The First King

Prew sat on top of Meeka as he trotted down a dirt road. Running alongside them was Rowan in his wolf form. They had been traveling for several days as they made their way to their first human kingdom: the Empire of Etiba.

Prew pulled Meeka’s mane as a large port city appeared over the horizon. For now, they could only see the tops of the tallest roofs and a bit of the harbor's water. Rowan shifted and approached her. Meeka snorted, warning him not to get too close.

“Is this the empire?” Rowan questioned as he took a step back from the horse.

“Indeed it is,” Prew nodded as she gave Meeka a few firm pats. “The entire empire is made up of this one port city. It is considered one of the oldest kingdoms to date.”

“Why stop at just the port?” Rowan inquired. “I thought you humans liked to spread your wings, conquer the land.”

“Why conquer the land when you can conquer the sea and trade?” She countered with a smile. “Etiba sits around Daverwood Harbor. There are five major rivers that drain into that harbor, as well as nearly a dozen tributaries. A lot of the trade that happens goes through that port.”

“So, what is it that you are wanting from this tiny empire? They won’t have much of an army.”

“No, but we will need their port,” she stated briefly. Prew looked behind her. There were four human soldiers and three other wolves. “Have the wolves shift and get on their horses.”

“Of course, my Luna,” he said before mind linking to his wolves. After a moment, he turned back to Prew with questioning look. “Why have all us go in on horseback? Won’t they know some of us are wolves anyway?”

“After they read the charter, yes, they will assume that some of my men are wolves,” Prew nodded as she gave him a sly grin. “But I’d rather keep them guessing as to who is a human and who is a wolf.”

“That’s rather cunning, Luna,” Rowan murmured as he bit his lip. But rather than continue talking, he looked back out over the port city.

“But?” She questioned, feeling as if he had more he wanted to add. “You can be frank and open with me. If something bothers you or if you have other ideas, please voice them.”

“It is not another idea that I had but a worry,” he replied.

“A worry about what?”

“Do you think they would attack us?” Rowan inquired as he finally looked back up at her. “Is that why you don’t want us in our wolf form? So that we have the upper hand?”

“Yes and no,” Prew answered as she waved her hands. “Yes, I’d rather have an upper hand when I am in there, surrounded by a bunch of humans that I neither know nor trust. But, no, I don’t fear that they would attack us. Etiba is not known for being violent. Does that make sense?”

“In a weird, roundabout way, it does,” he smirked as he began to walk away.

As Rowan mounted his horse, he could not help but chuckle to himself. Before the wedding, he had no interaction with Prew. But now that they had been traveling together, he had gotten a chance to talk to her, to get to know her. At first, she wouldn’t say much to him. Rowan didn’t even know if she listened as he talked. But he enjoyed these moments when Prew spoke, even if it was about something dull or mundane.

Rowan snapped the reins, urging his horse to go forward as Meeka began to trot. He grunted as the horse he was on began to move. Neither he nor the other wolves were accustomed to riding horses. Yes, the wild Haer pack owned several horses, but they were for pulling wagons. They were never ridden. Why ride a horse when you have a wolf?

While Rowan struggled to find a comfortable position on the saddle, he could not help but admire Prew. She sat on her large stallion with no saddle nor reins. Only a rough blanket was between her and the horse’s back. He could not fathom how she was so calm and relaxed while on her horse.

After several minutes of riding, they came to the wall surrounding the small empire. The group stopped at the gate as several guards approached Prew.

“State your business.”

“I’ve come to have an audience with the emperor,” she replied, handing the man a piece of rolled parchment.

“And who are you to request such a thing?”

“I am the Queen of Queens, ruler over five kingdoms and four wolf packs.” She answered as she looked down at the man with a stern gaze.

“I’ve never heard of such a title,” the man scoffed as he finally unrolled the parchment. He scanned it before looking back up at her with wide eyes. With a sense of urgency, he ran back toward the gate. After speaking with a few of the guards, they opened the gate for them. He ran back to Prew, offering back her scroll. “Apologies, Your Majesty. Forgive this foolish man.”

“No need to apologize,” she chuckled as she took her parchment back. “But, seeing as this is my first time in your beautiful empire, perhaps you can lead the way to the palace?”

“Of course! Of course!” He exclaimed as he bowed to her several times.

Rather than getting on a horse, the man ran on foot. As Prew and her men followed, the guard who escorted them ensured that everyone cleared their path. They were led down what seemed like a maze of streets. Sella was not a very large city but it had a simple layout. There was a large town square with homes and streets branching off from it. Etiba was a chaotic nightmare. There were vendors randomly strewn about, beggars sat on every corner, and there was a channel dug into the sides of the streets that was filled with human waste. Prew pulled her shirt over her nose in an attempt to block out the stench.

