Rose of the Oath

  Chapter 5: Wolves in the Night

  A wolf howled and I shivered. My fingers crept about my wrist as glittering moonlight skittered across the ceiling.

  Wolves. He talks with them. Can become one of them.

  I shoved myself up as another wolf howled. No. As ornery as the beast was… I scowled. A shapeshifter with evil intentions would be much more accommodating to lure me to carelessness.

  I pulled a thin robe about my shoulders and crept to the window overlooking the valley. It lay still and silent under the silvery beams of the moon. Another howl echoed from cliff face to cliff face.

  I shuddered. A shadow shifted below me. I froze as a tall figure, cloaked in wolf skins, stepped from the circle of roses.

  I shrank into the shimmering curtains. Another howl, this one lower, nearer. Shadows broke from the forest, their hateful padding whispering through the night as they advanced. My fingers whitened over my dagger.

  With low growls, the creatures circled the patch of roses. The figure didn’t shift. Didn’t move. Then I saw the other one.

  A tall man separated from the gloom and strode over the turf. Wolves paced about his feet, rubbing their heads against his legs. He ignored them, not pausing until he reached the rim of the roses.

  The beast advanced a step, his posture erect. A glittering blade dangled from each hand. The figure inclined his head and the beast stiffly repeated the gesture.

  So others beside Dachs could cross the borders into this valley. Not as if the beast ever thought to share that with me.

  The cloaked figure held out his hands and, even under the wolf skins, I saw the beast’s posture grow rigid. He was shaking his head. The stranger laughed, a single peal that rang from the stones and froze the blood in my veins.

  The beast’s blade flashed, but the figure sprang backward. For a long moment, the two regarded each other, then the cloaked figure turned and strode away. The wolves hesitated. The beast waited.

  The figure was halfway across the valley when he lifted one hand. A hoarse call shattered the silence of the night. With snarls, the wolves sprang toward the beast.

  I gasped, my fingers gripping the side of the window frame.

  His blade flashed—one wolf crumpled while another flew backward. A third wolf was on his back, its fangs sinking into the beast’s arms. The beast muffled an unintelligible cry, his dagger slicing toward the creature. Already two more leapt from the opposite side.

  I spun from the window, yanking on my boots as my throat constricted. I couldn’t face the wolves. Not again. What did I think I was going to do?

  I snatched my bow, slung my quiver over my shoulder and dashed from the room.

  What did I even care? It wasn’t as if the beast was anything more than a captor. Anything more than the one who separated me from my brother and sisters.

  My boots skidded on the tiles. I yanked the front door open. My fingers nocked an arrow as I sprang into the night.

  A cool wind curled under the hem of my skirt and traced a shiver up my spine. Stilling the trembling in my hand, I drew a deep breath and pulled back the string of my bow. I sighted down the shaft and let fly.

  A wolf springing for the beast’s arm crumpled with a yelp. The fight jolted, the gleaming eyes of several beasts turning toward me. Already I was fitting another arrow on the string.

  A second wolf fell as the beast slammed the hilt of his sword between its eyes and spun around. His gaze blazed under the hood of his cloak and stains streaked his cheeks and hands. His eyes widened and his lips moved soundlessly. The flurry of paws jerked my attention to the wolves racing toward me—three of them.

  My next arrow struck the foremost wolf in his shoulder. He stumbled. Another fell as I let loose again. The last wolf was too close. I dropped the bow and yanked my dagger from its sheath, but the wolf collapsed several paces from my feet, the worn wooden handle of a knife protruding from its back. The beast’s shadow rose from a crouch a score of steps away.

  I exhaled, trembling, then spun to my right as a sudden stench swept over me. The wolf with the wounded shoulder sprang for my throat, fangs bared. I hurled myself out of the way, burying my dagger in its chest.

  Metal sliced through fur and flesh. Warmth spilled over my hands. I yanked the dagger out, staggering back a step as the creature crumpled. A strong grip steadied me and I spun to meet the beast’s eyes, tight with concern. His gaze skimmed over me as I searched behind him for any other attackers. The wolves were gone, slunk away into the shadows except for the bodies lying still on the grass.

  “I’m fine…” My breath came in ragged gasps as I finally met the beast’s gaze. I clasped one arm across my chest, trying to still the trembling that swept across me. My gaze fell to the new tears and stains on the beast’s cloak and skin. I touched his shoulder. He jerked back with a hiss.

  I nodded to myself. “You, however, are not fine. Get inside.”

  The beast swayed slightly and motioned toward the bodies of the wolves.

  I raised my eyebrows. “You’re not taking care of them now. Come on.”

  As the beast shrugged off his thick cloak, I lit the lamps in the kitchen, stirred up the fire, and warmed some water. The beast motioned to a side cabinet and I pulled it open, revealing bandages and salves.

  I shot a quick glance at the beast and laid them out on the table.

  What were you doing up? the beast motioned as I turned back to him.

  “I couldn’t sleep.” I glanced away. He spoke with the wolves indeed. I should have known better than to give credit to Dachs’s rumors. “But you… Don’t tell me you do this every night.”

  He shrugged, then winced. They don’t attack all the time.

  Air hissed between my teeth. “But you’re awake?”

