The Faena turned to Javes. "Truth.”
Javes got out of his chair and stood next to mine. "Look at me, Lieutenant."
I raised my head.
"The Faena cat says that through eating, drinking and breathing, I ingested enough fairy dust to become one."
I nodded. "Yes, sir.”
Javes spread his arms out, looking down. "Yet I seem to be the same person my mother birthed all those years ago." He looked up again and I watched his brown eyes bleed into the yellow of the wolf. "There's nothing magical about either me, Suiden or Groskin that I can see."
'Tell him what you see, Rabbit," Laurel said.
"Hey, stop right there—" Groskin began.
"A dragon prince, a wolf and a panther," I said.
"—I'm human and nothing but human—" Groskin stopped. "Uh, who's the panther?"
"You are.”
"Well, we know who's the dragon prince so that leaves me the wolf." The yellow eyes gleamed at me as Javes' muzzle dropped open in a tongue-lolling grin. "But, for all we know, these visions could be from those leaves you pushed down Rabbit's throat, Ambassador. I've heard there are mushrooms that do the same thing.” I looked at Suiden. "His hair is in many braids almost to his waist, beaded. He has three gold rings in one ear and an emerald stud in the other. His clan markings on his face are inked with blue, there is a tattoo of dolphins on his left arm, above the gold, sapphire, and emerald bracelet on his wrist.
He is wearing a green and blue silk tunic with sleeves that stop at the upper arm, and black pants that end just below his knees. He has two swords, a straight one on his back and a curving one on his hip. Two daggers in his sash." I looked down. "And he is barefoot.” This time the silence was absolute. Suiden ran his hand over his short hair, before touching an earringless ear, then lowered it to run it over the sleeve of his plain shirt. "And the dragon?" he asked after a moment.
"Obsidian. Huge. Bigger than any I've ever seen." My mouth twisted. "Drinking tea from the daintiest cup I've ever seen.”
Laurel's brows drew together. "Teacup? No fire or smoke?”
"Yeah, that too." I watched for a moment more. "A lot of that.”
For the first time, Laurel looked a little nervous. Then he waved it away with a paw. "Rabbit has the ability to discern. To see beyond the facade, the obvious, to what's really there. It's not a lotus dream.”
Javes stared at Suiden, fascinated. "Then why can't we see it?” Laurel shrugged again. "Perhaps the final catalyst to effect the complete translation hasn't happened yet. Or perhaps it's because of the very human trait of refusing to acknowledge anything outside your own mundane world-view. But trust me, you are translated.”
Javes opened his mouth, but Suiden spoke before he could. "Perhaps. And perhaps not. But whatever is going on with Iversterre and its people, it still doesn't give you the right to bespell one of my men.”
"Not a spell." Laurel released my hand to lean forward in his chair "It is not making Rabbit something he's not, but giving him control over his talents as he grows into who he is.”
"It seemed to me that a few moments ago, you were controlling him." Suiden leaned forward also. "That thing on your paw burned and he screamed in pain."
"Rabbit reacted to my anger. Training will stop that."
"So says you," Javes said.
"Faena don't lie, sir," I said. "They can't, not even to themselves." I held my hand up, showing the rune, and ignored Groskin's flinch. "Truth. Not a truth, not my truth or yours, sir. The Truth.”
"No one can stand knowing the truth, Rabbit," Suiden said. "At least not for long.”
"Yes, sir. It's how the Border won the last war." I lowered my hand again. "The Faena lift the rune of truth and suddenly you see yourself, your commanders, your mates exactly for what everyone is. Not only the weak, the venal, the vicious, but the motives behind every loving word, every kind deed, every blessing. All of it, sir." I went back to tracing the marking in my palm. "You're right. No one can stand it and the Royal Army went mad."
"But I thought the trees—" Groskin began.
"They came after the Faena," I said.
Suiden leaned back in his chair, making it creak. His eyes narrowed at Laurel. "Why are you here?"
"To prevent another war."
"And your journey has nothing to do with Rabbit?"
"His father recommended him as a liaison.”
Suiden frowned at the neat evasion. I watched the dragon set his cup down, smoke curling up around his face, and I forgot about my hand. "Uh, Laurel—"
"Do not jerk me about, cat.”
