In Part 1 of this Tale from Enda, Adorabelle the loatron visits the spring fair in the medieval town of Clewside. Richard the Shepherd has been brought before the town bailiff, accused of moving his neighbor’s boundary stones. Adorabelle stops to watch the trial and admires Richard’s counselor, who defends the shepherd of the charge. Although found innocent, the shepherd becomes enraged and changes from a man into a huge wolf. And now Part 2 of Fair Trial.
Richard the wolf swatted the bailiff’s chair across the field. It smashed against the town well, shattering into pieces. Snarling, he turned upon the bailiff and his guards, who drew their swords. The square emptied as the crowd fled into nearby alleys and side streets. Adorabelle trotted up to the well and crouched behind the stone sides. Perfect for a good view of the fight.
Adorabelle held her breath as a guard charged the wolf. The creature ducked under his arm and pounced, knocking the soldier’s sword to the ground. Fastening sharp teeth into the man’s shoulder, the wolf shook him like a rag, then dropped him. The man lay groaning in the dirt. Blood seeped across his torn tunic.
“I never wanted to hurt no one. I just need more pasture for my sheep.” The wolf crouched over the man, peering into his grimacing face.
So, he did move the stones. Was he apologizing or making excuses? Adorabelle flinched as an arrow flew past Richard’s shaggy head.
The bailiff reached for another arrow. Yowling, the wolf burst through the ring of soldiers, scattering them. He galloped across the square, straight at the well and the wide-eyed Adorabelle.
Her four legs locked; her mind went blank. A blur of gray fur and sharp white teeth raced toward her. Fear sent a surge of rage through her body. Instinctively, she lowered her horns to meet the rush of the wolf. Unable to swerve, he slammed into her horns and bony forehead. The impact threw him back. Adorabelle reared up and stomped on his leg with sharp black hooves. “That’s for hurting the guard!”
The wolf rolled away and ripped at the loatron’s side with his teeth. Adorabelle’s scales deflected most of the blow. “Fool, I’m a loatron. You can’t hurt me like those soft humans.” She wished she had a sword. Her tail brushed aside splintered wood. She found the broken leg of the bailiff’s chair.
“I never wanted to hurt anyone,” the wolf whined. “I just want to be left alone.” He paced around the loatron, who swung the chair leg in her tingers. Whirling about, he snapped at her.
Adorabelle felt hot breath on her nose, white fangs chomping to reach her face. She struck the wolf on the snout, breaking her club in two. He crashed into the loatron, knocking her to the ground. She lay on her side, four legs flailing.
With a thud, the wolf set his front paws on Adorabelle’s shoulder. “If you never wanted to hurt anyone, why are you fighting me, Richard?” She raised her big blue eyes to look into his beady grey ones.
The snarl disappeared from his muzzle. He blinked and looked away. “I’m not. I mean, I don’t want to. They started it, making me angry. No one understands what it’s like to be a mythical.”
“Dalcop, I’m a mythical, too. I understand. But if you pretend you’re human, you have to follow their laws. Moving boundary stones,” Adorabelle sneered.
“What does a loatron child know? I needed the land. Now I’ve lost everything.” He stepped off her shoulder. “Get out of here, girl.” Turning away, he faced the approaching soldiers.
“Oh, poor little shapeshifter. No one understands him. You’re the child.” Adorabelle smirked. She tucked her legs under her. With one good spring, she could knock him into the well.
Richard turned and roared. Adorable closed her eyes as hot spittle flew past her face. She whipped her tail around, waving the three finger-like appendages on the end. “Your breath smells like pig swill.”
Bellowing, the wolf attacked. Adorabelle stared down his gaping maw, waiting for the chomp. Her hooves refused to move. She closed her eyes and turned her head. But the teeth snapped down on empty air with a click. The wolf jerked backward, yelping.
She rose to her feet, stumbling forward. Richard writhed and snapped at something behind him.
A huge man released his grip on the creature’s bushy tail. He straightened up, tall as a sapling. With a smooth swish, he drew his sword and faced the wolf.
“Foul beast. Come match strength with a warrior.” The man slashed at the legs of the wolf. Snarling, the beast crouched, then sprang forward. Calmly, the man met his onslaught, punching the wolf in the throat with his fist.
Coughing, the wolf staggered to his paws. Swinging the sword around, the warrior batted the wolf aside as if he were a puppy. Adorabelle’s mouth dropped open.
“I surrender. Don’t kill me.” Richard cowered before the warrior whimpering. The bailiff and his guards threw a fishing net over the wolf, wrapping him snugly. He struggled and whined.
Adorabelle moved aside to let the group pass. The wolf in the net writhed, shrinking back into a human. Richard continued to protest as they dragged him from the square.
Bunny rushed up to Adorabelle, licking her face and stroking her with her tail. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
She squirmed out of her mother’s embrace. “Did you see it? Wasn’t he wonderful? Swoosh, splat, take that foul beast.” Adorabelle waved her tail. “Of course, I fought him first, tired him out.” She picked up a stick, slashing and stabbing the air.
Bunny’s large violet eyes narrowed. “Wonderful? Fighting on fair week like a common ruffian?”
The counselor climbed out of the well where he had hidden. “You did a fine job arguing with that creature, young lady. Perhaps you should train in the law.” He grinned, wringing water from his tunic.
Her mother frowned and shook her head. “Young ladies don’t counsel. Or argue.”
“No.” Adorabelle stared at the human who saved her. Cheering crowds clustered around the warrior, slapping him on the back. A woman threw her arms around him and hugged his waist. A man offered to buy him dinner at the Lazy Griffin Pie Shop.
Adorabelle beamed, her eyes sparkling. “I’m going to be a warrior.”
And so, Adorabelle’s destiny seems to be set. Or is it? Read more about Adorabelle and her family in Sargon The Not So Great. Want more short stories from Enda? Read The Loatron In The Woods.
