The Seeking Series Box Set

by D. R. Grady

  Vidar and Lukas exchanged glances before the two looked at Lajos.

  Lajos set his coffee mug down. “I’ve noticed that knowledge can make the difference between life and death in many situations. The more Raene and Stefana know about what’s happening in Ostard, the better the decisions they’ll make.”

  After contemplating his wife’s expressive face, and Stefana’s quirked eyebrow, Vidar stirred. “I sent Lukas into Ostard to spy out the land. We didn’t know much about them, and I wanted information only.”

  “I would have appreciated knowing that, because I also planned to send in a spy.” Raene’s eyebrow remained high. “Although I intended to send an actual spy.”

  Vidar had the grace to wince. “So we do have spies here?”

  “We do. Those who are specially trained to do this type of work. I am the queen. I have been tasked to run this country from the time of my birth. You cannot shield me or protect me.” Asperity colored Raene’s rebuke.

  “I wasn’t trying to shield you. This was simply an instance of my trying to learn about the neighbors. Information is often key in decision making. It never occurred to me that you also would require such information.” He lifted Raene from her perch to transfer her onto his lap.

  “Stefana and I should have detailed our tasks to you. Otherwise we are going to duplicate our efforts and that is a waste of time.”

  “We are all learning our duties, as they’ve changed recently. There will certainly be instances when we duplicate each other’s efforts. This can be alleviated with better communication.” Stefana brushed lint from her skirt.

  “Yes. As Raene stated, you’re all new to your duties. It stands to reason that Vidar and I should know about the spies and all matters relating to security here in Montequirst. Then we can oversee those tasks.” Lajos didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. He did raise his mug for another sip of coffee.

  The man certainly enjoyed their special blend. A best seller, this one was valued in lands far beyond their borders.

  Lukas drained his second cup of coffee. “I’m no spy, but I’ll tell you one doesn’t need to be when entering Ostard.”

  “What does that mean?” Raene’s forehead creased.

  Stefana shook out her skirt so she wouldn’t step on it. “The people are so destitute there, they have nothing to steal, nothing to protect. They would view an outsider as suspicious, but their circumstances are so dire they haven’t the energy or inclination to pay much mind to strangers.”

  Lukas, Vidar, and Lajos all gaped at her. Raene’s expression turned musing. “Yes, I suspected as much.”

  The three men kept their attention on Stefana. “How did you ascertain all this?” Lukas questioned her with brotherly suspicion.

  “I was just there. Blindfolded, yes, but my other senses took over. What I noted was not in King Ostard’s favor.”

  “How did you deduce so much while bound to a saddle?” Lukas remained suspicious.

  She shrugged. “The trip took several hours. And I figured we could use whatever knowledge I gleaned.”

  “Perhaps Stefana should be trained as a spy.” Vidar’s tone veered into facetious.

  “Perhaps.” Raene laughed. “Although you shouldn’t be so surprised. Stefana and I correspond with many people. We’ve been suspicious for a long while now. And we both knew Lalika, Ostard’s queen, if you’ll recall.”

  “I had forgotten you were friends with her,” Lukas murmured. “‘Tis sad she met with Ostard, then blue fever.”

  “Blue fever was a gift to her.” Stefana didn’t censor her thought, and it met with silence until everyone solemnly agreed.

  Raene’s expression turned rueful. “She had no idea of what she might encounter when her parents gave her over to someone like him.”

  “She didn’t stand much chance with a mother like she had.” A note of disdain crept into Lukas’ statement. There might be something else, something even deeper there.

  “Your conclusion on Ostard is that it is in dire need of a good king?” Vidar slashed through their chit chat to the main point again.

  “Oh yes. The majority of the people there live in abject poverty. There doesn’t appear to be industry or jobs. Other than working within the palace.” Lukas set his empty mug on the coffee table. “From what I gathered, even the nobles in the land are approaching dire straits.”

