The Wolf Queen
Chapter 18: First Strikes

1202- June

“IMEAN, SHE’S BEAUTIFUL.” The man driving the wagon says, “But she’s a barmaid. How many men has she had?” He is in his thirties with long blonde hair and a short beard. His left knee is stiff from an old injury.

The man on the horse shrugs, “I don’t care. I’m going to marry her.” He is younger than his compatriot, short dark hair reveals a scar on the side of his head.

“Alright, but at least let me pay her a visit first.” The blonde man laughs.

“What’s this?” the younger man points to a fallen tree blocking their path. The first wagon stops. The others follow suit.

“We’re going to have to move it.” The man driving the wagon stands to climb down. An arrow tears through his neck.

Someone shouts ‘ambush’ and the remaining men scramble back. The road is too narrow for the wagons to turn and they are too heavy for the horses to easily back up.

Another arrow catches the second driver in the chest.

“Prepare to defend yourselves.” Their leader shouts, giving away his position. The first arrow misses him and the second hits his upper leg. He struggles to stay on his horse.

Three figures in dark cloaks appear from the woods. Bringing the fight from the treetops to the ground. The first hooded figure makes straight for the last wagon, blocking an attack and shoving someone to the ground on his way.

The shortest figure swings his Warhammer and takes three men out. He is making his way to the final wagon slowly, where the first figure is engaged in a battle with the driver.

The final figure is moving quickly from soldier to soldier, taking as many out as he can. His movements are quick and fluid.

The leader calls a retreat, and the third wagon starts moving backwards. The hooded figure is thrown off balance by this and his opponent seizes his chance, aiming his own sword at him.

A fourth figure drops from the tree and lands on the wagon. He slides down the top and kicks the assailant from the wagon.

The soldiers scatter into the forest, leaving the hooded figures behind.

“Thanks, Runir.” Will speaks first.

“You are welcome.” Channin flicks her hood off, grinning.

He rolls his eyes and jumps off the wagon, “Let’s get this thing turned around.”

Raoul takes one side and Will takes the other, they push the wagon back far enough that Channin can turn the horse to face Ravenguard.

They repeat the process with the other two carts. Runir and Ian take the second cart and Raoul drives the third.

“What do you think is in here?” Channin asks, “It’s awfully heavy to be food.”

“It wasn’t guarded enough to be weapons or information.” Will notes, “It could be any number of things.”

They arrive back in Ravenguard safely and the relief can easily be felt. We waste no time in opening the wagons. The first one is filled with boxes of blankets and several books, the middle one is filled with herbs and dried meat. The last one has a large square metal frame and a straight arm on top with a basket at the end.

“What is that?” Runir asks, studying it.

Will shakes his head, “I don’t know, but whatever it is, it is probably good that we have it.”

I don’t want to admit that I agree with him. I can’t imagine what Svetozar plans to use this thing for, but I know it will end in bloodshed.

“William?” Channin says from the back of the first wagon, “You might want to see this.”

She is nestled in, with a wooden box opened and papers scattered around. Each has a faded sketch on it, resembling the thing in wagon number three.

“Blueprints.” She explains, “For the catapult. It looks like the idea is to launch boulders into villages.”

“Then it’s very good we have it.”

“These are duplicates.” She points to the bottom corner, “The originals will have an architect seal here.” She stacks the papers up, “I’ll see what we can find here.”

She returns to the house, scattering them across the table. I watch from my place in the kitchen as she pours over them. She makes a small stack in one chair. This stack grows into three more before William brings her another box of blueprints. Raoul and Ian each bring another also and soon, her single pile has become seven.

“Would you like some help?” Will asks, bringing the fifth box in.

She shakes her head, “You’ll just throw me off.”

He frowns and I can see that his feelings are hurt.

“But I could go for some tea.” She must have realized it too.

He enters the kitchen and fills the teapot with water.

“We should try to be civil.” He says, “For her sake.” He steps over my tail to put the kettle on the fire.

I nod, “So you sense it too?”

“Yeah,” he leans against the counter, “Something is coming and I’m not sure what it is.”

“The best thing we can do is be there when it gets here.”

The pot whistles and he finishes her tea. I am alone in the kitchen again.

“Here.” He places the cup in front of her and slides into the only empty chair.

After a few moments, she begins to relay her findings to him. Each pile is devoted to a different weapon. The catapult is only one of about 10 massive weapons the King has access too. Some of them are too large to be moved except by a small herd of horses. There is no mention of Will or Channin or the rebellion in the papers. The capital city, however, is buzzing.

The heads on sticks have multiplied and the leader of the supply train hesitated to tell the King anything.

“What do you mean it’s all gone?” he growls.

“They came out of the forest, wearing all black.”

“Who?”

The leader shakes his head, “I didn’t see their faces. They were covered. There were lots of them. A short man with a hammer, two with swords and in the trees with bows.”

“Your task force was over powered by three foot soldiers and some treefolk?” he is eerily calm.

The leader nods slowly, realizing how bad it sounds, “They were organized. They knew what they were doing.”

King Svetozar leaps up from his throne, “You are organized! You have military strength and you were too afraid to fight back!”

