As the first rays of light filtered through the window, SJ stirred. She hadn't closed the drapes the previous evening on her return. Checking the time on her display, it was 06:15hrs. Yawning, she stretched and climbed from her bed.
'Morning Dave.'
"Morning. Busy at the moment arguing with an adjudicator. Update in a few."
Wondering what Dave was arguing about with an adjudicator, SJ got herself ready for the day. Her priority was to see if Zigferd had returned last night. Once dressed, she went to Zigferd's door, knocking loudly. After waiting and knocking a few more times, she gave up going back to her room.
'Where is he?' she thought.
Dave didn't reply; he was still busy with the adjudicator, and SJ felt nervous. Moving to the window, shrinking, she flew down to the tower's base. Deciding she would see Jay and ask him to help Yawnee and Lurtew again today with the cart, she walked to the stables. The courtyard was busy, preparing the carts for the day.
"Have you seen Jay yet?" SJ said to a human man who was tacking a horse.
"In the office," the man said.
Walking to the building, SJ entered. Seeing Jay sitting at a table with several others playing cards. She hoped he wasn't gambling all his coin away.
"Jay."
Jay looked up, smiling on seeing SJ. "Hi SJ. What do you need?"
"You okay with helping Lurtew and Yawnee again today?"
"Sure. I can head over once the horses are prepared."
"That would be great. Thanks."
"No problem. Zigferd said to let you know he will be back this evening."
"Zigferd?" SJ said, surprised.
"Yes. He came and borrowed a horse first thing this morning."
Frowning, SJ asked. "Did he say where he was going?"
"Sorry, no. Just said he would be back this evening."
"Okay, thanks." SJ wondered what he was up to. He had needed to borrow a horse, which she had never seen him ride before in all her time at Killic. Leaving the stables, SJ headed back to the tower.
Breakfast comprised a bowl of porridge and honey plus the obligatory pot of dark nectar. Dave still wasn't replying, and she had tried to speak to him frequently. SJ was finishing her third mug when the young serving girl from the previous evening walked over.
"Councillor. Lacey made you these and wanted to apologise again for last night." The girl pointed towards the kitchen, where Lacey stood, looking from the door.
Turning, SJ nodded her head in appreciation. "What are they?"
"She called them 'mint balls'."
SJ opened the small paper bag. Inside were small, white, hard-shelled sweets. She took one from the bag and popped it in her mouth. Sucking on the sweet, she could taste a mint flavour mixed with something else she didn't recognise. It tasted wonderful. Turning, she noticed Lacey still in the kitchen doorway and again nodded. Lacey grinned before disappearing back out of sight. SJ would have to speak to Floretta about making sweets when she returned to Killic. She hadn't considered them since she had arrived in Amathera, only ever seeing cakes.
SJ wondered where Zigferd could have gone needing a horse, concerned that he hadn't informed her.
"SJ."
"Gullifer," SJ replied, recognising the troll.
"I need to discuss some matters with you. Do you have time today before the votes?"
In everything SJ had been doing, she had forgotten they would be in the council chambers for the votes on additional matters later today.
"Of course. What do you need to discuss?"
Gullifer appeared to flush slightly as he replied. "I would like to discuss a sensitive issue with you."
"Sensitive?"
"Yes. I have lived in Easthilloc my whole life and have been the mayor since my father passed away three years ago. We have had several Legionnaires begin in Easthilloc, yet none have gained a decent reputation or even positivity towards them. Several have ended up hated. I wondered if I could discuss what it is like to be a Legionnaire to try to understand them more."
The revelation of Gullifer was surprising since his original comment at the table when they had met. "I am not sure what help I can be, but I can try to advise," SJ smiled.
"Should we walk and talk? The gardens are beautiful at this time of year. Living in the mountains, we don't have the same fauna as here."
"Of course." Picking up her sweets and adding them to her inventory, she stood and followed Gullifer to the garden area.
All being well, he should be back by later afternoon. The information had taken him much longer to get than he had hoped, but he had promised that he would look into it for them. Opening the parchment on which the directions had been written, he turned off the main path towards the base of a rock face. Pulling the horse to a stop as he neared, he jumped down and walked forward.
"Three oval boulders stacked on each other," he repeated the information his contact had given him. Not seeing anything resembling the description, he jumped back on the horse and turned towards the main track he had left. He had left Asterfal at first light and pushed the horse hard to reach the foothills of Athelios, the tallest mountain peak in the territory. He had never been here before but knew well enough of the rumours surrounding it.
Even though he may not show it, he felt nervous. He was in unfamiliar territory, and the levels of beings in Neturian ranged from 30 to 40, which he didn't want to mess with if he could avoid it. He knew he could defend himself if needed, but didn't fancy running into the hill giants rumoured to live in Athelios's foothills. His werebear form was an advanced variation, and his skills were also very high, giving him benefits above those expected of a being his level. The problem was that his health would not compare to that of higher-level beings because of his lower level.
