Skwyr Court

volumeone

“How was your first day?” Aonva asked at dinner. With Kurgm and Sirshi still with their respective masters, it was only Oshal, Aonva, and Roshil at dinner. Roshil was feeling better, at least enough that she wasn’t miserable anymore.

Oshal concentrated on the forest. The peace and quiet. The birds chirping as they returned for the warm season. The rustling of the leaves. As he did, the white noise of emotion slowly faded away. He could focus on his sister and Aonva.

“I think I made a new friend.”

Oshal explained what had happened in the forest. After he was finished, he sensed his sister’s skepticism, which he still preferred over misery.

“I’m no expert,” she said, “but I don’t think that’s how friends work.”

“Was everything alright?” Aonva asked. Her worry came through clearly, in both her voice and over her thread.

“We were fine,” Oshal said. “I don’t think he meant us any harm. He was confused about why we were there. I think he was more scared of us.”

“What did Lady Durwey say?” Aonva asked.

“That we’d go back later after she talked with Grand Master Gorkle.”

That calmed Aonva a little. Oshal was starting to think she was always worried about something. In particular, she seemed worried about Roshil. Before that morning, Oshal had thought there was nothing about which either of them needed to worry, that Roshil was a lot happier in the castle than she’d ever been in the city. Now he wasn’t sure.

“So long as they take good care of you,” Roshil said.

“They are.” Oshal smiled to reassure them both. Everything was fine. “What about you two? How were your days?”

“Quiet,” Aonva said. “Master Kaernin doesn’t say much. It’s important not to waste words, he says, since words hold power, and we should be responsible with it. I’m not very good at it, though. I keep getting nervous and talking too much.”

Judging by her rising anxiety, Oshal figured that was happening again. It was like a storm kept forming inside her head. Dark clouds rolled in over a once peaceful sea. Aonva herself was on a boat trying to reach the shore, but the waves tossed her boat away before she could ever reach it.

“That’s okay,” Oshal said, hoping to calm the storm. “I like it when you talk.”

“See?” Roshil said. “It’s not just me.”

The storm in Aonva’s head died down, although the sun didn’t come out yet. It was still there, waiting for her to drop her guard. In an instant, the storm could reform, and she hadn’t reached the shore yet.

“What about you?” Oshal asked his sister, hoping to avoid talking about that morning at all.

“I’m learning how to knit socks. I don’t know why now, rather than during the cold season when we could’ve used them.”

“Nights get cold sometimes, so I think we’ll still want them.”

“He’s right,” Aonva said. “Actually, it won’t be until the hot season when it’s warm at night, and heat typically leaves the body through the feet, so until then, it might be nice to have something like that.”

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take. Master Grund just says ‘It’ll take as long as it takes.’”

Oshal laughed at her impression of Lord Grund. The more time he spent with her here, the more convinced he was that she was happier here. He only wished she could’ve been this happy at home.

He turned his thoughts to the people around them, following their threads. Sure enough, there was still a sense of discomfort like there’d been when they’d arrived at the temple. In fact, it was like that almost everywhere Roshil went. Aonva didn’t feel that way, and he was sure Kurgm and Sirshi were fine. But people around them were uncomfortable with Roshil. Why did everyone act that way? Did Roshil know about it?

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

He realized he’d been frowning and quickly smiled. “Nothing.”

An overwhelming sense of hatred passed by them, and he heard Roshil growl at it.

“Monster,” the hatred said as she passed.

Oshal felt his efforts at cheering up his sister falling apart. The sunny meadow of happiness was blocked out by dark clouds swirling around a volcano.

“Who was that?”

Roshil’s own anger died down, but it didn’t disappear altogether. “Master Udra. She likes to walk by and call me a monster sometimes.”

“Why?”

“Because I look different.”

“So?”

“Not everyone’s as nice as you.” Roshil’s anger rose again. “Some people don’t care who you are, they only care what you look like. Everyone hates me here. The only people that don’t are usually sitting with us.” Something else entered her mind. It felt like an echo booming through the mountains. Pride, respect, even a little awe swirled together in Roshil’s head. “Some people don’t, but they’re the exception.”

The storm grew inside Aonva. Her fear and anxiety mixed with guilt and love. Her boat was still tossed by the sea, but she wasn’t alone on it. Oshal recognized the feeling from his father, usually before he tried connecting with Roshil.

Roshil wanted to push them all away. Oshal was familiar with that particular feeling from her. It’d always followed her father’s attempts at connecting with her, and preceded her running to her room.

“Please don’t go,” he said.

“We’re not allowed to leave the great hall before dinner’s finished unless a master is with us,” Roshil said.

“Why does everyone treat you like that?” Oshal asked.

He heard her lean in closer from across the table.

“They treat me like that because that’s what that dragon did to me. It made me a monster.”

A shadow of fear came over her. It fell over her mind, blocking out the smallest light of happiness. He sensed that thread, always calling to him to follow it into the darkness.

Oshal reached through his own fear and offered his hand to his sister.

“You’re not a monster. You’re my sister. They’ll see what I see in you one day.”

“No they won’t. It’s a curse. They can’t.”

Before Oshal could respond, the end of dinner was called. Everyone stood up and waited. He reached out and felt the threads of the officers getting farther away. Once they’d left, everyone else filed out of the great hall.

