Of Wolf And Witch

by S. A. McGarey

  “As a matter of fact, yes I could do those things,” Ravenna confessed. “But you’re the professional monster hunter here. Haven’t you killed one of these things before?

  “No, I haven’t. Very few have gone toe to toe with one and lived to tell about it. I’ve fought one before and very nearly killed it, but they’re powerful. Their fire breath is hot enough to melt steel and sear the flesh off of your body. My modest armor pieces nearly never made it out of that fight, not to mention I had to craft a new sword after my last encounter with one. I had made an elixir of frost that I managed to get down the beasts throat, flask and all, but it wasn’t enough. I fled the battle only managing to wound him. I barely escaped with my life. So, no, I am unsure that I can beat him alone, but with your help, we can bring him down.”

  “You willingly ask for the help of a witch?” Ravenna was taken aback.

  “Yes, I’m asking for your help,” Duncan confirmed.

  Ravenna couldn’t believe that she was considering this. She was not a fighter, at least not in her mind. Still, Duncan willingly asked for her help… for the help of a witch. He despised witches, so she knew that to ask for the help of one would have been unheard of for him. He didn’t sound scared of the Fire Drake, but rather he sounded almost certain that he would die if he went up against it alone. Ravenna didn’t know how this would end, but she knew they would fight together and maybe, just maybe, they would bring down the Fire Drake together.

  They continued to follow the cart of Blacksteel until it reached a stopping point. The two dwarves turned and started the long walk back to civilization. Duncan and Ravenna stayed in the dark depths, waiting to come face to face with the creature Duncan spoke of.

  A fire sparked from Ravenna’s left hand. It was as if she held a fireball in her very palm, yet her flesh did not burn. The firelight illuminated the darkness, casting Duncan’s shadow on the wall. A growl came from the darkness ahead. Duncan listened and watched. He could hear the Fire Drake trying to scare them off. He could see the movement in the dark. While he couldn’t see the form or color of the beast, he knew it was there, waiting for him. He took a step forward, drawing Black Ice from its scabbard.

  The growl in the darkness came closer, and teeth glinted by the light of the fire. Duncan gripped his blade as he came face to face with the Fire Drake. By the light of Ravenna’s flame, he could see it clearly enough. The body was long and very large. This Fire Drake looked well fed. Its skin was hard, rigid, and cracked from the heat that dwelled within. Its eyes were black as coal, in contrast to the rest of him, which glowed orange like a setting sun. This was particularly true of its belly, which was filled with fire. The belly was translucent, with the orange color of the fire’s light passing through the skin. It crawled towards Duncan and looked ready to either cook him alive or swallow him whole.

  Ravenna thought fast. She knew Duncan needed her help here. First and foremost, they needed to see what they were doing. She doused the fire in her palm and what replaced it was a magical light, conjured up by Ravenna. She jutted her hand towards the ceiling and the light left her hand, sticking to the rock ceiling above them. As long as Ravenna kept her concentration, the light would shine, allowing Duncan to see the beast and strike true.

  Duncan swung his mighty blade at the monster and sliced deep into its skin. The monster bled and cried out in anguish before chomping at Duncan. He had injured the beast but seemed only to succeed in making it angrier. It growled deeply before the growl became a roar. Duncan needed an edge. He needed Ravenna.

  Ravenna stood watching the battle. Duncan would strike and then roll away. The Fire Drake would torch the ground where Duncan stood only a moment before. Duncan could cut the beast, but would never slay it at this rate. Duncan had mentioned how he fought one before, about how he used an elixir of cold to catch the beast off guard. Seeing the orange flame in its belly told her that if the fire were to be doused, then perhaps the Fire Drake would be at a disadvantage. She ran towards the orange-tinted lizard, ice forming in her hands.

