A Chained Existence

A splash of water jostled Renat from his drugged sleep. He was getting very tired of being awoken in such a way.

"I know how to bathe myself," he growled at the assistant, who was holding an empty bucket. "Was it at least magical water?"

Livie's face was not amused. She stared down at his wet, hairy body with a piercing gaze. "I want your decision. Now."

"Decision? About what?" The brown wolf seemed confused, but his face suddenly broke into a fierce grin. "Oh? You want to know if I will join you in helping to sway my lovely wife in allowing her family to be massacred so she can take the throne and support you in your insane cause to mutate all of humanity? You want my decision about that?"

The noblewoman's face darkened. "Yes," she answered briefly. "What kind of man are you? Are you willing to save your wife when you can or let her die?"

Giving a low growl, the scientist tried not to lose control of his emotions. He could already feel the anger burning. "I will find a way to save her, but not by the twisted salvation you offer. I should think my answer would be obvious."

It was Livie's turn to be angry.

"Typical royal, thinking you know better than the rest. You think only of your pride. I was hoping because you came from a more humble origin that you would be more reasonable. You think you are the hero? Ha!" Livie's words spewed like venom. For a moment she resembled the lizard creatures that were her allies.

"I don't claim to be a hero. But I will not willingly let you spill the blood of people I love." Renat pulled feverishly against his new chains.

Rather than the shackles, a thick metal chain was wrapped many times around his body and the tree before being locked behind the trunk where he could never reach. He would have to uproot the tree and take it with him to move. But that did not stop him from trying.

Livie's face twisted into wicked satisfaction. "You are spilling blood either way, no matter the choice. You've simply condemned more people to die." She looked at her assistant. "Taran's way was cleaner. Easier to fix our early mistakes…"

The assistant dipped his head. "I understand," he answered dutifully.

Lady Livie clicked her tongue. "Well, Prince Renat, just to prove I am not a villain like you think, I will give you a chance to save whomever you like."

The hair on the back of the prince's neck prickled. "What do you mean?"

"When we go into battle, I shall put you on the front lines to do as you please. I am curious what you will choose. Will you try to fight against the wolves or will you go and try to save your precious princess and her family. Or perhaps when push comes to shove, you will simply save yourself. Either way it will certainly improve my mood after you turned down my gracious offer."

Livie picked a stray hair from her shoulder and flicked it away. Her mood had quite improved.

Renat's, on the other hand, had not. The noblewoman had sentenced him to death, and she knew it. Placing him on the front line--with no weapon of course--would put him right in the middle of two opposing forces with no way to defend himself except for his paws.

And he knew better than to think that the human army would believe he was the prince. They would not sit and listen long enough to let him try to convince them.

No, his allies would impale him and keep on moving to protect their town. Not that he could blame them. The confusion and heat of battle were overwhelming even under the best conditions. He would be doing the exact same thing.

Renat snarled, overcome by grief, determination and anger. Howling, Renat pulled at the chains until he began to rub his fur from his skin. It was no use.

At last the red in his eyes cleared. The prince was startled to see how much time had passed. The sun had risen significantly into the sky and neither Livie nor her assistant were in sight.

Nearby Ami was cowering in her usual manner, watching him from behind her knees with wide eyes.

"What happened?" He asked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

"You left," she told him, unwilling or unable to explain further.

"I see." Renat looked down at his body. The chains around his chest were scored with teeth marks. His jaw was sore and his mouth tasted of metal. It didn't take a scientist to connect those dots. "I am back now," he told Ami, "And I don't plan on leaving again like that."

Ami nodded slowly, hugging her knees slightly less. It was as much as Renat could hope for after what he had likely done. How could he have lost control like that?

Then the scientist remembered what Livie had said and promised. It had made him so angry and his emotions had taken over. It was no wonder that the noblewoman had said that the wolves don't stop once their bloodlust has begun. They cannot.

'Are the lizards the same?' He wasn't sure.

Off a short distance beside one of the tents, the large unnamed furry beasts, which were chained to the ground like dogs, were snarling at the human bringing them food.

It was hard to believe they were once human. Did they willingly submit to the transformation? Now they were mindless monsters. It made Renat feel sick inside.

While he was contemplating the sad state of Livie and Taran's experiments, he didn't hear Tessa approach until she was nearly upon him. She cleared her throat gently not to startle him.

"I brought you some meat and bread," she said quickly. The Lady told the cook not to send anything for you until dinner, but she didn't tell me that. I will plead ignorance. Eat quickly!"

Renat swallowed the large hunk of meat, barely chewing it. His appetite seemed endless. The bread met a similar fate; the prince barely tasted it on the way down. "Thank you."

"That food was free of sedative, but I cannot say the same for tonight. I am sorry," Tessa said aggrieved.

"Your warning is most helpful Tessa. I could not ask for more." Renat nodded to her in appreciation. It was the only part of his body he could move other than his feet.

Tessa hurried off, her step more determined than when she came. Renat was glad for her help and the food. He only hoped it would be enough.

----------------

Livie did not visit Renat the rest of the day. Her early morning gloating seemed to have satisfied her, or she was too busy with her plans to attack Oblivion to waste any more time on him.

Either way, when dinner came, the cunning mistress of the camp was nowhere in sight. That made things slightly difficult for what Renat had planned.

Tessa dutifully brought him the plate. By the look on her face, it had been laced with something to knock him out.

"Did you poison it?" he asked firmly.

"Me? Of course not!" Tessa scowled. Her answer was all the scientist needed to confirm his thoughts. She had only said that she did not poison it...not that it wasn't poisoned.

The brown wolf also noticed that Tessa was wearing a large apron with pockets. He had not seen her with it earlier in the day. He wondered about her change in attire.

"Eat up or I'm leaving!" she fussed. The woman had never been gruff with him before. The bread from the plate fell to the ground. "Ugh! See what you made me do!"

She picked up the tainted bread and exchanged it for a slice from her apron without anyone around noticing.

But Renat saw it. He hid his smile behind a low growl. "Don't drop my food, woman. I'm a prince not a mongrel!"

The rest of the food from the plate was similarly exchanged from the woman's apron. He wondered if she had stolen an extra portion or given him her own food. The portions were not equivalent so he assumed it was the latter. Tessa was sacrificing her stomach for him. Renat would not let the sacrifice go to waste.

"Have a nice sleep, Your Highness," Tessa said when he was finished. She ambled away with a smug grin on her face.

"You said you didn't do anything to it!" the scientist yelled, his voice nearly cracking. The monstrous creatures around laughed as they went about their work. Livie would certainly hear about this based on their reactions.

Satisfied, Renat pretended to fall asleep, listening closely for the time the camp finally settled down. Just like the night before, the flurry of activity ended as dusk came.

The creatures were not in bed yet, but they were gathered in groups around fires, not paying attention. It was time to strike.

Renat took a deep breath and pushed all the air out of his lungs. He slid his back painfully against the tree trunk as his gangly body moved slowly downward. His shoulders were now under the top chain, and his rear was pushed free of the bottom of the metal bindings.

However, the next push would be the hardest. Either he would be able to get his head under the first chain, which would loosen all the rest, or he would strangle himself in the attempt.

It was a pivotal moment. Closing his eyes, Renat took a deep breath and prepared for action.

When he did, the chains fell free.