The panel slid shut and the entire room shivered. I slapped a hand on the wall to brace myself as I felt us move downward.
“This is a magic, moving box?” I asked in shock. “Like a dumbwaiter for people?”
Tae's knights snickered, and he shot them a silencing look before he explained, “It's not magic, just pulleys and such, very much like a dumbwaiter, though I believe the mechanism is powered by magic.” He frowned and looked at his knights. “Isn't it?”
They all shrugged.
“Could be, my lord,” Azla said. “Honestly, I've never asked.”
“No, you just accepted it as a part of your world.” I shook my head in wonder. “I can't even imagine being raised to take such amazing things for granted. To become so accustomed to them that even a brilliant feat of magic and engineering becomes mundane.”
That shut them up. The knights glanced at each other guiltily.Yeah, maybe count your blessings instead of deriding others for not having them.
“We do become immune to the little miracles,” Taeven mused as he ran a hand over the metal casing that housed the buttons. “It is a wondrous thing, isn't it?” He smiled at me. “Thank you for giving me a new perspective, Shane. I can't wait to see the rest of the city through your eyes.”
Before I could reply, something dinged, and we came to a halt. The panel opened and Tae took my hand to draw me out, past his shifting knights.
“Notify Halfrin that we're home and ask him to send up some hot chocolate for Shane and me,” Taeven said to his knights. “Also, send a message to Their Majesties that we'll be attending them soon. We'll leave for the palace in an hour.”
“Yes, my lord,” they said in unison.
The panel closed just as Taeven hit a switch on the wall. Around us, fae lights came on, illuminating a corridor. We strolled down it, me gawking at the amazing artwork on the walls—landscapes, battle scenes, portraits, and still lifes, all framed in intricately carved and gilded wood. The frames alone were worth a fortune.
“Um, Tae, where are we?”
“Oh, I . . . I'm sorry, Shane, I assumed you'd know. This is my home.”
I stopped walking. “You live in apalace?!”
“It came with the warlord position,” he explained. “Gifted to me by the Crown.”
“You weregivena palace?!”
Tae chuckled. “Yes, but most nobles have them here.”
“But . . . are you a noble? You said you were a farmer.”
Something sharp and painful zipped across his expression. “No, I wasn't born noble, though my status as warlord is considered such.”
“So . . . you think this place is pretty fucking awesome too, don't you?” I grinned knowingly at him.
Taeven burst out laughing. “Yes, it is spectacular.” His laughter faded, his expression softening into something tender as he lifted a hand to my face. “You can be so pessimistic and yet, you have a lightness to you that transforms darkness into something beautiful.”
I laid my hand over his, then lowered our hands together so I could weave my fingers with his. “I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist, and that doesn't have to be a bad thing. A realist sees things as they are and accepts them so that he can be happy. I may not be blissfully ignorant, but with awareness comes appreciation, and that is a lasting joy that cannot be hurt by the truth since it is born of truth.”
“Dear Goddess, who are you?” Taeven grinned and shook his head at me.
I shrugged. “The product of my parents, I suppose. They taught me how to live and appreciate life, but they also taught me to be careful. I'm sorry if my wariness annoys you.”
“No, I'm sorry I said those things to you. You were wise to question the life you were offered before simply jumping into it. Very few men would have.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, come along; we need to get dressed to present ourselves at court.”
Tae started leading me through the corridor again, taking so many turns that I was lost in minutes. We eventually went into another elevator and stepped out onto the 25thfloor. My grip on his hand loosened and then I let go entirely as I stepped forward into a grand room lit by a glittering chandelier the size of my old tent. The huge space was broken up into several areas by furniture placement and rugs, but its focal point—in addition to the chandelier—was a massive fireplace.
“This is our sitting room,” Tae said. He gestured toward the right. “Across that bridge is your tower, should you wish to stay in it, but I'd prefer you stay with me here, in my bedroom.” He waved his hand to the left.
