by R. J. Blain
I hauled the toolbox into the SUV and gave the old, metal box a fond pat. “That’s right. There is no such thing as too many tools.”
Desmond accompanied three Chinese men and one woman, who like everyone else except me and Amber, wore formal attire. As she had since getting out of the truck, she kept my blanket draped around her shoulders and refused to allow anyone to take it from her.
The Chinese bowed to Richard, who mimicked their gesture. While I could speak some Chinese, after the first few words, I understood the infrequent word, which boiled down to yes, no, perhaps, and some talk about food. I waited, and after a while, Richard began the introductions.
“The first time I came to China, my Chinese was so bad, they opted to use English-styled names so I wouldn’t embarrass myself. We still do this because we find it funny, but we’re going to use English names as a strategy during the negotiations,” Richard explained, and he gestured to the woman. “This is Si Ma Jìngyi. She’ll be one of our guides when we go to Beijing, and she’s a rather talented water witch, in addition to being a Fenerec. Amber, she’ll be keeping you close company in case your witchcraft gets a life of its own.”
Amber bowed to the woman. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jìngyi.”
“She is much more adept at foreign names than you, Richard.” The woman smiled. “My English name is Grace, which is a lie, for I have two left feet to go with my utter lack of hand-eye coordination. I’m graceful in my acceptance of my faults, however. That’s something, right?” Jìngyi gestured to one of the other men. “This is my mate, Zhang Rong. Rong is our primary fighter and enforcer. He is pacifistic until the fight starts, and then he forgets he is pacifistic.”
Rong bowed, and I joined everyone else in bowing back. “It’s a pleasure to help. Richard, this is the wolf you came to retrieve?”
“Yes, this is Declan. After we’re done here, you should talk and take some time to show off your skills. He’s talented with a sniper rifle, and he needs more socialization with other Fenerec. He’s also an art restorer, painter, and chef.”
“Ah, yes. It’s a pleasure to meet a cultured gentleman.” Rong bowed in my direction. “I prefer showing off my skills far more than I enjoy using them in a lethal fashion. I would be honored to take you to the range while our women shop, as they do enjoy their shopping without us men getting in the way. It’s wise to wait for an invitation to go shopping with them, I’ve found.”
I considered Amber with interest. “Do you shop?”
“Only when in foreign countries and spending Richard’s money.”
Richard sighed and bowed his head. “What did I do now?”
“You’ve been fretting. If you’d stop fretting, I wouldn’t take advantage of an opportunity to spend your money.”
“Of course I’ve been fretting. You’re going through ritual sickness. It’s my job to fret.”
Amber sighed. “I should be grateful you didn’t try to climb into Declan’s truck with us. And it’s technically Desmond’s job to fret.”
Desmond laughed. “As there is zero cause for concern, and you’ve had Declan tending to your every need, I’ve seen no reason to fret. But I will contribute to your shopping fund, because you’re going to be filling out excessively, and your clothes won’t fit. And don’t think I hadn’t noticed your weight loss, Amber. You’re going shopping in Beijing, and that’s only after the doctors there think you’re cleared health-wise.”
Richard smiled, hugged Amber, and kissed her cheek. “I’ll try to do better. Nicolina threatened to shoot hearts around my head if I bothered you,” he admitted. “I just want to make sure your recovery goes well.”
Richard led an interesting life, and I suspected I would find myself in a similar situation soon enough. “Well, she didn’t threaten to shoot you, and that’s good, right? She’s good enough of a shot to miss you if she can draw hearts in the wall behind you.”
“The repair bills get ridiculous,” the wolf complained. “And then she gets mad when I ask her to abuse her wizardly powers to help repair the drywall so I don’t have to spend even more on repairs. I’m trying to convince her to limit her shooting practice to paintball guns, but I haven’t sold her on it yet.”
“I’ve never gotten to try paintball. It looks like fun.” I glanced at Amber. “Does paintball offend you?”
