Well then hop to it, I thought, glaring at him. A total waste of time. Focused on the task at hand, Alek ignored me as he leaned over, rummaging through the saddle bags. Resigned, I raked my fingers through my hair, trying to neaten it, wincing at the snags and knots. I grumbled when Alek pressed the daggers into my hands, then jumped a mile when he accidentally jabbed my hip while buckling my sword. He laughed then teasingly ran his hands to my ribs. 'Ticklish?' With a dagger in each hand I didn’t bothering answering him, instead thinking my answer to Loushka who barked in laughter. I finished fastening the daggers to my arms and Alek set my cloak about my shoulders.
Just my hair.
With a silent sigh I reached back to wrestle it into a French braid.
Alek watched while Cat’s hands deftly folded her hair into a complicated braid and admired the unique color. The rich, ruby shades glinted in the evening sun. The end result, a thick neat plait that hung to the middle of her back. Cat turned and looked at him, one eyebrow arched. 'Presentable?'
The slow, sexy smile that spread on his face caused major butterflies in my stomach and I smiled blithely back; damn, he's an attractive man. 'Perfect,' he assured me. I turned and settled back into the saddle, trying to look alert and alive, instead of knackered.
Kassie cursed when the curls slipped out of her hands then spun round to glare at Rumal, who’d chuckled, both hands clutching her hair. 'Don’t laugh,' she cried indignantly. 'Just cause you’re bald.' She jerked back in her seat and grumbled more when Rumal roared with laughter. This wasn’t fair, she grumbled to herself. Why do I have to look presentable now, while flying on a griffon? Really, did the person who requested this even consider the logistics? She scowled and wobbled on the saddle while giving her hair another twist.
Large warm hands gently touched hers and Rumal spoke in her ear. 'Let go, I’ll finish it for you.'
She hesitated for a moment then figured if it looked awful at least the blame would be on him. A smug smile touched her lips and she surrendered the mass of curls to him.
With quick, deliberate actions, Rumal shaped Kassie’s hair into an elegant twist and fastened it with one of the wooden pins he kept in his saddle bag. 'Done.' He felt her start in surprise.
'What? How did you do that?' she demanded, delicately touching the twist to feel the shape of it.
'Only the men in our culture keep their heads shaven, or at least very short,' Rumal explained. 'My little sister has hair like yours, all crazy curls. I used to watch my mother tame it. The pin in your hair is one my sister wore in hers. It’s a little piece of home when I’m far away.'
Loi felt grateful for her straight hair at that moment, knowing the struggle Cat and Kassie would likely have with theirs. She slouched back against Sabyn’s chest and smiled when he wrapped his arms around her, encasing her in her cloak, nice and warm. Very soon they would reach the castle and all their questions would be answered, making the irritation bothering her dissolve.
Sabyn glanced at the woman in his arms and could just make out her eyes closed beneath her veil of hair. He felt her muscles relax as she drifted off.
‘Is she sleeping?’ Tomiar asked.
‘Yes, I know we’ll be there soon but a little sleep may make her feel better—at any rate, it can’t hurt,’ he thought.
Gredel watched the sun hanging low in the sky, a glorious orb of brilliant crimson and dark gold.
‘I think the sun should be hitting the castle as we arrive,’ he thought to Phroma.
‘I hope so. It will be a beautiful first sight for the girls.’
Gredel felt a surge of excitement. Citaan would be waiting for him when they arrived. It nearly tempted him to ask Phroma to fly faster but he knew that wasn’t fair. She already wanted to get there faster so she could see her son, Ageip. Gredel wondered how much the youngster had grown since he’d last seen him. Perhaps his child would bond with Ageip, once born, Gredel smiled at the thought.
I started violently when Alek suddenly shifted position and blinked in surprise; oops, didn’t realize I’d nodded off.
'Cat, look,' he pointed into the distance. I stared where he pointed and at first could just make out a bright white spot. After rubbing my eyes and squinting, I could now make out a shape in the almost blinding light.
'What is it?' I asked, still trying to register the shape.
'The castle.'
