Relma awoke, feeling very sore with an aching back and hair in front of her face. As she roused herself, to her surprise, she was lying on a clean linen bed rather than a wolf den. Her arms and legs were unbound, the ceiling above her appeared to be wood, and an earthy smell was in the air. As her vision cleared, she saw that it was living wood.

As though hundreds of trees had been grown together to form a building. Though there were no twigs or growth inside.

She stood up. "Where am I? "The question left her lips. Depending on the answer, she could have a serious problem.

"In the domain of the wolf god, Telix," said a voice. Relma looked up to see a brown-haired girl her age. "I'm Marsha. Who are you?"

Relma looked around. She was in a large room. The floor was of packed earth, and dozens of other women were within it. They were going about various mundane tasks for the most part. Many were chores such as washing and cleaning.

"Are you alright?" asked Marsha.

"My name is Relma Artorious," said Relma. "What is this place? I mean, is there any way out?"

"We're in the underground tunnels where they keep the women they've taken," said Marsha. "Nobody knows what they intend to do with us, but we haven't been able to escape."

"Ajax told me he intended to marry me," said Relma.

"Well, you're luckier than most, then," said Marsha.

"What do you mean?" asked Relma.

"Well, have you seen Ajax?" asked Marsha. "I mean, I know he has those wolf ears, but-"

"You're joking?" asked Relma. "Have you never heard that beauty is only skin deep?"

"Sure, but it's still beautiful," said Marsha. "And real beauty takes effort to keep that way, so it speaks of character. He certainly is well-groomed."

"How long have you been here?" asked Relma, suspecting the answer was long.

"Erm, three days," said Marsha. That short a time? "There were others who were here, but they were taken away. We thought maybe they had been eaten, but Telix wouldn't do anything like that. So we're to become part of the pack."

"Pack?" asked Relma.

"Telix is a son of Baltoth and a wolf," said Marsha. "His children take on both traits. Or that's what Ajax says, anyway. He claims that we'll all join them soon."

"You don't seem very upset about it," noted Relma.

"Well, we should feel that way, I suppose. But... something stops us," said Marsha. "When you come here the first day, you'll look for ways to escape and be terrified. But then, as time passes, you realize it isn't all so bad."

"We're being held captive by demon wolves who may or may not want to eat us," noted Relma.

"But Ajax said he'd marry you," said another girl, sounding jealous.

Something was wrong here. These girls were not well. "He said nothing about you, though. So let us try to find a way to escape."

"Well, if he did eat me, well, I suppose there are worse fates," said Marsha. She sounded wistful. "I mean, someone that beautiful deserves to eat who he likes."

"Okay. I'm going to look around," said Relma, deciding she didn't want anything more to do with this. "Is there anything strange about this place you can tell me?"

"Well, I'll show you around," said Marsha. "Very nice and comfortable. They set aside beds for everyone who comes here. Most of us are lucky if we have a bedroll or straw. And meals are brought in every so often. They're much higher quality than anything we've eaten at home.

"Though time passes strangely around here."

"Maybe you're not paying attention," noted Relma. Then she noticed a symbol on the far wall. It was a glowing, intricate rune that mesmerized the eyes. "What's that?"

"That?" asked Marsha. "Oh, that provides the light."

"I've seen runes like this before in my Aunt Pan's house," said Relma, approaching it.

"You have?" asked Marsha.

"Yes. Once, a man who served in the wars was having a fit," said Relma. "He kept seeing enemies all around him, and he'd become a danger to himself. So Aunt Pan created a rune like this and had him sit near it with a cup of tea for a few minutes daily.

"It helped him a lot. He was a lot calmer afterward."

"Well, that just shows you that Ajax and Telix aren't so bad," said Marsha.

"I asked her about it afterward," said Relma. "She told me that it was a rune made to make one calm. Someone who spent time near it gradually accepted things as they were. The longer someone was near it, the longer it lasted."

"So, what's your point?" asked Marsha.

"Well, whatever Telix brought you all here for, don't you think maybe he's trying to soften you up?" asked Relma. "Make you accept your fate?"

"That... that makes sense," said Marsha. Then, for the first time, she looked scared. "We've got to get out of here!"

"Calm down," said Relma. "If we make a fuss, they'll notice. Keep reminding yourselves why you are so calm about all this for now. I'm going to see if I can find a way out. Those runes make a light. Maybe I can turn it into a fire or something and have it burn us a way out."

"Do you know how to use runes?" asked Marsha.

"No," admitted Relma. "But runes are just the manifestation of a spirit's power. The sorcerer isn't the one using the power. So if I can get through to the spirit, I can get them to do the work instead.

"She paused. "It can't be that hard. Aunt Pan always makes it look easy."

She made her way up to the rune and tried to remember how Aunt Pan did it. Setting one hand to it, she closed her eyes and decided to put forth her mind. Nothing happened. She tried pushing her consciousness forward.

Nothing happened. Evidently, it was challenging. Then Relma felt something, an ordered mind. It looked at her in irritation, and Relma realized it was listening. "Who are you?"

There were better ways to take charge.

"I am the spirit of the wood, Akaton," said the spirit. His voice was harsh and cold.

"So you're working with Telix?" asked Rema.

"I serve Adrian Wrynncurth," said Akaton. "He has given this domain to Telix, so I serve him."

"Why are you helping him keep us captive?" asked Relma. Of course, that was a stupid question.

"I serve Adrian Wrynncurth," said Akaton. "He has given this domain to Telix, and so I serve him. Telix has commanded that those within this room be held until they are ready to become part of the pack."

