Master's Mind (The Dagger of Dragon Rose Book 1)

All hail the Faerie Queen - Faeries Flight

Taren was startled awake the next morning by the sound of wolves howling. The mournful sound echoed through the halls of the Wolftracker den, making it sound as if the whole pack was standing outside the door of Taren’s room.

Trying to ignore the sound, Taren rolled over, burying his head under the heavy down pillow. The feather filled pillow did much to muffle the sound, but it could not block the sad sound out completely. The sound chased away any vestiges of sleep from Taren’s tired body. He sat up, looking around the room to see if Shaunna was still there. The spot where she had lain on his bed was cold. No scent of her could be detected in the pillow where her head had been. No indentation creased the mattress where her body had been.

“Did I dream the whole thing?” He didn’t mean to speak out loud, and the answer that came startled him more than the sound of his own voice had.

“No, it was no dream.”

Taren’s gaze snapped to the spot the voice was coming from.

Shaunna Nightshade stood in the doorway fully dressed in her traveling clothes. (A green blouse and brown skirt, belted around the waist by a thin line of rope. A small pouch and a dagger dangled precariously from the rope.) “We slept in the same bed last night. Beyond that, nothing happened.” She answered the question before he had even asked it, just as he had thought of it.

“What’s that noise?” Taren indicated the echoing howl that was still reverberating through the caves.

Shaunna suddenly looked very uneasy. She glanced behind her before she answered. “That is the death howl. The Elder of this pack died yesterday afternoon. They just found the body.”

The answer was very discomforting to Taren.

“What time did I go take my bath last night?”

She thought for a moment. “I didn’t come in until past midnight. It was after that.” A look of curiosity crept into her eyes. “Why?”

“Are you sure Ranan died yesterday afternoon?”

Shaunna looked alarmed as Taren spoke the elder’s name. “Ranan?”

“Ranan Moonwalker, Elder of the pack.” A sick feeling began to build in the pit of Taren’s stomach.

“Ranan Moonwalker died a hundred years ago. Nathal Trapspringer was the elder that died yesterday.” She was watching Taren carefully.

Taren looked suddenly frantic. “I spoke with him in the bath chamber. I shook his hand. He told me that an oath had to be fulfilled.”

“Did he say what oath?” Shaunna was alarmed.

“No.”

“What were you talking about when he made the statement?”

Taren blushed. “You and Parel.”

Shaunna’s almond shaped eyes went wide with fear. “What exactly was said in the conversation?”

Taren blushed even deeper. “He told me that Parel is probably still alive. Silax likes to use live bait.”

“What else?”

He didn’t know what was making her so nervous, but it was unnerving him. It felt like all the blood in his body was rushing to his face. He didn’t know why they were even having this conversation. He didn’t want her to know what he had said about her, but the look on her face told him that he should tell her. So here he was, about to repeat everything that he had said the previous night to the spirit, or whatever it was, of Ranan Moonwalker.

“I was telling him of the dilemma I would be in if Parel came back.” He could feel the heat radiating from his face as he spoke. “I am not sure I love her, and I am coming to care for you in ways that extend beyond mere friendship.”

It was Shaunna’s turn to blush.

Taren continued. “That is when he spoke these words to me: There are forces at work here that are beyond you, beyond me, even beyond the force of love (which some people claim to be the greatest force in existence). There is an oath that must be fulfilled. ” Taren shook his head as he continued. “He wouldn’t tell me what the oath was. He just said that I would find out in due time.” Sudden insight flooded his mind. “You know what the oath is, don’t you? That’s why you want to know what was said.”

She turned around to face the corridor outside the open door. “I know nothing about it.”

Taren knew she was lying, but her tone of voice clearly stated that it would not be wise to pursue the matter.

“The others are all waiting for you. We are ready to leave.” After delivering her message, she walked into the corridor, closing the door behind her.

“What was that all about?” he wondered out loud.

