Aru'kha was different at night—the torches lit along its approach carried the warm colors that the beast kin favored, their light reflecting off fur and scale and feather as the settlement's population became aware that something significant was occurring.
Word moved through the community the way word moved in close settlements, person to person in rapid succession, and by the time the group reached the palace steps, the beast kin had gathered in numbers that lined both sides of the approach road and filled the lower courtyard.
They watched Jake with expressions that varied considerably.
Some with the recognition that Shai and Greybeard had shown—older beast kin who had been present when Raikarndel had walked through this territory.
Others with the uncertainty of younger beast kin who had heard the stories but were now encountering the reality of them for the first time.
Borsuka arrived from the eastern entrance to the courtyard.
