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Chapter V – From drizzle to rain

We lost their trust, no matter how much we try to hide it under judging eyes and stricter regulations.

And yet, I'm confident we can get it back.

- From the report received at the 5th of Wind

3rd of Wind, 6th cycle – Morning

Vanishing images and the calming sensation of worries fleeing from his mind leaded Cairo's awakening. No matter how much he tried to remind himself that those thoughts were now long gone, his head still felt heavy and his lips, dry.

Alexander still faked his sleep, back on the other side of the room, over the small couch that could only bring the uneasiness of induced discomfort to the gray wolf. Cairo remembered the Alexander's insistence on the day before, even if he knew (and gave the warning) that the small couch wouldn't be gentle with his back. Alexander's breathing accelerated along with his eyes' movements once the gray wolf sat at his bed and stared at him with perked ears.

“Are you feeling well?" Cairo asked.

Alexander, with slow, tired movements and long gasps, lifted his body from the couch and stretched both arms, letting out a low and tired sigh.

“Yes," he responded before yawning.

“You didn't even sleep. How could you be well?"

Alexander stared at the younger wolf's face with a gentle smile, reclining in the couch once again.

“I had an exceptionally good dinner. It helped."

“I- No, that's not how… I mean, you didn't sleep!" Cairo stood up, glancing at the calm wolf in his couch before giving up the discussion and strolling towards the wooden counters, past the table, “I'll try to be quiet while you get a proper rest."

“Thanks, but I'd prefer to eat something first," Alexander stretched his arms and yawned once again before standing up, “Maybe the Starving Buzzard or-"

“No!" Cairo barked before realizing his forcefulness. Ears flattening, he managed a timid look towards Alexander's surprised face, “Sorry, sorry. I meant to say that you're a guest here. A-and I have plenty of food. I couldn't let you eat in another place."

“You have plenty of food for you and your two human friends. Yesterday was a gentle gesture, and I appreciate it very much, but do you really want to extend such an offer?"

Cairo shrugged.

“It's really no problem. I have plenty of food for much more than the three of us, and you've just helped me while I just slept. I'm trying to repay you."

“You don't have to repay me."

“That's not true, Alex! I mean, Sir… uh... Alexander. Maybe that's some weird regulation from the Temple but I don't see why I should follow it. You're a guest here, I want to treat you like one, even if I have almost nothing to-"

Cairo stopped as he saw Alexander's right arm raising in the air along with the paw, a clear and composed gesture of “enough". Alexander yawned before responding, covering his muzzle with the other paw and wagging his tail.

“That's quite enough, I will stay. Thanks for your hospitality, Cairo."

It felt right to offer a meal, but wanting to keep the guest in his house did not. Cairo bared his teeth in a suppressed snarl and returned to the kitchen, searching for the set of knives before walking towards the cold room.

“Tell me, Cairo," Alexander's voice went past the door, louder than he remembered, “do you know why you're acting this way?"

Cairo reached for the shelves, gathering a piece of the freshest cheese from Daren's. Not hard and not too soft; still tender and with that delicious and subtle smell that was, at least, easy to wash off from the fur. Intact piece, he'd need something sharper than a bread knife, just in case his guest...

He sighed as the recollection came to his mind, reminding him of the reason he felt so friendly towards the silver wolf.

“It's the Call, isn't it?"

“The instincts that grow before the Call, yes. I wouldn't recommend pushing them away for they will stay even after it," Cairo heard soft steps on the stone floor, “However, I can't confirm that I will be part of the pack your mind is trying to create."

Cairo eyed the prepared meat; he needed just a small cut. The box was still full of it, probably much more than he would be able to cook on the next day, so grabbing a single and small piece couldn't hurt. Before he got back to the kitchen, Cairo heard Alexander's fire spewing towards the oven's small stack of logs, followed by the characteristic crackle of burning firewood. The silver wolf stood next to it, smiling with semi-closed eyes, wagging his tail as he saw and scented the cheese and meat.

“I would… appreciate it very much," Cairo said, with summoned honesty he didn't care to suppress.

“I know. I can be part of your pack for now, but my Master needs me," Alexander paused as he let the younger wolf prepare his knives, “Believe me, I know how it feels like to be a lone wolf in this city. I felt it on my Call, and I only had one human to keep me company."

“Didn't they send an officer?"

“It was a fox. He was friendly and kind but didn't feel the need to belong like we do. He knew about my new feelings, but a Temple officer is often too busy to waste time with this," Alexander paused, putting a paw over one of the chairs, “He instructed my Master to seek a pack for me, but this city doesn't have many wolves anyway."

“It has me and you," Cairo's ears perked with the sudden burst of hope, but he quickly returned his gaze to the counter. “Sorry..."

“Don't be sorry, embrace this feeling. It is a proof of your heritage in the same way your spirit will be."

