The Wolf Warriors

By Kayla Larson

The gods are at war, The land of Argethlam is beset by hard times, and Atreyavahl is near collapse because of the assassination of their Queen Viesha a century before. A prophecy tells that the god of darkness, Ardeth Anubace’s Black Wolf will bring the fall of the Inner Kingdom and then Argethlam, leading the world into Ardeth’s rule. But Ramos Ra, the Sire-God, created his own champion, the White Wolf to defeat the Black Wolf and purge the land of Ardeth’s curse.

Mercenary daemon Debello has wandered Argethlam for 100 years with amnesia. He searches for the only clue to his past, a daemon named Vaulx. Once pieces start to come together, Debello soon realizes his forgotten memories were to a life hidden in the Inner Kingdom of Atreyavahl. And that he may indeed be one of the Wolves of the prophecy. But which one? Ardeth’s Black Wolf, a paragon of death and destruction? Or Ra’s White Wolf, the only hope Debello’s world has? Is Debello Life...or Death?

Author Kayla Larson brings a new world to stark life surrounded by ever present death in her debut novel and the first in a series. THE WOLF WARRIORS from Pro Se Productions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pro Se Press
• Release date: Oct 10, 2014

Book preview

THE WOLF WARRIORS

by Kayla Larson

A Pro Se Press Publication

This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters in this publication are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. No part or whole of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing of the publisher.

The Wolf Warriors

Copyright © 2014 Kayla Larson

All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For my family.

Thanks Mom and Sis for pushing me to keep going for it.

Thanks Dad for staying up late with me at times listening to a writer’s rambles about a world you might not understand, yet was always eager to help.

And to Gramps and Granny for all the early morning breakfasts that inspired some unique ideas.

Prologue

It was a tedious process. Almost grueling really. Collecting Daemon’s Bane sap took time, but the reward was worth it. For Layna, it provided an advantage for her and her hometown, Maire, against those who would wish them harm.

Even though the ancient wars between the two races had long since ended, and now humans and daemons lived together peacefully within all of Argethlam, the era of today was still a struggle for survival. Evil came in all forms, whether daemon or human or beast.

Daemon’s Bane was a beautiful flower, but it contained sap that was deadly to daemons. History books told stories of how the flower was almost brought to extinction because humans picked so much to help even the war against their brethren race, who were faster, stronger, and healed much more quickly than humans. Now the flower was strictly protected under the Committee and Justicrats. Daemon’s Bane was rare, but Layna had managed to grow some out in the woodland plains around Maire. Layna had a different technique to collect sap from the flower without destroying it. But the process was slow, and only gave her a little amount.

It was fine by her. Layna never had to use Daemon’s Bane before, and hopefully it would remain that way. Maire was protected by a good group of human and daemon guards and the community was close-knit. The town fended and provided for itself most of the time.

She pocketed the tiny vial of Daemon’s Bane she had managed to get. She patted the flower softly, the Anima Gem on her wristband jingling lightly. With long, vibrant purple petals and light red tips and a yellow base, it stood out against most wildflowers. Its stem had thorns and the leaves were almost feather-like.

The young woman stood up, and after kneeling for so long with the flowers had to take a moment to stretch her legs. Layna knew she better be heading back to town. It would be dark soon and they would be worrying. She was known as the Priestess of Maire. The name came from her rare ability to use magic. And though magic was only spiritual energy taking a physical form, much like how daemons change from their true form to animal form, humans were not known to be able to use magic at all. Her ability had been passed down through her mother and grandmother. The Anima Gem was a part of it as well, but because her family had been killed, she didn't understand why. She had taken her mother’s place at only twelve years old, and now six years later she was one of the leaders of Maire.

Layna headed down the ridge where her horse was. The old sorrel mare was looking toward town with pricked ears. Layna looked to the distance toward Maire, and though it was hard to make out, it looked as if smoke was rising into the dimming sky. She stopped in mid step, cupping her hands over her eyebrows so she could try to make it out.

What is going on?

There was a stag running toward her at high speed, coming off the caravan roads into the thin woodlands. She soon realized it was a daemon she knew very well from town in his animal form. Her horse tossed its head, nickering from the fast approaching daemon.

Thaelk? What’s going on? Layna asked as the stag skidded to a halt next to her.

I was sent by Jerec! A posse of daemons have attacked Maire! They’ve killed people, including Knoric and Moira!

What?!

They took Silva! Jerec tried to stop them but—

Which way are they going? Layna asked, already on her horse and galloping out toward the town.

Thaelk stayed at her fast pace easily in his stag form. They took the caravan trails heading toward Aredell! But you can’t go after them alone!

There’s no time. You go help the others, Thaelk!

You stubborn girl! Fine, but I will send others to help you!

Thaelk then left her horse’s side to head back toward Maire. Layna spurred her horse into a faster gallop, avoiding her burning hometown to take the roads southeast toward the canyon city. She had no idea how she was going to get Silva back. She only had her sword and a rifle on her. She didn’t have time to use the very little Daemon’s Bane that was on her. But she wasn’t about to let them take her good friend.

