Keeper of the Wolves (20 page)

“
Why did they attack?” Joven
demanded. “How many were there? Why were we not warned?”

He moved with Rasmus to the far window. The
Lieutenant stayed by the door and I realized Rasmus had placed him
there defensively. The unspoken action said a lot about the way
both men worked. The safety of their pack was the biggest
concern.

Koya knelt next to me, hesitated, then threw
her arms around my neck. I winced inadvertently when she brushed
against the bruises and shallow wounds the Viel had left when he
tried to strangle me. Koya noticed and sat up. She gently began to
work through the fur of my neck until she found the marks. When she
did, something tender and painful like heartache and remorse filled
her eyes. They shone brightly in the candlelight when she looked at
me. “Your fearlessness is going to get you killed if you don’t stop
forgetting yourself to save others.”

I couldn’t tell her it wasn’t fearlessness.
You can’t face creatures as vile, dangerous, and horrifying as the
Viel without fear. But it wasn’t the fear of them that drove me, it
was the fear of what would happened if we failed and they indeed
flooded Vielkeep Castle with their reaching claws and silently
gaping mouths ready to tear apart any in their path. My fear for
Koya’s safety fueled the recklessness that drove me to action.

“
We need to call a war
council,” Joven concluded at the window. Rasmus nodded his assent.
He glanced toward the door. “Lieutenant Aled, we’re going to need a
head.”

The command struck me as strange, but the
Lieutenant saluted his general, Joven, Koya, and then,
surprisingly, me, before he turned and left the room.

Distaste twisted Joven’s mouth and he
grimaced. “Let’s get this over with.”

“
Everyone will be sleeping,”
Koya pointed out. “Those who aren’t still at the ball, that
is.”

At Rasmus’ questioning look, Joven rolled
his eyes. “A few of the not-so-discreet guests imbibed a bit more
than recommended and are still enjoying the remaining dregs of
honeyed wine. Their conversation has finally reached a point of
nonsensical stupidity that even Koya and I were able to escape
unnoticed.”

Rasmus’ mouth tightened to a firm line. “I
think our topic should sober them up sufficiently.”

Joven nodded and we followed the pair out
the door.

***

The Dukes and Duchesses of Rala entered the
room in varied states of exhaustion and anger. They had left their
children, the Lords and Ladies, out of the discussion. I wondered
if it was because the partiers weren’t fit to attend, or if it was
to prove a point to the brother and sister heirs of Vielkeep
regarding their youth and immaturity. I was surprised to see
several Dukes glare at Joven and Koya as if they were the cause of
the Viel attack instead of protectors from it. One Duke, a
particularly loud, round fellow, launched into a tirade the moment
the door closed.

“
If you keep children at the
helm, no one will be safe,” he spat.

Frustration flashed through Joven’s eyes and
he opened his mouth to speak, but the Duke cut him off with a wave
of his meaty hand. “Respect your elders, lad. Planning has to be
done by the adults.”

“
Now Eton, I don’t think
that’s necessary,” a woman dressed in purple and black chided. She
had her hair pulled back so tight her eyes could barely blink.
“It’s not like they’ve been irresponsible.”

“
Oh, really Draisa?” the
Duke shot back. “I don’t think you’d say the same if the Viel had
reached the castle last night.” He pulled at his short beard.
“Although I still don’t believe the rumors that we were under
attack. The Viel have been gone for decades. This may just be a
pull for our pity and a chance to scare us back south to the safer
climes.” He gave a low, threatening chuckle.

The woman’s eyes tightened further. “The
Viel exist as much as you or I.”

“
If you didn’t exist, my
life would be much easier,” Duke Eton snapped.

Koya dropped the napkin she had been using
to keep muffin crumbs from her lap as she ate of the varied
breakfast items across the table. When she leaned down to pick it
up, she whispered in my ear, “Draisa and Eton have been involved in
a romantic tryst for years. They cover it up by treating each other
like enemies in front of the others, although we all know their
secret thanks to Eton’s drunken bragging.”

