “What sort of work are you about?”

  “Hanging a thief I caught stealing from me.”

  “But is that not a mouse I see in your hand?” the priest asked. “Here, I will give you seven sork if you will but let it go. It is not seemly for a man of your rank to be seen destroying such a worthless creature.”

  By this point Manawydan was growing angry with the constant questioning. He did not know why it should be this day, of all days, when people should finally decide to travel through his deserted realm, nor why they should care so much about his business.

  “Nay, I will not let it go,” he said.

  “If you will not let it go for that, I will give you twenty-four sork. See here, I have it now,” the priest said.

  “Between the One and myself, I will not let it go, even for twice that amount. I have no use for money.”

  “As you will not take that, I ask you to name your price,” the priest said.

  “I wish for the return of Rhiannan, my wife and Pryderi, my close companion,” Manawydan said.

  “You shall have that.”

  “Between the One and myself, that is not all.”

  “What else?”

  “The removal of the enchantment over the cantrevs of Dyfyd.”

  “You shall have that also, only free the mouse,” the priest said.

  “Between the One and myself, I will not. I wish to know what this mouse is to you.”

  “She is my wife- otherwise I would not ransom her.”

  “How is it that she came to me in this form?” Manawydan asked.

  “Plundering. I am Lloyd the Sorcerer and it is I who enchanted the cantrevs of Dyfyd.”

  “To what purpose?”

  “In revenge. Pryderi's father disgraced and dishonoured my brother. When my company heard you had returned once more to this land, they asked to be changed into mice in order to destroy your crops. On the third night, my wife and her ladies asked also to be changed and this I did. My wife is pregnant. Had she not been you would not have caught her.

  “I will give you Pryderi and Rhiannan and I will lift the enchantment from Dyfyd. I have told you who the mouse is- now release her!” Lloyd exclaimed.

  “Between the One and myself, I will not,” Manawydan said.

  “What more do you wish?”

  “I would have your promise that there will never again be any other enchantments cast upon Dyfyd.”

  “You shall have that. Now release her!”

  “Between the One and myself, I will not.”

  “What else would you have?”

  “Your sworn word that no revenge will ever be taken on Pryderi, Rhiannan, Cygfa or myself, nor any of our descendants, because of this,” Manawydan said.

  “You shall have all that you have asked for. The One knows, that last was a good thought, for otherwise harm would have come upon you,” Lloyd said.

  “Yes, I figured as much. That is why I protected myself,” Manawydan replied.

  “Now release my wife!”

  “Between the One and myself, I shall not. Not until I should see Pryderi and Rhiannan before me.”

  No sooner had he spoken than Pryderi and Rhiannan appeared. Manawydan greeted them, overjoyed to see them safe and sound.

  “You have all that you have asked for. Now sir, free my wife,” Lloyd said once more.

  “Gladly,” Manawydan replied and set the mouse down. It ran over to Lloyd and the sorcerer struck it with a magick wand, turning it back into the loveliest young woman any had ever seen.

  “Look around you and you will find all as it once was,” Lloyd said as he and his people disappeared. They looked and found the dwellings, people and animals restored and the land once more flourishing and never again was Dyfyd troubled by any kind of magick.

  Kalla bowed to her audience, earning applause and the crowd began to disperse.

  “You would make a fair good Harper, Lady Kalla,” Harper said. She inclined her head to him.

  “Thank you,” the Healer replied, working to stifle a yawn. She knew Aleister was getting sleepy and from the new link she shared with Manny she could tell that he, too, was drowsy. Beyond that she could vaguely sense his Magister, though it was nothing to what she, Vander and Aleister
had shared. Wylsin himself lead them up to their rooms. Kalla smiled to herself- the innkeep hadn't missed the rings she and Aleister wore, nor the fact that she had asked for five and not six rooms. Accordingly, he had put their stuff together in the same room.

  Though Justina had parted ways the very next morning, Kalla was pleased to find that she had guessed correctly, and was able to break all of the bonds easily. Her group continued on its way towards the Deep Forest, with Vander teaching Manny and Lukas how to work together. They came across more victims of sabre wolf attacks and in each case, Vander insisted on taking care of it himself.

