Shapeshifters (21 page)

W
E BOTH WOKE THE NEXT MORNING
to an urgent tapping at the door, followed by A'isha's voice. “Zane, Syfka is back. Rei and Valene have intercepted her at the nest entry, and asked me to fetch you.”

As Danica began to push herself up to join me, I explained, “Valene suggests that we keep you and Syfka apart; apparently the falcons have some atrocious notions when it comes to children.”

She grimaced, but nodded. “I'll savor any excuse not to speak with her. I will probably still be here when you return.”

I kissed her forehead and hurried to make myself presentable before Syfka stormed sha'Mehay. I met Valene and Ailbhe inside the nest door; they informed me that Rei was outside with the falcon.

By the time I reached Syfka, her mood was obviously foul. Her first words, as our group turned to walk toward the palace, were, “You have white vipers in the palace guard?”

Ailbhe stood his ground, not letting himself be flustered.
“I am the leader of Zane's guards,” he answered the falcon, gaze challenging but voice carefully neutral.

“A white viper, a crow from the Royal Flight, and now a raven exile. Strange companions for a cobra king. Valene, what are you doing here?”

“My Diente asked me to stand with him as an advisor,” the raven answered.

“Your Diente?” Syfka repeated skeptically. “Last time I checked, you still had raven's feathers on your nape.”

“Milady, surely your concerns are more pressing than how I word my answers?” Valene sighed, and the falcon nodded.

Syfka turned her ice blue eyes on me, and I was almost disappointed that she was no longer studying my companions. “What have you determined?”

“I've spoken to Danica, as well as members of the Royal Flight and the palace guard. If there are falcons in our midst, none of us have been able to recognize them—which Valene assures me will come as no surprise to you.”

Bluntly, Syfka asserted, “There are certainly falcons among your people. Avian and serpiente armies have been favored hiding places for our exiles since the war began; the turnover and chaos is always helpful. It is harder to hide now that you've formed this hopeless alliance, but they are still here. The problem is finding the right one.”

My temper flared. Only too much time at the Hawk's Keep kept me from speaking my mind and offering dangerous insult. Instead, I asked, “If there are so many, then why put forth such an effort to find this one, at this time?”

Syfka shook her head. “The royal house of Ahnmik has reason to want this criminal back. That is all you need to know.”

Trying not to lose my patience, and failing, I demanded, “If you will not tell us anything about the missing falcon, when he went missing, or what his crimes are, how can you expect us to recognize him?”

She shook her head. “I forget sometimes how helpless your people are. Whatever power you once had has become as diluted as your blood.”

“Perhaps we're better for its loss,” I challenged.

“Careful, cobra. You're as insolent as Kiesha herself—and are making all the same mistakes.” I could not tell if the words were intended to be a threat, or just another insult. Syfka did not clarify, but instead demanded, “I'd like to speak to the members of both your armies, particularly Danica's elite—the Royal Flight.”

“Surely you don't think one of your people could hide so close to Danica without being noticed,” I said.

“Considering your activities until recently, the most useful skills falcons would bring to your people are our fighting abilities, which any falcon child learns early and learns well. Pride would keep most from staying a simple soldier for long, and talent would get one promoted quickly. Given the choice between serpent or avian, most would wish to retain the ability to fly. That makes the Royal Flight the first logical choice.”

“Members of the Royal Flight are hand-chosen by the Tuuli Thea and the flight leader,” I argued. “They come from well-known families, usually highborn ones. Masquerading as a soldier is one thing, but—”

“All that would be necessary,” Syfka interrupted, “is to kill a son or daughter of one of those families and take his or her form, then go to the Tuuli Thea and ask for permission to join. A petty task.”

Our conversation was interrupted as suddenly one voice in the market became louder than the others.

“Don't you
dare
!” The command was given by a woman I recognized as an artist, whose eyes were wide with shock.

Raised voices in the market weren't unusual among serpiente, but it was my responsibility to make sure such arguments didn't get out of hand.

“It was just a thought.” The woman's son shrugged, continuing the discussion more calmly. “I just thought she might be curious ….”

“That kind of curiosity is likely to get you killed,” the artist said bluntly.

I started to turn away, when someone else chimed in. “Take your mother's advice; that girl is nothing but trouble.”

“You don't even know her,” the son replied. “She's—”

“A bird,” his mother interrupted.

“Doesn't matter.”

I smiled at the son's youthful optimism, but only until his mother pointed out, “She'll have a father, a brother and probably a mate. You touch her, and who do you think will have you on a spit first?”

“No mate,” the boy replied, though his voice was subdued now.

