Grand Game 299: The Responsibilities of an Alpha (Patreon)

Head down, and with my hands in my pocket, I left the safe zone at a fast walk. Anriq was my last bit of unfinished business in the city, and once I’d seen to him, I would be free to return to the valley and shepherd the dire wolves to safety.

The streets of the plague quarter were as deserted as I’d come to expect, and no one accosted me as I made my way to the saltmarsh district. Pausing on its watery banks, I cracked open an enchantment crystal.

You have activated a single-use enchantment, casting a ward of disease protection around yourself. For the next 4 hours, you will be shielded from tier 6 and lower infections.

Right, I thought, wading into the marsh, let’s hope this visit goes better than the last one.

✵ ✵ ✵

I found Anriq exactly where he said to meet. He was asleep in the hollow beneath the tree, and at my approach, I sensed him wake.

“You’re sleeping here?” I asked in surprise as he emerged from his hidey-hole.

The werewolf rubbed eyes still heavy with sleep. “You came back,” he said, his voice dull.

“Of course I did,” I said. “Why? Did you think I wouldn’t?”

Anriq ignored the question. “I suppose you’re here for Dathe?”

I stared at him, nonplussed by his reaction. The youth was a wreck. He still wore the sealskin robe I’d given him—now tattered and torn—but his boots were missing, his hair was unkempt, and his beard was overgrown.

“How are you?” I asked, deciding to back up the conversation a bit.

“Terrible,” he replied listlessly. His eyes bore into mine, and though he did not voice it, I thought I could read the question in his eyes: how could I not be when you left me here to rot?

I winced. I had abandoned Anriq in the marsh, even if it had been with the best of intentions and his idea to begin with. And while it had only been four days since I’d gone, four days in the saltmarsh could feel like a lifetime. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

The werewolf scratched beneath an armpit and glared up at the sky. “What time is it even?”

“Close to midnight,” I replied.

“You’re here for Dathe?” he asked again.

“No.”

The werewolf said nothing, just stood with arms hanging loosely and staring at me with lifeless eyes.

I sighed. “I’m here for you.”

“Oh?”

“It’s time we got you out.”

A spark lit in Anriq’s eyes, but I couldn’t tell if it was born of anger or hope.

“Like you did the last time?”

Anger then. I shook my head. “I have a plan.”

Once more, Anriq said nothing, but I waited him out this time.

“Go on then,” he said finally. “Tell me.”

I shook my head. “Not until you clean up first and eat something.” I threw him the bag I had brought.

You have lost 1 cache of advanced items.

“What’s this?” Anriq asked, catching it by reflex.

“Your new gear. Now go. Get dressed and eat.”

✵ ✵ ✵

It took the werewolf an hour.

I waited patiently the entire time, my thoughts morose. More and more, I was beginning to realize leadership was not without some heavy burdens. My first instinct had been to yell at Anriq, to ask him what the hell was wrong with him, and if it were anyone else, I probably would’ve.

But I was honor-bound to protect the young werewolf.

It was my duty as an alpha and a scion of House Wolf, a duty I had accepted when I allowed him to follow me. I sighed. And it was a duty I would continue to fail at—as I had with Saya and the dire wolves—if I could not provide him with a safe haven.

Once more, I felt my goals shift.

Cleansing the hidden sector and fortifying it took priority. It would become not just Anriq’s home but the wolves and Cara’s. Mine too.

But I couldn’t afford to ignore my promise to Loken’s envoy either. Establishing a faction would allow me to claim not just the valley—assuming I could jump through all the necessary hoops—but also the hidden sector once I’d rid it of the void tree.

Still so much to do, I mused. At this rate, I was never going to get around to searching for Ceruvax.

“I’m ready,” Anriq said, interrupting my thoughts as he rejoined me.

I took a long look at the werewolf. Anriq had cleaned himself up and had equipped the armor and other gear I’d brought, although he didn’t appear comfortable wearing them.

“Much better,” I said. “Everything fit?”

In response, Anriq tugged at his chainmail vest. The finely-woven steel mesh covered him from head to foot, leaving only his taloned fingertips and face exposed.

The chainmail was not regular armor, of course, but had been especially designed for shapeshifters. It would expand and contract as needed when Anriq shifted, not losing integrity in the process.

“It’s too… tight,” he complained. “And why do I even need it?”

I did not roll my eyes. “We discussed this, didn’t we? I know your pack—former pack—doesn’t like using armor and weapons, but your rampager Class already has the skills for both.” I glared at him. “And it’s foolish leaving them undeveloped.”

“You expect me to run around the saltmarsh wearing all this?” he protested. “It will slow me down unnecessarily, and besides, there is—”

“No,” I said patiently. “Like I told you, we’re leaving.”

“Huh-uh.”

He still didn’t believe me. “Swing that axe,” I said, ignoring his skepticism. “Let’s see if you’re any good with it.”

“And hit what?” he asked, glancing at the nearby tree. “You want me to whack that?”

