Hark wailed loudly in complaint as he was lifted into the sky.

Anxious, I crept a little closer… just in case… as Landi lifted the boy up over her head and held him there.

“A man does not weep! Especially not for a tit!” Landi said loudly.

Hark went silent as Landi’s voice echoed throughout the palace.

My hands worriedly fidgeted as I kept my eyes on the boy. Landi wasn’t much taller than me, but she must have longer arms. He was too high up for me to reach. I’ll need to catch him on the way down if she drops him or…

But she didn’t. She simply lowered him back down and smiled at him with sharp teeth. “There? See? It takes a woman to make a man, doesn’t it boy?” Landi asked Hark.

Hark made a noise, but it sounded like an unsure moan.

Glancing over to Vim, who stood near the large square table, I didn’t like how he was completely ignoring what was happening. Wasn’t he worried? Was the map on that table so much more important?

“Not that you’re no woman, Renn. You’re a mighty fine one indeed. Especially since you look ready to pounce on me the moment I get out of line!” Landi said as she turned to me.

“Ah…” I forcefully lowered my hands and calmed down. Great. So it had been obvious.

Landi immediately started laughing, showing off her huge pointy teeth. Gosh they looked sharp. “You’re adorable! Ah, Vim always gets the cute ones,” Landi said.

Shifting a little, I noticed Hark reaching up to grab onto Landi’s hair. Seemed he liked to grab at woman’s hair. It helped that Landi’s was coiled in huge braids, and wrapped around circular stones. There was plenty to grab at. They actually looked heavy, even if polished and pretty. The biggest rested on her breasts, and was the size of Hark's head. But it wasn't that one he was grabbing at, but instead the smaller ones that dangled near her chin.

“Heh, see? I knew he was a man. Grabbing the reins already, are you?” Landi asked Hark, but didn’t stop him as he grabbed and tugged on one of the stones tied in her hair.

Landi honestly looked... happy, and not bothered nor planning to harm or eat Hark... but still all the same I somehow felt horribly worried. It was taking a lot of effort to not walk over to her and snatch him out of her hands.

“Are you involved in the war to the west, or are you just keeping your border secure?” Vim asked, uncaring of my anxious worries.

“They’ve not even rattled sabers at us. I wish they would though. I’ve been gathering men on that border in case I decide to invade while they're all distracted and starving. I’ve not made the decision yet. I want those ports, but do I want the headache of a land ruined by famine?” Landi said as she grinned and cooed at Hark.

“Waging war during a plague may not be the wisest choice,” Vim warned.

“That’s what you got fire for Vim. Fire and arrows,” Landi said as Hark made a noise at her.

“Do you mean the ports we passed through on the way here?” I asked her.

“If you came through the armadillo and camels, yes. Those very ports,” Landi said.

Huh…

I frowned as I imagined her… conquering that area.

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing Vim? Her lands seem rather well managed, all things considered. Plus it’d let her rule over the areas of our people, and help keep them safe,” I said as I thought of it.

Landi quickly took a few steps over to me, and I went stiff as she leaned up next to me… and stared into my eyes.

“Uhm…” I worriedly wondered if maybe I had said something wrong, or bad. What was wrong? And did she realize Hark was sticking his fingers in her nose? It made her serious expression look silly.

“Why not tell Renn how exactly you would conquer those lands, Landi?” Vim said.

Landi smirked and then stepped away from me, and returned her attention to the boy in her arms. She began to pace around, walking around the large square table in the center of the room. “I’d burn everything to the ground… and rebuild it with stone. As I would have it,” she said.

“So… cruelly?” I asked.

“No more than any other tyrant would do,” Landi said.

“That’s true,” Vim said with a sigh, agreeing regrettably.

Wonderful…

“My lady, the nurse has arrived,” a man’s voice entered the room, intruding in the conversation… but I grew excited as it did.

So she was here. Finally!