“If she told you that, she's a liar.”

“Why would she lie?”

His mother threw up her arms in frustration, swearing under her breath. “You think I understand a sparrow? Forget her, boy—you can be assured she'll forget you.”

Part of me wanted to interrupt them, but I wasn't sure what I would say. For all we had accomplished in the past several months, the two cultures still clashed—often. Stereotypes were hard to break. Many avian mothers and fathers
worried about their innocent young daughters being exposed to immoral, womanizing serpents. That my kind generally
was
more demonstrative than theirs considered appropriate made convincing the matrons and protectors that they were wrong difficult.

By our standards, their young ladies were perfectly safe. There was no harm in a youthful fling. By the standards of an alistair protecting the virtue of his betrothed …

Syfka was chuckling beside me. “Well, well, well. Are things unraveling a bit in paradise?” she inquired.

I glared at her before I could help myself, and she only laughed again. “Half a year ago, that young man and the avian lady he fancies might have been enemies on the battlefield,” I pointed out. “The inherent dangers of youth will never change. Volatile hearts and ill-advised flirtations can hardly be compared to the hatred and slaughter of war.”

“Hmm,” Syfka replied, sounding unconvinced.

“You were asking about my flight,” Rei reminded her, wisely shifting the subject back to Syfka's original intent. “Though I can't imagine what you intend to accomplish, looking for traitors among that group.” Rei turned from Syfka to address me. “Zane, you know there is not a member of my flight who is not absolutely loyal. Not one would hesitate to give his life for his Tuuli Thea or her alistair.”

“How sweet—and unlikely,” Syfka replied. “But where is the Tuuli Thea? Shouldn't she give the orders regarding her people?”

“Danica's people are mine as well, as I am sure you have heard,” I said. “She is unavailable at the moment, but certainly trusts Andreios and me to make decisions regarding the Royal Flight.”

“Well, then,” Syfka said, relenting. “Crow, I assume you are capable of introducing me to the rest of the avian guards, so I can see for myself.”

Rei glanced at me for permission before replying, “I can gather those who are available, if you would care to meet with them this afternoon.”

She nodded dismissively. “You do that.”

At my nod, Rei took his crow form and shot into the sky.

I needed to get away from the falcon myself, before I did something unfortunate, so I used our arrival at the palace as my reason. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll leave you in Ailbhe's capable hands. He can introduce you to the palace guard before Andreios returns.” Belatedly, something else occurred to me. “Danica and I are expected at the Hawk's Keep tomorrow, so we can speak to the rest of the Royal Flight then.” Half of that group always stayed with Danica's mother at the Keep.

Danica and I traveled frequently between the two lands, acting as Diente and Naga to the serpiente and Tuuli Thea and alistair to the avians. The plans had almost slipped my mind in the chaos of Syfka's visit, but it wouldn't do to delay them—not with the falcon hovering about and news of our child to share with Nacola.

Syfka nodded in agreement.

“Ailbhe,” I said, “kindly keep our guest company, and answer any questions she might have about the palace guard.”

“Yes, sir.” The white viper sounded no more pleased to be left with Syfka than I would have been.

I turned my back on the pair, but had taken only a few steps inside when I heard the falcon comment to Ailbhe,
“There was a time when a white viper would be killed on sight if he dared to show his face inside these walls. How long has Maeve's kin groveled before these cobras?”

Ailbhe retorted hotly, “Charis Cobriana trusted my sister and me to guard her kin—” He broke off. His sister had been loyal in her own way, but that loyalty had led to disaster. In an attempt to defend me, she had tried to kill my avian mate and had instead caused the death of my mother. “I endeavor to be worthy of my king's trust.”

I paused, wondering whether I should go back to the pair and forestall the argument that sounded ready to erupt. Syfka seemed to thrive a little too much on conflict in my lands.

“Black magic. Wasn't that the accusation that drove your kind from Anhamirak's cult?” Syfka asked. “The accusation that placed Kiesha's cobra kin on the serpiente throne instead of Maeve's white vipers?”

I spun on my heel, preparing to return, but Ailbhe did not hesitate in his answer. “Zane is my Diente. The Cobriana are the royal family I follow, and to whom I will always be loyal.”

“Your own sister was executed for murdering the woman you say trusted her,” Syfka said bluntly. “Do you truly hold no hatred for that? Can you really not
care
?”

“I've been instructed to answer any questions you have about the palace guard—not my personal life.” It sounded as if Ailbhe was grinding his teeth a little.

