Circle of Wolves

by Jacqueline Roth

  “We,” William added, Elisabeth nodding beside him. “We won’t sit here and let Kelan die. He’ll fight rather than run. He has no place to run to and hiding isn’t in his nature.”

  “Listen, I appreciate this. I agree this is Kira’s right to fight with me if she chooses but the rest of you…” Evan spoke, trying to turn the tide, “to use your own words, this is a gadje problem.”

  “Yes it is,” the voice came from the youngest “adult” in the room. Katerina left her aunt’s side and stood before her new uncle. “You said we had to stand up and be proud of who we are. I’m as much gadje as you are. That makes this my fight too.”

  “And mine,” Sasha rose from her seat closest to the hearth. “It is time I stopped hiding and did something useful.”

  Evan tried to find the words to stop them, to make them change their minds. But Kira’s fingertips pressed to his lips to stop him. “Evan. Stop. You do not do this alone. You have Family, a pack. And we are your family and no member of this family fights alone. We simply will not allow it.”

  “And if it brings war?” Evan’s throat felt dry as dust and the words croaked out.

  “Then let them bring their war,” Gregoravitch said. He stepped up beside his mate. “We do not have to agree with each other but there is one thing about us we cannot change and I would die before I allowed it to change. A Wolf stands with his brothers.”

  “They are not my brothers,” Nico snapped, jumping to his feet.

  Gregoravitch turned those dark angry eyes on the boy. “Then you are not my son.” Silence filled the room and not even Ivanna dared to break it. When the Alpha male spoke again it was with finality. “In any case, this is not a decision for children. It is for adults. Nico, take Johannes and go to the nursery. You will be in charge there tonight. You will keep the other children safe.”

  The fair face was ruby red with humiliation and rage. But he was not stupid, Evan had to give him credit for that and he felt Kira’s tension break when Nico stayed silent took the young boy’s hand and left the room.

  “Father,” Kira started to speak but Gregoravitch cut her off.

  “No, Kira. I’ve allowed you and your mother to coddle that boy too much. I should have taken him down a peg or two long ago.” He turned his regard to Evan. “You will undoubtedly become the villain in that boy’s mind but it is my fault. I would not have to hurt him as much now if I’d taken the time to discipline him earlier. Now, Evan, tell us what we need to do.”

  * * * * *

  The fear was a heavy stench that hung on the air. Everyone here, curse wolf and blood Wolf alike, feared the coming mages. They feared Evan but yet they actually seemed to find reassurance in seeing him perform the hated magic. Evan felt guilty. He didn’t deserve that level of faith. He was good, very good. But he knew he had no chance of standing against ten or fifteen others of his kind, especially not when one of those was Julien Amiens. As Carsten’s fire mage, Julien would be here. And Evan had never seen Julien’s equal.

  The sun was riding a low trail in the western sky when Evan called Kira to him. Elena’s people and most of the curse wolves from the small settlement had decided to stay and to fight. Elena, herself, had protested furiously when Alexi had lifted her bodily and carried her into the school with the children. “You will stay here old woman. I’ve already saved your hide once and I’m not in the mood to do it again.” The big man had glowered at her.

  Her husband Marcel had agreed. “We will fight our fight here, my dear. We will guard the children.” He lifted his crutch and shook it. “If they come here I’ll show them what an old man can do.”

  “I’ve put all the protections I know how to use on this building,” Evan had assured the worried parents. “It won’t collapse. The wood will not yield to wind or water. It won’t burn, either.” To the Wolves he added, “But we still have to keep them away from it. A single salamander could find enough fuel in the ground around the house to roast everyone inside alive. The building would become an oven.”

  Now he crouched beside the stream that ran in an arc from the hills behind the main house and through the settlement. He looked back up toward the house. There were less than two hundred yards between the water and the gate at its closest point. It contained Elena’s caravan, the school and a scattering of buildings. They’d abandoned the houses and small farms that stretched out on the opposite bank and pulled everyone in. They were worried about their homes but Evan hoped that wasn’t the point. That this wasn’t a systematic purging. This was a single definitive strike that Carsten was hoping to make. Hit hard and hit fast. Then they’d be gone. Evan knew they couldn’t stop them. His goal was to make sure as few lives were lost as possible.