After some time, the group made their way to what seemed like an entirely different city. The streets were clean, with flowers and trees lining the sides. Some residents were walking around, but it was not crowded or loud. The buildings around them were well-made and richly adorned with intricate designs. Hidden away amongst the well-kept homes and gardens was the Palace.

As Meeka came to a stop in the courtyard, their escort ran inside. After a minute, a few others came outside to greet Prew.

“Good Morning, Your Majesty,” a man said with a deep bow. “Might I take a look at the letter that you brought with you?”

“Certainly,” Prew replied as she handed the man the rolled parchment. The man opened it, carefully reading its contents.

“Please come into the front hall,” he said as he glanced up at her. “I shall go see if the Emperor will meet with you.”

After everyone dismounted from their horses, they walked inside. Prew stood a few feet from everyone else as she looked around the hall. The floors and columns were made of a white marble that were cold to the touch. There was incense that was burning in each corner, filling the room with a pleasant, sweet smell.

A young woman entered the room, holding a tray of glasses. She approached the men first, offering them a drink, but each one denied it. Prew was their Queen, their Luna. If she did not drink first, they would not drink at all. But the girl was unaware of who the woman standing off to the side was. Prew did not wear a dress, and her clothes were simple. She did not look like royalty, but rather, she looked as if she were a servant.

“The emperor will see you now,” a voice rang out from beyond a wall made of curtains.

Prew made her way through the curtains, and into the throne room. At the end of the long room was a tall platform, on which was a man sitting on a gold throne. As she approached the bottom of the steps, she could see that the man was holding her parchment.

“Greetings, Emperor of Etiba,” she greeted with a courteous nod of her head. “I am Prew, Queen of Queens over five kingdoms and four packs.”

“Are you here to conquer my kingdom?” The emperor inquired curiously as he looked at the woman before him. When he had been told that a woman claiming to be the Queen of Queens was there to meet him, he expected someone else, someone more... refined.

“The only thing that I wish to conquer are the witches and vampires that have been plaguing our lands,” she answered.

“I have heard of the destructive rampage that has been extending from Thresnora,” he nodded as his eyes glanced around at the men behind her. “Have you been personally affected by it?”

“The kingdom of Guilford has had some encounters with vampires, but thankfully nothing more serious. But, my husband, the King of Kings, has personally lost many members of his pack at the hands of the witches.”

“Now, I thought I had gone mad when I read that the King of Kings is a wolf. Are you truly married to the beast?”

“I am,” Prew answered with a small smile. “He and I were paired together to help aid in ruling over a combined army.”

“So, tell me, Queen of Queens, why are you here?” The emperor questioned with a raised eyebrow. “You are not here to conquer me, but I hope you are not here to ask for my army.”

“I am not,” Prew replied with a shake of her head. “I am here to request use of your ports, as well as your ships.”

“And what is it that you offer in return? Am I to bend the knee like the others beneath you?”

“Bending the knee is simple when you’re alive,” she countered as she titled her head to the side.

“Are you threatening my life?!” The emperor snapped as he stood. Guards came running up, surrounding Prew and her men.

“No, it is the witches and vampires that threaten your life! You may not see them now, but you will. They have already started to move West. And should Konrad and I fail in our endeavor, that puts you even more at risk of being attacked. But it’ll take a while. First, you’ll notice that more and more ports are closed off because the cities surrounding them are covered in gloom and darkness. Then, you’ll slowly start to lose money, because now you will lose your trade. Your once-rich empire will slowly crumble. And by the time the witches are at your gates, your city shall be easy to pick apart.”

The emperor glared at her as he walked down the steps. When he stepped in front of Prew, he had to look up at her; she was taller than him by several inches.

“So, what do I get if I bend the knee to you?” He inquired as he crossed his arms.

“A seat at the table,” she answered quickly. “Should you want it, you shall have a seat on the Leader Council. You would bend the knee to me, but the council has a say in what Konrad and I do. Also, on top of the seat, we shall ensure that your port becomes our primary trade center.”

“You act as if my port isn’t already the primary trade center for our lands,” he huffed.

“You are not the only kingdom that I have plans to visit. Should you refuse, every kingdom, every pack that has aligned with me shall not do any business with you. How much money do you think you can make if no one uses your port?”

“Why bother bending the knee if all of you die? Who shall be left to trade from my port?” The man retorted.

