Circle of Reign (24 page)

Thannuel and the wolf released each other and backed away. With a smile on his face and a little winded, Thannuel bowed to the wolf cub that already outsized any other of the pack.

Jayden clapped her hands in front of her mouth in elation. “Have we finally found a match for you, Lord Kerr?”

“More than a match,” Thannuel said. “A true training companion, I think. The skill set required is very different than fighting a human. It is new territory for us.”

“This one is Elohk,” Jayden said. “He is unique of our most recent litter. He is pure white without blemish, as you have no doubt surmised. Size and strength are unequaled by any I have ever raised. And there’s something else…” Jayden considered for a moment, deciding if she should continue.

“Well?” Thannuel asked, still with an impressed smile upon his face as he wiped his hands clean of ice and mud. “I must know the one who bested me.”

“Yes.” Jayden seemed to be pondering the right way to explain what she meant. “Elohk understands,” she finally said.

Thannuel’s impressed smile turned to a quizzical look. “Understands what?”

“You,” Jayden said simply. “Me. Your men.” She paused for a moment. “Us. He understands us, our language, our way. At first I thought it to be instinct…the way an animal knows when it will rain or when the earth will become unbalanced and the ground and mountains rend. But I know it is more than this. Elohk appears gifted.”

“Well, that’s just perfect,” Aiden scoffed. “A beast that can speak our tongue. What next? Squirrels that cook and clean up after our meals? Birds that serenade me to sleep?” Several of the men laughed at Aiden’s facetious jabs until Jayden snapped at them in a cracking voice.

“I did not say he spoke our tongue, only that he understands. Are your ears stuffed with moss, boy?”

“All right,” Thannuel interjected. “Let’s prepare for the evening meal. We’re concluded for today.”

The men started making their way to the makeshift barracks that contained a dining hall. The wolves barked and playfully snapped at one another as they ran back to their kennels. Thannuel remained for a moment contemplating Jayden’s words.

“Are you coming, my Lord?” Antious Roan asked. His purple cloak, that of a Colonel, had snow upon the shoulders.

“Antious, how many times have I told you there is no rank between us when we are alone?”

“I’ve lost count, my Lord.”

“I’m going to stick that beast of a wolf on you if you keep this up.”

Roan sighed with a half smile. “You know, I didn’t save you just so you could get shredded by some wolf, Thannuel.”

“He seems more than just another wolf. Wait until your turn comes. You’ll see.”

“You actually believe that old windbag?” Roan asked.

Thannuel shrugged. “At least your men have a better challenge here, yes?”

“No doubt. If Lord Hoyt sends one more group of Southern soldiers to train with us I might have to be rude and take a limb or two by accident.”

“Calder’s a good man, Antious.”

“Right, as you say.”

Thannuel became more serious. “I have thanked you, I know. But I will never tire of it. I owe you my life, Antious.”

Roan looked away, obviously uncomfortable. “Regardless, you saved the Realm. You won that war. There’s no disputing this point. You fought as if you were in our own forests, with the same sensitivity and agility. It was almost as if the Ancients had returned, as if—”

Roan broke off and was silent for a minute. “Well, I’ll never understand how you did that.”

Thannuel did not understand then either, but he did now. “We all just did our duty. Sometimes the cost is high. No one gave more than you.”

“I’m still alive though, am I not?”

Thannuel knew Antious referred to his internal battle that never ended, though the Orsarian War had seven years ago. He never forgave himself for surviving when his battalion, including General Korin, Kalisa’s father, had not.

“Colonel, I know of no one who more fully lives and exemplifies the Arlethian Warrior’s Creed.”

Roan did not respond.

“I’ll join you and the men later. I’ll just be a few more minutes,” Thannuel said. “And see if you can teach Master Aiden a thing or two about showing respect for our host.”

Colonel Roan walked off to the cottage.

His mind returned to Jayden’s words about Elohk.
Even if they are true, it’s simply a fascinating occurrence and nothing more
. He sat
down upon the frozen ground, his cloak bearing his house’s sigil of a single Triarch leaf sewn in the back spread out around him, and closed his eyes to meditate and center himself after the sparring matches. He reviewed in his mind every move of his and that of his opponents, every step and movement, with unforgiving analysis and criticism. Aiden had promise and served loyally as the newly appointed master of the hold guard.
If he could just mind his tongue!
Thannuel mused.

