I approached the silver-haired man, planning to do just as Pet had instructed, but he embraced me after my bow. “Lovely girl, you are our miracle,” he shouted right next to my ear. My eyes darted to Pet. “Our house owes you a debt we can never repay,” he added, in an even louder voice. “Welcome to the House of Tannuk.” My ears were ringing when he released me.
“It is an honor,” I said at a normal level, offering the old man my warmest smile.
My hand was then grasped by a very robust woman of advanced years. I looked for Pet, but General D’Ken had detained her and was screaming a list of my virtues to her. I offered the woman a bow, and she waved her hand in a dismissive way. “You and I are family now, my girl. We will not stand on ceremony,” she said, dragging me into her arms. Her ample chest enveloped me, and then I was released. “You are welcome in this house, Queen Loredana,” she said.
“Please, call me Lore,” I replied automatically, smiling at the woman.
“I will then, Lore, and you will call me Jatz,” she said, beaming at me. “Well, you are very gracious. I never doubted the Queen would bring you to heel at last,” Jatz added with a wink. “Queen M’Tek is impossible to resist. Everyone knows this. She even caught my eye when I was a girl, and I was really more interested in the boys. You know what I mean, I believe. Quite a few young men were vying for your attention, I’m told, when the Queen set her eye on you.” I forced an awkward smile and looked for Pet.
“No, actually,” I replied. “I don’t know what you mean,” I said, focusing to control my response.
Finally, Pet was beside me again, touching my arm to let me know she was again at my side. “Countess Jat’Zek,” Pet said, clipping her syllables and cutting her eyes away from the plump woman who was scowling at her. “I present our newest Tannuk, Queen Loredana.”
“You’re a little late with the introductions, little Pet,” Jatz chided. “Lore and I are old friends already. But I have a bone to pick with you, young lady. You never sent anyone to collect my petou,” the older woman snapped. “I had to have my own man bring it.” Pet diverted her gaze again, trying and failing to hide her irritation.
“We all know you prepare the most inimitable petou in all of Faeland,” Pet replied stiffly, leaving me with no room to doubt her dislike of whatever the older woman was referring to. “It would have been an immense loss to us all if you had been unable to bring it.”
I’d never heard Pet’s voice dripping with sarcasm before. I stared at her, shocked. Without waiting for a reply from the plump woman, Pet seized my arm and led me forward to the next of my new family waiting to be greeted. She then began whispering to me in Vilken, “Don’t eat the petou. Don’t even smell it.” I nodded my consent. “You may be immune to most poisons, but Jatz’s petou just might kill you.”
“What is petou?” I asked, also in Vilken.
“It’s a southern Fae delicacy, and usually one of my favorites,” she replied. “It’s supposed to be a spread made from chopped avocado, sinahoisa peppers, pine nuts and cloudberries. I’m not certain how Countess Jat’Zek prepares that abhorrent mush she’s always forcing on people. Hopefully, no one will be made sick by it today. Just in case, though, I should probably have some large sacks on hand. Last time it was available someone threw up in the middle of one of my flower arrangements.”
Another relative bowed as I approached, and I heard Pet groan inadvertently. I offered a warm smile, returning the bow as Pet stepped back from me. Apparently, her sense of duty had some bounds, as she was unwilling to stand within several feet of this man. I soon understood why, as his clammy hands seized my shoulders, and the pungent scent of moldy cheese filled the air. I thought longingly of my old shield, as I attempted to make small talk with the man without breathing through my nose.
Slowly, we made our way through the entire House of Tannuk. Soon I was drained of my desire to be charming, as I was held too tightly, and even kissed on the mouth by one, overly friendly, distant cousin of M’Tek’s. Still, I forced a smile and made my way through the throng.
“I never knew M’Tek had such a great family,” I commented sharply, turning to Pet before scanning the area for M’Tek, wishing she would appear to take some of the attention from me.
