RMW
Wolf Blood Moon
Act Three
Book of Power
~WBM~
Chapter Seventeen
The Warg’s Revenge
~SV~
Lake Bled to the Devil’s Woods, After 4 AM, 677, 29th, October
Sidonia is asleep in the Ferry at Half Moon Bay. Her dream-vision of the Devil’s Woods Clan continues, this event happened a few hours earlier at 1 am, on the 29th. Xiko guards the open Dark Door from the Lake Bled side, that links them to the Devil’s Woods. Trina and the clanswomen have kept the door open, for their wagons to enter. The seven women who form the circle are ready to leave.
As the women release each other’s hands, the Dark Door becomes smaller in height and width. The seven run into the Dark Door, Xiko watches for the Wolf, yet he keeps checking on the women to see when they exit the Dark Door. Once they make it to the Devil’s Woods, he yells, “The women are through.” The five ladies who formed the star let go of each other to run for the Dark Door; it narrows again. Trina is alone, keeping her Dark Door open.
Trina senses that the Warg Wolf is coming nearer, as she waits for Xiko to tell her when the five women are through. Running from the dark shadows, Krist comes for Trina again. Wirf pulls his sword riding for the Wolf. Trina screams at Wirf, “No. Just hurry for the Door.” Wirf refuses to leave her to the Wolf. Trina can see the Wolf turns and runs away, yet can hear Krist is circling back in the trees. Wirf has lost it in the dark and comes back to stay by Trina.
Wirf watches for it, as Trina gasps, “You need to go in the door. Do not risk yourself for me. You are young, I have lived my life.” Wirf scoffs, “You are too important to our clan, and I do not plan on dying, I intend to kill Krist!” Trina knows she is too weak to ward the Warg Wolf off again. She fears moving from the petrified tree will cause her door to close, before Xiko and Wirf can get through it. She cannot stand the idea of leaving them on this side.
Trina senses they should not face the Warg alone. Xiko comes from the Dark Door to Trina. He pulls his shirt off saying, “The women are nearly through.” She gasps, “Do not face him as a Wolf, it is too likely he will bite you?” He grins using his shirt to tie her Power Stone to her, “It will allow you to keep your crystal on your stone, while riding.” She chuckles, “I thought you were going to shift. You and Wirf must go, I will stay to keep it open.”
She adds, “If I die, I am ready to see Grigori.” Xiko sighs, “You risk more than dying.” Xiko helps her on the horse, saying, “You would become a Warg, or rise a Mullo!” She nods, “You are right. Both of you need to come with me.” Xiko is about to get on, when they see the Warg coming; Wirf rides at it, chasing it off. Xiko sends his horse into the Dark Door, pulling his sword to guard the entrance. Wirf is still chasing the Warg, as it circles.
Once Trina is halfway in, Xiko dares to run at the Warg, as Wirf jumps from his horse to swing his sword at the Warg Wolf. Kristopher leaps behind a tree blocking his swing. Xiko runs toward them, he sees Wirf’s next swing also misses the Wolf. The trees are too thick, keeping out the moonlight, and the Blood Moon is not as bright. The red moon casts an eerie glow, making it hard for Wirf to see the brown Wolf. He spins with the Warg, and swings, again.
Krist easily goes around a big rock, avoiding the blade. As Wirf runs around the boulder the Warg leaps on him, Wirf is down before he can swing groaning, ‘I should have stabbed it.’ Almost to them, Xiko hears Wirf’s shout, “Nifl!” Xiko fears Wirf is fighting Krist the Warg Wolf, yet cannot see them, as the large rock blocks his view. Nearly to the boulder, Xiko hears Wirf cry out in pain, the Warg Wolf is tearing into Wirf. Krist hears Xiko nearing leaping off.
The Warg Wolf runs into the dense grove of trees.
~*~
Kolo’s Playroom, After 4 AM, 677, 29th, October
Trapped in the Maiden’s Torture, Darciana finds if she stays away from the iron sides, she can still do a vision. Since her capture, over a decade ago, each time she is awake she first attempts to find an escape. When she fails, she looks for Anthony’s book. After a few years, she chuckled at herself, deciding the book is spelled with its own cloaking ability. It was another year before she decided to seek the origin of the book. A few more until she found Anthony.
She watches the Warring Angels, take him into the Mystical Realm. She patiently watched the start of the Demon Wars. As she re-watches the start, she guesses Anthony is writing in a book that is not visible to her. His diary is the Grim War Book, yet she is unable to tell what he wrote, not even the title of the spells. Even the events of the spells that transformed them were cloaked from her vision.
