“Introduce us, Amras,” I told him calmly, while his eyes narrowed and it looked like he might actually balk at my suggestion. “He reminds me of my dear friend Valentine… introduce us so I too might know him,” I requested of him with a sweet smile that showed nearly all my teeth. Amras’ eyes widened, then the humor twinkled briefly and he turned back to the man who was watching us through his own narrowed eyes.
“My Queen,” he acknowledged and dipped his head.
Meanwhile I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from reacting to his form of address. So it was like that was it? Interesting…I thought and just managed not to sigh. Truly Amras was right when he’d told me I wouldn’t much care for the politics at Court. Though in retrospect, I could honestly say I had been dealing with them or on the fringe of them nearly all my life, thanks to dear old Mom. It wasn’t like I didn’t understand the game. It was more that it simply exhausted me. All that intrigue and currying favor while constantly watching one’s back could just be a royal pain in the hind end. Politics were politics no matter if you were in Faerie or in Lost Springs, Wyoming…which had been dubbed the smallest town in the US with only one poor soul living there, an actual human if I wasn’t mistaken. But I was once again distracting myself I thought, and brought my focus back to the situation.
“Let me introduce you to Aikanaro Lossehelin, excuse me… Lord Aikanaro Lossehelin.” Amras corrected himself after but a brief pause. I had to bite the inside of my cheek again to keep from laughing at the look on Aikanaro’s face at the intentional oversight.
“And is this your wife?” I asked guilelessly, turning my head to glance at the raven haired woman who was standing about three feet away, her sky blue eyes focused on Amras with an intensity that nearly set my hackles on high alert. My comment caused Amras face to go slack for but a second, it appeared to surprise him so. It also caused the woman to stop staring at Amras long enough to give me an enraged look. Aikanaro’s laugh sounded nasty to me, and I won’t lie, I was pleased that my comment had struck the nerve I’d been aiming for.
Amras leaned down and softly kissed my cheek, which seemed to enrage the woman even more. I smiled and looked at her innocently while her aura began to literally vibrate around her. “No, Your Majesty, this is Lady Laure Telrun.” He informed me as if I should know her.
I quickly searched my mind for a clue, luckily it didn’t take me long to put two and two together and arrive at the correct response. “Ah, you are related to Duke Aerandir? I so enjoyed meeting him last night; we had a very nice conversation. Such a lovely man.” I gushed watching as her face tightened and I had to force myself not to laugh at how easily it was to rile her. Having my shield up was proving most helpful this morning. I would have to thank Owen later for reminding me.
It appeared the crowd down the hall grew tired of listening in from afar and several of the individuals began edging in our direction. Probably hoping for a little hair pulling, I couldn’t help thinking. Or maybe not, these were after all, Elves, schooled in the fine art of verbal warfare. And I, adrift here in the midst of them, with only my life’s experience with Mi to recommend me. I hoped I’d be up to the challenge. Oh well, I supposed I could always find a pool of water and drag her to it, then hold her under if all else failed. I wasn’t certain if that would actually end her, but it would be immensely satisfying to experiment.
The woman’s blue eyes flashed and she smiled tightly, dipping her head in the barest nod possible. I tilted my head to the side and lifted an eyebrow at her while continuing to stroke Amras’ arm with my fingertips. Maybe speech wouldn’t be necessary; it seemed my actions were doing a superb job of irritating the stuffing out of her. From the look of it, much more and she might spontaneously combust in front of us.
Lady Laure Telrun flushed at my censor and behind me Owen made a low noise in his throat, while Dane brushed his chest against my other arm in what I suspected was an attention getting move. ‘It’s ripping yer hair out by the roots she’d like to be doing. Followed quickly by a knife through yer heart ye ken?’ Dane informed me and I ducked my head slightly then leaned my cheek against Amras.
“Aerandir is my Cousin.” She informed me in a voice gone frigid and full of distain, then after a brief hesitation added, “Your Majesty.” As if it pained her to do so. And just like that Amras’ choice of address became clear.
