The Elders' Blessing

The air was still within the chamber in the heart of Stonehold Castle. The walls were bare stone, unadorned but for a few sparse lamps. These lights cast a dull gloom, deepening the shadows in the dark corners and on the faces of those assembled. The only furniture here was a broad, round table surrounded by simple wooden chairs; and one larger seat, ornately carved and decorated with bone and furs. That seat was one of the few left empty.

It was known as the War Room, and it was where the Iron Tribe's council of elders would meet to discuss important matters, sensitive information, and, as the name suggested, mobilising troops in times of strife.

The gathered elders represented the wisest and most respected members of the Tribe, not to mention several of the greatest martial leaders in the whole Wolf Clan. However, even among this illustrious group of warriors none stood out more than the woman seated to the right of the Chieftain's throne.

Her fur was pure white and her icy cerulean eyes scanned the faces around her languidly. She wore a silver breastplate, embossed with the sign of the Druidic Moon, beneath a flowing robe of translucent white silk. Intricate patterns were picked out across the garment in silver thread. Atop her brow sat a headdress of silver, sapphire and moonstone beads, and long streamers of silk; through which her hair twined before falling down her back in a long braid that coiled into her lap. Within the sash cinched at her waist she carried a pair of ceremonial battle axes with smooth bone handles and silver, crescent shaped blades.

Snowstrider Greymane had been a Moon Tribe priestess in her youth and still carried herself with the same faith and dedication after marrying into the Iron Tribe. Now, as the late Chieftain's widow, she held the highest position within the Tribe until a new leader succeeded the throne.

The silence was broken as the door opened, letting in a brief burst of light and sound from the hallway outside. Thane and River slipped inside the War Room, the door thudding shut heavily behind them.

Thane approached an empty seat opposite Snowstrider and inclined his head slightly. "Mother."

"Thane." Snowstrider's voice was low, melodic, but with a steely edge, "Are you certain you're strong enough to be out of bed? After the events of the last few days I wouldn't blame you for taking more time to rest."

"Thank you for your concern, but no, I'm fine." Thane sat, River taking up a position behind him.

Snowstrider seemed to relax but didn't let her relief show. Her gaze shifted to the huntress, "Thank you again for keeping my son safe, River."

River bowed, "Of course, Den Mother. It's an honour to serve you."

One of the elders, Erryn Frostwing, spoke up, "Now that you're here, may we begin?" She looked to Snowstrider who gave a small nod. "Everything we feared has been confirmed. Now what do we do about it?"

Iorek Redfang slammed a fist on the table, "What is there to discuss? The King has ordered a direct attack against our clan! How long before he sends his hounds to burn our cities and slaughter our people? I say we ride for the capital, smash down the gates of his palace, and hang him from his damned tower!"

Snowstrider held up a hand, "Enough, Iorek. We can't lead our entire army against the capital. At best it would come to a prolonged siege that we're not prepared to sustain."

"We should call for a meeting of the tribes." Suggested Hestus Flynt, "The King's Guard could never stand against the entire Clan."

Thane leaned back in his chair, "If you're prepared to send out messages to every tribe, wait for all the chieftains to arrive at the Moon Glade, go through the usual pointless arguments before any kind of decision can be made..."

"He's right," Erryn sighed, "There isn't time for that. Need I remind you all that this isn't a simple matter of the King turning on the Wolf Clan? Scouts have reported entire flocks of Banes rising across the kingdom. Their numbers will only increase by the day. The Rot has returned to Armello. The Rot has taken the King, and it must be stopped. At all costs."

Snowstrider steepled her fingers, leaning forward on the table, "Erryn is correct. If this corruption is not dealt with quickly it will spread like a disease."

"What do you suggest, Den Mother?" asked Hestus.

Snowstrider took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Finally she opened her eyes, looking around the table, "A small group of warriors would be able to move faster and attract less attention than an army. That may be our best course of action. We will not remain idle here either; in the meantime we will call for a Clansmoot at the Moon Glade and raise an army to assist in any way we can."