Instead of continuing, Darciana had gone back to using her energy to learn of Kolo and find a way to escape and kill him. She knows the book is too important to give to Kolo since they created a barrier to hide it. Darciana recalls some of what the Oracle Obsidian told Anthony, as she cloaked the new empty book for him. Also giving him two sets of keys, one is for him.
The Oracle says, “When your daughter is eleven, gift her a key on each of her birthdays. It is important that she finds the book and takes it when she is ready. It will save many lives.” The Rambler shudders at Obsidian’s dire warning, “You must not tell her of the book, nor give it to her. Do not seek to stop her from leaving with it. You will cause her death, as well as others she would have saved.”
~*~
Trina reaches the other side of her Dark Door, exiting out onto her land, the Devil’s Wood. Wink quickly helps her off as she still holds the crystal against her Power Stone. Trina collapses slowly to the dirt, as the women rush around her, forming the star and circle again. While it keeps it from narrowing more, it has not opened it much further. Trina lays on the ground too weak to sit. Winks sees Bert climbing on a horse and yanks him off.
Wink fumes, “I got enough to worry about without you seeking trouble.” Trina still holds her crystal to her Power Stone as she watches her Dark Door. Trina’s eyes are drooping, as she forces them open, so she can see when she must close her doorway. Xiko rushes to Wirf; his best friend is bleeding. There is so much blood; however, he cannot risk taking time to try to stop it. Xiko knows the Warg has bitten Wirf, and fears what it will cause.
Groaning, as Xiko hears the Warg coming again, he quickly gets his friend up. Grimly, Wirf says, “Just take my head and heart, then go.” Xiko swears, “Like Nifl, you are not in the grave yet!” Xiko gets him on the horse, he hears the Warg nearing and knows it will be close. He climbs on behind Wirf and rides for the Dark Door with all the speed the horse will give him. As their horse goes in the doorway, Xiko senses the Warg is still coming, and will enter.
Xiko realizes it might have been better to stay and try killing it, as now he is risking the clan’s safety as well. Xiko spurs the horse into going faster toward the Devil’s Woods, as he is certain the Warg is near entering the Dark Door. Wirf’s form slumps making it harder to keep him upright, and he slows the horse. Xiko fears Wirf passed out, and dares not go faster. He yells, “Wirf wake up! Stay with me!” Wirf’s form stiffens again, just as the doorway gets smaller.
With dread, Xiko debates on letting it close. Feeling he should take the risk and turn to battle the Warg Wolf, rather than let it exit the doorway. Trina yells to the women, “Help me hold it open, I am too weak.” More ladies rush over sitting in a circle around the others, giving their magic to help her keep the Dark Door open. Xiko decides he is not ready to give up on saving Wirf and continues forward as quickly as he dares to go. He begs, “Stay with me Wirf!”
His friend is starting to faint again, Wirf is a bigger man than he is. Xiko fears losing balance, for then they will both fall and be at Kristopher, the Warg Wolf’s mercy.
~*~
Sighing, Obsidian tells Anthony, “I am sorry. I cannot tell you more, I will explain once it is over.” Darciana believes Kolo’s attempts to grab Sidonia and get Anthony’s book is the dreaded event, fulfilling Obsidian’s prophecy. This is the future that Obsidian warned Anthony of over six centuries prior. Darciana re-watches it to recall all of what Obsidian said to him. Ending the vision, the Rambler knows she must try to protect Sidonia above all else.
What might happen if Kolo succeeds makes it worth Darciana risking herself for the greater good, in order to keep all from the book at any cost. The Rambler Darciana wishes an enemies’ counsel; however, the Egyptian is no longer alive. When it comes to ending Kolo, escaping, and the proper use of magic, Nepathi is always her greatest ally. Darciana shakes her head, deciding against the idea of speaking with Nepathi.
She can never trust what she has learned of the secret book with anyone. Too often others’ loyalties change. She is willing to be tortured, rather than reveal to Kolo that she has known where the book was. And now where it and Sidonia are currently located.
~*~
If Wirf leans at all, Xiko doubts he can keep him from falling. Sensing the Warg is too near, he looks behind, seeing it is gaining on him. Xiko makes a hard decision, as he yells to Trina, “Close the door!” Trina screams, “No. You and Wirf will be stuck with the Wolf and might fall in between and die!” He shouts, “Do it. I cannot risk the Warg getting to any of you.” Crying, Trina refuses, as she screams, “Women and children run for your wagons!”
