Age Of Shifters

Chapter 6: Loyalty

Adraer Tirrin

"But I like my white hair." 

Her whining was starting to get annoying, "Zae you have to if you are going to help me, the brown won't be permanent." She pouted and sat down to let me dye it.

When I was done she got up and looked into the mirror. 

"It suits you, Zae." She smiled back at me, that smile melts my heart.

 "I actually like it, it will take some getting used to though."

I motioned for her to follow me outside, "Lets get going." She nodded and we went outside to see two chestnut horses all geared up.

"Why can't I shift?" There's the pouting again. Whats up with her and pouting? Leint came over to us and gave her a sword for protection, the white symbols on the blade looked ancient, but I couldn't make it out.She slid it into the sheath.

"You need to keep your powers out of the equation Zae. No one can know you still live, or where you are." She nodded walking over to her own horse, swinging up with ease and I did the same on mine.

Leint gave us good wishes and we were off. I rode behind her, her hair pulled back with beads braided in. Her cloak billowed out from under her. She look like a very important person just by the way she rode, with her head held high.

We rode for a while. Finally with the gates in sight. She slowed down looking amazed. There was a big wall surrounding the kingdom, guards keeping watch along the top. We reached the gates, I trotted close to her nodding to the guards and they opened the gates.

Trumpets sounded, announcing our arrival. My fellow Rangers started to come into the opening under the great pillar. I motioned Zae to halt and slid off. The Rangers all kneeled as I gave her a hand to help her down. We walked over to them, feeling her tense hand slip into mine.

I glanced to her, "It is alright, you're with me." She relaxed her grip on my hand. My brothers Wren and Tarnas walked forward.

 Tarnas was the first to speak, his black hair pulled back in a bun, the sides shaved, "Welcome home brother." He saluted me with a fist over his heart. 

Wren did the same, his black hair in a braid, "Welcome." Wren noticed Zae almost immediately, "And who's this beautiful lady with you brother." He gently grabbed her hand laying a kiss on her knuckles. 

I introduced her, "This is Nore Lortair." I'm glad she went along with it.

 She curtsied, "Its a pleasure to meet Sir Adraer's younger brothers." 

They smiled at her and saluted to her, talking in unison, "Welcome Nore."

The four of us walked to the castle to the dining room. Luckily it was just us.

"Wren, Tarnas, I need to ask you a question." They nodded and I continued, "Do you remember the girl that lived in the cabin, the shifter?" 

Wren sat his goblet of wine down. "Why are you bringing this up, Rin?"

I sighed. "You both trust my judgment, and as your brother, I hope you trust me."

 Tarnas looked impatient. "Get to the point, Rin."

I was straight forward, "This isn't Nore, this is her, the shifter." I looked at both of them waiting for the reaction. 

Tarnas acted like the world was ending. "Are you out of your freaking mind! Why did you bring her here!"

I gave him a dead stare. "She hasn't done bad, Naz. Give her a chance."

He stood up. "She almost killed you."

Now I stood up. "Leint did, not her. He was only trying to protect her, as were her parents that our comrades killed!" 

We were yelling at each other. Naz picked up an apple to throw. "What if something..."

She stood up yelling, "For Morcer's sake, Naz, shut up!"

 He set the apple down, sitting down leaning his elbows on the table and his head in his hands."Why did you do it, Rin?"

I looked over to her. "We made her an orphan, Naz, can't you see that?"

That put silence into him. "Fine, I'm with you. Wren, what about you?" He said nothing but just nodded.

"Great, we will leave tonight, back to Leint."