Maya. Two guardians looked on princess with disbelief in their eyes. “Just for a while. I want to talk.”

“Why can’t we talk with them here?” asked Tenu. “I guarantee theirs discretion.”

“But… maybe I want talk about a private matters?”

“Private? To promote?” asked mercenary. But after second thought he added. “Oh, private matters… well, sure if I have any of my own.” Finished with smile. “And if you want ask me about your problems, there is limited probability I would help. Sorry.”

“And that’s your problem.” Murmured Maya, then added louder. “I insist.”

Tenu said nothing, just wagged his tail, hushing all protests of bodyguards. They went out from Maya’s chamber, leaving her and mercenary alone. Brownfurred was looking on general for longer while in silence, then said.

“I have many question about you. But first one is most important for me. Why are you doing it?”

“As I said: I didn’t ordered them. They wanted to perform that funny parade themselves.”

“Why are you helping me? Why are you executing my uncle’s last will? Why are you fighting with us against the Pack?”

“My lady.” Smiled Tenu. “Those were three separated questions. The answers are totally different. However connected.”

“First one, please.”

“I’m helping you, because that was request of your uncle.” Seeing she wanted interrupt him, he added. “And I’m fulfilling that request, because it is the best for the clan’s purpose.”

“So, now tell me, why have you joined our fight?” she asked.

“Perhaps that you were who joined me.” Smiled general. Then he sat down in front of Maya and started to talk. “Many times I heard that your clan follows Aniu. Of course… numerous pack of the North are following that deity, but you consider yourself as some kind of chosen nation, clan of her beloved children. I think that belief has countless advantages. It encourage you to action, keeps clan in unity and above all else it creates the wolf society I really admire, the gathering of equals and solidary. However your religion had one, yet quite a flaw. It’s fake.” Maya gasped with anger. “Simply – Aniu does not exist. If she were real, I would be the first to bow to her and her laws. However she is just a myth, as well as Shade, Light, Ancient Homeland, White Wolves in the blizzard, Altar of Origin and such a fairytales. But one things in that load of sweet lies is true, even truest than you expect.”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Said Maya.

“It’s the Aim.” Continued Tenu. “I mean the idea that you calls <the Peace of Aniu>, when all wolves of Alaska, maybe all wolves of the world would be united in one clan, with no war, arguments and exploitation of wolf over wolf. The paradise. However I believe… yes, there is one thing I believe. We could be saved this way not someday and somewhere in heaven, but here and now. And if now – tomorrow and not too far. I have a dream where all wolves of world are living in peace. But not peace forced by tyranny of packs, hierarchy and submission, but real peace, based on equality and brotherhood. With no big brothers, of course. In my heaven we all are twins!”

“Sir…” whispered Maya, looking on him with extended pupils. “But… but… you are follower of Aniu. You just repeated in what we all believe.”

“So, you have your answer.” Smiled mercenary. “I want to achieve Talbourne’s dream. I don’t care about Aniu and all the rest of dead ghosts, so I haven’t joined the clan. But I’m faithful to the Aim and that I will give my best to guide you all at least few steps closer.”

“Oh… sir…” whispered brownfurred.

“And there are serious reasons for me to consider you as the best possible leader of clan. Now you know all you wanted.”

“No, not yet.” Protested Maya. “May I have a private question?”

“Of course you may, my princess.” Said Tenu, smiling. “But because I have no private answers, my reply will most likely not satisfying you.”

“Why haven’t you a mate?” she asked. “Or maybe you once have one and…”

“Look on me.” Smiled mercenary, coming closer to her. He stopped just before and looked in her eyes. They were of the same height, however body of general was even more fragile and slim than silhouette of young bitch. “What do you see?”

“You, sir.”

“But what kind of me?” he asked, but seeing she wasn’t following, explained. “I was born in litter of six. I wasn’t the weakest one, of course. Three of my weaker siblings simply died. But I was most impaired from the outliving three. Somehow it happened that my sister died of illness in our pup’s days, so there was just two of us. Strong, handsome and always victorious Solakk and me, as you see – weak, puny and helpless. And it stayed that way. I was just created as one who serve not rule and one who obey and is not obeyed. It took me half a life to change it.”

“That was not an answer on my question.” Noticed Maya.

“It was.” Replied Tenu. “Someday you will understand it.”

“So… let’s try from the other side. Fida and Ama… I guess they love you.”

“O! I’m surprised.” Smiled general.

