The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 53: The Wolf And The Moon

As the wolf lifted his head to the heavens, the moonlight bathed his features in a celestial aura, casting shadows that danced across his fur like whispers of the night.

With each breath, the wolf’s cry resonated with the raw power of the wilderness, carrying with it a fierce determination and a primal instinct. It appeared as a call to surrender, a declaration of dominance that struck fear into the hearts of its enemies.

As the cry reverberated through the trees, he seemed to summon the very spirits of the forest, stirring the ancient echoes of a time when the wolf god ruled the land.

With the presence of the King of the Forest, the mutts that smelled like death, scattered away. Light dispels darkness after all. The mutts that came into being because of a shapeshifter running away from their creator was a weird thought to process. It made Jessamyn wonder if this wolf was their creator after all.

Are there more? Did the original Theodulf bloodline never vanish but laid low?

As she watched, the scattering mutts burst into white flames just as they came into contact with the moonlight. Some who stayed under the cover of the trees, writhed as if they were getting burned. Jessamyn observed them to see the burns forming on their skin where the moonlight slipped through the leaves and fell.

While the wolf’s cry sounded majestic to her, overwhelming her with awe to be in the presence of a mythical being, the mutts didn’t seem to think so. The cry of the wolf, combined with the moon’s light, was deadly to them; just like silver.

The darkness around disappeared along with the ashes of the mutts. With that, the natural order of the forest was restored. The insects started chirping, the night creatures started to roam free and she saw bats zipping and heard the hooting of the owls.

It was as if the moon goddess was abolishing the abominable from her presence with the help of the wolf—the tandem effort as described in the lore: The Wolf and The Moon.

Did I get saved by Lycaon Wulfhednar? I am in the presence of Lycaon Wulfhednar!

Jessamyn looked at the wolf with reverence. Goose bumps formed on her skin and the hair at the back of her neck stood straight as she was overwhelmed to stand in the presence of a mythical being everyone eagerly awaited.

She wanted to kneel to thank the wolf for protecting her when the wolf stopped his cry. The wolf’s glowing eyes ended up on her. Jessamyn ended up staring at those mystical eyes.

The silver glow she saw earlier was replaced with a warm glow and without blinking, she stared at the beauty and majesty exuded by the wolf.

King!!! I am in the presence of the King of the Great Green Forest!!!

She could discern that fact but she couldn’t move, more like, she didn’t feel the urgency to move. It was not out of fear. There was an odd sense of calm in her heart, as she forgot all her sorrows in those eyes. She blamed the odd familiarity on their last meeting when the wolf was pretty vocal with her.

Why isn’t he saying a word today? Did he not recognize me?

As if the wolf got distracted, he turned to the side. Jessamyn looked in the direction the wolf was looking and, in the distance, she heard a horse’s neigh, followed by the sound of the hooves of a horse approaching.

Through her peripheral vision, she saw the wolf moving and she quickly turned to see the wolf already disappeared into the rows of trees. Jessamyn stood up and ran in the direction the wolf might have gone to catch a glimpse of him again.

Behind her, she heard the horse gaining on her.

"Stop running!"

Jessamyn let out a sigh hearing that familiar voice. What is he doing here? How did he find me?

She stopped and looked around. She didn’t see the wolf anywhere. She was filled with disappointment. She didn’t want to make it obvious to Jerrick that she was looking for someone and bowed her head supporting her hands on her knees with her back to him.

The horse came to a halt by her side.

"Come on, climb up," Jerrick held out his hand.

Jessamyn let out a deep breath and looked at him. Under the moonlight, he was smiling at her. She turned her face not willing to look at him.

What is he happy about?

She wanted nothing to do with Imogen’s husband but she didn’t want to anger him for leaving his castle grounds. He might be smiling thinking of her punishments.

"I’ll walk," she said.

He scoffed.

She didn’t mind him and walked with a larger gait.

"You’re going in the wrong direction," he said, still standing where he was.

"No, I am not," she said. She was not directionally challenged. She knew where she came from.

She heard the horse approaching her. She tried to walk as fast as she could. She tried to move to the side when the horse got close to her, but she was grabbed under her arms.

"No!" she cried but she was lifted like a toddler and was seated on the horse before she could even express her disbelief.

"Gah!" he shouted and the horse started galloping leaving Jessamyn to cling to his chest for fear of falling.

"Don’t be scared," he kissed her head and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I am not scared!" she hissed, pushing against his chest. "I can ride a horse. I cannot ride facing the back like a...child," she said.

She tried to turn to face the front but he didn’t relent his hold. The man’s upper body strength was not to be trifled with. Then again, this is the man who led in the battle.

"You can ride?" he asked, positively amused by her statement. After all, women were forbidden to ride a horse. Proper ladies didn’t ride horses.

"Joar taught me," Jessamyn said still clinging to his shirt.

She could ride but the direction she was facing caused her head to spin. She needed to face the front. If this continued, she might throw up.

"Of course, he did," Jerrick said.

She didn’t catch the regret in his tone for she was busy trying not to throw up. She leaned closer to his chest to avoid looking at the passing trees that caused the churning of her stomach. It was then she realized something feeling the prickling sensations on her face..

Why is his shirt open?