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Chapter 9

       "Take them from her."

       The King's voice washed over me like a warm blanket as I blinked up at the white haze of my mind. That soft whisper made my lips want to pull into a large, ecstatic smile- but my body wouldn't let me. I was too heavy, too sleepy. A dream- He was here in a dream, smiling down at me, rubbing his strong hand gently over my hair. His blue eyes glowing like lightening.

       He was so beautiful...

       "My Lord, I do not think-"

       "This isn't up for discussion." There was a hard bite to Eirik's tone, but the face in my dream remained soft as he gazed down at me, his full lips pulled in a gentle smile. It made warmth flood my stomach.

       "Take them from her. I don't want her knowing more than she needs to just yet." His smile slowly saddened, but he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead anyway. It made dream-me want to giggle in elated happiness.

       "I don't believe that is fair to her, North." Terif's voice was soft for once, but I couldn't see his grumpy face in my dream. It made me frown. A soft-voiced Terif was not something I wanted to miss out on.

       "It's for her protection. I care little if it is fair." A dark growl filled my ears, then dream-me blinked, and Eirik disappeared. My heart dropped painfully to my stomach. Why did he always leave? Why would he never take me with him?

       I laid staring at the white haze of my mind's eye for a few silent seconds before I felt a heavy weight lean slowly beside me. "Forgive me, Lady Emrie. This is not my choice." I wanted to frown at Terif's words, to wonder why his tone sounded so remorseful- but something cool touched my forehead and that white haze turned black before I could. My dream slowly faded away. 

-&-

       "Lady Emrie?"

       I raised my head and blinked over at the large General standing uneasily in my open doorway. I gave him a soft smile. "General, is everything alright?" His golden eyes were dark in what I would have sworn was concern, but they flashed and his face fell into that emotionless mask once again.

       "I've just come to see how you were feeling."

       My smile widened and I played gently with the end of the yellowed page as he leaned against the wooden door-frame. It had been almost a week since my little fall, and my ankle was ten times better than I would have ever expected it to be. "A lot better. Thank you, again, for caring me back to the inn." He only gave me a curt nod as he crossed his large arms over his chest and glanced around the small room.

       "The King wanted me to answer any questions you have- regarding that." He practically grumbled as he nodded towards the book under my fingertips.

       My eyes flickered back over the old, fascinating writing as I shook my head. "No, thank you. It's pretty self-explanatory."

       "Hm." Was all he muttered before leaning off the door and turning around. "That little Underling of yours wants to go back to the market, if you are feeling well enough to join her. I will be waiting downstairs" He didn't bother waiting for my answer before he walked across the hall and down the stairs.

       I let out a sigh and tried not to roll my eyes. Just as I thought we were going to have a civil conversation, he leaves. How typical. I closed the book and pushed my chair out before slowly rolling my ankle. If felt better than the other day, a lot better- and despite a dull ache if I leaned too heavily on it, I felt perfectly fine. Perhaps going for a walk around the Lower Kingdom with Mae wouldn't be too bad.

       I wasn't able to go the morning after like I had promised her, my foot hurt too much to even stand on. But she understood, and assured me she didn't mind. Her and Leikos have been wandering around and enjoying their vacation while I sat in my little room, reading my book, and wondering if Terif was always so brutish the entire week.

       I let out a sigh before closing my little history book and reaching into my trunk for my purse. If you could even call if history. It was full of myths and legends, rumors that all revolved around the wolf-born's god Adranus- and how he practically created the North. They probably weren't even true. But I enjoyed reading in nonetheless.

       I could use a break from the cramped, dusty, old room after all.

       The entertaining area of the tavern was packed as I descended the stairs and met a brooding Terif at the bottom. He was leaning heavily against the wall, his large arms crossed over his chest as those golden eyes flickered uneasily around the room. He wasn't a big fan of crowds- or at least crowds of Underlings.

       Mae was laughing with her older brother and a few of their guards near the entrance of the inn. I felt a smile pull at my lips as I walked over to her. At least she was still having a good time. Terif followed closely behind me, like usual, and didn't bother trying to be polite to the people crowding the little tavern as he pushed them out of the way. Even though most of them instantly scurried at the mere sight of the massive wolf-borne.

       I could hear their whispers on the street and in the inn about the General- about how large and abnormal he was. They almost all instantly recognized him as a wolf from the mountain- as a soldier that came to the Lower Kingdom along with his King.

       He snarled behind me, which I chose to ignore.

