Chapter 35-
Castle White stood in magnificent splendour in vast grounds. Leila and Lucius crouched in the woods on the edge of the gardens and observed the castle glowing in the distance. Night had long since fallen and the castle was lit up with thousands of lamps and candles and torches lined the road.
"This isn't going to be easy," Leila murmured. They had watched dozens of dignitaries from all over the 9 Kingdoms arrive as the sun set, a great stream of gilded and painted carriages with tall feather plumes, flags and liveried footmen. "With all these dignitaries here it would be easier getting into a brick built hen house."
"A frontal assault isn't going to work," Lucius said. "The guards will see us and if they don't shoot us on sight we'll be arrested and thrown in prison."
Leila shivered at the idea of being locked up in that grim place where Lucius' grandfather had died and Warren had suffered so much. "This is suicide," she murmured to herself. She was plagued with doubts, how could they possibly entice royalty to listen to them, a couple of scruffy, road weary half-wolves. The royals were not like the villagers who had been willing to place their trust in two very dangerous creatures in a very dangerous time. "I don't know how we are going to do this." King Wendell would be just like her aunt, Queen Red, cold, distant, unwilling to listen, scornful, hate filled.
"Leila, we have to try," Lucius said. "If the Queen comes to power there won't be anywhere safe for us in all the 9 Kingdoms, or our friends."
"I know," Leila said. The Queen would gypsies, Lucius' family, when they refused to bow to her. The Queen would hunt down Sirius and the other wolves who would not work for her and display their pelts like trophies on her wall. She would enslave and oppress the people in all the villages from the Northern Sea to the Southern Ocean. "Let's try around the side."
They quickly skirted the groomed parklands surrounding the palace until Leila stopped dead, a familiar scent coming to her nose. She caught Lucius' arm, halting him abruptly. Squatting down she touched a place in the bracken broken and flattened as though a little dragon had tried to make its nest there, but no dragon ever left a scent like that.
"Lucius, Warren's been here," she said.
"Are you sure?"
"I know his scent as I know yours. He was here."
Lucius crouched down beside her and sniffed around as well. "There's another scent here, a woman, fully human." He gave a surprised snort. "They were certainly... enthusiastic."
"Come on!" Leila exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "The scent isn't more than a few hours old, they are close by!"
"Leila, wait!" Lucius shouted, but Leila was already off and running. He swore quietly and ran after her.
The trail led them to the edge of the woods where another scent joined the two lovers, a man, older, full of fear. His scent was similar to that of the woman, obviously blood kin. The trail led them right up to the palace moat, cleverly keeping to the shadows and black spots where no guard post could see them. In one direction, some distance away was a bridge over the moat, in the other was darkness leading around behind the palace.
"They went into the water here," Leila said, touching the imprint of a shoe on the muddy bank. On the other side of the water was the palace wall. She gave frustrated grunt. "There's no way we can tell which way they went."
"Well, we cane either try to find how they got in, or we can look for a way ourselves," Lucius said, shivering a little at the thought of going into the water. His experience in the 6th Kingdom hadn't endeared him to water. "Let's look before we go for a swim."
Leila nodded and the slipped into the darkness away from the bridge. The kept close to the waters edge, hidden in the darkness until they came upon another bridge and a path which lead up to an unassuming gate at the rear of the palace. They crouched in the shrubs and watched as a farm cart trundled up to the bridge only to be halted by a pair of guards who came across the bridge and took a look in the cart before returning across the bridge and waving the carter on.
"Did you see that," Leila whispered to Lucius.
"They didn't wait until the cart was past before they went back to their posts," Lucius answered, having observed the same thing.
"There was at least three or four second delay while the carter got his team moving again," Leila said.
"But the guards are watching it go past. We wouldn't be able to jump on the back and hide ourselves in time," Lucius said.
"How about underneath?" Leila asked. "Could we roll under in a few seconds and grab the axles?"
"Risky," Lucius said, "If you missed you'd be left behind and wouldn't you look a fool lying on the ground in front of the guards."
"That would get us into the palace at least, even if not where we want to be."
"Thrown into the dungeons would not be productive," Lucius agreed.
"Does a palace have dungeons?" Leila asked, looking up at the elegant, towering edifice.
"All castles have dungeons in my experience," Lucius said sourly, "No matter what they call themselves."
"There's another cart coming. Are you ready?"