Laurel's ears laid back and his pupils dilated dark. 'The rune was necessary as he was a threat to himself and others. Accept it." The beads on his staff rattled as he pulled it to him.
"Uh, Captain Suiden—”
"You told me that he was neither in danger nor a danger. You lied then or you lie now." The smoke increased and flames licked out on both sides of the dragon's mouth. "Perhaps both.”
"Once the rune was drawn, he wasn't." Laurel's neck fur rose. "And. I. Do. Not. Lie." He stood, holding the staff in front of him.
"On my lieutenant, without my permission." The dragon rose up on his hind legs, his gold-shot black wings outspread.
'Do you own him? No. You don't." A rumble started in Laurel's chest as he unsheathed his claws again while the dragon opened his mouth, drew in a deep breath and lifted a taloned hand.
Once a dragon from outside our Weald tried to move in on Moraina's territory. My family had to hide in the root cellar, along with every other creature that could find its way there (it got very crowded), while the battle took place over our farm. We prayed at first that they wouldn't harm our house and fields.
Partway through the prayers changed to not too badly damaged. Then to just be able to put it all back together again, somewhat. Then that we live. Then that our bodies be recognizable. Then that they'd be found. Rune or not, I was not hanging about while Laurel Faena and Captain Dragon Prince Suiden battled it out. I jumped out of my seat, grabbed Groskin, saluted, then grabbed Javes and hustled them in front of me to the hallway door. I flung it open and shoved them out as fast as I could.
"Where are you going, Rabbit?”
Blast, almost made it. I spun around, standing at attention. "Someplace safe, sir!” The dragon and the Faena blinked the same look at the same time. Their eyes then shifted behind me. Jeff had managed to keep the area around the door free and clear of anyone who had itchy ears. But beyond the circle of his guard post were as many troops as could crowd into the hallway, their eyes as round as saucers. And right in the middle of them all was the same royal servant of that morning.
It was the second time that I had seen Captain Suiden disconcerted. He fussed with his tabard, jerking it straight. Laurel was worse. He stared for a moment and then, turning his head, ran his tongue over his shoulder a couple of times. Both of them pretended very hard that they weren't about to try to rip each other's guts out the moment before.
"Have Captain Javes and Lieutenant Groskin come back in, Lieutenant Rabbit," Suiden said, "and bring Trooper Jeffen."
"Sir—" I indicated the royal servant.
"I see him, Lieutenant." Suiden nodded at the man. "I will be with you in a moment.” I shut the door before the servant could respond, meeting Jeff's eyes for a brief panicked moment before we moved to the back of the room, as far away from the captain and Laurel as possible. Suiden allowed it for one moment.
"Both of you come here.”
There was nothing for it but to join Javes and Groskin in front of Suiden's desk. Laurel stood off to the side, having propped his staff against the wall. He started preening the other shoulder and Suiden pulled at his shirt cuffs. The captain then looked at Jeff. "I take it that you've heard most of what was said here."
Jeff gave the tiniest of nods. "I also understand that Captain Javes has told you his theory of keeping secrets." Jeff's nod was bigger. "Good. Then I don't have to explain what will happen if any of this gets out, do I?" This time Jeff shook his head frantically. "Very good—”
There was a tap at the door. Suiden gestured and I opened it, and was not surprised to find the royal servant on the other side. I caught movement and saw Ryson trying to sidle closer. I backed up to allow the servant in and, leaving the door open, folded my arms and leaned against the door frame so I could see both out the door and into the room.
Reaching the desk, the royal servant bowed and then reached inside his thin coat, pulling out a gilt-edged card. "Please forgive my insistence, Your Highness—” There was a stir out in the hallway as the man's words reached the lingering troopers. Ryson, who was bending over pretending to have something in his boot, straightened so fast that he gave himself muscle strain. I smiled as he grabbed his lower back.
"—but the king is holding a reception tonight in honor
of the arrival of the first Border ambassador to Iversterre—” The stir became mild pandemonium while inside the room Laurel looked up in mid-tongue swipe and Captain Suiden stopped fidgeting with his tabard.
"—and you, Captain Prince Suiden, Captain Javes, and Lieutenant Lord Rabbit ibn Chause e Flavan are commanded to escort the ambassador and are given leave to enjoy the king's pleasure.”
