Under the Wolf's Shadow

by A. Katie Rose

  Two more assassins slipped past my horse. I cut one Tongu’s hand from his wrist as he reached for me. He stumbled away, tripping over the corpses of his brothers, holding his injured left arm with his healthy right. The other, blinded by my dagger’s edge across his eyes, sat on a bloody corpse and wailed. Until, that was, Mikk stepped on his legs, shattering them like twigs. His wails changed into screams.

  More Tongu rushed in, closing the gaps their dead or injured mates left open. Their mutts charged the phalanx of wolves. Thunder utilized his enormous weight to crush both men and dogs under him as nimble Digger leaped and slashed, taking down one dog after another. Fleet of foot and teeth, Ghost ripped both canine and human hamstrings. Her lover Darkhan finished the task of killing them with a swift efficiency that left me gasping. Rufus reveled in his blood-lust when not less than four assassins and their hounds advanced on his beloved Arianne. Bay hide splashed with dripping red gleamed under the morning sunlight as Rufus stomped, slashed and bit with a fury few equaled.

  Thinking him easy prey, five hounds raced toward Bar. Laughing, his eagle’s beak wide, he raked his talons first left then right. The front mutts went down with throats cut so deeply their heads toppled sideways and sent the corpses canting sideways into the churned snow and earth. The rest, charging too fast to break away, met Bar’s lightning-fast griffin beak and lion hind claws that crushed dog spines while exposing white ribs. His savagery spilled entrails and guts into the already red snow.

  Slowly yet with relentless precision, Raine advanced on Tenzin. Only a small handful of tattooed hunters and fewer hounds stood between him and his prey. The man hadn’t the wisdom to flee while he could. His Shirel recognized the danger he refused to. She paced about with fangs bared, her tail puffed into a thick, black rope of angry feline fur. The sun winked off her chain collar, her cat’s eyes slitted with fear and fury. If frightened enough, she may yet abandon him to save her own precious hide. I doubted he had earned much loyalty from her, for I suspected he was a cruel master. Her loyalty to Tenzin seemed tenuous, for she half-bolted from his side. Yet, she’d return to stand by him despite all the evident dangers.

  Around them, my warriors lay about them with keen precision, urging their horses into the mass of advancing enemy. Tor, with no bolts left, swung his bow and struck his Tongu across his head. The man dropped in his tracks as Kip wrangled a hound to the bloody ground and killed it. His grey mare leaped and plunged, taking down the dogs that jumped, fangs bared, to attack her vulnerable legs. Witraz and Rannon guarded one another’s backs as their red swords cut down men by the score.

  Tongu men and dogs died, yet still more leaped into battle, swinging their favorite cudgels and swords. Trained to hunt and kill from the shadows of the night, the Tongu knew how to kill the unsuspecting, the weak, and the helpless. Their experience didn’t allow for facing their armed and ready enemy. My boys, including Tor and Corwyn, mowed them down with mounted blitz attacks with wolves at their side.

  Tongu hunters died by the score. Tongu hounds died in greater numbers. Yet, far too many assassins replaced those killed or wounded, Tongu hunters racing to fill the gaps left open by their dead or injured brothers. My boys, weary beyond belief and out of arrows, killed and killed and killed. Soon, they’d be lost under the relentless wave of the enemy.

  No longer able to remain airborne, Rygel and Oanh’ata struck the snowy, stony soil of the bluff, still locked in combat, still fighting. While Rygel’s strong jaws and rows upon rows of backward curving teeth sank into the serpent’s neck, the daemon-god’s fangs finally raked bloody gashes in his impenetrable dragon-hide. I recognized Rygel’s struggles as the weaker of the two, and knew, soon, he’d die under the stronger onslaught of the snake.

  My heart, once filled with hope and optimism, sank. We can’t win, I thought dully. We’re going to die here, in this place.

  Even Raine, with his huge size, gladiator speed and wicked fangs, fought outnumbered. Silverruff, bleeding from the bites of numerous wounds, staggered and limped, his fangs bared not with rage and hate but with resignation. He knew very well he was beaten, yet he’d go down beside his Chosen One, fighting to the last.

  “You have only two arrows, bitch,” a voice hissed.

  I came to myself, observing three Tongu advancing on me, clubs at the ready.

