With the King no longer in danger of being dumped unceremoniously to the ground, Immy wasted no time proclaiming, “Your Majesties might I present Your Royal Highness Lexi Beladriede `o i te Helyanwe, Heir to the Seelie Court upon Earth and Granddaughter of Her Royal Majesty Queen Celywien Elriril o i te Helyanwe, she who is directly descended of the God Dian Cécht, and His Royal Majesty King Tineldur Eloniel `o i te Lominiel descended of the God Bris.
Honestly? I thought with chagrin. This is how she chooses to introduce me? And that she somehow managed to get that all out in just one breath was nothing short of amazing! And umm…that was my grandparent’s names? I don’t believe I actually knew them, let alone ever heard them spoken in all their rather lengthy glory. Even more interesting, she had neglected to mention my actual parents. Could it be she didn’t wish to alarm them? I mean Dad was a dragon. But what was worse, she’d used my middle name, which I was so going to remember later. That appellation hadn’t even been included when I’d been introduced at court. I sighed and worked at unclenching my fist while I settled back onto my heels and considered the situation. Now why I wondered, would they be asking for dragons? And here I was standing right in front of them.
“Your Majesties, I believe I promised you Dragon essence.” Immy quickly informed the Queen who did not look happy at being corrected. “I have prepared my part of our bargain and it awaits you through the gate, as promised.” She continued, while I mentally wondered just exactly whose essence it was on D2. And were all these folks going through? Had we now moved on to the recolonization of more than just omnivores? Did the destruction to the glen have anything to do with their relocation? Just how bad could it be if they needed to find an entirely new world? Sure the sky above was a bit less blue than Earth’s or even D2’s but the air was fine and the vegetation looked…normal. Was this world dying or was there some other reason for the mass exodus?
The King shared a look with the Queen who seemed to stiffen before softening slightly, her shoulders drooping in mute surrender. “Our pardon,” the King spoke in a deep voice that carried across the glen. “We are…unsettled over the impending change.” And with that both the King and Queen turned and bowed low from the waist to me. “Your Royal Highness, we welcome you to our world, though we beg pardon that we may not give you the reception your station deserves, as our presence here will no doubt be brief. We are, you understand, quite anxious to cross over.”
“Your Royal Majesties,” I offered forcing myself to smile, though I’m sure it looked tight. The Queen, after all, had insulted me. I had no idea what the rush was but going off on a tirade wasn’t going to get this party moving any faster. With the formal acknowledgement finally made, I glanced at Immy who seemed to be glancing over the crowd searching for something.
“Your Majesties, might I inquire after the Tributes?” She asked, her tone soft with only a hint of curiosity.
The King and Queen shared another look and the King shifted his mount closer to the Queen. When he was beside her he reached for her hand and I noticed the tears that silently slipped from her eyes. She lowered her head and gave a single nod. The King gave her hand a small encouraging squeeze and lifted his voice as he looked over his shoulder. “Approach.” He commanded.
I glanced in the same direction and noticed a male Elf slip into the clearing. In fact one single male from each of the four groups stepped forward, each making his silent way through the crowd who parted to allow passage. What was this? I thought and tried very hard to not lick my lips. Each of these men wore a coronet upon his brown indicating his status as Prince. The four of them made their way to the Queen and King and each took a knee and dipped their heads. At the King’s wave they all stood and turned to me and we proceeded to eye each other in uneasy silence.
Fortunately Immy stepped forward, and starting on the left began with, “His Royal Highness Prince Devdan Sartris of the Svartalfar,” he bowed from the waist and seeing no alternative, I performed a very brief curtsy. I’m certain it would have been way more elegant had I been wearing a dress. Immy continued on down the line, “His Royal Highness Prince Ruven Olacaryn of the Mirel,” and we dipped and bobbed. “His Royal Highness Prince Ayen Keyrel of the Daoine,” more dipping and bobbing and finally, “His Royal Highness Prince Ailre Bryfiel of the Ljosalfar.”