Upon noticing his bandaged arm, Cairo had to change his approach at using the carving knife, switching to the left arm even if the pain and shaking were gone. He lifted up his bandaged right arm to inspect it, remembering the beast on Fillar's forest and his first time smelling that amount of human blood.

“May I ask you something… problematic, Alexander?"

“You know you can, always," Alexander said with a yawn over the table, “I'm here to answer."

“Do you still feel like… Like the blood of a human makes you hungry?"

Alexander chuckled.

“If you're talking about the smell, then yes, and don't be shocked by that. It's normal."

“How can I not be shocked by that?" Cairo unfolded the meat and took in the delicious aroma that came with it. Bovine meat, not human's, but both scents made his mouth salivate like one of a hungry dog. He licked his muzzle. Carving knife.

“Savagery, Cairo. Have you heard this word before?"

“Yes," he cut into the meat, releasing the trapped and fresher scent, less tainted by the salt and more concentrated with the flavor.

“It is an interesting word for it was not created by heirs but by humans. It doesn't describe a beast, it describes a beast's aggressive behavior."

“Like what we are capable on the Dark nights," he said as he chopped the meat into smaller pieces.

“No, like what actual humans are capable, every day," Alexander said, seeing Cairo's hesitation, “It's interesting, isn't it? Humans are also capable of beastly acts, of murderous tendencies and actions. They have to control it, and that's why they have so many regulations," he paused as Cairo resumed his work. “Don't worry, Cairo. This instinct is easy to control unless you are being threatened by someone. And in these cases," Alexander let his head rest at the cool wooden table, closing his eyes. “Your actions will be justified and defended by the Temple."

Cairo kept slicing the meat, savoring the smell before returning to the cold room to look for the pot of wheat flour.

“It's something to think about, Cairo. Even the humans have to block some instincts but they don't have twenty-four Glimmering days to prepare for it," Alexander's voice came muffled, as his muzzle was buried on the table.

“You mean, twenty-four festivals."

Alexander let out a brief giggle. “Yes, for those in Solholm at least, and if they can remember every festival in their lives. Didn't you have a festival from where you come from?"

“No… Not like the one you showed me. Maybe a great feast, when the Alpha invites everyone, but not a festival with magical illusions."

“And I imagine this feast featured an incredible amount of meat, like what you're keeping in that box."

“Much more than that," Cairo smiled, “I just to want to celebrate after this is over. I have the entire week off and it seemed like a good idea. The scent of these cuts is enough to bring me back..."

“Maybe living only with other wolves made this problem with your instincts less visible, but don't worry. It's not as harsh as it may appear."

Cairo returned to the kitchen, preparing the bread mixture on the counter near the cut meat.

“Are you… going to use that meat on the bread?" Alexander's lifted up his head and peered at the counter.

“Yes," Cairo smiled, wagging, “It's weird, I just felt like it would be a good choice for breakfast today."

“You're letting your instincts talk to you, Cairo," the silver wolf said before laying his head down on the table, “not that I'm complaining. The smell is already divine, but don't you have to take care of your fur first?"

“No, my fur is-" Cairo stopped as he looked at his paws. He didn't notice it before but it grew, much more than what was expected during the Wind days. “I… can cover them..."

“Good to know. Even though I wouldn't mind some fur in my bread if this smell is telling anything," Alexander sniffed the air, jerking his head up, “This is not just a normal cut of beef."

Cairo smiled, entering the cold room once again to get the next ingredients: a jug of water, and at least three eggs.

“Indeed. It's prepared with a mixture of salt and herbs to make it last longer. It may taste and smell a little dry and bitter at first, but if I cut it into little pieces and manage to bake the bread with enough space between them, it shouldn't be a problem. It actually gives a nice change of taste, you're gonna love it."

“How did you learn about cooking, Cairo? I didn't see any books about it in your shelf, and most of this city's libraries don't have anything other than Westhalin in their pages."

Cairo looked up and paused to think before shrugging.

“Experiments, I guess. My parents weren't usually around so I had to cook for myself. Sometimes for an entire week."

“Problems with the parents?"

Cairo stopped and turned around.

“What? No, not like that, no! They..." he blushed, remembering their encouragements, no matter how big his past mistakes were, “They are fine, I love them. They're just… busy all the time. Inquisitors, you know?"

“Inquisitors!?" Alexander said, frowning and lifting his head. “Both of them?"

“Yeah… They tried to convince me to join the Temple, but I didn't want all that responsibility."

“A shame to lose such a potential like yours, but at least the Solholm's knights will welcome you in their ranks."

Cairo could feel the heat coming from the oven. Not much more time to prepare the bread.

“Still, being an officer is not that hard," Alexander said, smiling, “You don't have to make most of the decisions, like the Inquisitors."

3rd of Wind, 6th cycle – Noon

Telsin felt the chilling touch of water – welcome and calming – with every step through streets of East Solholm after an unproductive talk through the corridors of the ancient Zazka tower, where Lenora gave him more than enough to remember his stay. No matter how much cold wetness the drizzle downed on his fur, he couldn't shrug off the sheer warmth surging through his face – especially at that swollen spot on his cheek – as he thought about her.

