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ELRETH

Her aunt Huncer had taken over the Women's Council when Aymora died, though Elreth wasn't old enough to have been at council meetings before that moment, it was a relief to know there would be at least one friendly face.

She was surprised though, how casual the women were when they gathered.

They'd turned up at the cave with bags and snacks, and settled themselves around her large dining table—the one that had been in the Royal cave for more generations than anyone knew—all chatting and laughing like… like they were young.

She was taken aback, though she tried to hide it. "I'm so glad you're all here. I appreciate your willingness to help me take on this… very new challenge."

Of course, Huncer picked up on her surprise.

"I'll make that a code for my Cohorts," Elreth said, smiling. The council chuckled at that. Some had brought mending, others were knitting. One appeared to be… grinding herbs? Elreth wasn't sure. But she suddenly felt empty handed now that all of them were busy.

Then she missed her mother. Her mother should have been here—would have been here, if Elreth wasn't. She looked down at her hands and swallowed. This was the way it had to be. But it felt like her entire life was changing so fast it would give her whiplash.

"Your mother had exactly that look on her face the first night too," Huncer said.

"Except, more fear," another of the older women said. The rest all laughed.

Elreth grinned. Her mother had told her about those early months in Anima, when she'd been so weak and uncertain of her place.

Elreth had never been able to relate to that feeling before—she'd always been so sure of what she was, and where she was going—but now… now she had a glimpse, she thought. The future seemed an almost blank slate. Which might have been exciting, if it didn't include things like… whether the people would even accept her as Queen.

But before she could dissolve into what-if, Huncer called the meeting to order. "We're here to form bonds with our new Queen, and assist her in guidance towards the best Cohorts. For those of you who were here when we assisted her mother, my suggestion is that we take nothing for granted," she said dryly.

Elreth laughed with the rest of them. Her mother had chosen Gahrye, a disformed Equine male as her chief advisor, and Anima had almost swallowed its collective tongue.

"Because you aren't mated, Elreth, the recommendations are slightly different for you. And the prohibitions as well."

Elreth's stomach dropped at the reference to mating, but she pushed on. "There's prohibitions?" she said. She'd never heard her parents speak of any.

Huncer nodded. "Because the first years of a royal's rule are often so… erratic—not to mention that the rulers are often young—an unmated Ruler is prohibited from mating their cohorts so that kingdom rule will not be tainted by distraction, and there is no temptation to place someone in the role to bring them in close proximity.

"It wasn't really a problem for your father because he appointed only males. But if you follow your mother's footsteps… it's just something you should be aware of. Do not be concerned. Only ensure you select Anima that hold no attraction for you."

Elreth blinked. Then shrugged. "Okay, then." That should be easy enough, since she really wasn't attracted to anyone, really—though that moment Dargyn had held her eyes niggled at the back of her mind. But she wouldn't have picked him anyway.

Huncer smiled and looked around the table. "Well, then, I guess, just ask us your questions and we will help where we can."

Elreth frowned. "So, I understand the role of Chief Advisor, that's easy."

"Find someone who will speak truth to you, even when you're angry," one of the women from the end piped up. "Too many males would soothe their own pride, but when we are emotional is the most important time to hear truth."

Elreth nodded. "Good advice, okay. What I don't understand… the companion is to be there for me, while the second is to take over in my absence… yet I watched both of those women spend so much time with my mother. Do the roles change as we age? Or… was it just different for her?"

"Your mother was unique," Huncer said with a broad smile, and several of the women chuckled. "However, your cohorts will all spend a great deal of time with you. Sometimes you'll wish to be free of them. Our advice will always be to ensure you choose Anima suited to the role—with the right skills and temperament—but also, that they be people you can find a way along with. Unless something goes very wrong, these people will become powerful in their own right and you will need to work with them before the people. Do not set yourself up for conflict."

"Humility is important," Gayce said, and the fact that she spoke at all made Elreth blink. She was the quietest Leonine Elreth had ever known.

"But also strength," another added.

Around the table they went, giving their best advice, and Elreth's head rang with it all.

Choose Anima who will stand up to you when you are wrong, but accept your decisions when you are certain and they disagree.

Choose Anima who have shown themselves to be calm in a crisis—you'll need people who you can trust when things go badly.

Choose Anima who do not try to change you, only to change your mind.

Elreth tipped her head at that one. "Is there a difference?"

"Yes, a great deal of difference," Huncer said, frowning at her knitting. "Someone who changes your mind, respects that you have a mind, and a heart, and only disagrees with your position. Someone who wishes to change you, believes you need fixing. They will always see you as insufficient, even when you are not."

Elreth filed that away for greater thought later.

With each offering of advice, her certainty grew. She'd known for a while who she would choose if she ever reached this point, and each new piece of advice or insight, or even caution, only affirmed her choices.

And yet… always, always there was an itch between her shoulder blades. Something on the edge of thought that she couldn't quite catch, but that cautioned her to step carefully. Not to make the wrong move.

But how could she? She was going to choose her wisest aunt, her calmest influence, and her best friend. Even if Aaryn was still angry with her when the time came for the announcement, he would forgive her after this, surely? It was a huge honor to be chosen—and would give even less excuse for the bigots in the people to target him.

What could possibly go wrong?