“Because it’s archaic!” Hayden breathed in and out with a heavy sigh. “I asked Sabina to marry me.”
“You did? Finally! But why are you fighting?”
“Because she denied me.”
“I did no such thing. I said I could not marry you until you ask my father for my hand.”
“Um, okay, so besides that being a little old-fashioned, it’s kind of sweet. What’s the big deal?”
“Her father is the king of the Summerlands. You do not simply walk up to the man and ask permission. There is tradition to uphold. A ceremony.” Hayden glanced away, his gaze settling on Gian, who sat silently in the corner stroking Kaida’s fur. A blush covered Hayden’s cheeks and he mumbled an apology to the faerie.
“Can someone explain what’s going on? What ceremony? Why is Hayden freaked out?”
“The ceremony involves piercing a certainintimatepart of the male body as well as being tattooed.”
The blush darkened and Hayden refused to meet her eyes.
Taryn suddenly understood and broke out in laughter. “I’m so sorry,” she hiccuped between fits. “That’s a terrible thing to do to a man! But Hayden, surely you love Sabina enough to endure anything for her?”
“That’s what I’ve been telling him! He won’t listen. He says it’s barbaric, which means my people are barbaric. He doesn’t think I’m good enough for him.”
Taryn’s laughter subsided and she struggled to keep a straight face. Each time she looked at Hayden, his demeanor slipped even further into despair. “We’ll figure something out. For now, can you two please go back to loving each other? I need to see a happy couple. Desperately.” She batted her lashes at them with her best pout.
“We will, as long as you promise not to make that face ever again. You look horrendous.”
“Thanks, Sabina. You’re a real confidence booster.”
After they left, Taryn and Gian spoke at length about their problem, coming no closer to a solution. The tattoos she understood, but the piercing? Why would anyone in their right mind do that to their body?
The next morning, she was almost finished with her yogic stretches when Ebus entered her rooms, hidden beneath a swath of shadows. She lay on her stomach and arched her torso up with a soothing stretch. Kaida sniffed the air and padded to where Ebus stood. Her whine earned a shush from the empty air.
“It isn’t nice to sneak into my rooms, you know.” Taryn stretched into another position, twisting her body first to the right, and then left. She’d never been a fan of yoga, but her constant riding and training made her muscles tense and cramp. Even her martial arts couldn’t untie the knots that formed in her neck and back. Yoga did.
It also helped her calm her mind and regain her focus, something training used to do, but had become too much of a duty and was no longer enjoyable. She struggled to regain the joy she once felt each time she held Ynyd Eirathnacht.
Ebus moved and Taryn scanned the room for his dark outline. Finding it, she snapped a thread of ShantiMari against his ankle.
“Blast it, woman!” His chuckle belied his anger. The shadows faded from him and he shook out his hair. “I’d like to know how you do that.”
“You have your secrets. I have mine.” She stood, patting a cloth against her heated skin. “What brings you here today?”
“I’ve just returned from Caer Idris, where I’ve been for many moonturns.” At her look of surprise, he added, “Aye, I was there when you stole away with the faerie boy. As well as long after. Your father was not pleased when Zakael returned without you. His rage is unequaled. No lady should ever have to see it. Your brother’s punishment will not soon be forgotten, I’m afraid. As for you, Valterys is most keen for you to meet his god.”
“I don’t have any plans of going near Rykoto. Not yet, anyway.” Taryn almost felt bad for her half-brother. She witnessed firsthand her father’s punishments, something she wouldn’t be too soon to forget.
Gian entered the room, startling them. He signed to Taryn, asking after her visitor and if he should return later.
“Stay, Gian. This is Ebus, a dear friend of mine and Prince Rhoane’s. Ebus, this is Gian. He’s the faerie I stole from my father.” Gian grinned at her and bowed to the spy. A knock at the door meant the rest of the group would be joining them. “We’re meeting to discuss Lliandra’s taxes. Would you like to stay, Ebus?”
He pulled his shadows tight and whispered, “If you don’t mind, I should like to observe only.”
