The guard's back was still to them, while he called on to his friends. "Fang," Irisa whispered urgently. "Tie me up."
"What?" Fang asked. "Tying you up isn't going to stop them! It's just going to make it easier for them to chop your head off!"
"They won't be chopping my head off," Irisa growled. "It's a pity you weren't born with a wolf's tongue, it would save me useless talking. Hurry up about it."
The guard was still calling to his friends, sending them a panicked glance every few moments. Irisa pulled off the rope she was using as a belt and tossed it to Fang. He quickly knotted it around her wrists and pulled off her weapons. A gleam of interest came into his eyes. "I see now," he grunted.
"Ho there!" Fang said to the guard. "This one's a prisoner. Sand ran off and left me with her, I'm going to skin him when we next meet."
A few more Helvatians arrived, but their expressions quickly turned to puzzlement. "Where are you taking her?" one challenged.
"I'm going to the weaponry, to drop off her things. She won't be needing them where she's going!" Fang laughed, and the guards laughed with him.
"Why don't we take her things? I'm sure the General will want to see her right away."
"Sure!" Fang sighed, relief visible in his face, and the soldier grabbed her blade from his hands.  "The sword's cursed. I want it out of my paws as quickly as possible."
The Helvatian dropped it so quickly that Irisa had to suppress a chuckle.

"On second thought," the guard said, backing away hurriedly. "You can take her. I have to report back soon."

Fang grumbled and picked up the sword once again. "Fine. Let's go." He gave Irisa a shove that sent her stumbling, and marched down the hall with the sword at her neck.

Don't call us back. Irisa prayed, hope flaring wildly in her chest. We are not suspicious. You think nothing.

"I could've sworn I had seen that sword before," a guard mumbled behind them. Irisa felt her heart rate increase.

"Myself as well," The first guard replied thoughtfully. "Hold!" he called out to Fang.

"Don't do it," Irisa growled. "He knows."

Fang growled the affirmative and began to walk faster. His claws dug into Irisa's shoulder and scraped across the metal grip of her blade. "Careful!" Irisa reprimanded. "It took me years to work for that sword. I don't want some careless Wulf ruining it."

"Shut up or the sword won't be the only thing that's ruined," Fang replied darkly.

Footsteps sounded behind them, and the guard pulled Fang backwards with a hand on his shoulder. The sword slipped and sliced a thin line down Irisa's cheek, causing her to hiss in pain.

The soldier's head entered her view. "Are you deaf?" he demanded, "I said to hold!"

Fang turned his yellow eyes on him. "Forgive me, Helvera is not my native tongue."

"I was speaking Wulfish, you dunce!" the guard exclaimed. Irisa had to jab Fang to stop him from objecting. "I need to check something," The guard said. Before either of them could stop him, the guard reached out and yanked up Irisa's sleeve. Fist there was white flesh, but as he pushed the cloth higher an image appeared in green ink. A symbol was tattooed onto her skin, almost glowing in the chamber. It showed a snake, curled around a sword with its tail pinned down. Its fangs were bared and it glared up from where it rested on the metal. The guard looked up at her, eyes narrowed in hate.

"Irisa," he snarled.

Before he had time to take another breath, Irisa had grabbed her dagger from her belt and stabbed him through the heart. She threw the ropes off of her wrists and pulled up both her sleeves. The mud was beginning to flake off, but it was happening too slowly.
"Fang!" she called. The Wulf tossed her sword into the air, and it rotated. The metal threw off dazzling shards of light as it tumbled through the sky. Without looking up, Irisa caught it and charged. Her hang stung from where the hilt had hit her, but she ignored it. With a feral roar she dived towards two of the guards, and Fang slashed through another with his claws.

"Your captain knew me," Irisa said, advancing on the last soldier. "Have you too made that same mistake?"

Despite what she expected, the guard drew himself upright and stared her down. "I do," he replied. "You are Irisa Wolfblood, the female warrior and sole human member to a pack of the Wulfen'krrd. You are also spawn of the god Flaysrâk, and you will meet your death under his name." He spat on the floor in front of her.

