A Wolf with a coat of Darkness – chapter 4
I do not own ASoIF/GoT or Warcaft/WoW
Rated M for everything wrong with the Cult of the Damned and the Scourge (including but not limited to cannibalism, human experimentation, murder, rape, slavery, torture, sadism)
Sansa was incredibly self-conscious as they walked back toward the woman they now knew to be called Feralda, the red-heads' hand constantly darting to her behind in a vain effort to cover them.
"You look nice." She heard Myranda say, Sansa realizing they had not really spoken all that much, relying more on silent communication.
"I look like one of them." Lamented Sansa.
"You look better then them." Returned the girl. The red head found herself smiling, not that anyone could have seen that given the mask she now wore. Nevertheless, she reached over the put her hand on the girls' head in a warm gesture.
"You two must be the slowest recruits we've ever had." Complained Feralda when they finally reached her. in turn, Sansa noticed that the sun had STILL not risen, but decided that commenting on it would not be wise. Feralda beckoned them follow her as she began moving towards the building on the top. As they ascended, they intermixed with the flow of the rest of the cultist moving there.
Myranda pulled on her sleeve, making her look towards a trio of cultists that were in turn looking at them. But when one raised both his hands with thumbs up and Sansa took a closer look at them did she realize that those were their drinking companions from last night. In silence, the group of two and group of three leveled of one next to the other, yet no one said anything. They did not look at each other, they did not speak, they did not touch.
But somehow, their presence gave Sansa strength, she in turn grasping Myranda by the hand and passed strength onto her.
"Now, there is a few days before a new class can be assembled. We wont waste our teachers time with only two students." Suddenly spoke up Feralda.
"But that does not mean you will be slacking about!" she hissed out. "Seeing just how green you are, a blind man would be able to tell you cannot even do magic. As such, you will go to the library, ask for the 'Basics of Arcane' and read it!"
"You class is expected to be ready to begin in two days at the least. I expect you to be finished with the book by then." She momentarily paused to look back at them, as if making sure they were still there.
"I will give you a quick tour of the school so that you don't get lost when you actually start. I can't deal with finding lost students. Been there, done that, wasn't pretty…"
Inside the castle at the top of the hill, in the base of one of the towers, a staircase lay descending into the darkness below. A short period of darkness and Sansa saw…the school. A large entry chamber, with them passing over what can best be described as a bridge underground. Behind an iron gate at the far end of the bridge laid the library, an equally large chamber as the previous one filled with shelves upon shelves of books and scrolls. The red-head wondered how was one really supposed to reach the upper ones, for that high were they that even she, who was considered tall for her age, would stand no chance of reaching them.
Nevertheless, a relief spread to her. The library was almost at the entrance and it was here that they would be forced to spent their first few days.
Further in were they led, entering a large room with piles of bones littering every surface, one barely been able to walk without steeping on the course white stuff. With some dread, Sansa found that, somehow, the large quantity of bones did not bother her as much as it should have had.
What followed were more and more, to her, identical chambers, each one leading into the next. Most had bookshelves, banners and tables lining the walls, scattered piles of bone been a constant everywhere. The further and further in they went, the more horrific things became. Soon, the normal skeletons stopped and with followed, Sansa almost missed them. First came the heavily armored ones with spiked swords and an evil red glint in their eyes.
After them came ones that had limbs replaced with swords, their heads oversized and teeth the size of daggers. The two girls had to wonder just from what did those heads had come, for there was no ways that was a human skull.
"Dragon…" Myranda mumbled out after they passed by a sealed iron gate, the inside of the chamber visible through the gabs between the iron bars.
"Hmm? Ah, yes." Said Feralda, coming to stand next to where they had stopped, looking inside. "Our very own plague dragonflight!" she said in false grandiose before deadpanning. "Don't go near them. They are practically uncontrolled and always hungry. They will eat anything and I do mean anything and everything."
'Dragons' was all Sansa could thing looking at the tiny, bloated flying lizards as they aimlessly wandered their assigned chamber. Just what other monsters roamed this land? Oh, the undead were obvious, but she assumed they were all human once. But dragons? A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered her bedtime tales by Old Nan when she was younger. Of Balerion the Dread and how his skull was as big as a wheelhouse. How just three dragons brough the whole of Westeros to its knees. She saw at least twenty beyond the iron gate, still small, but the idea was there. The dreaded idea of what could an undead dragon of Balerion's size do.
Ever down they descended, Sasnsa beginning to feel the walls close in around her. More chambers, some looking like mazes, others like crypts before finally reaching a large intersection.