  “They came here because they thought they would be safe,” Kira’s voice was hollow and haunted. “We told them they would be safe here, Alexi and I. And they believed us.”

  “In the shadow of the great house of Gregoravitch,” Evan sighed. “Kira, even I thought you were safe here. I thought they were safe. I never thought it would come to this.”

  “We know that,” she said softly as she rested her hand on his shoulder. “You’re not to blame.”

  They both knew hearing her say that meant both everything to him and nothing. It didn’t change the fact that he did and would always, feel responsible for what was going to happen. But it soothed his soul to know she didn’t blame him. He stood up and stretched. He’d used more magic in the past few hours than he’d used in weeks. “Call Katerina and Sasha. We need to get this part done. Have Alexi keep everyone else back.”

  He turned to face the stream and waited until he felt the three women standing with him. “Kneel down,” he instructed. Kira complied immediately and the other two followed her lead. He saw his mate’s jaw clenched tight and the look of apprehension on the youngest Wolf’s face. Earlier they had seen him do something similar to what was going to happen now, only he’d done it with the plants.

  Evan knelt next to Katerina and took her hand. “Lean over and put your fingertips in the water.” He guided the young girl’s hand being careful not to let his own fingers touch the water. As earth, his presence might disrupt what they needed to do. He’d only ever seen Kira scry, no other evidence of magic. He wasn’t sure how powerful they were but together they should be able to do this simplest of spells. When all three women were touching the water he bade them repeat the words he’d given them earlier.

  Katerina’s young voice was strong and trusting as she spoke, “Revered and beautiful water of my home learn your mistress’s voice. Learn your mistress’s touch. Heed your mistress’s call.” Then, just as the blades of grass had stroked his hand, just as the creeping plants had crawled toward him, three tendrils of water rose from the stream and wound themselves around the women’s arms. Kira stared in wonder at the clear band of water that circled her wrist and climbed up her forearm. She turned to look at Sasha. There was a tear on the woman’s cheek. Not a drop of sadness or fear but a drop of longing as something in the woman’s soul called to the water, speaking of its absence. She knew that feeling. Inside her a voice was crying with joy, finding something that had been missing from herself.

  Katerina laughed as she watched a small tadpole swim in the thick band of water that explored her arm and stroked her skin. At Evan’s urging, all three women continued the last bit of their charm. “Water of my home learn my touch, learn my voice. Fight for no other mistress but your own.”

  A blue-green light flickered at the edge of Kira’s fingers. It danced for a moment before moving on to investigate Sasha. “Don’t move,” Evan’s voice was low and stern. “Don’t any of you move. Damn! This was not supposed to happen.” Kira looked at him sharply and saw the tension on his face. “Which one?” he almost whispered the words. Sasha was as stiff as stone until the light moved on and began to circle Katerina’s hand.

  “Evan?” Kira felt the fear beginning to overwhelm her. She knew Sasha was terrified and Katerina… Katerina must be…lau
ghing? The girl was giggling as if she was being tickled. The aquamarine light swirled up the rope of water around her arm and glowed brightly.

  “Kira, Sasha, take your hands from the water,” Evan ordered and the women did so quickly and sat back. Evan felt someone move up behind him. “Alexi stay back,” he hissed through clenched teeth. This was not supposed to happen. They were just going to teach the water to answer to only the Gregoravitch women. If the water mages among their enemy had to draw water from deep in the ground or from the sky it would drain more of their strength. It wasn’t supposed to call one of them. The light receded back into the water and a head rose out of the stream. A young woman with iridescent skin and blue-green eyes looked thoughtfully at Katerina.

  Evan stared in absolute shock. The creature shifted her gaze to him and examined him carefully. “You got old,” it said curiously, “how long has it been.”

  “More than ten years,” Evan forced the words from his throat. “Aegia?”

