The dog’s form wavered more violently as it grew taller. The dog’s snout receded, along with his fur, until the shape of a man could be seen. Then, just as suddenly, it was over and a new form had locked into place.
A naked young man stood before them.
He stepped behind a chair and gave them a smile. “Good morning. My name is Brody. Do you have any clothes I can borrow?
“Holy crap,” Rupert whispered.
Chapter Nineteen
Brigitta steeled her nerves before knocking on Rupert’s door. No doubt he would object to her plan of action, so she would have to remain firm and convincing.
When Rupert let her in, she noted the tense look on his face. “Is something wrong?”
“We have a guest.” He motioned toward the hearth.
There was a tall young man standing there, looking down as he quickly buttoned his shirt, his long black hair falling forward to conceal his face. He wore breeches, but no socks or shoes. He glanced up, shoving his shaggy hair back from his face, and smiled. “Hello, Brigitta.”
This man knew her? She glanced at Rupert, who had crossed his arms over his chest while studying the young man with a wary demeanor. Even Stefan was eyeing him with suspicion.
The man’s blue eyes seemed familiar, but other than that, she couldn’t recall ever seeing him before. “Excuse me, but have we met?”
“You were patting his head a few minutes ago,” Stefan grumbled.
Brigitta blinked. “What?”
“I’m Brody,” the young man announced.
“What?” Brigitta stepped back.
“He’s the dog,” Rupert muttered.
Brigitta moved closer to him and whispered, “He’s not a dog.”
“He was a dog,” Rupert insisted. “And now he’s human. Or at least, I assume he’s human.”
Brody rolled his eyes. “I am human. I’m Embraced, like the two of you. Shifting is my special gift.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone who can shift,” Stefan said.
Brigitta shook her head. “I don’t believe it. Are you playing a jest on—”
“It’s no jest,” Rupert interrupted her. “We saw him shift.”
Brigitta frowned at the young man. “I still don’t believe it.”
Brody sighed. “I could show you, my lady, but I would need to undress—”
“Not happening,” Rupert growled, then turned to Brigitta. “Believe me, the man can turn into a dog.”
Brody cleared his throat. “Actually, I’ve spent most of my time lately as a pelican.”
“Oh, crap.” Rupert turned around, dragging a hand through his hair.
“What the hell?” Stefan shouted. “You’re the pelican?”
“Oh, my…” In a daze, Brigitta wandered toward the table and sat in one of the chairs.
Stefan collapsed in the chair beside her. “I’ve been talking to the damned pelican.”
“Why were you on my ship?” Rupert asked.
“Luciana asked me to watch over her sisters as they traveled to Ebton Palace,” Brody explained.
Brigitta rubbed her brow. “So Luciana knows that you’re a…?”
“Shifter, yes.” Brody nodded. “When you were kidnapped by pirates, I thought I’d better stay close to you to make sure you were safe. And I knew Leo would want more information on the pirate Rupert—”
“You’re a spy!” Rupert charged toward Brody. “You’re working for King Leofric, aren’t you?”
Brody lifted a brow. “A dog’s got to eat.”
“Damn you.” Rupert grabbed Brody’s shirt and yanked him forward.
“Don’t hurt him!” Brigitta jumped to her feet. “He’s Luciana’s pet!” When Brody shot her an annoyed look, she winced and sat back down. “This is all very strange.”
Rupert released Brody and stepped back. “It is strange. You could have remained a pelican and no one would have ever known what you were doing. Why have you revealed yourself?”
Brody smoothed down his shirt. “Because last night I figured out who you really are.” His mouth curled up with a hint of a smile. “Ulfrid from the House of Trepurin, the rightful king of Tourin.”
Brigitta’s breath caught. The pelican had been right beside her when she’d written Ni Rupert in the sand.
“Damn,” Stefan muttered. “Does everyone know now?”
Rupert had gone very still, his gaze still locked on Brody. “What do you intend to do with that information?”
“We’ll have to keep him prisoner on the island,” Stefan said.
