“As for your question, I can only guess that I trust Odet’s levelheadedness more. Father is strong, but I fancy he believes he can abolish the Advent all by himself. Despite everything, Odet is thinking clearer, clearer than any of us. I also trust you can be stricter with her in the times she wishes to place herself in an untenable situation. Is that trust misplaced?”
“No.”
“Good.” She was ready to speak on something else, but noticed narrowed eyes and a tilted head staring back at her. “What? Is this another attempt to see how long I can stand your silence?”
“No, sorry. I was only just realizing something foolish.”
“Which is?”
“I probably shouldn’t say.”
“But you will.”
“All right, but give me a second to phrase this properly.”
“Take all the time you need.”
“Okay…Well, I used to think the less assured woman I first saw would need a long time to trust herself to be a queen, but you’re proving me more wrong every time we speak.”
I don’t know if the noise she made was a chortle or the start of a sobbing cry, but before any more hint in sound or mien escaped, she locked it behind her throat. She cleared it and said, “I’ve had too much help to not at least try my best to… to move on from Mother’s death, including from you.”
“From me?”
“Or rather, what you’ve gone through. The Advent’s brutality, the corruption, and the loss of your childhood memories. Now I hear your brother is a thrall of the cult. One of these trials alone can threaten a man’s reason, yet here you are. If such misery can befall a single person without them losing hope, then I can at least try doing what my blood has been bred for.”
“It seems your misery has found company in mine. I suppose that’s one reason the gods allow it to exist.”
“We can be more…” She chuckled. “Gods, I said what I was going to say in my head first and it sounded so bawdy!”
“Finish it, then. Or are there no perks to being courted by a queen?”
“Courted? I’m doing no such thing.”
“So a proposal does not count as courting to you?”
“That was me being pragmatic, not romantic. Genuine courting would be far different and far more obvious coming from me. In fact, my lack of tact can be considered the main cause of my ruined friendship. I only desired to gain a little experience with men, but my forwardness prompted a stronger reaction from him. I preferred that it did not cost a friendship, but the incident did give me experience with managing a man’s expectations. Hmm, I suspect even my mere suggestion of bawdiness has raised your expectations, to put it delicately.”
“My first memories are of living with indelicate thieves and murderers, and I’ve traveled with a band of pirates. It takes more than the mere suggestion of bawdiness to raise my expectations. Our kiss on the other hand…”
“Are you endeavoring to steal another?”
“I’m only thinking that I might be gone a long time. Or was the first kiss with your potential husband so disagreeable as to not permit another?”
“Even if it had been disagreeable, I believe a dragon knight who has returned a father to his daughter deserves another chance or two to get it right.”
She leaned in during her last few words, prompting me to do the same. A kiss that incited the most primitive part of my mind also incited the most sensitive part of my body. The sensations demanded I go a lot farther than the first time. Preventing my hands and teeth from acting out the urge to tear off our clothes was the relic of reason hiding somewhere in the recesses of its engaged home.
I did go as far as press my lips harder onto hers so I could push her against the couch’s arm. A throaty chuckle squeaked out of her lips, stopping our second kiss.
“If I accepted your proposal right now, then we would basically have to move this to your bed, wouldn’t we?”
“We wouldn’t have to move anywhere. The sitting room doors do lock from the inside, you know.”
“The guards will come bursting through if they hear any screaming.”
“Hmm, such precautions should only be taken seriously if you do accept.”
“I was just trying to be a little bawdy, Your Grace.”
A frown. “I don’t want your bawdy talk right now.”
“Ah, now I regret opening my mouth.”
“No, that you can do. Just no talking.”
The next kiss nestled her deeper into the couch as I moved myself over more of her unknotting body. Her hand cupped the back of my head and grabbed my hair. With a gentle pull she lowered my head so that my lips landed on the nape of her neck. I never believed something could be so silky smooth as her taut skin. Her moaning exhale warmed my right ear. That same breath reminded me of her mouth and I went for it again.
My left hand found her right. Our fingers intertwined as my other hand ruffled the gown at her waist in its effort to trace her slender outline. Less slender was when I got a handful of her firm left breast, which felt more than a handful than her constricting dresses implied. Every instance of our tongues flicking against the other eroded my logic. It came snapping back when her bouncy lips suddenly disengaged from mine to say, “Damn it.”
I rested my forehead on hers. “Is that directed at me?”
“No. I just remembered that I told my father and sisters I’d see them after speaking with you. They could be waiting outside the door at this very moment.”
I lifted myself off the rising monarch. “And you’re afraid they’re going to guess what we’re doing?”
Her moist lips formed a lax smile. “I wouldn’t care very much if they did guess. However, I do care that this will be my last night with Odet in a long while. I fear that thought has broken the mood. I’m sorry, I truly am.”
“Don’t worry, I understand. Be with your family.”
“Thank you, and thank you for being a fine distraction.”
“That’s all I am to you, huh?” I stood up and repossessed the scabbard laying on the couch.
