The alpha’s gaze stopped on Souhi, but sensing movement he looked at Lannahi who leaned on her pride like on a rock and asked coldly, “Who are you and what do you want?”
His smile widened, but it was a smile that had little to do with joviality. It was the expression of a predator that had finally tracked down its prey.
“You can call me Amaruk,” the man said. “First, I want you and your companion to raise your hands. If you don’t want your guards to lose theirs, do it before I feel compelled to repeat myrequesta fourth time.”
If Lannahi’s heart wasn’t already pounding, it would surely have accelerated at that moment. Amaruk. She knew that name. Baddur had mentioned it when she’d questioned him about the wild shapeshifters. Amaruk was the leader of the werewolves in the area.
Standing before her was the uncrowned king of the forest.
Lannahi analyzed her options, but there weren’t many. The shapeshifters possessed keen senses. The white wolf would fall on her as soon as he heard even the quietest scrape of the knives in her belt pack. Even if she managed to pull out the blade and thrust it into his body, there was no guarantee that Amaruk wouldn’t kill one of her friends. She could either be proud and lose her companions, or she could grit her teeth and hope that at some point the situation would turn in her favor.
She thought of Ashared and of her stupidity that separated her from the guards.
She raised her hands slowly.
“Good,” Amaruk said when Souhi followed suit. “Now, witch queen, I want you to get off the sleigh and come closer. Keep your hands up. All my warnings regarding your companions still apply.”
Lannahi stood up slowly, letting the blanket covering her legs fall, and exited the sleigh. She pretended that the golden eyes of the white wolf—which might be a female judging by its smaller size—didn’t disturb her, and the fact that she staggered was nothing to be ashamed of.
“You’ve accomplished a big thing,” Amaruk said with a hint of amusement, “but you aren’t too big yourself. Come on, little witch. Let me take a look at you.”
Lannahi had grown accustomed to the mockery of her stature, and it didn’t affect her much, but walking down the path among the giant trees, surrounded by wolves that reached her chest, and aware that when she would approach the man waiting for her, she herself would barely reach his chest, she understood why Southerners were so obsessed with size. In the world of giants, anything small attracted attention because they were instantly recognized as weak. It wasn’t surprising that it was important for them to show at leasta semblanceof strength.
Since Lannahi couldn’t do anything about appearance, she had to rely on strength of character, but even walking proudly and meeting the eyes of her enemies with a defiant look, she knew it wasn’t enough. Even if Esau and Erril somehow broke free and attacked with her and Souhi, there were too many wolves for the enchanters to escape unscathed. Someone would be injured. Someone would be deprived of a limb. Someone would die. Maybe even them all. However glorious the fight would be, the truth was that they had a poor chance of victory. The only thing she could do now was to listen to Amaruk’s demands and try to negotiate their release, but even this strategy was based on hope.
Before accompanying her to Goldfrost, Lannahi’s companions had assured her that they were aware of the risks. Now Lannahi wondered if they regretted their decision.
The wolves backed off as she approached Amaruk. She stopped when she stood no more than a two-sword distance away. Based on the knowledge she gained from observing humans, she estimated his age to be around thirty. He was only slightly shorter than the landshapers. Like Ashared and most of the shifter guards, his sharp face had something of the wolf about it, but combined with his long hair and rough beard, it seemed wilder, and the golden color of his eyes deepened this impression. Although golden eyes were considered a classic attribute of enchanters, it was a popular trait among shapeshifters as well, but despite this knowledge and the fact that the man’s pupils were round rather than vertical, when Lannahi looked into the alpha’s eyes, a shiver ran down her spine. She felt nauseous at the thought that she could be again at the mercy of another enchanter.
Amaruk must have had similar thoughts because he said without his previous joviality, “If you try to cast an enchantment, my wolves will tear out your throat.” He surveyed her face. “Do you understand?”
Lannahi lifted her chin proudly. “What do you want?”
His sudden seriousness and the marked tension in his body betrayed that he feared her as much as she feared him. There was a chance that he hadn’t heard about the narrow range of her capabilities. If so, she could take advantage of the situation, but she had to make sure he didn’t smell fear on her.
They apparently came to similar conclusions again because a mocking smile returned to the man’s face just as quickly as it disappeared earlier. “I’m glad that you are so eager to inquire about my desires. Your predecessor didn’t show similar interest, which led to misunderstandings and accidents. Your attitude is more to my liking. Keep acting like this and I might even like you.”
Lannahi had heard about these “misunderstandings.” Whenever the hunters from Goldfrost ventured too deep into the forest in pursuit of game, Amaruk’s wolves intervened capturing the game for themselves or getting into a fight with the hunters. The hunters tried to stick to the northern part of the forest to minimize losses, but they couldn’t predict where the game would appear. As they often returned empty-handed, Lizaar began sending soldiers to patrol the area.
“Imight likeyouif you hurry and state what is this about,” Lannahi said.
Despite her bold words, she twitched when she heard a growl come from her side. When Amaruk took a step toward her, she reflexively stepped back.
“I don’t think you stand in a position to speak as if your opinion mattered more than mine,” the man remarked, watching her with predatory amusement.
Lannahi’s heart thudded in her chest like a caged bird. Amaruk was right. He was the one with the upper hand. Pride wouldn’t help her much.
“Don’t be afraid, little witch,” the alpha said, sending her a meaningful look as if he knew perfectly well how she felt. Perhaps he did. Perhaps for his keen senses, the layer of clothes she was wearing wasn’t enough to hide the sound of her beating heart or the sour stench of fear. “My desires are simple. You are new here, so I want to make sure you understand the boundaries of your lands and don’t send hunters on the hunting grounds that aren’t your own.”
Lannahi managed to collect her thoughts. “The hunters from Goldfrost wouldn’t have to venture deep into the forest if someone hadn’t chased the game into those areas.”
Amaruk smiled. “Maybe those new areas are more appealing to the game. As long as it isn’t caught, it can do what it wants, but you are to stick to the area around your city. Do you understand, witch queen?”
“If you stay out of our hunts, we won’t interfere with yours.”
The man lifted his eyebrow.
“You don’t expect me to make a promise that might result in the starvation of my subjects, do you?” she asked, holding his gaze.