“Not at all. War games with paintball guns are highly entertaining, nobody gets hurt, and I’m allowed to make wagers I usually win. Since Nicolina balks at trying it, I would sometimes play at one of the Inquisition ranges.” Amber grinned. “I’m really looking forward to trying this as a Fenerec. They always tried to restrict me before, and once I’m over the ritual sickness and have a few months to settle, I’ll be able to do the fun things the other wolves can. They have Fenerec-only games, mixed games, and games for witches and Normals. I’ll miss the games for witches and Normals, but unless they change the rules for them, I won’t be able to play in those. That’s all right, though. Becoming a Fenerec will give me the speed and strength I lacked before.”
Well, Amber seemed happy enough about all of the changes in her life. My wolf delighted in Amber’s excitement, which ultimately meant I would be participating in paintball war games. Then it occurred to me that Amber believed she’d get even better at fighting. How could she get even better? How many SEALs would she take on at one time?
Hell, I needed to keep score of Amber’s conquests and do my best to at least match her.
The challenge appealed to my wolf, and I could only hope I could keep up.
Jìngyi gestured to the oldest of the men accompanying her. “This is Dài Song. He is our interpreter, and he is an old wolf. He is a close friend of my father’s, and he is well liked in Beijing, so he will accompany us there when this is over.”
Finally, she bowed to the rather average man, who bowed in turn. I wasn’t quite sure on the intricacies of bowing, but I followed Richard’s lead and assumed I hadn’t done anything offensive, as nobody seemed upset. “This is Cuī Xue. He is a fire witch, and while not as strong as Amber, he has refined control. He is also talented in dealing with wild wolves who may be salvageable. He is also good at judging when they cannot be saved and making sure they are killed before they can kill again. We need to know as much about these Russian wolves as you can tell us.”
“Declan, can you please tell them what you know about these ved’ma and their wolves?” Richard asked. “Desmond, get the others over here, and make sure everyone is armed. Ask Greig to keep an eye on Anthony and tell Lane he’s to keep Amber and Declan out of trouble.”
Amber narrowed her eyes and regarded Richard, her lips pressing together.
“Don’t look at me like that. I gave you a gun and plenty of ammunition. I know you, and if anyone were to take a pot shot at Declan right now, you’d blow your top because you’re cranky you’ve been sidelined for a while. You’re exceptionally cranky because you’ll be sidelined for a while longer. I’m more concerned about everybody surviving with minimal injuries, so you get to stick with Declan.”
“Shouldn’t Lane be watching Anthony, then?” Amber asked.
Richard waved his hand to dismiss her concern. “Desmond has been making sure Anthony can take care of himself.”
“He’s not as good of a shot as you are, but he’ll be ready to learn from you within the next month or two,” Desmond stated, and he opened the SUV’s back door and pulled out a rifle case. “Declan, we picked up a sniper rifle for you on the way here, plus there’s a standard military-issued rifle for you. You’re the most qualified to work with them, so you get to keep them with you. Pick your poison for a firefight, because I’m expecting one. We’ve had some wild wolves circling.”
“We noticed them,” I replied, taking the rifle bag from the man and slinging it over my shoulder. “We’re pretty tough, so where do you want me to shoot for?”
“If you’re using the Beretta and the silvered rounds, as long as you hit, the bullet will do the job. Young wolv
es will die very quickly. Older wolves take longer, but it’s still lethal unless treated right away. If Amber gets hit with a silvered round right now, she’d be dead within no more than thirty seconds. She’s too young of a wolf to survive silver. We have no idea how you react to silver, so I’m classing you in the same class she is. That means Lane is the best with you, because he’s used to handling Normals, who are far more fragile than Fenerec. And Amber, don’t argue.”
“I won’t. It’s true. It’s standard. I might have my pride, but my common sense hasn’t abandoned me yet.” Amber shrugged.