As he trotted along the track, the horse let out a sudden whinny.
"Whoa, girl. What is it?" he said, coming to a stop. He couldn't see anything ahead on the road and knew that several other beings and creatures were known across the territory.
The horse stepped sideways nervously, thrashing its head, attempting to turn back.
"Steady girl," Zigferd patted the horse on its neck, trying to soothe it.
Zigferd glanced upwards as an enormous bird cawed overhead, unable to identify its type.
The horse suddenly reared, and Zigferd struggled to keep his seat. He grabbed the horse by its mane to prevent himself from being thrown, and it skittered across the track.
"Whoa, girl. Calm down."
The track was empty, like many in Athelios, dotted with thick gorse bushes and sparse trees. He couldn't see anything to cause the horse to get skittish. He kicked to get the horse to move forward, but it wouldn't obey. "Come on, girl, please," he said, patting her again.
It shook its head again but wouldn't take another step forward. "Damn!" Zigferd cursed as he jumped down from its back. Digging his hand into a bag over his shoulder, he pulled an apple. Holding the reins tightly, he walked to the horse's head and held it before its nose. It slowly calmed down, eventually stopping its resistance.
"Shall we walk a while?" Zigferd fed the apple to the horse and then moved to lead it down the track. It didn't move. It had stopped its nervous panic, but it wouldn't move.
"Please, girl. I need to locate them. I promised SJ and Cristy."
"Promised them what?" a deep voice spoke from close by.
Zigferd spun on the spot, swiftly equipping a sword as he did. "Who's there?" He could see no one, scanning the surrounding bushes. "I said, who's there?"
"You were asked a question," a female voice now said.
Whipping his head the other way, he still didn't see anyone. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his eyes were scanning frantically.
"Come out and show yourselves."
"You were asked a question," an unfamiliar male voice said this time, seeming to come from behind him.
There were at least three unseen beings now surrounding him. He couldn't even see them and didn't fancy his chances. If they were going to attack, he was going to be defenceless. Returning his sword to his sheath, he transformed. The horse neighed and again became skittish as Zigferd transformed into his bear form. He was a formidable sight. Standing roaring as his transformation finished. "I said, who's there?" he repeated in the deep, growling bear form, now standing on his hind legs. The height advantage allowed him to look further.
"Impressive form. I am guessing you are advanced, looking at the size of your transformation," the original voice said. Walking from the gorse bushes no more than ten feet from Zigferd, a deep green-coated Panthera appeared. Its mottled green fur was perfect camouflage against the bushes. Further down the path, another Panthera appeared, slightly smaller and slimmer. This one was in the direction the female had been.
Zigferd had never seen panthers of this kind before. "Who are you?"
The larger panthera could only be described as smiling as it replied, "I think you know who we are—Zigferd of Killic. The decision we need to make now is whether we allow you to leave here."
Hearing his name shocked Zigferd. It had taken him all the previous day to locate a contact for the Carlati clan. "Carlati?"
"Indeed we are," the other male voice said. Turning, Zigferd wasn't expecting to see the beast he did. He had heard of some lycanthropes getting rare forms, but this one must be exceptionally rare. To Zigferd, it appeared to be more of a chimera. It had the body of a large cat but with six legs. Its fur was a deep purple, almost black, and it had two tentacle-like appendages from just behind its shoulders.
Even in his bear's form, Zigferd's voice came over surprised, "You are a wereplacer?"
"The beast moved its head as laughter came from its jaws. I am. I am known as Matvik and the head of the Carlati clan. Why are you here, Zigferd of Killic?"
Zigferd had assumed it was the older-sounding large Panthera, but seeing the displacer beast stand behind him, he could understand why. It was stated that once a rare beast was born into a lycan family, its gene could continue to be passed on. Zigferd dropped to all fours, glancing at the three of them, who stayed their distance, not approaching nearer.
"I have come to speak on behalf of an outsider."
"An outsider, you say. Aren't all who are not in a clan outsiders." Matvik said.
"This doesn't relate to a Lycan."
Snarling, the larger Panthera stepped forward. "You speak of our clan to those not Lycan. Lycan alone, who contests us, pays the price for breaking our secrecy, yet you see fit to talk to one, not even Lycan."
"I would not be here to meet you if I didn't think your clan would accept her. I know of your reputation, skills, and unfettered loyalty to the beast relationships of old. This child I talk of is one I have never seen have the association with a beast as she does."
"A child with an association?" the female Panthera asked.
"Yes. A gnoll child. She hasn't even finished her age of development yet, but she can speak to her pack."
"A pack of what?"
"A dire wolf and his pack live outside of Killic. Young Cristy has always called them her family. She can speak to them and understand their tongue."
"It's impossible," the older panthera rebuked. "No unordained can communicate with beasts on a familial level."
