The Wolf Queen
Chapter 22: To Dragonspire

“ALWAYS LEAD WITH YOUR left.” Will instructs, “But know where you are at all times.”

“How does one forget where they are?” Channin raises an eyebrow. They’ve been training all day and she’s grown bored. She can pick up the faint smell of the garden from the back of the house. It’s almost harvest time. If the sun doesn’t bake everything first.

“Ask the ones who lose limbs.” Will’s patience for teaching is running thin. For the last half on an hour, the only thing she has practiced has been witty remarks.

“The harvest moon is next month.” Channin sighs and throws herself to the grass, “There isn’t enough time for me to be perfect.”

“You should spend this month practicing.” Will sighs, “I’m not losing you to Svetozar.” The thought has been weighing on his mind since the soul-binding. Channin might lose to the King. The rebellion would die with her. He still isn’t sure it’s a risk he is ready to take.

“Then jump in and save me.” She sighs, “Or better yet, you challenge him.”

He slides to the grass next to her, “I can’t go with you.”

She searches his face, “Why not?”

“Because, you are a challenger. They have to let you in. I am still an enemy of the King.”

“Oh.” Channin looks back at the grass.

Will puts his hand on top of hers, “That’s why it has to be perfect. Because without you, I have nothing.”

She forces a smile, “Alright. I’ll keep trying.”

The month passes faster than they had hoped. William must accept that, ready or not, Channin is going to challenge the King for everything he has. Speed and agility are on her side, but the King has brute strength on his. The day they are set to ride out, Will and Channin spend an extra hour in bed having a conversation that was never revealed. She leaves confident and powerful, he watches her, pale and shaking.

This was never something I wanted to witness. Will, prepared to never see her again, and Channin, prepared to give everything up for her people. It is enough to drive even the strongest among us to a dark and dangerous place.

Channin Ioanna Ozera turns eighteen on the bridge to the home she was cast from. Abarrane, Ian and Runir approach the city with her. They are met by guards and taken in to see the King instantly.

The King and Queen sit in place, Peytra sitting near the edge of the platform and General Isaac standing beside her. Channin feels the sting of his betrayal again. Next to him is General Able.

Ioanna leaps up, “Channin.” She’s relieved to see her daughter again.

“You’ve finally come crawling home?” The King pushes himself up from his throne. He is losing weight and is sickly. Pale skin and dark circles under his eyes, “You decided that it was a futile mission?”

Channin shakes her head, “I’m here to challenge you.” Her voice is suddenly strong and clear.

He laughs, “On what grounds? What right do you have to my throne?”

She holds her ground, “I am an Ozera. It is my birthright. On your honor, you must fight me.”

“Very well.” He begins to step from his throne.

Ioanna throws herself in front of him, “Dear husband, please. The girl knows not what she says.”

“I know exactly what I am doing.” Channin snaps.

Ioanna continues, “Please, let me talk to her.”

“The time for talking is over, Ioanna. I allowed you to talk and this is where it has led us. A kingdom in ruins and a rebellion to be crushed.”

Channin steps forward, she is braced for the inevitable fight.

“Svetozar, listen to what you are saying.” Ioanna cries, she is getting desperate.

Channin has only seen her father’s bear once, when an assassin tried to eradicate the whole family while Peytra was still an infant, Svetozar had shifted to protect the newest edition and easily killed the assassin. His thick brown hair is scattered with gray, making him look as if he’s covered in dust. The bear is much larger than Raoul’s werewolf and Channin forces the fear aside.

Ioanna stays put between the bear and Channin, “You will not touch my daughter.” She growls. The Queen carries the Ozera genes, the last of the Wolf-Shifters. When Svetozar refuses to yield, her wolf comes forward. A small white wolf that is no match for the bear.

Svetozar stands on his hind legs and bats the small wolf aside easily. Ioanna hits the wall and slumps to the ground.

Channin recoils for a brief moment and rushes forward. Her wolf slams into the bear’s shoulders, sending him to all fours. She lands in front of him, teeth bared.

The bear rushes towards her, she slides out of the way, driving her shoulder into his. Her teeth catch his front right leg. He falls. She circles him, not ready to deliver the final blow.

“What is she doing?” Runir whispers.

“She’s angry.” Ian says, “She can’t calm down so she’ll take it out on him.”

