Feral Fever

by Feral Fever (lit)

  "Aisling's beautiful, Var. Why do you hold back from her?"

  "I've lived long enough to know females are trouble. She hasn't ordered me to do anything. So, I fulfill my obligations as a guard."

  "I heard the rumors."

  Cursed fire and spit, there were no rumors. "What do you speak of?"

  "How your mother fed the other Queens with your favors."

  "It's best not to give lies credence, Lehd. You'll learn that given you live a few more years."

  Lehd snorted. "I meant no disrespect."

  But the fact the Queens leaked out the information meant others knew I was passed around like a court slut. And to submit to a female was the last thing I intended to do.

  Aisling approached the gaping great hall entrance. Lehd stepped before her and led her into the enormous space lit with Queen's orbs. Being the second largest male in the realms, Lehd caused quite a veil of silence to shroud the room. I wasn't but a finger's width shorter than the Sunset guard though.

  All the Royal Guards canted forward to hear what Ishan and the other three Queens meant to say to the Marshal. Kruk stood at the edge of the crowd of guards, his blue eyes watching Aisling with a predator's stare. He'd bragged about how he almost dragged her to his lodge on his war beast. But the Royal Guards knew the Thunder clan vermin had no right to Aisling given she knew nothing about Luvk law related to masks when he met her. But like all Thunder clansmen, their ability to dig deeply beneath honor and uncover new ways to steal from others never dodged their Royal Guard leader, Kruk.

  The Queens and their guards needed to return to their realms. Soon. Or there would be trouble. Much more than a raid on the Marshal's lodge for Queen's orbs.

  "Welcome to the great hall again, Marshal Aisling. We haven't seen you in days," Ishan called.

  Ishan emphasized the title marshal. Oddly enough.

  "I've been busy. There is much to learn on Luvk."

  "Oh? Are not the Royal Guards helping you? They can tell you anything you need to know."

  Aisling sighed as if annoyed at Ishan's point. "Yes. They are extremely informative."

  "And the raid last night, it was on your lodge. What is missing?"

  "A life."

  Aisling's simple reply was stated in such a manner she obviously meant to conclude the subject with nothing more than noting the loss of a Luvk weighed more heavily upon her than any energy crystals. She didn't care for death by her tone. Nor did she appreciate her guards being killed. Even one who hadn't mated with her.

  "And your Queen's orbs?" Ishan poked further.

  Aisling paced out an invisible path along the base of the platform the Queens lounged upon, then turned back with a suspicious smile with her arms snaked across her chest. "I find it ironic that the wedding gifts I receive from Queens bring a raid down upon my lodge that results in nothing but the loss of those gifted preciosities and the life of one of my guards." She pivoted like a soldier and marched back along the base of the platform. Waiting for a reply. The little Queen.

  "Aisling, are you suggesting we caused the raid?" Ishan demanded, her reddening face livid.

  ?

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Var couldn't believe the Marshal confronted the Queens before every nobleman in the realms except for Borun and the Ice realm Royal Guard. But there she stood, enraging Ishan and the others, he mused. And I hadn't wanted to venture out today.

  Aisling halted, facing the Queens, and dared them to deny any part they may have played in the raid upon her lodge. "Wouldn't you come to the same conclusion?"

  A presence pushed into my mind. "Borun wouldn't like the way this discussion is going," Lehd said.

  Nor would Ovh. The older males were always wiser. Lehd was surprising me though. "Try to get her attention. Bring her closer to us."

  "That's preposterous, Marshal. Nobody wants sky demons shrieking outside their lodges at night. Do you think we relish in our younglings quaking in their sleeping skins? Really, Marshal, you insult me to the fullest." Ishan twisted from side to side making eye contact with the three other displeased Queens. "You insult us all."

  "I have no time for this," Aisling scoffed. "For whatever reason you all choose to lurk in this twisted reunion of clans, more power to you. I've got work to do." She slowly turned with her hands on her hips, meeting everyone's gaze as she scanned the room. "And when I learn who is behind the Slakens' recent raids and the murder of my guard, you have no idea what The Order of the Marshals will be able to do to you. Marshal technology comes from places you can't even imagine. And the technology is even more unimaginable. I promise that your strength as a warrior or political connections as a queen won't help you draw breath in the wake of the chaos you've created." She stormed past me, toward the doorway.