I gave a soft snort of humor and she sat
back up with a smile. Duke Eton shot her a look; Koya’s smile faded
and steel entered her gaze. “Duke Eton, if you will permit me to
speak, I can reassure you that the Viel do indeed exist and we were
successful in maintaining the safety of your company last
night.”

He let out a chuckle that was half derision,
half disdain. “Lady Vielslayer, we will not be scared off by
bedtime stories told to keep children from wandering past the
walls. It’s obvious that your mother is no longer fit to run
Vielkeep, and the two of you are scrambling to keep it. You’ll have
to come up with a better story than we’ve heard to send us running
with our tails between our legs. The Viel were killed by our
ancestors when they reached the valley and there has been no sign
of them since. Vielkeep is weak and ghosts won’t save you.” Several
other Dukes and Duchesses murmured assent to his words.

Rasmus flicked a finger from where he stood
next to me. Lieutenant Aled dumped the Viel head unceremoniously
from the burlap sack he held. It landed on the table with a dull
thud. White liquid oozed from its gaping mouth and the holes where
its eyes should have been looked darker than ever in the flickering
candlelight that lit the windowless war room. Duke Eton jerked back
so violently his chair fell over and dumped him in a heap on the
floor. Duchess Draisa let out a gasp and put a black-gloved hand to
her mouth while several screams and expletives echoed around the
room.

Duke Eton was helped back to his feet by one
of his servants; he kept his eyes on the decapitated Viel as he
said, “Lord and Lady Vielslayer, we will take our leave on the
morrow. If such creatures swarm your forests, your hold on Vielkeep
is tenuous at most.” He grimaced. “Weak defenses and an even weaker
heirship are all that keep you from your demise.”

He backed out of the room, tripping first
over his manservant, then over a chair; he let out a pained yell
when he finally fell through the open door into the hallway.
Vielkeep servants scrambled to right him. His voice, punctuated
with angry expletives, was heard all the way down the hall.

Duchess Draisa met Koya’s eyes. Her face was
a shade paler than before, but she held her composure with only a
tightening of her lips to show her distaste. “I’m afraid Eton is
right,” she said. “Vielkeep’s footing is slipping. It would be
against the honor of this valley to allow a kingdom to grow weak at
our doorstep. Unless there is a drastic change,” her eyes flickered
to the Viel’s head, then back to Koya, “Vielkeep will be divided at
summer’s end.” She left the room with two skinny, black-robed
servants trailing behind.

The other Dukes and Duchesses left either in
silence or with similar proclamations. At each one, Koya’s
expression stayed hospitable and understanding, but the anger that
had touched Joven’s gaze when the first Duke left darkened his
glare with each statement until a storm raged on his face.

Tavion, the Duke of Miduan and Lord
Brayton’s father, was the last to leave. “I apologize for the dire
circumstances,” he said with sincerity that echoed his son’s
kindness. “But I cannot go against my peers in this.” He and Joven
exchanged a bow and he kissed Koya’s hand. He paused at the door.
“If you can strengthen your position with a suitable marriage, or
show them that you will not be bullied in this matter, you might
have a chance. Otherwise, I’m afraid Vielkeep will be lost to
you.”

“
We won’t resort to war to
keep our kingdom together; Vielkeep would be torn apart in the
process,” Joven replied. A hint of despair touched his voice and I
knew he hated himself for it.

Duke Tavion nodded. “I can appreciate your
grim outlook, but I see no way to assist you further. As Miduan is
the southernmost kingdom, I cannot offer you the protection of my
armies to keep your borders safe.” He gave an apologetic smile. “Do
what you feel is best.” He glanced at Koya. “But in my opinion, war
would be more agreeable than marriage to Lord Vesut, even if his
kingdom is by far the most beneficial ally.”

Koya nodded, but her calm demeanor slipped,
showing her anguish for a brief instant. “I agree, but I won’t give
up on our people if I can do something to save Vielkeep, even if it
is so drastic.”

The Duke nodded and bid them farewell. “I
don’t envy you your position,” he said. “But you both have good
heads on your shoulders. Don’t give up yet.” His eyes twinkled. “At
least you can take relief in the thought that you have to put up
with only one more night of dancing before you’re rid of these
leeches.”

