Chapter 84: A Royal Dinner

Song Inspiration: "Royals" by Lorde, "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran

Dane POV

Wiping meat sauce off his chin, Dane glanced around the dining hall. "Are Jude and Ravyn ever coming down, do you think?"

Lilia elbowed him. "They completely collapsed. Other than Marieke, they were in the worst shape of all of us. Give them time to recover."

Dane shrugged and brought another forkful of meat to his lips. "I'd just hate for them to miss this sumptuous feast."

Lilia had a point, though. Newly mated pair Ravyn and Jude deserved time alone in one of the opulent royal bedrooms. The first days after bonding were usually passionate, and Ravyn and Jude had leapt right from their claiming into this quest–for good reasons, and not just unriddling the mystery Daxius had left Ravyn with all those years ago. 

Dane made a mental note to check on his wizard father-in-law. Faithful and devoted, Daxius hadn't left Marieke's side since they arrived at the palace. He parked himself beside her, an immovable object, even when the royal healers and physicians nagged him about the dark circles under his eyes, which made the turquoise of his eyes look even sharper. 

Yes, Dane had severely misjudged Daxius, who was a victim of the Dark Goddess' manipulations. After all, you couldn't blame him for wanting to provide for his family. Ravyn was proud of her family business, and even after joining the pack, she still kept her hand in. 

"Someone should take a tray to Daxius," he said, savoring the fresh boar meat. "I think I will."

Lilia's violet eyes softened like the delicate evening sky. "That would be lovely."

Odo grinned. "Smashing idea, although our servants can do it–you've done quite enough."

Dane glared at him. "You don't know much about shifters, do you?"

"Dane, behave," Jiro said with that polished Alpha look. "He just found out about us."

"Then I'm educating him," Dane shot back. 

Queen Giselberthe laughed, a bubbly laugh. "That's right. I'm guessing that shifters are family-oriented."

"As a whole, yes," Dane said. "Unfortunately, as with any group of people, there are some exceptions. But we tend to be tight-knit."

"Ordinary wolves are," Queen Giselberthe offered. "They're loyal. They can smell each other, sense each other, and communicate. They're highly intelligent creatures. Then, you add human intellect and reason and emotion on top of that, but you still have that deep connection to each other."

Jiro whistled, and Garnet smiled in delight. Dane's eyebrows arched. "Odo, it seems that your Luna, like ours, runs circles around everyone."

Odo beamed with pride. "Always."

Around a bite of flavorful, perfectly seasoned boar, Jiro said, "Shifters tend to take care of their families. We have big families–Dane and I are the oldest and the middle of five brothers. We care for our elders, even though they age like elves and are generally robust during their long lives. We care for pups that are orphaned. We have unconventional families, too--several of us mated with witches, and my little brother Dirge mated with Princess Thessalia Bearpoplar of Brighmere ... he even has his own tree in their grove. Daxius is Dane's father-in-law … well, his wizard father-in-law. He gave us Lilia--who ties with my Garnet for the best Luna."

Garnet snorted and wiped her chin with her napkin. "I think Jude might beg to differ."

Odo leaned forward, listening in rapt fascination. "I want to know so much more. Could we arrange a royal visit to your people?"

Giselberthe clapped her long, graceful hands. "Oh, yes! We would love to."

Dane exchanged glances with Jiro. Odo's boldness and his openness resonated with Dane.

"I would like nothing better," he said sincerely. "But, as I'm sure Jiro will agree, that's an unprecedented step. We barely got the council to agree to reveal our existence–and that was because of Jiro's and Garnet's political skills and the need to stop Hades and rescue us and our allies. They wouldn't have said yes otherwise."

"And it was still a close vote," Jiro added.

"Because you fear us." Odo suddenly sounded solemn, striking the right note. "I can't speak for all my people, or tell you that there won't be potential dangers if and when you finally choose to reveal yourselves to humankind."

The young king leaned forward, looking Dane in the eye, then Jiro, then Lilia, then Garnet. He held each of their gazes as if nothing else existed in the room. Despite himself, Dane was impressed. A glance at Jiro told him that Odo's single focus went over big with his brother. 

Odo continued, "But what my queen and I can and do promise you is that we'll honor you as our trusted allies. We've shared combat together. We've worked together to defeat a foe that seems unconquerable. How do you conquer evil itself? And yet, we struck a blow together. That is historic–and we did it while the rest of Lugdunum blissfully went about their business, not knowing what happened on that island. A long time ago, one of my royal tutors, a grizzled old grumpy man–"

All three of the shifters and Lilia muffled their laughter.

