“Is this Countess Emmuska’s daughter?” Lord Tarak asked with awe in his voice, his hostility forgotten.
“Yes,” I replied, smiling at Jestine, wanting to reassure her that I was safe. “Viscountess Jestine of the House of Marinella,” I continued. “I present the High Lord Marl of Tarak.”
Jestine grinned at me, and then her dark eyes shifted back to the high lord’s face, as she appraised him warily. The high lord bowed to Jestine, as was proper after a formal introduction. After only a moment’s hesitation, Jestine gave an informal bow of acknowledgement, as was appropriate to one of her superior rank. The entire room burst into excited conversation. Jestine gazed around at them, curious about these strangers in her home.
“That was well done, Jess,” I whispered next to her ear. Her arms came around my neck again and she kissed my cheek, as always, gratified by my praise.
“Can you not see what this child sees with her innocent eyes?” Kieran called loudly, gathering the attention of the room around her. “The grand duchess holds our highest ranking Vilken child in her arms. She has sheltered this child and her mother, my cousin, the Countess of Marinella, in her own home since Marinella Manor was destroyed before the war. This young Vilken noble adores the grand duchess, her Aunt Pet. She is a part of her family, and by extension, ours.” A roomful of dark eyes focused on me. “Aunt Pet has restored not only our land, but the honor of our people, giving away large parcels of her own holdings to see the past righted, and injustice rectified,” Kieran continued. “Can you not see that despite her unusual coloring, she is Vilken to her very core?”
“But she’s Prime of Nogeland,” Lord Tarak said. “Her cousin is the Fae Queen.”
“And yet she has chosen to live amongst us, to worship in our temple, and to fight for Vilkerland,” Kieran called out. “So her eyes are bright, and her hair glows in the sun. She is Vilken inside.”
The entire room erupted into shouts and cheers as even Lord Tarak, the greatest antagonist to the notion of proclaiming me queen, offered a tentative smile. I knew then that the debate was won. Kieran, with the help of Jestine, had convinced the skeptics. Vilkerland would again have a queen.
The debating continued well into the night, but by morning it was decided. I was proclaimed the Vilken Queen. My coronation was set to take place during the autumnal equinox festival, when the Vilken war monument was unveiled.
Over the following months I finally managed to sketch appropriate images for the outside faces of the monoliths, images that highlighted the bravery of our fallen soldiers, rather than the butchery of war. I brought in the most skilled masons in Vilkerland to carve the scenes, and was pleased with the outcome. The names of all fallen Vilken soldiers covered every spare inch of the inside of the stones.
As the day of my coronation approached, Vilkerlings from all over Vilkerland began flooding into Lauderdam Village. The inns were filled to capacity, as was the palace. I invited both M’Tek and Lore, but didn’t receive a response to my invitation until ten days before the festival was set to start. Accordingly, I was shocked that they accepted.
The day before the festival was set to begin, M’Tek, Lore and an entourage of fourteen Fae guards arrived at Lauderdam Palace. Lia, Astrid, Ania and I were on the stairs to greet them as they dismounted their horses. M’Tek embraced her daughters easily, and then approached me on the stairs.
“Sister,” she said quietly. “As a fellow queen, I believe that is the proper address,” M’Tek explained, embracing me. “You look well,” she added.
“It’s good to see you, M’Tek,” I replied. M’Tek released me and returned to Astrid, picking her up.
Lore was scrutinizing me, deciding how best to approach me, I thought. She embraced Lia, and pressed a kiss to her daughter’s cheek before her gaze settled on me again. I stepped down the stairs to greet her and she waited stoically. Only after I opened my arms to her did Lore step forward to embrace me, pressing her forehead into the crook of my neck. For a moment I thought she was upset, as she inhaled deeply.
“Even now, I can’t help but love you, Pet,” Lore whispered. “Are we to be sisters, finally?” she asked. “M’Tek tells me that’s the proper way of addressing a queen with whom I’m not joined.” Slowly Lore’s arms encircled my waist, and then abruptly, she pulled back, staring into my eyes. “Will you admit Lauderdam is a palace now that you’re to be a queen?” she asked, offering a wry smile.
