Under the Wolf's Shadow Read online

  Sitting back in his saddle, his hands on his pommel, Li stared at his brother. If he’d turned those black stones on me, I’d be quick to seize steel. As it was, I felt a shiver crawl down my spine and I knew that whether we accepted Li’s invitation or not, Illan would neither forget or forgive. I witnessed his shame, and that earned me a death sentence.

  “Go,” Li said, his tone deceptively soft. “Inform my wives and the village elders we have guests. See to it tents, food and water are prepared.”

  “And if I don’t?” Illan’s defiance hadn’t wilted under that dreadful glare.

  “I will turn you out,” Li replied.

  While that didn’t sound like much of a threat to me, the effect on Illan was galvanic. His face changed from dark to ashen, and his jaw loosened. The hand he lifted to wipe blood from his nose visibly shook. Though he didn’t quite bow to his clan chief, his chin dropped to his chest. “You would side with these mish’kra against your own blood?”

  Li didn’t answer. At his silence, Illan reined his horse around and struck spurs to black flanks. He and his mount vanished into swirling dust and the ravine under the thud of galloping hooves. A half dozen tribal warriors followed in his wake, informing me of just how many men owed their loyalty to Li. Most remained, sitting silent and impassive on their desert-bred horses as brother number two fled his chief’s wrath.

  Illan reappeared on the distant ridge, riding hard into the east. The warriors above parted like waves breaking upon rocks to permit him passage through and beyond. Only when Li waved his arm did they, too, vanish on Illan’s heels. The ridge emptied of all save the dirt kicked up by retreating hooves which the hot wind quickly tore asunder. In a moment, nothing stirred on the ridge save the light breeze and the ever shifting sand.

  Li sighed. Turning back to me, his hand touched his breast and he bowed. “My apologies, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla. I offer you salt, and you are insulted by those in my clan. How may I make amends to you?”

  “I’ve no wish to come between the great Clan Chief Li and his blood kin,” I replied. “We’ll tend our wounded. Please accept my deepest thanks for your kindness and generosity.”

  “No, no.” Li shook his head. “I owe you a debt now, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla. Should you spurn this, it would be a blight upon my honor and forever shame me.”

  Helpless, I glanced from him to Kel’Ratan and back again. Silverruff whined softly from somewhere near my right stirrup, and Shardon shook his ears, making his bridle jingle. What do I do? Accept his offer and be the cause of bad blood between Li and Illan? Or graciously decline and make an enemy of Li himself? Lady above, what a mess.

  “It’s your custom to not assist strangers, Chief Li,” I ventured.

  Li nodded gravely. “That is indeed true. You and yours have great courage, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla. We greatly respect such. We as a people are born to constant war and battle. It has hardened us. Yet, we can also admire such in others.”

  His eyes travelled slowly over each of us, his approving smile widening. “We watched your fight with the Cursed Ones. We saw firsthand your attack upon the daemon. I hate the Khalidian Dog Eaters, the mish’kra, and if you are their enemy, then I might think to accept you as my friend.”

  “Li, you are too kind,” I murmured.

  He laughed, his white teeth flashing. “Ah, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla, I am not kind. Just truthful. I have yet a second reason for offering my aid.”

  “Pray tell, honorable Clan Chief Li.”

  “I daresay had I thought to kill you,” he grinned, his dark eyes laughing. “I’d lose more men than it would be worth.”

  Kel’Ratan barked a short sharp laugh. “You’re a very wise man.”

  “I am,” Li said, sobering slightly. “I do not sacrifice the lives of my clan without grave cause.”

  His dark eyes danced. “And, of course, had I killed you, or sent you on your way, I’d never get to hear this tale of how you survived King Brutal, collected this marvelous band of wolves, befriended a Tarbane and earned yourself the irritation of the Cursed Ones and their foul daemon. This is a tale–” he leaned over his saddlebow, “–I must hear. At much length.”

  I laughed. “Then you shall hear it, dear Li. But tell me first?”

  “Tell you what, beautiful Ly’Tana?”

  “How did you recognize Shardon here?”

