The Source (Creasan #1)

Creasan was a cold place to live, just in general. Thea had often heard legends of a place outside of the realm where the sun shone nearly every day and the people barely wore clothes at all, else they’d drop from heat exhaustion. She’d heard these legends but they were just that—legends. So Thea, like every other Creasian, had become accustomed to the cold.

But she had never experienced cold like this.

The further they trekked from Gentis, the lower the temperature sank. As the days went by, more and more snow fell. By the next week, it covered nearly every available surface, their breaths fogged in front of them, and the frozen wind bit at their faces. Thea clutched the strap of her crossbow as she pushed herself to keep going. They should have packed heavier clothes. She had thought about it but they had ultimately ruled that the weight of furs would be too much. Aestus, she wished they had jackets about now.

Thea glanced over her shoulder at the prince, whom had somehow worked his way to the middle of the group. Him and Merek were chuckling amiably at something Thea hadn’t heard and Isolde rolled her eyes in amusement. Thea ignored the sting that always came with being left out and turned forward again.

Merek asked, “So are people constructed differently in the palace, or are you two just trying to annoy us?”

Brom and Fendrel exchanged a look. “What do you mean?” Fendrel said.

Peronell pointed a finger at the prince. “You’re hardly even shivering! And you’re dressed the same as when we found you. Minus Brom’s armor.”

Fendrel laughed and Brom grinned. Fendrel explained, “Fur insulation on every piece of clothing.”

Merek stopped dead in his tracks. “You’re saying you’ve essentially been wearing a coat this whole time? While we’ve been freezing our arses off?”

Fendrel slapped Merek good-naturedly on the back and kept walking. “I’m afraid so, mate.”

A laugh in his voice, Brom offered, “You can have my shirt if this weather is too much for you.”

Brom towered over Merek, who was used to being the largest of the group. Merek straightened his shoulders and turned his chin up, not even coming close to reaching Brom’s height and almost hiding the fact that his teeth were chattering. “I don’t need that,” he said. “I just meant for the lady here.”

He gestured to Isolde who was already passing them. “I’m good, thanks.”

Brom cocked a brow. “You’re sure you don’t want it?”

“Of course,” he grunted, though his eyes said differently.

Brom shrugged and started walking again.

Carac came up beside Merek and said, “I can practically hear the clack of your bones shaking. You should’ve taken the shirt.”

“Yeah, already regretting it, thanks, mate.” Merek glowered, crossing his arms tightly over his chest and plunging ahead.

Though Carac couldn’t see it, he knew him and Peronell were sharing a grin.

“All right, fine,” Thea said with exasperation, coming to a halt. “But I’m only giving us an hour. Then we have to be back on the trail.”

Isolde frowned. “An hour? For what?”

“For furs.” Thea clenched her jaw to stop herself from shaking as badly as the rest of her friends. She blinked a snowflake out of her eye and said, “We move in pairs. Carac, Perry, take Brom with you. While you’re impressive, Carac, two sets of eyes are for the best. Meet back here in an hour. If you find a fur, congratulations. If not, we’ll just have to keep going. And if your target seems too dangerous, for the love of Aestus, don’t even attempt it.”

Isolde said, “It was one time!”

“Once too many.” She smiled at her friend. “All right? Let’s go.”

Carac, Peronell, and Brom headed south; Merek and Isolde went west. Fendrel stared up at Thea expectantly. “No talking,” she said. “I don’t want your annoying voice scaring off the animals.”

“I think yours just sent a wolf fleeing for dear life.” He gave her a fake smile.

She returned it and headed east.

Isolde kept her eyes peeled for any sign of an animal. Though her insides felt like a block of ice, she kept her movements slow and steady. She had to catch something, else they’d all get hypothermia.

Merek followed her lead, though he wasn’t as quiet as her. His hands trembled something fierce and no matter how far away Isolde stood, she could still hear his teeth crashing into each other.

She gazed at him with sympathy. “Maybe you ought to hang back,” she offered. “Be on the lookout in case an animal comes from that direction.” She pointed behind him.

