Under the Wolf's Shadow

by A. Katie Rose

  Li emerged from his huge tent; a pavilion by my standards. It lay further down the row we’d borrowed from his wives, yet separated by distance. It stood alone, ranked among none. A small banner of his house, a quartered crest with the heads of a bull, a lion, a falcon and a horse waved in the light breeze.

  Immediately, he spied us grouped in a small cluster and walked toward us. Dressed in clean robes, but without his scarf, his unshaven cheek bristled with a day’s growth of beard and his brown hair curled about his neck.

  “Greetings, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla,” he said, smiling. “Greetings, Arianne of Connacht.”

  He clasped his hands before his chest and bowed, much as he had done the day before.

  “Greetings, Clan Chief Li,” I said, setting Tuatha on the ground and returned him his tribal salute.

  Arianne also bowed, murmuring her respect. Bar merely eyed him with disillusion and clicked his beak. Tuatha, predictably, growled.

  Li grinned down at him. “Still annoyed with me, small wolf?” he asked. “I’ll win you over soon enough.”

  Paws on sand distracted us all as Silverruff, Digger, Thunder, Nahar, and Little Bull bore down on us at a happy, tail-wagging gallop. Where they’d slept, I had no idea, but I found myself surrounded by wolves big enough to lick my face simply by craning their necks. Bar stepped back, politely, but both Arianne and Li were forced back, away from my side. Tuatha, sheltered between my ankles, fared safely enough.

  “I’m going to look for Darkhan,” Arianne said. With a quick curtsey to Li, she walked away.

  “Uh, oh,” Bar commented, his eagle’s eyes amused. “Trouble’s come to call.”

  I ignored him, too busy fondling and kissing as many wriggling, wagging wolves as I could.

  Kel’Ratan and Rygel, walking together, closed the distance toward us. Arianne found a hug for Rygel, and hand-in-hand, took him with her as she headed for the tent where they’d last seen Darkhan. After a cursory bow to Arianne, Kel’Ratan saluted Li and nodded to me. Nahar broke away from the horde around me to welcome him with a happy grin and busy tail. Kel’Ratan scowled as though Nahar had nipped rather than greet, then promptly ignored him.

  “The warriors are up,” Kel’Ratan reported. “They’re on their way now.”

  “Good,” I said, straightening, though my hands still tickled jaws. “Bar’s wounds are doing quite well. How’re yours?”

  Kel’Ratan flexed his bandaged arm. “Doesn’t hurt a bit.”

  “We excel at the art of healing injuries,” Li boasted.

  “Where is Lord Smoke?” I asked. “I wish to thank him.”

  Li shrugged. “Last evening, he informed me he desired to ride this day. He does that, sometimes.”

  “Vanished like smoke,” Kel’Ratan muttered.

  Even the wolves showed no ill effects from the battle the day before. The damage done to their bodies hardly showed at all. Their spirits? The battle might not have even occurred by the way they romped and wagged, laughing with bright eyes.

  My boys and their dancing wolves approached in a dusty cluster, yawning. They engaged in mild, male horseplay, often swearing at one another. Li’s camp also stirred awake; warriors, servants and women emerging from tents to haul water, tend flocks and herds, start fires and begin cooking. The night watch on the herds rode in, replaced by another riding out.

  “After we break our fast, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla,” Li said. “I will take you to Brother Lavi.”

  My heart bounded. At last I’ll know who has been trying to kill me. With this monk’s aid, I’ll make my peace with he/she/it, and be rid once and for all with the threat of annihilation. Tomorrow, on Darkhan’s heels, we’ll ride hard for the north. Only the threat of Illan and the coming battle darkened my joy.

  “How far away is he, Clan Chief Li?” Kel’Ratan asked.

  Li waved negligently toward the east end of the village. “Not far. I have sent to announce us already. He is expecting you.”

  “Did you tell him why we need his help?” I asked.

  Li shook his head. “I merely said we had visitors requesting to see him.”

  My boys and their now quiet wolves ringed us in a half-circle, offering salutes to all. I nodded to them and smiled at Tor, in his usual spot between Yuri and Yuras. Our warrior society, and our code of the Kel’Atanya’WA, a boy became a man after his first kill. In our eyes, Tor was now a man despite his young age. I suspected he hadn’t told Yuri or Yuras of his achievement the day before, as the blond pair didn’t treat him any differently than usual. Had they known, I knew they wouldn’t stand about and tease their grinning wolves. They’d be telling and retelling the priceless event, dancing around like lunatics.