“I suppose I can concede that,” I agreed, eliciting a chuckle from Lore. “You can’t imagine what it means to me that you and M’Tek have come for my coronation,” I said.
“I think I probably can, Pet,” Lore whispered. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have come. You can’t imagine we’re looking forward to sharing a roof with your Vilken nobles,” she added.
“You might stay in the old gamekeeper’s cottage until the festival is over and the palace empties,” I volunteered. “I had it restored a few years ago. It’s extremely comfortable. I lived in it myself while the palace was being built.” Lore appraised me skeptically for a moment, but then her expression cleared.
“That’s actually not a bad suggestion,” she agreed, to my surprise, her mood lightening. “I’ll check with M’Tek. Do you think our guards might displace your grooms for a few nights, and sleep in the apartments above the stables? It would ease the tensions.”
“Of course,” I replied. “You must know you’re safe, though, Lore. No one will threaten you in my home.”
“Really? I heard Kieran is staying with you,” Lore pointed out.
“I fear more for Kieran’s safety than yours, my friend,” I said, teasing her.
“As you should,” Lore said sharply, cutting her eyes away from me, and playing along before she laughed lightly.
Just then Jestine came running down the stairs toward Ania. Ania glanced over at me nervously. She was deeply in love with Emma, but none of us thought the coronation the right time to bring this development to light with her mothers. I decided it best to prevent the interaction between Ania and the child.
“Jess,” I called to her as I reached my hand out. The little nymph changed direction and trotted over to me. I scooped her up in my arms and placed a kiss on her forehead. Lore was immediately taken with the little sprite, smiling at her.
“Hello, little one,” Lore said beaming a smile at the child. Jestine grinned at her.
“Her Majesty, Loredana of the House Castelyne, Queen of Nogeland and Faeland, I’d like to introduce the Viscountess Jestine of Marinella,” I said. “Bow to the Queen, Jestine,” I whispered in the child’s ear. She complied, offering a rather poor Vilken bow, since I was holding her. Regardless, Lore was charmed, returning her bow with a perfect Vilken bow of her own. Jestine giggled and Lore winked at her.
“This is Emmuska’s daughter, I take it,” Lore said quietly.
“Yes,” I agreed.
“She’s quite beautiful,” Lore observed, looking fondly on the child. “Lia writes that she’s Astrid’s constant playmate.”
“She is,” I said, as Jestine began fidgeting with my hair.
“She has extraordinary eyes,” Lore whispered, her attention rapt. “I’ve never seen a Vilkerling with such eyes. Her hair even has a shimmer about it. Is it possible she has Fae blood?” Lore asked, her gaze shifting over the child. “Where’s her mother, I’d like to greet the countess. We were good friends once,” Lore added in a wistful tone.
We had intentionally kept Emma busy with preparations for the coronation, in the hopes of preventing Lore from seeing her. Both Lore and M’Tek would easily recognize that something was peculiar about the countess, though strangely neither Emma nor Ania had ever mentioned it. Suddenly Lia was beside us, wrapping an arm around Lore.
“Mamma, let me show you to your apartment,” Lia started. “We can catch up on the way. I’ve missed you so much.” Lore stared at her daughter in shock; clearly unable to believe the words Lia had spoken.
“Did you actually say you’ve m
issed me, my love, or did I mishear?” Lore asked in a tone of disbelief. Lia had effectively distracted her mother.
“Of course I’ve missed you, Mamma,” Lia said, leaning in to kiss Lore’s check. Lore’s confusion was obvious when she glanced back at me. She was trying to understand what had just happened. The last time she had spoken to her daughter there was a decided chill between them.
“Darling, your mothers will be staying in the gamekeeper’s cottage,” I said, smiling at my brilliant mate. Lia winked at me as she wrapped an arm across Lore’s shoulders, drawing her attention away from Jestine and me.
“Walk with me. I have so much to tell you,” Lia said, leading Lore from the entryway and toward the stables. I watched them for a moment before I realized M’Tek was beside me again.
“That was odd, but not nearly as odd as this child. I’ve never seen a Vilkerling with Fae eyes before,” M’Tek observed, going straight to the point.