“And leave you alone? I don’t think so.”

Isolde looked at him with amusement. “I don’t need your protection, Merek.”

“I know that, but there’s safety in numbers.”

She shrugged and turned forward. “Should’ve taken Brom’s shirt when you had the chance.”

“I’ll manage.”

They trekked further, footsteps light and blades at the ready. Then Isolde put her hand up, signaling to stop. Merek hadn’t heard it, but she had. Just the barest crunch of a twig. Her eyes tracked the ground in front of her. Nothing but soil and moss. But then—

Isolde pointed just ahead and Merek saw it too.

A wolf. With a full, healthy coat of white fur on its back. It stood over the body of a dead rodent, eating ravenously.

Isolde mouthed the word, “Watch,” to Merek, gesturing to the area around them. Where one fed, more were to surely follow.

She slowly made her approach. Her steps were very careful, nearly silent. She was short enough that all the branches moved noiselessly above her head. Her gaze was locked on the creature as it feasted, its head bowed and snout covered in blood.

When she was close enough, Isolde raised her sword.

The wolf’s ear twitched and then it spun around, baring its teeth and snarling.

A zing of fear shot through Isolde a second before she plunged her blade into its eye.

The wolf collapses instantly, writhed a bit, and then went still. Isolde stared, breathing hard, and waited to be sure it was dead.

Merek burst out of the trees behind her, whooping. “Praise Aestus, we’ve got ourselves a coat!”

“Shh!” Isolde heard more twigs crunching around them and brandished her weapon.

His eyes widened as he realized. “Shit.”

Slowly, bright shining eyes broke through the tree line. Isolde hurried to count them: One, two, three, four, five…

“There’s eight of them,” Merek whispered as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her, holding up his own weapon.

“That’s too many,” she answered. Despite the intense cold, sweat began to bead her brow.

The wolves all had their heads low, haunches up, and teeth bared. A low rumble started up as they growled. Saliva dripped from their mouths.

All became very still. Neither the humans nor the wolves made a move.

Then one of the wolves stepped out of line with the rest, stalking ahead of the pack. It snapped at them as it pawed the earth impatiently. The alpha.

Isolde jerked her head in its direction. “That one first.”

Merek nodded. Then he lunged.

The wolf sprang forward the exact same moment, and they collided mid-air. The animal knocked Merek to the ground and leered down at him, its saliva dripping down his face.

Merek slammed his forehead into the wolf’s snout with a war cry, and the wolf whimpered and fell off. With another shout from Merek, he sank his sword into the wolf’s belly. Blood poured out of the beast. Merek stabbed once more and the wolf died. He panted, but a relieved smile spread across his face. “Two coats.”

Isolde stared expectantly at the rest of the pack. She wasn’t an animal expert by any means, but she’d handled moments like this before. Take out the alpha, and the rest scampered away.

Except these wolves didn’t move.

“Oh, Aestus,” Isolde breathed, clutching the hilt of her sword tighter.

“What?” Merek asked. “What is it?”

A loud step landed behind Isolde. The blade trembled in her grip as she slowly turned around. She had to crane her neck to meet the eyes of the wolf that towered over her, at about Merek’s height. Its breaths seared her cheeks and she squeezed her eyes shut as it sniffed her. She struggled to whisper, “Not the alpha.”

Merek couldn’t hear her. “What?”

The wolf opened its mouth and bellowed so loudly that it whipped Isolde’s hair back. She cringed hard and screamed, “Not the alpha!”

The wolf pounced forward at Isolde, its mouth gaping open and large enough to engulf her entire head. Before she could even process what was happening, Merek was there. The wolf’s mouth closed on the blade instead of her. Merek’s biceps bulged and his arms shook with the effort it took to ward off the enormous creature.

Isolde turned around as the rest of the wolves advanced. “We can’t fight them all.”

“I know,” Merek grunted. His foot started to slide behind him in the dirt as the wolf pushed harder. “Go!”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Thea and your fiancé would never forgive me. Run!”

