| Fred raised his arm to get the crowd's attention. The voices around
him quieted down and he spoke. "Most of you do not know who I am. My name
is Lord Frederigo D'Honaire, a knight of the Kingdom, and an auxiliary
officer of the royal navy. I arrived here less than three days ago but
I have learned much in that short span of time. With the dragon Moreau
dead, perhaps her enchantments have left this island as well. It was she
who took away our ability to read and write.
(The crowd nodded in agreement. Once every ten years Moreau would hold audience with the Pack and remind them of who they were and why. Minestus had created the magic that had changed them but, as Moreau was so proud to say, she had added her own touches to the curse that held them captive. She had taken away their ability to speak with other men, or to write or to read. She had taken away their human voices. She was so proud of that.) "And so now I hope that that part of our curse has been lifted." Grabbing a torch from off the wall, Fred strode to the back of the cave behind the three elders and pushed the blackened stump of wood against the stone. When he had finished, he stepped back and stared at his handiwork. The assembled Pack gazed at the charcoal scrawl and their hearts nearly burst with joy. They could read what he had written. And the black lines etched above their heads filled them with new determination and hope. ~ I AM NOT AN ANIMAL ~ Fred turned to face his fellow were-creatures. "And so now I say, let me go down to the pirate ship left behind by those unfortunate souls. I know how to read their charts and maps. They did not come here by chance, and their ship is more than seaworthy. There is no need to risk the waves in your fleet of makeshift rafts. We shall go back to the land from which they came in the ship that they sailed. None of us need die here." A giant cheer rose from all the uplifted faces. The Pack had made its choice. Moran stood with his hands on his hips and smiled approvingly at Fred. Alicia looked up at him with pride. Loam grinned and then glanced over at Carradene. The old wolf was obviously struggling to control his anger. Fred was as good as a stranger on this island, while Carradene had lived here for over forty years. And yet his people now praised Fred like a savior. What fools they were, Carradene thought. But he held his tongue and slowly began to press his way to the back of the crowd instead. Without a backward glance he made his way up the long hallway that led out to the open air. Loam touched Alicia's shoulder. "Meet me outside when everyone stops cheering him," he said with a wink and walked away. She nodded absently and turned back to gaze at the tall figure that stood before the elder's table. As a man, Fred made her want to laugh, but as a leader and a hero he made her want to stand by his side. Go Back
|
