Shapeshifters (9 page)

Zane nodded once, still visibly simmering. “Their leader, Adelina, and her second in command, Ailbhe, are brother and sister—two of the fiercest fighters among the palace guards. They are also the last possible people I would have chosen to patrol if I had known you were coming.”

“You had no way of knowing,” I assured him,
attempting to cool his fury. “And your guards had no way of knowing I came peacefully.”

Zane said dryly, “You are more generous than I am.”

“Ailbhe has the ring you gave to me,” I added, my terror having receded enough for me to remember that. “I had no chance to explain to them.”

Zane's response was sharp. “Adelina had him search you?”

Puzzled at the question, I nodded.

Zane drew in a breath, then let it out before he said, “I'll speak to the two of them later. Now you should come sit and rest. You've been hit more than is good for you.”

Catching my arm as if the movement was natural, he led me to the smooth oaken table that sat at the back of the hall. I remembered that he had offered his arm when Rei and his guards had found him in my room at the Mistari camps as well.

Touching in general was rare among my kind, even in such a formal manner. I had gripped Rei's or Vasili's arms some days when grief or war had led me to exhaustion, and that display alone had been frowned upon by most of the court. I had heard that the serpiente were freer with contact, but until now I had never needed to compensate for that particular difference.

Suddenly it occurred to me that I had no idea
exactly how far that openness extended. I recalled how Zane's guard had greeted him, and the kisses he had stolen both at the Mistari encampment and in my own room. I had thought at the time that he probably considered me either foolish or wanton not to decidedly protest such an action, but perhaps doing so was so natural to him, and he had not considered how shocking it would be to his avian counterpart.

Slightly soothed by this realization, I settled into the chair Zane offered to me, relaxing my aching body and cataloging my bruises. They were no worse than those I had gained in mischief as a child, or in weapons drills with Rei; the bruises across my shoulders and knees would heal quickly.

“Irene made me wait one more night before I decided you were not going to come,” Zane stated as he swung gracefully into the chair opposite where I sat. His anger was slightly better concealed now, but it was still visible in the slick tone of his movements. “Thank the gods she did.”

“As it is, I cannot stay long,” I was forced to admit. “My guards do not know where I am, or else they would never have let me be here.”
And if they knew how the palace guards had “welcomed” me, they would do anything in their power to keep me from ever returning,
I thought.

Zane's expression took on a hint of surprise,
and his voice was resigned as he said, “I forget how much power the Royal Flight has over its queen.” He shook his head. “Adelina never hesitates to protest when she thinks I'm likely to get myself killed, but the guard doesn't dare try to stop a cobra from doing as he wishes.”

Recalling how Zane had cleared his guards from the room with one word, I had no doubts as to the truth of his statement. Catching the glimmer of anger still in Zane's gaze, I was equally certain as to why the guard was so obedient to its prince.

“You're being announced as Tuuli Thea tomorrow, correct?” Zane asked, in an abrupt change of topic.

“Yes,” I confirmed, slightly surprised that Zane knew the details so well. I allowed my expression and tone to carry the question, knowing that Zane would answer or not as he thought appropriate.

Zane caught the inquiry in my voice and explained, “I've people loyal to me who have access to the Keep. They keep me informed.”

I swallowed a feeling of unease at the thought of the serpiente having spies in the Hawk's Keep. More unnerving was the knowledge that they would need to be avian, or else they would have been caught long before now. Zane might have been able to sneak around the Keep at night by using the stairway, but it would be impossible to
follow the goings-on in the court without the ability to fly.

“And who are these ears of yours?” I asked, unable to keep the suspicion from my voice.

“If we manage to succeed in ending this damn war, I will gladly introduce them to you,” Zane answered smoothly. Though he did not say it outright, the second meaning to his words was clear. If we did not end the war, he would keep his spies in place.

I had been aware that Zane's attempt at peace might be a ruse, but I had been willing to risk that on the chance that he might be sincere. It had not occurred to me until that moment how carefully Zane must have laid his plans before inviting the avian royalty to join this negotiation dance.

With painful clarity, Zane's earlier words reverberated in my mind.
Irene made me wait one more night before I decided you were not going to come. Thank the gods she did.