“Your majesty, I-“

“Get him out of my sight.” King Svetozar mumbles, “General Blatz.”

The old general steps into the room, “You sent for me?”

“You are going to Toma. The city is now under new rule. You will escort the supplies from there to Paedleigh.”

“If they were attacked, what makes you think that I will make a difference?” Isaac folds his arms behind him.

“You are one of the most capable Generals in Laneyth. A force of nature, even. I cannot pull Able from his place in Paedleigh.”

Isaac nods, “I will leave at once.”

The General rides out the same day as receiving the order. As he rides beneath the archway, he looks up to see the badge still hanging from the arrow in the crest.

“There’s only one.” Channin notes.

“We need to take it anyways.” Will sighs, “If they find a hole, they will take it.”

He kisses her cheek and pulls his hood up, signaling Raoul and Ian to start in.

The three step out at the same time. The old man flings a round weapon between Ian and Raoul, it lodges into a tree.

“The next one won’t miss.” He warns, “Let me pass.”

“I don’t think we can.” Raoul charges forward. The old man easily dodges the Warhammer and redirects it into the side of the wagon. Raoul turns it loose and prepares to fight with his fists. The old man blocks every hit and sends Raoul to the ground. Ian has more luck, landing one hit and dodging the return.

The Vampire keeps his sword away, until a second chakram comes out. Ian blocks the first several attacks and even pushes the chakram back into the old man.

Will refuses to let Ian lose and rushes in. He blocks the next one as it goes for the Vampire’s head. It bounces off the sword and crashes to the dirt. The old man mumbles something and pulls two more from his coat. These are smaller and meant for hand-to-hand combat, rather than being thrown.

He rushes forward, blocking Will’s sword with one arm and swinging at him with the other. Will jumps back to avoid it. He steps to the side and the man stumbles forward. Will drives his sword through the center of the chakram into the dirt. The old man releases it instantly and launches the last one towards Will. It grazes his arm. The fight is weaponless, just like that. They both block every attack. An even match.

“For the love of the Queen.” The man mumbles. He catches Will’s arm and spins him around, a kick to the knee forces him to the ground. Will only has time to roll over before the man leaps on him, pressing a knife against his neck. His hood slips off and the man stares for a full minute.

“William?”

“Isaac?”

The general scrambles back and pushes his own hood down. He holds his hand out, “I thought I recognized that swordsmanship.”

“Good thing you held your punches then.” Will takes his hand and allows Isaac to help him up.

“Will.” Channin races up and hugs him tightly, “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Channin is with you?” Isaac observes.

She turns, “Hi, Isaac.” She looks at the ground, ashamed of what she’s done.

The General picks up the chakrams, “What are you kids doing out here?”

They all look to the ground, Channin picks her head up first.

“We-“

Isaac sighs, “Don’t tell me it was you.”

Channin starts to speak but only nods.

“You’re coming back to Dragonspire and we are going to get this sorted out.” Isaac steps closer to her.

She stumbles back, “I’m not going anywhere. What we did to Paedleigh was wrong.”

“And what happened?” Isaac asks.

“They couldn’t pay taxes. Their fields were burnt. We couldn’t let him burn the city too.”

“Load of good you did.” The General steps back, “Not only did you fail to save the city, you also cost sixteen men their lives. This stunt ends now.”

“No.” her answer is firm, “It’s not a stunt and they were killed by the King for being associated with us.”

Isaac looks between the two of them, clearly disappointed. “I cannot endorse what you are doing. Svetozar has made great changes in Laneyth. He has improved the economy and the race situation is the backlash from that.”

“What race situation?” Runir snaps. He’s accepted Isaac’s beratement this far, but the attack on the rebellion proves too much, “We don’t have a problem with Svetozar. He’s locked Elves out of the capital city before. He won’t allow Orcs or Centaurs inside Dragonspire. You’ll stand here and say there’s a race situation. We aren’t the problem.”

The Elf is braced to fight Isaac.

“Have you ever seen a Centaur?” Isaac turns away from Channin to face Runir, “They are massive and cumbersome. Half man, half horse, after all.”

“That shouldn’t matter. Do you think they want to be inside stone walls? Why do you think they live in tents?”

“That is enough, Elf.” Isaac is done, “I am a General of King Svetozar and you will respect me.”

Channin’s wolf slams into Isaac, pinning him to the ground. She stands over him, growling.

“She is the future Queen.” Will says, “You will respect her.”

Isaac struggles against the wolf, but she doesn’t move.

Will hesitates and puts his hand against her shoulder, “Come on, Chan.”

The wolf looks back at him and steps away.

Isaac gets to his feet. “Good luck with your rebellion,” he grumbles.

Channin turns and bounds into the woods. Ian, Raoul and Runir follow her.

Isaac climbs back into the wagon. “I still don’t understand what you are doing.” Isaac sighs, “Why attack the supplies? Why not just tell Svetozar what happened?”

“Would he listen?” Will asks, “Did he listen to Lorbeck or the others?”

Isaac sets his jaw and cracks the reins against the horse, “You’re making a horrible mistake.”

“I’m not the one that turned his back on his blood.” Will flashes him a knowing look. Isaac looks surprised and forces it away. Will watches him disappear down the path and trails behind the others.

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