“No!” It was funny how her resolve strengthened instantly. She twirled her bloodied sword in her hand and faced the wolves head on.

“There’s no need—“

“Shut up, Merek!”

A wolf launched itself at her and she swung her blade with all her might. The wolf’s head flew into the trees and its body dropped in front of her. She didn’t even have a moment to catch her breath before there was another wolf in its place. And then there were two. Then three.

Where they’d had none before, Isolde felt as if she were drowning in fur.

As instructed, neither Fendrel nor Thea said a word to each other. They simply walked side by side into the trees, their thoughts their own. There hadn’t been a sign of any animal and Thea started to feel her heart sink. As much as she’d made it sound like it had been for them, she had wanted those furs just as badly. Their hour was already halfway gone and she was no closer to finding a single damn one.

“Who was Lief?”

Thea’s eyes flew wide and spun to stare at Fendrel. He gazed back at her calmly—of course—with his eyes studying her every facial muscle. She would not give him the satisfaction. “What happened to not talking?”

“I don’t see why it has to be a big secret. He was either your lover or your brother. So which was he?”

Thea chuckled humorlessly and continued walking. “What do you care, Highness? When this trip is all over, you’ll return to your palace and your ignorant life, thanking Aestus you found someone willing to do the work you were too frightened to do.”

Thea’s arm was snagged suddenly and she gasped in stunned surprise to see Fendrel had dared to stop her. “Let me ask you this question then,” he said. “If your Lief—brother or lover—was a terrible person, if you knew his presence was harming others, but you also saw your Lief, the man you’d known your entire life, would you be able to drive a blade through his heart?”

She stared at him, into those eyes which had lost some of their tranquility. She didn’t answer him, though the answer was obvious.

“Because if you could,” he continued, “then you are more heartless than even my brother thinks.”

She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “I do not care what your brother thinks of me.”

“I have a theory,” Fendrel said, beginning to walk again, this time taking the lead. “I think my brother killed yours and you place his blame on my shoulders. But somewhere in that incomprehensible head of yours, you know I am not my brother.”

“All royals are the same,” she said. She clenched her fists tightly as she stared at the back of the prince’s head.

“Yet another thing you don’t believe. And do you know how I know this?” He spun back around and Thea screeched to a halt before she slammed into his chest. “Because you are one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.”

“So my large mind should be able to understand your goodness?” She rolled her eyes.

“You’ve thought the whole thing through.” His blue eyes shone brightly. “My brother is either deposed or…killed, depending on Aestus, and who is next in line?”

“His son.”

“Except Althalos is too young to rule. There will be a regent. Queen Ana does not have the skill to deal with politics, which leaves me. If we follow through with your plan, you would have me on the throne.”

Thea feigned indifference, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it?”

“Which is why you want to break me,” he continued, but more haltingly, as if this bit had just occurred to him. “That’s why you keep insisting on knowing who I ‘really’ am.” He used air quotes on the word. “An enemy you know is an enemy that can be controlled.” He gazed at her with the hint of a smile on his lips and his eyes wide, like he’d cracked a code he’d been trying to decipher for years.

“Right, well, it’s an interesting theory in any case. Now could we go back to what we’re meant to be after out here?” She brushed passed him, but he took hold of her again, this time gripping her hand in his. Thea was so shocked that she actually paused and locked her eyes with his.

“I am truly sorry you lost Lief,” he said, and the sincerity in his gaze nearly broke Thea. Despite the chill, his hand was warm in hers. Thea felt surprising callouses scratch against her own; she had forgotten the prince had been to battle several times in his life, was a master swordsman. She often forgot the royals were anything other than royals. As she gazed into Fendrel’s eyes, she almost entirely forgot he was a prince at all. His voice was soft as he said, “I wish I could’ve been there to prevent it from happening.”

That broke Thea out of her trance instantly, and she shoved him away. “You were there, Highness. And you didn’t prevent it.” She strode forward into the trees and Fendrel hurried to keep up.

