Chapter Eleven

Remus was grateful to cut days of travel off their plans. The Ruins of the Beginning were a lot closer than La Fine. The old place was called the Ruins for short, and not much of the place remained. It was supposedly the first settlement in South Sea or one of the first to be built.

Remus tried to imagine what it looked like back then with the buildings intact, fairies all over, and little to no werewolves. It wasn't easy. Prince Angelo's tomb had lasted pretty well over the ages from what he'd heard. South Sea fairies used to visit and occasionally leave little trinkets and things behind as a thank-you for facing a great evil and saving them.

The path leading to the Ruins was strewn with scraggly weeds and werewolf tracks. A wall had stood near the Ruins for ages, and no one knew who'd built or carved a poem into it. The green words were set deep, and Remus figured something had been done to help preserve it.

The werewolves led them to the wall to look at it and said it was one of their favorite things about the place. They'd even painted the letters to make them stand out more. It was assumed it had to do with the old story about Prince Angelo fighting an enemy, likely the leader of a group who had tried to invade.

"Elira supposedly still walked the realm then," said Giacomo. "But it's said not all of her children and their descendants were good, and many turned bad quite quickly."

Lay me down to sleep,

Pray the Goddess my soul to keep,

Because I died and won't wake,

I pray Elira my soul to take.

Lay me down to sleep,

Pray the Goddess my soul to keep,

And that he won't wake,

Or us he'll take.

I lay him down to death,

Pray the Goddess to take his breath,

Without my sacrifice this night,

We'll never wake with morning light.

I lay him down to death,

Pray the Goddess to take his breath,

Now you'll lift your voices this night,

And you'll live to see the morning light.

To lay him down, I had to lay me down,

Pray Elira place her hand on my crown,

Princes made each other captive before dawn,

One of Wrath, one of Sacrifice, and both forgone.

One of the werewolves read it out loud in a dramatic tone. Remus had read the poem in a book before, and it was still quite interesting to see the words and imagine a mason carving each letter into the stone. Whoever it was, they'd been forgotten to time, and only their work remained.

"I wish they'd added their name at the bottom," said Remus.

Giacomo shrugged and picked at his teeth with a fish bone. The bucket was long empty since he and his buddies had been eating the fish while they made the walk. "Nobody knows the real name of this place either. I doubt it was Ruins of the Beginning."

Potatoes, onions, and a few other things had been planted between random stones that lay embedded in the dirt. The werewolves had taken some to make little structures, tables, and chairs. They'd also built a few basic wooden homes to sleep in. Coverings were strung between trees for whoever to sleep under. In general, werewolves liked living in nature and weren't as rigid about making a permanent home like fairies.

At a wooden table, a werewolf sat as he whittled with a bone-handled knife. A werewolf plucking weeds from a plot saw the two fairies and ran off, probably to tell someone important.

It was almost like a fairy town that had been spread out and contained far fewer buildings. The residents grew thicker as they went. One napped under a cloth covering, and since a creek ran through, pups played in the water and built twig homes by the side. Two started snarling and fighting over a ball, and an adult walked over to smack their bottoms with a warning to knock it off.

They passed a forge where a werewolf was hammering away. Out in the distance, goats wandered around a field, and someone had fish drying on lines strung between a couple of crumbling pillars. Plenty stopped what they were doing to eye the newcomers on their unicorn.

Far off, a fairy and a werewolf were sitting on a boulder. Considering that the fairy was practically in the werewolf's lap, Remus assumed they'd bonded.

"You can pretty much sleep wherever as long as someone else hasn't claimed that spot," Giacomo said as they came to a sort of square blocked off by logs in the dirt. A plinth stood in the center. Whatever statue once stood on it was long gone. "We have a few little homes if you prefer that."

"That's fine. Who's the leader now?"

"Enrico took over a year ago after the last died. He and Pietro for the position. You can walk around or do whatever, and I'll find you later after I talk to Enrico first. I gotta find him and let him know what's going on."

Remus and Sébastien settled under a tree not far from the square, and Whisper ate grass while he stared at anyone passing by. The closer werewolves kept looking at them, although they didn't seem to care much.

"Werewolves fighting to be the leader is kind of odd," said Remus. "The leader doesn't even have that much control. He's only there to settle disputes or gather them if there's about to be a war. Most of the time, they have a general vote if there's something big."

"Some people are willing to fight for any kind of control." Sébastien noticed a werewolf gawping at them as he walked by. "I don't think most realize who we are just yet."

