by Eva Brandt
I petted him gently, sweeping my fingers over the newly-born blooms with care and affection. “There you go. Comfortable?”
Both Veggie and the flowers that were an extension of him trembled in delight at my touch. “Very. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t mention it, Veggie. Rest now. I will be back for you later.”
Veggie nodded and closed his eyes, drifting into his plant-state sleep. Satisfied that my lamb was safe, I turned away from him, heading back the way we’d come. The three vampires followed me out of the planting lot, and in Veggie’s absence, the silence between us felt even more oppressive.
I couldn’t necessarily say that I felt guilty for my somewhat forceful treatment of the vampires. It might have been unpleasant and unfortunate, but it had been necessary. I also still believed that it was possible to reach an agreement with them that would make things easier between Chronikos and The Voievodat in the future. But that would require me acting a little more rationally than I had so far, and the attraction between me and my guests seemed determined to sabotage my efforts to be a good queen.
The thought summoned a memory of the moments I’d shared with Cezar and Baltasar earlier. If not for Veggie, I would have undoubtedly thrown all caution to the wind and slept with them. I had been foolish to jump into offering them my blood when I was well aware that a vampire’s bite could be dangerous.
This was what I got for not dealing with my problems sooner. A few hundred years of pent up sexual frustration were a heavy burden now that I had to be around three sexy vampires whom I needed to treat as either diplomatic envoys or enemies.
I could do it, though. I had to. I couldn’t hesitate or hedge further. I needed to track down my messenger and lieutenants, to make sure April wasn’t in trouble or up to some mischief that would blow up in my face. I didn’t have time to bemoan my terrible romantic choices.
Decision made, I stopped mid-stride and turned toward the vampires, facing them without flinching. “You’re wondering what that was all about, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes, Your Majesty,” Adrian replied, his eyes a little wide. “I admit it isn’t every day that you run into a rabid zoophyte that turns out to actually be a very gentle creature when he’s not high on tobacco.”
Despite myself, I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at his description of Veggie. “That’s actually pretty accurate, although to be fair, he never hurts anyone, not seriously at least. Still, the trampling can get dangerous, and there was that one time when he almost ate a pixie, so it’s better to be careful.” It had been only an accident and in the end, the pixie had been fine, since Veggie couldn’t eat meat. Nevertheless, the whole incident had made the leprechauns terrified of the violent version of my verdant lamb.
“Is that why you approached us the way you did?” Baltasar asked. “Were you being careful?”
I hadn’t expected them to make that analogy. The two situations were as different as they could possibly be. Three vampires who had sneaked into my realm could hardly compare with a magical sheep, no matter how powerful said sheep might be.
However, I couldn’t blame my undead guests for wanting to understand the circumstances they were in. After everything I had thrown at them, they were undoubtedly very confused. “Yes, of course. It is my duty, as a queen, to protect my land and my people. I don’t necessarily think you mean us harm, but I have to take into account every possibility and minimize the risks of anyone being injured.”
Adrian nodded, his eyes glinting with a sharp emotion I couldn’t quite interpret. I remembered the way I’d seduced him earlier, using the inhibitor in the ambrosia against him, and I wondered if he blamed me for it.
He didn’t. When he actually spoke, his words took me by surprise. “We have to apologize for our behavior, Your Majesty. No, an apology is not enough. We broke the law of your realm and deliberately deceived you for our self-interest. Then, we presumptuously blamed you for taking action when you were in your right to do so and to be wary of us.”
“I don’t blame you for lying to me,” I replied. “You were fulfilling your duty toward your own homeland. I can understand that.” I’d been doing the same thing, after all.
Cezar and Baltasar didn’t seem to agree with me or find my assessment of the situation satisfying. “Nevertheless, the fact remains that we committed a crime,” Cezar said. “We might have done it due to following orders, and we cannot honestly say that it was the wrong approach to take, but at the same time, we cannot simply expect you to let the issue go.”
“Please, allow us to offer some kind of recompense,” Baltasar added.
Recompense? Like what? What could they possibly have that I would want? Well, except their bodies, but I had already decided now was not the time to think about such things.
A worm of an idea niggled at the back of my mind. There was something I could use them for, something far more important than my sexual pleasure.
Adrian had said that he was a sorcerer. In fact, I’d sensed powerful magic in all of them. Could they perhaps give me some insight into my problem with February’s crystal?
No, that was a terrible idea. Their necromantic abilities could, in theory, be helpful, but I couldn’t entrust them with a secret project, especially not one that was so important to Cassia. There was something about them that struck me as fundamentally genuine, but when it came to such delicate matters, one couldn’t be too careful.
“I will think about it,” I said vaguely. “For the moment, I have a single request.”
Baltasar leaned a little closer to me, and for one, very strange second, his demeanor reminded me briefly of Veggie. The impression promptly vanished when his eyes flashed with unmistakable desire. “What is it, Your Majesty? What can we do for you?”
I suspected that whatever idea he had come up with bore a striking resemblance to Pandora’s Bacchanals. I might not have participated in any of my sister’s legendary parties, but she had told me plenty of stories and I had a rich imagination.
