Page 1 of Fangs
Prologue
Wolf shifted, his fingers tightening on his rifle, and kept his movements slow and quiet—even though there was no prey to frighten. His last several hunting trips had been the same. He needed to go at least two or three days’ travel away, but the council wouldn’t’t approve it. The lookouts had spotted raiders in the distance, and it wasn’t worth the risk. The council believed they had enough provisions to last until the raiders moved on, but the food stores were getting low. He’d brought his estimates to the council, but as usual, they had smiled and dismissed him—even Pa.
Wolf ground his teeth together. He was only eighteen and didn’t understand why no one else in Carth realized how vulnerable they were. Yes, the wall had protected them—so far—and yes, the raiders had honored the treaty so long as the council paid the bribe they demanded—so far.It would be foolish to expect either of those things to last forever.
Or, as Ember would probably say, dumb as shit.
Wolf grinned to himself. He always reprimanded her for cussing, but it was hard not to laugh. She was so tiny and cute, and she looked like a furious kitten when she was angry. But his smile faded as he remembered how he’d left the house that morning. Pa hadn’t even come home last night to sleep, which left Wolf scrambling to get everything done before he went hunting. Dune was supposed to go hunting with him, but he’d refused in an unusual act of defiance that morning. Of course, Em had seized on that and refused to drop it, insisting she and Dune could swap chores for the day. He’d lost his temper and shouted, and she’d burst into furious tears and disappeared to go sulk somewhere. He doubted any of the mending would be done when he got home.
His chest tightened in a familiar way. It made all his insides feel like they were quivering. He hoped she was at least staying out of sight and not doing anything improper like wading in the public fountain…again. It had been two days since he’d received that fateful visit from the Ministry, and he was terrified his new focus on the rules wasn’t doing enough to curb her wild behavior. He grimaced, his mind replaying the conversation for the hundredth time.
“Greetings, Wolf.”
Wolf stood rigidly in the doorway, staring at the old man on their doorstep. Arbiter Eli was a familiar sight in their community, but a house visit meant something was wrong—wrong enough to send an arbiter instead of an inquisitor. Dread crawled up his spine and froze his tongue.
“May I come in?” Arbiter Eli asked, smiling kindly.
Wolf nodded mutely, stepping aside and gesturing for the Arbiter to enter. He led the way to the small sitting area and cleared his throat. “Can I get you anything?” he asked hoarsely.
“No, thank you,” Arbiter Eli responded.
Wolf sank into a chair across from his guest and tucked his trembling hands under his legs. Arbiter Eli had a kind face lined with wrinkles, and his hair was a respectable grey. He had the traditional long beard of a Ministry arbiter, trimmed neatly to a sharp point at his chest. His robes were dyed a soft brown, the most muted color of the various official robes. It was supposed to be soothing and friendly, unlike the crimson red of the high justicars or the solemn dark blue of the inquisitors or the stark black of the enforcers.
“I am here to talk about your sister, Ember,” Arbiter Eli said.
Wolf had been expecting that, but to hear it said out loud still made his heart hammer faster. Did the Ministry discover their training?
“What’s she done, now?” he asked, his voice ragged.
“I’m not here to discuss any one particular offense but to look at the issue as a whole. While Ember has not broken any laws, her behavior demonstrates a willful spirit. She may have only committed transgressions in propriety for now, but I fear if her behavior is not curbed, it will only grow worse.
“Your sister is in her tenth year; soon, she will be a woman, and as a woman, she is not equipped to govern herself in accordance with our righteous path. Her role is to submit and serve—to be guided by the wisdom and authority of the men around her. Allowing her to act on her every whim and desire, no matter how small, sets a dangerous precedent.
“You must understand, Wolf. If you allow Ember’s willful spirit to fester, it will corrupt her very soul, and she will be forever lost.” The old man’s bushy grey eyebrows drew together as he leaned forward, placing a hand on Wolf’s knee and lowering his voice. “Your father’s position on the council allows you some leeway, but there are limits. Her defiance is not just a personal failing but a threat to the moral fabric of our entire community.”
Wolf sat so rigidly, it felt like all his muscles had turned to stone. His mind raced, but no words came out of his mouth. The room felt too hot, and his hands were numb.
Arbiter Eli offered a pitying smile. “I understand, son. You are in a hard place. It is a shame your father has not heeded our advice and taken another wife to care for your siblings. This is an unfair burden for a young man to bear, but you are a man, now, and it is your responsibility to guide and protect your family.”
Sweat trickled down his back, and he swallowed hard. Arbiter Eli was waiting, clearly expecting him to speak, but still no words came.
“This is the final warning I can offer,” Arbiter Eli continued after several seconds of silence. “Remember, a woman’s heart is deceitful above all things and easily swayed by the whispers of the world. You must shield her from these influences and mold her into a vessel of virtue and obedience. If your sister persists in her behavior, there will be consequences—public reprimand or worse. Do I make myself clear?”
Wolf managed to nod, and Arbiter Eli stood, smiling once more.
“You are a true blessing to us, Wolf. Our God does not bestow burdens we cannot bear. He has chosen you to be a pillar of faith in your family and in your community.”
Wolf continued nodding, and Arbiter Eli continued smiling as they made their way to the door. Before he could open the door, however, Arbiter Eli caught his hand, squeezing with urgency.
“As you know, it is our duty to intervene when the well-being of any child is at stake. It’s never our desire to separate a family, but the spiritual and moral welfare of our community must always come first.” The old man’s grip tightened, the warning clear despite the smile and gentle tone. “It is within your power to ensure Ember stays under your care, Wolf. I trust you will do what is right.”
Wolf shuddered at the memory, and the weight of his responsibility crushed him into the hot sand. The grief and anger surged, fighting against his self-control. Why was he chosen to endure these trials? Why didn’t God save his mother’s life when he hadbeggedon his hands and knees? Why suffer trials at all if God had the power to?—
He forced himself to stop the frantic spiraling thoughts, sucking in several deep breaths. He had to be strong. He could not fall into fear and doubt, not when his little siblings hung in the balance.
The setting sun caught his eye, and his heart sank. He needed to head home. If he got there before Pa, maybe he could coax Em into doing her chores and figure out what the hell was up with Dune.
An uncomfortable twinge pulled in his gut. Dune was usually the easy one. He’d never seen his brother be so willful—solikeEm. Could it be Em’s influence? The two of them spent all their time together. Dune hated hunting, but he understood it was a necessary part of life, and he’d never outright refused to go before. For a brief moment, Wolf considered asking Pa for help with the two of them before letting out a heavy breath. No, Pa would just yell, which only made Dune cry and Em mad.
