Chapter 11

The group of soldiers comes closer and when a large rolled piece of leather is given to Samantha we start moving, she tells me to start slow and work my way up to a point where the horses are at maximum, from there she tells me that on her signal run as fast as possible. The troops are twenty feet behind us steady when she waves and pats my side, assuming that's the signal I dig my claws in deep and go from a solid sixty to one eighty in two strides, leaving them way behind and soon they are not even visible.

Running this fast feels awesome, it's thrilling and yet stretches my joints at the same time, I feel as though I've been locked up and am now set free. I know Samantha can feel my enjoyment so when she says, "maintain this pace as long as possible," I know it's not to be commanding but to tell me I can run freely as long as I run north. I don't say my thanks and instead hope she can feel my appreciation, so following her orders I run.

We make some incredible distance and by the time midnight rolls around Samantha orders me to stop so we can make camp. Our camp is comprised of a small tent and a fireplace, not much but it cooks our food and will keep us dry.

When I become a human I notice the change In temperature, it is really cold, cold enough that Samantha wraps a blanket around herself and I roll down my sleeves. In Canada it gets seriously cold, much worse than it is now and even with saying that I gotta clarify, in the middle of snowstorms I would wear a thin jacket and jeans. Samantha does not share my immunity to the cold and curls up beside the fire.

After we eat she enters the tent and sleeps, it is quite cold even with blankets so luckily for me she does not get changed, I just curl up outside as a wolf. Something like forty minutes pass and as I'm about to fall asleep a shivering Samantha climbs out of the tent, blankets and all, and comes over to me, "my tent is cold even with blankets. Can I sleep here with you?"

I can tell she does not like asking so uncurling my tail I respond, "of course." She climbs into the "c" shape and curls up blanket still tight around her and in a few minutes she stops shivering. This is how we sleep a cat getting warmth from a wolf, the irony. Either way I don't mind and when she starts purring a half hour in I find it soothing and am out not long after. I may not have had the greatest of choices in becoming a familiar, but even still Samantha has become a friend so I don't mind it anymore, and hay if I'm going to be bound to someone I'd rather it be her than anyone else.

When the sun is fully up we continue our journey without a word, we each know each other's feelings, she needed my warmth and I liked her adorable purr, we are both embarrassed by it so talking is off the table. A little after noon while we are heading like one fifty my first city comes into view, it has high stone walls with several turrets and even a palace on the highest hill. I slow to a walk as we enter the outer city and maintain pace when we move to the inner city, the outer city is not the most pleasing to look at and the inner one ain't much better. The palace is extraordinary and easily makes up for the rest of the city, it has beautiful white quartz walls with carvings all over, the roof is copper green. She tells me to walk to the big castle doors, now the doors and hallway are both large enough that I could walk in as a wolf but the guards stop us.

The one on the right speaks first, "hault. This is sir Carmine Winterhelm's palace what is your business."

To be fair they are doing their job, but even still Samantha goes preppy royalty on them, "I am Samantha nightcrawler a noblewoman, sir Carmine has sent for me." She holds the letter down and I practically lie down to allow the guards to reach it, and after a quick moment to check it over he nods.

"I am sorry for the trouble m'lady but there is one more thing, we need to ask that humans are the only ones who enter." He is clearly concerned about me, and I can't say as I'd blame him.

Samantha climbs from my back allowing me to transform, "he has summoned me and my familiar, are we allowed to pass or would you like it if I went and got him myself."

Seeing the guards squirm is joyous although unintentional, luckily for the guards a man dressed in some beautiful silver and black armour walks up and says, "there is no need." I assume this dude is the Carmine I've been hearing so much about.

When Samantha goes into a deep curtsy and the nearby soldiers into a bow, me and the sir are the only ones standing, let me tell you awkward is something that is used to describe this situation.

When Samantha notices me she whispers a sharp, "bow you idiot," and to be truthful I knew that's what they thought I was supposed to do. I didn't on purpose as my family taught me respect is to be given to those who earn it not just given because of a title or social standing.

Instead of bowing I stick my hand out for a handshake, "I'm Jack Wolf, nice to meet you sir Carmine." To my surprise instead of losing his shit he stares with confusion, and thankfully isn't offended because when the guards point their weapons at me and command me to pay respect, he waves them away.

He speaks slow gauging his words carefully still without taking my hand, "where are you from Jack Wolf, and why did you not bow."

He is not angry so I reply honestly, "I come from somewhere far from here, unreachable by horse or even by dragons, my parents taught me to only show people respect when they have earned it. So I always give everyone I meet respect but I will not bow to you as I have not known you enough to treat you so highly, I'm sorry if you are offended but a handshake shows a mutual amount of respect but not like bowing would for you guys."

I'm flat with the man and am prepared to run if he goes hostile, that being said I will not show him respect just because of his name, after an awkward bit of silence he grabs my hand and shakes it allowing for a mutual smile. Everyone is now on their feet so sir Carmine waves us to follow and talks while we walk, "I have never met a man who would not bow after meeting me that didn't end up dead, let us hope you won't cross me so you may be a first. Anyway I saw your skill, the both of your skills and was wondering if you would like to serve me, at least for a little while, that way you could gain more reputation and a little cash, in exchange I could make some leeway in this war. Ultimately it is your choice and I will think no different of you if you refuse?"

Samantha takes over the conversation, "I mean no disrespect but I don't quite get what you want us to be doing, I am an ok witch and his wolf capabilities are quite good but we are not that good we have just barely met.

He chuckles a bit before saying, "that is part of the reason I want you, you have just met but you fight like you have done it for years, secondly you are quite modest, able to take down a Bloodcrest the same day you bonded. Finally you slept together so for someone who just met I'd say you are well acquainted."

My jaw drops and Samantha goes a new shade of red, "it's not what you think we did not sleep together we just slept together. No… not like that I mean… wait how did you know."

His smile sends my blood to my cheeks, "it was easy really, you both look like you slept well and you did not bring good enough blankets to stay warm, and so he would have been as a wolf to stay warm and you would have had to have a well stoked fire to keep warm enough to sleep well meaning one of you would have been tired. Also I know nothing happened between you in the other sense as you both seem tense and what you ended up referring to would cure that."

His evidence is stellar and how he deduced it is even better, he must be one hell of a commander. Finally we come to a stop in front of some large oak doors, "the next time you seek entrance into my palace you will be permitted to enter as a wolf, after all the halls are definitely big enough. Now I want to judge your strength would you partake in a duel against my knights, it will allow me to better understand your capabilities and don't worry no one can die on my training grounds it's enchanted."