  Standing guard. He affirmed. This is the largest attack since you’ve been here.

  “There’ve been others?” I asked. No wonder… I frowned as I tested the water. “What exactly is the use of a barrier that keeps your valley concealed from all but your enemies and strange, cloaked figures with wolves?”

  The beast stiffened and peered at me beneath loose strands of hair. I ignored him as I rolled up my sleeves. “Let me see your wounds. All of them.” I added firmly. “I know you were bitten on your shoulder. And your arm.” I crouched down. “Did they get your leg too?”

  Out of practice. The beast traced the words with a scowl.

  “As if others would have done much better when faced with…” I broke off. “You did fine.”

  The beast snorted and yanked up the leg of his trousers.

  I grimaced as I washed the blood from a long gash, revealing ages of crisscrossing lines, some faint, some red, one barely healed.

  “Are… are these all from wolves?” I asked as I fastened a bandage around his leg.

  The beast nodded once.

  My chest clenched, but I turned my attention to his shoulder. His cloak had taken the worst of the wolves’ mauling. There were more mended rents than whole furs in the piece now that I examined it. Two puncture wounds glared from the beast’s shoulder. I cleaned them as best I could, spread salve over the injury, then moved to the beast’s arm.

  His fingers closed about my wrist and twisted my arm upward. His gaze traced the long white scar that ran from my wrist to my elbow. His brow narrowed and he looked at me.

  I pulled away, focusing on the bandages. “Wolves.” My voice was low. “Whatever they have against you, there are others they attack as well.”

  The beast’s gaze darkened and he stared at the opposite end of the room. I bit my lip and wrapped his arm, then grasped the palm of his right hand where several nicks oozed blood. My fingers pressed against hard ridges. I turned his hand over and blinked at red scars, thin, but deep—crimson despite being crossed by paler white lines.

  No wolf made these. The beast’s gaze refocused and he jerked his hand away, closing his fingers in a protective fist.

  He rose to his feet and inclined hi
s head. Thank you.

  I nodded.

  He hesitated a moment more, his dark eyes staring into mine. His gaze dropped to my arm, then he bit his lip and spun away. A trembling breath shuddered through my body. My fingers closed about the ribbon at my wrist, then I gathered the remaining bandages, stuffed them away, and hurried to my chambers.

  When I awoke, the valley was empty. No bodies. The torn turf was repaired and cleared away. Maybe it was only a dream. But when I opened my door, four arrows lay clean and polished on the stone.

  Swallowing hard, I went in search of the beast. I found him inside one of the caves in the cliff side I’d yet to explore, a needle flashing in and out of the sunlight as he stitched a tear in his cloak. Five new wolf furs adorned the walls behind him, tacked out alongside a score of others. I wrinkled my nose.

  He followed my gaze and bit off a piece of string, then shrugged the cloak back over his shoulders. His eyes twinkled as he held out one arm.

  I shook my head. “Please, lead the way.”

  He snorted but tramped back to the house.

  After breakfast, he beckoned for me to follow him. I raised an eyebrow. He strode away without looking back. An incredulous laugh fell from my lips. Did he really expect me to just follow? I cut the sound short and hurried after him. The corridors wound about with familiarity until we arrived at the one I’d visited the day before.

  The beast sighed, one hand on the door of the library. I held my breath. Finally, he looked at me. I’m sorry. He traced the letters in the air. Yesterday. I overreacted slightly. He hesitated. Perhaps.

  “Perhaps?”

  The beast frowned and pulled out the key. He unlocked the door and motioned me inside. The grandeur of the towering books was no less magnificent because I knew what to expect. I turned in a full circle, staring at the volumes upon volumes. I could spend months in here. No. I jerked myself from the thought as my fingers slid beneath the scarlet ribbon at my wrist. I’d be going home soon. I would be going home. All the wolves in the Blackwood wouldn’t stop me, nor the rebels either.

  I spun toward the beast, but he held out the key and motioned outward to the room. Yours.

  “Mine?”

  To use. He amended. I can still read here too, of course.

  “Of course.” I repressed a sudden urge to smile. My eyes met the beast’s, who was watching me intently. “Thank you.”

  He nodded and retreated, leaving me to myself.

  The rest of the day I spent in the library, doing nothing but searching out the varied options and reveling in the choices set before me.

  And I stood for a long minute staring at the desk in the center of the room.

  It was empty.

  The books would keep her happy, even if she rejected him for the moment. Though she hadn’t quite rejected him. He smiled faintly as he locked himself in the small room. She’d get used to him. Already she seemed to be warming up. Maybe one day she would even— He bit his lip and shoved the thought aside. There was no time for such things now.

  He swallowed hard and pressed his palm against the smooth surface of a mirror.

  A mist cleared, followed by rapid pictures of flaming villages and marching rebels. Everywhere disordered troops fled from grim lines of treasonous soldiers.

  Tauscher. The unbidden image cleared to one face. Iron blue eyes staring straight at him, just as they had from under the dark hood the night before. The gaze so triumphant. The curve of the lip so full of the assurance of victory.

  He yanked back his hand and gritted his teeth.

  There were powers other than Tauscher’s. There was still the Oath. Still a chance.

  He straightened and drew a deep breath. A chance, yes, but time was running short.