The Wolf At War

by Terry Cloutier

  “No, you don’t,” Malo said, grabbing my shoulder roughly and pulling me back.

  I heard both Jebido and Baine protest, with my older friend already starting to draw his sword. I brushed off Malo’s hand, stumbling on my crutches as I shook my head at Jebido. “Not this way,” I said. Jebido reluctantly shoved his sword back in its scabbard as I faced Malo. “Why have you brought them here?” I demanded, though I knew what his answer would be.

  “Are you not pleased?” Malo asked, gesturing inside the wagon. “I’ve brought you the last two living members of the nine. Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

  “I won’t trade them for the codex,” I said firmly. “So you can forget it.”

  “Are you certain of that?” Malo replied, a hint of mockery in his voice. “Would you prefer I just ride away with them right now? Is that what you want? Because if I do, I swear you will never see them again.”

  I glanced into the wagon as the two prisoners listened warily to our conversation. “I’ll find them again,” I promised. “Even if it takes me fifty years, I will find them. Men like these won’t get far.”

  “That is where you are wrong, Hadrack,” Malo said. I noticed he had dropped the ‘lord’, now. He nodded to the wagon. “If you don’t give me what is rightfully mine, those two cow turds in there will be on a ship first thing in the morning. They will be given new names, enough gold to last a lifetime, and plenty of incentive never to set foot in Ganderland again. You will spend the rest of your life searching for them, and in the end, I guarantee that you will fail.”

  “You bastard,” I hissed under my breath, understanding now.

  Malo shrugged, his eyes cold and hard. “This was not my first choice, Hadrack. But you have always been a stubborn man. Sometimes men like you need to feel the full weight of a hammer before realizing they are only a nail just like everyone else.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means,” Malo said, leaning toward me, his eyes flashing. “That it is not your place to decide things in this world. There are others better suited to that purpose.”

  “Like you, I suppose,” I said, not hiding my contempt.

  “Yes,” Malo agreed. He held out his hand. “Now give me the codex.”

  “You’re not getting out of here alive, you bastard,” Baine growled behind me. He started to step forward, a knife in his hand and death in his eyes.

  “Stop!” I commanded. “Killing each other won’t solve anything.”

  “But, Hadrack, he—” Baine started to protest.

  “I said no!” I shouted, turning on my friend. “And that means you too,” I said, recognizing the dangerous glint in Jebido’s eyes. The House Agents had all turned their horses to face us, only their eyes visible behind their helms as they put hands to swords and waited. We were moments away from bloodshed and I wanted no part of it. “No one draws a sword,” I growled. “Or they answer to me.”

  “I am sorry for this, Hadrack,” Malo finally said, breaking the tension. I saw his men slowly relax on their horses. “If there was another way, I would have taken it.” The House Agent held out his hand again. “Now give me the codex and let’s end this thing.” I hesitated, looking once again into the wagon. “Think of your vow,” Malo said, his voice soft, almost soothing now. “What does the codex matter when weighed against that? These men killed your family and your friends. I’m offering you an end to what happened at Corwick. Take it. You have done so much for this kingdom and the House. Now it’s time you were rewarded for your service. Accept their lives as that reward.”

  I stood bent over on my crutches, wrenched by indecision as I weighed Malo’s words.

  “Hadrack?” Jebido said gently from behind me. I turned to my friend, the anger gone from his eyes now, with only love and compassion left there, laid bare for me to see. “Malo is right. Despite how the bastard has gone about this, he is right. You have done so much, sacrificed so much for everyone else.” Jebido waved a hand toward the silent crowd, who were listening to us in confusion. “We all owe a debt to you that can never be repaid.” He pointed his finger at the men in the wagon. “But inside there lies the end to a journey that started when you were only eight years old.” He glanced briefly at Baine. “A journey that we both have been lucky enough to ride along on.” Jebido shook his head, and I was startled to see tears threatening in his eyes. “My blood does not run through your veins, Hadrack, but I don’t care.” He tapped his chest. “You are my son in here, and I have watched you grow and become so much more than even I could have hoped for.” Jebido thrust his shoulders back. “So, I say you have done enough, my son. This is your time now. Malo and the House can worry about the codex—it’s not your problem anymore. Take his deal, Hadrack, and end this thing once and for all.”

