“We must leave you here. It’s almost dawn. And we will not enter The Old Forest in any case,” said Berholt, Master of the Wild Hunt, to Shadow, Fluffy and their bat-folk companions. “I dare not cross Duchess Rhoswen.”
“My companions and I thank you for the transport,” said Shadow. Fluffy wagged his tail and the bat-folk Addie and Kirkko waved their wings.
The Master of the Wild Hunt, appearing as a large orc with antlers, tipped his spear in respect to Shadow. “Please pass on my regards to Bobby. Tell him that we will pass by UNL during the Spring Break, if he’d like to come with us for an evening.”
“I will certainly tell him, honored Berholt,” said Shadow, as he turned to leave.
Fluffy was saying goodbye to one of the spectral hounds of the Hunt. “But really Sydsala, we could use you in the Pelsan Canine Choir. We need another soprano, and if you were with us we could do some spirituals too,” Fluffy said as the ghost hound wagged her tail goodbye and faded away with the rest of the Hunt.
“You think she’ll come?” asked Fluffy to Shadow as they trotted toward the entrance to the Old Forest.
“I think I need a nap,” said Shadow.
It had been Shadow’s idea to travel with The Wild Hunt north to the Old Forest. The Hunt traveled quickly, whisping through the forests and hills, not entirely of this plane. Certain mortals could travel with them, if they were strong enough. Shadow and Fluffy, and others of their lineage among the giant wolves, were honorary members, so accepted to the Hunt.
Over the last night, they had covered a distance that would normally have taken the giant wolves five full days.
But the speed came with a price to pay. The price was the physical toll that the travels took on mortal bodies. Many who tried to travel with the hunt died of exhaustion the next morning. Shadow and Fluffy were members of the Great Wolf Running Club though, so they were okay. Barely.
The two bat-folk had survived the ordeal by clinging to Shadow and Fluffy’s backs. That left them fresher than the wolves. They took off toward the entrance of the Old Forest, toward their home.
The entrance was a pass between two large hills. A babbling brook ran through it, near the middle, and trees covered the small valley and the hills on both sides.
Great mufflon also covered the hills – large sheep with large, curved horns and dark fur. They stood silently and still, the guardians of the entrance. Despite their size, most creatures would not even notice them until they were almost upon them.
“Xhel? Is that you?” asked Addie as they flew toward the great mufflon standing in the middle of the path. She spoke in the language of the Old Forest.
“Addie, Kirkko! You’ve returned,” said Xhel. “Oh, you’ve brought wolves.”
Giant sheep were not terribly fond of giant wolves.
“It’s Shadow and Fluffy! You know them. They’re cool. And we are all here on official business,” said Kirkko.
“Of course. Now that you are part of the Pelsa military and all. We don’t have to salute you, right?” the mufflon asked the bat-folk.
“No, that’s not really ..”
“Oh, I suppose it will be fine,” said Xhel. “I’ll send word ahead.”
The great mufflon trotted back a dozen yards, and headbutted a tree twice. At the base of the tree, a large mole wearing blue workman’s clothes appeared.
“Molly, go and tell Vaup about our guests,” he indicated the two bat-folk and the approaching wolves. “They are government wolves. They say it’s official business.”
The mole disappeared back into the hole.
Xhel stepped off the path and indicated to the wolves that they could pass. Shadow and Fluffy trotted into the oldest forest of the world, one that had not been touched by civilization since the world began.
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As they moved deeper into the Old Forest, the trees became even larger. The smaller trees, white-barked birches and tamaracks, were the height of a castle’s tower. The larger trees, the red cedars and aspens, were three times that size. Shadow felt like a very small wolf in a massive forest. He also felt eyes constantly watching him.
A herd of large deer trailed them for a few minutes, the children gapping at the giant wolves as their parents shouted out warnings.
After the deer lost interest, a flock of the bat-folk flew above the wolves and their companions. Addie and Kirkko flew up to meet them, and flew among the flock for some time.
A number of willows were near a pond. It first looked like it was very windy, but then Shadow realized that they were just having an argument.