  Past their shoulders, Arianne and Rygel hurried toward us, Little Bull trotting behind. Now Shardon left his green pasture and walked toward our big group, his silver mane and tail gleaming under the new sun.

  “Here it comes,” Bar commented.

  I shot him a sharp scowl, forcing Li into a startled expression and a quick glance between the two of us. I didn’t give Arianne, or Li, the opportunity to speak. When they drew close enough, I raised my hand and snapped my fingers, gathering the attention of all. Arianne and Rygel hovered at the rear, clearly wanting to spread the news that they couldn’t find Darkhan.

  “This day,” I said, pitching my voice loud so all could hear, “is one for a great celebration.”

  Several of Li’s warriors, on horseback, scarved and armed to the teeth, sat their horses just beyond my ring. More on foot also paused, sensing something important. Though they didn’t understand my words, they knew a momentous occasion when they saw one. Even bejeweled women paused in their domestic tasks to stand and listen.

  I grinned at Li. “Clan Chief Li, I think your great and fierce Jha’fhar people would appreciate what I am about to say. Might I beg you to translate my words to your illustrious tribe?”

  Li nodded, confused, but walked toward the outer ring in order to repeat my speech.

  I’d always hated public speaking, and avoided it whenever possible. This time, however, I played my crowd like a musical instrument. I think half the village stopped dead in their tracks to listen. My boys ceased all talk and wolf teasing to stare at me with various stages of curiosity to impatience. As silent and as still as their wolves, Left and Right watched me with their dark eyes piercing me through. Back in their warrior’s leathers and armed, their coveted jeweled collars gone from their necks, the pair appeared as a warrior and his reflection in a mirror.

  Witraz, Rannon and Alun bent their heads close together while still keeping me in their sight, murmured questions to one another. Yuri and Yuras gaped, while Tor, suspecting at last what I intended to say, gulped hard and shifted his feet as though considering a bolt for freedom.

  Corwyn, late to the scene, ducked between tribal women and warriors to arrive at Kel’Ratan’s side. White Fang, as obedient as any dog, paced at his heel.

  “What’s happening?” he asked Kel’Ratan, his voice low.

  “No idea,” my cousin replied sharply. “But she better get on with it.”

  “Today,” I continued as though I hadn’t heard, “we celebrate a great and lasting friendship with the Jha’fhar clan. We, warriors of Kel’Halla, appreciate the wonderful, giving heart of the brave Jha’fhar, and owe them a debt of gratitude. If ever the Jha’fhar have need, they have only to call, and the people of Kel’Halla shall respond. We Kel’Hallans repay our debts.

  “The Jha’fhar are a courageous people, strong in their friendships and their hatreds. They, like the Kel’Hallans, offer love for love, hate for hate, and blood for blood. The Kel’Hallans, too, never forget their enemies. Nor do we forget our friends.”

  Li loudly translated my speech to his people, but offered me confused glances over his shoulder. Like Kel’Ratan and Corwyn, and even Rygel, clearly wondered why I used all this drama just to say thanks to our hosts.

  “The great Jha’fhar, like the Kel’Hallans, admire
great courage in combat,” I went on, Li busy translating. “We revere skill in battle, to face one’s enemy without flinching, without fear. We raise high those who shed the blood of his enemies and protect his people.”

  I laughed, holding up my arms in real drama queen fashion. With my eyes catching and holding Tor’s, I raised my voice to a shout. “For do we not celebrate the warrior? Do we not applaud the men who slay our enemies and return home triumphant?”

  The Jha’fhar warriors raised their bared sabers, yipping in high-pitched voices, a sharp yii-yii-yii sound, so rapid I couldn’t distinguish one voice from another. The women screamed words I couldn’t understand, their voices loud with triumph. While my own people stood, confused, Li’s tribe knew what my speech lead to.

  “Today,” I yelled over the yipping and shouting. “This day, I have the distinct privilege to confer one among us my people’s greatest honor. I know the Jha’fhar, too, honor their young men this way. Today, I, heir to the throne of Kel’Halla, would bestow manhood, and the title of warrior, on one who yesterday was but a boy.”