Her perfectly smooth face, natural faint and sweet smell compounded with the aroma of roses – as humans insisted on masking their scents – long blond hair that spread and danced with every turn, lean body complemented by that clear white silk dress, undulating with every movement as they walked through the much blander corridors of the tower… and now, the musky scent of a wet fox. He laughed; perhaps he was dreaming too much, and with a human nonetheless.

“Fox of Light!" Zavi'sh's voice came with the wet sounds of paws on moist stone behind him as the ushered and panting rat drew near, leaning onto his cane to gather his breath. Why couldn't his scent also be strong and unpleasant? He smelled of lemons and old paper.

“Zavi'sh? I told you to meet me at the Silver Eagle after I was finished with Russel."

“Not enough time, yes? There's much to say, yes? We should-Ah!" Zavi'sh stepped back upon gazing the matted fur and the clear swollen mark on the fox's muzzle. “What happened?"

“Oh, this?" Telsin smiled as he rubbed a paw over it. The light and fading pain didn't make him wince but smile. “Well… the talk with Lenora didn't go as I expected." Somehow he knew that trying to deceive the rat wouldn't work that easily.

“You flirted like a desperate fox sniffing for a mate, yes?" Zavi'sh frowned and crossed his short arms.

“Aww, come on, Zavi'sh! You talk as if I never had a chance!"

“She's human!"

“So what? Don't you remember that human song?" Telsin closed his eyes and took a deep breath before attempting his impersonation of a bard's song from a long time ago.

“Y_ou stare at the blue eyes, reaching deep into your soul,_

you dodge their lies, their laughs and their mocks,

yet you're lost, they are the ones in control

for no-

Ouch! Zavi'sh!"

The rat had just landed from jumping and swatting the fox's other cheek.

“Yes, yes_. No one can resist the charms of a_ lazy fox. Desperate, yes?"

“I'm not desperate! You should have seen her! She's beautiful and… Of course, you don't care. You already have yours."

“Yes, I have my dear Za'sha, not a human, yes? Just because you're alone doesn't mean you should pounce on every human you find, yes?"

“You don't understand! Just… forget about it, we should get to Russel's house before he locks himself completely."

“Russel is the werewolf, yes?"

“He… Wait, how do you know that?"

“Walk, yes? I have a story to tell."

Under the buildings' protective roofs they managed to avoid most of the falling water and relax, seeing the soft and light droplets incessantly falling from the sky on a clear, mist-like drizzle, cleaning the accumulated dust from the cobblestone streets and bringing up the smell of wet earth and stone – soon to be replaced by something much fouler if the water was to reach higher levels.

Telsin's fur wasn't drenched enough to make him shake it all off, and his scent probably didn't bother anyone else. The few humans who walked around didn't seem to notice; they paid more attention to the rat sitting by his side, leaning his head on the building behind them. Only now he noticed how much his friend struggled to keep his eyes open, occasionally shifting himself through the same cloak he wore in the previous day.

“Zavi'sh, did you sleep at all?"

“Nah. Too many books, enough lemons, yes?" Zavi'sh said before yawning.

“You should probably stay at the inn then. The talk with Russel may get violent."

“You will need me then, fox of light," he smiled, “Russel is a werewolf, yes?"

“Yes, it's gonna be hard to bring him down, but I want to talk to him first. We don't need to capture him right away, we can wait-"

“We are not capturing him, fox of light. We're looking for another werewolf, yes?"

“Do you think it's safe to let him walk around like that?"

“I didn't say that, no, yes? We need to get the other one, the responsible, the dangerous, yes?"

“And I suppose it's someone called Edward Marshall."

“No, not now. Marshall was here, a long time ago, yes? Another man received him in his house, before things happened. A year later, someone died under the Wind moon, Charles, a human merchant. Killed by a beast, yes?"

“How do you… know all these names?"

“You told me to read everything, fox of light! I read everything, yes, yes? The fox of light is here for more than seven years, always in that inn, after the favor of healing Mr. Isaac's son under an Earth-"

“Stop," Telsin placed a paw in front of the rat's muzzle, looking around to be certain that no wolf or fox heard them, “why did you read about me?"

“I read everything, yes?"

“We can't read the private records! You'll get us into trouble."

“No, I'm an Inquisitor now, yes?"

“What!? How… Why?"

“We needed the books, yes? I couldn't refuse, no."

Telsin placed a paw over his eyes, moving to his forehead and before the problems could reach his current thoughts, began to look around for an inn. Fortunately, East Solholm had many of those, usually with large oak tables, chairs for heirs and friendly servants in their amazed glances at their furs.

“We can't talk about these things in here, let's get a room before anyone listens on us."

---

What began with a sigh of deep concentration slowly evolved into a snarl and, now, the gray wolf's shaking arms evidenced how much he needed his help. Alexander landed a paw on his shoulder, providing warmth and support.

