Chapter 272: Bloodlines
RETH - Anima
Gawhr sat at the end of the table, still side-ways to the door so he could see anyone who entered, still staring at Reth with that single eye, his face a blank mask. Behryn watched the Bear Alpha carefully from his side, and Aymora, sitting next to Reth, didn't move. The Bears were different among Anima, and they'd both had unexpected conflicts. They would let the Bear lead the conversation.
And, as usual, he went in a direction Reth hadn't anticipated.
"Why?" he growled, finally, his fingers tapping on the tabletop.
Reth blinked. "Why… what?"
"Why us? Why ask us, the bears, to do this? Why help us? Why bring us in—which you planned to do from the beginning, yes?"
Reth tilted his head. "Why not? You are strong. I know you are smart. The wolves are scared of you. I've been looking for a way to tie our peoples together since I took the throne, you know that Gawhr. Did you think I was lying to you?"
"No, I just thought you were stupid to try."
Aymora choked quietly, but didn't look at Reth. He cut her a look from the side, but didn't say anything to her. "Well, Gawhr, call me an optimist, but while I understand that the Bears would never feel suited to the Tree City, I do not see why we cannot be allies, rather than… careful acquaintances."
"I do."
"You do… what?"
"I see why we cannot be allies."
Reth went very still. "Would you mind explaining it to me?"
"You have disformed. We bears do not. And we do not want them. The closer our ties to your people, the more likely our bloodlines will mingle. We do not wish for the problems you bring with you."
Reth pulled his head back in shock. "You have no disformed?"
"No."
"None at all?"
"No. Every one of our bears can shift."
Reth looked at Aymora who stared at him in stunned silence. "Why do you believe the mixing of bloodlines will lead to Bears becoming disformed?"
"Because our people have known since the dawn of time that it is the mixing of bloodlines that create… problems. It was a tactic of our earliest enemies to… breed problems into us. All of us. The Anima. Only the bears kept our line clean—it was the beginning of our isolation. And we wish to keep it that way."
Reth looked at Aymora again, but she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Gawhr, I'm not following. What earliest enemies do you speak of? And why is this not in our histories?"
"History is written by the victors, Reth," Gawhr said with a disturbing smile. "When our enemies… infiltrated the tribes they removed all evidence of their own existence from the histories so you wouldn't know to guard against them. They have been damaging your people for millennia. Did you truly know nothing of your roots?"
Reth scratched the back of his neck, uncertain whether this was little more than an old Bear mythology, or something he should be taking seriously. Glancing at Aymora did nothing to help, she was clearly as clueless as him.
"This is very interesting, Gawhr, but just at this moment in time I find I have quite pressing issues to address with the survival of my people here and now. Perhaps we could focus on the unity—or otherwise—of our people and discuss these other enemies later?"
"But you're asking us to protect them for you."
Reth hadn't had such a confusing conversation since he was an adolescent and he tried to understand females. "I'm sorry… I'm not following."
Gawhr's lips thinned. "You wish for us to protect the portal region for you, correct? To keep the traverse available to you."
"Yes."
"Who do you think the voices are? Why do you think the Bears never cross over? You walk hand in hand with your enemies, and you don't even know it."
"But… the voices are enemies of all. They tempt anyone who walks the traverse. And the Anima are not as impacted as others—"
"Who was the one to tell you that?" Gawhr said through his teeth. "Because if you want to know the truth, they are gentler on us because they are more easily connected to Anima. The Creator banished them there to save your people, because you were tainted by them without your knowledge. Their attempts to steal your bloodline from the Creator ended in war in the heavens. Why do you think they ask to join with you, Reth? Or have you not walked the traverse?"
"I have walked it," he growled. "Twice, back and forth."
Gawhr's eyebrows arched. "And you didn't give in? Very well done. Your heart is pure."
"I can't say that it was easy, but… no, I didn't give in," Reth said uncomfortably. "I also do not relish the idea of doing it again. But I will, if it is needed."
"You would put yourself in their hands again? Perhaps they have clung to you more than you realize."
"No, Gawhr, my skin crawls at the idea of facing them again, but my True Mate stands on the other side of the traverse, carrying my first cub, and right now I cannot even send a messenger to her because the wolves hold the territory—not to mention that if Lucan did not act as secret keeper, if he told others among the pack, they may be going after her. That is why I seek you and your people. That is why I am willing to offer a piece of my Kingdom for your use—your permanent use if you will it!—and why I ask you to speak plainly with me now, because if you will not, I must seek another solution.
"So, tell me, please, Alpha to Alpha: Will you consider taking the territory back from the wolves? Will you share it with us? Will you take my offer to assist you in Spring as much as I am capable in gratitude for your help?"
The bear shifted in his seat, eyes locked on Reth's and his lip curling away from his teeth.
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