Gian’s eyes widened and he looked from the empty air to Taryn. “I’ll teach you someday. For now, say nothing of Ebus.” The faerie nodded and took a seat on the couch. Kaida sat beside him and his hand went to her soft fur.
The others trickled in and chatted together until everyone sat in Taryn’s spacious room, drinking and eating. Listening to her friends and watching them deftly handle difficult situations made her realize she’d done to them what others had done to her—she underestimated them. Not only were they able to gather information without leaving palace grounds, they had a knowledge of court politics, which allowed them to subvert attacks.
That morning, she learned the courtiers only tired of Taryn’s ordeals because Eliahnna or Tinsley would start another rumor, one more titillating than that of the Eirielle, something they confessed wasn’t easy to do as Taryn was still the court’s favorite topic.
When she and Baehlon left the meeting for their sword training, a weight had been lifted. For her sisters and friends to go to such extremes to protect her was humbling and she was grateful for them.
“Rhoane should be made aware of what we’ve discussed.”
Baehlon grumbled that he’d not heard from the prince in too long.
“He is well, my friend,” Taryn told Baehlon. “Of that, I am certain.”
“You’ve been in contact with him?”
“Not exactly.” She grinned. “I just know.”
“It’s good to see you smile again.” He placed his arm around her, squeezing the breath from her lungs. “You should do that more often.”
Taryn trained hard for close to three bells. She worked with the soldiers using swords and martial arts, complimenting them on their increased skill. Darius in particular showed great promise. He’d continued his training while she was gone; as a result, his body became leaner, more muscular. Taryn wasn’t the only one to notice, either. She often caught Ellie scurrying past the yard with a basket in hand.
Afterward, she relaxed with a hot bath and her daily dose of gossip from the maids. The court was in a tizzy because Lord Valen had proposed to Princess Sabina and she accepted. Taryn smiled to herself and sank beneath the bubbles, releasing a giggle. Poor Hayden.
Tarro arrived at the appointed time to escort her to Nena’s house. Nerves fluttered in her belly and she worried over her attire, but Tarro assured her it was fine. The stiffness in his bow and curtness of his replies told Taryn he was annoyed with her. She hated deceiving him but couldn’t afford for the court to know her real reason for visiting Armando.
The walk to Nena’s hung heavy with silence; Tarro’s reticence ate at Taryn. When he knocked on the back door, her confidence faltered.
As if he sensed it, Tarro reassured her, saying, “He’s a man, like every other. There is no need to be anxious.”
But he was wrong. Armando wasn’t a man like any she knew. He was a whore, a very good one from what she’d been told. Taryn had little experience with men and yet was somehow expected to extract information from him. It was a doomed experiment, but she’d gone along with it to mollify her friends.
A small window opened and two dark eyes glared at them. A moment later, the door opened and Tarro greeted the doorman by name. Taryn smiled shyly, but he’d already lost interest in them and turned to chat with a young boy who wore what looked like women’s pantaloons and nothing else. The pang of insecurity spread from her gut to her chest the farther up the back stairs they climbed. By the time they reached Armando’s door, Taryn was shak
ing.
“Really, Princess. There is no need to be worried. Armando is the best.”
“You know, it doesn’t help to have his lover trying to make me feel better. Besides, I didn’t come here for that.”
Tarro’s mouth gaped the same instant the door opened and quite possibly the most gorgeous man Taryn had ever seen stood before her. He wore loose breeches and a matching robe opened to reveal burnished skin so smooth it looked like toffee. He could’ve been wearing a clown suit and fruit basket on his head and still would’ve been perfect.
“Tarro.” Armando’s Summerlands drawl made love to the name and for one tiny moment, Taryn was jealous of her tailor. “Is this the woman you told me about?” Armando’s gaze went to Taryn, surveying her from head to toe, every glance an invitation and lust-filled promise.
“I-I-I, uh, I’m Taryn.” She thrust out her hand, forgetting the Aelans didn’t shake hands upon meeting. Armando smiled and she swooned a little before snatching her hand behind her body. “Yes. I’m Princess Taryn and I wanted to meet you.” Reminding herself who she was helped, but not much.
