Page 93 of Shifter King

"Perhaps. But it does not mean we will be lax. So if this attendant should come, you understand that they will be stabbed and injected with venom at least twice a day. Not enough to be deadly, of course. And it may be done at other points if there is any suspicion."

Naatos could practically see WroOth rolling his eyes and gesticulating to convey his opinion on the matter. Of all the things the Bealorns did, this at least made sense. Vawtrians could be hard to trust.

"Obviously, the attendant must come alone. You may not follow her. If we learn that anyone is following, we will inject her with the full spectrum of venom. She must be blindfolded, and she will be rendered unconscious for the duration of the trip."

AaQar nodded. "If that is required."

Naatos had his own list of requirements he wanted to insist on.

"And I am afraid that I must insist the attendant be a woman. That is the one requirement. And as your family has only brothers and it must be the natural form, I am afraid you have no one who can serve."

AaQar paused, then tilted his head. "Well, we do have a sister."

"You have a sister?" Zorna sounded surprised. "Really?" Suspicion filled the queen's face.

AaQar continued rather smoothly. "Yes. She has locked though her beloved passed several years ago. But she is the best of all of us and would willingly enter your service as Amelia's attendant."

"Where is this sister? Why have I not seen her?"

"Oh." AaQar chuckled. "She's a bit of a dreamer. Often wanders off to think her thoughts or just be alone."

Naatos did not laugh. This was not funny.

"Bring her here. I will see whether she is sufficient before I approve her."

"We ask your indulgence for one moment," AaQar said. "She's just in the bunker. Naatos, will you go get her?"

He would have rather pointed out the stupidity of this request as well as the fact that she had just changed her standard. Again. Capricious cabiza bait. He nodded though and strode back to the rock overhang.

"Did you hear—" he started.

WroOth peered up at him while perched on the ladder, chin on his fist. "Oh I heard. Apparently I'm only able to attend the bride if I'm a woman?" He narrowed his eyes. "I think I'm insulted on behalf of all the women of our race. What—what difference do they really think this makes?"

"If it's too much for you, I will become our sister. You make yourself look like me, and—"

WroOth shook his head at him. "Oh yes, that's a brilliant plan, brother. You pretending to be me pretending to be a woman and then getting stabbed repeatedly with poison while trying to charm your way through a court of treachery and intrigue makes so much more sense. Why didn't I think of that?" He unfastened his hair and fluffed it out. "Now go on and give your sister some privacy. I need a moment to focus."

A PLEA FOR HELP

QueQoa navigated the path to the Golden Fox meeting place, his iron dragon form proving a sufficient match for the quiet day. Not nearly as many predators were about right now. Perhaps it was this place. It was quiet. Beautiful in a simple way.

Chiron oaks with young thorns as well as the bright-leafed sycamores with the irregular banding on the trunks surrounded the clearing. Large bald spots in the clearing revealed stony soil and dull white rocks. A few patches seemed worn from regular foot traffic. Large flat boulders sat out from the trees but beneath the broad branches like natural-forming benches, allowing visitors to rest without being fully exposed. A few small pink flowers clustered near the base of a slate-grey boulder. He searched for any sign of predators.

In the crooks of some of the branches, he found small bags of something potent and green-scented. Perhaps some sort of repellent? It smelled like the sort of thing that would fade fast and might only work against some. There was another such bag fastened to the simple fountain in the very center of the clearing.

Eskiatlo stepped around these and chose a spot in the shade. Choe continued to rest. "You are a good flier," she said. "I wouldn't have thought Choe would sleep through dragon flight."

"She's a deep sleeper when she sleeps."

She nodded. "There was a great deal to scare her when she was born. Maybe dragon flight isn't as bad as what she's already seen." She rested her cheek against the baby's.

"I'm sorry that it was so." No baby should have to experience that.

"It could have been far worse. Now we are here. And no matter what happens, it is better than what it was. There…" She bit her lower lip, then pinched her lips together. "There is one thing I need to say. It has been bothering me since yesterday."

"What's that?" he asked, striding back. Where were these Golden Foxes? AaQar had said they were just to be at this meeting place. He didn't like the idea of waiting much longer.

Eskiatlo cleared her throat. "It may be wrong of me, and I do not want to cast doubt where it isn't earned, but you asked the doctor why it was she helped you."