When all the dipping and bobbing was over, Immy turned and glanced back at the Queen and King while the five of us stood there not quite sure what to do with ourselves. Three of the men crossed their arms over their chests and the fourth lifted an eyebrow and proceeded to look me over like he was wondering what might be under my leathers and cape, which I’d tossed over my shoulders just before leaving D2. His look caused me to narrow my eyes and fold my own arms while I stood as tall as possible. That made the other three grin which caused me to clench my jaw lest I say something we all might regret.
It wasn’t that they weren’t drop dead gorgeous, because Goddess knew they were. Devdan had shoulder length silver hair, dark brown skin and piercing blue eyes. He wore dark leathers and carried a bow across his back. His coronet was a simple gold with minimal swirls and only a few dark colored jewels. Ruven had dark blonde hair which reached to his waist and eyes of teal and amber, his cloak was dark grey and he wore a breast plate that had the tree of life emblazoned upon it. His pants were dark grey leather and tucked into knee high boots. At his side he carried a long knife. His circlet was silver and the gems matched his multi colored eyes. Ayen looked every bit the warrior in his thick dark leathers, bracers, heavy breast plate and shoulder caps, a long sword at his side. His hair was chestnut brown, wavy and fell to mid back. His eyes were pale pink nearest the pupil with bands of ever darkening pink to the edge of his iris. He was also the most serious looking. Ailre was the one that had been checking me out, he also looked like he would fit in perfectly amongst my Grandmother’s court. He’d just need to be shined up a bit. He had pale blonde hair to his lower back and two tone eyes of forest green encircling a pale new leaf green next to his pupil. His lashes were long and his brows more arched. He wore a silver breastplate over pale green. Upon his shoulders he wore a dark green cape with hood. Like the others, he too wore knee high boots and he carried a gold and silver inlaid handled sword which matched the coronet upon his brow.
Just looking at their hair made my palms itch and I glanced sharply at Immy who hesitated and looked back at my sudden sharp intake of air. Hmmm it seemed girls only time might be coming to an end here. Damn men, I thought and took a quick step back, hoping some distance might prevent me from having an immediate reaction. The four princes shifted slightly, their movement caused me to hiss low and take another step backwards. Something about the motion seemed to excite the men and I watched in horror as all four of them went from politely interested to hunter in a blink of an eye.
To my left I heard Immy make a quick apology assuring their Majesties she would return shortly then she shoved the men into me, there was that soul wrenching and I was suddenly mashed up against the wall in the Sidhe with four Princes practically purring in anticipation. Through a break in the male flesh I watched the golem standing where I’d been before Immy exchanged me for the decoy, disappear along with the ladybugs. I had just enough time to yell, “Do not harm them!” then started screaming just before finding myself impaled beneath an irate Gareth in the middle of the bed in our temporary rooms.
“She wasn’t even gone two minutes.” Jace complained from beside us on the bed. He was as naked as Gareth and I, and looked just as annoyed.
I chewed my lip and tried not to look guilty as I lay beneath Gareth.
“I suspect it’s been a bit longer than that.” Gareth muttered rearing back a bit and getting a good look at me. “She smells like horse and…other things.” He grabbed up a handful of hair and raised an eyebrow, “exactly when was the last time you brushed your hair?” He asked in a tone that implied I should strongly consider not fibbing.
“That is not what she was wearing when we
left here this morning.” I heard Kit offer in an accusing tone. I turned my head to see him standing beside the bed holding up my corset and leggings and he did not look happy with me. On the floor at his feet were my boots and….weaponry. Apparently we were the only three that had made it back to the room. I reached up and touched the circlet upon my brow and winced.
“Yes, that’s new too.” Jace muttered then gave me an expectant look as he ran a finger over my thigh. The movement caused me to moan soft and low and within me I felt Gareth pulse.
“Ummm…what did you do with the Princes?”
“Why don’t we worry about that later?” Gareth muttered then proceeded to remind me of the benefits of being with my men instead of gallivanting around the universe with a bunch of females.
I awoke in a tangle of bed covers, likely because I was being stared at. You know the feeling? It’s like an itch in the middle of your shoulder blades that won’t go away.