Lyra Hardridge, who had remained silent until now, spoke up, "Who would you send? We could have five or six knights saddled up within the hour, awaiting your orders."

Snowstrider shook her head, "Thane, River. It should be you."

Iorek looked between Snowstrider and Thane then back again, "The boy? You already entrusted him with one simple task and he crawled back half dead-twice! Send someone else."

Lyra frowned, crossing her arms, "As much as I hate to say it, Iorek speaks true. My apologies, Lord Thane, but further endangering you can only hurt our tribe."

Thane growled. He pushed himself to his feet, pressing his hands against the table, "I am Thane Greymane, the Winter Wolf, and I will be Chieftain of this tribe." He looked at each elder in turn, "If you question my strength, know that so long as I have my sword in hand I will fight to secure that future for myself. If you question my resolve, know that my will is iron-forged and I will fight to the end for my clan." He returned his gaze to Snowstrider, "Den Mother, command me and I will follow your orders without hesitation or error."

"And what say the rest of you?" Snowstrider asked.

"I have faith in your judgement, wherever it may lie." Said Hestus.

"I agree." Erryn nodded, "I don't doubt the young lord, and with River by his side I'm sure he can't find himself in too much trouble."

"Very well. If Iorek and Lyra stand by their decision then the last word falls to me." Snowstrider stood, her hair and robes cascading around her, "Winter Wolf, Howling Arrow, I command you both. Travel to the royal city, take King Ariel's head and cleanse this corruption from Armello. Take heed that we can provide no assistance. Our enemies must be made to believe that you are working without the Clan's knowledge or approval."

Thane held one fist to his breast, and he and River both bowed. "I'll leave at once."

Snowstrider nodded, "Then you have the elders' blessing. Moon shine upon you both. Pack strong."

The cavern was carved deep into the earth between the roots of the Wyld Tree. The gently curving walls and ceiling were supported by thick beams of hardwood, old and hard as iron, and carved with ancient runes in flowing patterns. The floor was covered with flagstones and highly polished. At regular intervals along the walls stood roughly hewn stones, each about three feet high but no two exactly alike. These stones were spiralled with thin grooves through which traced lines of blue light. Near the top of each stone was a hole, about a foot wide, where the light culminated into fuzzy spheres of cold blue flame. The light cast from these lamps lit the chamber almost as bright as day, though with a soft blue tinge.

This was the great council chamber of the elder bears; the second most revered room in all of the Great Forest, behind the high temple in the branches above. The assembled elders sat at the end of the long cavern behind a simple crescent shaped oaken table. Each was perched on a wide chair of knotted, living wood from which leaves and flowers sprouted. Behind the elders, the back wall of the chamber was formed by one of the Wyld Tree's enormous roots; the bark stripped away and the pale wood beneath etched from floor to ceiling with a huge image of of the Tree itself. Power radiated from the carving, unseen but easily felt by all present. The Wyldfyre staff that Sana had recovered from Castle Belaerian had been enshrined here, hung from the back wall just behind and above where the elders sat.

Sana's feet padded softly across the floor as she entered the chamber. She approached the table until she stood within the spot encompassed by its curved sides and knelt, inclining her head solemnly. "Elders, you summoned me?"

"Be at ease, Sister." Came the husky, rumbling voice of Elarius, Brother Superior of the Bear Clan.

Sana looked up, meeting his gaze. Elarius was a big, old bear, his fur grey and shaggy. His thick, unkempt mane almost covered his eyes, which were once the colour of an overcast sky and now just as cloudy. He was dressed in robes of green and white; although they were the raiment of his high station they were made to be comfortable and practical, and far less ostentatious than many might have guessed. Around his neck was a simple length of leather string on which was hung blocks of bone and amber, and atop his brow was a crown of deep green leaves. A staff leaned against the back of his chair. It looked older than he was, and ended in a knot of roots that wrapped around a large jade sphere.

