Chapter 18

Silverclaw

Eliza awakened in Kendra's castle. She gasped and put her hands on her stomach. The thing was gone.

She remembered being in a dark room lit only by a glowing red chandelier And she remembered a dark woman who stared down at her and chanting some arcane language. And she remembered rising out of her body and looking down on herself. But that was the last thing that she remembered until now.

Eliza looked around the room. It was nicely decorated, but very dark, lit only by a single candle next to the bed. But the darkness suited her now. It made her feel more comfortable. Sitting next to her on the bed was her lover, Lynn, who watched her with a glowing smile on her face.

"You're awake.", Lynn said happily, but not looking Eliza the eye.

Something was missing. She couldn't feel her lover. She couldn't feel anything through her ring. Then she felt her hands and realized that the ring was gone.

"She took them.", Lynn said softly, looking down at her hands. "It was the price that I had to pay."

Lynn looked so sad. Eliza felt sad too and longed for the feelings that connected her with her lover. She sighed and ran her fingers through Lynn's curly brown hair.

Eliza pulled Lynn close. "So long as we're together, I suppose that's enough.", she whispered.

Lynn reached up and touched Eliza's hand. She held it to her lips and kissed it gently.

"I've missed you, Lynn.", Eliza whispered.

Lynn sighed. "I waited for days, alone.", she said softly. "I don't want to be alone again."

Eliza stroked Lynn's cheek with her other hand. "I won't leave you alone, my love.", then something occurred to her. "Wait. You've waited alone? Where are the others? Weamar, Marinae?"

"They didn't want to make a deal with Kendra, the one who healed you.", Lynn replied. "But I would do anything for you."

Lynn closed her eyes and held Eliza's hands to her face, kissing each in turn. A dull flare of emotion erupted in the pit of Eliza's stomach. Anger and betrayal. How many times had she and Lynn both helped Weamar and Marinae? And what thanks was there? They left her here to die. They left Lynn alone to watch her die. Eliza slid her hands down to Lynn's shoulders and leaned close so that their foreheads touched.

"We'll show them what it means to be loyal. We'll show them the cost of betrayal.", Eliza swore quietly.

"Kiss me.", Lynn whispered. "It's been so long."

Eliza shivered with pleasure at her lover's words and pressed her lips to Lynn's softly. She stroked the woman's shoulders and arms gently. And as they kissed, Lynn's lips felt like wildfire on Eliza's. Feelings of warmth and pleasure coursed through her body. It felt wonderful. Eliza moaned as her hands began to roam, seeking a way to Lynn's soft flesh.

Lynn kissed Eliza again and again, each time rays of warmth shot forth from Lynn's lips into Eliza's body. Lynn's lips moved down to Eliza's neck and she guided Eliza's hands underneath her robe. Eliza was engrossed in the sensations she was feeling. Lynn was so soft and gentle. It was a stark contrast to the rest of the world she had returned to which was cold and hard. Her church and her friends had both abandoned her. Her one comfort was that Lynn never would.

Kiri smiled behind Lynn's eyes as she felt Eliza melting in her arms. She loved to use her spells to enhance sexual pleasure and she wondered how far she could push Eliza.

Lynn kissed Eliza on the lips again, pushing her tongue into her mouth. Eliza felt a tingling sensation as Lynn's tongue made her hair stand on end. Eliza began to remove her robe while she let her tongue dance around Lynn's. Lynn let her robe fall off her shoulders. She French kissed Eliza, lighting a fire in her mouth.

Eliza remembered Lynn's touch when they wore the rings. It made her feel warmth and love. But now that the rings were gone she felt none of that. But she did feel one thing, desire, an overpowering desire. Eliza moaned into Lynn's mouth, yielding to that desire. Her hands moved feverishly over Lynn's body. Then Lynn slid her tongue down Eliza's neck and down her chest, opening her robe as she went. She stopped at each breast and then went further down. Eliza laid back on the bed as Lynn's kisses fell further and further down. She sighed ran her hands again through Lynn's thick brown hair as Lynn's mouth settled on her cunt. Lynn ran her tongue all around, sending shivers up Eliza's spine. It felt so good.

Eliza gasped and purred as Lynn mouthed between her legs. "Oh Lynn", she cried out with joy.