“Relax," he whispered, “breathe slowly. One," he exhaled and let the soft words relax the younger wolf, “Two..."

[“Brandon"]

Alexander stopped, his tail standing upwards, and yet he managed not to tighten the grip on Cairo's shoulder.

“What did you say?" he thought.

No answer. That name was enough to bring back the undesired memories and put him on edge, but he had other priorities in front of him, and these couldn't wait.

“Try to resist-"

[“Brandon"]

He froze again, letting Cairo's shoulder go from his paw, standing up to look around the room. Even if he could understand what his spirit said, feelings and concrete messages took more than just words to communicate. The understanding he took for granted now seemed like yet another challenge to overcome.

“What are you trying to tell me?"

“Alexander?" Cairo said through half open eyes, leaving his mouth open, panting, “Who is Brandon?"

Alexander stared at the young wolf. Not only did he break through his spirit's pressure on his own but also managed to hear the warnings. He definitely needed to understand more of his own spirit; perhaps the message wasn't just for him.

“What did you see, Cairo? Any improvements?"

“No, I couldn't even turn around to look at it."

“You interrupted the session on you own, at least."

“No, it was you. You said to relax and breathe… and then your spirit said 'Brandon'. It brought me back."

“It was still you, but… did I appear in your vision?"

Alexander's question hung in the air between the two wolves as Cairo leaned back and pressed his forepaws to his head, breathing in and out with the expected slow rhythm of relaxation after a vision, before he managed to stand up and answer.

“Sort of. I knew it was you but only the voice… I saw a dead body," Cairo's ears and muzzle went down as he balanced slow steps away from the silver wolf, “I'm sorry, Alexander. I guess my progress is not that-"

“Did you see that body before?" Alexander asked, faster than his usual, careful speech.

“I… Yes," Cairo responded, lifting his eyebrows.

“Where? I mean," Alexander took a breath, “forget it. It's not important right now," he said before growling. A lie, for it wasn't something to be meddled with while the Call drew so near. “What else did you see?"

“Fillar's forest. That's where I saw him, last day of Dark," Cairo said, ignoring the wolf's request.

Alexander gasped, stood up and paced. What then took priority now seemed like an inconvenience.

“I'm sorry, Alexander."

“Why are you apologizing?" He stopped, ears perking, facing away from the gray wolf.

“He's… dead. I mean… you clearly cared about him."

“Yes, and it's not your fault. Not in any way," he turned his head back, “so why did you apologize?"

“I guess I felt sorry. I mean… I don't know how to explain, but I felt sad," Alexander turned around, suppressing a whimper, “like something heavy pressuring the back of my head," Cairo paused and looked towards the silver wolf, “That's how you feel, right? Like you lost someone from your pack."

A moment of silence broken only by the tired breathing of the older heir.

“Worse than that. Brandon was… one of my biggest failures. I still had some hope before Dark, and the training went so well..." Alexander sat on the chair by the table, “he ran away, and now I know he is dead."

“You had another human in your pack?"

“He wasn't..." Alexander stopped, sighing. He wouldn't be able to hide it any longer. “Have you heard about werewolves?"

3rd of Wind, 6th cycle – Afternoon

He closed the heavy wooden door from inside, sniffing around the frame in order to discern the kind. It had already vanished, changed to whatever collection of scents the humans used to mask the smell of the many heirs that walked, brushed and touched; a reason to charge much more than normal. Telsin smiled. At least they tried; a considerate gesture.

“Table and paper, yes? Where's the quill?" Zavi'sh said, ending with a yawn. He stumbled towards a chair settled by the window, adjusted his long skinny tail on the carefully carved hole and leaned his head on the table, letting the cane clack to the floor.

Telsin searched both cupboards. The first one held cups, plates and spoons, all of them with the same homogeneous collection of scents – he made sure not to touch any of them before taking a bath – and, searching the second one, grabbed the inkwell and two quills for the rat.

“Are you gonna be able to write at all? I mean, you can wait."

“I can sleep, you can have the ratling while I'm out, yes? Take care of him."

“Wait, what? We still need to talk to-" Telsin stopped as Zavi'sh's body disappeared under a clear and thin dust cloud that swirled and swept across the room. His cloak fell into the chair while his trousers went to the floor. Under the dark red piece of fabric, a spirit in the form of a feral rat with brown fur wriggled and sniffed around, landing its tiny dark eyes into the fox.

“Fox, you stink!" the little rat said with a weak and squeaky voice, “The rat said, not me!"

“Fine, spirit. Do you need any help to get into the table? I really need to know what Zavi'sh learned," Telsin said, offering a paw almost larger than the rat.

“Yes, yes," the rat said before climbing into his paw, “The rat is lazy, he can't even tell a story properly!"

Telsin gently moved him towards the table and brought near a yellowed blank scroll before dipping one of the quills into the ink and giving it to the rat.

