The Prince Who Fell From the Sky Read Online Free PDF Page A

and said, “We seek an audience with Ogeema Dire. We bring important news.”
    Another wolf laughed mockingly. “What would coyotes consider news? Is a blight of mange going through your rout? Is your fur falling out?”
    Reflexively, Gall licked at his front leg where the rat had taken out a chunk of fur. In a wounded voice he said, “We’ve news meant only for the Ogeema’s ears.”
    Rend stiffened at her mate’s stupidity. She quickly said, “It would not do that the Ogeema’s guard hears before he does.”
    The leader took a step forward. “Do you know how many mite-brained coyotes, foxes, and curs, as well as dirt-ranked wolves, come to waste Ogeema Dire’s time with so-called news in the hope of winning favors? You tell us what news you have. If it is worthy of the Ogeema’s attention, then we will deliver it to him.”
    Gall paced anxiously behind Rend. “We should go,” he muttered.
    Rend had to think quickly. The news of the Skinless One was too important to give away to low-ranking boneyard guards. She looked at Gall. “Yes, you’re probably right, my nipper. It would not do getting the Ogeema angry with these fine masters.”
    The leader growled. “Angry? Why would the Ogeema be angry with us?”
    Rend let her tongue drop slackly from her jaws like some half-wit cur. “Let us waste no more of your time, cousins. Especially on nonsense from the bears.”
    “Bears?” the wolf asked. “Where do you range, coyotes?”
    “In Chief Alioth’s domain,” Rend said. “We try notto give credence to anything a bear has to say, but it is hard not to listen when he slights the Ogeema.”
    “Insults Ogeema Dire!” one of the other wolves growled. “Who is insulting our father?”
    Rend dipped her eyes shamefully. “If we share news of something Chief Alioth said, wouldn’t you be duty-bound to report it to the Ogeema?”
    “Of course,” the leader said.
    “And—forgive me, for I have never met nose to nose the esteemed ruler Dire—isn’t his temper legendary?”
    The wolves glanced at each other uncertainly.
    Rend turned to Gall. “Let us go, my dearest. Best that we keep Alioth’s words to ourselves.”
    The pair had trotted no more than a few steps before the leader of the guards barked sharply. “Come with us, you two! You are to report to the Ogeema immediately what you have heard.”
    As they were led toward the Ogeema’s hall, Rend heard one of the guards chuckle to another, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Ogeema bite the nose off a coyote. I can’t wait to see this.”
    Gall whimpered and licked a swift pink tongue over his wet snout.
    As they crossed over a rise, they left the Gateway of Bones and entered the Field of the Fallen. Perfectly preserved skeletons of ancient wolves covered the field, wolves who had fought in the Rising. And among themwere the remains of their defeated foes—the Skinless Ones.
    Some of the skeletons were lying in open-topped wooden boxes. Others lay on the ground. These bodies had been set out on display by the Ogeema’s ancestors so that all would remember what the legendary Ogeema Taka-Dirge had done during the Rising. How he had gathered all the packs of the Forest into an army that had slaughtered the last of the Skinless right here on these sacred grounds. Ever since, the Ogeemas had used the neighboring building as their den.
    The Ogeema’s enormous territory and his influence over the other packs and clans of the Forest were founded on this story. But if the end result of the Rising was somehow in dispute, then what would happen to the Ogeema’s rule?
    Anxiety rose in Rend’s belly. She would have to be careful how she revealed this news. To suggest that the legend was wrong—that Taka-Dirge had not killed the last of the Skinless—might incur Dire’s wrath. Maybe she should have let the guards deliver the news after all.
    Rend looked at the guards surrounding her and ahead at the towering den. Wolves—more wolves than she