The Waters Secret

Kings Counsel: Pt. 2

"On the bright side, if Rosila decides she wants to marry you, her new bonded plant will more than likely extend her life. Possibly a couple hundred years or so. It depends on the deal they strike. She will probably still die first, but it gives you more time than you would have had otherwise." Hank hummed watching the branches sway in the breeze.

"I would take as much time as I can possibly get. Whatever life allows." Suzy mumbled at the clear sky. "Enough about me. What brings you here really?" Suzy asked leaning forward in his seat.

"The Hounds. Two of them anyways. Adam hired them to kill me and my family. I have the two younger ones in prison. The other three are after my daughter, Raven." Hank told him as Suzy turned to face him startled. The Hounds were serious business.

"Maybe that's why we haven't seen her yet. Rosila has been getting antsy waiting for her sister that may never come." Suzy grumbled leaning forward nervously. Hank gripped his knee tightly making Suzy hiss.

"Raven will make it. Just give her some time. I have been training her to fight most of her life and she is better than most of my own men. And she is not alone. Framtida has informed me on our last visit that she has acquired friends. A knight and a guardian to be exact. They will defeat Coleron and the other two. I am here about Korbin and his shadow." Hank grunted as Suzy rubbed his knee leaning back to look at him.

"You said you had them in your capture? Are you looking to put them on trial and officially end their reign of terror?" Suzy asked as Hank leaned back shaking his head.

"Not exactly. It seems Clair has taken a liking to the lads and has already adopted them as her own. I can tell you I was pleasantly surprised to find my wife talking with them alone in their cell discussing flowers for their wedding." Hank grumbled. He had been so terrified when Sherry told him Clair was alone with the Hounds. Knowing their reputations with women. But she just sat there smiling happily as she joked with the young men.

"The Hounds?! Are getting married? To whom? Who in their right mind would marry cold blooded killers?" Suzy asked shocked as Hank let out an amused snort.

"Each other." Hank told him letting Suzy soak that in.

"Wait. I thought his shadow was a man?" Suzy said confused as Hank simply nodded. Oh. "So, then they are a couple? Two guys? Planning on getting married. Are you sure they are the Hounds?" Suzy asked in disbelief as Hank chuckled nodding.

"As my wife likes to put it, they are just two boys who made bad decisions because of their surroundings. Take them out of those surroundings and they are actually fairly pleasant. Just two men with lots of skill, madly in love with each other. Honestly, I think they would be happy dwelling in my jails for the rest of their life." Hank told him as Suzy sat back nodding slowly.

Suzy had met Coleron. There was nothing about him that could be saved. He was dark and twisted and preferred pain. His two closest minions, Evan and Darla weren't much better. They were all in their fifties though and too far gone to give up the life they created.

The other two were decades younger than the older three, but Suzy had seen the same killer instinct in them. He never considered it was just a front to please the older men in the group. A survival tactic. Suzy mulled it over as the watched the breeze ripple the ponds surface.

"So exactly what is it you are looking for? What do you want from me?" Suzy asked as Hank glanced at him.

"A full pardon. I want to send them here, for Raven. Framtida said Quinn might be able to aide my daughter because they are related. How? I haven't a clue, she wouldn't tell me. Korbin will just follow Quinn anywhere. He is very protective of his shadow. I never really considered why until I caught their confession of love. Over seven years they have been hiding their affection for each other, afraid Coleron would abuse it. Now that they are free to openly show that love, they have changed. For the better I think." Hank explained as Suzy tapped his fingers in thought.