Chapter 227 - Breaking the Lore (2/2)
Cam's mouth dropped, but she couldn't counter Raven's words. They were the truth no matter how much she wanted to argue against it. Forcing her mouth shut and letting out an indignant huff, she finally said. ”Show me one species where those same rules do not apply.”
Raven nodded toward Jos. ”In gods and demi-gods for one... It's one of the main reasons people can't accept her. She's too powerful for them to control her. Even the gods themselves have little control over her when she's in full beast mode.”
Cam shook her head. ”I've seen you subdue her.”
Raven shook her head. ”You've seen me subdue a child's body before a shift. I can't fight against her in a full shift, and it would be ten times harder if she was in a.d.u.l.t form and not also fighting against the shift.” Raven turned and headed down the hall without waiting for Cam's response. The look on her face was enough to know she was confused and overwhelmed with information.
”Wait! Where are you going?!” Cam yelled out as she noticed Raven making her way back toward the office instead of her bedroom on the other end of the hall.
”I'm going to have a chat with your little prince while the two of you get changed.” Raven replied.
Thirty minutes later Cam and Jos were both turning back out of the study doors nearly as quickly as they'd stepped in. ”Wait right there, girls. There seem to be some issues to discuss, don't you agree?” Reighley's voice called out after them.
Cam swallowed hard as she turned back into the room and studied the small, waiting crowd. Ales sat behind one of the desks in the expansive room, Raven was leaned against it with her arms crossed over her chest, and the queen sat in one of the cozy armchairs arranged near the fireplace, a tray of tea on the table in front of her. She squeezed the trembling hand in hers as she quietly led the way back into the room.
Raven's gaze met Jos's as she nodded toward the queen. ”If there's any chance of this working, you may as well start with someone with actual pull on this island and not just a prince in wait. No offense.” Raven sent a quick nod in Ales's direction.
”Your friend was just telling us a bit about the two of you.” Reighley said as she trailed her eyes over the frightened girl. ”I must admit, you're not quite what I expected when I was informed the Kraken was here and sought an audience with me.”
”This isn't her only form, only her preferred one.” Cam quickly chimed in. ”She doesn't want to be some big scary creature, it's a curse! She can't help it, I've seen as much myself.”
Reighley arched a quizzical brow. ”You've witnessed what exactly?”
Cam gulped down the saliva building in her mouth from her nervousness. It was more than just their friendship at stake, so it was imperative to choose her words wisely. ”I have been with her when the curse has called to her. I've seen her try to fight against the shift, and I've seen Raven,” She nodded toward the fairy still leaning against the desk. ”Use magic and irons to restrain her and keep her from shifting.” She smiled back a Jos. ”She's a good person, the people of this island just have never given her a chance to prove it.” Turning sad eyes back to the queen, Cam went on. ”I've seen the way the town's people stare at her and treat her!” Shaking her head, she couldn't help the passion and irritations that powered her words. ”They won't even sell her food or supplies! She has to catch everything she eats by hand! She stays in a child's form because it's easier to sustain on such meager food! All because everyone is too stubborn and pigheaded to even try saying hi. They would rather refuse her business and throw out good products versus selling to her! That's not only bad business, but it's taking away revenue from the palace!”
Reighley studied the girls for several seconds before finally directing her attention to Jos and asking. ”Is this true?” When Jos nodded yes, Reighley frowned. ”Refusing business of one person well hardly break the crown, but I can see your overall point.” She turned her attention to her son, deciding it would be a good time to test his leadership skills for the first time. ”What is your opinion on the matter, after hearing your future bride's side of the story?”
Ales thought over his mother's question for a few minutes as he studied the girl clinging to Cam's arm, dressed in one of Cam's older dresses. The girl was extremely thin and had been even as a boy of about his age earlier, so being undernourished wasn't a hard possibility to imagine. When combining Cam's words with those of the Fairy's earlier, it was easy enough to feel pity for the creature still hiding behind his future bride. Ales nodded slowly. ”Your guardian tells me you despise the creature you become and the acts you are forced to carry out... so much so that she has had to stop you from trying to cause yourself harm in moments of grief after an attack... a cursed shift... if you prefer...” When the slight girl only nodded as she looked away in what could only be described as embarrassment, Ales nodded toward his mother. ”I believe Cam is correct in her judgments of this... girl and in the need for a re-education of the people of the island... starting with the royal family and the many individuals within the palace walls.” Before anyone could reply, he added making steady eye contact with Jos and Cam both. ”However, hundreds of years of fear cannot simply disappear overnight even by decree of a ruler. I am not naive enough to believe there will not be backlash for the decisions made in this room here tonight.” He stood and walked around the desk toward Cam. Smiling down at her as he took her free hand, he said. ”But in the end, I believe standing with my intended and supporting the one I love is more rewarding than anything that could come of going against her wishes on the matter.” He shrugged, ”Besides if the girl is anything like what Cam has described over the past years, I'm sure she'll be able to quickly win over the people if given a proper chance.”
Cam's eyes lit with warmth and excitement. ”Do you mean it? You'll help me on this? Help Jos?” She quickly moved her attention over to Reighley. ”Is it alright that he does so?”
Reighley gave them a warm smile. ”It is, in fact, I'm somewhat surprised and incredibly pleased with the decision. I don't even think Lyko would have been in such quick agreement with me had the situation been us instead. Your willingness to trust in her and side with her even on matters you're uncertain about will make for a strong relationship and will help ease some of the burdens of ruling... a thing that took your father years to learn.”
Ales's smile moved from his mother back to Cam. ”Cam always leads with her heart. I don't think that's such a bad thing. Besides if I can have the added bonus of helping someone in need and making her happy then why not take both?”
Reighley couldn't help the giggle that escaped at seeing her son so madly in love. ”Well if it's settled, then shall we present her to your father? After that, Cam dear, perhaps you can lend her some more of your gowns you've outgrown, and we'll see about having deliveries set up for her until she can get acquainted with the town's people better.” Reighley called for a servant to fetch her husband and shared in light conversation with Raven, Ales, and Cam as they waited. When Jos did little more than nod in response, Reighley finally added. ”You don't have to be nervous here, I promise you nothing bad will happen. Lyko may have a reputation for being ruthless and cold-hearted, but assure you he's a very gentle, caring man.”
”Don't go telling everyone my secrets, if it gets out that I'm a softy I'll actually have to work for their respect.” Lyko teased with a wink as he walked into the room. Looking around he asked. ”So, who do we have here? I've been told there was a bit of a disruption earlier. I hate that I missed the excitement. Do fill me in.”
Reighley nodded to Ales to lead the conversation. Though he was obviously nervous, he led the conversation well and by the end got his father's approval for moving forward with operation 'breaking the lore'. With his parents' approval, Ales found himself overfilling with joy as he watched Cam and her dear friend chatter happily on their way to deliver the first bit of supplies to Jos's home. Seeing the excitement animate Cam's face as she rambled on about future plans made him all the more glad he would be included in those plans as well. And by the end of the night, he found he too liked the shy girl and strange fairy as well.