THE WEREKIND
CHAPTER ONE
They travelled east. Kiera and Adeius took turns riding the Ravan while Pegas walked beside and the wolf loped on ahead, chasing the odd rabbit or alluring scent trail. They had put his bundle in the saddle bags where Boregius of the Ravans also had his clothes with each having their own version of events to review and piece together as best they could.
Their coming together they knew, was no accident and they had to come to terms with the significance of what that meant. Kiera felt and immediate and comfortable ease with the big horseman who had let her ride him. She guessed that the black horse was of his kind with the same proud bearing and refinement beyond that of other horses. The man dressed in monk’s clothing was more difficult to fathom her reaction to. He had vulnerability, innocence, an otherworldliness which was strange but compelling. His beauty brought out emotions which were confusing and frightening: he had a hold on her that she couldn’t explain. And then she watched the wolf as it darted left and right and felt an irritation that could have been her kind against his, cat and dog. She stole another glance at the man now riding the horse whole she walked beside Pegas. The horseman noticed, and wondered at his new found companions. What had orchestrated this? Did they feel the same way as he did? Exhilarated by their strange unity, affinity but lost for an explanation of how it came to be? But they barely knew each other; more would come to light as they grew accustomed to each other and their situation Pegas assured himself, and the man on the horse he instinctively felt, would provide much in the way of answers.
Adeius, for the first time in his life felt the warmth of companionship with others, like a hunger he never knew he had, satisfied and answered. They were outsiders like him, different in their own ways but unlike the other humans all the same. The echo had said that he would have friends. How did she know?
It was getting darker and soon they would make camp. The wolf looked back behind him ahead of his new pack and sat to scratch an ear, waiting for them to catch up.
They had found the little girl outside the city crying, sitting next to the bloodied remains of what they had assumed to be her unfortunate family and in impassioned pity had taken her to them. What they had not seen were the two who had slunk away after accomplishing the deed of placing one of their kind in a position of infiltration that would fool those unsuspecting. The man that took her in rich, highly placed and childless and the little girl soon learned to call him daddy and he provided for her in a way that he hoped would help her forget the tragic circumstances that brought her to him. And Zanute waited, watching her grow, assimilate to the life around her until she would be old enough to play her role in the part he planned for her.
The Storyteller had been welcome in all the villages and towns he had travelled to, entertaining all with his tales, stories and retelling of the old legends and myths which he told in graphic detail and with an enthralling delivery. But he had begun to hear stories himself about how the world was changing and felt a responsibility to do what he could to halt the flow of unacceptable change. He had been told of a city whose ways threatened the old understandings of how lives should be lived and took it upon himself to go there, see what could be done. Once there, he realised the task was too great. Those in power had a grip that his stories could not shake. His tales where criticized and laughed at as not being relevant and he’d had to water down their message to suit the tone of their beliefs. But he would not leave. He would find a way for that was his art and throughout known history it was the duty of the storyteller to educate on matters of the spirit and the soul’s elevation through entertainment and wonder and here was where he was needed most. But the years had passed and his will was flagging, scraping a meagre living from telling that which kept in line with the pervading attitude left him uninspired and less passionate. But he held on, something would come he told himself, a sign, and counting his pennies found that he had enough to enter the tavern for a small but welcome cup of ale.
The fire was small but cast enough light and warmth for those seated around it to feel the cosiness of their company. They had spoken little over the course of the day’s travel only offering shy smiles and casual observations but each had more they wanted to say, ask. The Ravan was by a small lake, head bowed to the water which those seated had taken their fill from earlier.
“What order are you from?” Pegas asked the man in monk’s clothing. Adeius looked at him.
“I am not a monk; these are the clothes of someone who once was.” Kiera was surprised; she had thought him a monk too.
“You’re a monk though,” she said to Pegas. He nodded.
“At least I was until...”
“One of the brothers of the valley, Elias would often talk about them,” Adeius added. Pegas remembered the name as one the brothers had mentioned, scandalously. He looked sharply at Adeius.
“Are you...?” Adeius looked at him, then down into the flames.
“I watched from the mountain, the horses... are different up close.”
“But they said... you never came down.”
“Until now,” attested Adeius.