If things had been different, I would’ve happily taken Baltasar up on his silent invitation. Maybe I would, eventually. But right now, I couldn’t fall into the trap of getting distracted by my libido.
“Nothing,” I replied. When the vampires blinked at me in obvious confusion, I elaborated, “Don’t do anything. I need to clarify this situation a bit before I can make a decision. Can you give me that?”
The question came out a little more tentative than I’d have liked, but thankfully, my undead guests didn’t call me out on it. Like one being, they bowed their heads and brought their fists to their chests in a military salute. “Of course, Your Majesty,” Cezar replied. “We are vampires. We have all the time in the world. We can wait.”
Despite the formality of his words and bearing, he was talking about more than diplomatic matters. I didn’t turn him and his companions away. Instead, I smiled at them. “Wonderful. In The Land of Time, good things always come to the ones who wait.” Well, mostly. Time could also be a trap, and it could run out if you allowed yourself to lower your guard.
“We’ll discuss this more at a later date. Now, I am needed elsewhere. If you require anything, call for Maeven. She is the female leprechaun we spoke with earlier, and she can help you with your questions or necessities.”
“We understand, Your Majesty,” Adrian replied.
“I am currently keeping your true reasons for being here under wraps. My lieutenants, my sisters, and advisor will naturally be informed, but before I leave, I will also make sure everyone else understands we’ve reached an agreement.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. You are too kind.”
Ironically, some days, I felt that was true. I could occasionally be too kind, and that wasn’t a good thing. But whenever I tried a different approach, it unavoidably blew up in my face anyway.
I didn’t think the vampires were interested in hearing such a thing, so I set the thought aside. I wanted to say something more, something that woul
d make this whole exchange less awkward and the atmosphere between us a little lighter. I couldn’t come up with anything, so I chose a simple and formal goodbye. “Have a nice day, gentlemen. May your soul be eternally young.”
It fell awfully flat, but I had no other options, not yet at least.
Once I put my feelings in some semblance of order and made sure my subordinates weren’t up to anything suspicious, we could have a more detailed conversation. I would perhaps even bring up my use of ambrosia. But for the moment, I had to set my personal desires aside and concentrate on the well-being of my people. Also, on making sure Luntian planted less tobacco. I didn’t have a problem with my kapre’s smoking—the gods only knew that I had my own vices—but this was getting dangerous.
Already musing over what in the world I was supposed to do about my innumerable problems, I turned away from my vampire guests and headed out of The Eternal Orchards. To start out, I’d talk to The Green Man and make sure he actually understood what I had in mind.
* * *
Cezar
I watched Queen Eiar go with a heavy heart, feeling inadequate and helpless. Something was not right in The Land of Eternal Youth. It wasn’t the rabid lamb, the angry leprechauns, the infuriated not-sprites, or the strange tree demons. That, I could deal with. Every realm had its own creatures and quirks, so it stood to reason that this one would, too.
But something about this whole situation rubbed me the wrong way, regardless. There was a strange, silent vulnerability in the queen, mingled with another emotion. Bitterness? Frustration?
I wasn’t sure what it was. My mental abilities were powerful, but they had limits, and I would’ve never actively tried to read her without her permission. It was a minor miracle that I’d sensed her feelings at all, and I suspected it would not have happened if not for the drop of blood I’d tasted earlier.
It also didn’t leave me any less confused. Queen Eiar obviously did not trust us, and I could not blame her for that, but at the same time, she’d still basically given us free rein over her palace. What had she been thinking?
“Are we really just going to wait around and do nothing?” Baltasar asked in the wake of her departure.
“We don’t have much choice. If we waste this second chance, we will certainly not get a third.”
I looked up at the clear blue sky, irritated by the bright sunlight, but having no desire to shy away from it. I almost enjoyed the mild discomfort, since it fit my current state of mind. It was a strange feeling, to be so discombobulated and uncertain, to not know what direction to head in. We had come here on a mission and we could not abandon it. But at the same time, we couldn’t break our promise to Queen Eiar either.
“I suppose things would be boring if they would be too straightforward,” Adrian mused.
Baltasar shot him a look of disbelief. “Are you trying to be amusing? Because if that is your goal, I think you might have lost your sense of humor in that endless field of flowers.”
“I would not be surprised. One loses a lot of things in that particular labyrinth. It’s truly miraculous that you managed to survive it.”
The sudden female voice ghosted through the air with the deceptive mellowness of a banshee’s laughter. I was so shocked I almost stumbled over my own feet in my haste to turn toward the source of the sound.
Fortunately, my abilities didn’t fail me, and my confusion had yet to escalate to proportions that would make me embarrass myself in front of a potential opponent. That didn’t make me any less surprised when I faced the new arrival.
The first thing I noticed was the woman’s clear resemblance to Eiar. They had the same coloring, the same warm brown eyes, but also the same general aura and breathtaking beauty. Even their gowns were almost identical, as were the flowers growing in their similar dark hair.
Nonetheless, I didn’t feel in any way spellbound by the stranger. If anything, she made me wary. Where had she come from? We hadn’t sensed her approach at all. Was she a relative of Eiar’s? One of her sisters perhaps? Queen Theros of The Realm of Eternal Sunlight?
