Jamal Kunis
I sit on a seat in front of the round table with five other seats. The four elders sit before me and we discuss pack issues. though by their voice, I can tell that every single one of them is drunk and there was a chance that they all may say one or two things out of line so nothing would bother me today. The party had lasted weeks until the recovery of Methis. A week of nonstop drinking had what it did to the minds of men both young and old and I was surprised that these old men in front of me were still alive after all the mead that they had indulged in starting three to four weeks ago up until today. So with five seats and four elders sitting, leaving one empty, we had already gone through a few talking points and were now discussing the issue of the throne’s succession.
“I am delighted Jamal that we have finally resolved the issue of succession in this kingdom,” the Elder in the first seat farthest from mine said. “It brings us great joy that the Dark Witch’s curse has finally been broken.”
“By the Dark Witch herself, eh?” the second elder said. This one was a very pessimistic individual. Some people said that he was more pessimistic than all the kingdom combined and would often foreshadow and predict doom in any situation, often searching for the worst alternative. “I still can’t bring about how, by chance as you people might put it, that the very person who doesn’t die, and not only successfully copulates with our King here, but also gives him mode swings, happens to look like the Dark Witch herself.”
“I thought we have been through this?” the first elder retorted. “It was a mere coincidence and she fit the profile the White Witch gave us. Or do you mean to doubt the White Witch too?”
“If there is anything History has proven, it is that even the sweetest relationship can turn sour, and even the sourest relationship can turn sweet,” the second elder said. “But it must come with a price to pay or a cost to bear.”
“What do you mean?” I asked the second elder in a dark deep voice. What he had said was an indirect accusation and if followed up very strictly, could end the life of either him, the accuser, or the White Witch, the accused. “After all these years do you wish to question the White Witch’s loyalty to us?”
“If anything, my king,” the third elder came in, “the White Witch deserves honour for what she has done for us in this pack.”
“See sense into what I am saying, my lord.” The second elder was so banked on proving his point, a point I was not entirely interested in. “You supported me the last time we brought this on. Why back down now?”
“Because it has been proven to me, to us, that Methis is not a bad person. And that was the doubt we all had.”
“But how do we know this is not part of the whole scheme?” he kept on pressing.
“Silence!” I pointed to him. “Cease this idle talk. I would have none of it.”
“Apologies my king but if I be so bold to point out that there is evidence that might just point towards a potential con here?”
“Go on. Point it out.”
“The children.”
“For God's sake, man!” the third elder exclaimed. “Don’t go there. The only thing we have hope on, the only thing that has given the wolf world something to cheer about. Something that assures us that we won’t be consumed by war. Is that now an omen to you?”
“Let him speak.” I wanted to hear what this elder had to say about my children. Maybe, just maybe, he would win my attention with what he is about to say. “Go on.” I motioned to him.
“Thank you, my king,” he started, “but hear me out this time. How often do you see the birth of twin, my king?”
“They are more uncommon than single babies, I must admit.” I admitted, curious to see where this was going.
“They are uncommon, which made me wonder, why is it that uncommon things seem to befall you? First, a surrogate to break a curse that looks exactly like the one who placed the curse, and now twins.”
“Your point being?”
“Surely this Dark Witch wants a power struggle for who is king when both children become of age.”
The fourth Elder looked at me with an apprehensive eye. “My king, perhaps there is sense in what this elder speaks here today.”
“There is none. There would be no power struggle because one is male, the other is female. I believe we all know who the throne goes to now?”
“We do, our king.” They all answered.
“Now let’s move on to other topics, shall we?” I suggested.
“Topics like?” the first Elder asked.
“My marriage. I have a successor. Thank the gods. But I cannot keep living in isolation and emptiness within.”
“I agree,” said the first elder. “Since the curse is broken, I believe you have the freedom to marry whom you please.”
“And whom may this person be?” asked the doubtful elder.
“Methis,” I responded.
There was silence in the council room. Perhaps they were shocked at what I had just suggested or more preferably to be, I had spoken their minds.
“If I may ask, what would possess you to think of such a thing?” the doubtful elder asked. “For crying out loud, she is a human and did not live with us until a few months back, hence, she is not one of us and we cannot just wed her in not to talk of to the king. Just in case you have not noticed, that would make her the queen.”
“Yeah? And then she can order your tongue out for all the blasphemous words and accusations you have been speaking against her,” one of the elders said and everyone, including me, roared with laughter.
Other elders were allowed to have their say and they gracefully accepted. However, there was only one problem, Methis had responsibilities to people outside on the other side, and her contract, though had a marriage clause, stated that after the conceiving, she was no longer my surrogate and was free to depart back, seeing the way she talked so much about her father, that was a choice she was most likely going to make. Forcing her into a marriage was going to be inhumane so I agreed with the elders that I would have to ask her about it first and whatever decision she made was going to be final.
I stared at the empty seat on the council table. That seat belonged to the Beta, Conrad. He was missing today because I had sent him on an errand. Hopefully, he was going to return with some good work. I really loved Methis so convincing her to stay was the best I could do. I was not going to force her.
“I have a queer feeling.” The doubtful elder looked us from one to another.
“Speak.” I gave him permission.
“Perils. Something is coming, I do not know what, or when it shall come but I know it will come. It has to do with Methis. I still believe she is more than meet the eyes, she is more than human.”
“Enough of that talk,” I warned him. “There shall be no wars fought again, no conflicts, no struggle for succession, no nothing, and most importantly, there would be no ominous talks again.
I looked at the elder’s eye. He was the only one who looked sane enough to think. It was very likely that he had not drunk anything at all during the celebration which is taking the assumption that he was in the celebration to begin with. He seemed to be strict about his beliefs and would often not engage in anything that he didn’t support from the onset. He was always against Methis.
Other elders still had the lingering effect of alcohol in them and perhaps that was why they were so agreeable. Or maybe they were just happy that a successor was born.
We had already gone deep into the meeting when the door opened abruptly.
“Who dares burst in on the king’s council?!” the doubting guard called out. If he had a gun on him, he probably would have shot.
“Shut your air hole, dimwit.” Conrad walked into the room and took his seat. “If you were half as smart as anyone you would know there are guards outside this door. So not anyone comes in.”
“Quiet, boy! I’m old enough to give birth to you,” the doubtful elder said.
“Which is unfortunate seeing that I hold the title of Beta and ehh, what are you again?” Conrad came back with a quip.
It was true though. Conrad was that young.
Now, it was time to listen to what Conrad had to say.