He felt a tremor. Slight, yet distinct. “You’re still here,” he said aloud. It was not a question. Thannuel opened his eyes and scanned the snow-covered ground around him. The tremor came again, ahead of him ten paces and slightly to the right.

“If you’re looking for a rematch, I’m sure that can be arranged.” Thannuel sat more still than a stone, fixated. Then suddenly behind him, he heard something emerge swiftly from the snow. He leapt to his feet and spun in the air, his cloak catching the wind as a sail on a ship. When he landed, he was crouched with his sword placed horizontally between him and the wolf just below his chin. Elohk faced him, snow clinging to his white fur, giving the appearance of an extra coat. His fur was the whitest Thannuel had ever seen, nearly impossible to discern from the snow. Thannuel wasn’t surprised that it was the wolf, but he was astonished that it had moved so stealthily behind him without him sensing it.

Elohk did not attack, but stared into Thannuel’s eyes. It was penetrating and Thannuel saw fathoms of intelligence therein. He lowered his sword and stood up from his crouch. An understanding passed between them in this moment.

“Is it true?” Thannuel asked, feeling a little foolish talking to an animal. “Do you understand my words?” Elohk did not turn away but continued to stare. Thannuel sighed and thought this was all ridiculous.
He might be very skilled and full of uncanny instinct, but of course he doesn’t understand my words
.

“How about a small test, yes? A simple experiment. With which hand do I draw my sword?” Elohk continued to stare at Thannuel and then looked away and huffed, as if insulted by this
simple-minded game. But, he played along and obliged Lord Kerr. He stepped closer to Lord Kerr and nudged his right hand with his wet nose, then stepped back. Thannuel laughed.

“That was too easy. You managed to bite that arm today thanks to me underestimating you. There’s no way you could manage that again now that—”

Before Thannuel could finish, Elohk launched himself forward and closed his jaws around Thannuel’s right forearm. Again. Then he released the arm almost as quickly as he had attacked. He did not clamp his fangs down with enough pressure to break skin, but just enough to prove himself. Thannuel stood stunned wearing a mask of incredulity across his face. Then he laughed out loud, a heaving, bellowing laugh nearing hysterics.

“Do it again!” he commanded. The wolf cocked his head to the left and then seemed to shrug as if to say, “Oh, very well,” and launched once more at Thannuel, mouth agape. Thannuel was indeed prepared this time, and Elohk found nothing but air filling his maw. He skidded to a halt and turned around to face Thannuel with alacrity.

“Again!” Thannuel commanded.

They circled each other slowly and locked gazes. Elohk sprang forward but Thannuel deftly stepped aside and landed a palm heel to the wolf’s right side, sending him in a new direction in mid-flight. Elohk landed without any trouble and refocused his gaze on Thannuel.

“Again,” Thannuel said in a more serious, focused tone. They sparred into the night and across the forest. The minutes turned to hours and evening to full night. If Thannuel lost sight of Elohk for a moment, the wolf would silently bury himself in the snow and wait for an opportunity. While intensely focused, however, Lord Kerr honed in on the distinct signature of vibrations Elohk emitted, making it near impossible for the wolf to succeed in another surprise attack. Conversely, the agility of a wood-dweller to spring from tree to tree at speed greater than a human could track and pounce down upon an opponent proved less and less effective as
Elohk learned to counter this move. For hours, neither was able to touch the other or land any attack as they danced around each other throughout the forest. Finally, as they once again faced off and held each other’s gaze, Thannuel raised his hand and said, “Enough, Elohk. It is enough.”

The wolf refused to relent for a moment and then in a sluggish movement, let himself fall to the earth and give out a small whine.