He said the last bit in a whisper, and Remus shifted on their blanket. "They're not going to toss you in the creek. If any get aggressive, hold your ground. You don't need to lash out. Just hold your position and don't back down with words."

"I know. Show I'm not a pushover."

Most attacks or instances of violence between them were because the fairies started it. Werewolves certainly weren't perfect, but it was often fairies who either got mouthy, wouldn't back off, grew violent, or threatened the werewolves to the point where they thought violence was their only way out. Both sides had warred with each other in the past, and the problems had never entirely worn off between their races as a whole.

A fairy and a werewolf finding that they were meant to be mates was rare too, and sometimes, the fairy might be cast out of his community for it. It depended on the general attitude of the locals. Werewolves usually weren't bothered if one of their kind bonded with a fairy.

Giacomo came while they were eating bread and dried meat. "Enrico says he's going to gather everyone in the square to listen. He wants to know what happened, and it'll be easier if you tell everyone, Remus. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

Giacomo gazed at the Prince. "The thing is, you better have an explanation for your past, Sébastien. Even though you're with Remus, everyone here thinks the Soleilian Prince hates their guts, and they don't like you. It's also odd that you're helping the side your country fought against not too long ago."

"So everyone wants the facts before any decision is made?"

Giacomo nodded. "Plenty will follow Enrico and do what he says, but everyone has their own mind, and this isn't a simple matter like moving elsewhere. Don't forget that. Also, if Pietro starts acting like an asshole, don't start shit with him."

"What does he look like?" asked Sébastien.

"Trust me, you'll know him if you see him. He and Enrico have never gotten along, and Pietro's pride took a good hit since he lost when they fought."

***

Some of the werewolves didn't look too pleased as they came. Word was spreading. Several came to say hello to Remus, and many were excited to meet the rightful King of Rowland. With suspicion all over their faces, a few asked if he'd killed his Uncle. Most seemed to believe his no. Others still appeared a bit suspicious.

While the majority didn't believe Quintus's lies, it figured some would wonder.

A few were nice to Sébastien. If he was with Remus, he couldn't be that terrible, right? Unfortunately, not all followed that logic. Someone called him the son of a werewolf killer. Another oinked at him.

Enrico was a large werewolf with grey in his fur, although he still moved easily as he came to stand at a corner of the square. The rest crowded around to watch, although some were so far away, whatever was said would have to be told to them by someone else. Some watched from a few piles of stone that didn't seem to have much purpose. On one side, a small pup with toddling steps fell and started to cry. His Father scooped him up to carry him away. A Mother nursed her baby, and older kids were hushed and told to listen.

Remus wasn't used to seeing so many dicks at once. Most werewolves didn't bother with clothes which could be a hindrance when running, hunting, and climbing. It was also hot, and they were covered in fur. A few wore drawers, although Remus wasn't sure if that was out of respect for fairies who didn't run around with their privates exposed or if they simply liked it. Others had shirts and nothing else, and one was dressed like a lord complete with shiny silver buttons and gold thread on the edges of his knee-length coat. The only thing he was missing was shoes.

Toward the back, the fairy he'd seen earlier was sitting on his mate's shoulders since he was too short to see, and someone said to hush. Remus had to go first, stand on the plinth so everyone would have a better chance of seeing, and explain to the massive group what happened the night he was betrayed.

He told them about his arrival in Soleil and the basics of his time there. He left out the part of Sébastien stabbing him in the throat because that would lower him in their eyes by several notches.

He explained the Regent's treasonous actions against his nephew, his plan to go to war, and how the peace treaty had been merely a way to regroup and plan another war for the future once he got rid of Sébastien. The werewolves listened as he described their journey to Midland, and how the Regent had tried to have them killed on the way. By the time he finished, it was growing dark, and some werewolves lit torches. A few brought crystal lanterns.

The majority seemed to believe him and didn't think he was a murderer. Enrico thanked him, the first words he'd spoken to Remus, and told Sébastien to get up there. Remus got down and tried to give him an encouraging look. Like he owned the place, Sébastien clambered up onto the cracked plinth. As Remus stood at the front of the crowd to one side, a werewolf nudged him and handed him a water skin to drink.

Sébastien looked small on the plinth as several expressions turned to dislike, and Enrico demanded him to explain his hate.

"We also don't like fairies who think owning their own is okay," shouted someone.