  Lovely point.

  Lehd and I kept at her heels.

  Watching her tear apart the nobility with words made the trip before the Queens worthwhile. Maybe I was wrong about this female.

  * * * *

  Aisling paced back and forth in the guards' quarters, grating her teeth, wishing she had napalm to spit instead of her healing powers. The audacity of these queens, she seethed. I could have hurled knives at them all. "And to think they sat there so smugly. They're playing games with me."

  "Forget what Ishan said," Lehd offered. "The Queens rarely make sense."

  The pompous fools.

  Mart leaned against the window opposite the table and sighed. "You shouldn't give them anything to hold against you. They can't be trusted."

  "Are you warning me about something I should have realized on my own? After all, those conniving females immediately ensured they were all on an equal playing field by planting one of their sons in my care!"

  A little light died in Lehd's eyes.

  Hell. My anger always got the best of me. I plopped down on my knees before Lehd, took his cheeks in my palms, and planted a kiss on his soft lips.

  He opened them to me for a moment and licked my lips.

  The sneak. Cheating in between my therapeutic sessions. I patted his whiskers and rose to face my Royal Guard. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. I should just roll with the punches. I'm stubborn-"

  "No, Aisling, the Queens are self-centered," Var said. "You said what they needed to hear. What everyone needs to hear."

  There spoke my voice of reason.

  He nodded once as if to reassure me I hadn't made a mistake.

  "Borun would have had a fit." I laughed. Where was he though? And tonight I had to give myself an injection.

  My heart sank.

  So what happens now? "I have to stand my ground, or I become a puppet of the Queens."

  "Yes." Mart shoved away from the wall. "Don't give into their ludicrous behavior. Or you'll never unite the clans."

  He was the last person I expected to support me given he always seemed to be withholding something. I eyed him over.

  He looked menacing standing there, head tilted down, arched brow. And he never tied his wild hair back. What was he? A renegade? Or his mystique was all part of his academic persona? I'd spent years mixing with academia and run across a few wild types like him before. Maybe I should be more careful with him in particular. Maybe he couldn't be trusted. "What do you suggest?"

  Mart grabbed the back of an empty chair and leaned on it as if his thoughts weighed heavy on his shoulders. "I don't know what you're really thinking. You've been working on this map." He pointed at the sheet of leather. "And you ask us questions. But what does it all mean? We can't help you unless you tell us everything."

  Maybe that's what he wanted. To know my motivation. "I don't know yet. It's just obvious my lodge was targeted for the raid. If the Slakens are working with the Marshals on their side of the portal, they wouldn't be attacking me. However, it looks like someone on this side is feeding them information or using them to cause friction among the clans. So, why would a clan target me?"

  * * * *

  Var shifted his footing where he stood
with the other guards listening to Aisling. The Marshal was correct, he concluded. He reached out to the others' minds. "Last night's attack may have been a scare tactic."

  Ovh slid his gaze to mine. "To make certain she knew her place. But you said she did anything but cower before the Queens and Royal Guards. However foolish it may have been, she's shown them she won't play their games. She's come to unite the clans and will not be swayed."

  "There aren't enough of us to send for Borun and protect Aisling. We'll have to deal with this the best way we can until his return," Mart said.

  "Stop mindspeaking. I can't hear you," Aisling snapped. "I need you to work with me and not treat me like a simpering female. I may not be as tough as you all. But I can beat the best at throwing knives. And I can heal the wounded. Grant it, I pass out a few hours afterward. It's still a nice perk."

  "What's a perk?" Mart asked.

  "Something good."

  Mart nodded with a grin.

  Not the most respectful reaction given the warrior was of noble training. The white and black striped Sunrise guard wasn't the best choice for Aisling given she had taken all the clan Royal Guard leaders as mates except from his clan. Grant it Kruk wasn't here. But Mart's self-centered high-caste behavior might cause problems. He had to be watched. And if necessary, taken care of. The last thing the Marshal needed was trouble from inside her lodge. I scanned the faces of the other warriors.