“Can you write with that?"

“Fox doesn't trust the rat?"

“The quill is almost your height!"

“Height doesn't matter, fox!" the rat said before positioning himself over the paper, “What matters is what you know. Follow the pattern."

Quick darts through the paper turned into solid and elegant lines, delineating words as clear as any book from the master translators of Westhalin. Some were names, others described who they were and what happened to them.

“Kael is a prominent mage, to be accepted as one of Nico's apprentices," the rat began as he kept writing on the paper, “last year, fifth cycle, Edward Marshall comes to Solholm, Dark day. Important man, member of the Arcane Circle. He visits Aurion, Russel, Lenora, Nico and Kael," he paused to get more ink before seeing Telsin bringing the small container closer to the paper, “Thanks to the fox," the rat said before continuing, “Edward Marshall visits general Orson before leaving, going to Chardwall Keep," stopping at the end of the paper, the rat returns to the first name he wrote, “Kael disappears. Seen in his house, twice, before it is abandoned. Seen in Fillar's forest, twice, before vanishing completely," the rat stopped, looking up at the fox, “are you following fox?"

“Yes, yes. Continue."

“There's a pattern to see. Pay attention," he said before continuing the drawing, “Russel is a trained mage, evoker, has a show in the Glimmering festival. Russel visits Nico and Aurion after the Glimmering. First Wind of this year," he paused, sighing, “Human merchant, not from Solholm, Charles, dead on Fillar's forest, burial grounds. Killed by huge beast. Russel travels towards Adwick Keep," he paused again, running the quill through the last words, “Russel never reaches Adwick, Russel disappears until Water, first cycle. Do you see any pattern, fox?"

“Are they spying on everyone!?"

“No, fox, they spy interesting citizens. They just write the names for everyone else."

“Only names? They have records about me in there!"

“Every officer, every mage and every apprentice is important. There's only one human here they didn't record everything."

“The… merchant? So, he's not important?"

“It's not over!" the rat ran towards the inkwell, preparing to write more, “Russel reappears on Fire, changes house. He now lives in East Solholm, isolated, only one servant. Third cycle, Dark. Aurion visits Russel, Russel visits Aurion, they start doing this, until the fourth cycle, Earth. Another dead on Fillar's forest, not from Solholm, Laou. Killed by a large beast near the burial grounds," the rat paused, “Laou was an heir, Dark."

Telsin stared at the names as the rat gathered his breath, trying to imagine the lines connecting them before he grabbed one quill for himself and attempted to draw them.

“Not yet!" the rat squeaked, jumping and pushing away Telsin's quill from the paper, “Aurion leaves his house every night except Dark, until fourth cycle. Another human, Brandon, guard at the West Wall, disappears. Nico is called to Chardwall and leaves Solholm," a last sigh, “Fifth cycle, Dark, a wolf heir, not from Solholm, Cairo, attacked by a large beast. Survived. He sees a dead human in Fillar's forest, unidentified."

Dropping the quill on the table, the rat collapses on his back.

“See, fox? No one says werewolf, no one knows who's a werewolf. Maybe no one knows what's a werewolf."

“But it seems obvious to me. Aurion can't be, Russel definitely is one and Nico may be… This Edward human. He's a member of the circle, what's his position?"

“Dark spirit. His visit to Chardwall was short. One day. One entire day, including the night."

“So he can't be a werewolf… but I am sure he has something to do with it. Also, Aurion knows much more than he admitted, and I can only hope that Russel will give me some answers."

The rat stood up, quickly dashing through the fox's paw and climbing his arm until he reached his furry shoulder.

“And what are you going to do, fox?"

“Erhm, talk to him? I'm not planning on arresting or restraining, he is a human after all."

“A werewolf is not human."

“He was a human, we can't do anything to them. Let's keep things civil, spirit, and not break regulations."

“Fine, fox. What about Kael?"

“Who?"

“Kael was not found. He was to be Nico's apprentice, he abandoned his house, no one found him."

“So, in the worst case, we have two werewolves to deal with, both mages," Telsin growled, “things may get messy."

“Three," the rat said, “there's Brandon."

“Yes… three. Well, at least not another mage."

“Fox is nervous," the rat whispered.

“I expected something easier, simpler," he stood up. “Let's speak to Russel. We'll need his help."

“I can tell a story to relax the fox!"

“If you can do it as I walk, spirit, go ahead," Telsin said as he folded the scroll, searching for a pocket to throw it in before leaving the room.

“Seven years ago, Light, a fox becomes a Temple officer. Not from Solholm."

---

The first knocks brought nothing but the dry echoes that bumped against a long corridor, as expected. Telsin tried something different, reminiscing something uncomfortable he knew was necessary.

“I know about the golden ring, Russel. You are not human anymore," he projected his voice through the door, wondering if the less sensitive human ears would gather the sound. After a quiet moment, the cursing voice that echoed towards his perked ears made the fox grin with the glee of success.

