Shadow

Raedwulf Dolph

I can smell Idonia on the floor. My beast, my instincts telling me to go find her and hold her. Something must be wrong. I wonder if some men gave her trouble training, or maybe she is stressed by the move. Either way, I have to ignore it. I have to take Mother’s advice and be a leader, not a mate.

Noon rolls around though, and I know there is a council meeting to attend. Sighing, I stand from my desk and go to the room where Idonia sat. She stares calmly out the window, barely noticing my presence.

“Idonia?”

She jumps at my voice, turning to me. “You’re here.”

“We have a council meeting,” I remind her. She nods and stands, straightening out her dress. When she walks over to me, I grab both of her shoulders. “Are you alright?”

“Perfectly fine,” she smiles lightly at me.

“We can talk after,” I offer to her. There is a longing in the bond, something from her side that has me worried.

“I have tea with your mother.”

“Right,” I take a deep breath. “Then we should be off.”

I take her hand and we walk down the hall and through the many twists and turns of the castle. “How was training?”

“Good, there was a male there that helped Olen with his aim. His name is Kosta Nenouf. I believe he is one of the soldiers Khannun Kol had been collecting.”

“Probably, I’ve never heard his name so he isn’t a royal Viker.”

“Olen seems to like it here, besides the large expanse of your homestead.”

“Do you like it here?”

“I like...” she pauses for a second. “Being with you.”

“But you hate the titles,” I explain. Remembering one of our many fights in Theris. I have tried not to bring up the issues or the differences between us. We have been doing good lately, acting more like mates. Plus, I do not want the Khannun to know we were fighting or have the potential to fight. It would only warrant further disapproval.

“I don’t hate it here,” she clarifies for me. “I’m withstanding judgement for a week.”

“Wow, I didn’t even get that long,” I joke.

“I’m trying, Rae,” she whines. I stop us in the hall, checking both ways to see it empty.

“I know, my love.” I cup her face and her hands move to cover mine. Our lips meet briefly. “Tomorrow I want to take Mikkeal and Olen to the breeders who live outside the city. That way they can train their own colt, will you come?”

“Of course.”

“If you don’t mind, I know he trains as your Viker, but I would like to help them both.”

“I like the idea. I can use that time to train myself or work with your mother in being a good Khanelea.”

“You’re already a good Khanelea,” I assure her. “The best I’ve ever know.”

Idonia scoffs lightly, “We should continue on our way.”

I nod, kissing her once more, then we take off again. Once we reach the wooden doors of the council room, painted with the royal emblem and bearing golden hinges and knobs. “Khannun Kol, Mother, four Viker, and a sage healer.” I inform her.

The doors open, revealing that all were present except for the Khannun. They all stood at my entry, I take my place to the head seat’s right, Idonia beside me.

“Khanel,” Viker Helvig stars while bobbing his head. “How was your journey, fruitful I see?”

“It was, this is my mate Idonia Torbet,” I introduce her to the men. Then I point to each as I name them off. “These are Vikers Helvig, Ansson, Eindridi, and Bard. You of course, know my mother, Khanea Rika. Finally this is Sage Ketill Raudebjorn."

"It is an honor," Idonia greets all of them.

"Not so much as finally having you here. You are most welcome here, Madam Idonia," Sage Raedebjorn speaks next, his voice raspy with old age. He had on my grandfather's council as well, and his age shown through with white wisps of hair on his chin and depart from his head.

The doors open once more and Khannun Kol enters. We all stand before he sits at his chair and the meeting begins.

"How is the training of my army coming?"

"On schedule, though many males are better at shoveling shit than swinging a sword," Viker Bard states first, sniffling and hacking up a chunk of something in his throat. "Probably should just send them back."

"We can put the worst of them on the front lines to slow down the enemy."

"Speaking of, who is our enemy?" I ask the Khannun. "Who are we fighting?"

"Fishing ships from Asar have reporting finding new land."

"How many ships report this?"

"Three, and I've sent my own to scout the area. They all report the same lush land about a week sail from Asar."

"But other ships in the past have report no land out there. How can there suddenly be an island east of Asar."

"I don't know, there just is. It is my aspiration to conquer it before I pass the crown to you and the whole of the Isles goes to shit."

I can feel Idonia tense beside me. "How do we know that these lands aren't inhabited by something worst than shadowbeasts?"

"There is nothing worst than shadowbeasts, Khanel," the Sage assures me. "And there can be no shadowbeasts on an island where the sun rises."

"There are some on Theris and the sun rises there," I correct him. "In fact there is a part of the island shroud in darkness for much of the year."

"It is one horde, easily managed by their native Viker," Eindridi brushes me off. "Tell me, Madam Torbet, is it not tradition there to kill one as a rite of passage?"

"It is."

"See," he points to her. "They handle it well. Plus this conquering will give you new land to rule over, Khanel. It is beneficial to you so don't fight it."

"What if they are humans?" Mother asks next. "Do we kill all of them or integrate them into our society through breeding?"

"We don't need to speak of that now," Khannun Kol blitzes right past her. "All we must worry about are the soldiers and the ships. How are the ships coming?"

Viker Bard begins to speak, but I cut him off. "What about winter?"

Khannun Kol grumbles, "What about it?"

"Nights already grow longer. The north us already seeing frost and snow. What do we do when there isn't enough food to feed the people in the city let alone your army?"

"Why should I care about the people of the city? Will they win me new land?"

"No but they pay your taxes, forge your steel, weave your clothes. My travel has brought me new knowledge about--"

"Look at him," Khannun Kol cuts me off, speaking to his Viker while pointing at me. "The pup travels some and now he fancies himself a scholar. Listen to me, Raedwuld, I don't care what you think about this, come spring my army will be ready to sail to this new island and any other new island and cut the throats of any native that tries to stop us, understood?"

"Loud and clear, your mightiness."