The bear struggles to his feet and charges again, Channin runs circles around him. Only staying in one place long enough to draw his attention. He goes down. Channin grabs him by the neck, trying to end it. He swats her away, but falls again. She leaps again. Then slides across the floor. The shock sends her back to human form. She rolls over and comes face to face with a white bear.

Channin stares up at the bear for a full minute before the realization sets in. It is Peytra. She rolls aside as the massive paws crash to the floor. Channin scrambles to her feet and is forced to dodge again. She shifts again and growls. The wolf is hardly a match for Peytra.

Channin backs up, her sister is cornering her. She looks over to her small band of friends and back to her sister. “I didn’t come here for you, Peytra.” She stops growling, “You don’t have to defend him.”

“I will do whatever it takes to protect my kingdom.” The bear stands up, “That means killing all who threaten the crown.”

“Don’t let him turn you into a weapon.” Channin pleas, “You are my sister and I will not fight you.”

The bear tosses her across the room and sets back upon her.

Abarrane takes a small step towards them but Ian grabs her arm, “You’ll be assaulting a member of the royal family.”

“Someone has to do something.” She mumbles.

Channin is able to push Peytra away and struggles to her feet. Her energy is fading. Guards begin to close in around them. The wolf finally drops her head and growls, “If this is what you want, so be it.” She launches forward and sinks her teeth into the bear’s shoulder.

Peytra throws her off and takes another swing. Channin returns to human form long enough to avoid the attack and cut in close enough that her wolf can force Peytra over. The bear snaps her teeth at Channin as she falls. Human again, Channin shoves her head into the ground. Her wolf follows Peytra to the ground. She stands over her sister, growling. Peytra’s hind paws catch Channin and throw her over. The blonde lands on her back and is forced into human form.

She rolls and pushes herself back up. Her expression changes. Terrified.

“What’s wrong?” Abarrane asks, keeping her voice down, “Why isn’t she doing anything?”

“She’s reached her limit.” Runir pulls his bow out, “She can’t fight anymore.”

The Elf moves in front of Channin, protectively. The Vampires follow.

Guards step in closer. A rush of noise and shifting energies, and Isaac is standing between them. He has his sword pressed to Able’s neck.

“They go free.” He’s challenging everyone. When no one moves, he repeats the challenge. “They go free, or the floors will be stained red.”

Svetozar has shifted back, but still lies where he fell. A crowd has gathered around Ioanna.

The guards back away, despite Able’s protests.

Runir doesn’t need to be told twice. He jerks Channin to her feet and forces her towards the door. She stumbles trying to keep pace with him. Isaac follows behind, the sword still against Able’s throat. At the door, he kicks the Vampire’s leg from underneath him and shoves his head against the stone floor.

He breaks after the others. Runir leads them to the courtyard, still dragging Channin. He pushes her onto Gray and sends the mare towards the gates. Ian and Abarrane grab their own horses and race after her.

“Runir.” Isaac stops him as he grabs Alloumera’s bridle, he Elf instinctively punches him in the face.

“That’s for being an ass in the forest.” He snaps, pulling Allou forward.

“I deserved that.” He presses something into the Elf’s left hand, “Make sure Channin gets this.”

The Elf only glares at him. Alloumera starts after the other horses and Runir leaps onto him. The white horse catches up to the others halfway across the bridge.

Channin glances back once they reach the tree line. She can hear the bell on top of Dragonspire begin to toll. The guards have caught up to Isaac. He sinks to his knees, hands in the air as they surround him. She urges Gray on, into the forest. The bell rings twelve times, marking the death of a monarch.

The ride back to Ravenguard is slow and exhausting. Channin collapses when they reach the fence. She shakes a few times, sobbing. She doesn’t look up to the sound of us running towards her, when Will slides on the dirt next to her, or when he pulls her into a hug. He tangles his hand in her hair and just holds onto her.

“What happened?” I ask Runir as he leads the horses past me.

He glances over, “She hit her limit.”

“How did you make it out?” Raoul looks between them.

“Isaac.” Ian follows Runir up the hill bringing Abarrane’s gold horse with him.

Will picks Channin up from the ground and carries her towards the door.

“I feel like we are missing some details.” Raoul mumbles.

“Everything in due time.” I move back towards the house.

