Not sure how to answer, I nodded.
“Are you going back to the tower?”
“Yes. I was down here for a fitting. The seamstresses are almost done with the gown I’ll be wearing tonight. It’s beautiful.” I didn’t know how Lord Conyngham could fake a friendship with Tully. Sounding upbeat was slowly killing me. “They also said they’ll have shoes ready to go with it.”
“I have the best shoemakers on the island, so expect the best.” He took my arm and indicated we walk. “How is my mother doing?”
“She’s battling an infection and has a fever and a runny stomach, but the elixir I got from the healer will help her. She’ll be okay soon. Yesterday, she was coherent enough to tell me she misses you.” Oh, the lies I weave.
Tully stopped in the middle of the stares, brow creased.
“Is she contagious?”
Yes, I wanted to say.
“I don’t think so. I’ve been taking care of her, and I’m okay.”
“Good. I can’t afford to be sick tonight.” He smiled, while I wanted to throw up.
He continued yapping about the dinner party and the friends he’d invited, while my stomach roiled. Upstairs, Nereus was gone. Banan and the other two guards jumped to their feet when they saw us and bowed. Tully studied them and frowned.
“You are Conyn’s men.”
“Yes, sire,” they responded in unison.
“Wear some sort of uniform when in the palace, and make sure they match. I can’t abide personal attire on the staff.”
Gwyn was gone, but the queen mother was asleep, her temperature down. I stroked her forehead while Tully watched her from the other side of the bed.
“Queen Mother, look who’s come to visit you. Tully, your favorite son. Remember you were asking about him?” Ha. “You need to talk to him, so he knows you are okay.”
Nothing happened.
“I told him you’d be feeling much better by now.” I glanced at him. “I’m so sorry. I was going to make sure she was ready for you. Whenever she wakes up, she’s always coherent. She said she was sorry for not being strong enough to fight your grandfather and take care of you herself. She tried to take you away, but he always found out about her plans.”
Tully’s eyes grew shiny. Was he about to cry?
“I could call you when she wakes up if you’d like,” I added.
He nodded and, without speaking, moved closer and pressed a kiss on her forehead. He took off without glancing my way and left me staring after him.
Hmm, maybe he really loved his mother.
I stayed with the queen mother until Gwyn came back with lunch. Since Nereus didn’t return by the time we finished eating and feeding the queen mother, I grabbed my bag of arrows and bow and headed to the roof.
The ominous clouds spit bolts every few seconds now. I closed my eyes and lifted my face to the sky. When Storm had attempted to rescue me, our link had grown stronger with each flash of lightning.
“Come on, baby,” I whispered. “Connect with me. Please. Don’t let me go through this dinner tonight.”
Nothing happened.
Please, Storm. I need you.
The answer was a lightning bolt hitting the royal forest to my right.
I glared at the sky. “Fine! Vent all you want, but when you’re done, you better get your ass over here and get me because I swear if he touches me, I’ll kill him.”
It pissed me off to feel so helpless, so I took out my frustrations on the arrows, shooting one after the other across the roof. My heart wasn’t in it. I needed to do something that made me sweat until I was exhausted.
I marched back to the tower common room and found Banan talking to the two guards.
“I need a sparring partner, Banan.”
Unease crossed his face.
“You are a girl,” he said.
“So? You want me to bind my chest for you to forget I’m a girl?”
My challenging tone had him shaking his head. “No. I can pretend.”
“Good. Nereus was teaching me how to use a dagger earlier. I need someone to pick up where he left off. Have you seen the daggers?”
“No, but I have these.” He pulled one from his boot and another from up his sleeve.
“Good. I’ll take that one.” I pointed at the one he’d pulled from his sleeve, and he handed it to me.
It was light, the handle smaller. I sliced left, then right. I could easily hide it up my sleeve like Banan had done and whip it out when Tully comes on to me.
“How did you hide it?”
“In a sheath strapped to my arm.” He removed it.
“You can wear it on your upper arm or on your forearm. You could also hide it in your boot if you trap it around your leg or just below your knee. The strap is adjustable.”
