Sole Wolfess and Kid
© 2022 by M. Mitch Marmel and Walter Reimer

(The Sole Wolfess and Aedith ‘Sunny’ Winterbough are courtesy of E.O. Costello. Thanks!)
Thumbnail art by  tegerio, color by  marmelmm

Part Twenty-four.


Yes, I had taught her a camouflage cantrip, like the one that her adoptive father had learned as a magic-user in the Imperial and Royal Army. Mark you, not with any use of feral wasps, either. It was very simple, easy enough for a seven year old to learn, and very effective.

But as we headed for the Blue Onoob River, I couldn’t help smiling. For good or ill, games of ‘Hide and Seek’ in the Vale will never be the same.

[Note appended to manuscript: "Remind me to tell you about the time Sixth disguised himself as a mud puddle."]

Aedith’s eyes went wide as I moved both swords from my Elfintory to my belt. I caught her look and smiled. “It saves a step, and it looks more dramatic and Elf-ly,” I explained.

She nodded, and I guessed that she’d be writing notes after this was over.

We reached the bridge over the Blue Onoob and slowed right down, creeping over the span before I cast detect-magics. Sure enough, there he was, and I crouched down beside Aedith. “Hide yourself here,” I told her in Elf-mind, and I kissed her on the top of her head between her ears.

My brave little girl swallowed hard. “Be careful, Mommy,” she said as she faded into the stonework.

“I’ll try,” I whispered as I turned away from her and started toward where my quarry was standing. Elves Don’t Lie, and they don’t make promises very much either, which is why I didn’t promise Aedith that I’d come back to her.

I came up behind him and slightly to his right, so I didn’t have to see him polluting the river water. The night breeze was running across my path, so he couldn’t catch my scent. “Moth,” I growled.

The lights of the city and the stars silhouetted him, and he straightened up as he chuckled. “Ah, Wolf Queen. I was wondering when you’d show up. So, my minions got caught, huh?”

“If those were your minions, you’re either a poor judge of character or you didn’t get your money’s worth.”

Another chuckle as he did up his trousers. “Or both. Ah, well, they were useful while they lasted.”

“How did you learn about the rings?”

“Alistair had heard of them, and he knew that I knew about them. Before he asked you to come to Eastness he hired me to look for them.” He shrugged. “It’s what I do. I drink, and I know things. Beaky Boy wasn’t a bad boss, once you got past his obsessions about living forever.” He snorted, took a flask from his Elfintory, and took a swig of the contents. Likely aqua vitae.

“The Ospreys are dead,” I pointed out, “so what’s the point in stealing the rings?”

“Ah,” and he gave a soft laugh. “The sport of it, mostly; I hate leaving business unfinished, you know what I mean? And those rings have powerful and ancient magics. They’re valuable in the right paws.”

“Unseelie,” I growled.

“Yeah.” He half-turned toward me and grinned, starlight glinting off the points of his teeth. “You leave your daughter behind just to come and compliment me? You’re a bad mother – “

I bared my teeth. “Shut. Your. Mouth.”

“Just talking about the Wolf Queen,” he said with a nasty edge to his voice. “So, you’re obviously here to arrest or kill me.”

“It does appear obvious, yes.”

“Makes sense.” He suddenly whirled, gesturing with a paw, and I felt my swords tug free of my belt and go flying, landing several yards away. I clenched my fists and he sneered, “Not so big and bad, wolfess, when you don’t have a sticker in your paws.” His paws abruptly glowed.

And he threw a fireball at me.

I pooked to the left, and the fight was on.

Most of the time involved me dodging his fire-spells, and every time I got too close to where my swords had landed he was ready for it. He had an interesting over-pawed throwing style, and used either paw. The thing I couldn’t stand was his laughter as he chased me all over the island. I mean, seriously? Beat me up if you have to, but don’t laugh at me while you do it.

He's Unseelie, though, so you sort of expect it.

I did manage to get in close enough to drench him in a gallon of conjured water, courtesy of the spell that my beloved Ooo-er taught me, but all it did was make him smell worse. His fireballs were largely unaffected, though.

So he kept at it, with me mostly pooking randomly to avoid getting incinerated. My cloak got a few burn holes in it, and the Temporal Corps jumpsuit that Tali had given me got scorched and singed in spots. I had to end this, and soon.

I was getting tired.

I pooked in close, ending up behind him and drove the point of my right elbow sideways into the back of his head, knocking his derby off his head.

And – typical mel – he farted as he stumbled forward.

I gagged and waved my paws as he staggered and turned. “Tsk, that was almost Unseelie.” He pointed at the ground at my feet –

And everything went white for a moment.

I shook my head and propped myself up on my right elbow, aware that the explosion had knocked me maybe a hundred feet away from where I’d been standing. Spots danced before my eyes and my ears were ringing. In the distance, all I could see was a shadow, dark against the other shadows, with a pair of glowing eyes and bared teeth.

“Well played, wolfess, but I’m getting tired of this.” He raised his right paw, and a globe of fire formed. “So ends the saga of the Wolf Queen, I guess.”

And with a snarl he threw the fireball while I, still dazed, was unable to do more than raise my left paw in an effort to ward it off.




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