Silvermoon. A Tale of a Young Werewolf. A YA Novel. 12-18 (15 page)

His human form changed quickly to a
huge
snarling, growling werewolf that burst forth from the snowy bank. With the satchel containing the rune stone held securely between his huge jaws, he sniffed the air, turned and bounded diagonally up the slope and entered an opening in the rock face. He trotted into his lair and slowly resumed human form.

He searched amongst his belongings and dressed himself in dry clothing, then he opened the satchel and took out the stone. He held it in his hands and he gasped as it glowed suddenly, first bright blue and then a deep red. Something gripped his heart, he found breathing difficult and felt tired. Then he heard a distant laughter, not from outside the cave, but from inside his head. As the laughter faded so did his strength.
Hunger, you are hungry, that’s why you are tired.
He rummaged through his supplies and found the roast chicken he had purloined. He devoured it within minutes and sat back, sated.

Chapter twelve.

Lengowyn.

They struggled against the howling wind as they forced their way through the thigh-deep snow. Jennifer, walking across the snow’s surface, carried their half-empty packs. The food from the shepherd’s wife, mutton, coarse wholemeal bread and cheese was long gone and they ate snow to quench their thirst.

Yvette, walking behind Jason called out, “They are close.”

Jason breathed deep, taking in the heavy scent, borne on the oncoming wind, the scent was strong. It was Yvette’s scent, a hundred-fold.

They came to the top of the next rise and gazed down at the valley below. They descended and as they came into the lee of the mountain towering before them, the snow fell like a soft blanket. They journeyed on and several houses appeared, houses of stone, not small stones, but large ones, as big as ones head, and slanted roofs now covered in snow.

Light peeped through the louvered window coverings. Smoke drifted upwards in the still air. Suddenly the snow ceased its descent. They removed their masks and goggles and found themselves facing an approaching multitude of men, women and children. That they were werewolves was apparent, not by their appearance but by their scent. The crowd stopped and a figure stepped forward, he pointed at Jennifer. “What does an elf seek here?”

Jason stepped between them, and Yvette came to his side, the man stopped and Jason said, “She is with us.”

“You were not asked.”

Jennifer spoke up, “The goblins have Chanteline,” and stepped out from behind them, “And we came here for help.”

The man looked her up and down. “Elves and friends of elves have no business here, if you need food, say so and be gone.” He turned briefly to a woman standing close behind him, he murmured something and she hurried off.

Jennifer stepped in front of Jason and Yvette. “Do you fear the elves?” She asked him.

“We fear no-one, neither man nor beast nor elf.”

“What about goblins?”

“They don’t bother us and we don’t bother them.”

Jennifer shook her head slowly, “Such complacency. Are you sure you are safe? I hear goblins are close by. We have just slain two of them.”

His brow creased and his lips curled. “You killed goblins, here, do you know how many there are here in the hills and mountains. Why did you kill them and where are they?”

“A few hours from here, you see, one of them stole the rune stone. You remember the rune stone, don’t you? The thing that gives you immortality, well, when the goblins find they cannot use it for the same purpose, they will destroy it, and you and the elves and anybody blessed by Chanteline will die.”

“Is that what you believe? Who are you anyway?”

She cut him short, and joined her hands as she spoke, “My name is Lavendel, my parents were keepers of the rune stone, and they have sent me to ask for your help, you came to our aid long ago and were rewarded with long-life.”

The man looked them over and said, “My name is Lengowyn, I am the community’s leader. I am sorry you have lost your precious rune stone, but we don’t believe in that
mumbo-jumbo. We werewolves always had longevity, it is in our genes, that is nothing but a lie thought up by the elves to keep the werewolves subservient, something we are not. Yes, we helped the elves when they were outnumbered, but we did it to protect ourselves. You elves are always causing trouble with the goblins. Why can’t you leave them to live in peace, they wish you no harm, you elves fear them out of ignorance.”

Jennifer looked at the throng behind him, “I never thought I would hear a werewolf turn his back on us. Are you afraid to fight, afraid of hurting yourself?”

A loud murmur changing to snarls and growls rose from the crowd, Lengowyn raised his hand and the noise abated. “Our people fought against oppression in the human wars, we fought and died alongside humans. I didn’t see any elves
in the trenches or
on the beaches, only
dead
humans and decapitated werepeople.”

“I don’t know anything about the human wars, I am young, I am seve
nteen, I don’t even have a mate,
”
she said, staring at him fiercely.

He glared at her
, “You lie, like all elves, you lie.” He pointed a finger at Jason, “I see your mark upon him. Now that would be interesting, the offspring of a werewolf and an elf.”

Jennifer’s gaze dropped and she turned to Jason, she took him by the arm and pulled him to her. “Forgive me, Lengowyn, I did not intend to deceive you. Silvermoon and I met some time ago, neither one of us knew of the curse. We know we can never be as one, if he touches one drop of…” Her voice trailed off and she added, “Well, you know the rest.”