It was a balmy evening, the sunset an afterglow on the horizon. Captains Suiden and Javes, Laurel, and I were in an open carriage on our way to the Royal Palace, with Jeff and another trooper as our outriders.
We weren't the only ones—the streets were full with city folk out to enjoy the night's respite from the heat. From my seat behind the driver, I could see their reaction as they realized who had just gone by, their faces turned towards us in the flickering light of the streetlamps.
Laurel decided that a royal reception was not the place to bring a corpse or detached body parts, so the spritewood and skin were left at home. The Faena carried only his staff and wore just his beads and feathers. When the palace servant opened the door to our carriage, he saw a large, very male mountain cat standing on his back legs holding a big stick. He needed no prompting to bow low as the Faena stepped down. The rest of us followed and we joined the line of guests going up the red-carpeted marble stairs to the brightly lit double wide doorway. While they didn't point and stare, there was a lot of whispering, and wide gaps opened up between us and those in front and behind.
When we reached the top, Suiden presented our invitations to the short and rather dried-up-looking majordomo standing at the doorway, who read them closely. Satisfied we weren't gate-crashers, he turned and bellowed, "Ambassador Laurel, Captain Prince Suiden, Captain Javes, and Lieutenant Lord Rabbit ibn Chause e Flavan."
As I waited for the ringing in my ears to go away, I watched how everyone—guests, musicians, servers, royal guards, and servants—stopped and stared as we descended into the reception hall.
Another one of the king's servants had waded his way through the crowded room and now waited for us at the bottom step. As soon as we reached him, he bowed. "Grace to you, Your Highness, Ambassador Laurel, Captain, my lord. If you'll follow me, I'll take you to the receiving line." He eyed the Faena's staff.
"Uh—”
"I promise I won't hit anyone with it," Laurel murmured.
We were led to a large room off the main hall where there was another line. I was sunk in the numbness that had surrounded me all afternoon and paid little heed to those around me as we waited to be presented. However, as we neared the king, I felt someone staring a little harder than the rest and I turned my head to meet the gaze of a uniformed man standing a little before the throne. At the same time both Javes and Suiden stood a little straighten
"Lord Thadro," Javes murmured to me. "The Lord Commander of the Royal Army and of the Royal Guard.” At that moment, someone who looked just like the ma-jordomo announced our names, and I rose from my bow to look in King Jusson IV's face as he smiled.
"Welcome, Ambassador Laurel, Prince Suiden, and Captain Javes." He paused and his smile widened as he looked at me. "And welcome, cousin. Welcome home.”
I was a small child when the news reached my parents' farm that King Jusson had succeeded his queen mother, and he had been grown then. But instead of someone of middle years, a decade and a half into his rule, I stared at a man who looked my age. He also looked like a dark elf from the Border city-states—tall and slender with a mass of black hair, winged brows, and tilted eyes with gold etched around black irises. Instead of sitting on an ornate throne, he was seated in a plain chair, on a dais raised only enough so that, seated, he would be face level with those who stood before him. And instead of the elaborate jeweled crowns I had seen in engravings of Iversterre's previous rulers, he wore a simple circlet of gold. As did the elf kings of old.
The king laughed. "Look, we have dumbfounded him.”
As Lord Commander Thadro looked questioningly at me, I felt a thump on my side and I bowed again.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. It's just that I am not used to thinking of myself as kin to the king.”
King Jusson's smile changed. "Oh? Your parents haven't spoken of our family ties?”
The numbness was disappearing fast as I contemplated the hole I'd dug for myself. "They have, Your Majesty. It's just that—" I stopped as the king's brow rose.
"Yes?”
I bowed once more and gave a wry smile. "It's just that I'm an idiot, Your Majesty. Thank you for your kind words.”
The king seemed willing to overlook my gaffes. "You are welcome, cousin. You're not an idiot, though. It seemed that you were someplace else and we took you by surprise.”
Maybe he wasn't so willing. I was conscious of the silence in the room as everyone strained to hear our conversation. "I am having difficulties adjusting to the heat, Your Majesty, and was thinking how much cooler it is in Freston." My palm started to burn and I curled it behind my back.
"I'd rather the heat and Iversly, Your Majesty, no matter how cool Freston may be," a man standing on the other side of the throne said. His blue eyes rested on me, derisive in an otherwise open, pleasant face.