He opened his mouth.
And said not a word.
“Did we get the chance to hear what they had to say?”shedemanded.“Noooooo.Galloping in comes theMarquess of Badass…”
Cora and Circe gasped.
Satrineranted on.
“…picking me upwhile you kept riding, and I wastreated to the indignity of racing through the streets of the fine city ofNewton with my belly in a pommel and my arse in the air!”
“Are you finished?”he asked.
“No,” she bit off, and carried on, “Then, behaving like asavage from a savage land, youdragme through The Heritage, wherebuttwo weeks ago, all the patrons ofLe Cirqueapplauded ourbetrothal, but as you noted at the time, and I too feel safe in saying, some ofthem were applauding myamazing gown.”
“I only saw the end of it, but that was very ‘savage from asavage land,’ and I should know,” Circe mumbled.
Farah and Cora laughed softly.
“Noware you finished?”Loren pushed.
“Do I need to say more?”she pushed back.
“Allow me to introduce you to KingNoctorno,the ruler of our realm.His lovely queen, Cora, the Gracious.The King ofKorwhak, Dax Lahn and hisDahksana,Circe.And from across the Green Sea, King True and Queen Farah ofWodell.”
He indicated them each in turn while, woodenly,Satrineshifted, taking them all in.
The color had rushed from her face as he spoke, but then itrushed right back.And when it did, there was quite a bit more of it.
“Am I…supposed to curtsy?”she asked out of the corner of mymouth.
“Itiscustomary,” he answered.
“Don’t you dare,” Cora ordered.“Loren knows we don’t standon ceremony, at least not in private quarters.I’m afraid my king demands I be‘Your Majesty’ in company, but now, I’m Cora, and I’mverypleased tomeet you.”
Cora had come forward, she tookSatrine’shand, andSatrineremained dumbstruck as she touchedcheeks with her.
Circe and Farah followed suit.
And Loren found it odd, regardless of her indecorousbehavior, the way Cora and Circe continued to regard her even after theystepped away.
“I’m sorry.So sorry.I had no idea,”Satrinemuttered.“Sir.My lord.Your grace.Your magnificence.Uh…my king.”She benther head to Tor.
“By the gods, I like her for you, my man,” Tor decreed.
Her head snapped up.
“It was the ‘your magnificence,’ I’m pretty sure,” Coramurmured under her breath to the other women.
They again laughed.
“Allow us to continue our conversation elsewhere,” Lorenrequested.
“Please don’t,” Lahn drawled.“It’s been some time sinceI’ve seen a woman spit such fire.”He turned his eyes to his wife, theygentled, and he said, “I spoil you.”
“He does do that,” Circe agreed.
More laughter from the women.
