Two enemies felled with one slice of the sword, as we often say.
When I push through the crowd, I find that Skorrin is indeed outside in the brambles. But to my great surprise, so is the Eryx Oblation.
She still wears the too-tight wedding gown, but now an apron—the same kind that only the daytime Mountain Goat castle servants wear—hangs over it. Both are covered in dark dirt.
Yet the princess I shackled to the wall just before the sunsrise radiates joy as she speaks to Skorrin while the other warriors and gravel remain gathered around something I cannot see.
“That would be amazing!” she says to Skorrin. “Do you really think you and your soldiers could get the rest of the brambles cleared by tomorrow morning?”
“A portion of it, yes,” Skorrin answers with a gallant nod. “We have a raid scheduled after moonsrise, but before then, we’ll do our best.”
“Oh, my moons, Commander Skorrin, that would be amazing. Thank you!”
She hasn’t fled. Yet an ugly, volcanic surge tears through me at the sound of her gratitude. If Skorrin weren’t long since matebound and past fathering age, I might suspect him of trying to woomybride.
Even so, I cannot help but wonder—what would it feel like to have her offer me her appreciation in such a profuse way?
“No, thankyou, Sallie Rose,” Skorrin replies. “You must know that you have delighted us beyond all measure.”
Beyond all measure?
I frown.
This seems as good a time as any to lower my hood and find out exactly what all of this commotion is about.
Cosmogolds
SALLIE ROSE
I’m just about donewith my conversation with Commander Skorrin—and finally ready to find something to eat—when cries of, “Sovereign! Sovereign! Sovereign!” rise all around us.
That’s the only warning I get before the older Stone Fae—long ears, cloud-white hair—sinks to both knees with a deep bow.
Just like everyone else in the yard I’ve already started referring to as the Bramble Garden.
The Stone Fae King comes into view, hands clasped behind his back.
Okay, I was hoping to get back to my room before he discovered I was missing, but it looks like I’m totally busted.
Aw, well…
“Oh, hey!” I say with a little wave. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here, too.”
A long silence follows. Just seconds ago, I could barely hear Commander Skorrin over all the noise, but now the BrambleGarden is as quiet as the statue gallery I walked through to get here.
The king’s glowing eyes scan me up and down, like something out of the high-tech bard stories about the old planet.
Then he shifts his gaze to the row of flower bushes I planted earlier, now surrounded by kneeling servants and soldiers. His eyes go sharp—like a weapon.
He walks toward the first bush without looking down. He doesn’t have to. Everyone stays kneeling but scrambles out of his path with impressive speed.
He lifts one gray hand and beckons me forward.
I move carefully, watching where I step. But to my surprise, I get the same treatment—Doorrinthiah and the other servants scrambling backward on their knees to clear a path so I can stand on the opposite side of the bush from their king.
“What is this?” he demands as soon as I’m in place.
He stares at the orange, purple-flecked flowers like they’re wild animals in disguise, dangerous and untrustworthy.