Tugging a tuft of marsh reeds free from the water, I squashed them together in a ball and flung it aloft. “Hit this rather.”

Anriq swung the big two-handed axe I’d bought him. Once. Twice. Thrice. Each blow was blisteringly fast, but each blow also missed the reed ball by miles.

I sighed. “Right, looks like you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you.”

He scowled at me. “So what, you’re going to train me now?”

I shook my head. “I wish I could, but I can’t. You’re going to have to tackle the dungeon by yourself.”

“You’re abandoning me then,” he accused. “Why am I not surprised? Just like the last— Wait. What dungeon?”

“The guardian tower,” I replied mildly.

“That’s a public dungeon in the plague quarter, right? Why would I ever go there?”

“Because it’s the only way you’re going to get to the arctic wolves.”

“Arctic wolves?” the youth repeated, and for the first time, something other than anger and scorn filled his voice. “Are they your pack?” he whispered.

“They are.”

A frown lit his face as he put two and two together. “And you make them live in a dungeon?”

“Not by choice,” I said stiffly. “The guardian tower is unusual. The third level—which is where you’ll be going—is huge. You could wander there for years and still not explore its entirety.”

“So, you’re sending me to your pack?” Anriq asked, still full of disbelief.

I nodded.

“But you’re not coming yourself?”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” he demanded.

“It’s going to take you weeks to reach the arctic wolves.”

“So what? You have matters more important than your pack to attend to?” he asked, sarcasm back in full force.

“Unfortunately, yes,” I replied, my own voice bland. “There is another pack I must usher to safety.”

Renewed consternation flickered across Anriq’s face.

I smiled at his confusion. “Make yourself comfortable. I have a lot to tell you, and there is little time…”

✵ ✵ ✵

An hour later, I finished filling Anriq in.

I’d told him about  Snow, the dire wolves, and the trouble in the valley, leaving out little except for the existence of the hidden sector. That no one needed to know about yet.

“So, you have a choice, Anriq,” I said when I was done. “You can wait in the saltmarsh until I return from my errand, or you can tackle the guardian tower yourself and escape Nexus on your own.”

I’d spent the better part of the past hour detailing the layout of the dungeon and relaying potential strategies for Anriq to get through the first two sectors and reach the arctic wolves.

“You spent an entire year on that tundra?” Anriq asked, still flummoxed by that aspect of my tale. “That’s how you became the arctic wolves’ alpha?”

“Essentially, yes,” I said, not elaborating.

“And you’re sure I can find the pack in—what did you say?—a few weeks?”

“I’m not. That’s why I’ve provided you with winter gear and enough food to survive for months on the tundra. What I am sure of, though, is that Snow and the others will find you. When I get there, I will direct the pack to look for you. If you stick to the markers I mentioned, we will find you easily enough.”

“You still haven’t told me how you will get there before me,” he pointed out.

“And I won’t,” I replied calmly. “Us being pack does not mean I will share everything with you. There are many things I will not tell you, both for your own good and the safety of the others who depend on me. You understand?”

Surprisingly, he nodded.

“Good. So what will it be?”

Anriq hefted his axe and rose to his feet. “Well, I’m not staying here, that’s for sure.”

✵ ✵ ✵

This time around, with darkness for cover and me scouting the way, Anriq and I reached the entrance of the guardian tower without incident.

The werewolf was as prepared for his dungeon dive as I could make him. I had loaded him up with a small cache of enchantments and other supplies—everything I’d deemed necessary to see him past the savants, ratmen, and tundra.

But in the end, it would depend on Anriq himself.

“You ready?” I asked as we stood outside the portal.

His gaze fixed on the glowing gateway, Anriq nodded. “I think I am.”

“I hope you don’t think this means I’m abandoning you again,” I said quietly.

He glanced at me. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

I inclined my head in acknowledgment of his apology and clasped his hand. “Good luck. I’ll see you on the other side.”

“Wait,” Anriq said before I could turn around to go. Reaching into his pocket, he held out something to me. “Take it.”

I studied the item in his hand. It was a key—Dathe’s key.

“Why?”

“Just in case I don’t make it.”

I shook my head. “You’ll make it. Keep the key, and if you still feel like giving it to me when we meet on the tundra, then I’ll gladly accept.”

Anriq straightened, my refusal fueling his confidence and increasing his determination just as I had hoped. “See you in the tundra, then.” Turning around, he ducked into the portal.

✵ ✵ ✵

After seeing Anriq off, I hurried back to the Nexus teleportation platform and, despite the lateness of the hour, found it still busy.

I hurried onto the dais and closed my right hand around my left without pulling up my sleeve to expose the aetherstone bracelet. My tasks were completed, and it was time to go.

Finding the right gem, I willed myself to its stored location.

Aetherstone bracelet activated. Connection to ley line network formed. Selected exit: safe zone of sector 12,560.

Transfer commencing…

…

…

Passage completed!

Leaving sector 1. Entering sector 12,560 of the Forever Kingdom.