Greywolf - Off the leash

A hand on my shoulder gently shook me awake. "Hey, sleepyhead, it is time to wake up."

"Wysper?" I opened my eyes. I was laying on my back inside a large tent with familiar faces all around me, the air warm and a bit stuffy. Wysper, kneeling next to my head, smiled as I sat up. "Are you okay? I mean, your arms-"

She held out both hands and waggled her fingers. "No one touched me... well, except for the Daemo," her cheeks reddening for some reason, "but once Old Bone woman was sure you would fight, she told me that, even if your Shadow wolf could not kill the monster Titan told me about, she was not going to hurt me. She only needed to give you a reason to fight."

Relief washed away my fear as I wrapped my arms around her. "I'm just glad you're okay," I said as we held onto each other for a moment. As we let go, I added, "She could've just asked instead of threatening you."

"Wouldn't have worked," papa said from my other side. "Asena was ready to tie you up and leave you with Paulus, if she had to, just to keep you out of the fight. Now C'mon," papa added as he clapped me on the shoulder. "I need you to get dressed and eat something before we start out."

"Start out... where are we going?"

"Aegyptus," Castor said in his growling voice from where he was sitting next to Wysper. "You, me, Wysper, Titan, and Paulus."

My wits were scattering like mice from a cat. "But... what about Asena? And Wysper's brother Alar?"

"I'm remaining behind," Alar said. He stood behind Wysper with his arms crossed over his chest. "I need to learn the ways of the Horde clans, so I can act as a go-between with the rest of our people."

"As for Asena," Titan rumbled from where he was sitting near my feet, "she is going to keep the promise she made and become Khan Attila's Bloodguard and mentor."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Asena growled from behind him. She was standing like Alar with her arms folded across her armored chest. "I remember Osiris, and I don't trust him as far as Wysper could throw him."

"Fortunately," papa said as he rose to his feet, "this time, you don't get a say-so." Ignoring Asena's glare, he held out his hand. "Privy first, then everything else."

I grabbed his calloused hand and he hauled me to my feet. The room spun and he let me hold onto him until it stopped, my insides hollow like they’d been the last time. Wysper also rose and wrapped the blanket over my shoulders, before papa and I stepped outside into the cold air.

Once we were back inside, Tartaros women began bringing in large ceramic bowls filled with roast goat, dumplings, and grilled vegetables, which I wolfed down as we all sat and ate around the brass cook-stove in the center of the tent. I felt more solid almost at once.

Once we'd finished and the dishes were removed, Castor helped me put on my armor as Hypam and Attila joined us. "We're riding with you down to the grey tree," he said, "along with Hypam's company."

Hypam added, "Are you sure you don't want me and my warriors to come along? You might need us to keep Greywolf out of trouble."

Papa gave her a wink. "While I wouldn't mind the company, once we reach the city of Memphis where Osiris has his main temple, I plan to use its grey tree to bring us back while announcing our presence. His guards get cranky if they see anyone pop in, let alone a hundred or so Horde warriors."

Titan rumbled, "Just so the sight of me does not get us filled full of arrows."

Papa clapped him on his armored shoulder. "Nothing will go wrong. Trust me." I shared a look with Asena and we both rolled our eyes as papa strode over. "If you're both done being snippy, Greywolf, are you feeling strong enough to ride?"

I nodded. "As long as we don't get attacked in the Grey, I'll be fine."

"No worries on that score," papa replied with a smile. "Shadow creatures leave me alone these days." He looked past me. "Wysper?"

"Greywolf can lean against me if he needs to," Wysper replied, slipping her hand into mine. In a fierce voice, she added, "I am not letting anyone get between us again."

Her brother frowned. "The druids have proclaimed you to be the last Queen Boudica, but you're still expected to marry into a noble family and produce children-"

"There will be no children," Wysper said, interrupting Alar, "because of what the druids did to me before I was even born." She motioned down at her belly. "Altani the healer confirmed an old legend of Xian, specifically how they changed the womb inside a woman to produce mana nodes instead of children."

Alar stared at her like a third eye had just popped out of her forehead. "But-"

"The druids know, Alar. Or why do you think they proclaimed me the last?" Wysper held up her hand to keep her brother from speaking as she took a deep breath. "If I have to marry someone to seal a political alliance, then I will do so... provided my spouse accepts Greywolf as my lover and life-partner. I am willing to have a loveless marriage without children if it will help us kick the Gauls off our island."

"Adopt some," Attila said.

Wysper and Alar both gave him startled looks. "Adopt someone else's children?" Alar frowned. "We don't do that."

Attila shrugs. "Why not? You had no problem with me adopting your sister into the Grey Warg clan this morning."

I turned towards Wysper. "You've been adopted?"

She nodded. "The moment your father brought all of us from Old Bone woman's cave. Attila was waiting with the heads of the major families as witnesses, and at once, Old Bone woman began the ceremony." Wysper shrugged. "It really was a simple process."

"I'm sorry I missed it."

"You will be beside me when I adopt my own children, in Britannia." A touch of panic clouded her face as she lowered her voice. "Woof, I know this is sudden, but Osiris said we might have to accept different spouses, and I need to save my people-"

I pulled her in and put my face close to hers. "I don't want to share you with anyone," I said in a low voice, trying to keep the growl out of it, "and I'm probably not going to like whoever he is. But," I added, exhaling sharply, "you're right. Osiris did warn us this would happen. I'll accept it, but I'm not leaving you unless I absolutely have to, like if something happens to Az, for instance. I'll always guard your back"

Wysper smiled at me. "I know you will. I love you."

"Love you more," I told her with a grin.

