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NIGHT

JESSI DAHLSTROM

CHAPTER I

"There are no heroes; there are only those who take action." was the text on a plaque beneath the imposing stain glass window overlooking the castle hall. I looked up at the gray wolf on the white horse illuminated by moonlight. He used to be the king, and he was my father. His proud blue eyes gleamed at me from above. I am proud I inherited them. My father brought peace among the four sectors of Vrifth, and it is up to me to restore what was lost when he died.

"Anya!" a startling voice pulled me out of my memories, "What on Vrifth are you doing out of bed? If you get on the wrong schedule you will probably be assassinated by a criminal!"

"I know I won't, Magdelyne, because I know you will have none of it." I snickered as my caretaker's speckled fur pricked with frustration.

"Oh sure, get me killed too. Great plan, princess. What are you doing here anyway? Do you want a commoner to take a photograph in your nightrobes?"

I shrugged, "I honestly don't really care what the public thinks of me. I am a wolf too, after all. I just couldn't sleep. I will soon have to control this land and the army, along with all those criminals you are so scared of. What happens if I need to guillotene somebody?"

"Ah, you have the heart of your father. He didn't desire power or riches either." Magdelyne looked up at the glass window. "it is why Badnif--" she stopped and bit her lip.

"--murdered him. You don't need to hide it. He has had four years to fester on it now. Four years to corrupt the entire sector of the day." I sighed. When my father ruled, the day, night, dawn, and twilight all lived in harmony. "The law of entropy leans toward chaos, however. I fear the only way to stop him is to avenge my father. I know it isn't what he would have wanted, but it may be my only option."

Magdelene squeezed my shoulder, "even if it is, it will not happen for a long time yet. Now, to bed!"

"Yes, May." I began to follow her up the stairs when I heard a persistent yelp outside. I turned at the door and perked up my ears.

"Anya! Bed! It's probably a criminal!" Magdelyne scolded.

"Have you no mercy?" I ran for the door, reaching for a bronze harpoon gun I always had holstered on me when I went out alone. I unlatched the large door and pushed it open. The cold air bit through my nightrobe and burrowed into my fur. I hesitated, but I heard more yelping and ran out into the fresh fallen snow that stabbed my bare paws. Magdelyne howled at be but didn't follow. The yelping brought me around the castle and behind The Horse's Breath pub. I rounded the corner and held the harpoon up toward the commotion. A pair of adolescent pups not much younger than me were attacking a red wolf with fur spattered in colour.

"Hey! You kids go home before you're under the guillotine!" I yelled, the harpoon steadily pointed straight at the taller of them.

"Who do you think you are, Princess Anya or something? Who are you to scold us with those dreadful nightrobes on?" the other spat.

"Poor uneducated fools!" I lifted the robe with my free paw to show a brand on my right shin: a line with two slashes, the double dagger crest, and underneath a symbol representing the ancient alpha mark.

"Holy shit, she IS the princess!" the taller screamed.

The other dropped on his knee, "Please, forgive us! We were only kidding!"

The red wolf looked at me with violet pleading eyes.

I motioned with my harpoon, "You get out of here while you can still get away with it."

"Thank you so much, princess!" they shouted, running into the darkness. I pointed the harpoon at the red wolf. "You yield the cross of the Dawn on your shoulder. Why are you in the middle of the Night sector?"

The wolf staggered back, raising his hands, "Please! I meant no harm! I was chased out of my home by the daylight! Badnif sent his men after me, saying the sciences are heresy and only cause rioting! I'm innocent! Really!"

I didn't drop my weapon, "The Daylight chased you out? Why were they in the Dawn sector?"

"I told you, driving wolves like me out! Badnif is insane! He says that if people follow him they will be guaranteed riches for basically becoming nothings, wiping their identities and following him." he shivered, holding his fluffy tail between his legs.

"So you were chased here for being disloyal. What is your profession?"

He bowed his head, "My name is Dachlicht. I am an astronomer."

