The Wolf
The First Tale From Carrock
Page 2 of 7
The castle was alive with bustling people, so few noticed the splendidly clothed gentleman who rode up through the gate. He had a bright red feather in his hat and wore a tunic and breeches in shades of scarlet. His boots were also a rusty brown, nearing red and his holster was made of shimmering snakeskin, its green the only other color in this man’s clothing besides the white fur on his long, red rider’s coat. His face was lethargic and his black hair hung lank and lifeless to his shoulders. He had a small moustache and deadly, dark eyes. He laughed self-indulgently as he got off his horse and patted its flank before waving a bejeweled hand to call a boy to take it away. He rushed through the inner courtyards and up several flights of stairs to a small door leading to a tower. He knocked once and went in without waiting for an answer. Inside a fairly tall, lanky man was sitting, clean-shaven with salt and pepper hair. He was dressed all in blackish-blue and bent over a low table that had a crystal ball and a big book on it. As the flashy young man entered, he looked up.
“Ah, Onri, you are late again,” he snapped.
“I am so sorry, Alick,” Onri said languidly, taking off his hat and throwing it on one of the unlighted torches on the wall. “But it was just the most difficult thing to get out of bed this morning. Especially with Mareesa. She just can’t have enough.”
“If I know you, you can’t either,” the wizard snapped. He’d always hated the young man’s lust for many women. “You should have been up early this morning, and you would have, if you’d heard what I did.”
“Dylan?” the beau asked, sitting up.
“He’s back again and the Gray Pack with him. At least I still have some time to prepare for any attacks.” Onri sank back into his chair and played with a glass of wine standing next to him.
“Alick, I just can’t understand why it had to be a wolf. I mean, couldn’t it have been anything else, like a rabbit? They’re easier to catch and kill.”
“A wolf is just easy enough, if you hadn’t botched the job,” the wizard growled, getting up and beginning to play with a beautifully carved and painted wooden wolf. It was howling, the eyes shut and there was a large white spot on its chest.
“I will explain again that there are certain rules that no wizard can break and you know that,” the older man was becoming more animated now. Onri just sipped at his wine. “I wanted to make him an eagle and cage him here in my castle. That would be more fun than to have the Wolf roaming around the woods in my lands!” The wizard cursed and set the figurine down on the mantelpiece again. “But it is his character. He is wild, but noble and always ready to help.”
“And what beast is nobler than a Royal Wolf of Carrock,” Onri said with a yawn, “I know, I know!”
“Then why do you ask, you idiot?” Alick’s face slowly began to burn and his rich baritone turned very sharp. “After all you were in this from the beginning, and if it hadn’t been for you and your filthy friends, that wolf would be dead and we’d be rid of our problems.”
“But I still wouldn’t have what I want most!” Onri yelled back. Alick suddenly became calm again.
“Ah, yes, the maiden Tabea.” He chuckled softly. “I believe that she has had some very — er — unpleasant times since her lover disappeared.”
“Of course she was the only one who didn’t know that everyone here at the castle knew that she and him were lovers!” the young man groaned in his almost feminine voice. “Poor little fool.”
“She could be so happy with you.” Alick mimicked Onri’s voice perfectly. He chuckled to himself. “No, no, she was happier with Dylan than she could ever be with you,” he continued. “You’d probably take what you wanted, maybe have her a few more times and then get the next girl.” He shook his head at the unbelieving young man. “Onri, Onri, don’t you know that I can read you like a book? Don’t you know that I know how many girls go through your house in one week?” He luxuriated in the dandy’s shocked face. “But don’t worry, Dylan will never find out, if you do as I say. I think Miss Tabea needs a visit and an offer of protection from you, my friend, don’t you think?”
“Yes, yes,” Onri slowly came out of his daze. “But why now?”
“Fool, last night was full moon!” the wizard hissed. “Don’t you know what happened to him and where he went, huh? I will give you three guesses and then I think I’ll change you into an animal. Probably a sulky hare or a whining dog would be your other form, though I would rather like a toad to keep around and to step on at times.” His heavy booted foot came down on the floor. The other jumped up, grabbed his hat and ran from the room, fleeing the diabolical laughter that echoed through the castle.
