Rolf & the Black Wolves (special preview)

“It’s only a wedding!” The woman cries. “Please let me go!” She expands her great wings, knocking over several priestesses. I then notice them start to lunge at her, so I charge out and knock her free of the priestesses grasp. I pull her behind me and get her back near her carriage. 

“It’s ok now, I’ll see you get into the keep safe and sound. I’m so sorry my lady that you-” I turn to look at her and our eyes meet. She’s stunningly beautiful but I recognize her soft gray eyes.

“Master Rolf!” Her tiny mouth spreads into a grand smile.

“Ilithyia?” I am so bewildered by this reunion I don’t notice the priestess coming up from behind who smashes her scepter against the back of my head. 

I am knocked unconscious, but I am taken back by dreams to the fledgling days of the Black Wolves. Back when it first began, it was Delilah’s attempts to protect the Blights and their families. They soon formed together, making a small army which Delilah and I came to lead. We took jobs as mercenaries and soon our skill and exploits became well known. We became hired by many of the great houses in Ophirin, all under the table of course. I thought I had seen everything until the day we were called to an urgent meeting in the Crouching Woods. The man we met with was cloaked, which was not unusual for us by a long shot. It was the Crouching Woods that was strange. It was a sort of neutral ground just before the Elamont Mountains, a place of mass graves from the early years of Ophirin, thanks to the Ashek Wars and the sacrifices of Irina. 

Delilah and I were asked to be the only ones to meet with him and it was unnerving. The Crouching Woods were cold and quiet, not a sound in the trees or the earth, it was not a place for animals, let alone people.

“Thank you for coming,” the man’s voice was tempered and even, very soothing. “I know this is an unorthodox meeting place, but it promises no eyes or ears will be in on this conversation besides our own.”

“Is that why you are hiding yourself?” Delilah asked.

“My protection,” he replied. “You see, my kind isn’t welcome in Elamont, and I had to assure I traveled here to meet you.” He removes his hood and reveals his long white hair and pale lavender skin. “I am Virniros, monarch of the Avariel in the Elamont Peaks.”

“Shit,” Delilah gasped under her breath. “This just went from odd to worse.”

“I do apologize.” Virniros bowed his head to us. “But I hope you now understand why I called a meeting here of all places. I am afraid the men of Elamont are plotting against me and my people, so I do not trust anyone except the Blights.”

“Is that why you’re hiring the Black Wolves?” Delilah stepped towards him. “Do you wish for us to go against the Elamont?”

Virniros shakes his head. “Not that at all. I would not ask you to kill yourselves. The job I offer is to track down a group of slavers.”

“Ophirin is protected from such things,” Delilah grumbled. 

“Just because there is protection against does not mean it will not happen,” Virniros sighed. “I believe the men of Elamont have been allowing them through the pass and up into the mountains. Many of our young people have gone missing and there are reports of strangers in the mountains. I have come to you on my own because of how grave the situation is. My daughter is one of those who have been taken, so money is of no issue. For her, I’ll pay any price.” He tossed a bag onto the ground that I stabbed with my sword and opened up. Inside gemstones spilled out.