“The fox can't even be serious," Zavi'sh's spirit said in his shoulder.

“Let me savor it. I wasn't really sure if that was going to work."

Two clicks and a burst of light made him give a curious step back before the mage's head peered out of the slightly opened door. Russel looked younger than he remembered, and his tired face along with the unkempt hair and robe could make him for a drunk traveler, but Telsin had learned a long time ago to not judge mages by their appearance nor age.

“Who told you that? Who are you?" Russel asked, eyes dead on the officer.

“I'm Telsin Grahard, Temple officer and your problems are now ours. Can we talk inside? This rain will get worse."

Russel retreated, slamming the door. Another click and another spell before the path as fully opened.

“Enter, quickly," he motioned, stepping out of Telsin's way, “don't even bother with your paws, just go to the dining room and sit."

Much smaller than Aurion's house but also stinking of human sweat. Surrounded by a long and dark corridor, with only one of the many doors open, Telsin tensed at how far these mages would go to protect themselves, and how much he didn't want to provoke a fight in a place like this.

[“Maybe he's actually protecting the citizens."]

“This is a bit much, don't you think?"

[“What would you do with a wild heir in Dark?"]

“Calm him down? Subdue him?"

[“Think like a human mage."]

“I'm not a human mage."

“Are the chairs safe?" Telsin asked upon reaching the small table. He knew that every shelf and drawer would contain a trap if he asked Hazel to inspect. Probably even the dust over them was enchanted.

“Of course you talked to Aurion," Russel said, “Go on, sit down, I'm not crazy like him. I can even serve tea if you like."

“No tea, it's probably just going-"

“Is that a rat in your shoulder?" Russel said as he sat down in front of Telsin and pointed, looking at the spirit with unusual interest.

“Yes I'm like a rat, and you're like a human!" the squeaking noises that came from his shoulder resonated in his ear, making them twitch and his fur bristle with the surprise.

“Russel, can we talk seriously here? We have a huge problem," Telsin sat down and rubbed his ear. His tail bumped into the back of the chair – he'd have to sit by the side.

“So, it's a spirit then? Great, now I have two officers going after me," the human sighed, “at the very least."

“Just tell us what you know and we promise to not bother you any longer."

The human's tired eyes widened for a short moment before he changed his gaze from the fox to the table and then to the ceiling. He let out another sigh before starting.

“I don't know who started this."

“Do you know a human called Kael?"

“Heard the name before, a long time ago."

“He was supposed to be Nico's apprentice, but disappeared before that happened."

“No, Sir, it can't be an apprentice!" Russel raised his voice, “I can't be bested by a simple apprentice! It's a mage, surely. Not a good one, but not an apprentice either."

Zavi'sh's spirit jumped from Telsin shoulder, slamming his body into the table before he ran towards the human.

“Edward Marshall, do you know this name, mage?"

Russel stared at the spirit, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course. What does he have to do with it?"

“What if Kael was his apprentice?" the rat said.

“No, even if-" Russel stopped, getting up, “No, it can't be. No, Edward was in Solholm for just a week, he couldn't..."

“Edward can't do something. Is that it, mage?" the spirit asked, standing up on the table.

“Maybe he started this… maybe he's the one-"

“Edward cannot be a werewolf, Russel," Telsin said, “He's walked under a moon and didn't transform."

“No, no! You don't understand. He cursed someone else and this nonsense started…"

“So he cursed this Kael apprentice? It still doesn't make sense-"

“No! Sir!" Russel sat down again, moving his arms in frantic gestures of frustration, looking around the room before he managed to close his fists and breathe deeply.

“Are you feeling ill?" Telsin asked.

“You don't know. Look, let me tell you how mages work. Human mages, that is.

“Kael probably learned on his own, so he didn't want attention. If he wasn't an apprentice, he couldn't practice dangerous spells, unless he stole a grimoire from someone. You said Edward visited him..."

“Are you saying he stole Edward's spellbook?"

“No! I'm saying that he got some kind of knowledge from him, and because he was just a kid that wanted to do magic, he delved into Edward's dark spells. Maybe Edward did that on purpose, I don't know, but it makes sense. The boy probably cursed himself while studying..."

“Careless human mage, I see," the rat said.

“He wasn't even an apprentice! He saw an opportunity and began to practice, maybe he got careless, cursed himself. At least he didn't try… No..."

“What?" Telsin snarled, “Don't stop, Russel. Tell me!"

“Look, you know about this ring, right?" Russel flashed the golden inscribed ring right in front of them, “His last order was to capture someone. He's still trying to do something, he wants a living subject, maybe a sacrifice or vessel."

“Order? What are you talking about?"

Russel slumped on his chair, gritting his teeth and muttering to himself.

“Fucking Aurion…"

“No, Aurion didn't explain everything to me," Telsin smiled, “he just knew you would be inclined to open the door if I mentioned the ring."

