And now the black tongues, Bryn thought.
She shoved up from the table, breathing hard, staring down at the plate of orange biscuits. Then she rushed to the bed, shaking Rangar awake.
“It’s Baron Marmose,” she gasped. “The kingdom of Ruma is behind the wolves.”
* * *
Though the hour was late,it didn’t take long to reconvene everyone in Higharbor Keep’s council room deep in the caves.
“I’m sorry to rouse you from sleep,” Bryn started, clutching her necklace. “But it’s important.”
“Who said anything about sleep?” Valenden murmured with a hint of a smirk. “I, for one, was becoming acquainted with a lovely Kevi maid . . . ”
Bryn didn’t even bother to roll her eyes as she set Mage Marna’s book on the council table. “We’ve all noted the similarities between the wolves attacking villages and the berserkir beasts from the old legends. This book contains different versions of that old tale. Each kingdom has a slightly different take on it. In the Mirien, for example, it’s berserkir warriors, not animals.”
Prince Anter drummed his fingers on the table. “Yes, here, it is creatures that only lust for violence under a full moon.”
“Right,” Bryn said. “Well, after some more research tonight, I found Ruma’s version of the legend. It tells of a cruel coven of witches commanded by the God of Hell to sow evil in our world. They do so by summoning monsters calledberserkins.”
She opened the book to the page and slid it over to Prince Anter. “I say all this to show that Ruma is well aware of the berserkir legend and its various iterations. They know that real-life berserkir creatures would stir rumors of evil and witches in all the kingdoms that practice magic.”
Prince Anter sat straighter, frowning down at the book. “You think Ruma’s leadership created the beasts to dissuade the use of magic?”
Bryn explained, “The timing is uncanny. The first berserkir wolves appeared just weeks after Mars announced that he would permit magic in the Mirien. It was just enough time for them to create the wolves.”
“And how exactly do you propose they created them?” Anter asked.
Bryn sat down, suddenly feeling her confidence waver. “Well, I haven’t figured that out yet, exactly. Ruma claims not to practice magic, but we all know it happens secretly in every kingdom. Still, I have evidence that Baron Marmose is involved. He’s famed for training dogs, including hunting dogs. He once confessed to me how his breeding experiments resulted in animals with black tongues.”
The table was rendered silent at this. Valenden stroked his chin, then let his hand fall and muttered a curse about Baron Marmose. Anter folded his hands as he gave it deep consideration. Rangar met Bryn’s gaze and gave a nod of encouragement.
“This is most interesting,” Prince Anter said at last. “If it is true, it explains motive and means, though we may not yet know precisely how it was accomplished. And yet the question remains—what can we do about it? If true, this situation is far more grave than simply dealing with vicious wild animals.”
“I’ll write a letter to my brother,” Bryn offered. “Ruma is their neighboring kingdom to the south, and they maintain good relations, at least on the surface. It will be easier for Mars to send spies than for us. The Rumese officials would suspect any northern folk asking questions.”
“That’s wise,” Rangar said. “Though it will take weeks for spies to gather the information we need to prove a plot and, of course, Ruma will deny it. What do we do until then?”
“We keep our people safe the best we are able.” Anter turned to Bryn. “Your insight is valuable, princess. I’m grateful for the bond between the Baersladen and the forest kingdoms—and that you are now one of us.”
“Soon,” she said, running her finger over her engagement ring. Then her eyes fell to her white sash.
“Yes, what of the wedding?” Prince Anter said.
Rangar rested his hand over Bryn’s. “It will happen as soon as the grieving period for my father is over at the month’s end. We would be honored to have your presence, and Lady Enis’s.”
Anter responded, “I, too, would be honored to attend, though we shall have to see the state of the realm then. If we cannot get these berserkir attacks under control . . . ”
Rangar nodded. “We will send the supplies we discussed. Arrows and poison to bait the wolves.”
“Again, you have my gratitude.”
The group retired once more for the night after Bryn, Rangar, and Valenden made plans to return to the Baersladen the following day. But still, sleep didn’t come for Bryn. The distant rush of the waterfall sounded like wolf growls, and the smell of orange biscuits haunted her dreams.
Chapter 21
DANGERS OF MAGIC . . . spooked livestock . . . suspicious villagers . . . wolves at the gates
Bryn’s heart felt heavy on the journey home to the Baersladen. Though Fable’s footing was solid, Bryn’s mind spun in dizzying circles. She grew increasingly certain that her former suitor, Baron Marmose, was behind the berserkir wolves’ creation. She recalled holding the sleeping wolf’s head in her hands, feeling its steady breath. It was a crime to twist an innocent creature into a monster.