“You… see it and doing nothing about it?” asked a bit shocked wolfess.

“And what I should do? Order them to love someone else?”

“No…” sighed Maya. “But… for example choose one of them, making at least one happy.”

“And making the second twice unhappy.” Noticed Tenu. “They are twin sisters. Although I have a limited respect for any institution that resembles family, I think that making sisters hate each other is a bit above the rights of simple general.”

“You are cruel.” Said Maya with breaking voice.

“Of course, I am.” Nodded Tenu. “I was raised in a cruel world, you know? It was technically the same Earth that you know, but in the same time it was different, so different from sunny world you grew up in. Our common Aim is to give the world of wolves like you to wolves of my kind. However I learned few things that you still are unaware. I already know that leveling to upper level is impossible. The only solution it to level the life to the poorest and most neglected creature here. Perhaps that world won’t be as sunny as your, but just for sure.”

“You are talking incomprehensible things.” Said Maya finally. “But I believe that except of that slight logic disorder you are good wolf.”

“I have no idea if I’m good or evil. I’m just required.” Smiled Tenu. “So, may I call girls back?” she nodded and Tenu called. “Fida, Ama, you may resume your parade!” When wolvesses entered the chamber, general looked on Maya again. “So, you are going to negotiate with that Steele’s son.” She nodded again. “Good luck. I’m really curious what Ea and Aarre are trying to gain by that.”

“Maybe they really care about the prisoner?” asked Maya. “Whatever the pretences are, creatures sometimes happen to be simply noble.”

“Yeah, I’ll try to remember that.” Smiled Tenu. “But on this particular case I have really promising thoughts…” He paused and continued, looking on sisters. “I’m sorry, but I can’t give you my special guards. You will have to trust my front line soldiers.”

“Do you think that lady Ea prepared it as a trap?” murmured Maya.

“There is so many unknowns.” said mercenary. “Even if the Pack’s HQ really tries to talk, there are many hard-headed fanatics… on both sides. I will order a team to keep an eye on you all the time by the Creek.”

“Thanks sir. I should be going now.” Replied princess.

“…but first you want to say goodbye to Tram?” asked general.

“Well… yes.” Admitted Maya and fur on her neck slightly erected. That is a rough equivalent of flushes among humans.

“Oh, that’s not a problem.” Said Tenu. “At least his plots exclude killing you, so you are quite safe with him.” He didn’t explained what he had on mind, even when Maya insisted.

*

“I’m going on the front.” Said brownfurred, standing before Tram. They were on road down the valley, waiting for Maya’s escort. The morning was clear, yet frosty one.

“God, what a joke!” Said Saba’s son. “In old, good times, guys were going on war and girls staying in home, waiting for them. But you know… the modern times… equality of rights…” he was jesting, yet under those jokes was sounding a tone of disappointment. He hoped to go and negotiate with the Pack.

“I’m not going to fight.” She answered. “I hope those talks will open the possibility of real peace.

“I believe you will do your best.” Said Tram. “But be careful. It’s a front line, after all.”

He bended to net and licked her cheek. It wasn’t a kiss actually, but gesture as close to it as possible. Wolf was observing any motion of Maya’s body, reading if she greeted that with any resistance. There was no resistance, yet no encouragement. So he stepped back, pretending he hadn’t counted on anything else.

“Take care.” He said. She nodded and turned back.

Sheik caught her already on route. He ran to his stepsister, calling to unit of Tenu’s soldiers to stop. When they actually stopped, son of Aleu came to Maya.

“Oh… you’re…” he panted.

“Calm down, Sheik, you are winded.” Said princess. He made several more breaths then continued.

“Sorry, about that. I just wanted to say you goodbye.” She hugged her cousin.

“Yeah, that’s sweet.”

“And tell you… that you mustn’t cross the creek.” Added Sheik. With regaining of breath, he again sounded as worrying, older brother. “Talk with them only on ice and not farther than lieutenants allow you, right?”

“Sheik, I know that!” she smiled. “Just trust me – it will be fine.”

“Yeah, that’s good.” Smiled wolf. “And one thing more. Rose insisted me to catch you, because she didn’t find you, she asked me to say goodbye from her.”

“Oh, that nice of her.” Said a bit surprised Maya.

Meanwhile, just two miles south on the other slope of valley, unit of and Black, Snow and Lake was running at full speed. Wolves were making their way, hoping to outrun the column on the Northern Way and get to Reindeer Creek before

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