Annoce, David and Latsol have reached the town Williowwind once more. They decide to stay for the night in the Dancing Wolf if there is room. They plan to set out on the morrow. They step into the inn to see about rooms. Whoopes is in the corner and growls softly at them. The hooded little person is beside him and smacks his arm before whispering, “Behave or we will not have a place to stay the night. I for one will not have you get us tossed out again because you want to fight.”
Annoce walks to the counter, “Ember do you have one or two rooms available for rent tonight? We wish to stay the night before we head out on the morrow.” Ember looks to Opal, “Do we still have two rooms or is only one available now?” He had been in the back and was unsure. Opal smiles, “We have four rooms for rent. We had a few people leave today.” He smiles and kisses her cheek before turning back to Annoce, “It would seem I have four room to rent how many would you like?” Annoce looks to David whom puts two fingers in the air. “Two rooms will be fine thank you.” He nods and Opal smiles softly, “Follow me and I will show you to your rooms.”
David and Latsol share a room once again. The dwarf does not trust him to stay by himself. Annoce is in his room. They all choose to go to sleep early so they may start out before dawn on the morrow. Just before dawn they leave the Dancing Wolf and head for the stables where the wagon and horses are. They meet Belm whom bows to them. “The horses are in fine health and the wagon is in good repair my lord dwarf. Give us but a moment to finish hitching the horses and you shall be ready to depart.” David nods and pulls out his coin punch. He pulls from it a few silver coins and hands them to Belm. “Thank you, we shall wait outside. Please bring the wagon to us when it is ready. We would like to be on the road soon.”
The wagon is led out by Therm a few moments later. “Here you are. I touched up the wagon. There were a few holes on the bottom. They were not big enough for items to fall through yet. I hope you do not mind.” David chuckles and shakes his head and pulls out two copper pieces. He hands them to Therm. “No, I am not mad at you doing this. I hope what I have given you is enough to cover the cost. If not please let me know so I may pay the proper amount.” Therm bows. “You have given more than is needed.” He tries to hand David one of the copper pieces back but David shakes his head and puts one of his hands up. “No, keep what was given. We shall take our leave now. We have a long way ahead of us.” The three seat themselves into the wagon. David at the helm. They set out on the road heading back to their group. Annoce thinking of Sunny.
Jess and Zane are sitting down to break their fast with most of the members of the pack. Just as the food is brought out Everard and Raken come into the hall with the two warriors between them. Raken nods to Jess and Zane before speaking, “Alpha these two warriors would not allow Sunny entrance to the undercroft. I have replaced them for the day and informed the new warriors. Sunny is inside of the undercroft. She is as of right now the only one to enter unless you give orders. What punishment would you want for these two?” Jess and Zane look over the two warriors before Jess speaks, “I wish to know what they were thinking in not allowing someone to follow orders I gave.” She growls the last part out.
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One of them has the nerve to growl back and Zane moves so fast that in the blink of an eye he has the male pinned to the wall with his claws out and in the male's throat. “I do believe your Alpha asked what you were thinking. Though by the way you responded. It would seem to me you do not think a female can lead and you wish to take her place. Know this pup you will have to kill me first. She is my mate and by far a better being than you shall ever have hope to be. This one to the dungeon. He shall stay there for now. We shall not trust him. As for the other, we shall see what he has to speak on this matter.” Two warriors come and take him away from the pack.
Once the room has settled they turn to the warrior whom was smart enough not to make a sound or flinch when Zane moved past him to pin the other. He bows to the room. “I have just left training and became a warrior but a few days hence. I was told when this happened I was to follow the older warriors commands without questions. This day I was to be under Frederick's command. This was the one whom was taken from here. He has never thought a female to be someone to follow. As he would speak they are not good for anything but bearing pups and to put food on the table. I do not agree with his thinking. I was to follow his lead today. When the one whom had come to the undercroft spoke she was here under orders I had wished to let her pass. I was told by him to hold and not move.” He bows once more, having spoken his piece.
Jess has watched him closely as the time passed. She was able to tell he had spoken the truth. The practice was commonplace for new warriors to be under someone's command until they had proven themselves. This would take weeks, months, sometimes years. “What is your name warrior? I wish to know. I am still learning the names of all. This shall take time.” Jess speaks to him. “My name is Vinrick alpha.” “You spoke of just leaving training and becoming one of the warriors. This to me means you are of age but just. Are there other warriors whom share Frederick's thoughts that you know of?” Zane asks. “All you have spoken of me is true. As for warriors there are a few of the older ones whom may think the same though most went with the old alpha for that trap.”
Jess nods, “We shall with you have you return to your room for the day. On the morrow we shall meet at daybreak and choose whom you shall be under for the remainder of your time until proven.” He bows to her and turns to go to his room. “Ensure he is locked in for the day, Everard. This is to allow him time to think on what has happened and why he should have followed what he thought was right. Not to have blindly followed Frederick.” Zane speaks so the whole room may hear him. Everard bows and leaves to follow out the command. “Please let us break our fast now that the matter has been handled.”
The day went by quickly for Sunny as she counted the eggs in the undercroft. There were hundreds of them by her count. She had of course looked at the ores before starting. There was enough there to make quite a few good quality weapons for the pack. She knew how she wished to use them. Though she would see if her father agreed with her first. They worked as a team when forging. As she counted the last of the eggs she thought of how to get Jess and Zane alone to give them the numbers. She sighed softly wishing Annoce was with her. She left after finishing her work. Walking slowly to the pack house she listened to the chatter of the pack members. Some wondered how Sunny was thought of as higher than that of a pack member.