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THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 46
A guard wolf accompanies me, and for the first time it is not an escort, but a guide. I don't know where in the fortress the coronation will take place, and Reeina is not allowed to go there with me.I can't help but notice his eyes through the slits in his mask, constantly darting toward me.What is the problem?But I know that if I ask he won't answer. He doesn't know my language and even if he did he would remain silent. I know them well enough to know that.I hear the music when we are still far away, and finally we arrive at a corridor that seems to go up indefinitely.The wolf stops on the first step and makes a rough move for me to continue climbing.Great, so it's up there and he's not allowed past here either.These wolves have a lot of rules about who can go where.I climb slowly, without rushing, taking advantage of all the movement I can make with my legs now that I'm not trapped. There is an almost childlike joy in me when I do this.I climb and climb for what seems like
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 47
The coronation is a very pompous event.The dining tables have been cleared, the music has stopped, and ten elderly men now form a circle around the Mig.He stands there, a foot taller than them. Maybe more.Old people read things I don't understand on an old parchment that they pass between them. I stand in the corner, trying to attract as little attention as possible, but I feel the Wolf King's eyes every now and then on me. I think he's checking to make sure I didn't run away and throw away our deal. After enduring the last two hours I convince myself to go ahead.I want that horse and I want those provisions. I deserve them.Wolves surround him.I see a lot of shiny clothes, beautiful fabrics and embroidery with metals, jewels, precious stones. It's the Great Houses that Reeina said before. There are nine. Nine important families for the wolf race. They were once kings or very close to the former kings, and it is clear that they want to secure their wealthy place near this one as
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 48
I think about my sister. The one who is with the wolves, and unlike me, is certainly making predictions for them. About what?- Did you see her? Do you know her name?Miguel is so distracted by his own thoughts that it takes him a while to realize that I'm talking to him. After all, he denies it with his face.— And the guards you sent to look for this information?Another negative.—No one ever saw her. It's just a rumor, but it seems like a pretty solid rumor, doesn't it? If we even know the rare color of her hair and about her gifts of foresight.In fact.Something else occurs to me and I bite my lip, my heart pounding in my chest.- What? — the wolf asks, noticing the devastated expression on my face.— We were forbidden to make predictions for men — I say quietly, and I realize that I am pressing a hand over my heart, fearful. — If my Sister is really making predictions for these wolves... They must... — I choke, imagining the worst.When I look up, Miguel's red eye is locked on
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 49
You have to leave the Tarus fortress and go around it to get to the stables. The route is long and silent. The wolf in front of me marches as if his life depended on it, his steps hard and steady and much longer than mine, so I almost have to run to keep him in my sights. When we finally walk out a door that looks familiar and the cold night air hits me in the face I take a long breath and look at my bare feet that are now freezing in the cold.Maybe choosing to be barefoot was a bad idea after all.I notice that the Prince is also looking at my feet, but he doesn't say anything. He keeps going forward, straight ahead, around the property, almost glued to the stone wall, his boots crunching on the neatly trimmed grass.I follow him, breathing heavily through my nose to ward off the cold that stings my skin.I'm so distracted from freezing that I bump into his huge body as he stops abruptly in front of me.I lean on the wall so I don't fall.— What are you-... — I start irritated, but
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 50
I think I sleep a little before I feel the horse slow down and finally stop again.It's dark around us, but I can see that we're still in the forest and there's snow everywhere now.I don't have time to ask any questions.Miguel moves away the arm that holds me, and I see this as a cue to move away.“House Belven is ahead,” he says.I look over my shoulder.We're close to some kind of small town below, and from here you can see that they, like the Tarus, have a fortress right in the center, and everything is lit up with torches and lanterns. I can even see guards patrolling the walls here, but they don't see us. We are inside the forest and both we and the horse are just dark figures mixed in with the shadows.Miguel helps me get off the horse, and I start to feel cold again as soon as I move away from him, but I don't say anything. I'm already mortified enough to have come all the way here clinging to his body like a puppy.Even in the dark I can see him looking at me, that intense r
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 51
Haevir Tarr is like Pontis Maari, I imagine.It's late and there is street lighting, but it's sparse and we don't see any residents as we head towards the Belven fortress in the center.There are guards patrolling the streets in pairs, talking quietly, holding torches.We avoided them by going down one alley or another.We avoid the lights. We blend into the shadows.Miguel always goes ahead, but he forced me to hold the edge of his cape to make sure I was right behind. Yes, I'm right behind, almost stepping on your boots.Here in the city it's not as cold as it is out in the forest, but it's also not at all warm or welcoming, at least for me.I notice that in some streets there are braziers burning, and I notice that the houses are more beautiful and colorful. Near the poorest and simplest houses there are no braziers, nor much light, so we chose to go this way. The guards are also there a little. We only see one pair. This is how we identify the rich and poor parts of Haevir Tarr, a
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 52
— You must have made a big impression on Azerai — the wolf indicates the cape on my shoulders.—Actually, I thought he was quite... — I swallow the harsh word that threatens to escape me. — rude — complete with disgust.Miguel shakes his face with the ghost of a smile around his mouth.— My brother doesn't trust anyone, and even less a woman.- Why? — I ask reflexively when we arrive at a staircase that goes up and another that goes down.The wolf turns towards me a little.Hesitates.— He thinks you have too much power — he says enigmatically and points to the stairs going up. —The fen are down there. Let's go up.— Has a woman broken his heart? — I insist, based entirely on the romance books I’ve been reading.Miguel gives me a strange look over his shoulder as we climb, but responds anyway.— He doesn't let any of them get close enough to do that.The tone is dry enough to let me know the conversation is over.We went up very little before reaching another corridor.The wolf hesita
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 53
Settis gets us a carriage. From what I understand, he and Azerai followed us on horseback, but there is no possibility that Arina would face a trip to the Tarus stronghold under these conditions. The Belven fens bring us a carriage and a coachman, but Settis dismisses him. He will take us. Azerai and Miguel will take care of the horses. In less than fifteen minutes we are ready to go. The Princes help Arina and I get into the spacious and comfortable carriage, and I ask her to lie down on my legs so I can assess her injuries and hold her if necessary. Nobody objects to this. I look up before the door closes and see Miguel standing there. We exchanged one last look. “Thank you,” I gesture. The wolf understands, but says nothing. A nod is his only response. He closes the door and the journey begins. There is a lantern hanging inside the carriage, and because of it I can get a good look at Arina. She is pale, with knotted hair and dry lips. I don't have water here, or anythi
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