“Angry human is easy to convince," the rat said, nodding.

“Fine. This ring is a protection, because the werewolf who bit me can make orders… Some kind of twisted spirit magic, but I can dispell it at least."

“Bit you? What does a bite have to do with it?"

“A bite spreads the curse if you survive it. Didn't Aurion explain this?"

Telsin's ears perked and his tail stood up, bumping against the chair once again.

“A bite turns someone into a werewolf then?"

“Under the next moon, yes. As I said, if the person survives, it's not the lost prophecy; it can't bring back the dead."

“What if he bites an heir?"

“An… heir? I don't know," Russel smiled, stroking his chin. “It would be pretty funny to see a wolf turning into a werewolf."

Telsin stood up.

“This is bad," he muttered to himself.

“What? Maybe nothing happens, I don't know. I've never bitten anyone."

“I have to go," Telsin said, dashing towards the door and yelling as he got out, “Don't leave, Russel, I will be back before the moon!"

* * *

He tried to reach for the earth, but it wasn't under his legs anymore, instead buried under a layer of thick dead wood and stone; the first one didn't reach back but the latter held its comforting consistency and lack of alignment. This wasn't Russel's stone but the previously undisturbed support of East Solholm, prepared to receive orders.

Russel frowned. He probably couldn't grasp what happened, especially the fox's desperation as he disappeared through the door, leaving only a faint scent trail behind.

“He forgot to take you," Russel said, looking at the rat on the table.

“I can find my own way," the rat responded.

“Need to lock the door-" Russel got up but felt both his feet stuck to the floor with unrelenting force. Looking down, he stared at a stone mass that moved with more flexibility than water and more direction and purpose than fire, pouring silently through the floor and coiling around his feet.

“I have to do something first," the rat said.

Russel glanced at him and prepared a circle with the agility of a master evoker. Two stone pillars crashed through the floor, slamming his arms and coiling around his shoulders as one of the prepared spells – rays of fire – misdirected towards the walls and ceiling, ending in clear marks of conjured fire.

“Argh!" Russel screamed and struggled against the molded stone holding his arms, “You can't do this! I'm a human!"

“Not a human. You're our problem now," the rat jumped from the table, staring at the glowing golden ring and Russel's gasping face, “No tricks, human."

“I've not been defeated, rat!"

“Stop it!" Telsin's voice echoed from the door as he returned, panting, “What are you doing, spirit?"

“Hazel, you're awake as well," the rat said before turning his body towards the fox and standing up, “How much more luck can you bring to this fox, spirit of light?"

“Don't kill him! That's not what Zavi'sh would do, spirit!"

“This is Zavi'sh's mission and the reason why he accepted becoming an Inquisitor," the rat turned back to Russel, “It's the right thing to do, Telsin."

“No! It's not the right thing!"

Blinding light exploded from Russel's ring, followed by the crackling sounds of stone being disintegrated and spread in the air as a dense and obscuring dust. Russel's steps echoed through the room, loud enough to betray his position and allow the spirit another try at immobilizing him.

The stone buried deep into the core of East Solholm reacted to his call, surging through new holes on the floor and seeking the human form, visible through the clouds of dust. When the first pillars encountered the human's body, they clashed into his arms, causing the human to stop his spell circle and crash into the floor, groaning in pain.

“Stop that, spirit!" Telsin screamed.

“He's a beast now, fox. Will Temple allow him to live bearing this curse?"

Silence crept into the room, occasionally dispersed by Russel's grunts as he forced his way into his feet and glared at Telsin's snarling face with the anger of a cornered beast.

“Tell your fox, Hazel. What truth do you see here? Does this man have a chance?"

The spirit's small head turned towards him. Dark eyes without hesitation stared from the floor while the fox couldn't come up with anything, except opening and closing his maw. Telsin closed his eyes and scrunched his muzzle.

“You only have until dusk, fox."

“Yes!" Telsin said, opening his eyes and managing to smile through the pressure, sounding more confident with each word. “He has a chance, spirit. Let him live."

---

“This is fascinating!" Alexander said, staring intently at Cairo's face as his tail wagged behind him.

“You're kinda creeping me out with this..."

“Sorry, it's just… I never thought about that. You're immune to an ancient curse."

“Maybe it's just because I'm an heir. Maybe I can still give it to other humans..."

“Yes, maybe. It's a curse based on dark spirit magic and I could see it clearly on Brandon once I looked closely. I can't see it on you," Alexander got up, “I'll have to examine more carefully. It's easier when they've turned."

“Maybe this is what's making my spirit so difficult."

“Unlikely. It's normal for a strong spirit like yours to act this way, but I'm already confident you're going to control it. You've progressed a lot."

“I can't even look at it!"

“You can easily enter the vision, predict when it's going to appear and you don't even need my spirit's help to get out of the vision anymore. Cairo, you are progressing."

“You said your spirit was visible on the day before your Call."