  My eyes found Tor. As though I spoke only to him, my voice still pitched loud enough for all to hear. “Yesterday, Tor of Soudan, bravely fought to protect his liege and his friends from savage foes. With his bow and keen eye, he faced down his enemy. In the battle against the Cursed Ones, Tor, brave and fierce, killed his first man.”

  The Jha’fhar crowds went wild. The yipping and screaming rose to deafening levels. Warriors galloped horses in mad circles, raising enough dust to blot out the sun. Li ceased his translation and, grabbing a galloping horse, vaulted into the saddle. With his warriors, he rode and yipped with the rest.

  In my inner circle, my announcement took a moment longer to sink in. My boys gaped in shock as Tor squirmed and blushed, still trying to hide. The stasis broke when Yuri screamed a single word.

  “Hooooraawww!”

  Together with Yuras, he all but squashed Tor into jelly, catching him into their fierce embrace. Their joy woke the others from their surprise. Witraz, Rannon, and Alun danced in circles, arms about one another, screaming at the top of their lungs. Their wolves barked and yelped, leaping about in wild abandon, not quite understanding what all the fuss was about. Left and Right grinned openly, joining the group, identical arms reaching out to clasp Tor’s neck in silent congratulation.

  Heaving Tor onto their shoulders, Yuri and Yuras took off with him into the crowd of wildly yelling and yipping Jha’fhar warriors. Rannon and Witraz ran, still yelling, toward their horses, Shadow and Joker galloping alongside, jaws wide and tongues flapping.

  Kel’Ratan shook his head, grinning. “He really did it?”

  “He did it,” I answered, my hands on my hips. “On his horse, and at a full gallop, no less. A Tongu saw him coming and thought he could kill a boy. A man, a warrior, popped him through his eye with his arrow.”

  “On his horse?” Kel’Ratan asked, his mustache failing to bristle. “At a gallop? In the eye?”

  “Must you make me repeat myself?”

  “That’s incredible,” Corwyn murmured.

  “That’s why we need a manhood ceremony. But unfortunately, we don’t have time for one.”

  Among all my boys, only Alun hadn’t raced off to grab a horse and ride around, bellowing at the top of his lungs. His quiet, still expression caught my attention more than the screams, yips and yells of the delirious crowd. Under the scrutiny of Kel’Ratan, Corwyn, Rygel and Arianne, I walked to him.

  Taking his hands, I smiled up into his blue eyes. “Well, my warrior?”

  Alun bent and quickly kissed my cheek. “Yes, my queen,” he murmured, his voice husky. “He’s worthy. I’ll fetch it myself.”

  “Do you think–” I began, hesitant, needing him to say it.

  As Rygel, Corwyn and Arianne watched in confusion, Kel’Ratan glowered with his drooping mustache smooth. He knew, as I did, that Alun must give all of his approval to my request. If he could not, or would not, we’d have to find another sword.

  Alun lowered his head. “She’d approve, Ly’Tana. She’d have liked him.”

  “Only if–”

  “I am,” Alun replied.

  “No doubts?”

  “None. He is a warrior true.”

  Dropping to his knee, he bowed over our clasped hands. Rising to his feet, he saluted me, fist to chest, and walked away into the roiling dust with Black Tongue beside him. Through the milling throngs and galloping horses, he went to retrieve Sele’s sword.

  Kel’Ratan, in uncharacteristic affection, draped his arm across my shoulders. “Sele’s blade bestowed on a street urchin,” he murmured, his grin widening. “He’s done us all proud.”

  “He has,” I replied, twisting my neck to look up at him. “He’d no fear whatsoever. He fought his panicked mare and won, sent her into battle. I doubt I could’ve made that shot.”

  “Yes, you could,” Kel’Ratan admitted. “You and maybe Alun. The rest of us?” He answered his own question with an amused snort.

  Kel’Ratan squeezed my neck with his fingers before his arm dropped, away from me and back at his side. His blue eyes narrowed as Rygel and Arianne bore down on us, Little Bull in attendance. “What’s got them so upset?”

  As I had, Kel’Ratan recognized the panic in Arianne’s magnificent eyes, in Rygel’s taut expression. They’d no luck in finding Darkhan, obviously, as he’d probably loped a league north by now. They came to me to complain about it.

