The Hungering Flame by Andrew Hunter

passed it over to Warren.
    “ A bit strong for you? ” Cabre laughed.
    “ Yeah, ” Garrett said.
    “ Don’t worry, ” the prince said, “ the wine cups of Braedshal are sweeter yet. ”
    “ I don’t really drink wine, ” Garrett said.
    Cabre laughed again. “ You’ve never been to Braedshal then! ”
    Garrett chuckled, anxious to change the subject. “ That’s a nice jar, ” he said, “ My uncle is always trying to find good glass. Some of the stuff he uses in his work would eat right through a leather flask. ”
    Cabre’s face darkened. “ It’s Chadiri. ”
    “ Huh? ”
    Warren frowned, quickly passing the red jar back to Cabre.
    “ Don’t worry, ” Cabre said, “ the cider is Astorran. We just buy the Chadiri glass. They make so much of it that even the common folk can afford it… so long as you don’t mind the color. It only comes in red. ”
    “ You’re friends with them? ” Garrett asked.
    Cabre sneered. “ Hardly! You don’t have to be friends with someone to trade with them though. ”
    “ Oh, ” Garrett said, “ I thought you did. ”
    Cabre shook his head. “ Garrett, my friend, ” he said, reaching across to clap him on the shoulder, “ you have much to learn about politics. ”
    Garrett forced a smile. “ I guess I never really thought about them doing anything but burning stuff. ”
    “ Well, ” Cabre said, taking a sip of cider, “ I suppose there’s plenty of fire involved in glassmaking. Perhaps that’s why they enjoy it so much. ”
    Warren snorted.
    Garrett grinned. “ I’m pretty tired, ” he said, getting to his feet, “ I think I’m gonna get some sleep now. Thanks for getting us all the food, and the place to sleep. ”
    The prince raised the red jar in salute and nodded, a bit of cider dribbling down his chin.
    “ Good morning, Garrett, ” Warren said.
    “ Good morning, ” Garrett yawned.
    ****
    The next two nights and days brought them deeper into the kingdom's heart. They avoided all close contact with other people , and , once or twice, the trio was forced to hide themselves behind hedgerows to wait out the passing of some night traveler on the road. The commoners, Cabre said, weren’t quite ready for dire wolves.
    The dawn of their third day in Astorra, the prince did not stop for shelter, but urged them on. They left the road to avoid the early morning traffic and climbed a wooded hill above the fields.
    “ This way, ” he said, urging Inglefras up the last rise, and the wolves followed him into a copse of trees overlooking the valley beyond.
    Garrett crested the hill just as the dawning sun fell on the white walls of Braedshal.
    The great castle of the Astorran king rivale d the city of Wythr in size. D ozen s of white towers rose above walls of gleaming stone, some of them over two hundred feet tall. Blue pinions fluttered against the morning sky and light glinted on polished shields hung along the ramparts. Wagons and horses moved along the broad road to the city gates, revealing the true scale of the castle’s architecture.
    “ Home, ” Cabre sighed.
    “ I think I better wait here, ” Warren said.
    Cabre looked back at them and nodded. “ Garrett, ” he said, “ would you care to ride down with me? Inglefras can carry us both. ” The prince untucked his green Gloaran doublet and tossed it aside into the bushes.
    Garrett looked at Warren and then the prince. “ Yeah, ” he said.
    Garrett climbed down from Ghausse’s back, patting the big wolf. Ghausse shoved his nose under Garrett’s elbow and rubbed his head against Garrett’s chest. “ Thanks for the ride, ” Garrett said.
    Ghausse whined, sitting back on his haunches to watch as Prince Cabre pulled Garrett up behind him on Inglefras’s back.
    “ I’ll come back for you tonight, ” Cabre said to Warren.
    “ Yeah, ” Warren said, “ bring some meat with you. ”
    “ You’ll eat well, I promise you that, ” Cabre laughed, “ Come, Garrett, let’s go forge an