Shadow

Raedwulf Dolph

Three days pass and the males that once stood over a hundres strong now were a meager twenty-three gathered in the throne room. They have each gone through extensive testing and interviews with myself and Idonia. Now we choose who will swear to stand beside us as Viker. We each need two, but Khannun Kol had taken over twenty in his years of reigning.

It was a hard think to decide. I don’t know many of these males well. I knew Rikki very well when he was sworn in having seven years. As with Danal, I didn’t know him well, be he was smart and strong. Our relationship formed throughout the years into a brothrhood.

I have to look at these males and decide who I want to stand by me as brothers.

“You all have shown exceptional strength and willpower over this week. After much consideration, Khanelea Idonia and I have choosen those who we wish to stand beside up. If you name is called you have the choice to either accept or decline. Remember that being a royal Viker requires you to be dedicated to the person you serve for life. To ensure the rule of our family and the bloodline. It is your life.”

Sage Raudebjorn stood with us, to witness their swearing. In a mezzanine above the back half of the room stood my mother and Khannun Kol, along with most of their collective Viker.

I turn to Idonia, letting her announce her choices first. “I would like to call on the aid of Avon Dolph, to serve at my side.”

I watch as my brother takes a deep breath and steps forward. He appraoches us. As he walks, his sword is unsheathed. As he kneels and bows his head, his sword is laid at her feet. “Khanelea Idonia Torbet-Dolph, I swear to serve at your side, to protect you all my days, to pass on my oath to your blood, to advise you in all way, and to die with my sword in hand for you.”

“Rise, Viker Avon Dolph,” Idonia gives her hand to him and he takes it. “I swear to always be cautious in action, to head your words, and to always keep you in my home.”

Avon moved to Idonia’s side, sheathing his sword and rising his head high to gaze on the other males. I watch as she rakes her eyes over each of them. Two squirm under her gaze before her eyes land on one blond male that she’s grown close to over her time here. She had encouraged him to try and become a Viker, even though he was not from a rich or noble family.

“I would like to call on the aid of Kosta Nenouf, to serve at my side.”

The male with shaggy blond curls looks around, confused by her declaration. He has struggled keeping up with some of the others, not to meantion his abhorid score on his history and written exam. In an interview though, he seemed commited to study harder and better himself for us. That, and Idonia trusts him.

Finally he steps forward. No blade sat on his hip, but Kosta presented two daggers, about six inches each, and laid them in front of Idonia as he said his words. “Khanelea Idonia Torbet-Dolph, I swear to serve at your side, to protect you all my days, to pass on my oath to your blood, to advise you in all way, and to die with my sword in hand for you.”

“Rise, Viker Kosta Nenouf,” she said and he did so. Their hands meet and she said her words. “I swear to always be cautious in action, to head your words, and to always keep you in my home.”

With that, Kosta Nenouf took his place at the side of Idonia, past Avon but before Olen. Next, it would be my turn to declare my males. My brothers. Lycan I would need to trust with my life, my mate’s life, my pups’ lives.

A small shiver of doubt pressed through me. Idonia choose two southern males, my brother and her preasent soldier. She had done this because I swore to take the one northern male that she adored to no end.

“I would like to call on the aid of Cuyler Hoye, to serve at my side.”

With a smirk and swift feet. Cuyler fell in front of me, twin hunting swords laid at my feet. “Khanel Raedwulf Dolph, I swear to serve at your side, to protect you all my days, to pass on my oath to your blood, to advise you in all way, and to die with my sword in hand for you.”

“Rise, Viker Cuyler Hoye, I swear to always be cautious in action, to head your words, and to always keep you in my home.”

The final Viker was one Idonia and I faught over for many hours the past nights. A Viker she belived would bring value and intelligence. One of swift speed and impecable smarts. Khannun Kol had begged me, ordered me to dismiss her from the competition. But as I watched her eyes meet mine, a fieceness came over her face.

Hertha was prepared for denial.

Before I say the words, I meet the gaze of Khannun Kol. If he was going to try and kill me he couldn’t well dictate who I take as a Viker. “I would like to call on the aid of Hertha Dolph, to serve at my side.”

The room goes silent. A few males in front of me curse. Khannun Kol shakes his head. Mother smiles. Hertha aproaches. Her quiver and bow are placed in front of me. “Khanel Raedwulf Dolph, I swear to serve at your side, to protect you all my days, to pass on my oath to your blood, to advise you in all way, and to die with my sword in hand for you.”

“Rise, Viker Hertha Dolph,” I put a special emphasis on these words. A female Viker, my sister, and one of the strongest lycan I know mentally and emotionally. “I swear to always be cautious in action, to head your words, and to always keep you in my home.”

Hertha stand beside Cuyler at the end of our row. Sage Raudebjorn comes in front of each new Viker, making them sign their name to an oath document. Olen doesn’t need to sign as he won’t be sworn in for a few more years. Rikki signed his oath many years ago, when he came to having legal age to sign his life to me.

As Hertha makes her mark, Khannun Kol leaves the mezzanine, taking many of his Viker with him. Few stay behind to watch the new Vikers as they gather in front of us.

"You will be moving into our wing and each be given a set of apartments to call your own. Your mates are welcome and your pups as well," I inform them. "Though I don't think any of you have mates yet."

They shake their heads. "We will give you time to ready you things and write corrispondence to your families to tell them what your have accomplished. Then servants will come to help you move your things to our wing," Idonia tells them. "Avon, Kosta, Olen, you are dismissed."

"Cuyler, Hertha, you are dismissed." They both leave. I nod my head, taking Idonia hand and lead the three of us out of the throne room. Once we are alone in the hallways, I begin again, "Father is not going to like what I just did."

"Maybe with three pups on the line he won't follow through with it," Rikki suggests in a low voice.

"You should tell him," Idonia states yet again. She's brought it up a few times, but I could never bring myself to utter the truth to him. It seems wrong that Rikki would know when my blood brothers don't even know.

"He has already decided I won't sit a day on the throne. I might as well spite him while I can."

"Why plan a coupe against his own heir?"

"To understand the whims of my Father is to understand the gods themselves," I tell him. "We need to prepare for the banquet to welcome the new Viker."