Wolfe Pack (2 page)

“So where have you been traveling sir?”

Wollfen motioned her to sit down as he looked over his meal, she sat and looked on attentively,

“Please call me Wollfen. As for my wanderings I am actually doing scouting of the north east edge of the Kingdom here for the city of Gevalia, Lord Cazzara is looking to build forts in defense of the realm since that orc incursion a year ago.”

“It was more than an incursion, thousands died when they attacked.”

Dark felt a little rankled by the perceived dismissive reference to the deaths of so many.

“No you are right, it was a terrible time that still leaves scars. I am sure you still bear the burden of the loss of your clan.” Again Dark was taken aback,

“How did you know I was Nightclan?”

“Are you not Darkling Bruadar of the Nightclan Berengah?”

Now Dark felt a bit unsure of herself, how did this stranger know so much of her?

“Yes I am, but how is it you know all this? I hardly tell anyone of my past.”

Wollfen gave a little smile and leaned forward almost conspiratorially, she leaned forward also as he whispered to her,

“I have abilities in magics, I am able to see your mental beacon, it is quite strong truth be known, I became aware of it a couple of days ago.” Darkling's interest was peaked now,

“You are a magic user? I have never met one before, you are a rare breed.” Wollfen sat back again and smiled,

“Not so rare actually, many people carry the ability, but to actually use it? That's something else entirely, it takes a lot of work and effort to make that ability blossom. I take it you are unaware of your gift then?” Dark shook her head,

“No I had no idea, I thought that if you had the ability for magic you would simply know.”

“Well it is a dying art and that's the nature of things, one day I will explain.” Again Dark was a bit surprised, this time by his assumption that they would meet again, it was almost arrogant.

“I have to tend to my duties there are more people to serve, is there anything else you need?” Wollfen shook his head,

“No thanks, I hope we can talk again soon?” Darkling agreed with a little smile and made off back to the bar.

Wollfen looked around again studying the people sitting in the booths and at the tables. He had been looking for someone in particular but they had not arrived yet. He went back to his meal and enjoyed the simple but hearty fare of venison and vegetables. After his meal was done Dark returned to gather the plates up and whisked them away, an order for an ale made while she had been present. It wasn't long before she returned, she noticed him still scanning the room looking at the people who would come and go. She sat the mug of ale down in front of him,

“Are you expecting someone?” Wollfen nodded in reply,

Yes, I was hoping a fellow scout would be here tonight, a tallish woman with red hair, have you seen such a person?”

“No I'm afraid not, no one with red hair at all, that would certainly stand out here.” Dark went off again to tend to her duties leaving Wollfen to contemplate his ale.

After about another hour and the evening meals were no longer being served, quite a number of people had left and those that remained were the regular crowd of drinkers all in social groups enjoying a chat. Some working girls were doing the rounds hoping to pick up some money and Wollfen noticed that now and again one of them would retire to a room upstairs with a patron in tow. Obviously the bar owner had an agreement in place with them.

Soon after Wollfen saw what he had been waiting for, a woman clad in green and brown ranger clothes entered and stood inside the doorway looking around. She was lean and above average in height, her red flowing hair hung halfway down her back in a ponytail. Wollfen gestured as her eyes scanned past him and she smiled, walking over she sat down opposite and eyed Wollfen's ale.

“Hello Solynne how are you?”

She gave a small scowl and pointed to her own arm, he realized there was a bandage which he could see through a cut in the sleeve of her green tunic.

“I ran into a couple of bandits on the road coming into town, they tried to ambush me as the sun was setting, needless to say I left them beside the road.” Wollfen looked on with concern,

“I hope your injury is not too serious?” She waved a dismissive hand at him,

“Far less of an inconvenience than having to deal with the local sheriff, I reported all that happened to him as soon as I arrived, it's where I have been for the last hour, the man was a pain in the ass. He actually had me writing up a report for him, I should never have let him know I could read and write.” Wollfen chuckled,

“Poor Solynne, more at home in hand to hand combat than writing out a page of words.” Solynne gave him the finger and looked around,

“How does someone get any service around here? I am starving and that ale of yours looks good.”

Wollfen gestured at Dark behind the bar and pointed to his ale, mouthing the words for another. She came over and placed the ale before Solynne.

“Can I ask if you have any meals prepared?”

“No the kitchen is closed down for the night but I could put together a plate of some leftovers, they will be cold though.” Solynne sighed,

“Yes please it will do, I haven't eaten all day.” Wollfen coughed and they both looked to him,

“Solynne, this is Darkling Bruadar formally of the Nightclan Berengah.” They looked to each other and said their hellos.

“So you are Darkling are you? Wollfen mentioned on the highway that he felt a strong presence in magics a couple of days ago, has he spoken much to you?” Dark shook her head,

“No, I have been busy all evening and only managed to sit down with him for a few minutes. I will be finishing up soon for the evening, I can come back then?” Wollfen nodded without saying a word and Dark left. Solynne looked back to him,

“So, she looks a bit pudgy but I can see she still has a certain hardness to her, what do you think? Can she become one of the group?” He shrugged,

“It's too early to say, I have only spoken to her for a couple of minutes, hopefully we can see how  things go over the next couple of days.”

Dark returned with a plate of cold cuts and vegetables then smiled,

“They are on the house, Kels hopes you enjoy your stay. Also I will be back in a few minutes, I have some dishes to take care of.”

Solynne tucked into the food without a word, stuffing her face and chewing fast, she was famished. Wollfen looked on with a slight smile and shake of the head, Solynne gave him the finger once again.

A few minutes later Dark returned and sat down beside Wollfen, she could smell him and felt her interest in him rise again. He certainly was an intriguing character.

