The terrain on the other side of the wall was flat, will talk grasses that concealed them as they moves along. Irisa checked her weapons and eyed the drying mud on her arm. She itched to pry the hard scales off of her skin, but she knew all too well the consequences. Tar, a well trained wizard of some note, had died several years before from it. Irisa had been assigned to him as an apprentice, and the two had become close friends. A Helavatian raid had trapped them against a group of cliffs, all their magic was spent, their weapons broken. In desperation Tar had wiped the mud off his skin and worked a spell. He had used up too much energy and he had literally burned to death.
It was the only time Irisa had ever cried. It was also the moment that she left the Ragatorum behind forever.
"There it is." Fang said, gesturing to the foot of one of the mountains. Irisa did not see anything, and started to speak. Suddenly, a huge cave appeared. Stone houses were carved out of the ground and a huge fortress melded seamlessly with the back wall. Irisa surveyed the mountainside. Small vents poked up every few feet, and she guessed that they ventilated the interior.
"We're going through the grates." She told Fang, and lightly leaped up the rocks towards one. The bars that covered it were carved right out of the stone itself, and the vent was able to fit a Wulf, but nothing else.
Fang growled. "This feels as though I'm walking into a trap. No wind will breeze through my fur, and no sun will hit it. Besides, how will we open the passage?"
"Magic." Irisa said simply.
"I thought you didn't want to use it?"
"I change my mind a lot in this job. Now come on, there's no way we'll get through at ground level, the place is swarming with Helvatians." She painted another band onto her arm, the same width as the first. "Igris!" She ordered and the bars melted away.
"You didn't say anything the first time." Fang noted.
"Any noise would have alerted the guards. Come on Novrrack!" Irisa said, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "You've seen me work magic before."
"We were about to be killed all those other times." Fang grumbled. "There was no time to ask."
Irisa chose not to comment, instead squeezing her body through the vent. The metal weapons on her belt dinged against the cold stone.
"Hurry up, pup." Irisa told Fang, and he reluctantly followed.
The vent muffled some sounds, while causing others to almost deafen its occupants. Irisa eventually tore a few pieces from the hem of her shirt and stuffed them into her ears in a vain attempt to block the noise. Fang just growled.

Eventually openings began to appear in the floor, and Irisa finally paused beside one of them. More mud, the word 'Ignis' was spoken, and she was through. They both dropped down into sacks of what appeared to be hay.
"Tax collector's room." Irisa said, for Fnag's benefit. "Travan showed me the map, the kitchen should be just next door."
Irisa pulled the door open a crack and thy both peered out. Loud noise came from the kitchens, but the hallway was empty.
"We need a diversion." Irisa told Fang.
"Simple." Fang replied. "We listen in, and see when a fancy meal is carried by. Then I go into the room and tell them that the duke did not enjoy his meal, and that he wishes to see all of them right away. They all hurry off, and the kitchen is ours."
"Good idea." Irisa approved. "Go."
"Watch your words, ûrthrrak. Your commanding tone wears my patience thin." Fang retorted, but did as she directed. The clamour in the kitchen remained the same, and Irisa pressed her face to a hole in the door.

"What do you want?" A cheif called to him in Wulfish. "I have dinner to prepare."

"I come brining a message from the general." Fang replied. "He wishes to see all of you. He did not enjoy his meal."

"You are speaking crazy!" The cheif exclaimed, throwing up his hands. "He has not yet received his dinner."

"I am speaking of his lunch." Fang answered, false indignation burning in his eyes. "The General is busy! He has not yet had time to deal with those like you."

The chef had paled as he spoke. "He truly didn't like the food?" He asked.

"Spat it out." Fang replied. "He..."
Irisa didn't catch the rest of the words, and those she heard she didn't understand. I have to work on my languages. She thought. In a few minutes the entire population of the kitchens hurried out the door, all of them yelling and blaming each other for their lack of cooking skills. The minute they rounded the corner, Irisa slipped into the room.

"Right Fang," she started, and then froze. Several pre prepared meal trays were against one wall, and various concoctions stood along the numerous counters. "Well, I guess we'll have to poison everyone." she continued.

"This is his." Fang replied. "I asked the cook before he left."

"Fine." Irisa said. She walked over to it. The tray was filled with meat, a soup and some mushy-looking greens. Everything had a greyish colour to it. She pulled the vial from the pouch at her waist, and looked at the clear liquid. It seemed to gleam in the torchlight, and Irisa was wary of handling it directly. She carefully tipped two drops out and held her breath while they dissolved into the food instantaneously. She quickly put poison into all of the dishes before sweeping out of the kitchen. Fang followed behind her.
"Now we just have to get out." Fang growled. Irisa pulled at the tax room door and heard a click. The door did not budge. She swore and tried it again.
"Fang I told you to leave this open!" she yelled.
"No you didn't!" he replied, but she ignored him. Irisa glanced down at her arms and saw that they were covered up to her shoulders in mud. She bit back another cuss.
"We go through the halls." She snarled, turning towards them. The torches cast a dim glow on the raw stone, strange shadows dancing everywhere.
Fang growled in annoyance, but Irisa noticed that his tail was firmly tucked between his legs. "Stay close to the doorways." she hissed. "Use all the cover you can."
"There is a vent opening in the armoury." Fang barked. "If we make it there we should be able to escape."
Irisa stopped dead and threw up he hands. "Oh, what a brilliant idea, Fang." she snarled. "The armoury. Where they store weapons. I'm sure it won't be guarded at all!"
"You are a spell weaver, ûrthrrak. Getting past a few guards should be simple." Fang told her.
Irisa pulled up her sleeve, gesturing to the drying mud that was still plastered to her arm. "Does it look like I have much magic left?" she asked incredulously. "I would be killed if-"
"Wulf, what are you doing here?" A voice called. "This is a restricted- Theirol, there's a human here too!"
"We're dead." Fang said simply.

-----
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?