From what Kiera could understand, “You lived on a mountain all your life? Why?” But he could not or would not explain. That would account for his otherworldliness she thought, that distant look in his eye.
“What made you come down?” asked Pegas gently.
“It was time, there are... things to be done.” He glanced up at them both. “You, them,” indicating to the others, “Are a part of it, I don’t know how...” Kiera and Pegas looked at each other both wondering the same thing. What kind of were was he? But neither felt it was right to ask, they would found out eventually. The wolf came back with a rabbit which he proudly deposited for those less able to hunt in his pack. Kiera took a small knife from her belt and skinned and gutted it expertly, ignoring the wolf as it watched her every movement. It was not much but sharing a meal brought them closer.
“We should get some sleep, it’ll be a long day tomorrow,” observed Kiera and they settled down wolf on guard as the fire burned down.
The group of travellers of a few families and single men and women stopped their wagons and horses and camped by a stream under the shelter of a small group of trees. They made a large fire and pots were brought out and food cooked and after eating the pots and plates were washed at the stream they settled down looking ahead.
“Tell us again, is it big?”
“It’s huge, like nothing you’ve ever seen before. The buildings are so high you have to crane your neck to see the tops of them and the streets are all paved, no more muddy boots.”
“Tell us about the shops again.” Eyes gleaming forming pictures in their minds.
“They sell things you could never dream of brought from far and wide made form gold and silver and diamonds and the people wear clothes so richly embroidered... We’ll all get jobs there, live in nice homes with tapestries on the walls...”
“How long d’you think before we get there?”
“Only a little further, a couple of days, soon.” They all mused on how much better their lives were going to be from the ones they’d left behind toiling on farms.
“Schools for the children, great arenas for fighting and plays, great baths of heated water but only for those who can afford it and all kinds of different food and wines...” He had told them the same thing every night of their journey but they hadn’t got tired of hearing of it as if wondering if it could really be true. Some of the younger children wanted a story and the one best at retelling the old tales was appointed to choose one to settle their excited spirits. He took a seat closer to the fire before deciding on one.
“Once, long ago when the Dragons roamed the sky and men had peace in their hearts a young fairy...”
“Not this one again!” complained one of the older boys.
“Oh please yes,” said a younger child who remembered the tale fondly. He continued.
“...A young fairy seeking adventure came from his world to ours, to a place he had heard the other fairies talk about, where men and animals lived side by side and knew each other’s language in signs and body movements. When he saw for himself how peaceful and happy they were he decided that the rest of the world should be like that and went back to tell the other fairies. They laughed at him and told him the other humans weren’t yet advanced enough and he would have to wait, fairy whispering was all they could do to affect their souls and not all had ears to listen. But the fairy would not be put off so he decided to go to the Dragons. He went to the highest mountain top and called to them flying overhead. One read his heart and swooped down to tell him that the humans and animals were really fairies who had chosen to live on that world so as to better help the other humans. The fairy wanted to do that too, so the Dragon took him to the secret portal and he went through. He came into the human world as a human himself and immediately felt the loss of his wings and connection to the fairy world. But he knew what he must do, travelling the world, telling stories of magic and wonder until he became old and grey. The other fairies knew what he had done and inspired to more seriously their job of fairy whispering until the people of the world began to understand and respond. More began to open their hearts and minds and the fairies came to the world to dance and play and the Dragons were pleased. But the fairy who was an old man began to miss his old life and the Dragons took pity on him. They showed him the way back through the portal and he was a fairy again able to live hundreds of years. But for what he had done for the human world the Dragons gave him a special position in the sky and to this day his fairy magic lands on the chosen who can help the world and touched by fairy magic they are protected by the Dragons and helped by the fairies to show the way perfect harmony.”
The children’s hearts smiled and those older and less given to fantasy were none the less eased by the retelling of a story they knew from childhood.
“But are they real?” one child asked, wanting to believe.
“It only a story,” another child retorted. But someone older softened the blow.
“Maybe once when the world was young and there was still hope...” But some were already returning to their wagons or finding sleeping places on the ground and the child who had asked the question told herself that even if the others didn’t she would still believe, and in her dreams she saw fairy magic like glistening stardust come down from the sky and fall upon her and a fairy came and whispered, “Shh,” in her ear and when she woke she smiled keeping the secret to herself.
