Beyond them, Kel’Ratan rode with Rannon, Left and Right side by side just behind, with Yuri, Yuras and Tor bringing up the rear. All the wolves trotted at the horses’ heels or flanks, my own Thunder and Digger under each of my stirrups. Silverruff, on Raine’s other side, glanced up at me with concern as he no doubt caught the sharpness of my tone. For all intents and purposes, Raine and I were alone.
“My own people are afraid of me.”
Confused again, Raine glanced over his shoulder, twisting slightly on Tashira’s broad, bare back. He turned back to me, quirking a brow.
“Afraid?” he said slowly. “They’re worried, certainly.”
I tried not to show the hurt, the sting of their suspicions, the grief Kel’Ratan’s absence caused my heart. With my head high, I refused to glance back as Raine had. The tears stinging my eyes never fell. “Kel’Ratan has never, ever, ridden anywhere but at my side,” I gritted through a tight jaw. “I see the gestures, the crossed fingers to ward off evil. I hear their comments when they think I’m asleep.”
“Hey,” Raine said softly, reaching across to take my hand. “They’re just spooked a bit.”
“It’s been more than a week,” I gritted.
“Let them work it out for themselves,” he murmured.
“What’s wrong with them?” I fumed. “I’m still the same person for gods’ sake.”
Rubbing my knuckles with his calloused thumb, Raine smiled into my eyes. Whether by his design or Tashira’s timely intervention, Tashira suddenly walked so close to Mikk that Digger yelped in outrage and ducked out from under his great hooves. My leg, crushed against Tashira’s massive shoulder, went numb but I barely felt it.
Raine kissed my cheek, then my lips, urging a fiery heat into every nerve ending. Despite my hurt, my anguish, when he kissed me like that, when he gazed at me with those strange eyes, I forgot my boys even existed. I leaned into him, into his kiss, my tongue tangled, toying with his.
“Don’t sweat it,” Bar advised, winging over and banking around. I heard the whoosh of his mighty wings and his wake sweeping my hair around us both. “They’ll get over it and go back to disrespecting you as they always have.”
“Don’t worry,” Tashira added. “All will be made right, in time.”
“I wish I could believe you,” I murmured against Raine’s smiling lips.
“Believe him,” Raine whispered, his breath hot on my cheek. “They have to decide for themselves if you’re truly divine.”
I bolted upright, my numb leg kicking Mikk away from Tashira, forcing him into a swift dance to avoid treading on Thunder. “What?” I squeaked.
Raine chuckled, his hand reclaiming mine. “They fear you’re not just Beloved of the Gods, but a goddess in your own right.”
Floundering, unable to speak past my shock, I sat Mikk, cold inside my warm furs and stared at him. I think my lips moved, but I couldn’t be certain.
“Think about it,” Raine went on. “You ended the ghoul attack by touching each one and sending its soul back where it belonged. Your people are extremely superstitious, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“Um.”
“They’ve come to the conclusion you’re not divine,” Tashira said. “Within a day or so, things will return to normal.”
“How do you know that?” I asked.
Tashira tossed his head. “I hear more than Raine does.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.”
“You don’t either.”
“I do so.”
“Donkey.”
“Cur.”
“Enough,” I cried, finally laughing.
“Left and Right are already itching to follow you everywhere,” Tashira added. “They’ve decided they don’t like being away from you and don’t much care if you’re divine or not.”
I scowled across at him, at the amusement in his huge, liquid eyes. “Now I know you’re lying,” I said. “You can’t know that because they never speak.”
“Oh, they speak,” Tashira said smugly. “Quite clearly, in fact.”
“Then how–”
“They speak the Tarbane-understood language of the body.”
“The–” I began.
“Bloody showoff,” Raine muttered.
“Wolves aren’t smart enough to understand that particular language,” Tashira added.
Wolfish growls rose from on all sides.
“Try it,” Tashira answered genially, in answer to their obvious threats. “Come on, I dare you. I double-dog dare you.”
Whatever their threats had been, Silverruff sighed and declined to challenge him, while Thunder and Digger grumbled and trotted beside Mikk again with tails and heads low.