       "Emmy! How is your ankle?" Mae asked as soon as I stepped beside her and Lei, both siblings gazing over at me happily. I shot them both a smile- despite the nickname.

       "Much better, I'm ready to walk around the market it you still want to."

       "Of course!" Mae cheered happily before looping her arm through mine, her bright, hazel eyes glancing quickly over to Terif before back again. I let out an internal sigh. I guess her little infatuation hadn't ebbed like I hoped. He would crush her poor heart under his heavy boot.

       "I know you have your bodyguard-" Leikos grumbled distastefully as he shot a glare at the General, who simply returned the gesture. "But be careful. I'll be meeting a few merchants and shop-keepers all day." I gave him a reassuring smile and Mae kissed his cheek before he disappeared out the door of the tavern. Terif grumbled something under his breath that I chose to ignore.

       "We've barely been here a week and I already spent half of my money." Mae sigh dejectedly as we walked out onto the bustling street and wandered towards the center of the Lower Kingdom. I couldn't hide my snicker.

       "You never were good with spending."

       She let out an exasperated sigh at my side. "I'll just have to convince Lei to give me some more. There's just too many pretty things in the world to buy!" Terif stayed silent close behind us as I let out another laugh, but I could practically feel him rolling his eyes at my friend.

       We stayed out in the center of the city for the majority of the day, stopping only a few times to eat at a tavern or feed the little fish that would gape up at us from one of the many man-made ponds. The always-brooding General just followed quietly behind us the entire time.

       I wanted to say it was a relief from his constant degrading demeanor, but I was actually hoping for more of a verbal interaction with him. He knew a lot about the King- information I desperately wanted to know.

       I had been dreaming about him more and more lately- about the craziest things. At one point, I had even dreamt he could possess another's body and act through them. Maybe it was the mystery that surrounded him, or maybe it was just my imagination trying to make up for something that wasn't there.

       It was all very tiring.

       "It is getting late, my lady. Night will be falling soon. It's time to head back." Terif's deep voice was suddenly rumbling in my ear, his large body like a warm furnace at my back. Like usual, I jumped in surprise. I will never get over how quiet he was, especially for his size.

       He was looming over me, his hard chest just barely a few inches from my back. I nodded as his golden gaze washed over mine, just daring me to go against him. Honestly, I was getting very tired. My ankle was starting to throb again, and I just wanted to curl up on my bed with a candle and the book the King wanted me to read.

       Besides Terif, it was the only thing I had to remind me I ever actually met him. That he has a meaning now in my life.

       "Awe, but it's so early! And the night-life here is amazing-!"

       "Lady Emrie is tired, and she does not need to be out after the sun has fallen." Terif's voice wasn't exactly harsh when he cut Mae off, but it wasn't pleasant either. It made me want to roll my eyes, but instead I just let out a sigh at the dejected look that crossed my friend's face.

       "You don't have to snap at her." I grumbled as Terif took the bags from my hand and began ushering me in the direction of the inn. "She didn't do anything." He made a sound in the back of his throat that was close to a snort as he began directing me through the crowd. Mae following slowly behind us.

       We had had so much fun today, and then one curt statement from the large wolf-borne had made her seem so crestfallen. I wasn't going to let him ruin her vacation anymore after this- or hurt her feelings more than he already had.

       "She is ignorant, like her brother. And neither of them learn." He growled down at me as his large arms pushed the crowd out of the way- or the ones that weren't automatically shuttering at the scowl plastered on his face.

       "No, you're just too hard on them. They enjoy having a good time, unlike some people." I grumbled the last part under my breath, but I'm sure he heard. He never seemed to miss anything.

       He let out a dark growl, one that reverberated deep in his chest and shook straight through my skin. I gasped. "You can't expect anyone to have a good time when they're forced to babysit an Underling and her half-brained friends."

       My mouth snapped shut after that, and I let out an irritated huff before turning my attention completely away. He was the most bipolar, agonizingly rude individual I had ever met! Every time I thought we were making progress he would just throw another insult into the air. What was wrong with him?

       I turned on him with my fists clenched at my sides and a hard glare plastered on my face. He stopped ushering us through the crowd, and raised a dark eyebrow at me in question as I scowled at him. "Got something to say, my lady?" His lips were curling at the corners in an arrogant smirk, his dark eyes flashing tauntingly in the setting sun. My temper flared.

       "You- You..." I wanted to shout at him, to yell about how rude he was, and how all his crude words and statements were uncalled for- but my voice fell flat on my tongue. I wouldn't lower myself to his level, or cause a scene in such a large mass of people. I had more manners than that.

