by B N Miles
Frew and the rest of the prisoners had set out an hour before. They trampled over the earthworks and marched toward the valley wall. Cam knew they’d have a difficult journey back to the Mansion, but it was only a day or two march. If they were lucky and pushed hard, they could reach the switchbacks before dark, and set up camp in an easily defendable spot.
He had to believe they’d make it. He didn’t have time to stop and worry too much. Theus walked just behind Cam with Key and Felin, while Miuri was out scouting ahead. Isrit had come through in the end and had given them all the directions they needed, which turned out to be pretty simple: march down the valley, skirt along the western rim, and hike up toward the mountains when they see fires and smoke. The army was dug in behind palisades, their back to the mountain, and the wolves pressed at their front.
They had a two-day journey ahead of them, and although Cam knew it would be difficult, the men seemed in high spirits. Particularly Arter and the other prisoners that had joined him. They seemed almost jubilant, and Cam had to stop them from singing twice as they wound their way along the forest floor, keeping the valley rim on their left flank.
The first day was quiet. They made good time and camped in a small clearing next to a slow-moving stream. The men washed their faces and arms and pitched their tents as rain fell throughout the night. Cam took first watch and sat beneath the canopy of trees, water slowly soaking through his leather armor and boots.
In the morning, they woke, ate breakfast, and broke camp an hour after sunrise. They marched on wetter and more tired than the day before, but the sun came out again, and their clothes began to dry.
Around midday, as they began to get closer to the place where Isrit said they’d find the wolves, Key joined Cam, and together they climbed up a small ridge to try and get a better view of the valley ahead of them.
“What are we going to do once we find the wolves?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he said.
“If there are as many as that scout said…” She trailed off.
“We have to try something,” he said. “I have some ideas. But I’m not sure if any of them will work.”
“We don’t have the numbers to break a siege, Cam,” she said.
“No, we don’t,” he said. “But I have magic and we have the element of surprise. That’ll have to count for something.”
She sighed as Cam scrambled up a rocky ledge and climbed up on top of the ridge. He shielded his eyes, looking out over the treetops, and pointed. Ahead, he saw smoke rising up from fires. Key joined him, leaning against his side, her eyes squinting against the sun.
“That has to be… fifty fires,” she said.
“Maybe more,” Cam said. “And they’re only a few miles to the north.”
“Is Miuri out scouting?” she asked.
“Left an hour ago. She has to have found them by now.”
“We should make camp here and wait for her to come back. Maybe you should bring Dagan and Arter up to take a look.”
Cam nodded. “Except not Arter. He’s not an Elder anymore.”
Key frowned at him. “He’s the leader of those other men, though.”
“No,” Cam said, shaking his head. “I’m their leader now. Better they learn it sooner rather than later.”
Key gave him an odd look then stepped closer. She surprised him when she pressed herself against his chest and tilted her chin up.
“You’re really growing into your role,” she said.
“I don’t have much choice.”
She snorted and smiled. “You could step aside, you know. Nobody expects you to be the shaman and the leader of this group.”
“I bet Dagan would love that. He points and I burn whatever he says.”
She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Pretty much. That’s all you’re good for.”
He grabbed her by the lower back and kissed her. “Good for more than just that.”
“Oh, Cam,” she said, and rolled her eyes. “What a big, strong man.”
He laughed and let her go. She stepped away and carefully climbed back down the ridge. He lingered there for a moment, staring at the treetops and the smoke that curled up into the air. The mountain stretched off to his left, growing in big, jagged, sheer cliff walls for miles and disappearing into the distance.
If the army was over there then Isrit was right, they had to be dug in with the cliffs to their backs. They were protected from the wolves surrounding them, but they were also trapped and had no way to escape. Cam didn’t know how well the army was supplied, and it might be a matter of week or even days before they began to starve.
Cam knew time was short. If he was going to make a move and break that siege somehow, he had to come up with something fast.
He turned away and began to descend the rocks, heading back toward where Dagan waited with the others.
20
Cam sat in the shade of a large leafy tree, his back against its trunk. Felin lounged at his feet, her hands behind her head, staring up at the tree branches above, and Key sat cross-legged as she sharpened the point of her spear. Dagan stood a few feet away, speaking in soft tones with Theus and a few other Medlar warriors, while the others lounged about. Kenden and Godug were on watch, and while everyone seemed like they were relaxed and calm, he knew that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Not a single man was without his spear and shield. Even lying on the grass, they kept their arms close, should the wolves arrive without warning. There was an undercurrent of anxiety rippling among the warriors, and Cam couldn’t blame them. The wolves were a half day’s march away, and they had no clue how many were out there.
Cam watched as Arter stood and disengaged himself from the other prisoners. Cam needed to stop thinking of them as “the prisoners,” since they were free men. But he didn’t know how else to categorize them.
Perhaps they were simply his own men.
Arter came to Cam and knelt down in front of him. The former Elder picked at some grass and tossed it into the air.
“Boys are getting restless,” he said.
Cam nodded. “I understand. But we’re waiting for Miuri.”
“The Elf girl?” He cocked his head. “Since when did Humans mix with their kind?”
