Page 20 of To Claim a King

It was, and more comfortable, too. Xandrie’s reflection showed the woman she’d known for her first twenty five years and seven months on Eartia, but her bushy hair was soft, and elegantly plaited to one side of her face, her green cloak was a deep teal, rather than an almost-grey, and there was no hole or dent that she could see. Just an upgrade on good old Xandrie.

“Now, do you need me to show the way, or will you find the Arena?”

“Down to the town square, right and downhill,” she recited, and therefore was allowed to go on her way unescorted.

A little later, she realized her error - perhaps having someone with her might have saved her from quite so many glances; everyone she passed stared at her like she’d grown a second head. At first, she thought it was because of what she was - the human His Highness had brought to their Kingdom was bound to cause some talk - but when she’d almost made it to the Arena, a child detached its little hand from his father and trotted towards her; the entire crowd seem to hold its breath. So, that was what they were wary of - her tiger, not her. She shook her head; there went her assumptions.

“Avgar,” the father yelled, rushing to their side, but the happy little boy reached them too quickly.

Xandrie dropped to her knees, and kept her hand firmly on Claws’ head, fixing him under her gaze. The animal couldn’tliterallyroll his eyes, but his expression said it all -really? He seemed to ask.You think I’d eat a cub? Idiot.

“Hey there,” she smiled at Avgar, who blushed and showed off his set of dimples. “His name is Claws, and he likes it best when he’s scratched between the ears.”

Avgar asked shyly, “Can I?”

Could he? She thought so. She wasn’t quite a hundred percent certain, though, and testing her belief with a six year old may possibly not be the best of ideas out there.

“I believe you may. Approach slowly, alright?”

The crowd circling them released their breath alongside her, when Claws leaned into the child’s touch and released a deep, happy growl thatwasn’ta purr.

“He doesn’t have the presence of a pet,” a man close by told her.

She thought she recognized him; she’d seen him with a handful of well-dressed officials Demelza had told her were the Elders of the Realm; the wise men who formed the King’s council. “This is a wild animal, and yet, he listens to you.”

She shrugged, “I cared for him as a cub.”

The man nodded, deep in his thoughts, but a woman - dressed in armor, visibly ready to fight for the King’s hand - pulled his sleeve before he could add anything else.

“Nathos, they’ve called for registration - we’re already late.”

They went on their way, and so did Xandrie. Vran, the child’s father, accompanied her, as Avgar wouldn’t be parted from his newfound, furry friend.

“So, is it true that you hail from the Northern Var?” someone asked to her left.

“Are you really one hundred percent human?” someone else tried.

She replied, and just like that, the matter was closed - introductions followed an invitation to sit with them. Xandrie did have a place reserved with the nobles… but she refrained from saying so, and went with them, glad to have some company.

“I’m a half-blood,” a woman who’d introduced herself as Lucie said. “Bear and Dragon. It’s not unusual around there - there’s plenty of bears amongst the guards, and a few wolves, too.”

“So, it’s not only a dragon Kingdom?”

“It’s a shifter Kingdom,” she replied with a shrug. “The dragons just rule it - and with good reason. Don’t get me wrong, we’re all tough. I can take any Elf, any Fae, and most fiends you throw my way, but only dragons can fight dragons and live to tell the tale.”

Xandrie frowned; did Demelza downplay her skills that much with her, then? Because while she still lost against her, it wasn’t by much.

“Oh, we better pay attention. The Claiming’s starting.”

Lily

Everyone’s headwas turning towards the tribunes high above, adorned in red and gold - the King’s, she guessed, rightly, as Rhey soon appeared, an elegant cloak carelessly thrown over his shoulder and a long scroll in hand.

“This is the first moon of the ninth month, and as the Elders have dictated, the Claiming Tournament shall commence.” He looked at the scroll, and a deep frown marred his expression. Then, a few people gasped, and others laughed, as the King closed the parchment, and threw it behind his shoulder. “That was long and boring. It’s a hot day - don’t forget to drink plenty of ale and have fun. Betting is outlawed, which is bloody stupid if you ask me, because it means we can’t tax it. My friend Wendar over there is probably running some illegal gambling, if you’re keen,” he waved to a man, who got up and bowed deep, as everyone laughed. “Old boy? Put one coin on the pretty blond, would you?”

Xandrie smiled her shook her head. She’d never seen or heard of a noble behaving that way - so refreshingly. He tamed the goofy smile. No. She wasn’t going to find him charming, on top of everything else. Shewouldn’t.

“Now, let the damn Claiming begin.”

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