Lynn drove Eliza wild. Her tongue set her lover's clitoris on fire. She made Eliza cum twice and then she pushed three fingers inside her lover, three fingers that vibrated as she moved them in and out.

Eliza gasped in surprise. "Ohhhh. How? Oh, Lynn how are you.. aahhh..", Eliza struggled to ask.

"I learned a little magic while I was waiting.", Lynn said with a giggle. "Do you like it?"

Eliza grinned and ground her hips into Lynn's hand. "Mmmhmm. Teach me.", she moaned. "I want you to...oh!"

Lynn slid a fourth finger into Eliza, which felt tight, but oh so good. Then Lynn lifted her head to Eliza's lips.

"Relax.", Lynn said as she kissed her.

Eliza could feel Lynn's hand suddenly becoming very slippery as her lover began to push it in deeper. Eliza gasped and returned the kiss. Then she closed her eyes and tried to relax a little. Lynn pushed gently but firmly, making Eliza feel both pain and pleasure. Eliza wanted Lynn to stop, but she wanted her to keep going too. With sweat beading across her skin, Eliza pushed her head back into the downy pillow, whimpering from the clashing sensations.

The feelings built and built as Lynn pushed in until it felt as if she could take no more. Then, all at once, Lynn's entire hand was inside her. The pain faded away as the waves of pleasure moved through her. Eliza's eyelids fluttered as her hands spasmodically grasped at the bedding. Her hips bucked and shivered. Lynn smiled and held her hand still and Eliza could feel it slowly pulsing inside. Lynn smiled as she watched her lover basking in the pleasure she was bringing to her. Eliza breathed raggedly and slowly grew more accustomed to the full sensation inside her. She rolled her head back and forth repeating Lynn's name.

Soon Eliza's entire body quivered with arousal. She was riding the crest of what was the most powerful orgasm of her life. Lynn smiled broadly as she watched Eliza. Then she bent down and took Eliza's clitoris into her mouth, sucking on it gently and letting her tongue work its magic. Through clenched teeth, Eliza drew a sharp breath.

"Make me come, Lynn. Make me come.", Eliza began to beg throatily.

Lynn slowly pulled her hand out of Eliza as her tongue flicked across her clit. Then she slowly pushed it all the way back inside. Eliza's vision was beginning to tunnel as her breathing became more shallow and quick. The overpowering desire blotted out all conscious thought and she began to spasm around her lover's hand. Every muscle in her body tensed as a tremendous orgasm washed over her.

Kiri was proud of herself as she watched Eliza cumming. She'd practiced being Lynn for days and it had all paid off. Kiri waited until Eliza had stopped twitching and then gently pulled her hand out. Eliza moaned plaintively as her lover's hand withdrew. The unpleasant feeling of being empty, however, was muted by the afterglow of her orgasm.

"Now you get to do me.", Lynn said with a smile.


Weamar packed up his gear and traveled cross country on his way to Port-a-Lucine. He kept a low profile, wanting to avoid all contact with anyone who might report him to church officials. The going was slow, and after a week of riding far enough from the Falkovnian border to feel safe, Weamar arrived in the capital of Dementlieu. There he rode down to the wharf and knocked on the door to Aselid's home. Much to his surprise the old wizard answered.

"Weamar.", the magician said warmly. "Welcome to Port-a-Lucine."

"Aselid, thank you. Is it convenient to speak with you at present?", Weamar asked.

"It is.", Aselid replied. "Do come in."

Aselid led the ranger to his study where they both got comfortable.

"What brings you to see me?", Aselid asked.

"Unfortunately matters of some apparent weight.", Weamar explained. "I've just come from visiting Marius in Sturben. The news I gave to him prompted him to suggest you might know what actions may need to be taken, if any."

Aselid smiled and then thought for a moment. "I see.", he said. "This is about the hearings then?"

"No, not entirely.", Weamar replied, pausing to consider how to summarize everything effectively.

"Recently, in order to save the life of Eliza, Marinae, Lynn, myself and a couple of others found ourselves 'helping' someone.", Weamar said as Aselid watched him carefully, considering his words. "Someone whose reputation, I gather, is less than good, and whose involvement in other events may cause you concern."

