Chapter 9

  Onyx

  Onyx wasn’t the type to go unnoticed within the castle. He was the most trusted wolf of Queen Evelyn. He had been by her side the moment she was made queen. He still remembered being the one who came up with the quick poison that killed that stupid rouge. He took a Wolfsbane and crushed it into the liquid in the vial. All Queen Evelyn had to do was pour even just half of it into the rouge’s mouth while he was sleeping or vulnerable. Then, dead in less than five minutes. Evelyn had come home that night with a successful mission because of him. Of course, it was successful; he had made it after all. He always had the power, even when Evelyn didn’t realize it. He used her and made her believe that Kairo was insane. Astrida was so infuriating the day of her death. He had to kill her for the betterment of the people.

  So yes, I admit it. He thought to himself, proud of what he did. I killed Astrida. I framed another guard in time so I could escape, and so Kairo believed it was someone else. He remembered going home that day and telling the Queen and King absolutely nothing. In his opinion, it was a good plan! You know…kill the rouge lead dame, then blame it back on them, then start the whole war. Whatever had happened, Onyx would end up on top. Now that Queen Evelyn was gone, he was ecstatic. She was prissy and annoying anyway….however….Alexandra would be a walk in the park. He had already convinced her the rouges were lying and dangerous. His next part of the plan was to have her give the order and let him kick them out. Now we just have to ensure that the thick-headed Kane doesn’t get in the way. He thought, annoyed and rolling his eyes internally.

  “Of course, my Queen, what do you need done? I’m your guard!”

  He said. He had to suck up to her to build the same trust he had originally built with Evelyn. Which was so annoying to do anyway. He was smiling at her. Yes, I’m reliable, and I can do whatever you order me to do with no complaints! He thought cruelly. “What are we going to do about the rouge problems?” He asked, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. “Onyx, I have yet to deal with that problem, yet I haven’t thought about a solution for that quite yet, but I will follow up with you on that issue. At the moment, may we go over the previous plans for how Evelyn dealt with the previous Loners?” She said seriously, in a tone that made everyone hesitate before speaking. “Of course, my queen,” Onyx said, his cruel smile faltering slightly, but he quickly regained his usual confident and smug demeanor.

  “We usually just do regular scouts to check that the location of the Loners are still in the same spot. If they ever try to move, we catch them and bring them back to where they were.” Onyx explained, an unreadable expression on his face. Alexandra’s face shifted from thinking, to confused, to serious again. “We will no longer be making those attacks on them. Continue scouting, but cancel the regular attacks,” she finally said through the silence.

  “What? But my queen-”

  “My decision is final.” She interrupted him, “Do not question my order.” She said coldly, giving him a stare that made his jaw clench. “We will no longer engage with the Loners with hostile behavior,” she said firmly, her usual expression appearing as a soft crack through. I need to get rid of that. Onyx thought bitterly. I need to fix this; it's hard to control her if she actually thinks for herself. He thought, annoyed. “Of course, my queen, we will disengage with the Loners asap.” He said, nodding to two guards who walked out of the room. Alexandra nodded, standing up. “Good, I will see you this afternoon for the check up meeting.” She stated before leaving the room, leaving tension still present in the room somehow. “KYLE” Onyx barked once she was far enough away. A grey wolf hurried inside the cave, scar along his back left thigh. “Yes sir?” he said, scrambling to his feet. “Keep engaging with the Loners,” He ordered, looking down at him. “But the queen said-”

  “I don’t CARE what the queen said” Onyx snapped at him, growling as Kyle flinched.

  “O-of course Onyx” Kyle stammered. He quickly turned to leave before Onyx’s sharp voice cut through again. “Kyle.” He said, watching him turn around slowly.

  “Y-yes Onyx?” Kyle said quietly. “I’m coming with you this time.” Onyx said as he started to stand up. “O-of course sire.” he said as he followed him out.

  The air grew thinner and colder as Onyx led a select group of royalist guards up the jagged slopes of the Iron-Ridge. Onyx moved with a predatory grace, his eyes scanning the ridgeline not for danger, but for the opportunity to strike a match that would set the forest ablaze. Behind him, Kyle and three others followed, their paws crunching on the frost-covered stone. They carried a small crate of ore—the "tribute" Alexandra had given them to help create the peace and truce. Onyx had coincidentally left it behind.

  "Remember," Onyx hissed, his voice barely audible over the whistling wind. "We aren't here for a chat. We’re here to remind them that the new Queen is young, impulsive, and 'sent' us to reclaim what is hers. When I give the signal, make sure they see your teeth."

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  They reached a wide, flat plateau shadowed by two massive stone pillars that looked like fangs. Onyx came to a halt, raising a paw. The silence of the mountain was absolute, until a low, vibrating hum began to echo off the rocks. It wasn't a growl; it was a throat-singing rhythm of multiple wolves in perfect unison.

