Sole Wolfess and Kid
© 2022 by M. Mitch Marmel and Walter Reimer

(The Sole Wolfess and Aedith ‘Sunny’ Winterbough are courtesy of E.O. Costello. Thanks!)
Thumbnail art by  tegerio, color by  marmelmm

Part Fourteen.



[Note appended to manuscript: “A donkey, eh?”]

[Note appended to manuscript: “Yes, and a complete ass, as well.”]

I sensed Aedith moving a little closer to my left, and I glanced down at her. “I’m sorry that you have to hear this, my darling,” I said in Elf-mind.

“It’s okay, Mommy,” my brave girl said, and she smiled up at me.

I drew a breath before saying, “On my first trip here, a pair of dying wolves approached me with a very sick cub in their paws.” I smiled down at her as reassuringly as I could, and she looked up at me and nodded. I faced the Council again. “They died. Their daughter survived, as you see, and I have named her and raised her as my own daughter.”

“And ‘Winterbough?’”

“The name of the roebuck in whose demesne she lives.” Elves Don’t Lie.

The other members of the Council looked at the donkey as he harrumphed again. “Some effort must be made to see if she has any family here. Did they not tell you their names?”

“No. There was no time, and no one offered an exchange of cards,” I said, a little tartly I admit. This old fool was beginning to get on my nerves.

“So you say.”

“Elves Don’t Lie,” I said.

“No, but they can get things wrong,” he said smugly. “I think we can sort this out in a few days – “

“No.”

He raised a bushy gray eyebrow. “’No,’ young wolfess? I think a night in our jail will teach you some manners,” and he gestured at the four guards in the room.

Furrow, for her part, slammed her gavel on the table. “Albrecht! These are guests – “

“Any Councilor can order an arrest,” the donkey shot back.

Aedith sensed what might be coming. She flipped her hood up over her head and drew her paws into her cloak.

I reached into my Elfintory and drew the shorter of the two swords Tali had given me, the one she called a wakizashi. For the room, it was the most appropriate blade, and as I let the light play along its surface I glanced left and right.

“Guards,” I growled, shoving as much contempt into my voice as I could. “None of you are as experienced as I am. I have seen battle, the smell of fear and blood. This is my daughter, dearer to me than my life, and you will not – “

Pook.

“Take.”

Pook.

“Her.”

Pook.

“From.”

Pook.

“Me.”

I stood at Aedith’s side, sword at the ready, as the trousers of all four Guards fell to the floor, their belts severed with mere flicks of my blade as I pooked. Several of the Councilors and some of the spectators laughed.

From the corner of my eye I saw one Guard pull his bow from his Elfintory.

Fool.

He should have realized I was a magic-user, so I formulated a bit of Gramerye on the fly and he yelped as the wooden bow and arrow burst into flames.

“I was invited here,” I said, “to lead some of your people back to Elfhame, to open relations with the wider world and speak with the shade of Princess Grace of Sulfrox. If I leave now, or refuse to cooperate, you will have to find your own way. So,” I asked, “what’ll it be?”

That got everyone’s attention.

[Note appended to manuscript: “Threatening them, wolfess?”]

[Note appended to manuscript: “No, Master. It wasn’t a threat.”]

Albrecht appeared unmoved. “You’re bluffing - ” He suddenly paused as I seemed to pook, but simply stayed standing where I had been.

He then looked surprised, and the other Councilors gasped, as his beard fell away from his chin and drifted down to rest on the table.

Once again, I had cut an unworthy object.

As the donkey touched a trembling paw to his chin while staring fixedly at the hank of hair in front of him, one of his fellow Councilors asked sarcastically, “How’re you fixed for blades, Al? You better look.”

“I never liked that beard anyway,” another, seated next to the donkey, muttered.

“What?” Albrecht asked peevishly.

“It smells,” the canine said, “and everyone knows you keep leftovers in it for your afternoon snack.”

“I keep leftovers in my Elfintory!” Albrecht snapped.

“Sure you do,” several more Councilors chorused.

I didn’t wish to know this, and from the looks on some faces, no one else wanted to know, either.

“Enough of this!” Furrow declared. “Never mind him, Sergeant. You - and your daughter - may come and go as you please, and we’d be honored if you’d lead our delegation to Elfhame.” The mare gave a quelling look and a slightly threatening gesture with her gavel, and several furs shut their mouths with a snap. “Is there anything you can tell us about Elfhame?”

I considered for a moment before saying, “Pack raincoats and umbrellas, because the weather is changeable – oh, and the does run the place. Pay no attention to the bucks; most of them are twits.”

I felt that I was being charitable.

[Note appended to manuscript: “Phbbt.”]

There was a chuckle from several furs in the room, and we were free to go.

Good. I could use some fresh air.

And maybe lunch.




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