Usually, the Forgotten was a dangerous place full of suspicious people who watch from the shadows before interacting with anyone. But when the King's carriage rolled through it, Raltven poured out of the buildings and cheered as they followed us. We stopped outside my old apartment, and the Dragon King exited the carriage waving, then helped me out. As Sir Fren and Sir Rosren took positions on either side of the carriage, Cyn and I went among my clan to accept shoulder slaps, handshakes, and even hugs.
But then Cyn climbed up on the attendant ledge at the back of the carriage and addressed the crowd. “Thank you so much for the warm welcome. A lot has happened since Ru'din and I last saw you. Many of you may wonder why we left the Forgotten with such haste.” He paused as the Raltven went silent. “My enemy enchanted some of you and took control of your minds. A group of you attacked Ru'din and me, and forced us to flee.”
“What the fuck?” Kimu, standing beside me, whispered.
“You were one of them, Kimu,” I whispered back.
“No, fucking way!” Kimu drew everyone's attention. “I don't remember that shit.”
“You wouldn't,” I lifted my voice so everyone could hear. “The enchantment wears off after you complete the command, leaving you with no memory of it. It's all right; it's not your fault. I got whammied too. We don't blame anyone. We just wanted you to know why we left.”
“Our enemies were four Shanba priests and a priestess,” Cyn took over. “Kimu, Huso, and Neb, please step forward.”
Kimu just had a few feet to cross to reach Cyn, but Neb and Huso slipped through the crowd from the back, the Raltven parting for them.
When the three of them were standing before Cyn, he pulled out three leather pouches. “I promised a pouch of gold to the individual who found my enemy.”
All three stared at Cyn with wide eyes. No, not Cyn, the pouches he held.
“Neb and Huso, you found the Shanba.” He smiled at the boys, then tossed each of them a pouch. “As promised, you get a pouch of gold as your reward.” Then he tossed a pouch to Kimu. “Kimu, you helped look after me while I was here. You even brought Ru and me food through our mating, despite my wild state. That kind of bravery and loyalty deserves a reward as well.”
The three of them peered into the leather pouches, made various exclamations of shock and awe (even Neb), then turned to the clan and held up the bags in triumph. The Midnight Clan cheered.
When the cheering died down, my mate continued, “But all of you have been kind to me and helped me when I was in need. You impressed me with your skill and cunning, Midnight Clan. Then, when I took Ru'din as my mate, you welcomed me into your community. I cannot express how honored I am to be a member of the Midnight Clan.”
The clan applauded.
Cyn held up his hands to quiet them, then said, “Kimu, Huso, and Neb, you three, in particular, have exhibited great skill and intellect. I want to offer you jobs at the castle, including room and board.”
The Midnight Clan went silent.
I slid a worried look at Cyn, but he only smiled at me, then at my people. Our people.
“I've learned something important from all this,” Cyn said. “I need people I can trust around me. So not only am I offering these three work but also any of you who are interested in new jobs. Depending on the number of you who accept my offer, you may not all work in the castle, but I'm kind of an important guy.” He winked at them, earning a few chuckles. “I know many people looking for good employees.”
The clan murmured and shifted, ready to bolt.
I stepped forward and said, “This is not a handout. It's an opportunity, and we don't snub opportunities, do we?”
The Raltven considered me, many shaking their heads.
“I'm the mate of the Dragon King,” I said proudly. “And he doesn't just love me, he loves all of you. He wants to improve our lives, just as I know many of you hoped he would.”
“Yeah, by getting us out of jail or dropping charges against us,” someone called out. “Not by turning us into different people.”
“Not different people,” Cyn jumped in. “People whose skills are used in different ways. Ways that will earn you a stable income.” He shifted his gaze over the group. “I may be one of you now, but I am still the King, and I cannot condone illegal behavior in my city. The laws you break are my laws.”
Oh, that didn't go over well. Expressions shut down.
“I would not be a proper king if I allowed my personal connections to weaken me,” Cyn went on. “That being said, I will force no one to change. All I'll do is offer you opportunities to better your lives. It is up to you to take them or not. But know that should you choose to continue to commit crimes and you are caught . . .”
The crowd waited, watching Cyn with narrowed eyes as he let the sentence hang.
The Dragon King met those harsh stares with one of his own. “If you are caught . . . I will help you.”
Those expressions went slack.
“I will always help you,” Cyn went on. “You are my family now. But I want you to think about my offer. You were not born to be criminals. There is nothing in your soul that demands you live hand-to-mouth. I urge you to seize this opportunity and change your destiny.”
