My heart felt about ready to explode. The color drained from my face and a shiver ran down my spine. “A-are you sure?”

  She solemnly nodded. “I am sure.”

  I slumped a little lower down the wall and stared ahead with large eyes. “Is. . .is that a good or bad thing?”

  “I do not know, but we might ask my father about what we saw.”

  I cocked my head to one side and lifted an eyebrow. “Won’t he mind that we were eavesdropping on the conversation?”

  She bit her lower lip again. A depression had started to form there. “I am not sure-”

  “Arian! Bring your friend out here!”

  The command came from the king himself. We had to obey, although we rather reluctantly climbed to our feet. Arian slipped in front of me, bravely bearing the brunt of the attention as she walked out first with me at her heels.

  The king had half-turned toward the house but kept one eye on the open gate. He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a sharp eye as we walked up to him. Arian and I couldn’t help but slightly bow our heads to his imposing irritation.

  “You heard everything?” he guessed.

  Arian nodded her head. “Yes, Father.”

  Pangberan’s attention fell completely on me. “Do you know anything about this?”

  I jerked my head up and found his face was completely serious. “M-me? Why would I know anything about this?”

  “I very much doubt it is a coincidence that you arrive and the next day the wolves are circling our city,” he pointed out.

  My mouth flopped open and shut before I got control of it. “B-but I don’t know anything about this!”

  “She is telling the truth, Father!” Arian pleaded on my behalf as she clasped her hands in front of her. “She knows nothing of the wolves and has no allegiance to them whatsoever!”

  “Can you completely vouch for her?” he questioned his daughter.

  Arian stretched herself to her full height and dropped her arms to her sides. She balled her shaking hands into fists and lifted her chin. “Completely.”

  His eyes flickered between the two of us before he pursed his lips. “Blast all these strange happenings. . .” he mumbled as he turned away from us.

  “Strange happenings?” Arian repeated as some of her courage was replaced with curiosity.

  Pangberan’s hard eyes looked out on the city that stretched below us. “Has the news reached the heavens of the attacks on the villages?” My heart dropped into my stomach with a hard thud. So hard that I wrapped an arm around my gut. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by my astute host who eyed me with his sharp gaze. “You know of it.” It wasn’t a question.

  “We have heard of the attacks and the king himself seeks to solve the mystery,” Arian spoke up.

  A bitter chuckle escaped the king. “So the king finally seeks to help us down here, does he? I wondered if he even remembered we existed except to provide furs for his bed and fair goods for his subjects.”

  “Has. . .has the attacker come to any of our villages?” Arian asked him.

  He breathed a heavy sigh and shook his head. “Not yet but reports reached us that the wolves had one of their villages to the far southwest attacked. Like all the others, there were no survivors to tell them what happened.”

  My blood ran cold at his words. The far southwest. That was the general direction of the village Dadan and I had discovered. Had the villain wandered in that direction seeking victims or had we just barely missed him ourselves?

  The pair had continued their conversation. “Perhaps they mean to make an alliance to fight against this foe?”

  “Perhaps.” He didn’t sound convinced.

  At that moment, Lujun returned with his men. He stopped in front of us and bowed his head. “The wolves slipped across the Tianfeld and disappeared into the brush.”

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  The king lifted his chin and stiffened his jaw. “Keep a tight watch at the fringes in the wall. They may sneak some scouts through the old riverbed or along the feet of the mountain.”

  Lujun nodded. “As you wish.” He turned to another dozen men close at hand and waved his arm. They scurried over at the beckoning and Jin was among them. I noticed Arian stiffen at my side. The lord swept his gaze over the company. “We will have two watch groups at the north and south boundaries of the valley. You will have twelve-hour shifts and twelve hours of rest before returning. Is that understood?”

  Many of the men thrust their arms in the air.

  “Yeah!”

  “I’m ready!”

  “We won’t let those dogs through!”

  “Then follow me and I will show you where you will watch,” Lujun commanded them and the company marched through the gates.

  Dian stepped up to his father. “May I go with them, Father?”

  He shook his head. “You have not the training against a foe as dangerous as a wolf.”