“Good. He’s been relieving himself, and I did not want to deal with it,” Landi said with a laugh as she turned to take the boy to the woman who would feed and care for him, while we were here.

I stepped forward, as to follow her, but Vim coughed. “Renn.”

Pausing, I felt oddly weak as I watched Landi walk to the door. Carrying Hark with her. He didn’t even realize he was leaving me behind.

“But…” I turned to Vim, to argue.

“He’ll be fine. He’ll be in a room a few doors down, not far. Let the human do their job,” he said gently.

“But…” I argued some more, and hesitated as Landi left the room. A guard followed her as they went down the hallway.

“It won’t be long and he’ll be asleep. Once he’s cleaned and fed. All will be fine. Landi is… dangerous, but she’s not foolish enough to anger me,” he said softly.

I groaned as I studied the door a bit longer… and then forcefully turned around. As to not let it call for me any longer.

With a deep breath, I sighed as I walked over to Vim. To the large table he stood next to.

“You’re right… I might fall in love with him, if I’m not careful,” I admitted.

I mean… not only had we met a new member, a very unique one… there was also other things to be of interest.

A large map was on the table before me. Littered with information, and little… figures? There were tiny buildings, and even people, carved out of wood upon it. And all throughout this room was more stuff I should be amazed by too. Shelves full of strange things. Paintings. Other tables. Even the rugs on the ground, covering the stone floor, had designs on them. Ones I wanted to study.

Yet that baby had occupied my whole attention. My entire heart.

“Careful Renn. Please,” Vim whispered.

I nodded, though it felt wrong to do so.

Surely it wasn’t so wrong… right? What was so wrong with me wanted to care for and protect a baby?

Wasn’t that something important?

But I knew the truth. He wasn’t my baby. He wasn’t a non-human. He’d soon be given back to his rightful family… so…

“Hark has a large breast, a clean bottom, and soon a wonderful bed. I’m jealous,” Landi spoke loudly as she walked back into the room.

“Thank you Landi,” I said, and wasn’t sure what to say to the rest of that.

Landi smirked as she walked over to the table, and went to stand next to Vim. Across from me.

She was… honestly a rather attractive woman. Maybe not to the level of Kaley, but even with the very visibly non-human teeth she was something to gawk at. Her eyes were especially striking. They were a beautiful blue. The type of color that was mesmerizing. And her eyebrows did indeed have a white line running through them. It was tiny, yet very obvious. It made her seem more exotic.

Honestly she looked a little too young to be a queen. But as far as I’d seen, and heard, no one doubted the legitimacy of her rule. In fact most seemed to have a lot of respect for her. The guards seemed happy to be given orders from her.

Though that might not be respect, but fear.

“So Vim. Showing up with a beauty is one thing, but a baby too? What brought this chain of fate to fruition?” Landi asked as she leaned against the table, as to look at us and not the map that Vim was still studying.

“Renn joined me some time ago. The child had been happenstance. He was entrusted to us by his mother,” Vim said.

Oh…? He wasn’t telling her the whole story. I wonder if that was on purpose.

In that case I’d keep it secret too.

Landi glanced at me and I quickly nodded. “We’re to take him to his family. Here in town,” I said.

“Hm. And Vim, being his typical self came here first. You’re such a prick Vim. You’re going to make me deal with it aren’t you?” Landi asked, but did so with a smirk. She looked as if she was having fun.

“Renn would likely prefer to do the deed. So we’ll handle it. I figure we’ll do it tomorrow,” Vim said lightly. He was focused on the map, and spoke a little absentmindedly.

Landi snickered, and then gestured at me with a light wave. “You do seem to be attached already. The boy is a human, is he not? Careful Renn. They never live long, you’ll just get your heart hurt,” she warned.

I gulped at her warning, since it was actually a very real one. One that resonated with me.

I nodded, but said nothing. Out of fear of saying the truth.

