“How so?”
“You are translated,” Laurel said for me. “Your bodies, your very substance has been changed from human to fae, in all its variants.” Laurel gave a swift smile. “It will be most interesting to see what form your children take.”
“Heresy,” Groskin began, but Suiden held up his hand, stopping him.
“And Rabbit is also changed?” the captain asked.
“No. Rabbit is still human, but he is talent-born and can shape the force you call ‘magic’ “
“Yeah, but he’s from the freaking Border,” Groskin said.
“So?” Laurel shrugged. “His parents aren’t. They were born here in Iversterre. Yet a son of theirs has enough talent that coming into his full power, he shook the world.” He briefly smiled again. “Or at least the city. But unless Rabbit can control his talent, it will control him. Most of a mage’s apprenticeship is learning mastery.” Laurel reached over, pulling my hand from my lap. I didn’t resist. “Because of Rabbit’s inexperience, he almost killed Lieutenant Slevoic. A small loss, perhaps, but one I am sure that your superiors would have frowned on.” He ran a claw gently over my palm. “This rune will help him gain control, until he can be properly trained.” A shudder ran through me at the thought of being forced to return to Magus Kareste, and I felt the weight of both Suiden’s and Laurel’s gazes on me.
Laurel’s paw tightened on my hand. “Rabbit—”
“What does the rune say?” Javes asked, interrupting Laurel.
The Faena turned to Javes. “Truth.”
Javes got out of his chair and stood next to mine. “Look at me, Lieutenant.”
I raised my head.
“The Faena cat says that through eating, drinking and breathing, I ingested enough fairy dust to become one.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Javes spread his arms out, looking down. “Yet I seem to be the same person my mother birthed all those years ago.” He looked up again and I watched his brown eyes bleed into the yellow of the wolf. “There’s nothing magical about either me, Suiden or Groskin that I can see.”
“Tell him what you see, Rabbit,” Laurel said.
“Hey, stop right there—” Groskin began.
“A dragon prince, a wolf and a panther,” I said.
“—I’m human and nothing but human—” Groskin stopped. “Uh, who’s the panther?”
“You are.”
“Well, we know who’s the dragon prince so that leaves me the wolf.” The yellow eyes gleamed at me as Javes’ muzzle dropped open in a tongue-lolling grin. “But, for all we know, these visions could be from those leaves you pushed down Rabbit’s throat, Ambassador. I’ve heard there are mushrooms that do the same thing.”
I looked at Suiden. “His hair is in many braids almost to his waist, beaded. He has three gold rings in one ear and an emerald stud in the other. His clan markings on his face are inked with blue, there is a tattoo of dolphins on his left arm, above the gold, sapphire, and emerald bracelet on his wrist. He is wearing a green and blue silk tunic with sleeves that stop at the upper arm, and black pants that end just below his knees. He has two swords, a straight one on his back and a curving one on his hip. Two daggers in his sash.” I looked down. “And he is barefoot.” This time the silence was absolute.
Suiden ran his hand over his short hair, before touching an earringless ear, then lowered it to run it over the sleeve of his plain shirt. “And the dragon?” he asked after a moment.
“Obsidian. Huge. Bigger than any I’ve ever seen.” My mouth twisted. “Drinking tea from the daintiest cup I’ve ever seen.”
Laurel’s brows drew together. “Teacup? No fire or smoke?”
“Yeah, that too.” I watched for a moment more. “A lot of that.”
For the first time, Laurel looked a little nervous. Then he waved it away with a paw. “Rabbit has the ability to discern. To see beyond the facade, the obvious, to what’s really there. It’s not a lotus dream.”
Javes stared at Suiden, fascinated. “Then why can’t we see it?”
Laurel shrugged again. “Perhaps the final catalyst to effect the complete translation hasn’t happened yet. Or perhaps it’s because of the very human trait of refusing to acknowledge anything outside your own mundane world-view. But trust me, you are translated.”
Javes opened his mouth, but Suiden spoke before he could. “Perhaps. And perhaps not. But whatever is going on with Iversterre and its people, it still doesn’t give you the right to bespell one of my men.”
“Not a spell.” Laurel released my hand to lean forward in his chair “It is not making Rabbit something he’s not, but giving him control over his talents as he grows into who he is.”
“It seemed to me that a few moments ago, you were controlling him.” Suiden leaned forward also. “That thing on your paw burned and he screamed in pain.”
“Rabbit reacted to my anger. Training will stop that.”
“So says you,” Javes said.
“Faena don’t lie, sir,” I said. “They can’t, not even to themselves.” I held my hand up, showing the rune, and ignored Groskin’s flinch. “Truth. Not a truth, not my truth or yours, sir. The Truth.”
“No one can stand knowing the truth, Rabbit,” Suiden said. “At least not for long.”
“Yes, sir. It’s how the Border won the last war.” I lowered my hand again. “The Faena lift the rune of truth and suddenly you see yourself, your commanders, your mates exactly for what everyone is. Not only the weak, the venal, the vicious, but the motives behind every loving word, every kind deed, every blessing. All of it, sir.” I went back to tracing the marking in my palm. “You’re right. No one can stand it and the Royal Army went mad.”
“But I thought the trees—” Groskin began.
“They came after the Faena,” I said.
Suiden leaned back in his chair, making it creak. His eyes narrowed at Laurel. “Why are you here?”
“To prevent another war.”
“And your journey has nothing to do with Rabbit?”
“His father recommended him as a liaison.”
Suiden frowned at the neat evasion. I watched the dragon set his cup down, smoke curling up around his face, and I forgot about my hand. “Uh, Laurel—”
“Do not jerk me about, cat.”
Laurel’s ears laid back and his pupils dilated dark. “The rune was necessary as he was a threat to himself and others. Accept it.” The beads on his staff rattled as he pulled it to him.
“Uh, Captain Suiden—”
“You told me that he was neither in danger nor a danger. You lied then or you lie now.” The smoke increased and flames licked out on both sides of the dragon’s mouth. “Perhaps both.”
“Once the rune was drawn, he wasn’t.” Laurel’s neck fur rose. “And. I. Do. Not. Lie.” He stood, holding the staff in front of him.
“On my lieutenant, without my permission.” The dragon rose up on his hind legs, his gold-shot black wings outspread.
“Do you own him? No. You don’t.” A rumble started in Laurel’s chest as he unsheathed his claws again while the dragon opened his mouth, drew in a deep breath and lifted a taloned hand.
Once a dragon from outside our Weald tried to move in on Moraina’s territory. My family had to hide in the root cellar, along with every other creature that could find its way there (it got very crowded), while the battle took place over our farm. We prayed at first that they wouldn’t harm our house and fields. Partway through the prayers changed to not too badly damaged. Then to just be able to put it all back together again, somewhat. Then that we live. Then that our bodies be recognizable. Then that they’d be found. Rune or not, I was not hanging about while Laurel Faena and Captain Dragon Prince Suiden battled it out. I jumped out of my seat, grabbed Groskin, saluted, then grabbed Javes and hustled them in front of me to the hallway door. I flung it open and shoved them out as fast as I could.