A/n:Surprise! bonus ruff chap before work!

Howling Thunder Ch23: School's out

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As I close the last book I can't help but feel it's now very clear why Freki needs me. At same time however… Changing public opinion seems extremely unlikely.

“Ulfa, this isn't something one person can fix.”

The silky black wolf sits up, “Well, have you seen any others around that I haven't? That's why it's imperative that you have plenty of pups. They will fix the problem of centuries worth of punishment. You just need to protect them.”

Am I not looking at another black tail, “what about you and Maug?”

She looks down at the floor and simply leaves the room, pausing just a moment as she passes the Inari.

Mother frowns and looks at me, “think back on what I told you about your flames, mortals cannot freely come and go between realms…”

She lays back on the cushions and exhales a large, reddish plume of smoke from her pipe into the pire pit. The smoke shifts into small figures, two people on their knees next to men in armor.

As she narrates the smoke images move, “150 years ago, the last adult wargmen with black tails were publicly executed by the city guard. A young couple, a pair of thieves, infamous in the city for their spree against the noble families. They smiled till the very last, and then kept smiling. A week later, the nobles that had been robbed previously started turning up dead. Whispers spread of ghosts in the city, vengeful giests slaughtering the upper class, Maug and Ulfa. They were our city’s punishment from Freki for killing her line out.”

The dark smokey visages of a pair of wolves flit along the white towers in a smale scale model of the city, red smoke pours between buildings, “In a single month, hundreds died. The gutters were stained red as anyone even rumored of acts against black tails in the past would be found gruesomely murdered in the morning. It slowed down to ten or so per year, this lasted clear until the year my pregnancy was announced.”

The puppet show of smoke ended with a large wolf head, in it’s mouth a throne, flanked on either side by two black wargs. In the seat, a blackish flame figure of a woman.

By this time, the others have finished reading, Walt seems in deep thought while Aka looks enraptured by the magic show.

Mother looks around, “Never doubt that in this realm, the gods will punish those that cross them. Now, you’ve finished reading, any thoughts?”

Walther points at his book, “The Wolf Throne?”

“Yes dear, that is a god sent gift to the Fenrir for taking in the Anubi Tribe of the jackals. Metal from the sky, forged into a throne. With the power of the Winter tribe’s bloodline, it can reform into an unmatched armor. Same as the soul cleaving, Nemesis Axe. The water font, Turul Grail, and even my Sakura Pipe. I’m not clear on the rules of such objects myself. When you get the chance, ask the Lord Raijin in the Mage Academy, he’s been around much longer than I.”

Her pipe? Are items from the gods really so common?

As Walt just nods, Akane stands and walks over to the fire pit, “Mother, you mentioned before the power of belief. Has that played a part in us? Walty seems the embodiment of the people's trust and faith in the white wolves. Nox has the all the magic he needs to bring people's worst nightmares to life just like the stories told to scare children about the black tails.”

Mother sighs before casting a loving grin, “And you dear are most blatantly like the oppressive power of a demi-god, The Inari, which people fear and respect. Yes, I too have long thought on this… but to me, you three are just my darling pups and that is all that matters.”

She stands up, “Well, that should be enough for today if there's nothing else. I’ll bring you here together once a week. For now, general knowledge and such to be found upstairs and on your own should take priority. I won't be accused of raising a litter of idiots.”

That last word causes Aka to flinch a little.

In the entryway, the flames fades from the pillar as the doors close. Ulfa in her true form waits by the stairs.

After a quick stop by the kitchen for a sandwich, she and I head to the stables. I want to see Patra’s shop. Hearing that her family forged a god armor only raises my excitement for her potentially amazing toys for me.

One of the disguisable wagons is set aside for me. Grabbing an Anubi guard to drive, we head out of the castle like a jackal tribe member would.

I suppose being the mate of their leader’s only daughter and son of the Inari gives me fairly high importance to the Anubi Tribe.

Ulfa asks after we make it part way down the mount, “I assume the Inari told you everything, do you really have nothing to say?”

Not bothering to stop looking out the window, “Not really… Although it's quite impressive for a mutt that can't count past his front paws, Ouch!”

My shin stings as I look at the guilty smile on her face, “I don't believe it, you like that about him don't you!?”

She pouts, her bare legs rubbing together, “it's adorable, and mistress agrees!”

Slack jawed, the poor bastard, “I’m telling him!”

Ulfa kicks out for my shin again but I dodge laughing.

“Don't tell him! Mauggy is fine so let's leave it be.”

As I almost feel bad for the flea bag I begin to hear the sounds of the smithies and the smell of forges and tanneries.

“Ah, hey you robbed plenty of them, what do rich people buy anyway?”

Ulfa chuckles, “Shiny trinkets, paintings, rugs, golden tea sets, jewelry, maids servants to polish all of that and more.”

Tapping my chin, “Alright, except for the maids the rest is rubbish, what about furniture?”

She crosses those damn legs in front of me, no doubt to tease me for the maid comment, “Well again they like gold stuff… forget about them, I know you. I’m sure we can find some nicely carved, dark wood furniture later. I bet there is still some left over antler from that alce to have worked with as well. Also we should look down some alleys for a few arcane shops to fill your book cases, I bet you’ll find a few toys too.”

The wagon slows to a stop in front of a large square, the guard calls back, “Young Lord, it’s the law that you walk in the main square so we’ll have to stop here.”

“No problem!”

Needless to say, I’m excited more by the minute. Once more I decide to ignore caution and walk undisguised into the main craft plaza.

Dozens of large smithies line the square, built of white stone, smoke rising from chimneys. Droves of people shuffle about the storefronts and the stalls. A few shoppers nervously look my way but the people working here seem too busy to care.

Instead of a central fountain like most of the squares in the city, this one has small troughs encircling a large central hearth crowned with an enormous flaming brazier. The water pours from a mid sized tower over a water wheel which powers a giant bellows the size of a house. A large number of metal workers are using the anvils spaced around the public forge.

Ulfa points at the tower, “That is the craft guild office, it doesn’t need to be large since it's just used for paper work and the craftsmen prefer their own facilities. The folks relying on the public forge can visit the guild for smaller commissions, it's much more affordable for the people this way as well. It really was a brilliant idea from the city founders, I’m sure that Patra girl with brag how it was her ancestor's plan.”

It doesn’t take too long touring the area, for me to really appreciate the quality of the items Patra makes for me. Comparable items are few and always in the showcase position of large storefronts as their most prided product.

As we near the tower I spot one building that stands out. The look of the building seems as if it was plucked from a city on the coast to the south. Columns support the entryway, their bases covered with emerald green vines crawling their way up. Several ferns in clay pots line the front, accenting the shop windows. Even just walking inside, the temperature is noticeably cooler as water pours down the walls on either side, flowing under the stonework at my feet.

The guard gives a short bow, “I’ll go inform the chief’s daughter that you have arrived.”

Inside I'm surprised to find much less displays than the other shops, but the quality of work on display is a solid level above the other shops. The feeling of the shop itself is one of elegance with all the polished white stone, coastal plants, and the sound of water from several small fountains.

Patra comes out of a side door with a massive smile as she excitedly hurries over and starts pulling me by the arm, “I was hoping you’d make it earlier, I have a ton of things to try with you that I borrowed from the other craft masters!”

She looks over to the side and yells, “Copper you lazy brat, mind the shop for a bit!”

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A/n: this chap flows fast, but its the same length as average. once I start combining chaps it wont really matter. look forward to the comments, questions, votes(the stars) as always. time for me to get to work tonight. just a by the way, any bit that gets donated on the website linked below is being set aside towards art commision cost.