Chapter 19
Teleri led Trystan, Emrys, and Marc through several twisting corridors to a long rectangular underground valley that stretched into darkness. Hundreds of small caves lined the steeply sloping, moist dirt hillsides.
“Kaitu,” Teleri called, her voice commanding and a touch deeper. She waited.
An enormous wolf, nearly the size of a small horse with dark gray and black fur, emerged from one of the burrows nearest them. Two pups nipped at its heels. The larger wolf snapped and gave a warning growl. The little ones withdrew, disappearing back into the den.
Large yellow eyes regarded the strangers behind Teleri. The wolf approached, vigilant, and paused in front of Teleri, its watchful gaze not straying from the outsiders.
“Kaitu. Þetta eru vinir. Ég þarf þrjár hraðast þinn.”
The wolf turned its gaze, locking eyes with the elf.
Teleri nodded. “Eilíft takk.”
Three more black and gray wolves appeared on the valley hillsides, each from their own den, and padded down to meet their riders.
“What did you say to it?” Trystan asked.
“Kaitu is the alpha. I told him you are friends and that I needed his three fastest wolves.”
Just as large as their leader, with massive paws that could likely kill a man with one swipe, the three beasts halted beside their alpha and waited.
“Aðvara aðra. Stríð er að koma.”
The alpha growled, as if acknowledging, then returned to its cave.
“They understand?” Marc said.
“Yes,” Teleri answered.
“What else did you tell him?” Trystan asked.
“To prepare the others, for war is coming.”
The wolf with blue eyes—one paler than the other—skirted Teleri’s back and nudged the front of Trystan’s shoulder. As large and intimidating as the shadow wolves were, fear never entered Trystan’s thoughts. He sensed these creatures truly understood the perils of the journey ahead and had placed a supreme amount of trust in their keepers.
Trystan lifted his hand slowly and caressed the animal’s furry snout. The wolf growled softly.
A knowing smile spread over Teleri’s face. “You have a connection with animals, it would seem. Ísólfr has chosen you. As such, he will protect you with his life.”
Trystan pushed his fingers into the wolf’s thick hair of its neck. “And I shall do the same for him.”
Teleri tilted her head and raised both eyebrows slightly as she looked at Emrys, and he gave a quick shrug and lift of his brow, hiding the swell of pride and love coursing through him.
“The tunnels are vast and dark, but the wolves know their way. Come.”
With the shadow wolves following closely behind, Trystan walked beside Teleri as she led him, Emrys, and Marc away from the subterranean valley to the darkened edges of the elf city.
“Myrddin, Skygni will guide you. What is your destination?”
“Camelot.” Emrys looked to Trystan for confirmation. Trystan nodded.
“Mount up, hold on, and keep your heads low.”
The three men climbed upon the wolves’ backs. Teleri approached Trystan and placed her palms over the wolf’s ears, petting softly. The wolf nuzzled her. “Remember these words, Your Grace,” she whispered. “Hylja and koma. The first will allow you to slip into the shadows and disappear from sight. Speak the latter, and you will emerge. You must remain in physical contact with the wolf to stay hidden yourself.”
Teleri stepped back.
