Return to Lynwood, Chapter 16

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16

Lynwood itself was very much like how Suhel remembered it, a drab block of an educational institution with no thought given to aesthetics or individuality. Just like how its teachers tried to mold their pupils into lifeless copies of each other to join the great dull mass of society, she thought. The building had stood the test of time quite well, as it was intact, albeit with the windows boarded, missing shingles, and vines crawling up the stone walls. Again, though, things decayed slower in the Haunted Woods.

But now the place was crawling with Werelupes. Several pairs patrolled the lawn, which was dotted with firepits and stacks of probably stolen goods. The boards on many of the windows had been broken, and there was no lock on the large front doors—but each of them sported a large V etched with claws.

“Bites and curses,” Isengrim hissed. “Of course Vakhtang would need a home base. And of course it would have to be Lynwood.”

 

“This does complicate things a bit,” Pharazon said. He shot a worried look back at his owner, who put a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sending a Weewoo to Sophie right now,” Terra said, reaching for Gwyneth’s saddlebag. “This is worse than we thought.”

“Yes, let’s get out of here,” Pharazon said.

Lexora sat up. “But—the curse,” she choked, holding her arm to her muzzle to suppress a cough.

Everyone looked at each other for a long moment. “But we can’t fight,” Suhel said. “We’re far outnumbered, and Lord Isengrim and I are useless in battle right now.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m useless,” Isengrim sniffed.

“What about our young magus’s new toy?” one of the other Werelupes asked. “Surely he could try some fancy tricks with that.”

Pharazon shook his head. “I really shouldn’t. I have no idea how to use this thing, and this would be a really bad time to mess up.”

Suddenly, Isengrim put a finger to his lips and shooed them a little further into the trees. A few moments later, two Werelupes on patrol came into view, strolling down the perimeter of the lawn. They wore iron jewelry like Vakhtang’s, fashioned with no care for skill or design—rather it was just more of the crude twisted shapes that spoke solely of power and control, the only things Vakhtang appeared to care about.

“That cursed king of ours works us to the marrow, he does,” one of them was saying.

The other swung his mace lazily. “Don’t let him catch you saying that,” he said. “You know what the punishment for that kind of talk is.”

“I’m just tired, is all,” the female said. “He’s got us going on raids nearly every day now. And another one tonight? Ach, I’ve barely rested up from the last one and now I’ve got to leave again in a couple of hours! Getting loot is all well and good, but where’s the time to enjoy it, eh?”

“I don’t think King Vakhtang cares so much about that,” her companion said. He glanced over at the stacks of plundered goods on the lawn. “And even if he did, he certainly wouldn’t let us enjoy it. But did you hear what happened to the last bloke who tried running away?” He grimaced and his ears turned back.

The two stopped, and for a moment Suhel’s breath caught in her throat as she worried that they had heard their eavesdroppers. The other Werelupes scanned the forest and lifted their noses, but they were upwind of Isengrim’s company, who were currently crouched in the undergrowth. Finally Vakhtang’s Werelupes relaxed and turned to regard their base of operations.

“And Barrowmere again?” the female grumbled, folding her arms. “A team was there just last fortnight!”

“Haven’t you heard?” the male asked. “Vakhtang’s stepping up the raids. We’re to start stealing from residences as well as businesses now, and to go deeper into towns. He wants everything. Every shop, every home—we’re to take all they’ve got. Anyone who resists… well, it won’t be pretty for ‘em.”

Lexora stiffened. Her ears swiveled back and she bared her fangs, her whiskers bristling. “Those beasts aren’t touching my family,” she snarled, putting a hand on the knife Suhel had given her.

“We won’t have time to send a Weewoo,” Pharazon whispered. “By the time Sophie gets it and manages to tell all the towns… it’ll be too late.”

Connor put a paw to his mouth. “But… me parents… faeries preserve us, this is awful…”

Isengrim’s eyes darted from his companions to Lynwood, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Suhel and her packmates watched him intently. What could they do? As much as Suhel hated to admit it, a knot of despair was forming in her stomach, making her feel even sicker.

