Daris moved in a leisurely fashion, stopping in front of their trio as he faced Hermes. Rydon had seen him pull his sword on Hermes when the god had struck Ren, but even he knew he’d only get one mercy from Hermes.
“He’s a child, lord,” Daris said with a weary sigh. “Enamored of the goddess is all. Let him take care of Sonah and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Stand.”
Daris closed his eye and glanced at Rydon over his shoulder. Unsure what the commander was trying to communicate, but knowing whatever it was, the situation with Hermes was about to get very violent.
Rydon swung his head around to the monks still seated quietly at the trestle tables, their heads together or unabashedly staring at the performance Hermes was subjecting them to. He feared for their safety and wished he’d thought to get them all out of the monastery when Hermes first arrived.
“I said, stand.” Hermes’s words were clipped, his voice razor sharp as he turned to glare at Leander. To the young man’s credit, he stood to his full height, several inches taller than Rydon. He kept his arm around Sonah, but his hand had fallen to the small of her back. Sonah sighed and leaned heavily against Rydon.
Hermes stepped forward, his gaze riveted, watching Leander with such intensity, Rydon brought his hand to his dagger.
Stopping inches away, the god narrowed his unnatural eyes, the silver fluid racing around his irises like a frenzied rat tail.
“You’re a shifter,” Hermes mused.
“Aye.”
“What’s a shifter doing in Heylisia’s military? Don’t they kill your kind?”
“Aye.”
Hermes lifted a brow.
Leander sneered. “I went to Metilai with my mother when I was a boy.”
Hermes waved his hand lazily for Leander to say more.
“I joined the military when I turned twenty and was assigned to the Rivermen. 21stRegiment.”
“You’re a…,” Hermes paused and sniffed at the air before scrunching his nose in thought. “A wolf.”
“Aye.”
“How were you not caught?”
“I shift at will.”
“Yes,” Hermes sighed and looked up at the high ceiling. “I know what shifters are. But something about your story…”
He strolled closer to Leander, stopping within a foot. “…is off.”
Rydon’s grip on his dagger was painful. The exit to the spring behind the olive grove was right behind him. If Hermes did something, Rydon could easily escape with Sonah.
“You see, I know the royal family in Osta. In fact, they must be the oldest family still in power from when we ruled this realm.”
Sonah twisted her head up at Leander, who was as still as stone. His face was just as stoic as he stared hard at Hermes. Rydon feared the god would lose his temper at any moment with this kid. He burned to pull him back or step in, but he moved closer to Sonah instead. If this shifter wanted to stay in their company, protecting Sonah, Rydon had to see if he deserved to.
“I… made a mistake with my niece,” Hermes said casually.
Rydon blinked. He felt Sonah flinch, the tension in her frame about to snap.
“It was very out of character. I don’t know what is happening but I feel… different lately. Regardless, I have been taken to task so let’s move on, shall we?” Hermes added, this time through gritted teeth.
“Lord?”
“I’m feeling magnanimous,” Hermes said with a flourish of his hands, ignoring Leander’s question. “I was shown mercy, so I will, in turn, show you mercy.”
