Greywolf - Off the leash

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

"Wysper?" I open my eyes. I'm 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, smiles as I sit up. "Are you okay? I mean, your arms-"

She holds out both hands and waggles 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 even if your Shadow wolf could not kill the monster, the massive one Titan told me about, she was not going to hurt me. She only needed to give you a reason."

Relief washes away my fear as I wrap my arms around her. "I'm just glad you're okay," I say as we hold onto each other for a moment. As we let go, I add, "But she could've just asked."

"Wouldn't have worked," papa says 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 adds as he claps 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 says in his growling voice from where he's sitting next to Wysper. "You, me, Wysper, Titan, and Paulus."

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

"I'm remaining behind," Alar says. He's standing 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 when the Grey Wargs arrive in Britannia."

"As for Asena," Titan rumbles from where he's 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 growls from behind him. She's standing like Alar is 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 says as he rises to his feet, "this time, you don't get a say-so." Ignoring Asena's glare, he holds out his hand. "Privy first, then everything else."

I grab his calloused hand and he hauls me to my feet. The room spins and he lets me hold onto him until it stops, my insides hollow like they were the last time. Wysper also rises and wraps the blanket over my shoulders, before papa and I step outside into the cold air. But once we're back inside, Tartaros women begin bringing in large ceramic bowls filled with roast goat, dumplings, and grilled vegetables, which I begin wolfing down as we all sit and eat around the brass cook-stove in the center of the tent. I feel more solid almost at once.

Once we've finished and the dishes are removed, Castor helps me put on my armor as Hypam and Attila join us. "We're riding with you down to the grey tree," he says, "along with Hypam's company."

Hypam adds, "Ghostdog, 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 gives 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. His guards get cranky if they see anyone pop into the space, let alone a hundred or so Horde warriors."

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

Papa claps him on his armored shoulder. "Nothing will go wrong. Trust me." I share a look with Asena and we both roll our eyes as papa strides over. "If you and your mother are both done being snippy, are you feeling strong enough to ride?"

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

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

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

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

"There will be no children," Wysper says, interrupting Alar. She motions down at her belly. "Altani confirmed an old legend of Xian, specifically how they changed the womb inside a woman to produce mana nodes instead of children, the same as what the druids did to me."

Alar's looking at her like a third eye just popped out of her forehead. "But-"

"The druids know what they did, Alar. Or why do you think they proclaimed me the last?" Wysper holds up her hand to keep her brother from speaking as she takes 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 says.

Wysper and Alar both give him startled looks. "Adopt someone else's children?" Alar frowns. "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 turn towards Wysper. "You've been adopted?"

She nods. "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 Old Bone woman began the ceremony right then and there." Wysper shrugs. "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 clouds her face as she lowers 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 pull her in and put my face close to hers. "I don't want to share you with anyone," I say 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 add, 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 smiles at me. "I know you will. I love you."

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

A hairy hand descends onto both of our shoulders. "Any more sweetness out of you two and I'm going to gag," Asena growls. But a ghost of a smile betrays her as she pulls us apart and pushes us towards the tent flap, the others around us chuckling as we all head outside into the cold air.

Rocky's waiting with several other Warghorses, and Hypam's company, all mounted on Warghorses as well. Standing in front of them is Old Bone woman and a gaggle of females, including the two Daemo I saw in my dream. Old Bone woman steps 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 motions at a woman in leather armor, her black hair in a braid down her back and two blood red bangs at her temple. "Khulan go with group, keep Wysper safe both inside and outside the dream."

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

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

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

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

Papa shakes 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 chuckle, Alar quips, "In Britannia, it's probably easier to find a dragon to slay." Then his face becomes serious as he turns 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 slaps him on his armored shoulder, staggering him. "Makes victory all the more sweeter. Now c'mon," her hairy hand motioning towards the waiting mounts as she looks at me. "The sooner you're on the road, the better." I walk over to Rocky, who's got my katana strapped to one side, and scramble up onto the saddle. As Titan hoists Wysper up behind me, Asena begins fussing over my armor. "This is only until the spring rains begin. Once Ghostdog returns to Memphis and brings the five..." She glances 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 that the Gauls haven't settled. Once the Horde's got itself established, he will bring Alar and Khan Attila's emissary to Wysper's court."

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

"I need him with me," Attila says 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 becomes 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 growls.

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

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

Asena shakes 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 shoots 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 replies as Wysper puts 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 makes 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 chuckles. "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 says from atop his Warghorse.

Asena snorts and answers without turning. "When it suits you." Then she leans up against Rocky, lowering her voice so only the three of us can 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's my turn to snort. "Like you won't be the one hunting us down the moment you reach Britannia." Before she can reply, I twist 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 break a human's bones, and I wince. "Hey, too much more of that and you'll snap my spine. I'm fragile, you know."

Asena rolls her eyes, but she's smiling as she lets me go and wraps Wysper in a gentle hug. "Keep my son out of trouble, if you can. I..." Asena sighs. "I haven't been a good mother to him, and I feel like I'm throwing everything into your lap."

Wysper plants 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 exhales in a sharp growl as she lets Wysper go and steps 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 flings her arms outward. "Away with you."

Raising his eyebrows, Attila flashes me a wry look before calling out an order in their harsh language while waving his arm forward. Rocky moves out with the others as they start forward across the open area where the Daemo tree once stood, and as we reach the open gateway, I look over my shoulder past Wysper, who turns in the saddle as well.

Asena hasn't moved. She's standing with her hands at her sides, continuing to watch us until we ride down the hill and the city is lost to our sight.