“And you brought some dyes Vim? Once again you fund my tyranny. I’ll think of you as I squish the wills and freedom of my people beneath my new set of heels,” Landi said.

A little bothered by her comment, I glanced at Vim. To see if she was just joking or telling the truth.

Vim though gave no insight. He only nodded as he frowned and studied the map closer.

“Hmph. He used to glare at me. Now I’m just another child to be tolerated. How about you Renn?” Landi turned her focus to me.

“Um… At least do it gently…?” I asked unsurely.

Landi erupted into laughter, and Vim actually looked away from the map as to glance at me.

Shifting on a foot, I glared at the man who was smiling at me gently. What?

“My…! Hm…” she stepped around Vim, and I noticed the way she ran her hand along his back as she did so. It was an alarmingly sensual act, the way she did it. Yet I ignored it as she focused on me and drew closer. Once again she stepped up next to me, and leaned forward, as to stare into my eyes.

“You’re a predator,” she said with confidence.

I gulped and nodded. “I am. I’m a jaguar,” I said.

Landi blinked, and then leaned back. I grew a little worried as I watched a shocked look take over her face.

Huh…? That was…

“You’re kidding,” she said.

I shook my head. What was wrong?

Landi tilted her head, and then looked at Vim. “Vim… has her bloodline been in the Society for long?” she asked.

“Renn’s? No. She joined a few years ago. From the north,” Vim said. He was staring at Landi, and I could tell he too had noticed something odd about her reaction.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“Maybe. Come. Let’s talk in depth. Let’s see if you and I will be enemies, or friends,” she said as she held out her hand.

Taking it, I smiled gently at the woman who I knew had been banished from most of our society. “We can be friends right now, if you’d like.”

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She giggled as our arms got interlocked, and she turned as to guide me out of the room. “That works for the lesser ones, but not us,” she said.

Lesser ones…? Did… did she mean those who weren’t predators…?

As we walked out of the room, I noticed Vim quietly followed us. But not right away. He lingered behind, as if to give us space.

“Let him be. Vim’s fun, but I’ve grown bored of the stoic protector,” Landi said.

“He is boring sometimes,” I agreed.

Landi giggled as we rounded the door and out into the hallway. I glanced around at the guards up and down the hall, and noticed none were nearby. It seemed they… kept their distance unless they were summoned or had duties to attend to.

“Where’s Hark?” I asked.

“That room. Four down. The one with guards posted,” Landi answered.

Ah. That made sense. Good. I’d remember it.

Landi’s arm squeezed my own. “Very protective. I like it. We should be that way. We should always proudly protect and keep watch on those we claim as ours,” Landi said.

“You said not to claim him. That it would hurt my heart,” I said.

Landi nodded. “I did. But even if it is wrong, as predators it’s our right to do whatever we want. I recommend not loving that boy, but I’d be amiss to say not to do whatever you want,” she said.

“You speak like Vim,” I said.

The Queen of Stone tilted her head at me. “Do I?”

I nodded. “You mean free will don’t you?”

“Ah. No. I mean the right of the strong. The right to rule,” she said as she lifted her other hand, to point with a finger.

As she did I noticed her nail. It was like mine. Long and sharp. It was time I cut them.

“The right to rule,” I repeated her words.

She nodded. “It’s the duty of those strong. Of those above the rest.”

Frowning at her, I wondered if this was what Vim meant by her being… different than the rest.

“You mean to say that because we’re so strong it’s our duty to rule over the rest?” I asked.

“Obviously…? If not us then who? Are you going to say we should be ruled by those weaker than us?” she asked me.

“Why does anyone have to rule anyone?” I asked her back.

Landi giggled at me. “There’s always someone at the top.”

Well… she was maybe right… but…

We rounded a corner, and the hallway suddenly grew larger. What had been something normal sized was now gargantuan. I strained my neck as to look up at the ceiling, and found I couldn’t really see it.