It is well past dinner before Will reappears. Runir is looking over a battle plan he has put together, trying to figure out the next move the King will make is. He looks up when Will enters.

“How is she?”

Will shakes his head, “I can’t get her to talk to me.”

Runir sighs, looking back to the map and plans, “Peytra stepped in. She had Svetozar beaten, but we didn’t expect that. I think he killed the Queen.” The Elf turns to Will, watching his expression. “I know you don’t forgive easily and apparently neither do I.” He studies his bruised knuckles, “But Isaac did save our lives.”

When Will returns to her, Channin is sitting on the bed, wrapped in a thick blanket with her knees tucked under her chin.

“I brought you something to eat.” He places the plate on the bed beside her. A piece of bread and a few slices of ham turn her stomach.

She looks away from them.

“I talked to Runir. He thinks the Sister Cities might be in trouble. Since Toma is on our side now, supplies have to come from there.”

She doesn’t move. She can still feel the dampness on her face from crying. Will moves around the bed to be closer to her and kneels on the floor.

“I’m here for you.”

She considers snapping at him but decides to keep silent. He’s only trying to help.

He sighs, “At least let me look at your eye.” She doesn’t fight him when he lifts her chin, “It’s pretty swollen.” He crosses the room and picks up a towel from the wash basin. She catches his eye in the mirror and quickly looks away.

“You can’t look at me?” he leans back against the wooden frame.

She hesitates and shakes her head.

He moves back towards her, “Then close your eyes. I’m not leaving.”

Channin sighs and closes her eyes. She watches her mother’s pale wolf fly and crumple, Peytra stealing her victory, all while hearing the bells toll. Her eyes open again.

“My mother is dead.” Channin says quietly.

Will stops for a second and presses the cloth to her right eye, “So I hear.”

“Svetozar killed her out of anger towards me.”

Will doesn’t say anything at first, only brushes the cloth against her face, “The King will get what comes for him. That, I promise.” She can tell something is wrong, but doesn’t pry anymore into it.

“Can we talk about something else?”

He nods quickly, “Of course. What do you want to talk about?”

She shrugs, “Nothing, I guess.”

He moves the plate to the table and sits next to her. She puts her head against his shoulder

Will pulls the letter from his pocket, “Isaac gave this to Runir.”

She looks at it and takes it quickly.

“I don’t know what it says, but I don’t want you to feel pressured into reading it.”

She pulls him in for a kiss, “Thank you.”

He smiles and steals another kiss, “You’re welcome, Milady.”

Svetozar throws a cup and it shatters against the wall, “I don’t care if you have to burn down all of Laneyth. Find them!”

“Your Majesty, we didn’t even see which way they went.” The soldier recoils as a second glass comes for his head.

“Find the rebels and slaughter them.” His voice echoes throughout Dragonspire, startling the crows gathered by the wall.

My Dearest Channin,

If you are reading this, it means plans have worked out for you, whether you are sitting on the throne or in your hiding hole. Channin, there are some things you need to know, and I am wise enough to know I won’t be around to tell them to you in person. First of all, the death of Bowen was an accident. Svetozar did not have him killed. There have been uprisings for centuries, a group wearing black robes and masks. However, when you and William were in Athedor, I heard of a plot within the walls of Dragonspire. I didn’t believe it until the ship sank. Svetozar tried to assassinate you to keep you from learning the next thing I will tell you.

Channin Ioanna Ozera, you are the only daughter to Ioanna Ozera and myself. As such, you carry the purest of the Ozera traits. You are the true heir to the throne and Laneyth. I can prove this to you, of course. On your right shoulder, will be a birthmark that looks like the scars from a burn, a few tiny patches of slightly darker skin. My mother had it, as do I and your half-brother, Bowen. I did my best to help raise you without causing more grief than I already had.

You should understand that I could not leave your mother in Dragonspire. For as much as I wanted to stay with you, I needed to stay near her. There is so much I could say. So many words that will eventually lose their meaning. I love you, Channin.

I am proud of you both. I will see Bowen again, but I may not see you for many, many years. I am so proud of you and William, you are doing the right thing. Despite what anyone else tells you. I am so happy you have found each other and something to fight for. In your darkest time, my child, remember what you began to fight for. Remember your friends, remember the names, remember the places. I would do it all again. I love you.

Isaac Blatz

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