“M’Tek, please, don’t say anything,” I pleaded. “It was my fault,” I whispered. “She doesn’t even know.”
“Who doesn’t know?” M’Tek asked, her focus direct.
“Emma, the child’s mother,” I whispered.
“How could she not know?” M’Tek asked. “I assume the child’s father was Fae. I’ve always believed interbreeding between Vilkerlings and Fae impossible, but obviously I was wrong,” she added. “Does she not remember bedding the man? And how is it your fault, Pet? Did it happen as a result of your potion?” she asked, teasing.
“Never mind,” I said, shaking my head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I guess not,” M’Tek replied, looking at me as if I were a cipher she was trying to understand. “Are you all right, Pet? You seem a little frazzled,” she said gently.
“I’m fine, cousin,” I replied.
“Don’t you mean sister?” she asked, grinning.
“Do you really want to hold so strictly to protocol in this instance, M’Tek? It seems confusing. I joined with your daughter. If I’m your sister that makes Lia my niece,” I replied. M’Tek laughed and draped an arm across my shoulders.
“You’re always so pragmatic,” M’Tek replied, still laughing. “But it does sound rather incestuous when you put it that way,” she admitted, drawing me close in a partial hug, and walking with Jestine and me into the palace.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said as we made our way through the entry hall toward the main keeping room. “I can’t imagine being crowned without you present.”
“Yes. Well, I find I’m really quite attached to you, after all,” she said, raising a dark eyebrow as she appraised me. “I can’t say it was an easy decision, though, coming here for this. Lore’s still a little wounded over the way you pressed your advantage with us,” M’Tek observed, offering a dry smile.
“And you, cousin? Are you wounded?” I asked, indicating she should sit on the main keeping room sofa. I had dates, nuts, and berrywine set out waiting.
“I sympathize with Lore, but to be honest, I’m relieved she’s free of these violent Vilkerlings. They truly loathe her, thanks to me, of course. Maybe in time she will be less hated here,” M’Tek observed as she sat down. I sank into the cushion beside her, still holding Jestine in my arms. I sat the child between us as she unabashedly appraised the Fae Queen. M’Tek offered a smile to the little nymph. Jess took that as an invitation, and boldly scooted into the Fae Queen’s lap. “These Vilkerlings apparently love you, Pet. You’ll be safe, I believe. They fought well for you. When you fell in battle, the wound to your throat appeared mortal. Still, your soldiers protected you with their own lives. At least a dozen fell shielding Lia and me, while we stitched you up. I was stunned, truly,” M’Tek admitted. “I never believed the Vilken people had any real capacity for loyalty before that moment.” Jestine grasped the necklace M’Tek wore, bringing it close to examine it. M’Tek watched the child, clearly amused by her audacity. “I knew at that point, one way or another, if you survived, you would take Vilkerland from Lore.”
“One way or another?” I asked, leaning forward to pour a glass of berrywine for my cousin.
“At some point you would have fought her,” M’Tek observed. I placed the glass in M’Tek’s hand. “I told her as much in the tent. I explained that either she could gracefully relinquish Vilkerland and maintain that tenuous peace in our family, or that she would lead her tattered Noge force against the well trained Vilken army of her daughter and her dearest friend,” M’Tek explained before raising her glass to her lips.
“You wouldn’t have fought beside Lore?” I asked. M’Tek shook her head.
“No, not against my cousin and my child, and certainly not for Vilkerland. I’m tired of war. Almost three centuries of battles is enough, even for me,” M’Tek added with a deep sigh. “Besides, my army is decimated, and at this point I’m not even certain the Noge army should be called an army. Meanwhile, your Vilken force appears strong. It would have been an easy victory for you, and devastation for us.”
“Yes,” I agreed.
“Lore had a choice between a formidable enemy, or a valuable friend,” M’Tek continued. “She will always choose friendship over strife.”
“I wouldn’t have fought her,” I admitted. “That’s why I made the request the way I did. I was relying on her sense of honor. I never intended to bully her.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter at this point,” M’Tek replied, turning her attention to the little Vilkerling sitting on her lap. Her gaze settled on the silver scar along Jestine’s collarbone. She stared for a moment, and then raised her pale eyes to my face.
