Affliction (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) - Laurell K. Hamilton Page 0,11

that I hadn’t before, and felt slow. ‘I’m feeding off Rafael the Rat King and Reece the Swan King. If either of them had been my lover before I found Micah, would they have been my “king” in the same sense that Micah is?’

‘I do not believe so, but I do not know for certain. I do know that the rats and the swans are the only animal groups that have a countrywide ruler. I know you do not feed the ardeur on either of them often, but when you do I have felt the energy of everyone bound to their king.’

I shivered, and not from happiness. It was the most amazing feeling to feel people hundreds of miles away give up their energy to their king, and through him to me. I knew the faces of some of the swanmanes and wererats even though I had never seen them outside a metaphysical energy exchange.

‘You think Micah is starting to be the overall king?’

‘I believe that he has the unique opportunity to become the … high king of most of the lycanthrope community in this country. I believe he has taken the wererat model as his working blueprint.’

‘You and Micah have talked about this?’

‘A bit.’

‘Don’t you think I should have been included?’

‘What did you think was happening, ma petite? Micah and his Coalition are called in across the country to settle disputes between diverse animal groups so they can avoid violence and be more “human.” When a group of people turn to the same person time and again for leadership, what does that mean, ma petite?’

‘That he is their leader, or becoming their leader.’

‘The fact that you did not see that is because you did not want to see it. You hate the politics. Micah is not wanting to be king, but he is too intelligent a leader not to see the possibilities.’

‘Okay, so I’ve been slow and a little stupid, sorry.’

‘Slow, but never stupid, ma petite; perhaps oblivious from time to time.’

‘Fine, so what do I do with this visit since Micah is going to be too overwrought to do the politics?’

‘Concentrate on Micah. Fredrico was very understanding that would be the priority for this visit.’

‘Do we know any of Fredrico’s background?’

‘Yes, he was a Spanish conquistador and nobleman once.’

‘Usually ex-nobles aren’t very understanding of problems like Micah’s,’ I said.

‘Very true, ma petite, but perhaps he is afraid of us. As a nobleman you learn to be very polite to those more powerful.’

‘I prefer aggression myself.’

‘Ah, but you have never had to survive at a noble court; it teaches you humility, ma petite.’

‘Humility isn’t my best thing.’

He laughed then, and it was a straight-out, laughing-his-ass-off laugh. I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard him laugh quite like that. When he didn’t stop right away I said, ‘Fine, fine, laugh it up. I’ve got Nathaniel on hold.’

‘I am sorry, ma petite, but you are one of the least humble people I have ever met when it comes to negotiations.’

‘I prefer to negotiate from a point of strength.’

‘Even if you do not have one,’ he said.

‘We are stronger than this Fredrico, right?’

‘Much stronger.’

‘Then he was gracious because he didn’t have a choice,’ I said.

‘Yes, ma petite, but when you see his people, please do not point that out. Let their master and them keep their pride. Fredrico comes from a time when you challenged people to duels to the death to avenge a slight to your honor. Do not make him feel he has been slighted, please.’

‘Is wolf his animal to call? Is that why you were so polite with the local pack?’

‘Non, ma petite, he does not have an animal to call. I was political with the main animal groups because that is how Micah would wish it. We are building our power structure on the equality of all preternatural beings, not just the superiority of the vampires. It is a novel approach, very American, very progressive. The younger among us approve; the older ones distrust it, or even disapprove of welcoming the lycanthropes into a broader position of power.’

‘Fredrico is an ex-conquistador, so that makes him older. Does he have a problem with us including the furry in the power structure?’

‘Not that he has stated.’

‘No animal to call makes him pretty low-power for a Master of the City,’ I said.

‘It does, which was why his territory was initially in a rural area. No one could have foreseen the spread of human cities until his countryside lands became part of a