Finally, the king smiled fiercely. Suhel knew that look. He had a plan.

He caught the eyes of their other packmates, and pointed with two fingers to the patrolling Werelupes. The others sheathed their weapons and sneaked through the trees with expert silence.

Vakhtang’s patrollers were so busy complaining that they did not notice when several pairs of paws reached out and dragged them into the forest. Paws clamped over the Werelupes’ muzzles kept them from crying out as Isengrim’s Werelupes brought the pair to him.

Isengrim drew himself up tall and folded his paws behind his back. “Save your breath,” he said. “We won’t harm you. I just want to talk.”

Their struggling lessened, and they now began to look more confused and curious than hostile. They glanced around at the strange party, and Terra waved at them. Connor clung close to Gwyneth, watching the Werelupes with his tail low.

Isengrim turned to the side, looking at the two other Werelupes out of the corner of his eye. “I hear you don’t like Vakhtang,” he said.

The pair looked at each other, and the male shot the female a “why-did-you-open-your-fat-mouth” sort of glare.

“I am not fond of his style of leadership, myself,” Isengrim said. “But he is not the only one to claim the title of Werelupe King, and there are others who rule with more fairness, benevolence, and honour.” He paused and smirked. “Well, there’s just me. But you get the idea.”

The two looked around at the other Werelupes, who nodded. Terra and Pharazon wore encouraging smiles, and Connor—well, he at least didn’t protest, although the boy still looked overwhelmed by everything going on.

“Release them,” Isengrim said to his thanes. “I would like to hear what they have to say. I believe my proposition interests them.”

Cautiously, the two were let go, although the other Werelupes kept their paws on their weapons just in case. Still, the patrollers did not attempt to attack or flee, but studied Isengrim’s face. “Why are you here?” the female asked.

“To free you from Vakhtang’s rule,” Isengrim said. “This madness has gone on for long enough. He has upset the balance of the Haunted Woods and enslaved his Werelupe brothers and sisters, and I cannot tolerate that. I am here to grant you freedom—and a better life, if you should so desire it.”

“We’re listening,” the male said.

“How many of you follow him willingly?” Isengrim asked.

“Not many,” the male said. “Mostly just the blokes at the top—they think they’ll get a cut of Vakhtang’s glory, but he’s probably just using them the way he does us.”

Isengrim nodded. “Probably. Will you help us get to him? From what I’ve seen, you have no reason to fear him. He is powerless against all of us working together.”

The pair’s eyes lit up. “Why—you’re right,” the female said. “I don’t know why we never realised that before.”

“You are probably not used to working together,” Isengrim said. “Vakhtang has united you and made you more effective than you would be on your own, but for selfish reasons. You can turn his strength against him.”

He looked at Gwyneth and her riders. “You and Connor stay here,” Isengrim said. “This situation is far too dangerous, and you’re in no condition to fight.”

Terra raised her sword. “I can still fight,” she said. “And I’d feel a lot safer coming with you than waiting around in the Haunted Woods.”

“Me too,” Pharazon said.

“Same,” Suhel said. She coughed a bit, then added, “And please, milord, you should know by now not to underestimate me. I can be quite dangerous even when I’m ill.”

Isengrim smiled. “This is true. All right, but stay close to me.”

“Not a problem,” Pharazon said. “Besides, I may not be a fighter myself, but Gwyneth is pretty much her own war machine.”

The Werelupe King nodded, then turned to their youngest party member. “Connor, I am not forcing you to come with us,” he said. “If you would be more comfortable waiting here—“

The boy-Werelupe stiffened and scampered closer to the king. “There’s no way I’m stayin’ in these woods by meself!” he yelped. Frowning, he squared his shoulders and the fear on his face was replaced with determination. “I mean—I’d honestly feel safer comin’ with you, sir. Even if it means followin’ you into Vakhtang’s headquarters…” He looked up at Isengrim and smiled a bit. “I know you’ll look out for me.”