“Truly?” I remarked. “I would not have guessed it.” I then dismissed her with a glance, and angled my body toward Amras. Lady Laure Telrun pulled air through her teeth at my intentional insult and abrupt dismissal. I couldn’t remember actually having ever done that before, it was a rather novel experience. My look and the squeeze to his arm told Amras, ‘time to go’ which he appeared to agree with if I interpreted his brief nod correctly.
“The Queen is expected elsewhere.” He generously informed those nearest us, turning both of us toward the hall and possible escape. Lady Laure made an outraged and somewhat strangled noise low in her throat. Apparently the Lady wasn’t used to being ignored, too bad for her.
“Well that was lovely.” I commented when we managed to break away from the group at the wall and several more brief introductions and Amras’ near constant explanation of departure.
Dane chuckled again and Owen simply shook his head.
“Old lover?” I couldn’t help asking Amras, who grimaced and walked us just a wee bit faster farther down the hall.
“Not likely.” He replied after a slight hesitation.
“Though not through lack of effort on her part?” Owen muttered softly. Amras glanced at him and I couldn’t help noticing the somewhat pained expression that clouded his eyes for a brief moment.
“No there was no…lack of effort.” Amras agreed.
“Ahhh, I see. Hell hath no fury… I just loved the way she warmed right up to me. I ‘m guessing she doesn’t much care for my Mother, either. Am I right?” I questioned and Amras nodded as we moved between introductions. In the middle of my back right between my shoulder blades I felt a twitch, as if someone was sticking an imaginary blade in me.
“No she does not care for the Princess. They manage to tolerate each other, but then, I never loved the Princess.” He added softly. His thoughts seemed to give him pause and I wondered if I shouldn’t be more worried when he added. “Her thought of a knife in your heart was… disturbing.”
And why would it not? I thought with a sigh. I didn’t see myself making friends with many women on this little visit, though I hadn’t actually anticipated making bitter enemies. However it was Amras that had been at stake here and I had no problem doing whatever was necessary to ensure he remained mine. If that included being the foil to some other woman’s hopes and dreams with Amras, so be it. It was a price I was more than willing to pay. She may not like it much, but she’d had centuries to seal the deal and still hadn’t managed to capture Amras’ heart. You would think at some point she might have seen the futility in her actions and moved on. Perhaps I had little patience with folks that banged their head against the wall and expected a different outcome than a bruised forehead. I mused, dreadfully guilty of letting my mind wander. Nawh I thought with a slight shrug of one shoulder, I just plain flat out didn’t like the raven haired witch. I doubt I would have liked her even if she hadn’t been after Amras. Something about all that black hair and crystal blue eyes just set my teeth on edge.
“We will be gone soon and it is good that she revealed herself so I know who not to turn my back on.” I announced, having abruptly come to the end of my inner ramblings. “Her intent was to upset us. Let’s not let her have her way. Besides if I think about it too much I might turn around and beat her to a bloody pulp for looking at you like that.”
A smile lifted his lips then and his eyes lightened. “Truly,” he told me and gently rubbed his palm over my hand where it lay upon his arm in a soothing manner. Much as I had done for him earlier.
I really needed to remember to school my features. It wasn’t enough that I raised sh
ields to block my thoughts when my every emotion ran hither and yon across my face. I sighed again and pasted a smile on my lips as we moved off to the next group of men eager to tempt me with their cunning, prowess, and accomplishments.
“About time,” Owen muttered and I glanced up from the twentieth introduction I’d had in the past half hour. The man standing in front of us was most annoying in his sly persuasion and I was struggling to smile and make polite conversation when all I really wanted was to escape this blasted corridor.
We’d only made it about a hundred yards from where we’d met Laure and I was pretty sure if I turned around she’d still be standing there watching us. I could sense her icy stare digging craters into the base of my spine. I’m sure this was the result of my correct and upright posture, which I was sure, would be the cause of a backache later. All this tension could not be good for my muscles.
