Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales Paperback(127)

“This is the Mayor of the village,” said the Captain. “Most of the

trolls have fled, and we were afraid they had taken the girl with them.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” said the woman. “You’ve done more

than rescue my daughter, although that has earned you my gratitude.

I recognize this troll—she has been here before. We call her Old

Mossy. She is the leader of this tribe, and without her, the tribe will need to choose a new leader by combat. It will not come again this winter. Our village has sustained great damage, but not one of us has died or disappeared, and we can rebuild. How can we reward you for coming to our rescue, Captain?”

“Madame Mayor, we are the Wolf Guard. Your gratitude is our

reward,” said the Captain.

On the way back to the cave, Graypaw and Mist walked ahead of Ivan, talking to the Captain in low voices. He wondered if he had done

something wrong. Perhaps he should not have told them to attack?

After all, they both outranked him. They were both Corporals, while ? 371 ?

? Blanchefleur ?

he was only a Private. Perhaps they were telling the Captain about

how he had reeled and clutched his chest after the attack. Would he be declared unfit for combat?

When they got back to the cave, Blanchefleur was waiting for him.

“Ivan, I need to speak with you,” she said.

“Blanchefleur, I killed a troll! I mean, I helped kill her. I want to tell you about it . . . ”

“That’s wonderful, Ivan. I’m very proud of you. I am, you know,

and not just because of the troll. But it’s time for us to leave.”

“What do you mean? It’s still winter. I haven’t been here for a year yet.”

”My mother has summoned us. Here is her messenger.”

It was Tailcatcher. In his excitement, Ivan had not noticed the

striped cat.

“The Lady wishes you to travel to the capital. Immediately,” said

Tailcatcher.

“But why?” asked Ivan.

“You are summoned,” said Tailcatcher, contemptuously. “Is that

not enough?”

“If you are summoned, you must go,” said the Captain, who had

been standing behind him. “But come back to us when you can, Ivan.”

Ivan had never felt so miserable in his life. “Can I say goodbye to Mist and Graypaw?”

“Yes, quickly,” said the Captain. “And thank them, because on their recommendation, I am promoting you to Corporal. There is also

something I wish to give you. Hold out your right hand, Corporal

Miller.”

Ivan held out his hand.

The Captain lunged at him, seized Ivan’s hand in his great mouth,

and bit down.

Ivan cried out.

The Captain released him. The wolf’s teeth had not broken his

skin, but one of his fangs had pierced Ivan’s hand between the thumb and forefinger. It was still lodged in his flesh. There was no blood, ? 372 ?

? Theodora Goss ?

and as Ivan watched, the fang vanished, leaving only a white fang—

shaped scar.

“Why—” he asked.

“That is my gift to you, Corporal. When I was a young corporal

like yourself, I saved the life of a witch. In return, she charmed that fang for me. She told me that as long as I had it, whenever I fought, I would defeat my enemy. She also told me that one day, I could pass the charm to another. I asked her how, and she told me I would know when the time came. I am old, Ivan, and this is my last winter with the Wolf Guard. I believe I know why you have been summoned by

the Lady. With that charm, whatever battles you have to fight, you

should win. Now go. There is a storm coming, and you should be off

the mountain before it arrives.”

Ivan packed his belongings and made his farewells. Then, he left

the cave, following Tailcatcher and Blanchefleur. He looked back

once, with tears in his eyes, and felt as though his heart were breaking.

The journey to the capital would have taken several days, but in the first town they came to, Ivan traded his knife and coat for a horse. It was an old farm horse, but it went faster than he could have on foot with two cats. The cats sat in panniers that had once held potatoes, and Tailcatcher looked very cross indeed. When Ivan asked again why he had been summoned, the cat replied, “That’s for the Lady to