“No,” he said, “I would’ve remembered—I don’t recall anyone by that na—“

She stopped walking again. “Shut up.”

“Seriously, Thea, I—“

“Stop talking.”

Now Fendrel was getting angry. “Do you know what, even if I was there, which I wasn’t, what was I supposed—“

Thea whirled around and grabbed Fendrel’s face. “Be. Quiet.”

He blinked several times, shocked by their sudden closeness. Thea put a finger to her lips and looked to her right. With furrowed brows, Fendrel followed her eyes. He couldn’t see anything but slowly the sound of voices filtered through the trees. His eyes widened and he brought them back to Thea. “Guards,” he whispered.

She nodded and released him. Then she waved her hand for him to follow her and they approached silently. Peeking around a tree, Thea could just see a Guard crouching low to the earth. He lifted a handful of soil to his nose. He was tracking them.

Very slowly so as to not make any noise, Thea drew her crossbow over her shoulder and cocked an arrow, taking aim. But she didn’t shoot. She couldn’t imagine a Guard traveling alone. There was probably an entire squadron nearby.

“Do you think the ogres betrayed us?” Fendrel asked softly.

Thea shook her head. “Varug may not have supported us, but he didn’t wish us gone. This isn’t them.”

Fendrel put his hand on the hilt of his sword at his side. “Just my brother’s doing then. Go on. Shoot him and let’s move on.”

Thea glanced at him out of the corner of her eye in surprise. “Isn’t he one of your men? You could’ve fought alongside him in one of your many wars.”

“But now he wants to kill you and your friends and bring me back as a prisoner to the palace. You have to shoot him.”

But she didn’t, not yet. She studied the entire clearing he stood in. She knew her arrow would simply bounce off his armor. She’d have to aim carefully or risk being spotted and losing an arrow.

“What are you waiting for?” Fendrel hissed as the Guard stood and unsheathed his sword. “Shoot.”

“Wait,” she hissed back.

“For what?”

Just then, another Guard joined the clearing.

“For that,” she answered.

Isolde fell against a tree, gazing down at her pulsing leg and gasping loudly. A huge chunk had been ripped out of her calf. Sweat poured off her and she hobbled precariously on her right leg.

Four wolves surrounded her, one of them with a muzzle dripping red. They didn’t even look remotely winded.

The alpha rammed its head into Merek, and he went sailing, slamming hard against a tree. A cut above his right brow bled into his eye and blood drooled out of his mouth. His sword landed a few feet away from him. He looked dazed, blinking his eyes hard as he tried to bring everything back into focus.

The alpha bared down on him, its fangs glistening and throat rumbling with a menacing growl. Merek closed his eyes and turned his head away from the sight.

Isolde saw him just over the shoulders of the wolves, and she screamed, “Merek!” She swung her sword with renewed vigor.

His eyes popped open at the sound of her voice. He met the eyes of the wolf and bared his own teeth. “Come on, you son of a bitch!” He let loose a cry which the wolf returned with its own roar.

“No!” Isolde swiped at a wolf and another launched itself on her back. The weight of it pitched her forward and her face slammed into the ground, her nose giving a painful crack and blood spilling down her face. The wolf’s claws hooked into her shoulders and she was turned onto her back.

The wolf opened its mouth and brought its head down.

Isolde grabbed it by the throat, holding it just barely an inch away from her jugular. The wolf twisted and turned its head, trying to break free. The movement pulled at the wounds in her shoulders, sending bolts of agony through her body. Her mouth opened in a shout of pain and tears pricked at her eyes. Yet the wolf’s teeth drew ever nearer.

The alpha lunged for Merek’s throat—

A dagger lodged itself in its eye.

The alpha froze.

Isolde still grappled on the ground, blood leaking out of her. Suddenly, the wolf turned its head to glance behind, and Isolde followed its line of vision. She let out a relieved breath. “Peronell.”

The alpha dropped like a stone on top of Merek, and he coughed as the air was forced out of him. Just above the alpha’s head, Merek saw Carac and he laughed. “Knew you had it in you, mate.”

