“Charming, charming,” Xyrath purred. “Let me make you known to my Queen.” Xyrath extended a hand. Amari took it and allowed Xyrath to walk her closer to the throne. Orval followed.
“Satia, beloved, this is Amari, Orval’s wife, if you can believe it.”
Orval gritted his teeth.
“Welcome, Amari.” Queen Satia did not seem pleased. There was something in her eyes that told Orval something was not quite right. Three Bondmaidens stood behind the throne and there was a faint scent of ginger in the air.
“We must congratulate you,” the Queen continued, “on the birth of your twins.” Satia’s gaze dropped to Amari’s hand, still in the King’s grasp.
The King dropped her hand and sauntered back to sit on his throne. “Twins,” he roared. “Didn’t know you had it in you, Orval.” He started clapping and the entire court joined in.
Orval stepped up to stand next to Amari. “Our thanks, Your Majesties,” he said.
“Did you have an easy time of it?” Satia asked, plucking idly at a thread on her skirt.
“I did, Your Majesty,” Amari said. “A bit of nausea for the first few weeks, but that faded quickly.”
Satia’s face didn’t change but it was as if the very air had grown colder. The Bondmaidens stirred as if fearing something.
Orval reached for Amari’s hand, finding her fingers shaking and cold. But his touch seemed to aid her to gather herself. “We offer our congratulations to you, as well as our blessings and well-wishes,” Amari said. “We have heard that you are expecting.”
“We are, we are,” Xyrath proclaimed. “An heir around the Summer Solstice, to add to the family and strengthen the Blood of Xy.” He rose to his feet again and the crowd stomped their feet and gave a hearty cheer.
“Speaking of which,” Satia suggested, glancing at Xyrath.
“Yes,” Xyrath settled back on his throne. “All of the Blood should be honored. It’s not right that one of your learning should be wasted on books, Orval, and not be honored with a title and position.”
“Your Majesty, I—” Orval started.
“Save your thanks until you hear our decree,” Xyrath grinned. He struck a pose, looking around the room and commanding all attention before he raised his voice with a flourish.
“Orval of Xy, this day do I appoint and declare to you, your Lady, and the heirs of your body, the rights and title of the Lord High Barony of the Black Hills.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Orval stiffened, frozen in the middle of a breath.
Xyrath gestured and cymbals crashed; the music started again and the crowd cheered.
Two footmen approached from either side, carrying red velvet robes lined with black fur. Xyrath bounded forward and took the first, draping the heavy garment over Orval’s shoulders with a dramatic sweep and fastening the chain at his throat.
The cloak weighed a ton. The chain threatened to choke him.
The footman was cloaking Amari. Xyrath leaped back to stand before his throne. “We will eventually restore all the old Baronies,” he announced. “You will act as our vanguard and re-establish our domain over the Black Hills. All hail the new Lord High Baron and Lady High Baroness!”
Cheers rang out, echoing around the room.
“Your Majesty,” Orval tried to make himself heard, to protest—
“We are glad to reward thee,” Queen Satia interrupted smoothly. Something in her expression silenced Orval’s objections. “We will send you and your family to the Black Hills with staff and an escort to ensure your safety.” She narrowed her eyes. “You will surely have no trouble putting down those rebels that offer us insult.”
Xyrath nodded. “No need for oaths, Orval, not between us. Captain Ussin has all the details. He will escort you to your new lands in the morning.”
In the awkward silence that followed, it was Amari’s turn to reach for his hand and squeeze; Orval blinked and bowed his head. “As you command, Your Majesty.” He stepped back, anxious to leave the royal presence so he could try to make sense of what had just happened.
Hand in hand with Amari, trying not to step on the heavy cloak that dragged on the thick carpet, he almost missed Satia’s words.
“One more thing, Lord High Baron.”