A hairy hand descended onto both of our shoulders. "Any more sweetness out of you two and I'm going to gag," Asena growled. But the ghost of a smile betrayed her as she pulled us apart and pushed us towards the tent flap, the others around us chuckling as we all headed outside into the cold air.

Rocky was waiting with several other Warghorses, and Hypam's company, all mounted on Warghorses as well. Standing in front of them was Old Bone woman and a gaggle of females, including the two Daemo I saw in my dream. Old Bone woman stepped out in front of the group. "Wysper, as new daughter of Khan Attila, who will become khan of Brittani people, is right for you to have Bloodguard of your own." She motioned at a woman in leather armor, her black hair in a braid down her back and two blood red bangs at her temple. "Khulan will go with group, keep Wysper safe both inside and outside the dream."

Seeing my puzzled look, Wysper said, "Khulan knows how to dream-walk."

"I don't need to be in the same room as Wysper to dream-walk with her," Khulan said, "so I won't get between you."

"This actually works in our favor," papa said, "because once we get to Britannia, you'll have at least one guard you can trust with your life."

I squared my shoulders. "I can keep her safe."

Papa shook his head. "Not all the time, and not if Wysper needs you to do something heroic, like slaying a dragon or finding a bottle of Etruscan wine to share."

As the others chuckled, Alar quipped, "In Britannia, it's probably easier to find a dragon to slay." Then his face became serious as he turned towards me. "I do hear what you're both saying, and I'll fight to make it happen. But it's going to be hard."

Asena slapped him on his armored shoulder, staggering him. "Makes victory all the more sweeter. Now get going," she said, her hairy hand motioning towards the waiting mounts as she looked at me. "The sooner you're on the road, the better."

I walked over to Rocky, who had my katana strapped to one side, and scrambled up onto the saddle. As Titan hoisted Wysper up behind me, Asena began fussing over my armor. "This is only until the spring rains begin. Once Ghostdog returns to Memphis and brings the five..." She glanced at Khulan, getting up on a Warghorse. "Apologies; the six of you, to upper Britannia, he will return here and move the Khanate to a sheltered place in lower Britannia the Gauls haven't conquered. Once the Horde's settled in, he will bring Alar and Khan Attila's emissary to Wysper's court."

I gave her a puzzled look. "Isn't papa remaining with us in Aegyptus?"

"I need him with me," Attila said from atop his own Warghorse. "While you were sleeping, I met with the women in charge of the different tribes. Some of them still have groups of warriors out there, and we're going to see if the warriors will come with us and join my Khanate." His smile became wolfish. "If they do, we're going to be ten thousand strong at least."

"Never make battle plans until you've actually got the warriors with you to make them work," Asena growled.

"I wasn't planning to," Attila replied, giving me a cross look. "Greywolf, is your mother always this grumpy?"

I couldn't help but snort. "You have no idea. But there's no one better at making battle plans," I added, becoming serious, "or teaching you how to fight. I'd be dead right now if she wasn't." Attila's expression turned thoughtful as I look at Asena. "Are you coming to the tree to see us off?"

Asena shook her head. "I hate long goodbyes. Besides, I'm not sure we destroyed all the Daemo, and I need to be here in case the remainder makes a surprise attack."

A pang of loss shot through me I never thought I'd feel. "Are you going to be okay? I mean, what about your mana needs?"

"It's been taken care of," Asena replied as Wysper put her arms around my waist. "After I gave Old Bone woman a piece of my mind over threatening Wysper, she informed me that she's worked out a rota of mages who will help me replace my ongoing loss. Wysper taught their healer the trick of pushing out mana energy through their hands, and she's going to teach the rest."

"What about lasting through the winter?"

Asena made a sweeping gesture back towards the tent city. "The monsters stored enough supplies to last for years. Evidently, they know how to preserve food by using their secretions to keep out any spoilage."

"Yecch."

She chuckled. "Once you break the seal, the secretions dissolve. That goat you just ate? They sealed it over a year ago, according to one of the women. Anyway, we've got shelter, and fresh water, so as long as your father keeps his word and comes back for us in the spring, we'll be fine."

"You know I always keep my word," papa said from atop his Warghorse.

Asena snorted and answered without turning. "When it suits you." Then she leaned up against Rocky, lowering her voice so only the three of us could hear. "You're finally getting what you've wanted for a long time. I'm letting you off the lease for good... though if you and Wysper want to occasionally hunt me down and fill me up with mana, I won't tell you no."

It was my turn to snort. "Like you won't be the one hunting us down the moment you reach Britannia." Before she could reply, I twisted in the saddle enough to lean down and wrap my arms around her shoulders. "I haven't told you I love you in a long time. Apologies." Her return hug would’ve broken a human's bones, and I winced. "Hey, too much more of that and you'll snap my spine. I'm fragile, you know."

Asena rolled her eyes, but she smiled as she let me go and wrapped Wysper in a gentle hug. "Keep my son out of trouble, if you can. I..." Asena sighed. "I haven't been a good mother to him, and I feel like I'm throwing everything into your lap."

Wysper planted a kiss on Asena's forehead. "You were a better mother to Greywolf than my own mother was to me. Asena, we will both be fine, I promise."

Asena exhaled in a sharp growl as she let Wysper go and stepped away from us. "Well, what are the lot of you waiting for? Some emperor to send you an embossed invitation on gold leaf parchment?" She flung her arms outward. "Away with you."

Raising his eyebrows, Attila flashed me a wry look before calling out an order in their harsh language, while waving his arm forward. Rocky moved out with the others as they started forward across the open area where the Daemo tree had once stood. As we reached the open gatehouse, I looked over my shoulder past Wysper, who turned in the saddle as well.

Asena hadn't moved. She stood with her hands at her sides, and continued to watch us until we rode down the hill and the city was lost to our sight.