The elders all wore the same grim expressions. There were four of them in all: to Elarius' right sat Sister Elssen Yewbark, Speaker for the Wyldsingers, and Brother Moldren Starseeker, Speaker for the Seers. At the other end of the table was Sister Grelda Ebonhew, Speaker for the Faithful. Between Elarius and Grelda was an empty space where a fifth chair had been removed, hacked away at the roots that fed it.

Elssen looked concerned, "Sana dear, are you fully recovered?"

Sana flexed the fingers of her left hand. No sign remained of the Rot that had infected her. "Yes, thank you Sister. The healers' magic works well."

"Then we must discuss what is to be done concerning these recent events." Moldren stated.

"Yes." Elarius agreed, "If all you've told us true then even we can not remain stoic in this matter. Action must be taken to preserve Armello and its people."

"But what can we do?" Grelda asked, "We have no army, we do not fight for power as the other clans do."

"And yet we can't allow the other clans to deal with this themselves." Elssen muttered, "They will fight against each other for a chance to strike at the true threat. They would tear the kingdom apart with their war."

"True, we have no army," Elarius said, "But we have our faith in the Wyld. Against the enemy we now face there can be no more powerful weapon. Sana?"

Sana nodded, "The Wyld has manifested in our world once more. The Spirit Stones have returned, I have seen it."

"And from your account it seems that the King fears them." Moldren mused, "Perhaps more than anything else."

"We know of the Stones' cleansing properties." Elssen said, "Pure Wyld power, condensed into physical form. They've been used to fight the Rot before. Perhaps enough Stones brought together could purge the King's corruption...if not destroy him."

"And we have here a priestess who could wield that power, if anyone can." Elarius said.

Moldren nodded sagely, "Sana, as it was foretold, you must be the one to return balance to the Wyld. The time is at hand."

Sana bowed her head, "I will go. If this task must fall to me then I shall not falter."

"It will be dangerous." Grelda turned to her fellow elders, "Is it wise to send Sister Sana to this fate alone?"

Elssen shrugged, "You said yourself: there are no warriors here. What choice is there?"

Elarius sighed deeply, pausing before he spoke. "Go into the forest. Seek the Outcast."

Moldren sputtered, "Oakbreaker? Are you serious, Elarius?"

"He is the only fighter we have..." Elssen spoke hesitantly, "Even if he is an exile."

"Preposterous!"

"Peace, Moldren." Grelda crossed her arms, frowning. "Brun Oakbreaker has made it quite clear that he wants nothing more to do with the Clan, and we feel the same. I don't much like it either, but he should at least suffice as a bodyguard until this matter is settled."

"He will help me?" Sana asked, "He will help the Clan?"

"You must persuade him." Elssen replied, "I doubt it will be easy."

"You two are our only hope for survival, Sana." Elarius said.

Sana rose, "Then I shall make preparations to leave."

Elarius nodded. "Then go, Forest Sister, with the elders' blessing. Seek out the Wyld's favour, end this corruption before it spreads and bring peace to our kingdom. We wish you good fortune. Strength in spirit."

Thane crested the ridge of the hill and looked down on the valley below. On the horizon he could just make out the hazy spires of the royal city. He pulled a map out from a wooden tube tied to his pack and unfurled it. He turned to glance at River as she came up the rise beside him.

"You have a plan?"

"Of course," Thane held the map out towards her, "Take a look." He traced a straight line across the map from Stonehold to the capital.

River rolled her eyes. "I see why Snowstrider hired a guide for you the first time." She pulled the map away from Thane, ignoring his protests. "Now, let's see..." She tapped the map thoughtfully, then plotted a line that meandered through the kingdom, passing through several small towns and forests while avoiding mountains and swamps.

"It'll take a while..."

"But it'll get us there alive." River handed the map back to Thane with a sweet smile. "And keeping you alive is my job, after all." She patted him on the shoulder and bounded down the hillside.

Thane shook his head with a wry smile and sprinted after her.