CAIVAN
I haven't had nightmare in two years, but last night's dreams pack a punch. I keep seeing people getting oanced by arrows; Veesa, Gylen, Saelyna. I couldn't sleep for a long time after that, for the some reason, the sight of that arrow passing through her head was more terrifying than the others.
I sit up on the bed, and for a while, the darkness disorients me. I blink twice and adjust my vision, before I notice Palma beside me and I begin to recall the aftermath of the riot yesterday, and that I am at her apartment.
I drop my feet to the ground with a sigh and try not to think about it. Impossible.
Who were those men on the roof? If they were Palma's men, why did they try to kill me? Perhaps they took me for one of the king's courtmen and they are not wrong there, but why did they shoot only after Lionel was killed? Why was Lionel killed?
I shake my head. It's one big jum
CAIVANI tell guards assigned to be my escorts to fuck off as I leave the court hall. I have to warn Palma, that is my top priority, but I'd be hard-pressed to do it without being detected. Things are moving too fast, too undetected for me to follow and there's no way there's anything good in it.I turn the corner and the first thing I see before I run into him are pointed ears and a pair of blue eyes. 'Apologies…' I stop as I realize…Blue eyes.A mage. This one bears no resemblance to the one I'd killed in the forest, even though they all have the same pointed ears and dead sapphire eyes. He wears a long black robe that seems to suck the light, and he stares at me like they all do, like the damned souls that they are.I take a turn around him when he makes no sign to move and continue on my way. I don't even want to know what he's doing in the courtroom. Honestly, I'm glad the king gave me the leave. The atmosphere of the palace is getting a little too toxic for my taste, and I'm beg
RONNVeesa says she'll live, but needs her time alone with her. I pause, unsure. 'There are larger things to fear, Ronn, than leaving Keilen with me. Unless you have something to hide, I suggest you leave me with my patient. Now', she says quickly, staring me down. I can't argue with her, so I take one last glance at her sleeping form before I leave the hut.Outside, Gylen stands a few feet off, leaning against a tree. He looks up as I come out and his face takes on a suspicious expression. 'I need a moment with her', he says, walking towards the door. 'Veesa says to leave her alone', I reply, placing a hand on his chest. He scoffs. 'I'm not touching, or even speaking to her. Just need to check something out'. 'Well, don't', I snap, my claws shooting out. He tilts his head. 'You're seriously willing to walk down this road again?' he says, baring his fangs. 'Try me'.Someone tuts nearby and I let him go as Argell steps forward, shaking his head. Sera stands beside him, head lowered and
RONNThe sharp smell of magic hits my nose with its characteristic itch that automatically makes me sneeze; almost immediately, I regret it, as half a dozen glares are thrown my way. I hold up a hand in apology. 'Magic, it's thick in this forest', I whisper. Argell nods and points slightly to my left. 'The king's glade should lie somewhere down that path. What you smell are his wretched rexume, grown by the elves he conquered and subjected to his whim', he says with a bitter twist to his mouth. Staring at those maroon eyes, I don't think there's any one else who hates the deer-demon-king as much as Argell. 'Press on', he says and continues down the uneven forest path.When Argell had mentioned "ranging", I didn't exactly have this in mind: the alpha of the Eldad pack leading six wolvens on a hunt of sorts. Or scout, depending on what Argell felt like calling it. Gylen wasn't allowed to come, Argell saying he can't risk any more injuries. Apparently, the rest of us can afford to.Pedra
CYRANThe "cave" is basically a hollow in the west wall of the village trench, covered mostly by the gigantic roots of a tree growing above its mouth. Gylen once said not to go near it, but I'm quite sure he wasn't serious. Candidly, I need a place away from all the "wolfishness" in the camp.It's dark and quite damp in here, and all I can smell for a while is moss and something else I can't place. It's welcoming, though, a good spot to wait out the full moon in fact. They've been weird in all ways, manifesting what must be moon reactions; Dell had grinned quite excessively at me all day, and Jenna the third elder female wolven in the pack had actually growled at me when I stopped by to say hello. Not to mention the wolves howling loudly in their hut; even though it's a long distance away from Eldad, it does sound awful. And scary.I settle on a rock at the back of the cave and dig in my coat pockets for the apples I had found earlier in the storage room (Quite a daring expedition, I