Lengowyn’s head tilted back and he literally roared with laughter, the crowd behind him joined in. As the noise died down he looked back at them. “Be on your way.”

The woman who left the throng came back with three small sacks, she gave them Lengowyn and he approached the trio. “Here, food for your journey home, and stay away from the goblins.”

Jennifer took the proffered sack. “Thank you, your generosity is appreciated.”

A voice came from the crowd, “More than the elves gave us.”

She looked at the crowd and then back at Lengowyn. “What is that supposed to mean?”

His smile changed to a sneer, “What is your father’s trade, goldsmith, or something else, such as bow maker?”

“He, er, he’s a banker.”

His eyebrows rose, but his eyes mocked. “That doesn’t surprise me. Doing well is he, do the humans know he’s an elf, does he pay them to keep quiet?”

“My father donates to charity, he is well thought of, his interest rates are more than reasonable and he has never foreclosed on anyone.”

“The elves came off best, they always did. We were left to farm the land, millers, blacksmiths, weavers and tailors, no riches for us, the elves kept the goblin gold for themselves,” he paused for breath; he raised his arms and said aloud, “We are self-sufficient here, no thanks to the elves.” He turned and looked at the angry faces behind him, and then he turned back to the trio, his voice soft and calm, “Leave now, and don’t come back.”

With that, he walked away and the crowd dispersed leaving them alone on the hard-packed snow, in the silence.

Yvette sobbed quietly, Jason placed an arm around her shoulder, and Jennifer joined them, her eyes glistening. “We must leave, we have angered them, let us make camp somewhere, I am tired and you are too.”

They travelled along the base of the mountain and found shelter beneath an overhang, a good hour’s journey from the werewolf town. Sheltered from the wind and snow they ate the food in silence, after which they erected one of their tents, and retired in silence and fell asleep huddled together
, more saddened than tired
.

Way above on the ridge, far from the cave entrance, a young female werewolf, sent to follow Lucas, loped back and forth along the top of the ridge, sniffing loudly. In the waning darkness, she searched the ridge in vain for signs of his presence. His trail, what there was of it on these bare rocks, had petered out in the night. She had travelled along the whole ridge only to find that it descended once more to the valley from which it grew.
What was his purpose, why this pile of useless rock? Did he ascend, or did my eyes deceive me, did I pass him in the dark as he lay hidden somewhere. He could have killed me easily; one quick shove and I would have landed on the rocks below
, my body shattered and broken
.”
She looked down the windward side at the stone fangs that pointed back up at her. She shivered, but not because of the icy wind and made her way back the same way she came.

Lucas woke up, still tired. Daylight streamed into the cave blinding him. He gathered his things and made his way to the cave entrance. He looked out at the snow-covered hills, and descended to the valley below, stumbling now and then.

Jason woke up and found himself alone. He lay there thinking what he should do. He recalled Lucas telling him about his forebears, he said they were in the Scottish highlands. He sighed, depressed at the thought of travelling the long distance to the north through the snow. They needed transport, horses and mules for the supplies. He heard a voice, it was Yvette, “Jason, are you awake yet?”

Then he heard Jennifer’s voice. “Sleepy head wake up.”

He slid out of his sleeping bag his boots in his hand, “Yes, come in.”

He pulled his boots on and made room as Yvette entered, he edged farther inside as Jennifer appeared. They greeted one another and sat in silence for a while.
As
Jason fastened his
boots and pulled on his anorak,
Yvette said. “I have a plan, let’s find the goblin’s lair and get word to the elves.” She looked at Jennifer, who sighed and remained silent. “I could sneak in and try to steal it back, I’ve got a story all worked out in case they spot me.”

Jennifer said, “If they spot you, they will kill you
and keep your head as a trophy
,” she looked at Jason.

He shrugged and said to her, “We have to do something, Jennifer, finding out where the goblins are is the least we can do and then you can bring word to your parents. I was thinking of travelling to
Scotland
, our parents would not refuse to help.”

He looked to Yvette for support and she asked him with furrowed brow, “Our parents are in
Scotland
? Who told you that?”

“Luca
s did, and I don’t see
why he would lie to me.”

Her brow lifted as she said,
“Maybe they are in
Scotland
, but
really,
they should be in the old lands, the places called
Norway
and
Sweden
, in a place almost void of humans.”

Jennifer asked, “How come you are here. Did you travel from the old lands?”

“No, I was fostered out to
France
and came to
Cambridge
,
England
to…” she faltered then said, “To learn English and study law. I knew you were in
England
you see and I decided I would later try to find you, but fate in the form of Lucas took charge. He called me at
Claire
College
, where I was studying, before meeting with you and told
me of your fate, of your chance,
but fatal meeting with Jennifer. He dispatched me to the college. I was to see that nothing befell you. He told me a goblin was on your trail and he told me of the goblin lair on the other side of a great lake. I didn’t realise it was John until Ingrid went missing.