I could hear the pride in Alek’s voice and closed my eyes for a moment to rest them. When I opened them again, the rays of light had shifted and now I could see it. My stomach fluttered. What a beautiful sight; a magnificent white castle that shimmered in the light of the setting sun, the Anguem range bordering the castle on two sides. I stared, feeling anxiety and admiration swirl about me.
'It’s beautiful.'
It looked like just like a fairytale castle from a storybook on Earth. My heart thudded while I watched it get closer and closer. And we’re here. Now we find out what happens next.
Alek watched the expression of awe on Cat’s face with pleasure. He’d looked forward to showing her the castle all day and the sun’s last rays were the perfect setting. Phroma flew closer to Loushka and Gredel waved to them from her back. They waved back, Cat calling out to Audrey who sat in a saddlebag.
As Loushka neared the inner gate Alek could see a group of people waiting for them.
Chapter Seventeen
The griffons landed in sequence with Loushka foremost. Alek gave me a swift hug then swung his leg over the saddle and slid down. I heard muffled thuds when the other men slid down. I stared wide-eyed across at Sian and Loi on one side and then to Kassie on the other. Turning back, I watched Alek and the others approach the group gathered to greet us. He stopped a few meters from the front of the group, the four men halting behind him. All those in the group waiting bowed deeply. Hmm okay, must bow when introduced, I thought, taking mental notes. Alek spoke briefly to someone then turned and beckoned us.
The women exchanged another glance, then slid down from the griffons. Kassie gave Kerak’s leg a squeeze before she left and the griffon made a soothing noise like a purr. Feeling nervous, she headed toward the other three. She saw Audrey waiting for Cat by Loushka’s foot and the dog shadowed them while they moved. They strode forward in a line and stopped just behind the men.
Alek turned and indicated, 'May I introduce Catherine.' I bowed and he continued, introducing the others who bowed at their names.
Then he turned to the other party.
'And may I introduce the matriarch of the Mestarn line, the Sorceress Elena.'
A beautiful woman stepped forward smiling and inclined her head in greeting. Alek indicated to the man on the left of the Sorceress and introduced him as Yakov, the late King's adviser. I felt a pang of homesickness when I stared at the man who smiled at us. He reminds me so much of dad, I thought, the open smile and blue eyes. Even Audi whined at him, something she only did to dad.
Yakov smiled. 'Alek, you haven’t introduced us to someone.'
Alek laughed and bent down to give Audi’s head a pat. 'This is Catherine’s dog, Audrey.'
He continued with his introductions and introduced the three men in uniform—the Lieutenants of the General Guard. 'Lieutenant Ignatius, Lieutenant Patel and Lieutenant Rashid.' The three men gave stiff bows, their faces curious while they observed us.
Sian studied Elena. The woman’s aura shone with power and Sian watched her in awe. Elena looked to be about Loi’s height, with dark olive skin and large, almond-shaped eyes that you’d expect to be brown, yet instead were a brilliant blue; a very beautiful woman. She wore a lovely dark blue gown that was reminiscent of a robe, with its long wide sleeves and deep cowl neck.
Elena smiled at Sian who flushed at being caught staring. The Sorceress excused the Generals and adviser. They bowed low to her then to Alek, and left. Sian watched curiously, wondering why they singled Alek out. Perhaps it’s due to him being head of the Griffon Guard, she thought.
Kassie could feel Lucky
squirming in her bag and hoped they would be shown to their rooms soon.
'Alek, why don’t you and the other men see that the griffons are well settled in. I know they’ll want to rest.' Elena smiled at Alek then turned her attention to the women.
Kassie froze for a moment; Elena’s gaze felt like it went right through you, seeing everything. She nervously licked her lips. A flash of blue darted past Elena and Kassie’s jaw dropped at the sight of the slender blue haired woman who’d just leaped into Gredel’s waiting arms, smothering him with kisses. Blue hair, she thought in astonishment. That woman has blue hair, even her eyebrows appeared a shade of blue; I must be tired.
'If you ladies will follow me, I will show you to your rooms.' Elena glanced at them and turned to a door in the turret before them.
