Storm Born Book One

Chapter Seven

Stabling their horse Edward and Liam entered the warren of stone-built tunnels that connected the capitol residential chambers to their main hall, priestess temple complex, and Elders Chambers. It had been a month since they had been last in the capitol, Rosalinds recovery had been lengthy and protracted, before she could come to terms with what had happened. As soon as the weather had broken and the thaw had set in he had been keen for them to leave and return to the lowlands, but Adlina had persuaded them to stay. The Fey council had granted them land and an outpost to settle in. It had been hard going at first the outpost had long been abandoned and left to the elements and it still needed much repair but the land was good with forest for hunting a river for fishing and a vast and expansive plain. there were a few isolated villages nearby that he hoped to trade with now he was away from the capitol he had begun to think he could make the place a home for him and his people. now, however, he was summoned back to the capitol to deal with a new problem. 

The stench hit them as soon as they entered, the combined odors of unwashed bodies were almost overwhelming on his sensitive nostrils a glance at Liam told him he had also smelt it. Edwards' pace quickened as his nose took him to the Market Square. before him was a sea of werewolves of all ages ''these people looked half-starved'' he thought taking in the scene before him, there had to be over 50 of them mostly children some wearing collars about their necks. His nose wrinkled in disgust and anger slaves. Fey rushed about handing out food and healers were run off their feet tending to the more frail among them. His eyes caught the High Elder speaking with a group at the back of the hall, and he began to make his way across the open space towards her.

"We will do everything we can to help you I promise you" She smiled holding the hand of the young man in guard uniform, she saw Edward approach and swiftly walked across the room to meet him. 

''Alpha Edward, I am so pleased you have come as you can see we have a situation here please let us go into the chambers where we may talk. It is a little noisy here'' she smiled as a group of pups chasing a small ball ran through the middle of them.

"I think that would be a good idea," he said. following her to the Elder chamber, almost at the door of the chamber he was approached by a very elderly she-wolf.

"Edward Thorn?" she murmured her frail thin hand gripped tight to his sleeve clutching at the material "Edward is it you?"

He gazed into her watery blue eyes she was old and frail he wondered how she had survived the journey through the mountains it was a tough journey, even in the spring and summer months the mountains were treacherous. he looked at the woman curiously he felt he should know her, she knew him but he could not remember her ''Do I know you?" he questioned gently.

"I was a bit younger then but I used to look after you and your brothers when you were small she smiled, I remember you young Edward, you look so much like your father".

Are all of you from the Thorncastle pack?

"I remember you when you were a small boy'' she whispered her watery eyes glazing over as she lost herself in memory ''you look just like your father," she repeated

Edward smiled softly and brushed her hair from her face "It is good to see you again, I have to go now but I will see you again soon". A fey healer approached and gently wrapping an arm around the waist of the elderly woman led her away.

"Come," said Elder Adlina pushing open the heavy door to the chamber, she walked with purpose across the hall to the table in the center of the room it was a large oak table surrounded by the twelve chairs of the Elders who sat in the elder chamber. she pulled out a chair and sat down indicating for him to do likewise.