  Ovh studied me.

  How long had I been under observation? But I was not the bone of contention here. I'm for clan unification.

  "Since my door is hanging back on my personal quarters, I'd like to be alone a while." Aisling left the room.

  "What should we do?" Lehd asked.

  "Anything to keep the Marshal on the path to clan unification," Ovh said.

  * * * *

  Aisling sank onto Borun's sleeping skins and tried to forget about the tremors in her hands. Alone. Just for a while, she thought. Without some Luvk male breathing down my neck. The day had started out so well. Okay, minus my missing door and crystals. With the Queens out to sabotage my work, the day slowly soured. Why wouldn't they want their people safe? What did they have to gain from a fragmented Luvk population? The Slakens enslaved Luvks. How could slavery be better than embracing unity and freedom? Okay, maybe I'm sounding like a poster child for Western ideas back on Earth. But slavery can't be any fun. Or The Order of the Marshals wouldn't exist.

  A knock rattled at the door.

  The door whined. Orange light shot across the room.

  "Time to eat, Aisling. I've brought my Lord's mate the finest of dinners."

  Morna. She might have answers. I sat up.

  The woman's black and white dress hadn't changed a stitch since the last time I saw her. "Welcome. I hope you can sit with me awhile."

  "Of course. You must miss Borun. His charm is so pleasing. I miss him dearly when he's away."

  Since cold sweat spritzed my brow, I couldn't agree more. All I had to do was think about the way he saved me and chills shook my core.

  Morna descended by the fire pit's dancing flames. "Join me with this fine food."

  No problem. I sat on pillows at her side.

  She handed me a covered dish. "Tonight, you dine upon the freshest fruit of the Satia tree cooked with seared Crol and frule."

  "Alright." I think. My gut isn't complaining, yet.

  The firelight gilded Morna's genuine smile.

  As long as the food isn't strange. I lifted the lid to find something that looked like rice covered with vegetables and a slab of grilled fish. The moment called for a silent prayer to the universe for appeasing my finicky gut.

  "Taste it. Taste it." Morna nudged my arm.

  I grabbed a spoon and stuffed a bite of meat into my mouth.

  Yes, flaky fish-like meat fell apart on my tongue. I nodded to squelch the woman's fears that the offerings on the plate were palatable.

  "When you carry Lord Borun's younglings, I will insist the hunters bring you this fish every day."

  She didn't know? Why the secrecy? The guards would know. I just nodded as if the prospect of eating delectable fish daily was wonderful. I swallowed my fish and smiled. "Have you heard anything about last night's raid? Like theories behind it?"

  "Oh!" Her palm fell on mine. She leaned so close her lips touched my ear. "My maid's brother swears he saw Kruk, your betrothed, slip off into the woods four days ago. He arrived back late last night." She backed away, blinking matter-of-factly. "My ears are open always."

  "Then send for Borun. I want him back." God, someone contact him.

  Morna chuckled a content sound. "Of course. What female could survive aching for him in her sleeping skins? He is the magnificent son I never had." She stared at the fire, sighing.

  "You had children?" I kept eating, hoping to keep her talking.

  "Four daughters. All orange striped. Even now they aren't respected."

  So low-caste sisters of queens and their low-caste daughters are tossed away like burnt food. What is Borun facing with Wryn? "Who did your daughters mate with?"

  She sighed. "With commoners."

  How insane. With all the Royal Guards pining away their lives, how could such an option be rational? The food suddenly tasted like ash.

  * * * *

  Borun pulled back on Jonner's reins and scanned the distant desolate valley lying beyond the edge of the last mountain's ridge of the Starry Sky realm. Just rocks and dust stretched out toward the distant white horizon, the Ice realm. Late tomorrow, I'd beat the setting sun to Var's deceased mother's palace. Luck be with us. For Wryn's sake. She wanted to journey this far as much as I did. But who could argue with Ishan? At least the Royal Guards of the Ice clan hadn't killed us en route. Instead, they'd offered protection and guidance in traveling the quickest route to the village. Meaning I'd be on my way back to Aisling soon.