The queen’s hand slipped behind my neck to bring my head for another kiss. On separating, she used the hint of a singsong tone to say, “Sometimes a lass kisses a lad to pretend he’s a king and she a queen.” Back to her regular tone, she said, “If I’m being honest, I wanted to kiss you for the exact opposite reason. Sometimes I wish to forget I’m a queen, and when we kissed in your room before, I did. Not an easy accomplishment these days.”
“And what do you pretend to be. A peasant girl? A piratess?”
“Gods no. I’m still affluent enough to buy what I desire, I simply do not have a title that requires so much responsibility. Call me shallow or unimaginative if you wish, but nice things comfort me.”
“Well, as long as I can be one of your nice things.”
She let me come in for one final peck before we each knew it was time for me to leave. I headed for the doors once my scabbard was back in its belt and I could walk without hobbling.
After smoothing her gown and hair, she said, “Keep my sister safe, dragon knight.”
“I’d sooner let the Advent succeed in their grandiose goal than see her harmed, Your Grace.”
“Then we’re on the same page. May Enir grant you his luck.”
“And I’d give half of it back to you.”
I bowed, opened the door, and left.
Chapter Twelve
A brisk southern wind and a flawless blue sky greeted Aranath and his passengers as we began our journey to the Forest of Giants. Not counting the bloodsucker, everyone else agreed no better day to fly would be experienced in another century or two. Clarissa would have to endure the flight at least two days longer than I enjoyed the flight to Gremly, not including the days we needed to spend searching over the leafy canopy.
Aranath flew toward Alslana’s eastern coastline to follow it northward. Like most major powers, the most populated areas would lie by the coasts, but I told the dragon to follow the seashore
, anyway.
Minutes after landing on the most remote clearing in the area, Clarissa took notice of my odd choice to keep by the shore and asked, “Won’t it be easier to avoid towns and people if we flew over the middle of Alslana? Odet says there’s only a bunch of farms in the center of the kingdom.”
I looked to make certain the others were out of hearing range, then answered, “I’m aware, but I’m thinking of making a quick stop by a coastal city before moving farther inland.”
“Which city?”
I sighed. “Bukuna.”
“Bukuna?” She smiled. “The Equine Manor! Rosemary! You want to visit your family!”
“Mostly Rosemary, but yes.” For a reason I did not entirely fathom, the vampire hugged me. “Uh, why are you so happy?”
She separated from me. “Because it’s very sweet of you, and you’re hardly ever sweet. You could have just written them, but you’re not.”
“Well, part of the reason is to let them know the Advent have Alex working for them and that Nathaniel is likely dead, so it’s not exactly all sweetness and rainbows.”
“Maybe not, but the point is, you’re thinking of them. Plus, you’re going to let them know you’re a dragon knight, right?”
“Sure.”
“That should offset a little of the bad news. And they’ll meet a princess! Oh, can I please tell them the queen proposed to you?”
“No.”
“Okay, you’re right, that’s a bit far. Still, I’m glad you’re taking the time to visit them.”
“I’m surprised you’re so glad, but thanks, I guess.”
Three hours after training, with the sun halfway under the horizon, our group sparked a small campfire on top of a grassy dune and watched the Parsillion waves crash on to the beach a hundred yards away.
As we ate the cooked fish Gerard and Ghevont caught, I asked Odet, “What do you know about the people who live in the Forest of Giants?”
She stopped adjusting the laces of her right boot. Her ensemble was the same one she had worn when she first flew on Aranath. “The Homen? I’ve read a little history about their tribes, but Alslana has never had the need to conduct business with them. Even at our peak our northern border fell short of the forest.”
“Then you don’t know how susceptible they are to Advent influence?”
“If modern civilizations like Voreen and Prusal can be infiltrated by them, then I don’t see why the forest people would be any different. The Homen have a contentious relationship with Caracasa and Etoc, so I imagine the cult would offer the power to fight against the incurring nations as a reward for aiding their cause. In a way, I hope we do find a nismerdon among them.”
“Why?” asked Clarissa.
“Because it will be much easier calling upon allies within Iazali than on another continent.”
“Oh, that’s true. Still, you’d think a few supporters will answer a dragon knight’s call for help.”
“We can also buy help from the Warriors Guild,” said Gerard.
“You mean I can buy help,” corrected Odet.
“Of course, forgive me. I prostrate myself before you.”
“I don’t think the princess was quite that offended, sir knight,” said Ghevont.
The girls laughed.
It was early in the taking-Odet-instead-of-Eudon experiment, but I so far believed it to be productive. It didn’t hurt that Ghevont added his own wards during our bouts. Bringing Odet also brought Gerard’s superior swordsmanship for me to go up against. Supplemented with Clarissa’s water whips and icicles, my training always remained a blissfully enervating and escapist activity. Furthermore, when Odet and I focused on the bubble ward, the green knight was generous enough to augment the vampire and scholar’s battle speed for me.
The fourth day of travel would be a rest day from such physical activity due to my impending visit to Bukuna. We had left a little earlier in the morning to ensure we reached the city well before evening. Aranath dove for the ground as soon as he spotted the outskirts of the capital. It then became a matter of finding a road that led into town.