Kassie felt another twinge of nerves when they walked away from the men and griffons, who launched back into the air. Cat caught her eye, the two exchanging an anxious look. I wish the guys had been able to stay with us a bit longer, she thought with a sigh, following the others through the doorway. Round and round and round they went. Kassie kept her hand on the wall while they descended. The walls were smooth, made of glistening white rock. Little niches in either side of the stairwell had glowing lamps tucked inside them, providing a gentle light. Finally, they reached the ground. Elena ushered them across a paved yard and into the castle, before leading them to another turret, which they climbed to the second story. Groups of people stood clustered about, pausing in their conversation to stare at the girls when they stepped out of the stairwell.
It looked like we were the evening’s entertainment. I tried to put a smile on my face but failed. No one smiled at us, they just stared. I wondered who Alek had us look presentable for, it can’t be these people. I stared at the gorgeous fabrics the women wore. Opulent velvets and silks crafted into exquisite dresses. The men wore simple styles: tunics, slacks and blazers, in rich jewel tones. Beautiful clothes, they made me feel shoddy in comparison. Elena greeted them then continued on. Leaving the crowds behind gave me a sense of relief though the tiny hairs on my neck stiffened I could feel them staring after us, but resisted the urge to look back.
Polite much, Loi thought, feeling insulted at the stares—what a rude bunch. Elena led them through a maze of corridors. Loi studied it all, trying to memorize the route. The large corridors echoed with the sound of their feet. Only the occasional servant hurried past them but all paused to bow to Elena while casting curious glances at the girls.
Now this is what a castle should look like, Sian thought, studying their surroundings. She’d been to a couple of castles in England and Wales, but this place put them to shame. Even with as exhausted as she felt, she couldn’t help noticing the expert workmanship. All the walls gleamed white, contrasting sharply against the polished, dark hardwood floor. Only the occasional window appeared at the far end of the long corridors, offering nothing but their reflection against the darkness outside. Lamps hung suspended from the white ceiling, wide cylinders of glass and metal, they shone bright with a subtle greenish hue at their bases. They passed dozens of doors while they hurried after the Sorceress. Sian admired the delicate white molding that traced along the base of the walls, following up and around the polished doors that matched the floor. They kept passing more doors and turning more corners. Tapestries and paintings decorated the walls sporadically, making her wish they could walk slower so she could admire them all.
Elena finally stopped in front of a large set of double doors and opened them. 'This is your suite,' she announced, gesturing for us to enter.
I felt my eyes go wide at the sight of the very large room. Nice! Four double beds were set out, two in each front corner, heads almost touching, one under the window and the other against the wall. Each wide bed was dressed with a thick embroidered coverlet, four large matching pillows plumped at the head. A sigh slipped out of me at the thought of a soft cushy pillow and bed. Two dressers stood in the middle of the room, back to back, and two armoires stood against the wall beside either door.
Elena watched while we looked around the room then cleared her throat. We turned and she walked over to a door in the far right wall. 'This is your wash room. I do recommend having a bath or shower either early morning, or late evening as there is usually more heated water then.'
We squeezed together to peek past her at a proper—make that HUGE—en suite bathroom; was nothing in this place a regular size?
Giving us a moment to look, Elena then said, 'I know you will want to crawl into bed so I won’t keep you any longer. Someone will come by your room tomorrow morn to escort you to breakfast. There are clothes in each of the armoires that should fit you. We’ll talk properly after breakfast. Sleep well.'
Sian and Loi dashed for the wash room the instant the door closed behind Elena. Kassie and I rolled our eyes at each other and decided to pick beds instead. We discovered that in the left corner each bed had a smaller bed beside it, one for Audi, the other for Lucky who Kassie let out of her pack. The little cat meowed, stretching out while trying to bunt heads with Audi who seemed excited to see her friend out and about. We showed them their beds and left them to explore the room. I wandered to one of the armoires and opened it, it was jam packed full of clothing, all in beautiful fabrics. I gently ran a hand over them. Must have a good look tomorrow when I’m actually awake, I thought, turning back to Kassie who sat on the end of a bed, looking around.
