“I know what you’re thinking,” Roman said. “And no.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not the time. You cannot choose the time.”
I grunted. I’d been waiting my whole life for that. “Then why stay?” I said. “If the girl is so near, the prophecy begun, why stay?”
Roman smiled, took a sip of his drink. “Because soon–”
“The girl comes,” I finished. “I know.”
“At least you’re learning quicker since that,” he said, gesturing at my abdomen. “How is it?”
“Good,” I said. “Tender.” I spun the food knife in my hand, laying the balance on my palm and letting it fall naturally. For the last year it had always pointed at Roman once the knife came to rest, no matter where he sat.
He saw the knife and didn’t bat an eyelid. “Well let’s not waste the day,” he said. “It’s gonna be a storm by the end of it. You’ll feel it as soon as we leave.”
Roman settled our tab with Nicholas and we left. But he was right, as soon as we left the inn the air was thick with power. Werewolves sensing and communicating filled the air. They were other packs, so we couldn’t know what was being said, but I could feel it. A valuable skill Roman had taught me when I was young.
We walked the streets with our hoods up, appearing as beggars and guides, we used the excuse to probe questions from visitors. They rarely answered, but their silences and looks told us more. Many were on edge. Many were waiting too.
A young girl and her brother were playing in the street, spinning a hoop, and rocking marbles in the thing when it was on the ground. I watched them with a smile on my face, I’d always wished to have such freedom. I was jealous because I’d never had the chance.
Roman tapped my chest, pointing out two mountainous men. They leaned against a set of barrels, looking as if they meant to deliver them. And if they had, I wouldn’t have been surprised if either of them could pick both barrels up in either arm.
“It’s tricky,” Roman whispered. “So close to Lassig, the Siren Singers would feel anychange…”
I nodded back. That was the odd thing about this show of force, would anyone dare shift with Lady Skol’s wretched monsters so close? They’d disable all of us in seconds.
We made our way slowly to the square. The feeling of power even thicker. My skin was crawling, my heart slow but thoughts fast. I was watching any and everything. The men gathered in their groups, the looks passing between larger groups.
All the while, Whiteclaws were beginning to trickle in. Gathering on the entrance side of the square and guarding the Pools of Prophecy.
Of course.No one needed to shift to enter the pools, nor drink from them. But force may be needed to gainaccessto them.
I saw the girl and brother again, playing in the middle of the square now, by the water well. A similar hulking group of men were nearby. The boy’s marble went too far and landed in the middle of the group. A large man bent down and crushed the marble, a toothless smile at the boy.
He frowned and his shoulders dropped. His sister comforted him. I hated Locke’s men.
“So what do we do?” I asked, when we’d stopped halfway around the square, between the pools and men.
Roman slid down against the wall, taking a small prayer hat out and putting it at his feet. I did the same. He didn’t have to say anything, I already knew the answer.
We’d wait.
We stayed in that position with our heads bowed for hours. I counted off the time by watching the shadow cross the square. The men all stayed. The feelings of power stayed, but always just out of sight. Everyone was talking. I’d been able to separate most of them into their packs, and I had the sneaking suspicion that they were all waiting for Locke’s men to make the first move.
Which reminded me that Father would be in his meeting at this moment. He would be in the large Alpha hall, the visitors before him on the other side of the fire. None would dare cross the floor with the Flame of Salvation between them. It had burned since the battle to retake Moondaj from Lady Skol’s army. It was the symbol of all wolves.
Then again, I’d thought the pools had been that too.
But we were here waiting for a battle for it, it seemed.
The day stretched on and heat grew. My back stiffened and blood slowed in my body. I was beginning to feel lethargic. Next to me Roman nodded forward. Something I’d never seen. I was going to shake him awake but realized how tired I was too. My arms were incredibly heavy, eyelids…something tickled in the rear of my mind..
My eyes snapped open. This was a charm.
I looked around the square quickly but subtly. Where was the caster? Who had brought the shaman in?
