I spent the next two weeks avoiding both her highness Queen Daz and Gual. I still had no answer or response for them. I had been hiding my scent thanks to Larana and kept on thinking about making something that could do the same thing, but the details I hadn’t figured out yet, what would I use? How would I imbue it with Larana’s power permanently?

I continued to wonder these questions as I left the training grounds for the day. Having only managed to summon small sparks of the lion’s power. Using it still caused quite the strain on my body, but I had quickly realised my limits after passing out on the first three days, one of those days I woke up in the pouring rain, luckily I didn’t catch a cold.

“You have to make a decision about this,” snapped Arata, who was not afraid to give his opinion. “A more active role is where a Warrior of Fang is meant to be.”

“I’ve done loads,” I snarled back, we did not get on.

“I’ve heard all about it from Larana. You are lazy for his predecessor and your father even did more,” responded Arata.

“And how would you know what my dad’s done.” I glared at him, expecting him to answer, but he did not. “Don’t just stop, this is where you answer back again.” He glanced at me, then ahead. I noticed his nose twitch.

“Something has happened,” he commented.

I looked ahead to see there was a commotion. Working my way through to see into the main lobby where even more were gathered, what the heck was going on? I saw Athena watching from the end of the corridor, staring at the gathering.

I stopped beside her. “What’s going on?”

She glanced at me; her eyes filled with tears. “Gual was found dead this morning.”

“What?!” Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. “No.” I shook my head in disbelief, then my mind flashed to the last time I had spoken with him, from the very start he saw something in me I still had yet to see.

“Alex.” I heard Tigra’s voice from behind me. I slowly turned as she asked me a question I didn’t want to give her the answer to. “Have you seen Gual?” It was a normal question, but the answer wasn’t. “He never switched with Al last night.”

I hadn’t processed the information myself and now I would have to tell Tigra, but I suppose it was better coming from me than anyone else.

“I’m sorry Tigra.” The words quivered as they left my lips. “Gual was found dead this morning.”

“What?” Her eyes widened as she heard my words. “This is a joke, right?” Her expression was a mix of bewilderment, confusion, and sadness. “Athena.” She just shook her head, looking down at the ground. “Dash.” I glanced behind me to see the Jubatus I had helped once.

“I’m sorry your highness,” bowed Dash. “I was just informed he was found hanging from a tree outside the castle,” he paused. “They believe he may have killed himself.”

I stood in silence as tears streamed down her cheeks; I hated to see her cry. “He would never take his own life, it’s against his clans code.” Her expression went to anger. “It can’t be true. I won’t believe you.” She went to burst past me. I grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her towards me and wrapping my arms around her, holding tighter as she struggled. “It’s not true, it can’t be.” She stopped struggling and just cried. “He can’t.”

I loosened my hold just a little as she buried her head in my chest. She’d known Gual all her life, this was going to be hard for her.

“He didn’t kill himself!” Another voice shouted. I looked over to see Zack, son of Gual standing at the centre of it all. “Someone killed him!” His voice was distressed, filled with absolute anger.

“He did,” snapped one of the knights. “I found him hanging from the tree by his neck.”

“It is against the honour of our clan,” argued Zack.

“He did! Now out of my way son of the dishonoured.”

“Shut up, he would never do what you think he did!” Zack was becoming even more distressed. I could sense his anger growing. I focused my vision on the dark mist, which before had never approached him, it now inched closer, seeing a way into his heart.

“And I am telling you he did. I am not the only one who saw him, it took four of us just to get him down.”

Zack’s hand quivered over his sword, his eyes becoming slits filled with the will to slice down anyone who claimed his father dishonoured their clan.

“Enough!” The strong voice of the king ripped through the room like a knife, returning Zack enough to his senses to stop the darkness from attempting to consume him. He walked over to Zack, touching his shoulder. “I am sorry Zack.”

“Tell them.” His words trembling as they left his voice. “He wouldn’t.”

“All the evidence points that he did.” And there was Dumah always seconds away from the king. “He’s brought a deep dishonour to your whole clan.”

“I don’t think he would have either,” I spoke up, seeing a growing misjustice towards a powerful warrior who had served Cathopia and protected its princess for years. I heard Tigra gasp in surprise, but she remained where she was.

As Dumah realised it was me, his expression filled with disgust, even more so when he realised I held Tigra within my arms. Zack stared at me as his majesty approached.

“And what makes you think that Fang?” questioned King Alton.

I gulped as he approached, with his daughter in my arms I thought my head would be on the line, but he just waited patiently for my answer, holding a sympathetic gaze for his daughter.

“Gual took pride in what he did. He loved his duty as Tigra’s Guardian, keeping her safe, teaching her the things she needed to know in your absence, helping her become the warrior she is today, giving her the confidence to stand on her own.” I made sure my voice was clear, even though saying them tore my heart apart. “A Guardian swears his life to protect the royal family, they take an oath.” I seemed to have his attention.

“You can’t possibly believe him, so what if he took an oath, you don’t need a Guardian to protect Tigra, as her betrothal I will take that honour.”

“I’m afraid not,” I snapped not wanting him anywhere near Tigra. “By royal law, all children born of the crown must have a Guardian.” I smirked. “And your majesty I must suggest you have Dumah stop broadcasting to the whole world he is betrothed to Tigra. It may be what you want, but until Tigra hands over the royal betrothal sword to him, it means nothing.” I lowered my voice. “It makes him sound needy, almost like he’s self-proclaiming your crown.”

“Broadcasting, is he?” He glanced at Dumah as everyone nodded.

“Why you,” snarled Dumah. King Alton raised his hand to silence him.

“I insist you investigate what happened to Gual.” I moved the subject back to Gual now I had shut Dumah up. “Tell me has the coming of age sword Gual carries been given to Zack.”

“Sword?” The knight who found him seemed confused. “There was no sword.”

King Alton grinned. “Alright Fang if that is what you believe, then go and prove it, restore his honour. You have everything at your disposal.”

“Thank you,” I bowed.

“Don’t thank me until you’ve proved it.” He glanced at Dumah. “We have some things to discuss.” Dumah’s eyes widened. The king was about to head off but stopped. “You are so much like your father.” A sad expression crossed his face. “How I miss him.” His words surprised me, considering he was the one who ordered him to go, or was he?

“But you did send him on that mission?” I mentioned.

“No,” he shook his head. “He headed out on his own to face a darkness he could sense, and he could not stand by my action.”

“I doubt that is true,” I commented, remembering how they had clashed in the past, but their friendship and trust had never faltered.

Without another word the king headed off, not saying anything about me holding Tigra, but Dumah’s face said otherwise, his eyes never leaving mine as he followed King Alton like a little puppy.

Both of them now gone, I looked down at Tigra. I felt only sadness for her now.