Tabea felt rather tired as she tended to her chickens. They were contentedly pecking at the seeds she scattered around. This was her farm. It wasn’t big, but there was still enough room for the two cows and few chickens. She grew most of her food in the garden and sold some rare herbs to the people who needed them. Her butter was also some of the best in the area and a favorite of the castle, when there was some left to sell to them. Usually the poor folk got it first. Even so, she had a very comfortable life, even after Dylan disappeared. Dylan... The name brought back memories and she looked up, expecting to see him like she had for the first time, some five years ago. It was shortly after the men had come to foreclose the farm. Her father had died with big debts and she couldn’t pay. It wasn’t just that they wanted to sell her land, but her also. I couldn’t bare that, she thought and carefully put the rest of the seed she had in her apron back into a big barrel.
Then he’d come. She had asked for help and the son of the lord of Carrock had come. She’d told him about what they wanted from her and he pulled out a sack of gold coins.
“Here, this will take care of all of your needs for a while,” he laughed and rose to leave.
“Will you come back?” she asked as he mounted his dappled horse.
“If you want me to, fair maiden,” he’d answered. And there was something warm and tender in his eyes that she couldn’t name. Then he rode away. He did come back, often, and they became lovers. Then she remembered his offer.
“Tabea, I want to take you to the castle and make you my woman the way it should be.”
“No, I don’t want it to be that way. This is just fine.” She pulled her robe more tightly around her.
“Why not?” He laid his hands on her shoulders. “I want to dress you in silk and make you the lady you are. You are more pretty than any of the girls at the palace and I want them to know who stole my heart.” She turned around and looked in his eyes.
“No, Dylan, I won’t. I don’t want them to know that the Lord of Carrock loves a simple farm girl. They would think less of you and I couldn’t bare that.” He was silent, sad. When he left shortly before noon, he didn’t say another word about it. She only saw him once more before he vanished. She sighed to herself. Now he’s back, she thought. If he offers this to me again, I’ll say yes. I can’t stand his being gone.
“Tabea!” The call came from a good ways away. No, not that fool Onri, she thought angrily. She reached for her rifle and weighed it in her arm.
“What do you want?” she snapped as he rode up. He didn’t answer, but swung off his horse and made a gallant bow.
“My lady, I have come to offer you my protection.”
“From whom?” He stepped closer with a shrug and devoured her shapely figure with his eyes.
“From wild beasts, people who might want the farm, or maybe wolves.”
“Shall we say from — Dylan?” He jumped back. Now the rifle was pointing at his chest, cocked.
“The only thing I need protection from is the likes of you, Onri,” she snapped. “I’ve told you before, I’m waiting for Dylan, if he’s dead or alive. I’ve promised him and no man will touch me, but him, is that clear.” The dandy’s face was as red as his shirt, but he nodded slowly.
“Now get out of here before I change my mind and blow you away.” He stumbled backwards and swung himself on his horse.
“This is not the last time we’ve talked, Tabea. I’ll get you yet.” He turned his steed and thundered over the farmyard and away. She sighed lowering the rifle. Now her day was thoroughly ruined, but there still was a lot to do. She didn’t notice the Wolf resting at the edge of the woods, guarding her little farm.
“He’s done it again!” Alick thundered, hurling a full glass of wine into the fireplace. “He’s not back two days and he does it again. ..., I hate that Wolf.” He cursed loudly and turned to where Onri was standing with a cloaked figure.
“What of Tabea?” the wizard snapped.
“The usual,” the dandy said in a surly mood.
“That girl always has the best of you, doesn’t she?” the cloaked figure laughed.
“Oh, shut up!” Onri nearly screamed. “I’ll get her yet!” With that he turned and stalked out of the room.
“Poor girls tonight,” the man in the cloak sighed.
“Never mind about that, do you have anything to report?” Alick interrupted.
