Crucible of Fate

he controlled his tribe through rage and jealousy, and when you came to power, all you had to try to hold it together with was a feud with your friend’s tribe. You were different then, vengeful and mean, bitter and full of self-loathing. That you are now able to still think selfish thoughts or tell yourself you don’t care and then act in a completely opposite way, in a way that has been—from the time Logan Church pronounced you maahes to now—one of thoughtful introspection and faith, is to me a miraculous thing. You lifted yourself from—”
    I cut him off. “Stop, I’m gonna throw up. I am not that good. I do a lot of stupid crap, and you know I do. But I have Yuri, I have you and Taj and Mikhail and Ebere to keep me on track.”
    He cleared his throat. “Do you know how many men who lead listen to those around them every single time, my lord?”
    “All of them?”
    “None of them. Most men in power listen but don’t hear and do what they want anyway. You actually listen, mull things over, and sometimes you do what you think is best anyway, but a lot of times you change what you thought or you temper your response based on what one of us in your inner circles has recommended. It is a rare and excellent quality in a leader, to know his own mind but to allow counsel. Don’t ever second-guess your true quality, Domin Thorne. You are remarkable.”
    I was quiet and so was he.
    “I think you would need to travel.”
    We both focused on Yuri, who was awake and listening in.
    I was so happy to see his eyes open. “How long have you been awake?”
    “Since Kabore asked the doctor to step out.”
    “You’re such a jerk,” I said softly, reaching for him and sliding my hand into his hair, then pushing it away from his dark eyes. “So you heard all that stuff about a good mate, huh?”
    “I did,” he murmured, so very pleased.
    “And?”
    “And could you have picked better?” He scoffed. “I don’t think so. Man, did you hit the jackpot with me. You couldn’t ask for steadier or more loyal.”
    I had to smile. “No, I couldn’t.”
    He winked at me and I groaned.
    “Okay, so, where the hell am I going?” I checked with Kabore.
    “You have to travel the world. Instead of there being a Feast of the Valley, it should be you, Egypt, going to them.”
    Obviously he was having some sort of psychotic break. “What?”
    “You need to name a new maahes and leave that person there in Sobek to lead with Mikhail and Jamal and Taj. Then you, Yuri, and I hit the road with Dr. Pakhom and her team, and maybe twenty-five of your khatyu, and we go and visit every tribe in the world.”
    It took a second for what he’d said to sink in. “Do you have any idea what you’re talking about?”
    “I think he does.” Yuri was nodding. “You would never be at home, not in your lifetime. You would be meeting people, bonding with them, bringing together the whole world of werepanthers. If there was a problem, you would be there to handle it, and if it was more than you could handle, you’d call in the Iusaaset. You can talk with the tribunal; check in all the time with your new maahes and visit your own tribe once a year. But if you did this, if you traveled—Domin, just think of all you could accomplish.”
    “What would I accomplish?”
    “You could bring everyone together. I’ve always said that there are a lot of lost panthers out there, like Jin used to be, like Crane, and we could make sure that everyone knows that the akhen-aten is there for them.”
    “Yuri—”
    “I think it’s what we’re supposed to do.”
    “What about all my changes for Sobek?”
    “That’s for your maahes to do.”
    It was, and I needed a new one. I needed a second-in-command who would be with me going forward, and the answer had been right in front of me the entire time. “Yes, it is Kabore.”
    “Oh,” I heard Yuri say. “That’s brilliant.”
    “Pardon?” Kabore’s eyes went to my mate. “What is brilliant, sekhem?”
    “Your semel’s mind.”
    “Every now and then,” I agreed.
    “My lord?” He was confused.
    I cleared my throat, which brought my steward’s attention back to me. “Sometimes I miss things that are right in front of me.”
    His face was so easy to read; I saw the exact moment of understanding. “Oh no.” Kabore stood up and put up his hands. “I am far too old to—”
    “You know everything I know.” I waggled my eyebrows. “You speak every language that is spoken in Sobek, and