by Jean Johnson
Today was even worse. Mita told him that her ship, Jetta’s Pride, had been elected to escort the newly appointed ambassador to the docks of the winter palace. They had barely settled into the winter palace a handful of days ago when she had scryed him through the mirror with the news that the Jettan council had finally selected a representative to send to the Seer King’s court. Apparently there had been quite some difficulty between what the council thought was an appropriate representative and what His Majesty preferred. Ellett hadn’t been privy to those discussions, so he hadn’t been able to advise her on what Devin, or perhaps Ruul, wanted to see.
But she’s finally coming. She said last night she thought it might be possible for them to arrive sometime today, even though she wasn’t quite sure when. He resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, through the glass walls of the Vaulted Chapel. All he would see would be the royal gardens, more of the royal gardens, a bit of the palace walls ... and nothing of the sea from his position near the holy dais. No tall black masts, no crisp white sails, nothing of the Pride.
A palace servant approached along the outer wall. Ellett eyed the cream-and-purple-clad man, gauging him for unusual or furtive behavior, a possible disguise, or anything else that could hint at a threat to his king. Or to the king’s staff, for the man whispered something in Master Souder’s ear. The Master of the Royal Retreat waited until the Seer King lifted his hands from the shoulders of the youth brought before him for a chance at prophesying his future, then lifted a couple fingers, subtly signaling his liege.
Devin nodded slightly, finished what few words he had to give to the barely pubescent boy and his proud-beaming mother, and dismissed them with a bow of his head. As they backed up the aisle and turned to leave, the Seer King raised his hand and his voice.
“There will be a brief pause in the afternoon’s viewings and blessings of our youth. We have received word that the ambassador of the Jettan Freeholders has finally arrived. We wish to receive their delegation at this time. Please extend all due courtesy to our honored guests.”
Ellett felt his heart skip a beat. His stomach tightened with the hope that Mita would be among the delegates escorting their ambassador into the glass-walled, marble-vaulted hall. Firmly, he reminded himself that now was not the time to let his vigilance slack, and peered over the heads of the seated families waiting to petition their king for a glimpse at their children’s futures.
The sight of an armed, armored redhead descending the stairs to the chapel doors, accompanied by two equally armed and armored gentlemen, both thrilled and dismayed him. But they stopped on the landing above the last set of steps and carefully removed their weapons, setting them on the carpeted floor. It wasn’t the first time that armed dignitaries had done the same, so someone must have instructed them in the proper protocols.
A pair of servants opened the great glass doors and the trio strode inside. Ellett watched them approach, drinking in the sight of Captain Mita. Her hair was a little bit longer—the mirrors they used were small and thus didn’t always show head and shoulders—and she had pulled it back in a braid, perhaps in deference to Aurulan fashion. Other than that, she didn’t look much different than the last time he had seen her in person, which was when she had personally delivered him to Aurul a few months ago. As for the last time he had seen her in a mirror ... well, she was fully clothed this time.
She gave one of her broad, charming smiles to the Seer King and bowed, as did the two men accompanying her. “Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Ambassador Mita of the Jettan Freeholders, and these are my assistants, Kulden of the Mage’s Academy, and Reltor of the Merchant’s League.”
Each of the gentlemen bowed in turn. Ellett forced himself to assess them for potential threats, but it was hard to concentrate, given the news she had dropped into his lap. Ambassador Mita? She never told me that she was the new ambassador! And she never said anything about giving up her career as a ship’s captain.
Devin nodded and made the necessary speeches of welcome and introduction. Struggling to pay attention, Ellett blinked twice and moved belatedly when His Majesty beckoned him forward.
“... Mage-Captain Ellett will personally show you to your ambassadorial suite. I place you in his very capable hands. Captain,” Devin added, giving his stunned Guardsman a slight smile, “I trust you will show her everything she wishes to know about her life here?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Bowing, he gestured for the trio to retreat back up the carpeted aisle. It was unusual for a Royal Guard to be given this sort of duty. Even more so for their leader. He didn’t protest, however. Not when it allowed him to walk out of the massive, glass-roofed chapel at her side.
They paused at the landing to pick up their weapons. Sheathing her daggers, Mita grinned at him. “Surprise! ... I hope you don’t mind I kept it a secret?”
“I might have, if I weren’t very happy to see you at the same time,” Ellett confessed, then reined in his enthusiasm, glancing quickly at the two Jettan men flanking her. Mindful of his duty, he gestured at the doors leading back into the palace proper. “This way, if you please. We’ve set aside a suite for you. Hopefully it should be large enough for your needs.”
She nodded and walked beside him, the other two following, as he led the way. Ellett filled the time with a discussion of various palace amenities and points of interest, then gave them a tour of the multiple-room suite. He added plenty of information which would be of interest to the mage and the merchant accompanying Mita, but most of his attention circled around the woman at his side. Once the other two men were settled in their bedchambers and she had been shown to hers, alone with him, he found himself feeling a bit awkward.
