“And does he also please Your Majesty?” he asked, his deep voice going curious.
I leaned back in my chair and glanced up at him. One thing I had been told by Amras during our little session at Spot’s pond was that Elves did not ask personal questions without first being invited. To do so was… very rude indeed. His eyes tightened at my thought and he flushed slightly. I thought about his question for a moment and why he might be asking and finally replied, “Yes, Cursed pleases me well.” Then thought about my words, taking a deep breath while I struggled to not share just how well he’d pleased me last time we’d been together! Yet my thoughts would not be restrained and I skipped back in time to the other day at the heated pool. The guard slowly lowered his head to look down upon me, while I fought the blush that crept up my neck. Nothing seemed to be working at the moment and I winced mentally as highly inappropriate images flashed across my mind in a quick succession. I think I groaned and his pale green eyes widened and he looked stunned. In fact he looked a lot like… I cut the thought off abruptly and smiled weakly.
“Truly.”
“How do you know Cursed?” I asked softly when I was able to get myself back under some mediocre measure of control. I turned my head, glancing out over the crowd while still keeping him in my peripheral vision. He tensed and then relaxed and I bit my lip. “You didn’t say.”
I wasn’t sure he was going to respond, he took so long. But he finally replied, “I trained him.” At his words I nodded. Yes that would make sense.
“And have you been in the Queen’s service long?” I asked calmly.
He nodded, his eyes going back to scanning the crowd. “A very long time,” he replied.
“You must be proud,” I told him and watched as he tensed beside me again. “To have trained the Prince, I mean,” I added and watched as he slowly unclenched. “He is a very special man. I am pleased to be the one to assist him through his… issues.”
He turned back to me slowly, his light eyes piercing as he stared down at me and seemed to puff up in indignation. “What issues would those be, Your Majesty?”
I tilted my head to the side and gave him a searching look. “Chained to a wall for a quarter of a century while being forced to watch others engage in pleasures, and unable to do so himself, was very difficult. Surely you can agree that that might cause… issues?”
In his eyes, rage and pain suddenly burned, though his face remained immobile and he blinked and brought himself back under control very quickly. “Perhaps.”
“Cursed was not treated kindly by my family. And now the sins of the mother have fallen upon the daughter to correct. I am well suited for the task,” I assured him with a small smile. “And consider myself most fortunate in that he has sworn to me his Fealty. Would you like to see?” I asked, my golden eyes staring up at him. “Lord Amras is not the only man to whom I owe my life. Nor is he the only one that holds my heart.” He seemed to struggle with my question and finally shook his head.
“It is nothing” he told me, striving for an offhand tone. “I would not embarrass him in this way. And he would not want you to.”
I nodded acceding to his wish. “He is worried, you know,” I told him and he shifted again but didn’t respond. “He argued strongly against my coming, anxious that I would be lost to the night.”
His eyes moved across the floor and I turned my head, following his gaze to Tdem, who was standing on the other side of the room watching the crowd, his three guards behind him. “He has held his position for many a long century,” he replied softly. “And is accustomed to taking what he will, however he might.”
I thought about it for a moment. “What man is not?” I asked and smiled when his eyes dropped to mine. “However I believe he, like the rest, still pulls his pants on one leg at a time.” His eyes went wide at my comment and then he threw back his head and laughed. It was delightful and it drew gazes. In fact Cursed came nearly at a run, while those closest to us turned to glance at the guard as if he’d grown a pair of horns.
He was still laughing when he lowered his head and caught sight of Cursed moving quickly through the crowd toward us. His laughter died, but in his eyes there was a hint of pride which he quashed with a quick blink. “Stay?” I asked, reaching for his hand and glancing up at him, my eyes holding a challenge. He looked at me and I could see the struggle going on in him, but he settled and rocked forward then back again on the balls of his feet.
“As Your Majesty commands,” he replied and lifted his gaze from me back to Cursed, who came to a halt before us.