I felt the bed shift and hair tickled my arm. “Oh look, she’s finally awake.” Cursed informed the room at large.
I cracked open an eye and had to stifle the urge to pull the covers over my head and hide from the expectant stares of the rest of my men. Kit materialized on the bed next to me sitting crossed legged. He pulled a handful of hair into his lap and ran his fingers through it while he asked in a sarcastic voice, “Perhaps my Mistress would now like to share?”
I raised myself up slightly and noticed the weapons and clothing I’d been wearing were still lying in a heap on the floor. Next to the discarded items in a neat and tidy pile, were the dress, crown and shoes I’d been wearing before my visit to the Keeper. Apparently she’d returned them.
“Yes,” Kit informed me. “They appeared back in the hall, when the cat did.”
Oh, okay so Mi had been there too? Just how long had I been out of it I wondered.
“You’ve been….slumbering for some time.” Owen informed me. “We are all dying to know what you did during the two minutes while whatever that was that clearly was not you, was covered in bugs in the hall. It was hardly enough time for you to have changed outfits,” and they all glanced down at the floor, “then meet and return with four new friends.”
I worried at my lip a moment before asking again, “So where did you put the Princes?”
Amras coughed as if he’d swallowed wrong and Cursed let out a low growl then answered in a thoroughly annoyed tone. “The cat vanished with their Royal Highnesses, after that one,” and he pointed toward Dane who raised an eyebrow, “shielded them with his body.” I glanced between Dane who was standing calmly with his arms over his chest, and Cursed who was clenching and unclenching his fists as he stood over me next to the bed. Across the room by the door, Roral looked annoyed but remained silent.
Dane had shielded them with is body? Wow, that must have been interesting. The Princes were probably shocked out of their minds. There were a lot of sideways glances at my thought. “What?” I asked.
“My Lady,” Amras informed me, his face looking pained. “They were,” and he glanced at Cursed then Owen, who gave him a slight shrug, “well pleased.”
Kit made a rude noise and informed the group, “They nearly wet themselves they were so excited. Luckily for Dane that Cat showed up, or he might have had to defend his honor.”
Dane gave Kit a disgusted look and shook his head. “Tis pleased they were an nae more.”
“It was like they couldn’t believe he was real.” Owen added and he lifted an eyebrow, giving me an expectant look.
Hmmm, I thought staring back at the lot of them. “I really have no idea.”
Standing by the door, Roral was now looking super judgy. Owen and the others just looked irritated at my lack of explanation. Tdem and his guards were gone. Perhaps he’d been called away on Unseelie business? I sighed and regretted that both Gareth and Jace were absent. Perhaps they’d gotten tired of waiting for me to wake up and had taken a stroll after ensuring I would be able to function without convulsing. They must have taken Lira with them, as he too was missing.
“Your Father sent for the Drakes, the guard went as guide. The King was…annoyed and simply left with no explanation”, Cam offered with a grin, and then received a glare from Cursed for his unsolicited comments. It seemed Cam was the only one that found the situation amusing. Goddess alone knew why. Perhaps he thought my returning with four more Princes would deflect attention from his own actions. I sighed and couldn’t help thinking that this morning’s episode in the bathroom seemed like a very long time ago. I pushed a lock of hair behind an ear, realizing Areth’s circlet was still in place, and sighed again.
Kit glanced at the headpiece then at my arm, then reached toward me and fingered the bracelet on my wrist, a frown twisting his beautiful features. “What is this?” He demanded moving closer.
I followed his glance and noticed a new addition in the shape of Mictaar, next to those of Alan and Bodark. It looked like it was made from Ataxite and I wondered if it carried her essence? How kind of Immy I thought, and smiled. I turned the charm over in my fingers; clearly she’d left me with something to remember my visit. I’d have to find some way of thanking her.
“For what exactly?” Owen asked.
I sighed yet again and pulled a pillow closer, took back my arm from Kit and laid it over my eyes, “So you know the other….ah…I mean last night when I was umm…dreaming?” I asked and dead silence met my question. “Yeah, that was all real.” I muttered then suddenly felt minds pushing against mine and groaned. Urg, I thought with a pain filled grimace, I so totally had not missed this!
