Book 04 - The Price of Power by Rose Estes

Author:Rose Estes [Estes, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Greyhawk, Fantasy, Fiction
ISBN: 9780880384582
Publisher: TSR
Published: 1987-08-15T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

THE DRUMS WERE BEATING softly yet insistently, announcing the gathering of the full council of the clan. Mika had refused Starr's offer of her home to make himself ready, knowing that she would be far happier if she never saw him or his wolves again.

In fact, at the last minute he had decided to not ready himself at all, to appear before the council just as he was, unwashed and ungroomed, so as to present an image of himself as a rough, tough warrior, to offset any and all doubts that might arise over his manliness.

He knew from years of watching his father prepare for meetings that such was not the norm, but Hornsbuck would surely arrive looking his usual untidy self. The two of them would look as though cut from the same mold.

Feeling reassured, he examined himself in a pool of still water for any external evidence of change. Nothing appeared different except his manhood, which drooped sadly, huddling into itself as though knowing that it had failed and wished to hide; and, of course, the metal gauntlet concealing the demonic monstrosity that had once been his hand and now tingled with three demon digits.

Mika condescended to retie his hair, which was coming loose from its braid and sagging about his ears. He knotted a thong of leather around the end of the braid and jerked it tight, wishing that it were the princess's neck.

He brushed bits of moss and dirt off the beautiful, blue cloak, admiring it once again, then straightened the soft, gray doeskin on his hips. His fingers lingering on the buttery softness; he wondered why he had never purchased such a garment before and had made do with hot, bulky, ugly, leather tunics for so many years.

Suddenly, lightning shot through his mind and he withdrew his hand as though burned, frightened by the emotions that had coursed through him. It must be the curse! Never before had he worried about clothes and appearances. He had always taken such things for granted. Now he was fussing over what he wore, like . . . like a woman!

Angrily, he pulled the tattered, old, gray, wolfskin cloak that had belonged to his father out of his shoulder pouch and exchanged it for the beautiful blue cape. He tried to ignore the fact that moths had been at it and it appeared slightly bald.

He settled the grinning skull on top of his head and crossed the paws over his chest, knotting them securely, feeling the all but hairless tail flop against the back of his calves as he stomped out of the forest, a terrible scowl on his face.

He would fight it! He wouldn't give in. He would fight the female curse every step of the way. He would find a red stone and reverse the process, and none would ever know that there had been a problem.

By the time Mika arrived, all of the chiefs had gathered and were seated in the high chiefs' dwelling, which also served as a council house.

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