“My Lady,” he greeted me and I smiled and drew him down for a quick kiss, which he seemed to enjoy more than I thought appropriate. He stood back up and glanced at the guard, his eyes narrowing as they stared at each other. “Captain Telrun, or should I call you, Your Grace Duke Aerandir?” he asked, his voice sounding cold and… deadly. My eyes widened and I swallowed heavily. “What do you here?” Cursed demanded.
“The Queen sent him to guard me,” I answered for him, dismayed at the tension between these two. To Cursed I said, “I took a bad step, you know how I am with these heels. He was kind enough to assist me into this chair, and has been keeping me company while I rest.” Cursed glanced down at me and his dark eyes shifted to concern.
“Are you well?” he asked, going to a knee before me so he could search my face. I reached out to cup his cheek and nodded.
“I am,” I told him, drawing my thumb over his lips in a gentle caress. “Yet I’m confused as to why you seem so unsettled,” I told him, leaning forward in my chair as I watched the play of emotions skitter over his face. “Is there something between the two of you I should know about?” I asked softly. Cursed nipped my finger hard and I widened my eyes. “This is a day of new beginnings, Cursed. Perhaps it would be wise to speak your mind and get it off your chest?”
Cursed dropped his eyes to my lap and when he raised them again, I pulled air in through teeth at the savage look burning in their depths. I would have reached for him but he glanced up at Duke Aerandir and informed me in an icy voice, “The Captain was responsible for my arrest and ensuring that my stay in the dungeon was never… lonely.”
I slumped back suddenly in the chair, my body going limp with shock. “Duke Aerandir was your entertainment?” I asked in a shaky voice.
Cursed glanced back at me and looked confused at my question. “No.”
“He never… ah… he did not participate in your punishment but merely ensured that it occurred?” I asked, wanting to be certain.
“It is as you say,” Cursed responded.
“He is married?”
Duke Aerandir made a harsh sound while Cursed shook his head. “No,” he answered, his eyes unable to hide his confusion.
“And before my Mother escaped?” I asked and he drew his brows together in a frown. “What was your relationship prior to then?”
Cursed shook his head and shrugged. “He was my Captain.”
“And?”
“And what, My Lady…?” Cursed asked harshly, his dark eyes flashing.
I sighed and took his hand in mine. I sat there quietly for several minutes then spoke softly so that they both leaned in to hear my words. “When I was little we lived for a brief time near a family with two daughters who were mere years apart in age. The older… seemed to run wild, do whatever she pleased with never a thought from her parents. Yet the youngest did not have the same set of rules. When she was naughty, she was scolded and punished severely, for even the most minor offenses.” My fingers drew soothing circles on the back of his hand as I continued. “I could not understand the injustice of it and often complained to Mi, as the younger girl was near to my age and I thought her a good person. I struggled over the unfairness for several months, until Mi grew tired of my ranting and finally explained it to me,” I told him and glanced into his eyes.
“What did the Mercat tell you, My Lady?” Cursed asked me his eyes wary in a way that told me he wasn’t certain he wanted t
o know, but felt he was obligated to ask.
I smiled sadly and brushed back a strand of hair, gently placing it behind his ear. “She told me that the parents had given up on their oldest daughter believing that she was too wild to save. Therefore they had turned their hopes and dreams upon their youngest, so that she might become something more. It was their fear of her faltering that had overcome their good sense. That their strictness was based upon their deep love for her, and their need to ensure that future harm did not come to her through her actions.”
Cursed considered my story for a moment and nodded. “He was more to me than Captain,” he told me softly. I reached for him and pulled him into my embrace while I glanced up at Duke Aerandir in whose eyes I saw distress though he struggled to keep his face and the rest of his body from displaying it.
“I beg you to forgive him, Cursed, for the crime of wanting to protect you, because perhaps you were more to him, too.”