  I could feel the codex pressing against me inside my clothing, sweat forming where the leather touched my skin. Did I dare do as Jebido said and give it to Malo now? What of Einhard and the Piths? What if they came back to find Ganderland embroiled in war again as the Sons and Daughters tried to come to grips with the codex’s revelations? I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the searing pain in my skull as I wrestled with the decision. Then, a vision appeared to me.

  I saw my father and Jeanna walking together, hand and hand. They were smiling, my sister beautiful and innocent, my father large and bent over as he dragged his ruined leg through the dirt. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight, feeling love explode in my breast as the two chatted happily together. But then I felt a lurch rip aside the love, for behind them, nine men on horseback had suddenly appeared. I saw Crooked Nose, Hape, Calen, Heavy Beard, Quant Ranes, and Ragna the Elder with his son. Grindin was there as well, riding beside the massive bulk of Luper Nash.

  The nine men were shouting, waving swords in the air as they descended on my father and sister. I cried out a warning, but my father and Jeanna seemed oblivious to their danger. Then, less than twenty feet away, Calen suddenly burst into flames, disintegrating along with his horse into a charred, smoking mass. One by one, each of the nine burst into flames in the same manner until only Grindin and Luper Nash remained. I waited for the fires to take them too, but they came on steadily, faces twisted with hatred. I screamed in helpless rage, praying for the flames to save my family, but they did not, and my prayers turned into a shriek of despair. I moaned and closed my eyes as the horses finally reached my father and sister, shutting away the flashing swords and spraying blood as great tears of misery seeped past my eyelids. I didn’t need to look to know that my family was dead, cursing myself for being helpless to save them all over again. Finally, the vision began to clear, and I slowly opened my eyes, swaying on my crutches.

  Malo was staring at me with a strange look on his face. “Are you ill, Hadrack?” he asked.

  I could feel the tears still sliding down my cheeks unchecked, yet I felt no shame. I slowly reached inside my clothing and drew out the codex, and then I handed it without a word to Malo.

  There really was no other choice for me to make.

  28: A Vow Completed

  One week after Malo left with the codex, I sat in the sun near the kitchens, enjoying the smells wafting from inside and the servants' cheerful banter. I spent every day in the same spot, staring up at the White Tower and watching the hours go by as I bided my time until I was whole again. Occasionally, I would see a face peering down at me through one of the tower’s many open windows—just a flash of white before darting from sight again. I always chuckled softly to myself when that happened, fingering the golden hilt of Wolf’s Head where it lay across my lap.

  “What are you grinning about?” Shana asked as she stepped through the open doorway of the kitchen. She had a basket on her hip, and I knew she was heading out to feed the chickens. There were servants whose duty it was to handle that chore, of course, but Shana always preferred to do it herself. She said she found it soothing. I looked forward to watching her every morning, marveling at how her black hair shimmered in
the sunlight and her musical laughter rang off the walls. Seeing Shana with chickens all around her, pecking and clucking, never failed to remind me of my sister, Jeanna.

  “I wasn’t aware that I was,” I said, my eyes half-closed as the sun warmed my skin.

  “Uh-huh,” Shana replied. She set the basket down on the stone walkway, then moved to stand over me, her hands on her hips. “Sitting here every day isn’t healthy, you know, my lord.”

  I saw movement in one of the tower windows behind her and I shifted my gaze there, briefly meeting the eyes of Luper Nash before he quickly stepped back into the shadows.

  Shana followed my gaze and she sighed, turning to pull a stool close to me before she sat down. “It’s going to be weeks before you can take that thing off, my lord,” she said, gesturing to the leather cinched around my shin. “Do you intend to wait here all that time obsessing over those two?”

