Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

clan-friends and two nonresident Nokolai at Clanhome, and they
     were accounted for. Mason and the two adults currently helping him at
terra tradis
were excused, of course. Adolescents couldn’t be left unsupervised. Nokolai’s guests
     from the other three clans had been told to assemble up front; Nokolai had been told
     to gather in the groups they were assigned under the emergency evacuation plan. Evacuation
     drills were held once a year, so this was a familiar way to assemble. Group leaders
     had been informedof the fire and the theft and told to pass that information on. Isen hadn’t called
     for silence until they were all in place, and now the group leaders were announcing
     any who were absent.
    So far, the absences were all excused to other duty.
    “That’s right,” Cynna said. “Bad habit of Leidolf’s—or of their mantle.”
    “And Nokolai hasn’t wanted to subsume Vochi. Are they worried it might make them throw
     submissives?”
    “It’s not that intentional.” Cynna chewed on her lip while someone else called out
     two names and was answered by Isadora. “I’m not sure I can explain it, mainly because
     I don’t really understand. I think you have to be a mantle-holder to really understand.
     But usually a subordinate clan gets subsumed when the mantles mesh too closely. The
     dominant clan doesn’t do it on purpose. It just happens. Nokolai’s a good dominant
     for Vochi because their mantles don’t mesh. Same with Laban.”
    Another name was called out. Isadora responded, then looked at Isen and nodded. “All
     of mine are accounted for.”
    Lily’s voice dropped even lower. “And Leidolf meshes with everyone?”
    “Leidolf just swallows,” Cynna whispered back. “Doesn’t matter if they mesh or not.
     Sooner or later, they subsume any subordinate clans. I think it’s the high-dominant
     thing. Their first Rho was high dominant.”
    Two more names were called out. Pete responded loudly, then said much more quietly,
     “All of mine are present or excused.”
    Rule had expected to hear that. It brought him no relief.
    Isen spoke, his deep voice rumbling up as if it came from the soles of his feet, magnified
     by his barrel chest. “Group leaders! Are there any others missing from your groups?”
    Silence answered him. Rule focused on his breath. In, out. Slow. Deliberate. Calm.
    Isen held that silence for a long moment. The pulse in the mantle stayed steady…steady,
     but too fast. Not calm.When Isen spoke again his voice dropped to a low growl. “We are at war. We are at
     war with the Great Enemy. The Lady’s enemy. And we have been betrayed.”
    There was a reaction this time. Not words, but a soft susurration, from dozens of
     indrawn breaths. A quivering in the air. Isen had named the stakes. War. Betrayal.
     He had told them there would be no clemency.
    Isen flattened his voice. “I would speak first with the Leidolf Rho.”
    Rule stepped out from his father’s side and moved to stand in front of him. He stood
     nearly a head taller than Isen. He looked into eyes shadowed by heavy brows set in
     a face carved by time and will into stone. His Rho’s face.
    But now, tonight, he was Leidolf. “I greet Nokolai’s Rho.”
    Isen moved his head in the barest token of a nod. Rhos did not dip their heads. That
     would suggest a baring of the nape. “I greet Leidolf’s Rho.”
    Rule inclined his head the same fraction of an inch. “Leidolf agrees that this is
     a time of war. The loss of the object Cullen Seabourne has been working on could be
     a blow to all the clans.”
    “Will you ask your people what, if anything, they know of this theft? Of this thief?
     Will you ask them here and now?”
    “As a favor, and so that none here will be distracted by suspicions that take them
     on the wrong trail, yes. I will ask.” Rule continued to face Isen and spoke quietly.
     “Leidolf! To me.”
    There were sixteen Leidolf at Nokolai Clanhome—the guards who took turns protecting
     Rule and Lily. Sixteen men who moved toward him with silent ease…and he felt them.
     That had never happened before. He hadn’t known it was possible, but he felt his Leidolf
     clansmen moving toward him. It was nothing like what he felt through the mate bond,
     a sure and certain sense of where Lily was. It was far more subtle, more like feeling
     the faintest wisp of a breezeon a hot day. Something stirred behind him, and he knew what it was, that was all.
    He turned. He let his gaze