Rupert shook his head. “I doubt we can. Not when he can change into a bird and fly away.”
Brody lifted both hands in surrender. “I mean you no harm. I revealed myself to see if you’re interested in an alliance with King Leofric.”
Rupert’s brows lifted. “Go on.”
Brody sauntered over to the table. “It’s no secret that the current king of Tourin is an ass. Gunther is so greedy for gold that he’s been sending raiding parties across the border into Eberon to steal the golden orbs out of village churches. And he’s done nothing to stop the Tourinian pirates who have been pillaging along the Eberoni coast. I’m sure Leo would prefer an honorable king in Tourin. Especially one who would value peace as much as he does.”
Rupert followed him to the table. “Do you know King Leofric well enough to speak for him?”
Brody nodded. “We’re friends. He trusts me and my advice.” He motioned to the platter of meat and loaf of bread. “I’m really tired of eating fish.”
“Help yourself.” Stefan slid a pewter plate in front of an empty chair. Then he put silverware, goblets, and a pitcher of wine on the table.
“Thank you.” Brody sat and transferred a huge slice of mutton to the plate, then grabbed the loaf of bread and tore off a hunk.
Rupert sat in the fourth chair, across from Brody. “Can Leofric offer military support to help me usurp the throne?”
“Probably so.” Brody buttered up the bread, then took a bite. “Is that your plan? A military takeover?”
Rupert nodded. “First we defeat the navy and completely cut off Gunther’s supply of gold. When he’s unable to pay his soldiers, we’re hoping some of them will desert and come to our side. I’m also counting on some nobles from the north.”
Brody forked a bite of mutton into his mouth. “So you plan to fight the king’s army? What if he stays holed up in the royal palace in Lourdon? Will you attack the capital city?”
A muscle in Rupert’s jaw twitched.
Brigitta realized this was a weakness in Rupert’s plan, so she spoke up. “Can you expect the Tourinian people to swear loyalty to a new king if he’s just killed off their family members in battle?”
Rupert’s mouth thinned. “I realize the plan has its faults, but there is no other way.”
“I believe there is.” Brigitta took a deep breath as all three men at the table focused on her. “First, I should mention that my sister, Luciana, inherited the gift of foresight.”
Brody nodded as he ate. “I’ve heard that her mother’s family were witches who could see the future.”
“That is true,” Brigitta continued. “When we were young, my sisters and I would play a game with Telling Stones. We gathered up forty pebbles from a nearby beach and painted them with colors and numbers. And then we used the stones to make predictions. And that’s when we discovered that Luciana could see the future as accurately as the Seer.”
Brody snorted.
“What does this have to do with us?” Rupert asked impatiently.
“Luciana’s prediction about herself came true,” Brigitta explained. “So I asked her to use the Telling Stones to foresee my future. She picked blue and gold, which she said represented the colors of Tourin. This was eight months ago when we didn’t know I was the Tourinian princess. She also picked the number eight, saying I would meet a tall and handsome stranger in eight months.” She gave Rupert a pointed look.
His eyes softened. “I’m delighted you t
hink I fit the bill, but it’s still a coincidence.”
“We’ve played the Game of Stones several times since then. Every time I grabbed a handful of stones, without fail the blue and gold ones would be in my hand. But the number eight stone would change. Five months ago, I picked the stone with the number five. Four months ago, I picked number four. One month ago, it was number one. Do you call all of that a coincidence?”
Rupert frowned.
Stefan shuddered. “I call it damned spooky.”
Brody bit off more bread as he watched them all.
“Are you saying we were fated to meet?” Rupert asked.
Brigitta nodded. “Yes. I believe it is my destiny to help you regain what you lost.”
Rupert sighed. “I’ve always believed that our futures are of our own making.”
“I agree to a certain extent. It will be our actions that will see you take the throne. But sometimes, things do happen that we can’t control.” Brigitta looked down at her clenched hands on the table. “Like what my father did to your family.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” Rupert said quietly as he rested a hand on hers. “Your father’s actions affected you, too. You were sent away, abandoned by your family.”