  Lajos snorted. “If they have no means of making an income, they will all perish.”

  “What will they do, I wonder?” Stefana didn’t expect an answer, but she was still surprised when none was offered.

  The urge to rip off the man’s head nearly sent Lajos reeling. He was Aasguard.

  They did not give way to emotion. They did not experience emotion. Especially while in service. Yet the sight of Lukas embracing Stefana had made his vision tunnel and burn bright red.

  His hackles rose, and he had prepared to rip the man away from Stefana, if not to remove his head from his person. Not normal behavior, especially for one of his years and training.

  Lajos recognized this. He had never reacted this way before. What had changed?

  He saw colors brighter and more vibrant these days. He was able to feel after decades of little emotion. Through the long years, he hadn’t missed the lack. The addition of colors and emotions had blindsided him.

  Sometimes he had felt in the past. For instance, on the way here to Montequirst when Fricassa had to stop every few miles to check her appearance. He had voiced his exasperation then, multiple times. After he’d complained they were likely to miss the wedding, Fricassa had finally relented.

  So there were moments when he’d experienced rather strong emotions. However, those times had been muted and few. Since he’d caught sight of Stefana, his reactions were far different. An unsettling state.

  Where had the word unsettling come from?

  More thoughts like this one and he’d lose his Aasguard status. And rightfully so.

  No one wanted or needed an emotional warrior.

  He didn’t want to burden Vidar with this, as his younger brother had new duties he was still learning. Besides, the subsequent ribbing from his sibling was best avoided.

  In this case, if he required advice, Aern might tease him, but the black dragon would remain mannerly. And Fricassa wouldn’t bother to tease him. She’d offer sound advice on the way the feminine brain worked.

  While a different species, it appeared females still understood one another, regardless. At least he hoped so.

  His sister resided here now. He could approach Ari, but he hesitated to do so. She continued mourning the loss of her dragon companion and he guessed she had even less experience in all this than he. A rare breed, female Aasguards, and due to this, they had to work much harder than their male counterparts.

  At least that had been his observation.

  With Vidar and Lukas occupying the two women, he decided to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the two dragons in the queen’s treasury.

  No one demurred when he left, and he wasn’t worried. The stacks of parchment Stefana needed to finish today piled high on her desk. He didn’t doubt she would be busy until early evening. At least.

  The woman worked hard.

  She smiled at him when he left but didn’t protest. His insides deflated for some odd reason.

  As though a storm cloud formed over his head. Emotions were messy and unnecessary. He’d lived this long without them, surely he could revert to that life again. Because this uncomfortable state of mind encroached upon his everyday life.

  Scowling as he made his way into the depths of the castle, Lajos noticed everything around him. His observation skills were a way of life and he couldn’t undo them, nor did he wish to. All those centuries of discipline and combat had served him well.

  Rounding one corner, he encountered a space filled with boulders and rocks of various sizes. He took a picture with his crystal and sent it to Vidar. The king would order the tunnel to be cleared of the usu
al debris all cave-like structures sustained. As the earth settled, rock slides were common. Especially along this passage. At least if Raene were to be believed, and she had lived here all her life.

  It didn’t take him long to enter the large cavern where Vidar had presided for so many years. This is where he and Raene had gotten to know each other. And where his brother had been married and subsequently named king.

  Lajos had first set eyes on Stefana here.

  Upon meeting the princess of Montequirst, his life hadn’t progressed as per usual. It had changed so vastly he wasn’t certain how to react.

  Life had always been one of service. It still was, as he had been appointed her bodyguard. But this assignment was so different than any other he had ever performed.

  “That’s a large sigh.” Fricassa’s voice floated from behind him but it didn’t startle him since he had sensed her.

  “Life is different, Fricassa.”

  The petite green dragon with big black eyes padded into sight. She appeared to be alone.

  Long, feminine eyelashes winked before her expression turned knowing. “You’ve fallen for Lady Stefana.”

