Chapter 12
A Gilded Cage Is Still A Cage.
“Balancing two loyalties is difficult, especially when I’ve grown to care deeply for those that I represent.I am beholden first to my own kind and the laws we stand for.It makes me wonder if any of my kind would choose the kingdom they are ambassadors for over their calling as a Shaman and the oaths they took.”~ Roan
Roan surveyed the circle of the Shaman Council, noticing Link, the Kingdom of Venom Shaman, was still absent.He wondered if Link had managed to go home before coming to the meeting since he and two other KOV members had been in New York earlier that day.
Feeling fatigued, Roan took a deep breath and ran a hand down his face.He had finally received a call from Wyatt, after the male spent the past couple of weeks in the Kingdom of Venom territory, and the information he had gathered was disturbing.It was one of the reasons why Roan and Rafe had returned to NNP – they had been following the two males from the Kingdom of Venom.
Link had approached him while the other two males were in the restroom, asking if Roan was aware of the Shaman meeting.It struck Roan as odd, but he later learned from Callon the KOV Shaman had been keeping him and Rafe occupied while the other two males cornered Lola.He planned to discuss this with Link as he couldn't fathom the male purposely endangering ananimus.According to Wyatt's findings, if those two snakes were involved, Lola had indeed been in danger, though Callon had been diligently watching over her.
His thoughts were interrupted when Link walked through the door of the large warehouse the Shaman used as their gathering place.The interior had been completely remodeled to resemble the gathering place back in Damara.Black marble walls, a shiny, dark-grey, wood floor, and a grand, round table made of gold and black marble adorned the center of the room surrounded by leather chairs.The place was illuminated by large, torch-like lights hanging from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room.Along the walls, ten statues representing the ten kingdoms were on display, with the Kingdom of Chaos statue being the most intriguing.It had the head of a human, the body of a great cat, the legs of a bird of prey, a serpent tail, and the arms of a silverback, creating a captivating sight that left one pondering its unique form.
Link took his seat opposite Roan, their gazes briefly meeting before scanning the other Shamans gathered around the table.His distinct shaved head made him stand out among the rest, but his silver eyes fit perfectly with his kind.It had been almost six months since their last meeting.Normally, they convened once a year unless major issues arose.News of women going missing, and disturbing reports from other kingdoms that had visited New Orleans, called for a formal search of the kingdom, requiring a majority vote.
As the room fell silent, all eyes turned to Link.After all, it was his territory that was being questioned.
"We're all aware of why we're here," Link began, frustration evident in his voice and his brow furrowed."I wish I could say with certainty that Azure is responsible for the disappearances, but I can't.I don’t know for sure that all of the women taken areanimi.And if they aren’t, then it is likely the Venom King isn’t at fault.However, given our suspicions, we have the right to push for a formal investigation."
"There are human auctions happening in New Orleans," Roan interjected through clenched teeth."Andmanyof these womenareconfirmedanimi.Is that a coincidence?You honestly don't believe your King is involved?"
"He isn't my King," Link retorted, his silver eyes flashing dangerously."I am the Shaman for the Kingdom of Venom, not a member of the kingdom itself.Do I need to remind you of that?"
"That doesn't mean your loyalties haven't been compromised," Roan said, his hands clenching in his lap.“Especially, if your King has threatened you in some way."
Link leapt to his feet, arms raised menacingly, his expression fierce."Do you truly believe the empty threats of a snake-tongued monarch hold more sway over me than the loyalty I have sworn to our Council and our Creator?"His voice reverberated through the room, filling it with an unsettling chill, as his disdainful glare locked onto everyone present.
"Sit, Shaman Link," Crew, the Shaman for the Kingdom of Silver, intervened calmly, diffusing the tension in the room with his deep voice.
Roan leaned back and raised a conciliatory hand."My apologies," he grumbled."I am frustrated, and I took it out on you.I wouldn't appreciate having my loyalty questioned either.I'm just..."He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose."Worried."
