After some pondering, they went up to their room. "So what do you think?" Zora asked, nervously holding a small box.
"What do I think?" her king grumbled. Putting his hands on his face, now completely covered in fur, he patted his now much more muscular and larger body. "I love it!" he yelled out. His toothy grin confirming his excitement about his new wolfman transformation.
Still, the queen had some reservations. "Well, it is a good thing that part of it was left," she said solemn, leaving the hair's tiny container on the desk. "But please be careful with it, my dear. Such powers can change a person."
"Do not worry," the werewolf said casually, switching his form back. "I will only use it when absolutely necessary."
Zora's expression has not changed, but it would not be fair to at least give him the benefit of a doubt.
That same evening, on top of a small hill, the royal carriage drove down the forest path. The insides were nicely decorated with plush curtains and soft cushions covered the padded seats. Zora was sitting with the nanny, a young woman called Eli, who always took extra care to make the baby prince snug and comfortable. A belief she extended to herself, always dressing in soft fabrics and wearing specials fur shoes, no matter the weather.
"Ready!" Aidan yelled, standing in front of the carriage.
"Yes," Zora responded.
Holding the hoop in both hands he grunted, extending it with all his strength. Now the size of the carriage, the purple shiny circle lit up, showing a bright countryside road. The horses went in calmly, already used to this method of travel.
Reaching the other side, they were greeted with an idyllic scenery and a large, no enormous fortified city in the distance. They went down the hill towards the city gates. The peasants were working hard on their farms, collecting crops. After a while, they reached the entrance. The guards let them in with little explanation, as if expecting them. Inside the town, people went about their business going from shop to shop, which were conveniently placed near the main cobble road. Not only that, there were numerous clowns, musicians and performers going around, as if the market was their personal stage. A little boy fell and scrapped his knee, and before he could even raise his voice to cry, a juggler on the unicycle was making him laugh, and a clown gave him a lollipop.
"What an interesting place! All the people seem so happy here," Zora said.
Aidan puffed, slightly disappointed. "I knew it was too good to be true. And where are those roads paved with gold."
Those rumors were at least partially true, for when they reached the crossroads, the main road had gold strips covering both sides. That path took them to a lavish castle so large that, from far away, it could easily be mistaken for a mountain. The tall towers reached the skies. And the interiors?
When the royal couple arrived at the main hall – it was the size of their hunting lodge. Huge paintings covered the walls, most of which depicted the monarch as a hero. In one, he was a general leading his army into battle, another showed him as a generous king giving gold to the poor. The next as a healer. One had the king painted with purple lightnings coming out of his body as he tore a dragon in two. Zora found this one to be especially tacky. Aidan, not so much.
The king and queen of this land sat on tall chairs with triangular tops. King Arogan, had a name that encompassed his personality perfectly. He was a bulky man with a prickly stare, and an easily rememberable face. His wife, queen Leona, was dainty and elegant, with hair that seemed longer than she was tall. Their thrones were surrounded by banners and only reachable by a flight of stairs. Zora and Aidan were formally announced. Walking towards their hosts, they curtsied politely.
"Welcome, friends," the king declared from his throne. "Me, king Arogan and my queen Leona, hope you had a pleasant trip."
"Thank you, your Majesty. The view was most pleasant," Aidan said.
"And do you like your accommodation? We can arrange larger quarters since you brought your child with you?" the queen said.
"Larger quarters? Make it an entire story. The little prince needs his space. I hope he liked my present."
"He most certainly did," Aidan grinned, tapping his scabbard. "In fact, I will keep an eye on it until he comes of ages. You never know when there is a monster on the loose," he added in a charming manner.
"The rooms are perfectly suitable. Thank you," Zora said. "Now, we are here to honor your request? What seems to be the problem"
"Oh, direct and to the point. I like that. Come, let us rest and feast. We have the best chefs in the world. And the best food. I will tell you everything over some veal and mutton."
That evening, as promised, the king explained. "It all began about a year ago, when people started reporting disturbing shrieks coming from the forest. It rarely appeared at first, but over time it became more frequent. Now we can hear it almost every night."
"Do you know what it can be?" Zora asked.
He looked at her a little crossed. "My scholars have no record of such sounds. And with magical creatures waking left and right, I figured it would be wise to call in the experts," he explained.
"A wise choice indeed," Aidan said, stuffing himself. A loud cry overpowered the music, making the visiting monarch almost choke from fright.
"What on earth is that?" he said, stunned. "Is that-"
"The very same," the king nodded. "Nasty, isn't it? The people are very frightened. Some even say it gives them nightmares. We cannot afford to have our people frightened like that," he concluded, serious.
"Well, rest assured we will look at it. Come, dear," Zora told her husband, who moved straight away.
"Alright then. Oh, I almost forgot. Pay attention because this is important," the king leaned in with his elbows on the table. "There's a stone monument deep in the woods. If you see even the slightest crack on it, come back and tell me immediately. No matter the time, no matter the place. Understand?"
The couple nodded. They got ready quickly. Zora with her trusty harp and Aidan in his werewolf form. Soon, they were walking into the enchanted forest.
"So what do you think of our hosts?" he asked casually.
She hummed. "I think, they are alright. The king seems a bit full of himself, but that is what's to be expected from a ruler of a massive kingdom."
"Speaking of massive, have you seen the size of that castle? I could tire my horse, riding through the hallways alone."
"Bit of excessive, don't you think? We have a very lovely kingdom as well, but you do not see us making 5-meter-tall glass houses, just to store pet birds."
"Hmm, that reminds me. I will need to call the architect when we get back. The throne rooms needs some redecorating. And the artists are going to have their hands full as well."
"Aidan!" she pierced him with her gaze. "You are not going to put some gaudy images of yourself everywhere!"
"Not, everywhere. Just the throne room," he explained.
She smacked his massive hairy arm. "That is where we receive all our guests."
The werewolf let out a grunt-like chuckle. "How else are they going to know of our achievements?"
They continued with the search, getting deeper into the woodland.
The screams have luckily subsided, but without them, it was difficult to know which direction to take. Still, after a while, they did notice something interesting.
Zora looked at something stunned. "Aidan, is that the stone monument the king was talking about?" she uttered.
"I suppose it is," he replied, equally amazed.
Their light could only show glimpses of a large square structure made of concrete. Not only that, the walls were covered in metal bars. Above it was a heavy metal roof, triangular in shape. It was sealed to the walls as if not allowing anything to pass through.
"What now?" Zora asked.
Aidan shrugged. His pointy ears arched back. "Investigate, I guess."
Another shriek blasted their ears, making their ears hurt and the ground tremble.