Roshil was cursed. That’s why everyone treated her that way. His sister would never be happy, and he couldn’t change that. He couldn’t change the way anyone felt about her. No matter what he did.

#VolumeOne #TheOnesWeLove

Oshal didn’t sleep much that night. He spent most of it thinking about what he could do. The answer “Nothing”, always in his sister’s voice, wouldn’t leave him alone. He’d tried talking to her about it after dinner, but, as he’d feared, she’d gone straight to her room. She wouldn’t talk to either he nor Aonva about it. He wished there were someone else. Master Durwey was nice, but she didn’t like Roshil. He didn’t know where to find Master Ekla, Lord Velal was probably too busy, and their father was back at home.

Every time he thought about giving up, he remembered how happy he’d found his sister. And he remembered Nourd. Oshal had changed his mind for a moment, causing him to stop and hesitate before running. It made him more determined to find a way to help his sister.

He remembered how Roshil had felt when saying everyone hated her. There was someone else that didn’t, someone that loomed over her. Was that Lord Grund? He was always in the forge. Oshal could probably find him. But without someone guiding him, he didn’t know where to find the forge. He didn’t have a connection with Lord Grund, apart from him being Roshil’s master. Oshal was sure one day he’d be able to follow a thread through someone else, but he wasn’t good enough for that yet.

What else could he do? If Lord Grund knew how to help Roshil, then Oshal decided he’d have to figure it out. Perhaps Kurgm or Sirshi could help. He didn’t think he could separate Roshil and Aonva for long enough, so it’d have to be one of them.

His bauble made a soft ringing sound. It was waking him up earlier than it had the day before, he thought. He knew it wouldn’t stop until he got out of bed, so that’s what he did. Sure enough, once his feet touched the ground, it stopped making noise. He slowly moved about his room, feeling his way around. He washed, then got dressed. He picked up the bauble, then followed the threads for his friends. They were all awake, moving around their rooms, except for Sirshi and Kurgm. They were waiting in the corridor outside their rooms.

Oshal walked out of his room. Three distinct emotions hit him at once: nervousness, anger, and frustration. Once he walked out, the frustration turned to happiness.

“Good morning, Oshal,” Master Ekla said. “Apologies, Apprentice Oshal.”

“Good morning, Master Ekla. How have you been?”

“Fine.”

When she didn’t say anything else, Oshal greeted Kurgm and Sirshi, the sources of the nervousness and anger, respectively.

“Morning,” Kurgm said.

Sirshi stayed silent, although contained anger emanated from her. Oshal remembered how she’d felt when he’d first met her and the topic of her sister had come up and decided he shouldn’t try to get either of them to talk.

Aonva was the next one to come out of her room, and panic immediately took hold of her.

“What’s going on? Is everyone alright? Where’s Roshil? Did something happen to her? My bauble went off early, so something’s happening, right? It only does that when Master Kaernin needs me to start early, but I don’t see him here. Is he coming later?”

“Breathe,” Kurgm said, his nervousness changing to focused confidence, with sparks of happiness fluttering around it.

“Everything’s fine,” Master Ekla said. “I was sent to fetch the five of you.”

“Why? Did something—”

“Nothing’s happened. You’ll find out the rest when we get there, but no one’s in trouble.”

They waited in silence, although it felt like anything but to Oshal. Anger from Sirshi, panic from Aonva, concern from Kurgm, and impatience from Master Ekla all filled his own head. He concentrated on the forest, following Nourd’s thread. Nourd was moving through the forest, and although Oshal couldn’t sense anything through the thread, it helped him to calm down.

He sensed something from his sister’s thread and found that she was leaving her room.

“She’s here,” he said as the door opened. He knew he didn’t need to say anything, but it had always made Roshil smile when he knew someone was coming to their house before they could knock on the door.

His sister was half on guard, half excited, although excitement usually followed her seeing Oshal, Aonva, or Sirshi.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Follow me,” Master Ekla said. “All of you.”

“Obviously,” Sirshi muttered.

Both of them took deep breaths, then the six of them started off down the corridor. Ekla led the way, with Kurgm and Aonva not far behind her, followed by Oshal, Roshil, and Sirshi, who stayed as far away from her half-sister as she could.

“Are…” Kurgm said after a few minutes. He stopped talking, but Sirshi finished his thought a moment later.

“We’re going to the temple,” Sirshi said. “Why are you bringing us to the temple?”

Once again Oshal sensed anger from both Sirshi and Ekla. The two of them weren’t that different, but he got the feeling that pointing that out would cause problems.

Ekla didn’t answer her question.

“I had half a mind to storm out of the Flower Blooming Ceremony yesterday,” Sirshi said to Roshil, keeping her voice down. “But I couldn’t do that to Master Moudren. Those people…” Her anger boiled up again, but she quelled it.

“You remind me of our mother,” Oshal said. “She would get upset when other people would treat Roshil differently too.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ekla seemed like she was going to say something, but decided against it. Both of them were good at containing their feelings for one another. Oshal was proud of them both.

Focusing on them helped distract him from the growing sadness his sister felt. As they drew closer to the temple, it grew until it was hard to ignore.

They walked into the temple and were greeted immediately by Master Moudren, causing Sirshi’s anger to fall away.

“Good morning, Apprentices Sirshi, Kurgm, Aonva, Roshil, and Oshal.”