"Kendra.", Weamar added as he finished.

"Yes, yes. The Liquid Shadow.", Aselid replied. "That worries me somewhat, but there are many things
that worry me these days."

Weamar wondered what 'liquid shadow' was, but if Kendra was made out of it that would explain how she was able to pop in and out of existence so easily.

"She restored Eliza to health, but the price for her service was the recovery of a pair of items whose power troubles me.", Weamar continued. "They were the hands of a dead saint, one with the power to cause death, the other to restore life."

"Indeed. Marinae was here not long ago. She told me about your quest.", Aselid explained.

"Oh, I hope she was well.", Weamar replied. "Did she mention, also, the deal between Kendra and the werewolves?"

"She did not.", Aselid replied. "And yes, Marinae looked as good as ever. I talked her out of retiring I think."

"Oh?", Weamar replied with a start.

"Seems that your last adventure was a little too dangerous for her liking.", Aselid explained.

"She was seriously injured.", Weamar added. "I was wondering what you said that convinced her not to retire."

"That it would be 'a waste of a perfectly good sorceress', was what I recall saying.", Aselid answered. "And it's true. She is gifted."

Weamar looked relieved. For a moment he had thought it might have been something dire.

"I'm no judge of such things, but that's about the best reason there is.", Weamar replied.

"So of all these troubling things.", Aselid began. "Which troubles you the most?"

Weamar scratched his head. "I'm not sure I know enough to know where to be most concerned.", he said. "I think the threat, and the likelihood, of an all-out war between humanity and werecreatures in Verbrek, and perhaps further, is the most immediately troubling. But I'm concerned that there may be something 'above' that which is more troubling still."

"Hmmm.", Aselid says. "The werewolves wouldn't want to consume their entire food supply."

"No, instead they might want to farm us, like cattle.", Weamar said grimly. "The night before we left Kendra's castle I eavesdropped on a conversation between her, some werewolves, and the Green Man. The Green Man is to pay Kendra, handsomely, for the revival of Talrak Silverclaw; after which the werewolves plan to, umm, alter the balance of power between themselves and humanity, so it is humans who hide from them."

"So that's the Green Man's plan.", Aselid replied. "That's what I feared. He has gone mad."

"So I've heard. Though, from the viewpoint of the werewolves, I think I can understand at least some of their anger.", Weamar explained. Then he continued relating the things that he had put together during his recent journey. "I've heard that there was some 'ancient pact' regarding humanity and the other creatures of the land, and the werewolves believe that humanity has effectively violated that pact. The actions of the Knights of Ezra at Gladehaven, from what I've been told, certainly don't contradict their viewpoint."

"If the Green Man can bring the werewolves together, they will be hard to stop. Their disunity has always been their undoing in the past.", Aselid said. "Now, what of the White Knights?"

Weamar took a deep breath and told Aselid the whole gruesome story.

"Then the Green Man won't need to work very hard to bring the werewolves together.", Aselid replied. "That is troublesome."

"Indeed. I'm at a loss as to know whether there is anything that can be done. Especially by one such as me.", Weamar said, hoping that Aselid could give him an answer. "But, they say that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Aselid nodded and thought for a while.

"I'm concerned, though, that whatever is driving the Knights is not entirely wholesome.", Weamar added. "Marius tells me they are now led by Petrov, and that he has 'changed'."

"Tales of the Knights are heard often, even here.", Aselid said. "They seem to be very popular."

"Glorious tales of battles against the armies of darkness?", Weamar asked. "Rather than burning houses down despite the screams of women and children from within."

"The former.", Aselid replied. "And no one would believe the latter. Is it true?"

"Gladehaven is ashes.", Weamar said, feeling a lot of emotion within himself as he said it, and more emotion than he would have expected. "A longtime friend I bumped into there tells essentially the same story as the werewolves told Kendra."

"Then they've started a war.", Aselid replied. "And the Green Man is throwing fuel on the fire."

"I'm concerned that he isn't the only one, or that he is playing both sides, perhaps.", Weamar added.

"I don't know what you could do to stop them, but I wish you the best.", Aselid said.