“But I gained a new family. I grew up surrounded with love and happiness. You…” Brigitta heaved a sigh. “You lost everything.”
He squeezed her hands. “Aye, I have lost too much. That’s why I want you to stay here where it’s safe.”
She shook her head. “There was another stone that Luciana selected, and I picked it every time, too. The number seven. Luciana said it meant there would be seven men vying for my hand.”
Rupert released her hands as he sat back. “You mean…?”
“The competition.” Brigitta retrieved the notice from her skirt pocket. This was what she had gone back to Stefan’s cottage to fetch from her small bag of belongings. She set the notice on the table. “This was meant to happen. And this is how I will help you retrieve what you have lost.”
“What is this?” Brody turned the notice around so he could read it.
Rupert shook his head. “I can’t let you do it, Brigitta. Whoever wins that contest will assault you.”
“Then you’ll have to enter and make sure that you win.” She shot him a challenging look. “Are you afraid you’ll lose?”
He scoffed. “I would win.”
She smiled. “Then it’s not a problem.”
“Yes, it is!” Stefan growled. “Did you read the fine print?”
“I did.” Brody pointed at the bottom of the page. “The loser of each round will be executed.”
“Exactly.” Stefan sat back, crossing his arms. “Rupert is not doing that damned contest!”
Brody shrugged. “It seems to me if he goes to war against the Tourinian navy and army, he’ll be risking his life just as much.”
“That’s true!” Brigitta agreed. “But if he enters the contest, he can have safe access to the capital and the palace. He won’t have to kill his own countrymen in battle.”
Brody nodded as he tapped his finger on the notice. “I like this plan better. I’m sure Leo will prefer it, too. We won’t have to risk a bunch of people’s lives. The only one in danger will be you.” He looked at Rupert. “Can you handle that?”
Rupert snorted. “I’m not worried about myself. It’s Brigitta who will be in danger. Didn’t you read the notice? Her brother wants her pregnant by the man of his choosing. He will definitely not choose me. Even if I win the damned competition, there is no guarantee he won’t have her raped by his favorite. She’s safer here on the island.”
Brigitta swallowed hard. There was a risk, she had to admit it, but she couldn’t live with herself if she hid here like a coward. “You can’t force me to stay here.”
Rupert gritted his teeth. “Watch me.”
She slapped her palm on the table. “Then you’re willing to go into unnecessary battles and watch your own men die and kill your own countrymen? What kind of king do you intend to be?”
Rupert stood so quickly, his chair toppled over. He paced across the small room.
Brigitta’s heart pounded as she clutched her hands together. “I know you’re an honorable man, Rupert. I simply wish to prove myself an honorable woman.”
He stopped his pacing and dragged a hand through his hair. “You’ll be in danger.”
“I’m willing to risk it,” she said. “I can insist my brother treat me fairly in exchange for my full cooperation. I can pretend to love the contest. I can lie and manipulate all I need to in order to stay safe. I will not be going in there as a meek, helpless lamb!”
Rupert looked at her, his eyes softening. “I know you’re clever. I know you’re brave. But I cannot bear any harm to come to you.”
“I will go with her,” Brody offered. “As her personal guard dog. No one will be able to attack her.”
Stefan sighed. “I suppose this plan is doable.”
Rupert winced. “It is true I am reluctant to battle my own people. I want prosperity for Tourin. And peace.”
Brigitta’s heart stuttered. “Then you agree? We’ll do the competition?”
Rupert frowned at her. “I’m giving you a blade, and on the way to Eberon, I’ll be teaching you how to use it.”
She grinned. “Yes!”
His frown deepened. “This is not a game, Brigitta. If you are forced to defend yourself, you will have to kill the bastard. Wounding him will only cause him to become more violent.”
She gulped. “I understand.”
“Once you win the contest, how do you get the throne?” Stefan asked Rupert. “Could you assassinate Gunther during the final ceremony?”
Rupert shrugged. “I’m not sure. Too many unknowns. We’ll have to play it by ear.”
