Page 86 of Shifter King
The second was an old man, slimmer and shorter. Tight silver curls framed both the top of his head and his close-cut beard. He walked with more energy in his step than expected. His staff had an emerald and amber cap on it. Winged serpents clung to his shoulders, obscuring the design of his heavy leather cloak. But the tattoos on his cheeks suggested that his were the winged serpents and mina-quetzies, a much smaller version of the quetzie that mimicked the loud voices of its much larger relatives. Assuming that mina-quetzies hadn’t changed all that much in the past centuries. And at this point, AaQar wasn’t willing to make that assumption. Interesting that the Bealorn leaders did not seem to attend meetings such as these with attendants or criers.
"Good day to you," said the woman, her voice pleasantly husky and warm. "I am Chiriese. This is my cousin Opotwo."
"Do you not have titles you would prefer we address you by?" AaQar asked.
The two looked at one another, then chuckled. The familial connection was quite clear. "Out here in the wilderness, we are all little more than animals. No need for false pretenses," Chiriese said. "But we do have questions."
"Yes. Are you a threat to our people?" Opotwo tapped his hand along the top of the staff, the amber polished and bright and the swirls of melted emerald vivid. "You do not look like any Vawtrian I have seen."
"Nor I," said Chiriese. "Are you a threat to us?"
AaQar offered a small smile. "And why would you ask that? Have we made threats against you?"
"That one has murder in his eyes," Chiriese said, nodding toward Naatos. "And we are well aware of what some Bealorns have done to the Vawtrians."
"Who are you? Truly?" Opotwo wiggled his index finger as three more of the winged serpents alighted on his shoulder. The much larger green and yellow boa constrictor moved up along his left arm. "Do the Vawtrians now have a king of their own?"
A king? Why would they ask such a thing?
"No," Naatos said roughly. "You weren't asked here for—"
"We know what we were asked here for, ancient one," Opotwo said, his voice calm as still waters.
Naatos scowled but stepped back.
"Sweet falona," WroOth muttered.
AaQar raised an eyebrow as QueQoa looked to him. Apparently these Bealorns did know a little more.
Opotwo continued. "We understand enough. The Neyeb has been found and taken by a woman who shares our race and who has incurred your wrath. Such horrible things happening. Do we know it all?" He glanced at Chiriese.
Chiriese held up her hand. Her dark-painted nails reflected the rising golden sunlight. "I know what has happened. It is the strangest thing. I have heard there is a wedding."
Opotwo tilted his head, his eyes widening with feigned surprise. "A wedding, you say, cousin?"
"A wedding, cousin. The Mother of the New Neyeb is to be joined in sacred marriage to Prince Gabrice who is to be the Father of the New Bealorns. A Neyeb has been found among us, a woman of our sister race. We must all come and gaze upon her and give our blessings so that the New Bealorns and New Neyeb may be the fulfillment of all our hopes and dreams. Of course, we must also hear from her own lips the truth that the Mother of the New Neyeb is pleased with this union. That is after all what should have been done."
"What?" Naatos growled. "Your grand plan is to say that there's a wedding and Amelia is the bride? My veskaro?"
Chiriese lifted her shoulders.
"They cannot refuse tradition," Opotwo said. "It is the swiftest way to save your beloved. She must be able to stand before the assembly and say her proclamations and her desires. Or at least enough of them to convince all present of her willingness. The coming of the Neyeb has been prophesied by many Machat. This Mother of the New Neyeb must be treated with honor and respect. So she must be presented before all the heads who may gather."
Naatos's upper lip curled, a snarl rising from his chest. "How does that help us?"
"Because I've also heard that the Neyeb's Vawtrian husband is a shifter of great renown. That he and his startling family will come and also give honor to this choice. To testify that this is indeed the proper course, the best course, the right course."
"A funny thing you've heard then," WroOth said, tilting his head. "Because it doesn't seem that Vawtrians are held in much renown in this place. Most seem to be somewhat…enslaved."
"True," Chiriese said. "But it is clear you are not such. And rumors have already begun to spread. More will continue before the end. So the former husband must come to testify that the match is right and true."
Opotwo nodded. "And because of that, you must be present at the wedding. And because of how many must be present, the wedding must be in a separate place. One we all know and to which you will be invited."
Naatos looked as if he might turn feral right there. "You want me to publicly testify that my wife's abduction and her marriage to this—this—"
AaQar placed his hand on his shoulder. "How many days will they require to prepare for the wedding?"
"Three." Opotwo held up three copper-and-silver ringed fingers. "We will spread the rumor far and wide. Not only is the Neyeb to be married to the prince, but the wild warrior Vawtrian who claimed her initially has come to bless the union. All will see it. It guarantees her safety for this time because it allows them a narrow course in which to claim that what they did was right. This also requires that the wedding take place specifically in one of our sacred places."
