Howling Thunder Ch18: Cheers to Chaos

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The lift slowly descends, I step close to the edge facing the cascading water. The flickers of torch light through the water remind me of the will-o-wisps back in the black wood.

Ah, maybe I can’t make a full flame but what about a ghost flame?

Concentrating on my hand I think about those small lights that lure the unwary to their death. A small red spark flits between my fingers, it’s color fades away. After a moment a small white flame no larger than a small candle flicker slowly appears in my palm. The color turns blue and it disappears.

Mother will be very happy, I close my eyes to enjoy the sound of the falling water. Something about the sound of water is soothing, I begin to imagine a vast horizon of water like I've never seen before and just as the image starts to focus, everything goes dark.

In the darkness I see what looks like large, ghostly, clawed white fingers about to clasp around my body from behind me as if some giant monster was about to grab me.

Opening my eyes with a start I can only clutch my head as a sharp pain assaults me. I turn around to see the Fenrir looking back at me. He examines my flicking ear and the red sparks spraying out from my tail.

A moment later the pain fades and I can hear Ulfa giggling. Father looks to her with a raised eyebrow.

She covers her mouth, “I apologize Lord Fenrir, it's funny to see literal sparks fly when such an unruly spirit as your son’s meets such a domineering aura belonging to the Nemesis Axe, forged by a god to cleave souls. It is easy to predict that should the axe ever become his possession, he will choose to lock it away rather than wield it himself.”

He scratches his beard, “As he is also a champion, will Freki gift him with a weapon?”

Ulfa shakes her head, “Mistress is a hunter not a craftsman… The Barghest himself is a god forged weapon. A predator unrivaled amongst mortals, when he matures that is. So until that time his little jackal wife will make him toys and the mistress has selected an appropriate valkyrie to guard his back.”

Now is my turn to laugh, “What good is someone watching my back? Any attack will simply pass through me.”

Even as I speak I wave my arm causing it to disappear into a dark mist.

The Fenrir smiles, “Confidence is good but should be kept in check boy, this isn't the woodlands or country roads. Assassins use poisons on their blades and wicked fiends cast curses. Your cloud magic uses moisture in the air and your body. Without training and control, poison should be quite effective against you.”

While scowling I release an arc into the waterfall and watch it climb the torrent with a flash, “At least being killed by boredom is off the table.”

Father laughs and looks down at the approaching landing, “No I imagine the daughters of the nobles will fight away your boredom with enthusiasm tonight.”

Now is Akane’s turn to frown as bit of black flame wisps in her blazing red hair.

As the lift comes to a stop, Ulfa cheerily, “that's quite right, by now rumors from the noises in your tent on the trip here should have circulated the gossip mongrels. According mistresses brilliant plan this should make the resurgence of the black fur bloodline much quicker.”

Walking down another hallway Walt actually mumbles, “Good luck little brother, you'll be a fine stallion.”

“I’m not a horse!”

For her own reasons, Akane seems to be on the verge of tears.

Father, the Lord Fenrir, ruler of the center of the known world actually chimes in, “would you rather be a bull?”

Ulfa giggles once more, I'm starting to understand her relationship with Maug.

The Fenrir shrugs his shoulders and smiles in an almost melancholic way, ”My pups, I’m sorry, being born to me means while you free to love whomever you please, you will still be required to marry or mate for the sake of the bloodlines. Your grandmother is in charge of such things, but don’t hold it against her, even she was forced to hide her true love for the sake of Yoden. We are the only thing holding the world back from utter chaos, we must never show weakness.”

At this point Ulfa stops and bows, “I’m sorry Lord Fenrir, I shall say this now before you enter this banquet. Chaos… is nigh, and the spark that will light the oil…”

She sighs and looks at me, “The Barghest bows for none, he is beholden to none, he fears nothing, and the world will shake in the darkness of his shadow. When his wake settles, a new era of this world will begin. This is the decree of the gods, ‘Terra was never meant for such peaceful times.”

Is she crazy?

“I’m going to rule or something and create wars? No way, pain in the ass!”

She smiles, “You being born has already set things in motion. You will never rule, all you need to do is whatever your soul tells you, it was chosen for this role for a reason and the gods happily allowed it, other wise you would have died before you ever left the den.”

Father scratches his head, “There’s truly no avoiding calamity?”

Ulfa shakes her head.

He exhales a bit of frosty breath and closes his eyes for a moment, the axe seems to shiver on his back before he opens his eyes, “So that's how it is, it’s going to be an annoying meeting tomorrow... “

Stretching his arms out he cracks his neck before chuckling, “Best make the most of tonight then! Nox, Walther, war means good men die young and I want grand kids so no slacking off! I feel it's still too late to give up on Emmy laying an egg for me, best break out the good drink tonight.”

As he cheerily picks up his pace, Akane seems in a red faced daze as she scurries along after him. Walt seems annoyed, I can only look back at Ulfa.

She’s got a mischievous grin, “Dear pup, while you are my charge and kin, I’ll feel no loss over the fall of the white wolves so don’t expect me to pity your father or offer any condolences. You just be sure to have lots of puppies, it’s never too early to start.”

Yes… yes it is! What is all this shit? I just got here!

It’s my turn to sigh, “Whatever, like I have anything to complain about when my divine mission is to do whatever I want… I want to drink.”

A few twists and turns of stone hallways and we step out into a larger hall ending in a pair of large double doors. Large stone pillars frame either side with carvings of dogs in clothing merrily feasting, pleasant warm flames dance in braziers carved into their base.

A bunch of animals pretending to be civilized, “Fitting”

The Fenrir chuckles, “your mother's design.”

He waves his hand and the guards open the doors.

A herald calls, “Our Lord Fenrir and our Young Lord Alphas!”

Father first, Walt second followed by myself then Aka. A grand vaulted ceiling framed with massive wooden beams attached to more stone pillars with built in braziers casts light on the nearly hundred noble families seated at tables. Guards and maids line the walls, waiting from the side to be called upon by the family they serve.

I grab a goblet off the tray of a nearby maid, nevermind the watching eyes.

As the cup reaches my nose, shit… wine, Damn nobles!

Downing the sour, bitter liquid in one go doesn’t stop me from spotting Ulfa scowling as she walks along the room walls. She’s watching me while sparing glances about the room, I doubt Freki would make her stay by my side if Ulfa didn’t know a thing or two about Yoden.

Do as I want she said, but don’t stand out too much. Create chaos, but make sure to have a healthy bunch of kids. Oh, and most importantly don’t get assassinated…My eyes can only roll so much at the back and forth of it.

So many nobles watching me as if they’re crows already looking at a fresh carcass. From fat old men who smell like money to starry eyed young girls… wait, that cream haired one looks ready to kill me already, but damn she’s got huge...whatever.

Up ahead is a long table, Mother and Queen Emese are already seated there along with a white haired woman who also looks like she wants to chop off my head here and now, must be my lovely grandma I hear so much about.

I grab another goblet of the shitty wine. Blaah! This nasty drink feels like it’s gonna go straight to my head, the headache from that damn axe isn’t helping either.

Do what I want? Fuck it, why not?

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