  Not one to mince words, his Fricassa. After another sigh, he stalked from one end of the cavern to the other. Although plenty spacious, the walls felt as though they closed in on him.

  “I don’t know.”

  Fricassa didn’t refute his statement. She hunkered down as though offering him time to figure out his own mind.

  “What don’t you know?” Her question was soft, and not unsympathetic.

  “Why am I suddenly feeling emotions? Why are colors so much brighter? Why do I have to fight the need to yank off a man’s head if he embraces her? A man, I might add, who is her twin.”

  “You do realize Vidar struggled with similar questions about Raene, do you not?” Aern lumbered into view and settled beside Fricassa. Lajos appreciated that there wasn’t an ounce of teasing in his voice.

  “He felt all these same things?”

  “He stood at his crystal console,” Aern used his head to indicate the place, “searching out a husband for Raene, who should not have needed to name a man to be king so soon after losing her mother. She wasn’t given time to grieve at all. And Vidar showed every sign of taking off some idiot’s head. He growled and stewed and fulminated.” Aern’s green eyes gleamed in the overhead sunlight. “It was entertaining. To a point.”

  Lajos swung around to gaze at the black dragon. “Explain that, Aern.”

  “He and Raene both faced a very uncertain future. She didn’t know what awaited her upon her mother’s death. A traumatic, uncertain time for her. Vidar experienced all the struggles you are, and he realized we might need to take orders from the man whom Raene named. We might even be dismissed.”

  “Raene would have never dismissed you.”

  “No, but her husband could have. And it would have been within his right.” Aern’s face scrunched into the picture of disdain. “It’s one thing to take orders from a human you respect, but we faced taking them from some man who hadn’t even seen thirty summers yet.”

  Ugh. “That sounds terrible.”

  “Yes. It would have been. And that’s what Vidar faced. No one had ever heard of an Aasguard marrying, and it was clearly what Vidar wished. He wanted to wed Raene and protect and love her. Their emotions were certainly involved in all this.”

  “It worked out for them.” Fricassa’s pointing this out didn’t help him.

  “Yes. But . . . But what if it doesn’t work out for Stefana and me? She doesn’t seem inclined to marry.” He rubbed a hand over his face, wiping away something that wasn’t even there.

  “Relationships are always a risk. It might not work.” Fricassa nudged him with her snout.

  “You must weigh whether our Princess Stefana is worth that risk.” Aern’s tone indicated something, but Lajos couldn’t discern what.

  “She’s an amazing woman.” No sense in denying this. He had no desire to do so.

  “She is. There are depths within her that are probably uncombed. Stefana is still young, but she carries all the hallmarks of making an excellent wife.” Aern spoke with knowledge.

  Lajos couldn’t help sending him a sardonic glance. “You know all about wives?”

  “Of course I do. Fricassa has agreed to wed me.” Arrogance and happiness infused Aern’s answer.

  “Congratulations.” He swept Fricassa into his arms for a hearty squeeze before clapping Aern’s massive back. “I can’t think of a more suited couple. Except for Vidar and Raene.”

  “And Lajos and Stefana.” There, Fricassa said it, and he liked the ring.

  “There isn’t a Lajos and Stefana.”

  “There is. Only two stubborn people are standing in the way of them.”

  He had forgotten how irritating it was to argue with Fricassa.

  “She’s right, you know.” Aern’s hearty agreement made him grit his teeth.

  “Thank you, Aern. I’ve spent centuries with your mate. This conversation reminds me of why marriage might not be for me.”

  Fricassa nuzzled him. “We females can be exasperating, but we’re sweet too, Lajos.”

  Her assessment called to mind another female. Not that she’d crept very far away. She resolutely remained in the forefront of his thoughts.

  “What do I have to offer her?”

  Fricassa’s snort charred the hem of his trousers. He barely noticed.

  “You are a warrior without rival in this land. So long as you remain on good terms with your siblings.”