She warns, “The Warg Wolf is coming! Wink, get your men and be ready at the Dark Door. You must kill the wolf if he tries to enter! The barrier will take him down, and you must finish him off before he attacks us! Xiko, we will hold it open for you.” As Wink gathers the men, they are changing their minds unwilling to have the curse, as they backup. Bert yells, “I am not afraid to hunt, and do not fear his bite, either.” Wink growls, “Go watch our family.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
This fear for others, has given her a rush of energy, as Trina shouts, “Xiko, you must hurry, get enough distance between you and the Wolf, so we have time to shut it behind you! Keeping Kristopher from entering here!” The women now see that the Wolf is gaining on the two and begin screaming, “Faster!” Xiko hears their screams, and urges Wirf’s horse to hurry, giving more space between them. The Clansmen line up with their arrows to shoot the Warg.
Xiko sees it in their eyes they are unwilling to suffer the curse. They are aiming at the ground rather than the Wolf. The Warg sees them so he keeps behind Wirf’s horse. The Dark Door has become too narrow for the few willing to have a clear shot, around the horse. Krist realizes he cannot escape, once he exits and believes his clansmen will kill him before he can kill or bite them. The Wolf slows, then decides he will jump on the horse, taking them down.
All fear this will become deadly, as they near the exit. It is too late as the Warg jumps, Wirf’s horse comes out of the Dark Door, and the women quickly let go of Trina and the stone. Trina wills her Dark Door closed. Trina hopes she is in time to keep the Warg out. As the horse passes their view, they see the Dark Door close with Kristopher’s Wolf in mid jump but still inside it. None of the clansmen were willing to try and shoot Kristopher.
Instead, they grab Wirf as he is falling. Xiko groans, as he releases his grip on his friend. They bring Wirf off the horse to rest on the ground. Xiko sees the amount of blood on himself and the horse, fearing the worst as the women rush to Wirf, while some see that Trina is ready to pass out. They help the elderly leader, carrying her into her wagon to lay her down. Xiko ties Wirf’s horse to a tree. Seeing the women are tending to Wirf, Xiko rushes to Trina.
Xiko whispers, “Do you know what will happen to the Warg, since the Dark Door closed with him inside of it?” Trina weakly says, “He is in between. I was told when it happens; they might drop in a lake and drown, fall off a cliff and die, or even be caught in the stone of a mountain. Yet, I have never witnessed it closing on anyone before, nor known of anyone who did not make it through. It is only tales. I am sorry I could not be more help.”
Xiko groans, “I do not think we can assume that we are lucky enough to trust that he died!” Trina gasps, “It was worth the risk, to have you both safe.” Xiko asks, “Will you get a sense of it, if Krist is killed?” Nodding, Trina replies, “I think so and you are right, I did not feel his death. And I dare not try for a vision. I only sense the Warg has fallen between Lake Bled and here. I fear, since he was so near to the exit, he will come out much closer to here.”
She whispers, “I would guess at nearest, Krist is only an hour away, and the furthest perhaps a day’s ride. Warn the men to guard the camp on all sides, Tell them not to leave, only shoot their arrows at him. My spell should keep Krist out, unless I die-.” Trina passes out, and Xiko covers her. He says to the women, “If one of you could sit with her, in case she wakes and needs to speak to me. I would appreciate it.” They nod, agreeing to take turns.
~*~
Warlock Camp, Rorik vs Jacque, After 4 AM, 677, 29th, October
The Warlock boy, Timothy, returns to deliver a message, as he nudges Rorik awake, “Jacque asked me to bring you to her hut.” The Prince stands up, groaning with pain, as he gets out of the hot pool. He towels off, putting on the robe and follows the boy to the hut. Tim nods at the door and leaves. Rorik knocks and waits until he hears her reply, “Come in me Precious Prince.” He enters. Smiling, Jacque flips back the covers, saying, “Time ta finish repayin’ me; afterwards, me will keep me part of our deal.” Rorik groans, leaving his robe on a hook, he gets in the bed. Prince Rorik tries to be glad, ‘At least this place does not smell, and I know she is bathed this time.’ Jacque lets one go, with a boom, her scented gas fills the room. Prince Rorik Tricker groans, wishing he had been knocked out in the fight and remained that way.
~*~
Xiko shivers as he stands where the Dark Door had been. The trees beyond it are so dense, he would not see, if the Warg were only five feet from it. He says to the men, “Take shifts, guarding each side of the camp.” He sees their fear and reluctance. Yet four men offer to take the first shift. Xiko adds, “He should not be able to enter, yet might come close enough for us to see the Wolf. If Krist comes near, send for me so I can get him with an arrow or knife.”
