Another "Catch a Wolf" Deleted Scene
For this blog post, I thought you might like to read another scene from “Catch a Wolf” I cut. I like to watch the deleted scenes from shows I watch, for it makes the episode more interesting.
“All right, who volunteers to cook the rest of the meat for trave
ling?” I asked the room. “Tor deserves a well-earned respite.”
Witraz sighed. “Alun and I will.”
Alun rounded on him in a huff before glancing at me. He relented with a sigh of his own. “He and I,” he muttered.
“Left and Right, you’re on clean up duty.”
I didn’t bother looking around to witness their twin scowls. “Just do it,” I snapped.
Kel’Ratan and Rygel chuckled. Corwyn stared at me, a look of wide-eyed amazement on his face. He half-lifted his hand toward the twins behind me. “How did you -“
“My lord, didn’t you realize?” I said with wide-eyed innocence. “I know everything.”
“Back to business,” Wolf said. “If Ja’Teel can find Corwyn at any time, then he can find us. I refuse to put him in harm’s way, just to divert Brutal.”
“It probably won’t work anyway,” I said.
“How so, Your Highness?” Corwyn asked.
I smiled. “That lovely, inspirational gesture from you to him, my friend.”
Understanding flooded his puzzled face and Wolf’s voice. “No matter what, Brutal won’t let that insult pass.”
“Even if it’s to convince us that Corwyn is on our side?” Kel’Ratan asked.
“Brutal won’t care,” I said. “He will command Ja’Teel kill him at the first opportunity.”
“If Ja’Teel can find him any time -“
“Rygel,” Wolf said quickly. “Break Ja’Teel’s spell.”
“I can’t.”
“What the bloody hell do you mean?” I snapped. “Are you the best or not?”
Rygel smiled sadly. “I would if I could, Princess. But one magician cannot break another’s spell without first finding the signature.”
“What signature?” Wolf asked.
“Every wizard has his own very unique signature wrapped into his or her spells,” Rygel explained. “Unless one knows the signature, spells cannot be broken. It’s almost impossible to find someone’s signature. Especially when one is as smart as he is.”
I leaned forward. “You said ‘almost’.”
“I did, Princess,” Rygel said, his hands out palms up. “But it’s a daunting task. There’s another answer, though.”
Wolf raised his hand as though to clout Rygel upside his head. “Why didn’t you say so, you egotistical toad?”
Rygel flinched back. “I was getting to it, dammit.”
I covered my grin with my hand. “I strongly suggest you step lively, Rygel.”
Rygel glowered at Wolf, miffed. “I can block the spell. That way Ja’Teel can’t find Corwyn and all will be, well, perfect.”
Wolf growled, low in his throat. “Then get on it before I rearrange how your head sits on your neck.”
Muttering under his breath, Rygel stood up and strode behind Corwyn as he sat next to Rannon. I didn’t have to see his blue eyes widen, or his shoulders suddenly tense, or the flesh about his mouth pale to know his fear. For I felt it myself. While Rygel had benign, even friendly intentions, his power took the breath away.
If he used much power, I didn’t see it. Standing behind Corwyn, Rygel lightly touched his fingers to Corwyn’s head and shut his eyes for a long moment. Corwyn blinked in confusion several times before Rygel stepped lightly back and shrugged.
“’Tis done,” he said, sitting back down.
“Done?” I asked, bewildered. “What did you do?”
“Set a block,” he answered, in his most irritating drawl. “As I said I would.”
I leaned toward Wolf, catching his eyes. “Can I shoot him? Please?”
Wolf glanced from me to Rygel, then back again. He sighed, a deep mournful gust of breath. “While I wish with all my heart I could say knock yourself out,” he answered, “we need him.”
I eyed Rygel with scorn. “I disagree.”
Wolf massaged my knuckles with his fingers. “I promise you this, my dear lady. Once we’re out of Khalid for good, I’ll hold your – er – coat.”
“And this is the thanks I get,” Rygel snapped. “Ja’Teel can’t find Corwyn or us because of me and I’m to be shot? I ask you!”
“Just ignore him for the next six months,” Wolf advised.
“Depend on it,” I replied.
Rygel huffed in righteous indignation. “I am so unappreciated in my time.”
“Oh, you are appreciated, braud,” Wolf said, amiably clasping Rygel’s shoulder in his huge hand. “We just, um, hate you.”
“That’s good to know,” he replied acidly. “I feel ever so much better.” Rygel buried his aristocratic nose in his wine cup, muttering under his breath.
