The Lion Soul by Amy Sumida
Chapter Twenty-Four
Queen Vervain looked more casual but also more regal than the previous night. Kaelen and I were shown into her private dining room—a glass-enclosed space similar to Kaelen's garden courtyard but with fewer plants—where a long, rectangular table was set for three. We were served drinks but remained standing until she arrived, then we were allowed to take our seats, one to either side of hers at the head of the table. Her hair was loose, she'd left off the crown, and although her clothes were luxurious, they were in a sedate cerulean. And there was a complete lack of attendants.
The Queen waited until we were halfway through the meal before she took the conversation from casual niceties—how do you like Stalana and so forth—to more important matters. When she asked for a report on the latest battle, Kaelen straightened and began to slowly work up to the news that I wasn't entirely a Lion Faerie. Queen Vervain went still when Kaelen described my Shirie form, then lifted a brow when he got to the part where Ry'zaran had appeared, but she held her tongue until he was finished. Even then, she stayed pensively silent for a few minutes.
Kaelen didn't prompt her, just waited.
“Have the scholars discussed this with their fellows?” she finally asked.
“I don't know, Your Majesty,” Kaelen said. “We haven't been to see them today.”
“Have them assemble a team of the wisest scholars to discuss it. I wish to hear their thoughts.”
“I would greatly appreciate hearing yours, Your Majesty,” Kaelen said.
“First, tell me what the Lion Soul says?”
I blinked at this, looking from Queen Vervain to Kaelen's pendant. Perhaps I had misheard or maybe I misunderstood the words, but it had sounded as if the Queen asked for the amulet's opinion.
“The Lion Soul has claimed him.” Kaelen lifted his chin. “He is our valorian, whether Ry'zaran has altered him or not.”
“And?”
“And what, Your Majesty?”
“Does the Lion Soul sense any kind of taint in Rieyu?”
I went still. They were indeed speaking of his soul stone as if it had a mind. And it evidently could see if there was something wrong with me. Why hadn't Kaelen told me this? And why hadn't he tried to analyze me earlier?
“His soul cannot be tainted, Your Majesty,” Kaelen declared. “Rieyu was chosen for this very reason. He is pure.”
I sat back and stared at Kaelen in shock. He thought that my soul was pure? No, wait, his stone did. What did that mean?
“Pure despite being part Farungal,” Queen Vervain mused.
“His body was altered, not his soul. It is the same as it always was.”
“You don't believe a soul can be affected by its body?” The Queen lifted a speculative brow.
“I don't know, Your Majesty,” Kaelen murmured. “Possibly other souls, but not Rie's.”
“Your soul stone speaks?” I couldn't hold back my questions any longer.
“It communicates with me,” Kaelen explained. “In my mind.”
“And it told you that I am untainted?”
“It says that you are incorruptible, yes.”
“So, when you said that you chose me and would choose me every time, it was because the Lion Soul told you to.” I pointed accusingly at his pendant as I glared at him across the table.
Queen Vervain lifted both brows this time, her expression shifting into amusement.
“It was a factor,” Kae said stiffly.
“And you didn't tell me. You allowed me to think that you believed in me yourself and were willing to take that risk.”
“You said—” Kae paused and looked at the Queen.
“Yes?” she asked delightedly. “What did he say? I'm dying to know.”
Kaelen sighed and turned back to me. “You said that you felt alone and rejected, Rieyu. I didn't want to tell you that I was certain you weren't evil because of my soul stone. I thought that would lessen the comfort I was trying to offer. Regardless of the Lion Soul's guidance, I would have chosen you. I didn't lie when I said that.”
I grunted.
Kaelen cursed. “Rie, this changes nothing.”
“You should have told me.”
“I have to agree with the Valorian,” the Queen drawled. “You should have told him about the Lion Soul. However, Rieyu,”—she speared me with her stare—“Kaelen obviously cares deeply for you and was only trying to comfort you. I imagine that seeing the Farungal God was startling for him, and he wasn't thinking clearly.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Kaelen said to her before looking back at me. “I'm sorry, Rie. I won't keep things from you in the future.”
I nodded.
“Words, please,” he growled.
“Apology accepted,” I said stiffly.
The Queen laughed brightly. “I like men who don't yammer on. Now, if you two have worked out your romantic issues, perhaps we can get back to our discussion?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Kaelen said in a chastised tone. “What are your thoughts on the matter?”
“I think that this will be to our advantage.”
“You do?” Kaelen sounded surprised.
“Rieyu is not our enemy; he is our valorian,” Queen Vervain said firmly. “I don't believe the Goddess would have allowed this to happen if she didn't approve. Ry'zaran may think that he got away with something, but I don't. I think the Goddess knows him very well, and he played into her hands.”
“You think the Goddess wants us to end the war peacefully?” Kaelen asked.
“I don't presume to know her desires, but I do have faith in her, as every faerie should,” Queen Vervain declared, then smirked. “To be honest, I don't give a fuck how we end this war as long as it ends. If we can do it peacefully, all the better. Yes, the Farungal race will live on and there is risk in that, but it will also save our warriors and allies. If Ry'zaran ever appears again, I'd like you to listen to what he has to say, Lion Lord. Listen carefully and report back to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Can he follow me?” I asked. “Have I endangered Varalorre by coming here?”
Kaelen shook his head. “No, Ry'zaran was able to cross our borders once, but only because the Leopard Lord brought a Farungal soul stone into Varalorre. I don't believe he can pierce the mists now.”
“You don't think that I will act as a conduit, as the Farungal soul stone did?”
The Queen and Kaelen exchanged dark looks.
“That is a question the scholars may be better suited to answer,” the Queen said. “My instincts tell me no, but I'm not certain. If he appears, alert me immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Kaelen and I said together.
“Now, I'd like to see this beast of yours.” She grinned. “What do you call it?”
“A Shirie,” I supplied.
“Yes, I'd like to see your Shirie, Lion Valorian.”
I cleared my throat as I stood up, then undressed, trying to ignore the way she watched me with unabashed interest.
“Just focus on the image of your Shirie, Rieyu,” Kaelen said gently. To the Queen, he added, “This is only his second shift.”
I brought up the image of a Shirie in my mind, then saw it as myself, as if I were staring in a mirror. Tingles rushed over my skin, and my body shifted nearly instantaneously. It was as if the beast had been lying just beneath my skin, waiting to be set free. Once summoned, he came leaping to the surface. I pushed my front legs before me and lifted my rear into the air to get a good stretch, then straightened and shook back my mane. When I looked over at the table, I found Kaelen smiling at me softly, and the Queen gaping at me.
Queen Vervain got to her feet and came to stand before me, cocking her head as she peered at me. She reached out and stroked my horns, then brought her hand down to my cheek. Her nails clicked over my scales. I turned my face into her hand to nuzzle her, and she laughed like a little girl.
“Magnificent!” Queen Vervain declared as she walked along my side, running a hand down my back. “Is that a barb in your tail?”
“Yes.” I brought my tail forward for her to examine. “I believe it is poisonous, so be careful, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, my dear Valorian, you are indeed a treasure. The Farungal will shiver in fear when they see you.”
“I am relieved that you think so, Your Majesty,” I said gravely. “I was afraid you'd see me as the enemy.”
“Have you ever heard the saying: fight fire with fire, Rieyu?” she asked me.
“Yes.”
“You are my fire, Valorian,” the Queen declared. “And I can't wait to see how you burn.”