Thannuel nodded. “I completely agree,” “For the past hour I’ve been completely drained, running on pure adrenaline. I just couldn’t let you know I was wearing down.” Thannuel hunched over and took in a few deep breaths and then lethargically made his way to where Elohk prostrated himself on the earth. He heard the wolf’s heavy breathing and sat down next him. The wolf was longer than Thannuel was tall. The night chill finally hit him as he lay down, some miles from Jayden’s cottage where his men slept in the barracks. It was late in the second moon’s cycle and dawn would greet them soon.
I may not move for several days after this night of training
.

Thannuel felt the large wolf inch closer and bring its body against his own, adding welcome warmth that his cloak alone could not provide. Just before sleep overcame him, Thannuel found his mind wandering upon deeper concerns.

Is it truly coming?
He wondered.
Will we be prepared enough? Will the people rise up as we hope? Will they even understand?
He did not know, but he hoped. He hoped, mostly though, that his children would not have to stand against the Dark alone. The foreboding upon him he knew was more than his imagination. It would be impossible to shield them completely, but he prayed he could at least stand by them when Noxmyra rose with the Ancient Dark in her wake.

THE END OF PART 1

PART 2

FRACTURE

The air above soiled damp—

Indifference dripping
,

Pooling to vats of rancor;

Broken! Rent! Fractured line!

— 17
^th
Stanza, The Passages of Tunginorr’ah

The fever of recreancy gropes my heart, boils my blood. Where hides my relief, my remedy, to change what I have become to that which I have lost?

—The Erynx Fragments, recovered by Obred
Thulin, a Terranist, circa 134 A.U.
3 leagues outside the East’s state city of Erynx

EIGHTEEN

Honleir

Day 19 of 4
^th
High 412 A.U.

KEARON EXISTED, BUT DID NOT LIVE.
Or so the saying was in the Realm. Without any lands or true citizenry, most Kearon kept to the far reaches of the Realm, those parts in which others had little desire or concern. Their songs and poems recanted of the blessing and curse granted them of life after defeat by Oliver Wellyn and his hordes. Many houses had been gathered in league with House Kearon against Wellyn and their allies; yet, those permitted to live in defeat were known simply as Kearon, no matter their lineage. They were not distinguished as part of their lasting shame and punishment.

“No, not like that,” Honleir corrected his younger cousin. “You’ll hurt your back.”

“How then?” Timney asked, frustrated. “I see you doing it all the time.”

“Not like that, actually. Once you’ve dug underneath the rock for a grip, you have to squat down next to it. Like this, see?” Honleir demonstrated by kneeling down with his knees facing outward and his arms extended down between them. He then dug his hands under the rock until he had a good grip.

“Now, see how my back is straight? All you need to do from here is stand up.” He grunted as he said the last words, standing up and freeing the rock from the sandy soil.

“Wow!” Timney said. “That has to weigh twice as much as you!”

“I doubt that much, but you don’t want this falling on your feet,” Honleir said.

“Have you ever not been able to free a rock?”

“Of course. Lots of times I use a lever of some kind. A bone, piece of wood or even another rock.”

“Why do we have to do this, anyway?” Timney asked.

“You know why. We need to clear the land for crops. Besides, the best soil has been preserved under rocks.”

“Is there such a thing as good soil in the Schadar? It’s all just sand and bedrock.”

“Maybe not,” Honleir admitted. “It’s just what we’ve always done.”

Not always
, he corrected himself.
There was a time when Kearon were not forced to live in such depravity
—
if the poems are to be believed
. Some regarded them as elusive periphrastic nonsense, but Honleir loved to study the poems after a long day’s work. Most of his other friends were busy chasing the girls in the village or trying to sneak an extra cup of water from the water trench when the adults weren’t looking. The poems seemed to reach out to him as he matured, speaking to him in ways that he could not explain. He pondered on a stanza he had read the night before at the end of a poem called
Waxing Whither
, one not easily understood. He recited it in his mind over and over.

A Shield of wood and iron
,

Splintered, dented, torn;

A shield of old parchment
,

True, sturdy, Light born
.

The passage seemed to be contradictory in nature. Looking to the verse before gave no insight but appeared rather to be ramblings totally unrelated. He repeated the complete section in his mind.

Bastards swaddled in loving arms

Where true born are turned away, spurned—

Legible Light has grown undim

Where lies him with no patronym
.