"I don't own a fairy. As you can see, Remus is free, and I never had a slave beforehand despite living in a court filled with slave owners. As for you, there was a time when I hated you. My family was never keen on werewolves, and I was more neutral as a child. There was an incident in the north where a few werewolves and fairies died. Then there was one with my family members. When I learned my oldest brother, Enzo, and my Mother, Margot, had been killed by a werewolf, which I'm sure everyone knows about, I did hate you. I was fourteen, and I'd just learned that two of my family had been violently murdered. The grief was like a knife to the rest of us. I would have gone on that trip if my Mother hadn't told me to stay home and practice with my tutor since my work hadn't been up to par lately."

She'd unknowingly saved his life.

Sébastien remained upright with a neutral expression even though bringing up such memories couldn't have been easy.

"The whole court viewed you as savage beasts. How could I have felt differently at fourteen after attending the funeral of two loved ones? We couldn't change what had been done, and Father wanted someone to punish. Only one werewolf from that day lived, and imprisoning him wasn't enough. He blamed Remus's Father, King Giorgio. He blamed all of Rowland, and the tensions didn't ease since King Giorgio refused to try to block you off in South Sea or command you too much."

"Damn right," one muttered.

"Now, I see that King Giorgio was right. He was not your King, and it was not his right to control you or treat you like potential, dangerous criminals. You are not responsible for the actions of a few. As time went on, I started to feel differently."

"Why are we listening to this shit?" A werewolf shoved aside others and worked his way to the front. "This guy would laugh if you all dropped dead where you stood, and you're letting him speak?"

"He has the right since he's with Remus," said Enrico. "It costs nothing to listen."

It was easy to guess who the speaker was. Pietro bared his fangs at Enrico before stepping into the open space around the plinth. "I believe Remus, and I can see why he's with Sébastien. He needed help after being sold, and he couldn't have left Soleil and reclaimed Rowland on his own. Or at least not easily. He took what he could get. I say we help Remus take his rightful throne. He's done nothing wrong to us, and his Father stood up to King Jean for us. We can tell this milksop to fuck off. Soleil would see us all dead, including him."

"No, I wouldn't," said Sébastien. "I'm not my Uncle, and I can think for myself no matter what the majority around me at court feel."

Enrico had to be nearly eight feet, and Pietro wasn't much shorter. He jumped up onto the plinth and landed lightly on all fours. Remus had to force himself to stand there. Sébastien had said he needed to do this on his own, and he was right. Remus intervening wouldn't help much. He'd already vouched for the Prince's character, and he had to convince them on his own now.

It was still hard to watch Pietro's predatory stance as he eyed the Prince who didn't quite reach six feet. In a hand-to-hand fight, Sébastien's speed wouldn't help, and the werewolf would destroy him.

"Get down," someone said. "At least let him speak. You can't fight anyone when they come here in peace."

"There's no rules about where I stand." Pietro pointed a claw at Sébastien. "Do you really expect us to believe you suddenly woke up one day and decided you didn't hate us anymore?"

"No, I don't." Sébastien hadn't backed up or flinched. "It was a gradual change of heart as I grew older and stopped letting the views of others influence me entirely. Hating an entire type of being wasn't doing anything, and it never has."

"Explain why I never heard about your change of heart," demanded Pietro. The last few words rippled with a faint growl in the back of his throat. "Travelers and people come here. We have traders, collectors, or drifters passing through. A few werewolves are friends with fairies. It might take a while to get news, but it gets here eventually. I've never heard anything good about you. You and the Regent still wanted Soleil to be free of us even after the war was over. Stepping foot into your Kingdom could be a death sentence."

"I lived in a den of people who hate you, including my Uncle," stated Sébastien. "Of course, I was influenced until I grew older and thought for myself. I wouldn't openly tell others there how I felt."

"Why did you never try to get Vemer released? Oh, wait, you probably don't even know that name."

"I do. He was there the day my Mother and brother were killed, and he didn't touch either of them."

"Then why is he still in prison?"

"Who do you think has more control? Me or the Regent?"

"A Crown Prince has influence. You could have tried. I doubt you did."

"No, I never said anything to the Regent about releasing him. Showing that I had such a vastly different view than him on a touchy topic wouldn't have gone well for me. In fact, showing compassion around my Uncle about anyone is often never a good idea. However, I did let Vemer loose to kill a room full of courtiers since he asked."

