Chapter 8

Rolling over on the hard ground, he growled and popped up on all fours, his tail twitching in agitation. He watched as the large white wolf circled around him. He was determined this time to catch him as he struck. Conri was tired of being tossed to the ground and feeling his breath being knocked out of him. After several days of training in wolf form with Caerwyn, he believed he was starting to see some of the Bright One’s tells though they were slight.

Just before he struck, Caerwyn’s tail moved to the left very subtly. Conri had gotten better at tracking it, being able to dodge out of the way over half the time. Now, he just wanted to be able to strike back. He wanted Caerwyn to feel a little of what it was like to fall upon the meadow with a heavy wolf leaning on you.

Conri bared his teeth as he watched Caerwyn slowly continue to circle, a lowing growling noise coming from him. It felt like forever as he waited for the white tail to move slightly. Finally, he saw it just as a wind blew over them, ruffling the fur on both wolves. Conri braced himself on his front paws, and Caerwyn sprang at him.

Conri waited until the last possible second before moving to his right, Caerwyn’s two large paws hitting the hard meadow. Conri turned around quickly as Caerwyn tried to regain his footing, his two paws skidding slightly on the dead grass. Before Caerwyn could move, Conri managed to jump up on his back, knocking the large beast over. They both tumbled for a second before Conri ended up on top, pinning Caerwyn, his head lowering towards the Bright One’s throat.

The white wolf gave a small nod before bowing his head. The gray wolf that was Conri moved away, letting Caerywn get up before shaking his body, causing fur and grass to fly around. Both wolves looked at each other before moving to separate trees to shift back to their human form, putting on clothes quickly.

“That was much better, my prince,” said Caerwyn as they both reemerged back into the field. “I believe your reactions are getting much sharper, and you were already very strong.”

“I have sparred with other wolves before,” said Conri as he picked up a nearby waterskin. He took a long drink before throwing it to Caerwyn. “Though none as skilled as you.”

Caerwyn took a drink before wiping his mouth with his hand. “I have trained for many years to be the fighter I am. I know what it is to spend many days being thrown on the ground as both a wolf and a man, so you have my sympathy for the bruises and pains you must have felt these past few weeks.”

Conri shrugged before plopping down. “It is not so bad. I have been told I heal very quickly, even for a shifter.”

Caerwyn sat down next to the prince with a small groan. “It is in your blood. The Guildans have always been powerful shifters with great powers. Some in your line have even been known to have a magical power or two. I guess when the moon goddess blesses you as the leader of the land, it comes with certain advantages.”

Conri smiled. “I think you being the Bright One comes with advantages as well. Have all in your line’s wolf forms been so large?”

“We have been tasked with guarding our rulers. We must be large and quick to see to the protection of your family. We have been blessed with strength and agility as well as excellent night vision, and some say, extraordinary patience. I would argue with the last one. I would not list patience as one of my virtues.”

“You seem a calm, understanding man to me. I try most people’s nerves, but you seem to put up with me quite well.”

“I am bonded to you in an unusual way. Most parts of me want to do nothing but protect you and see to your well-being. It is hard to be annoyed with someone you feel the need to keep close and watch.” Caerwyn played with the dead grass for a moment. “There are only a few things you could do that would cause me any annoyance with you.”

“Such as?” asked Conri.

“If you make a lot of stupid decisions that put your life at risk, our relationship could have issues.”

“I believe I have a high sense of self preservations, so I don’t see that being a problem. What else?”

Caerywn sighed deeply while picking up some dead grass and letting it fall from his hand. “Nothing you need to worry about, my prince,” he mumbled.

Conri was about to inquire further, thinking he did need to worry about it when he saw a flash of red out in the field. He looked up to see Eleri walking close to the tree line, her red cloak swaying in the breeze.

Caerwyn made a noise that sounded almost like his wolf’s deep growl before standing up. “I wish everyone I knew cared about self-preservation as much as you, your highness. Will you excuse me?” He started walking towards Eleri before Conri could say anything.

