Chapter 17: Wolf and Wolf

Alaric was waiting in the castle yard with two horses saddled.

I read him the order from the wharf, and he read it twice with his jaw set.

"The nearest camp is the quarry, two hours north," he said. "I've sent riders to the others with my own seal on a halt. They may not obey it."

"Then we get to the quarry first."

"We'll be late on horses."

"Then we won't use horses," I said.

He looked at me.

"I've never shifted on purpose," I said. "I want to try."

We rode out of the gate together with Beryl's thirty behind us and left the road where the trees began.

I slid off the saddle in the dark, and my wolf was waiting.

She had been under the collar for thirteen years, and she knew exactly what she wanted.

I stripped my coat and let her come.

It hurt, and then it didn't.

The ground rushed up, and the night opened into scent and sound.

I stood in the grass on four white paws, and beside me a huge black wolf with amber eyes lowered his head, once, to mine.

Then we ran.

The quarry camp lay in a bowl of cut stone with one gate and a ring of guard fires.

Smoke was already rising from a wagon in the yard, and there were figures hauling children toward it.

I did not slow down.

I hit the gate with my shoulder and it split off its hinges.

Alaric went in beside me and a warden fell, and then three more, and a dart whined past my ear.

Behind us the guards poured through, and Beryl's voice cut across the yard.

"Pens first! Get the little ones out!"

I broke from the black wolf's side.

I had told him to take the gate, and he took it and held it.

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