Page 84 of Shifter King
"I would be worthless lobotomized."
"Certainly worth less but not utterly worthless. But that choice is ultimately yours. Not mine. I am a just queen. I judge what is presented to me. Now. I will grant you this, Neyeb. I do like your spirit. You are amusing. So I will give you a better choice than any other. Drink the psychic wine. Or…" She shrugged, lifting one hand, a sharp smile spreading over her face. "Break your own arm."
Amelia's mouth fell open. "Break…"
"Break your own arm. Drink the psychic wine or break your arm. As you have suggested that you can be more useful, I will take that under consideration. These Machat and those who have knowledge I wish to retrieve will be brought out of the pit and treated. When they are better, you will read their minds and prove your value."
"If I drink the psychic wine, I will be incapable of doing anything—"
"You said you can't read their minds until they are sufficiently healed. Psychic wine has never kept anyone intoxicated for more than a week. And if you feel that strongly about it, well…you have an alternative. You will break your arm in a new place every day you do not drink. I would of course urge you to drink. It's simpler. Cleaner. I only ask you to drink it once for this. But I would never dream of taking such a vital choice from a woman. Even one such as you." She rested her chin in the L of her thumb and index finger, her elbow on the throne's arm. "So tell me, Neyeb. What will it be tonight?"
A PEARL
AaQar woke early and set at once to making preparations for the day. This meeting with the two Bealorn leaders had to yield something or else—this family would unravel. Perhaps dangerously so.
That plan Naatos had come up with just last night would probably work but only at great cost. To Naatos. To this continent. To many others. Perhaps even to Amelia. At a minimum, it could cause long term damage to Naatos's body and mind.
To his surprise, WroOth was already awake with Choe in the main living quarters. He had his back to the wall as he leaned over her, whispering something. Probably a story or something he had told his own children. Actually that wasn't all that surprising.
WroOth missed being a father more than he did. It had been far too long since they had had a cadre with children. He and Rasha had planned for more children. It was hard to imagine that that would ever happen or that there would ever come a time in his life when he could father children in any capacity aside from short-term care. In addition to healing, that was something else that would have to change.
AaQar prepared breakfast, searing fish in the skillet and adding a little more to the stew. It would not be light for a couple hours more. They'd need to leave within another. The weight of the past day and the future bent his shoulders.
WroOth continued to talk to the infant as he held her. "How funny would it be if it turned out you were bound to speak with besreds and gars instead of eagles, little one? Would that not be hilarious? But no matter what, you will be absolutely wonderful, won't you? Of course you will."
AaQar sighed. "WroOth, you should try not to become too attached. It would be wise for us to speak with these Bealorn leaders about who her parents or family might be so we can return her to them."
"Oh, no. We're keeping her. I understand that we are in a tense period, but this child does not leave."
AaQar shook his head, smiling a little as he put the kettle on the stovetop. A little of the dampness on the bottom sizzled with the heat. "WroOth, you need to be reasonable."
"I am not prepared to be reasonable." He nuzzled her nose with his. "Not at all. No. Not at all."
"Will you unreasonably pack some supplies for her then and make sure she is fed? We need to be able to leave."
"I will do so most unreasonably," WroOth said in the same playful tone as he continued to play with Choe.
"Is QueQoa out hunting again?"
"Hunting or fishing. We're going to run low on food soon," he said cheerily. "After we find Amelia, we lock her up in a safe place and then we lay in more food. She can't keep going and getting in trouble, no, she can't."
Choe laughed and grabbed at his face. He kissed her forehead.
Heavy footsteps sounded as Naatos strode down the hall. He didn't look as if he had slept well. AaQar motioned to the stew. "I'm adding the rest of the quarter straps to simmer. It's too low to boil over. Do you want it before or after?"
"Doesn't matter." He sat on the bench across from WroOth. Steepling his hands and resting his elbows on the table, he covered his face.
WroOth slid away from the wall, holding Choe's head in the palm of his hand and the rest of her along his forearm. He nudged Naatos. "Here. Hold her. I have been asked to unreasonably pack items for her since apparently we are going to be talking with these Bealorns about finding her family." He strode off to the shared bedroom without waiting for a response.
Naatos stiffened but didn't pull away as the baby slid into his arms. She cooed a little, waving her tiny fists in the air, the blankets swaddled around her from the torso down. A muscle in his jaw twitched.
"You all right?" AaQar dished up the stew into five separate bowls and then dumped the quarter straps in along with half a large bowl of water. The salty scent of raw red meat filled the air.
Naatos continued to stare down at the child. He swallowed hard. "Unpleasant dreams." He muttered something under his breath.
Choe grabbed for his nose. He grimaced and pulled away.
"Not surprising given all that has happened." AaQar placed the bowl in front of him. "I'm glad you rested. Glad you're going to eat as well."