  Li eyed Shardon, still smiling. He straightened. “I may not care much for the world outside my lands,” he said. “But I am wise to it. I know much of what passes beyond this desert. I know of the Tarbane who inhabit the haunted Plains of Navak, and rule their lands with an iron fi–er, hoof. Many times I have travelled past them to visit the mish’kra in their nasty city, Soudan. And they permit me passage, realizing I cared not to stay and plow.”

  “Clan Chief?” Kel’Ratan asked, his thick mustache standing at full attention. “What is ‘turning out’?”

  “The worst penalty for crime among my people, Kel’Ratan of Kel’Halla,” Li answered. “If a crime is committed, the offender is forced into the desert with no horse, no water. No Mesaani will grant him aid, or acknowledge his existence. He will become a ghost, a shadow wandering the lands with no clan, no home.”

  “It is the worst sentence to give a man.”

  Surprised, I glanced at the soldier who spoke, a grey-bearded warrior on a strawberry roan standing just behind Li. He offered me a rapid salute with his hands pressed together, but offered no name along with it. “In our culture, to be turned out is far worse than execution. Only a handful have ever suffered it.”

  “I see.” And I hoped I did. Though I doubted Illan’s insult warranted such a penalty, the clan’s obvious proclivity for honorable conduct made me cringe inwardly. Gods above and below.

  Li’s horse shifted beneath him as he leaned both elbows on his pommel, gazing at me wistfully. “Can I convince you to become my third wife, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla?”

  His offer shocked a laugh from me. “You really know how to flatter a girl,” I replied.

  “Ah, we would be good together, no?” he said. “With you at my side, I could be master of all Mesaan. With the vixen with hair of fire fighting beside me, none could withstand me. I will make you queen of a proud land.”

  His close proximity to my wolf name caused goose pimples to rise despite the desert sun. I will be a queen of a proud land, I thought, in due course. I didn’t speak that aloud, however. Li’s pride might easily be injured.

  “I’m sorry, dear Li,” I said. “My heart belongs to another.”

  His face didn’t fall an inch. Instead, his smiling expression changed to one of determined expansiveness. “So? I will kill him and thus impress you with my prowess.” He shrugged. “You are no longer betrothed, yes? Then what are you waiting for? Am I not worthy?”

  I laughed. “Dear Li. Should you kill my love, I would in my turn kill you.”

  “Who is this love of yours?”

  “King Lionel’s former champion, The Bloody Wolf.”

  “A slave?”

  “Not just a slave, my friend. Before he was enslaved, he was Prince Raine of Connacht.”

  Li stared at me in consternation. “I really must hear this story, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla,” he said, wheeling his horse. “Come.”

  “Wait,” I said, biting my lip.

  He turned back, eyeing me over his shoulder. “Why must I wait?”

  “Before you take us in,” I said slowly. “I must tell you something.”

  “Don’t say it,” Li warned, shutting his eyes dramatically. “You’re in truth a man.”

  This time laughter burst out of me, Kel’Ratan, Witraz and no few of his own men. Behind me, Alun grumbled under his breath, and Silverruff growled, his hackles rising.

  “Well, he saw right through you, didn’t he?” Bar said.

  “No, Li, that’s not it,” I said, getting a grip on my humor. “You must know why we need the monks.”

  The seriousness in my tone turned him about again.
“Then pray tell me, little princess with the heart of steel.”

  “I have incurred the wrath of a god. He/she/it’s been trying to kill me.”

  His dark eyes swept over us, brows lowered, his smile gone. Now we saw the Clan Chief, the warrior, the protector of his people. His chin lifted warily as his dark eyes finally rested on mine. “What have you done?”

  I shrugged, helpless. “I’ve no idea. I need the monks to tell me who and why so that I may make amends. To make my peace.”

  I gestured toward the men with him. “I wouldn’t bring its anger down upon you. Should you help us, help me, you also may incur its divine wrath.”

  Kel’Ratan shrugged. “It hasn’t gone after any of us,” he said candidly. “Only you. It seems to ignore all save you.”

  “But I don’t want his people caught in the crossfire,” I gritted, trying to shut him up.

  “Ah, little girl,” Li grinned. “Do not underestimate us. We can look after ourselves. My offer still stands. Come.”

  “Very well.”

  I glanced back, over my shoulder. “We must obtain our goods, our packhorses.”