“Yes. It’s unfortunate. These people traveled from all over Faeland to welcome you, though. It would be unkind to slight them, not to mention, unwise,” Pet said in reply. “Still, I doubt my cousin would even recognize most of them. You’ve handled them brilliantly, as I expected,” she added.
“I find they’re not very different from my own distant family in Nogeland,” I explained. “They seem to be good people.”
“Do they?” Pet asked, raising an eyebrow in a derisive expression that reminded me of her cousin. “I find them tedious and clingy for the most part. Some of them even smell strange. As for Countess Jat’Zek, she’s simply insane. After this presentation, I’ve come to the conclusion that the House of Tannuk is the main reason my cousin keeps her personal guard on hand at parties.”
I laughed in spite of my best efforts, as the scent of oranges filled the air around me. I spun around, already smiling, to find M’Tek making her way through her twittering, awestruck, family members. As Countess Jat’Zek forced a hug on M’Tek, Pet exclaimed, “Deus! That old biddy has gone too far!” She then quickly hurried over to extricate M’Tek from the Countess’s cushioned clutches.
M’Tek offered a smile of gratitude to her beloved cousin, before approaching me. She raised a dark eyebrow. “You’ll enjoy the next part more,” she promised under her breath.
“Will I?” I stepped closer to her, and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Just looking at you makes my breath catch,” I whispered close to her ear before kissing her softly.
“Careful,” she whispered in reply. “You’re not yet crowned, my love. You’re supposed to be virginal.” I nuzzled her neck for a moment, before stepping back.
“Do you think anyone here believes me virginal?” I asked, allowing my gaze to travel slowly over her. M’Tek looked amazing, in a dark blue dress that clung to the lines of her body. Sapphires and diamonds draped down the plunging neckline of the gown. She had received assistance with her hair, having it twisted up and around in such a way the dark roots were hidden. She was blushing slightly, when my gaze reached her face.
“You are the perfect exemplar of virtue,” M’Tek replied sweetly. “But since this rite is all a ruse, and you are my Queen already, let’s have done with the superfluous joining ceremony,” she added, taking one of my hands, and leading me back toward the palace.
From behind us I heard Pet calling for everyone’s attention. A moment later the large tent was emptying of Tannuks, as they followed us back into the palace, to the throne room. I was crowned quickly thereafter, for the third time in my short life, and then led from the room by M’Tek, in order to begin our procession.
As we walked through the palace gates, the first of the Fae people began throwing red poppies at my feet. I looked at the road ahead of me, noticing the red flowers carpeting my walk.
“Why are they throwing red poppies rather than tulips?” I asked quietly, as I waved to either side at the people pushing forward, trying to break through the line formed by M’Tek’s soldiers.
“Red poppies are a symbol of passion and eternal love in the Fae culture,” she explained. “They’re expressing their undying love for you.” Suddenly I had a slightly sick feeling in my stomach, as I remembered the painting hanging in my council room.
“You gave red poppies to Sarane,” I observed. “On the day that portrait was painted,” I said evenly.
“Why are you thinking of her today?” M’Tek asked. “She should be the last person on your mind.”
“I don’t know,” I replied, tightening my grip of her fingers. “I’ve only loved you,” I said. “I don’t like to believe you loved anyone before me,” I admitted. “I guess I’m jealous of her.” M’Tek laughed.
“You should never be je
alous of anyone from my past, least of all Sarane,” M’Tek replied. “I was a child when that portrait was completed, no more than fourteen. I didn’t know the first thing about what it meant to be in love. And I only knew about sex because Sarane had begun visiting my room every night.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“Don’t be sorry. It was nothing to do with you,” she replied.
“Do you ever see her when you look at me?” I asked.
“Why are you asking me this now?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “The poppies just struck a cord I guess, made me wonder about your past, those you were with before me.”
“Is there something you want to ask me?” she replied.
“No,” I said, not being completely honest.
“I don’t mind,” she added. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“Have there been other women?” I asked almost under my breath.
“After Sarane, yes, there have been,” she acknowledged. “Not as many as you might think, if you were to listen to gossip. Do you need a number?”
