The stingingat my throat remains painful for the rest of the day. I’m resisting my urge to rub at it as we stride out into the Strategos training grounds that afternoon as a pack. Beta Egith awaits us, dressed in black riding leather and eying us all impatiently. I notice that her sharp gaze lingers on my neck.
Our direwolves await us, some gathered together and socializing—rubbing their sides together, flicking their tails at each other, even playfully biting and snapping.
Anassa, however, stands entirely still apart from the rest, massive and uncaring. Not one of the others approaches her.
Seeing her again reminds me of last night and the vicious approval she felt. I press my palm to my tattoo, wincing when the contact causes the stinging to worsen.
“Good afternoon, Strategos Rawbonds,” Egith announces. “Today, we begin your formal trainingas Rawbonds with your first lesson in riding your wolves. If you’re here, you successfully rode your wolf down Mount Wolfsbane, but there’s much more to it than just sitting astride your mount.”
Well,someof us rode our wolves down the mountain.
“Mastering proper form for riding and fighting is also your first step in learning how to communicate well with your wolf. As a reminder, we are on an official countdown to the Voice Trial in one month.”
Fuck, right. The Trial that tests how well you can communicate with your wolf. I wasn’t worried about it whenthey told us about it in orientation, because I thought I was going to make an escape.
I prod against the iron wall in my head. Solid as ever. Anassa shows no interest in bringing it down again.
Great. I’m cooked.
“The Voice Trial consists of a complex obstacle course,” Egith continues, “so it’s important that you are both adept at moving with your direwolf, and that you communicate well with each other.”
I can barely even get Anassa to acknowledge my existence—beyond scathing contempt, of course—much less get her to work with me to run an obstacle course. An obstacle course that is probably specifically designed to test whether she’s listening to me.
“For today, we’re starting easy. It should be a breeze for most of you,” Egith explains. “One lap of the arena as fast as you can manage. Then over the hurdles. Crawl under the beams, then a final jump through that hoop.Do notfall off. There is risk of trampling as well as frustration from your direwolves. Remember what will happen if they find you wanting.”
It’s a disaster from the start.
The others’ wolves join them quickly, padding across the training grounds. Many of them mount just as easily as they did on the mountain. Izabel thuds my back as she strides forward towards her towering wolf, shooting me a sympathetic glance. Tomison is already up on his wolf’s back, sending a wink our way.
When I step towards Anassa, she doesn’t snarl at me. That’s progress, I guess. But she does sidestep away from me, the tips of her teeth bared briefly.
As it is, I have no choice. The others are already taking off down the course, starting one by one so that the obstacles aren’t overcrowded. Izabel is about to take her turn.
Fuck it.
I step forward and reach out, plunging my hand into her fur.
She doesn’t move. And she doesn’t bite my arm off. Maybe the forceful approach is the way to go.
Don’t ask permission; just like how she didn’t get my permission to bond.
Justdo it.
I grip her fur and heft myself up, boots thudding against her leg to give myself a boost, like I’ve seen the others do it.
Anassa bats her paw right as I try to climb her and I thud back to the ground, landing on my feet. Others turn to watch me and I ignore them, trying again immediately.
This time, I fist her fur with both hands and jump up, not bothering with my feet until I’m already at her shoulder, relying on the muscles of my upper body that I’ve honed from years in the ring.
They serve me well now. I make it up onto Anassa’s back without much trouble.
Fuck, the ground is so far away.
Trampling risk, Egith said. I hate this.
It only gets worse as I try to direct Anassa towards the course. We’re among the last to go. I try to lower my mental walls, the very ones I spent time building up last night, but Anassa’s barriers hold firm.
Whatever goodwill I earned by committing bloody murder has vanished in this morning’s mist.
