章節 65: Chapter 65: A Royal Reception
Jiro POV
With full, lustrous black hair and penetrating black eyes that were large and round with astonishment, King Odo was only two years older than Dane at thirty. Robust and fit, he looked manly in a simple green tunic and crushed velvet leggings. He smelled of ink, which wasn't surprising, considering the many documents on the desk awaiting his signature.
Silver-haired Queen Giselberthe had delicate elven or faerie features, indicating that she had an elf or fae ancestor. Attired in a simple white gown that only highlighted her pale beauty and curvy figure, she had wide-set gray eyes that looked even more surprised than her husband's. Jiro knew that she was five years older than her husband and came from the nobility.
"Welcome," King Odo said in a deep voice. "I hope my guards were not rude to you."
Queen Giselberthe acted as gracious as anyone could hope. "Surely, you can understand them taking you prisoner. Their comrades had just been murdered before their eyes."
With empathy in her amber eyes, Garnet said, "We've had our own people die needlessly."
"And those … those monsters were not your people? Is that what you're saying?" Queen Giselberthe trembled.
"It's alright, Gisi," King Odo said to his wife, putting an arm around her.
The king also gave Jiro a look he recognized: Don't upset my mate or I'll make you regret it.
With his most charming smile, Jiro said, "We don't mean you any harm, Queen Giselberthe. We want to help you stop a threat to you, your husband, and your kingdom."
Queen Giselberthe gave him a tentative smile. "Where is it that you come from? We've never heard of this 'Evenhide Pack.'" Her eyes flicked to the map on the wall. "And I was always very good at geography."
Garnet laughed softly. "Our packs don't appear on any map, my queen."
King Odo's eyes sharpened. "How can that be? You said they lie to the north of Lugdunum, but there's only forest and unexplored wild lands in-between Lugdunum and Brighmere. But you didn't ask to see us when we were preparing for bed just to give us a geography lesson."
Jiro chuckled. "That's certainly true. And again, apologies for disturbing you–but this can't wait. Lives have already been lost, and more hang in the balance. Believe me, as a king and queen ourselves, we're aware that those decisions don't respect bedtimes."
"Or mealtimes, or any other time," Garnet added.
King Odo gestured to several high-backed leather chairs. "Sit, please, and tell us all you know. I have a feeling this may well be the most pivotal moment in our kingdom's history."
Head Mage Pascalline nodded, with a knowing look. Queen Giselberthe was no fool, and caught her subtle expression. "Head Mage? Do you know anything about this Evenhide?"
The young mage nodded. "The existence of wolf shifters and their kingdoms is a closely guarded secret that all magicians have sworn to protect."
King Odo stumbled, in shock, and Jiro steadied him. King Odo spluttered. "An entire race of intelligent magical beings in multiple kingdoms, obviously very powerful, and I knew nothing about this? My father and his father before him, and the rulers before that, were all unaware of something so important?"
Most people would have cowered before his outrage. Head Mage Pascalline met his gaze with only a hint of fear.
"Your Majesties, it was nothing against you or any king or queen before you. It's an ancient agreement between witches and shifters…and shifters and the other magical kingdoms, who, at one time, didn't want to reveal their existence to humans, either."
She smelled like fire, and her strength was admirable.
Jiro sank into the soft, buttery leather with pleasure. "Please, don't be angry with her. She acted honorably. The entire Wildefell Witch Council has also kept the secret for many generations–you have no doubt heard of Ravyn Rolfe and the Bloodstone."
King Odo frowned, attempting to remember. "Perhaps."
"I have," Queen Giselberthe informed him, her eyes lighting up. "I've been there with the Head Mage. It's a charming shop–a very old and established family business. But I hear that Ravyn Rolfe is often away on buying trips or witch missions." She suddenly looked concerned. "Did one of these missions endanger her?"
"Yes–but it was a personal mission after she'd just bonded with her new mate, Alpha Jude of the Silverpaw Pack, a close ally," Garnet replied. "Our bonding is like marriage, and it really is for life."
Queen Giselberthe looked curious. "Wolves mate for life. They bond. You do that too? Are you wolves or humans?"
"Both," Jiro and Garnet chorused.
The queen accepted this explanation. "How fascinating! But why on earth would you keep yourselves a secret?"
King Odo's eyes darkened. "One might think you were secretly plotting an invasion."