We were inside a giant stone… monument, or pillar, as Vim called it. Monolith? So it was dark. And the torches and fires lighting the place up weren’t very strong. Not strong enough to completely illuminate the giant hallway.

“How big is this hallway?” I asked her.

“Hm? Several stories. You can’t see them, but the top floor is up there. It’s open, and overlooks all the hallways like this,” she said.

“Open…?” I wondered what she meant.

“I’ll show you later. Basically up there are my quarters. My bedroom,” she said.

Ah.

Looking away from the massive ceiling, I instead focused on the hallway… and everything down it.

There were several larger doorways along it. Likely other hallways that this one led to, but I could see a few real doors. Large wooden things, with red wood. And a rather… odd lack of guards.

“Where are all the guards here?” I asked.

Landi squeezed my arm again. “What use are they? I have them to keep the annoyances away, but we don’t need them,” she said.

“Annoyances,” I said. I wonder what she meant.

“My puppets. Government officials… military generals, and nobles and merchants. They’re like flies, always buzzing around trying to sound important.”

Puppets. “Do they know you’re not human?” I asked.

“Some do. But it’s not like I really hide it. Sometimes I need to… lay the law down, as you say. But in this region, like most out here, they’re used to legends and monsters. So I’m not that weird to them,” Landi explained.

She… didn’t hide what she was…

“What about the church?” I asked.

Landi paused, which made me have to stop walking too. Then she smirked at me. “You mean the one I control?” she asked.

Oh. “You rule that much?” I asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked back.

Well… I mean…

I tried to think of the lands I was used to. The ones back north.

There were powerful people there too. Those who ruled. Some, like Landi, with cruelty.

Yet even they couldn’t rule everything. One person, or a group, could control a powerful section of society… but rarely if ever did they control all sectors of it. One would rule the church, but not the royalty. Or vice versa.

Like Lumen. There were many different factions, and they weren’t at all on the same page. So there was a level of… separation of…

I frowned as I thought about it, and realized that maybe that was no longer the case. Since they had all joined together, alongside us, to declare Lumen a free state.

“Have you been ruling long?” I asked her after a moment of pondering.

“I’m nearing my second century as Queen,” she said.

“That’s a long time,” I said with a nod.

“Not really. For humans, sure, but not us. Our kind used to have rulers you know? Ones far, far older. Right Vim?” Landi turned her head, to shout at him.

“Right what?” he asked as he drew closer. He had been standing behind us, at enough of a distance that he couldn’t talk normally. He drew closer as Landi huffed at him.

“How long had King Javlo rule?” Landi asked.

Javlo?

“Almost five hundred years,” Vim answered.

Landi nodded and returned her attention to me. “See? And he was just one of many.”

“Huh…” I frowned as I nodded. I had known that a long time ago we had… entire nations and lands of our people, but I hadn’t really ever realized or thought about the fact that such a thing meant we had also been such structured societies.

So at one time we had been so numerous, and so settled, that we had such things. Monarchies. Rulers. Kingdoms.

We returned to walking as Landi leaned against me. She was warm, even though she wore a very thin dress. In fact now up closer I could…

Yes. I could see through some of it. As if it was a nightgown.

She had hair. Fur. On most of her body. It ran up and down her sides, it seemed.

“What are you searching for Renn? How long have you been with Vim?” Landi asked.

For a tiny moment I hesitated… but then I decided to just say it.

“Actually… I’ve been planning to stay with Vim. To join him,” I said.

Landi tilted her head at me, and I nodded as to confirm it. My heart thumped loudly in my ears as I grew overly anxious of what I was saying, but I said it anyway. “I like it. I like traveling, and I like… what he does. So I want to do it too. For as long as he’ll let me,” I said.

Landi frowned, but only for a moment. “I see. Well I can’t say I agree, but that’s because the idea of spending so long with Vim makes my butt itch. But, that’s actually not that bad a thing, I think. Far better than you just looking for a husband or something silly,” Landi said as she thought about it.