  Towns gave way to wilderness. Each night from there on out, the magi set up reinforced wardings. Though they saw the glow of the sabre wolves' blades at night and heard them all around, the creatures never bothered the travelers.

  “Inari, Fox King, guide our steps that we might reach the Temple once more and reach it in safety. Open a path for us, Fox King and let our journey be swift and unfettered,” she cried out in Argosian. The trees before them seemed to shift with a sigh and a path revealed itself. Kalla took the lead and rode down the path.

  Wolf's Honour

  Deep Forest, Argoth, above Evalyce, Year of the Mythril Serpent, 2014 CE

  The Fox King's magick led them to the clearing Kalla and Aleister had stayed during their previous sojourn to the Deep Forest. After the camp had been set, she and Aleister departed for the Temple, assuring the others that they would be fine and would be back as soon as possible. As when they had entered the forest to begin with, they crossed a boundary line just beyond the campsite and found themselves before the Temple of Inari.

  The Forest had eradicated all traces of their previous visit. All that remained were a handful of vykr bones and the broken vines that Aleister had pulled free of the doors. New growth had already taken their place.

  Aleister freed one door of its vine covering and tugged it open. He gestured for her to go through first.

  “After you, milady.”

  Kalla gave him a wry grin and walked through. Conjuring magelight globes, she set them to dancing before her as Aleister entered the Temple. They had gone no more than a few feet into the gloom before they crossed another boundary line and found themselves in the Temple's inner courtyard. The brightness of the full moon shone down upon them, reflecting from the pool in the center. Across the way, Inari watched them with amusement.

  Welcome back, my son. The giant fox dipped his head low to the ground. And I welcome you to my humble home, Lady of Wolves. Thank you for taking the time to return here.

  “You're welcome, Lord Inari. Thank you for letting me through this time.”

  Inari chuffed softly as he walked towards them. Indeed. Bright eyes fixed on her. You have brought my son far, Lady of Wolves, just as you yourself have come far. It is time for both of you to claim all that you are. With these words the Fox King blew a cinnamon scented breath over the pair.

  Kalla staggered, suddenly dizzy. The locks to Amaraaq's power shattered. Aleister caught her and she heard his breath catch in his throat. He buried his face in her mane, inhaling the scent of myrrh and she became acutely aware of his desire. Inari disappeared, his laughter fading in the night, leaving the pair alone in the moon-swept courtyard. The burgeoning power of the wolf goddess crashed over her, pulling both of them under in a tidal surge.

  Deep Forest, Argoth, above Evalyce, Year of the Mythril Serpent, 2014 CE

  Vander scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. Manny and Lukas were finally asleep. He had hoped that Kasai would go to sleep as well, but the hawk was prowling the camp's shielded perimeter.

  “Where are you going?” he asked as Vander started to pad away into the darkness.

  “I'm… going for a walk,” the War Mage replied.

  “Of course you are. Because every sane person goes for a walk in the middle of a dark, hostile forest, in the middle of the night.”

  “Kalla and Aleister left. What makes you think I would be in any more danger than they are,” Vander objected. Kasai waved away the notion.

  “Can't say I think either of them are very sane right now, but that's their business. You are mine. I'm coming with you.”

  Vander shrugged, walking off into the gloom. Behind him, Kasai muttered something in Arkaddian as he followed his mage into the trees. It didn't take long before they reached Gasta's grove. Vander took a deep breath and forced himself to go stand before the frozen form. He lifted a hand, as if to touch the out-stretched muzzle. Vander let his hand fall, gesture aborted, and conjured a warding that cut Kasai off from him.

  “What are you doing?” the hawk growled.

  “What is necessary. I made a terrible mistake and it must be corrected.” Vander glanced over his shoulder at Kasai, who I am sorry.”

  “Sorry for…?” Realisation tightened the hawk's voice. He pounded on the ward. “No! Don't…” Muted light rippled from the impact, illuminating the clearing. “Vander, let me in!”

  Vander ignored Kasai, and turned back to Gasta. In a fluid motion he withdrew the longtooth knife that Aleister had given him and drew the sharp blade across his own throat. The War Mage sank to the ground, blood spattering against the opalescent statue and pooling at its feet.