“Lia and I healed her,” I replied to her tacit question.
“From what?” M’Tek asked, drawing Jess’s tunic along her collarbone to reveal the enormity of the scar. “She shouldn’t have survived this,” M’Tek observed. “Even with your Lemu blood, this child shouldn’t have recovered. Her shoulder was basically ripped from her…”
“M’Tek, Jess understands you,” I interrupted her. M’Tek’s gaze shifted from Jestine’s wound to the intelligent dark eyes intently focused on her face.
“But I’m speaking Fae,” M’Tek pointed out.
“She understands Fae,” I said evenly. “She speaks very little, but she understands all three languages. You’ll have to use Old Noge if you don’t want her to know what you’re saying,” I explained in Old Noge.
“What happened to her?” M’Tek asked in Old Noge.
“Her mother arrived at our door pregnant, and mortally wounded,” I explained. “Lia and I took turns working to heal her. We managed to save both the countess and her child.”
M’Tek continued to focus on Jestine’s shoulder, following the scar around her arm and across her chest. Finally, she shook her head and glanced at me skeptically.
“Who is her father?” M’Tek asked. “He must have Lemu blood because…”
“Her father was Vilken,” I interrupted.
M’Tek stared at me for a moment. “You’re mistaken, cousin,” she said evenly.
“I’m not,” I replied. “The child is named for her father, Jestin, Earl of Marinella. She would have been born a normal Vilken child. I did this to her,” I said calmly. “When Lia and I healed Emma, and her unborn child, we changed them both. I don’t know how it happened, M’Tek, truly. At first Emma’s body rejected what we were doing. I thought my friend would die, and I was certain she’d already lost the child,” I explained. “Lia refused to give up. We drained half our blood away saving the countess.”
“You said before that Countess Emmuska doesn’t know,” M’Tek said quietly.
“She doesn’t, despite how obvious it is. Ania hasn’t noticed either, and she’s this child’s other mother,” I continued, sensing M’Tek was as open to that news just then as she was ever likely to be. Her eyes widened as she processed what I’d said.
“I’m not sure what part of your statement is more incredible, cousin, that Ania hasn’t noticed this child is Lemu, or… Did y
ou truly say that Ania is this Vilken child’s mother?” M’Tek asked, handing her glass of berrywine to me. I accepted it and placed it on the side table. “Why would my daughter be the parent of a Vilken child?”
“We were away at war when Jestine was born,” I said, hoping that might explain Ania’s attachment to the child. “She witnessed her birth, and became very close with both Emma and Jestine during our absence,” I replied. “Emma was in mourning over the loss of her mate. Ania has been very kind to them both.” M’Tek focused on the child for what seemed quite a long time, smiling at her, and allowing Jestine to place her small hand on her cheek, patting the Fae Queen’s face affectionately. Finally, M’Tek spoke.
“I’ll admit, your berrywines have improved immensely, cousin. Still, I would prefer a glass of torppa if you don’t mind,” M’Tek said evenly. I nodded and stood from the sofa.
“Of course, M’Tek,” I replied. “I’ll only be a moment.”
I welcomed the opportunity to collect my thoughts as I headed toward the vault below Lauderdam Palace that contained our stock of torppa. As I passed my servants and guards, and jubilant guests, I nodded greetings and received smiles of acknowledgement. M’Tek was taking the news of her daughter’s involvement with a Vilkerling better than I had expected, I decided. And clearly my cousin had been taken with Jestine, when she thought the child a Fae half-breed. I came across Ania and Emma in the kitchen, coordinating the preparations for the feast scheduled for the morrow. I raised a hand at the entryway, beckoning my friend. Emma approached. Ania, noticing Emma was gone from her side, turned to find us. Her bright blue eyes focused on me for only a moment before she followed after Emma.
“I’m headed down to the vaults. M’Tek requested torppa,” I said quietly. “Walk with me.”
A Fortunate Woman (Fortune's Favor Book 2) Page 41