"This is the masters' level. You will only go here if you fail or graduate." An oversized head poked from one of the entryways, looking at them hungrily. Massive jaws opened and closed, as if tasting them, sending shivers down the spines of the two girls.
"Come along, now. Back up we go."
As they ascended the underground school, Feralda kept on speaking.
"None of our professors are to be disturbed outside of lessons, is that clear? You would not want to end up as their next…experiment, now, would you?"
"Ye-""Yes, madam." They spoke in unison as a scream, a desperate wail from a nearby hallway was heard, momentarily freezing the two girls.
Feralda eventually left them at the library, reminding them to study or else. Initially, Sansa tried to find the book on her own, but failed. The books were not arranged alphabetically, not in seemingly any logical way, thus the red-head gave up. Looking around, there was only a skeleton in robes idly flipping through the pages of a book. Deciding against her better judgment, she approached the thing, each step forth becoming smaller and smaller with her posture shrinking.
'Frozen Chains of Lust by Mauris Spannerbolt' Sansa mumbled to herself as she approached, seeing the title of the book he…she…it was reading.
"Ugh, ex-excuse me." Sansa said in a low voice, her head bowed, barely been able to see the skeleton beneath her own eyebrows.
"Hmmm?" asked the skeleton, lowering the book from infront of his face. None of the two girls was sure how, but it seemed that the skeleton was annoyed, despite there been no…flesh on his face to convey such emotions.
"Well… we were told to come here….and find-read! a book." The skeleton looked around before turning back to them.
"Well, you are in a library, so I would say you are at the right place."
"Please…sir. We need to find and…and cannot." She found herself pressing, yet her voice becoming lower with each word. Glowing blue eyes jumped between the two of them a few times before he said:
"You are new here, aren't you?" without waiting for an answer, he got up, sighing as he went.
He moved down the many shelves, beckoning them to follow. Occasionally, he would pull out a book and hand it over to Sansa or Myranda wordlessly, Sansa trying to keep track of all the titles.
Basic Human Anatomy
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – a guide to herbalism
Basics of Arcane
A guide into Frost magic
Enchanting and me
What is a soul?
He paused with a book in his hands before looking back at them, wondering for a moment before shrugging, if a skeleton could do that and handing them the book anyway.
A Captains' Strategic Handbook
"This should be enough for now." He stated, more to himself.
"I am sor…Thank you, sir, but we were told to read only Basics of Arcane." Sansa tried to reason. Some of the books were not that large, but they would still take time. Time, which they should focus on the one they were told.
"Told? By whom? No, no, let me guess. Feralda? That woman told you one book because she had read only one book in her entire life!" grumbled the skeleton.
"Honestly, that woman should go back to flashing her, I'll admit, generous bosom and recruiting people instead of…well…whatever it is she is doing now. Leave the teaching to the proper people for the job!"
Awkward silence descended upon the three, eventually Sansa finding her voice again.
"Where can we get paper and quills?" the skeleton again looked at them flatly.
"You really have nothing?" at their embarrassed nod, he moved to his desk before sitting down and starting to write.
Clothes – second level far east, old shop with purple drape.
Weapons – second level, west of the main road up, has a forge outside.
Writing materials – first level, north end of square
Food – first level, west side of square, large building.
Momentarily, the skeleton stroked his chin with the feather.
"Where are you staying?" for a moment they wondered if they should tell him. The house that they had "claimed" was far away from the rest, the girls feeling safer there.
"Outside the walls, west side of the island." They did answer eventually
"Hmm, you will need to speak with Horacio, then, in the store house on the first level, to arrange fire wood and candles to be delivered to you." At the surprised look of Sansa, he continued:
"What? There is no reason we can't be civil! You are alive and as such, require food and warmth." He stated matter-of-factly "Autumn will finish soon and the snow will follow not long after. Do you want to freeze to death, especially…" he cast a look down towards her midriff "with the uniforms our esteemed headmaster is so insistent on?" Sansa quickly moved her hands to her front, covering her crotch area, but then moved them to the side, remembered this was where her exposed skin was.
"Ah, a prude. Well, you would be a breath of fresh air. Most around here use their assets to skip this and that… Oh, well, if you are so insistent on taking the hard path." Sansa shivered and not from the cold. She truly felt like a piece of meat, examined and valued based on her body. The implication was also clear to her, what would be almost…expected of her.
The skeleton in turn shrugged, seeing how she remained unmoving. Scanning the paper one last time, he handed it to them.
"Thank you, mister." Said Myranda, blue eyes instantly turning to her. He stood, looking at the child for what felt like a minute before leaning back in his chair and picking up his book again.
