The Cursewright's Vow

Chapter 6: Taking the Cure, Part 6

 Now she looked startled. "What do you mean?"

"If it were only a bite that spread the wolf's blood sickness, werewolves might not be so shunned. Legends and tavern stories aside, a werewolf so lost to the moon-madness he becomes a wanton murderer is relatively rare. Most can control their urges except at Saya's brightest cycles. Which isn't to say they aren't dangerous. They are certainly that." Carala clucked her tongue but didn't argue. "The first uncontrollable change all too often ends in a human death. That yours did not speaks to your powerful will. You remember everything that occurred during your time in the wolf shape?"

"Yes," she said softly. "And thank you."

"For what?"

"My powerful will, you said. I didn't think -- "

"Because you engaged in congress with Tacen."

"Because I made love with him, yes." Anger flickered in her eyes. "Because I fucked him."

Ammas's ears were far from virginal, but to hear that word from the princess's mouth was faintly shocking. After a pause where the word seemed to hang in the air, Ammas cleared his throat. "Well, that is something you should stop thinking, highness. Greater and more powerful men and women than you have succumbed to a werewolf's wiles. Forgive me for saying so, but it seems to me your life was a sheltered one."

"I do not deny that."

"That may be why he chose you. Not because he sensed any weakness in your mind or spirit. Had he sensed weakness, he would likely see you more as prey than a potential mate."

Carala did not respond for a long moment. Finally she simply changed the subject. "Why do you think the bite didn't infect me?"

"Because the act of physical congress can spread the wolf's blood sickness. It is a less reliable means of infection, but a common one. It is through such acts that the werewolf clans that used to roam the western forests and tundra came to be."

"I had never heard this. Not once. Are you sure?"

"Your highness, I have studied cursewright lore for over thirty years. Yes, I am very sure."

A little abashed, she nodded. "Then why did he bite me?"

"The bite is universally infectious. When applied to an infected werewolf who has never changed, it instills a certain mental pliancy in the victim. It's rare, and behavior generally only seen in organized groups of werewolves wish to grow their numbers." Ammas frowned. "That Tacen did so is the only really vexing thing about your case."

"Mental pliancy?" She had not heard much beyond that. "He controlled me?"

Ammas hesitated. "I would say you were much more suggestible than you might otherwise be."

Carala seemed satisfied -- indeed, relieved -- by this. "When do you think I was infected?"

"When did you first notice these heightened senses? The guardsman, your mother's perfume?"

Carala considered. "The first day after that night in the Tower. The very next day." She looked down. "I thought I was just . . . excited. Thrilled. To have been with a man for the first time."

"That was no doubt part of it. But not all. In my opinion it was on that night you were infected. Did these senses subside before you were bitten?"

"Somewhat. I could stand to be near my father again."

Ammas bit back a bitter laugh. "That was your body adjusting to the wolf's blood. You still can sense such things, you simply block them out to function. Those senses will return. It's something I'm sure Tacen or this man in Gallowsport would have taught you, had he absconded with you."