I lowered my harpoon, "Your clothes are tattered; I can tell you have been through a lot. Do you have a place to stay?"

Dachlicht plucked some fur from his tail, "No."

"You may take refuge in the castle for the night. I will find a place you can stay."

Dachlicht's ears perked up, "Really? It may take a long time to repay you."

I turned and beckoned toward the castle, "I do not value riches. Please, take care of yourself."

"Thank you so much, my lady." Dachlicht bounced after me.

#

I couldn't see far. The fog was thick and snowflakes spun around me. My long unpigmented hair whipped in my face from the wind. I saw a shadow in the fog. I called out to it, but I couldn't hear myself over the storm. I ran toward it, but the snow slowed me down drastically. I couldn't let the figure freeze. I yelled. I screamed at it. "Father!"

Cold water hit me in the face. I sat up in my bed. "I was screaming again." I looked at Magdelyne who seemed concerned with my character.

"These nightmares scare me, Anya. What if you have a heart attack in your sleep?" she gave me a towel so I could pat my fur dry.

"You worry too much." I picked myself up and scavenged the floor for some clothing. I grabbed a plated dress and threw it on before grabbing a fur coat and boots.

"What of your criminal you brought home last night? I'm sure he's kept his word to meet you for a morning meal, yes?" Magdelyne raised her brow skeptically.

"Well I'm sure it will determine if he is a criminal or not then, won't it?" I looked at the clock in my chamber. The bioluminescent dial pointed up.

"It doesn't matter what he does, he is from the Dawn sector and therefore probably has the poison of Badnif in his veins messing with his head."

"You are too gullible for my own good."

#

When we arrived at the dining quarters sure enough, we spotted a crumpled stovepipe hat peeking above the commoners gathered at the tables. He didn't notice us when we walked up behind him, and we were able to stand behind him for a few moments before he finally dropped his food and stood up clumsily.

"Princess Anya! I'm so sorry for being so ditzy! This meal was just so good I--"

"No matter." I cut him off, "you were supposed to wait for me to show up before you were served."

"I did wait, you just didn't show up when I was served. It isn't like I wasn't waiting." Dachlicht smiled innocently.

Magdelyne whispered to me quietly, "Told ya he was no good, playing games with the princess like that!"

"Hey, nonny nonny now, he's clearly innocent. You must remember that the Dawn sector is an entirely different culture than we have." I scolded.

"I didn't cause too much trouble, did I?" Dachlicht pointed his toes inward.

"No, it's alright. My caretaker is just a worm." I patted his shoulder.

He dropped an ear, "But she is clearly a wolf."

I laughed and sat down. A servant with shaggy fur plopped a plate of fried hawk in front of me. I tossed him a coin, and he bowed and left. It is common to hunt and eat birds in this area, which is what the harpoon gun I have is mainly for. I have only shot birds. I have never shot a wolf with it. That might change soon.

"Mr. Dachlicht sir,"

"Dr. Dachlicht" he corrected me.

"--Dr. Dachlicht than." I continued, "I know of an abandoned house you can stay in. It just needs some tyding but it is a comfortable cottage home."

Dachlicht's tail wagged, "Thank you so much! You have been most kind." He bowed, his hat falling onto the floor.

"Before you move in, however, I would like to make your home the Night and offer you a tour of the city."

"Oh! That sounds fun! I am excited!" he bounced giddily.

Magdelyne was still standing in her place, looking very unamused. I looked at her, and back at Dachlicht, motioning them to sit and eat. Neither moved. "Please eat." I commanded.

Magdelyne grabbed Dachlicht's plate and walked out, saying behind her: "I will eat away from the criminal, and be sure to test this food for any suspicious forms of poison for you."

I shook my head, pushing the rest of my hawk toward Dachlicht. "I'm not sure what you typically eat in the Dawn, but I hope this will suffice. Hawk isn't common around here, so get used to owl jerky."

Dachlicht sniffed at a wing and carefully bit into it, muttering to himself, "Do owls have that many seizures?"

End Chapter 1