บท 61: Chapter 61: A Royal Predicament

Garnet POV

Whatever the mages had used, Garnet woke up with a splitting headache and the smell of humans all around them. Humans were everywhere. The floor beneath her was cold, hard stone. She wore an ordinary brown dress. Whatever the mages had used, Garnet woke up with a splitting headache and the smell of humans all around them. Humans were everywhere. The floor beneath her was cold, hard stone. She wore an ordinary brown dress. Someone had dressed her! HUMANS had dressed her.

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the solid gray stone cell. She faced a heavy wooden door with bars on the windows. Shifting her eyes to the other side of the room, she noticed shafts of moonlight coming through the cell window.

Groaning, she reached beside her and found Jiro's hand. Warm and comforting. She sat up and gazed into his turquoise eyes, the ones she loved so much. She sat up and noticed someone had dressed him in pants and a tunic, the same color as her dress.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I'll live. How's your headache?"

She winced, rubbing it. "It'll pass. I don't suppose all of that was just a nightmare."

He grimaced. "No. If it were, we'd be at home in bed with the pups, and they'd be worried."

"Well, in that case, here's a question I don't want to ask. Are we in a HUMAN prison?"

His voice was soft and calm. "From what I can gather, we're in the royal dungeon in the capital of Lugdunum, Aquitaine."

She tuned into the voices outside. Royal guards discussed the prisoners. Other prisoners complained about everything. She got to her feet and walked on shaky legs. Rising to join her, Jiro took her arm. They both peered outside at the royal guards standing watch outside their cell. Conical helmets and shiny armor were all they could see.

One of the guards turned and stared at them. It was Lieutenant Cristo.

"What do you want, wolves?" he said in a tense voice.

"Lieutenant, we tried to save your life and the lives of your fellow soldiers," Jiro said with authority. "Including your commander."

"AND Royal Mage Pascalline," Garnet added, remembering how the lieutenant had acted around her. He clearly had a crush on her.

The young guard stiffened, lifting his chin and letting them see his serious brown eyes. "You've been accused of crimes against the crown and the people of Lugdunum."

"Please," Garnet said in a heartfelt voice. "We must speak with the king and queen. It's urgent. You could save lives."

The other guard nudged him. "Don't listen to them! You were there. Are you going to believe them or your own eyes?"

Lieutenant Cristo sniffed and turned his back to them. "Step away from the door."

Garnet and Jiro did as he asked, and both shifted into their wolf forms, leaving their clothing behind. She tensed. Would the guards open the door and beat them? Yell at them? Kick them? She whimpered softly.

"It's alright," Jiro said reassuringly. "Remember, we're the Alpha and Luna of the Crimsontail Shadows Pack."

"Tell THAT to those guards," she grumbled.

He had a scowl in his voice. "I thought the lieutenant seemed reasonable!"

Garnet cuffed him with her paw. "He just saw his friends slaughtered."

Jiro's red eyes dimmed. "As always, you remind me of what's important. We know how we feel when our brothers and sisters are killed. Maybe we need to express our sympathy."

"That may soften him. It may even get us an audience with the king and queen. But what do we say when we're standing before them?"

She knew the answer, and she suspected he did too. It was daring. It was unthinkable. It was scandalous. And it was the only option.

He didn't disappoint her. "We have to ask Cyran and the council for their blessing to reveal ourselves to the king and queen. And ask for Evenhide's blessing, too."

"If it means helping Dane and Lilia and us, they have to say yes," Garnet thought in desperation. "We have to convince the councils. Even Jude would agree–especially with Ravyn advising him."

* * * * *

Jiro POV

His entire body tensed, and his fur felt even more alive than before. He also felt grubby, and wished for a bath before they met the king and queen.

No. He'd appear before the human monarchs as a warrior fresh from the battlefield, with as much dignity as the lords in the court who'd been bathed by servants.

He contacted Cyran, and also Kyon through the mind-link.

After a few tense moments of silence, Kyon and Cyran both answered, "JIRO!"

He smiled hugely. "How are things at home?

Garnet's eyes shone red with affection. "Are our pups alright?"

"They miss you," Cyran said through the mind-link. "But they know you're bringing Nana Ravyn, Papa Jude, and Aunt Lilia and Uncle Dane home. Did you find them? And Daxius?"

Jiro sighed through his nose. "Not quite."

Kyon sensed something through the mind-link. "Jiro, how much trouble are you in?"

"Garnet?" he thought. "How much trouble would you say we're in currently?"

"We're sitting in the royal dungeons in Lugdunum," Garnet answered bluntly. "After we revealed ourselves to two humans and a royal mage after fighting Melisande's rogues."

Kyon's and Cyran's exclamations gave Jiro a headache to match Garnet's.