"Husband!" Giselberthe glared at him. "That's rude. These are our guests."
"And they saved us, milord," Mage Pascalline piped up.
King Odo shrugged. "My first duty is to the kingdom and my people."
Garnet arched her brows, impressed. "It's a reasonable question. And there are those among us that think we should rule–that we're stronger, faster, smarter. We heal quickly and don't get the diseases that humans do–or that elves do. Not much can harm us except for silver, wolfsbane, and of course, violent death–old age as well, though we can live centuries like the elves."
"But we're NOT superior," Jiro added.
King Odo smiled slightly. "False modesty doesn't become you, Your Majesty."
"Alpha," Jiro corrected. "But please, call me Jiro."
"And it's Garnet," Garnet said with a warm smile. "Do you two have children? We have three. And at least ten nieces and nephews."
"We have two little girls," King Odo said proudly.
Jiro leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "Despite the obvious differences, we are a lot like you. We love our kingdom–in this case, our pack territory. We love our families. We want to live in peace. We war amongst ourselves, but that's mostly due to disputes. The most serious decision an Alpha can make is going to war … and, of course, this one I just made. I have our council's full support with Hades rising again and the rulers of two packs in danger."
King Odo grunted in appreciation. "Are all your rulers as skilled in diplomacy as you?"
Jiro laughed softly. "I really couldn't say, since none of us have met a human ruler before. Although I have no doubt my brother Dane, Alpha of the Evenhide Pack, would do well."
He felt Garnet's amusement through the bond.
"He does tend to be a little more … passionate and forceful," Jiro added. "But make no mistake, Your Majesties, if my pack is threatened, I'm a dangerous enemy."
"And so am I," Garnet said, her eyes glowing red.
King Odo leaned back and regarded Jiro thoughtfully. "I don't doubt it."
"Who is this Hades you speak of?" Queen Giselberthe shivered. "Is he behind the dark magic our mages detected in our kingdom, on our islands?"
Once Jiro and Garnet told the tale of the Dark Goddess, Hades, and the latest events with his descendant, Melisande, the powerful monarchs looked horrified. King Odo got up and began to pace. "A threat to the entire world, to this kingdom, and we didn't know about it. More importantly, every other kingdom has been fighting for us, and we've been completely unaware. I'll have to have some stern words with Prince Makhel …"
Garnet grimaced. "It's not his fault. The orcs have kept the secret for centuries–"
Queen Giselberthe backed up her husband. "But we were defenseless. We can't fight what we don't know about. Would YOU want to know about a threat to your people, or would you prefer to be in the dark?"
Jiro smiled wryly. "We were in the dark for centuries while Hades preyed on our people, and it was a disaster for us–although I did find my true fated mate and a destiny I never dreamed was possible." He reached out and held Garnet's hand. "My brother Dane had something similar happen with Ravyn's only daughter, Lilia."
Queen Giselberthe nodded, with her eyes full of wisdom beyond her years. "In the darkest hour, we can still find light. And I remember Lilia from one of my visits … and now she's in trouble as well, a prisoner of that horrible Bracknell woman!" She glanced at her husband. "Lilia and her mother are citizens of Lugdunum. Aren't they?"
King Odo rubbed his chin. "I don't know the laws of these shifter lands." He pointedly looked at Jiro and Garnet, as well as Mage Pascalline. "I'm fumbling in the dark."
Jiro held up his hand. "We honor citizenships of every nation. Wood elf, human, faerie, or orc. Lilia and Ravyn are still citizens of Lugdunum."
"D*mn right they are." The monarch's face was fierce. "And this conflict threatens the safety of Lugdunum directly."
"Which is why we need your help, Your Majesties. You and your mages, especially Head Mage Pascalline, who's exceptionally gifted," Jiro argued. "It's a risk to your kingdom, but it's also an opportunity to catch Hades off-guard. The last thing he wants is us joining forces. Please. Will you help?"
Blushing, Head Mage Pascalline glanced at the king and queen, who sat in silence, weighing the monumental decision. Jiro and Garnet held their breath together.
What would the king and queen decide?
創作者的想法 
AmandaMadden
AmandaMadden The king and queen have been kept mysterious in this series, because to the shifters, humans are completely separate. They're aware of human affairs but tend not to get involved. What do you think of the king and queen? They aren't based on any specific royalty, althoguh their names are of French historical royalty.
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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