“You seem to have lost your way regardless, wizard child,” their leader spoke once the laughter had died down. “You are many countries away from the domed city, and many months away from mating season so you can have no cause to be here. I suppose you could be breaking the laws of your people to visit some lady witch outside of the regulated time,” here the leader grinned mischievously, “Though I do not think you are old enough to pursue the ladies as you can claim to be both ribbonless and beardless.” The horde around them, no longer capable of containing their mirth to any extent, now roared with laughter that echoed through the rattling dry leaves.
The beard itself was also a symbol among wizards, pointing to the bearer`s seniority, as well as the belief that the bearer had wisdom in accordance with the length of his beard. Those who could not grow a beard of any length were considered to be children and treated as such, even if a man was crippled and grey but still had no facial hair.
When there was a break the leader continued again. “But then, I wonder what you are doing in my territory.” The others in the clearing gave a communal growl, the sound sending the hairs on the back of Darien`s neck up in alarm. “If you are indeed a child, you are far from your guardians, and it would be my job to send some escorts with the purpose of ensuring your safe return to your home.” Darien grimaced in distaste. “If, however, you are indeed an adult, you are an intruder, and the penalty for intruding is death. So, if you are clearly not here on errands for your city, and not here to visit any ladies, then the question remains why you are trespassing through my woods without my leave. If you answer this question to my satisfaction I may allow you to leave here alive.” The words were icy, and now the pack was beyond humor once more and instead growled and snapped at the lad.
Darien scoffed, brushing such conercerns aside. “I appreciate the concern, old man,” he said, blasé. The others growled again, their pride affronted, but their leader hushed them with a glance. Darien stared them all down. Then he shrugged. “It’s of no great importance why I’m here, and it doesn’t particularly concern you anyways.” He paused at another growl and lost some of his composure. My presence here is really a shortcut to get to my goal, at the South of the forest.” “My presence here is mainly by accident anyways. I was just around the neighborhood to settle some disputes with that bastard prince.” He paused thoughtfully. “And the illegitimate crown prince as well I suppose,” he added with a crazed gleam in his eyes. Darien had assumed the pack would resent the dragon’s gains of territory and power, but it was clear he had misjudged his audience. The leader joined in the growling this time as well. He jumped, flinging on his skin and sharped claw at Darien`s throat within the second.
The boy hastily continued, “I was just thinking that, since my errands have brought me to this area anyways, I could bother those dratted vamps some for you,” he lied with a crafty evaluation of his audience’s allegiances. There was a public gasp of appreciation, and the elder replaced his human skin and form, letting go of his victim`s throat. “Though I won`t lay a finger on them if you`d rather support your fanged…friends, if you choose to help them by disposing of little pesky me while you are at it then I guess there’s no helping it,” he baited his audience and pretended to a carefree tone.
“We would doubtless enjoy your contributions. As you aware, direct hassling is now prohibited by the Prince Royal.” Their audience grumbled about the pains of such restrictions. “What are your primary aims in this forest, though?”
Darien smiled. “Well, I`m here for the same reason so many young people troop through The Great Woods,” he began. “I was just planning to settle some battles, defeat some disturbances, make a name for myself from some time adventuring. It’s a very respectable pastime, don’t you agree? And doubtless after all of this I will earn some ribbons for myself at that.” Well he knew that his only true aim in the woods was to wreak havoc against the plans of both princes and support the great mission the domed city elders had given him, but from their leap to kill him earlier when he’d mentioned some of his true purpose he knew it was against his benefit to be particularly honest with the pack. And if he weren’t completely honest, what of it? It was at least partially true that he wanted status and adventure, and being upfront about the minutiae wasn’t very important to him if an excess of honesty would end with claws in his jugular.
Calculating thoughts rolled through his head rapidly, and finally he grinned up at them without missing a beat. “The pursuit of status is very respectable, don’t you agree? That is why I am meeting you friends now, after all,” he said. He had dug up some manners from somewhere within himself, and was employing them for the first time after a long rest. They seemed to be rusty, but the old man was simply smiling once more.
The wolves looked at each other with worry and whispered among themselves. Their leader sighed. “I do not find your words to be very honest,” he stated.