"Thanks, though I have another question that's related.", Weamar began. "That book we recovered, I gather Petrov was involved in 'cleaning out' the caves and ruins we found it in. Is there some chance, do you think, that something there may have 'possessed' him?"

"Only if someone tried to cast some of the spells inside the book, and I doubt that anyone in the church could even read that archaic language, certainly not Petrov.", Aselid explained. "Remember, Lynn was controlled by Rastinon through the ring. That's why she was able to read it."

"So it is a possibility.", Weamar said, hoping that Aselid would give him a firm 'no'.

"An outside possibility at best.", Aselid answered. "But Rastinon always seems to find a new door into this world."

Weamar swallowed hard. "So, if Petrov is somehow either Rastinon, or acting at his behest, and is also attaining a position of some power in the church...", Weamar thought out loud, falling silent when he became unsure of where he was going with that line of thought.

"Then they would imprison you for saying so.", Aselid said. "But as long as the gems are safe, Rastinon cannot come through to this world."

Weamar seemed a reassured by that fact and by the idea that no one would be able to find the gem that he had hidden. "I spoke briefly with the Green Man when leaving Kendra's castle.", Weamar said. "He advised, or threatened, that I should be careful about choosing sides in this. I doubt that care will be enough, somehow."

"Wars are a messy business.", Aselid replied. "But when you know who you are and where you stand, you can decide which side to be on, and, if you must choose a side at all."

Weamar thanked Aselid and left.

Weamar headed south, once again traveling off the road. He reached Verbrek more troubled than before, but this time knew better where he stood. The trouble was that where he stood was in the middle of a war zone. So he headed deep into the forests that he knew so well. For weeks the forest seemed just as before, with only Weamar's worries being the difference. Every day he kept busy, practicing his swordplay while wearing the gloves and foraging for food. The few times he went into a nearby village to sell his skins and keep abreast of the latest news he heard nothing. There was no sign of the White Knights, and there was no sign of a werewolf uprising. The people were happy, and they all thanked the White Knights for their good fortune.

Weamar bought a couple of small silver items here and there, and melted them into shot for his rifle and pistol. He test fired them a few times and found that they weren't very accurate, but at least the guns didn't jam when he used them. He wondered what Guy's secret was to making silver bullets that flew straight.

Weamar also passed through the area around The Circle, a large round clearing in the dense Verbrek forest that was ringed with stone markers. The Circle was where the werewolves would gather to do things that Weamar would rather not know about, so when he went there he did so carefully. He found that it was all quiet there too. No gathering of werewolves plotting the death of every Verbreker. No blood ritual. Nothing. Weamar encountered a few people near The Circle who he now knew were probably werewolves in disguise, but shared only polite conversation with them. It was like the calm before the storm, but it made Weamar wonder if there was really going to be a storm. Weamar thought that he might have gotten himself all worked up over nothing.

Then he headed south, wondering if there were other towns like Gladehaven and deciding to warn the people there if there were. He came across the small village of Tricco, which had grown since he had been there many years ago. He found himself at the local inn, soaking up the local news and eating dinner. Once more there was no news of any interest to him, and there had been no reports of Verbrekers being attacked by werewolves. That was a little strange, usually that would happen at least once every full moon.

Then a large man with a full beard and thick eyebrows walked over and took a seat across the table from Weamar. A man with such an appearance wasn't unusual in Verbrek, but as he took a seat Weamar noticed something very strange about the man's fingernails. They were silver. Weamar had never seen anything like them. The name 'Silverclaw' jumped into his mind, but the last time that he had seen that werewolf, his claws were normal, just like any other wolf.

"Manling.", the large man said gruffly in a voice that Weamar knew only too well. It was Talrak. The man also bared his teeth just enough so that Weamar could see that they were silver too. "Or should I say, brother?"

"'Friend', perhaps?", Weamar asked, hopefully.

Talrak frowned. "Then you found a priest in time, did you?", the large man asked. Then he leaned in close to Weamar and added, "For when I put the bite on someone I know when I have infected them. I have never been wrong, brother."

Weamar stayed calm and tried to remember what had happened during their fight a year ago. He remembered getting bitten and he remembered Guy giving him something to pour into the wound. Whatever it was that Guy gave him it had stung fiercely, but Weamar had felt fine ever since.