“I cannot, My Lady. I do not know how,” he whispered hoarsely and his voice sounded strained… very nearly broken.
I held him gently and asked, “Was there not an alternative punishment?”
Cursed actually shuddered in my embrace and I looked to Aerandir for my answer. “Yes Your Majesty, many. The most common is gelding. It is what the Court called for, since they believed his offense was against the Her Royal Highness the Princess.”
I gripped Cursed tighter and did a little shuddering myself, my eyes staring up at him in horror. “I could not do it,” he told me, his voice nearly breaking. “I begged the Queen to spare him, to allow me to personally see to his punishment, promising it would be worse than simple castration.”
Cursed drew back in my arms and stared up at Duke Aerandir, his face covered in surprise and a glimmer of... not quite gratitude but perhaps a dawning understanding? I wasn’t exactly certain but knew it was time to leave these two alone.
“I think my ankle is much better now,” I told them. Cursed stood, his eyes sliding back to Duke Aerandir, who seemed to be holding his breath. “You do not need me to work this out between you. I’m just going to go stand next to Owen, right over there, so you can still see me from here.” And I got up from my chair and kissed Cursed’s chin. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Duke Aerandir,” I told him and he went to his knee before me, though technically it was not required.
“Your Majesty, you are most wise for one so young. The house of Telrun is forever in your debt.” I smiled and placed my finger under his chin, lifting his face so that I might place a kiss upon his brow.
“No, Duke Aerandir, I am in yours.” Then I turned and fled back out to the floor, clutching my flute tightly as I moved toward Owen, who must have sensed my attention as he turned to watch, his dark eyes considering me as I somehow gracefully managed to navigate the crowd without tripping once. Ohhh, I was getting good at this I thought. And in high heels!
“You look pleased with yourself,” Owen told me as I hugged him and smiled up into his rich brown eyes.
“Yes I am,” I replied and then blushed when my stomach rumbled… loudly. He chuckled and gave me another squeeze.
“We should do something about that soon,” he leaned down to whisper and I nodded, then pulled his jacket away from his chest and glanced inside. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice sounding amused.
“Checking to see if you have a candy bar, or a drink or something on you,” I teased then let go of his jacket with a pout.
“Minx!” he whispered and kissed my nose.
“Seriously, Owen I am hungry,” I told him, and then rolled my eyes when he looked at me and pumped his eyebrows several times. “For food! I am weak with hunger! I couldn’t possibly think about anything else at the moment.” I mock pouted and he shook his head and glanced around. “We’ve been here for hours. Don’t they ever eat?” I asked and he grumbled and gave me a look that warned me to be quiet. “Fine. When they find my shriveled up body expired on the floor you can explain. Or maybe I should just chew on my flute?”
“Open your mouth,” he told me and I lifted an eyebrow at him and tilted my head sideways.
“Next you’ll be telling me to close my eyes,” I grumbled and we both know where that will lead I thought.
“You are so… refreshing,” he chided me. “Now open your mouth.”
“Fine, but if this causes a riot I’m blaming you,” I warned him. He sighed and waited patiently while I dropped my lower jaw and opened my lips. His hand reached up and popped a grape into my mouth and I bit down and made ‘mmm mmm’ noises.
“Want another?” he asked. I tilted my head sideways and told him, “I don’t believe I’ve ever refused you.”
He thought about that for a moment.
“Yes you did… that first day on the workout room floor when you had the Keeper freeze me in place.”
“Oh, well besides then,” I replied, and he smiled and proceeded to feed me several more grapes.
“You know I’m going to need some protein soon,” I told him. “I’m a growing girl and need sustenance.”
“If you keep talking like that, you’re going to get more substance than you can deal with,” he whispered against my ear and I shivered and laughed softly.
“Promises, promises,” I teased and he grinned.
“Technically, I’m not supposed to be feeding you,” he told me in a hushed voice.
“Why not?”
“Because you, my sweet, are supposed to play for your supper.”
