Book 3: The End of a Claim

Geoffrey

Boris tells me we are within a day and a half of Shadowmanor Castle when we meet a real force to stop us. Soldiers in three different liveries come up over a hill as we are marching through a valley. They are very angry, and we are in a bad position, not having the high ground.

“Why are there Longclaw and Warfang uniforms among them?” I ask Boris who, thus far, has kept me off the battlefield.

“I guess because they’re fighting with the Shadowglade forces,” he replies as though I’m stupid.

“If we’re liberating Shadowglade, why would the wolf shifters join forces with Shadowglade’s soldiers?” I ask, confused.

Boris looks at the armies bearing down on us, looks at me, then laughs. “Oh, boy, King Maximus said you’d be easy to manipulate, but you really are an idiot. We’re not ‘liberating’ anybody. We’re taking Shadowglade by force.”

My blood runs cold. “We’re the aggressors?” I gape.

He pats me on the shoulder. “Welcome