I was half tempted to glance at her behind, to see if she had a tail or if it was covered in fur, but wasn’t able thanks to how we were locked in arms. As I glanced back though, I noticed Vim. He was rather far away again, although still following us.

“I’ve heard that a lot of people have gone with him looking for husbands or wives. Is it that common?” I asked.

Landi nodded with a grimace. “I know, isn’t it weird? I mean really,” she said.

Oh…? “Are you married already, or do you not care for such a thing?” I asked.

She smirked at me. “To be honest, I do want a mate. But the idea of finding one in the Society, or even a human,” she shivered as if suddenly cold. “No thanks.”

Huh… interesting. “You don’t want one from the Society?” I asked.

“Who’d want any of those weaklings? Bunch of spineless boys, not men. Though maybe that’s why you don’t see it that way. Traveling with Vim and all. Just so you know, in case you don’t, Vim’s the outlier. Most men aren’t like him at all,” she warned me.

I nodded, since I actually did know that. I knew it well.

“Wait… so you want someone strong?” I asked, trying to understand her.

“Hm. I want to be toyed with in bed, yes,” she smirked at me.

Doing my best to ignore the way she had said that, I gestured behind us.

“Why not him then?” I asked with point.

Landi broke out into a huge grin. “Gross!” she said.

Feeling a little oddly relieved, I smirked at the woman who broke out into a fit of laughter.

She laughed like Brandy. Full of volume and without reserve.

I liked it.

Even more so since our arms were locked together, and I could feel it. She let her laughs fill her whole body, it felt great.

“So gross,” she giggled as she calmed down.

“May I ask why?” I asked.

“Of course you can!” she then hesitated, and then frowned. “Well… to be honest, I shouldn’t say gross. He’s not that bad looking, and I bet he’d be a wonderful mate. Very protective. Caring. And I bet he’d last a long time in bed too! But…”

Fascinated, I listened and watched intently as Landi pondered my question.

Then she nodded, and decided something. “Yes. I’d accept him. But at the same time, I don’t want to. Maybe it’s because I’ve known him since I was a child? I see him kind of like a big brother. So that’s probably why. I’d find it really weird, probably so weird that it wouldn’t work,” she said seriously.

I see. Interesting. “That makes sense.”

“No. It doesn’t. You’re right… why have I never considered him…?” she mumbled as she turned around, to look at him.

Uh oh. Had I maybe just gained a competitor?

Glancing back with her, I noticed Vim was even farther away. He was walking really slowly… and looked lost in thought. Was he not listening in? I knew he could hear us from there. Especially with the way this massive hallway made our voices carry and echo.

“Considering it now?” I asked Landi lightly.

“A little. I’ll think about it while you’re here. But something tells me no. I don’t think I’d be able to get over the fact that I see him like a big brother. I may be weird, and eccentric, but even I wouldn’t do that,” she said.

“I’ve heard it’s common for queen’s to do weird stuff like that,” I teased her.

Landi snickered at me. “Reading those stories are you? Please,” she scoffed.

Oh…? “You mean the Queen’s Lament?” I asked.

“Yeah? You’ve read it right?” she asked.

I shook my head. I hadn’t gotten the chance to yet. Or rather, I have had opportunities… but I was saving them. For when I could really just… enjoy them. I was waiting to read them at a place where I could dedicate my whole attention to them, and nothing else.

We’d not been anywhere yet like that.

“Oh. Then I won’t spoil it for you. Hm… I have the whole story here. All four, if you want to read them,” she said.

“You have all four too?” I asked.

She nodded. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Lumen just got the fourth themselves. A few months ago,” I said.

Landi smirked. “I’m more important than them,” she said.

I blinked at that, and then before I could ask more Landi leaned closer to me… and smiled.

“Were your parents like you Renn?” Landi then asked.