“Answer me one question,” Syfka pressed. “Your fighting prowess is impressive, or you wouldn't have gained this rank. The mark of a white viper is obvious enough in your features that I saw it instantly; the magic may be dormant in you, but it is in your blood. If you learned to use it—as any falcon
could teach you—you would be strong. If you had that chance, would you take the power you should have had by birth?”

Ailbhe spoke softly, almost under his breath, the words cool with fury. “Treason, milady falcon, is in those words, and I'll take no part in it.”

The falcon whistled low. “I could have made you a king … and you refused. It's good to see that Zane has such loyalty behind him.” There was a pause, after which Syfka offered, “Surely you must understand my desire to test you a little. A white viper in the palace—”

“Test or not,” Ailbhe interrupted, “I'm sure you'll understand when I assign a pair of guards to escort you while you're in serpiente territory.”

“I would expect no less.”

And I would expect no less than a push for treason by a falcon. I knew Ailbhe would approach me later about the incident. For now, I trusted him to do his best to keep our falcon's destructive tendencies in check.

My mother had been the first to accept white vipers into the palace, but so far Ailbhe and his sister had been the only ones to accept the invitation. Most still lived in chosen exile on the edges of our land, refusing to return to the people who had shunned them for generations—or to acknowledge a cobra as their king. Luckily, their numbers had always been too small for them to make a bid to take the throne back.

Would it amuse Syfka to see them try? I wouldn't be surprised to know she might try to overthrow the Cobriana out of simple spite.

As I walked the halls, instinctively returning to the dancer's nest to check on Danica, another thought occurred
to me: Was Syfka's lost falcon a ruse, an excuse to get close? Might the falcon Empress have planned this interlude with Ailbhe?

If she had, casual offers of power were the least of our troubles. If a fight erupted, all the ability of the serpiente and avian armies combined might not win against Ahnmik's followers.

T
HAT EVENING,
we convened in the main hall to discuss our unwanted visitor. According to Andreios, Syfka had finished her interrogation of the Royal Flight and left only moments before. Though Rei stood at strict attention, the remnants of anger shone in his eyes.

Ailbhe paced near the doorway, his white-blond hair long enough to slip into his eyes and disheveled enough to belie his strictly worn uniform. Clearly his interview with the falcon about the palace guard had been no less frustrating than Rei's.

Danica's brow was furrowed as she listened to Ailbhe's description of his argument with Syfka. Valene stood beside her, now wearing the clothing of a dancer, with shimmering violet scarves around her waist and a sigil meaning “peace” painted on the skin of her left temple.

“I don't think that Syfka will go seriously out of her way to cause trouble,” Valene observed when Ailbhe was finished, “but I wouldn't put it past her to try to stir things up a little if left alone. From what I saw on Ahnmik, the falcons
didn't seem that interested in our politics. Much of their magic revolves around stillness; they don't usually attempt to cause change, especially something as major as the unseating of a family that has ruled as long as the Cobriana.” She seemed to consider her own words and after a moment added softly, “Though I don't know how they feel our peace affects them. The serpiente and avian people have been at war so long, the falcons may consider peace more of a disturbance than a change in the monarchy would be.”

Rei sighed. “Valene may be right—Syfka certainly makes no effort to disguise her disapproval—but I'd still like to think we could manage Syfka if we keep an eye on her.”

“Toward that end, I'm assigning people to watch her in revolving pairs,” Ailbhe said. “I wouldn't let someone in the guard who I thought could be swayed by the falcon's words, but caution is always a good idea, just in case.”

Rei nodded. “I plan to do the same if Syfka follows you to the Keep.”

I knew there was also a member each of the palace guard and the Royal Flight waiting outside the door, one to be my shadow and one to be Danica's.

“Presuming Syfka isn't lying about why she is here, we should be able to get rid of her by finding her falcon. I refuse to believe there is nothing we can do to help that search,” I said, opening the floor to the discussion we had gathered for.

I wanted Syfka out of my land. I wanted her away from my people, and my mate.

I looked at Rei first. “She seems to think your flight would be the best hiding place for a falcon. Is there any chance she might be right?”

Rei shifted uneasily. “She has a point there, though, as you know, it isn't one I care for. Falcons are trained in fighting
skills from a very young age. If someone with their talent could impersonate a crow or raven, it would make sense for him to join a group where his ability to fight wouldn't be unusual.”

“Crow or raven … or sparrow?” Danica's voice was tentative as she asked.

“Yes,” Rei admitted, though he obviously wished he could say no.