If I had not come this night, would his spies have killed me in my bed? Or would Zane himself have done the honor, ending my life with the cobra's poison that he had once assured me would stop my heart more swiftly than I could draw breath to scream? Suddenly I was sure that if the time allotted to me had run out, Zane might have attempted to end the war by eliminating the leaders of the other side—namely my
mother and me—with methods far more sure than any of Karashan's plans.

As if reading my thoughts in the silence I allowed to pass, Zane stated coolly, concisely, “If I give you my word, Danica, you can be assured I will keep it. I want bloodshed no more than you do, but I will do what is necessary to end this war. If that means accepting the Mistari's suggestion, then I will go down on bended knee this moment and ask you to be my Naga. If that means listening to any other suggestion you have … so be it.” He concluded, his tone never changing, “And if it means taking the Hawk's Keep down stone by stone with my bare hands, then without hesitation I will begin.”

I stood, moving away from the intensity in his gaze. If I refused to listen … would I even be allowed to leave?

“I came here to talk about peace, not to receive threats.”

“I gave my word you would be safe if you accepted my invitation,” Zane assured me, not rising from his seat, as if attempting the impossible feat of appearing harmless. “If you turned around right now and left, neither my guard nor I would stop you.”

“And afterward?”

Zane closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again his expression was as remote as the morning star. “I hope we can end
this war with peace, not a bloodbath,” he answered. “I've reached the point where I honestly think I would slit my own wrists if I thought it would end the fighting. Unfortunately, the palace guard would not react well to losing its last prince, and again we would have a slaughter on our hands.” He shook his head and finished bluntly, “You are an attractive woman, Danica, but I do not love you. I do not think I ever can. I look into your golden hawk's eyes, and no matter how stunning the form they accompany, I think only of your warriors murdering my loved ones. Since you recoil every time you accidentally find your own gaze fallen upon Cobriana garnet, I suspect you feel much the same way.”

“Are these statements going somewhere?” I inquired, voice detached.

“I wanted to make sure there were no misunderstandings between us before I asked my next question,” Zane answered immediately. He stood, and I braced myself to keep from flinching as he moved toward me. “I have considered our options, and elected to attempt the least bloody first.” Graceful as the serpent that lived inside him, Zane went down on one knee. “With the understanding that there may never be anything between us but a shared desire for peace, and my word that I will never force upon you any duty beyond the political expectations of the position,
I implore you, Danica Shardae, to agree to be my Naga.”

I felt my heart skip a beat, and for several seconds my voice caught in my throat.

He couldn't want an answer now … but of course he did, or he would not have asked. Zane waited silently, still as a statue, as I alternated between animalistic terror, the desire to flee, acceptance of my responsibilities and the knowledge that if I said no now, I would need to return to the council and prepare for battle.

How could I possibly
consider
saying yes when I knew that with as little hesitation as he had gone to one knee, Zane could stand and slip a knife between my ribs?

How could I consider saying no, when agreeing now might end this war?

“I don't know how in the world I could convince my protectors to back my decision,” I admitted, and my voice was nearly shaking. The rest of the council would follow the Royal Flight, but I felt certain that Andreios would be the first to protest my endangering myself with this agreement.

“Yes or no is all that matters,” was Zane's swift response. “We'll work out the details later.”

I took a breath, felt my throat constrict and had to swallow hard twice before I could answer, “Yes. I agree.”

Zane stood, catching my right hand as he did so. He laid a gentle kiss on my knuckles, then turned it over and pressed another ring into my palm.

The style matched the Cobriana signet ring, though this one was smaller, designed to fit my slender fingers. The metal was the same cool silver, but instead of the traditional black stone, this had been set with a rare golden onyx, with bands varying from pale honey to warm marigold. I knew it must have come from the Mistari's original homeland in the east.

“I have informed my people that I will announce my Naga on the new moon—two nights from now. I know it is the evening after your coronation as Tuuli Thea, and if necessary I can push it back, but it seems wise to make our move as soon as we can.”

I nodded, and as it occurred to me, I added, “There will be protests, but if we go through with the announcement here before I inform the court of my decision, not only will I have the title of Tuuli Thea behind me, but it will be too late for even the Royal Flight to forbid me. It is a high crime for an alistair's vows to be broken.” No one would dare order the Tuuli Thea to withdraw her promise, even if it was given to the Diente of the serpiente. I could stall picking an alistair easily enough, though it would be trickier to bluff Karashan into delaying. But it would only be a
few days, long enough to seal the pact on the serpiente side; I would do it, whatever it took.

