The Land of the Wolves

Chapter Three

All of them had finished eating. Aurora was still very nervous. What or who was the emperor? What type of person would that be? So many questions ran across her mind. Falk looked at her. She was sitting on the chair with a worried look on her face. "Now then, shall we speak about your situation?", he asked. The other three looked at each other. "If it's not too much trouble, I would like to speak to one of you", she answered nervously. Falk looked at them. They understood and left the room. Falk looked back at her. "You don't have to answer or say anything if you do not feel like it", he said. Aurora nodded. "I will try to say as much as I can", she said. Falk sat there and listened to her story on how she lived in the woods with others, in what felt like a cult. How everyone was punished if they didn't do anything right and should only obey the elders rules and only belive in one thing. He listened and his expression in his face went from curiosity to shocked. How could they be so cruel to so many and lie? Falk stood up. "Follow me", he said and Aurora stood up. Both walked out the room. That's when the big wooden doors from the entrance opened. A man entered. His clothes as black as the rest with the golden details. His coat grey and sleeveless. His brown hair slicked back and a beard. "Emperor it is good to see you back", Falk claimed. Aurora looked at the other man. So this was the emperor they had talked about. The man walked towards them. He stopped when he noticed Aurora. "Who is this?", he asked. His voice scared her a bit. It sounded deep and a bit rough. "That is why I wanted to see you", Falk said. The man looked at her, his expression never changing. "This is Aurora. The Greywolf brothers found her wounded in the forest", Falk started to explain. That's when the expression changed. It was a bit calmer. "She doesn't come from any of the other kingdoms", Falk started to say then looked at her when he continued "But the story should be told by her". Aurora looked at Falk then to the emperor. He waited for her to speak. Then she told him the same things as she did to Falk. His expression changing yet again. This time more concerned. "I see. Well then! She can stay here as long as needed", the emperor said. Falk looked at Aurora with a smile. She didn't know what to say but nodded in response. "My apologies you two. I have to go and attend something", Falk said and walked out. Leaving Aurora with the emperor. She looked at him. Something made her curious about him. "I would like to talk more. If you would follow me to my office", he said and started to walk up the stairs. Aurora looked after him. She wasn't sure about it and thought for a moment. The emperor waited. She then started to walk up the stairs. Both walking to a big wooden door. It had wolves engraved and other symbols. The emperor opened it. Behind it was a big room with a wooden table and many bookshelves as well as paintings. Both walked in. Aurora looked around, her curiosity couldn't be hidden. The emperor sat down on a big chair, looking at her. Aurora noticed and stopped to look around. "So your name is Aurora correct?", the emperor asked. She nodded and walked towards the other chair. He made a gesture that she could sit down, which she did. "I shall introduce myself then. I'm the leader of this kingdom. My name is Attila Dorn", he said. Aurora looked at him.

'Attila'

That name would stay in her mind, forever wandering around. "You seem like you know little about this place", Attila claimed. She nodded. "I only know what I have been told in the village Sir", she said. Attila's face darkened. He was thinking and then looked back at her. Aurora being a bit scared about the expression. "I will have someone teach you everything you need to know. You can walk around freely in this castle and read every book you want in the library", he said and stood up, walking towards a bookshelf. When he found the book he wanted, he walked back and gave it to her. "This shall teach you a bit of the kingdoms story", he said. She nodded and grabbed the book. "The lords will also teach you things. You will soon know our rules, our ways of living and then you can choose what you want to do around here", Attila explained. Aurora nodded. She stood up, made a gesture for a thank you and left the room. Attila looked after her. 'She most have been through a lot', he thought to himself and looked out the window 'It is best to help her and then...'

He looked at a wall with a big map on it, his eyes on the forest Aurora had spoken about. Grabbing a knife, marking the place where the village should be and looked at it with a dark expression.

'We shall tear that place down!'

Aurora walked to her room, holding the book in her hand. She was very interested in what story the book had. When she arrived, she went inside, laid down on the big bed and started to read. After hours of reading, she would close the book and place it on the small shelf next to her. The story this kingdom had, was fascinating. The people got along with the wolves and started to help each other. Some turned their back on the emperor and formed another unit, who guess against them. They were known as the followers of the Cobra King. The kingdom respected every religion and even accepted those with no beliefs. Aurora was lost in her thoughts. Soon she would fall asleep, with all the things in her head that she read about this place.