"I am all those things," Irisa said, advancing forwards with arms spread, "Except one. No god commands me, for they do not hold my belief. You will soon meet yours though. Pray he gives you mercy."

Wild fear shone in the guard's eyes. He scrambled for his sword but was too slow. Irisa lunged and split his chest open from sternum to hip. She ignored his howl of pain and stabbed through his throat quickly. As she let the body fall from her blade, Irisa surveyed the damage. Blood soaked into the tiles and was splashed against the wall. "To the armoury," she told Fang. "It won't be long before they discover this crow-feast."
The two of them hurried down the hall to the heavy stone door. One word from Irisa and a small dab of mud was enough to render the lock useless, and they quickly slipped back into the air vent.
The clanging of her sword against the stone set Irisa on the edge, and she craned her ears in fear that they would be discovered. Thankfully, no one noticed them or raised the alarm. Irisa and Fang hastily hurried to the wall and slipped to the other side, sealing the grate behind them.
Irisa looked in both directions and when the coast was clear she whistled lowly for her horse.
"What are you doing?" Fang asked her irritably.
"I will not go crawling back to Travan on the ground," she replied, "We will ride on Lighting."
"You will," Fang growled. "It is not if the way of the Wulf to rely on another to be our legs for us."
"Suit yourself." Irisa replied. Lightning trotted out of the trees and Irisa pulled herself onto the mare. She gave Lightning a pat on the neck, and then urged her forwards with a muttered word.
"I smell Travan's men." Fang told her. He pointed to a small clearing, and Irisa turned her horse toward it.
Irisa pulled into the shadow of the trees and slowed down. Travan stood with his escort, most of them leaning on shields or sitting on the ground. One many stood a ways away from the others, his face in shadow. Irisa drew nearer and stopped. She bowed insolently . "The task is done," she said. "I am ready to collect my payment."
Travan motioned to the man on his right, and he handed over a bag of coins.
Irisa weighed it before putting it in her pocket. "Is there anything else I must do?" she asked, "or am I free to go?"
"Unfortunately you are not free. There is one more thing you must do." Travan replied. He signalled to the solitary man. The man stepped forwards.
"Irisa, you are under arrest for the murder of count Lundenari, and your trial will be held this afternoon. Come quietly, and it will be better for you."
"You've got to be kidding me," Irisa muttered. She drew her sword. Instantly, twenty archers stepped out of the woods and circled her, their arrows pointed directly at her chest. The sword fell from Irisa's loose fingers and clattered to the ground. The man quickly approached and bound her hands together. He tossed a bag of coins to Travan, who caught it with ease.
"You sold me out!" Irisa hissed.
Travan didn't even have the honour to look ashamed.
"Sorry Irisa," he said, valiantly throwing up his arms. "But I can't have anyone knowing of our little agreement. I had to do it, no hard feelings. The Wulf is free to go."
"Rot in hell," Irisa spat. Fang snarled, but she shot him a warning glance. Irisa held her head high and allowed herself to be lead away. How am I going I get out of this? she wondered.

-----
Words of power:
Ignis-fire

Wulfish

Note: R's in Wulfish are either growled or snarled.

Frrahh Rrond'ra 'Fang'. Ra'crravrrarran 'Novrrack'.- Call me not 'Fang'. My name is Novrrack.

Novrrack- Fang, but in his native tongue

Grrrawrrd Rrrack M'krrad- I challenge you

Zlarkra

Koorrdd- Come

Lokrrah- Go

Flagrah- Leave

Gavrondii

Nvrawch ont refletcj!- It's awake!

Helvatian

Oe! Havral adure yeolle rookah!- Hey! What are you doing?

Jeon, lea vra treth thring grala- No, the girl doesn't speak (Helvatian).

Yeolle thring Helvera?- You speak Helvatian?