       I tore my furious gaze from his and forced my clenched fists to relax before I wrapped my arm around a silent Mae's. "Let's go." I grumbled before urging her along with me- not caring whether or not that- that pompous wolf followed. Although I'm sure he was, he would never disobey his king.

       I heard his quiet chuckle over the bustling crowd, but paid him no further attention as I led the way back to the inn. I had no idea how the King put up with him, or even let him be his Third in Command. The man was insufferable. 

       We were barely a few streets from the tavern when something drastic happened- and of course, it would be the very thing that proved Terif right on almost all accounts.

       The majority of the Lower Kingdom was a safe place. People generally kept to themselves, and the monarch provided them with what they needed to live- but like most bustling cities, there were still those who would steal, plunder, and mug if they deemed necessary. And there was no easier target then two helpless females with one male escort.

       It that male wasn't a general to the Northern Wolf-Borne King.

       "Wait." Terif's voice suddenly sounded in the deserted street with a gruff urgency as his strong hand reached up to grip my upper arm. I flinched at the action, but his head was angled to the side and his golden eyes were flashing nearly black in the quickly rising darkness. He didn't notice.

       "What's the matter with you?" I snapped as he tugged me not-so-gently to his side and let out a dark growl into the cool night air.

       "Something isn't right." His voice was flat, emotionless as his grip tightened on my arm and he began dragging me down the deserted street. Mae hurried after us with wide, surprised eyes.

       "You can't just grab me like this-!"

       "Be quiet." His dark voice snarled as he suddenly jerked us to a stop. I gasped and staggered against his hard back at the loss of momentum. What in the devil was wrong with him?! There was nothing wrong- Something shot out in front of us, a dark mass that slid inhumanly in the darkness, before it disappeared down the side of a tall building.

       My breathing caught in my throat.

       What in the world-

       "Fuck." Terif growled as his large body took a protective stance in front of me, and Mae curled her fingers tightly into the back of my dress.

       "W-what's going on?" She whispered, her voice shaky in fear. I gulped and shook my head. I had no idea, but it had to be bad for the General to act the way he was. I resisted the urge to curl against the hard planes of his back and bury my face in his shirt out of fear. That wouldn't help anyone.

       "This was the last thing I wanted to fucking do today." Terif growled as his large body began walking backwards, forcing Mae and I to do the same. I gripped tightly onto the ends of his shirt.

       "What's going on, Terif?" I murmured up at him with wide, frightened eyes, but he just let out another snarl as that dark mass appeared again.

       "We are close to the inn. If I tell you to run, you run. Do you understand?" His voice was still hard and emotionless, but I could sense the urgency hidden beneath it- and that was the only reason why I nodded and didn't push the subject. If he was worried, then something was very wrong.

       The dark mass flittered into view again, but stopped half way across the street. Terif let out a low, dark growl- one that frightened even me. "He's not going to be happy about this." I heard the General grumble under his breath as his strong arm reached behind him and pulled me closer against his back protectively. I didn't have to wonder long about who the he was.

       Something flashed in the corner of my eye and I heard Mae gasped. A second dark mass had run out into the street behind us, and stood watching the three of us squished together. The unease in my stomach only grew.

       "Emrie..." Mae's voice was a desperate plea as she clung tighter to the back of my dress, her breathing trembling in fear. I wasn't much better. This has never happened before-

       "Leave now and no one has to get hurt." The General's voice rang out strong, and firm in the dark, deserted street, like he was used to these kinds of situations and knew how to handle them. He honestly probably was. But our ears were only met with a dark, inhuman chuckle.

       "You're out numbered, wolf." A voice that sounded more animal than anything sneered from the dark mass barely a few yards in front of us, and caused the one behind to snicker.

       A terrifying chill ran down my spine. It wasn't hard to figure out that Terif wasn't like any normal shifter, but I was still surprised that the- the whatever in front of us made the connection so quickly.

       "There's more of us, in the alleys. You should be the one afraid of getting hurt."

       I was surprised at the laughter that suddenly escaped the large wolf-borne standing protectively in front of me. The first and only time I had ever heard him laugh- and it was terrifying. I wasn't sure who to be afraid of more, the two masses starting to slowly circle around us- or the large wolf trembling unnaturally in front of me.

       But Terif wouldn't hurt us. I was almost positive.

       "I fear nothing." The voice that left the General's lips was not one I had heard before- and not one I ever wanted to hear again. It was gruff, dark, and sounded for too alien to be anything remotely human. I gasped and took a staggering step back, bringing Mae with me.

