CAIVANI spent the night at an inn by the roadside called the King's Boar. It wasn't exactly the best, but it definitely beat staying in Gilford or any other village along the way where I would risk assassination. After a cup of tea and some bread, I sit at a table in the corner of the parlor, and go over the last few weeks. How much court officials looked pissed when Xanwed deposed Edward and made me fourth in command. And what was Elwyn really doing in Gilford? Somehow, I doubt he was there for the Hunt. Granted, there are things I must have missed at court, whispers I had disregarded, but the fact that Elwyn was placed in charge of any secret proceedings pulls my hair on end. Xanwed must be mad or blind to have that psycho in charge of anything. I can't unravel anything yet, so I leave the inn early. This time, I ditch the coat and take on clothes of an ordinary traveler; a flannel shirt and a woolen coat with brown breeches. Inwardly, I'm grateful none of the pack are nearby, an
CYRANI'm about to pour my third cup of wine when Saelyna holds my arm and gives me a discouraging look. I marvel at her measure of calm as Veesa and Argell pummels us with details of the rebellion that we did not know. I seriously need more of that stuff, so I bat her hand away and pour my drink. I go over the past few minutes, but none of what Veesa and Argell has said makes sense to me. Or I don't want them to make sense. 'Your father was the strongest elf I've ever known. The best of his clan. Why and how would a group of bumbling deer-genn put him down? I considered this question, just after Edward came to us with news that Xanwed himself had killed Uren, your father'. She had puffed out a thick stream of smoke then. 'We had a very elaborate plan', said Argell, 'It was supposed to bring down the king and take the kingdom from the deer folk. You know of the rexume plants, yes? Well, Uren and Daena offered to help a few of us harness the magic from them, to make our numbers stro
CAIVANI've been here for a while, I don't know how long, but time must have gone by fast. When I finally shake off the mire of an unconscious sleep, I find that I'm thirsty as hell. The horse had bolted off with my food and water, so I'm stuck here. Cases like this make me want to take off my leash and go full wolven. And as always, I rein in myself. The Wolf finally howls for me when a cart comes down rumbling down the forest road. The man riding the vehicle looks to be in his late fifties; gray-bearded, black and white hair and a few wrinkles on his face. He hums a tune to himself, but his eyes dart here and there, on the lookout for possible trouble. I consider my options. I could easily take him out, steal his cart. Or I could just ask him for a ride. The odds that he would acquiesce to my request are small, as far as I know. I settle on asking him for help, and take his cart if he doesn't yield. I step into the road, waving my arms, trying my best to look injured and helpless.
CAIVANTurns out Darwin is right. It's four crows past twilight when I spot the gates of Qarax from a distance. The city itself is a blinding maze of lights from this distance and we can both hear the hum of people within its walls. Darwin says he's off to Terhaven; according to his updated and more accurate map, the road to the town branches off here, down the slope towards a small tributary. I alight and shake his hand. 'You're a queer fellow', he says, 'But in a good way. May the luck of The Seven be with you'. 'And you, Master Darwin. Say hello to the family for me', I say, 'Oh and here's a little token of my appreciation'. Luckily, the blasted horse had not taken my pouch along. I take it out, count a couple godens and hand them to him. He declines politely, but I insist. 'At least, let one deed of good be counted to me', I say, tapping into the pious sayings of worshipers of the Seven. He agrees grudgingly then, and sets off towards Terhaven. The city is built directly in fro
CYRANThe air is thick with magic. It's everywhere, the rexume plants stretch out like some lake of vegetation as far as a hundred yards. The aquamarine leaves seem to glow with the sun, and the peas are bursting from their pods. I've seen a plantation of kingpeas; we were made to work the King's Glade, watering and harvesting them; but not this wide and unprotected. Saelyna's breath is on hold, and her skin is pale. At first, I assume she's awed by the plants as I am. But then, she turns around and throws up a stream of black sludge. Alarmed, I turn to Veesa, but she's nodding with a smile. 'She must have felt their magic', she says and Argell nods. 'What the fuck are you talking about?' I ask with consternation as I hurry to her side. 'Do something!' I call to Veesa. 'No need to be alarmed, boy. Her body is purging the last of the rexanten, reacting to the pure magic of iden', she says calmly. Saelyna touches my arm lightly. 'I'm alright', she says, 'I'm fine. It's all gone. I thi
CAIVANI'm quite confused as to why I wake up feeling homesick. Perhaps it's the dream I had, but it doesn't make sense; a replay of that night, when I attacked the mage. 'Lord', it had hissed, though I don't remember seeing this one at court to recall my title. Or any one for that matter. I hadn't wasted time wondering, or tearing him apart. The predominant part of the "dream", however, is her face. It still flashes in my mind's eye now: the long black hair tucked behind pointed ears and her lucent, green eyes. I wonder why that makes me nostalgic. I don't let anyone in, not even the servants when they come to draw my bath. I fill the tub myself, and though the hot water makes my hair stand on end, I'm grateful for it. Many would interpret my actions last night as an act of defiance or something. Especially the trouble stirrer, Edward. And I might be overstepping my boundaries, but it might well be my last night at Qarax, before I set the cogwheels of my plan into motion. That Xan
SAELYNAI've not seen her before but she grins at me, revealing large wolven fangs and I recall what Veesa said about some of them retaining their lupine features due to trauma. I wonder what happened to her. 'Uh…hello, Keilen. I'm Saelyna'. She bends her head again. 'Love your ears', she says, pointing, 'They're so…pointy'. There's a childishness to her act, but I'm not fooled. She has to be older than eighteen, give or take. 'And I like your…hair. Your eyes as well'. 'Oh'. She blinks and the red is replaced with a dark brown. 'I like keeping them on red so I can see ultra vision. It's supposed to be an ability only alphas can possess. But what do I know?' I feel my eyes widen. 'You're an alpha?' I whisper. She throws her head back and utters a soft laugh that makes me warm up to her. 'Alpha, she says. No, Saelyna, an alpha is not chosen by trivialities like eye colour. It's by achievements. Or so I hear'. Something about her tone makes me ask what she means. She leans in, like she'
RONNI probably should have locked her in a separate hut.Saelyna looks visibly shaken when I get to her. Keilen stands beside her, wringing her hands and I frown at this unlikely alignment. What the hell is she up to? 'Please tell me Gylen is being eaten in there'. They both whip around to face me, Saelyna looks particularly horrified. I like that new look, it makes her cuter. 'Not to burst your bubble, but no', Keilen says, 'I'll be back, I got work to do'. She gives Saelyna a smile and disappears around the bend of the hut.'Why would you people keep wolves in cages? What for? And who's that…the grey wolf? Why was she chained up?' My gaze flicks to her lips and back to her frantic eyes. 'Come on. You shouldn't be here', I say and grab her arm. She doesn't fight, but she pulls her arm out of my grip as she follows me.When we're short distance from the hut, I ask her what she was doing there. She balks and folds her arms over her chest. 'I'm not a kid', she says. 'No', I shake my he