RETH

He sighed heavily. Behryn and Aymora watched him, waiting.

"It's happening,

" Reth said. He handed the note to Behr first, who read it with a short glance, then swore too.

"Yes, it is,

" Behryn said sadly, holding the note up with his fingers so Aymora could take it.

"No more waiting,

" Reth said, grieved.

"Nope.

"

"Well, **,

" Aymora muttered, then folded the parchment back up and handed it back to Reth.

Tobe watched between the three of them, poised for flight, his breathing already returning to normal, despite the way he must have sprinted all the way here from the outskirts.

Reth gave Behryn a look over the paper, then turned back to Tobe.

"Did you read this?

"

"I did, Sire, but I did not share it. I had to make sure it wasn't relevant to the moment it was reported.

"

Reth nodded.

"Very good. Who was the sentry that received it?

"

"It was reported to me as Jhed, but I can't be certain. I didn't take the time to confirm it.

"

"Fair enough, but you dig deep on this and ensure we have an accurate picture—who found it—and what tribal and family connections they have, exactly how and where they found it, and at what time. Any events before or after that might give us an indication of its source.

"

"Yes, Sire,

" Tobe said.

Behryn looked up at him.

"You don't already know?

"

"I have an idea, but the method of delivery? He is not an archer. I want to be certain.

"

The truth was, as soon as he'd seen the handwriting, he'd known. But why send a note, not just bring the message? Was it possible one of his eyes and ears had been discovered and now Lerrin was trying to use them? It seemed unlikely given the content of the note, but still…

"Gather the fist leaders, Tobe,

" Reth said, his voice low and hard.

"I'll meet with them in an hour in the security hall. We will need to discuss the maps and possible approaches at the cave.

"

"Yes, Sire.

" Then Tobe and Behryn discussed the best ways through the investigation into the information, to confirm it quickly and quietly without actually accusing anyone of anything, while Reth tried to keep all the threads of his responsibility clear in his head.

He needed to find out how Elia had started shifting, and whether that would help or hinder her pregnancy.

He needed to understand how and why they were connecting in the dream and find out if there was a way to make it happen.

And he needed to prepare for war. Because his enemy was on their way. Right now. And Reth was well aware that to meet the wolves unprepared was to lose against them.

Behryn fidgeted as Tobe saluted and started briskly out of the cave, but Reth gave him a look.

"I'm not risking losing you again, friend. I'm sorry, but Tobe is a good male. Let him take care of this.

"

"This isn't just a skirmish, Reth, this is war.

"

"I know. And you'll be better in a few days, by which time he'll be exhausted, so let's look at this as a good reason to have back up and help for you. Hollhye will love me for it.

"

Behryn snorted, then grimaced. When the pain had passed so he could breathe again, he said,

"She won't ever love you, Reth. Her heart is taken.

"

Reth chuckled, but his heart wasn't in it.

Then they all went silent as the weight of what was to come pressed down on all of them.

"Creator, help us,

" Aymora murmured, finally beginning to wrap Behryn's wound.

Reth nodded.

"And guide us,

" he said quietly.

"What are you going to do with the second prisoner?

" Behryn asked.

"Did they give up anything?

"

Reth sighed.

"She told me that—

"

"She?

" Behryn asked quickly.

Reth sighed.

"Yes, and no one warned me. I almost gave myself away when I entered I was taken so off-guard. If she hadn't been so frightened I think she would have realized I wasn't ready to kill her. But she told that she followed the wolves because she was following her male. But that was as much as she would give. No names or… but it doesn't matter. It makes me wonder how many others went for the same kinds of reasons and now might be wishing they hadn't. It makes me want—

"

"You cannot do it, Reth,

" Aymora said, quietly but firmly.

"You cannot show mercy. You cannot open doors. They will be entered by the enemy.

"

"I know,

" he said.

"I just… This is ugly. She's pregnant.

"

"What?!

" Behryn and Aymora both said, Aymora turning away from Behryn's shoulder to look at him.

Reth nodded, holding her eyes.

"If I kill her, I kill her chick, too.

"

For the first time he saw Aymora waver. She ran a hand through her blond-peppered-with-gray hair and blew out a breath.

"Perhaps the one mercy, if the wolves attack today, is that I will be forced to put off making a decision about her,

" Reth said quietly.

Behryn nodded. Aymora too.

"Perhaps even tomorrow,

" Aymora said, then frowned.

"You will be very busy getting ready to face the attack, after all. And… she'd make great bait for our enemies?

"

Reth let himself smile slowly when Aymora looked at him.

"Yes, you're right, of course,

" he said.

"Bait. An excellent reason to keep her alive.

"

Aymora nodded.

"It's just logical, under the circumstances.

"

"Agreed.

"

They stared at each other for a moment, then Aymora smiled.

"I love you for your gentle heart, my King,

" she whispered, squeezing his shoulder, then turning away to take the dirty dressings to the trash in the corner.

"Now, our patient needs to rest again, and you need to go find your Alpha beast and ready yourself to tear out the throats of our enemies so we can still gather here in a few days and remember the days before we fought our own brethren,

" Aymora said sadly.

Both Reth and Behryn sighed and glanced at each other. Even though they wouldn't be fighting equine or leonine, they both knew this was going to get ugly. Reth shook his head.

"I never thought I would see the day…

"

Behryn nodded.

"Creator help us, is right,

" he murmured.

****

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