The five of them stood at attention. Master Moudren emanated kindness and optimism, a constant source of hope.

“Master Ekla, you’re welcome to join us.”

Discomfort came from Ekla, who had not walked through the temple door. It was strange to think she felt anything other than confidence or, occasionally, anger.

“No, thank you.”

“Afraid you’ll burst into flames?” Kurgm asked.

Sirshi stifled a laugh, then cleared her throat, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Something like that,” Master Ekla said. “I’ll be seeing you.”

As she left, the last traces of anger Sirshi had felt disappeared. It was one of the first times Oshal had been around her when she didn’t feel angry. It was nice to feel her that way. He hoped she did more often.

“I want to apologize on behalf of the Temple of the Rising Sun, for the way you were treated yesterday. After Apprentice Sirshi told me what happened, I spoke with everyone before they left. Apprentice Roshil, I hope you can forgive me and this temple. The work you have done for us is remarkable.”

“Um… yeah.” Roshil’s sadness had been replaced by confusion and a little embarrassment. “Of course. I… When Sirshi asks, I’m happy to help.”

“I’m pleased. At the end of the ceremony, everyone in attendance plants a flower in our garden, whispering their hopes for the new season, so Olmgra may hear them and help them come to be. I’ve set aside spots in the garden for you four.”

“Isn’t it a little dark out?” Kurgm asked.

“I asked Master Ekla to fetch you early because I wanted to have the chance to invite you all to this morning’s Sun Welcoming Ceremony. It won’t take long, and it will give you time to eat breakfast afterward.”

“Unless your master intercepts you on the way out,” Kurgm said.

“Of course.”

Roshil’s sadness returned like a wave to the shore.

“No one wants me here.”

“I want you here,” Sirshi said. “And if that’s not good enough for everyone, then that’s their problem. You’re my friend, you’ve done more for this temple than some of the priests, and you’re nice enough if people would take a minute to get to know you.”

“That’s what I keep saying,” Oshal said, sensing his sister’s mind changing.

“They’re right,” Aonva said, her voice hardly audible.

“Apprentice Roshil, even if you don’t accept my invitation, I will still ask that you do us the honor of planting a flower.”

“If it means that much, I guess.”

“The flowers don’t only represent the planter’s hopes,” Aonva said, “but the act of planting them shows faith in Olmgra. A blooming garden in one of her temples is a sign of prosperity of the temple itself. I’ve been reading up on the temple, and it’s really quite fascinating. This is one of the oldest temples in the court. Whenever a diplomat visits the temple during the warm season, they’re asked to plant a flower for the same reason Master Moudren’s asking us to. Maybe not the same reason, it’s not like we’re that important or anything, or at least I’m not, but…”

Aonva seemed to shrink as embarrassment took over. She took a step back.

“I’m glad you’ve taken such an interest in the temple, Apprentice Aonva,” Master Moudren said. “Master Kaernin must be proud if you put so much effort into your studies.”

Aonva made sounds that sounded like “Thank you,” or possibly an imitation of a mouse, it was hard to tell.

They all followed Master Moudren through the temple.

“Now I know who to ask when I have questions,” Kurgm whispered to Aonva.

“I feel awful, it sounds like I must think this is purely symbolic, but I don’t really think that, but I… I… I don’t really know, but—”

“Your intentions were good,” Master Moudren said from ahead of them, causing Aonva’s embarrassment to rise. “That’s enough.”

“So don’t worry about it,” Kurgm added.

A mixture of emotions flooded Aonva, and all of them felt pink. Oshal didn’t know why, but that specific mixture of happiness and embarrassment always felt pink. Flowers bloomed in her head, and the sun broke through the clouds. It didn’t last long, but it was nice while it did.

They stepped through a door and into the open air. It was still cold, and Oshal couldn’t feel the sun. If there was one thing he missed seeing, apart from his family, it was the sunrise.

“I’ve got some chores to attend to before the Sun Welcoming Ceremony,” Master Moudren said. “If you’ll please excuse me. Apprentice Sirshi, would you please perform the flower planting in my stead?”

A sudden burst of panic erupted from Sirshi.

“I… Of course, Master Moudren.”

Master Moudren left, and Sirshi handed them each a bit of dirt, held together by something that felt like netting. The other three helped Oshal over to a spot in the garden. They all placed their newborn flowers in empty spaces in the ground.

Oshal bent down, cupped his hands over his mouth, and whispered into the ground.

“I hope my sister can find happiness.”

With help, he stood back up. He felt panic from Aonva, and uncertainty from Roshil, but Kurgm was happy. Oshal focused on that as Sirshi spoke up.

“Walk into the new day with the light of Olmgra at your back.” Sirshi paused. “That works a lot better when there’s light. This is supposed to be done in place of the Sun Welcoming Ceremony, but…”

“It’s fine,” Kurgm said. “That was perfect.”

“This part’s pretty easy,” Sirshi said. “I’d… I’d like it if you could all stay for the Sun Welcoming Ceremony.”

Oshal turned toward Roshil. It was up to her; this was all for her.

“I’d like to,” she said quietly.

“Great,” Sirshi said. “There are some spare mats in storage. It’s not long, like Master Moudren said.” Her voice took on an edge. “And if anyone has a problem with it, then that’s their problem.”

