Beatrice started to understand why he saw himself as crippled. She didn’t agree—but did understand.
While she’d been studying them, more individuals had drifted in, calling greetings in a deep, guttural language that, for all its harsh tones, still had a flowing kind of beauty to it. More lupwyns arrived and licked or rubbed against whichever body part was close. She witnessed some of the scent marking Silverblade exhibited in the mornings.
But when he continued forward, the others fell back or parted to allow him passage without having to fight his way through. She was certain she was seeing respect for a pack alpha. Then something else occurred to her. Was she supposed to bow to his dominant status to show her respect in some way? Perhaps lupwyns only did these things around other pack members, and non-pack were excluded.
Maybe Silverblade didn’t even consider her an equal?
That hurt a bit but she wasn’t so emotionally fragile that she’d bruise from it. Turning her attention to more neutral thoughts, she studied the slight bouncing gait of the surrounding lupwyns and came to understand the reason for the movement. Their legs bent at a strange angle. Her healer’s magic noted a few other physical differences between lupwyn and human body structure. But they were natural shape shifters so that was to be expected.
Another interesting difference became more obvious. Those that walked upright wore clothing and armor, whereas those on four legs didn’t always seem to.
At some point Silverblade had stopped walking while she’d studied his pack. Now he stood looking back at her. He didn’t say anything, instead silently waiting for her to catch up. She noticed then that she’d fallen behind the others until she was near the back. She continued forward, slowly easing her way between the other lupwyns. She kept her chin tucked and pretended to watch where she stepped. She halted with a fair distance still between them and he suddenly shot out his arm and dragged her against his side.
“I see you have a question. Don’t ever be afraid to ask.” His statement came out sounding distracted as he tucked a stray bit of hair behind her one ear. “Clothing and weapon harnesses impede movement and just feel uncomfortable when one runs on all fours. Sometimes it is required anyway, but we tend to avoid restrictive items when we are just hunting or playing.”
Glancing sideways, she smiled softly. “Can you read my mind so easily?”
“No, but sometimes your expression is so earnest, it’s easy.” He nuzzled her, his lips caressing her cheek. “And no more distancing yourself from me. Yes, I was and still am an alpha. That demands my pack’s obedience. But you are still free to choose.”
“Choose?”
“To remain as you are—one of the Twelve, respected and honored for that alone. Or to choose to become part of my pack and accept me as your alpha.” Silverblade stroked her hair behind her ear and she felt his lips brush against it as he spoke. “My preference would be to see you become pack, but I will honor any decision you make.”
Now that was a dangerous and yet intriguing choice.
“This human is one of the Twelve?” A voice with feminine tones reached between her and Silverblade, stealing the warmth that had been intensifying between them.
Looking over his shoulder, Beatrice’s eyes locked with those belonging to a giant of a female. The newcomer was equal in height to Silverblade and only marginally narrower through the chest and shoulders.
Silverblade stiffened as he turned to face the female. “Yes, and her name is Beatrice. As you pointed out, she is a member of the Twelve. You will show her the same respect that would be granted me. Beatrice, this is Autumn Shadow, alpha and co-ruler of Highwater’s Pack.”
It wasn’t quite hostility she saw in Autumn Shadow’s gaze, but there was some calculation or perhaps frustration, almost like she looked upon Beatrice as a minor annoyance. Or yet another problem the female would have to deal with in a day already filled with them.
Autumn Shadow came forward and greeted Silverblade as some of the other pack members had, but to Beatrice’s way of thinking it was way too long and intimate. Though Silverblade didn’t shove her aside, so this must be normal.
Breaking away at last, Autumn Shadow looked him over. “Highwater Pack is honored to have one of the Twelve as our alpha male. Come, I will show you where the other members wait.” She started away, heading deeper into the camp.
“The pack should be doubly honored, then.” Silverblade’s raised voice held a cold bite to it. “Beatrice is pack to me.”
“Have you fallen in love?” She asked, sounding both curious and dubious.
A growl escaped him. “If I have, it’s no concern of yours.”