  From the shadows of the pillars, three figures emerged. They were pure grey and white wolves, their coats silver and shining in the moonlight. Their eyes were kind and soft but firm and ready to defend themselves if needed.

  There were only a few that stood out, their fur other colors other than grey. In the center stood Vine, the leader of the Loners. He was a massive, ash-colored wolf with a missing ear and a necklace made of silver ore shards. To his left was Sola, a large female with white markings across her eyes like a mask, and to his right, a silent, hulking brute known only as Taka. The plateau was thick with tension, the air tasting of salt and impending snow. Vine stepped forward, his head held high, his ash-colored fur ruffling in the wind. "Onyx," Vine said, his voice deep and resonant. "The Princess Alexandra sent word of a truce. We see you bring the silver ore. This is a gesture of good faith we did not expect from Evelyn’s shadow." Onyx’s lip curled, not in a snarl, but in a calculated sneer. He leaned toward Kyle, whispering just loud enough for the Loners to catch the edge of his tone. "See how greedy they are? They think they can demand our mountains and our pride."

  Onyx suddenly kicked the crate of ore, sending it skidding toward Taka’s paws. The wood splintered, and the heavy silver spilled out across the frost. As Taka instinctively reached down to steady the crate, Onyx let out a blood-curdling howl of "Agony!" and threw himself backward into the dirt.

  "They’re attacking! Defensive positions!" Onyx shrieked.

  Confused and reacting to the sudden chaos, Kyle and the other guards lunged forward. In the blur of movement, Onyx used the flat of his own blade to strike Sola across the shoulder, then immediately shouted, "She’s lunging for my throat! Save me!"

  Vine’s eyes went wide with shock. "Stop! We have not drawn blood!"

  But Onyx wasn't listening. He grabbed a handful of dirt and jagged stone, raking it across his own shoulder to create fresh, bloody gashes. "Retreat! Back to the castle! They’ve gone mad with bloodlust!"

  He didn't wait for his guards. Onyx bolted down the slope, his breathing ragged and performative. By the time he reached the castle gates, he had rolled in the mud and torn at his own fur until he looked like a survivor of a massacre.

  Vine

  “They’re attacking! Defensive positions!” He had heard Onyx shriek. Vine’s face flashing with confusion. He glanced around, panicking at the sudden and strange attack. He focused on Sola, he saw Onyx lunge "She’s lunging for my throat! Save me!" he instinctively moved in front of her and blocked him, sending Onyx back as he bumped into him. He towered over Onyx and he spotted a flicker of fear before it was masked with fiend panic and terror. "Stop! We have not drawn blood!" he found himself yelling, still confused and trying to settle the sudden chaos.

  Suddenly he heard Onyx yell "Retreat! Back to the castle! They’ve gone mad with bloodlust!" He watched Onyx leave his guards as they struggled to keep up with him, barely injured.

  “What….just happened?” Sola asked, looking up at him.

  “I’m not sure….but whatever it was, it can't be good.” He said nervously and cautiously, still looking from on the plateau from where they had retreated.

  Onyx

  Alexandra was in the war room, staring at a map, when the heavy doors burst open. Onyx collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, his shoulder matted with blood. He hoped it was just dramatic enough to be believable.

  "Onyx!" Alexandra cried, rushing to his side, concern flashing on her face. "What happened? Where are the others?"

  "Ambush..." Onyx wheezed, clutching his side. "We approached with the silver... we offered the truce just as you commanded... but Vine... he laughed, Princess. He said a cub’s truce is worth nothing but the meat on her bones." he said bitterly.

  Alexandra recoiled, her face paling. "No... they seemed so peaceful in the scrolls."

  "The scrolls lied!" Onyx barked, resetting his face and then winced in pain. "They didn't just take the silver, Alexandra. They attacked without warning. They want the caves. They said if you won't give them the throne, they'll pave their land with our pelts."

  He looked up at her, his eyes wide and brimming with a fake, watery terror. "I tried to stop them, to tell them you wanted peace, but they only grew more violent. If we don't strike now, if we don't reinforce the borders, they’ll be at our gates by dawn." he lied, his act almost pitiful with where he was taking it.

  Alexandra looked from Onyx’s wounds to the dark hallway where Kane and Celeste were being kept. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Fear, cold and sharp, began to drown out the logic she had tried so hard to maintain.

  "I... I have to protect my people," she whispered, her voice hardening.

  "Then give the order, my Queen," Onyx urged, his voice a poisonous honey. "Show them that you are Evelyn’s daughter. Show them that we do not break."

  Alexandra turned around and looked at the map, her jaw tightening. "Double the guards. Prepare the scouts. If they want a war, they’ve found one." Her face shifted seriously.

  Behind her, hidden by the shadows, Onyx’s terrified expression shifted to a cold, and menacing smile.

  End of chapter 9