Unlike the previous day, Sirshi was determined not to let anyone stop them. At that moment, Oshal was too. He had friends, and he would ensure his sister was happy. Maybe there would always be people who didn’t like her, but he could change their minds. He was sure of it. And even if he couldn’t, they’d always have their friends.

#VolumeOne #TheOnesWeLove

Nourd awoke under Mother’s protective branches. The sun was just peaking out over the horizon, filtered through the budding leaves of the trees. Day returning to the forest.

He’d dreamed about the human he’d seen. Oshal, the boy with no eyes. He’d smelled different from other humans. He hadn’t smelled of fear or greed, but of curiosity and kindness. Nourd had thought that only animals could smell kind.

With Mother’s help, he found breakfast, roots and nuts. Fruits weren’t growing yet in the forest. He hated hunting, since he knew all the creatures he’d be hunting.

Nourd sat in the rising sun, absorbing its rays to nourish his body. Warmth spread from his head to his fingertips. He bent down to one of the streams in the forest and drank from it. After splashing water on his face, he stood up and listened to the forest.

He heard every living thing around him. The trees, the insects, the birds, the creatures, big and small, they were his family. They told him when they needed help, and he helped them. Mother had told him it was his purpose.

Mother called out to him, and he returned to her. He climbed into the treetops and swung between the branches. He moved like the apes, but he wasn’t one of them. What made him different?

He’d once asked Mother why he was different, but she’d told him he was no different from the deer than they were from the birds. Being human didn’t mean he wasn’t one of the forest’s creatures, one of Mother’s children.

When he reached Mother’s branches, he heard a voice. A human voice.

“Who is this boy you’ve been hiding?”

Mother told the human that she hadn’t been hiding anyone, merely protecting him. She told him that humans had been in the forest without a druid — that’s what Mother called the forest-smelling humans — present. That the creatures could’ve been confused.

“I know. After Lady Durwey’s last apprentice, I’m afraid she’s a little flustered, and this one’s quite different. Even so, she stayed within the neutral zone. Why did the boy approach?”

Mother told the human that, as it’d said, it was the neutral zone. Nourd had been allowed to be there. Then she called to him again, asking him to approach.

He climbed down from the treetops, and found the human with her. Nourd sniffed the air, but couldn’t tell if it was a male or female human. It smelled of the forest. It had peach-colored skin, lighter than Nourd’s, but still darker than the humans that usually lived in the nest.

“You must be Nourd,” it said. “My name is Grand Master Gorkle, but you can call me Gorkle.”

It stood up straight like a tree, then bent down for a moment. Nourd believed this was what the humans called “bowing”.

Nourd frowned at the human. He kept Mother’s roots between them. He didn’t like this strange-smelling human.

Mother told it that Nourd didn’t like to speak to humans.

“I see. I’m told you saw Lady Durwey and Apprentice Oshal yesterday.”

Oshal. He’d mentioned Oshal. Was he there? Nourd looked around, but couldn’t see anyone else.

“They aren’t here,” Gorkle said. “I’ve been sent by the court to assess the situation. You frightened them yesterday.”

Nourd shook his head. Oshal hadn’t been frightened. The other human, Lady Durwey, had been frightened, but not Oshal. Oshal had smelled of kindness and love. It was so strange to smell a human like that, a human not full of greed or fear.

“Oshal… smells different,” Nourd said. Mother had taught him long ago that as a child of the forest, he could communicate with all living things, and that included humans.

Gorkle smiled. “Yes, he does.”

Then Mother brought up the dragon human. As the elders had told Nourd, she was Oshal’s sister.

“That is correct. Apprentice Roshil is Apprentice Oshal’s sister. Before you say anything, I know she’s caused problems here. She isn’t well liked in the court either, but you know we accept everyone, and the court believes she can be trusted, even if she must be watched.”

Mother told Gorkle to keep her out of the forest.

“We have. I insisted to Lord Grund that she not be brought into the forest, and so far, he has taken my advice. But this isn’t about her, this is about the neutral zone. And Nourd. I want to return to the court with assurances that he won’t harm anyone.”

Mother told it that Nourd would only harm trespassers in the forest, just like every other creature of the forest.

“Good.”

As it turned to go, Mother asked it to wait. She had a request to make of Gorkle.

“You know I’m happy to serve the forest, Mother. What is it you would ask?”

Mother explained that Nourd was of the age of change in humans. That he would be seeking out a mate before long, and that he wouldn’t find one in the forest.

“By the looks of it, he won’t be of ‘mating age’ for another few years, at least in our society. How old is he?”

Mother told it that Nourd had seen the seasons change 13 times.

“And you want the court to take him?”

Nourd drew a sharp breath. Mother wanted him to live with the humans? Why? So he could find a mate? He didn’t want to leave the forest for so insignificant a reason.

Yet he thought of Oshal, and felt a longing to be closer to him. To smell that strange kindness again. Was that what it’d be like to be around the humans?

“We will take him. I can assume the role of his guardian and master if need be.”

Mother would accept no others.

“I didn’t think so. I will bring this offer to the court. He must be ready to leave tomorrow morning. Like me, he would serve the court and the forest.”

While Mother understood, Nourd did not. There was so much he didn’t understand, but Mother thought that this was for the best. If she believed it, then it must’ve been so.