Xiko adds, “I do not ask any of you to take on the curse. Get your families settled for the night.” They nod with relief. Xiko goes to kneel by Wirf; his friend chokes and manages a chuckle, “The Demon Warg, Krist got me before I could get him. I did not even injure the beast.” Xiko sees his wounds are far worse than he thought and hoped they would be, but still does not want to accept it.
Wirf moans out, “I feel death coming; I am not going to make it. Even if I survive, you know what his bite will do to me; it is better to die this way than make you kill me. So, my trusted friend, I ask you to do the Ritual for the Cursed, as soon as I die. It is what must be done, as you know my fury with him, will cause me to rise and murder those I care for, rather than just him.” Xiko shakes his head, still not wanting to face what he knows is true.
Wirf whispers, “I do not want to rise as a Rogue Mullo! I will not have my name and reputation ruined by Krist’s bite. I need your promise, so I am not tempted to haunt this realm as a vengeful Shade either. Can you promise that you will give me peace?” Xiko’s tone holds dread and disbelief at losing him too. He finally accepts, “I promise. If you survive and turn into a Warg or Wolfman, I will give you peace. If you die, I will keep you from rising to be a Mullo.”
Xiko’s voice gets choked up, “You have my word.” He clears it before adding, “I promise, dear friend. I will give you a final death if it is needed. I will do the Ritual myself!” Darkly, Wirf reminds him, “Do not forget my sister! Mercia is my only kin. She married Mino, Deadman’s Shallows Rambler Leader, before Seaport-.” Wirf coughs up blood, his voice fades, “Promise to find her, keep her from turning! Her anger with Krist is far worse than mine.”
Assuring him, Xiko says, “I promise I will find her and do the Ritual with her, to prevent her from turning into a Warg or Mullo. I will make certain you both have peace.” The women tending him, shake their heads at Xiko. They cannot stop the bleeding, as the bite went into his organs. Xiko sees Wirf is unable to keep his eyelids from closing, as he gasps, “Kristopher wronged Mercia, I fear for her-.” He coughs up more blood, choking.
Wirf manages to go on, “Now that Krist has killed me, I fear Mercia is doomed without the Ritual. You must get to her first, before her grief becomes fury and takes her!” He struggles to open his eyes as he begs Xiko, “Take her my heart and my head. Do the ritual with her, or I fear her sorrow and anger will cause the curse without a bite, even though she is a female! And you know it can.” Wirf’s voice drifts off, “She is not a killer-.” Xiko wipes tears away.
Rushing to assure him, Xiko repeats his pledge, “I promise. I will find Mercia and do the ritual. I will not let the Curse get her!” Wirf’s eyes close as he gasps out his dying breath. He dies, having bled to death. Loudly, Xiko yells, “I was willing to discuss the hunt and allow a vote. I no longer will. Most of you witnessed the Wolf, Kristopher’s attempts to kill Trina! I declare Krist a Warg; let none ever say different, nor have any doubt, as he has murdered three of us now! I will do what must be done and take his head and heart!”
Xiko spits, “There shall be no more debate; I declare that his sentence is death! I intend to be the one to kill Kristopher. I would welcome you to join me, but I need guards here in camp, more than on the hunt. I also understand if none wants to risk the curse. I shall take it upon myself to kill him.” The clansmen nod, and gather to mourn Wirf’s death. Xiko brings Wink into Trina’s Wagon, as she sent for him. Xiko tells them both, “If I die, I name Wink to lead.”
~*~
Deadman’s Shallows Camp, nearing 2 AM, 677, 29th, October
Mercia wakes screaming; Mino holds her, “What is it?” Mercia cries out, “I received a vision of Wirf’s death! My brother was killed by a Warg!” Mino gasps, “Oh no. I am so sorry, what can I do?” Mercia slows her sobs, “His leader, Xiko, promised to bring his heart to me.” Mino asks, “But his leader is Grigori, of the Lake Bled clan?” Mercia cries, “Not anymore. Kristopher murdered him.” Mercia’s sobs uncontrollably. Mino groans at hearing Krist’s name.
Years ago, Mino asked Mercia why she was leaving her clan, she told him about Krist betraying her. Mercia now calms enough to finish, “Krist stabbed Grigori in the back for banishing him from the clan. It activated his Blood Curse; it is no surprise that Krist became a Warg.” Mino asks, “Do we go to Lake Bled for Wirf’s funeral?” Mercia replies, “It is far, but I must be there for the ritual, or I risk turning due to my grief, anger, and wanting revenge on Krist.”
