ELRETH

Elreth closed the cave door quietly and turned to walk out of the cave and into the meadow, trying not to sigh.

Aaryn hadn't slept. She'd woken twice in the night to find him awake and staring at the ceiling. But when she'd asked, he'd just shushed her and told her to go back to sleep. She'd slept curled up on him, and his arm had never relaxed—he'd never stopped holding her. She wasn't sure whether to be comforted by that or not. But at some point before dawn he'd finally slept, because when she woke with the lanterns, he was deeply asleep. It had taken a full minute to slide out of his grip and get out of the furs without waking him. She was just grateful that he'd stayed asleep until she was out of the room. He needed the rest.

She was going to miss having his support for the meeting with the elders. If he would have given it.

She grimaced and stepped into her beast to separate herself from the dread in her stomach for the minutes it would take to get to the council building. But the heavy thoughts still plagued her when she returned to her human form to mount the steps into the building.

She was very nearly late, and Lhern looked at her sternly when she walked in. She gave him an apologetic look, but didn't speak. He had no clue what she'd been dealing with and she was feeling prickly.

"Thank you for coming,

" she said to all of them as she took her seat. The second seat that should have been Aaryn's yawned empty next to her and she tried to ignore it.

"I'm sorry we had to postpone, but it was necessary. I needed to understand a great deal and didn't want to use your time until I knew what the plan should be.

"

"Could we not, perhaps, have contributed to the formulation of that plan?

" Lhern asked dryly.

"You're about to,

" Elreth said, trying to keep the edge out of her voice.

"But until I knew what we were dealing with, and who was involved… well, we're here now. Between Tarkyn, Gar, and my parents, you'll all be filled in over the next few days. Tarkyn will report to you this evening and he'll arrange a tour of sorts for you to be taken to the various activities so you can see and smell for yourselves. But I knew I had to get through this as quickly as I could, and I'm even more certain now that my instincts were right. We have no time to waste.

"

"So there is rebellion building?

" Lhern asked.

Elreth shook her head.

"Quiet the opposite, actually. I've been handed a resource by the Creator, and I'll be eternally grateful for it. But it means that we are essentially at war.

" There were several gasps in the room, but Elreth plowed on.

"Not in the traditional sense of the word—not yet—for now our enemy remains a vague threat. But a threat it is and we will do well not to ignore it.

"I've come to tell you that Aaryn was tested yesterday and has proven he is an appropriate candidate for the training. So I've asked Gar and the others to equip him as a Protector as soon as possible.

"

The elders nodded their agreement. It was not uncommon for rulers to take training and education in areas applicable to issues that faced the people. It was believed that in doing the work themselves, they more fully understood how to lead those who did the job daily. Her father had trained as a warrior for that reason—and proven extremely capable. It would be natural to the elders that Aaryn, as a disformed, would engage with this new arena of power.

They would be far less accepting of her next proposals, she feared.

"Additionally, at tonight's meal I plan to publicly announce the retraction of the banishment of Gahrye, my mother's former Advisor and the Anima who received the prophecy. He was banished under… difficult circumstances. We haven't seen the bears for a few years now. I doubt they'll be aware if he returns—and even if they do become aware, I am prepared to negotiate with them on this point.

"

"I can't see much harm in retracting the banishment, but what do you hope to gain? Do you plan to appoint him a Cohort again?

"

Elreth shook her head.

"Gahrye is central to understanding exactly what we face in the human world. He and his mate. It's important to free him to move between the worlds as much as will be needed in the coming weeks, because I believe we will we have need of his knowledge and support. Unfortunately, as a Guardian, his mate cannot travel here.

"

She paused for a moment to ensure they'd followed what she was saying. All the faces around her remained relaxed and engaged.

Elreth took a deep breath.

"There is a great deal of knowledge and resource in the human world that is utterly necessary to our success in both identifying the plans of the humans, and overcoming it. As such, I am also taking advice about the human world and culture. Once Aaryn is appropriately trained, we'll be crossing the traverse to learn what we can about—

"

The uproar was sharp and immediate. Voices raised in protest, and others in hurried fear.

"Elreth, you cannot—

"

"That is absolutely insane!

"

"Why would Aaryn's training require you to cross the traverse?

"

Elreth sat quietly letting the wave of alarm wash over her, waiting for the normally calm and thoughtful elders to get their initial reactions off their chests and turn to each other to voice their protests before she spoke.

It was a tip from her father that she too-often forgot. There were times when you knew that wise people just needed to express their fear to get over it. She suspected this was one of those moments. So despite the sharp eyes and sharper tones being raised in her direction, she sat without moving, and waited.

And waited.