“I’ll return then. Farewell to both of you.”

With that, Gorkle turned and left, leaving Nourd to wrestle with his offer.

#VolumeOne #LeavingTheForest

Nourd walked through the forest alone, thinking about his conversation with Gorkle. Invited to the human nest, this “court”, to stay? Away from Mother? Away from the forest? The forest was the only home he’d ever known. He didn’t know how he could possibly live among the humans.

You belong among humans. If you stay here, you cannot truly belong.

Mother had said that after Gorkle had left. How could Mother think he couldn’t belong in the forest? It was the only place he belonged. If he left, if he tried living with the humans, then he would never belong. They were humans.

He looked down at his hands. He was already different from them. His skin was lighter than theirs. It looked like Oshal’s skin.

Oshal. He would be there. Were there others like him? The birds said the humans were all different colors. Maybe he would fit in with them.

He didn’t understand what he was. He’d always been a creature of the forest, but he didn’t look like any of them. But if he was a human, why didn’t he look like any of the humans? Their ways were strange. The birds had told him about the human caves, built up from the ground instead of into a mountainside. And their strange smells, and their tools. Some of the creatures used tools, but not like the humans did. They wielded pieces of metal to kill creatures of the forest.

What about their magic? It wasn’t like the Power of Nature that Mother had taught him to wield. It moved and made things, changing them, disrupting the balance of nature. Would he have to use it too? Would he have to disrupt the balance of nature, simply because he was a human?

Nourd decided he didn’t like being human. But every time he thought he was ready to stay in the forest, he thought of Oshal and wanted to be near him.

The shifting of leaves behind him made him whirl around. He smelled the air, searching for the scent of a human, but it wasn’t a human he smelled.

Elder Deer leaped through the woods, then came to a stop next to him.

“Elder Deer.” Nourd spoke with the tongue of the forest, something all of Mother’s creatures could understand.

“Nourd. Chatter has begun to travel about you leaving.”

“Nothing’s decided yet. I was invited to the human nest.”

Elder Deer always held his head high, towering over Nourd. Creatures of the forest were never arrogant, but if any of them ever changed, it would be Elder Deer. He strutted around Nourd, who kept his own head high. He wouldn’t let his indecision show.

“Why don’t you go there?” Elder Deer asked. “Go to the humans, live with them. That’s where you belong, isn’t it?”

“This is my home.”

“You are the son of poachers. That’s all you’ll ever be. Like the other humans, you will hunt my people for sport, to sell our antlers and skins. You have never belonged here, human.”

Nourd took a step back. He’d grown up with Elder Deer’s fawns. He’d looked after them, warned them when danger was near. He knew the deer tribe didn’t trust humans, but he’d always thought they’d trusted him.

“You smell of betrayal,” Elder Deer said. “Did you think you were one of us? That you could ever be one of us? You belong with them, not with us.”

“Not every human hunts you. The forest-smelling humans don’t. They live among us peacefully. I would be one of them.”

Elder Deer tossed his head back and let out a barking laugh.

“No, you wouldn’t. Poaching is in your blood, human. You can’t escape it.”

Years ago, Nourd had noticed many of the older creatures shying away from him, keeping their young away from him. He’d asked Mother why, and she’d told him about his parents. How they’d been hunting animals in the forest. She’d used a word, a word he’d never heard then, “poaching”. She said that humans hunted them for food, but carefully, just like creatures hunted each other. In return, humans that didn’t hunt carefully — that’s what “poaching” was — were in turn hunted by the creatures of the forest. This had happened to his parents, but they’d left him behind.

“I’m more than that,” he said, as he’d said then. Mother had told him many creatures believed that he’d become another poacher, just like his parents. He wasn’t, and he didn’t intend to become one. He loved Mother, her forest, and all of her creatures. He didn’t understand why any of the creatures would think otherwise.

Elder Deer glared down at him.

“So you say. What will you say when you return here? Will you say the same? Or will you be too busy killing us? Will you make friends with the dragon human?”

“Never,” Nourd growled. “That thing isn’t human. It’s not like me!”

“So you say, but—”

“No creature of the forest would ever be friends with that thing.”

Despite spending his entire life in the forest, Nourd was never able to be as quiet as Elder Wolf. She stalked through the forest, leaving no trace, making no sound. When they needed strength, they sought out the bears or the boars; when they needed stealth, there were no better creatures in the forest than the wolves.

“Elder Deer, I thought we’d talked about this,” Elder Wolf said. She lied on the ground, her head picked up, her eyes trained on them. While she spoke, her ears swiveled, picking up every sound of the forest. “Nourd is no more a poacher than I am a human’s pet. Just because we share blood doesn’t make us the same.”

Elder Deer looked down his snout at them. He glared at Elder Wolf, knowing what would happen if he tried arguing with her.

“You will regret defending him, Elder Wolf.”

“I doubt that, Elder Deer. Why don’t you run along?” She stood up. “I would hate to see something bad happen to the deer tribe.”

Elder Deer looked from Elder Wolf to Nourd, then turned and leaped away through the trees.

Elder Wolf walked over to him.

“Come with me, Nourd. We have much to discuss.”

#VolumeOne #LeavingTheForest

Nourd ran alongside Elder Wolf. She went nimbly through the forest; nothing could slow her down. He’d been raised with her cubs, but watching her, he knew how much he still had to learn. He often found himself jealous of the wolves for having four legs. The apes had always told him they were the lucky ones; wolves couldn’t pick up food or climb trees, and what was better than climbing trees?

