Free Turned by Kessie Carroll Page B

them. Even without
their humanity, they suffer. There are children here."
     
    Bernard hadn't noticed them, and now stared
at a pair of cubs as they passed by. The cubs stared back, eyes too
bright, ribs showing through their thin pelts.
     
    Pity touched his heart. "Yes, the elixir must
be strengthened fourfold."
     
    They reached the ladder and gazed up at the
mages assembled at the gate. Allard was foremost, gripping the
Alpha Staff. His eyes widened as Bernard approached. The stink of
his fear drifted on the breeze.
     
    Bernard rose on two legs, and Charlotte did
the same. "As you can see, the elixir cancels out the curse's
effects."
     
    Charlotte gripped the ladder's rungs and
clumsily pulled herself up. It was little wonder the other wolves
could not climb it--it required the full concentration of a
rational mind.
     
    Bernard followed her, and in a moment they
stood inside the gate on a small patch of bare ground, the wolf pit
to their backs.
     
    "Unlock the gate, please," said
Charlotte.
     
    "I think not." Allard aimed his staff at
them.
     
    The power struck Bernard in the guts. He
dropped to his haunches and growled. Charlotte dropped beside him
with a gasp.
     
    "Elixir or not," said Allard to the mages,
"they still must obey the power of the Alpha Staff! Look at them.
What torment it is to be conscious of the compulsion to obey.
They'd be happier as brutes who did nothing but serve us. An
unstoppable army of monsters."
     
    Bernard tried to object, but all that came
out of his mouth was an unintelligible howl.
     
    ***
     
    Charlotte struggled against the staff's
power. It seemed to magnify Allard into a god--a terrifying being
who must be obeyed and worshiped. His silent command was to sit and
say nothing.
     
    But I am a woman, not a beast! she
told herself. He is a bigger monster than any of the wolves
here. She looked at Bernard and saw him gasping, tongue lolling
out. The curse's grip on him was tightening. She must defy Allard
and his staff, for the sake of the man she loved.
     
    She lifted one hand. It resisted her, as if
hung with lead weights. She moved it forward and placed it down.
Then the other hand. Then her hind feet, until she had walked to
the gate. Allard turned toward the other mages and did not see, but
the mages watched her with wide eyes. Finally one pointed and said,
"Archmage, look!"
     
    Allard turned as Charlotte rose to two legs.
He pointed the staff into her face. "Down, beast!"
     
    More fear struck her--fear of punishment and
pain if she disobeyed. Her knees bent. But Charlotte fought it and
slowly straightened up. She repeated to herself, "I am human, I am
human! I have nothing to fear from a mere man!" But it was not
enough. So she hung on to her new-found love for Bernard, and
slowly that love filled her heart and crowded out the fear.
     
    "You say we shall be your army," she said
through clenched teeth.
     
    "Silence!" Allard barked.
     
    But still Charlotte resisted the Staff's
command. She laid her hands on the gate's crossbeam and faced him
through the bars. "What of the women and children, Allard? Will you
send them against Grayton's enemies, to die on the
battlefield?"
     
    Sweat trickled down Allard's face. "Shut up!"
He thrust the Staff closer to her face.
     
    But Charlotte stood firm. Bernard edged
behind her and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. The power
of the Staff seemed to wane. "You would see everyone turned into
slaves and grovel at your feet. You would throw away every life in
Grayton. All for what? A few more gold coins to jingle in your
purse?"
     
    "Shut up, bitch!" Allard roared, and jabbed
her in the face with the Staff.
     
    Charlotte flinched, but her hand shot through
the bars and grabbed the Staff. Bernard seized it, too. Together
they wrenched it out of Allard's grasp and pulled it through the
gate.
     
    Allard screeched, "Give me the keys! Open the
gate!"
     
    But Charlotte and Bernard gripped the staff
in amazement. Charlotte's claws