Mita cured that feeling as quickly as the time it took her to remove her ornate armor. The moment the tooled leggings were dropped onto a chair, she turned and caught him in a hug. His own armor got in the way, but he didn’t care. Nor did she. Snuggling her cheek on his shoulder guard, she peeked up at him.
“I hope you don’t mind?”
“The hug?” he asked. At her nod, he dropped a kiss on her brow. “I can’t think of anything I wanted more. At least, while I’m wearing armor. And on duty.”
She chuckled. “Yes, your duty. And mine, too. The council was rather dubious over His Majesty’s insistence that I be the ambassador. I was, too, at first. But then the more time passed, the more I missed you. Mirror-chats are good and all, but ...”
“But not enough,” he agreed. “I didn’t ask for you to be the ambassador. I know how much you enjoy sailing.”
“And I couldn’t ask you to give up your job. It’s slightly more important than mine. Peany’s the new captain,” she added. “Jukol was offered the First Officer position, but he says he likes ordering around the crew too much to give up being a bo’sun just yet, so they promoted a Second Officer from another ship to serve under Peany. As for myself, I’m still a commodore of the fleet. I heard you have pleasure-boats, both here and at some lake up near your winter palace. If I ever get the urge to go sailing, I could always commandeer one.”
He grinned. “Just so long as you don’t turn privateer on His Majesty’s lake.”
“Oh, there’s no worry of that. I just got my hands on the only booty I really want.”
Her words, and the pat of her hand in a pertinent place, warmed him from the inside out. Devin’s instructions floated through his mind. “So ... I’m supposed to show you everything you wish to know about your life here. Is there anything you’re wishing for, right now?”
“Well, aside from the wish that you weren’t on duty—which I know you take very seriously,” she reassured him, “—I’d love to know is if it would cause difficulties between our peoples if the Ambassador of Jetta Freeport was caught sneaking into the quarters of the Captain of the Royal Guard?”
He mulled that over, enjoying the feel and the scent and the sight of her in his arms. Whether or not the Seer King’s prophecy meant for this to happen didn’t matter. It had, an
d he intended to capitalize on it. “They might be more forgiving if, say, the Jettan Ambassador and the Mage-Captain had something of a formal agreement between them regarding such things.”
“Formal agreement?” Mita asked, lifting her head so she could look him in the eye.
“Yes.” He smiled at her. The thoughts and words that had been racing around in his head for the last several weeks were remarkably easy to say, now that she was here in person. “One bound by love.”
She blushed. The phenomenon fascinated him, since she hadn’t seemed like the type. He didn’t get much time to study her pink cheeks, however, for she kissed him very thoroughly. That was more like the Mita he knew, a bold woman willing and able to go after what she wanted, intelligent enough to keep him on his toes, and utterly beautiful in his eyes.
Pulling back after a long moment, she frowned softly at him. “Wait ... isn’t that some sort of ethical conflict, if an ambassador and the head of the Royal Guard ...?”
“Ruul may be the God of Vision,” Ellett informed her, “but He is also very much a romantic at heart, and He was the one who set things up so that you and I would meet ... and the one to insist that you should come here. Nor are we the first pair He has nudged together. For that matter, Devin’s wife, Princess Gabria, is still counted as an official adjunct to the Guildaran ambassador. If His Majesty doesn’t have a conflict with a foreigner for his mate, why should we?”
She mulled that over, then nodded. “Fair enough. But if anyone ever tries to split us up before we’re good and ready, I’m not only dropping diplomatic ties, I’m kidnapping you and dragging you off to Jetta as my war-prize.”
Ellett chuckled. “Just give me enough time to appoint someone else in my place, that’s all I ask.”
Kissing him one last time, Mita stepped back out of his arms. “Well. You have your duties—which you take very seriously, and I admire you for it—and I have some duties of my own. Like unpacking and such.”
“Then I’ll see you tonight, after evening prayers,” he promised, and stepped close enough for a brief kiss. A sort of brief kiss. She finally laughed and pushed him gently away, fluttering her hands in a shooing motion.
He knew her actual presence in his life would probably be just as distracting as simply longing for her had been, but Ellett didn’t care. His faith in his deity’s wishes had brought him a great deal of happiness. As it is said, so shall it be written, he thought, letting himself out of her suite. Thus it is proved, and so shall it be.
Thank the Gods.
Titles by Jean Johnson
SHIFTING PLAINS
BEDTIME STORIES
FINDING DESTINY
The Sons of Destiny
THE SWORD
THE WOLF
THE MASTER
THE SONG
THE CAT
THE STORM
THE FLAME
THE MAGE