Nourd followed Elder Wolf back to her den. It was hidden away in the forest, far away from where any humans went. The cave looked like a small outcropping of rock to the untrained eye. Unlike the deer, the wolves only went out when they had to. All the creatures of the forest knew how to absorb the sun’s energy for nourishment, which meant they didn’t have to hunt as much. Even then, the wolves did, because that’s what they wanted to do. Elder Wolf had always told him “A wolf is the hunt. A wolf is her pack.”

Her pups were waiting for them, and ran out to meet them. They jumped onto Nourd, tails wagging. They nipped at him, and he nipped back, laughing.

“Are you staying for dinner?” one asked.

“It’s not dinnertime, yet,” Elder Wolf said. “You’ve only just woken up.”

“So?” another said. “He can stay until then, can’t he?”

“We’ll see,” Elder Wolf said. “Where is your father?”

“Sleeping,” came the tired reply. “At least, I was.”

Janam walked out of the den, nodding to Nourd. His fur was dark gray, in contrast to the lighter gray, almost white of Elder Wolf. He was bigger than her, but she held an air about her that made everyone listen when she spoke.

“The birds are chattering away about something,” he said. “Woke me up earlier with their calls. I’d just fallen back asleep.”

“I’ve been invited to stay with the humans,” Nourd said.

All three pups stopped rolling around and stared at him.

“No!” one cried. She whined and ran to him, nearly knocking him over again. Despite being pups, they were as big as he was. “You can’t leave!”

“Mama, talk to Mother!” another said. “She can’t make Nourd leave! He’s one of us!”

Warmth filled him, and he smiled. One of us. He’d felt like one of the wolves his whole life. While the deer and boars didn’t trust humans, the wolves, the bears, and the apes had always welcomed him. He was a part of each of their tribes, and they’d always made him feel like one.

“If you were alone with the humans,” Elder Wolf said to her pup, “wouldn’t you long to live with the wolves?”

“But I am a wolf!”

“And Nourd is a human,” Janam said, glancing at Nourd. His nose twitched. “Even if he doesn’t smell like one.”

“I am,” Nourd said. The sadness Elder Deer had left with him returned. “Maybe I should go to them.”

“It wouldn’t be forever,” Elder Wolf said. “Like the forest-smelling humans, he would come here and see us. He would help protect us like they do.”

Nourd had never seen a wolf smile, but the way Elder Wolf looked at him, he felt that she was smiling at him. It was as though, like Mother, Elder Wolf was proud of him.

“You’ll come visit?” one of the pups asked, wagging his tail.

“Of course,” he said. “This is my home.”

He looked at Elder Wolf and Janam. Until that day, he’d been certain that the forest had been his home, but now he was filled with doubt. What if Elder Deer was right?

“And it always will be,” Janam said.

“I’m sorry we woke you,” Elder Wolf said to her mate. “Unfortunately, we only needed to stop by for a moment.” As her pups began whining, she added, “But we’ll be back later, if that’s what Nourd wants.”

Nourd nodded. Living with the humans scared him, but knowing he’d always have a home with Elder Wolf made him feel more at ease. He could always return, couldn’t he?

“Nourd, please, follow me.”

Nourd and Elder Wolf left the den. They ran through the forest together, taking a path Nourd didn’t recognize as leading to anywhere. Elder Wolf always had her reasons. Of the tribe elders, she was one of the oldest and wisest. She understood the balance, and she’d met many of the humans. She knew that humans weren’t all the same.

Nourd kept telling himself this as they ran. Not all humans were the same. He wouldn’t be a poacher like the humans that had given birth to him. He’d never known them, and he didn’t want to know them. He was more than that.

Elder Wolf slowed her pace. Nourd didn’t see the significance of the where they were.

“No matter what happens at the human nest, I want you to remember us. Pay no mind to what the boars or deer say. They fear humans, and fear that you will become like the humans that bore you. But those humans are not your family. We are your family. You were raised here, in the forest, by us, by the creatures of the forest, and by Mother. She knew it was wrong to kill you even though others feared that you might turn out like those people. It is clear to me that you haven’t, and I know you won’t.”

Tears ran down Nourd’s cheeks. He ran over to Elder Wolf and buried his face in her side.

“I’m afraid, Montala. I’m afraid that I’ll become like them. I don’t want to be a human. I don’t want to leave here. This is where I belong.”

“Come now, my pup. Not all humans are the same. The forest creatures should know that by now. And you won’t leave the forest. The human nest is inside the forest, and we see them every day.”

“I’ll come visit you. I promise.”

“You must follow the forest-smelling humans and their teachings. The one in the forest earlier, Gorkle, is a good human. You can trust him. He will teach you well, as we have done.”

Elder Wolf’s words comforted him. He didn’t want to leave her, but knowing she’d be there when he returned made it easier to say goodbye.

#VolumeOne #LeavingTheForest

Nourd spent the night with the wolves. In the morning, he ran through the forest to talk to the bears. Elder Bear’s cubs were just as happy to see him, and just as upset to see him go. Elder Bear told him that he’d have a place with them. Just like Elder Wolf had, Elder Bear reminded him that he was one of her cubs too, and if anyone at the human nest upset him, she’d tear them to pieces.

