Chapter 21

Flickering light from the wall scones and torches lit the dining area well for the evening meal. Every dozen feet or so, an armed guard stood along the walls as well as along the halls into and out of the communal dining hall, a common fixture when the table was open to everyone for dinner greetings. Master Theil and his two companions were scattered among the keep’s residents, a treat for their visitors and clan alike to converse. From what Royce learned, after the appearance of Xora that morning, Master Theil, Lord Morrow, and Rune had spent a good portion of the day in a meeting. Seeing the relaxed way everyone was tonight was clearly a way to put the seriousness of the day and the unknown future to the side for the moment.

Conversation was lively and laughter was robust as stories were shared. If it was only the mages and themselves with Lord Morrow, it was usually more relaxed between them, as well as held in the private dining hall. When the communal table was opened, everyone tended to stay on their best behavior as the evening meal was one of the highlights of the keep and its people. A chance to be heard at Lord Morrow’s table or to discuss ideas to improve the keep. A roundtable of sorts. It was working and that was all Jayce’s doing. It was starting to feel like home to Royce. These people, these men and women surrounding them. And one mage in particular.

Royce sat in his normal place next to Duran at dinner, his voice low when he leaned close. “I checked on the grass clippings. They’re thriving.”

Duran blinked, understanding immediately to grin, quick to hide it as he spoke secretly. “And?”

“I want to get Cedri.”

His partner in crime snorted. “When?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll ask him to train with me. We used to but not as much since he’s been guarding Lord Morrow. I’ll need you to bring the grasses. Though I’m not sure if it’s the stalks or the pollen that I reacted to, or how much of it will be needed.”

He nodded, brown eyes alight with mischief. “I can do that. I’m sure it was the pollen,” he offered, conspiratorially. “We can do a quick test in the morning, have your cat give approval.”

Royce’s grin was evil. How he loved his mage’s wicked mind. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to get one over on him.”

“He won’t be mad?”

Royce glanced across the table to ensure his target and friend wasn’t paying attention. “No. He can be fun when he remembers how. He’s taken to being Jayce’s protection quite well. I’m glad he has something for himself here, though. He likes to be useful. That’s part of why he didn’t mind leaving the clan. Kygo didn’t need him to stay to lead. They’re too much alike, anyway. Kygo’s tiger is massive so their fights were always rough.”

“Oh?” Duran sipped at his ale as conversation flowed around the table. Jayce was laughing at something Cedri had said. It was comfortable around the table tonight. Warm from the heat inside, from the people.

“Cedri’s is big, but Kygo?” His eyes widened in exclamation. “It’s why he’s next in line to take over the clan. No one can beat his tiger. My best friend accepted that a long time ago and is happy for his brother, but the tiger in Kygo still sees Cedri as a threat so they fought a lot. Their tigers tend to run pretty independently, unless mated.”

He settled his mug on the table. Distraught pain and concern was apparent in the depths of his earthen gaze. “That had to be hard, as brothers.”

“It was, but they know they’re still there for each other. They’ve always been close. I don’t doubt he’s missing the clan, and his brother.”

“Tomorrow, then. We’ll let him see he still has his friends.” Duran winked.

Royce nuzzled beneath his ear and licked slowly. “You’re so good to me, lover.”

Duran leaned into him infinitesimally. “Always, kitten.”

When Royce straightened, he basked in the warmth filling his chest to see the heightened color on Duran’s cheeks. They were sharing Royce’s room now in everything but the barest means, Duran sleeping with him most nights. The pallet bed had been replaced with something roomier for two grown men. Waking curled up around Duran made both him and his cat happy. For now, his cat was content with the status quo even though he hadn’t claimed the mage yet. He was willing to take his time, to be patient.

Stalking prey was one of his cat’s favorite things to do, after all.