He quickly changed his clothes and gathered the few belongings that he had with him. He made sure that the little purple cylinder was easily accessible to him. He scanned the simple bed, the bedside table, and the lamp. Those were the only furnishings this room had. “Had my father slept in this same room?” He didn’t dwell on the question long, for it had no immediate answer. He would have to ask Grathius later.

Without further delay he left the room through the only door, closing it carefully behind him. He quickly crossed the distance that led to the main area, still surrounded by the sad howls of the pack. When he reached the assembly area it looked like the whole pack was there.

The pack was huge. There had to be at least two or three hundred of these creatures gathered around the bier in the center of the room. Some of them were standing on their hind legs like men. Others were down on all four legs like the animals that they so closely resembled. Others were sitting, very canine like. All were facing the stone in the center of the room, and singing a dirge in a single voice.

The Canavar in the center of the room looked so unlike the one he had spent time with in the bathing chamber last night that again Taren wondered if he had dreamed the encounter. The fur on the body was blacker than midnight. The muzzle was a bit longer than most in the room with a jagged scar running the length from his nose to his eye. He had to have stood about seven feet tall when he was on his hind legs.

Glancing around the room, he noticed the rest of his party, except Grathius, standing near the entrance to the clan dwelling. Each of them held a hiking pack on their back, and there was another bag on the floor between them. Taren assumed that the bag had to be his to carry.

He made his way as quietly and unobtrusively as he could, not wanting to disturb the strangely beautiful yet sad song that the pack was singing.

As he approached his companions, only Shaunna noticed him approach. A smile spread across her face when she saw him, making her more beautiful than he had ever imagined possible. She met him halfway around the room and, wrapping her arm around his, led him to the rest of the companions.

“This is not our grief, let’s wait outside.” Taren said as he stooped and picked up the small bag from the ground.

The others all agreed and quickly left the chamber. Before leaving, Taren took one last look around the home of Grathius’ pack. He saw Grathius across the room wearing a hiking pack and holding a very small pup. The pup was trying to bury itself into the fur of the larger Canavar.

Shaking his head and not wanting to intrude any longer than was absolutely necessary, the young would be king turned and left the home of Grathius Wolftracker.

They waited for their last companion to join them, all the while the woods around them echoed with the sad song the Canavars were singing. The travelers didn’t speak at all; they just listened to the song.

It was almost mid-day when Grathius finally joined them. Tears were streaming from his eyes.

“Are you well?” Narissa asked as she walked over to him to place her small hand on his fur.

“Somebody does not want me to join you. My best frrreind was murrrderrred yesterrrday and my daughterrr’s illness has taken a turrrn for the worrrse.” At the mention of his daughter his tear stream became stronger. “She may die before I get back. The pack healerrr said she would watch overrr herrr.”

The image of the small pup appeared before Taren’s eyes. He was right; she was sick. Shaunna gave Grathius a few minutes to pull himself together before calling them back to the task at hand.

“We really should be going.” She sounded apologetic as she spoke. “Let’s head north. The forest should be that direction.”

So they set off to continue their journey.

Shaunna was in the lead, as she knew where they were going, followed closely by Narissa, in her cat form. Next came Hope, then Grathius, and Taren brought up the rear. It was hotter than it should have been this time of year, and as such they all started perspiring profusely in a very short time. They followed a northward heading for the entire time that they walked, not deviating from their heading even slightly. Just as dusk was beginning to settle itself across the land, Shaunna called a halt.

“This is probably a good enough place to stop for the night.” She declared looking around the area to make sure it had what they would need for the night.

A small stream trickled by the campsite, providing water. Animal tracks could be seen all over the area, even to the eyes of those that were untrained to look for them. The ground was covered with a spongy moss-like substance that would cushion the ground. Mushrooms dotted the outside of the mossy area, forming a circle that surrounded them.

Narissa was the first to notice the mushrooms. She approached Shaunna, nudged her with her nose and waited for her to clasp the cloak around her neck. Shifting to her humanoid form, she asked the question they would all be wondering when they noticed the mushroom ring.