“Come in, please.” He stepped aside, and Tarro turned to leave.
“Stay, Tarro,” Taryn pleaded.
“I’m sorry, Princess, but I keep my love life separate from my work. I thought you understood this.”
“I do. It’s just…Tarro, get in here and close the door.” A wall of ShantiMari rose around them and she took a steadying breath. “I might have given you the wrong impression. I didn’t come here for, um, your skills. I need information.”
Armando cut Tarro a glare and Taryn immediately apologized. “Please don’t be angry with Tarro. He didn’t know my reasons for coming to see you, and I’m sure if he did, we wouldn’t be standing here right now.”
Armando spun away and grabbed for the door, but Taryn blocked him with her power. “You will release me at once, Your Highness.” An evil glint hid in his dark brown eyes. “I don’t know what it is with your family, but I am not a dog to be kicked around.”
“I know you’re not and I’m sorry. My mother and sister, they’re not nice people, but I am. Really.”
“You have an odd way of showing it.”
“My love, please. The princess has only ever been kind to me. Won’t you at least hear her out?” Tarro stroked Armando’s arms, soothing him until the whore nodded.
“Thank you.” Taryn breathed. “My mother and sister are why I’m here. They are taxing your people illegally and I fear are planning something horrific. If you have any knowledge you can share, I will forever be in your debt.”
Armando shook his head and dark curls covered his handsome face. “I haven’t seen the crown princess since just before the court left for Celyn Eryri. I’m afraid we parted on unfriendly terms. As for the empress, Nena is her favorite. I have never had the honor.” The way he said the last word made it sound like bedding Lliandra was anything but.
“If you do hear anything, will you tell Tarro? He can pass the information along to me. I don’t think it’s wise if I’m seen visiting here regularly.” Taryn took a step toward the door and paused. “One more question, if you don’t mind? The Summerlands marriage tradition of piercing the groom’s, um, body part—why?”
Armando indicated a tiny diamond in his ear. “To show the world you are taken. Why else?”
Taryn barely held her laughter in check. Poor Hayden. Sabina was cruel for allowing him to believe it was somewhere more intimate.
Taryn thanked the men and Tarro led her down the darkened hallways to the small sitting room where they entered the house. A buxom woman with flaming hair and wearing exquisite lingerie accosted them, much to Taryn’s horror. She kissed Tarro’s cheeks and patiently waited for an introduction.
When Tarro hesitated, Taryn curtseyed to the madam. “I’m Princess Taryn of House Galendrin.”
The woman’s mouth formed anO. “Your Highness. Nena never thought she would see you in her home. I trust everything was to your satisfaction?”
“Every moment.”
“Excellent. Will Nena see you again, perhaps?”
“I certainly hope so. With such charming company, how can I stay away?”
Nena pinched Tarro’s cheek. “She’s a flatterer, this one. Were you visiting Armando?”
“She was. I just stopped by to say hello.”
The young boy Taryn saw earlier rushed into the room and Nena made her apologies before leaving them alone. Once they were safely away from the house, Tarro asked quietly, “What did you think of my Armando?”
Taryn whistled and fanned herself. “I think you’re one hell of a lucky man. Is it hard for you? Knowing what Armando does?”
“He comes home to me each night and I know he loves me, unlike his clients. To him, they are merely what puts food on the table. Sometimes, though, one of them will fancy themselves in love with him. That can be tiresome.”
“You accept his profession with equanimity.”
“I won’t lie and say I like it.” Tarro grinned and a blush crept into his cheeks. “But there are some benefits to having a lover whose job it is to perfect the art of lovemaking.”
Taryn stifled an embarrassed giggle. “It’s obvious you two have a deep respect for each other. How long have you been together?”
