Sharon Shinn - Reader And Raelynx

“I didn’t! I-I didn’t know and he-he-what are you going to do with him? Put him back! Lock him up!”

Amalie stroked the cat’s fur. “I don’t think so. He’s been locked up too long as it is. I believe I’ll take him back with me to the palace tonight.”

That was so outrageous that suddenly all of them found their voices, Toland, Valri, and Justin all simultaneously begging Amalie to change her mind, to not be ridiculous, to think of the danger, Majesty, think of the panic. Cammon said nothing aloud but he put a question directly in her head. Are you serious?

This time she replied, a single word, but he heard it distinctly. Yes .

By the Bright Mother’s red eye. “She can control it,” he whispered to Valri. “I’ve seen her do it. Better than you or I can.”

“Can you take it away from her? I’m trying, and I can’t.”

He shook his head. “I think we have to trust her.”

“It’s madness!”

For the life of him, he couldn’t repress a grin. “I know.”

Amalie was smiling impartially at the whole group as if they weren’t all regarding her with varying degrees of terror and despair. “I think ser Toland is getting a little chilled. Shall we all head back inside?”

Justin, living up to his reputation for reckless bravery, actually gainsaid her. “Majesty. Think a moment about the chaos you will unleash throughout the palace if you try to bring that creature inside.”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m sure there will be some consternation until people get used to him. But he responds to my direction. There is no need to fear.”

Justin held his ground. “But there will be fear. If nothing else, let someone return in advance of you to warn the inhabitants what danger is on its way.”

Amalie tilted her chin at him, clearly not liking this suggestion. It was the first time Cammon realized that she was blazingly furious and that only the most iron will was allowing her to keep her anger in check. Sweet gods, if she lost that control, the raelynx would slip away from her, and then there would be a reckoning such as she could never have imagined.

“I would never do anything to endanger my people,” she said loftily.

“Then return the raelynx to his cell and bring him out some other day when his appearance will not be so terrifying.”

Amalie hesitated-then glanced at Cammon. Half of him thought it would be marvelous to have Amalie parade the wild cat across the compound and show the entire city what strange and potent resources she commanded. Half of him desperately wished to see the raelynx safely behind a barred gate. This was not the time to give in to his more adventurous impulses. He nodded slowly.

Amalie seemed to deflate slightly. “Very well. Since you are all so worried. I will return him to his pen for now. But I will release him on some future date, and you will see then how well he minds me.”

Justin bowed very low, his fist against his shoulder. “Majesty, that will be a most memorable day.”

Amalie’s hand tightened in the cat’s fur, and she seemed to tug it toward the fence. “Come,” she said in a soft voice. “Just a taste of freedom after all.”

For a moment, the raelynx resisted, and the rest of them all grew motionless again. But then, growling with protest, the big cat turned under her hand and slunk back into the garden. In a moment, the gate was shut, the lock was thrown, and Amalie was giving them all that sunny smile.

“Well?” she said. “Shall we head back?”

Toland drew a shuddering breath and stumbled up the path toward the palace without waiting for anyone else to move. Valri sagged against Cammon, clutching his arm as if she might fall to the ground without his support. Justin gave Cammon a very serious look-and then, the smallest grin. Coeval said nothing, just sheathed his weapon.

“Yes, Amalie,” Valri said, straightening up and pulling free of Cammon. “I think we should head back. And you and I shall walk in front of the others so I can tell you exactly what I think of this little escapade.”

The queen pulled the princess ahead of her and began a low diatribe in a dark voice. The other three followed more slowly, but it was impossible not to realize that Amalie was receiving the tongue-lashing of her life.

“I’ll be off to the barracks,” Coeval said, and parted from them at the first branching of the pathways.

Justin continued alongside Cammon, his grin growing wider. “Damn,” he said a few times. “That took cool nerve, didn’t it? Damn! Senneth will fall down in a faint when she hears the story.”

“Guess we don’t have to worry any more about Toland Storian wanting to marry the princess,” Cammon said. That thought was cheering him up so much that he was quickly overcoming his shock.

“It would tend to dampen your ardor if you thought your wife could loose a wild animal on you,” Justin agreed.

“Ellynor could probably call up a raelynx to maul you ,” Cammon scoffed.

Justin nodded. “She probably could. But she hasn’t produced one lately, so I’m just not that worried about it. But damn . I can’t believe she did that.” He cut his eyes over at Cammon. “Makes me wonder what she might try next. I’m thinking the princess might keep surprising all of us.”

Cammon nodded. “She keeps surprising me .”

It was exhilarating and spectacular, but unnerving and terrifying at the same time. Cammon was out of his depth, and he was fairly certain Valri was fast coming to the same conclusion.

Senneth , he thought, sending the message halfway across Gillengaria. I wish you were here now .

THEtrip to Carrebos had been quick and free of trouble. Tayse was a most efficient traveler, and Senneth never required any particular amenities on the road. Kirra and Donnal had elected to make the journey in animal shape, although Kirra, at least, always took human form when they stopped for the night. Donnal sometimes joined them as a black dog, sometimes as a white-faced wolf, but never as a man. Senneth wondered if that was because Darryn Rappengrass was present, and Donnal was rarely at ease around any nobility except Kirra and Senneth.

Darryn, as always, was delightful company, humorous and charming. He only turned serious when talk turned to war, and they spent part of every evening running over the same fears and possibilities. Was Halchon Gisseltess still a prisoner on his own lands at Gissel Plain, or had he escaped the king’s men who were guarding him-as he had managed to do more than once in the past? Was Rayson Fortunalt helping him raise an army? Which other marlords had he recruited? If they planned to attack, what signal were they waiting for? Would they send another assassin to Ghosenhall to try to murder the king?

“And what of Coralinda Gisseltess?” Senneth demanded the night before they arrived in Carrebos. “She has been so quiet lately! Surely she is plotting something as well?”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Darryn agreed. He ran a hand through his chestnut hair and allowed a frown to settle across his pleasant features. “My mother is convinced that Halchon and Rayson are only awaiting the coming of good weather before they launch an assault. Her spies tell her there has been increased activity at all the southern ports as Gisseltess and Fortunalt import supplies to support an army.”

“Makes sense,” Senneth said gloomily. “Does your mother feel prepared to defend her own borders?”

“As prepared as she can be. But I think she lives in constant worry.”

“As do we all.”

Kirra was tired of war talk. “So, Darryn! Why haven’t you abandoned us yet?” she asked. “I thought you would turn toward Rappen Manor at least a day ago.”