 

* * * *

The next morning was brisk, the change of seasons apparent with fallen leaves thickening on the ground and covering footpaths between buildings where the wind blew them. Royce trailed Duran to the protected garden behind the keep, a dedicated building in full sunlight to protect the more weather sensitive plants and herbs. The building lay on the opposite side of the keep and apart from the livestock, making it a logical place to keep the grasses they’d brought home separated. A patch of tended ground to nurture the yellow stalks kept them safe inside, along with various rows and stacks of plants and herbs in clay supports. The stalks were growing strong and tall, vibrant in their new home.

Duran carefully chose and culled leaves, then gathered pollen in a cupped cloth. “I’m thinking something in ball form, inconspicuous. No one ever looks at a toy crossly, right?”

Royce chuckled at his mate’s evil idea. It wasn’t long before a ball curved into shape from the brown fabric he’d used to dust the pollen into, its shape formed from flexible reeds, becoming spherical as it was sewn together. Cut and crushed leaves and stalks were added to copious amounts of pollen to sift and roll within the fabric before the final edges were sewn.

Duran looked around them, ensuring they were alone. “Care to test it before I finish the last seam?” He braced the sizable ball partially hidden in his lap.

Royce grinned and quickly ducked behind him to strip, allowing his cat to come forward easily.

“There’s my beautiful kitten.” Duran’s praise had Royce’s leopard preening beside him, his soft trill filling the quiet in the secluded herb barn. Royce rose up and braced with his paws on Duran’s thigh to rub against his smooth jaw, ensuring his scent was all over his mage. Duran’s strong arm felt wonderful holding him close. His mage wasn’t muscled like a laborer, more lithe, but there was strength in his frame that made Royce salivate with longing. After a short cuddle, he prodded the toy ball for inspection. “Give a sniff. Tell me if I need to add more.”

Royce dropped to the ground and nudged the ball with his nose. That smelled… Mmm. Good. Familiar with the pollen and leaves, but… It wasn’t the same. He backed away and shook his head.

“More?”

Royce bobbed his head.

Duran chuckled then plucked several more leaves and tapped pollen into the center of his palm to pour through the open seam. “I’m not surprised. The cloth is probably inhibiting the scent. I’ll see how full I can get it, then.” A few more pokes and tests finally earned Royce’s approval, especially when he tried to bat it out of Duran’s hands to play with himself.

Duran splayed a hand over his grumbling face and pushed him away, laughing. “Not yet! Get dressed. We have a tiger to get. And your eyes need to calm down. They’re blown wide.” He tied off the heavy thread and poked it between the last seam. He tested the roll of the ball between his feet while Royce went to retrieve his clothing.

Royce was giggling when he stood on two feet, shivering at the loss of fur in the cooler morning air. He quickly tugged on his trousers. The cat may not be bothered by the cold, but without fur, the briskness nipped quickly. Rubbing a hand over his face, he filled his lungs in an attempt to regain his calm before facing his conspirator, then said, “I forgot how potent that stuff is. It might actually be stronger than the milkbonnet.”

Normal levels of activity filled the grounds as they strolled unhurried from the planting barn to the training flats. Duran carried the ball in the shoulder pack he wore. A little morning exercise before breakfast seemed the perfect opportunity to reveal their prank. The sound of children playing and animals carried all around them. The people of the keep were happy. Testament to Jayce’s efforts to bring the people of Kielbos together again.

“Did you ask him to meet you here?”

Royce smiled and waved when someone shouted out a morning greeting. “Him and Zahari. We haven’t had time to get together in a while.”

“Your cousin is happy with the foxes?”

“She is. She likes having a purpose, at least more than following Cedri’s shadow around.” He motioned with a hand in punctuation. “They did earn some notice by being Jayce’s rearing parents. He would be devastated if anything happened to them. They are the only parents he’s known.”

“That’s true,” Duran agreed. “His lineage is unquestionable. We don’t want them to be in danger because of an oversight of familiarity because they are not his birth parents.”

“Exactly. So Cedri was right to send her with them in the beginning. They were new to the keep then and now it’s accepted. I think she’d argue now anyway if we dared to remove her for someone else. She and Harmony have become good friends.”