“Ah, but it is. When your pack bonds were severed, we thought you dead and we mourned your loss. Then members of the Twelve arrived with the phoenix prince’s Talisman. The Falcon Staff claimed that your pack bonds had merely been severed, but that you still lived. Your pack bonds must be restored, and quickly. I’ll let your new leaders explain.”
Autumn Shadow started off again, presumably leading them toward Ashayna Stonemantle and Prince Sorntar. Beatrice’s own curiosity was roused by the lupwyn’s words.
“You know something. Tell me what you know!” Silverblade shouted and started after Autumn Shadow’s receding form.
Beatrice knew she couldn’t possibly keep up to them without running, so didn’t even try. Councilor Tav soon took the spot Silverblade had vacated. Although she appreciated having another to walk with in this strange city of tents, Tav wasn’t exactly a reassuring companion.
*****
Beatrice and the councilor eventually caught up to Silverblade and Autumn Shadow. The two lupwyns stood outside a pavilion that was four times as large as the others around it. It wasn’t the large tent which made Beatrice slow her steps though. The two lupwyns were waging what sounded like a vigorous argument. She couldn’t be certain of the topic since they were speaking in the lupwyn tongue, but it wasn’t a great stretch of the imagination to assume it had something to do with her.
The tent flap was pulled back and a tall phoenix with indigo plumage stepped out and looked at the two snarling lupwyns. The crown prince’s expression showed mild curiosity, but he seemed to decide it wiser not to get involved and turned in Councilor Tav and Beatrice’s direction. He called a greeting to the councilor and then his eyes landed on Beatrice and merriment lighted his face.
His long-legged strides carried him forward quickly and he clasped both her shoulders. “Welcome to the Twelve, little sister. It is a joyous occasion to greet another of our number.” The honest warmth of his greeting negated any awkwardness she might have felt at having a royal greet her in such a way.
Just behind the phoenix prince the tent flap was tossed back a second time and Ashayna Stonemantle emerged. Her eyes landed on Beatrice and she smiled. “It’s good to see you survived your run in with the—”
The eldest Stonemantle sister was cut off by a loud exclamation from inside the tent.
There was a minor scuffle inside by the sound of it. “Shift over, I can’t squeeze through there.” Another exclamation was followed by, “Ah. Get off my foot!”
The tent flap snapped back a third time and the youngest of the Stonemantle sisters emerged. She looked around, spotted Beatrice, and then ran, limping, over to her side.
Before Beatrice had a chance to brace herself, the taller and stronger woman nearly knocked her to the ground with an exuberant hug.
“I’m so relieved those cursed acolytes didn’t get you or your grandmother and brother.” Sorsha wrapped an arm around her and started to drag her bodily toward the tent. “It’s about time we had some more good news. Ever since we mended the shattered Falcon Staff all she’s spewed is dire news and dark tidings.”
“It’s good to see you, too,” Beatrice said and smiled even though she’d didn’t know what her friend was talking about. Relief washed over her body. There had been times she wasn’t sure if she would ever see her friend again.
Sorsha sl
ung an arm around her shoulder. “Come. There’s much you and the lupwyn need to be told.” The taller girl looked over to where Silverblade and Autumn Shadow had finally stopped arguing to watch the spectacle that was the youngest Stonemantle sister.
Silverblade rejoined Beatrice and she thought he was going to apologize for leaving her behind but Sorsha suddenly leaned back, craned her neck to look around Beatrice to where Silverblade was standing on her other side.
Sorsha laughed, directing her next comment at the lupwyn. “Ah, you’re the trapper that was courting Beatrice. I thought there was something odd about you that one time we met. The Falcon Staff only said that a lupwyn and another human had joined our ranks. It wasn’t until Councilor Tav sent a message on ahead, that we learned the human was Beatrice.”
Silverblade bowed his head. “The Falcon Staff has my thanks. I’d not wish a third encounter with the acolytes.”