  As Bar already engaged three hounds and two Tongu, he could hardly help me. Tashira, too, had been driven from my side to protect Arianne and Tuatha from five hunters and hounds. Rufus, his ears flat, kicked and plunged, striking anything that came near. Arianne clung bravely to his back, one hand tangled in his black mane, the other clasping a snarling Tuatha tight to her belly. My protecting wolves fought more hounds than they could slay. Clumped together, Darkhan, Ghost, Thunder and Digger set tails to tails, facing a ring of dripping fangs and a savagery they had little hope of defeating.

  Casually, I sheathed my dripping sword and shrugged. “So you expect what? My immediate surrender?”

  “Yessss.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  I whipped both arrows from my quiver at the same time, nocking them as the Tongu raced forward, their hands reaching. Mikk reared in response, his front hooves boxing the air. From a dim distance, I heard their curses as they dodged his deadly hooves and danced around him. I leveled my bow, not vertical, but horizontal. I drew back until the razor-sharp heads struck yew.

  Each arrow struck a Tongu full in the face, knocking them both to the ground flat on their backs. The third, seizing his chance, dashed within reach. This is too easy. As I spun my sword into my fist, Mikk acted for me. Whipping sideways with the speed of a striking snake, he bit deep into the man’s shoulder. Under his anguished howls and feeble attempts to beat him with his cudgel, Mikk lifted him off his feet. He snapped his head hard right, sending the hunter hard into our still blazing campfire. I didn’t watch him burn, yet I heard his screams.

  “Incoming!” I heard someone shout above the din.

  I caught the flash of a creature streaking fast past my face, my eyes not quick enough to follow it. Confused, I turned my head in time to see the Tongu front melt under the wings and talons of a griffin. It’s heavy wings beating hard, the griffin hovered, slashing and striking with deadly precision. Razor-sharp talons slashed both left and right, maiming and killing Tongu hunters. Banking up and around, it used its momentum to strike again and again with lethal efficiency.

  Attacked from above, the assassins and their dogs flinched back, looking up and not forward. A few arrows shot upward in a feeble attempt to kill the creature, but their bolts flew wide of their mark. The Tongu and their whining, fearful hounds made a final, fatal mistake. In trying to protect themselves from fury on wings, they clustered together in a tight bunch. That left not just their flanks exposed, but they never gave thought to the weapons my boys rode.

  That gave my boys the edge they needed. Using the combined weight of ten horses and riders, plus Shardon and all his Tarbane strength, they hit the tangled knot dead center. Tongu bodies burst everywhere, their bodies, alive, wounded or dead, falling under the hooves of their mounts. Warhorses stomped, kicked and bit at will, crushing bones and lives. Those few that still put up a fight died under anything with a sharp point stabbing downward into vulnerable faces, chests or throats.

  The griffin banked around for another slash attack, lining up where it was most needed. The assassins who tried to rally and protect one another died under its raptor talons.

  That can’t be Bar, I thought, haphazard. Is it?

  A half-glance up showed me my error. That wasn’t Bar banking around for another strike. This griffin was smaller, more trim than Bar. Its lion coat was a darker, an almost bronze hue compared to Bar’s tawny coat. Athletic, turning on a wingtip, its speed in flight left Bar gasping. It flew, screaming, inarticulate, into the face of the enemy, striking with talons, lion claws and gaping beak. Men and dogs flinched back, dove for cover, or died under the onslaught of those terrible talons.r />
  I glanced, a swift, nanosecond glance over my shoulder. Bar stood on the earth, gazing upward, his beak wide in a gape of absolute astonishment.

  In the midst of the battle, now turned in our favor, Raine halted his attack on Tenzin. Changing clothes, he stood in the midst of his enemies in his human form, no weapon in his fist. I caught my breath as he gazed skyward in rapt adoration. His face effused with love, he grinned up at the griffin who yet scattered the men and dogs lined against my boys.

  “Feria!” he screamed.

  At the sound of his voice, the griffin banked around, white-feathered wings spread to their fullest and bloody beak parted. I watched, my heart failing to beat, as the beautiful creature slashed several Tongu in its immediate flight path. It’s talons left them lying on the bloody snow, helpless and bleeding out like slaughtered lambs. With few enemies about to threaten it, the griffin cupped huge wings to land with incredible grace a mere rod from Raine.

