The Adventures of Iron Wolves: Book 1 - Alpha

Anima stepped nervously into the hall of King Akira with her ‘guards’ behind her for support. King Akira looked down his long nose at her, his eyes piercing through as if they were x-rays.

“Princess Anima of Lunarias,” he said with a tone that mocked her nobility. “Your request to form an alliance with Naekuro has been noticed. A wise decision for someone as young as yourself.” Anima winced internally. Akira made ‘wise’ sound like he had a lemon in his mouth.

“I learnt what I could from my Father while he was still alive,” Anima replied forcing an amused smile on her face. “However, I greatly feel that an alliance with those near to Lunarias will give me more ground to learn from.”

It was only then that she curtsied to him, her hand sweeping out to Foxwing. “I hope you can accept this humble gift from my kingdom to yours.” And I hope they come alive and bite you, old man! She thought angrily. Akira looked at one of his guards and twitched his head towards Foxwing. The guard took the pouch and handed it to Akira.

“Wyvern teeth!” he exclaimed in mock surprise. “Not only are you wise but clever also. Such a great gift shows Lunarias’ power! I have something to give you also that may show you our power.” Again, Akira made ‘power’ sound insulting. This time, it sounded like he said ‘rubbish’ instead.

As if on cue, the guards led Stykes and Chiae out towards Anima and her group. It was Anima’s turn to give a sign of mock surprise, which was more a slap in the face to King Akira. His shocked face made a satisfied smile creep over her face briefly.

“An elven sword mage and a healer,” She looked at Akira with wide eyes. “But this is too great a gift for just an alliance.”

“As you have rightly put it,” His eyes watched Rue unbind Stykes. Then watching confused at the red bindings on Chiae as they seeped into Stykes’ skin when he touched them. “What I want is to form a more secure alliance. I propose a marriage to bind our countries together.”

Anima was ready for this and placed her right hand over her chest, displaying the silver ring prominently. “I’m flattered but I also must decline. My husband would be greatly upset if he knew such an offer was made.” King Akira’s eyes narrowed at her.

“And your husband is much more powerful than I?” Akira asked, insulted that she refused him. “He cannot be more powerful than a man who commands legions of men.”

“But he can,” She waited, baiting his anticipation. “He is the King of the Elves and commands greater powers over men and animals.” She watched him sit up straight and stare at her. She knew the last was a lie but easy to make believable. Stykes moved to wrap his arms around Anima’s waist. His right hand over his left on her stomach, his ring shining as brightly as his eyes. “I believe you’ve already met my husband.”

Akira’s eyes appeared to pop out of his head with the news that his captured elven sword mage was the King of all Elves.

“You tricked me.” He said pointing an accusing finger at Anima. “You knew what he was and let me believe he was merely a sword mage.”

“I never said he wasn’t what he is,” Anima replied levelly. Her eyes capturing the shocked faces of the nobles in the room. “Stykes is an Elven Sword Mage but he is also the King of all Elves. You didn’t ask me if I knew more than you about him.”

“Lock them up!” Akira cried, his face red with anger. “See to it that they don’t see the light of day again!”

Anima snapped her fingers and a white dome surrounded her group. Stykes turned to see Chiae’s hands outstretched, her entire body glowing a moonshine colour.

Akira grew angrier at the thought that the healer he gave Anima was more than just a normal healer. “Kill them all!”

“What do we do now?” Rue asked letting his wings unfurl to full length. “We can fight or…” Stykes let his wings stretch outwards as well and smiled sending chills down Rue’s spine. “We fight.” Stykes nodded and placed a hand on his Katana.

Hawkeye and Dusk set their hands on their daggers, waiting for their orders. Anima placed a hand on Stykes’ shoulder and pulled him down so she could whisper in his ear. He nodded and motioned for Rue to fly upwards with him.

Anima watched the two go before she spoke. “Stykes and Rue are going to attack from above. Hawkeye and Dusk, I need you to stay here until there is half their number before you go out there. Chiae, keep the barrier up but also…” Anima looked into Chiae’s eyes before continuing. “Double task and be secondary healer as well. Aruna, be on guard as primary healer. Miyako and Foxwing, I need you to shoot any guards that attempt to break down the barrier. Use Wyvern Arrows only if you absolutely have to.”

“Sakura Arrows?” Foxwing asked quickly, dividing her quiver’s contents into the various arrow types she had.

“Sakura, Steel or Hinore Arrows,” Anima replied taking her rapier from Hawkeye and clipping it to her waist.

A war cry from Stykes sounded in the distance and Anima watched the two descend picking off guards before flying up again out of reach.

She drew her rapier and flicked it making a sharp whoosh sound, drawing a chiding look from Aruna. “I won’t fight unless the barrier falls. Better to be prepared for the worst, yes?”

“I hope that doesn’t mean you expect the barrier to fall,” Chiae yelled over the roars of anger from Akira’s guardsmen. “I may be out of practice but I’m not out of power. My power is as fresh as the day you caught me.”