They traded, bought, sold and bartered, amassing wealth and position which they further used to infiltrate and manipulate trade routes and systems to their advantage. One by one, territories were being taken over, controlled behind the scenes by silent partnerships with unsuspecting humans, greedy for their share of the profit. The breeding grounds were secret, hidden in underground caves or inhospitable terrains where the humans would not look, seek or venture.
And their numbers grew.
CHAPTER TWO
Boregius of the Ravans woke to find a wolf licking at his face and pushed it away before realising that it was the same one he had felled with a stone which had later turned into the man who buried his clothes. What was his name? His thoughts were still blurry from the turning and he sat up and looked around. There were strangers sleeping around a burned out fire but he recognised the saddle bags which held his clothes. He went to retrieve them carefully stepping so as not to wake those sleeping. He got dressed with the wolf watching him wagging its tail. Dawn had still not risen but he could see from the half moon light that they were nowhere near civilization. He went back to sit by the lake and the wolf followed to sit beside him. He rested his hand gently on its head. He remembered that he had read the signs and trusted fate to take him on its course, but where had it led him? Mind still unclear he decided to walk, the wolf following, as the first rays were beginning to peek over the horizon.
Pegas stirred, sat up and looked around. The wolf and the horse were gone but then he could see a shape, two, moving away a little way off. Could it be? Heart beating he hurried to catch up, leaving the other two still sleeping on the ground. The wolf turned and barked and Boregius of the Ravans turned also to see a man coming towards him. There was no perspective to judge but he seemed bigger than the average man and the horseman knew it could be no other. He stopped and turned, walking back to greet the other horseman. When they got closer they both realised that they were of about the same height and build. One dark haired, dark skinned while the other fair haired and pale skinned. They smiled at being in such close proximity to another of their kind.
“Pegas, I am Boregius of the Ravans.” Pegas was surprised.
“Why, the Brother Elder said if I was ever to meet you that I should give you a message.”
“Oh yes?” mildly curious.
“He said that you were right and that the child was a sign.”
“Oh,” the dark horseman said almost to himself.
“What did he mean?” asked Pegas, curious. But Boregius of the Ravans thought with dismay, ‘I should’ve searched the mountain,’ not realising that he had said it out loud.
“The mountain? The child on the mountain?” wide eyed. “Why, he’s here!” The other horseman looked at him confused.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s asleep by the fire with the girl!” Boregius looked back over the other horseman’s shoulder to where they had left the sleeping figures. And did not dare believe that all his senses led him to believe.
“What kind of sign?” Pegas wanted to know realising that there was something about the strange man after all. Boregius looked deep into the other horseman’s eyes.
“Brother,” suddenly weary, “I have just ...returned,” and glad of the kinship to share the burden of his knowing, “There is much...” but words failed him. And though they had only just met as men, Pegas reached out and held the other horseman who, touched by the rare tenderness returned the embrace, the emotion shared of that of long lost kin. Then Boregius straightened himself up.
“Well, there’s only one way to find out!” And they headed back as the sun came streaming into view.
Early prayers were held in the great hall and men in gold timed white robes kneeled on prayer mats laid on a polished marble floor. The one who led the prayer faced the congregation and as they bowed after each incantation, he deferred their worship to one greater than himself. The book was open but he no need to read it’s lines, they had been memorized after years of long study and he knew them off by heart.
“...And he shall lead the people to the light where once there was darkness raising their souls to join him in the heavenly firmament.”
And the rest chorused, “Long may we serve him!”
The high priest closed the book and looked down from his podium at the other priests.
“Many of you have watched this city grow and flourish from the beginning, been a part of its inception, others have come later but participated in the spreading of the word. The people,once ignorant barbarians look to us to give them guidance and leadership in the cleansing of their souls and we must in turn be humble in service of the most high. Only the most devoted will take the highest places above and know the ecstasy of the exalted. There are always new people coming, the city is expanding, seek out the lost, misguided and show them the path of righteousness and purity. May his power be with you,” and with that, dismissed as the high priest turned away, those who called themselves the Sons of Adam filed out to continue the work of their calling in the sure knowledge that theirs was the right and only way to spiritual accession.
