by Mark Tufo
***
“We received a rider,” the lead councilwoman said.
My blood chilled, I had only been kidding when I said Azile was looking for a sign…and now here it was. She had said the words so gravely, I knew whatever she said next would not be welcome news.
“Harbor’s Town has been attacked,” she added.
“How many casualties?” Azile asked.
“All of them.” The councilwoman was almost crying.
I was a little slow on the uptake, any casualty would be considered a death and would be thrown in there with ‘all of them.’ Unless, she was referring to how many had died. I wanted clarification.
“How many lived?” I asked.
“Not more than a handful, they fled to Wheatonville where the rider was dispatched from,” she said burying her face in her hands.
“How is that possible? We were just there,” I said to Azile. “Has to be fifty miles. He must have pushed that horse hard.”
“We now know where the Watchers were headed.”
“Hope they had a great show,” I said, more than a little pissed off.
“It was exactly as you had said it would be…hundreds of werewolves handled by their Lycan masters. They took the survivors and killed the children. Slaughtered and ate them in the church.”
Azile turned away.
“What must we do?” the councilwoman asked. “They would have decimated our city had they attacked here last night instead of Harbor’s Town.”
“What you should have been doing the first time I came before you!” Azile spat. “Do you think I roam the countryside crying wolf because I seek attention? I should have forced you into action. That will be something I will have to live with. You and this council, on the other hand, will have to live with your own inaction. I will be back before the third full moon. If I am not, I have been lost. Either way, you must improve your defenses, train your people, and seek out other cities to build an army the likes of which this new world has never seen.
“It’s always war,” I said as we hit the road once again. “That is the nature of man. If not the Lycan threat, one town would feel another was using some of their resources…whether it was land or water. Or perhaps gold will be rediscovered in one of these mountains and there will be a dispute. Man knows no other way, Azile. Why are you in such a rush to preserve that?”
“I still have my soul, Michael,” she said, turning towards me.
“Well, that was just a low blow,” Bailey said to me. Azile kept riding.
“I know, right?” I said back.
“I do not see why I must go back home,” Lana entreated for at least the twentieth time.
I, for one, would be happy to drop her ass off. I felt like a letch every time she looked at me.
“We have been through this, Lana,” Azile said, trying to soothe Lana’s ruffled feathers. “You must convince your father to join with humanity.”
“The riders have been sent. What more can I add?” she pleaded.
“You are his daughter, your word carries weight. You will have firsthand knowledge.”
“I have no such thing,” Lana replied.
“You will,” Azile told her.
“We’re going to Harbor’s Town?” I asked Bailey, overhearing Azile’s words.
“It would appear that way. I believe she wishes to convince more than just the girl.”
“How much of BT do you have in you?” I asked, looking her up and down.
As we rode, I passed a pouting Lana who would not even look my way. That was actually an improvement. I caught up to Azile’s lead.
“Why?” I asked.
“That’s a very broad question, Mr. Talbot. Are you asking why I kissed you?” she asked with a smile.
“Are you trying to get me knifed in the back?” I looked back, making sure Lana didn’t hear.
“We are shielded. She has not heard.”
“How powerful are you?”
“We will see. I believe my biggest tests are yet to come.”