  Dian’s eyebrows crashed down. “I have enough to take down those dogs.”

  Pangberan narrowed his eyes at his son who struggled not to shrink beneath the cool fury. “Those ‘dogs’ may look as scrawny as a black bear but they have the ferocity and cunning of a tiger. One clean bite on your neck and they will tear your throat out before you know what has happened.”

  Dian swallowed hard and lifted his chin. “I still wish to join them, sir, even as a messenger. You and I both know I may not be the strongest but I am one of our fastest men.”

  The king’s eyes flickered over his son’s face before he turned his back to him. “I will consider your request.”

  Dian’s face fell but he pressed his arms against his sides and bowed low. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

  The young man hurried past his father, not giving us even a glance, and hurried into the house. He slammed the door a little louder than was necessary.

  Pangberan stared at where his son had gone with a foreboding look before he turned back to the courtyard. Dozens of citizens had come to the gates with the same fear in their eyes. The old generations had more weariness in theirs, but all had one question on their lips.

  The king strode across the clearing and over to his people. “There is no need for alarm. The wolves merely brought a message that a half dozen of them wish to attend the Fur Festival, including the king.” A clamor arose from the crowd which was quieted by the king raising one hand. “Let it be known that they shall not be harassed and that the wolf pelts shall be put on display another festival. Tell everyone about these rules, and they’ll also be posted on all the signboards throughout the city.”

  A soft murmur of disappointment washed over the crowd, but they dispersed to spread the juicy gossip to their unwarned neighbors. The king stood alone in front of the gates, a weary leader with an increasing load of worries on his shoulders.

  Just the perfect time to show him my specialty.

  I strolled past my surprised friend and over to his kingly side. I cleared my throat and hoped I looked presentable to speak so forthrightly to a monarch. “Your, um, Your Highness, I have something that may make your people forget about the wolves.” He turned his head just enough so both of his bright yellow eyes fell on me. I shrank beneath his stoic look. “W-well, forget about them for at least a little while.”

  He lifted one eyebrow. “How?”

  I cleared my throat and washed down the frog that was stuck there. “I’m able to do creation magic and I can create a, well, this.”

  I cupped my hands together and my silver threads flowed out of my palms. The crystalline light attracted the gasps of those still present and they stepped closer for a better look. I tried to focus on crafting a well-rounded and extra sweet chocolate, and I was giddy with glee when my magic formed a large bear with miniature gummy-drop golden eyes. At least I could control this aspect of my powers.

  I held it up to the king. “It’s a sweet. I call it chocolate.”

  Pangberan leaned away and sneered at it. “This will make people forget their worries? By your sorcery?”

  I was beginning to think I wasn’t cut out for diplomacy when Arian scooted up to my side. “It is merely a treat for the children, Father,” she assured him as she snatched the candy bar and took a bite. She licked her lips and held out the rest of it to him. “Try for yourself and see if it will not make them laugh, and in doing so will ease the hearts of their parents and anyone who sees them.”

  Pangberan couldn’t resist the double temptation of the treat and his daughter’s pleading eyes. He reluctantly accepted the sweet and lifted the candy to his nose. His nostrils flared and his brow furrowed, but he stuck the treat in his mouth and took a small bite.

  His eyes lit up and he drew the candy back to study its small but delicious stature. “What magic is this? I have never tasted anything like it.”

  Arian grinned from ear to ear as she clapped her hands together. “See? It is so delicious that they will forget their troubles until the festival where everyone will make merry!”

  The king rolled his eyes over to me and lifted the treat. “Can you make more?”

  I waved my hands and grinned. “As much as my magic will let me.”

  “Then make more,” he commanded me before he turned back to the house. He paused and one of his eyes fell on me. There was a noticeable suspicion in it that made my heart skip a beat. “How soon can you make them?”

  “Well, right now,” I told him as I nodded at the house. “I just need a comfortable seat and a basket to put them in.”

  “Then I will announce to everyone to bring their children to the square tomorrow at noon. Will that be enough time?”

  I bobbed my head. “Plenty of time.” I hope.

  “Good.” And with my orders given, he marched off, leaving me regretting my suggestion.