Secrets in the Wolf King's Castle

Strange Customs

“May I ask,” Queen Trienna asked as the luncheon was coming to a close, while the Omegas began to clear the table of the remnants of the food, “what events will the celebration consist of?”

“Oh, of course,” Lyria replied. She leaned forward and grasped the stem of her wine goblet, taking a large sip. “Well as you know, the seventeenth birthday of a wolf is a very important time. Wolves can experience their first shift any time after their eighteenth birthday, and seventeen is the age after which they begin to feel the effects of their wolves. Soon, Wyatt will begin to feel the voice of his wolf, as well as certain intuitions and abilities that will fully develop once he shifts. For example, I found my combat skills began to drastically improve at that time. So this is the year that we consider a young wolf to be moving into adulthood. It is a beautiful time for a young wolf. Every wolf holds a celebration of the seventeenth birthday.”

“It is true, this is traditional even in Haven,” Gertal added. He was sitting at the opposite end of the table from King Grimsaul and the humans. Though they had been polite to one another, it was clear there was some trepidation between them. Wallace noted it, realizing he would need to try to bridge the mutual distrust between the two nations who knew each other so little.

“In our family,” Wallace began to explain, “we usually host a large tournament to celebrate these birthdays for our children. The festivities will start in two days with a feast throughout the city. In honor of Wyatt, we will even be opening up casks of our famous bloodfruit wine. For the past seventeen years we have been saving a percentage of our stocks of this rare drink for this occasion.”

“I didn’t know that,” Weston said with interest.

“Yes, and of course we are saving for your birthday as well,” Lyria replied. Those around the table gave Weston a fond smile as he beamed.

“The next day will be a holiday throughout the city and all shops will close at noon, so that the citizens can attend a joust,” Wyatt said. “I am particularly excited for this.”

“Oh, we have jousts!” Princess Giannetta exclaimed. “Astyvia has some of the fastest horses known to men!”

Wyatt laughed, but not unkindly. “We do not joust with horses,” he explained. “Rather, we joust in our wolf forms!”

“How does that work?” the human Princess asked. She leaned forward, her chin resting in her head and her eyes alight with curiosity.

“It’s much better for you to see than for us to describe,” Wyatt said. “If you’d like, we can prepare a seat for you in our booth and I will explain the rules during the joust.”

“I would like that–” Princess Giannetta started to say. Her father cut her off quickly.

“Not unaccompanied,” he said quickly. “I mean no offense,” he added, looking at King Wallace, “but it would be most improper for a Princess of my household, a lady of nobility, to be alone in the company of men.”

“Not only men,” King Wallace said, tilting his head curiously. “The whole court will be in attendance. My wife, my children. Do only men traditionally attend your jousts?”

“Traditionally men sit separately from the women,” King Grimsaul explained. “This is not your custom?”

“No,” King Wallace said. “But if it would put you at ease, the Princess is welcome to bring any companions or guards into our box with her.”

“I would accompany her,” a quiet voice said. It was the young Annea Tiller, daughter of Duke Ironburgh. “It sounds thrilling.”

“I’ll allow it,” the Duke said. “Provided you both bring a personal guard.”

“Settled,” said Wyatt with a grin. “Now, I am most interested to hear about the style of joust that your kingdom traditionally engages in. You say you use horses?”

“I’ve seen sketches,” Lyria said. “It looks quite thrilling!”

“Oh it is,” Duke Ironburgh replied. “Both Reginald and I were once champions of the joust.”

“Many years ago,” King Grimsaul smiled and nodded his head slightly. “Those years are long past me,” he added. “These old bones would not do so well these days, I think.”

“Nor mine,” Duke Ironburgh replied.

“I would very much like to see such an event,” Wyatt sighed slightly. “Perhaps I shall visit your kingdom some day.”

“Why wait?” Duke Ironburgh asked. “We have more than enough guards and soldiers here to organize a joust, if there is time?” He shrugged. “It is traditional to offer a reward to victors, though. We would have to arrange some such…” he looked at his king.

“I could arrange a chest of gold,” King Grimsaul shrugged as if it were nothing. “Do you offer such incentives as well?”

“We do,” King Wallace replied. “Sometimes gold or gems, sometimes opportunities for advancement within the ranks of our Warriors. Land or other favors, from time to time. This year, our victor shall win a cask of bloodfruit wine, 100 gold pieces, and an audience with the Royal family.”

“Well, I would be more than happy to arrange a demonstration of our own jousting style, for the Prince’s birthday, if it would suit your Majesties,” King Grimsaul offered.

Wyatt looked hopefully at his father. King Wallace nodded, and Wyatt punched the air gently in celebration.

“Yes,” the Prince exclaimed. Weston looked equally intrigued, and even Annicke had leaned forward eagerly. Baiden, young as he was, did not seem to understand the discussion. He was using a dirtied knife left on the table to cut a linen napkin to shreds, tying the pieces together in some kind of art project.

“What other events will we see this week?” Princess Giannetta asked.

“The day after the joust there shall be competitions of art, poetry, and storytelling.” Wyatt explained. “Our mystics have organized a choral concert and they shall sing some of my favorite songs inspired by our holy books.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely,” Queen Trienna replied. “I studied music quite extensively in my youth. The Gold Isles are known for producing some of the finest musicians in the North. Now that we are a part of Astyvia, many send their children to our land for training.”

“The next day there will be sparring competitions,” Wyatt said. “Some other sport as well. Archery is considered a wonderful leisure activity, though we have little use for it in battle. Some of our best archers will compete, and I may even join them. I am a fair enough shot.”

“I am an excellent archer,” Princess Giannetta said. She blushed slightly and looked down. Her father frowned disapprovingly.

“I’ve told you not to bother the soldiers in the training yard,” he chastised her.

The Princess didn’t answer. She seemed embarrassed by her outburst.

“I enjoy archery too!” Annicke piped up. She looked at Princess Giannetta with something like sympathy, or perhaps pity, carefully studying her blush. “I sometimes practice in the mornings before lessons, if you would like to join me.”

The human Princess glanced up at her father. He looked bewildered, glancing at King Wallace as though half expecting an interjection, but Wallace had turned to an attendant who was whispering in his ear.

“I must go,” Wallace said. “It seems that some of my Dukes have matters they wish to discuss with me before the festival begins. Theo, would you accompany me?”

“Of course,” said Duke Greyfur, rising at once. He bowed stiffly to those around the table. “A pleasure,” he said.

As the wolf King and the Duke swept away, King Grimsaul looked slightly resigned. “I suppose it is no harm for you to enjoy the recreation of Cyrrillest while you are here,” he said to his daughter. “But take a care for the state of your garments, and bring both your attendants and your guards.”

Princess Giannetta beamed at him, brightening like a full moon reflected in the still waters of a lake. Annicke did not fail to notice the look of near disbelief on her face as her father gave her permission, or the way Queen Trienna stifled a small smile at her daughter’s joy.

Annicke glanced over at Weston, who simply shrugged, the gesture nearly imperceptible. She could see he was as puzzled as she was over the strange behavior of these humans.