Mino offers, “I will tell the clan-.” She shakes her head, “I do not have a door, I am afraid it will take too long.” She gets a vision, “Wait. Nicolas, whose land they were on, has exiled the clan. Krist was intimate with Nicolas’ wife, it was part of why Grigori banished him!” Mino huffs, “That rotten rat demon, from the vilest depths of the Dark Realm.” Mercia adds, “It appears that the clan was coming through a Dark Door, when the Warg attacked Wirf.” Mino nods.
Mercia sobs, “My brother was guarding Trina, Grigori’s wife; she is like a mother to me. She was holding her Dark Door open for their wagons to come onto her land. They are now in the Devil’s Woods; it is near the Nauti Mermaid.” He holds his wife, as Mercia cries. When she is calmer, Mercia says, “The funeral for Wirf is planned for this evening. They will do a burial for Grigori, Trek, and Wirf afterwards. Xiko will be riding to meet us.”
She sobs, “Once he has performed the first part of the ritual. He will bring me Wirf’s heart to do the Ritual for the Cursed with me. Trina will tell him to look for us at Hangman’s Haunt Pub. So, we can wait until morning to pack, and use my Dark Door.” Mino soothes her, “Tell me when, I can just go and bring Xiko here.” Mercia says, “No. He has a clan who needs him; I cannot delay him any further, he needs to hunt the Warg. We will go meet him.”
Mercia has silent tears, as she adds, “He must hunt the Warg and help his clan set up camp. In the morning, tell the clan we will be gone a few days. I want you to help Xiko hunt Kristopher down. I cannot rest until I know that the coward is dead!” He kisses his wife and looks her in the eyes, “I vow I will hunt him. For you, I will bring back his head, and heart!” Sighing, Mercia says, “Give him the ‘Burial of the Shunned’.” Mino agrees, “We should sleep now.”
He kisses her, “We can prepare to leave when we wake.” She nods, “Once I see Xiko has arrived, we can bring our horses through my Dark Door to Hangman’s Haunt.” Mercia wipes a tear away, saying, “After we have completed the ritual, I can either wait for you at Endora’s camp, or come back home. I prefer to stay close, while you help hunt him down. I need to know that murderer is dead.” Mino says, “As you wish, I will proudly do it for you.”
~*~
Mystical Realm, Dark Elf Castle, after 4 AM, 677, 29th, October
As Anthony lands, the Dark Elf Guards come over and escort him into the courtroom. Haldir returns to his throne and angrily asks, “Have you seen Queen Vanna?” Anthony nods. Haldir’s face darkens, he hisses, “Well? Where is she?” High Lord Anthony replies coldly, “I found her collapsed in the garden and took her to be looked after.” Bailey and Alrod gasp, becoming worried.
Haldir asks, “To my physicians?” Anthony shakes his head, “No. It is clear that being here has caused her weakness. Her presence is not required, so I removed her from the source of her stress and ailment.” King Haldir seethes, “You did not have my permission to leave, much less to remove her!” Darkly, Anthony states, “I do not need permission or I would have asked!” Haldir feels uneasy at Anthony’s gaze and he says, “She is needed!”
The Dark Elf shouts, “As her involvement in this plot against us still remains in question.” Surprising all, Alrod stands yelling, “My mother was not involved and knew nothing of it!” Haldir says, “You will bring her back immediately, or pay for it!” Anthony’s reply is loud and low rumbling the room, “You have misspoken. That almost seemed like a command and you have no authority over me. You should correct the last part, as it is nearly a threat.”
Haldir goes pale; the distinct sound of the Dark Elves’ pulling their swords from their sheaths rings out in the small courtroom. The Elves see the fanged grins of the Vampire Squads briefly, then feel their claws at their throat, as they are suddenly behind them. Anthony questions, “Do you care to retract it all? Or shall we proceed as if you truly want me as your enemy?” Haldir shakes his head with fear, as he tries to think how to fix this.
~*~
Kristopher the Warg Wolf, has fallen out of the Dark Door into the Black Forest, it knocks him out. He wakes to the sound of wolves, as they catch Kristopher’s scent in their territory and chase him to the very edge of their forest. The Warg Wolf knows what Krist knows of Trina’s land, the Devil’s Woods.
He recalls Trina saying it is northwest of the Black Forest. As he goes at a casual pace for the next two hours, Krist thinks of his clansmen. Krist’s anger at the men for taking his ability to be with the woman he wants, makes him desire the blood of their women. He snickers as he imagines them mourning their losses.
~WBM~