“Why bother doing anything when we all die in the end?”

“Hmm,” he mused as he held back a smile. “Touché, Young Queen, touché. Fine, I agree to the terms of the charter. The Empire of Etiba shall acknowledge you and your husband as the King of Kings and Queen of Queens.”

“Really?” She questioned with a surprised look. “You agreed that easily? I expected to come in here and spend hours debating with you.”

“Here is the thing, Young Queen,” the emperor started as he turned away from her and walked over to a nearby table. “The witches have affected my empire. No, they have not killed any of my people, but we have lost on trade. My ships are unable to stop at any ports on the eastern shores. Dark clouds loom over the skies, and men fear to stop. Not only that, but there are fewer and fewer people in the cities that we typically trade at. We have suffered through the loss of monies. And I am sure you saw how the streets were on your way in. It did not take much for poverty to set in and explode. I fear if I don’t offer my people hope, and soon, it shall be me that is offered first should the witches attack.”

“Self-preservation, how brave of you,” Prew scoffed as she followed him.

“Every living being has a tendency to lean toward self-preservation at some point or another,” the emperor replied as he scribbled his signature at the bottom of the charter. He blew on the ink gently, coaxing it to dry before offering it back to Prew. “It is that little voice in your head that second-guesses your choices. It is that cold shiver that runs up your spine when something feels off. Everything in you wants to continue living. It does not matter what purpose your life may serve; we all want to survive. And you, Young Queen, I like you. You came to me as you are and spoke to me without constraint. There are not many people in my life who are like this. I hope you continue to survive. I’d be interested to see what all you can accomplish.”

Prew smiled as she took the parchment. She rolled it back up, and after exchanging a few more words, she and her group left. They left Etiba and headed East. There was a small kingdom that bordered the empire: the Yogan Kingdom. This was a large kingdom that was known for its cattle and wheat.

After the success with Etiba, Prew went into the throne room with more confidence. This time around, she was met by the King, his heir, and several of their advisors. The room was silent as every man read the charter.

“This is quite the decree you have here,” the King finally spoke after all were done reading. “But we are not interested in joining your fight.”

“But this isn’t just my fight. The witches won’t stop with my kingdoms or packs. The vampire’s thirst won’t suddenly be satiated with the blood of my people. They will want more, and they will make their way to your kingdom,” Prew argued as she held her head high.

“If witches or vampires dare to invade our lands, we have enough of an army to handle them,” the King shrugged nonchalantly.

“And all I am asking for is a fraction of your army to fight alongside me. But it won’t be for nothing. We offer you a seat-”

“I know what you offer!” He hissed. “I can read! But I am still not interested.”

“Is there nothing I can do to persuade you? With the other kingdoms and packs that have aligned with me, we can work on trade agreements, help with land disputes, or anything else.” She insisted as she took a step closer to the men.

“Well…” he sighed as he smirked. “Since you seem so desperate for bodies, I shall make you an offer. I will give you 25 soldiers, and in return, you will show me what is under that shirt of yours.”

Before Prew could get a single word out, Rowan and the other wolves ran forward. They stood between her and the King, blocking her from their view.

“How dare you speak to a queen in such a manner!” Rowan growled.

“That is no queen! That is just a man with some feminine features,” the King scoffed while the people around him laughed.

“Werelia Inttum,” Rowan said as he prepared to shift. But then he stopped when Prew’s hand touched his shoulder.

“Don’t,” she commanded gently. “This man is not worth fighting.”

Rowan’s shoulder relaxed under her touch, but his eyes continued to stare at the man. Should Prew change her mind, he would bring her his head. Rowan turned to look at her, and surprisingly, she did not appear angry. What he did not know was that this was nothing new for her. Humans, especially men, treated her like this often, and it was to the point that she could not be bothered to care about their words or jokes. Rowan finally nodded his head and stepped back behind her, followed by the others. Prew looked up at the King and his men, her face conveying no emotions. Her hands were steady at her side, and her heart was calm.

“Remember this: should the day ever come that you require the assistance of any kingdom under my reign, I shall make sure that none help you. You and your kingdom shall become isolated, an island around the sea of my people. And should the day come when you bow to me out of desperation, I shall break your knees. Good day.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned around, storming from the throne room. She was quiet as she walked outside and mounted Meeka. Rowan was still furious, but he followed her lead. If she were calm, then he would mimic her. If she were angry, he would have fought for her honor. If she were to cry, he would hold her to bring her comfort. Hold her? Rowan quickly shook the thought away. Prew was the wife of his cousin, his Alpha. He could not think these thoughts.