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There were far too many gathered for his comfort, but Alwyn could not resist a production ofHamlet, and one that ran less than one hour at that. He scanned the crowd once more: Where was his lady apothecary? Had he put her off? There was no doubt he’d gotten her off. He rasped a laugh to himself and heard—
Felt, inside—
An answering snort.
He retreated from the green until his back hit the base of a mighty oak; without a second thought, he scrambled up into its branches. His foot slipped, and his essential self corrected for them before he could even consider the likelihood of falling.
My friend.Alwyn wrapped an arm around the trunk and placed his free hand over his heart.
I am here.
His lion expanded to fill his aura.I thought…they thought it was willful of me, to resist the Change, but I feared…
There would be nothing to Change into.
My friend, my friend, forgive me. I abandoned you.He rested his head against the trunk of the tree, and the sounds from below faded as their connection strengthened.I did not want to pursue you merely to allay the fears of others.
His lion huffed in that familiar way that said he heard his human’s reasoning and found it wanting.We did what our prey does when it eludes us and still contains the terror. I retreated until I came back to myself. Thus I have and now come back to you.
The sense of rightness was like to make his heart burst.Was there anything I could have done?
What a joy to feel the exasperation of his essential self.All was done according to the will of Palu. And—a purr rolled through Alwyn’s aura—our reward is to defer to the will of ourvera amoris.
I hoped that was so.Alwyn tipped his head back and breathed, long and deep, and for the first time in a long time, both breathed in concert, in freedom.She has a gift: she can see the essential self of a Shifter without being told. What do we know of this?
Silence met his query, not the silence of absence but of thought. Blessed Palu, there was nothing to stop him now.
This is not known in our lineage, his lion said.Is it due to her humanity, perhaps?
We shall discover the meaning of it,Alwyn vowed. They settled onto the tree branch, in harmony once more. Alwyn’s heart opened, and a tension quivered, released, then snapped like a fishing line pulled taut. Was that Tabitha? She was very cross indeed. The connection was not fine enough to tell more than that.
Be wary of vexing our lady, his lion teased.She will repay you in kind.
I am wary of that lady author.The snarl that statement evoked alarmed him.What is it, friend?
She is not what she seems. I can say no more than that.
Alwyn would not trouble his lion as he had been troubled.In your own good time, then.
Someone has learned patience.His creature sounded amused and pleased.
He gave it thought.It was a lesson learned in a contemptible way. I had nothing to do but wait and hope you would not forget me. I was worthy of being forgotten, falling for that low trick.
No,his lion said, resolute.I would do nothing differently, even unto captivity once more. For what sort of man, what sort of creature are we to abandon one in need?
If it was possible, Alwyn’s heart expanded even further; his connection to Tabitha—for who else could it be?—blossomed further.You are far stronger than I am.
Impossible, for your strength has given me this time to rest. We will need all our power, for our lady apothecary is quite the match for us.
Exhilaration ran through them both at the thought of her. Alwyn said,My friend, I am convinced it is theconiunctio—
A gong sounded.
The assembled crowd, rather than stand about as was customary, had set themselves down on blankets, with picnics; all applauded the appearance of the Peaselys.
The lady actor set the gong aside as her husband stepped to the lip of the stage. “Welcome, one and all, to today’s performance ofThe Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The Peasley Troupe of Traveling Players is renowned for our precise presentations of the classics of world theater, and this is no different—”
“It is, I’m afraid,” Mrs. Peasley cut off her husband. “One of our number is unable to perform.”