  Duncan was starting to tire from the constant motion of the battle. Monsters in Rivania were tough, but the Fire Drake was among the toughest to take down without help. He hoped Ravenna would come to his aid. The light she produced was a good start, but he needed more help than a simple light in the darkness. His faith wasn’t high though. He dragged her along on this mission. He had threatened to end her life if she didn’t help. Why would she choose to help him now? Duncan pondered this as he tried to cut deeper into the Fire Drake’s hide. ‘What good is a witch to me?’ Duncan thought to himself. Just then, as the thought finished forming, a spear of ice struck the monstrous lizard in the abdomen. It writhed in pain and roared ferociously. Duncan turned to see Ravenna, surrounded by ice as if the air around her was transformed into a pure blizzard.

  The frigid air around Ravenna was growing colder, but it did not affect her. It merely served to cause ice to form. Spears of ice glided around her, and her hands no longer looked like flesh and blood, but rather crystalline formations similar to human hands. She no longer walked but floated on the polar air surrounding her. Her speed picked up and she rushed the Fire Drake, which had forgotten about Duncan, and focused solely on Ravenna.

  The spears of pure ice impaled the beast from every direction as Ravenna circled the great lizard. Still, despite the numerous ice spikes jutting out from its body, the Fire Drake did not give in. The icicles were cold enough that the Fire Drake did not bleed. The blood simply froze at each wound. Ravenna noted that the legends of Fire Drakes having fire in their veins must have been simple exaggerations. It was flesh and blood, despite the fire in its belly. And a flesh and blood creature could be killed.

  Duncan lunged at the creature, driving Black Ice deep into the beast’s torso. Removing the blade, he then rolled under the creature, still preoccupied with Ravenna’s icy assault, and slit it across the belly. Heat radiated from the laceration and the edge of Black Ice began to deform slightly as if melting. The heat in the gut of the Fire Drake was hot enough to melt Blacksteel. This made the creature dangerous. Duncan needed to end the fight quickly. He looked to Ravenna, hoping she would get the hint.

  She did.

  Ravenna conjured all the frost she could manage and hurled it all towards the Fire Drake. The arctic winds she produced poured down the Fire Drake’s throat, quelling the fire within. The Fire Drake staggered, trying to roar, but could not manage it as its throat was freezing. “Now!” Ravenna shouted.

  Duncan saw his opportunity. With Ravenna quenching the flames within, he wouldn’t get roasted alive. Now he could get in close and finish the fight. Roaring with all his might, he swung Black Ice at the neck of the great beast, severing the head from the body. The head dropped to the floor a few feet away from the body, which had slumped down to the ground. The heat of the Fire Drake’s flames died out and the body was cold from Ravenna’s frost. The beast of Hammerforge was dead, and Duncan and Ravenna still stood, for now at least.

  Further into the depths, Duncan could see something dimly through his wolven eyes. Without a word, he ventured in until he reached the object that had piqued his interest. Ravenna followed, confused at what Duncan was doing.

  What Duncan had seen was now clear under the light Ravenna still devoted some of her focus to. What looked like a melted pile of slag turned out to be more upon examination.

  “Blacksteel,” Duncan observed.

  “This is what became of the deposits that were sent this way?” Ravenna asked.

  “Seems so. Looks like the Fire Drake melted it all down.

  “This is how they were destroying the Blacksteel, then?”

  “Seems that way. The witch must have known that the Fire Drake was dwelling down here. She used it to her advantage to have huge amounts of Blacksteel destroyed beyond saving.” Duncan confirmed.

  The sound of clapping filled the silence after Duncan spoke. “Well done, wolf. You have slain my favorite pet. I fear, however, that it
will be the last thing you do.”

  A woman walked into the monster’s former den, draped in scarlet, and wearing a hood. She extended out her hand, and Duncan dropped to his knees, suffering from great pain radiating throughout his body. His muscles and tendons felt like they were being pulled apart.

  “Witch,” Duncan uttered through gritted teeth.

  Ravenna stepped between Duncan and the scarlet woman. She recognized her as the Underking’s advisor, directing from the shadows. Duncan had been right. She was a witch. More than that, she knew Duncan. She called him ‘wolf’. Surely, this scarlet-robed woman was the Selene. Ravenna extended her hand, ready to fight. “Break the spell, or I end you. Right here, right now.”

  The scarlet woman was taken aback by Ravenna’s move. “You would defend him? A half-man who abhors your kind?”