“Persistent bastards.” Sorsha agreed. She eyed Silverblade, taking in his altered form. “Looks like you ran afoul of some powerful magic? Don’t worry, you should see what one of the Oracle towers did to Shadowdancer and I.” Sorsha waved one hand, gesturing back toward the tent.
When Beatrice followed where the other woman pointed, it was all she could do not to gasp. She’d seen many strange things in the last days. She’d met lupwyns, phoenix, and santhyrians, but she couldn’t place what species she was looking at now. Santhyrian partly? From the withers down, the male had the horse-like body of a santhyrian, but merging seamlessly with the santhyrian part was a powerfully built human upper body. Her healer’s magic wanted to immediately start a study of him, but Beatrice reined it back, not wanting to insult Shadowdancer.
In truth he looked like one of the creatures spoken of in legends back in her homeland. It took her a moment to dredge up the name. Ah, yes. Centaur. Shadowdancer now looked like a centaur.
“You met Shadowdancer briefly when Prince Sorntar brought Ashayna back to River’s Divide for a visit. This was the price we had to pay for the Oracle’s help. It’s a price I’m now more than happy I paid. The Oracle’s magic allowed us to recover the Falcon Staff before acolytes could find and consume her. It also saved my life and gifted me with the ability to shapeshift.” Sorsha leaned forward and added in a whisper. “He’s a little put out, because he hasn’t recovered enough to shapeshift yet himself and finds it…frustrating.”
“My ears work just fine, though,” Shadowdancer said in a bland voice.
Ashayna stepped forward then. “We have many stories to share, but those will have to wait for later. We have greater concerns that require our attention. The Falcon Staff has warned that the acolytes’ master has plans for the people of River’s Divide.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Beatrice shifted in her chair restlessly. It wasn’t that the chair was uncomfortable, but if she couldn’t get up and stretch her legs she was going to lose all feeling in them. Candlemarks of sitting tended to do that.
They’d shared a great deal of the history of the Twelve with her. More than she could possibly remember, but to be honest she was more interested in the current dangers than in the origins of the Twelve. The important bit was that the Twelve were reborn in times of trouble to restore balance and destroy evil.
It was clear they’d been reborn this time to deal with the acolytes.
And as each individual member merged their magic with the others, the entire group became far stronger.
Presently Crown Prince Sorntar was using mind speech to relay what they discussed with his parents who were even now mustering an army with the help of the lupwyn rulers. By tomorrow morning, they would arrive by Gate with an army of Elementals at their heels.
While she waited for the phoenix to finish his report to his elders, Beatrice allowed her eyes to wander. Luxurious tapestries formed the inside ‘walls’ of the pavilion. Thick, plush carpets lined the floor and ornate wood furniture that matched the table she sat at gave it the feel of a royal suite. Clearly, even though both santhyrians and lupwyns were nomadic peoples, they liked their creature comforts.
Her eyes wandered to the right where Silverblade had seated himself. On his other side sat Autumn Shadow. Ashayna, Councilor Tav, and Sorsha were seated across from them. With Shadowdancer standing at the one end of the table and Sorntar at the other.
Sorntar stood with his head bowed, unmoving as he communicated with the Council of Elders over a vast distance Beatrice couldn’t really comprehend. While the phoenix might not have moved so much as a feather, the same couldn’t be said of the Falcon Staff he held in one hand.
The talisman was as tall as Prince Sorntar, its shaft made out of a glossy dark wood. Spaced at even hand spans apart were wide gold rings that glowed to her mage sight. Some ancient language she did not know was etched into the bands, likely telling something of importance. But that wasn’t what kept her gaze wandering back to the staff.
It was the staff’s namesake, a life-sized falcon made of gold that had her studying it.
The jeweled eyes caught the light cast by the mage globes where they floated near the pavilion’s high ceiling. Depending on how the falcon moved, a rainbow of colors would reflect across the table’s polished surface.
Made of metal and magic, the falcon was clearly spell work of the highest order. It fit with her idea of what a talisman should be. What came as a surprise was the very real spirit housed within the talisman. Her healer’s magic told her this being was ancient, powerful and wise, but totally foreign at the same time.