  “Follow my lead,” I muttered from the side of my mouth. “Back me up, no matter how you really feel.”

  “We can’t find Darkhan anywhere,” Arianne burst out, near tears. “Maybe these people–”

  “Surely they wouldn’t have harmed him,” Rygel said, trying to reassure. “They set him down, I saw them. He was unconscious, but he’d have been fine once he woke.”

  My anger, simmering on a low fire during all our trials since Raine departed and the wolves arrived boiled over. My hand itched to smack Rygel across his face and belt Arianne over her tiny ear. Had she held the blade herself and impaled his living heart on her steel, she couldn’t have done that dear boy more harm.

  “Darkhan is fine,” I snapped, trying to keep my fury under control.

  Arianne wilted in relief, not hearing my tone. “Good, then where is he? I, they, left him–”

  “He’s on his way north,” I said, controlling that itch with an effort. “He’s gone to seek out Raine.”

  Rygel paled. He knew. He knew very well why Darkhan left us to journey far from Arianne. As far from Arianne as he could get. He turned his face away, his jaw clenching and his wheaten hair curling damply to his neck.

  Arianne, that beautiful idiot, turned on me with the fury I restrained. “Why? Why would he leave me? Why?”

  Kel’Ratan’s hand on mine kept me firmly anchored to his side when I’d have hurled my rage into Arianne’s tiny face. His firm grip halted both words and action when I couldn’t repress the urge to scream and strike. His warm strength kept me by his side, my tone sharp but under tight control.

  “You don’t get it, do you?” I half-snarled in Arianne’s startled face. “You, and you–”

  My right finger jabbed under Rygel’s pale chin, “–broke his heart. How can he stay, with you two hand-fasted under his nose? He wanted to die, damn your eyes! I convinced him to live. To live but for what? What did I ask him to live for? To see you both kissing and loving and giggling in front of him? Rygel, you did everything you could to give her all he couldn’t. You’d all the opportunities while Darkhan only watched and grieved. Arianne, you took Rygel’s presents and turned your back on his loving–love.”

  Under my savage words, Arianne paled. Tears brimmed her eyes. “I–I–” she began, strangling.

  “You knew how he loved you. You could’ve taken him aside and talked to him. You alone. Not me, not anyone else here. Without word or apology, you chose Rygel and expected Darkhan to just accept it without question.”


  I stared at the pair of them, Kel’Ratan’s hand causing mine real pain. Arianne’s hands crept to cover her mouth, her eyes wide and teary and, now, guilty. “I didn’t mean–”

  “You didn’t,” I barked. “You did. You both did. Now he’s healed, in everything except his heart. He’s also gone. Clear of the damage you caused. Perhaps now he can really be healed.”

  Arianne’s stricken, pale face puckered in anguish and despair. “Gods,” she wept, crying openly. “What have I done?”

  When I might have explained to her, at great length and high decibels, what she’d done, Kel’Ratan squeezed my hand until I thought my bones might break.

  “Perhaps you said enough, don’t you think?” he murmured out of the side of his mouth. “It’s done and over with. Time to move on.”

  Arianne’s desperate grief and Rygel’s overwhelming guilt at last moved my sucker heart. My boiling rage cooled at the pair of them, and the sharp words I still had inside my head never quite reached my tongue. I breathed deeply, the tight tension loosening its grip. Kel’Ratan didn’t relax his, however. My hand still hurt.

  “Idiot,” Bar commented.

  “Bite it,” I snapped, aloud.

  All of them stared at me as though I’d gone quite mad. Li, on his grey, dusty horse, galloped up. The beast skidded to a halt, raising yet more dirt into the air, and swung from the saddle before the hooves ceased their forward motion. His brow hiked to his hairline, he opened his mouth then shut it. He wasn’t fool enough to get in between a pair of quarrelling women.

  “He said to give you a message,” I went on.

  “A–a–” Arianne began.

  “He asked me to tell you–”

  “You understood him?” Kel’Ratan asked. “How’d this happen?”

  I glared Kel’Ratan into silence. “He said to tell you that he’ll always love you.”

  Arianne collapsed into the dirt, weeping. Despite her distress, her grief, Rygel failed to comfort her. Interesting. Rather, he stood, his face turned toward the vast desert expanse, silent, only Shardon knowing his thoughts. As usual, Shardon would say nothing.