Training against wolves for a werebear her size wasn’t challenging until the attackers numbered more than five. Then, especially with her inexperience, it became a whitewash for the wolves. They were experienced at working as a group, almost on an instinctive level. Her size became a disadvantage against that many. She couldn’t move fast enough to avoid getting hamstrung. Against that many, she couldn’t keep them from getting one of their team into position. From there on it was bad news. She usually managed to take out three before one reached her throat, but that was simply not good enough.
So she had contacted Ecaterina. They had talked for a while about many things, including her pregnancy, baby and how happy it made her. Eventually, Janna brought up the Pricolici form.
“I cannot shake the feeling that he is deliberately holding me back. I have encountered it before you know. Men who believe, somehow, that women need to be… restricted in their responsibilities because they are weaker.”
Ecaterina snorted “I know exactly what you mean. My Nathan did the same sort of thing to me some time ago when I was human. I don’t think it is the case this time. For two reasons. The first is that the most common trigger for that form is an extreme loss. Nathan thought I was dead before the first time he changed. From what you have told me, the death of Boris’s mother caused his first change. He wants to spare you that pain. He loves you, even if he isn’t showing it.” She smirked as Janna blushed a furious red at the comment.
She continued in a more serious tone “He is also worried about whether or not you will succumb to the form. The Pricolici form is very intoxicating. I have felt it, the call to change into it because I can, not because I need to. And he has hunted down people who have lost themselves to it. That is another fear he has. You cannot blame him for that. It is similar to all of the older vampires I have met. They each have regrets and are, for lack of a better term, a little broken. They have an aspect of… having seen too much.”
Janna nodded “And he is as old as some of the younger vampires in the group you are talking about. He has a lot of ‘baggage,’ I think that is the American idiom. I cannot believe I just called someone over four hundred years old younger. It all seems so unreal still sometimes.”
Ecaterina burst into laughter. “So is there anything else I can do for you?”
“I need someone to train against, though. He is so careful as if the training will break me. Holding back because I still need to learn more. You don’t know any werebears do you?”
Ecaterina broke into giggles. “Oh, I do actually. Yes, indeed. My uncle happens to be one. Would you like me to ask him?”
Janna nodded eagerly “Yes. Please. It looks like Boris will be gone for another week. He has decided to see the refugees to the border before he returns. I want him to feel I am completely ready when he returns.”
So Janna continued to train as a werebear against a werebear. Alexi couldn’t deny his favorite niece’s request. The woman who supported Bethany Anne arranged for it to happen.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Refugee Column, Near the Mongolian Border
“Boris, a good morning to you,” said Lev, approaching Boris’s sleeping tent. The weather had been better for the last few days. Both Lev and Boris appreciated it, if for different reasons. Lev, because, despite everything, they would still make the rendezvous if a day late. Boris had confirmed the pickup would be there. Boris because it meant that ADAM could verify that no significant forces were moving to intercept.
The Mongolian Pack Mistress had sent a message. The first part of it was a slight rebuke to Boris for not asking for aid or giving her warning of the refugees. The Mongolian Pack, unlike most packs of the UnknownWorld, often had someone either inside the government or advising them directly. The Mongolian government and people were, at the moment, thrilled that the Chinese had been hammered. Although China was a major trade partner, historically they were seen as a threat.
Mongolia had no problem accepting the refugees crossing their border but had no desire to make a great fanfare of it. With China weakened, Russia was now a bigger threat militarily. Still, Russia was out of position to do much to Mongolia, considering the existing tensions on its Western border with NATO and the Baltic States.
Also unusual was that the pack leader was female. It wasn’t unheard of, but Sarangerel was an unusual woman. She and Boris had fallen out of contact since the fall of communism, and Boris knew the rebuke was for him going insular and quiet on her.
She had sought him out to train her when she decided, at the age of thirty, that she wanted to lead the Mongolian pack. At times in history, he had been forced to take over from a vicious or stupid pack leader who crossed Peter. The idea of having that region’s pack leader indebted to him had a definite appeal. With Danislav and some of the other senior wolves assisting, he had tutored her not only in fighting but also in administration, law, and the Strictures.
She still owed him. While he probably should have sent a message to her, he had simply forgotten. He had sent the messenger back with apologies and an assurance that the refugees would not be there long. He reminded her that the Mongolians had walked the tightrope between hiding North Korean refugees and keeping positive relations with that nation successfully for years. Promising to discuss improving their communications with his oath-sworn leader, Boris had thought that the messenger’s eyes would pop out in surprise.
After all, he had refused for centuries to swear an oath to serve Peter. That was one thing that the Mongolian pack did know. For him to accept another as his leader was new and unsettling, he suspected.
When they crossed the border, Boris was at the head of the column. He saw a woman on horseback and smiled. Sarangerel had come to meet them personally.
“And how does the day treat you, Pack Mistress?” he asked her.
She scowled at him. “If there were not relatives between my pack and yours who thought to phone ahead, you would have me in a very bad situation, Boris.” She held her hands together in front of her, tapping the thumbs together. “What excuse do you have for me, Old Bear?”
“You’ll probably meet my excuse when the pickup for my people arrives. I suspect she’ll want to see them off.”
Sarangerel’s eye widened “I thought you were too much of another era to oath-swear to a female. Who is she anyway?”
His eyes darkened. “She is the woman who changed Michael, Sarangerel. That is all I really needed to know about her. The devotion that her followers show her was just the cream on the milk.”
“You mentioned him a couple of times. My people still think he’s somewhat of a myth, you know.”
Boris grabbed her down off her horse in a rapid movement. He shook her gently. “Don’t, whatever you do, say that to Bethany Anne. She lost him a few months ago. He now lies with the heroes. In his death, he prevented hundreds from being killed by a nuke, including myself. Swear to me you will not bring him up in front of her! I will not have you cause her pain, Sarangerel.”
Sarangerel was startled and a bit frightened, although her only sign of that was a subtle widening of her eyes. She had never seen Boris take such an action. What had been meant to be a passing comment had invoked fear in him. Real fear. “Yes, Boris. I understand,” she said, placing her hands in placation on his wrists. They tightened even more on her shoulders, so she added, “I swear I will not bring it up unless absolutely necessary.”