Shadow
Chapter Forty-Four

Raedwulf Dolph

Winter persisted for months, but in no time males from all over the Isles were arriving to compete to be out Viker. All but two Aerals sent sons, those being the Torbets of Theris and the Ohlsons of Waerham. It was expected, but Khannun Kol saw it as a slight insult. "All sons should want this honor," he had told me as horses carrying males and their mates flooded in from the city.

Idonia had been pleased to receive so many northern males. Many of them brought her gifts and she bestowed great blessing on them. The night before the tournament commenced, our room was filled with black bark tea, Jokulsa blood stones, purple moon sapphires, books of northern histories, the tooth of a shadowbeast, and even a new bow and a quiver full of Monxie steel arrows.

"A weapon befitting a warrior, Khanelea," Sir Gufi Arnlaugs had told her as the set was laid at her feet.

When the morning came, the two of us, Rikki, and Olen were met by one hundred and thirty-two males and one female on the training field. I could hardly contain my surprise when Hertha greeted my eyes. She stood tall and proud, her eyes daring me to turn her away.

"You encouraged her?"

"I have no clue to whom you refer to." I glance down to see her smile out at the crowd. Before I proceed with all the formalities, I offer my arm to her, which she takes. We descend down a small set of stairs before we stop in front of four chairs.

"Good morn, warriors." I glance again at Hertha. The males around her are sneaking glances. I clear my throat and makes sure all eyes are on me. "You have all gathered for the honor of being a royal Viker. Four of you standing before me now are going to be named a royal Viker within the next four days. Two serving at my mate, the crowned Khanelea Idonia Torbet-Dolph's, pleasure, and two serving at my pleasure. If any of you hve doubts or reservations about your abilities to serve us, please don't waste the time."

When none move, Idonia starts to speak. "We will begin this four day tournament with horsemanship and introductions. You will ride your horse around the coarse and at it's finally you will present yourself to us. Go saddle up."

"Dismissed," I order and the men scatter along with my sister. They will line up in order of the fastest to saddle and arrive at the arena by the training ground. The four of us continue to where the horse obstacles were set up, but as go, I send Rikki and Olen ahead of us and pull my mate to the side.

My arms engulf her and I place a firm kiss on her lips. "Rae," she giggles as my newly grown beard runs against her cheek. I let my lips pepper across her jaw but not moving further down as her winter gowns cover her neck all too well.

"Why was my sister among them?"

"She insisted so I secured her place in the tournament."

With my hand resting on her ass, I pinched her lightly through her layers of cloth. She yelps and slaps my chest while I laugh. "Khannun Kol will be furious when he replaces out."

"That is why I have Mikkeal distracting him for the next four days on a hunting trip."

"Clever female," I coo, lick behind her ear. "And Mother?"

"Oh," she gives me an evil smirk. "Rika was in on it."

Down at the arena, a platform waited for us. As soon as we sat, a rider was off through the coarse. He made his way swiftly through every obstacles, not even a flinch over the jumps, and easily maneuvered around the barrels. It was less than a minute that he was off his horse, kneeling in front of us. His helmet came off and the wild brown hair flew.

"Avon Dolph of Bethlianna, your greatnesses, son of the mighty Khannun Kol Dolph and magestic Khanea Rika Dolph. I am here at your pleasure."

"Rise, Avon," I greet my brother with a small smile. "Good ride."

Many more ride through the coarse, a few miss jumps or nock down barrels. Two fell off their horses before they even reached the front of our platform. Stable hands kept rushing out to the coarse between riders to reset the arena. Idonia shows her displeasure every time a male doesn't have a perfect run. I show mine every time one of them eyes my mate in a way of disrepect.

Then the flaming red of my sister's hair flies through the shoot. Her horse is nimble and easily evades all the obstacles put in front of her. Hertha beats all the male in a landslide when it comes to time. The mare whinnies as she slides off and bucks up as Hertha bows before us.

"Hertha Dolph of Bethlianna, your greatnesses. I kneel before you as the only female competing and with a desire to prove myself to you."

"Good run, Hertha," Idonia greets her before I can.

The rest of the runs are filled with only a few familiar faces. Some Idonia recognizes from the north and some I recognize from my travels. There are many honorable males here, but only a handfull of them have brillant horseman ship. After all competators take their chance, only one hundred and ten males remain.

And one female.

"Tomorrow we gather in the grand throne room for your test of knowledge," Idonia tells them as the losers of the day walk off. "Rest for the night, tomorrow will be the toughest day yet."

After they all start dispersing, a few come up to give us thanks for the day and honor their Khanelea with promising words of fealty. Neither Avon or Hertha come up to us, as they know what it would look like being my brother and sister. Olen runs off to see some of the males here from Theris while I start walking with Idonia back to the castle.

Spring is eluding Bethlianna, but Idonia seems to be thriving in the air. Some green is coming back to the gardens, but many trees and brush were still bear. None of the flowers have even started to show and in the morn, frost still sat on the ground. Still, Idonia would look out our window at every sunrise. The winter was her time, she belonged to the cold more than she'd ever belong to me.

When we reach the castle, she kisses my cheek and tries to walk off. Before he can get two steps away from me, I catch her wrist and pull her back to my side. "Where are you off too?"

"Rika is expecting me."

"Where?"

"Oh," she drew out playfully. "About the castle."

"Library?"

"No, the library if busy preparing for tomorrow's test."

"Council room?"

She gives me a glare, "You know we avoid that room as much as possible."

"Then where?" I beg of her.

"A private study," she finally gives me.

When she struggles to get out of my reach though, I simply hold her closer. My nose burrows into her neck and I breath in her scent before kissing her jaw once more. "Or you can come with me back to our chamber?"

She pushes herself up on her toes and kisses my bread, "I'll see you at dinner." With this, she escapes me and whisks off down the hall, her deep red gown following her with the clapping of her shoes on the floor. Rikki soon replaces me and takes me away to my duty separate from Idonia.

It wasn't two months ago that she wouldn't even speak to me. Two months ago we shared a bed and no more. It took time, it took effort, and it took many fights late into the night. We heard each other out though and worked through all our issues as mates should.

Now with the large influx of people in Thialos, there have been a few tavern brawls, some robbery, and an incident involving a rabid horse running through the streets. Poor mare had to be put down after breaking the leg of a young male.

There Sage Raudebjorn and his three apprentices came to finalize the tests for tomorrow. As soon as he enters my office, I send the old male to replace Idonia. She is a better student of history and books. Hells, I couldn't answer half the questions proposed on the test. It's what I have my Viker for.

Then two of Khannun Kol's Viker, two that do not sit on the council, knock and enter my study. Rikki and I both turn up from the papers on my desk as they enter and bow. The guards posted outside my door close it, leaving us both inside.

"Khanel Raedwulf," they both greet with a bow. I gesture to the chairs across from my desk and they both take a seat.

"What's going on, Viker Ness and Hjorth?" I ask while sitting straighter in my seat. Both of them swore loyalty to Khannun Kol, but they also swore to protect his blood, his heir, and that is me. If they are coming to me over Khannun Kol, then it must have something to do with my life and not his.

It must be urgent.

"Khannun Kol is planning something horrid," Viker Ness speaks first. "We are not his closest Viker, so we don't know much."

"Tell me anyway."