Chapter 2

     Ryas stood staring at Jan’s unconscious form for some time. His thoughts moved to images of what the scene might look like in a month. A burning village littered with the bodies of men and wolves, and himself standing in the middle of it all, looking down at the same limp body as he did now, only this time it did not move slightly with breath. He thought about it for a moment, and he realized the situation could very well turn out the other way. The image in his head changed so that the human was standing in the middle of a burning village gazing down at his body, and the bodies strewn throughout the scene were predominantly lupine forms.

     He shuddered, and looked at Jan with more fear than he had before. If the man had been able to unlock that power lurking inside him when he decided to attack Ryas, the Nightrunner would likely have had to do real damage to subdue him. This man was a very real danger to him and his cohorts, but it would be just as dangerous to kill him now. If he was the one prophesied to join them and they got rid of him, they would be all the more vulnerable when the other was revealed.

     With a sigh, Ryas turned from the unconscious heap in the road and faded into the trees, the wolves heeling him. After he had gone a dozen paces or so, they made way for a significantly larger wolf to walk at his side. This wolf had long fur of the same gray as Ryas’s hair, and most people would name it the obvious alpha at a glance. That title actually fell to Ryas. The wolf still stood above any other wolf and all the Nightrunners save the alpha, yet he wasn’t the beta of the pack either, that was Allus. The relationship was perfectly clear to everyone in the tribe, but very difficult to explain in words to others. The best they had come up with was that he was the alpha of the wolves while still subordinate to Ryas. There were still problems with that explanation, such as the fact that Allus stood above all of the other wolves as well, along with further intricacies of rank among the wolves and men, but it worked well enough.

     Ryas turned his head slightly to meet the wolf’s eye, “What do you think, Nesriel?”

     About what? He replied, using the link that was channeled through the wolf head amulet around Ryas’s neck.

     “About Raedel, his reactions, the man in general. Which do you think he is?” He paused in thought for a moment, “More importantly, how do you think he’ll choose?”

     Nesriel appeared to think it over, as much as a wolf can look pensive. I think it’s too early to say. You intrigued him, but I saw his hands shake. It would be wise to prepare for him being there regardless.

     Ryas nodded and continued on in silence. After a short time, Nesriel turned his head back towards the following wolves and nodded at one in a disconcertingly human way. It had taken years for Ryas to get used to the occasional odd mannerisms of the wolves. The bond linking them worked both ways: Ryas and his clan gained the senses and strength of the wolves, boosted by the strength of the magic as well, and the wolves gained human intelligence. Along with that intelligence came human characteristics that didn’t look right coming from a hulking canine.

     The wolf that Nesriel had signaled loped off ahead to set things in motion back at their camp. They walked along in silence for a time, Ryas lost in thoughts of the strange man he had left unconscious on the road and of the next time they would meet. Nesriel must have been picking up on his thoughts through the bond because his next words were directed only to Ryas and they carried a worried edge.

     His power, clearly he hasn’t mastered it, but he took down three wolves before he could be subdued in an ambush…

     The question had been turning over in Ryas’ head for some time now, He is still only using it on instinct, and he doesn’t seem to be aware of it. Still, he fights with instinct rather than thought, so even if he hasn’t figured out how to use it consciously, he won’t need to in a fight.

     Nesriel nodded again, keeping his eyes forward. Then it would seem we have careful planning to do if we are to make him think as he fights.

     Ryas’ mind returned to the hunt earlier, to the unbelievable speed and control. He dispelled the image with a shake of his head. He would rather the man flee the village, but if he must he would fight, and he would win.

     Can you? A voice seemed to whisper in his ear. He glanced at Nesriel, but the wolf stared ahead as he plodded along. It was his own thought this time. He had doubted himself more and more lately. It was a foolish thing to do; he had planned and re-planned this throughout his considerable life.

     And Taren has been planning for his even longer life. The voice said again, Do you really know better?

     Ryas sent out a mental command and the party picked up speed. He had work to do, and little time to waste.