Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Aela’s POV

We’ve been traveling without any breaks for a couple of days. Using the map, I chose the most direct path even with the change of the landscape over the years. Many of the natural landmarks are trees that have been around for millennia. The trees are so thick it looks dark as night along the forest floor. The trunks are the largest amongst the outlands, and we have to find ways to guide around their massive forms. About midday, we come to a clearing with trees smaller in size, and their roots haven’t made the floor an uneven woven trap. Not far from the clearing is a small creek with clear and fresh water. We stop and let the horses replenish for a few minutes.

“Ethan, how do you know of Toloda?” I say out of the blue, and it seems to spook Ethan, but he shrugs before he answers with a sincerity I have always appreciated.

“It’s a legend. My grandparents used to warn us not to explore far into the forest. They say the haunted howls of a thousand lupines still echo to living, wanting to pull anyone into their everlasting torment.” Ethan says with a hypocritical chuckle from his statement.

“Wonder why I never heard of it before.” I pull my cloak close to me and grasp my amulet underneath. Even if it’s not cold, I feel like I’m desperate for whatever comfort it can give me.

Ethan sat down, and I knew he wanted to speak. He is never this silent. “It must have to do with you living your life in the Capital. Queen Lana captured and contained the remaining lupines after Toloda. Declaring them enemies to the humans because of their wild sides. Whenever the hidden lupines were found, they were brutalized. Any mention leads to interrogation. Regions farther away were originally the ports and markets the lupines traded with. They have been more reluctant to keep the information about the Lupine nation secure.”

I nod my head in understanding. His words are probably right in assessment. Doesn’t help the feeling of dread embedded into my gut. My mother chose to believe Lana over her mate. Ethan has basically accused Lana of persecuting and oppressing an entire nation just because they were Lupine. I’m wondering if she resented the lupine gods for her not having her own wolf and she’s taking it out on the nation.

“My mother said Delmar had been trying to protect the Lupines. I wonder if he was able to remove any from my aunt?” I say, and Ethan looks very thoughtful.

“You even said it yourself. Delmar the Cruel motives are hard to discern. He caused a distraction for the queen to allow giants of all things to sneak into the capital. I wouldn’t doubt that was the first time he used a similar tactic.” Ethan resounds, and I’m shocked. It makes sense. “Yet, that was only to save yourself, not anyone else.”

True.

The distraction was enough to give them access and allow me to escape. He wasn’t planning to help rescue anyone else, or he wouldn’t have been in the dungeon. If he did save Lupines from Lana’s persecution, then where would he send them to…

The Crowned Prince. He owed my mate a favor and said he was hoping he would take over while he obviously was going to start the rebellion. Could he have been the one protecting the lupines?

Shit! Lady Seltie was accused of being controlled by a dark master. She had to have been influenced by Lana. She was the instrument in keeping Lana alive during the invasion. Then she saved us when we reached land. If she was searching for the missing lupines for Lana, then she would have been an enemy of the Crowned Prince.

Ethan doesn’t stick around to see me lost in my own head. He starts guiding his horse, and I follow right behind. The clearing stretches far with trees growing in sparce and spread out than any other location I have seen of the outlands. The stretch isn’t a big field, which is longer and narrower.

“Hey! Silence, come here. You should see this.” Ethan howlers from in front of me. He starts wrestling with a branch or a board buried in the ground. I try to figure out what he’s doing. “I think this is the road into the city. I think a wagon lost its wheel here and was left on the side of the road.”

“Then we must be getting close.” I say with a hopeful smile. Ethan nods his head in agreement. The map from my mother’s hidden room had the old trade routes so we could try to assess which road we were on and try to follow its path.

We continue on the ancient road. It's late in the afternoon when we find a large wooden gate in with a black “x” painted on both doors. A fence consisting of trees and planks runs out and away from it. The wood is weathered and smells sour like it's rotting. Places of the fence have fallen, so it’s somewhat indistinguishable on the original barrier.

I walk to the wooden gate and start to push the creaking doors open. Ethan is right behind me, and he grunts with effort to help open the gate enough for us to slip through.

I have so many questions, and I really hope I can find some clarity in this wreckage of this giant city. I am almost excited about arriving somewhere. My answers may be available.