Hiking the tiny fox up, I began the long climb back up into the bowels of the castle, stepping out into a far too quiet nursery. I’d never experienced such a horrid quietude. My heart ached for the king and his queen when she found out. Teryn snuggled into my side, a father himself, his emotions easy to pick up even if he were furred.
We moved through the painfully quiet castle without speaking. Obviously so. The day staff were noticeable, but just barely. Maids with wet cheeks went about their duties of lighting fires, gathering clothing to be taken to the washerwomen, and sweeping the corridors. Young men snuffed out torches as the sun began to show itself. Usually the castle was a buzzing hive of soft voices, sometimes even song, but not this morn. This new day was cloaked in a pallor that the bright day arriving would not be able to burn off. Guards in the halls were on edge, each one looking curiously at me as I passed, toting a fox. They would lower their heads, then place a fist to their breastplate, but their eyes lingered on Teryn.
Arriving at his chambers, I pushed inside, noting that the guards stationed outside were now in full plate. Not a good sign. And not a command I had made, so whoever had called for such an aggressive posturing would be called out as soon as I found out his or her name. I placed the fox on the floor, amid the tumbled bedding we’d kicked off in our haste not that long ago. It felt as if a full season had passed since we’d been lost in each other.
Teryn shook his fur out, his eyes closing as a whirlwind the size of a chair sprang to life. Dust and ebony sand swirled around him, rising in height as the man returned. When Teryn stood before me, the magical storm subsided, leaving naught but a few motes of reddish-black particles that disappeared completely with the blink of an eye. He was just as stunning as he had been when I’d first seen him nude. A lurch in my lowerbelly told me that my body was still incredibly drawn to him. Turning from him, I walked to the patio, giving him my back so he could dress in privacy.
“You do not need to turn away, Pasil. We have seen each other naked before.”
I forced my soggy boots to remain where they were. “That was…” I searched for what I wished to say and came up empty.
His hand lighted on my shoulder. I yearned to turn to him, to pull him into my arms. To breathe him in and hold his scent within me forever. But that was not possible now. Or perhaps ever again.
“I understand. You find yourself straddling a chasm with your king on one side and me on the other.” I nodded. My sight fixed on a gull kiting overhead on the warming air currents. “I shall not push you to engage with me in a personal manner again until this situation is resolved.”
That comment stung. I could not let it pass with my back to the man, so I turned from the gull to catch his attention.
“Teryn, you did not push me into anything. I came into your arms and bed quite willingly. My thoughts have been besieged with you since I saw you facing into the wind on the deck of your boat. I was enchanted then and still am, so please do not feel as if you imposed your will on me, for that is far, far from the truth.”
A timid tug at the corners of his mouth melted some of the hurt from his face. “That is good to know. I would never wish to make anyone feel pressured. I know I can be rather flirtatious when someone catches my eye.”
“Your seductive teasing is not what I am used to. My people are less honest in their courting. It caught me off guard. I am just…” Again, my words withered. “I just do not want to find myself in the position of locking you into our dungeons.”
“That would not happen, not to me or my offspring.” He assured me as he tied up the front of a silver and blue robe, the laces long and glittering, catching the eye just as the man tethering them did. “The ones that travel with me are at the greatest risk of imprisonment. I do have a witness to where I was when the children were taken.”
Yes. Me. I was the one who would need to give testimony to his whereabouts. That would not be received well, especially if Umeris were feeling mentally and physically fit to sit in on the questioning.
“I would tell them the truth. That you were with me.” I walked back into his chambers. The fruit now gathering tiny gnats that crawled over the bright orange melon halves. I waved them away. My stomach rumbled even though I felt no desire to eat. “And let the die fall as they will.”
That brought his amber eyes up from the intricate ties of his robes. “You are an honorable man. I would speak for your tenure as well. Please know that if you were to be stripped of your rank for some ludicrous reason, the Sandrayan Elite Guards would be happy to have a warrior of your distinguished record enlist.” I said nothing, merely nodded my thanks as I watched while he looped the strings into a lazy bow that rested on the divot of his throat. The urge to bury my face in that indentation was staggering. “I shall speak with my son and daughter to see where they were last night. In their chambers, I would imagine, but perhaps they have witnesses of some sort to verify their location.”
“With the blessings of both of our gods, they do.” He gave me a feeble smile as he slid his feet into plain brown sandals.
“And that is how two nations become one. Shall we go meet the king? I will never be more ready.”
Nor would I, but by Ihdos, I wished I had dry boots.
PERHAPS I WAS THINKING FANCIFULLY, but as we hurried to the king’s solar, I could feel thick tension lying low on the castle floors, like a fog that carried a plague.
Two royal guards, older men, men that I knew fairly well, nodded at me as we entered the royal private chambers. They gave Teryn a dark look.
“He is with me at the bidding of the king,” I announced, noting the slight brightening of the sky through one of many arrow loops in the wall. I feared it would be many days before I could sleep well. Not until the heirs to the throne were safely back in their nursery, and the Sandrayans within Avolire had been cleared of suspicion. Or at least one in particular. That was petty of me. I would chastise myself for my weaknesses concerning the noble Mahouk Nouradi later.
They hesitated. “Let us pass,” I said.
Shared looks darted between them, but they did finally step aside, one opening the door to announce us before we strode past and into the warmly decorated chamber. Here was where the king and his family gathered away from the masses, the staff, and the pestering nattering of the head of the vills. The room was wide, open, with a low fire in the massive stone hearth, chaises and books, a table and oil lamps, a long wooden table for eating that held all manner of untouched foods. Over the table hung a chandelier of soft golden wood, a gift from thewardens of the woods for Aelir. Sitting at the table were the king, still in the same robes he had worn into the sea cave, and Fylson. Umeris, which I was pleased to see, was not present. Not that I wished the grand advisor ill, but he had shown signs of slipping into a mental fugue that ran toward unpleasantness. Outside the call of the peafowl that the vahasi had gifted the kingdom floated upward to break the serenity of dawn.
“If you would excuse us, I would like to speak to the ambassador for a moment?” Le’ral asked, stalling me in my tracks.
“Yes, of course.” I backed out of the room, catching the eye of my cousin as he stood in the far corner behind the king. The door closed in my face. The wait was lengthy. I spent it inspecting the guards as they stood at attention to keep my growing worry under some control. Neither was found to be wanting in any way, and to be fair, their blocking us was standard procedure for the king’s chambers. When the door opened, Rolim bid me enter with a look that I could not read.
Le’ral and Aelir watched me, faces set in stone. Teryn gave me a wavering smile. My cousin was hard to read, but I thought I picked up a note of concern in his dark eyes.
“Pasil, we have some questions,” Le’ral opened with. “Please take a seat.” He motioned to one of the dozen empty chairs. Two had thick cushions, one atop the other, for the children. My stomach clenched seeing those empty chairs.
“If you don’t mind, I would rather stand,” I replied, spreading my legs slightly as I clasped my hands behind my back.
“As you wish.” Le’ral heaved a mighty sigh. “We have questioned Mahouk Nouradi about his whereabouts last night.” Ah, so that was the reason for the tightness around my cousin’s eyes. “He has relayed that he and you were together in hischamber until roused by the news of the abduction of the royal twins. Is that correct, Captain?”