“How are your people likely to take the news?” I asked hesitantly. My main concern was that someone might attempt to kill Zane if I tried to take him to the Keep and acknowledge him as my alistair; I hoped I would not be dodging weaponry when Zane made the announcement here.

“They won't like it; they'll think I'm more than a little crazy. There will be those who will worry you are going to put a knife in me one night, and some who will think a strange avian magic has twisted my mind,” Zane answered easily. “But you're beautiful, and there's no reason for them to think I'm not madly infatuated even if you are a hawk. That being so, they frankly cannot afford to take the announcement badly. One can be skinned for harming the Naga or her personal guards, which for you will include the Royal Flight. They'll be wary of picking fights with avian soldiers, at least for a while.”

Skinned?
I shuddered at the thought, though I certainly did agree that such a threat would be a strong deterrent to anyone intending harm.

I nodded, accepting Zane's reasoning. “I need to get back to the Keep before the Royal Flight comes looking for me,” I stated, lifting my bruised body carefully from my seat.

“Can you be here at about midday after the
ceremony at the Keep?” Zane asked. “That will leave some time to prepare you for meeting the serpiente court.” The concept of standing in front of a large group of hostile serpiente, relying only on the promise of Zane Cobriana to keep me safe, made my blood run cold.

“That should be fine,” I responded, my voice sounding distant to my ears. I almost felt like I was dreaming again, but even my mind could not have created a scenario as terrifying as this one.

B
Y THE TIME
I
RETURNED TO THE
K
EEP, IT
was nearly dawn, yet I had barely returned to human form before Andreios was standing before me and demanding to know where I had been.

I used the pretense of catching my breath as I thought quickly and finally settled for the closest thing to the truth I could manage. “When I spoke to the flight leaders, I mentioned the possibility of a less direct solution. I have been finalizing the details of that solution.” Rei's eyes widened as I continued, “I have a plan, but it is discreet. In the meantime, I want you to tell the flight leaders to stand down. I don't want a move made beyond what I have already triggered. I plan … to turn the serpiente's plot back upon them.”

I knew all the ways he could take the words,
and I knew he would never translate them to mean that I had agreed to go along with Zane Cobriana's plans. Karashan thought the serpiente were standing down to draw us into a trap. Let her think I was using the same plan.

“Are you sure?” was all Rei asked.

I wanted to tell him the full truth, but revealing the real plans would ruin them. Neither my mother nor the Royal Flight would let me get away with this madness.

That very fact was what tempted me the most. If I told them and they stopped me from going through with the insane agreement I had made with a cobra, I could tell myself that it wasn't my fault. At least until I walked the next bloody battlefield, or took the throne and, like my mother, lost children to the war. The first blood I saw would be on my hands, as would any spilled afterward.

I kept my fears to myself. “I am sure,” I said. “Give Karashan the orders: not a move.”

He nodded, and we parted ways. I returned to my bed to get some much-needed rest before the coronation that evening.

The ceremony was simple: a few words spoken to the court by my mother of my strength and courage and faith in the future, words that felt hollow in my ears as terror beat in my heart. From her own neck my mother removed a pendant of a golden hawk with wings spread, a soli
tary symbol on the end of a carefully woven gold and silver chain. I was wearing the necklace the Aurita had given to me; the piece hung high enough that I could wear the hawk pendant at the same time, so that each decoration seemed made to wear with the other.

I addressed my people, and saw my mother frown when I finished without speaking of my alistair. However, it was not until the Royal Flight knelt before me to swear their allegiance to the new Tuuli Thea that the horror of what I had promised Zane was made real to me.

“Gerard Halsan.” Speaking his name, the older man knelt before me, taking my hand and speaking the words he had recited when he had sworn his allegiance to my mother before me. “To my Tuuli Thea goes my faith and my trust. To her blood goes my blade, my bow and my fist, ever to defend her and her kin. To her I swear my loyalty, and to her I swear my life ever before hers.”

My life ever before hers.
These two dozen men and women, their lives before mine. I prayed they would never need to give those lives. I prayed I could stop the war before they were called to sacrifice themselves for another helpless queen.

I knew every name and face among the Royal Flight. Some of them, like Karl and Andreios, I had grown up with; some of them, like Gerard, had guarded my mother before I was even born.