He howled through the mind-link, quieting his brothers.

"There was no other way to prove that we weren't with the rogues that attacked them," he explained. "They captured us. And Dane, Lilia, Ravyn, and Daxius are Melisande's prisoners."

Kyon sounded beside himself. "Tell us everything, right now!"

When Jiro finished his tale, he concluded, "We have to tell the king and queen about the danger, and reveal who we really are. We can do it behind closed doors, privately, and swear them to secrecy. If I'm right, the royal mage already knows about us."

The low growl from Cyran felt like an approaching storm. "Of ALL the shifters I know and am related to, you two are the least likely ones to do something so … so …"

"Patch-like?" Kyon suggested.

"If it fits," Garnet replied.

"It DOESN'T because Patch was careful the first time he went on a dangerous mission out of reach," Kyon shot back.

Wisely, Jiro just said, "You're right."

Cyran groaned. "He just took all the steam out of your anger, Kyon."

Grumbling from the Evenhide Beta followed.

Jiro and Garnet waited, holding their breath, their ears erect and still.

Kyon finally said, "From your description, you had limited options."

Jiro grumbled, "I could have asked Garnet to cast fog or some other spell."

"You could have, but you were in the fog of battle," Cyran commented in a surprisingly understanding tone. "And you HAD to protect the humans–that's what we do. You can't let those rogues hurt them, right, Kyon?"

"Of COURSE not," Kyon bellowed. "And you can't let Melisande just continue to blacken the reputation of shifters everywhere with those rogues … to think she's Hades' descendant!"

"We told you that?" Jiro asked in surprise.

"Of course you did–and Papa and Mama Chalice did, too," Kyon responded. "We have to fight her. The longer our family is in her clutches …"

"They're all clever, and Dane is a stubborn son-of-a-wolf," Cyran commented. "They'll do fine … provided a rescue team gets there quickly, and you don't have to worry about HUMANS getting in the way."

"That's why I want permission from both councils to warn the king and queen," Jiro argued.

Garnet supported him. "For too long, they've been unaware of the danger."

Kyon and Cyran agreed to call an emergency joint session of the council, and told Jiro to check back in an hour.

Relieved, Jiro and Garnet shifted back, and dressed hastily, then approached the door. "Lieutenant Cristo," Jiro called out.

"Yes, what is it now?"

Jiro took a deep breath. "This kingdom is in grave danger."

"Step away from the door." Lieutenant Cristo smacked the bars with the flat of his sword.

"Please." Jiro took a deep breath. "Prince Makhel of Nauru, Prince Orrian Krisren of the High Elves, Ambassador Hudora Windmail of the Scapolite Dwarves, and the Wildefell Witch Circle have been battling this threat with us for years when it menaced our Shifter Federation. But now, it's endangering Lugdunum. If my mate and I could just speak with Their Majesties in private, it could save your people. I realize it's very late, and I don't wish to disturb the king and queen, but it's urgent."

Lieutenant Castro stood his ground, his face shining in the moonlight. "Prince Makhel, you say? Is this another trick like the Duke of New Moon? I checked. There is no such duchy."

Of course. The king and queen had the very best people working with them.

Jiro spread his hands. "I apologize for that deception, but it's been necessary to protect us--and you."

"From whom?" Lieutenant Castro's jaw dropped.

"We'll explain everything if you like," Garnet told him. "To you and Lance-Captain D'Azur, and Royal Mage Pascalline, along with the king and queen. But please, make haste. The lives of your people, and our family, depend on your next action."

She reached a slim hand through the bars, and, following her lead, Jiro also stuck his hand through the bars. Their palms were open. It was their way of exposing their throat.

Lieutenant Castro stared at them for a moment, then lowered his head. "I wondered if the old legends were true," he said. "About people who can change into wolves."

"They are," Garnet said. "You've seen the proof."

After a moment's thought, Lieutenant Castro turned to the other guard. "Stay right there. DO NOT MOVE. Hastings can take my place. I'll go speak with Their Majesties."

"Thank you," Garnet said in a heartfelt voice, stepping back.

Jiro also stepped back. "You're a brave man, Lieutenant."

"Don't thank me yet." Blushing, Lieutenant Castro turned and marched swiftly away.

Jiro took a deep breath and pulled Garnet into his arms, squeezing her tightly. "You were amazing, my love."

"And you." She hugged him to her, taking comfort and pleasure in his touch. "If the king denies our request–"

"If he does, we won't give up that easily." He kissed her softly. "I wish we had your journal with us. This is an historic moment for shifters. Whatever happens, we can be proud of what we've attempted to do here."

"May the Moon Goddess make it so."

He and Garnet knelt and prayed with all their hearts to the goddess.