  “You remember?” A pleased smile lit the lovely face and the figure rose higher out of the water revealing the body of a woman from head to hip, the fish’s tail lower half remained in the stream. “Ten years is a long time for humans.” It turned its regard back to the girl.

  Evan hurried to reassure Katerina but found not a face of fear but one of wonder. “What are you?” the young girl asked.

  “You really are green aren’t you?” Aegia smiled. “I am an undine. A water spirit.”

  “She’s had no training, Aegia. And I mean none,” Evan warned the undine. If she was going to do what he thought she was going to do, it would make this a whole new ballgame.

  Aegia gave him a look that clearly said, Duh! “She won’t need any for now. I can help her. And if the other two will permit, I can find others who will help them. They will not bond to them as I will bond to this young human-wolf but they will help.”

  “Bond?” Kira’s eyes were wide. “I thought the spirits wouldn’t bond to us because we are Wolves.”

  The undine turned its attention back to Kira. “You cannot bind us. But you are human enough we can choose to bond to you.”

  “Kira, there are two types of bonds. The bond that is enforced upon the elemental and the bond it chooses to make. Aegia was one of Cassandra’s undines. Three of her four elementals chose to bond with her.” Evan watched her face carefully. The earlier fight was not forgotten and he worried about this reminder.

  “What will happen to Katerina if she bonds to it?” Alexi’s voice came from over Evan’s shoulder.

  “Stay out of this, Wolf.” The creature glared at Alexi. “Too many people, too much rush. If you did not need me this night, I’d leave you and come back when we were alone, child.”

  “Katerina, this is your choice.” Evan kept his voice even, trying not to encourage the girl one way or the other. “If you accept Aegia, she becomes your companion, your helpmate and your responsibility. I can show you how to guide her. Accepting her means accepting training as a mage.”

  Alexi’s groan earned him a stern glare from the undine. “He’s afraid for his daughter, Aegia. They don’t understand the honor you’re offering.” Evan tried to smooth the creature’s feelings. The last thing he needed was for this water spirit to be angry.

  “I like her,” Katerina said firmly.

  “And I like you too, little Wolf.” The undine smiled. Her knowing gaze moved to Evan. “You’ll have to stay and train her.”

  Kira felt her heart jump and then felt it sink. Only the sinking wasn’t coming from her, it was Evan. He sighed. “I’ll delay my leaving until you’re settled. Then perhaps we can find a place for Katerina at Master Ryder’s house.” The words were hollow inside her. He did not really think his master would agree. But he did not want to stay.

  Aegia nodded. “Formal bonding later, pup.” She winked at Katerina before speaking to Evan. “I’ll go drag the others back to help.” She stared for a long moment at Sasha. “You’re far stronger than either of these two,” she said, her shimmering brow furrowing. “But you’re also much more afraid of your power than they. Don’t be. You’re going to need it tonight. And when you do, don’t be afraid to call it.”

  “When did you become an oracle.” Evan frowned. He definitely didn’t like the sound of what Aegia was saying. He didn’t want them to need Sasha’s power and he damned sure didn’t want an untrained water mage calling her powers.

  “Since when did you become a leader?” the creature shot back at him. “Last time I saw you the only things you could say were ’Yes, Seth‘ and ’Yes, Marcus’.”

  Evan sat back on his haunches. He looked over his shoulder at the people. A few were watching nervously—a thin rein on their fear. Most were busy doing what he’d told them to do. He looked back at the undine. “I guess things change,” he shrugged.

  “I guess they do,” she agreed. “I’d best be off but I’ll be back in plenty of time. And earth mage.” Evan lifted a brow in acknowledgement. “Go get some sleep. None of this will matter if you’re too exhausted to fight.” The young woman dived back into the stream and disappeared.

  “She’s right,” Kira spoke as she stood. “You need to lie down for a while. Use one of the wagons. We’ll wake you in time, I promise.” She closed the distance between them and slid her arms around his waist. “No way I’ll let you sleep through all the fun.”