While my men were busy trying to digest what I’d just told them, I dragged myself off the bed and headed toward the bathroom. It felt like forever since I’d bathed properly and something really needed to be done with my hair. Which incidentally, did not smell like horse and who knew what all else. At least it didn’t to me, but maybe I was a little too close to the source to tell. I got to the door, stopped and turned back to face the group, “Do not,” I said articulating each word, “disappear my outfit and especially not my weapons.” And I glared at first Kit then Owen. “In fact they had all better be tucked away in my closet when we return. And my clothing cleaned….yes they should definitely be cleaned.” I informed them then turned and went into the bathroom where I firmly closed the door behind me and leaned back against it for a moment. That was rather high handed of me, but then I really didn’t want my outfit vanishing back into the ether from which Areth had conjured it. It was comfortable and who knew, I might have need of it in the future…hopefully. Besides the weapons were superb, and a girl could never have too many fine blades. And there was the matter of my bow and umm...quiver I thought, then quickly changed my mental subject. I was practically positive the walls had ears.
I was rinsing the last of the shampoo out of my hair around the dratted circlet when Mi materialized next to the tub. She didn’t look annoyed so I figured I hadn’t done anything I’d be regretting. Maybe I’d finally find out what had happened to the Princes. “Hello.” I greeted her, wiping water from my face.
“The Keeper sends her regards and sincere appreciation for your assistance.” She informed me in voice that sounded pleased. “She also regrets any discomfort she may have inadvertently caused.”
Okay I thought and smiled back at Mi. “Don’t tell anyone, but I had a really great time…right up till the end.” I told her then frowned. “I don’t think any of us understood how precarious the…ah…no males thing was.”
Mi nodded then glanced around the bathing chamber. “The Princes will be introduced at Court in the next few days. They are being groomed for the task, as we speak. With their court having been sequestered from a more traditional one for more than a thousand years, and the Princes now being plenipotentiaries upon this world, we felt it best to ensure they had an understanding of our customs before integrating them. I also realize the Keeper did not have the opportunity to explain their situation as your departure was…rat
her abrupt. However she asked that I do so for her, as she is otherwise occupied with her duties at this time.”
Not surprising, she was probably still trying to get everyone moved to D2. I wondered if they would all end up in the same place or would she disperse them about the planet?
Mi seemed to think about it for a moment then responded, “There is a…place, a city which I believe will serve as their new home for the time. Perhaps they will remake it into its former glory.” She told me, “But I believe you wanted to know about the Princes?”
I leaned forward in the water and stared back at Mi with a pained look. I was really hoping they weren’t going to be dumped on me like Cam and Cursed had been. Well honestly, I was quite happy with Cursed. The jury was still out on whether Cam would be allowed to remain in our happy family.
“Two for you and none for all, is not the title of this saga.” Mi chided me, and laughed her kitty cat laugh when I grimaced back at her. She then settled in for story time. At least that was how I thought of her pose. It was the one she always employed when I was growing up and she’d entertain me with a life or history lesson. I leaned back in the bath and braced myself. All in all, it was a story with a pleasantly surprising twist. One I hoped would make my sisters very happy one day. And yay, I didn’t have to explain why I’d played hooky, and come back with four more additions to our home!
Chapter 18
I was seated upon a padded bench, my back to the mirror while Areth, who was standing upon the huge vanity she’d conjured for our bathing chamber, put the final touches to my hair. My circlet had finally released my brow, only to form itself into a complicated piece with interlocking circles covered in what Areth informed me was, cushion cut aquamarine stones. It came with matching earrings. The set was simply beautiful. The headpiece started at my left temple and wrapped across my hairline, behind my right ear, under my hair then over the left side of the top of my head in a fan of beautiful sparkling gold and pale blue-green gems. To anchor it in place, Areth had piled a portion of my hair on top of my head, while the rest cascaded down my back in soft ringlets. When I’d asked her what she’d done to keep it on me while I’d visited with the keeper, she’d informed me that she’d simply asked it to stay. She laughed when I’d sighed and rolled my eyes.
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