“He’s right,” Bar said, winging past. “The twins keep watching you. They keep twitching, like they want to kick their horses up to ride behind Mikk.”
I sneaked a quick peek over my shoulder. By damn, if they both weren’t correct. Left and Right were watching me, their dark eyes no longer anxious, but determined. As though I’d whistled, they simultaneously reined their stallions to the right and broke into a swift gallop. Passing a startled Kel’Ratan and the oblivious Rygel and Arianne, they cantered the distance to rein in and trot at Mikk’s tail. Dire and Lightfoot loped with them, tongues lolling, their slanted eyes as strangely intent as the twins’ own.
I grinned. “About bloody time,” I said. “I’ve missed you boys.”
In unison, they bowed over their pommels, identical sweet smiles curving their lips. Pale pink rose from their necks to their cheeks in adorable twin blushes.
“I feel ever so much better now,” I went on, “knowing I’ve you two watching over me again.”
Dark eyes dropped to their saddles and remained there. As if studying their reins was the most important occupation in the world.
“Looks like Kel’Ratan might’ve also had a change of heart,” Raine murmured.
I didn’t look around this time. I heard the soft thudding of his bay’s hooves in the snow, heard the sharp snort as he reined in his stallion on the far left of Thunder. I didn’t trust myself not to lash out; the pain and grief his absence caused me reared its ugly head in my heart. Of all people, Kel’Ratan should’ve known better.
In my determination to ignore him, I watched our path ahead, the trail left behind by Witraz and Alun meandering upward and passing between two short hills. Our gradual climb to higher elevations meant fewer and fewer trees, scrub bushes and grass. More rocks, steeper hills, jagged cliffs and an increased amount of snowfall met our ascent. Our horses already lost precious weight on this trek and would certainly lose more before the end.
Making sure Kel‘Ratan noticed me ignoring him, I tossed my chin at Corwyn over my shoulder. “Corwyn doesn’t seem himself.”
“He’s not,” Raine replied, not even glancing back.
“You know what’s wrong?”
He nodded, smiling sadly. “He’s feeling his age. He’s afraid he’ll let everyone down in a crisis.”
“That’s silly,” I blurted, without thinking. “He’s a great fighter and a true warrior.”
“He’s that and more,” Raine said. “He feels his body let him down that night. He fears he can no longer keep up with us youngsters.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Did he tell you all this?”
Raine smiled. “No.”
When I opened my mouth to berate him, Raine placed a finger over my lips, effectively shushing me. “I didn’t snoop, I swear. I know Corwyn.”
I huffed, wanting to disbelieve him, yet I knew what a poor liar Raine was. He couldn’t lie his way out of a wet sack. Taking his finger from my lips with a smile and a wink, he nodded toward the mountains to our north.
“Snow tonight,” he said.
Sure enough, the high peaks above had vanished under a thick cover of grey, swirling mist. Clouds rolled down their huge shoulders, creeping slowly toward us, inexorable in their advance. Within an hour, the sun would set early as it had for
the past few weeks. Useable daylight had become a valuable commodity up here where winter solstice lay a month or so away.
“I see a viable camping spot,” Raine went on, as though my silence was the answer he needed. “Under that bluff there, we’ll have some shelter from the wind and snow.”
“The storm won’t be very bad,” Tashira added. “Not as bad as that blizzard, but it’ll drop a few inches of snow and be colder than Brutal’s soul.”
Raine exchanged a wry grin with me and stroked Tashira’s heavy neck. “Your weather sense is, to say the least, interesting.”
I glanced down at Digger. “You’re fast. Be a dear and run ahead. Fetch the others.”
Digger woofed a quick reply and hit a gallop within a stride. He vanished behind a wake of fluffy snow kicked up by his flying paws.
“We’ll need the time to set up camp,” Kel’Ratan said, his tone subdued. He read me very well, that one. I continue to pretend he didn’t exist, for he deserved it.
Raine’s bluff not only provided some protection from the wind, but also an icy stream that burped and bumbled its way downhill before falling off a nearby cliff to crash on the rocks below. Relatively level, it also proved to be a wide meadow with more grass than I might expect at this altitude. The horses and mules would feast tonight.
