Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

RETH

Hours later, after the sky had brightened from gray, to pink, to yellow, Reth walked out of the forest into the training grounds that were packed with every guard, scout, tracker, and fighter that wasn't already on duty. Behryn stood at one end of the field talking to the fist leaders, and Tobe at the end where Reth entered, briefing birds and scouts.

They caught eyes as Reth passed, and Tobe ducked his head in acknowledgement. On the way across the field to Behryn, Reth also saw Tarkyn, the young guard he'd selected for Elia's guard, and for a moment his breath stopped.

The young male saluted, his face somber and eyes sad. But he'd filled out in the months since Reth had evaluated him… his muscles bigger and more defined. That wasn't uncommon among the Anima. What surprised Reth was the sense of steadiness around the young man. The singularity of purpose with which he focused himself on the task at hand.

He was one to watch. If he didn't get himself killed in whatever they were about to face.

Reth stifled a wince and strode across the grass to Behryn's side.

They clasped hands and held each other's gazes for a moment, but neither of them spoke. Behryn, seeing Reth coming, had sent the Fist Leaders back to call their Anima to arms, so the two stood, shoulder-to-shoulder, watching as the males and females that would carry their hopes in the following days—Reth prayed it wouldn't be weeks—were gathered and lined up in their fists.

"You aren't going to stop breathing and die on me, are you?" Reth muttered so the males nearby might not hear.

Behryn snorted. "I'm more concerned that Hollhye's going to slide a knife between my ribs when she gets back and realizes I left."

"You didn't tell her?"

"She was gone speaking to the… the elders that you asked her to." Behryn shifted his weight and didn't look at Reth.

"I'm sorry that I had to ask that of her, but—"

"Don't. She's the right person. And she'll honor them in it."

Reth nodded. Both of them stood with their arms folded, watching all the Anima before them, males and females in their prime, tall and strong, healthy and brave… all of them looking ahead with eagerness for the task, when all Reth could wish was to pull them all free of it. To remove the threat, to… Well, it was only torture to think that way. He had to let them walk into this. Into fire. Into death. He had to let them fight. If the roles were reversed, he would have chosen to be one of these fighters, too. And he would have resented any leader that held him back from the conflict.

They all loved this city and each other as much as he did.

Behryn's hand clapped to his shoulder and held. "Creator, may we see them all return," he murmured.

Reth grunted. "Healthy and whole."

Behryn nodded. "Unscarred, and without ghosts."

"Amen."

There was a pregnant pause where Reth wondered if he should give Behryn some kind of pep-talk. But instead, his Second and best friend turned to him. "You do the right thing, Reth. You cannot fight this alone. You cannot win this without numbers. These are the best numbers in the Anima. They will win this for you."

"I'd be happy enough if they won it for themselves," Reth said, low and dark.

"They will. But it will be your approval they seek at the end," Behryn said. "Don't fight it. No matter what they've been through, knowing that you approve of their actions, their achievements, it will make up for much."

Reth turned that over in his mind. It was something his father had talked about—that Rulers would be sought not for their wealth, but for their approval—but hadn't appreciated when he was younger. But now… now he understood. And he had an idea.

"Will you address them, or do you want me to do it on your behalf?" Behryn asked quietly.

"I'll do it. And they won't have to wait until they come back bloodied for my approval," Reth muttered.

Behryn turned to look at him, but the Fist Leaders called everyone to attention. Tobe was trotting around the outside of the field to join them, and the birds and trackers had joined the lines at the back.

The field went silent except for the chirp of early morning birds, and Reth marveled again at the discipline Behryn had instilled in them.

Then he stepped forward, arms swinging at his sides, and regarded them all. He refused to let any of them walk into this day uncertain about whether they were known, whether they were honored.

He would honor them for the rest of his life.

"I see you, Anima!" he boomed so that even the furthest away would hear him clearly. "I see you Equines, I see you Avalines, I see you Serpents and Goats. I see your courage. I see your dedication. I see your heart to protect and to squash the enemy. I see your desire to destroy evil, and your appetite to honor good. I see you, Anima. I see you daughters and sons, mates, and offspring. I see you brothers and sisters, parents, and leaders.

"I see the hole you would leave if this were to take you from us, and I grieve it. I pray the Creator's hand of blessing on you and those who already serve, ready and waiting to protect. I pray that in one day or two we will gather here again and I will see you again.

"I see the lives you lead. I see your laughter and your tears. I see your goals, and the failures you have overcome. I see you, Anima, and I honor you!" he let the last, shouted word roll off into a roar.

The field erupted with coughs, calls, barks, and cheers. No one stepped from their lines or turned their heads, but they answered their King and celebrated his honor.