"Run along now! I have important studying to do! And yes, you can take the books out of the library. These are just beginner ones anyway. We have hundreds of them, yet no one ever uses them."
Without waiting for a response, his lifted his book, covering up his face. Taking it as their signal to leave and remembering what he said about taking the books out of the library, they decided it would be better if they were outside, away from the dark, oppressive interior.
As they ascended the steps out of the library, the skeleton lowered his book, looking at their retreating form.
"Mister…" he scoffed and laughed at the same time to himself before turning back to his novel.
Dark clouds had obscured the sky outside when they emerged from the ruined fort, the two deciding they best stop first at the place for food. On the way there, a hope brewed that they would see Tiffania, yet there was almost no one inside. Three other students, all sitting alone at different tables and a skeleton behind a large table, standing infront of a set of open double doors.
The inside was pleasant, Sansa had to admit, even with the presence of the skeleton. Wondering just how they were exactly supposed to get food, they moved to the only place there was any – the table infront of the skeleton.
An array of cheeses, breads, sausages and a handful of vegetables were arrayed in different plates while empty plates and cups stood on the side of the table. As they got close, the skeleton began tracking their movement with sharp turns of its head, momentarily pausing the two girls in their step. Seeing no alternative, they picked up a plate each and all the while casting looks at the skeleton, began putting different foods in their plates. When Myranda took the last peace of bread from one of the plates did the skeleton sharply move, startling them both. It grabbed the now empty plate and entered the adjacent room through the open double doors, disappearing from sight. It returned a few moments later, the plate refilled with fresh pieces of bread. They eventually came to the end of the table where a jug and a kettle stood. Seeing them, Myranda left her filled plate by Sansa on the table and went to the opposite end, grabbing two cups.
With delight the two discovered that the kettle was filled with tea and quickly poured themselves a cup, the skeleton inspecting the kettle as soon as they both were finished, lifting it up and down as if to test how much tea remained.
The duo found themselves empty seats on the simple benches that dotted the hall, away from all three other occupants before sitting down to eat. Pulling their hoods back and lowering their masks, they shared a smile as the smell of the food and tea hit them. The cheese was divine, the bread crisp and fresh while even the smell of the tea already relaxed them.
They wasted no further time, viciously attacking the food before them. Her mother and septa would have been in shock had they seen her, but she did not care. Never before had she been without food for so long. At most, she had skipped one meal, this been her punished. But now, she was over a day without food and her hands were trembling, both in hunger and excitement. Myranda ate faster than Sansa, been done when the elder girl was only half way there. Mischief entered the girl's eyes as she gave a grin to Sansa before getting up and with her plate in hand, returned to the table with the skeleton. She returned not a moment later with a proud stride, two juicy sausages on her plate. She passed one to her companion before attacking hers.
Sansa smiled, more to herself than anything. Myranda ate just like Arya would have and while that usually made her furious beyond belief, now it brough a sense of familiarity that warmed her inside. They finished their meals in silence and for a few minutes after, they stood, slowly sipping the tea while holding the cups with both hands, enjoyed their warmth. Yet, reality reminded them that they had things to do. Things, with dire consequences should they fail. Getting up, they briefly wondered what to do with the empty plates before the skeleton came to them and picked everything up.
"Thank you." Sansa found herself saying in a mumble before she could stop itself. The skeleton did not appear to have heard her or made no indication of having done so.
Exiting the building, they put up their hoods again but did not bother with the masks, even as thunder pieces the air, the late morning sky as dark as night. As the sheet of paper stood at the top of the book pile in her hands, it reminded them of the storehouse. 'Firewood and candles.'
They approached the large building, ghouls constantly coming in and out, coming in empty, exiting with wood on their shoulders or baskets in their claws. The same disgust and fear welled up in Sansa again. She really did not like ghouls. Skeletons, she found surprisingly, could tolerate, but ghouls… She tried to steady herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, yet a massive jaw flashed before her closed eyes, making her jump. As her breath hitched, she felt Myranda's hand, tightening around her forearm, the girl looking at her with worry.
"I'm-I'm fine." Sansa tried to reassure her. Walking into the large building, they found a man screaming:
"No, no, not there! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU IMBICLE! YOU MAGGOT-RIDDEN MORRON, DON'T PUT THE FLOUR NEXT TO THE MEAT! MOVE IT, NOW!"
His angry eyes found them.
"And what do you want?" he growled at them. Swallowing hard, Sansa said:
"We were told to come here for w-wood and candles."
"Ugh." The man rolled his eyes before moving to the side of the entry room where a desk stood. Bending over it, he produced a quill and paper before turning to them expectingly.
"Well? Where are you staying?"
"Outside the walls, on the west side of the island. A small, one room house."