“I am?” I asked while he slipped me another grape. “Is that what Mi meant earlier?” And he nodded. “What about the throne? What was that comment about?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“This is tedious,” I told him and swallowed. “Am I just supposed to start playing here in the middle of the hall or should I go back to the dais? Which would get me food quicker?” I asked and he winced.
“Here is fine. But let me just get you a chair. I’d hate for your legs to fall asleep and have you fall down. I’m certain that isn’t the result we’re supposed to be going for.”
Yeah that could happen. “Okay but hurry up, I’m really, really hungry.” He shook his head and snapped his fingers as a padded foot stool appeared in front of us. It was the perfect height for me to sit on, and did not have arms or a back to get in the way of my playing. I was just about to seat myself on the stool when Jace wandered over, his eyes worried. “There you are,” I greeted him and went into his arms while he held me close and kissed my temple. I pulled back and his lips met mine in a sweet kiss.
Glancing at my flute, he asked in a worried voice, “Are you going to play that now?”
“If I want to eat it seems I must first play,” I told him and he looked at Owen who nodded.
“It’s not going to bring anything here is it?” Jace wanted to know.
“She is within the Sidhe, it will only bring what is intended,” Owen replied as if that answered that. Jace sighed and kissed me again, then his arms opened and I seated myself and lifted my flute.
“Wish me luck,” I whispered, then closed my eyes and began playing softly. The song I played for them was a proud one meant to stir the senses and fire the blood. I fused into the music the beauty and courage of an immortal race and filled the bars and lines with grace and intelligence and the fierceness which I sensed within them. And when I was done with that I moved to a the love of a mother for her child, as I had sensed in Linwe for Amras, and the love of a father for a son, as Aerandir had shown me the terrible lengths one might go to protect and keep from harm. And then my song turned to one of hope and new beginnings, because within me might be the answer to their yearning for children and a way to end their heartbreak, if only I could understand and use that power. And finally my thoughts turned to hunger and the ways in which one might feed the hungers of the heart, mind, and body.
I’m not sure how long I played, but my arms were tired by the time I lowered my flute and my brow felt as if someone had spritzed
me with mist. Owen had said, do not be humble and I had not been. My men had gathered around me and behind them the Court stood in silence, their faces intent upon me. I glanced around and my eyes widened at the bounty of food that lined the hall. Table upon table stretched down the side, all covered in wonderful foods. The aroma hit me and I pulled it into my lungs, smiling up at Owen, who had a pleased look on his face.
“Dinner is served, Your Majesty,” he told me and I nodded.
“Could someone just bring me a plateful?” I asked. “I’m not sure my legs will work if I try to stand just yet.” Those nearest me chuckled, but it was Tdem who went to get my food for me. Frankly it shocked me, and my eyes followed him as he crossed the hall.
My Grandmother swept through the room and the people parted for her. “Lexi,” she told me as I glanced up at her, “that was most beautiful child. Thank you.”
“Ma’am,” I replied. “I’d get up but I’m not certain I can just yet,” I told her honestly and she smiled, her golden eyes twinkling.
“There is no need. After that performance you deserve to stay seated,” she told me. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Yes, very much,” I agreed.
“And what do you think of our people?” she asked, her eyes curious.
“They are… wonderful,” I replied and she smiled and nodded once. “Ma’am?” I asked and she glanced at me and tilted her head to the side.
“Ask,” she told me.
“Is there something I need to do?” I asked and she frowned slightly.
“Tomorrow is soon enough,” she told me. “For now, eat and drink. I imagine this has been a long day for you. If you feel tired, one of my guards will show you to your quarters.”
“And my men?” I asked, wanting to ensure they would be near to me as I would have need of them before morning. She smiled, her eyes lighting.
“Your quarters can accommodate them all,” she advised me. “And more… should you feel the need. Feel free to enjoy yourself with anyone not already spoken for.”
Dragon Envy Page 11
