The moment we stepped through the door into the hallway beyond, four men positioned themselves—two behind, and two before—ushering us through the halls.
“You will be a curiosity—be prepared for stares,” the queen said to me casually. “But this is your opportunity to familiarize yourself with the mixed company of nobles, and theirexchanges,”she said dryly. “Remain at my side only if the conversation includes us both. If I draw away, or if someone invites you to join them at another seat, go with them confidently. That will confuse them,” she said with a soft chuckle. “Don’t fear them—nothing can happen to you here, especially since I’ve brought you among them. But do watch your words. None of that shocked, commoner judgment, you remember?”
I nodded, my stomach twisting. But there was no time for the nerves to grow, because a moment later we stopped outsidea massive pair of doors that made a single arch. The footman ahead of me barked an order to the guards at the door, who rushed to grasp the thick, iron handles.
“Take my elbow,” Diaan whispered as the doors swung wide. I hurriedly slipped my hand into her elbow, then returned to facing the front and the room revealed beyond.
“Her Majesty the Queen, Diaan en’ Del Rea, our blessed mother of the realm, and her companion, Brennan Kearney!” the footman announced.
The dearth of titles around my name was a stark contrast. But I barely registered it as a small crowd of men and women dressed like rulers themselves, turned from their conversations and clusters around the wide room, to stare and silently watch us enter their domain.
As the only noise in the room was our heels on the black-and-white tiled floor, it echoed in the high, cathedral-like ceiling above as the queen led me—on her arm—through the crowds who all swept aside, bowing or curtseying to her and murmuring greetings.
And she smiled like the cat who’d gotten the cream.
39. Schemes Among Schemes
~ BREN ~
“It isfascinatingto meet you, Brennan,” a beautiful blonde woman said with a sharp smile. She wore a dress that made my eyes bulge. Her breasts were bared almost to the nipple.
She didn’t seem to be lying about her interest in meeting me. But I distrusted her immediately. “I am humbled,” I said, bowing my head, but meeting her eyes when she spoke.
Her brows rose, then she turned to the queen. “Always finding new ways to entertain us, Diaan. No wonder the Vosgaarde Court is so reluctant to travel.”
I was aware of a certain crowding—other nobles moving closer to greet the queen and offer their bows and curtseys. But I didn’t miss that most of them remained hovering, watching over shoulders and clustering much closer to each other than they had been when we arrived.
Apparently,Iwas the entertainment the lady had mentioned.
“Brennan, this is the Lady Faye—the lovely friend from Fyrehold that I mentioned to you in my chambers,” the queen said tartly. “She has been so impressed with Vosgaarde, she’s utterlyrefusedto relinquish her chambers in the palace since our Banquet. You’ll remember the event. It was such a jolly time.”
Faye’s eyes flashed, but she and the queen smiled at each other.
“I didn’t have the pleasure of attending, I was still in training,” I said as calmly as I could, drawing their attention back to me.
“Training?” the Lady Faye asked sweetly, and several other heads turned towards us.
“Brennan has a gift,” the queen said airily. “With the dragons,” she continued, tipping her head towards the Lady Faye as if they were confidantes. “She’s able to speak to one of the females who is mated to the Primarch, and well, I don’t understand all of it of course,” the queen said, waving the words away as if they were of no matter. “But I find her company enthralling, and the General sings her praises, so I’m not surprised to hear that the dragons do also.”
The Lady Faye turned to me with a new light in her eyes. “Do you ride, Brennan?”
“I… yes,” I nodded, swallowing hard, reminding myself that everyone in Fyrehold would be told that I rode Akhane and could speak with her, though I wasclearlynot a Furyknight, of course. “I assist the Commander with the dragons, yes,” I stammered. “Particularly his dragon’s mate.”
“I understand she possesses astunningability to tame beasts of all shapes and sizes, ha ha ha,” the queen tittered.
Lady Faye’s eyes slid from the queen’s delighted face, to mine, her gaze gleaming. “Is that so?”
“It’s nottaming,so much as—”
“Oh, don’t be modest, Brennan. You’re no longer among the common who must lead with their humility. Do tell Lady Faye of your adventures. I’m sure she’s fascinated.”
“I’d particularly enjoy tales of thebeasts,”Lady Faye said, accepting a cup from a servant passing with a tray, her smile small, but cutting. Her eyes took on a calculating shine as she looked between the queen and me. “Can you explain precisely how they benefit from your gifts?”
The queen smiled and I blushed, which the Lady Faye seemed to find amusing.
It took some time to remember that I didn’t need to hide my familiarity with Donavyn—who was admired here—or the dragons, though I had to be careful with my words.
They didn’t know we were mated. Theycouldn’tknow I was a pinned Furyknight.
