Howling Thunder Ch2.3

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Waking up I hear the sound of crackling sparks and clinking metal. With a yawn and stretch I glance over to see little blue Tesla playing with her toys while Mora sits nearby reading.

Clearing my eyes, “How long was I out?”

Mora doesn't look up, “Seven hours or so. I was about to wake you, the meeting will be soon.”

I spot a bit of food mush in her hair, “Feeding Tess went well?”

The dragoness grimaces, “I will never have children. They brought a bowl for her shortly before she woke up.”

As per my instructions, only Anubi guards are allowed entrance to the base of my tower. My wisps won't lead them up and Whomp will stop them still if they try. Still, they have a standing order to bring food every so often while I have Tesla in the tower.

A rather entertaining relationship has developed between Lupa and Patra’s mother Klea. The Anubi Matron has been rather doting on her first granddaughter and has occasionally been spotted arguing with Lupa on how to style a jackal beastmen's fine fur and hair.

At first I found it funny when they realized that aside from the sparks, little Tess inherited my frizzy fur. The women didn’t find it funny. Now her blue coat is kept short like most jackals and Lupa was complaining about it right up until she left last month.

Walking over, Tesla sees I‘m up and puts down her ball, waiting for me to pick her up, “Papa home.”

Grabbing her up, “Not yet, we’re going to see Grandpa Skoll and then you’ll go home.”

Tess narrows her eyes, “Fen Fen.”

You’d almost think she was expecting to battle her greatest enemy, “Right the white grampa.”

I look over to Mora and flick the bit of food from her hair, “Ready to go?”

She nods while a red tinge of embarrassment flickers in her expression, “My stuff has already be taken down to the entrance, Patra should arrive while we’re in the meeting.”

My own traveling gear is kept in a messy closet on one side of the room. Black fog spills from my tail and creeps under the closet door for a moment before withdrawing, slightly thicker than before. The only thing I bother to keep on me at all times is my bident, Rost.

Down the spiral staircase of my tower and a decent walk later we meet Walther and Artio about to enter Father’s study. While both of us brothers received new armor from Patra for this trip, his doesn’t look the same as when I dropped it off to his tower last week.

He opens the door for Mora and I, giving a small grin towards Tesla which she ignores. Sorry brother, but the silent thing doesn’t work so great on pups it seems.

Inside is a large collection of people, Mother and Father, Akane, Hyndla, Otso, Igor and Olga.

As always the study is warmed by a small crackling fire. The air smells of books, parchment and a faint hint of ale.

Mother walks over and takes Tess away for me, the little girl’s glare never leaves the Fenrir.

I chuckle, “Told you Father, she holds grudges.”

He just smiles a wide grin.

The Inari goes and sits on the couch, “Before we begin, Miss Artio, you should already know we won't be allowing you to participate and you know exactly why.”

Otso perks up, “What’s this about, of course my grandaughter is going. Her father has also been looking forward to having her join him.”

Atrio frowns, looks to her grandfather and Walther, “Lady Inari is certainly correct, and I shall obediently depart for the den when the time comes. I hope you’ll permit me to remain for the meeting all the same.”

Mother nods, “That’s fine, I will accompany you to the den a couple months from now aswell. I wish to meet my other grandchildren.”

While Grandmother only sighs, Otso is glaring daggers at me.

He doesn’t… “You can’t possibly think its mine…please say your joking old bear.”

Just as the retired general seems about to burst out in a rage, Artio cuts him off.

“Grandfather! Of course it was Walther, as if I would ever lay with Nox.”

Hey now, “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

She rolls her eyes, “Nothing of course, I’m simply reminding this old fool that he didn’t raise the sort of girl who beds her mate’s brother.”

Otso grumbles, “Didn’t raise no den mother either, and it’s not like the black one doesn’t have that kind of reputation.”

“Wait,” I can’t help but chuckle, “Do I?”

Grandmother clicks her tongue, “You certainly seem to raising the standard for number of pups per year.”

Narrowing my eyes at her, “And I’m sure my charming grandmother has done her utmost to squash such scandalous rumors at her various social events. We can’t have that sort of thing in our family after all.”

Father clears his throat, “Enough, let's get to the topic. By now the boats should be loaded on the docks and the fresh troops saying goodbye to their families.”

If they have any, it looked like most the young lads training these last couple months were orphans barely old enough to hold a sword. Gods know some seemed lucky not to take their own eye out the way they flailed about in the practice yard.

Igor takes a map and spreads it out over the center table, “We’ll be setting out in few hours after Olga and I take one last look over the boats. Morning after tomorrow we’ll dock at the small village within the Baron’s territory. When Walther is back on board we’ll continue south to Nicopolis.”

Right, I look over to Mother, “There’s no chance of me getting that staff for the trip back, seems a bit of a walk.”

She shakes her head with a grin, “As if, besides, you could use some fresh air.”

Olga laughs heartily, “Right! I poked my head in your tower a couple weeks back. I can’t believe you made a swamp in the castle!”

Hyndla’s ears perk up, “You did What!”

Oh yeah, “Telling you must have slipped my mind. Well it’s my tower.”

She barks, “This is my castle!”

Mother waves her hand, “Enough Hildy, and this more my castle than yours. Hevel helped him, it is actually a rather clever use of a Night Willow.”

Olga nods, “I’d like to see an assassin sneak in there now, damn thing wouldn’t even let me open the door all the way.”

I’m actually rather thankful the anubi guards didn’t feel the need to tell Hyndla. It’s nice to know who’s on my side… would be nicer if I didn’t need such a thing though.

Cutting to the chase, “So what are we supposed to to do, who is this Baron that he warrants such a trip.”

The Fenrir, stands up and looks at the map, “He was here long before Yoden, he simply values his privacy. Rather than a man you should think of him as an old monster, more than strong enough to topple this city. Locals who have spotted his servants take flight say they wouldn’t be surprised if they were capable of reaching the city in mere hours.”

Walt raises his brow, I guess his mind, “And we’re just supposed to drop in and say hello, nice to meet you?”

Father laughs and smiles while walking over to the window, “It's tradition for the heir of Yoden to meet the monster in person to impress on them the severity of the threat and not get silly notions of getting involved with him in any way. When I was young I asked him how this odd tradition started. He said, ‘it’s only polite to greet your neighbors after all.’”

Mother takes a turn speaking, “The truth of this arrangement is that despite the Baron being as powerful as some gods, he has a weakness. The alpha bloodline of the winter tribe. While we’re not sure of the details, we can be certain that he respects the bloodline of the Fenrir and see’s it best to be friends instead of enemies. Only as a member of the demon race it would not do for him to act too friendly.”

I nod, “So he remains neutral, a simple, quiet neighbor. But how do I fit in this? Walt will be Fenrir, that much has already been decided.”

She does her usual dismissive wave of her hand, “It wouldn’t hurt for your confidence to take a hit in the presence of a real monster. Take your time coming back as well, visiting a village or two on your way might broaden your perspective.”

Grandmother smirks, I’m sure she’d love to see me afraid of some old man.

Olga grabs up the map, “Right, fairly simple yes? We drop you off for tea with a demon and then I get Walty all for myself. I hope the Naga don’t surrender too quickly, I bought a new tent and everything.”

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