Free Mother of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 1) by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson Page A

life and well-being. Aleister knew what it was like to not have anyone care if you lived or died. His own life had pretty much been like that since Melaric had passed away. He only hoped he could live up to her expectations.
    Kalla blinked, going very still. She hadn't intended to fall asleep again, yet that is exactly what she'd done. Something was different now and the difference had woken her.
    “Good… morning, milady. I wondered how long I might have to stay still before you woke. I didn't want a repeat of last night.” Her magister's voice was light, but there was a hint of reproach in his thoughts. The odd emotion chased after it, disappearing before she could catch it. She stirred and sat up, yawning.
    “My apologies, Aleister.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “I… uh… meant to move earlier, when you were still sleeping. Guess I fell back asleep,” she said.
    “No apologies needed, milady. As long as you don't try to kill me again!” He stood and stretched, glancing around the clearing. Their vykr stood placidly nearby, apparently not bothered by the wolves that still haunted the woods about them. Aleister snagged a pack. “I'm guessing you want a cold breakfast, so we can get moving, yes?” he asked with a slight grin. She nodded, conjuring balls of magelight to aid him as he poked around in the pack and pulled out a loaf of brown bread and a half a wheel of hard, yellow cheese. The Sky Fox broke them in half, passing part to Kalla. They ate quickly and mounted their vykr. Kalla conjured more magelight globes and fixed one to Aleister's essence, ensuring that it would stay with him. The others she left free. Since she had conjured them, they would follow her anyway. As if by some unseen signal, a wolf entered the clearing, coming to a halt before them.
    Follow.
The command in the unheard voice was clear and Kalla nudged her mount into an easy trot. Behind her, she heard Aleister murmuring softy to his vykr. As they rode, Kalla noticed that the trees grew ever larger. At the center of the forest, the massive trees were so big that it would have taken several people to come close to circling one with outstretched arms. Their branches soared overhead, forming a graceful, vaulting arch of emerald high above the Temple that stood in the clearing. Weathered blocks of stone told the tale of the Temple. Vines covered most of the building, obscuring the true size of it.
    The Temple doors were likewise covered, as were the two immense stone foxes guarding the entrance. On the far side of the clearing a small brook bubbled merrily. The sabre wolves melted back into the forest and Kalla sent a silent thanks to Gasta for their aid. Mage and magister dismounted and tethered the vykr near the brook, leaving the leads long. There was no telling how long they would be inside the Temple, so Aleister provided them with what he hoped would be ample food. Unlike Rang'Moori horses, the Arkaddian vykrs weren't prone to overeating. There was little danger they would eat all of the food in, say, a day and the Magister had left enough food for several days.
    The pair shouldered their packs and moved to the entrance. Aleister tugged the vines loose from one great wooden door. Beneath, he found a massive brass ring. He pulled, putting all of his effort into it. With a groan, the door swung open, leaving a gaping black hole behind. The magister sidled through the door first, wary of hidden traps and dangers. The light globe bobbing above him illuminated a long dark corridor. He took a few more steps into the gloom. Working with Melaric, he'd been in his fair share of ruins such as these and one never knew what might be waiting. A wave of anger hit him and he spun around, wondering what had made the mage so upset. He was greeted by a blank stone wall. The door was gone and Kalla was nowhere in sight. He pushed against the wall, thinking it an illusion, but his fingers touched cold stone. Well now. This was a nice predicament.