  I gestured toward the distance where the dim shapes of Rygel and Arianne still sat in the sand with the huge hulk of Little Bull standing guard. Yuri and Yuras sat their horses to either side and watching across the distance. “We must collect the rest of my people. One of the wolves was gravely wounded. Our wizard, adept at healing, is trying to save his life.”

  “A wizard, no less,” Li chuckled. “This is a tale that will be told and retold for generations. And I have full bragging rights for finding you. If you were to ask my people what they like better, a good story or a good fight, they would be forced to sit down and think it over. We will accompany you to collect your goods and your friends.”

  Shardon turned and trotted back across the distance toward the battle-ground, Li and his grey cantering slowly beside us. With his friendly and warm attitude, his warriors seemed more inclined to smile while surrounding my small band. Mixing in with my boys and the wolves, I overheard no few ask, in thick tribal accents, what the wolves’ names were. Bar circled low overhead, keeping pace and offering no comment.

  The stench of blood and death assaulted my nose as we reached the battlefield. Carrion birds had flocked in, circling, cawing. A few braver ones already landed on the corpses, and dined eagerly with dead flesh clinging to their dark beaks. My belly rolled over upon seeing them devouring the dead men and hounds. I sooo didn’t need to witness it. The sooner we get out of here, the better.

  My boys cantered past me and Li, swinging down from their saddles near the piles of food and gear. Their wolves loped with them, tails waving in lupine happiness despite their wounds. My loyal three: Silverruff, Digger and Thunder clustered under Shardon’s legs, greatly hampering his ability to trot without stepping on them. Mikk, sweat drying on his chest and neck, flanked Shardon while Kel’Ratan and Corwyn, with Nahar and White Fang, followed behind at a short distance.

  Li glanced down at my friends. “They love you, no?”

  At his words, Digger yapped sharply, his eyes bright, his tongue lolling in a wolfish laugh.

  Li raised a brow. “The beast understood me?”

  “Of course. They understand human speech clearly. Unfortunately, only two of our party speak wolf.”

  “Certainly keeps one on their toes, does it not?”

  I chuckled. “It does.”

  Shardon picked his way delicately among the dead, his destination Rygel and Arianne who still bowed over the silent Darkhan. He must still be alive.

  Little Bull barked, his tail wagging furiously, from his post beside Rygel. Tuatha departed his station, however, and toddled toward me, his tiny dark tail buzzing.

  “Even a youngling,” Li commented, reining in beside Shardon and swinging down from his grey.

  “Prince Raine’s son, by adoption,” I replied, hiking my leg over the pommel in preparation for sliding down from Shardon’s saddle. Li caught me mid-slide, his strong hands about my waist. His brown eyes laughed down into mine as he set me carefully on my feet. His lean hand brushed an errant lock of hair from my eyes.

  “I truly must kill this Prince,” he murmured.

  Instantly, Little Bull leaped from Rygel’s side, and rushed forward snarling. Silverruff thrust his huge body between me and Li, making me stagger. White fangs bared, hackles stiff, he planted himself squarely between us. Thunder, the only wolf bigger than Silverruff or Little Bull, advanced stiff-legged while growling low in this throat. Tuatha, also hearing his comment, snarled from somewhere around my ankles.

  Li backed up, his hand on the hilt of his saber, fear cascading across his formerly warm expression. He flinched back as Digger, having circled around him, snarled from his unprotected rear. His men, too far away to help, hadn’t even noticed their Clan Chief stood in dire peril. Corwyn and Kel’Ratan remained on their horses, their wolves at their stirrups, watching. I took full note that their bodies, and wolves, stood between Li and his warriors.

  Bar winged in to land behind me his wings half-furled, and his long shadow casting me into shade.

  Stepping up beside Silverruff, I placed my hand on his head. “Li, my good friend, carefully heed my words.”

  His eyes flicked to me and back to the ring of huge, bristling, angry wolves that halted their advance, but still threatened his life.

  “I will listen,” he said, his voice hoarse.

  “These wolves, our friends, owe their loyalty to Prince Raine. As do all wolves throughout all lands.”

  When I spoke, Thunder sat down and ceased his growl, though he watched Li closely. I flicked my hand to Digger, calling him from his position. He obeyed, though his stiff-legged bearing remained as he departed. He paused beside Little Bull who, like Thunder, sat down with ears perked.