“Cedri is very smart.”

“It’s the tiger. He’s cunning.” Royce couldn’t help the small smirk. He knew his best friend well.

Duran laughed warmly. The rumble of voices and morning fighting practice grew as they rounded the side of the keep. Chatter and laughter became distinct.

“There they are,” someone called out when they were spotted.

Cedri spun on his toes with a wicked grin. “Decided to finally get your lazy bones out of bed.” He brandished the sword he’d been using to work with others, improving skills and balance. The ability to swing a sword wasn’t all chop and block. It wasn’t really a skin shifter’s first choice, but it was a needed skill regardless.

“I could take you on in my sleep!” Royce called back. Hoots and catcalls bounced around the loosely gathered watchers. The group was mostly shifters with a few of the keep residents, including a few of the guards. It appeared the area had been permanently cordoned off during their time away for sword and combat training. There were sword stands and braces for hand to hand weapons. Cedri returned the one he currently held in his hand to a blank slot in one of the stacks. There were also tables with jugs and gourds for water. Benches lined one side and a raised platform with seats was shaded by an awning. It was an easy guess that was for Lord Morrow or others to watch events and skill tests. Duran stepped to the side when Royce followed Cedri behind a raised curtain for privacy to strip.

Royce padded from behind the curtain a moment later and rubbed along Duran’s leg, nearly as tall at the shoulder as his hip, while wrapping his tail sinuously across his back and thighs. Cedri’s tiger appeared next, a large yawn exposing long fangs ending in a rowl as he shook out his fur. The snow leopard strutted up to the larger feline and head butted the tiger, getting a noggin push in answer as the cats said hello.

Then Cedri padded a few circuits and a circle formed around the felines. Zahari walked between them when he stopped. “No blood.” She wagged a finger at them both. “That means you, Cedri.”

Snickers were clear. She backed out of the way and the cats hunched to the ground, taking the measure of their opponent. Tail tips twitched behind still haunches, the truest sign of their undivided focus. Duran felt his heart leap when Cedri growled low in his chest. The tiger easily outweighed and outsized the snow leopard. When Cedri exploded from a standstill, Duran had to bite his tongue to not shout out in surprise, witnessing their ferocity for the first time, even if it was controlled. Smacking into the leopard with blunt force and sheer power of size, the tiger rolled Royce’s leopard effortlessly. The tiger pushed off and over with strong hind legs, while the momentum aided Royce’s counter-move, sending the tiger toppling over his frame to roll to a skidded stop on his back paws when he regained traction.

Being smaller didn’t mean incapable, and it seemed Royce did know a few ways to use his smaller size against his opponent. Where Cedri had size and bulk to contend with, Royce’s more compact frame was on his feet before Cedri had stopped sliding on the dirt. The fluff of his coat protected him from broad paw swipes as they danced around each other. Shouts were loud as the gathered crowd cheered for their champion of choice. Bursts of breath were easily seen in the brisk air as the cats panted and huffed, the occasional growl of warning interspersed between. They circled a few times then Royce dove low, wrapping himself like a vine around Cedri’s braced front legs, forcing the tiger to leap nearly straight up. The move exposed his belly and Royce batted at him with his paws. The intent was clear. The strike would have seriously injured if claws and force had been in play.

Cedri chuffed, pleased at the maneuver. Cheers roared as the two predator cats faced off again. Circling and hissing at each other, taunting before colliding into each other again and again. Puffs of dust rose into the air from their fight, coating fur in patches where they’d both been tossed to the packed ground. Duran winced when Cedri managed a strong take down, spinning Royce around with hard hit to his haunches. The leopard’s yowl was loud and unnerving as he crashed onto his back.