She saw them up ahead. Silva was knocked out and hanging limp over one of the daemons’ shoulder. There were only two of them, so Layna knew that the rest of them had to still be in Maire, responsible for all the chaos she could hear in the distance.

As her horse was galloping toward them, Layna unslung the rifle from her shoulder and aimed. The daemons turned around, obviously hearing the horse approaching. Layna aimed her shot carefully and fired. The bullet hit home in the chest of the male daemon carrying Silva. A shot like that would have killed a human easily, but daemons were much tougher than that.

The other daemon was quick to react. He had black hair and wore a red duster with his chest bare underneath. He dodged Layna’s shot as her horse started to slow down. He was quick to transform into his animal form and lunged.

Layna didn’t have time to react as a black wolf knocked her from the horse. They crashed to the ground, with Layna getting the most damage. The only thing keeping the large black wolf from tearing her throat out was her rifle. The jaws were snapping on the barrel, and he tried to get to her face.

You don’t know who you are messing with, whelp! the wolf daemon snarled.

Let Silva go!

She wasn’t about to show this killer any fear. She grabbed at her hidden dagger on her belt since she lost her sword in the fall off the horse. The Anima Gem was aglow with a heavenly light on her wrist, and in turn made the dagger sparkle as well. She stabbed the blade into the daemon’s neck before he could overpower her.

The black wolf howled, receiving a nasty shock from the magic. It was enough to make him rear up and back off. The other daemon that had Silva didn’t hesitate, and came for her with a sword ready. Silva was unconscious on the ground.

Layna scooted back along the ground, trying to aim her rifle at him. The roaring of an engine caught their attention, but Layna knew what it was before she even saw it. Jerec was on his way in the rover. The dune buggy-like vehicle sped for them, throwing up a wall of dust in its wake.

The daemon in his black wolf form turned to his partner. Drex, get the girl and go! I’ll catch up once I take care of these pests!

You got it.

Layna jumped to her feet. Drex was quick to snatch up the unconscious teenager and was making a run for it. With a daemon’s speed, it was pretty fast.

You’re a special one, aren’t you girl? the wolf asked her. There was blood seeping from a hole in his neck from her dagger, but it had already started to heal.

Who are you? Layna asked. What are doing with Silva?!

The red wind engulfed him and in seconds the daemon was back in his true form. He unholstered a black pistol and aimed it at the oncoming vehicle. Layna yelled at Jerec to get down, but the shots were already fired.

She saw her friend hunker down in the vehicle, but one tire was blown, and soon the rover went veering off the road until it slammed into a tree. The daemon in the red duster cackled at his simple victory. He aimed the gun at Layna.

It would be such a waste to pull the trigger. Don’t make me regret it, he said, lightly touching the wound on his neck.

He holstered the gun, and again transformed into his wolf form. The black wolf peered at her with his red violet eyes before lifting his head and howling. Layna knew he had to have been calling for the rest of his gang. The daemon then took off in a run after his partner.

Layna watched him go for only a moment, but knew she had to help Jerec. They got away with Silva. Maire was destroyed. Friends and family were lost. Even though she needed to stay and help her people, Layna knew she and Jerec couldn’t stand for this. They had to get Silva back. They had to make them pay for what they did.

Chapter 1

The sense of vertigo that hit Debello was uncanny. His boots were inches away from the edge of the vast cliff. The wind was strong, giving gusts here and there that would whip his hair and clothes around. The sun’s rays were intense, high in the clear sky, casting onto the desert around him and creating rippling heat waves that would rise from the arid land for miles. Mountains and plateaus were a more common sight in this desert region unlike the canyon that Debello looked down into. The only canyon in the Sarheli Desert also provided one of the biggest cities on the continent of Daisis.

The canyon held in its womb, the city of Aredell. The ancient city flourished because of the river. It came from the nearby mountain range to the northwest, cutting through the canyon and the middle of the city, and flowing onward for many more miles. The mile drop down into the canyon was one thing, but seeing the buildings climb up its sides, practically being a part of the canyon themselves, was stunning. There were dirt roads that led down into Aredell, the common road for caravans and travelers.

A small, winged shadow glided along the rocky ground. Debello heard the shrill shriek of a kestrel and slightly smiled. The daemon held out his arm just as the small raptor swooped for him. The kestrel landed with grace, but another rush of wind made it have to pump its wings for balance. Soon it settled and Debello was looking down into the canyon city again.

So? What do you got, Indra?

The female bird of prey had been Debello’s sole companion for a long time. She wasn’t a normal bird, having violet eyes, but she wasn’t a daemon either. Debello didn’t understand why Indra came to him and watched over him, but nonetheless, was grateful for her friendship. It was as though she was sent to him from the gods, because she had been the first to greet him after he was afflicted with amnesia.

He’s definitely been here. I cannot tell if he is still in the city or not though, she told him. Only Debello could hear her. Others only seemed to hear a bird twittering.