"Can I think about this?" Lucius asked, only half jokingly.
"No, get ready."
The process was repeated. The cart halted, the guards came, questioned the driver and looked in the back. The two half-wolves crouched ready and waiting. As soon as the guards turned their back to walk the cart across the bridge they pounced. It was the work of only a second or two to race to the cart, roll underneath it and grab hold of the underside, pulling themselves off the road.
Leila nearly lost her grip when the cart jolted back into motion, but managed to dig her nails into the wood and scramble for a better foot hold. Lucius slipped a little, one foot dropping from his precarious perch to rattled along the wooden boards of the bridge before he managed to swing it back over the axle.
"Hold on!" Lucius whispered urgently as Leila strained to hold her grip as the cart bounced over the uneven road.
It took a few minutes, but they were soon through the gates of the kitchen courtyard and into the heaving, shouting mass of people who were trying to make party in the throne room a success. The two wolves let go, landing on the hard cobbled courtyard and peering out at the scurrying people.
"There's the kitchen door," Leila pointed out, it was the door through which most people were running in and out.
"And I think that that's the wine cellar," Lucius pointed at a door in another wall. Rumbling and swearing overhead caught their attention and they watched as ramps were laid against the tail gate of their cart and barrels rolled down.
"Careful with that, your idiots!" the carter screamed at a couple of plainly dressed servants who were rolling the barrels towards the cellar, "That's best brandy, you need to treat it with respect."
"Yeah, yeah, keep your shirt on!" one of the men shouted back.
"What do you think?" Lucius asked.
"They aren't much cleaner than us at the moment," Leila commented. "If we're quick we might make it."
"Keep your head down," Lucius said.
They rolled out from under the cart and came up quickly, just in time to grab the next barrel rolling down towards them.
"Who are you?" the carter asked, startled at their sudden appearance.
"We're from the village," Lucius said in a passable bucolic accent, "We was sent up to help with the heavy work, like."
"Well, you just be careful with that barrel, that brandy is worth more than you would see in a year."
"Yes sir," Lucius said, tugging at his forelock. Leila struggled to contain her laughter.
Together they manhandled the barrel towards the cellar and down the ramp into the darkness. Once they had place the barrel in its proper place they ducked behind the stacks and Leila gave in to her laughter, muffling it with her hand.
"You, my love, are a genius," she said.
"Thank you. Now let's go find the King and give him our warning."
Leila's face fell when she remembered their purpose. "Do you really think that the King will grant us an audience."
"Are you really willing to give into your doubts now? After everything we've been through?" Lucius asked, grasping her shoulders, making her look at him. "You're so strong, so sure. Don't let yourself be distracted from your purpose now."
Leila nodded slowly and smiled. "I don't know what I did to deserve you," she said to him. "Without you I would have given up a long time ago."
"You saved my life," Lucius said, "That makes me your loyal and obedient servant now and in the next world."
"Let's hope that this doesn't result in us ending up in the next world," Leila said, a smiled and quick kiss taking the seriousness out of her words. "Let's find out what fate and the Goddess has in store for us."
"Lead on, mighty warrior."
They went through the internal door and into the palace, dodging servants and footmen who hurried back and forth with trays of food and drinks for the noble guests. The two half-wolves were very out of place in their travel-stained, rather scruffy clothing and they were careful not to be seen by anyone who may take offence at their presence. Above them the night sky exploded into fireworks to mark midnight.
A great chorus of voices rang through the hall ways.
"To ever lasting peace, and all the bones we can gnaw!"
"What the?" Leila asked. Lucius just shrugged.
They followed the sound, keeping to the shadows, until they started hearing people gagging and retching, and bodies hitting the ground.
"Oh no," Leila murmured.
Throwing caution to the wind the wolves ran through the hall, skidding to a halt on the gallery above the ball room. Below was a horrifying scene. The ball room floor was covered with bodies dressed in silks, satins, glowing colours and bright jewels and in the middle stood a footman, dark haired and holding a silver platter, staring around him in consternation. An imperious looking woman dressed in a plum cloak gloated over the corpses.
"Anyone for seconds?" she asked jovially. No one answered, the dead could not speak. "No?" She strolled through the littered bodies as though through a flower bed.
Leila started forward, but Lucius pulled her back into the shelter of a swath of curtain. All she could do was stare at the scene. He was there, her brother. She couldn't deny he as her brother, even after all these years she recognised him instantly. She was there too, the witch she had fought on and off for years, dressed in the body of the wicked Queen who smelled of poison and magic.