       "We don't want to fight you, wolf. We only want the females. Give them to us, and you can walk away unscathed."

       My chest clenched tightly at the cloaked figures statement, and Mae's frightened whimpering behind me didn't help the fear either. They wanted us? I thought they would just take our purses and belongings and leave- not take us. Mae clung tighter to me as that dark, inhuman growl filled the deserted street once again.

       "That won't be happening." Terif's voice was strained, hard, and sounded like he was a having a hard time speaking past a pair of very sharp canines.

       My breath caught in my throat when he suddenly turned to glance at me- when a pair of eyes so inhuman they glowed against the darkness locked on mine. I had seen him like this before, the very first time we had ever met, but I had gotten so used to the almost-human version of him that I wasn't sure how to handle what was happening.

       He held my gaze for a moment, his features slowly distorting in a grotesque manner as he began to shift into the wolf his kind were so proud of. "Go." That one word passed his lips before he suddenly jumped over us, his large body shifting in mid-air and attacking the dark mass behind us- the one who had gotten so close he was barely a foot away from grabbing ahold of Mae.

       She screamed, I gasped, and blood splattered the cobblestone at our feet.

       "Run!" I shouted at her and gripped tightly onto her hand before pulling her towards the alley at our side. I didn't care where we were going at that point, as long as we got away from the carnage and gore happening behind us.

       I made the mistake of glancing back over my shoulder at Terif, and watched miserably as five more dark bodies fell from the roofs of the surrounding buildings- five more bodies Terif would have to fight. The thought made my steps falter. He couldn't possibly take on all those me alone. He would die-

       "What are you doing?!" Mae screamed as she clung tightly onto my arm and tried to viciously drag me down the dark ally.

       "Terif, he can't possibly-"

       "He told us to go! You heard him! He can handle himself a lot better than we can!"

       She was right. I knew she was, I just didn't want to leave him all alone and defenseless. The King wouldn't have left him. He probably would have stood at his side and fought bravely with him. I knew he would. Running would make me a coward. A heartless coward.

       "Emrie please!" Mae gasped, dreadful tears streaming down her face in waterfalls as she continued to pull on my arm. My heart broke at the look on her face, at the desperation in her hazel eye. She would die too if I went back to help him. We all would.

       "Let's go." I whispered miserably before grabbing her hand again and running down the small street.

       But it was too late. My internal debate took too long, and I had slammed face-first into the dark, cloaked figure that appeared out of nowhere. I staggered backwards with a pained gasp, but the tight painful grip that suddenly wrapped around my upper arms wouldn't let me go very far.

       A long, dark, howl sounded too far behind us.

       "Mae go!" I shouted at her as I tried to kick desperately at out attacker, but my dress skirts and the dark cloak the man wore made it ridiculously hard.

       "Mae go!" The cloaked man mocked in a ridiculously high voice as his grip on me tightened, his fingers like talons as they sank into my skin. He laughed, the hood of the cloak hiding what I was sure was a grotesque, inhuman face.

       I screamed, liked anyone passing by would stop to help two defenseless girls getting- whatever the hell was happening to us- Kidnapped? I didn't even care!

       Mae screamed too, but when I looked over my shoulder at her it was only because a different cloaked figure had grabbed her. The panic swirled like an ugly storm inside my chest. This could not be happening. The Lower Kingdom was always a safe place. Mae and I walked these streets a thousand times by ourselves without a problem. And now, when I actually had a guard, we were being taken?

       I wonder how Eirik would react to that... Would he even care? Did it really matter? Why in the world was I worried about that right then?!

       "Scream, scream, all you want." The hoarse, inhuman voice of the man seemed to sing as he lifted me into the air and shook me hard. "No one will help you. And all you will accomplish is annoying the fuck out of me-"

       "Terif!" I screamed into the cold night air anyways, despite the obvious threat in our attacker's voice. That howl from before shook through the silence of the night, but the General was nowhere to be seen. The cloaked figure hissed, the noise sounding more reptilian than anything, as a pair of yellow-green eyes in the shape of slits like a snake flashed in the darkness.

       "Little wolf bitch." He hissed and shook me so hard my head snapped back. I groaned in pain. "I'll give you a reason to scream." He snarled and shook me again in that same vicious way, but that time the back of my head slammed into the brick wall behind me.

       I never got the chance to scream again.

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I hope everyone enjoyed! It's getting exciting up in here!

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