“Careful,” Cam said, and noticed Felin roll her eyes. Key stopped sharpening her spear and stared at him.
He let out a breath and rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry,” he said. “Old habit.”
“We can’t afford that kind of habit right now,” Cam said. “Elf, Human, Goblin, it doesn’t matter, so long as we’re all fighting the same enemy.”
“But what happens once the Weres are gone?” Arter asked. “Once we’re free of them?”
“I’ve gotten to know their leader,” Cam said, leaning forward. “Haesar is a good man. He’s not interested in conquest or expansion. The Elves are fighting for their lives and their families, just like we are. I know they’re strange and their customs are different, but they’re our friends, Arter.”
Arter looked at him for a long moment then nodded once. “All right,” he said. “If you say so, I believe you.”
Cam raised an eyebrow. “That easy?” he asked.
“I know I’ve been difficult in the past,” Arter said. “The truth is, I’ve been afraid. I’m afraid of the wolves and I’m afraid of the Elves. I’m afraid of anything I don’t know, but after being in those pens, I’m starting to see there are bigger things in this world.”
“I appreciate you saying that,” Cam said.
“I should’ve put my trust in you before, and I failed,” Arter said. “And I won’t make that mistake again.” The man stood and let out a soft grunt, pressing a fist into his back. “I’ll try and calm the others down.”
Cam nodded and Arter nodded back before walking back to join his group. Cam watched as Arter sat down and leaned forward to talk to them. He made expansive hand gestures and spoke in low tones.
“Well, that was just about the crazie
st thing I’ve ever seen,” Key said.
Felin snorted. Cam turned and looked at Key.
“I expected him to have some feelings about the Elves, but he actually… listened to me,” Cam said.
“I know.” Key laughed a little and went back to sharpening her spear. “Maybe some time in those pens was good for him. There are a few other men from the village I think would benefit from the same treatment.”
Cam grinned and his eyes moved across the Medlar men before he found Luccus and Rador sitting together with a few of the others. He knew those two also hated the Elves, and Cam doubted that their feelings had softened at all since they first arrived at the Mansion. They hadn’t been trouble, not yet at least, but he knew they would be soon enough.
Still, he didn’t have enough men to get rid of all the ignorant donkey shits. It was hard not to hold some prejudices, and Cam knew he likely had more than a few himself without realizing it. They grew up in a small village, secluded from the rest of the world. Although Cam’s father had traveled a lot and had done his best to instill a sense of the wider world in Cam, there were still certain beliefs and superstitions surrounding the Godlings that Cam suspected were untrue at best, and dangerous at worst.
He didn’t have much time to dwell on it, though. There was a commotion on the other side of camp as Miuri appeared between the two sentries. Kenden let out a shout of alarm and Godug nearly tripped over his own spear as Miuri walked between them with a smile. She touched Kenden on the shoulder and slipped into their midst, her eyes scanning everyone until she spotted Cam.
He got to his feet as Miuri approached, followed by Theus and Dagan. Felin let out a little grunt but put an arm over her face like she couldn’t be bothered to listen. Key stayed seated, still working on her spear.
“You’re okay,” Cam said, realizing he’d been anxious for he to return.
Miuri smiled and swept up to him. He pulled her against his chest and kissed her hair, but only for a moment. She moved back and stood with a hand on the pommel of her sword as Dagan and Theus joined their small group.
“What did you see out there?” Dagan asked.
“Is it as bad as we think?” Theus asked.
“It’s about what we thought,” Miuri said, her smile fading. Cam saw her fingers tighten around the grip of her sword and she dug the toe of her right boot into the scattered leaves on the ground.
“The Human army is camped right where Isrit said it would be,” she continued. “Their backs are to the mountain wall, and they have stakes, palisades, and trenches all around them. It’s an impressive fort, but I didn’t move too close.”
“And the wolves?” Cam asked.
“Several packs of them,” Miuri said. “Maybe ten thousand of them, I can’t be sure.”
Cam sucked in a breath and he saw Dagan exchange a look with Theus.
“How many men were in the Human army?” Cam asked.
“I can’t be sure,” Miuri said. “Again, I didn’t get close. But I don’t think Remorn sent more than ten thousand, and I can’t imagine the army escaped that big of a horde without doing battle.”
“So they’re out numbered and trapped,” Cam said.
“That’s the situation.” Miuri took a breath and shook her head. “The only positive here is that the wolves aren’t very well organized. Their camps are spread out, and they have little to no defenses. There are plenty of tents, even a few small wooden structures, but I couldn’t find a central command hub anywhere.”
“You wouldn’t,” Felin said from the ground. Everyone looked over to her and the wolf girl poked one eye out from under her arm.
“And how would you know?” Dagan asked.
Cam exchanged a look with Miuri.
“They’re pack animals,” Felin said. “Think about it for a second, Elder.”
Dagan gave her a look and Cam stifled a smile. “I think she’s right, Dagan,” Cam said. “If there are multiple packs, they really might not have a single leader in charge.”
Dagan grunted and looked thoughtful for a moment.
“That could be good for us,” Theus said, running a hand down his scar. “If they’re fractured, we might be able to break them apart.”
