King's Throne(25)

“I can see several possibilities,” the king admitted. “The most likely of which is that you are destined to be the champion who challenges Gisli. Whether or not my family and I survive to see it is what troubles me most.”
“I will lay down my life to protect you and your family, sire,” Mitch said immediately. He would give anything to protect Gina—even his life. She was that important to him.
“I thank you for the thought, Mitch,” the king said kindly. “But as you have experienced today—often things are not in your control when you are blanche. Whether we live or die is up to the Lady’s desire. I have done my best to serve Her, but if She wills it, I will go to the endless snowfields of eternity with the knowledge that you have been chosen by Her to set things right among our people.”
It was just possible that Mitch’s role was to die in the challenge, changing things enough so that Gina could claim the throne that her father had given up. Or so the king could return to his rightful place. Mitch would give his life for Gina, but he wasn’t exactly eager to die. He wanted to know that his sacrifice would be worth something.
The alternative was equally daunting. What would happen if he actually won the challenge? To his knowledge, no Tig’Ra had ever allowed a champion to fight in his place. In most shifter traditions, the victor of the challenge fight became the Alpha—the ruler of the group. So did that mean if Mitch won, he’d become the king of all tigers?
It seemed impossible. And yet—
“What did you study in school?” the king asked abruptly, shaking Mitch from his thoughts.
“I have an MBA and my undergraduate degree was a double major in business and history.” He didn’t understand why the king was asking, but the older man seemed pleased by his answer.
“Excellent. I will bring another book tomorrow. A book of history. Lighter reading than the Rule, but no less important.” The king stood decisively, eyeing Mitch as he also rose to his feet. One did not remain sitting while the king stood. “You will read the Rule today and be ready to discuss what you have learned tomorrow when I arrive for lunch.”
“Yes, sire.” There was no other answer Mitch could give to the king in exile. It was pretty clear no other answer would be acceptable.
“Then we will discuss the ice fields and the earthen fire you saw in your vision. Iceland. That’s where you must prepare to go. The traditional seat of power of the tigre blanche.” He nodded toward his daughter. “Gina was born there, though I doubt she remembers much about the Grim. But you must go there, according to your visions. I will seek answers of the Lady, but She does not always answer in ways we mortals can readily understand. And perhaps she has already given you the answer. It is clear you bear her favor. Now it’s up to us to prepare you for the ordeal ahead as best we may.”
The king held his gaze for a long moment before nodding once. He then gave Gina a peck on the cheek before turning to stride toward the door.
Once the door closed behind the exiled king, Mitch was able to breathe again. The man had a way of filling a room that was more than intimidating. It was just one aspect of his power, which Mitch was learning was even more immense than he’d always believed.
 

 
Chapter Five
 
Gina nibbled on a cuticle as she sat before the gas fire next to Mitch. He was reading the sacred book. She knew very well what it contained. She had studied it herself as a youngster, at her father’s knee, to the point where she could almost quote every last word of the ancient tome.
She worried over Mitch’s reaction to the sacred Rule. There was a lot in there that would probably be hard to stomach if you weren’t born to the responsibilities of the white fur. Being blanche required more of a person’s character than normal shifters. The coloration carried with it a special blessing and a heavy responsibility. Her father’s predecessors had written the Rule in ancient times to guide subsequent generations of tiger rulers.
Gina didn’t know how Mitch would take some of the archaic language and old-fashioned ideas of duty and the multitude of blood oaths written in the Rule. There were good things in the Rule too. Things meant to protect those who swore their allegiance to the Tig’Ra from his absolute rule. But the Rule carried a high price to those who swore to uphold it.
Every Tig’Ra and Tig’Ren had to swear the oath. Her uncle had not, which is why he’d gotten away with the power play that had forced her family into exile. But if what Mitch had seen in the circle and her father’s interpretation of it meant what they thought it did, that situation would soon come to a head.