The Werewolf King by Ryan Matthew Harker (recommended books to read .TXT) 📖

for not visiting.
“You tell us where she is and we’ll ask her,” Candlelite promised as he gave Absinthe a reasurring squeeze of his own.
“Good Farewethor said. While she had been High Queen Mega’N had always gone out of her way to make her feel welcome in the palace and had been, along with Commander General Jeshux, one of her strongest supporters when she had volunteer to rescue the Chosen Ones from Harmony’s captivity. “I heard recently that your old mentor Vohrmint Raspenmort was back in the city as well. Perhaps he could use an adventure?”
“Vorhmint!” Candlelite exclaimed. “The old dog! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m sorry but quite frankly it slipped my mind,” she appologized.
“No matter,” Candlelite brushed it aside. “He’s definitely on the list.”
“I will contact him immediately then,” Farewethor said. She was pleased that this young couple, whom she considered to be her charges, would be in good hands with the mercenary veteran in tow.
“The sooner the better,” Candlelite said with excitement creeping into his voice. Over a year of palace life and kingdom affairs had started to wear thin on his animal side’s need to be free. He honestly did not know how king Zakeriah had been able to stand it for the better part of a thousand years.
“You could come with us Farewethor,” Absinthe invited. “We are going to need a teleporter if we’re going to be travelling to the other side of the planet.”
The witch smiled, pleased to be included. “That’s very nice of you Absinthe but despite what you might think this kingdom will not run itself. I’m afraid that I’ll have to sit this one out.”
“Sorry Farewethor,’ Candlelite grinned.
“Don’t worry,” she reassured him. “Things will still be here when you return.”
“Don’t remind me,” he laughed.
“I think I have just the man in mind to be your teleporter,” Farewethor told him. “Why don’t the two of you spend today getting yourselves ready while I put the rest of the details together. I’ll have Max and Vohrmint meet you here this evening and then you can visit with Mega’N in the morning before you disembark.”
“Sounds great,” Candlelite agreed. “Thank you Farewethor.”
“Yes Farewethor, thank you,” Absinthe echoed and gave her a hug.
“No bother,” the witch said. “That’s what I’m here for.”

It was while Candlelite and Absinthe were enjoying what would more than likely be their last hot meal for a while that Max and Vohrmint came strolling into the throne room, drunk, hanging off each other, singing a lusty ballad about a farmer’s daughter and her many suitors. Laughing like school children they waved their free hands about wildly, Max his right and Vohrmint his left, and each held their own bottle.
“Hiya kiddies!” Max greeted. “Looky who I ran inta!”
“Ho ho, Candlelite!” Vohrmint roared. “How’ve ya been?” As the intoxicated pair reached the table the big man disengaged from the scientist and approached Absinthe. Taking her hand he bowed with a flourish and greeted, “And you m’lady, how’vw you been farin’ married ta this rascal?” and then he lightly kissed her hand.
Absinthe beamed at him and blushed slightly. “The only rascal I see here Vohrmint, is you.” And her sweet laughter tinkled across the room.
“Ah ‘tis true m’lady,” he agreed. “‘Tis too true.”
“I take it the two of you got word from Farewethor then?” Candlelite asked as he got up and shook Vohrmints hand.
In answer to the young king’s question the big mercenary exchanged a puzzled look with the little scientist.
“We’ve got n’ sush thing,” Max slurred.
“Aye, Max speaks the truth,” Vohrmint slapped the scientist on the back knocking his glasses forward on his nose. “I ran inta him atta little pub I’m fond of earlier in the afternoon. I suggested we come ta visit the two of ya and he agreed.”
“Earlier in the afternoon?” Absinthe chortled.
“Well we may’ve made a few pit stops on the way,” Max confided with a conspiratorial elbow to her ribs.
“Quite a few if the smell of you is any indication,” Candlelite observed.
“Now hold on lad, that’s not fair,” Vohrmint defended. “ Your sniffer is quite a bit more sensitive than most.”
“‘Tis true,” Candlelite said in a fair imitation of his friends voice. “‘Tis too true.”
Absinthe lost herself to laughter at her husband’s mockery and had to take her seat while Candlelite indicated for their two friends to take chairs of their own.
“I guess it’s good that the two of you showed up when you did then,” Candlelite informed them while they helped themselves to the plates of food.
“Oh?” Vohrmint queried. “And I don’t s’pose that has anythin’ to do with what Max has been tellin’ me ‘bout ol’ Neferious?”
“As a matter of fact it does,” Candlelite conceded. He was not in the least bit surprised that Max had already been discussing these things with the war veteran. “I take it he’s filled you in on what Sefu told him and where she is now then?”
“Aye,” Vohrmint confirmed around a mouthful of pork. “And lemme guess, you’re of a mind ta investigate this artifact he was lookin’ for?”
Candlelite smiled wryly, “Yes.”
“I figured you would,” the warrior chewed. “So when are we leavin’?”
Candlelite was also not surprised that his friend had already made up his mind to join them on their journey. “We’re leaving first thing in the morning.” He looked at Max and asked, “And how about you scientist, are you going to come with us?”
Max looked up from where he had been snuffling at his plate and said cheerfully, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world kingy.”
And so that was that, with everything decided Candlelite and Absinthe proceeded to fill the other two on what other few details there were. After the four of them finished their meals they bid each other an early good night with promises of meeting each other early in the morning to rondevue with whatever teleporter Farewethor assigned them before leaving to enlist Mega’N. None of them had any idea of the adventure they were about to embark upon but even if they had not a one of them would have reconsidered their role in it.