He spoke with the apes after that. They too were sad, but they all understood the desire to be with his own kind. As much as he looked like them, they knew he wasn’t like them. After all, he only had a funny-looking tuft of fur on the top of his head, and he couldn’t grab things with his feet (how did humans live not being able to do that?)

When he was ready, he sought out Mother. He rested in the shelter of her branches for a time. This was his home, and he would never forget it.

Mother woke him and told him that Gorkle had arrived in the forest. When Nourd reached the base of her trunk, he found Elder Wolf and Elder Bear waiting for him. The three of them walked together to the entrance to the human nest, where Gorkle was waiting for them.

“Elder Bear, Elder Wolf,” it said, bowing. “It is an honor to see you.”

“Nourd is one of my cubs,” Elder Bear said. She stood on her hind legs. “You will treat him with the love he deserves, or I’ll devour you.”

“You’d better hope she does,” Elder Wolf said. “You don’t want me to get to you first.”

“Gentle beasts, there’s no need for threats,” Gorkle said. Nourd caught a slight scent of fear. “The court will treat Nourd with the same love we treat all our people. I will oversee him personally. You have my word that no harm will come to him.”

When Nourd smelled the air again, he caught another scent. A second human, a familiar one. Happiness burst forth from inside him.

“Where’s the other human?” Elder Wolf asked. She lowered her head and eyed Gorkle carefully.

“Someone else wanted to see Nourd,” Gorkle said. It turned back and motioned someone forward.

The scent was two scents. The two humans that had been in the forest a few days ago.

“Oshal!” Nourd said.

“Hello again,” Oshal said.

With him was the other human, the one Gorkle had called “Lady Durwey”. Oshal walked with a stick, tapping out the path in front of him before he walked. He came to a stop and held the stick on the ground.

“Who are these humans?” Elder Bear asked. She fell onto all fours then stepped forward, eyeing them and smelling the air.

“This is Lady Durwey and Apprentice Oshal. They were in the forest a few days ago, and Apprentice Oshal wanted to meet Nourd.”

Elder Wolf glanced at Nourd. She leaned in closer to him.

“This is the boy?” she asked quietly.

Nourd nodded, keeping his eyes on Oshal.

Elder Wolf walked up to Oshal then lied down. She sniffed him again. When she did, he slowly held out his hand.

“Hello,” he said. “Who are you?”

Not being of the forest, Oshal couldn’t understand anything they had been saying. Even so, he smiled. He smelled of happiness and trust. He wasn’t afraid, even when he knew there was something large in front of him. Elder Wolf could’ve swallowed him whole, but he wasn’t afraid.

Lady Durwey stepped closer, but Gorkle held out his hand to her and she stopped.

“This is Elder Wolf, of the wolf tribe.” In their language, he added, “Elder Wolf, this is Apprentice Oshal.”

“He smells different,” she said. “But there’s a hint of something I don’t like.”

Nourd knew what that was. It was the smell of the dragon human. He didn’t know what that thing smelled like, but he knew that it was supposedly Oshal’s sister. That still didn’t make sense to him. How could a dragon human have a family?

“I promise I’ll take care of Nourd,” Oshal said. “We all will. They’re all very nice at the court.”

“That’s enough,” Lady Durwey said. She smelled a little nervous. “Grand Master Gorkle, we must be going.”

Sadness built up inside Nourd. It was the moment he’d been dreading all morning. He turned to Elder Bear and hugged her, as well as one could hug a large furry tree.

“Come home soon, my little cub,” she said.

He hugged Elder Wolf next. He buried his face in her fur, and smelled the warm smell of family and love.

“Remember, you’re part of the pack,” she whispered.

He never wanted to leave her side. She and Mother had looked after him his whole life. But he knew it was time to go to the human nest, to live among them instead of the creatures of the forest.

“I love you,” he whispered to her.

“I love you too, my pup.”

He backed away from them, toward the human nest. The court. That’s what they called it. He’d have to learn to call it that too. He’d have to learn to live with this new sadness. Was it worth all this to be among humans?

Mother whispered to him, telling him not to be afraid, that he would always have a home with her. They were never far away.

Nourd wiped the tears from his eyes and turned to Gorkle, Durwey, and Oshal. Durwey still smelled of fear, but something else too, something that smelled like sadness. Gorkle was full of smells, many of them from the forest. Nourd liked the thought that he’d never stop smelling like the forest.

Oshal smiled at him, a smile and air full of kindness.

“It was hard for me when I said goodbye to my father,” he said. “But everything will be alright.”

Nourd nodded and walked with him inside the court. It was a new place, a new world, but he was sure that Oshal was right. Everything would be alright.

#VolumeOne #LeavingTheForest

Grund sat in his chambers, enjoying the quiet, staring into the fireplace. It was so rare that he found time to relax anymore. If he wasn’t fulfilling orders from the other officers, he was overseeing Roshil and hoping she hadn’t gotten herself into trouble. At that particular moment, she was in her room. He’d checked her thread only a few minutes ago to ensure she hadn’t tried sneaking out. As nice as her father appeared to be, Grund knew Daylarl hadn’t been a perfect influence on her.

He got an impulse from his identification orb that someone wanted to get into his chambers. He pulled out the orb and checked who it was.