  * * * * *

  Evan watched intently as the Wolves’ Alpha reviewed the plan one last time. He astonished himself and probably the others as well, with his ability to follow the strategy Gregoravitch laid out. But it made sense to him. The plan used the lay of the land, the natural features and the buildings to the best advantage. As an earth mage, they were much the same factors that Evan was used to dealing with, though he’d rarely had to put his knowledge of battle magic to use before now. Evan was further pleased that he saw ways to integrate his own abilities into the plan and that, despite the prohibitions on magic, the Wolves readily accepted his suggestions for its use. Pleased. No, it was more like relieved.

  He’d been envisioning something much different. He’d envisioned having to face a string of mages and hunters with little more than a curse wolf or two at his side. He’d envisioned the one thing that kept his kind humble. The Burn. One mage standing against three circles would definitely burn out if he didn’t surrender and as long as the curse wolves stood, he would not surrender. He would force a Burn before he would let Carsten destroy this place, the one place that held any kind of community and safety for these people. The Burn would have destroyed him but he’d have taken them all with him. Better to burn up than to fade away, right? Maybe for some but truth be told he’d much rather be sitting in the garden of his Master’s house with Kira at his side and a long and peaceful life ahead of him.

  But that image of the future looked far away. He had no idea how his master would react to the course he’d set for himself. Ryder had sent him here to negotiate a truce with these people. He’d done that and even if he had been able to ignore the loss of innocent lives, he’d not renege on the pact now. Surely Ryder wouldn’t expect him to. After all, today’s message had been from Seth and Marcus. If Ryder had an order to give him, he’d have done it himself.

  “Are all of your precautions in place?” Gregoravitch’s voice broke his reverie.

  “Yes,” Evan nodded, giving himself a mental shake. “There are two ways they can get across the river. Using magic the air mages could fly and the fire mages could appear from a flame. That’s why it’s important that there be no fire of any sort burning in the village. They will try to get fire into our boundaries. The plants on our side won’t burn because of spells I’ve worked with Kira, Sasha and Katerina. The earth between the village and the river and the buildings made of natural materials won’t burn but I can’t do anything about the artificial ones except wet them. The three of them will be responsible for keeping them from getting fire over the river. They’ve been practicing this afternoon and Kira and S
asha can both launch a water globe with damn good accuracy for beginners. Katerina is even better. The only way the gadje will manage to get a flame past them is if they pull all their fire mages together. Then they could launch a flame high enough and far enough to reach the main house.”

  Sonya gasped and Alexi cursed as Evan continued quickly. “But they would be stupid to do that because that would give the ladies an easy target. Besides, between Madame Petrov and Nico, the children and the servants who are not joining us will be well cared for.” Evan said this more to try to ease Sonya’s worries than out of real confidence. “I’m not as concerned about the fire mages trying something unusual or startling even though one of the fire mages is a rather exceptional individual. He is more powerful than most and has abilities others do not. The good news is that he has some loyalty to my master.” Or at least he pretends to Evan added silently. “If he is with them tonight, he will pretend to fight but he has no profit in the challenger’s success. So I don’t believe he will be a real threat.”

  “Your dark mage?” Kira asked.

  “Yes, Julien,” Evan confirmed. He looked off toward the river. “The other option is to take a more conventional approach and come across by way of the bridges. I’ve spelled both of them. The northernmost bridge is the straightest route in. As we discussed, it will explode if it is approached from the far side of the river. Our watcher is perfectly safe as long as he doesn’t step off the bridge on the other side and as long as he gets clear before Carsten and his men get there. The southernmost bridge will not explode but we will know when they get close.”

  “What’s to keep them from just wading or swimming across the river?” Alexi leaned over the map that was spread out on the crate around which they gathered.

  Evan looked at Kira and they both smiled. She’d already asked this question and he’d shown her the answer. “The water won’t let them,” she answered for him.

  “What?” The two similar faces looked at Evan and Kira confused. The only other person who didn’t seem puzzled by this was Zev, who stood back from the group listening intently.