  I brought my hands up, palms flat together before my chest. “I’m truly flattered at your attention, Clan Chief. However, I’m Raine’s mate, and these wolves protect me as well as him.”

  When my furry friends relaxed their menace Li took his hands from his saber. Sweat trickled from under his turban to slide down his sun-tanned cheek.

  “I think I am seeing the truth,” he said slowly, lifting his eyes from them to me. He smiled faintly. His hands wide from his sword, he dipped into a faint bow toward my royalty and my furred bodyguard. “I am in error, beautiful princess from far-off Kel’Halla. I shall curb my tongue and my desires henceforth.”

  Nothing much wrong with his courage, I thought in admiration.

  “Should you to try to kill Raine, dear Li,” I said, my hand raised toward him palm up in a promise of peace, “you’ll be forced to hunt every wolf that stands between you and him.”

  I chuckled, resting my hands on my hips. “I am sooo not worth it, Li. Trust me.”

  “Ah, but–”

  I lifted my finger, silencing him. “Cease, my Chief. I don’t wish you killed by wolves, or by Raine himself. You’re my good friend now.”

  “I expect I should mind my words, Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla,” he said, chuckling. Stepping forward, he closed the distance between us. The wolves permitted him access, as per my swift gesture, and retreated slightly. Yet they ringed him round, offering both protection and threat.

  Li eyed them sidelong and still grinned. “And, of course, give up my pursuit of you.”

  He bowed low, his hand on his breast, and his eyes calmly on Silverruff. “I do apologize for my words, and beg your indulgence. For I am a simple desert ignorant. I humbly beg your forgiveness.”

  Silverruff barked, his tail waving once more. Little Bull turned and trotted back to Rygel, who had risen and helped Arianne to her feet. Darkhan still lay silent on the desert floor like a dead thing. I couldn’t yet tell if he breathed. Digger and Thunder also relaxed fully, tails waving once more, and their jaws wide in lupine grins.

  Only Tuatha refused to relent. His dark baby fur bristling over his small body, he snarled, needle teeth bared. H
e jumped forward on stiff, stubby legs, threatening Li’s knee. Li frowned down at him, not much worried about puppy bites.

  My wounds reminded me of their sharp presence as I bent and picked Tuatha up. “You just threatened to kill his papa,” I said. “Tuatha doesn’t forgive very easily.”

  Li raised a hand to pet the still snarling pup, but halted, refraining with dignity. “I admire such courage,” he said. “This is a tale I must hear very soon.”

  With Arianne’s help, Rygel half staggered, half walked toward us. His arm over her shoulder and his face pale, his curiosity stood forth in his exhausted gaze. Arianne eyed Li openly, not intimidated in the least by his powerful presence. Taking her free hand she tickled Digger’s jaw, earning for herself a busy tongue swiping her face. Yuri and Yuras paced them, staring openly at the Clan Chief. Rufus, sweat dried to white salt on his bay coat tagged along, his huge head shadowing his tiny mistress.

  I couldn’t hold Tuatha’s weight with just one arm, but needed both to contain him and his fury. Thus I only jerked my chin in introduction. “Clan Chief Li, this is Princess Arianne. Raine’s sister.”

  Li clapped his palms together and bowed low. “The pleasure is all mine, royal sister of the imperious Prince Raine. Welcome, welcome.”

  Arianne nodded coolly, clearly not as taken with his manner as I.

  I bit my lip to curb a giggle. “This is Lord Rygel of Khassart, our healer.”

  “Rygel of Khassart, you are also welcome at the fires of Li’s people.”

  I hefted Tuatha’s weight onto my shoulder, and offered a short hand wave toward my folk. “This is Li, Clan Chief of the Jha’fhar tribe of the Mesaani people. He’s offered us both shelter and rest in the camp of his people.”

  Rygel dared not bow, as he would most probably fall flat on his face. He smiled, his face wan. “Forgive me for not offering you salute, Clan Chief Li of the Jha’fhar,” he said. “For I am weak and weary.”

  Li nodded. “You have manners enough, Rygel of Khassart. Come, will your beast live?”