Chapter 2:

Ashes and Ice

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Prince Astellar Crossis di Rubbelion, recently titled by his men as the 'Wolfsbane', finally breathed a sigh of relief as the white-peaked mountain of Winter's End grew smaller with every passing second. It was a surreal feeling, the past handful of days felt like a dream. Or a nightmare if the dull pain on his side is any indication. Except, of course, that fateful night that Astellar knew would have severe ramifications to two separate worlds. He remembered every detail of that night...

...still felt the pain of being stabbed through the shoulder by a ravenous pup who pounced as soon as the doors opened.

His soldiers had disentangled the boy from their leader and then restrained by two grown men. Astellar needed only but a single glance to know what warranted the attack. The boy's silver hair bristled, his amber eyes glared with an intensity that could seemingly kill a lesser man if caught unawares. His expression contorted into a vicious snarl that bared a pair of elongated canines for them to see. Interesting, thought Astellar.

Candana was instantly on his side, "My prince, are you well?"

Astellar grunted, "I'm fine.

One of Astellar's soldiers moved to impale the boy with his spear. "Fucking animal!"

"Don't!" A wizened voice pleaded from across the hall. The Wolven King leaned forward on his throne, his eyes wide open. "Please good lord, show the pup mercy. His head is clouded with the grief of losing his father." The King spoke in a heavily accented, but surprisingly fluent, Asharian.

Astellar raised a fist, prompting the soldier to pause on his actions. "He's not the only child to lose a parent today."

"Nor will he be the last," the Wolven King slowly stood up. "But with the death of his father--my son!--the Lupan people are left without an heir," the king said imploringly, as he weaved through the tense hulking figures that were his final protection. The pup growled.

The Wolven King continued, "We are the last of our kind, my lord."

The prince smiled wryly. "Is that so?", to which the old beastman nodded reluctantly, his sharp teeth gritted. Astellar ignored this and simply stated, "You've raided our villages and killed our people. Give me one good reason to stop the blades of my men from slaughtering you all." The soldiers advanced threateningly.

"Yes, we have killed hu--"

"Slaughtered." Astellar interrupted, "Might as well call it for what it was: a slaughter. You have slaughtered innocent people and left burning villages in your wake, and for what? For a hoard of loot and a handful of prisoners? Heavens help me think of a good reason not to do the same here."

"It has always been about the Wildekin's survival!"

"By condemning them to die on the battlefield!?"

"That is a risk we are willing to take!" The Wolven King snarled, "All of those who fought today on that blooded ground had a stronger chance of survival than the ones who don't!"

Everyone was silent. The Wolven King cursed in his native tongue.

"Our people are dying, Prince Astellar; dying slowly and yet faster than we can reproduce." He said solemnly, "The war was our desperate attempt to make sure the next generation has something to live for."

"By dying?" Candana asked.

"By dying." The Wolven King chuckled, "Now that I say it out loud, it wasn't a very good plan, was it?"

"No, it's not."

"Still, it was the choice left to us." The Wolven King sighed, "So, what happens now, southern prince? What fate do you have in store for us?"

Prince Astellar sighed, suddenly aware of how fatigued his body felt. He really needed a break, post-war politics be damned. "The people in the capital calls for your head."

The Wolven King smiled, resigned to the verdict. "So be it." He said, "All I ask is that you spare our offspring."

"And if I refused?"

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The King bared his teeth in what resembles an animalistic smile. "Then this chapter has no choice but to end in bloodshed." Raw power seemed to exude from every pore of the old beastman's skin like steam. "Are you prepared for that, Prince Astellar of House Rubbelion? Indeed, I do know of that insignia you wear on your chest, and I know the words. Your family had risen from the ashes, but can it flail long enough to survive in the freezing cold?"

Astellar eyes narrowed threateningly to the insult. "You know me?"

The Wolven King nodded. "Ah yes, I do. Your reputation precedes you, Prince Astellar, the hero of Demon Strait and the slayer of my son. With titles such as yours, how could I not?"

"You have me at a disadvantage here."

"And I will have you at a disadvantage for a little longer."

"Your son, he told me his name before he died."

