"Talis doesn"t seem to like you. Daddy, make him go away." Raina ordered obviously unhappy. Even as her little hand caressed Talis on the back the tiger didn"t seem intent to take his eyes off him."Talis… tal…Ahh yes the general"s son. It is your brother I was accused of killing. Now I know why your so defensive. That boy attacked me at the river without any sense or provocation. I threw him off the fall in the end, but I never landed a killing blow. It wasn"t a far fall and I knew that." Kan explained himself with a bit of a sneer before turning his eyes ezpextangly onto Kyera "Do you believe me now, Kyera? I told you I didn"t kill your mate." Kan turned to her and a soft roar ripped from Talis"s throat as if demanding he not speak to her. There was so much anger in him he wasn"t even using forest speech in his roars. Kyera however nodded sharply, it was true and she saw no use in denying the sickly truth. No matter how much it p.r.i.c.ked her wound.
"Talis, stand down. If that fight happens, it is mine, not yours seeing as Verone breathes and my brothers do not." Kyera reminded him with a soft growl. Talis forced himself back, but did not sit. He stood close to Raina, protecting her. Kan couldn"t help but laugh softly.
"One day, Princess I will have to tell you the truth." He spoke quietly and she glared at him. Kyera glanced at the child beside her and frowned. She couldn"t take the bait, she couldn"t ask yet. Her emotions could harm the baby. With that in mind she forced the feelings back.
"Kan, why do you come here?" Kyera demanded her tone tired and weary. He frowned looking her over, he could easily sense her emotions. She really was tired, it wasn"t a show. His eyes flicked to her waist then her eyes seeming thoughtful. His expression changed slightly as he decided to stop goading her.
"I came because I saw you ride in on the carriage and not on horseback. I was worried you were injured." He replied sniffing the air around her discreetly. Talis growled a warning.
"That isn"t the only reason you came." Kyera accused and Clovis frowned. Her tone was so monotone, so cold he wasn"t sure what or who this guy was. However from everything he heard this far he knew he didn"t like him.
"Your right. Your mother wants to speak with you. One on one." He replies glancing at her entourage meaningfully. He shot a glare at Talis who stood tall, daring him to come at him. Raina however looked confused.
"Does that mean I get to meet Grandma?" She asked curiously and Kyera frowned. Kane"s lip twitched as he heard Raina call the Lady grandmother. Instantly, Kan was invisible as Kyera turned to her daughter.
"No. I want you to stay as close to Talis as possible. You are not to talk to or get near anyone who looks like me. Stay away from white tigers too. Talis if she gets near Raina…" she left the sentence hanging, but the fierce glow in those silver eyes was clear. She felt her mother was a threat.
"I will run her off." Talis finished in forest tongue and Kyera stared him right in the eyes. There was a sensation that ran down his back as he saw the burning, all consuming fire in her eyes. He almost thought he saw a sliver of purple around the dark pupil, it seemed to pulse with light.
"Trimite La Mora." Kyera replied her voice firm and filled with ice. Kan flinched at the edge in the Princess"s voice. Even Clovis and Raina looked uneasy, and they had no idea what she said. "Raina, I need to use the bathroom. Come with me please." She ordered standing and taking the child"s hand. Raina followed obediently and Talis and the panther pair padded along behind.
"What did she just say?" Clovis asked Kan, honestly shocked and a little unnerved by how Kyera had spoken.
"The meaning? Kill her." He replied shrugging but then he turned to look after her. "Literally, Send her to Mora.. which is the land of death"s palace."
"Her mother?" He asked knowing there was a lot of anger and blame there but he had thought it could be fixed over time.
"Yes. I knew Kyera would never forgive her. Her mother"s sins were too great." He shook his head slowly "but I never dreamed she would d.a.m.n her to Mora."
"Oh? Isn"t that the point of following the laws? To achieve a place in Mora?" Clovis asked and Kan smiled. It was a almost sickly sharp, predatory smile.
"Ironic isn"t it? Mora is the one place her mother fears. You see you can"t cuckold the G.o.d of death and then expect to be spared his kingdom or wrath." Kan replied smirking "Imagine being a woman loved by all, and constantly doted on… then placed in a cold palace but, where others wait for death you wait forgiveness that will never come."
"Cruel, but I understand." Clovis conceded still rather surprised. Kan smirked.
"I take it you didn"t know your wife had it in her? Believe it or not, if you touch her bottom line Kyera can be more vicious than I, or even any torturer of the old kings court." Kan replied a knowing smile on his lips as he drug his hand through his hair.
Clovis looked at him sideways, "And yet, you touched her brothers and live."
"Yes, but she is having doubts. She was young and she wasn"t sure what she saw. She knows a child sees what they can understand." He points out smiling at Clovis. "However, Keenan"s final request for her not to avenge them is a large part of why we are both still alive." He turned back toward the way he came from. "Remind her her mother may disapprove of you and Raina, but she is still looking out for her interests. Goodbye, Clovis." He walked away not bothering with t.i.tle or formality despite his guard rank.