“That I will,” Isengrim said, putting a paw on the boy’s head. “Of course, I do not expect you to do any fighting… but please remember you are not defenceless.” He pointed to the young Werelupe’s paws and mouth.

Connor inspected his claws. “Right…” He sighed and looked to Lynwood. “Okay, let’s go.”

“You heard him,” Isengrim said to the others with a grin. “Move out!” The group began to trudge through the undergrowth.

“I’ll help, too,” Lexora wheezed, limp against Suhel’s chest. The Kougra drew her knife, her tail lashing weakly. “I’ve got to—protect my family.”

Suhel shook her head. “You just rest,” she said. “We’ll have that curse off of you soon.”

“Bother the curse,” Lexora growled. “I’m aiming to give Vakhtang a piece of my mind.”

Isengrim looked over at the two Werelupe patrollers, who were simply watching dumbfounded. “Well?” he asked. “Aren’t you coming? We could use your help.”

“Oh—yes, sir,” the male said with a bit of a whimper. “I’m sorry, sir.” He and the female fell in beside the others.

Isengrim put an arm around the male’s shoulders. “Don’t follow my commands because you fear me,” the king said. “Do it for the good of your packmates. We’re all friends here.”

“I… suppose I never thought of it that way,” the female muttered as they broke out of the trees and started across the lawn. “I never thought of us as a pack, at least. It’s always been every Werelupe for themselves here in these Woods. The only thing keeping us together has been fear of Vakhtang’s punishments.”

“You should give friendship a try,” Terra said. “Like Isengrim said, you’re much stronger together than you are apart. I mean, you guys have raided towns in groups, and you’d never attempt that by yourselves, would you? But it’s even better when you’re truly united, because you actually care about each other.”

The two Werelupes looked at her for a moment. “You keep company with a human?” the male asked Isengrim.

The king smiled. “It is a long story. But she is my owner, and she and the Draik are a valued part of my pack. And the Kougra is an old friend of my second-in-command. Not all non-Werelupes hate us—you’ve just got to give them a chance.”

By now the other Werelupes on the lawn had noticed the newcomers, and approached the group warily, paws on their weapons.

“Hail!” Isengrim said, raising a paw in greeting. “I am here to stage a revolution! I am sure you won’t mind.”

Suhel rolled her eyes with a smirk. He certainly had his own way of doing things, but that was part of why she admired him so much.

The other patrollers stared at him in confusion, but the pair Isengrim’s Werelupes had snagged moved to the front of the group. “He’s here to get rid of King Vakhtang!” the female said.

Isengrim raised his sword. “Join me!” he barked. “Fight by my side, fight for your freedom! Together, we cannot fail!”

His packmates replied by hoisting their own weapons in the air with a shout, and even Suhel, one arm still wrapped around Lexora, managed to lift her blade and join the rallying cry.

The other Werelupes’ eyes lit up. Suhel wondered if they felt the same swelling in their hearts that she did every time Isengrim summoned his pack forth to battle. Then their tails raised and they clustered close to the group, pointing their weapons toward the doors of Lynwood.

“I’m tired of listening to that overgrown Gremble!” one of them snarled.

“I bet we can take him!” another barked.

“Where is he?” Isengrim asked as they moved toward the entrance to the school.

The male from before pointed his mace upward. “He lives in the nice rooms on the third floor.”

“It’s got to be the headmistress’s quarters,” Lexora said. “Up the big flight of stairs, in the southwest corner.”

At the base of the steps, Isengrim turned and halted their march. “Remember,” he said, his crimson eyes boring into the other Werelupes’, “these are your brothers and sisters in there, and they are probably every bit as tired of Vakhtang’s rule as you are, but some of them may still feel the need to fight for him. Be merciful, and do your best to convince them to join us. We are only to subdue any hostile forces, and I want Vakhtang alive. Are we understood?”

Barks of agreement rose up from the other warriors, and Isengrim smiled. Doing his best to hide his limp, he mounted the steps, put his paws on the doors, and shoved them open.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16