  Time seemed to stand still for Vander. He heard a dull thud as Kasai crashed to the ground, the magister's voice a weak protest in his mind.

  “Forgive me. Great Lady, please forgive me…” he thought as darkness threatened to overtake him. He became aware that the statue above him was shifting and rippling as stone gave way to living flesh once more. With a deep sigh, Vander gave in to the darkness.

  * * *

  Vander stirred weakly at the sharp crack of power near him and suddenly he found himself lifted, cradled close to a body that smelled of rowan, a scent he should have known but couldn't place.

  “What have you done…” a gentle voice said. A golden pulse of energy flooded through him. It wasn't the coolness of a Healer's touch, but a brightness and heat that healed his wounds, restoring and rejuvenating him. As quickly as it had come, the power was gone and he became aware that it was Kalla who held him tight, gently rocking him, sobbing softly. His magelight had vanished and the War Mage couldn't see her.

  “Lady Kalla…?”

  She stopped and loosened her grip on him. “Vander, why? And where is Kasai?” she asked. He shut his eyes again as magelight illuminated the clearing once more.

  “Nice tail,” a voice rasped behind her.

  “What?” The Healer blushed furiously at the realisation that she had no clothes. Releasing the War Mage, she conjured her clothes about her. Vander sat up slowly, nausea roiling in his belly.

  “I'm fine by the way,” Kasai muttered. “I enjoy dying. It makes me appreciate living all the more. Now answer the Lady's question, if you please. What the hells were you thinking?”

  “I-” Vander began.

  He did it to free me, Lady Amaraaq.

  Kalla flinched at the voice. She turned, and drew in a deep breath as she found herself face to face with a living, breathing Gasta.

  “But… why?”

  “Because it is my fault that Gasta was gone. It is my fault that the sabre wolves have left the confines of the Forest. When I was here last, it was at Al'dhumarna's behest, to put an end to the Guardian of the Forest and create chaos,” Vander said softly. “The night I healed you at the Palace, I ended up here in a dream journey. King Oak came to me and told me of how I might free Gasta, of how I might correct the greatest mistake I have ever made. The price was a fair one. My life in return for the Keeper's. My only regret was that Kasai would have had to pay the price with me.”

  Your lives would not have been forfeit, Gasta rumbled. If Lady Amaraaq had not intervened, I would have healed you myself. It was enough that you were willing to make that sacrifice, young wolf. I forgave you before. I do so again and I thank you for being willing. I knew before that it wasn't in your heart to do as you had. Glad I am to see you free of th
ose chains, cubling.

  “How did you manage to keep such a burden from me?” Kalla asked. Vander was silent a moment, head bowed. He raised his head to look at her and his eyes widened when he saw the mark upon her brow. He quickly bowed his head again.

  “Dashkele, you bear the last mark. You are Amaraaq. You are Mother, Lady, and Empress.”

  A series of sharp yips forestalled her reply as Inari arrived. Aleister sat astride the huge fox's back. The night had changed him as well. Fox ears poked up through his hair, and he had three fluffy tails the same russet color as his fox form. Kasai's previous comment took on a whole new meaning. Patting the back of her robes, the Healer found that she had a tail of her own to match her ears, another change wrought by Amaraaq's power. At least he had the sense to dress before leaving the Temple.

  “Nice tails,” Kasai said in a wry voice.

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Nice tails,” Kasai repeated. Vander and Kalla started to laugh at the Fox's puzzled expression.

  “Aleister, you have fox tails now. Three of them,” she said. They laughed all the harder as he turned a circle trying to see and finally reached around to grab one. He looked at it with a dumbfounded expression, then looked to Inari.

  “How do I make them go away?”

  I'm afraid you are stuck with them, little Fox. Inari chuffed a laugh of his own at Aleister's consternation.

  “And how did I not notice this before… I should think it would have been hard to miss?” he asked in a somewhat aggravated tone.

  “Would now be a bad time to mention you also have fox ears?” Kalla asked innocently. The ears were black, same as his fox form. The claw earring was gone, but in its place were two small silver hoops. Aleister dropped the fox brush and ran his hands over his head, groaning at what he found.