I stared at the ceiling for nearly an hour, contemplating how my life had gotten to this point. I mean, here I was in a land of people who could change into bears wondering how I was going to handle being around a handsome guy who could control fire. I paused in my ruminations to pop one of the pea pills and counted those that remained. Four left. Multiply that by three hours and I had only half a day left.
The pain had subsided completely and I had nothing to do but mull over my thoughts. I turned my head and looked out the window that faced the rear of the lodge. Almost midday already. If I could just make it to nightfall I’d have an excuse to hide in my bedroom until tomorrow.
And then? What will you do tomorrow?
I slumped deeper into the bed. You just had to remind me, didn’t you?
That’s what I’m here for.
I rolled over and hugged the pillow beneath my head. The voice was right. I really didn’t have a plan for tomorrow and I was certain the prince and Dadan wouldn’t be leaving first thing.
I sat up and furrowed my brow. What had they come here, anyway? It must have been something more important than a chance at seeing Arian again, especially so soon after their parting.
My curiosity wouldn’t leave well enough alone, so I slid off the bed and out of the room. The halls were quiet but joyous sounds came from the open front doors. I stepped out into the bright midday sunlight and beheld a city alive with festivities. People shouted and clinked beer mugs together in the streets, citizens and visitors alike admired the decorations spread out along the main thoroughfare, and children raced through the adults, giggling and laughing. Many of the women wore small bouquets in their hair and the soft petals glistened in the bright sun. The king himself sat atop his newly built throne and watched over the fun with a comforting smile on his lips.
However, I was disappointed to see that the seats on either side of him were empty.
Arian was busy at the firepit helping the other women cook up mounds of food. She noticed me standing on the top of the stairs and handed her ladle to another before hurrying up to me. “Father told me you were not feeling well,” she told me as she grasped my arms. “Are you sure you should be up?”
“I’m feeling a lot better. Besides-” I leaned to one side to admire the view, “-how could I miss all this? That’s why we came here, right?”
A smile brightened her face and she squeezed my arms. “Yes, and I am so glad you are here. Let me get you something to eat before the festivities begin.”
“They haven’t already?” I wondered as I heard the raucous sounds of a drunken song sung by over twenty off-tune party-goers.
“Not yet,” Arian told me as we reached the firepit.
A familiar spicy odor wafted out of the cauldron and across my nostrils. I eyed the soup with a narrow-eyed look as one would a most dangerous foe.
Arian chose to fill a plate with meat and vegetables, which she turned and held out to me. “This should help you get your strength back.”
I took the plate and inhaled the delicious and safe scent of mild spices.
“How do you like it?” a voice spoke up.
Arian and I turned to see Hudian from the restaurant saunter over to us. He had a half-finished mug in one hand and the leg of some giant creature in the other. A wide grin stretched his face and his eyes twinkled with mirth and the beginning effects of happy drunkenness.
The young man sauntered over and draped one arm over the spit post. He nodded at the animal on my plate. “I cured the meat myself. Took me a good fortnight to get the right flavor.”
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I picked up the hunk of meat and nibbled the edges. My eyes lit up as a savory smoky flavor flowed down my throat. “It’s really good!”
He puffed out his broad chest. “Glad you like it. There’s a whole cow waiting to be-”
A sharp shout among the joyous voices caught my attention. I wasn’t the only one as many people paused in their cooking and merrymaking, and turned toward the open courtyard gates. A runner hurried through the gate and stopped in front of the throne where he pointed in the direction he had come.
“The wolves, Your Highness! They’re coming! Lord Lujun is leading them to the entrance to the city as we speak!”
The lively atmosphere died and more than one fair maiden cowered together. The men took on grim faces and many turned to the road half-expecting an attack.
King Pangberan stood and stepped off his throne. His great booming voice echoed all around not only the courtyard but down the long, quiet road. “I will greet them personally, and I invite anyone who wishes to join me in opening our arms and kegs to come with me.”
Hudian shot up his arm and the drink sloshed all down his limb. “I’ll go, Your Highness!”
The domino effect took place, and more people raised their arms.
“I’ll go!”
“Let’s see what these wolves are about!”
“They have beer, don’t they?”
“They do!”
“I’m in!”
“We’re all in!”
The last cry was followed by a great cheer as the masses formed a long line to march toward the city entrance and the promise of a fine, and free, drink. The crowd parted for King Pangberan and he led the procession to the far side of the city.
I set my plate aside and grabbed both Arian’s hand and one of Hudian’s elbows and pulled them after their king. We followed close enough behind to rake advantage of his majesty’s wake where none dared tread over his royal heels. In that way, we stayed at the head of the pack and were soon at the far reaches of the city. The forest loomed in front of us, as did the ancient and crumbling stone wall. Lujun stood thirty yards out from the last house at the crossroads. A dozen of his men were with him and their wary eyes watched their other companions.
Those were King Waerg and his six promised friends. Sort of. A cart stood behind them and the wheeled vehicle wasn’t pulled by a horse or donkey, but by a large gray wolf. I guessed that was a companion, giving the total to half a dozen. They didn’t seem to have any weapons on their person, but the fangs and claws of their transformed cart-puller told me they didn’t need any.
King Waerg sported a crooked smile on his face as King Pangberan approached him. “Well met, King Pangberan!”
“Well met, King Waerg,” Pangberan returned as he stopped in front of the wolf ruler and offered him his hand. “You are welcome to the Fur Festival and all the treats it has to offer.”
Waerg accepted the hand and gave it a vigorous shake. Almost too vigorous. “We are eager to be here, my friend, and we’re glad to see so many of your people turning out to greet us.” His eyes rolled past the bear king and fell on my friends and me, who stood only a few feet behind Pangberan. I swore his sharp eyes zeroed in on me and his smile widened. “I look forward to meeting many of them.”
“You’ll meet all of them old enough to drink if you’ve brought your drink,” Pangberan assured him as he examined the cart. A dozen tall barrels were nestled inside its high walls.
Waerg half-turned to the vehicle and put his hands on his hips. “We have brought as much as our largest cart could carry, but from the thirsty faces behind you, I would guess these will not be enough to whet their appetites. Should that unfortunate situation occur, I will personally take the cart back and refill it.” He raised his arms and his voice to the crowd. “What do you say to that?”
A great cheer rose from the people, and many clapped and hollered.
King Pangberan stepped aside and swept his arm toward the city. “Then allow me to welcome you to Banhar, King of the Wolves.”
Waerg bowed his head. “I accept your welcome, King of the Bears, and may this day be filled with many more wonders.”
The wolf and his entourage strolled past Pangberan and the crowd, my friends and I included, stepped aside. Waerg inclined his head and smiled at the crowd, but his eyes lingered on me as he passed. A chill ran down my spine.
Arian’s whispered voice floated into my ear. “Is something wrong?”
I followed the wolf king and his subjects as they passed on down the road. “I hope not.”
