Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
‘You know, you’d make quite the jester in our castle court,’ he says, chuckling.
‘How long until we’re at the castle?’ I ask.
‘Around a day and a half maybe sooner,’ he replies.
At twilight, Sir Hugo decides to make camp for the night, ties the horse and me to a tree, and collects twigs to make a fire. He then rummages through the gifts from my admirers and pulls out some dried meats and a hunk of bread. He halves the bread, and we eat in silence.
I think about Damon and Vivian and wonder if I’ll ever see them again.
The morning sun warms my face. I open my eyes and yawn.
‘Time to get moving,’ Sir Hugo says.
I wait for him to hoist me onto the saddle for the umpteenth time. He sits on the saddle behind me, nudges the horse, and it moves.
Finally, after hours of riding, we arrive at King Fenris’ training fields in the early afternoon.
‘Just up ahead is the training field, where our army is training. We will stop there first, in case King Fenris is there, and from there, we will go to the castle. The castle isn’t a far ride from the training grounds. I’ll be glad to get back to training the army,’ he says happily.
An assortment of silver and iron weapons clang together as men in armour, spread out over fifty hectares, joust and duel with swords, maces, axes, and bludgeons. Men shout across to one another in the fields.
We trot between two long rows of canvas tents, and as we approach King Fenris’ tent, the soldiers stop fighting and watch me, frozen to the spot, as we near the King. They have all completely forgotten that they’re meant to be training.
‘The stories of the princess are true!’ Someone shouts.
‘A goddess of beauty!’ ‘Her eyes!’ A few more men shout.
Sir Hugo extracts his sword from its sheath and points it into the air, yelling, ‘VICTORY WILL BE OURS! DEATH TO THE WEREWOLVES!’
The soldiers with weapons hold them high into the air, yelling, ‘DEATH TO THE WEREWOLVES,’ before they all loudly cheer.
Three men exit a large tent, inspect the commotion, and walk in our direction, smiling. When they’re closer, I realise the man in the middle is King Fenris. Like the man in my dream, he wears a red cloak and a gold crown, and he has the same blonde hair, blue eyes, and small scars on his right cheek.
Sir Hugo hops down from the horse to greet the men.
‘I’m so glad you accepted my offer of hospitality during these dangerous times,’ he says happily, his hands neatly clasped together.
‘King Fenris?’ I ask.
‘At your service.’ he smiles.
‘I’ve seen you before… in my dreams.’ I say.
The two men and King Fenris laugh.
‘Oh princess, there is no need to try and flatter me. I often have that effect on the ladies without even having to try.’ He says in a cocky manner.
‘That’s not what I meant… and I declined your offer of hospitality, just so you know!’ I say in anger.
King Fenris and the men stop laughing.
‘Yet, you are here,’ he smiles.
‘Against my will,’ I say.
The King gives me a look of confusion.
I raise my arms to show the chains.
‘I would love to hop down from this horse, but I cannot, seeing as I am in chains!’ I yell.
The king approaches me and inspects my shackled wrists with obvious painful burns.
‘Sir Hugo!’ King Fenris yells.
Sir Hugo approaches King Fenris and bows.
‘Yes, my King.’ he says.
‘What is the meaning of the shackles and chains?’ he yells at Sir Hugo. Sir Hugo looks up in confusion.
‘I told you to offer her temporary lodgings on my behalf so she would be safe until the war is over! Not kidnap and chain her up!’ He yells.
‘But my King…’ Sir Hugo tries to talk.
I gasp as Sir Hugo is struck across his face by King Fenris’ armoured hand. Blood dribbles from Sir Hugo’s nose.
‘Now get out of my sight before I have you lashed again!’ King Fenris yells. Sir Hugo looks angry. He wipes the blood from his nose and flicks it onto the ground.
‘Yes, my King,’ he says and walks away into one of the tents.
‘Princess, I’m so sorry for whatever Sir Hugo has put you through. He was meant to offer you safety at my lodgings, only if you accepted,’ he says sincerely.
‘So, I’m not being held captive here?’ I ask.
‘Of course not.’ He says. I let out a sigh of relief.
‘Commander James! General Zander! Help the Princess down from the horse immediately,’ he instructs.
The men approach and disconnect the cuffs from the horse’s reigns and around my wrists and hold me around my waist as I get down from the horse.
Commander James is looking at me and holding my waist longer than is necessary. I glare at him.
‘I’m so sorry, Princess. I don’t mean to stare. It’s just that you’re more beautiful than I imagined.’
King Fenris kneels, takes my hands and gently places a kiss.
‘Commander James is right. You are more beautiful than anyone could imagine,’ King Fenris says. I blush.
‘I’ll escort you to the castle and tend to those wounds. I’m sure you’re hungry and tired?’ He says.
‘I am and very thirsty too,’ I add.
‘We will head to the castle, and you can tell me about your journey,’ he says.
‘I’d like to talk to you about this war instead,’ I tell him.