Grinning with just a touch of boyish charm, Odo said, "Well, he was! And I was the sort of prince who would rather be out adventuring than learning about how to be a king one day. But during a lesson when I was, shall we say, being less than attentive, he said something to me that I'll never forget. 'Boy, the most important things you ever do aren't going to be found in history books or sung by bards. It's those moments when no one is watching, and you still do the right thing, that make a king or queen great.' That's what we did today. For everyone. And you can tell your people that."

A powerful speech.

So powerful that Jiro almost fell out of his chair and Dane just sat in stunned silence. Lilia made an awed sound, and Garnet looked like she wanted to run and write down every word. This was, after all, Crimsontail Shadows history in the making.

* * * * *

Garnet POV

How had she and Jiro been so lucky as to land in King Odo's dungeon?

It changed everything. Thanks to the Moon Goddess. Otherwise, they all might not be sitting here arguing over whether to go against centuries of shifter tradition and law. 

She could feel Jiro's emotions. A deep reverence and awe washed over her. Jiro wasn't one to let himself be easily overtaken by emotion, especially with his protective and logical mind always looking for trouble under every rock and in the shadows. But he was as spiritual as they came, and she felt his gratitude for this moment. 

Dane, normally the first to get territorial at even a hint of a potential problem for his pack and for shifters in general, stared at Odo in astonishment, with a healthy respect in his eyes. But then, Dane was the one who had chosen and mated with a witch who lived among humans. He'd made her his Luna and changed the shifters' destiny.

"Odo, that was … that was remarkable," she finally said.

Lilia's eyes shone with warmth, violet flames. "Your tutor taught you well. You must have been listening better than you thought during those lessons."

Giselberthe's face had a look of quiet adoration. "You see, you can trust him."

Jiro cleared his throat, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "I do."

Simple, direct, unwavering. Jiro was full of confidence. 

More emotional, Dane said, "Odo, that was an Alpha speech. That was a mighty howl. That was something that would make the packs roll over and expose their bellies and their throats. You are a true leader and visionary. My brother is right. And if we were just dealing with you–"

Odo's chin lifted, and he looked offended. "You doubt my word about protecting you? You insult my honor? After I've risked my life, fought beside you, left several noble and loyal soldiers dead, fed you, treated you as honored guests? Moreover, how dare you insult my people, who are good and decent? Is this how leaders behave in your homeland?"

Garnet paled. She knew Dane would be a harder sell than Jiro, strangely. Dane had mellowed in many ways, but he was still so tradition-bound. Yet Odo had pushed too hard. She couldn't blame him for being enthusiastic, but he didn't know how shifters thought.

Lilia tried to explain. "Odo, having lived among shifters, I can assure you–"

Odo leaped up. "You are a citizen of Lugdunum! You should respect your king. I demand an apology this instant!"

"ODO!"

Giselberthe yanked him back down into his seat when he stood up.

Stunned, Odo just sat there, his eyes darting around, bird-like.

Giselberthe continued. "Dane is right. If his people have kept away from humans for centuries, there must be a good reason. We know that the faeries, elves, and dwarves only revealed themselves three hundred years ago, and ever since the orcs first made contact with us–"

Growling, Odo said, "My mother, Gods rest her soul, was always unreasonable when it came to the orcs. Bad blood between our house and the orcs. I personally LIKE Prince Makhel. I got along very well with Queen Durgat, too. A shame that no one can figure out what's wrong with her. But Makhel and I have been getting along well. I've visited Nauru and had the orcs at court no less than twenty times in the last year. Surely, that should count for something."

Dane softened, and Jiro nodded approvingly. Garnet could feel Jiro's cautious nature, despite his welcoming demeanor. He wasn't about to throw open the doors of Sinsworth House to the humans without trusting them completely.

Dane spoke softly, looking vulnerable (for Dane). "Odo, Giselberthe, you've proven yourself to be true friends. But your history with the orcs is a cautionary tale. And I'm aware that, despite the strong alliances with the dwarves, elves, and faeries, they, too, were wary of you for a long time. I would like nothing more than to host you and your inner circle in Evenhide. That would earn bragging rights for our pack into eternity. And I'm sure that my brother and Jude would spar with me to win the right to host you first."

Garnet agreed. "Any Alpha would. But it's not that simple. We may be able to pass as human–but the minute you set foot on shifter lands, our people will start howling and preparing for a fight. We can SMELL humans."

"There must be a way." Odo wasn't giving up. This was clearly important to him. He seemed young and idealistic.

Suddenly, Ravyn's voice echoed in the room. "Both sides make excellent arguments. Maybe there's a compromise, if you're all willing to stop howling and listen."