“Please. No,” I replied too quickly. I took a deep breath and continued. “As for gossip, I did hear something about you and your generals.”
“Well, that’s only talk, of course,” she explained. “I’d be a fool to risk ruining a good general over sex,” she added. “That particular story circulates every time we are actively at war. I spend a lot of time on strategy before important battles. On occasion, I’ve kept generals in my tent through an entire night, discussing the best approach to a field of battle. I would never sleep with one, though.”
“You never have?” I asked. “I thought maybe you were involved with Galina’s father at one time.”
“No. General K’Ven and I are good friends. I trust and admire him, but I have no desire to sleep with him,” she replied.
“But there have been men,” I said, trying to draw her out.
“Yes,” she agreed. “Far more than women, actually.”
“Why?”
“Men were just easier,” she replied. “It was more physical. With women, passion usually follows emotion,” she added, sounding indifferent to her own words. “I’ve always tried to avoid emotional entanglements. They’re messy, and people usually get hurt.”
“Will you want to be with a man again?” I asked her, frightened by how little I actually knew about her past. M’Tek smiled and shook her head.
“No. You’re everything I want,” she said wistfully. “But what about you, my love?” she asked. “You’ve never been with anyone other than me. Do you think you might want to know the feel of someone else’s hands on your body, or someone else’s mouth?”
“How could you ask me that?” I snapped, my feet faltering beneath me. At her gentle urging, I again resumed waving to the people we were passing, forcing my smile.
“It’s not very different from what you just asked me,” she pointed out in a quiet voice. “You must realize, I have no interest in anyone but you,” she added. “But I’ve lived a great many more years than you have. I’m not made of stone, Lore. I’ve been drawn to others, before you.” I nodded. “What I have with you, and what I feel with you, it’s unique, and blindingly powerful. You’re all I see,” she said, lifting my hand to her lips, briefly kissing the backs of my knuckles. Her voice lowered as she added, “You’ve become my point of reference, for everything.”
The next question I’d meant to ask had flown from my mind with her seductive voice, and her soft lips against my fingers. More than anything, I wanted to wrap my arms around her. I wanted my mouth on her, my fingers inside of her. I craved her taste on my tongue, and her sweat on my skin. I wanted to make her exclaim Deus! so loudly she blushed, while I felt her thighs pressing my ears. I smelled the faint scent of citrus, and turned to see a smile lifting the edge of M’Tek’s beautiful lips. I wanted to lick her there, on the corner of her mouth, as my fingers moved inside of her.
“Deus!” she exclaimed under her breath.
“What did you say?” I asked, surprised. “Were you eavesdropping on my private thoughts?”
“If you don’t want me peeking inside of your head, you shouldn’t have given me a back door, my love,” M’Tek whispered, as I started blushing.
“Why can’t I sneak inside your head so easily?” I asked softly.
“I don’t know,” she said, but in the next moment I didn’t need to be in her head to know what she was feeling. She was struck with panic, or terror. “Where’s Shiroane?” she asked, turning to look for the head of our guard.
“You saw Sim’Nu,” I observed, scanning the crowd of happy Fae faces for the odd looking creature with those strange yellow eyes. I noticed a growing horde of Borderlings at the edges of the crowd on both sides of the procession, and realized we were in danger of being attacked.
“We need to get you out of here,” M’Tek said in a rattled voice, halting our progression as she looked back, past the nearest guards, searching for Shiroane. It was the first time I’d ever seen M’Tek truly flustered.
“Is something wrong?” one of the guards closest to us asked. I didn’t recognize him, but M’Tek smiled, concealing the terror I could feel emanating from her.
“Lieutenant M’Kail, I need Captain Shiroane,” she said in what sounded like a calm voice. “Bring her to me.”
“Yes, my Queen,” he replied.
The moment he was gone I placed both of my hands on her shoulders, turning her to face me. “M’Tek, it’s going to be all right. She can’t hurt us,” I whispered. “We’re guarded by hundreds of soldiers.”
