Vaarin had talked to Kaizan about his trepidations regarding the blood oath he and the others had taken with Murtagh. Kaizan was already prepared for this part. He had assured him that it was all taken care of. When Vaarin asked about the details, Kaizan had said that it would be revealed tomorrow. He didn't divulge a single detail about how things would happen because as a General, he knew that even walls had ears.
When Ileus appeared in the council room a while back, stunned, Vaarin's eyes flew wide, but it was momentary. He had immediately bowed to the crown prince and realized that this was Kaizan's plan all the while. Murtagh was definitely controlled mentally by Ileus because. Vaarin had heard how Adrianna was able to sweep people's minds without them even knowing about it, and he also knew that most wizards were taught this ability at the Wizard Academy, but only a few mastered it. Ileus could get in the cell of others easily, but he was not as gifted as his mother was. Murtagh seemed to resist that control. However, it didn't stop Ileus from doing what was supposed to be done.
So, right now, he was standing in the council room, looking at the line of councilmen who were trying to rush to him to take the blood oath. And Vaarin was no fool. He knew that they were all just too afraid of the dark prince and now that Olivia was married to his General, none of them wanted to mess with him.
As soon as the first councilman's hand was slashed and he clasped Vaarin's hand in his, Vaarin said, "Do you promise to serve me as your Alpha from now till the day you die?"
He nodded saying, "I do, till the day I die." The blood oath was sealed. It was like a thread that bound them with Vaarin. It pulled tighter and tighter till the gash in the hand of the councilman closed.
The process was repeated for every councilman in the chamber. And once this was done, Vaarin pulled his hand back, his blood still trickling down on the ground. The gash started healing slowly. Kaia was prepared for it. She dug out a small clean white bandage and wrapped it around her husband's palm.
The whole ceremony went without interruption. Vaarin didn't choose new councilmen because these men were the ones who had been with him through thick and thin and he wanted to show his respect as well as confidence in him. Those who were against his ascension, would be bound by the blood oath to serve him and only him.
Followed by lunch only for the councilmen, the ceremony ended well. The news was soon published across the Whiteclaw pack. Posters were posted and pasted everywhere to declare that the pack had the new Alpha. There was excitement, and the pack's people had erupted into a festive mood. So many new things were happening that the netizens loved to revel in it. Weary of long drawn battles and wars, the change brought a breather. It gave them hope that if one dared to take a single bold step, you could expect good things. And that was what Vaarin did—he accepted the General's hand for his daughter to end the war.
While the people in the pack celebrated in their own little way, rogues attacked the northern posts. The wolves who were on vigilance in that area were attacked and injured by the rogues. It was a strong message to the pack's leader—the rogues didn't like the change. Initially the rogues weren't attacking the pack, but now they were not only going to target the trade path, they wouldn't let the pack live peacefully.
"When did this happen?" asked Vaarin as he stood with Kaizan and two more councilmen. They were watching the girls of the home, Olivia and her cousins, dancing around the bonfire that was lit in the courtyard. The girls were laughing and jesting, while celebrating his rise to helm. The night was young and the waning moon hung in the sky over the aspens and the vines that hung on the walls of the courtyard. Food and wine were laid out on the sides.
The soldier who bore the news, said, "Not even an hour back, my liege."
"Is anyone dead?" asked Kaizan. He didn't expect the rogues to attack so soon.
"There is one dead, while the rest are severely injured. There is another unit that has gone there already," he replied.
"You may leave," said Vaarin. He turned to his men and ordered them to take two divisions and check the area where they were attacked. "I will be scanning the borders tonight with men," he said with a hard resolve.
Kaizan's jaw clenched in a hard line. Vaarin had just taken over as the Alpha and this attack wasn't a good sign. However, one thing was clear—there was someone who opposed the idea of Vaarin to become the Alpha. Someone was clearly very unhappy. The timing of the attack was an indication enough. And if it was a rogue attack, then the culprit was a rogue. Kaizan's mind ran to the day when they were ambushed by the rogues the night, he was taking Olivia with him to the capital. A rogue had said that she had a price on her head. Was it possible that the two had a connection?
He walked with Vaarin, who was giving orders to his men to assemble outside. Kaia, Olivia and all others were still oblivious of what was happening and the girls were still dancing around the bonfire, the embers from which rose high towards the sky and then faded into the darkness.
"I will come with you," said Kaizan.
Vaarin turned to look at his son-in-law. He could see how resolved Kaizan's demeanor was, but he clasped his shoulders and said, "No son. I want you to stay here with our women. Let them enjoy and make them feel safe while I go and ensure that even my people are safe. I will come back soon. The rogues have charged only one patrol party, and I am not a fool to understand that it was a message for me. If I am not wrong, they won't charge again tonight. But I have to take a round of my pack's borders in order to send them the message that we are ready for them."
Kaizan wanted to oppose the idea, but he snapped his mouth shut when read in between the lines. It was better that Alpha Vaarin went on the round. He wanted to send the message to the rogues that a minor attack on their pack would not bring the General of Silver Vales out. The new Alpha was enough to protect his pack. He watched Vaarin leave. His eyes went back to the girls who had now entwined their arms around each other and were singing a local song as they grooved around the bonfire, adorned with flowers and garlands. This was what the men lived for—happiness and everything pure and beautiful. His gaze landed on his wife, who was beaming with love.
That night, as Alpha Vaarin patrolled the boundary of the pack, something strange occurred.