  Ravenna stood resolute. She didn’t exactly know why she took such actions. But she knew that this ran deeper than just survival. She wasn’t defending Duncan for herself. She was doing it for him and did not understand why. She pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind. She pushed the witch back with her magic. “Let him go.”

  “You stand with the wolf, and you shall die with the wolf.” The witch spoke. A jet of flame extended from her outstretched hand.

  Almost instinctively, Ravenna shot a cone of frost from her hand, clashing with the witch’s flame. The two were evenly matched, neither one gaining ground on the other.

  “I remember you,” the witch spoke. “We battled in Ebonwood. You drove me out from those trees and set me on the path here. I have grown stronger day by day, and now I will have revenge.” The witch conjured lightning from her fingertips and set her sights on Ravenna.

  Ravenna thought quickly and also harnessed the power of storms. Lightning crackled between the two witches. Duncan’s pain subsided as the witch shifted her focus to Ravenna. He stood but knew he couldn’t interfere. If he tried, the lightning would surely surge through him. Ravenna focused more as the witch gained ground. She pushed back, holding her at bay.

  “Why. Won’t. You. Die?” The witch angrily gritted her teeth. She took all of her focus and pushed it into a surge of lightning. Ravenna was being pushed back. In a single instant, she stopped conjuring the lightning, and instead focused on absorbing the lightning strikes from the witch. She held on as much as she could, but there was more power than she could bear. Duncan looked on and knew he had to act in some way.

  He jumped in front of Ravenna, holding Black Ice aloft. Despite the blade’s edge being damaged, its Blacksteel properties were unchanged. The blade reflected the magical lightning, and Ravenna was no longer under assault. Duncan inched forward, step by step, pushing away the lightning with his blade, held in a blocking stance. The closer he got, the more chaotic the lightning became. A few rogue strikes bounced back to hit Selene, burning her hands with electrical energy. The stench of singed flesh filled the air. “Move!” a voice shouted.

  Duncan immediately heard the voice as Ravenna’s and did as he was told. Just as he exited her line of fire, Ravenna hurled a storm of lightning at the witch. All the energy she had been absorbing was unleashed on its conjurer, and as the lightning surged through every inch of her body, she flew back and hit the wall. She seemed to be unconscious, if only for a moment.

  “Come on, we need to get out of here,” Ravenna breathed heavily.

  “Not without her head,” Duncan adamantly said.

  “We don’t have time. She won’t be out for very long.”

  “I can take her.”

  “We barely came out on top and there were two of us. You can’t beat her alone.”

  Duncan didn’t like to hear that, but deep down, he knew Ravenna was right. He was beginning to learn that many times, she was right. He growled, sounding more wolf than man, and took Ravenna by the hand, fleeing the tunnel. The fight left a bitter taste in his mouth. To be so close to his vengeance, and fail to take it burned him to the core. Still, he knew that he needed to remain alive if he had a hope of killing the witch. Together, they fled the darkness of the cavern and made their way back into Hammerforge.

  As they exited the tunnel, they were greeted by scores of dwarves, all heavily armored in the finest dwarven plate and wielding axes and blades forged by master craftsmen. At the head of the crowd stood a figure Duncan knew well.

  “Duncan!” the Underking spoke. “You live!”

  The Underking embraced Duncan.

  “That’s the Underking I remember,” Duncan confirmed.

  It became obvious that the Underking was no longer bewitched. By the looks of it, he had assembled an army to hunt down his former advisor, the scarlet-robed witch.

  “I remember everything. It was like playing audience to my own life, yet being unable to act,” The Underking explained. “The fog cleared not long ago, and I brought a legion of my people to apprehend this witch.”

  “Ah, I see what has happened,” Ravenna came to a realization. “The more she focused on us during the fight, the less focus she had on her spell over the Underking. Eventually, the spell shattered and he regained control.”

  “The witch is still in the cavern,” Duncan informed the Underking.

  The Underking motioned for a squadron of dwarves to enter the cave and bring the witch to him. Many dwarves entered, storming the tunnel in the name of their king.