Raine slid off Tashira’s bare back, his arm around his heavy neck. “Game will be taking shelter about now,” he said. “The wolves will have trouble hunting.”
“We can spare something, tonight,” I said. “They can hunt in the morning, when the locals will be stirring. Don’t you think?”
Raine looked long at Silverruff. The wolf leader shook his entire body and yawned before sitting down at Raine’s feet. He gazed up at his Chosen One with frank, open adoration. Raine grinned, tickling the wolf’s jaw.
“He said they aren’t that hungry, since they hunted yesterday and filled their bellies. They’ll be fine.”
“They may not be hungry,” Bar declared, circling low overhead. “But I am. Back in a bit.”
Catching an updraft, he rose higher and higher before winging his way south. I watched until he was but a dot against the bright blue sky.
Down from Shardon’s back, Tuatha ran to greet me as I dropped lightly down from my own saddle. Mikk nudged my arm affectionately. I removed his bridle and rubbed his itchy ears before bending to pick up Tuatha. His busy tongue wet my neck and cheeks, the icy mountain air chilling my flesh before he finished.
Arianne at his side and Rufus’s reins in his fist, Rygel joined us. Shardon left his spot at Rygel’s shoulder to bump noses with his black brother.
“Our good luck with the weather had to end, I suppose,” Rygel said lightly. “Our luck thus far has been not just good, but incredible.”
“Tashira says it won’t be very bad,” Raine said, accepting the curry I handed him and brushed Tashira’s heavy coat.
I eyed the steep, jagged peaks above us, the sheer cliff faces grey and white, already buried in deep snow. What could possibly live up there? How will we eat? How will our horses climb those? “Yes,” I said softly. “We’ve been lucky. However, the worst is yet to come.”
Leading Mikk out of the crowd, I put Tuatha down to gambol about in the snow and stalk a spiny bush with the ferocity only a puppy could create. As I removed his saddle, the sound of galloping hooves heralded the return of Alun and Witraz. I glanced up, examining their expressions, half-fearing they’d found trouble ahead. Their grinning faces and laughing eyes not only informed me they had met no trouble, but that their own fears about my possible divinity had also ended. Things were indeed returning to normal.
Digger raced ahead, refraining from jumping on me with an effort. His tongue lolled and his brown eyes glowed bright as he sat at my side. I hugged him and kissed his muzzle, burrowing my cold hands into his warm fur.
“You’re the best,” I murmured, fondling his ears.
Turning, I found Tuatha had decided his bush was too dangerous and now stalked Mikk’s thick tail. I knew immediately Mikk didn’t like the fierce attention his tail engendered. His black-tipped ears lay flat and he raised his right hind hoof to kick the offender. That offender was far too young to read equine irritation and stood in dire peril of being seriously hurt.
“Tuatha,” I snapped. “Leave off.”
He raised his head, blue eyes wide and hurt at my reprimand. However, he ceased his stalking mode and Mikk relaxed a fraction.
“Play with Digger,” I said, my tone lighter. “He needs a lesson in stalking his prey.”
At Digger’s insulted expression, I laughed and hugged him again. “Go on,” I murmured in his ear. “I need you to keep him out of trouble.”
Digger licked my ear and promptly tackled Tuatha. The big pup answered with sharp teeth latched onto Digger’s sensitive ear. Digger shook him off with little effort and galloped off into the snow. Tuatha, growling ferociously, ran in hot pursuit. I stoked Mikk’s bony face, watching them run and lunge at one another, tails high and wagging. The big wolf let the small wolf win every time. So enamored in watching them, I hadn’t noticed Arianne led Rufus near until she spoke.
“They adore you, you know.”
Startled, I glanced up. “Who?”
Arianne gestured around the industrious meadow. “The wolves, of course.”
The wolves, of course, were busy getting in the way of the camp building. Joker laughed and constantly tripped Witraz as he unpacked a mule and set a rolled up tent carefully to the side. The tent landed with a thump in the snow and Witraz cursed roundly, his arm pin-wheeling as he fought to maintain his balance and his feet. Joker laughed as Witraz glared.
Little Bull sat with wolfish dignity as Rygel unsaddled Shardon, Rygel speaking over his shoulder to both of them.