“Shaunna, will we be safe here? This is a Faerie ring.” Her luminescent eyes twinkled in fear as she spoke. “Aren’t they supposed to be highly protective of these places?”

“Normally it would not be safe to enter a Faerie ring. As long as you are with me you will be safe. Faeries recognize the Dark Elves love of nature. They respect us as no other race does.” The answer seemed to ease the smaller woman’s fears, until she continued. “We are being followed. We will be safe as long as we are in the confines of the ring.”

Taren was alarmed by the proclamation. “Are you sure? I haven’t seen anything.”

“I noticed them about two hours ago. What I have been seeing has me very unnerved.” She looked around at her companions one by one. Seeing that she had their undivided attention she continued. “There are two creatures, both very large. They move with a skill that nothing that big should possess.

The companions looked at each other nervously. The thought of two large creatures stalking them was not at all appealing.

“Don’t worry. We’re safe tonight.” As she spoke the last sentence, Shaunna began the preparations for a small camp.

They didn’t dare build a fire, for fear of upsetting the faeries, so dinner was a simple affair made up of some unleavened bread, some kind of cheese, and dried meat. The meal was eaten in silence as the sun slowly sank behind the mountains.

As they each finished eating the meager meal that had been provided, each of the companions climbed into their bedroll. The exhaustion of the days march quickly overcame them and they were quickly enveloped within the protecting arms of slumber.

Shaunna was the last to allow herself to fall asleep. What she had told them about the understanding between the Dark Elves and the Faeries had been true; there were protocols that had to be observed. She watched in detached fascination as the faerie lights burst into being one by one. She had seen this phenomenon only once before, when she was a child. Her mother had taken her to a faerie ring to explain to her the importance of observing the nobility of nature. It was strange that she couldn’t remember the details of that conversation now.

As they burst into life, the lights moved to each of the sleeping companions in turn. After they were finished examining the slumbering trespassers to their sanctuary, the faeries turned their attention to the only one that was awake.

The most beautiful of the faeries fluttered up to Shaunna’s face. Her butterfly wings were iridescent in the moonlight. She wore no clothing, like the rest of her kind, and her pale skin gave her the look of a porcelain doll. She had long black hair that fell to just below her waist. An ornate crown adorned her head.

“What brings you into our circle, oh daughter of the darkness?” the queen faerie asked. Her voice was small yet clearly audible.

“My companions and I are being followed. I saw the ring here and brought them here to ask for your protection.” Shaunna was having trouble remembering the words that voiced the correct question to the faeries.

“You thought to use the ring for the protection of your friends. That is a noble cause. They will have our protection this night. They will leave unharmed when the light comes.”

Shaunna was happy things were going so well, until the queen continued. “You are not like the other night children. You have seen death. You have caused it.” The elation she had felt quickly began to fade. “You must not be allowed the chance to kill again. You will not leave this place.”

“No.” Dread began to seep into her soul as the Queen Faerie spoke. “I have to take Taren to see my grandmother. He will never find her without me.”

“The law is very clear on this. You were once a friend to nature; you are now an enemy. You must not be allowed to kill again.” The queen’s face grew fierce as she spoke. It looked as if she was about to attack Shaunna when a voice broke the silence outside of the area where they were conversing.

“Take me instead.” Narissa was standing slightly behind the Faerie Queen. “I invoke the right of substitution.”

Shaunna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Narissa had just offered to be taken in her stead. She couldn’t allow this.

“You can’t...” Her speech was cut short as brilliant lights began to dance around Narissa.

“It is okay.” Shaunna replied. “Taren needs you to lead him to see your grandmother. He needs you more than he needs me.”

The lights started to dance slowly, but they quickly increased in speed and intensity until they completely hid the small woman from view. It only took an instant and when the lights slowed down again Narissa was gone.

Shaunna began to shake her head in disbelief. “No, no, no. This can’t be happening.” She sunk slowly to her knees. “What have I done?”

The Queen Faerie fluttered before her eyes again. “It is done, nature has been satisfied.” Then she blew something into Shaunna’s eyes.