I followed Owen’s gaze and breathed my own sigh as I watched Kit leading my others toward us. Behind him spread out like a phalanx and cutting a swath through the hall in his wake were the rest of my men. I dropped my shields and reached out to them, unable to contain my happiness at their arrival. An immediate mental roar pressed in on my mind as every eye and thought in the hall pressed in on me. I quickly lifted my lower shield in response and self-defense, just managing to swallow a groan and hide my wince.
Kit elbowed his way through the crowd and stopped in front of me, before quickly dropping to one knee and dipping his head in a rather ostentatious flourish. The others seemed to flow around me, forming a loose circle that quickly followed suit. All went down on one knee with the exception of Tdem and his guards. They couldn’t have made it more clear whom they were there to protect, just in case I was under any delusions of grandeur. Tdem frowned and crossed his arms over his chest and I thought about raising my upper shield again because I was getting just a tiny bit tired of that stance of his.
“What took you so long, did you get lost attempting to find us?” I asked glancing at each of them and motioning for them to rise and hoping this wasn’t going to become a habit.
“My Queen, you sent for us?” Gareth inquired tightly and my eyes widened in alarm at the steely tone that whispered and slid through his seemingly innocent question.
Uh oh. I thought and flicked my gaze to Kit who lifted an eyebrow and pursed his lips. My gaze flicked back to Gareth who gave me a look that promised we’d be having a discussion, probably sooner rather than later. I didn’t have to wonder what that discussion might be about as I glanced toward Jace who also didn’t appear too pleased with me. I gave him a somewhat sickly smile and he lifted his chin in a small jerking motion toward Roral and Lira as he and the others gracefully regained their feet. I wasn’t used to everyone bowing and kneeling to me, but given the form of address Gareth had just used; I buried my unease and gave a small nod as I considered our audience.
My eyes swept over the others, ending with Roral and Lira. Behind me Amras, Owen and Dane stood silently. I guessed from Jace’s motion that they must have waited for the last two guards to regain consciousness before joining us. When I sent Kit for reinforcements, I didn’t realize he’d drag everyone along. “Ah.” I responded, rather eloquently I thought, given the look in Gareth’s eye and my sudden inability to form a sentence. Deciding it was best to not say anything, I swallowed my comment and glanced at Kit managing to give him a look I hoped was expectant.
He lifted an eyebrow again and tilted his head to the side before remarking. “I merely mentioned your Mother and Jane in the same sentence and these two,” Kit advised me, jerking his head in Jace and Gareth’s general direction, “became so…concerned the others felt inclined to tag along, they believed it best to bring the newest guards with us.” He finished rolling his red eyes and placing a hand on his hip.
I gave him a tight smile that promised I wouldn’t forget his attention to duty; he shrugged and somehow managed to look bored. Apparently I wasn’t as scary as I’d like to be.
I turned away from him and happened to notice Lira looking right back at me with a rather smug smile. Yes, something was going to have to be done about him, I thought and soon. Lira dipped his head at my thought trying to look contrite, but I could tell he was having issues suppressing the anticipation in his eyes. It seemed I was going to have to work on my intimidation skills. No one seemed to be taking me seriously today.
Tdem moved to stand closer to me and he appeared annoyed, his dark eyes fairly snapping. I glanced up at him expectantly while out of the corner of my eye I observed Owen look at Gareth and then both Jace and Gareth turn their heads back in the general direction in which Lady Laure Telrun stood. It was clear that they were having a silent discussion, made obvious by the tightening around the eyes. I knew who they were looking at because I could still feel the icy sharp prick of her gaze on my spine though there were likely several dozen men standing between the two of us.
Tdem ignored the others around us to inform me. “I anticipated your return sooner. Had I known we were expected to track you down and extract you from an impromptu social event in the very halls of the Sidhe, I would have escorted you myself to see the Princess.” He advised me as if in defense of his tagging along. His gaze drifted over my face then flicked behind and around us at the horde of men we’d all had to wade through to get to this section of the hall. His gaze seemed to cut through the ranks like a hot knife through butter and there was suddenly a separation between our group and the others still congregated in the hallway.