“Yes, but every Call is different, remember that. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean you won't be able to control it."

Cairo heard the steps from outside, almost before Alexander felt his warding spell warning him about the presence of someone. This time, however, instead of quickly moving to open the door, the silver wolf decided to wait and lifted his paw to ask for silence. Both wolves stood quiet until they heard a sigh and the heavy knocks followed by an annoyed and deep voice.

“Open or I will be forced to bring this door down, wolf," the voice of captain Harword came muffled, but still potent. Alexander sighed in relief.

“See if you can concentrate on a vision while I talk to him."

“He's probably gonna ask for me."

“Let's hope he doesn't, for some time at least."

“I can hear you two talking!" the voice echoed from outside.

Alexander stood up and Cairo assumed the comfortable sitting position he practiced to concentrate. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the captain's annoyed voice trying to enter the house while Alexander managed to keep him outside with his authority, focusing on the much more relaxing sounds of rain splattering through the stone roofs and stone streets. Cairo smiled before inhaling enough air to relax profusely and prepare for the next vision.

* * *

“No danger at all, huh?" the captain said with the incredulous expression of most humans, tapping his feet into the stone ground and splashing some water.

“I can assure you, captain, he's progressing very well. Even if he slips-"

“Oh, so he can slip? Good to know."

Alexander suppressed a growl.

“I can't predict the future, captain, all I can do is give you the most likely outcome."

“And I should trust you to keep this street safe from an angry beast if he slips, huh?"

“Not only you but the Temple as well. And Cairo, and his friends. If you're so worried, you can ask for the officer responsible for this area."

“He's dead. Ain't that a surprise?"

“What? What killed him?" Alexander asked, crossing his arms. That man from before burned, he wouldn't be able to walk around West Solholm so soon.

“You ask 'what' instead of 'who', wolf. What are you hiding?" The human took a step in his direction, towering over the silver wolf by a few intimidating inches.

“I had to answer so many useless questions yesterday to your subordinates that I can't summon that amount of patience anymore. Don't tell me they were incompetent enough to not relay the information."

“Better than that, wolf. They told me your mysterious man appeared again in front of this house. Today. Care to explain what is happening?"

Alexander took a step back. He should've been burned, surely.

[“Watching!"]

“I don't know but you better keep your eyes open, captain. This man is not human."

“So it's your business, then? The last heir who tried something against him died."

[“Watching! Brandon!"]

“And I won't risk any more guards on something the Temple cannot contain. So tell me, wolf, what-"

The scream that echoed through the street cut the conversation and stole their gazes. A dark claw extended from a man's arm, piercing a guard's armor and flesh and stained the water down on the street. He was certain now; it was Brandon, and suddenly the world made less sense.

“Fire," Alexander thought before the flames flew from his paw and spread through Brandon's body.

“Brandon's dead body," Alexander reassured himself.

No screams and no hesitation through the flames, only the dead and dark stare that pierced his own as Brandon walked slowly towards him, claws dripping with the fresh blood from the guard. Alexander gave a step back, preparing an abjuration circle to dispell whatever protection against fire affected his enemy. Captain Harword unsheathed his sword. The metal glowed with a blue ghostly light as the winds increased in power, strengthening the rain and summoning wisps of concentrated light around them. Alexander eyed the sword for a quick moment; Master Aurion's work never disappointed.

Brandon growled, human head with a misshapen and darkness infected werewolf body running in his direction.

“Dispell!" Alexander managed before feeling the piercing power of a projectile going through his back and splattering blood in his front. The pain struck him a moment later, forcing his legs to give in to the floor and himself to groan.

“What the-" the captain said before he could prepare a defense for another piercing ray going through his armor and belly.

Alexander could see in his front the entire human body from the proof of his failure lying on the stone floor right next to the many ethereal shards of dispelled magic evaporating into the air. Brandon's lifeless blue eyes stared at nothing as the dead body gathered more water from the sky. Damned distractions.

* * *

Cairo rushed to grab his sword after his dream got interrupted by the screams outside. Whatever happened, he couldn't just stand there and sleep it off. Turning quickly with handle in paw, he dashed through the door to see Alexander's struggling body in the floor beside the captain's.

“Drop the sword," a rough voice shouted behind him. A human, dressed like a traveler with a large tunic and a dark hood that obscured his face, except for the red glow of his eyes. Cairo raised his sword, preparing an offensive plan.

“No time for this," the human said as he drew a magic circle in the air. Cairo couldn't wait: he jumped to strike the assailant, mustering enough speed and reach to lunge forward and pierce one of the mage's hands. Human blood sputtered from the wound, landing on his muzzle. The familiar scent from the last Dark day went through him, powerful enough to elicit his hunger, to bite the menacing arm that stood in the air, to go for the slim and fragile neck of the prey in his front.

“Sleep," the human managed to say, hiding the pain through a hiss. Cairo's vision dimmed and his strength faltered, forcing his body to drop into the cold and wet street.