Evalyce: Worldshaper Vol. 2 Lady of Wolves

Alpha and Omega

Dashmar, Evalyce, Year of the Mythril Serpent, 2014 CE

Kalla yawned, watching the landscape fly by beneath the ship. They had crossed the border into Dashmar not more than an hour past, and the feeling of corruption in the land had intensified. A cluster of buildings in a clearing flashed past, catching her attention, and she asked Aleister to circle back. She wanted speak with the people. Perhaps she could find out more in regards to this 'supreme alpha', and get a better feel for the taint in the land, that she might heal it. At Vander's caution, they landed a good distance from the tiny village. Leaving the wyvern with the ship, the four walked the rest of the way in.

From Vander and Kasai, she learned that Dashmari villages were usually small, containing a single pack. There was a large rectangular communal dwelling where the pack members all shared space, much like the Harrier's Mews. Each family had its own little hearth and home, separated from their neighbors by leather or cloth hangings. There were entrances interspersed throughout the building, making access easy at any point.

In addition to the main living quarters, there was usually a small building set aside for the Dashmuynin, the spiritual leader of the pack, a healer and guide much like the Arkaddian shaman. A few buildings that served as storehouses rounded out the complement. All of the buildings encircled a large open plaza used as a gathering place.

Faint sounds of pleading filtered to them before they reached the village. A terrible scene greeted them when they broke through the trees and entered the clearing, unchallenged by the sentinels who should have being guarding the perimeter of the village. A haggard looking young man stood captive between two Dashmari dressed in military looking uniforms. The uniforms were all black with forest green armbands bearing a crossed lightning bolt sigil worn on the left arm. Three inch wide bracelets graced the wrist of the opposite arm. A very pregnant, distraught young woman seemed to be pleading with them.

She reached out to touch the arm of the older male, an imploring look on her face. He snarled and backhanded her, sending her crashing to the ground. The man between the soldiers made to move towards her and the warrior rounded on him with another snarl, driving him back. Though others stood watching, all had drooped ears and cowed expressions. The female lay on the ground, sobbing softly.

Kalla growled, a deep warning sound. Ignoring Aleister's alarm she strode into the clearing.

"What is the meaning of this?" she snarled. The spectators flinched away, their eyes diverted. They recognized her as an alpha, though she had asked Aleister to hide the markings with illusion so that she would not be associated with Amaraaq. Here among the Dashmari, she only wanted to be seen as a Dashmari mage. Even the soldiers flinched, though they held their ground. The older male met her eyes briefly, then his lips curled in a sneer as he caught sight of Vander.

"No business of yours, mage. I don't know who you are, but you have no authority here. You or your pet freak," he replied in a smug tone. A rumbling growl trickled from Kalla's throat.

"You made it my business when you assaulted the woman. Release the man and leave this place," she said in a low voice. The man sneered at her and started to turn away. He spun back, drawing a miniature crossbow and firing it at her. She threw up a hasty shield, cursing the fact that she hadn't already done so, and another snapped up in front of her, courtesy of the War Mage. The crossbow bolt thudded against it, dropping to the ground. At the same instant a thick arrow shaft sprouted from the man's gut, knocking him to the ground. One of Aleister's daggers buried itself in the chest of the younger soldier, sinking to the hilt. Kasai stalked past her, drawing one of the slender swords at his back. He reached the soldier and kicked the crossbow away from him.