49. Kisano

Chapter 49

Kisano

K isano waited until his younger brother left to approach Vanra. "I can leave if you would prefer to be alone." He had stayed back for fear of encroaching on what seemed to be a private pain.

"No, I could never kick you out of your own library," Vanra warmly said. "Want to hang out with me for a little while? I'm not in a rush to get back to that banquet."

"I am always happy to keep you company." Kisano sat down beside his friend.

"Why didn't I see you at the banquet earlier?"

The shifter wrinkled his nose with distaste. "There is no place for me in a celebration of warriors. Besides, I could not handle being around so many forceful people who think I am worthless."

Vanra frowned. "I know you always tell me not to let it bother me, but it really upsets me they treat you that way."

"That is because you are too kind." Kisano's cheeks flushed. "I do not blame them for ignoring me. I dare say it is the preferable alternative."

"You are better company than they deserve." Vanra definitively stated. "There's not a brain between them if they can't understand you're a better tactician than any of them."

"Only theoretically. Their centuries of actual battlefield experience easily beats that."

Vanra shook his head. "You really don't give yourself enough credit. But I'm determined to make you see how incredible you are."

It was still hard to accept Vanra's praise. "I do not know if it is possible, but if anyone can do it, it would be you."

Vanra's shoulders slumped. "I wish I could stay here with you instead of going back there."

"Because of Nasume?"

The human nodded. "He proposed to Kitaro in front of everyone at the banquet."

Kisano's amber eyes went wide in shock. "Surely, he did not do such a foolish thing!"

"He absolutely did." Vanra irritably ran his fingers through his hair with a frustrated growl. "Most upsetting of all is your father didn't turn him down. "

Kisano hesitated before he reached over to squeeze Vanra's arm in solidarity. "That does not mean he agrees with the idea. Nasume put him into a position where Father could not afford to reject him in front of so many important people."

Vanra placed his hand over Kisano's. "As always, your rational logic makes me feel better."

It pleased the shifter to hear his words brought Vanra comfort. "I am quite confident Father will turn down such a spur-of-the-moment proposal. Our alliance with King Soseki and Kunushi is not so weak that it must be reinforced in such a manner."

"Wait, does that mean this could happen to Kitaro with someone else from a different kingdom?"

Kisano shook his head as he withdrew his hand. "Rightly or wrongly, Father prefers conquests to alliances. He would rather start a war to take something he wants than rely on his children to mate with someone. That is why not even Kizoshi has been forced to mate for political convenience. And Powers help Father if he was ever foolish enough to make her try."

Vanra exhaled a sigh of relief. "That's good. I don't know what I would do if Kitaro had to mate someone like Nasume."

It probably wasn't Kisano's place, but he wanted to offer what comfort he could to his friend. "Kitaro has resisted Nasume's advances for well over a century. You do not need to fear that Kitaro will be parted from you for such a reason. My brother is a fighter. He would not meekly comply with an order like that. He truly meant what he said to you."

"Thank you, Kisano. It helps to hear it from you."

It was an odd sentiment. "What difference does it make coming from me?"

"Because you know everything about everything," Vanra said with a laugh. "That means what you say must be true."

The praise overwhelmed Kisano. "I think that is going a bit far, but I speak the truth about my younger brother. He will not choose Nasume under any circumstances."

Vanra tapped his chin as he mulled something over. "The first time we met, you told me Kitaro once had someone who was like a friend that turned out not to be. Were you talking about Nasume?"

Kisano nodded. "I was indeed. But if you wish to know more about that, it is my brother's story to tell."

"Thanks for reassuring me." Vanra squared his shoulders with determination. "Okay, I feel like I can go back in and face the smug wolf shifter."

"You are a better person than Nasume could ever be. Kitaro knows that, too. Take care, Vanra."

"You too," Vanra replied with a smile. "I'll stop by again soon."

"Please do." Kisano always enjoyed when Vanra came for visits. Having a friend had been strange in the beginning, but Vanra had become someone Kisano valued.

Vanra left with a wave. Kisano wasn't particularly religious, but he said a prayer for the human. He'd certainly need it when dealing with a treacherous shifter like Nasume.