Conri hopped up and followed Caerwyn towards Eleri, wondering why the man seemed so agitated. He caught up with him just as Caerywn was approaching Eleri, who had stopped seeing both men walking towards her.

She gave a small curtsey. “Your highness, Caerwyn. How are you both today?”

Conri smiled as Caerwyn glanced at him before turning back towards Eleri. “Why are you so close to the forest and bounds of the estate? Did you not promise to be careful, my lady?”

“I wasn’t aware a simple walk near the woods in a peaceful meadow was dangerous. I believe the estate bounds are still a ways through the forest, so I am quite safe.”

“Do you know how easy it would be for you to stumble upon an unprotected area? What if Lord Fellen knows where we are? He could have soldiers just waiting on the edge in hopes of finding you within their grasps.”

She waved him away. “I am sure I am not the top priority on his list, no matter what my father’s spies say. If he knows we are here, he would much rather take our prince, I am sure.”

“The prince is well protected by me when we are in this field. You have been skipping around the woods by yourself for who knows how long. Do not underestimate the danger you are in, Eleri. You may not think much of the prophecy, but many do. You are a marked woman. Lord Fellen truly believes he can be the legitimized ruler if he finds a way to mark you and make you his.”

“What?” asked Conri as a combination of fear, rage, and jealousy came over him. “This Lord Fellen person wishes to claim Eleri?”

Caerwyn turned back and looked at him sharply as Eleri shook her head. She waved her hand in the air. “It is not as serious as it sounds, your highness. My father only had a letter from a spy that Lord Fellen has some idea that if he can mark me as his mate, it will help him truly claim the crown. We don’t really know how serious he feels about it.”

Caerwyn took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. “I read the note, Eleri. It is serious. Serious enough that your father is concerned and asked me to look after you. Do you think he would go to such lengths as to ask me if it wasn’t something he was truly worried about?”

“Why would Eleri’s father asking you to watch over her be such a big thing?” asked Conri. “Do you not get on well with the man?”

Caerwyn and Eleri exchanged a small look before Eleri smiled at Conri. “It is really nothing. It is only…”

“Lord Cadwin knows how important my duty is to you, your highness,” said Caerwyn, cutting her off. “He did not want me to lose any focus on my role as your guardian. He would only ask me to watch out for Lady Eleri if he truly believed she could be in true danger. Enough where her own personal guard cannot see to her by himself.”

“You underestimate Aron,” said Eleri as she nodded towards the forest. Her guard came out of the tree line, moving over to stand next to her. “He is always close by; he is just less conspicuous than you.”

Conri looked between the strong-looking guard and Eleri, watching the man’s eyes look her over. He felt his wolf give a small growl. He did not like how protective the man was of her. She was not his to truly protect. His wolf whispered to him that he should be the one to see to her well-being.

“Now that you see that I am well looked after, perhaps you will excuse me. I told Lady Havens and Aella I would take tea with them, and I must hurry to make my appointment.” She gave another quick curtsey and walked away, Aron following her.

Conri watched them go until he saw they were close to the house. He looked at Caerwyn to see him looking out into the forest, his back towards his prince. “Caerwyn, you have known Eleri for a while now, haven’t you?”

Caerwyn turned slowly to look at the prince, a strange expression on his face. “I met her a few times when we were both children, but I didn’t truly know her until about five years ago.”

“And I take it you are close in some way?”

Caerwyn bit his lower lip slightly before slowly nodding. “I have spent some time at her father’s estate. I even visited her aunt in the Red Forest a few times.”

“And is Aron always with her?”

Caerwyn looked confused for a moment. “Mostly. He also oversees Lord Cadwin’s guards, so sometimes he is needed away in the land.”

“But he and Eleri seem very close. He watches her at all times, I believe.”

A small smile came upon Caerwyn’s lips. “I think I know what you might be trying to say, and I can tell you for certain you do not need to worry about it.” Caerwyn walked past Conri and towards the house.

