More Answers
Serafine POV
When I wake, Xander is no longer in bed, I get myself up and dressed and walk out, finding him sitting at the table while eating. He’s looking through some papers quietly.
As I approach, his head raises, and he smiles softly.
Sitting down, I place some food on the plate, proud that I didn’t wait for him to instruct me to eat. He still sighs, though, his head shaking. Moving, he places more food on my plate.
So, he expects me to eat more than I was given at home. Noted. We eat in silence. I don’t want to disturb him from his work, not when he admitted the other day that this is the moment when he thinks and reflects.
After I finish eating, I look at him. “As I’m not required to work, can I spend today in the library or outside reading?” Outside would be better, the library may have visitors.
“Of course, just remember to keep a distance from other people.”
Smiling, I stand and leave. Getting to my room, I grab the books and go to the library. I need to figure out what else there is about me in these books.
As I enter the library, it’s quiet. I find a beanbag in a corner, sit down, and open the book. The ink swirls, and I wait for the words to form before beginning to read them. I still have the other book that Xander gave me, that way, if I happen to see anyone, I can use that as a cover.
I’m not sure if people should know I’m reading this book or not.
Veyrathi are not simply wolves. They are born to understand the world, to understand all animals, not just wolves. Veyrathi have the power to raise an army purely from animals. The Veyrathi are unaffected by an Alpha’s command, even the command of royalty. They are born only when balance is needed.
This could mean you’re the first Veyrathi in one hundred years or two thousand. There’s no tracking, and we don’t demand to know when a Veyrathi is born.
So there could have been one within the last hundred years? Maybe more? If this book has been here for a long time, does that mean that the last Veyrathi was from this pack? I want to know, I want to find out how long they had this book for.
Moving, I go to the large desk and open the filing cabinet. As I do, the door opens, and a maid steps in. She stops and looks at me, not moving further into the room.
“I apologise, I did not know anyone was here.”
“Wait, how would I find out if a book is here, or how long a book was here for?”
“To find out if a book is here, and the date, the filing cabinets list all books. I would help, but I’m bound not to come any closer. Look for the title, and it will have the date the book was brought here.”
“What if it’s not got a title?” I ask.
“Then it will come under unclassified.” She turns and leaves, and I move quickly, searching.
When I get to unclassified, there are over 100 files. Pulling them open, I notice each file has a picture of the book it relates to. No title means they had to find another way to do it.
I flip through quickly until I find the book. When I do, I look at the date.
Location found – Library
Date brought into the library – Unknown.
Date found in library -1310
Wait, 1310? That long ago? That’s over a thousand years ago. That is nothing, until I realise it was found here. Grabbing a different file, I look.
Location found – Sequmore Pack
Date brought to the Library – 1901
That book has a location and a date that it was brought here. So, the book I have was never found anywhere else; it just appeared here.
Deciding to go outside, I gather the book and the Successfully unlocked!
out of the building and into the trees before
sitting down to read more. As I do, I hear something anu look up to see the Hollowfang Raven land in front of me.
I’m not comfortable with the fact that I can speak with it. It feels wrong, like there’s something deeply messed up in my mind, even if it’s because I’m different and special. It stays quiet and watches me as I go back to reading. As I do, the sky goes darker, and I ignore that impulse in me that is caused by what tonight is. I still have hours left, right?
More Answers
Veyrathi has the ability to resonate with sacred beasts, to call to them, calm them, or something similar. This ability is not at will but triggered by the Veyrathi’s own emotions, such as fear and grief. The Veyrathi will learn to control her own emotions so they do not impact the beasts around her. She may be powerful enough to learn to resonate with the beasts internally.
That’s different, the Hollowfang Raven is still watching me intently. I feel like I have a friend, as weird as it sounds. I don’t know anyone really in this pack. I feel like Xander is hiding me away, but something about this Raven feels like a lifeline.
It flies into the trees quickly, and I hear the shuffle and look up to see a man walking through the trees. He’s dressed like a soldier, so I’m guessing he’s coming back from guarding a post.
He stops when he sees me, and I wait for him to walk away to avoid me, only he doesn’t. He comes closer. I don’t move. I close the book and place it down, ensuring I put the one Xander had handed me on top of it.
“You must be Serafine,” he says quietly. “I’m Jacob, one of the Gamma who keeps the pack secure.” He steps closer and I don’t move. Reaching down, he picks up one of the books but stays kneeling.
“Shouldn’t you be keeping your distance?” I whisper.
“Why?” He asks, and his eyes go back to the book. “When I saw you sitting here, I assumed you would be reading a novel, or similar, not books that are used to learn about who we are.”
He’s not saying it in a bad way; he’s just confused. I get it, people sit outside in the warm sun to read for fun, not to learn. I have a lot to learn, and it’s fun.
“Is the book giving you the answers you need? There are others which might be better suited.”
“Get away from her.” A growl comes from the side, and Jacob stands and quickly rushes off as Xander comes closer. His eyes are glowing, and he glares after Jacob.
“He was just speaking with me,” I whisper.
“No, he was covering you in his scent.” His words are cold, and I freeze. His scent? I don’t smell anything.
Subscribed