Relma had the feeling Akaton had a winning personality. "Do you know what is happening to the girls taken away from here?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"I serve Adrian Wrynncurth. He has given this domain to Telix, and so I serve him," said Akaton. "Telix has commanded that I tell no one what has occurred."

"Right, okay," said Relma. "So why do you serve Wrynncurth?"

"Once I served the line of Anoa the Bright," said Akaton. "He commanded that I acknowledge Adrian Wrynncurth as overlord. So when Andoa's last heir died, I served Adrian Wrynncurth. He gave this domain to Telix, and so I serve him."

"So if another heir of Anoa the Bright were to appear, you'd have to obey them, right?" asked Relma.

Akaton remained silent for a moment. "...I serve Adrian Wrynncurth. He has given this domain to Telix, so I serve him."

"Is that a no?" asked Relma. So why did he keep harping on the same thing?

"I serve Adrian Wrynncurth," said Akaton. "The line of Anoa the Bright ceased to exist. Even if they reappeared, they would not possess any more right to this domain."

"Why not?" asked Relma.

"Harlenor has fractured," said Akaton. "The three Kingdoms have all splintered into still smaller domains. No man at arms now pledges his loyalty to Anoa the Bright but rather to his legacy. An heir of Anoa the Bright would not hold any authority over the land. It has passed beyond them.

"I serve Adrian Wrynncurth. He has given this domain to Telix, so I serve him."

Relma took her hand off the rune and looked at Marsha. "Okay, yeah, the spirits of the land aren't going to help. Let me think. Do we have any other resources here?" She paused and looked around. Something was missing.

And then she realized what it was. "Hey, Marsha. Where is the door?"

"There," said Marsha, pointing to a flat wall. "It doesn't look like one, I know."

At that moment, there was a moaning sound. The wall began to separate, like the roots of a tree changing over many years. And yet, it was all happening in an instant. A door was opened, and into the room was a massive figure. He was like Ajax but far larger, half the size of Telix. He had a long black beard and one eye that was pure white. His tan face was all scarred, and all the women shrank back as he approached.

"Who is that?" asked Relma.

"Rustoff," said Marsha. "Telix's eldest child."

Rustoff looked up. And as if by some signal, all the women put themselves into lines so Rustoff could see each of them. Relma was compelled to join the line but shrank back into the shadows instead. She tried to remain silent and out of sight. Like she'd done when she'd accidentally ruined Aunt Pan's best cooking pot.

Her luck must have changed since then because Rustoff didn't even notice her. The half-wolf strode forward, grim-faced, and motioned. Marsha and three other girls approached him as though in a trance. "Telix has commanded your presence at once. You four will accompany me."

"Where are we being taken?" asked Marsha.

Rustoff eyed her. "You are to be given a choice."

He led Marsha and the others through the doors. Relma broke from the shadows as he walked through and ran for the door. But even as they passed between it, the doors began to snap shut. Relma hit it too late and fell back, clutching her face.

Even if she'd gotten through, it would have been no good. Rustoff would have surely noticed her. Still, at least she knew where the door was.

As she stood up, she thought about things. Akaton obviously was going to be of little help. But Aunt Pan had always taught her that spirits were actually the combined will of the land. The thing you talked about was just one aspect of that will.

She could talk to someone else.

Relma raised a hand and exerted her will. "Open." Nothing happened. "Slide." Nothing happened. "Move aside." Strangely enough, nothing happened. "Um, okay, let me think..." The words came to her suddenly. "Open in the name of Anoa the Bright!"

As she said them, her voice was harsh and vicious. As if spoken through her by someone else entirely. The door shuddered before her and slid aside as if in fear. Relma blinked. "...Hey, that actually worked. I'd better get after them quickly. I wish I had a sword, though."

It would only do her a little good. She'd had a few weeks of training in swords. Halflings trained in spears and axes.

As she walked, she found that presence within her was guiding her. She discovered she could catch up to Rustoff swiftly yet remain in the shadows. Yet, melding into them was so easy. Like someone else was doing it.

Could Anoa be working through her?

But if he was, why was he so good at stealth? Relma had always imagined him as a king in shining armor from whom light radiated. He had never seemed the kind to stab a man in the back.

"I left my old self behind a long time ago. What remains now is a shadow, a memory that can scarcely be recalled."

The words came back to her. Anoa wasn't who people thought he was. He'd risen to power, fighting an empire of elves with better weapons. Better training. Better magic and dragons on their side. Of course, he'd used every weapon at his disposal. Charging in sword drawn was a luxury of superior powers.

And even they only did it when they were stupid.

The tunnels stretched onward. Every so often, they came across guards, and Relma found herself slipping past them. More than ever, she felt like a spectator in her own body. She was moving, and she willed it. But it was like she was a puppet on strings. Or a puppet on strings. "Why are our hands not being bound?" asked Marsha suddenly, voice afraid.

"My father, Telix, trusts you not to abuse his hospitality," said Rustoff, glancing back with his good eye. "He has brought you here to make a choice. That is all."

"I see," said Marsha. "I am... flattered by his generosity."

"And so you should be," said Rustoff. "Come, he awaits us beyond this door."

What door? All Relma saw was a massive, impassable wall. One that began to slide aside before them to reveal an enormous throne room. Only the pillars were trees. The walls were lined with roots. And upon a massive throne of animal skulls lounged Telix.

The wolf demon was devouring an entire cow. With a single bite, he ripped it in half and swallowed it. Bones and all. He wiped away the blood with a white tablecloth and then drank from a chalice filled with red liquid. It didn't look like wine.

"Ah," said Telix as they entered, "lambs blood. There is nothing better. "Welcome, Rustoff, my son. And welcome to you, ladies. I hope you will grace us with your presence for far longer than you originally planned."