Chapter 41: The Lead Wolf
On the fourth day after Gray Ear arrived, Violet began training the Self-Defense Force on how to fight alongside wolves. She stood on the training ground, Gray Ear lying at her feet. Fifty members of the Self-Defense Force stood before her, their eyes fixed on Gray Ear. Most of them had never seen a wolf obey human commands. Much less seen a wolf lie at a woman's feet.
"When the beast tide comes, the wolves charge first. People follow behind. Wolves kill the first row. People kill the second. Don't take the wolves' work, and don't let the wolves take yours." Violet's voice wasn't loud, but every person heard it.
"How do people coordinate with wolves?" Finn raised his hand.
"When the wolves charge, people spread to both sides. The wolves tear an opening in the beast horde. People charge in through that opening."
"Will the wolves listen to us?"
"The wolves won't listen to you. The wolves listen to me. If I tell them to charge, they charge. If I tell you to charge, you charge."
A young hunter raised his hand. Ironwood. His name was Tor. Violet knew him. He worked as an apprentice in the forge. Missing two fingers on his left hand. "What if you're killed? Who do the wolves listen to then?"
Violet looked at him. "I won't be killed."
"In war, nothing is certain."
"What's uncertain doesn't need thinking about. Thinking won't help anyway."
Tor lowered his hand.
Training began. Violet crouched down and cupped Gray Ear's head in both hands. Touched her nose to his. "Gray Ear. Charge." Her voice was very soft. Gray Ear's ears swiveled. He didn't move. "Charge." Gray Ear stood and took two steps forward. Stopped. Looked back at her. "Charge again." Gray Ear took two more steps. Stopped again.
"He's not obeying." Ak said. He stood at the edge of the training ground holding Black Stone's lead. Ulric had sent him to bring Black Stone and train together.
"It's not that he's not obeying. He doesn't understand what I want him to charge at." Violet walked to the other end of the training ground and picked up a straw target from the ground. Held it in her hand. "Gray Ear. Charge." Gray Ear saw the straw target in her hand. His ears stood up. "Charge." Gray Ear charged. Not walking. Running. Four legs stretched out. His gray-white fur flared in the wind like a bolt of lightning. He bit down on the straw target, held it in his mouth, and wagged his tail twice.
Violet patted his head. "Good."
Ak stood at the edge of the field. His mouth fell open. "He really obeys you."
"He obeys the word 'charge.' Not me."
Ak didn't understand. But he nodded.
In the afternoon, Violet divided the Self-Defense Force into five squads. Ten people per squad. One wolf assigned to each. The wolves were borrowed from the Ice Wolf Clan camp. Ulric had picked them personally. All of them trained. All of them battle-tested. All of them had seen blood. Gray Ear stayed with Violet. Not assigned to any squad.
"I'm the commander. Gray Ear stays with me. I send him where I need him. Wherever a squad needs help, a wolf appears."
Finn raised his hand. "What if there's no time?"
"If there's no time, you kill on your own."
Finn lowered his hand.
Night. Violet sat on the steps outside her small house. Gray Ear lay at her feet. Moon Silver lay in her palm. Moon Silver was a little bigger today. Fur denser. Eyes still not open, but it could now crawl out of the eggshell on its own. It crawled onto her finger, clasped it with its paws, and opened its mouth to gnaw on her nail.
"No teeth. Can't gnaw through." Violet said. Moon Silver ignored her and kept gnawing.
Leon walked over and sat beside her. In his hands he held a wooden board. Already planed. The edges and corners smoothed round.
"The nest is finished." He placed the board on the ground. A layer of dried grass spread over it. A piece of soft leather over the grass. "Touch it. See if it's soft."
Violet touched it. Soft. She placed Moon Silver inside. Moon Silver crawled a circle across the soft leather. Found a corner. Curled up. Tail draped over its nose. Asleep.
"It likes it." Violet said.
"Good that it likes it."
The two of them sat watching Moon Silver sleep. Gray Ear's ears swiveled. He stood and walked beside the nest. Sniffed Moon Silver. Lay back down.
"He's smelling it. Memorizing the scent." Leon said.
"Ulric said wolves recognize by scent."
"Gray Rock people recognize by scent too. People can't smell as far as wolves. But once you've smelled something, you don't forget it." Leon paused. "Your scent. I smelled it the very first day. In Thornveil Gorge. When you walked out from behind that rock. The wind carried your scent over. The smell of blood. Earth. And something that was yours to begin with."
Violet's fingers tightened. "What smell?"
"Can't describe it. Not something you put on. Just you."
Wind blew through the gorge and scattered Leon's words. Violet lowered her head and looked at Moon Silver. It turned over in its nest. Small paws kicked the air. She reached out and pulled the soft leather up a little. Covered its belly.
"Leon."
"Yes."
"That scent you smelled. Can you still smell it now?"
"I can."
"Has it changed?"
"It hasn't changed. Still that same scent."
Violet said nothing. She placed her finger on Moon Silver's back and felt that small body rise and fall.
In the distance, the sound of stones being moved from the east side of the city stopped. The wall was capped.
"Gray Bone said he wants you to come look at the wall tomorrow." Leon said.
"Look at what?"
"See if it's built straight."
"What if it's crooked?"
"Tear it down and rebuild it."
The corner of Violet's mouth curved. Not a smile. Something fainter than a smile.
"Let them build it. Crooked or not, it's still Water City's wall." She stood and carried Moon Silver's nest into the house. Placed it beside her pillow. Gray Ear followed and lay down in the doorway.
Leon stood outside the door. "Close the door."
She closed the door.
In the darkness, Moon Silver turned over in its nest. Gray Ear's tail swept once across the floor. The eggshell's light dimmed. She lay down and closed her eyes. Tomorrow look at the city wall. The day after continue training. The day after that—
The beast tide was coming soon.
She pressed her hand to her chest and felt her own heartbeat. One beat after another. Very steady.
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End of Chapter Forty-One
She taught the Self-Defense Force how to use wolves. Gray Ear obeys her. The Ice Wolf Clan's wolves obey her too. Ak stood at the edge of the field and watched all day. Still didn't understand. Whether the wolves obey the word "charge" or obey the person. Fifty people divided into five squads. Each squad assigned one wolf. She said she is the commander. The wolves follow her. Wherever a squad needs help, a wolf appears. Finn asked, "What if there's no time?" She said, "Then kill on your own." That night Leon brought the finished nest. Moon Silver slept inside. Tail draped over its nose. He said her scent hasn't changed from the very first day. She didn't answer. The wall is capped. Tomorrow look at the city wall. The beast tide is coming soon.