I have favor to ask from loyal readers. I was checking out "Wolf's Cry"s page tonight and saw many negative reviews with very low score ratings. I am not asking you to add 5 star ratings or reviews but please be a bit more active and rate/review according to what you think about this story.

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Chapter 38 – For Years.

A week passed. I taught her how to put on a mana shield around her for protection. She was much more talented than me, as her mana shield was invisible but mine could be detected by bare eyes even from a long distance as if I was standing inside a giant glassy ball. Unknown to me, she had a childhood friend called Celestria von Raden. Her only friend who was her cousin at the same time. Celestria was 21 years old, but they had grown in the same place and were very close from the childhood days.

It was the day of the meeting with the subjects of the duchy. Luna had to counts, earls, marquises and so on at conference hall for discussions regarding the state of duchy. At sunset there is going be a ball where families of the subjects would attend.

Luna had done her homework well. There were some points risen by her during the hearings which were welcomed by subjects. She overruled new tax rise act applied by her uncle that was praised by all of the attendees and had a positive effect on her image as the future duchess. Armand von Raden was dissatisfied with the meeting and most probably with Luna’s rising popularity amongst attendees.

Wyrm and I were the only familiars who were allowed to attend both meeting and ball. I knew that wyrm was disinterested in stuff like these as for him the only way to solve out the problem was to erase it. So most of the time he was sleeping beside the Luna during the meeting and was watching attendees of the ball from the balcony. I was involved in both meeting and ball intensively. I offered few new laws, which would help them out with the formation of regular paid army rather than forcing people to take arms in case of a war.

Parents of youth were interested in parties such as the one Luna von Raden was holding today as a chance for them to introduce their kids to each other. Balls were very popular among the young nobles as it was one of the few opportunities they had to meet and socialize with those of the opposite sex, maybe even find a spouse. Females mostly had a simple all-in one dress or tunic gathered with strings at the neck and just under the bust line. They had colored ribbons or scarfs as extra decorations to their simple clothing. Females and males only had white gloves in common. Men mostly had single or double-breasted coats over pantaloons. Some men had white bands as neck wear, some had cravats. I was the only outstanding person in the crowd. I had black leather pants on me. On top I had a white shirt, and wolf skin was covering my neck, its head and body staying over my spine. I remembered some of the noble youth from Rinelts.

Everyone was enjoying the night by talking, dancing, drinking. Luna was beside me when I noticed Armand von Raden going out of the ballroom. I asked Luna to follow me. Count Philistos Jülicher and Marquis Selinah Lucchi came with us. We put distance in between Armand and us but tried not lose him. He was moving fast. He ended up in stable where horses were kept. We were behind the doors but Celestria von Raden and Armand von Raden were so into arguing that they weren’t aware of anyone.

[Celestria]: You had one job!

[Armand]: What do you expect me to do?

[Celestria]: She had to die too!

[Armand]: I killed my brother and his wife for you! Because you wished for power! I can’t do that to 16-year-old innocent kid!

[Celestria]: You had to, dad! You had to! We will be in second row again. She had summoned two familiars, which will be in her favour and her attendance this time…

Luna waited no more. She barged in and stared at them for some time before…

[Luna]: Count Philistos, arrest them and keep them in basement jail of the chateau. I’ll make my decision tomorrow. If by any chance, they escape – you better be ready for consequences.

She lay on her bed but didn’t sleep. I do not like barging into family matters so I kept my thoughts to myself.

All of the attendees of the ball were present in afternoon at the chateau. Everyone surrounded tennis court by Luna’s order. Celestria and Armand were brought into the court.

[Luna]: You are all here to observe and witness the end of Armand and Celestria von Radens. They have betrayed the trust of this duchy by ordering the assassination of the old duke and his wife. They will be punished accordingly.

Everyone was silent as if waiting for what kind of punishment will be used.

[Luna]: Because of their blood relations to me, I’ll give them chance to protect themselves using their familiars.

[Celestria]: You think you have grown up?

[Luna]: Gorn, what kinds of meal do you like best?

[Gorn]: Demons are the most delicious but instead of animals I prefer humans.

Celestria’s face turned white after hearing what Gorn had said. Armand was on his knees repenting for his sins. Celestria’s familiar, a bobcat, was brought to tennis court.

Gorn was ruthless. I think he enjoyed the bobcat’s meat more than Celestria and Armand’s as it was a summoned familiar.

He played around with bobcat giving it chances to think it could kill Gorn but halted bobcat’s attacks the last moment. He dismembered bobcat before eating it up. Armand was still on his knees; I think he had gone crazy. Celestria though was grasping the reality of situation as moments passed by. She tried few spells but none of them were effective against the wymr. Gorn was a sadist. It didn’t attack swiftly; it made slow steps around her. She was desperate and had pissed herself. Most probably that’s why Gorn didn’t eat her but killed in a way that was not known to any being with consciousness. Armand did not resist. Gorn ate him swiftly.

[Marquis Selinah Lucchi]: Today shall be the lesson to be learned from. Duchess Luna von Raden will not spare anyone who will betray the dukedom.

[Luna]: Terra firma!!! (She screamed)

[-]: TERRA FIRMA!!!

We stayed until sunset as people went away one by one, seeing Luna first and kissing her hand referring to their loyalty to her.

We went to her room.

[Gorn]: You made the right choice.

I saw tears on her eyes and hugged her. She cried. She cried so hard as if she has not cried for years.

Next: Chapter 39 - Show off!