"I wouldn't be here risking my life if I didn't believe in her ability."
"What proof do you have?" Matvik asked.
"None. I have no proof to give you. I can only tell you what I have witnessed with my own eyes. The dire wolf and his pack have helped the town on more than one occasion, and Cristy has always been key to their involvement. Without her, they would have been hunted and driven from the town, but they have become defenders along our southern border instead."
"A gnoll, you say?" the female Panthera said.
"Yes. She is a gnoll child soon to be a young adult. She is in her fifth year."
"I know little about gnolls, but I have read historical references to unordained beings in the texts," she said.
"You know why I am here," Zigferd said. "To my knowledge, you are the only clan who still practices the old ways. I know no other beast wardens in existence."
"And what do you wish us to do with her?" the older Panthera said.
"I wish you to train her as a beast warden."
Scoffing the old Panthera, "Never. An unpure will never be trained in the clan."
"Bisage. That is not your decision or your position to make such a statement," Matvik said, his voice warning. Zigferd watched the Panthera take a step backwards.
Zigferd dreaded thinking about what level these three were at but knew that if they wished, they could and would rip him to pieces. A loud cry came from above again, and the huge eagle Zigferd had seen swooped down and came to land on the back of Matvik. It sounded like it gurgled and preened its feathers as one of Matvik's tentacles stroked its back.
Matvik hadn't taken his eyes from Zigferd the whole time. "Let us head to the conclave, and we can discuss this matter in more pleasant surroundings. Zigferd, if you transform back, you will require being blindfolded, and Reay here will lead your horse there."
Zigferd watched as the younger Panthera transformed into her human form. Her looks reminded Zigferd of Alice. Zigferd observed that her clothing, comprising mottled green and grey leather armour, indicated her ability to seamlessly disappear into the surroundings, even in her human form.
Zigferd transformed back and took hold of the horse's reins. The whole time they had spoken, the horse had stood still as soon as they had appeared and remained calm. Zigferd watched in awe as a huge snake slithered out from the gorse bushes and moved beside Reay. Lifting its large flat head, Reay stroked it fondly before walking forward and removing a strip of cloth from her inventory.
"If you get back on the horse, I will blindfold you," she said.
Zigferd had no choice but to obey their instructions. Climbing onto its back, he leaned forward, allowing Reay to tie the blindfold around his head.
"We will see you back there, Zigferd of Killic." He heard Matvik say before hearing the flapping of wings and the sound of bushes moving.
The horse stepped, and Zigferd jolted at the sudden movement. "Sorry," Reay said as they moved forward.
"Reay, wasn't it?" Zigferd asked.
"It is, yes."
"May I ask you something?"
"Please do."
"If Cristy was accepted, how long would her training be?"
"That is a tough question to answer. If what you say about her affinity to beasts is true, then she may learn quickly."
"Do you think she will be accepted?"
"I can't say. That would be for the overseer to confirm."
"Is that not Matvik?"
"No, Matvik is our leader by birth. He is a fifteenth-generation wereplacer. The overseer is Nether; she will decide. If this Cristy you speak of can complete the trials, then she may have a chance to be accepted. It would be the first time I have heard of an outsider ever being instructed, if that is the case."
"When did you join the clan?"
"I was born into the clan. My family has always been beast wardens. I am a thirteenth-generation member."
"I know little of your clan's history. I am ignorant as many when it comes to your beliefs and knowledge. I know that Cristy has an ability I have never seen in my 150 years."
"You are much older than I thought," Reay said, and he could hear the surprise in her voice. "Your form is impressive. I don't think I have seen an advanced werebear before. You must have trained hard."
"My history is quite tainted."
"Yet now you represent a town of beings as a mayor and a representative in Asterfal."
"How do you know so much about me?"
"We know most of what is happening in Asterfal, especially concerning lycans. We have our contacts, as you discovered."
Zigferd was still surprised that since seeing the man yesterday, he had communicated with the clan and made them aware he would be coming to see them.
"Is it far to the conclave?"
"It is a way, yes. You don't think you were told the right directions, do you?" Reay laughed.
Zigferd hadn't considered that he might have been given the wrong details and cursed internally at being so thoughtless. Knowing the clan's secrecy made perfect sense that he would have been given false information.
"I see you have a snake as a beast."
"Yes. Our family has always had ties with the pythons."
"I didn't see a beast with Bisage?"
"Unfortunately, no. His beast was killed several months ago during a skirmish with hill giants. It's not often we clash, but sometimes they try to press on the conclave. He swore he would never take another beast. I can understand. I wouldn't know what to do without Lily."
"Your python is called Lily?
"Yes, why?"
"It's just not a name I would have associated with a python. Then again, I have never associated a name with a python."
"Well, you are in for a treat back at the conclave. We have quite a variety of beasts."
Zigferd sat quietly for the remainder of the journey until Reay spoke. "We are here."