"And you'd do good not to mutter his name in the presence of the unworthy." The Wolven King sighed, sparing a sad glance to the growling pup that was his grandson. "He fell in battle. There is no greater honor for a warrior to be defeated by someone better." The King then spoke in his language. Astellar had a feeling the words were addressed to another, specifically the awe-struck pup.

"Names have power, remember that, blood even more so."

"What do you mean?" Astellar asked.

"The blood of the ancient kings isn't just for spilling, you understand." Everyone felt an involuntary shiver pass through their body, white mist mingled with every breath. Astellar heard a gasp from the person he least expected. "Who do you think summoned the blizzard in the first place?"

"You dare?!" Candana said, her voice rising in volume with every word. "Who do you think you are playing with the forces of nature?!"

The Wolven King glared at her. "You are a magus, are you not? I sense the power radiating from your soul. You were the one to dismantle my spell earlier." He then asked, "Tell me, magus, do you not do the same? Pray tell the difference between your 'magecraft' from mine?"

"The difference is that mine is honed from years of training and discipline before I can call myself capable to manipulate even a single element." The magus said, "Even then, us magi knew the repercussions of trying something as controlling the weather. Yet you don't even care, do you?"

The Wolven King laughed, without humor. "Such arrogance!" He said, "Foolish girl, you speak of 'manipulation' when it is not so, nor do I have any form of power over nature. I simply ask and it is up to the WInds if they answer."

"But that shouldn't be--"

"Enough!" Astellar said. "We are getting side-tracked from the main issue here."

"Ah, the question whether you'll kill my people after you kill me, or not."

"You do not fear death?"

"I fear the future more."

"My prince, if I may have a word?" Candana spoke up. Astellar gestured for her to go on before she flashed him a grateful smile. Candana leaned closer and whispered, "I will not presume to dictate your course of action, I can only advise."

"Then advise."

"I advise they be put to the death."

"That was your advise?" Astellar asked. "That I kill a defenseless child and an old man?"

"I see neither. All that is in front of me are beasts."

"You have beastmen in your ranks, do you not?"

"Beastmen, my lord. That word at the end makes all the difference." Candana said. "And besides, I can think of no merit to their continued existence."

Astellar simply shook his head. The threat to kill the Wolven pup was nothing more but a bluff before, but now he wasn't so sure. Will he really be able to shed the blood of a child? Chivalry and honor would have answered 'no' for reasons that need not be said, pragmatism would say yes' in the chance that the child will be taking revenge in the future; the beastmen would readily march behind a Wolven after all.

The smiling face of Astellar's own son flashed for the briefest of moments, framed by rays of the afternoon sun, forehead moist with sweat. In his hand is a wooden sword that vaguely resembled Sunstrike. He remembered that day-- it was the day he left to lead the march North. 'Promise you'll train me after you get back?' His son will be king one day. Would that mean he will have to face the Wolven in battle years from now? In the end, every path leads to the same destination.

If the situation was reversed, would Veren'Mythos think the same before stabbing Astellar's children through the heart?

"I have made my decision."

The Wolven King smiled. "So how many will die, Prince Astellar? Just us elderly Wildekin, or everyone here in the castle, including you?"

Astellar cursed. The old fool isn't making things easier for anyone.

"Kneel." The Rubbelion heir said. The Wolven King smiled in resignation, and then. "Kneel and swear fealty to the Throne of Ash and Your Highness, King Oswald Crossis di Rubbelion."

A tense silence descended upon everyone in the throne room. It lasted for a blissful moment before it erupted into a cacophony of words clamoring to be heard. The look of shock on the old King's face made it all worth it, not to mention the words of what is undoubtedly outrage from everyone else.

"My prince, this is insanity!" "After all they did?!" "Beastmen I can accept, but these are savages!"

"Silence!" Astellar ordered.

"Prince Astellar, are you certain about this?" Candana asked. The urgency of her tone betrayed the calmness of her voice.

Astellar refused to respond, he instead continued to address the Wolven King. "I will also be taking under my custody and protection this child, to make sure the bond of this new alliance remain strong and faithful."

The words felt like acid in his mouth.

The Wolven King, once he managed to get over his shock, simply smiled.

"I accept," he said, and things will never be the same again. For the world of humans and beastmen alike.

..