“Could be,” Cam said. “What do you think, Miuri?”
“I couldn’t say.” She glanced down at Felin then back to Cam. “If they’re organized enough to hold a siege like that, I suspect they’re organized enough to handle whatever twenty-five men and a shaman can throw at them.”
Cam nodded and frowned at the ground for a moment. He ran his fingers down the grip of his sword before coming to a decision.
“We need to make contact with the army,” he said.
“I don’t suppose that’ll be easy,” Dagan said.
“You could slip through the wolves,” Cam said to Miuri. “You could make contact.”
She hesitated. “I could,” she said. “But Cam…” She trailed off and glanced at Dagan and Theus.
“What’s wrong?” Cam asked.
“I’m not sure the army would welcome me,” she said.
Cam tilted his head, confused for a moment. He couldn’t think of a reason why anyone wouldn’t listen to a beautiful woman like Miuri.
But then his eyes moved up to her long, pointed ears, and he understood.
“You think they’ll think you’re a spy because you’re an Elf,” he said.
“Spy or worse,” she said.
“You can’t really think that,” Theus said. “I mean, they can’t be that bad, can they?”
Dagan grunted and looked over his shoulder to where Arter sat. “People can change, but people are still people,” the Elder said. “And Humans don’t trust Elves, never have.”
“I don’t see a better option,” Cam said. “Is there a way to bring one of the Humans with you, Miuri?”
“I don’t think so,” she said. “My magic won’t work on anyone else.”
“Then we need you to go,” Cam said. “We need them to know we’re here. If we can coordinate something, we might be able to break them free.”
Miuri took a breath and nodded. “I’ll do it,” she said.
“Come back as soon as you can.” Cam took her hand and held it for a moment. She stared into his eyes and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.
“I’ll be back soon,” she said, releasing her hand and slipping away. She disappeared into the bushes, vanishing from sight.
“Brave woman,” Dagan said. He grunted, shook his head, and walked off toward the others.
“She’ll be okay,” Theus said and put a hand on Cam’s shoulder before following Dagan.
Cam watched them go and turned away. He saw Felin watching him with one eye poking out beneath her arm. He gestured at her and walked a few paces away, deeper into the forest. She stood with a grunt and followed as Key continued to sharpen her spear.
“What Theus said back there,” Cam said. “About fracturing them.”
Felin shook her head. “It’s unlikely,” she said. “They’re working under Lycanica’s orders, and no pack will ever break from those.”
Cam nodded and took a sharp breath. “There has to be a way.”
“But just because they won’t break her orders, doesn’t mean they communicate well.” Felin stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her hair spilling over her face. She took a breath and blew it out in a tight stream.
“You think we could hit one part of the camp, sow some confusion?” he asked. “Maybe help the army make a break for it before the wolves can get together to fight back.”
“Something like that,” she said. “I can’t be sure from here.”
He narrowed his eyes as Felin stepped closer. “What do you mean by that?” he asked.
“Listen, Cam,” she said, her voice soft. “I know what you’re going to say, but just listen.”
“Felin—”
“Listen,” she said, and stopped just in front of him. She looked up and he pushed back her hair, moving it away f
rom her pretty face. She looked pained, almost angry, as she pressed her hands against his chest. “I can sneak into their camp.”
“No,” he said.
“But I can,” she pressed. “I think I know the packs down there. I’ll be able to blend in and ask around, find out what’s going on. They’re still my people, Cam.”
“But you left them,” he said.
“I’m sure members of my old pack are still trickling in all the time,” she said. “They were fighting with each other and scattered all over the valley. It won’t be that strange if I show up like this.”
“Felin,” he said, his voice gentle. “I can’t let you do this.”
“But I think you have to,” she said, then took him by the hand and tugged at his arm. She pulled him away from the camp and into the woods until they were eclipsed by a trio of large trees, their branches reaching high toward the sun, their trunks thick and sturdy.
“It’s too dangerous,” he said. “Miuri’s already taking a risk. I can’t ask you to take one as well.”
“You’re willing to take as many risks as you see necessary,” she said. “And I’m useless to you here. I can’t fight when I’m a Human and I can’t shift in front of the others. I can’t even tell them what I know without giving myself away.”
He grimaced and reached out but she stepped away, gliding over the leaves. She reached up and began to unbutton her tunic, and Cam stared at her with mingled desire and horror.
“If you go and don’t return, I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said. “I’ll come burn that camp to the ground and find you.”
“I know you will.” She smiled at him and removed the tunic, letting it drop to the forest floor.
Cam’s eyes moved to her breasts. They were round and firm, just large enough to fit in the palms of his hands. She was slim and athletic, and her skin was a beautiful, smooth ivory, almost impossibly pale.
She crouched and began to untie her boots. Cam let out a frustrated growl before kneeling down and helping her. She smiled at him, and together they got off her boots. She stood, but he stayed kneeling. He kissed her stomach, her hip bones, and slid her trousers down, revealing the dark mound of her hair. He kissed her there as she stepped out of her clothes. She grabbed his hair and tilted his head up, bending down to press her lips against his.