Vaup met them a few miles into the forest. A large, hairy and very wild-looking boar was with him.
“I’ve secured an audience for you with Duchess Rhoswen,” he said to the travelers. “We’ll get you all some water, and you can have a nap, and she should make it to the central meadow within the hour.
“Emperor Shadow-of-the-Mountain, and Warrior The-Raised-Fluff-of-Furious-Anger, it is good to see you. I believe though I know the reason for your visit. I wish it weren’t so.”
Shadow and Fluffy made deep bows before Duchess Rhoswen.
Few of even the most learned of the creatures of the Kingdom of Pelsa knew what the duchess was, or how old she was. She looked something like an orc, but also something like an elf. Her skin was not one of the shades of brown of the elves, living in their southern forests, but in the blue-green shades of the orcs or the northern wastes, while her hair was long and the color of chestnuts, like that of the forest elves.
She spoke in the oldest tongue, a language few even realized existed, much less understood. Shadow did though, although as a giant wolf he couldn't form the consonants clearly, so he answered her back in Wilkwos Ghereti, the language of the ancient wolf empire. Fuzzy, from a more junior branch of the giant wolf former imperial family, could just about manage to keep up.
Shadow spoke first. “While you honor us, we no longer use the title ‘Emperor.’ The Northern Canine Empire11 is long gone, destroyed by the cat-demons. I make no claim to its long-dead throne.”
“I understand, Lord Shadow. I hope I have not caused offense,” said Rhoswen.
“Duchess Rhoswen, you could never offend me, or any of the wolves. You have long been a great ally to us. My grandmother told me how you fought beside our pack as wave upon wave of the Kat’sheth’s army attacked our capital,” barked Shadow.
“It is true. And I was proud to stand that day beside Empress Mountain Storm. Only three centuries ago. I am sorry we failed. I am glad she was able to save as many of her people as she did.” Rhoswen looked aside. The memory still bothered her.
“And I’m glad you were still able to protect the Old Forest, even as the Kat’sheth ruled so much of the nearby lands. Until we ended it in Lothar’s time.”
“It wasn’t easy, and we are all glad Aida and Jend and their allies defeated him.”
“It was a great day for the northern lands, when the sword was run through that cat-demon’s neck,” agreed Shadow.
“So now, you serve Jend and Aida? Is this what the canines want?” asked Rhoswen.
“Yes. They freed the land, where we couldn’t do it alone. I am proud to fight alongside them, and to protect their heir.”
“And we here are glad for the protection they’ve given us. We have spent these many years in peace, and the land and its creatures are bountiful,” said the duchess. “But, my honored guests, you are here on a mission.”
“Yes, I fear our ancient enemy has returned to these northern lands. They seek to destroy our new kingdom before it becomes too powerful.”
“Indeed. I also sense their presence behind the recent events. I had thought they’d been destroyed with Lothar’s defeat. But they are back, and I understand that they’ve managed to get influence over the new king of Vathary.”
“Bastards!” said Fluffy, one of the few words he could say properly in Wilkwos Ghereti.
Rhoswen smiled at Fluffy’s remark. “And so what do King Jend and Queen Aida ask of us here in the Old Forest?”
“They first ask that you come to the assembly,” replied Shadow. “There, they will ask that we commit our full force. Every creature who cares about their nation. Every single one. All are useful, either in fighting, or spying, or helping to bring supplies. Whether they fly or swim or walk. We need everyone we can get.”
“Jend had promised to leave us alone, and to protect us.”
“And he has done so. And he will continue to do so, if the nation survives this. But he asks for your help.” Shadow bowed again to the elder one.
“While I myself know the importance of the call, I must consult my friends here. I will ask all the creatures of the Old Forest. I will answer at the assembly.”
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11 Translator’s Note: The existence of the former Northern Canine Empire is now generally accepted by scholars. It is thought that the common canine hobby of digging is left-over as a reflex from the empire’s agricultural practices. An orc scholar has written that the wolves have over-sold this civilization with the use of the term “empire.” That orc scholar was bitten at a conference by the giant wolf adjunct professor Willow. This led to Prof. Willow being denied tenure.