Nahar stood, paws buried in snow, with his tail wagging as Kel’Ratan unsaddled his own bay stallion, ignoring him the same way Corwyn ignored White Fang. Both wolves seemed to understand them more than I ever could. Neither felt hurt, surprise, nor grief at their evident neglect.
Left and Right stumbled over Lightfoot and Dire as they went about their duties, those wolves enjoying a brotherly laugh as they deliberately stepped in their way. Alun dropped his saddle in the snow and, with a lightning quick tackle, brought Black Tongue down. The wolf wiggled and laughed under Alun’s weight, his bared fangs gently biting his shoulder. Yuri and Yuras roundly cursed Scatters Them and Warrior Dog for grabbing hold of their bridles and decamping with them. Tor and Kip wrestled in the snow, the patient grey mare still saddled and bridled, yet uncared for.
I glanced around as Darkhan and Ghost sat down, side by side, watching me with avid yellow and brown eyes. Thunder, easily my height while sitting on his haunches awaited my attention and affection with patience. With Digger occupied, he knew his time would come.
“I don’t really know why,” I said. “I’m not very wolfish.”
“You are,” she answered. “More than you know.”
I couldn’t help it. I grinned and threw my arms around Thunder, trying to throw him down in a savage tackle as Alun had Black Tongue. Of course, I’d neither the weight nor the strength. Thunder went down under me anyway, laughing and happy, my body atop his. I gently bit his ear, my hands strangling his thick neck and heard his whine of capitulation.
“Easy there,” Raine said from above me. “You’ll hurt the poor lad.”
As I sprawled in an unseemly fashion across my wolf’s huge, furry body, I kissed every part of his face I could. “I just wish I could understand your language,” I murmured into his ear.
“Perhaps one day you will,” Raine said, his heavy hand on my shoulder lifting me up without effort. “But meanwhile, there’s work to be done.”
Feigning a huff, I glared at him as I arranged my clothing to suit me. “You dare order me around, sir wolf?”
Catching my chin in one huge hand, Raine chuckled and kissed my lips. “You bet your delectable, tiny ass.”
“A real g
entleman doesn’t mention a lady’s backside,” I commented primly.
He rubbed his nose with mine. “I don’t recall ever claiming that particular title.”
After kissing me again, he firmly turned me around and swatted me on that very ass. “Come, Your High-handedness,” he said. “The storm is moving faster than we are.”
Blowing him a kiss, I finished untacking Mikk. After a hasty curry, I sent him off to graze with the others. The mules, unpacked and cared for, were hobbled and also set to munch the high meadow grass. A few ambled to the stream to drink, as did no few wolves. ‘Twas one of many late, winter afternoons like any other we had encountered on this trip.
Yet, up here wood had grown scarce. Arianne and I ventured far and wide for the dead, dry chunks we needed to survive the night. Even the wolves helped, digging up dead branches and heavy sticks to carry into camp and deposit on the piles. Ghost wagged her tail and grinned every time she passed me with a chunk of wood in her mouth, a laden Darkhan trotting proudly at her side.
Despite Raine’s prediction, the storm held off until just after dark. As we finished our supper and the designated clean-up crew started their chores, the first flurries fell in light swirls. Above, the clouds concealed the stars, the white flakes light against the deep grey twilight. The image reminded me of a veil of tears, a thick shroud across the heavens.
I huddled inside Raine’s massive arms, feeling a thread of disquiet run through my nerves. Though the wind hadn’t picked up nor had the temperature dropped, I felt cold. I shivered from deep inside, as though bitter ice set up housekeeping in my bones.
“Are you sure this storm isn’t a big one?” I asked.
Raine nuzzled my neck. “Quite sure. Why?”
I tried a shrug, which in truth was a twitch of my muscles, confined as I was by Raine’s sheer bulk. “I don’t know.”
He leaned away from me, peering into my eyes. “Is something wrong?”
Again I twitched, and again I said, “I don’t know.”
Alarmed, Kel’Ratan and Rygel rose from their places on the far side of our primary fire, past Bar’s immense bulk in the center of the three. “Do you sense something, Princess?” Rygel asked.
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