  As my heart stilled in my chest, the griffin raised a taloned foot with its eagle’s beak wide with laughter. Raine’s very human hand clasped it, his fingers tangled amid the sharp claws. Like a knot, human and griffin hands met and grasped.

  Raine’s arms grabbed it about its neck, pulling it towards him as the strange griffin’s taloned and deadly foot clasped him about his back. They hugged so tightly, Raine’s body was buried under a cloak of feathers. They appeared to me like lovers meeting after a long time spent apart.

  “That’s his girlfriend.”

  Tashira’s voice in my ear spun me about, Mikk wheeling on his haunches. “What?”

  Tashira’s amused eyes cocked toward Raine’s reunion with the strange griffin. “Feria’s his girlfriend.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Would I do that?”

  My mouth dry, I finally realized Raine’s dilemma. He loved me, yet he also loved a–griffin. Torn in two, he knew he could never love her as a mate should or could. Yet, she loved him as I did. Here again, we faced the same quandary that Darkhan faced. Loving one not of his own kind. My jealousy suddenly collapsed in onto itself, dying and deflating at the same time.

  “He saved her life,” Tashira said. “In turn, she saved his. Now they’re bonded, so to speak.”

  “That’s his–”

  “Girlfriend. I told you not to worry, didn’t I?”

  “Did you?”

  Numb, I watched as Raine leaned back and cupped her beak with his hands. I knew he spoke to her, but I couldn’t hear his words. Feria laughed, her beak high and open, her wings flared. Her right front talon still held him lightly to her, her razor-tipped raptor’s foot wide and safe. I had embraced Bar many times in this same fashion.

  Alun galloped his stallion toward me, the beast leaping the dead and wounded with ease. Black Tongue loped easily at his side, his dark tongue lolling halfway to his knees. “Your Highness?”

  I grinned, still stunned, at his saucy, blood-streaked face, his laughing, careless eyes. “Can you believe this?”

  “She’s just what we needed. An aerial assault.”

  I glanced around at the many Tongu and ugly mutts running rampant across the bluff, shouting to one another, regaining some organization. Tenzin, his nose ring and blond hair flashing under the morning sun, still commanded. He called out his orders, rallying the survivors. Under Kel’Ratan, my boys also regrouped, readying for a final charge. Not a one of them didn’t offer grim smiles as they readied themselves for the attack.

  Feria took wing again, Raine standing with Silverruff at his side, watching her wheel and bank over his head. She called down to him, something that held humor and love in it, if I were any judge of griffin speech, before veering away to line up for another slash and slay run.

  Raine went wolf. His massive black body wheeled, Silverruff with him. He howled as he ran, calling. Little Bull, Nahar, White Fang, Lightfoot and Dire broke ranks and raced across the meadow. They caught up with him easily, tongues lolling. I didn’t have to know what he planned. Tenzin saw them coming. He shouted once, calling his own protectors to him. Ten, a dozen, assassins and their hounds ran to group loosely around him.

  Rygel’s battle with the daemon looked almost over. Rygel lay under the daemon, his dragon’s jaws wide, forked tongue sliding from between ranks of sharp teeth. His wings flapped fitfully, as he tried to rise and heave the serpent off. Yet, the winged daemon had wrapped itself around his dragon body and slowly squeezed the life from him. My heart lurched in my chest.

  He was dying. If he didn’t get help soon, the daemon would kill him.

  “I should get back,” Alun said, glancing at the opposing sides readying for the plunge into battle.

  “Yes,” I replied. “Go.”

  “Ly’Tana.”

  ‘Twas Arianne’s voice, raised in sharp concern. “I think I need some help here.”

  Wheeling Mikk, I found at least a dozen Tongu sneaking forward as we gazed raptly at the griffin-meets-wolf-lover saga. Three, no four, hunters and mutts had encircled Rufus. Ears pinned, he half-reared, striking out with lethal intent. Arianne’s balance slipped. She hung on grimly, her fist tangled in Rufus’s mane, but Tuatha’s weight was almost too much. She’d fall off in seconds.

  Digger, Darkhan and Ghost immediately bolted to protect her. Bar leaped at the same instant Tashira plunged forward. I had no more arrows, but my sword and Mikk might be enough. With Alun at my side, we charged into the fray, killing at will. Bar took down four on his own, leaving a mere three for Tashira to kill. Black Tongue and Digger, side by side, killed their hounds. I noticed four, maybe five, hounds desert their masters and flee across the bluff, tails tucked. I suspected they’d had enough.