  In the minutes that followed, Duncan was getting restless. “This is taking too long. Something has gone wrong.”

  “Give them time, Duncan,” the Underking said. “I have the utmost faith in my men.”

  A few minutes later, the dwarves began exiting the tunnel. The witch was not with them. As the last dwarf exited, he held a scarlet robe, and brought it to the Underking, dropping to one knee.

  “This is all we found, my lord.”

  The Underking took the robe and observed it. “This is her robe. But where is the wearer?”

  Ravenna stepped forward, extending a hand. “May I?”

  The Underking handed over the robe and she began to examine it. “No witch is strong enough to simply disappear and reappear somewhere else. She may have had another trick up her sleeve though.”

  She laid the robe on the ground and sat in front of it, concentrating very hard.

  “What are you doing?” Duncan asked curiously.

  “Divination. I can find people if I have something belonging to them. Now hush.”

  After moments of concentration, she opened her eyes. “I know what happened.”

  Duncan was impatient. “Well, tell us.”

  “She disrobed and used her magic to make a portal for herself. It was short-range because her power was weakened, but it got her out of the tunnel. Perhaps even out of Hammerforge. She must have ditched the robe so she wouldn’t be recognized. She likely would find new clothes immediately before doing anything else.

  “Then we need to move, now, before we lose her.”

  “Don’t be hasty Duncan. Your blade needs repairs, and we’re in no better place for it. Besides, I got a read on where she was headed. You remember the village we helped before arriving here? She is returning there, likely trying to hide and regain her strength. We can set out after your sword is in better shape.”

  Duncan sighed and looked at the Underking. “She’s right. My sword isn’t in the best shape.”

  “Let me see,” The Underking said, extending a hand.

  Duncan unsheathed Black Ice and handed it over. The Underking examined it and assessed the damage.

  “An easy fix,” he said. “My finest smith will repair it for you. Give him a few hours and you can be on your way.”

  “Duncan,” Ravenna gained his attention. “The day will end soon. Should we rest here and begin our return tomorrow?

  Duncan didn’t want to wait. His impatience was getting the better of him. He wanted the witch dead, nothing more. But he knew Ravenna had a valid point. “As you wish,” he acquiesced.

  “You will rest in my home tonight,” th
e Underking proclaimed. “Tomorrow you can resume your hunt for Selene.”

  The dwarves began to disperse, going about their business, and Duncan and Ravenna followed the Underking back to his palace.

  After a matter of hours had passed, a dwarf approached the room where the Underking, Duncan, and Ravenna were conversing.

  “My lord. The wolf’s sword is repaired.”

  “Bring it forward,” the Underking commanded.

  The dwarf did as he was told, and brought Black Ice to Duncan. He took the blade and looked it over. It looked brand new. The edges were sharp and would serve him well. The blade also had a new feature: an engraving in the dwarven runic language.

  “What does it say?”

  “Grey Wolf.”

  “Of course,” Duncan smirked. “What else?”

  “Is it to your liking, sir?”

  “I expected nothing less, master dwarf.”

  He replaced the blade into his scabbard. The dwarf still stood. Duncan noticed a bag on his back and wondered what might lie inside.

  “Is there more?” The Underking asked.

  “Yes, my lord. A gift for the Grey Wolf and his companion. For their help in driving out the witch who controlled you.”

  Ravenna looked surprised, and Duncan joined her in curiosity.

  “For the Wolf, a dagger forged from Blacksteel.” He held out the dagger.

  Duncan took it, removing it from the scabbard. It was masterfully crafted, as was the dwarven standard. “I’ll drive it through that witch’s heart.”

  “And for the lady,” The dwarf spoke. “the finest dwarven gown in all of Hammerforge.”

  Ravenna smiled. She had always heard of dwarven-made clothes but never dreamed she might own any. Upon laying eyes on the gown, her mouth formed an ‘O’ as she gazed upon is beauty.

  “I love it,” Ravenna spoke. “Thank you, master dwarf,” she folded the gown back up and held it.

  “I will pass your thanks to the man who made it. I hope it fits you well.”