Well, there was only one way to find out.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe we’ve met. I am Cezar of the House of Aeternalis. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”
“You may call me Selene. And I know who you are. There’s no need for you to introduce yourselves after all the ruckus you’ve caused.”
“I assure you, it was not our intent,” Adrian replied, clearly choosing his words with care. I wondered what he had sensed that I hadn’t.
“I’m sure you didn’t, but intentions aren’t always the most relevant thing in life. After all, Mr. de Búrca, I doubt you ever intended to become one of the undead when you set out on your little quest for power.”
Adrian’s breath caught. Baltasar and I went rigid. How did this woman know the name Adrian had left behind? Who was she, really?
“Don’t look so tense.” Selene let out a low, breathy laugh. “I’m not your enemy, although I certainly could be.”
“You will pardon us if we don’t find that very encouraging,” I answered. “So far, our experience here has made us cautious of most everyone in The Realm of Eternal Youth.” Beautiful women seemed particularly dangerous.
“That’s understandable. My dearest Eranthe did play a nasty trick on you, didn’t she? I’m so proud.”
The unfamiliar name stirred a strange mix of curiosity and apprehension inside me. There was only one person who had played a nasty trick on me, but why would this woman refer to Queen Eiar by a different name? “I’m sorry... Eranthe?”
“That is my daughter’s true name. Eranthe, not Eiar.” Selene hummed thoughtfully and tapped her full lips with her index finger. “I suppose I shouldn’t have shared it with you, but I’m impatient. It’s so exhausting to have four daughters, all of whom are single. I am making progress, and I hope you will help me with that. Of course, there are certain conditions and a task you will have to undertake if you agree to our deal.”
I stared at the woman in disbelief. I didn’t know what I found more shocking, the fact that she was Eiar’s mother, or her decision to approach us on some kind of strange matchmaking mission. Also, I didn’t remember ever making a deal with anyone—except perhaps, Queen Eiar, if our promise to her counted.
“I’m afraid I don’t quite understand,” Baltasar offered as if he could read my mind, despite not naturally having the ability. “What did you want us to help you with and what do you mean about mission?”
“It’s quite simple. I’m a little concerned about my daughters, you see, but I can’t intervene directly in the issue they’re having trouble with for... reasons. However, you are perfect for this undertaking, since the issue coincides with the matter that brought you here, to begin with. That is to say, the surge of necromantic power in Tou Cheimóna.”
I was getting even more alarmed than before. Yes, we had blurted out the reasons for our uninvited visit during our interrogation, but Eiar had said she wouldn’t share the information with too many people. Her mother had not been included on the list, even if her sisters had been.
“You’re wondering how I know all about your little secrets.” Selene smiled, a twist of lips that made me feel strangely like prey. “There is very little you can hide from a determined mother. But that is neither here nor there.
“Here is the situation at hand. Queen Snegurka, whom my daughter mentioned during your... conversation, is not dead. Due to the specifics of how she was created, we were unable to execute her after her attempt to take over Chronikos. Instead, she was imprisoned under a powerful seal fed by necromantic powers. This seal was most recently cracked, and her spirit escaped. Suffice to say, I am most concerned about this.”
I did not blame her for it. A restless spirit who had been imprisoned and stewing in her own anger for the last couple of centuries? Yeah, that was a recipe for disaster.
“She has already attacked my eldest, Cassia, the queen of Tou Cheimóna,
but Cassia fought her off. Unfortunately, Tis Ánoixis has always been somewhat more vulnerable. Eranthe tries, but the influence of certain past kings lingers and it isn’t easy to rebuild a realm under those circumstances. My other daughters’ somewhat dismissive attitude of her skills doesn’t help.”
“Dismissive?” Adrian repeated with a frown. “What do you mean?”
“Eranthe is... kind. That can often be mistaken for weakness when it comes to a sovereign. My older daughters were always very protective of her. That is, in part, my fault and it spilled into her relationship with her subordinates. They all mean well, but too often, they decide to do things of their own accord because they think she can’t handle it.”
Ah. So that was the reason for the frustration I’d sensed earlier.
“And you believe we can help her? How? We’re strangers here. What can we do?”
“Eranthe needs two things,” Selene answered. “The first is to trust herself more and to believe that she can genuinely do this. The second is to have Snegurka removed. Both things are well within your ability to provide. In return, I will support your bid for her heart and her hand.”
Wait, what? Was she serious? A bid for Eranthe’s heart?
We’d only just met. Despite the obvious attraction between us, I had no idea if she was truly interested in a long-term relationship with three vampires. How would that even work, considering our affiliation with The Voievodat? I could already hear my father screaming at me from our palace.
And yet, despite the political implications, I couldn’t deny how much the thought appealed. On the other hand, Eranthe had asked us to give her time, and I couldn’t just go against that for my own selfish whims. Maybe I was looking at things from the wrong perspective. This woman was making an offer, but we didn’t have to take it. As much as we wanted to have a relationship with Eranthe, our priorities lay elsewhere, with helping her. The rest could indeed wait.