“Like me?”

“Humanoid,” she said.

Oh. “Yes. As were my grandparents. But past them we had members who were more… beastly. I had an uncle who sometimes even walked around on all fours,” I said.

“I see. That must be him then. Or his parents,” she said with a nod.

“Huh?”

Landi grinned at me as we passed one of the large doorways. It did in fact lead to another hallway, but that one looked dark. Few torches were lit within it. “I believe I’ve met your lineage. Or at least a distant relative,” she said.

My heart sunk as I immediately thought of that elderly woman back at the Bell Church. “You’re kidding!” I shouted.

She shook her head. “Nope. I enjoyed that fight. They almost got me. See here?” Landi then lifted her dress, and showed me her stomach.

Sure enough she had fur. It ran up and down her sides, circling her stomach. But it wasn’t the black and white hair I focused on, but instead a nasty looking scar. One that ran along her belly, to her groin area.

It looked like something had taken a huge chunk out of her at one time. Her tanned skin was pure white on the scar, as if it’d never been touched by the sun in its long life.

“Ripped me apart something good,” she said.

Hesitating, I slowed and stopped… and then looked up at Landi with watery eyes.

She tilted her head at me, and then our arms detached… but not entirely. She held my hand still, as if refusing to let me go.

“I’m…” I started to apologize, but Landi only grinned at me and waved my apology away before it had been given life.

“Oh please! It’s not like you had been the one to bite me! You sure you’re a predator…?” Landi asked with a smile.

Gulping, I shifted as Vim stepped up to us.

“You recognize her, Landi?” Vim asked gently.

“No. But I think I remember the smell. They smell like a wet forest,” Landi said as she studied me.

Wonderful. Great. Just…

Would I be banished here too? Really? So soon?

My mind whirled as I thought of my uncle. And even more so my other uncle. The one no one that hadn’t been human at all. The one who had lived in that cave.

“I had another uncle. One not human at all. He… was missing his right eye,” I said as I covered the same eye on my own face.

Landi blinked, and then her weirdly happy smirk died down.

“The scar ran to his mouth. Curling it,” I said as I drew it on my own face.

“Well I’ll be…” Landi shifted, and I noticed the way Vim’s eyes dug into her. Her. Not me.

“Landi?” Vim asked.

She blinked a few times… then nodded. “Yes. That was likely him then. I gnawed off half his face. He had bit me, along the waist, and was shaking me. I clawed and bit off his lip and eye as to free myself,” she explained to the both of us how it had happened.

Feeling sick, I closed my eyes and groaned.

“What… Why’s she look so hurt, Vim?” Landi asked.

“She feels responsible,” Vim said.

Suddenly I was being shaken. I opened my eyes and couldn’t help but smile as Landi wildly shook my hand and arm, all the while grinning at me.

“Responsible! Really! Jeez…!” Landi was loud, and then she stepped forward and wrapped her arm around my own again.

She returned us to walking, and I blinked some blurry eyes as she guided me down the hallway. “You don’t get to feel responsible until you tear my flesh yourself!” she said to me.

Feeling oddly humbled, I nodded. “Okay.”

“Let me guess, this has happened before huh? Did he kill or hunt others in the Society too? Well pay it no mind. Only the weak would get upset over something like this. If anything you should be proud! I’ve only a few scars on my body, so be proud to be related to someone able to add to them!” Landi declared.

I laughed a little, but wasn’t sure if it was really something I could be proud of.

So she had met that beast. And had actually fought him off.

She was why he had been blind.

“Honestly… I should be thanking you, I guess. It’s thanks to the injury you gave him that I had been able to kill him,” I said.

Although I had help at the time. A lot of help. But it was still the truth. If he hadn’t been crippled we’d might not have been able to do it.

She paused again, and turned to look at me… and then broke out into a huge grin.

“We’re totally friends!” she happily declared as she wrapped me in a hug.