Cuī Xue cleared his throat, and once he had our undivided attention, he said, “There is a pack of fifteen wild wolves in the trees surrounding us. Most are unsalvageable, but there is one among them who might be saved, though it is borderline. While killing one who might be saved bothers me, I do not know if it will be possible to extract her from the pack. She is unmated, and the males all wish to breed. From what I’ve seen of her aura, someone keeps her borderline, likely to control the rest of the pack. There is a second pack of wolves beyond them, and they are more stable, but they are not truly stable, not like we prefer. I have counted thirty of them, and there are several witches with them. They are of middling strength. These would be the ved’ma, I presume. I counted six. They are in charge of the sane pack, and the sane pack keeps the wild wolves between us and them. The wild ones are afraid of us, and for good reason.”
Desmond rolled his shoulders. “I’ve been letting my wolf out enough where those who aren’t used to me are aware there’s a predator nearby—a dangerous predator.”
“These ved’ma have malicious intent, and their auras are streaked black. Their greed and ambition blind them,” Cuī Xue reported.
Jìngyi reached into her blazer and pulled out a small, bronze disc with green woven cord strung through a square hole in its center. She raised it to her lips and kissed it before she held it out and dangled it from her finger. It spun in a single circle before it came to an abrupt halt and hung still.
While the wind blew through the woods surrounding Blagoveshchensk, her talisman remained motionless.
She released it.
The talisman did not fall.
My eyes widened, and my wolf observed with interest.
Nodding at her work, Jìngyi once again reached into her blazer, and she withdrew more coins with green cord woven into their centers. Each and every one joined the first hanging in the air until there were enough for everyone. “We have also brought tonics. They will protect against wolfsbane. It is our newest formula, and it is our best yet. It is even safe for the youngest of wolves. Keep the talisman tied around your wrist. That is the best way for it to offer its protections. It will mitigate some of silver’s damage, but it will keep the wildness of the sickened pack at bay and make way for easier purifications should they be needed. Xue, what do you think of the sane wolves?”
“They use the wild pack for their misdeeds, and the malevolence of their ved’ma shows strongly through in their auras. They have made their choice, and we would be wise to make certain their poor choices no longer threaten the wellbeing of others. This is no uncontrolled wild pack. You said there were deaths, Declan?”
“Yes. One of the mill workers was killed, as was my boss—or so I was told. They also claim the family of the wolf was also slaughtered. They told me it was the work of one wolf.”
Richard growled, and Amber reached over and flicked her nail against the side of his throat. “Relax, Richard. Declan wasn’t hunted, and he’s safe in our custody. Considering how many they’ve brought, they mean to either kill us all or take hostages. Wild wolves aren’t sane wolves, and these folks are superstitious enough they likely want Declan alive because he fits their various legends.”
Richard stopped growling, although he glared at Amber. “I’m unhappy because there is some sick form of logic to killing people around Declan if he was identified as a shy wolf—a shy wolf with good control. Wolves with good control are valuable to packs and it would let them get rid of some unwanted people. If they were killed in the first place. It could have been staged. Or lies. We’d have to get a look at the site, and I don’t think this crowd plans on letting us go and do what we want.”
“No, they don’t plan on that,” Xue stated. “If we wish to strike first, we must act soon, for the wild wolves grow impatient.”
Jìngyi wasted no time offering us a talisman each, and it intrigued me she offered the first to Amber, before giving Richard the second. Some of my puzzlement must have shown on my face, because Richard chuckled and winked at me. “My reputation of being an overbearing, overprotective man precedes me. She caters to my base need to protect my wife’s best friend. Give me a week or two. I’ll keep thanking you for your part in this, and I’ll inevitably annoy you and everyone else at the same time. It’s part of my charm.”
“You are such a pain in the ass, Richard Murphy,” Amber muttered with a shake of her head. “Go get me another gun. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”
Chapter Twelve
Xue gave me a vial filled with a thick, golden fluid, and against my better judgment, I knocked it back. It burned worse than any liquor on the way down, and I coughed at its potency. Fortunately, Richard had taken Amber to one of the other vehicles to go over the available weaponry, so she didn’t witness my inability to handle the brew with dignity.
