Shadow

Idonia Torbet

As night fell and the light dinner of beef stew and honey bread was cleared. Rae and I began dressing for the banquet tonight. Rika had a shining silver headpiece sent to me for the evening. I recognized it from the Khanea room, worn by a noble Khanea who kept the peace while her mate lay ailing in bed.

As I dress in a navy blue dress with silver trim on the hem and large open sleeves, I bring up the issue with Rae. “Why don’t you tell him? You’ve known him longer than you’ve known me. You trust him to keep the secret.”

“I fear it won’t be a secret for long.”

“You think Khannun Kol will release the truth of your birth?”

“I don’t think he will. I think he’s given the information to someone else to promote distrust with my family. It is a giant secret that was kept from all the Aerals and Masters. If they don’t trust us or support us then we cannot rule.”

I move across the room and touch his back. His shoulders move up and down, a few tiny pops coming from them as he does. “I believe in you.”

“There was a time when you didn’t.”

“And if you can change my mind, you can change theirs,” I assure him with a light smile. He also chuckles lightly, turning to face me. I help him tie the top of his matching colored shirt with leather color accents. He also adorns a silver headpiece with decorative antlers popping out the top. As I place my hands on his chest, leaning into him, Rae adjusts my woven silver headpiece.

“You are my mate,” he sighs, wrapping his large arms around me. Arms I have always found comfort in. “You were bound to come around.”

“And I couldn’t image it differently.”

We stand there silent for many seconds. Arms wrapped around each other and hearts beating in sync. His head leans into the nape of my neck, and Rae inhales deeply. As he takes multiple deep breathes, his arms hold me tighter.

A knock on the door ruins the silence, “Rae, Idonia, are you ready?” Rikki asks from the outside of the door.

I nod slowly, pulling away from the male who captured my heart. “Let’s go,” I whisper. He nods once, taking my arm and placing it in the crook of his. We leave the room.

Out of the door we see all the Viker lining the hall. Each named Viker is wearing their traditional clothes; black leather plants, red tunics, a leather vest, and iron emblems (one the symbol of Vikers and one a symbol of the family they serve). Over their sholders are brown and white dear furs and at their hips are their weapons. A Viker must always be armed. Disa stood beside Rikki, wearing a brown dress with her own iron accessories and beads and jewels.

“I hope you’re all ready and have found your rooms to your liking,” I say to them before Rae starts leading me down the hall. One-by-one, they all fall into place behind us. Rikki and Disa walk behind us, Avon and Cuyler behind them, then Kosta and Hertha, and Olen taking up the rear.

We makes the way to the ball room, where light music is playing, courtiers dance or laugh, the rest of Rae’s family mixed among them, as well as many other contestant from the competition. As we entered, each of us are announced throughout the room.

“Dance with me,” Rae whispers, whisking me off the the floor before I can even answer. When the music resumes, he leads us though the dance. His eyes never land on me, instead they survey the room, looking over faces and accounting for everyone. “Father is here.”

“Khannun Kol? I thought he was required to be here.”

“No--” Rae cuts himself off. “Ragnvald.”

“Oh,” I gasp lightly as he spins me. As I an brought back to his chest, Rae gives me a playful smirk.

“Scared to meet him?”

“He can’t be worst than Khannin Kol,” I mutter, making Rae all but bark in laughter. I see some court females whispering and pointing at us.

“They still make you uncomfortable.”

“Many of them moved to court to catch your eye,” I remind him.

“Alas I fled north to find you,” he dips down to kiss me as the song ends. “Too bad for them all.”

I giggle as he leads me away and toward the scene where Avon, Hertha, and his blood father waited. Ragnvald shared Rae’s red hair, though his was longer, curlier, and slightly more worn from age. A few of the red stands near his scalp were turning grey with age. His beard bore the same coloring, but many of it’s strands were braided.

“Raedwulf,” Ragnvald smiling, showing the absence of one of his teeth. The older man wraps his arms around my mate, slapping his back a few times before pulling me away. “I like the beard.”

Rae chuckles, turning to me, which triggers my eye roll response. Rae knows I prefer his beard trimmed than the unruly nature it adopted over the winter season. “It will be trimmed for the coronation. Rika and I have decided already.”

“You’re no fun,” Rae complained, returning to my side.

“I am tons of fun, you just have yet to realize it yet.”

“Oh, I realize,” he purrs in my head. Making sure to flash a few images of our bedroom activities. “Uncle Ragnvald, this is my mate and future Khanea, Khanelea Idonia Torbet-Dolph.”

“It is a pleasure,” Ragnvald hugs me next, taking me off guard.

“How is Hella fairing in Nautabu?”

“Settling well. I’m sorry I have not returned sooner but when word reached that you were bringing home your mate I had to stop in Skogarstrond for a gift."

I stood speechless, not knowing how to respond. Thankfully, Avon speaks for me. "Uncle Ragnvald is an expert gift giver. Mother says he spoils us."

"Yes, as if the royal pups aren't spoiled as it is. There was also news of Rikki's pup so there was another stop for a labor gift for the lovely Disa and the pup as well. No one had yet to tell me their lycanhood."

"Female," Rae tell him. "Sinnika Helvig."

"This is Aeral Ohlson's first grandpup, no?"

"It is not. His eldest, Davynn, has two by his mate."

"Is he planning to visit before the coronation to see her?"

"No, he is still mourning Danal."

"Of course," he takes on a sober look. "How are you doing with that?"

"Khanelea," Kosta comes up to me. "Khannun Kol wishes to speak with you."

Both males in front of me tense. Then Rae says, "Let's go."

But Kosta stops him. "He wants her alone."

"Hertha," Rae looks over to his sister and Viker. She nods once and takes me over to Khannun Kol with Kosta on my other side. As we approach, he watches my moves, looking me up and down a few times, scowling at the two Viker at my side, and finally giving me a sickening smile.

"You don't need the guard puppies, shoo with the both of you," Khannun Kol waves his hand off, but they look to me first. Hertha and Kosta only walk over to a nearby wall once I nod my head. They stay far enough not to hear, but close enough to watch for me needing them. "Tell me, are you carrying Raedwulf's spawn yet?"

"Not that I know, but I want for the gods to grant me a pup soon."

"Of course," he nods a few times, looking over the crowd of people. Many of them are his own Viker and their mates and pups. Sage Raudebjorn is here with his four of his seven pups and their extensive network of grandpups. If I am not mistaken I believe there are one or two great-grandpups as well. Though pups not having five years are not permitted at banquets such as this.

"Is there something you need of me, your mightiness?"

His eyes go up and then focus again on me. "Honesty."

"I fail to remember when I've lied to you."

"You have not lied yet," his hands cross behind him and hook there. "What do you know of my armies plans?"

I don't miss a beat, "Why, I believe you are planning to send them east, past Asar."

"What do you know of the east, Khanelea?"

"Very little, I'm afraid. Though I have been trying to study on all the important parts of the Khannundom. Asar is best known for fishing and the glass trade. As for the Waer-Asar Sealands, they are known for... for..."

"Very little," Khannun Kol says for me. "They are known for being small islands in the Waer-Asar Sea. I'm sure you have an extensive knowledge of Iiesha."

"I know that fear and blood wait in the shadowlands."

"Fear and blood," Khannun Kol tried the phrase on his lips. "Fear and blood wait for all good lycan in every corner of life."