Sideling unseen behind the wall of watchers, Duran eased open his pack flap and withdrew the pollen filled ball. The snow leopard huffed after his latest sprawl and shook out his coat, sending dirt and dust into the morning air. The cooler weather had to feel invigorating for the snow leopard. Royce’s cat was built for the thrill of snow covered mountains. Pale paws thudded softly with each stride. The tiger paced the packed dirt area of the fighting ring, undeterred by the cold or crowd. Both cats were stunning in their ferocity and he didn’t doubt for a second that both were deadly beyond measure.

Duran had asked Royce how much of the person was inside and cognizant when the cat was at the forefront. There was a level of symbiotic understanding when the cat was present, at least from Royce’s perspective. He couldn’t say how other shifters felt when their animal was prominent. Trust and control were shared. The skin shifters’ ability to share themselves, to take on the shape of an animal, astounded Duran. It had to be similar to the way mages worked an energy’s element, such as his own fire energy. It was a shared strength. An ability that manifested and then grew with the individual, nurtured and trained until it simply became a part of them. Magic and elemental ability didn’t overtake mages or witches in the same manner as a skin shifter. The sharing was still symbiotic in that one was only as strong as the other. Skin shifters were wholly as capable as the beast they shared a soul with.

The beauty of a skin shifter’s gifts would always be a marvel to him, whether they be cats, wolves, or any of the other beasts that were lurking in the wilds and unknowns of Kielbos. They were varied and remarkable. And utterly, breathtakingly beautiful.

Following the pace of the fight, Duran saw his opportunity to initiate their prank. Cedri backed away from Royce after a tussle of fangs and paws on the ground, both looking away with a good gap between bodies to loosely release the ball between watchers. As seamlessly as possible, he lowered and rolled the ball toward the two cats, deliberately closer to Cedri. It was a prank against Royce’s friend, after all.

The tiger stiffened at its sudden appearance. Cautiously, he padded up to the ball and sniffed. The beast’s large, orange head whipped up like it had been shocked. Its nose twitched, whiskers flexing and vibrating as it sniffed and huffed investigating the toy. The gathered watchers had grown quieter, as intently curious as Cedri as to what the ball was about.

Cedri’s tiger batted the ball and then he leapt after it, catching it in his paws. Hard sniffs were followed by shudders over his shoulders as he nosed at the ball, making it roll before he would scoop it up into rough paw pads. Cedri’s focus zeroed in on the ball, forgetting about Royce completely. Titters and jeers that he’d lost his mind grew. Duran covered his mouth to stifle his giggles. His soldiers were never going to let him live this down.

Royce trotted close then batted at Cedri’s face, pushing down with his wide paw. Cedri vocalized and swatted him away like an incessant bug and had about as much interest in the leopard. Laughter was growing around the circle.

“What are you doing, Cedri?” someone called out.

“Get him, Royce! Our leader’s gone dumb!”

Laughter erupted as the calls at the cats teased and taunted with playful—and not so playful—attack suggestions.

Royce backed up and with a small body wiggle, pounced on Cedri, who didn’t even blink. He rolled over with the ball in his paws over his head, sniffing hard and licking at it. Grabbing it in his teeth, he tossed the fabric ball upward. Royce pushed on his belly, to be thwarted by back legs blocking him. The tiger was definitely not paying him any real attention, aside from keeping the ball out of his friend’s reach.

Duran chuckled hard. The ball wasn’t going to last long with rough play. Hearing the building laughter, he knew Cedri was going to kill them once he figured out what they’d done. If he figured it out.

With Cedri on his back, broad paws balancing the ball above, Royce took full advantage of his lack of awareness and rammed the tiger. The ball popped out of his paws and went sailing a short distance. Cedri rolled with Royce until the pale leopard stood sprawled over the huffing tiger. The richly furred, white head shook and the tiger pushed Royce’s leopard off balance with his paws. Then with a flicked tail, the leopard dove for the ball and captured it in his teeth, prancing away from Cedri with his prize.

Laughter erupted when the tiger whined. Loudly.

