Chapter 205 - Uroboros part 6

I snapped awake. Someone had stolen into Zenzele's quarters. I started to sit up, then realized it was her wolf, Vehnfear. The animal padded into her bedchamber and lay down a short distance apart.

"Hello, old boy," I said affectionately. I was fond of canines. We had shared our camp with several canine families when I was a mortal man.

Zenzele's torches had burned out, but a bit of low light was coming through some small chinks in the upper curve of the wall, and the animal's gold eyes glimmered as he stared at me. Again, I sensed an eerie, near-human intelligence in the beast's keen gaze. And he was beautiful, with gray and white patterned fur. The Strix had made a wolf-prince of the animal, regal and powerful.

He looked from me to his mistress. Finally he came to a decision. Scooting closer, he nosed my hand. I stroked his head and he lapped at my forearm. His tongue was icy cold. I laughed, and Zenzele stirred.

"Gon?" she mumbled.

"We have a visitor," I said.

She peeked over my shoulder, alarmed, then chuckled. "Vehnfear! Come here, boy!"

The wolf rose and hopped into our bedding, settling between the humps of our legs. He wagged his tail and grinned at us.

They came for me a short time later.