“Many seasons. I met him not long after he started working at the house. He was already one of Nena’s boys by then, so there was no misunderstanding his duties. I fell in love immediately, but Armando was skeptical. When he was a lad, twelve seasons if that, pirates attacked his ship. They took him captive as a slave, but he caught the eye of the captain. He became that man’s dog for four long seasons until one day he escaped. The thought of loving another man, or even a woman, frightened him. But I never gave up.” Tarro’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “One day he said yes.”
Taryn gazed at the imposing palace and wondered if she’d ever have the chance to one day say yes to Rhoane.
Chapter 41
KAIDA chased birds while Taryn strolled the orchard, the fragrant blossoms heavy with fruit. A sargot dropped on her head, causing her to swear out loud. At the sound of laughter high above her, she swore again.
“That’s not appropriate language for a princess,” Ebus taunted from a branch near the top of the tree.
“Do I even want to know what you’re doing up there?”
He deftly made his way down through the branches, plopping beside her. “No, I don’t think you do.” Kaida ran to Ebus, licking his hand until he reached into his pocket for a treat. Once he gave her the scrap he had hidden, she leapt away to chase a butterfly.
“Have you forgotten she’s a grierbas?”
Ebus looked at Taryn as if she were dimwitted. “Have you never seen what the others feed her? At least I keep it to her diet.”
“I probably don’t want to know that either, do I?”
“Not really. I wanted to talk to you about the boy, Gian.” Ebus cleared his throat and asked, “May I speak freely?”
“Always.” His behavior was strange, even for Ebus, and it worried her.
“What has Gian told you of his ordeal at Caer Idris?”
“Only a little. He’s terrified of Zakael more so than Valterys, even though they both tortured him.”
“Zakael tortured Gian for nearly six cycles of the moon. What he did to the boy…” He sighed. “By all rights he should be dead, but he fought against the torture. Why? I can’t tell you, but what I did learn at Caer Idris was that Zakael was looking for information about you. Your strengths, your weaknesses, how the Eleri felt about you, that kind of stuff.”
“What did Zakael learn from him?” A sick feeling churned inside her. Faerie folk were much like Eleri in that they shared a bond with nature. If Gian spoke to the trees, he would know all manner of minute details about her Zakael could exploit.
“My source wasn’t clear on this, but it was enough the boy felt he betrayed you. He tried on several occasions to take his life—eac
h time Zakael prevented it. When it was clear Gian had nothing more to offer, Zakael took out his tongue, using clamps he pulled from the fire. He then threw him in a dungeon, leaving him for dead.” Ebus sounded sad and disgusted at the same time. “Your brother is very dangerous, Princess.”
“I’m aware of that. I think I know what kept Gian alive. Tell me, what do you know about the faerie life debt?”
“It is a very powerful oath. Gian must’ve bargained with Verdaine that if she let him live—he would find a way to repay you for his betrayal.”
“But he had no idea I’d be at the castle or I would find him,” Taryn argued.
“Funny how things have a way of working out, don’t you think?” Ebus gave her a sideways glance. “About the time Gian lost his tongue, you set forth for Caer Idris.”
“Poor Gian.” Taryn sighed.
“There is nothing poor about that boy. He is richer than your mother and father combined. He has the love and respect of the greatest lady to walk this land,” Ebus said simply.
“Flatterer,” Taryn joked. “Now I understand why he was so reluctant to return to the vier. I need to find a way to let him know I value him but at the same time give him purpose. If I let Lords Tinsley and Aomori have their way, Gian will be nothing more than a well-dressed courtier who does nothing with his days.”
“Do not discount the merits of being a courtier. Your young lordlings know more about the workings of this palace than even the chamberlain. Gian could serve you well as a spy, with the proper training,” Ebus offered.
“What are you saying? I should let him play cards and croquet all day with Tinsley?” Taryn thought about the idea. “I suppose if it’s what Gian wants…”
“I was hoping perhaps Your Highness would allow me to instruct the young lad in some of the finer aspects of espionage.” His nose twitched again, his eyes brighter than before.
“What do you have in mind, Ebus?” The sick feeling in Taryn’s gut mixed with a new sense of apprehension.
The Temple of Ardyn (Song of the Swords Book 2) Page 36
