The Iron Wolf

Chapter One

Her nose itched.

An insufferable, unrelenting itch. Any other time, it would be no problem. She would simply itch it... But when Sol was standing at the right side of the GoodLand's King in front of the entire royal court, anything but stoic was unacceptable. It was almost unbearable, this persistent itch, she could endure torture, battle wounds, but this little itch trumped all. Sol shifted slightly, casting a glance to her brother out of the corner of her eye. Standing on the other side of the throne, a perfect statue. Nox had always been better at the whole silent warrior air, embracing it wholeheartedly as a child when she was still a gangly, loud, awkward thing. Always been opposites of each other, except in course, looks. The same cropped dark hair, the same brown eyes. They even shared some of the same scars. But they had caught the title "The Mirror" for their vastly different mannerisms, like the reflection in a mirror, they looked the same but opposites never the less... It had all started as a joke by their first battalion, and somehow it had stuck, now known throughout the country. Sol wrinkled her nose, the itch only fading by a little.

"...A few of the soldiers had reawakened by the time the hunters had found the bodies, resulting in additional losses in containing the outbreak. In total we believe all 12 of the soldiers and 2 of the hunters were... slayed by Shamblers. We advise compensating the families...." the military advisor finished, trailing off as he looked down at his feet. The pause grew ever more pregnant as the court waited for King Jago's reply.

Sol had long grown accustomed to the King's ways, having served as part of the guard since the day she turned 18. Every move he made was calculated, never speaking before he had an exact answer on his tongue.

The pause grew to almost unbearableness when King Jago leaned forward in his throne, cold eyes burrowing into the advisor.

"Look up when you speak." his tone was soft, but his voice was frigid metal that echoed through the courtroom. The advisor slowly lifted his eyes to meet the King's, flinching in the King's unwavering gaze.

"There are others responsible for these deaths as well are there not?" King Jago asked, his tone implying full well that he knew the exact answer.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty, We believe the Iron Wolf and the Pa-"the advisor stuttered timidly before being cut off by the King.

"Do not name them in this court!" he hissed, standing. "Names have power, and I shall not give this group of fur shrouded vigilantes any power." his words were a blade, a rare show of anger. Nox and Sol met each other's eyes in their places from behind the throne, their hands simultaneously drifting to rest on their sword hilts. A warning to the court, a backing to the King. They were the King's justice and if they were ordered to punish the advisor, they would. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

The Court watched in silence as the King paced before his throne, the only sound being the dragging of his heavy robes across the marble floor.

"Dismissed, all of you..." King Jago said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Leave me to my thoughts." Nox and Sol stepped forward, they needed a direct command to be dismissed from the King's service without a replacement.

His Majesty cast them a sidelong glance, pausing in his pacing for a moment.

"The Mirror stays" Sol met the King's glance, nodding formerly before going to stand beside her brother.

"Of course, Your Majesty" Sol replied for both reflections of the Mirror. King Jago resumed his pacing, back and forth before the throne. His footsteps echoed through the empty throne room, the grandeur high windows and marble columns that lined the room made it seem all the more deserted.