The door shut behind him and Joven let out a
pent-up sigh. “I’m not sure if we were bold or foolhardy.”

Rasmus motioned for Aled to put the Viel
head back in the bag. The Lieutenant did so with a look of
determination. I knew how he felt. Viel were creatures from the
worst nightmares, to be sure, but they bled like any animal. We
could defend Vielkeep. No matter what the Dukes and Duchesses of
Rala thought, Vielkeep was not weak.

I closed my eyes and let my thoughts wander
along the scents the Dukes and Duchesses left behind. Worry and
fear trailed the strange colognes and perfumes made from pressed
flowers and oils. I wondered if they knew how particular smells
triggered emotions in those around them. Several Duchesses wore
zalea flower which triggered aggression in animals as a form of
defense to keep the flowers from being trampled. One Duke wore
moose musk. Any moose in five miles would either attack him or be
madly enamored after a single whiff.

My head bobbed as sleep teased at my mind. I
heard a smothered laugh and opened my eyes to find the others
looking at me. I blew out a breath and shook myself.

“
It’s been a very long
night,” Rasmus said with a look of weary empathy. “I think we all
need to rest.”

Koya put a hand on my back and gave me a
fond smile. Her looked warmed my soul and my heart twisted. I
shoved the feeling back down, but couldn’t help how much I enjoyed
being at her side. We walked quietly down the hallway. My nose read
a scent of trepidation and worry and I looked up to find her
watching the hallway but not seeing it. I guessed that she thought
of their conversation with Duke Tavion. The thought of her marrying
someone like Lord Vesut lifted the fur on my neck. I couldn’t stand
to think of her in someone else’s arms. I wanted to hold her, to
keep her safe from a world that seemed bent on hurting and
destroying her. She needed me.

Emotion trembled through my limbs. I paused.
It was the same feeling I had before I changed at night. Koya
walked on a few steps, then stopped and looked back when she
realized I was no longer at her side. I stared at her look of
understanding; compassion and tenderness filled the depths of her
blue eyes along with something else that made my heart stutter.
Love. Love shone on her face when she looked at me. No other man
received such a look.

I wanted to hold her in my arms and profess
that the same feelings flooded my every breath and heartbeat. The
realization sent a surge of energy through my limbs so strongly
there was no doubt what was about to happen.

I turned away from Koya and raced through
the corridors. Servants stared and a few royals who were still
wandering about pressed against the walls for fear that I would
attack them, but I ignored everyone and loped toward the abandoned
quarters where Koya’s grandfather used to live.

I reached the rooms where I had recovered
just as the change took complete hold. I shoved the door shut
behind me with my shoulder, then fell to the floor and stopped
fighting. The pain of holding back the change fled my body and I
sighed in relief as my arms and legs shifted, my joints pulled and
changed direction, and my fur vanished into my body to leave the
tangled brown hair Master Muir had cut.

I had never changed so close together. The
effects right after fighting a fierce battle stole my strength. I
had the presence of mind to crawl to the bed and pull a blanket
over my naked form, then I collapsed on the ground.

“
Victus, what-” Koya gasped
and I felt the soft thud of her feet as she ran to my side.
“Victus,” she repeated my name in a shocked whisper. Her hand
touched my forehead and I willed my eyes to open. Relief warred
with surprise on her face. “You’re human and it’s daylight,” she
whispered as though afraid saying the words aloud would force me
back to wolf form.

I pushed up slowly so that I sat with my
back against the bed. I felt her eyes on me, but I couldn’t explain
it any better than she could. I stared at my hands; for the first
time, I felt a rush of gratitude for the human form. I opened and
closed my fingers, studying the way veins blue with unspilled blood
ran up my arms. Energy filled my body where exhaustion had resided
before. A smile creased my lips. I looked back at Koya. “I can
control it,” I said with the dawning realization of what that could
mean.

She stared at me; my heart melted at the
hope I saw there. I had heard Duke Tavion’s words; I knew that if
she were to give her heart to me, Vielkeep would be picked apart by
the Dukes and Duchesses who viewed the land and people like carrion
birds surveying a carcass. She loved her people, her pack, and I
wouldn’t let her see it destroyed. “Koya-”