His senses were on high alert. It made him uneasy. Then again, this spot always made him feel like this. This was where his amnesia started, almost a century before. He couldn’t recall much before then. He only remembered his name and that he was a daemon. His fighting skills seemed to have instinctively stuck with him as well and were a part of Debello that he neither understand nor questioned. Though he wasn’t much of a people person, Debello had managed to survive up until this point taking mercenary jobs here and there to afford food, shelter and ammunition whenever he needed it. However, no one, neither daemons nor humans, seemed to be able to help him with his search.

His only clue to his past was a daemon named Vaulx. A hundred years later, and now Debello was finally closing in on him. His instincts had always given him a bad feeling about the elusive daemon, and now he was starting to understand why.

He and Indra had just taken a job in the town of Maire to capture Vaulx and his gang for the murder of several villagers and the kidnapping of a young human girl named Silva Gaeld.

It sounded easy enough. Debello was constantly beating down scum of the sort, not just for the money, but simply because it was the right thing to do. His aloof and quiet nature had tagged him as one to not care, but this was not the case. He had a strong sense of justice, and it had helped him win many battles over the years on his journey to discover the truth. He would figure out why Vaulx was his only clue to his past, and then hand him over to the Justicrats for his crimes.

Okay, I’m going in to search for him. Keep a look out above, will ya?

The kestrel nodded. Debello tossed up his arm. Indra took flight into the glaring sky. She would circle above and watch over him. She always did. Debello ground his boot along the edge of the cliff. Pebbles fell into the deep gorge and were lost. He could take the long way…or he could just take a short cut.

Debello took a deep breath, taking in all his senses. He leaped off of the cliff. Falling several feet down, he then used his legs to catch the cliffs and propelled himself even further down with inhuman speed. Debello hit the highest level of the city, and continued to jump from building to building, descending with good speed. Wind caught his silver hair and black clothes in an attempt to slow his fall. Finally, he landed on solid ground in the middle of a smooth, stoned street.

Debello started to walk, getting out of the way of vehicles and people. He felt that his swords and other few items on him weren’t lost in the descent. He was receiving some odd gazes from passing onlookers, probably from his dynamic and out of the ordinary entrance.

The mercenary daemon walked the streets, heading for the bazaar. He took in the scent of the bustling city, and its amazing sights. The market vendors were calling out eagerly to passing citizens. The roads were busy with traffic. Horses and horse-drawn carriages were taking the roads with their riders. And then there were rovers as well, getting to be more and more popular these days. They were simple dune buggy looking vehicles built in many shapes and sizes, and made for all terrain driving. A fairly new machine, the rover was popular for work and long distance travelling.

It would be hard to pick up Vaulx’s scent in the city with so much going on. As Debello paused to decide which street to go down, he saw Indra perch herself on a street lamp beside him. She peered down at him after checking her surroundings. The city had changed so much in just the past century.

Aredell sure has grown a lot in the short one hundred years since I found you.

Yeah, time does that.

Did you have to show off like that by jumping off of the canyon’s cliffs? she asked, chuckling. Surely, the caravan trails would have sufficed.

What? It was faster! Just help me look for Vaulx. Black hair, red violet eyes and wearing a red duster. He turns into a black wolf.

Before Indra could answer him, Debello heard a giggle erupt from behind him. He turned around, noticing the stone wall upon which a young female daemon sat, swaying her legs. She looked like a ten year old human, but daemons aged differently. She was probably around eighty years old, maybe older. She had long gold locks and pink eyes, and wore old clothes. Debello recognized her from Kodin’s group of misfits that lived in Aredell. Her name was Lulu if he remembered correctly.

Still talking to your bird, Debello? Kodin is right, you should hang out with more people.

Indra had landed on his shoulder for a closer look as Debello approached the daemon pup. Kodin’s group of misfits mostly consisted of orphans or runaways of either race, and if Debello recalled, there were also some mixed breeds in his group as well. They acted as vigilantes of the canyon city, protecting those who couldn’t protect themselves and running off criminals.

Lulu, right?

She nodded, smiling. Did ya hear? They are gonna build a statue of Kodin!

Debello rolled his eyes, growling slightly. Lulu started giggling again, her nose wrinkling as she smiled at the older daemon.

Still can’t take a joke I see. Look, I saw the guy you’re looking for. He passed through late yesterday evening. He was talking to some other chump daemon about camping out near Rixx.

Apparently, Debello wasn’t as close as he originally thought. He needed to get going if he was going to catch up. More than likely, Vaulx left his camp near Rixx at dawn this morning, and it was already close to noon now. He was aggravated, but didn’t let it show.

Did he say where he was heading?

Yeah. To Ceeraje, Lulu answered.

He needed to catch up to Vaulx, and fast. That meant lots of running. Luckily, it would be no problem for Debello. He looked to Indra, who nodded knowingly at him. She took flight, heading straight up to rise above the canyon.

You group of misfits keep watch over this city better than I thought. Thanks.

He started walking off, heading for the nearest exit, one of the main caravan trails at the base of the canyon city. Lulu hopped