“Good,” Anima said watching the nobles fleeing the room. But for every noble leaving, three guards entered. “Because it’s going to be a very long battle.”

Chiae followed Anima’s line of sight and gasped. “As long as you stay firm in your power, you should be able to maintain the barrier against them easily.” Sounds of bowstrings snapping announced Foxwing and Miyako killing those around her.

Chiae sidled towards Anima and whispered quietly. “What about your own power?” Anima shook her head and looked at Chiae with fear in her eyes. “You still can’t control it?”

“It’s technically not my power,” Anima replied quietly trying to avoid being heard by any elven ears. “It’s Rosiel’s and unless she possesses me, I can’t use it.” Chiae sighed and focused hard on the barrier.

That can easily be arranged, Rosiel’s voice sounded in her head. Anima jumped, startled to hear Rosiel speak. As I said before, I have been waiting for the day when a member of the Royal Family joined with your family. I’m not going to let you or Stykes die because of this King’s arrogance.

Anima sheathed her rapier and closed her eyes. The ground outside the barrier began to shake, slowly at first, until the tiles on the floor uprooted themselves and danced sending a rattling sound throughout the hall.

Stykes and Rue moved to hover over the barrier, both confused and uncertain at the sudden miniature earthquake. They watched the guardsmen heavily falling onto the ground their armour adding to the sound in the room.

Stykes released the air in his wings and fell down into the barrier, landing in a crouch beside Anima.

“What are you doing?” he whispered to her a little shocked that he could not sense any emotion coming from her. Anima’s eyes opened, revealing green irises, and looked deeply into his. “Rosiel… Did she…?”

“Anima said to Chiae that she couldn’t use the power that belongs to me,” Rosiel said just as quietly. “So I am using it through her. I will keep them on the ground. Just stop them moving so we can all leave.” Stykes sighed and took flight again towards Hawkeye and Dusk to whisper his orders to them before flying upwards to Rue.

Rosiel flicked her fingers outwards casting red stars through the barrier to land on the ground like jacks. They exploded into glass shards when unsuspecting guards stood on them. The shards flew forcefully to embed deep into whomever they could find. Foxwing and Miyako moved closer to Rosiel, firing their arrows at the guardsmen still standing.

“Mani tre nir, Paes an esi Riiaes. Mani nu dia nir ai rise ert an comas. Numor tuure esi gruth an esi Earth, rease shikin lysisane puryao.” [“Come to me, Children of the Light. Come and aid me in this time of need. Born from the bowels of the Earth, bring your purifying fire.“] Rosiel called, her voice drifting over the noise in the room. “Paes an esi Riiaes!” Silence fell over the room as if a giant hand crushed everything that made noise underneath it.

“Ris mani, Rosiel.” [“We come, Rosiel.“] A great voice replied from outside the palace. “Ris mani.”

Large shadows darkened light in the palace. Stykes watched in interest and fear at the scaled beings that flew in through the windows. Their great wings more than five times the size of his own.

One with a small green stone around his neck, appearing to shrink, landed next to Anima in a human form and bowing with more grace than the most noblest born lady could muster. “Ris wain shikin morkeren, Rosiel ei Duania.” [“We await your command, Rosiel ei Duania.“]

“Tai u tou an eren, Mordred.” [“Get us out of here, Mordred.“] Rosiel said softly, her eyes slowly turning back to blue. “Tan u rane tuure eren tre Virago City.” [“Take us far from here to Virago City.“]

With flecks of green still visible in Anima’s eyes, she said quietly in the most common dialect, Human. “I leave you in Anima’s hands.”

Anima sat down hard feeling faint from the prolonged possession of her body by Rosiel. She looked up at Mordred and took the hand he had offered to her. He pulled her up and close to his body, spiking jealousy in Stykes.

Mordred threw her into the air and transformed into his true self. He circled around and caught her where his wings joined his body. He growled and swooped at the guardsmen around the barrier.

Anima screamed, holding onto his wings for support. Her fear giving Stykes a cause to take her from the creature’s back. Mordred flew upwards to Stykes and Anima, hovering in a position mimicked sitting upright.

“Your orders Anima?” he asked her curling his tail around his lower legs. “We’re all here.”

“I want to get everyone out and to Virago City as quickly as possible,” Anima said gripping Stykes’ jacket tighter. “Try to not make too many casualties. The last thing I need is King Akira starting a war or Prince Oslo using this to start some sort of weird rumor.”

Mordred bowed his head, arching his long graceful neck. “As you wish.”

He spiraled down landing on the barrier, breaking it completely. He roared calling his brethren to him. His tail flicked, sending guardsmen into the air away from Foxwing and Miyako.

“Climb onto my back.” He said to them. “We’re going to leave here.”

Hawkeye, Dusk, Aruna, and Foxwing leapt up his tail and onto his back. Mordred hovered off the ground before taking Miyako in his fore claws. He flew, spiraling upwards, until he reached the windows he had first entered through.

Stykes, with Anima still in his arms, and Rue followed after him leaving Akira’s guardsmen to deal with the summoned creatures.