"As we all are," Isla, the female Shaman of the Kingdom of Tides, chimed in with a soft, lyrical voice.
Roan looked at the familiar faces around the table, Shamans he had known for centuries since their arrival from Damara through the portal.They had sworn the same oath, and he trusted them, but that didn't mean he knew them on a personal level.
"No one wants things to go back to the way they were ten years ago," Ada, the Kingdom of Wings Shaman, spoke, meeting Roan's gaze.Her long, multifaceted hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders, and despite her age of over five-hundred years, she appeared as a woman in her late twenties with flawless, lightly-tanned skin."The consequences would be too great."
Atticus, the Shaman for the Kingdom of Hooves, scoffed."Not to mention it's not fair to the human females."
"Of course," Ada nodded respectfully."I didn't mean to imply that they are any less important than preserving the secrecy of our world."
Atticus's dark skin tightened across his face as he brushed a long braid of his hair away from his eyes, keeping his gaze fixed on Ada."There's a reason why dozens of females currently live in the territories of different kingdoms, under constant watch," he said, his voice soft, but firm."It has nothing to do with the fear of exposure, and everything to do with the desires and needs of our race over those of the humans."
"You make it sound like they're treated as slaves," Crowley growled.As the Shaman for the Kingdom of Fangs, he exuded an almost intimidating aura, similar to the canine species he lived among."Theanimiin our territory are cherished and cared for."
"A gilded cage is still a cage," Reese, the Shaman for the Kingdom of Fur, finally spoke up.His quiet demeanor commanded attention, and all eyes turned to him.He didn't raise his voice often, but people listened when he spoke."Atticus is right," Reese continued, his wavy, brown hair framing his face."We cannot allow moreanimito be taken against their will, regardless of how well they are treated.Whatever is happening in Azure's kingdom must be stopped."
Atticus scanned each of them with his silver eyes and asked, "Who will go with Link to conduct a full investigation?"
Lyric, the Shaman of the Kingdom of Silk, cleared her throat and lifted her chin, letting her black hair cascade away from her face."I would volunteer, but Azure and I have had our difficulties in the past," she said, her red lips pursed."My presence would likely aggravate him further."She offered no further explanation, and no one dared to question her.
"I'll go," Roan stepped forward, volunteering himself.He felt compelled to do so, knowing that Taras, Prime of the kingdom Roan was ambassador to, would expect it.As he locked eyes with Link, he sensed a reproachful look from the other Shaman, as if asking, "What were you saying about loyalties?"
“I’ll join them,” Nico, the Shaman for the Kingdom of Chaos said, his voice pulling Roan’s attention away from Link.Nico grinned, his silver eyes matching the silver piercings he’d added to his features over the years.A lip piercing, two ears, nose and eyebrow; not to mention the tribal tattoos that covered his neck and arms.The Shaman was like a physical portrayal of the kingdom he was a representative for.“I like to rile up Azure.He’s a self-serving ass who only thinks of himself.It’s taken this Council long enough to acknowledge that.”
“Tell us how you really feel,” the Kingdom of Fangs Shaman mumbled.
Nico’s eyes snapped to Crowley.“The kingdoms have pretended to get along for all these centuries, but those at this table know that some of those rulers have simply been putting on an act.They’ve been biding their time and since we are so long lived, they have the patience of every apex predator out there.Waiting, watching.Some of them feel like we doomed them when we made the ruling to ban allanimiabductions.Did you really think they would go along with it forever?”His eyes bounced around the table and Roan felt the intensity of his gaze.“We meet at this table once a year and act as if everything is grand, when in reality we all know the embers left behind from the constant fighting followed us into this realm.They’re being stoked.The wind is stirring them up, and if we’re not careful, the flames of war will return.The fire that burns inside the rulers of the ten kingdoms, to protect their own, and bring strength and power to their territories, will burn this realm to the ground, just as they did our own.”