“My pardon, Lord Tdem” I replied wryly. “Who knew the Sidhe halls would be so busy at this time of day, or that I was causing an inconvenience by attempting to appear the gracious guest?”
“Or King appears annoyed because he is not used to being pawed in public.” Kit informed me with a sly glance.
My eyes widened and I glanced between Tdem and the rest of my men. None of them seemed as annoyed or looked in the least guilty. Apparently he’d been the only one being pawed. Well, except for Amras earlier, and surely that….creature wouldn’t be so audacious as to target yet another one of my men? With me in plain sight? Unless...I thought then squelched the thought when Tdem made a slightly strangled sound and Kit chuckled.
Amras stepped forward wearing a distasteful look on his beautiful face. He leaned forward and remarked, “I think you’d be horrified at the lengths that one will go to.”
Clearly I was going to have to keep a closer eye on my men. I hardly thought the Queen would appreciate me drowning her subjects. I didn’t mind fighting to keep what was mine; I just didn’t want to deal with the politics that would undoubtedly come along with my efforts. At that thought I felt the ever present curiosity pressing in on my mind and sighed.
Chapter 12
Tdem pursed his lips and crossed his arms over his chest in response. His stance clearly indicating he was not amused. Not a surprise, it seemed it was becoming a trend today what with the…
“My Lady?” Cursed’s voice interrupted smoothly. His question serving to abruptly sever my thought mid-creation while he cleared his throat softly. He gave me a meaningful look and I thought, oh right, as I lifted my upper shield into place again. The murmur that seemed to accompany the raising of my upper shield occurred again as the people just outside our little circle noticed my virtual disappearance.
Jace gave a long suffering sigh and rubbed at his temple with an index finger. “Can we go now?” He all but winced, his eyes moving from the point behind me to sweep the rest of the crowd. Aside from his usual thinly veiled pain at my upper shield he seemed somewhat shocked and amazed at the sheer number surrounding us. As his eyes swept the crowd I noticed his fist open and close twice before he simply turned and started walking away.
Gareth took my arm in his hand and began steering me down the hall. “Yes we have things to discuss.” He informed me. I held my tongue and let him lead me through the crowd deciding it might be faster than attempting to get through on my own. It still took us a few minu
tes. It seemed the occupants I had yet to meet in the corridor were not happy about being denied their opportunity, and were slow to allow us through, despite our somewhat large group and the determined look on Gareth’s face.
We traveled down the hall and around several corners when I became tired of being steered about and asked Gareth in a rather polite tone. “Do you happen to know where we are going?” My comment caused him to grunt softly. With my point having been made, he stopped us in the middle of the hall and looked around at the others.
Amras had been in quiet conversation at the back of the group with Kit, I couldn’t tell what they were discussing, but at our abrupt halt they both looked toward Gareth inquiringly. Amras seemed to understand the dilemma and asked, “Shall we now visit the Imbra Londe?”
“Who is the Imbra Londe?” Jace asked before anyone else could.
“She who keeps our world’s histories. The Time Keeper or more accurately the Time Safe Keeper.” Cursed responded. His black eyes found mine and he seemed disturbed. “For what reason does My Queen need to visit the Imbra Londe?” He demanded of Amras though his eyes remained on mine. A lock of his long black hair slipped over his shoulder though there was no air flowing in the hall and he stood still as a statue. I had the immediate urge to reach out and slide it over and through my palm. In fact I could almost feel the ghost of its texture on my palm. At the sensation I curled my fingers and noticed a slight tingling in the center of my right hand.
“For the reason that she has been commanded to do so by her Sel Vara, the Queen.” Amras responded and everyone looked at me questioningly while I pulled my thoughts away from Cursed’s silky mane and managed to shrug a shoulder in response.
Dragon Envy Page 20