The hunting wolves would have been wise to stop us from making any preparations. Then again, the wild wolves prowled between us and the saner ones, and I suspected the wild wolves had more sense than the ved’ma.
“Until I’d come to Russia, I’d mostly quit drinking, because alcohol turns me into an idiot with no common sense. What is this stuff?”
“It is baijiu. The golden color comes from the herbs and other ingredients we brew in it. This concoction lasts for between six to eight hours, which should be plenty of time for handling this matter. It’s not like we have far to go.” The man’s smile had a grim edge to it. “Whomever these Russians are, they do not want us to make it to the negotiations. They are fools.”
“Why do you think that might be? It seems pointless to stop these talks.”
“From the little I know, I suspect it is because they value their way of life, and they do not wish it to change. For a place so steeped in the supernatural, this is only a fraction of the witches and wolves who live near here. We have heard far more wolves than the numbers here howling from across the river. But don’t feel badly for your part in this. This was destined to come. My people have known there has been something amiss here for a long time. The first time one of my people became involved, we would have begun walking this road. I suppose they believe you to be an easy target, for you appear to be Russian although you’re not?”
“I played at being half Russian.”
“That, perhaps, made them believe they could pull you into the system, but then they discovered you are already a wolf.”
“And they know I don’t want one of their damned brands.”
“Yes, this branding is a problem. While Fenerec are bonded with a wolf, they are not mere animals to be branded and treated like cattle at the whim of witches.”
“Well, from what I can tell, that’s how it works here.” The wild wolves still circled, and every now and then, one crossed the road some fifty feet away. In some ways, it reminded me of a rabid animal, lacking the grace and stability of a healthier beast. I couldn’t spot any foam around the wolf’s muzzle, but something about it put me on edge. “They’re moving like they’re sick.”
“It is a sickness of spirit more than of body, but the body and the spirit are one, so the sickness of the spirit manifests as a sickness of the body. That one is far gone, but it has not broken yet. None of them have truly broken.”
“Broken? What do you mean?”
“The wolf has gone truly mad. Once a wild wolf breaks, there is nothing left but violence and the need to hunt. Consider that beast to be in the f
inal stages of its sickness before it goes beyond the point of no return. When it reaches that point, it will kill everyone and everything around it, until there is nothing left to kill, and then it will go hunt for new prey, for all it knows is to hunt and eat. On rare occasions, they will seek out a mate, but usually, they live only to kill. The ones that seek out a mate can sometimes, if fortune favors them, be saved. But usually not.”
While the wolves circling around us seemed ill, none of them were randomly attacking anything that moved. “Any suggestions if I run out of silvered bullets?”
“Aim for the head or the heart. Heart shots will take wolves out for a while, even the older ones. Head shots are more likely to kill, but the heart shots will disable them. Young wolves won’t survive heart shots. You can also sever the spine. That will kill young wolves, but any wolf that has seen a decade can recover from a broken spine or neck with time. Sometimes younger wolves can survive, but it is rarer.”
That explained a lot about my general survivability. “Understood. And the ved’ma?”
“They are as fragile as any human for the most part, although some, like Amber, are blessed with long years. We are pleased to see she will be able to share her wisdom with us for years to come. You have done us all a great service. Your wolf bonding with hers will bring you both much prosperity.” Xue looked me over from head to toe. “I have heard much about your culinary prowess. You should sample more as you make your masterpieces.”
I snorted a laugh. “That is the politest way I’ve ever heard someone tell me I need to eat more.”
“I have my moments.”
The hunting wolves drew closer, and armed with three handguns and a rifle, I kept an eye on them and on Amber, who stayed close to Richard and Nicolina. Despite the initial plan for Lane to watch us both, Lane stuck with me, Amber stuck with them, and everyone else scattered between the various vehicles. Anthony had several guns, but he stayed in the largest of the SUVs, crouched down so he would be somewhat protected from unexpected gunfire.