RONNThey don’t number much, but they certainly are a bunch. I still can’t believe Argell opted for us to cut and run. No matter how he puts it, he’s giving in to a threat that shouldn’t even be in the first place. And now more than ever, I see the need to take Keilen’s advice. If she offered it in the first place.I hear the sound of her feet before catching her scent; that of wet leaves and the faint sharp tang of magic. My nostrils flare in reaction as I ask, ‘What are you doing here?’ ‘What are you doing here?’ she asks right back, and in spite of myself, I chuckle. ‘You’re bold, I’ll give you that. It’s quite admirable’, I mutter. ‘I get that a lot’.She sits next to me but with quite a distance between us. She leans on the tree, and drops her legs so they swing over the cave mouth below us. We both look out at Eldad, as Hustin, Seirmon and the others escort the old and the young out of the huts in groups. ‘Are we all leaving?’ she asks. ‘No. I’m to stay behind with Gylen and Arg
RONNCaivan walks in casually, swinging the bottle with an easy movement that unsettles me for some reason. His black coat sweeps with the grace in his steps as he approaches us, his gaze centered on Keilen.She grins at him and holds a hand out for the bottle. 'You saved my life, black wolf', she says, prying the cover open, 'Who would've thought'. Caivan doesn't reply or regard either of us as he watches Keilen down the drink furiously. 'Veesa said you were unwell, but didn't say how much. What happened?' he asks with an even tone. She shrugs and I hold my breath. 'It's all sort of a blur, really. Where've you been?'He pauses, squinting at her quietly for a while. Then he directs his gaze to Saelyna and he smiles thinly. 'Good to see you back on your feet', he says. When she doesn't reply, he turns to me, his face once again a brick wall. 'I suppose it's good to see you, Ronn'. 'I suppose', I reply. 'I just met with Argell and Veesa. They're holding a meeting. You should come'. I f
SAELYNAArgell's place is lit up with sticks of fire hung around on the walls at strategic positions. Argell sits in his high chair ahead, while Caivan sits at a smaller one by his side, Veesa occupies her rocking chair still knitting, Jenna and Haron sit next to each other at the table.Cyran nudges me before I begin walking, slowly, towards the table. They were talking before we came in, and as soon as we sit, Argell continues like nothing happened.'And the network?' he asks Caivan. 'I haven't heard from them', he says, 'It would seem they are compromised. The shot was taken, not only at Xanwed, but at Lionel'. I hear Cyran let out a breath beside me, and I hold mine briefly. The Lord of Tussel was murdered. I can't or don't want to think about what that would mean for the south, with Tussel being one of the largest cities in Quindar. Caivan certainly makes it seem graver than I can imagine. 'The deer is wily. I wager
RONNTwilight has never looked so inauspicious as it does now. The camp is quiet, the most quiet I've heard in years as I head for the one hut behind the plateau. It's all very absurd. That we would slink back in the face of those cursed wolves. We have the advantage. And it ought to be used.I skirt the slope of the tableland carefully, and when I circle to the other side, I find Gylen in front of the hut. He sits cross-legged on the grass next to Laen, Allos and Farden, a small fire between them, with meat roasting on a spit.I consider my options. Sure they won't buy my idea, at least if I don't sell it properly. My second option, and the most agreeable, is to attack them. Take them out before they react, and then take the wolves. They could sniff me out on time, but the wind is in my favor; it's blowing north, against me.I flex my fingers as I tense for action. Before I move though, Allos asks, 'What is Ronn doing here?'. I pause. I'd certainly underestimated his skills, and now