“But how do you know?” asked Conri as he hurried to walk by Caerywn’s side.

“I know their relationship, and it is more like brother and sister than anything else. They grew up together on the Cadwin estate. Eleri had little chance for friends with the way the kingdom is. He was only a few years older than her, and they became playmates. Once they became a bit older, they trained in combat together. Lord Cadwin wished his daughter to know how to fight.

“They are close as Aron has no family. His mother was killed trying to flee Niamhan. His father was killed protecting you as my uncle, and Lord Cadwin took you out of the city. Lord Cadwin took Aron in and raised him in his household. Aron sees Eleri as his younger sister. He loves her, but not in a way you need to worry about. I am sure he would like nothing more than to see her as your wife and queen.”

“I am not sure about that,” said Conri. “Anytime I am remotely close to Eleri, he pops up, giving me the most disapproving looks.”

“Well, he might wish to see her eventually as your wife, but I doubt he wants to think of you dishonoring her before that time. Do not worry. He will not stand in the way of Eleri taking her fated place.”

“You truly believe Eleri and I are meant to be together?” asked Conri.

“I trust in the prophecy of the great mother. I have been taught to do so since I can remember, and many others believe it is correct. Eleri fulfills every part of it, from her lineage to her looks. How could I believe otherwise?”

“I have my doubts, you know. I was determined not to let something some old woman said years ago tell me how to live my life. I was very ready to find every fault in Lady Eleri when she came.”

“I believe she had similar thoughts about you. Perhaps you are more meant to be together than I thought," said Caerwy sounding slightly annoyed. He stopped walking as they got close to the house and looked at Conri. “You do not seem opposed to her now.”

Conri grinned. “How could anyone be opposed to that woman? I expected to find her a fine, well-looking person, but I couldn't believe how beautiful she really was when I first laid eyes on her. I think she has only grown in beauty to me as I have gotten to know her. Of course, my wolf also continually reminds me of my bond with her. It's rather hard to ignore.”

“Yes, I understand the feeling,” said Caerwyn. “If you truly feel so connected to her already, why hold back?”

“Because she has asked me to. She said that first, we must see to securing the land and my crown. She also wants us to get to know each other.”

One side of Caewyn’s mouth curved up a little as though he was trying not to smile. “That sounds like her. I suppose she is right. It won’t matter how destined you are to be together if one or both of you are killed. Once all is settled as it should be, you will have plenty of opportunities to decide things between you.”

“But it is not easy to resist her. She is very tempting, and I am not used to waiting. You say you do not believe patience is one of your virtues, but I know it is not one of mine. If she gives me the slightest hint she is ready to move things forward with me then I believe I almost ready to see it through.”

Caerwyn sighed. “No use dwelling on it. You will probably only drive her away if you persist too much. Give her time, and I think you will both find what you need.”

“You don’t need to sound so annoyed by it, Caerwyn. You may not be interested in women as much as the rest of us young men, but I am sure you have had your head turned a few times. Perhaps you will never have a mate or wife, but surely that does not mean you are not affected by women.”

“I am not sure this is part of my duties, my prince. You will have to find another to put in your service if you wish to spend time talking of the charms of young women. It is not one of my strong suits.”

“I only wish for us to be friends. You may have to spend time with me because of our bond, but I would like it to get to the point that you enjoy spending time with me.”

Caerwyn chucked a little. “There is much of our time that we spend together that I enjoy.”

“Such as knocking me around, I suppose.”

“I know better than to answer that,” said Caerwyn with a laugh. “Come on. We can clean up quickly and join the ladies for tea. That should be something you will enjoy.”

Conri decided it was, and they started walking towards the house again. “You are sure Eleri could have no feelings beyond familial towards Aron? I am only wondering because she has hinted there has been another besides me that has caused her to feel certain things.”

Caerwyn smiled at Conri. “Trust me, your highness. You have nothing to fear from Aron.”