The summer sunshine did nothing to liven up the sluggish people and clammy aura of the place. A single gust of eastern wind blew in more fish smell than all my time in Ecrin. Going to the Equine Manor meant going west, away from the strongest of the fish odor. Despite the torpid conditions, the girls’ eager mood remained unaffected. The enthusiasm of those humors only increased when I pointed out the black steel bars of the Equine Manor’s fence.
On walking up to the guards, I pulled back my hood and said, “My name is-”
A man I sort of recognized in iron armor said, “Lord Cyrus Winfield. Yes, I remember you. Lady Winfield made sure we never forgot your face when you visited us last. Cole! Open the gates and get someone to inform the Winfields that the young lord has returned!”
The gate swung open, its lower bars pushing aside caked mud. Thirty yards later and we went through the manor’s small double doors. Waiting for us was the head housekeeper, Phillis Pharos. She opened her plum arms at the same time she squealed.
“It’s really you! Welcome back! Rosemary will be down soon. We’ve all prayed to the gods every hour since you left.”
“Then it worked. I-”
“Cyrus!” cried a young woman skipping down the stairs. It was my “sister,” Erica, looking less full-figured than when I last—and first—saw her. She too threw herself at me. “Your letters are frustratingly brief, Cyrus. Spencer teases me by filling in the blanks with dreadful developments.”
“I fear I won’t be much different.”
“That won’t do at all. Oh, who are your new friends?”
Looking back at Odet, I said, “Uh, I’ll wait to introduce them when we get everyone together. Trust me, it’ll be easier to have everyone reacting all at once.”
“Reacting to what?”
“Lady Winfield,” said Phillis. “Shall we move this to the dining hall? I’m certain Master Winfield and his friends are tired and hungry after their journey.”
“Yes, of course. Lead them there and tell the cooks to warm up anything they can. I’ll go find and gather the others. I’m afraid Spencer won’t leave his office for another two hours, but everyone else is home. Oh, except for Lord Pendlecot. He’s out of town altogether. Mother should be in the garden with Michael and… Ah! I’m babbling! Please, go eat up. I’ll be back!”
Phillis directed us to the manor’s right wing and asked us what we preferred eating. She then left us in the dining room to instruct the kitchen staff to get us drinks and whatever scraps they could scrounge up.
I stood up from my seat when I saw Lady Winfield cross the threshold a few minutes later. Her decorous form looked as close to out of breath as a woman of her station permitted. Neither of us said a word as we each closed the distance to embrace the other. She stood shorter than I remembered, but even with dragon scales protecting me, her hug felt strong.
She looked up at me and brushed back the hair dangling over my forehead. “I’m eternally glad and relieved to see you, Cyrus, but why didn’t you write first? We could have prepared for your coming by making certain our schedules aligned. You might have missed me. I only just returned from a fortnight in the countryside.”
“I’m sorry, but this is a last minute detour.”
“Detour? Gods, you won’t be staying long, will you?”
“Until morning.”
She hung her head. “You torture an old woman’s heart, darling.”
“Forgive him, Lady Winfield,” said Odet. “Your son is doing important work, truly.”
“I’ve never doubted it, young lady. Ah, and it seems even more youths are involved in this ‘important work’ than before. What do your parents think?”
“If I gave her my permission,” began the green knight, “my mother’s worry would have her joining me in my expeditions.”
Rosemary separated herself from me completely. “Gods, where are my manners?” She bowed. �
�Pardon my irritation. I should know better than to make Cyrus’ companions uncomfortable.”
“We’ve been more so,” said a matter-of-fact Ghevont.
With Lord Winfield alongside her, Erica returned holding Michael in her arms. Spencer’s wife, Naomi, and Lady Pendlecot followed seconds afterward. Erica handed Michael to his mother. Appearing last was Lady Pendlecot’s daughter, Cecelia, whose naturally genial guise displayed more indifference than gratitude at my presence.
After my family formally introduced themselves to my companions, I said, “Everyone, this is Gerard Safrix, High Guard knight for the Alslana Kingdom.” Moving my open palm to introduce the next stranger, I said, “With his sword and heart he protects Alslana’s first princess, Odet Astor.”
“It’s my pleasure to meet everyone,” said Odet.
The faces separate from my travel group searched my expression and the expression of the princess for any signs of jesting or insanity. When Rosemary set her wide-eyed gaze on me, I said, “Trust me, I’d rather this be a jest.”
“But, b-but why is the princess of Alslana traveling with you?”
“We share similar goals.”
“The Advent?” guessed Lord Winfield, the first to recover from the aura of astonishment still lingering in the room.
“Aye. We’ve recently discovered a way to sniff out their magic, and we’ve more recently started a mission to use that boon.”
Looking out the windows, Erica asked, “Does that mean there’s Alslana guardsmen nearby?”
“It’s just us.”
“Is that safe?” asked Lady Pendlecot. She fanned herself as fast as her wrist could move.
“It’s necessary.”
“More than that,” said Odet, “Cyrus can summon an ally that allows us to travel far above most danger.”
“All five of you?” probed Naomi. “That must be quite the beast.”
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