Remus had left that out so Sébastien would have that up his sleeve. Pietro paused as several blinked and started murmuring. Apparently, that news hadn't reached South Sea, and while the pup, Zayd knew, he was in Midland.

"What do you mean?" asked Enrico.

"The Regent allowed a trainer to take Vemer as entertainment, and when they acquired a werewolf pup, they came to our Palace one day. The pup had quite a long act, and some left, not wanting to see it. Even if the people hate werewolves, not all want to see a child forced to do tricks and dance for ages on end. I made it seem like I was going to bed with Remus, waited a bit, and snuck back down with him. Vemer was secured in a room, and the handlers had left him unattended because he couldn't get loose on his own. They didn't think anyone would free him."

The crowd grew a little tighter as everyone eagerly listened. Sébastien explained that he'd spoken to the werewolf and learned what happened that day. The three werewolves hadn't attacked out of malice. They'd been drugged with something unknown to the general populace, and whoever had done it, knew how long the drug needed to kick in.

Breakfast had been served before they arrived, and once the werewolves were on the docks, the change had kicked in. It was unknown why exactly they had been poisoned, but it was likely someone on the ship from Rowland wanted them to die and make the werewolves look worse. Perhaps they'd been hoping to spark a war to wipe them out. It was unlikely the Regent had plotted it since he had no idea three werewolves would come from Rowland or other important details, like which ship they would take.

After Vemer told his story, he wanted to be released so he could die fighting and get some form of vengeance for his dead mate and brother. Since the remaining courtiers had slaves that they abused and approved of slavery, a vile practice in Sébastien's eyes, it'd be like sentencing criminals to death.

He offered Vemer a way out and was refused. Vemer also wanted to rescue the wolf pup, something the Prince might not have been able to do since he was more guarded and considered quite valuable.

His description of the following bloodbath was basic and painted the picture well enough. Remus certainly hadn't forgotten that either.

The werewolves seemed to respect Vemer's decision, and rumbles of his name flowed through the crowd. Some looked up and lifted their palms even though Vemer was no longer alive to accept the action.

Pietro snapped his jaws at Sébastien who stonily stared back as though the werewolf were a small dog trying to act tough. "Should have I left him there so he'd be used as entertainment and a laughingstock for the rest of his life? Is that what you wanted for Vemer or the pup who'd lost his entire family?"

"Do you expect us to believe you cared about the slaves or what he wanted? You saw a way to kill him." Pietro turned to the rest as he shifted on the plinth. "He's a liar and a murderer."

"Now hold on." An older werewolf stepped forward and pointed at Pietro. "I knew Vemer many years ago. If Sébastien says he wanted to die fighting to avenge two close to him and save a pup, I can see Vemer wanting that. That's exactly the sort he was, and at his age, he would have preferred to give a child the chance to live. If he killed a bunch of people who owned slaves and approved of such cruelty, then he died a good death instead of wasting away while imprisoned." She thumped her chest, and several others copied the action.

"So we believe the hateful Prince-"

"I believe Vemer," she said slowly. "If the Prince only wanted him dead, he could have paid someone to poison his food. He could have gone in and skewered him while he was chained up. The Regent probably wouldn't have even punished him for that. After all, it'd just be a dead werewolf in the Regent's eyes."

"Do none of you see?" Pietro straightened up. "He wants something. Remus wanted something. Remus took what he could get and deserves his rightful throne. Sébastien's using him to get something he wants. He doesn't deserve his throne. For all I care, Sébastien can suck the Regent's dick and choke on it."

To him, it was merely an insult. To Sébastien, it had to have been like a blow from a mace. The subtle stiffening of his body said enough, and his eyes hardened when Pietro whirled to face him.

"Why don't you go back to your country and try to get support? Leave Remus be. Maybe Soleil will destroy itself in a civil war, and afterward, I'll head over to spit on your graves. It's your Kingdom's fault that I lost a cousin because several fairies ganged up on him in northern Soleil, and I don't know where his body is. Those werewolves didn't even start that altercation."

"I know the rough location of where those werewolves were buried afterward," said Sébastien. "If Soleil was mine, which means I could do what I want, I'd have the bodies properly dug up and sent over so that you may bury them where you wish."

Bullshit." Pietro stood to his full height and came closer to tower over Sébastien who merely looked up at him. The carefully crafted bland expression likely hid a lot, and it didn't change even when Pietro grabbed his flaccid cock and gave it a single tug in his direction, which was a vulgar gesture of absolute disrespect. "You'll conveniently forget if your ass gets the throne."