  I was sitting in a cart-like contraption that Haverty had designed. Two wheels were attached to a high-backed chair, with long, heavily padded planks extending outward horizontally from the seat, keeping my legs elevated. It was awkward to move and damned uncomfortable most of the time, but Haverty was insistent that it was the only way that he would let me go outside. I might be the Lord of Corwick, but between Shana and Haverty, it seemed that I had no say in anything when it came to my health.

  “What would you have me do?” I asked, turning to look at her. “I’m all but useless these days.” I gestured to the tower where Grindin and Luper Nash were locked up. “At least imagining the deaths of those bastards up there helps to pass the time.”

  Shana took my hand in hers and she squeezed, not saying anything. Grindin and Luper Nash were alive only because I wasn’t ready to kill them yet. But soon, the gods willing, my leg would be strong enough, and when it was, I would take them to my farm, where I would send their souls to join the rest of the nine in the firepits Below.

  We sat for a long time, both of us enjoying just being together. Shana’s hand was warm and strong, and I felt an almost overwhelming feeling of love and contentment come over me as I absently stroked her skin with my thumb. Movement appeared at another window in the tower, and I saw that this time it was Grindin. He looked out at me and I felt my contentment slide away. I glared upward and drew a finger across my neck, smiling at the sudden look of fear on the little man’s face.

  I felt Shana stiffen beside me before she drew her hand away. “What is it?” I asked.

  Shana shook her head. “It’s nothing, my lord.” She began to stand. “I need to feed the chickens.”

  I put my hand on her arm, stalling her. “No, everything isn’t fine. Sit back down.” Shana’s eyes flashed at my strong tone. “Please,” I added, softening my voice. I motioned to the stool. “Sit and tell me what’s bothering you.”

  Shana hesitated, then she slowly sat again, playing with her fingers. She did that when she was upset. “It’s that awful man in there,” Shana finally said. “He scares me.”

  “Who? Luper Nash?” I snorted, waving away her concerns. “I’ve fought men as big as he is before, and I’m still here to talk of it.”

  Shana shook her head. “No, the other one. The Son-In-Waiting.”

  I felt instant anger rise in me. “That bastard isn’t a Son-In-Waiting.”

  “Yes, he is, my lord. And you know it.” Shana breathed out of her nose noisily, her cheeks flushed. “You told me you didn’t kill Grindin before because you couldn’t bear to leave the baby and me alone to fend for ourselves. That you would be ostracized from the House and probably hung if you killed him.”

  “Yes, that’s true,” I said.

  Shana lifted her chin in challenge. “So, what’s changed between then and now? Tell me how the same thing won’t happen this time.” I opened my mouth to reply, then I shut it again, not sure how to answer. I hadn’t actually considered that far ahead. Would the same rules still apply to Grindin once the secret in the codex came to light? “That’s what I thought,” Shana finally said as I remained silent, mulling it over.

  I sat back in my chair. I had been so focused on Grindin and Luper Nash that I had somehow managed to push all thoughts of Malo and the codex into the background. Had anything actually changed now? I wasn’t sure. The Master might be the supreme god, but the First Pair were still gods as well, with essentially the same roles as we had always thought. Would that mean killing a Son-In-Waiting was still the same sin as before, too? I couldn’t see why it wouldn’t, feeling disappointment rise in me as I realized there would be no solution to the problem coming from that direction. Shana was right. Nothing had changed, and I was just as stuck now as I had been months ago when I had first found Grindin.

  I closed my eyes and rubbed them with my knuckles, suddenly tired. Malo would have reached Halhaven by now, I guessed, which meant Daughter Gernet already knew the truth. I wondered how she had taken it. We had heard nothing in Corwick yet, but it was only a matter of time before that would change. I couldn’t see any way around being ostracized and probably executed for killing Grindin, but even so, there was no chance I would allow him to live once I was on my feet again. I hadn’t told Shana about the codex yet, waiting for the right moment. My wife had a keen mind and might have a different take on things than I did, so if ever there was a time to tell her, this seemed to be it.