“A thousand soldiers couldn’t protect you from her,” she said, sounding desperate. “She’ll kill you if she gets the chance.” M’Tek pulled free of my grip and turned away from me. She was searching for Shiroane. The captain of our guard was approaching the front of the line on Ballick, wearing a concerned expression on her face.
“Get Lore out of here, now,” M’Tek commanded Shiroane. “I spotted Sim’Nu.”
“Wait!” I said, trying to stop M’Tek as she pushed through the line of soldiers, seizing a sword from the nearest one as she passed into the crowd.
Within seconds, six of our guards surrounded me as I struggled to follow M’Tek. Strong arms gripped me from behind while I fought to get away. Three guards lifted me up to sit sideways across the pommel of a saddle, while a stranger’s arms encircled me, holding me in place. I could no longer see M’Tek as I was carried back at a gallop to the palace. I tried to reach inside of her head only to be blocked. She was going after Sim’Nu.
-CH 16-
The ball was supposed to begin in a few minutes, but there was still no sign of M’Tek. My gaze sifted over the celebration set to begin, a celebration of my coronation as the new Fae Queen. Rose’ berrywine flowed from a fountain lined with crystal glasses, dominating the center of the ballroom. All of the food was laid out, petou and bread, fruits of all varieties, cloudberries, and dewberries, melons, and satsumas, and savory cakes and avocado pies. The musicians were tuning their instruments, sending haunting, discordant, music echoing eerily through the empty room. The decorations were in place, strings of lit lanterns, covered with vibrant red silk, dangling between the sparkling chandeliers, while tulips, chrysanthemums, dahlias, poppies, and roses, all red, were spilling over tables. Slowly, people filtered into the great hall, and began mingling, and inching toward the ballroom.
That’s when I attempted my escape, unwilling to be a part of this display of mirth, while M’Tek was in danger. Fleeing up the side stairway to my rooms, I planned to change into breeches and a tunic, find a few of my own guards, and go out searching for M’Tek. As I rounded the hallway, I found Pet standing in front of the doorway to the royal apartment.
“It’s time to open the season, Lore,” she said calmly. “You’re needed.”
“Why are you blocking my door?” I demanded, trying to push past her.
“Because I knew you would
be coming here,” she replied. “You want to go after her, don’t you?” Pet observed.
“I am going after her,” I snapped. “She’s facing that creature alone,” I said.
“She’s hardly alone,” Pet argued. “She has an entire battalion of the Fae army with her from what Shiroane told me.”
“Shiroane’s here?” I asked. “Take me to her.”
“She only came to retrieve some clothing and weapons for my cousin,” Pet replied.
“I need to be out there with her,” I said. “I can help.” Pet stared hard at me; her golden green eyes every bit as unflinching as her cousin’s could be.
“You have a responsibility to your people,” she said evenly. “The season must open as if nothing is wrong.”
“But everything is wrong,” I snapped. “The last thing I want to do is make mindless prattle with socialites.”
“You are now a Fae Queen,” Pet replied firmly. “Have you forgotten the crown my cousin placed on your head a few short hours ago?”
I reached up to grasp the crown and snatched it off of my head before looking past Pet to the doorway to my rooms. “How could she have me carried off, like a child to be protected, while she rushed after that witch alone?” I said under my breath.
“I can’t speak to my cousin’s motives,” Pet said gently. “I do know that the commotion during the procession was noticed. Your guests downstairs are talking about it, and speculating. If you don’t smooth everything over, this event, your coronation ball, will devolve into something difficult to control.” There was a note of warning in Pet’s voice.
“All right,” I agreed. “I’ll go down there. I’ll say a few words, but that’s all.”
Pet turned her back to me, opening the door to my rooms, before leading me into my sitting room. She then went over to the mirror where I’d pierced my ears earlier, and retrieved the needle I’d abandoned there.
“Your dress needs some attention,” Pet said, gesturing with her hand for me to come into the light spilling down from the chandelier overhead.
The Changeling Page 29