As though becoming aware of all the eyes surrounding him, the tiger stilled then sneezed. Then chuffed. With a look of longing, he followed the leopard, his orange striped tail whipping with growing fervor to suddenly become as still as stone. Until he lowered his body, his stunning amber gaze locked on his prey.

“Uh oh.” Duran froze, taking in the scene before him. “Please don’t hurt him,” he pleaded to himself.

There wasn’t a sound when the tiger exploded from his stance to pounce on the leopard. Several gasps filled the air, a hint of worry and fear prominent until it was clear they were still fighting safely. No claws in evidence. The leopard rowled indignantly when he was set on by the weightiness of the tiger. Cedri’s bulk overpowered the snow leopard with ease and then snatched the ball in his jaws before darting off to slip between the crowd, head held high in victory at recapturing the ball. In a matter of heartbeats, the tiger vanished, engulfed by the wall of watchers.

Duran’s entire frame went slack with relief when the tiger was gone. He wasn’t sure how Cedri or his tiger would respond to the grass ball, rather believing in and trusting Royce’s own behavior. Laughing kindly in commiseration with his lover, he broke through the ranks and crouched next to the sulking leopard resting over his front paws. “You can’t be that upset with him for taking it.” The leopard gave him a side eye glare, making Duran’s mirth bubble up. He didn’t doubt the leopard wanted some play time with it too. He rubbed over an ear unable to hide the laughter in his voice. “Go change, kitten.” The leopard was most definitely pouting, but hefting to his paws, he shook out his coat and then trotted in Cedri’s wake to the curtain to shift back to two legs and dress.

Laughter was prominent as the spectators of the cats’ training drifted away to their own duties while they replayed what the cats had done through the fight, including their silliness with the ball.

Those that remained parted like a driven scythe sliced through wheat, giving a dressed Cedri a clear path to march into view. “Whose idea was this?” he shouted with a rueful grumble holding up the dusty and teeth marked ball. Sharp eyes scoured the crowd while tight lips grimaced as though he were fighting laughter. Duran’s expression smoothed to a purely scrupulous evenness.

Several of the guards who’d been observing shook their heads and backed away. One or two held up hands in a not me gesture. Rough chuckles were heard but no one spoke. No one, thankfully, gave away Duran’s part in it, either.

Dressed, Royce strolled up to Duran, stopping at his shoulder. Facing Cedri, he asked, “Where did that come from?” the epitome of wide-eyed childlike innocence. Duran had to bite the inside of his cheek to not release the bark of laughter sitting on his tongue. His mate definitely had a playful streak.

“This.” Cedri growled at everyone. “This drove my tiger crazy, but it doesn’t smell like milkbonnet.” Cedri glared at Royce then Duran. “Neither of you know anything about this, huh?”

They shook their heads, completely innocent. Cedri harrumphed, his disbelief and accusing stare saying everything.

“But I’ll be happy to take it to investigate what it is,” Duran offered, like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He lifted a hand to accept the sewn toy.

Cedri’s gaze zeroed in on his best friend’s face. Royce flinched. He shoved the ball into Duran’s chest, grumbling loudly. “Troublemakers. The both of you,” he growled.

Royce broke first, snorting as laughter rose in bellied waves. Cedri wrapped his arms around Royce’s middle and tossed him to the ground where they tussled like kids.

“Urrggh! What… Why!” he cried, barely able to speak through his laughter. Cedri took advantage and dug fingers hard into his ribs, driving roaring laughter out of Royce. “Okay! I give! I give!” he cried, trying to fold in on himself in an effort to protect his sides.

Cedri knelt over him in clear victory then hefted himself to his feet and offered a hand. He grinned mischievously when he faced Duran. “He was behind it, wasn’t he?”

Duran glanced away, unwilling to fully lay blame on his mate.

Cedri slung an arm over Royce’s shoulders when he’d gained his feet and nudged Duran with an elbow. “Let’s go wash for breakfast. Troublemakers.”

Catching Royce’s twinkling blue gaze stripped the last of his control and he joined their laughter.