The Three Kingdoms [under edit]

Eallwundor, Brytencyning

"Not the title I came up with." Caper said as he paced the room.  "I am no longer a threat, I can't imagine why they would want me now."

"That thing they called you?" Galvin asked skeptically.

"Yeah...I was called Mearcweard, which in the old tongue translates directly to Lupus, and in the old language of the wolves literally means 'wolf,' but they way they said it it means The Wolf. "

"There is so much about you we just don't know yet huh."

"Dragon, you have no idea.  Eallwundor and Brytencyning, words used to describe me, words so powerful if used correctly."

"Care to explain?"

"Well...do you want to delve into my past? Or explain to a confused city why their home is on fire and their Governor is dead?"

Galvin walked out onto the terrace and observed the smoke rising from the buildings.

"Sorry sir...it was accidental." Darwin said gazing at the quenched flames.

Galvin stepped forwards.

"Citizens of Ka-Vét." he announced.

"Aka, the land of the sneezing kittens." Caper inserted.

"Tonight is a rather difficult thing to explain, yet I will try to be brief your city is now part of my kingdom, the land to the east.  If you have a problem with that, leave or be executed.  You now abide by my laws, and not those of the convoluted king you previously had.  I will be leaving someone in charge...and would like to establish a new guard based on my policies."  Galvin turned to Caper. "You think you can control a city?"

"I don't want to."

"What?!"

"I'd rather work towards a cure, not hold a checkpoint."

"And Caden and Sage?"

"They feel the same way, I just spoke with them." he said turning towards his sister and her mate.

"Very well," He turned back to the crowd.  "I place the captain of my guard in charge here with full authority to do as he sees fit.  Connor, please step forth, we will see you later."

"You can't just leave me!"

"Tut tut, Connor." said Caper grinning. "You have a city to look after."

The group departed the city and travelled silently for a time.  It was after sundown when they pitched camp in the shade of a small glade.

"There was a rather underwhelming collection of guards there." Caper stated.

"Not enough to satisfy your bloodlust?"

"I'm not a psychopathic killing machine."

"No...your a fluffy killing machine, now tell me, what did the Wraiths want from you?"

"They want my life."

"Obviously.  Explanation?"

"I don't like talking about it."

"Well, as your friend, i believe I have a right to know, however, I won't force you."

Caper took a deep breath and sighed.  The long drawn out kind, like he was in deep thought.

"When I was about 17 years old...they attacked my pack killing my mother.  I was young, but I was the heir."

"I'm sorry."

"For the next seven years I made it my prime goal to destroy their putrid race, I was seen as a hero.  They called my Lupus Lux, or the Great Mearcweard, I guess somewhere along the lines I lost myself in pride.  I began to not only attack the wraiths, but destroy their land and pillage their cities.  As horrible as they are, they are just as civilized as anyone else.  I killed off all their offspring.  They are just as mortal as you as infants.  That was a huge mistake."

"So they want revenge?"

"Yes.  On me."

"Can you negotiate?"

"No, they said they would kill me and they will. I won't be safe anywhere, it is their nature.  I will die by their hands, or die trying to get away....but I will have to face it sooner or later."

"Look Caper...the past is in the past, everyone goes crazy at some point in their lives, don't get all hopeless...I will do my best to keep your life safe."

"No, I knew what I was doing.  Somewhere in my twisted mind I craved the smell of their corpses.  I was angry, I was hurt beyond insanity.  What I did was wrong and I will willingly pay for it, but the time is not right.  When I depart this world, I will do so righteously, I will have done my duty to the land.  I will not die a tyrant."

"You are no tyrant."

"I think I will go retire now." Caper stood to leave.

"One last question?"

"Yes Dragon?"

"Do you believe in something more?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you believe that we have some greater purpose here? that we weren't here by some chemicals and accidents?  Do you have a religion?"

"Yes...To all of that.  Perhaps sometime I will tell you.  Do you?"

"I don't know...not really."

"Goodnight Galvin."

"Goodnight..."

The sun rose almost as late as Galvin slept.  The entire encampment was stirring.  Darwin was waiting to deliver the latest news, and inform Galvin of the arrival of the newest recruits.  Galvin smiled softly.  Their campaign was successful, they picked up about a thousand missmatched individuals willing to fight.  They would still need hundreds of thousands too dare appose the king, but then again, all they really needed was intellectual strength.  He gazed into the distance at their next target.  A small military outpost, they would need to gain control of that for security and then travel up to the Frozen North and seek the aid of King Darien.

"Sir, we have been spotted."

Galvin's thought were interrupted immediately.

"How many are headed our way?"

"We can't tell."

"Rally the troops, we meet at the bottom of the forest."

"That might not be a good idea, we won't be able to see their numbers."

"Do as I say."

"Yes sir."

The Galvin stopped the division at the edge of the woods and waited.  Peering into the darkness he could see the shadowy figure of someone approaching. .

"Who goes there?" he called.

"Hello Dragon."

"Caper?"

"Yeah...I was just getting some food and I" he stopped.  Galvin's expression went blank, Caper could feel the cold steel of a blade pressed against his throat, then they disappeared.  Caper vanished with his captor.