ELRETH

"It would seem to me," Elreth said, watching the males in front of her carefully, "that we have two primary goals right now. First is that we need to find and detain the male who is putting others at risk through reckless behavior. Second is—"

"He isn't trying to be reckless," Despyna said quietly.

Aaryn snapped a head to look at her, his stomach sinking. She wasn't chatty, so the fact that she was speaking up meant it was important. But at the same time. He would have preferred if she'd spoken to him first. The disformed weren't accustomed to the fierce respect given to elders within their councils—even by royalty.

Elreth didn't look at all pleased about being interrupted. But she didn't chastise the female, just turned to look at her. "What do you believe he's doing, then?" she asked carefully.

Despyna glanced at Raichyl, then back to the council. "He really did have the scent. It must have been so faint. But he was following something. He wants… he wants to prove himself. He gets a little brash when people don't believe in him. But he means well."

"Don't believe in him?" Tarkyn said, incredulous. "I offered to train the male! His skill is second to none—but that doesn't mean he can—"

"You weren't there, sir," Despyna said firmly. "He wasn't just roaring off on his own. He really thought he could achieve what the Queen wanted. He was trying to achieve something."

"We do not achieve for ourselves, we achieve for the tribes—and never in contradiction to a commanding officer!"

"I-I understand," she said, wincing. "I'm not saying he was doing the right thing. I'm saying he wasn't trying to be defiant. He was trying to prove something. He wants to be useful."

"He wasn't even supposed to be out there!" Tarkyn barked.

"What do you think he thinks he can do?" Elreth asked tonelessly, she didn't want to give away the compassion and fear she was feeling that this talented disformed may very well have dug his own grave and be unable to make use of his talents in future because of this rash decision. She fully acknowledged that Tarkyn and Tobe were right to discipline him. But she feared this might go further. The two males weren't just disappointed. They were affronted.

Despyna turned to look at her. "He thinks he was turned down yesterday for not being good enough. He wants to prove that he's better. He'll do this until he can be useful, and then he'll return and submit. He just… He's just afraid of being overlooked. He wants to be the best the Anima have, no someone who everyone forgets."

Elreth looked at Aaryn and remembered the days when he'd tried to sink into the background despite all his talent and wisdom. "There's no excuse," she replied to Despyna, though she was looking at her mate, who stared back at her, a small frown on his face. "No matter what he's been through or how he's been pressed, he had only to listen to those more experienced and older, to know what the right thing was to do. But he wasn't even supposed to be there to receive instructions. He was deceptive and immature, and when he returns, I will leave him in the hands of the Captain who agreed to train him, and his Alpha."

The look of surprise that crossed Aaryn's face was priceless. She'd appreciated Tarkyn acknowledging his role earlier, and realized she should have been the one to do it first. She wanted to do it now. "Between you, you can determine what should be done with him. I would hate to discard his talent, but I trust both of your judgments. Let me know what you decide when he comes back—but before you do anything extreme, can we make sure we know anything he learned or even suspects? All I need right now is information and I do not care what the source is. As long as he doesn't work against me, I'll hear him out—then let you discipline him."

"Sire," Tarkyn said sharply, "he can't be encouraged! If he senses your approval of anything he gained he'll only do it again! You will weaken our position with him."

"This is a matter of dire need—and almost zero information, Tarkyn. The entire world of Anima is at risk. I will not allow a little pride to stand in the way of progress on it!"

"Progress? Tarkyn was on his feet and stepping towards her. "How could you trust anything a male like that would say anyway? He might come back just seeking to keep himself out of the camps, or realizing he should never have defied us—he could lie to cover for his own stupidity."

Elreth tipped her head. Both Tarkyn and Tobe were far more emotional than she would have expected for the circumstances. "What is it you aren't saying?" she said, looking between Tarkyn and Tobe—who faced her down, his jaw twitching. "Why are you so upset about this?"

"Because we both lived through the last rebellion and we do not wish to see you endure another!" Tarkyn snapped.

"And I'm grateful for it." Elreth kept her voice low and calm, but her heart was beginning to pound. "I have never questioned your loyalty, or your strength. And I don't now. But I know this level of… excitement is out of character for both of you. What happened out there today that has put you so on edge?"

"What happened is that a young, untried disformed decided he did not need to listen to anything he was told!" Tobe growled. "I have never been so disrespected in my entire career."

Elreth frowned. Was it simple pride? Surely not. Both of these males were strong and confident—she'd even seen Tarkyn cocky when he was playing cards with her father, and winning. But not when it came to matters of the crown. Not when it came to their work. She'd always admired these males specifically because of their humility. They reminded her of her father and Behryn.

"What aren't you telling me, Tarkyn?"

"Nothing!"

Tobe cut him a look, and Elreth's heart raced faster—her instincts were right. Something had passed between the two, something that made them both edgy. And something that, apparently, related directly to her. She made her face firm.

"Tarkyn, tell me," she commanded, with every ounce of the Alpha power at her call.

Tarkyn shivered, but resisted the call to submit. He never took his eyes off of Elreth, but strode closer to her. "You have to let us make an example of him," he snarled.

"I never questioned that," Elreth snapped. "But now I question your motives. What aren't you telling me?"

"Elreth," Tarkyn said, low and urgent. He reached for her arm, leaned in, spoke with her as the family friend he had always been—the male who was as comfortable in her home as she was, and as well loved. "Listen to me. Please. You have to let us—"

The moment his hand clasped her arm—gently, but firmly, Aaryn spat a curse and, quick as lightning, smooth silk, inserted himself between them, calmly breaking Tarkyn's grip on her.

"Get… your hands… off my mate!"