Page 26 of The Omega Slave

When the doors were finally closed and they were alone, Attiker leaned back in his chair. “I know you’re hoping for a plan, but this whole thing seems to hinge on you shifting again, correct?”

“I am required by law to prove my ability in front of all sixteen members of the ruling assembly,” Kamir confirmed, “which means I won’t have the right to the crown until then.”

“Does being a dragon and not a wolf matter?” her highness asked.

“No, a wolf is just an assumption, but the law simply refers to being able to shift into an animal.”

“And I take it you’ve tried?” Attiker said.

“I thought it might be touch,” Kamir blushed and shot Tsaria a look, “But it hasn’t happened again.”

“What will happen if you are unable?” Attiker asked.

Kamir shrugged. “As for me, I suppose I will be exiled if I’m lucky. If my uncle gets the chance, he will kill me.” He paused. “Rajpur will starve.” His voice trembled. Tsaria could hear his pain and wanted to help, but still couldn’t bring himself to fear past what would happen once Kamir did manage to shift. At the moment, everyone thought they needed him, but once Kamir proved his animal, he didn’t doubt he would be thrown away again. It might be Kamir’s inability to shift that was keeping Tsaria alive. Although he was struggling to believe Kamir had any malice in him at all.

“We shall go see Eldara again,” Attiker said decisively. “She looked for a wolf last time, so you never know.”

Kamir noticed Tsaria looking confused. “Eldara is a dragon, and is great friends with Attiker.”

Tsaria absorbed that, but surely she would have sensed another dragon? It didn’t make any sense. How long would this go on for? At some point Kamir would be forced into permanent exile if he didn’t shift, and then he would have no use for Tsaria.

A servant knocked and entered, carrying a sealed parchment on a silver tray. He bowed to Attiker. “Your Highness, a message had just been delivered for his highness, the emir.”

Kamir sat up straighter and took the parchment from the servant, breaking the seal and unfolding it. His indrawn breath was sharp.

“What is it, child?” her highness asked.

Kamir cleared his throat, then read.

The imperial court of Rajpur and all sixteen members of the ruling assembly demand that His Highness Kamir, Prince of Rajpur, present himself at the palace on the dark of the moon and prove his claim to the throne.

If the provenance ritual is a failure either by the absence of his highness or by failure to show his animal, then the assembly will have no choice but to perform the cleansing rites as decreed.

“Cleansing rights?” Attiker queried. “What the hell are they?”

Kamir put a shaky hand across his mouth, and Tsaria’s heart hammered.

“Ancient barbaric rules that no one has witnessed in thousands of summers. I know of them because I’mdocumenting the history of Rajpur, but I honestly thought no one else alive did.”

“And they are what?” Tsaria asked, knowing something was badly wrong.

“Rajpur, as you know, had a history of satanic worship and barbarism. It was said that if a prince and heir was born without an animal, then the kingdom had displeased the gods.” His voice cracked. “The punishment, theabsolvement, as it is called, is to take ten children from each of the ten original named villages in the decree of Rajpur and ritually slaughter them. Their throats are cut on an altar to the gods.”

Kamir gazed at him. “It’s nineteen days to the dark of the moon.”

Tsaria couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Somehow, he had to duplicate what had happened to produce the dragon in Kamir or many children would die. He just didn’t know how.

Chapter twelve

Tsaria stared at the dragon in utter awe. She was magnificent from her ruby eyes to her orange and flame-red scales. He assumed her mate, and the dragonet, were as astonishing, but he was in no hurry to meet the male dragon, especially if he was bigger.

She greeted Attiker with a small head-butt that sent him toppling over, and in the midst of such worry it was a welcome relief to feel even a sliver of amusement. It was only sheer force of will that made him able to stand on his own two feet. It was barely four bells since he had met the dowager queen. At least Kamir was used to this lifestyle.

“How’s your family?” Attiker crooned once he’d finished grumbling and picked himself up off the floor.

Attiker tilted his head and nodded at Eldara as if answering some question.

“Eldara communicates with him by sending images,” Kamir whispered. “Attiker told me this was how they saved each other.”

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