Trusted by Jacquelyn Frank

fine.”
    The topic was put to rest with that statement and a warning look from the king. Jesso got the message and let the matter drop.
    Sarea came to discover that Jesso was as equally learned as his king. She chased many topics of conversation with him as they ate. Garrick often lent his opinion to the discussion. When the meal was over the company retired to the main salon at the front of the castle, the sun streaming in the west facing windows. Sarea sat next to Isobol, Juness and Hycinth and watched as others clotted around in small groups. The king very shortly arrived at their group with Jesso in tow.
    “Ladies, how did you find your meal?” Garrick asked them.
    “It was divine,” Hycinth gushed. “We do not have such fine midday meals at the manor house. It is usually a much more simple affair.”
    “Ah, but this is the king’s castle,” Sarea said. “All things must be done on a grand scale to suit the king.”
    “The king is equally suited to things less grand,” he said to her. “Sometimes simple is better. Sometimes it is more elegant. More worth treasuring.”
    Sarea flushed. Why did she get the feeling he was talking about her and not the midday’s meal?
    “So you are to hunt soon?” she said in an overly loud voice. She cringed to hear herself.
    “Yes. It will feel good to run free in the red woods,” Jesso said with relish. “Taking down game in truform, the way it is meant to be done.”
    “Although, Jesso is also a fair shot with the bow and arrow,” Garrick said.
    “I’d much rather use claws and teeth,” Jesso said.
    Sarea could believe that. She didn’t recall ever seeing Jesso in truform, but she imagined that he would be quite a sight, as big as he was. He would perhaps even rival the king in size. It was fortunate that Jesso was one of the Trusted, one of the ones Garrick could count on. He could be quite a threat otherwise.
    Now why was she worrying about who would be a threat to the king? She had never cared about the political machinations of the court. Her concerns had always been more down to earth, closer to home.
    “It must be nice, to change into truform and hunt in the woods,” Sarea said wistfully. “We women are only allowed to change into truform once we are mated. Except for a couple of times when I was a child, I have never changed into my truform.”
    “So…you do not know what you even look like?” the king asked, sounding astonished.
    “Well, no. And this is true of most women.”
    “But surely…I would have thought…in the privacy of your own estates you would change and run free.”
    “It is considered unseemly, as you well know,” Sarea said.
    “I do,” he said with a frown. “It is not something I agree with. Truform is a blessing, one that should be treasured. You should be able to run free…if even only on your fathers estates.”
    “Would you want your daughters to run about in truform?” Sarea asked candidly.
    “Yes,” he answered readily. “And my queen…if I had one. The castle grounds are vast. And though they are nothing like the red woods, there would be plenty of room to stretch out paws and limbs. A woman in truform should be considered a thing of beauty. A rare gem.”
    “Ah, but would it be so rare if every woman was allowed to do it at every opportunity?” Sarea asked.
    “I believe it would. I would never tire of seeing my mate in truform,” the king said.
    “And there’s always the option of chasing her down,” Jesso said with a wicked grin.
    Isobol gasped and then fanned herself with her hand.
    “I don’t know if a lady can withstand a conversation of this nature,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
    “True. Forgive me,” Jesso said, catching the hand she was fanning herself with and bringing it to his lips for an apologetic kiss. Then he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “Let me take you on a tour of the castle as a way of making it up to you.”
    “An excellent idea,” the king said, reaching