“I hate to even suggest it, but you sound as if you're describing Erica. You said yourself that her fighting skills were amazing, though she claimed to have had no formal training. And—”

“Erica's loyal,” Rei interrupted, sharply enough that people around him jumped. “I know her. She's no criminal.” He seemed to realize he had spoken too hastily, and he backtracked, adding, “Valene, you would know if your niece was an imposter, wouldn't you?”

“I would know.” The raven's voice was uncertain enough to worry me.

But it didn't worry me as much as Rei's words. They had been too sharp, too quickly spoken. Perhaps he was only defensive of accusations toward his guards, but that alone could be a problem. If he refused to consider that there might be falcons in his flight, he could overlook something.

Though doing so brought up a score of memories I did not want to relive, I pointed out as gently as possible, “Loyalty does not necessarily ensure innocence.” I forced myself to meet Rei's eyes as I added, “We've all been wrong before.”

The crow tore his gaze away from mine and looked at the floor. Rei had personally vouched for a young guard who had twice plotted assassination when Danica and I had initially
made our arrangement—first on his own, and next with Ailbhe's sister.

Rei spoke slowly, every word a little tight as he asked, “What if the missing falcon
was
a member of the Royal Flight, or was even Erica? What would you do? Would you really be willing to turn her over to Syfka, for torture and execution, just because she was born with a falcon's wings?” He looked at Danica, who held his pleading gaze sadly. “Every member of my flight is loyal to you; every one of them would give his or her life and soul to protect you. Does falcon blood really have the power to negate a loyal guard's willingness to take a knife for the queen?”

He knew. Maybe it wasn't Erica, but either way, Rei knew.

“I would never endanger those I have sworn my allegiance to. I would never endanger my Tuuli Thea, or her alistair, or her people. You know that.” He took a breath and said heavily, “And you both know that if you order me to tell you, I will. But I must ask you to consider whether you want to make me betray someone who would give everything to keep you safe.”

In the silence that followed Rei's words, Valene spoke, her voice holding the same intensity as Rei's as she looked at Danica and me. “As long as you don't know who their falcon is, you can say so to Syfka and she will believe you, but once you know, she will know. You can't lie to a falcon.”

If I knew for sure that someone in the Royal Flight was a falcon, I would want him gone. Unfair perhaps, but I didn't trust falcons. I didn't want them guarding my queen or my child. I knew I was being unreasonable, but that didn't make me any more comfortable.

The only thing that kept me from demanding that Rei
tell us everything was my knowledge that Rei would sooner turn
himself
over to torture than risk having Danica endangered. He was loyal to his queen. Could I fault him for also being loyal to his flight?

This train of thought was interrupted as something else occurred to me. “Syfka spoke to you about your flight. How did you lie to her?”

“I didn't,” Rei answered. “I told her there was no way a simple crow would be able to identify a falcon unless that falcon came forward willingly, and I pointed out that a traitor hiding in our midst was unlikely to be so honest. The words were true, technically. Then I introduced her to those in my flight who were available. If nothing else, the falcon's arrogance gives her faith in my stupidity.”

I looked at Danica. The Royal Flight was hers to command, which meant that, ultimately, this was her decision.

She looked at me and shook her head. “For the moment, we'll let it drop. But if Syfka does start to cause trouble, we'll need to do what is necessary to get rid of her.”

Rei nodded, his expression more troubled than I had ever seen it.

“We have some problems beyond Syfka,” Valene asserted. “I spoke to Ailbhe about them earlier, but you should hear for yourself.” She hesitated, shaking her head. “As you know, when I'm in the market here, I'm a dancer. That gives me a chance to listen to a lot of gossip.”

“Go on,” Danica prompted when the raven paused again.

“News travels fast,” Valene said. “Most everyone has heard that their Naga is carrying a child. But not everyone is happy.” She sighed and joined Ailbhe's pacing. Her dancer's garments swirled around her when she turned, expressing her agitation. “People called it madness when their Diente
proclaimed his love for the Tuuli Thea, but they thought it was romantic. A child between you two is all well and good. But many people don't want that child to rule.”

My hand slammed down on the table as if of its own will, but my words froze in my throat.

Danica's voice rose as she abandoned her normal calm. “Why not? It's their Diente's child.”

Danica had only scratched the surface of my horror. I
would not
allow mob rule to deny my child its rightful place on the throne.

Valene turned from Danica to me, as if seeking a more reasonable listener, but she flinched as she met my gaze. She continued cautiously. “The cobra form breeds true with any serpent, except the white viper. So the child of a cobra and a python or boa will always be a cobra. But the child of a cobra and a hawk is a less certain equation. The serpiente don't mind having a hawk as Naga so long as their Diente is pure cobra—the Naga's power is always second to her mate's. But they aren't fond of the idea of a feathered Diente. They are even less fond of the idea that any half-avian child could choose an avian mate, leaving the serpiente throne ruled entirely by birds.”

