W: Wolves

Gil rose early from bed one morning and looked out his window. The sun was just beginning to rise, painting the frosty hills of his country in the soft pinks and blues of dawn.

Today was an important day; he had to have a very serious talk with his younger brother. Ludwig was growing up, he was twelve now. Gil needed to teach him about the world, for Ludwig was the one that would inherit Gil's lands and power.

He dressed and walked down the halls of his manor until he got to Ludwig's room. The rustling about made him smile. Even at twelve Ludwig was a very responsible boy, he woke up early knowing that was what Gil wanted of him.

So Gil leaned on the wall and waited for his little brother to emerge. When he did Gil smiled and bid him good morning in a hushed tone.

Ludwig smiled just a bit and the two brothers walked down the hall and down the stairs into the kitchens.

The servants there were already hard at work; Gil smiled at them and swiped a loaf of bread for him and Ludwig to eat as they walked.

They were quiet, and the only sounds were the crunching of their boots on the frost covered grass and the munching of the bread.

Gil walked quietly and took Ludwig up to a big hill that had one lone tree. The hill over looked a valley, in which most the people in the area had homes in. The sun had already started to melt the frost away from the grass. Gil grinned and helped Ludwig into a low branch on the tree, before jumping up himself and leaning against the trunk.

Ludwig looked wide eyed at his brother with expectant eyes. Gil smiled a bit and started to talk.

"There are wolves that prowl this land. Big, strong wolves. They are dangerous, even more dangerous than enemy forces. For these wolves are in our lands. These wolves…fight with their clever tongues and their vast amount of money. We cannot go out and hunt these wolves either. For these beasts are in the hearts of men. Ludwig when I leave for wars, I have to always worry about the nobles here. They are the wolves. They stalk and they prowl, and they howl and whine until they get what they want. Sometimes, weak men will give into the wolves. And that Ludwig, makes the wolves stronger. For every time they win a battle, their confidence swells. These wolves, I have defended you from. But you are getting older, and I cannot keep them at bay forever. You are the one that is to get these lands when I see fit to give this position up. You will be the one to take this land if die. These fat wolves with their silver tongues will not want to give you your land. They are greedy, selfish. They do not know the value of hard work, for since their birth, they have had everything done for them. You," Gil pointed right at Ludwig "Must learn how to fight these wolves. Swords and torches will do nothing. This is a finer fight, a fight of wits and clever words. It is important you learn how to fight them. Or else, you will find, they steal all that is yours right out from under you."

Ludwig listened to this all very carefully. He took it seriously, and that is why Gil knew his younger brother was the perfect heir. He cared about the land and the people as much as Gilbert did. He would take care of them. Gil saw it in his eyes.

Gil smiled a bit and went on "But these old nobles from old money are not the only wolves that stalk this land. We would be fortunate if that was true. There are lean, gaunt wolves. Starved of glory and money, and they are bitter because of it. These shaggy beasts are loners. They try to be your friend, then, they steal all you have and run. They have cold hearts, and an all too clever mind. You are a young boy, but that will not matter to them. You are a powerful young boy, and that gives them reason to thieve from you like the rest."

Gil used wolves to explain the bad men that walked the earth because Ludwig had always had a healthy fear of the predators of the night. That, and wolves were not kindly looked upon, for legends of werewolves and the slaughter of livestock.

Gil surely did not look upon these criminals that stalked his streets kindly. Or the should be criminals that held up in his very home.

Ludwig nodded at the end of Gil's speech and said "I will not let these bad men take my home away from me."

And he did not.

When Gil went to fight in war or go be an ambassador, Ludwig now was bombarded by nobles and con artists alike. Both wanted to be his friend, so he could drag them to the top.

But Ludwig knew to not trust these wolves. No matter how sweet or kind they appeared. He baffled the nobles, who thought Ludwig could be easily won.
They tried to bribe him but soon found out Ludwig was an iron fisted nationalist that could not be swayed with pretty words and copious amounts of wealth.

The con men gave up faster than the idiot nobles, for Gil had been right. These fat old men had won many battles, and they would not lose to a boy. A boy that surely could be won, and would take them to the top.

They tried to charm him with their clever words but Ludwig was a fast learner, and he learned the fine art of politics and could hold his own with even the eldest of the nobles.

Gil was proud of his younger brother. Ludwig had learned to fight the wolves with their very own weapons.

Gil knew his lesson would stick with Ludwig, and he was glad it did for time would surely give Ludwig bigger wolves to fight.

And he hoped Ludwig would always win.

I could have written more and added Hitler being a wolf Ludwig lost to but eventually beat but...bah.

Well that's W, thanks for reading

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