"There's been no sign that I'm infected.", Weamar replied.

Talrak growled quietly and stared at Weamar intently. His nostrils flared and he sniffed at the ranger. Then he squinted his eyes.

"Strange as it may seem, I'm pleased to see you restored to health.", Weamar added in all honestly. He never had anything against Talrak before and he still didn't. He was willing to let the past go.

"Why aren't you infected?", Talrak hissed.

"I was treated soon after, and you were dead, which I'm told reduces the likelihood of the infection taking hold.", Weamar explained, remembering what Guy had told him. "Though that is beyond my ken."

"You aren't human, are you?", Talrak said, sniffing the ranger once more.

Weamar was startled by the question. "I don't know my parentage, as far as I know I'm human.", Weamar said, rapidly losing confidence in his belief. "Why? What do you sense?"

Talrak laughed quietly, sounding too much like a wolf as he did so. "We will meet again, and this time things will be different.", he said.

"Stay well.", Weamar said earnestly and reached for his ale. Now he had even more to think about.

As Talrak got up to leave, he lightly scratched his silver fingernails across the back of Weamar's hand, leaving just the slightest of wounds. It wasn't enough to break the skin, but it was enough to cause a scratch. Then he was gone.


Three years was her sentence and Marinae didn't mind it at all. She was serving Azalin and it made her happy to do so. She remembered standing before the Baron as he passed his judgment. She remembered simply nodding and thanking the Baron. And she remembered going to prison on her own without need of any guards to escort her there.

On the third day of her captivity, a bird flew into Marinae's cell through the barred window. Marinae saw that it was Mrs. Isabelle, Aselid's familiar, and that she brought a message rolled up on her leg. Marinae was about to scold Rambis, but Rambis had learned not to bother Mrs. Isabelle, especially not after what happened the last time. So Marinae took the ring and the letter off the bird's leg and unrolled the message.

"Marinae, your presence is requested immediately.", the message read. "It seems that I have greatly underestimated the resolve of the church in the matter we discussed briefly at my home. Their case against me is very strong and I fear that I will be imprisoned or worse if you and our mutual friends do not come to my defense. Come to the courthouse in Mortingy at once. The ring around Mrs. Isabelle's leg should assist in this matter if you are having unforeseen difficulties. Aselid."

Marinae snorted. "Hey cat. Aselid wants us to come back and help him stay out of jail.", she replied. "In one-thousand ninety-two days we can help him out."

Rambis rolled over onto his back and expected a tummy rub. "Mmm, yes.", he said. "But I do miss the sausages. Prison food is rather bland."

Marinae looked at the bird and the ring.

"Maybe we should go.", Rambis purred. "And help him, and have some sausages, and then come back."

"Not much of a kingdom that locks up a war heroine.", Marinae muttered. "Not much of a prisoner who considers a jailbreak."

"It would just be like a vacation.", Rambis said.

"It would be worse than breaking exile.", Marinae replied. "Remember Shana? Maybe she'll stop by. At any rate, I wonder if my jailers will honor my request to keep Mother out."

"But Aselid is your teacher.", Rambis said. "We should go help him. The Baron will understand."

"Right.", Marinae replied sarcastically.

"And three years is a long time for a cat.", Rambis added.

"Three years is a long time for anyone.", Marinae said, thinking about how much older her human friends would have gotten by then. "Still, I gave my word to the King."

"I liked the King.", Rambis said. "When I was at his castle they pet me and played with me and fed me sausages until I was stuffed."

"That is why I cannot leave. He is an honorable man.", Marinae insisted. "Were I to break my oath and leave here, my life would be forfeit."

"He understood when you broke your exile.", Rambis replied.

"He 'understood' me right into this cell.", Marinae countered.

"Aselid is an honorable man too.", Rambis pointed out.

"Yes, he is.", Marinae conceded. She read the note again. If Aselid was in trouble it had to be something very important. She thought about that for a long time.

"Maybe the Baron would let me out to traipse around for a few weeks if I promise to come back.", Marinae said.

Then Marinae called out to the guard to bring her a pen and some paper, but he just laughed at her

"How rude.", Rambis moaned.