The list went on, coming at last to Erica
Silvermead. The newest member of the Royal Flight, the low-born sparrow who had shocked Andreios with her ability. If I had to guess, her name would be high on my list of Zane's possible spies; she had come out of nowhere. But I knew the assessment was not quite fair. Erica had barely been accepted into the Royal Flight, and she had only been in the Keep for a few days; Zane had implied that his spies had been in place for a while. There was just something about the sparrow that unnerved me. However, Rei seemed very proud of how well she fought, so I did not speak my unease. As Erica swore her vows, her voice rang sincere.

The last to stand before me was the commander of the Royal Flight himself.

Andreios stood respectfully, but in his eyes was a look akin to pain, a question he would not ask. Still, he smiled at me as he approached and went to his knee.

“To my Tuuli Thea goes my vow to train those under me, to lead them well, so our wings may be hers if she falls, so our eyes may be hers in darkness, and our talons may be hers in danger. To her blood goes my blade, my bow and my fist, ever to defend her and her kin. To her I swear my trust and my loyalty. To her I swear my life ever before hers.”

He took my hand and kissed the back of it. The movement was formal, but I wished it was
not. I had sworn myself to another man, a cobra, and left Rei to wonder what had happened to keep me from naming him my alistair today as we had assumed I would.

 

T
HE RECEPTION AFTER
the coronation and the vows was a farce. Every member of the avian court approached me with congratulations and words of advice, and to all of them I wanted to say, “Do you know what I have done? What I am going to do?”

My mother approached me as soon as I had a moment of peace. She offered no words of congratulations, but said, “You decided not to choose your alistair tonight?” The words asked many things.

I had practiced my half-lies since speaking to the council, and when I answered, my voice was polished. “We spoke a few days ago of acting in this war. I have been working with a select few on a plan that I hope will be less bloody than sending scores of soldiers into enemy territory.” I saw a moment of surprise in my mother's face and continued. “I would like, when I announce my alistair, to announce with him a new reign of peace. I would like to announce that Zane Cobriana no longer stands as our enemy. And I intend to.”

Skepticism was not hidden from my mother's voice as she asked, “What is this plan?”

“Wait, Mother,” I answered with a sigh. “I will announce the outcome … in three days' time, in front of the court. I will announce my alistair then. Until then, I will hear no questions.”

I knew she wanted to ask, but she held her tongue. I was Tuuli Thea now; she had no power to challenge me.

It was nearly midnight when I managed to sneak out to the balcony for a breath of fresh air. I leaned against the railing, staring at the line where the treetops met the starlit sky.

I was not alone long. Andreios joined me, not speaking but giving me a chance if I wanted it. I only wished I knew what to say.

I started to turn away, but his voice drew me back. “Danica?”

His features were shadowed, but not enough to hide the look of determination on them.

“It's all right,” he said, voice gentle. “I understand. I love you, and I always have. What matters to me is that you are happy. If there's someone else, I wish you luck with him.” My heart raced at his words. I opened my mouth to say
There's no one else,
but of course there was—a serpent. “And if you're just not ready, I can wait.”

I was unwilling to lie, but couldn't tell him the truth. I reached out to him, and he caught my hand and kissed the back of it. I remembered Zane doing the same so recently and couldn't
speak. Words of love seemed cruel when the next night I would pledge myself to another man.

The words I uttered were halting but honest. “You have been a friend to me ever since we were children.” I saw him flinch at the words, but continued, “There is no one I trust more. No one I care for more. But …” I shook my head. “It's impossible to explain.”

I saw a sudden hint of fear and suspicion in his eyes and turned away before he could speak again. I returned to my room and collapsed into bed, where I stared at the ceiling and tried to block my own fears from my mind.

 

I
WOKE A
few hours after sunrise. Yawning, I dragged myself out of bed and called for a cold bath to try to rouse myself.

The hawk pendant was still around my neck, and I lifted it to examine the intricate detail of the wings and eyes.

Tuuli Thea.
Though I had been preparing for the title since my sister's death, the position still seemed unreal. The idea that I was now the one the Royal Flight would look to, the one who would hear complaints of the common people in the market and the one who would be expected to administer justice in response to a crime seemed impossible.

And by tomorrow, the title will be Naga as well.
I did not wish to dwell on that prospect, but of
course I was forced to as I took my bath and the cold water woke my mind and my fears.