"Warren, what have you done?" Leila asked softly. "We're too late, the Queen has won." She turned into Lucius' embrace. There was nothing for them now. Warren, her own dear brother had sold his soul to evil, the royalty of all the 9 Kingdoms lay dead at his feet. There was no where for them to run, no where for them to hide. It was over. The wolves stood there, half-hidden, despairing.
"We will die together, my love," Lucius said softly. "We will get out of here and we will fight her to the bitter end."
"What's the point?" Leila asked. "She will win, no matter what we do."
"She will, but her victory doesn't have to be easy, does it? We will find Sirius and Marina and organise a resistance. We won't go down without a fight."
Leila shook her head. "Your right, we will exact vengeance for all those she has slaughtered."
"Come on," Lucius said, and pulled her gently away.
Leila looked down into the throne room one last time at her brother who had become her enemy. "Wait!" she said, pulling Lucius back. "Look!"
The Huntsman was there, pushing a girl into the midst of the carnage.
"You certainly are persistent," the Queen said.
"Are you going to kill me as well?" the girl asked, her voice wavering as she tried to stand up to the Queen.
"I was going to let you go," the Queen said, a strange note of care, almost affection in her voice. "I don't know why."
"You know why!" the girl insisted.
"Go, leave me, get out while you can," the Queen said.
"She's fighting the witch," Leila said, "The witch has control of her, but she's fighting. Why?"
"No." The girl's voice was firm.
There was a long pause. The Queen gathered herself. "You were nothing bus an accident. You should have been killed at birth," she said harshly, but the wolves recognised what she was trying to do, she was trying to push the girl away, fuel her hatred, make her leave, save her.
"I don't understand," Lucius said, "Who is she?"
"They know each other, but how?"
The girl took three steps forward and lashed out, striking the Queen across the face. "How dare you! How dare you speak to me like that!"
The witch gained control of the Queen, the person fighting to get out was drowned, extinguished, vanished like the mist in the sun. "Kill her now! Kill her, or I will do it myself."
The Huntsman gave an indifferent shrug and levelled the cross bow at the girl. Both the half-wolves sprang forward to the rail, ready to throw themselves over the save the innocent girl who had stood so bravely against the darkness. They were not quick enough, Warren beat them to it. He threw himself onto the Huntsman, forcing his arm up just as the trigged was pulled, sending the deadly bolt straight up.
"Wolf!" the girl cried out in fear.
Warren wrestled with the Huntsman, forcing him back onto a table, scattering platters of food and pitchers of wine as they struggled, locked in combat. At the same time the Queen stepped forward and wrapped her hands around the girl's throat, strangling her. The two wolves ran for the staircase, but they were too far away, they weren't going to make it.
It all happened so quickly. The Huntsman wrestled Warren over so he was on top, pinning the half-wolf to the table as he drew a knife. Before he could strike the bolt he had fired straight up came straight down and plunged into the Huntsman's back. The bolt never missed its mark. The Huntsman looked surprised for a moment, then collapsed on top of Warren.
At the same time the girl reached out and pulled something out of the Queen's hair, slashing it across her neck. The Queen staggered back, clutching at the shallow scratches on her neck. She brought her hand to her eyes, her white glove stained with her blood.
"You've drawn blood," she whispered, horrified.
Leila and Lucius tumbled down the stairs, but there was little left for them to do, the fight was over. The Queen walked away, a few stately paces before she collapsed. The girl ran to her side, cradling her tenderly.
"No, please don't die," she sobbed, "Don't die. Just remember who you are."
"It's too late," the Queen said, her voice growing weaker. "Don't cry, my little girl. I gave away my soul."
"Her daughter?" Leila asked rhetorically as she and Lucius watched, spellbound, at the bottom of the stairs.
The girl sobbed and screamed as the Queen slowly closed her eyes and gave herself up to death.
As the Queen died a darkness rose from her still body, and a scream of pure psychic force tore through the room, sending Leila and Lucius reeling and falling to their knees as the shriek pounded their minds like mighty waves driven before a great storm. The two wolves fought against the mental tempest, blinded and deafened by the rage and groped towards each other. They found each other and held on tightly, building a protective wall around themselves using bricks built with love and trust, giving each other total access to their minds, hearts and souls to build that sheild and protect themselves from the enraged might of the Witch.