Candlelite and Absinthe sat comfortably astride their horses just outside a little used palace side gate. It was well after dawn but still early in the morning. Their city was just coming to life and both were lost in the privacy of their own thoughts when Max and Vohrmint rode up looking none the worse for their debaucheries of the day before.
“Mornin’ Sire,” Vohrmint hailed as he reigned in the big black mare he rode.
“Watch it with the sire’s and majesty’s,” Candlelite hushed him. “We’re trying to leave the city with as little attention to ourselves as possible.”
“Well you better hide this pretty hair of yours then missy,” Max quipped as he reached out to tug on a stray strand of Absinthe’s fiery tresses.
“Knock it off Max!” Absinthe brushed aside his hand and tucked her hair back under her hood from where it had escaped. She knew as well as he did that she had become known throughout the kingdom for her luxurious locks.
“Where’s Farewether?” Vohrmint growled and watched the plume of condensation puff from his mouth. The morning was decidedly chilly for a season just getting on towards late summer.
No sooner had Vohrmint voiced his question than the gate opened and out stepped the witch Farewethor leading on a horse a man that looked familiar but who Candlelite could not quite place.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” the witch apologized and then sleepily, “I slept in.”
“No need to apologize,” Absinthe reassured the embarrassed witch. “It happens to everyone once in a while.”
“All the same…,” Farewethor trailed off. “Anyway gentlemen, lady, here is your teleporter, the mage Pwami. It seems that your destination is deep in the heart of Chinasia, in the Himyli Mountains. This is the region that Pwami grew up in so he will also double as your guide.”
“Pwami!” Candlelite exclaimed. “I knew you looked familiar! You were the teleporter that transported Jeshux’ mercenaries into the battle where King Zakeriah fell against Harmony.”
A short old man of an oriental cast and kind features Pwami smiled and said, “Among many who made the effort. Zakeriah was a good man, a good king. I wish more could’ve been done to save him.”
“As do we all,” Farewethor commiserated. “But it was not in the cards.” She walked to stand beside Absinthe’s gelding and handed her a hand written card. “Here are directions and the address for where Mega’N has been staying. Please tell her that I said hello.”
“I will,” Absinthe promised her and took the card, tucking it into a pocket of her clothes. “Thank you Farewethor.”
“Yes, thanks again Farewethor,” Candlelite said as well.
“Like I said yesterday, it is what I’m here for,” Farewethor laughed. Then she said, “Now all of you be careful out there and return safely.”
“We’ll do our best witchy,” Max told her and the others all nodded in assent.
Farewethor nodded as well before she walked back through the palace gate and shut it behind her.
“Well enough of this sitting around,” Vohrmint said as he spun his mare around. “Let’s get a move on.” And he put his heels to his horse’s flanks sending her off at a trot down the cobbled streets of Dirsellia.
Candlelite looked at his other companions before he too put his heels to his horse and headed down the street after his friend. Max chuckled and led the rest of their party after them.
The five of them rode out of the city’s southern gate together. Candlelite nodded at the gatekeeper and the two guards on duty as they saluted him. Absinthe smiled prettily which caused the younger of them to blush a deep crimson almost as red as her hidden hair.
Once they were all outside the city Candlelite halted his horse and sent out a short mental command, then he sat back in his saddle to wait.
“What are we doing?” Vohrmint asked Max in a whisper, or at least as close to one as his deep voice would allow.
Max did not answer but squinted through the thick lenses of his glasses and stretched out one spindly arm to point off into the distance.
Vohrmint raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun and gazed toward where the other man indicated. At first he could not see anything but he did not have to wait long. A long low howl pierced the still morning air and silenced the birds that had been chirping. Candlelite answered with one of his own, identical except for subtle differences that only he or Absinthe could detect.
“It always creeps me out when he does that,” Max muttered under his breath.
Six werewolves came to a sudden stop just outside the perimeter of their horses and dropped obediently to their haunches. They were Ozzie, Harriet and the four pups from their first litter, Keough, Ice, Sinister, and Ruff the runt. Candlelite jumped from his horse and Absinthe was swift to follow him. These animals held a special place in both of their hearts and they both rushed over to hug them, enduring the joyful scrapings of their long, rough tongues.
“Alright enough already,” Candlelite playfully pushed aside the monstrous creatures and stood up to face the others. “Now we’re ready to go to Mega’N’s.”
The king and queen remounted and the eclectic party of people, horses, and werewolves took off around the blasted plains that surrounded the city of Dirsellia.
In the year that followed since the demise of Harmony shrubs, bushes, and other sparse vegetation had slowly reclaimed the home that had been abruptly and devastatingly ripped from