What’s he doing here?

Grund wheeled over to the door and opened it.

Lord Velal stood on the other side, looking the epitome of a model citizen. His black hair was neat, he never had any facial hair, his back was straight, and his tunic and pants were all in order.

“Lord Grund, may I please come in?”

“I don’t see why not.” Grund moved aside to allow his friend to come in. “Close the door behind you.”

“Thank you.” Velal walked inside, quietly closing the door.

“Do you want something to drink?”

“Depends. Do you still have that bottle of Bzyora ale?”

Grund wheeled over to a box and pulled out said bottle. “Always keep some around for when you drop by.” He picked up a pair of glasses and poured some into each. “What brings you around tonight?”

Velal sat down in a chair near the fireplace, and Grund handed him his drink. “Thank you. Neither of us was busy, so I thought I’d stop by while I could.”

Grund settled back in and took a sip of his drink. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“I’m not checking in on your apprentice. There are better times to do that.”

“Like every week at the council meetings,” Grund said with a hint of exasperation. “Every. Single. Week.”

“I’m not the one that brings it up,” Velal said, his voice never losing its calm tone.

“No, Gorkle is. Like zie doesn’t trust that I’m watching over her. I know she’s different, just like that boy that hir just brought into the court. But I didn’t object.”

“You did warn hir there would be tension between Apprentice Roshil and Apprentice Nourd, but in fairness, there’s tension between Apprentice Roshil and most people.”

“It’s not her fault.”

“We are all aware.” He took another sip of his drink. “Apart from that, how are you?”

“The court’s my life now. You remember how it is when you have an apprentice. All the duties of a master and an officer. But unlike your last one, mine’s not determined to finish her apprenticeship two years early.”

“That was never my idea.”

Grund chuckled, then took another sip of his drink. It wasn’t a strong drink, but then, Lord Velal had never been much of a drinker.

“What about you?” Grund asked. “What happened to that friend of yours? What was her name?”

“Yindar,” Velal said. “She’s headlining at the Quondin, that theater in Torpn, next week. I was fortunate enough to get posted there. And she appreciated the violin you made for her.”

“It was my pleasure. Every good musician deserves a good instrument. And the Quondin’s a great place. Pwurmn and I used to attend concerts when we could. Torpn’s a day’s trip, so we couldn’t do it often.” He took another drink. “She met Apprentice Kurgm yet?”

“A few years ago, before he was Apprentice Kurgm. I may be his guardian, but Master Ekla spends more time with him now than I do.”

“It’s like having a kid. Their problems are suddenly your problems, and you’re always hearing about them.”

“You can grumble and groan all you like, Grund, but I know you too well. You’ve taken a shine to Apprentice Roshil.”

“Maybe. She’s a good worker, loves crafting. Probably wants to be here more than most other apprentices.”

“And has a bad habit of bending the rules,” Velal said with a knowing look. “Such as an incident several months ago with the west tower.”

“She’s been fine since then,” Grund snapped. “There are no signs that it’s getting worse.”

“Of course not. I didn’t mean to imply anything.”

“Gorkle’s bad enough, accusing her of being a spy. She’s done nothing wrong, nothing to warrant hir accusing my apprentice of anything!”

Velal said nothing. His face became neutral, his body motionless apart from the blinking of his eyes.

“I’m finished,” Grund said, taking another drink. “What’s life like outside the castle?”

“The forge is outside the castle.”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“It’s quiet, apart from the attack just before the cold season.”

“I remember.” Grund finished his drink. “And we’re sure it was him?”

“In all my years of recovering dragon attack sites, I’ve never seen another dragon be more thorough in his destruction. The farmlands inside the walls are safe, but I believe he’s testing our response.”

“Word cannot reach Apprentice Roshil about him.”

“I know. I remember the incident in the cool season. Master Dordir was rather unnerved by it.”

“He did the right thing.” Grund glanced at the clock. “Don’t you need your beauty sleep?”

“I believe I do.” Velal finished his drink and stood up from his chair. He walked over to the door, with Grund behind him. When he reached it, he stopped. “Grund, the other officers wanted me to tell you something.”

“Bad news, then.”

“They feel you’ve gotten too close to the girl.”

“Her name’s Roshil. You pulled her out of that thing’s clutches, you know that. And last I checked, a master’s supposed to be close to his apprentice. Something about giving them a trustworthy guiding hand to follow.”

“That may be, but… we don’t know the extent of the curse.”

“If she tries to kill me in my sleep, I’ll let you know. Until then, I’ll keep half an eye on her. If I stand over her — metaphorically — she’ll never trust me, and that’d be bad for everyone. So next time we all meet, I’ll be sure to tell Gorkle that to hir face.”

Velal began to respond, but Grund cut him off.

“I know this is coming from hir, so don’t try to tell me otherwise. I’ll keep half an eye on my apprentice, and Gorkle can do the same with hir new apprentice. That way, we’ve got everyone covered. At least my apprentice was raised by humans!”

Velal stood at the door without speaking, waiting for Grund to calm down, just as he’d done earlier. All the officers knew when Grund got annoyed, it was best to wait it out.

“It was good to talk again, even if you were only here a few minutes,” Grund said after the anger had left him. “Take care of yourself, my friend.”

“You as well, my friend.”

#VolumeOne