  “I haven’t been completely honest with you,” I said, watching Shana from the corner of my eye.

  “About what, my lord?” Shana said, looking at me warily.

  “About why Malo came here.”

  Shana frowned. “He came to reward you for your service to the king and the House,” she said. She gestured to the tower. “That’s why those two are here, is it not?”

  “Yes, it is,” I nodded. “But that’s not the entire story. Malo also came here to get something from me.” Shana waited patiently for me to continue. “Do you remember why I went on the Walk?” I asked.

  Shana rolled her eyes. “Of course, my lord. It was less than a year ago. My memory still serves me quite well, thank you. You went to find the codex.”

  “I did,” I agreed. I looked up as I saw either Hesther or Hamber near the stables, squatting and petting an orange and white cat lying on its back. I had no idea where the other sister was. “Hesther,” I called out, taking a chance as I motioned for her to come to me. The girl immediately stood and lifted her skirts as she hurried around the gardens and made her way along the cobblestone pathway.

  “Yes, my lord?” she said out of breath when she reached us.

  I pointed to the basket of chicken feed. “Your mistress will be delayed. See to the chickens.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Hesther said with a curtsey before picking up the basket and heading away.

  “We need to move from here,” I grunted to Shana. I pointed toward the fish pond, where a tall maple towered over the water. “Do you think you can push me over there, or should I call for a servant?”

  “Why must we move?” Shana asked. “What’s wrong with right here?”

  “Right here has ears,” I said, gesturing to the kitchens behind us. “Over there does not.”

  “Very well,” Shana said with a frown. She stood and went behind me, pushing on the handles at the back of the chair. It took Shana some time to maneuver me to the pond, but though I suggested that she ask for help more than once, she steadfastly refused. I wasn’t the only stubborn one in this family.

  We finally reached the pond and Shana placed my chair under the tree, far enough back from the bank that there was no chance of me rolling down into the water. “So,” she said, sitting on the grass in front of me with her knees pulled up to her chest. “Now, what’s all this secrecy about?”

  I told her everything then—all about Rorian and the codex and the terrible secret that lay inside. Shana became deathly still as I spoke, and I could tell by the glint in her eyes that she was upset at what I was saying. But, as I would quickly learn, it seemed that she was more troubled by the fact t
hat I had withheld this from her for so long rather than the knowledge that we had been lied to for generations. I never will understand women. It took quite a few repeated apologies on my part, along with my promise that it would never happen again before Shana was ready to hear more. I explained then about how I had ridden to the Piths with the ancient tome, gambling that Einhard would listen to me about the Master and the First Pair.

  “Those savages could have killed you, my lord,” Shana said with a gasp.

  “It was a risk,” I conceded. “But a worthwhile one if it could stop a war.”

  I told her then about how Malo had seen Rorian in Halhaven and that he’d cornered me into telling him about the codex. I explained that he had ridden here not to reward me with Grindin and Luper Nash as she had thought, but to coerce me into giving up the codex, using them as bait. When I was finished, we sat in silence for a time, watching the fish swimming lazily in the pond.

  “You still can’t kill Grindin, my lord,” Shana finally said. She stood, one hand on her hip, her face flushed with intensity. “Nothing you have told me changes that.” I opened my mouth to reply, but Shana raised a hand before I could speak. “Don’t get me wrong, my love,” she added. “No man deserves killing more than that one does. But I will not lose you to a hangman’s noose for him. We will just have to find another way.”

  “There isn’t one,” I said with a hopeless shrug. “Son Oriell sits in the First Son’s chair, and he would like nothing better than to see me dead. The moment Grindin dies, that bastard will get his wish.”

  “The House will be distracted by the codex,” Shana said, her eyes calculating. “As will the First Son. Perhaps Grindin can just disappear forever and no one will care or be the wiser.”