  Rufus reared again, and this time Arianne did fall. Her mild shriek was cut off by her sharp grunt as she hit the ground. Tuatha fell on top of her, puppy legs sprawled over her tiny body. I almost laughed at the comical sight, but kept my humor behind my teeth. On the ground, she was incredibly vulnerable.

  Rufus spun and kicked outward, killing two more Tongu, his huge body shielding his tiny mistress. I sank my sword deep into the throat of yet another who thought he might brain Arianne with his club.

  Around me, the fight tapered off as the Tongu died under the talons, fangs, hooves and swords of the rest of us. More hounds, masterless, fled for their lives, racing across the bloody snow to vanish. Apparently, their loyalty died with the Tongu.

  “That’s the last,” Tashira said, chasing a wounded hound across the bloody snow before killing it with his massive hoof to its spine.

  Bar, too, had loped away in pursuit of a Tongu who decided his courage didn’t matter as much as his life did. I didn’t watch Bar kill him. Instead, I slid off Mikk’s sweaty back and bent over a disgusted Arianne. Off his horse, Alun hurried with me, Black Tongue at his side.

  Shoving Tuatha off her, Arianne staggered up, clumsily regaining her balance. Taking her hand, I helped her up. “Are you all right?”

  “Of course,” she snapped. “Dammit.” She brushed snow from her leathers, scowling.

  I chuckled. “I think I should be giving you lessons on how to fight, little cat.”

  “And ride,” she added tersely.

  “You’ll be fine?” Alun asked me, anxious to return to the battle. Black Tongue’s tail waved, his bloody jaws wide in a happy grin.

  “I’ll get her back on her horse,” I said. “Go on.”

  With a respectful, if hasty, salute, Alun turned, his stallion and wolf following. I heard his quick steps crunching the snow.

  Rufus obliged me by stepping up, anxious for his beloved Arianne to mount. Reaching as high as she could, Arianne tried to grasp his mane. She was too small, he too big. I bent over, cupping my hands, offering them for Arianne’s tiny foot. Her head spun over my shoulder, her braid slapping my cheek.

  “Behind you!” she screamed.

  I dropped her foot and wheeled.

  A Tongu stood a mere five rods from me, his bow nocked and the arrow p
ointed straight at my chest. At that range, he could hardly miss. I’d not the time to even think, where did he come from? much less react.

  The hunter relaxed his fingers, releasing the arrow.

  At the same instant, a heavy body knocked me sideways. I fell, a man’s solid body on top of mine. My hair in my face blinded me, my breath crushed from my lungs. Gasping, I swept my hair from my face in time to see and hear Black Tongue’s inarticulate cry of hate and rage. He hit the Tongu with all the strength of a charging bull and took him down. The man never had time to scream.

  I sat up, rolling Alun into my arms.

  “Alun!” I cried, swiping his strawberry hair from his face. “Alun.”

  The arrow struck his heart. Dark purple blood oozed up from the shaft sunk deep into his chest. His taut skin over his face waxed paler than pale, his flesh clammy and deathly cold. His body lapsed into deep shock: if he didn’t get help soon, he’d die within moments.

  “Rygel!” I screamed. “Help me. Rygel.”

  I needed Rygel’s magic. I needed his healing power. Rygel can save him, I know he can. He could snatch anyone from the brink of death. He brought me back from the other side. “Rygel.”

  Half-blinded by tears and my hair, I saw Rygel still locked in mortal combat with the snake, losing his own battle for life. Rygel and his magic couldn’t help.

  Raine. Raine can heal. Raine can save him. Raine had the power and the magic. “Raine!” I screamed, my throat scraped raw by the force of my cry. “Raine, damn you!”

  Yet, Raine fought under the combined pack of Tongu and hounds, ripping, slaying, ever striving for Tenzin. Shirel had long vanished. Through the veil of my tears, I saw Raine bring Tenzin down, saw his blond hair splashed with his own blood, saw Raine’s massive jaws bite deep into not only Tenzin’s throat but half his face as well.

  “Raine,” I sobbed. “Help me.”

  “No.”

  Alun’s weak right hand cupped my cheek.

  I held him in my arms, his head in my lap, hard against my belly. “Shush, Alun, my love. Shush, I’ll get you help, I promise. Hush now and be still. You’ll be all right.”