Carac grinned.

Peronell faced off against Isolde’s wolf. Just when it looked like it was going to spring on him, a dagger landed in its eye too and it fell. Isolde craned her head to see Brom holding one more blade in his hand.

Peronell helped Isolde to her feet and they both held their swords in front of them, Isolde’s body aching more and more every second.

Merek stumbled upright, picking up his sword.

The rest of the pack stared at their fallen alpha. A loud whimper spread across them and they let loose a high-pitched howl. It was so loud that Carac had to cover his ears. And then, one by one, the howl stopped. The wolves looked directly at the group.

A return howl sounded from not nearly far enough away.

The pack glared at the four of them and slunk into the trees.

The group panted heavily in the sudden silence.

Peronell said, “You know what that was.”

Merek nodded. “Call for reinforcements.”

Isolde’s head felt too heavy and her lids had begun to droop.

Brom said, “We can’t handle more.”

“We have to get out of here.” Carac gestured back the way they’d come. “And we need to warn Thea and Fendrel.”

Merek asked Isolde, “Can you walk?” Though he barely seemed to be managing it himself; he held his side and staggered slightly.

She nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

Peronell slung her arm over his shoulders and started to lead her through the trees. Brom did the same for Merek. “Wait,” Merek said, “what about the furs?”

“Are you mad?” Isolde demanded. “Leave them.”

He shook his head. “Then we got the shit beat out of us for no reason.”

Isolde didn’t have enough energy to argue. “Just the alpha. He’s large enough for three.”

Merek nodded and Carac heaved it onto his shoulders. And then they all took off.

The Guards were talking to each other in voices much too soft for Thea or Fendrel to hear. She tried to read their lips, but it was proving difficult to concentrate with Fendrel yapping in her ear.

“We can handle two of them,” he said. “I’ve worn their armor. I know the weak spots. We just have to—“

“If you know your soldiers so well,” she said, “then you should know there are bound to be more nearby. We don’t know how many and that could jeopardize our entire mission.”

“Well, we have to do something!” Fendrel moved as if to step out of hiding.

Thea grabbed his arm and dragged him back roughly. She took hold of his collar and pulled him closer. “Listen to me, Highness,” she whispered. “Right now, those Guards have no idea where we are. They’re going to keep walking and we’ll be able to watch them the whole way. We have the advantage now. The smartest thing for us to do is stay back and take count of how many there are.”

Fendrel stared at her as he took all that in. Then he nodded. “All right. But we have to warn the others. If we make any noise—“

“Thea!” came a screech that shattered the quiet of the forest. “Wolves!”

The Guards heads swiveled their way and blades came up.

“Shit!” Thea brought up her crossbow again.

“I’ll find them and tell—“

“It’s too late for that.”

Three breaths. In…out…In…out…In—

“Thea!” The shout was nearly right behind them now and she recognized it as Isolde’s panicked voice. She couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder to see what was wrong.

But then Fendrel also cried out her name and she turned forward again just in time to see one of the Guard’s daggers come sailing at her face. She didn’t have enough time to think or breathe or move—

Fendrel dove in front of her and the blade slid into the flesh of his chest. He cringed hard but impressed her by clenching his jaw and just barely crying out.

Isolde, Merek, Brom, Carac, and Peronell slid to a stop beside them. They just stared at Fendrel who was doing his best not to writhe in pain. Isolde told her, “Leave the blade in. We have to go. Now.”

Thea nodded in understanding. “The Guards—“ But when they turned, the Guards had vanished. Thea cursed.

Fendrel grunted from the ground. “Told you. Only two.”

“He’s right,” Carac confirmed. “I only hear two.”

Peronell pointed out, “They could be going in search of their squadron.”

“Should we go after them?” Merek asked.

Brom answered, “That would be suicide.”

“And we’re no condition to fight right now.” Thea threw Fendrel’s arm over her shoulder, gripping his wrist hard with one hand and clutching his side against her with the other. Then they staggered and stumbled their way through the trees.