Altered Destiny by Shawna Thomas

nose. The horse had been skittish of him at first, as most human-raised horses were, but Jaden had won her over with bits of carrot he saved from his dinner. His father raised horses. He understood them. Humans, however, were another matter altogether.
    Now what? It was a question with no clear answer, and he’d had plenty of time to think. He’d told Selia he would continue to track the Svistra movements. But even if he determined what his father planned, whom could he tell? Which human would believe him? Besides, could he really betray his people? His father had accused him of that at their last parting before ordering him whipped as punishment. Had the second whipping been ordered by him too? No. Those Svistra would have killed him had he not escaped. Perhaps he’d bear those scars courtesy of his brother. Tinlor had threatened to declare Jaden dead among the people. Am I dead? It was a question he supposed not many asked of themselves.
    He walked back down the aisle between stalls, filling his lungs with the moist and pungent air of the barn. Though not well, he was stronger than he let either Selia or Oren know. He hated to mislead them. But knowing how much he’d recovered would only increase Selia’s unease, and what was the good in that? Yet, though he was mending, his stay in the barn was weakening him too. He needed to hunt, and soon. The familiar ache had begun in the depth of his muscle and would soon spread through his frame until it burned like fire in his blood.
    With care, he loosened the board in one of the other stalls. He listened for several heartbeats. Nothing, save the steady drone of rain. With care, he stepped out into the night. He’d found the board shortly after he’d started walking the aisle between the stalls but hadn’t yet ventured beyond the barn’s confines. Tonight was different. Tonight, he’d test how well his body had healed.

Chapter Five
    Keldar stifled a yawn and accepted the fealty the kneeling man before him offered. “Rise and be named, Harthol, friend of the House of Tanus,” he intoned, and stole a glance from the raised dais of the hall, down the aisle between the long tables and the smiling faces, to assure this was the last pledge.
    As he rose to his full height to address those gathered, he glanced at the pile of jewelry, spices and gold that were now his. The ceremony was a necessity and he certainly appreciated the perks, but after a while these things were damn boring.
    He perused the crowd. Still better from up here than down there. He doubted even the prosperous province of Ibelin had ever seen such a display.
    His father’s death had forced him to suspend attacks on the humans while he journeyed north to take Tinlor’s herb-wrapped body to his people and then to ask for and receive the full backing of the Council of Barons. That only two barons had made an appearance caused him no loss of sleep. He’d given them short notice, and most of the landowners of the area had already pledged their loyalty.
    A woman moved through the back of the crowd. Her blond hair fell in waves down her back. Noe, another boon he’d soon enjoy.
    Marik, the owner of the hall and his host, smiled. Keldar returned the compliment before meeting the eager faces trained on him. Earlier that morning, they’d sent Tinlor’s body to Svi and his spirit to the land beyond the sun, where a life of plenty awaited him. His tunic still reeked of the pyre smoke.
    For the benefit of the crowd, he glanced to his boots, affixing a look of sorrow on his features. He didn’t have to try hard. He’d loved his father. But he could not afford to be made weak by emotions. “We have suffered a grievous loss—not the first our kind has endured at the hands of humans—but it will be among the last.” He paused and glanced up, letting the murmured approval run its course. “You have my vow that I will continue the work my father began. The house of Tanus has served the Barons since our history