Page 31 of Shifters Reckoning

“I am not, Multimorph. When your summons reached me, he had sent his own missive as well.” Torbin bowed slightly. “Come, Multimorph, let’s tour your temporary home. It’s not far. No need to shift. It’s a brisk walk.”

After we crossed into Torbin’s territory, he led me to a five-tree grove of old-growth cypress trees. Jasper had followed us over, but he’d filtered back into the forest once we’d made it within eyeshot of Torbin’s place.

I peered up into the thick, drooping branches above. The oldest tree had to be a thousand years old. Incredible. In the widest trunk, in the middle, a large opening gaped between the cypress knees with dirt mounded around it.

“This is home,” he said in his gravelly rumble.

“How did those grow here?”

“It is old growth and old magic.”

“Okay…” I frowned. “But these usually grow in or near swamps.”

“Several hundred years ago, this area used to be a swamp. It is in a floodplain, but we have not yet had enough rain to refresh the waters beneath the surface. Over the years, I built the ground up around the trunks of these trees to take advantage of their wide bases.” He poked his head into the hollow, took a deep breath, and then turned back to me. With a slight bow, he gestured for me to go in. “It is safe. Please be welcome.”

I passed by him and stepped into the hollow. Magic warding brushed over my skin, raising goose bumps all over me. “You’ve warded the place.”

“You’ll find all homes are warded in Bear Trees, Multimorph.”

“How close together are your homes?”

“Not close,” he said. “We are spread out. Our warriors will be here for training by tomorrow’s daylight.”

I followed the slight incline down into the tree hollow. Electric lamps lit the charming interior. Identifying the kitchen, sitting area, and dining table came easily. A king-sized bed rested against the far wall of the main room, and an opening led to another section of the hollow. Antique furniture and knickknacks filled the place. Doilies adorned each flat surface.

“Didn’t expect electricity,” I said. “Or doilies.”

“I crochet them, and the electric is new.”

That stopped me short. “You made the doilies?”

“My body is old by shifter standards. Well used.”

“And?”

“The work is good for finger dexterity,” he explained.

“Oh?”

“The members of our bear clan are strategically positioned throughout our territory, and very few can challenge us. However, they like to keep to themselves. Until you stumbled into the shifter world, Multimorph, I was pleased to be a perpetual homebody with much free time.”

“I guess my life wasn’t the only one that changed dramatically,” I murmured, thinking of Marcus once more. His blinding was the most recent life change.

A rumbling sigh rolled through him. “It is my hope, Multimorph, that your changing of our lives leads to our keeping them.”

“In that same vein, I’d like to start training as soon as possible.”

“There is a clearing behind my den. For your use.”

I scanned the room, still surprised at how little Torbin required to live. Was it his nature, or did it come with old age? As I considered the question, a yawn welled up. Rest needed to happen. “Do I sleep in here… or?”

“Your bed is through the opening, in the bedroom. There is also a small washstand with a composting toilet in the corner.”

“Composting toilet?” Hmmm. My accommodations were going to be a new adventure in roughing it indoors, though camping had been something I did regularly with my dad.

“Are you displeased, Multimorph?”

“Nope, just processing. But I do have a special request for you.”