The man began to grumble as he wrote down. Something about wasting time and foolish newcomers.
"And it's only you two?"
"Yes." The man wrote something down before straightening up and turning back to the inside of the storehouse. After a moment, feeling their presence, he turned back to them, annoyance on his face.
"We are done. Go away now." He shooed them out.
Unsure what to think, yet happy at the ordeal having finished, they quickly left the fort and began trekking around the lake to their…home. Thunder echoed across the water from the dark sky, the lake appearing ominous in the weather. Reaching their home, they quickly entered inside. Straightening the toppled over table, they deposited the books on it before picking the one they needed and moving back out, to the table and chairs that were still there from last night.
Magic, sorcery, heresy… Sansa stood unmoving, looking at the rich blue colors and the golden yet faded trim of the book, the title Basics of Arcane looking back at her. She wondered just what was she doing. She should be back home, in Winterfel, with her family. She should not be guarded by skeletons on the shores of an island with a ruined fortress, underneath which stood a school of horrors. She should not be learning…magic.
'Live' echoed the word of the knight as his face momentarily flashed before her. She looked back towards the house where their gifts remained, her eyes saddening, fresh tears welling up. 'It is still morning.' She tried to joke 'It is too early to cry.'
'Live' the word came again her gaze shifted to Myranda who was looking at her with a serious expression. 'It is not only my life…' Wiping her tears with her sleeves, she took a deep breath and opened the book. She began reading aloud, sometimes struggling with words previously unheard of. The beginning of the book was introductory, more of an explanation of magic as opposed to any actual lessons on it.
Thuds were occasionally heard, dark spots appearing on the table. Pausing her reading, she looked up only for a raindrop to fall in her right eye. Shaking it off, they got up and swiftly moved back into the house. They left the door open, the air inside smelling stale and old as they sat at the table beneath the only window.
The rain outside only increased in strength, a slight drizzle turning into a downpour in a manner of minutes. Sansa had barely finished the first chapter when the sound of falling water completely filled the small house through the open door. It was not that warm to begin with, but with this heavy rain, a cold current began entering the small house. Unanimously, they took the decision to shut the door and bear the stale air.
Chapter two came and went as noon approached, the book diving into how to draw out magic from one self or the environment. The book recommended for first time drawing on magic to use a conduit. A weapon or item with magical properties to ease things along. Thinking back, Sansa indeed remembered that most if not all cultists had some weapon with them, be it staff, dagger or a short sword. Some even had short wooden sticks. 'Wands' she corrected herself, given what she had just read. Despite her thoughts, Sansa actually fond the contents…interesting.
Putting the book down, she looked up at Myranda whom was seated opposite her.
"Do you want to take a break?"
"Sure." She said. "It is getting cold…" the girl mumbled. They both looked towards the fireplace. Several old logs stood at the side, enough for maybe an hour, maybe two. They both got up and move to before the fireplace looking at it.
"Do you know how to…" Sansa asked, suddenly embarrassed. She was supposed to be the older one. She was supposed to be the one that knew things, the one that taught. But she was also a noble. She had never started a fire, never had the need to. She only knew how to toss a log when the fire dwindled.
"I have done it two or three times…" hesitantly answered her companion as she knelt and began to gingerly arrange the logs and what small sticks she could find. She used a small, old, rusted axe that was close by shave one of the logs, producing thin slices of wood. Arranging them at the base of the pile she briefly looked around before finding a rock and a metal piece. Taking a deep breath and concentrating, she began striking the two together and every now and then sparks would fly out, the red-head observing closely.
For a while nothing happened, yet suddenly, smoke began to rise, a thin whisp. Myranda quickly added even more of the thin slices on top before blowing on it, suddenly glowing red appearing at the base of the smoke. And in an eyeblink, a small flame erupted. It quickly spread to the other thin slices with Myranda quick to pile on it what thin sticks they had. Afterwards, she gently shoved it underneath the larger pieces of wood, deeper into the fireplace.
Sansa went to sit on the ground next to Myranda, but when her naked behind touched the cold stone, she quickly altered her position to a kneeling one. The two of them stood in silence observing as the fire grew in strength. Their gazes met at one point and they shared a smile, a proper, joy-filled smile as Sansa wrapped her hand around the little girl's shoulder.
"Do you want to start your letters?" the red-head suddenly asked.
"Mhm." Nodded Myranda into her shoulder.
Sansa removed her gloves and reached into the ash of the fireplace and pulled some out on the flat stones before them. Flattening it with her hand, using her finger she slowly wrote A.
"This is A, the first letter of the alphabet…"
Thank you for reading.