ELRETH

She'd needed that moment with Aaryn. That little bit of reassurance—and the chance to offer hers to him. But as soon as she stepped out of the cave where the others had clustered, waiting for them, something niggled at the back of her mind. She looked around, eyes narrowed.

"Tarkyn,

" she said quietly.

"Where are the patrols? I thought we put guards, and another mobile patrol in place? I don't see any.

"

Tarkyn grinned.

"Good, you aren't supposed to. I set them up covertly. The only way we learn about who's coming through and how they learned about us is to take them prisoner. We can't risk them going back through and raising the alarm on the other side. So the guards are hidden around the clearing—they're watching us now. And the patrols are keeping off the trails and spread wide. I've told them that as soon as a human is identified, they're to circle around and block their return to the portal before they reveal themselves and take them into custody.

"

Elreth nodded her approval and smiled.

"Very good.

"

Then she learned that the others had decided to eat lunch there in the clearing before heading back. Tarkyn carried a bag with food for everyone. Elreth hadn't even realized how late it was—they were already well past the lunch hour. She hadn't felt her hunger at all until the others mentioned it, then her stomach began to growl audibly. Aaryn grinned at her, but it never reached his eyes and that pang sliced through her stomach again.

She was so worried about him.

But instead of raising it in front of the others, she agreed to the meal before they travelled. She was going to have to make a new plan for the day. This late in the season it would be getting close to dark by the time they got back to the Tree City. There was no point trying to evaluate the disformed training in the dark. They'd only make it more complicated for themselves than they needed to. And likely not get through everything anyway.

Besides, Elreth realized, she needed some time to chew over what she'd learned today.

So as they all settled on the ground and passed around the fruits and dried meat, Elreth made a new plan.

"Let's look at the training tomorrow,

" she said to Tarkyn and Gar.

"We'll start first thing in the morning so we have all day. Today—tonight—I want Mom, Gar, and Aaryn at my cave. You can bring more people if you think they'll be needed. But I want to understand the structure—and how Aaryn and I will fit into it.

"

Gar frowned.

"You're Queen, Elreth. The disformed will fit in with you.

"

"No, Gar. I meant that we need to do this training—Aaryn as a Protector, and you need to train me to do what you do. I need to understand how to make it as safe to get across as possible.

"

"Whoa, wait. Did you not just hear anything we said? About how dangerous this is?

"

"Yes, I did,

" she said.

"And the truth is, we might not have time to train. We might be forced to be reliant on the Protectors. But I'll also tell you that I know it's far safer and better for us as Rulers to know how to handle this ourselves if it's needed. If the humans get through and we're under attack, who knows what I'll need to do to keep myself or others safe? And Aaryn too. No, we can't walk into this like sheep to the slaughter. We need to take the training—or as much of it as we can.

"

"I don't train others to do what I do because the whole point is that it needs to be done by someone who isn't a loss to the people if they're gone,

" Gar growled.

"Elreth, you are the last person who should be crossing the traverse because everyone needs you.

"

"Then you better pray that nothing goes against whatever plans and strategies we make. But I'm not willing to just pray and hope, Gar. I want to be equipped. My mate is a Protector—that can't be an accident. And even though I pray he'll never have to take me across, maybe there will come a day when that's our only option. Would you rather I went across with no one else?

"

"No! Of course not!

"

"Then stop whining like a brat and tell me how this whole thing works. What do we have to do to make ourselves ready.

"

"But, Sire,

" Tarkyn started.

Interestingly, it was her father who spoke up in defense of El.

"She's right.

"

Everyone turned, gaping at him.

"I had this exact argument with Behryn and Brant when I was going to go after Elia when we still thought she was stuck over there. But there are times when a ruler has to be the one to do something—either because they need their own power carried into it. Or because things have gone terribly wrong and there's no one else to do it. Not equipping a ruler is only asking for them to be left high and dry when the times comes.

"Elreth is facing invasion, or some other kind of hostile attack and if that happens, she'll have to know how to protect herself—and others—in the event that she has to flee. Or that there are few left and it's time for her to fight. Either way… training both of them is absolutely the right thing to do.

"

"And there's no one better to take Elreth across than Aaryn, if it comes to that,

" Elia added, though she still looked pale,

"We know when Protectors have a level trust with those they're taking across, it's generally more successful.

"

"But this is all assuming I'm willing to take you across,

" Aaryn said quietly. Everyone went silent as Elreth turned to look at him, shocked and angry that he would even question.

"As your Queen, if I tell you to do it, you will,

" she said calmly.

"Right?

"

She did not appreciate it when her mate didn't answer her immediately.