“It gets more complicated.” Ailbhe took over. “Many people refuse even to consider that you would let a half-avian child take the throne. They're acting as if you've already declared your sister's child your heir.”

Valene nodded, adding, “They might tolerate a mixed child as your heir if he or she is raised serpiente, and if they are assured that its mate will also be serpiente, but …” She trailed off, not needing to say what the other side of the problem was: Danica's court would feel the same way. They would want a daughter to be given an alistair—an avian
alistair. Even if the child was male, avian tradition would demand that he be betrothed to a suitable avian girl within his first few years of life.

I had worried about how our child would be raised and how people would react, but this abject refusal was too horrific for me to have imagined.

The serpiente were ruled in only a nominal fashion. Loyalty bound them to the Cobriana line, thousands of years of leaders who had treated them fairly. My family had never hidden while soldiers walked the field, or we never would have held our people's respect. They trusted their leaders to keep them safe. So the Cobriana stayed in power, and the civilization survived and thrived.

Loss of that loyalty, respect and trust would destroy the Cobriana. Loss of their royal line would destroy the serpiente. If the serpiente refused to acknowledge Danica's child as their monarch, no number of guards would be able to keep that child on the throne.

I had walked this precarious balance before, when I had declared Danica my mate.

If necessary, I would do it again.

“I don't think we can deal with this immediately.” I looked at Danica as I spoke, searching her expression for agreement or argument. “Valene, the dancers have already welcomed Danica and our child. If they can circulate the knowledge that I
will
name Danica's child my heir, I can only hope it won't be as much of a shock when the announcement is made.” Even as I spoke, I felt the cold knot of fear in my gut. Our child would be born in peace, but would she live in war? “Besides that, we'll have to wait until the protests are raised specifically.”

“Not meaning to be troublesome,” Ailbhe answered,
“but how absurd is the idea that Salem could be Diente?” The white viper's words were answered by a roomful of glares, but he stood his ground. “What I mean to ask is, what is your ultimate goal? Salem will be raised without hatred for Danica's people. He'll have no hunger for war, and what's more, he'll have a civilization at peace to begin with. If peace is your goal, your sister's child will still make a fine Diente.”

“And what of our child?” Danica spoke in her calm and detached court voice, which she used among serpents only when she was too angry or disgusted to maintain rationality any other way. My hand found hers, and she gripped it tightly.

“Your child may well be born as purely avian as you are. If it takes an avian mate, its children will probably show little of the Cobriana blood. Again, if your goal is just peace, the child could be raised avian—raised to be Tuuli Thea. Each court would have its heir, an heir raised without bloodlust and hatred. You would have peace.”

For a moment I could not speak. So long as I had breath in my body, I would see my child on the serpiente throne. Diente, Tuuli Thea—our child would be both.

“Are you mad?” The words escaped me as I locked eyes with Ailbhe. “How could you consider—”

“Zane.” Danica interrupted me, placing a hand on my chest.

“You can't be thinking—”

“Would you rather set up our child for war from the instant it's born? If the serpiente reject our child for their throne, then you still have Salem as your heir. If my people reject it, there will be no Tuuli Thea after me.”

I stepped back from her, horror seeping into my blood. My gaze flickered to the others in the room. Ailbhe's pale
blue eyes would not meet mine. Rei's did, but then he looked away. Valene was watching Danica, her expression unreadable. My mate was the only one who would meet my gaze, her golden eyes pained.

“Out,” I said, speaking to our audience. They looked at one another, hesitating. Valene first deferred, followed by Rei. Ailbhe lingered a moment longer, and I was not sure whether he did from guilt or compassion.

Then we were alone, and I took Danica's hands.

“Danica, do you know what you are asking of me? Giving up my child to the Keep, to be raised by strangers, to sleep in lonely silence, to be taught to be ashamed of what she feels and what she
is …
and to be betrothed before she can even
speak,
before she can possibly understand
love.”
Danica closed her eyes for a moment, taking a breath. “I will never have a mate but you. I love you. And yes, I will have an heir. But you are talking about taking away my
child.”

“What else can we do?” she returned. “Zane, I was raised in the Keep; it is not as horrible as you think. And you would still see her—” She broke off, because she knew as well as I that the heir to the Tuuli Thea saw her parents only in formal situations. She shook her head. “Please … Zane, is there another way? Anything else that will keep our firstborn child from coming into the world only to see her land ripped apart by war?”