“So you were going to tell me more about magics and my talent?”

“Yes that and more but I have to ask you Dark, I am actually interested in seeing if you may wish to join me on my journeys?”

Dark stared at him for a moment, this man sure was forward and to the point,

“Why would I do that?”

“I have need of extra people for a team I am putting together, I wish to create a capable ranging party that can travel long distances and deal with conflicts or issues around the towns and villages of the Kingdom.”

It certainly sounded intriguing, her life here wasn't exactly exciting and the wilds were where she felt most comfortable.

“Are you offering me a job as a mercenary?” He shook his head,

“Not a mercenary no, you are not going to be hired by me or any government for that matter, this is entirely voluntary.” This was starting to sound rather curious and she couldn't help but be interested,

“Please go on, you have my attention.” Wollfen gave a little smile,

“Obviously I don't expect you to get nothing out of it, I am prepared to teach you magics that will give you an edge in life as well as a greater insight into the ways of the world in relation to your spirituality.” Dark snorted at that last comment,

“Spirituality? Are you serious? You aren't some gods lover are you? I'd hate to spend my time kneeling in front of some altar moaning and swaying in the hope I reach some divine inspiration.”

“No no, nothing like that, but I will teach you what I know of the gods, they are there you know, they do exist even if they don't make their presence known on a day to day basis.”

“Well I don't know, what do you hope to achieve?”

“Not a lot, simply guide this society towards a better path, making sure the people don't go off the rails so to speak. Plus I want to eventually work out the question of the orcs, what can be done about them.” The last part is what really caught Dark's attention,

“We would be hunting orcs?”

“I think that would be a part of it yes.”

Dark didn't hesitate, any opportunity to get back at the orcs and dish out some vengeance was fine by her.

“I'm in, any chance to hit the orcs and make them suffer is very welcome.” Wollfen smiled and looked to Solynne holding up three fingers,

“We are three.” Solynne then spoke up,

“It may be four actually.”

“Oh? You have come across someone too?” She nodded,

“I know of a blacksmith in the next town across to the east, his name is Kane and I have seen him practicing with the weapons he crafts, his swordsmanship is quite good. I also had a talk with him and he is quite intelligent too.”

“Sounds interesting, we will have to go meet him and see.”

“Well not tonight, I am plain wore out, I haven't even worked out a place to sleep yet.” Wollfen reached into his tunic and produced a key,

“Here take this, my room is at the far end. There has two beds, make yourself at home.” Solynne smiled while rising,

“That sounds great I am going off to sleep, you two enjoy.”

She turned and walked away leaving Dark and Wollfen who looked at each other,

“So what are you doing now?” Dark shrugged, “Would you mind a walk outside for awhile? I feel the need to breathe some night air.”

Dark smiled and nodded as she got up, they both walked out into the cool night, there was a slight breeze which was pleasant.

They walked along for a minute without a word and then Wollfen commented,

“The moon is certainly bright and full tonight, it looks like almost daylight out.” Darkling agreed,

“Yes, it is nice, you know there is a stream nearby we can walk to, would you like to sit by it for awhile?”

Certainly, I like the water.”

Dark led the way and within a minute they entered a small clearing beside a trickling stream , it wasn't very big but it was pretty. The embankment was maybe a foot higher than the water and Dark slipped her boots and socks of before dangling her feet over the edge, the water was cool on her toes. She looked up at Wollfen standing there who was scanning the woods, did he ever relax?

“Why don't you join me? It's quite nice.”

He looked down for a second then removed his own boots and sat down beside her, the two of them swishing their feet.

“So Wollfen, who are you really? You haven't spoken of yourself at all tonight, you know far more about me than I do of you.” He sat there looking off for a moment in thought, and then he turned to her,

“I am not much more than a wanderer who picks up jobs along the way, I have traveled these lands for many years and seen much of it from the old Nightclan territories to the Kingdom territories too.”

“So you have met Nightclan people when they were around?”

“Yes, I counted many of them as friends, I knew the leader Ironside of the clan Horungar very well and I was there in the weeks before what happened.”

“Oh, then you are very aware of all that happened, Horungar was only one valley across from us when it all went down. There was a friend of mine in Horungar, her name was Ravenwing, I am sure you would have known of her, she had a big reputation amongst many of the clans and I always wondered if she made it out too. She was a very powerful warrior.”

Wollfen sat there and stared out over the water, Dark could see his face harden, what had she touched on?

“No.” Was all he said, she was curious now,

“You knew her well too?”

He turned and looked at her, she could see he was trying to speak but was conflicted. Oh no, all of a sudden she realized,

“I'm sorry, I had no idea, I'm so sorry.”

He shook his head slow and looked back to the water, they sat there quietly for a little while not saying anything and then he spoke once more in a whisper hardly audible,

“I miss her.” She watched his emotions play across his face, this hard man of the world, now looking so vulnerable.

“I miss my family too, I still cry for them.”

Dark turned around facing him now and took him in her arms, he responded hugging her back, they held each other for awhile and remained silent, it was enough. She looked up into his slightly wet eyes and her heart went out to him, this man knew her pain.

Leaning up to his mouth she gently kissed him, their warm lips pressing together, it felt good. He opened his mouth slightly, their tongues tentatively touching, exploring then becoming more passionate and urgent. They kissed now with a rising heat, embracing and squeezing each other. Wollfen lay back on the grass and Dark straddled him as they continued kissing deeply, she felt him growing in his pants and she instinctively gyrated her warm mound against his bulge. Their passion grew as he kissed and sucked at her neck, Dark slid her hands inside his pants and felt his warm hard rod, gripping it she stroked it and heard him moan a little.