“I thought we could imprison him,” Brigitta suggested. She winced at the dark look Rupert gave her. “I don’t want you to live with that stain on your soul.”
Stefan leaned toward her. “Are you sure you won’t be sympathetic toward Gunther? He is your brother, after all.”
“Just because I’m reluctant to have him murdered doesn’t mean I’m on his side. You can trust me.” Brigitta glanced at Rupert. Didn’t he trust her?
He looked away with a grimace. “Gunther cannot be allowed to live. He would represent a continued threat to the throne.”
Brigitta swallowed hard. How could she stop the man she loved from committing a cold-blooded murder? “Like you said, we’ll play it by ear.”
“We’ll finish making plans, then set sail this afternoon.” Rupert set his chair upright, then took a seat.
Brody pointed to a line on the notice. “The contest is scheduled to begin a fortnight after the last embrace of the moons.”
Rupert counted the days in his mind. “This is the beginning of the sixth day. I can put a strong wind behind us so we can reach Eberon on the eighth day.”
Stefan winced. “We’re cutting it close. We’ll have less than a week to return Brigitta and have you ready to compete.”
Rupert nodded. “And I can’t compete as Rupert or the lost prince, so I’ll need a new identity.”
Brody buttered up more bread. “Leo can help with that. Since you speak Eberoni fluently, you can pass as an Eberoni nobleman. As soon as we get close enough to shore, I’ll fly to Ebton Palace and finalize the plans there.”
“Good.” Rupert poured himself a goblet of wine.
“Lady Brigitta,” Stefan whispered, leaning close to her. “May I have a word with you in private?”
“Of course.” As Brigitta followed the captain out the front door, her heart raced. She’d done it! She’d convinced Rupert to follow her plan. She wouldn’t have to hide here on the island like a coward. No, she would be taking an active part in deciding her own future.
How odd that for months she had dreaded the idea of a competition, fearing that it might be forced on her whether she liked it or not. But now she actually wanted it to happen.
She looked at the Golden Star where it lay anchored in the bay. This afternoon, they would set sail and follow their destiny. She made the sign of the moons with a silent prayer that they would all remain safe.
Stefan closed the door and cleared his throat.
Brigitta turned toward him. “Yes?”
He glanced toward his cottage. “I wanted to ask you about Fallyn. You may have heard…”
“That you proposed to her?” Brigitta prompted.
He heaved a long sigh. “Am I being a fool? Am I expecting more from her than she’s able to give? I love her. I love her enough not to force her to follow a path that will cause her pain.” He grimaced. “Is it hopeless for us?”
Brigitta paused, not sure what to say. She couldn’t see the future like Luciana. “I think Sister Fallyn does care for you. Very much.”
“I don’t know what the rules are at a convent that worships the two moons. What kind of vows did she take?”
“We worship the twin goddesses there, so the convent has always served the purpose of being a safe haven for women. The only vows are faith in the goddesses, fidelity to ourselves, and loving support to other women.”
Stefan’s eyes narrowed. “That’s it? No vows of chastity or poverty?”
“No.” Brigitta shook her head. “We must be true to ourselves. That is a matter between us and our goddesses. Sister Fallyn is very faithful.”
“That’s all right.” Stefan’s eyes lit up with hope. “A faithful woman is a rare treasure. If you’ll excuse me.” He bowed his head, then strode toward his cottage.
With a smile, Brigitta let herself back into Rupert’s house. If they were going to continue making plans, she wanted to be a part of it.
Chapter Twenty
“Thank you for your help,” Rupert told the pelican Brody. “And please convey my gratitude to King Leofric. I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
Brody bobbed his head in acknowledgment.
It was late afternoon of the next day, and the Golden Star was now close enough to the Eberon coast for Brody to fly to Ebton Palace and make plans with Leofric.
Rupert’s head swirled with a mixture of emotions. Excitement that finally he was moving forward with his quest for revenge. Fear that Brigitta would be exposed to danger. And a sudden sense of trepidation. For years, he’d been so focused on the act of revenge that he’d never thought past it.