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“To the hunt?” Ganek exclaimed, disbelieving.
“She’ll refuse to stay here, and I cannot imprison her,” I said, irritated. “Our best warriors will be present. Ravena isn’t unreasonable. She’ll stay at the back.”
“Very well,” Krygor said. “Just beware of Caldes. Even though they’re not warriors, his clan insisted on joining the hunt.”
“What the fuck for?” I asked.
“Respect,” Fenton said. “Despite his clan’s elder status, their lack of prowess on the battlefield and systematic absence in the large hunts make them look inferior. They have still not recovered from the shame Gerwin brought upon them, while Krygor’s clan keeps climbing in fame and power.”
“And he sure hates me,” Krygor said, with a sadistic smile.
As much as I admired Anton’s father, sometimes he creeped me out. After Gerwin—Raylor Caldes’ firstborn son—had nearly murdered Grace, Krygor had carried out Gerwin’s execution. He’d taken a sick pleasure skinning him alive, making it as slow and excruciating as possible. That punishment had served as revenge against all those who had abused his son for years for merely being a half-breed.
“Should we fear foul play from him then?”
“I highly doubt it, although we shouldn’t dismiss any possibility,” Fenton said, shaking his head. “For all his faults, Raylor isn’t stupid, and he is fiercely patriotic. Only a fool wouldn’t see the danger of allowing a foreign force to take out or control our ruler. Raylor wants to return to our old ways, not to be under the thumb of the Guldans.”
“Agreed,” Keran said, “But I still want increased protection for my father.”
Seriously?
I turned to look disbelievingly at his face, so like my own.
He held my gaze and shrugged. “Whoever attacked your ship will want to finish the job. Regardless of technology, the Magnar cannot be allowed to fall to an alien force on his home world while surrounded by his men. Braxia would not recover.”
I harrumphed but nodded my consent. Although he had a point, I hated being babied. In my fifty-one years of existence, I’d never been defeated in single combat. It irritated me to no end that my sons and counsel would feel duty-bound to protect me when I was Braxia’s protector.
“Any word from Pattel?”
“He will arrive within the next three hours,” Krygor said. “He did a few of the media tours you requested but cut it all short to return promptly. Too many of our fiercest warriors are with him. The old man will gladly face your wrath for his disobedience, but he will not let you fight without him.”
Shaking my head, I snorted. “Pattel is just eager to spill blood and not let us catch up to him with our hunt trophies.”
“As if that were even possible. That old bastard had thirty-year head start on me,” Krygor grumbled.
“And yet, he’ll remain in the lead for at least another thirty years,” Fenton said.
“More like fifty,” I said with a chuckle. “Remember how his father continued to crack skulls in battle and hunt large predators well past his 130thbirthday?”
My companions nodded with respectful smiles at the thought of the late Dolgir, former leader of Clan Veelan.
“You have a couple more hours to rest,” I said. “Then gather the men and meet outside the stables. I want us ready to depart as soon as Pattel lands.”
The men acknowledged my order and nodded before taking their leave. Keran stayed behind, an unreadable expression on his face.
“Has any servant provided Ravena with moon juice?” Keran asked, as soon as we were alone.
I stiffened and gave my son a disbelieving look. He held my stare, unflinching. I clenched my jaw, controlling my flaring temper. Although his question felt out of line, it remained valid.
“You are my heir,” I said, hoping to placate him.
“That’s not the point, and you know it, Father,” Keran said in a tone that brooked no argument.
While my annoyance grew, I couldn’t help the sliver of pride and respect that blossomed in my heart. My son would be a great ruler after me.
“You have made a lot of changes already that the people are struggling to adjust to,” Keran said in a reasonable tone. “No one can challenge you taking such a beauty to your bed, but her boldness and independence adds salt to the wound. If she births you a hybrid…”
“Veredians are technically barren,” I snapped. “Only mating with Xelixians and Korletheans yields a minute chance of a successful pregnancy. So there’s nothing to worry about.”