With the fury pushed back, Leila was able to see again. Beyond the shimmering barrier of their shield, visible only to the eyes of those sensitive enough, was a dark cloud, boiling and writhing almost like a living creature in the throes of agony. It coiled around the two wolves, then streamed back towards the girl, enveloping her and seeping into her mind and body.
"No!" Leila screamed, the Witch had lost one host, but she was determined to take another. There was nothing she could do, the Witch had claimed a new host and Leila was helpless to stop her. She collapsed into Lucius' arms.
Around them, people started to stir. The Prince sat up, clutching his head.
"I think I had too much champagne," he moaned.
Lucius grabbed Leila and hauled her bodily into an alcove, out of site of the throng of reviving guests. If they were found there, he reasoned, they may well be blamed for the poisoning, if that was what it truly was. He held Leila as she shook and sobbed in his arms, keeping his broad back between her and the throng.
"Why aren't your all dead?" the girl asked as the guests revived around her. Warren was there, leading a lovely golden retriever, unbuckling its collar. "Didn't you poison everybody?"
"No," Warren said, "Troll dust, I swapped the poison for a pinch of troll dust." He finished unbuckling the collar and gave the dog a pat. "Go for it, Wendy."
"Leila, Leila, watch," Lucius shook her gently, bringing her out of her shock.
"What? What's happening?" she asked.
"Warren didn't kill them all, it was a trick, look!"
The golden retriever threw itself at the Prince and in a moment of confusion and magic, the dog and Prince swapped places. The ball room was suddenly full of cheering people. The two half-wolves didn't really understand what was going on, but everyone seemed so happy.
An elf was standing there, not cheering, but looking around with fear and confusion. She studied the ball room and her eyes fixed firmly on the alcove where the wolves were hiding. She marched over to them. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Guards!"
A pair of guards, still recovering from the effects of the troll dust quickly pulled themselves together and marched over. Lucius tried to shield Leila, but they were both hauled out into the open and frog marched towards the King. The crowd parted for them, two scruffy people in the midst of slightly mussed splendour. The two wolves were forced to their knees before the King.
"Who are you?" Wendell asked, perplexed at the sudden events, "And what's been going on here? Leaffall?"
"There has been a magical disruption, your Majesty," the Elf Queen said firmly, "Evil is at work here, and these two stink of it."
"Your Majesty, please, I can explain," Lucius said.
"Leila?" Warren stared at the two wolves. "Leila, is that? Can it really be?"
"Wolf? What's going on?" Wendell asked.
"That's... that's my sister. Leila?"
Leila stared at her confused brother. "Warren, please tell me you didn't make a pact with the Witch. I don't want to lose you after I've just found you."
"A pact with the Witch, no! Leila, how... when... Are you real?"
Leila climbed to her feet. "I could ask you the same. Are you really Warren Wolfson, my brother?"
"Yes, oh YES!" Warren laughed and cried and grabbed her around the waist and lifted her, spinning her around and hugging her. "Leila, I've been looking for you for 12 years!"
"I know," Leila said, "And I've been looking for you, my brother."
"Would you kindly explain what is going on!" Wendell commanded sternly.
Leila untangled herself from her brothers embrace. "Your Majesty, Leaffall is right, there is evil here, an ancient evil, older than the Queen, older than the Five Great Women of History, an evil which has sought to dominate our land across the ages. The Witch, as I know this evil, has lost her host, the Queen, your Step-mother, and found a new one."
"You?" Wendell asked, drawing away from her.
"No, but someone innocent, someone who has no idea the damage that the evil can do."
"Your Majesty," Lucius broke in, "We need to talk, somewhere private."
"Virginia?" Warren was bending over the girl, collapsed by the Queen, her mother's side. "Virginia, wake up! Virginia!" His voice was rising to scream.
Lucius quickly ran to his side and bent to talk quickly in his ear, quietening the frantic wolf. Leila turned to the King. "Your Majesty, this is something I don't think we should discuss among this assembly," she said quietly. She knew what she had to do, it scared her, but she would do it. "I mean no disrespect to the assembled nobility, but this should be handled quietly."
"Very well. Wolf, bring Virginia. You two, come with me."
"I'm coming too," an older, stout man in oddly common clothing said.
"Of course, Tony," Wendell said with a fond smile.