The old woman walked through the streets of her home village missing the laughter of children and the rebelliousness of those almost of age. Of an age when her own grandchildren should be milling around her, easing her into her dotage she thought of the others like her in her village and wondered how they all could have been so easily fooled. But that was long ago and they had each had time to regret the decision that left them with only the crumbling remains that had once been a thriving community. Few would be left soon to remember, to reminisce, all they had left now of the past. She passed the old playground where the children had once screamed and laughed and stopped for a while. But then pained too much by the memory she walked on cursing the day she so clearly remembered when they came, and spat.
Adeius woke first and saw that only the girl was left with him. He remade the fire and as it crackled her eyes opened, emerald green and sleepily. She stretched sitting up.
“Where are the others?” and they both looked around and saw the two horsemen coming with the wolf slightly ahead. “This is really weird,” said Kiera getting up to go and splash water on her face from the lake, then coming back. “There’s got to be a reason for this, I mean, how often do you come across one of our kind, let alone four!” Her stomach growled. “I’m hungry,” she moaned and sat back down chin resting on hands. Adeius liked her. She was close to his age, maybe a little older and though as a black leopard she was deadly, utterly in control, as a girl her emotions, petulant and unschooled were a delight to him, his own reserved and cautious. The horsemen were getting nearer. Adeius got up to greet them.
“I don’t suppose that wolf has caught anything,” grumbled Kiera, still on the ground. It’s only when Boregius got close enough to see his face that he frowned. A face like that would not go unnoticed, or was that the purpose, that is if he really was the one not only he, but others had sought. Pegas introduced them when they were close enough but Kiera though curious, only gave a curt smile. Adeius felt the horseman’s eye searching his for something and unphased by the scrutiny invited him to sit and join them and they sat, with the new member watched by the others. Kiera broke the ice.
“Can anyone get that mutt to go find us something to eat?”
“The Jakal,” Boregius suddenly remembered. The wolf pricked up its ears.
“What kind of a name is that?” Kiera was in a bad mood and Pegas decided to change the subject.
“Looks like it’s going to be a good day for travelling,” looking up, “Not too many clouds...” The dark horseman broke in, suddenly impatient with the casualness of their remarks.
“Do any of you know of what we are dealing with here?”
“Do you?” asked Kiera, not expecting him to know.
“Yes, but...” and then they were all curious. “Unless this is all a fantastic coincidence...”
“Well?” demanded Kiera.
“There are powerful forces at work here, we have all been brought together to serve a higher purpose.” Pegas and Kiera were none the wiser but Adeius looked uncomfortable.
“I think what he means is, you’re all here because of me.” Boregius looked at him surprised. How much did he know?
“Many have searched,” carefully continuing, “For the Dragon’s Child.” Adeius looked down.
“The Dragon’s Child,” Kiera repeated, “And who or what is that supposed to be?” Boregius was offended by the irreverence.
“Prophecy says he was sent by the Dragons to bring unity to the different worlds, re-establish balance...”
“What different worlds?” asked Pegas, brows furrowed.
“Of the spirit world, the different dimensions...” Kiera threw her eyes up.
“Can you hear yourself? Who told you that story? You don’t expect us to believe...”
“It’s true,” said Adeius quietly. He looked up and she stared into his dark almost black eyes which she could’ve sworn were a deep blue earlier... and almost believed.
“He’s the Dragon’s Child, and what are we supposed to be?” she looked around at all of them, demanding.
“His protectors, helpers...” Boregius faultered. He wasn’t used to having his demeanour of authority disregarded in this way.
“You’re all mad!” Getting up and stomping off to go sit by herself at the lake. Perplexed Boregius looked at her.
“She must be made to realise the seriousness of this, if she is to be a part of it.”
But Adeius said, “I’m having a hard time coming to terms with it myself,” smiling apologetically. The dark horseman looked at his horsebrother. Pegas didn’t know what to say.
“Well it does sound a bit...why is...? What makes us so special?” And Boregius didn’t have an answer. The wolf sensing the mood picked up a stick dropping it at the horseman’s feet for him to throw. Boregius absently picked it up and threw it and the wolf ran after it, soon returning and dropping it again. This time the big man ignored him and tail slumped low he went off to find his own sport, soon chasing a fleeting movement, ears back, nose to the wind.
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