  The sooner the better the way my skin itched. The blood lust. Nobody rode nearby. Even Wryn sat on her war beast ahead of me. I had privacy to deal with my needs. I extracted the syringe and injected myself.

  Almost instantly the annoying fire vanished.

  I would have rather spent the time with Aisling. Surely she had accepted her guards by now. At least, Lehd. If I didn't believe that, my journey was doomed. That was the only reason I buckled and agreed to escort Wryn. Aisling needed to bond with her guard.

  A war beast trotted past me to slow beside Wryn's.

  The orange male was larger than Mart. Most were given they were bred for size, strength, and power. And Lok, Wryn's visitor, wore the mask of the Royal Guard leader now. He was fierce in battle and never winced in a great hall. The guard would serve a queen well. Or his mate.

  Were they mindspeaking?

  Wryn shot me a glance over her shoulder.

  Was that to see if I watched? Of course I did. I pushed out with my mind. "What's wrong, sister?"

  "Nothing at all, Borun." Her orange hair dangled down her back in a long ponytail like Aisling's.

  My heart sank at the similarity. To hold my mate's silken hair in my hand. To look into her eyes. The way Lok did with Wryn. If my escorting Wryn secured her a safe marriage with an interested male like Lok, the separation from Aisling wasn't in vain. Just torture. But two good things would result from the venture.

  * * * *

  Aisling strode through the shadows into the guards' quarters to get to the bottom of the secrecy in hiding her pregnancy. Morna had been more than helpful in providing gossip and general information, she decided. Now, my mates will fill in the gaps.

  Lehd and Mart ate at the table.

  "Var and Ovh are at the doors?" I asked.

  Lehd tossed his spoon onto his plate and nodded, giving me his full attention. "How was Morna's visit?"

  He should know. He's the guard at my door throughout the day. "Wonderful." I pulled out a chair and descended.

  Both men watched me as if they waited for me to share the village news.

  "She d
oesn't know I'm pregnant."

  "Nobody does." Mart bit into a piece of flatbread.

  Lehd leaned back in his chair. "Borun thought it safer if we kept the news secret as long as possible."

  Why? "Because of Kruk?"

  Mart's glowing gaze slid to mine. "To keep him out of your bed the way a queen shares her sleeping skins with her guards once she's pregnant."

  Lehd shot Mart a shut-up-and-eat glare.

  "Don't shoot daggers at me. We can't shelter Aisling when she needs to understand what's at stake to survive here."

  That was the truth. "Mart's right, Lehd. And I thank you both for caring enough to look out for me in the ways you do."

  They both turned intrigued masks my direction.

  At least based on what I could make out given the sun had set and firelight didn't reveal much in their Luvk features in these murky shadows. "So," I leaned forward, "Morna says low-caste sisters are used to raise the younglings of high-caste nobles?"

  They both nodded.

  "And that low-caste sisters marry whomever will take them?"

  Again they nodded.

  The bobble heads. "So, I'd like to drop a seed that might grow into a wild and crazy vine. And perhaps, that vine might run rampant on Luvk. Consume all seven realms."

  They waited, eyes glowing.

  "If the Royal Guards became a council for the Queens, wouldn't they need mates? Wouldn't low-caste sisters serve a greater purpose politically in marrying into other clans?"

  Their glowing gazes turned between them before locking back upon me.

  "It's a thought. But most guards may find it counterproductive when they can wait for a Queen's favoritism," Mart concluded.

  "Well, have you or any of your brothers every contemplated having a mate all of your own?" Someone had to have brought up the subject at some point.

  "You aren't happy?" Lehd asked.

  Mart's eyes closed as if he were pained.

  "I never said I wasn't happy, Lehd. And I'm not implying in any way that I'm going to send you all back to your mothers. My guards are my guards. And that's the way things will remain. I have no intention of dishonoring anyone." Especially after Proy died protecting me. "But it's just a thought to find purpose for the unmated. Low-caste sisters are just as important as high-caste brothers."