As if sensing her regard, the falcon stopped preening her metal feathers and fluffed them once before settling them back in place and turning her sharp gaze upon Beatrice.
Disconcerted, Beatrice looked away.
Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Sorntar look up and give his feathered crest a little fluff not unlike the staff had moments ago.
“My mother will continue to gather the army and be ready to move it into place at our order. She’s leaving it up to us to best decide how to get to General Stonemantle and determine if he or his senior officers have been corrupted by the acolytes or not. If he is not tainted, she would like to include him.”
Ashayna nodded. “He is astute and never has trusted the acolytes. If we give him solid evidence that they are slaves to a demon, he will do everything in his power to eradicate the danger that has taken root in River’s Divide.”
Silverblade leaned forward. “We can’t blindly assume he is untouched by the acolytes. More of them have been arriving by ship. Their numbers may now be enough that they grow bold enough to start making slaves of others that are not acolytes.”
The Falcon Staff’s strange, hollow voice echoed softly around the tent. “That is why the Hunter and the Healer will shortly return to the city of River’s Divide in their disguises of herb witch and trapper. Together you stand the best chance to learn if General Stonemantle can still be trusted.”
“I serve the Twelve gladly,” Silverblade said, but his expression turned guarded. “However, I will need time. My Larnkin is recovering thanks to Beatrice’s care, but I am still unable to shapeshift.”
From his other side, Autumn Shadow addressed the table. “Your pack bonds must be restored before such a dangerous undertaking.”
“It would be best, but there is not enough time, not if Beatrice and I are expected to leave on our mission within a few days. Besides, the strength of the pack is not what will be needed during this mission. Stealth, not strength, will serve us better.”
“Truth,” the Falcon Staff agreed and Beatrice felt Silverblade relax beside her.
He’d been tense all day, ever since he’d had that argument with Autumn Shadow.
The female lupwyn looked toward the Falcon Staff. “Did I misunderstand what you asked of me last night, then?”
“You did not.”
“I still don’t understand.”
That made two of them Beatrice decided.
Beside her, Silverblade stiffened a
gain.
The Falcon Staff shifted on her perch and looked between Beatrice and Silverblade. “Autumn Shadow explained this to Silverblade earlier, but he has been remiss in sharing it with you.”
“None of you have given me time,” Silverblade said bitterly. “I would prefer to explain this to Beatrice alone, if you would give us a moment.”
“No,” the Falcon Staff replied. “Circumstance has not dealt you a pleasant task, but you will do what you must. The acolytes’ master has given us no time to worry over bruised feelings.” Jeweled eyes locked upon Beatrice’s then. “For the first time, the Hunter has been separated from his pack. That has never happened before. As his title implies, his greatest power is to find what is lost. In this case we need him to find the other Talismans, but like all lupwyns, his power is tied to his pack. Once his pack ties are restored, his power will flow down the links to each member of his pack. While the Hunter may only be able to be one place at a time, if he orders members of his pack to disperse and use his power to seek the lost Talismans, his reach will greatly increase.”
“I can see how that power will be greatly needed, and I understand why we don’t have much time, but surely if Silverblade and I are allowed to heal his pack bonds…”
“No.” The metal falcon hopped from her perch and walked across the table. “If you and Silverblade mate, he will be bonded to you instead of his pack. I am sorry. I know this will be difficult for you both since the Healer and the Hunter have always been mates in the past. But this lifetime we are all at a disadvantage and are required to make sacrifices. After he has forged new bonds with Autumn Shadow, he will again be alpha of his pack and be free to resume his relationship with you without risk. I am sorry. Long, long, long ago, I was once flesh and blood. I still remember the pain of heartache.”
The Falcon Staff gave a little bob of her head and then flew back to her perch. Sorntar shifted uneasily as if he didn’t know what to say into the silence.
Beatrice couldn’t speak past the lump lodged in her throat, and Silverblade was a silent, angry presence at her side.
Maiden's Wolf (In Deception's Shadow Book 3) Page 18