"Back off," said Enrico. "We've heard his side, and while I don't entirely believe that he holds absolutely no hatred of us, he doesn't even need us in the long run. If Remus chooses to help in return, he can use his army to invade Soleil and aid Sébastien in the end. Whoever wishes to aid Sébastien can follow if they want. As for Remus, that's an issue I do believe we need to-"

"I'm not helping Remus unless he casts off this dead weight."

To Remus's surprise, several suddenly voiced their agreement. It seemed Pietro wasn't without friends despite Enrico being the general leader. Others told Pietro to stop acting like a bully and an arse. The latter group was larger.

Enrico approached the plinth. "I think you've had enough time up there, and if you don't get off, I'll rip you down. Remus's Father refused to bow to King Jean or start trouble with us. We owe his son help in this case so that we may all continue to live in peace and keep the Regent from our land. Quintus is not the man Remus is, and I fear that in the future, if anyone demands he restrict us, he'll do it. He took the throne through treachery, and it's clear he cares more about having power than properly wielding it."

"He's weak!" one shouted.

"Exactly. We didn't fight in the war against Soleil, and King Giorgio never asked us to since we often don't participate in fairy wars, and it would generally lead to more hate against us. Our last leader didn't want to either. Perhaps we should have in that case. For King Giorgio. We can make up for it now by aiding Remus."

A good portion of the crowd agreed. Pietro had gotten down, and he snarled at Enrico.

"I'm never helping a Soleilian."

"It would be a good idea to remember something," said Sébastien. "If the Regent maintains control of Soleil, he will go to war with Rowland and take over. Afterward, he'll come for you next. It doesn't matter if you help Rowland or not. He's coming. He hates your kind, and tripling his land is quite tempting."

"We can defend ourselves without helping Soleilian scum or a Rowland Prince who'd likely kiss your ass if asked," Pietro snarled.

He marched off, and Enrico spoke to the crowd again. "Who would help Remus retake his throne?"

The assent was quite loud.

"Who would help Sébastien take Soleil?"

The assent wasn't as loud. A couple said they didn't want to get into a second war right after the first. Some simply didn't seem willing to potentially die for a Soleilian man. Remus also heard several mention not leaving their family for so long which he could see since plenty had small pups, and a few were old. A trip and a war in Soleil would take far longer.

Plenty of werewolves were elsewhere in South Sea, so when they came, they'd see which way the majority were leaning. Hopefully, that too would sway them into joining.

Enrico said it was settled and didn't berate or make demands of those who didn't want to fight. He asked someone to gather ten of the best runners so they could go, pass the message on, and fetch as many as possible from other parts of South Sea. They were to tell the stories they'd heard and let them decide.

Afterward, he said they'd have a feast that night for Crown Prince Remus as his guest. Both were to be treated with respect.

Depending on how things went, many might decide to join Remus's army with the intent to go home afterward but fight for Sébastien anyway. The amount was rather up in the air at the moment. Either way, Remus was sure they could manage the first part.

Things had gone well enough. Sébastien seemed pleased since the outcome would work for them both.

"I'm sorry more aren't willing to aid you," Remus said once Sébastien came down to stand by him. "I know this is good enough, and we'll have my army later…I'd rather they all see you the way I do."

"Not everyone can when my past appears quite long and bitter toward them."

Enrico approached to speak. They'd have several days to wait since those who intended to fight had to get to the Ruins. Those with children or elderly would need to ensure they were settled in a safe place.

In the meantime, the two could have a little stone building behind Enrico's home. It wasn't much, but they could sleep where it was dry and warm. Food would be available at all times, and if they needed anything, they could ask. If one went down the creek and past the tomb of the Angel Prince, they'd find a small wooden building that was built over the widest, deepest portion of the creek. That was a bathhouse, although anyone was welcome to bathe anywhere.

"Just as long as you do it more downstream. I figure most fairies don't care to strip down with several others around."

"I prefer privacy," said Sébastien. "Where's the werewolf known as the Well Orator?"

"I think he's at La Fine, or near it. The majority left La Fine after the storm, and a few stayed in the area."

"Good. Tell him he's not to come to war. He can travel here if he likes, and he's not to join the group as a whole."

"Do you have a problem with him?" Enrico tilted his head.

"No. Remus and I have a plan, and his popularity is invaluable."