'It seems so quiet,' Kassie nearly whispered. 'I wish I’d known we weren’t seeing the guys again tonight, I would’ve liked to have said good night.'
Cat nodded sympathetically. 'Me too.'
The door to the wash room opened, Sian and Loi came out looking relaxed and clean, wrapped in towels.
'Your turn,' Sian sang out before sitting down on one of the beds in the right corner.
I swear that bed felt like the best thing ever when I sunk into it after cleaning up. The mattress molded itself to me and a groan of pleasure slipped out of my mouth. I blushed hotly when the others started laughing.
'Cat, you sound indecent,' Loi teased.
'Maybe you and your mattress should get a room,' suggested Sian.
'Shudup' I mumbled, half asleep already. 'I’m allowed to appreciate a good mattress.'
Kassie had us in stitches when she replied, 'Yes but not while we’re here please.'
I rolled over and reached a hand down to Audi, curled up on her bed. She shifted then gave my hand a quick lick and settled back down with a sigh.
The sun woke me the next morning, I stretched out delighting in the size of the bed. I’d slept like the dead last night and felt fantastic for it. Glancing around, I saw the others still slept. Oooo but they’ll wake up soon, better be quick! I clambered on top of my covers, reaching over to shake Kassie awake. 'Kassie,' I hissed.
'Wha—?'
'Quick, wake up! Let’s get the wash room first.'
Kassie’s eyes shot open, she rolled over, staring at me for a moment. 'Right!' We both scrambled off our beds and raced for the bathroom, not trying to be quiet at all.
Loi sat bolt upright. 'Sian! They beat us!' She reached over to swat Sian who mumbled at her. 'You said you’d wake up no problem,' Loi accused. Cat and Kassie laughed as they shut the door. Loi scowled at Sian; a useless gesture because she’d gone straight back to sleep when the washroom door shut. Flinging her covers off, Loi stood and stretched hard. Mmmm that feels good—she broke off, laughing at the sight of Audrey doing the same thing.
'How are you Audrey girl,' she cooed to the dog who ducked her head then cosyed up to her. The dog’s long tongue caught her on the nose.
'Ewwww,' she giggled and wiped her nose. 'C’mon, Audi. Let’s check out what’s in the closet and pick what I’m wearing today.' The selection and quality of clothes impressed Loi. Most of the clothes were made in a wrap style so they would fit several sizes and there were a number of beautifully embroidered long belts.
In the end she settled upon an i
ndigo, long sleeved wrap top with black pants. A red belt and delicate pair of black slippers completed the look. Satisfied, she set the clothing at the end of her bed and waited for the others to finish in the bathroom.
The moment we unlocked the bathroom door Loi shot past us, sleepily followed by Sian. Audrey greeted me then sat back on her heels to yell.
'Shush shush noisy girl.' I scolded her and she hung her head sheepishly at me. 'Inside voice, Audi,' I reminded her then pulled her into a hug, ruffling her fur. I headed for an armoire and looked back at Kassie who fussed over Lucky. 'Come pick out something to wear with me, Kass.'
She wandered over, allowing Lucky to steal her spot on the bed. We gushed over the clothes, eventually choosing something to wear. I sat at one of the dressers and ran a brush through my hair. It felt funny to be able to look in a mirror again. Those horrid butterflies returned to my stomach and I fidgeted with the items on the dresser, placing them in groups. I wish I knew what was happening, I sighed, hating the wait. My brain felt like it ran on overdrive at the moment, coming up with wild theories from what Elena wanted with us, to whether Alek had a girlfriend or wife here. What if he’d used me and I’d completely misjudged his actions?
I stood and paced around the room, distracting myself by admiring the architecture; classic, with the white stone walls and dark wooden floor and accents. Audi, sensing my mood, paced with me, whining. I flopped onto my bed and she leaped up beside me, tail wagging. 'Sorry pup,' I ruffled her fur. 'I just hate waiting, I want it over. I want to know what’s going to happen and man are those two taking a long time.'
Kassie laughed, 'Aren’t they just. I think they’ll be responsible for the water shortage today.'
The Arrival: An Epic Fantasy Romance Page 18