Chapter 49

I quikly pushed my hem down and adjusted my dress as Arkin and Leif entered the room, and seeing their eyes a bit wide for a moment as they shake themselves out of trance, I did my best not to turn away embarassed. Xen casually put down my foot and stood up right in front of me, partially hiding me as I put my stockings and shoes back. Xen fixes them with his gaze.

"Crescent Alpha." They both bow in greeting after an awkward pause.

"Hm?" Xen raised his one eyebrow in question. The uncomfortable silence stretched as Arkin couldn't seem to know where to lay his eyes, and Lief finally broke the silence.

"Apologies for interrupting, maybe we should..." Lief tries to indicate to Arkin that he should leave, but he seems to not understand.

"Speak," Xen said in a level tone.

How can he be so calm and casual when my heart is ready to burst out of the mortification?

"We have come to report everything is set," Arkin said, keeping his poker face.

"Elders have gathered in the hall to medt you, and that is it; we will leave you to it." Lief jumped in to rescue Arkim from the Xen's piercing gaze and started to pull him off, mummered somethong under his breath, and closed the door behind him. I let out a breath and covered my face.

"What must they be thinking?"

"Believe me, it's nothing. You are adorable when you get embarrassed." He kissed the crown of my head and sat back in the seat. I look at him.

"We should hurry; we would be late for the council meeting." He smiled. I sigh. I pick up my fork and stop in my tracks.

"We?"

"You wanted to know more about what I am doing and how things are; what better way but to show you?"

I was not expecting, "Would it be appropriate?" I asked, unsure.

"What would be more appropriate?" He gave one of his easy smiles, and I felt my heart flutter.

I cleared my throat and nodded.

___

Chief Garrick is a tall, middle-aged man with broad shoulders and a thick beard. He has a commanding presence. He wore a fur-lined cape over his leather tunic and carried a long sword at his side. He smiled politely as we were introduced.

A long wooden table was set in the hall of the guest house, and a map was laid out. The other council members were the elders.

Elder Hilda was an elderly woman with deep wrinkles and a kind smile. Her silver hair is tied back in a bun, and she wears a long green dress.

"She is a well-known healer in the village," Xen said.

Elder Alric: He is a burly man with a thick beard and a booming voice. Alric is the village blacksmith and is known for his skill with a hammer. He wears a leather apron over his shirt and carries a large, iron-bound book with him. He had an imposing figure, but when he smiled, it quickly transformed his face.

"It's a pleasure, Mi'lady."

I nodded.

Elder Greta was a middle-aged woman.

"She is the village baker and is known for her delicious bread and pastries," Xen said of her warmly.

"His Lordship, you should come sometime; I am sure your new bride can use some sweetness; only heaven knows how a human ends up with a wolf." She clearly had a sharp tongue.

"In my experience, being with humans didn't serve me well."

A croking noise came from behind me, and I saw Lief trying to mask his laugh. Xen looked at him, and he went silent.

Greta wore a simple brown dress and a white apron, and her hair was tied back in a tight bun.

And then there was Greald, their host, who was standing beside Elder Baldric. He was a thin man with a bald head and a hawk-like nose. Baldric is the village scribe and keeps records of all important events and transactions. He wore a brown robe and carried a quill and inkwell with him.

"Everything here is his work; his ancestors are the reason for keeping their alliance with Dragonstone and Lunar Valley."

Elder Baldric grunted his greeting, taking a seat and putting down his book, quill, and inkwell, grunting something about "another woman." Greta and Hilda seemed to hear her; they wipped their heads to him, and Greta narrowed her eyes while the cheif called the attention of the room. Xen's eyes moved from Baldric to the Village Chief. It was a cold, dead stare; he didn't have to say anything, and I saw the Village Chief go still and a little pale for a moment.

"We are honoured to host you, Crescent Alpha and Luna, this spring in our village and to have you come all the way down here for the protection of our humble village." The chief pressed his word, looking at the Baldric, who grunted a little, metting his eyes, and then uttered low. "Yes, of course."

"Well, if this all clears out," Xen said with a polite, easy smile, and everyone relaxed quickly, settling themselves in their seats.

It was seeing a different side of Xen as he held the attention of everyone in the room; his voice was neutral but commanding.

Xen action in our private space, and here we were in complete contrast, detached, and untouchable. This was not the man in plaid a few minutes ago.

"I have been reported missing at a few establishments around here. People were missing."

I look down at the old maps laid down in front of us as Xen points out the places around this village, but there were a few other places as well. In the black oak forest, there were some forest dwellers that come under Lunar Valley provience, and then other villages were more to the north, near the Dragonstone. Dragonstone provience was marked with a flying dragon, and Lunar Valley provience was marked with a Cerscent Moon. The witches provience was marked on the south with a tree symbol.

"It was just not adults; there were some children too," the chief said.

Xen's eyes went grim. "Anything else around the places they went missing?"

"Beside that, we found blood, but other than that, there was no sigh of struggles, claws, or proof that it was the work of a Lycan," Alric said.

"You think it might not be the work of Lycan?" I asked.

Alric met my eyes and nodded. "Even the wolves see no sigh that there is even a near-by nest, and the missing victims are children, from 5 to 12, and adults who were there at the time they went missing came back alive, gravely injured but alive." He turned his gaze to Xen, who was listening to him very carefully.

"Have you been able to get anything from them?" Xen  asked.

"No, they don't remember anything from the attack." The chief said, "Look at Hilda. She sigh.

"The reason for it is yet unknown; I have never come across something like this."

"There is a rumour around the village that they were bewitched; it is the work of a witch, not that they know there are actual witches on this land," Greta said.

Xen nodded to everyone, saying, "I will still want to talk to them to get a better assessment, while Leif and Arkin will inform you of all the security set around the village."

Everyone mumbled their agreement.

"And I would like a list of everyone who went missing, where, and how."

The chief nodded and said he would send someone with all the details at the eariliest. Xen stands beside me as Arkin and Lief explain everything to Chief and the elders.

The dusk came over us, and the sky turned dark orange, vanishing into midnight blue.

Everyone bids farewell. Greald tries to lift the mood by offering some supper and cake, but everyone politely declines.

The grave expressions on everyone's faces were heavy, and the scribe looked older than a few hours ago as he recorded the last of our conversation.

Everyone left one by one; only Xen and I stayed behind. Xen walked to the window of the hall, and as the night sky followed the dusk, I saw his self-assured and commanding air disappear as it turned into something despised as the moon appeared. He gave a sigh and turned away from it. I brought the lit candle over the map, looking at this island. The drawings of all of its corners were paniscticly put into parchments after parchments. It was bigger than I could have ever imagined, even the places and mountains that have no name. The unexplored parts.

"Elder Greta seems to suggest that not everyone here knows about the magical beings that rule this land." I asked, trying to break the air of despair that seemed to envelop him.

"Yes, only the elders of some villages or some of those who have family with us."

I remember him telling me about them finding mates. What about those who don't know about the danger that lurks in the woods? But I didn't ask that. I couldn't as he came by my side and rested his palms flat on the map, staring at it, with worry burning like a liquid fire in his eyes.

"If this is not the work of lycans, then than what is doing this?" He asked no one in particular with his jaw clenched.