  “There’s another Aasguard warrior here now.”

  “Really?” Both dragons turned interested faces on him.

  “Kellen. His dragon companion, like Ari’s, decided to move on. He determined to come here and met with an army.”

  “So he’s recuperating.” Fricassa’s nod was knowing. “Do send him here, will you? We’ll enjoy a visit with him when he feels up to it.”

  “I’m certain he’ll appreciate meeting with you.”

  “We’ll help him through his grief.” Aern’s tale flicked. He abruptly stood and bussed Fricassa, who blushed.

  “Aernie, wait until we’re alone.” Her protest didn’t hold much weight.

  Lajos offered his own snort. “You two are as disgusting as Vidar and Raene.”

  Fricassa’s laughter was soft and delightful. “Thank you.” Her look remained knowing. “As you and Stefana will be once you get out of your own way.”

  Chapter 8

  Stalking into the castle, Lajos made his way to the library. He growled at the exorbitant number of warriors shadowing the space.

  At his warning, many of them skulked off. Yet several did not. He made a careful note of them before entering the library where their quarry worked. Lajos entered Vidar’s office for a pithy word with their commander.

  Vidar’s eyes narrowed, and he exited the library, Lajos on his heels.

  “Queen Raene made a decree several weeks ago. No woman will ever be forced to marry again in Montequirst. That proves double for Stefana. She never has to marry if that is her desire.” His brother’s eyes narrowed. “I’d like to know why my warriors feel it is acceptable to neglect their duties, and especially their training, to lurk outside the princess’s door.”

  The king’s voice lowered with each word, so that eventually the warriors had to lean forward to even hear what he said. “I don’t want to see a single one of you here unless you’re on military business.”

  Once Vidar snapped out the order, the men disappeared. Like magic, really. Lajos snarled.

  “Raene had to endure this same thing. She took to carrying Driies and I believe drew blood.”

  “I helped too.” Stuart, of mischief and mayhem and assistant Castle Keeper, stood to the left of Vidar, just short of snarling at the men as well.

  “Yes, she mentioned she enlisted you to throw warriors out the windows.” Vidar’s gruffness dissipated.

  “I never did get opportunity
to do so.” Stuart was clearly regretful of this.

  “You’re welcome to throw any of these who return out the tallest window you have.” Lajos’ hand clenched around his sword hilt.

  Vidar and Stuart exchanged glances. Lajos determined to ignore them.

  “I’ll do so.” Stuart rubbed his hands together. “And I shall enjoy it.” Stuart meandered away.

  “Is he trustworthy?”

  “Of course. He grew up with Raene and Stefana, obviously, and he’s as protective of them as Lukas.”

  “How can that be?”

  “Easy. The four of them spent a lot of time here, while the other children were permitted to play and attend celebrations and the like. The four of them, however, were duty bound even as children.”

  “So they bonded.”

  “They did. The four of them are close, and despite Stuart not being a warrior, they all see things from the same perspective.”

  “It’s a shame Stuart didn’t train to be a warrior.” Lajos thought of the possibilities.

  “He did, however his training was cut short one afternoon when he was out riding with Raene. A freak storm spooked his horse and it crushed his left hand.”

  “So he has a weakened hand.” A less than perfect hand would quickly destroy warrior training.

  “That and he has no interest. Stuart’s talents lay in running this castle. He does so with a skill unrivaled by any I’ve ever seen, other than his father, who Stuart assists. Everyone knows him, and he knows what’s going on with even the youngest of the castle staff.”

  “He’s a valuable source of information then.”

  “Yes. He understands the value of that information and because he’s so well informed, he makes decisions based on what is best for the nation, rather than what is best for himself.”

  “He’s the domestic version of Raene.”

  “He is. And she has gone to him for advice, and he has come to her for advice. Stefana and Raene meet with him regularly. He does take his duties here seriously. Although he doesn’t appear to do so, he does.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”