Page 39 of The Crimson Princess
“We don’t need a crack to create this issue,” I counter. “We open it and to think nothing escapes is insanity. The frostburns are the only barrier between us and them. I fought with them. We killed at least a dozen tonight. And it was obvious the frostburns were practiced at killing the weres. They were precision killers.”
“Rogues have to shift at least once a week.” The words radiate with mockery, as if I’m a mere child with no common sense. “How has no one seen this happen?”
“I know they need raw meat when they shift and I think that’s exactly why they go to the forest. They’re hunting the frostburns, but at some point that goes horribly wrong and a gale becomes dinner. And then,the kingwill be blamed for failing to protect his gales.”
He just looks at me, time stretching uncomfortably long before he says, “I’ll send in our army to cleanse the woods.”
At least I’ve convinced him this is real, I think, but I’m confused by his less than strategic approach to this problem. “What happens if word gets out and the weres stay hidden in the villages until they’re forced to shift? We can’t risk them choosing a gale for a fast meal.”
“What do you suggest?”
“We grab them as they come to us. We wait on them in the woods. And as a bonus we can use this to train our futureguardians. Night hunting will prepare them for the portals. I can take a group of them out to the forest and teach them how to kill a were.”
“You are not a teacher. You are the future queen.”
“Respect does not come to those who sit and watch. You didn’t. You fought Macklemore. You defeated him. This is my chance to show the gales I’ll lead by example, not command.”
“You have proven yourself by your mother’s side. Your safety is paramount and there is no gale that would not agree. We’ll use our elite military officers. They know what they are doing. You can stand down.”
My heart leaps with the dismissal, my push back instant. “It’s not that simple. The frostburns will fight our people unless I’m involved.”
“Explain. And make it good.”
“Years ago, I was in the forest and one of them bit me. The frostburn died. It must have been their alpha as they seem to want to follow me. What I’m telling you is that they’ll fight for me. They’ll listen to me.”
“This is insanity. You are not their alpha, Satima.”
“Tell them that and make them listen.”
“Your smart mouth will be the death of both of us,” he snaps.
“Doubtful,” I dare say. “We’ve both survived much worse.”
“By a small measure,” he assures me.
“You’ve learned to risk too much from your mother.”
I barely contain the flinch that follows. “I’m making myself a ruler my gales want to follow.”
He grits his teeth, seconds ticking by before he offers a begrudged, “You’re as stubborn as she was.”
“Is that your way of granting me permission to run this mission?”
“Against my better judgement. Yes. It is decided. I’ll have a group of our elite report to the edge of the forest at sunset tomorrow.” He flicks dismissive fingers in my direction. “Now go to bed.”
“Yes, my king.”
His brow lifts and I amend to, “father,” and rotate on my heels, heading toward the opposite side of the room and the exit closest to my tower, but only a foot into the walk, I cannot go on without a cautious and honest effort at speaking my mind.
Drawing a deep breath, I halt and turn to face him. “I cannot leave without speaking on another topic.”
“I can barely contain my excitement,daughter.” Sarcasm drops from his words.
Obviously, he does not welcome my opinions, my duty to Ravengale motivates me to press forward. “I do not know what the book has revealed to you that motivates your actions with the druids.”
“I am your father and your king. You do not need to know.”
My spine stiffens, his disregard for my true standing just plain cutting. “While this is your kingdom, it’s my future, if it even exists in my future. Every part of me screams not to trust the druids.”