“The meeting is set for the full moon, as you wanted, sir, but the old man wanted to pick the place himself, he’s not going to tell anyone until the night when we go.”
“If that’s the way it is. At least take a watcher with you.”
“No, sir, if I do that, then they’ll know. Roche is not stupid. He doesn’t believe in magic, but he has eyes in his head.”
“Then I’ll take them out with his hook when he’s in my dungeons,” the wizard said with relish. “Go now.” The cloaked man bowed and left the castle. He didn’t notice the wolf that was lying among the high trees near the road. Suddenly it sprang on him. He tried to free his dagger, but his arm got caught in his cloak. He heard a tearing and the wolf darted away, part of the sleeve of his tunic in its mouth.
There was much laughter in the Tavern that night and Will noticed with great satisfaction that the drinks were really being bought.
“So, master barkeep,” Roche growled, tapping his hook on the counter top, “what is the latest news on the Wolf?”
“They say the Gray Pack freed a whole company of slaves being taken away to be sold!” Pulleny laughed.
“What makes you so happy, Stev?” the old man asked, brushing through his short white beard.
“My mother and sister happened to be in that company,” the young man returned.
“So tell us about it, Stev Pulleny!” someone cried. The young man grinned from ear to ear and began his tale...
...Twilight was coming on and the slaves were being pushed along at a great speed. The leader constantly looked into the woods to his right and to his left.
“I don’t like this at all,” he muttered. “Specially since the Gray Pack came back.”
“Don’t talk about them!” another soldier whispered. “It’s bad luck.” In the same instant some fifty gray shadows leaped from among the trees. There were only seven soldiers tending the slaves. One of them was able to get his gun around before one wolf locked its jaws on his wrist hard. Blood spurted. The man screamed and tried to get loose. The wolf let go and he ran down the road, still screaming. The others just split the place, except for the leader and his companion. Two huge wolves leaped at them from behind, pinning them to the ground. All the leader could see was two wolf feet coming at him, then a loud sniffing. There was a quiet yip and growl and the weight vanished off his back. He jumped up and ran away. The other soldier got the same inspection, but stayed on, much to the awe of the people. There was something in his eyes. He walked towards the biggest Wolf.
“Sir, I want to stay and help, if you don’t mind,” he said. The Wolf bowed his head slightly and then his pack went among the slaves, their sharp teeth making quick work of the ropes. Prisca Pulleny collapsed, only to be caught by the wide back of the Wolf. He sniffed at her and licked her cheek lightly. She opened one eye and squeezed it shut again, before looking at him again. Did he look friendly or what? Slowly the little girl stood up and put one hand out. The Wolf didn’t move. She touched his shaggy head and stroked it, as if he was a big dog. He gently took an edge of her dress in his teeth and pulled.
“Shall we go?” she asked. The Wolf didn’t answer, but turned and trotted off down the road. Prisca ran to catch up with him and put her hand on his large neck. It didn’t seem he’d noticed her. The slaves followed his slow jog until they were too tired to go on. The Wolf let the little girl climb on his back for a while, then he stopped in a clearing. His bright howl split the night and they all settled down, the Gray Pack keeping watch.
“They’re nice wolves, aren’t they, Mommy?” Prisca asked as her mother wrapped her arms around her.
“Yes, Prisca, they are the lord’s wolves.”
“The Lord Dylan’s?” Her mother nodded, not knowing that their lord was right near them...
“Well, that big one brought Mom and Prisca home safe and sound this morning,” Stev Pulleny finished his story.
“Oh, he did, did he?” Roche laughed. “You must be dreaming.”
“Well, my Mom is safe at home and my sister is safe at home and I happened to see them coming down the lane with Prisca riding the Wolf!” There was loud murmuring in the Tavern. “You can ask my Mom if you want,” the young man cried.
“All right, all right, kid, I believe you,” the old man said. He looked around at the people.
“Say, Will, where’s Tennek?”
“Haven’t seen him yet today. Told me yesterday, he had some business to tend to.”
“Oh.”
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