The Hunter's Song II: Lost Blood

Ch 23: Backlash (Eh'kt)

"Have you seen my Coyo shin guards?" I called out to Shale from my workshop.

"They're hanging in the third-floor hall panel."

The layout of our city townhouse in Karwarak on Menthla was multitiered and always required several days of acclimating before I felt at home.

I darted up the coiling staircase and found armaments along with a belt buckle I fashioned from the skull of a human cyborg.

Tonight was the secession ceremony. Shale was scheduled to announce that I would no longer be his Adjutant and I would appoint Dran as my replacement for Nexus' Special Envoy to Mentha.

I needed my best armor.

"Have you heard any updates on the monastery?" I cantered back through the hallway.

"Not yet," Shale yelled back. "Oru has completed her extended Dread. There's a debriefing scheduled with the council tomorrow morning. I intend to address the delay in communication."

The boys were outside in the street singing with a group of razkur younglings.

Shale assigned them each a personal guard. He wanted more, but I was able to persuade him down to single digits so as not to interfere with their playtime. Riffing with the street bands was a highlight for the boys, as none of the Zhaguai pups on Sahei could sing with them.

"Later today, I would like to take the boys into the craftsmen district," I called out while descending the staircase. "Lost Coyote has explained to me that it is tradition to bring a present to the celebration commemorating a triad's many cycles of bonding."

I trotted into the main room, rubbing the smudges off my belt buckle. "Do you think Mourning Crow would be interested in such a gathering one day?"

"Perhaps..." Shale sat cross-legged on the mat in our central room staring at my freshly polished armor laid out across the floor. "I am for it."

Then my mate thrummed under his breath. "If Lost Coyote insists on it, I suppose we have to."

I fought the urge to grind my fangs and let my frustration fade with a sigh.

Shale tossed and turned all night after returning home from the boys' hunt. I tried comforting him and he let me, but I knew it was a fleeting substitution.

I entered the main room and crouched beside him.

"Do you wish to challenge my Adjutant?" I was mindful to keep my tone measured and quiet.

Shale finally pried his eyes off my armor and shook his head. "She has earned her rank."

I remained still, by his side, watching him seethe with each exhale.

"My approval is non-essential," he grumbled in resolve.

"I can't move forward without it."

"You are no longer hindered by stigma and gossip," Shale turned to me. "There is no need for me to speak tonight. You and I are at our strongest when we are together."

"That will never change," I clicked patiently. "But if I stay, my station will become a crutch."

"I would never hold you back."

"But my presence hobbles you," I countered.

Shale let out a consternated huff.

"Speak truthfully," I kept my eyes on him. "Would you give any other Adjutant the freedom to run such an expansive side project?"

Shale's chest rumbled with a rolling hiss.

"The command of the Primary comes first," I crooked my head. "We knew the risks of impaired judgment when we first became mates, but our goals were united on the merger of Menthla into the Nexus."