Chapter 19 Continuation
She felt Zevran's presence before he spoke. The bond told her he was near.
"Cannot sleep either?" he asked quietly.
"Too much to think about."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really. I just want to forget for a little while." Mara sat up. "Walk with me?"
They walked along the riverbank. The moon was full and bright. It reflected off the water like liquid silver.
"This is nice," Mara said. "Peaceful."
"It will not last. Peace never does."
"Why do you always expect the worst?"
"Because the worst usually happens." Zevran stopped walking. "But sometimes good things happen too. Like meeting you."
"That was a good thing?"
"The best thing." He pulled her close. "I never thought I would be free of the curse. I never thought I would find love. You gave me both."
"You gave me things too. A family. A purpose. A reason to be brave."
They kissed under the moonlight. The bond between them glowed brighter.
When they pulled apart, Mara noticed something strange.
The river had stopped flowing.
"Zevran, look."
The water was completely still. Like glass. And in the reflection, Mara saw something that made her blood run cold.
A face. Not hers. Not Zevran's.
A woman with long black hair and red eyes. She was smiling.
"Who is that?" Mara whispered.
The face in the water spoke. "Hello, Moon Wolf. I have been looking for you."
"What are you?" Zevran demanded.
"I am Morgana. The first Shadow Wolf. The mother of darkness." The woman's smile grew wider. "And I have come to make you an offer."
"We do not want anything from you," Mara said.
"You do not even know what I am offering yet." Morgana's red eyes gleamed. "I can help you defeat the Shadow King. I can teach you how to use your power properly. I can make you strong enough to survive what is coming."
"Why would you help me?"
"Because the Shadow King is my enemy too. He betrayed me long ago. Took my power and cast me out." Morgana's face twisted with anger. "I want revenge. And you are the only one who can give it to me."
"How do we know you are telling the truth?" Zevran asked.
"You do not. But you also do not have a choice. Without my help, you will die. All of you. The Shadow King is too powerful." Morgana's voice became urgent. "Meet me at the Great Stone Circle. After the trial. I will be waiting. We can discuss terms then."
"And if we refuse?" Mara asked.
"Then you will die. And so will everyone you love." Morgana started to fade from the water. "Think about it, Moon Wolf. Your pride or their lives. Choose wisely."
The face disappeared. The river started flowing again.
Mara and Zevran stood in shocked silence.
"Do you think she was telling the truth?" Mara finally asked.
"I do not know. But we should tell the others."
"No. Not yet." Mara shook her head. "They are already worried. If we tell them about Morgana, it will only make things worse."
"So what do we do?"
"We go to the trial. We see what happens. Then we decide about Morgana."
"I do not like this. It feels like a trap."
"Everything feels like a trap lately." Mara started walking back to camp. "But we do not have the luxury of being careful anymore. We have to take risks."
They returned to find everyone still asleep. Except Shade, who watched them with knowing empty eyes.
"You saw her too," the Shadow Wolf said quietly. "Morgana."
"You know her?" Mara asked.
"She created me. Created all Shadow Wolves. She is the source of our power." Shade's voice was grim. "If she is offering help, be very careful. Morgana never does anything without expecting payment. And her prices are always high."
"What kind of payment?"
"The last person who made a deal with Morgana gave her their soul. They became her puppet. Forever."
Mara felt sick. "Then we will not make a deal with her."
"Then you will die fighting the Shadow King."
"Maybe. But at least I will die free."
Shade made that grinding rock laugh again. "You really are foolish, Moon Wolf. But I am starting to respect that."
The next morning, they continued their journey. The paths were even more crowded now. Wolves from every pack in the kingdom seemed to be traveling to the Great Stone Circle.
Some wolves cheered when they saw Mara. Others glared with hatred.
"Moon Wolf! You are blessed!"
"Half breed! You do not belong here!"
"Will you lead us to victory?"
"You should be killed for your crimes against nature!"
Mara ignored them all. She kept her eyes forward and kept walking.
By late afternoon, they saw it. The Great Stone Circle.
Huge stones arranged in a perfect circle. Each stone was as tall as three men. They were covered in ancient symbols that glowed with faint blue light.
And surrounding the circle were thousands of wolves.
Maybe five thousand. Maybe more.
All waiting for the trial to begin.