Marinae made a note of the guard's name. "If I get my rank back, his ass is going to be in this cell.", she thought to herself. "And I will come down here every day to laugh at him!"

Rambis laughed his sweet little kitty laugh.

"With my luck Shana was actually Kiri, shape-shifted, trying to get me to go back to Kendra.", Marinae thought to Rambis who decided that it was better not to say anything in return.

Marinae waited until the shift change and tried again with the new guard.

"What for?", the new guard replied.

"I wish an audience with the King.", Marinae replied. "All people of Darkon have the right to petition the king for arbitration when they feel they have been wronged."

The guard looked at Marinae. He knew her family and respected them, so he offered to dictate a message. Marinae nearly cried in relief.

"Your Majesty,", Marinae began. "I speak as one who fought at your right hand in the battles that led to the defeat of the evil Drakov, and as the emissary of my Master, Aselid, who suggested that I bring word of Drakov's plans to you. My master has gotten word to me that he needs my aid. While I am prepared to live out my sentence in this cell, I am not prepared to see my Master imprisoned when he has done no wrong."

Marinae paused as the guard caught up. "As a woman of honor, Your Majesty, I am bound to my word to you and to the Baron, even as I am bound to my Master and Teacher.", Marinae continued. "Were it not for his lessons, I would not have been able to serve my King and Country. I ask--nay, beg--thee, then, for leniency, that I might serve Aselid in his time of need."

Marinae nodded to the guard. "May I sign it?", she asked.

The guard finished and nodded. He let Marinae sign it as long as she put her hands through the bars to do so.

"Signed by my hand, Marinae of Darkon.", Marinae wrote, adding the date.

"Who should this be delivered to?", the guard asked.

Marinae named her family's attorney. "He will know the legal steps far better than I.", Marinae replied. "I thank you."

The guard nodded and folded the letter for delivery. Then next day Marinae's family's attorney showed up at her cell with the guard at his side. As Marinae greeted him the guard pulled out a key and opened the door to her cell.

"Your letter put the Baron into quite a state.", the lawyer said. "I took the liberty of submitting it to him before sending it to Castle Avernus as a matter of protocol.

"I would imagine he would be, alarmed.", Marinae said, hiding a grin. "I claim the right of intercession, an appeal to a higher court, as it were."

"The Baron did not want it to reach Azalin. And so he has granted your request in Azalin's name.", the lawyer explained. "You are free to go."

Marinae was astonished. She could barely believe what she had just heard, but she hid it as best as she could. Marinae smiled solemnly, bowed respectfully to the attorney, and then hugged him without ceremony.

"Grandmother will see to twice your usual retainer.", Marinae told the lawyer as she gathered her things. "Lead the way."

The lawyer nodded. "I accept your kind bonus, if you insist, but I did nothing unusual.", he said.

"You may have saved my Master's life, old friend.", Marinae replied. "That's worth more than money to me."

"You must have a lot of influence.", the lawyer added. "A friend in a high place?"

"It's probably not wise to discuss it.", Marinae replied. "The guards and walls have ears."

The lawyer nodded and they both left the prison. Marinae gathered up her confiscated stuff, her horse, and such. Then she checked the saddlebag and was relieved to find the gem still inside.

Marinae went to the Red Eagle inn to clean up, ignoring the usual reactions, people pointing fingers at her and whispering behind her back. When she was presentable she sent a messenger to her grandmother. Marinae had to wait an hour, but her grandmother showed up.

"We owe our attorney twice his normal retainer.", Marinae said, dealing with business right away. "As for me, Grandmother, I do not know when I will return. I don't want to be under the Baron's thumb any longer than necessary, after enjoying his hospitality."

"If you need to reach me, send messages to these places.", Marinae added, handing her grandmother a list of inns where the owners knew her well. "They will find me. And, if you can find out why the Baron's so intent to break the law to see me imprisoned..."

"Marinae.", her grandmother said gracefully. "Don't leave so soon. We have so many things to talk about."

"I have to go. Aselid is in trouble.", Marinae replied, handing her grandmother the note from Aselid.

The old elf glanced at the note. "Can you stay, for just a little while?", she asked.

"The Baron.", Marinae replied, shaking her head. "I am afraid of him."