The dress I had worn for the ceremony the day before had been aired and hung. Though the flowing skirt, decent neckline and low back designed to allow the Demi form's wings to grow if it became necessary was an avian style, the warm burgundy and soft silk reminded me of the outfits I had seen Irene and Charis wear. It would be perfect for the ceremony at the palace. I laid it out with a silent thanks to Eleanor, its creator.

Struggling into the complicated garment alone might prove difficult; a maid had helped me with several of the clasps in the back the first time. But I would manage.

The next problem was a slightly larger one.

I could not simply disappear all day and evening without exciting a panic among the Royal Flight.

I drafted a letter, though I knew leaving a note in my room was a rather guilty way of avoiding confrontation. I also worried that someone might find it too early. I needed someone who could cover for me for a few hours and then explain to the Royal Flight where I had gone.

Eleanor. Might she be of help? She was more open-minded than most of the court, and might be willing to be my intermediary. I summoned
her to my drawing room and paced on the balcony as I waited for her to appear.

“I need a favor from you,” I stated once the woman was present and the page-in-training who had brought her was gone.

“What would you like?” she answered easily, unsuspicious.

“I have been conducting negotiations with the serpiente,” I explained, leaving out all specifics and watching her face carefully for signs of revulsion. Eleanor appeared startled, but did not immediately reject the idea. “The Royal Flight does not know what my plans are, but I am worried I will be missed while I am away today—”

“Won't they expect you to be at market for Festival?” Eleanor asked with wide-eyed faux innocence. “I know it's supposed to be a day for merchants and children, but I've never in my life known you or any of the royal family to miss it.”

In the recent days' mixture of confusion and tension, I had honestly forgotten about Festival, which occurred about two months before midsummer. Every year, market was filled to bursting with magicians, storytellers and other entertainers. Though the Tuuli Thea and her heirs were traditionally not a part of the celebrations, I had always loved the bright decorations and beautiful songs that accompanied them. Even
the Royal Flight let its guard down, as it was unlikely that anyone would manage to harm the heir to the Tuuli Thea among such a press of her subjects.

“Perfect,” I breathed. “Andreios won't be surprised if he doesn't see me until nearly sunrise.” Pacing with nervous excitement, I asked, “Eleanor, would you be able to deliver a message to the Royal Flight? I might be back before they even miss me, but if not, Andreios should be informed of my whereabouts.”

Eleanor nodded. “I can do that. Festival will last until sunrise. If I have not heard from you by then, I can speak to your protector.”

“Thank you.” I read over my letter one more time before sealing it and entrusting it to the seamstress.

Eleanor's gaze moved to the burgundy dress that I had not yet donned to replace the simple outfit I was wearing for the morning, and I saw her smile a little. “I know the design on that is a little complicated. Do you need help?”

“Eleanor, you are a goddess,” I breathed. So far, this venture was falling into place easily—too easily. It was beginning to worry me.

Dressed and ready, I gave one last look to the letter Eleanor held. It was a concise explanation of my conversations with Zane Cobriana to date, as well as where I would be that evening, and why.
If you wish to seek me,
the letter continued,
I recommend that you do so peacefully. I want this ceremony to proceed without bloodshed, and you are enough of a soldier to know that Zane's people will not respond well if your flight appears fully armed at the palace. I do not know what serpiente tradition expects of this ceremony; I will return as soon as is seemly.

The letter was signed and sealed, and it would be delivered. Now all that was left was to make the words true.

 

M
Y GREETING AT
the serpiente palace was much gentler this time, and it came in the form of a trio of young female guards. They said little, and while their gazes alternated between distaste and curiosity, I was neither searched nor struck, for which I was grateful beyond belief.

Once again I was led through the twisting maze of the serpiente palace, and though I tried to memorize the turns we took and the doors we passed through, I found it impossible to do so. I was glad I was a willing guest and not a prisoner trying to escape; one could probably wander these halls for hours without finding anyplace familiar.

A tendril of curiosity rose. In the past, I never could have imagined exploring the inside of the serpiente palace, which was described as a labyrinth of halls and secret passages. Now, I might have a chance.

I recognized the large honey-oak double
doors before my escort pushed them open to reveal the hall where I had met Zane the first day I had come here.

Zane was pacing anxiously, while Irene and Charis Cobriana were seated at the large table that dominated the far side of the room. Now Zane dismissed the three guards with a word and greeted me warmly.