“Can I borrow it? I’ll return it tomorrow. Promise.”
“Keep it.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll trade it for, uh, a kiss.” He glanced at the other two and grinned. “Yes, a kiss and it’s yours.”
I gripped his upper arms and planted one on his lips, taking my time, too. When I stepped back, he wore a dazed expression, and I waited for lightning to strike. The storm continued to rage outside, but a bolt didn’t hit the tower.
Damn it, Storm!
“Let’s go, Casanova,” I said, pushing aside my frustrations.
I studied the sheath. A thin piece of leather secured the blade in place. I practiced removing the dagger and putting it back in as we headed topside. One of the guards called Banan. They’d found the wooden daggers.
He went back for them while I continued up. I stood in the center of the battlement and watched the sky spit a barrage of bolts. They zipped to the ocean as though drawn to it.
“Why?” I screamed.
“Was that you?” Banan asked when he joined me.
“Yep. I needed to vent. Is this kind of weather normal?” I asked.
The guard studied the sky and shrugged. “No, but once in a while, the sky gods fight and we get them. As long as they don’t strike us, we don’t care.”
He tossed me a sparring dagger, and I placed my new one aside, vowing to never go anywhere without it. At night, it would be under my pillow in case I got an unexpected visit from a prince.
“I watched you spar with Nereus and noticed you favor a wide guard.” Banan spread his arms, left hand open for a grapple while the right gripped the dagger. “Three possible attacks from that position are thrust.” He demonstrated. “Right to left horizontal cut to the gut. Or downward cut to the leg. Let’s try it.”
He lunged, and I danced out of the way and came at him, aiming for his right shoulder. He batted my hand and dodged. I parried with the dagger, stepped with my left foot forward, and seized his attacking hand, surprising him with a thrust to his ribs. He jumped out of the way before I made contact and nodded with approval.
“Good,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to use your body. Elbow or a punch to the nose, depending on how tall your attacker is. A kick to the knee. Since you can’t kill an islander, you want to do whatever you can to stop them from coming after you. High guard attack with the aim at the shoulder could do that, too. An injured arm is a useless arm.”
He issued instructions like a drill sergeant, goading me when I acted timid. I copied his moves. He stopped before making body contact. I couldn’t.
“Sorry,” I said when I made contact.
“I’m not. I left myself wide open. Come on. Land another one.”
Easier said than done. I swung from left to right, going for a horizontal slice. He gripped my wrist and whipped me around, yanking my body to his. He twisted my wrist at such an angle I dropped to my knees to relieve the pain. The dagger dropped to the ground. He helped me to my feet.
“That was a dirty trick, Banan,” I griped.
“No, that was me disarming you, Lexi.”
He taught differently from Nereus. Nereus often treated me with kid gloves. Banan was a hardass,
and I liked it.
“Show me how you did it.”
He did, and I copied his moves, improvising when I could, until sweat dripped from my brow.
“Want a break?” Banan asked.
“No.”
We were going at it when the first raindrop hit my face, then another.
“We should go inside, muh’Lexi,” Banan said.
“No, I’m staying.” I said, lifting my face to the sky. “You go ahead.”
Maybe Storm hadn’t made it? Maybe I needed to stop hoping for a rescue and beg Lord Conyngham to sneak the queen mother, Gwyn, and me out of the palace in his carriage and hide us somewhere in the countryside.
Yeah, that would work like a charm. Three women traveling together, one with violet eyes that attracted attention and another comatose. I bet they’d recognize her even after all these years.
Tears rushed to my eyes at the hopelessness of my situation. To make it and stay under the radar, I’d have to leave Storm’s mother behind, which meant the oracle would get her hooks into her again. I couldn’t do it. I’d never be able to live with myself.
Sounds had me looking behind me. Banan hadn’t left. He watched me with a weird expression.
“Thanks for working with me, Banan, but you really should go inside. I need to be alone now.”
“But the rain,” he protested.
“I don’t mind.” As though to test me, the skies opened, fat drops of rain pelting us.
Banan still hesitated.
“Go!” I yelled, my tears mingling with the rain.
~*~
“What are you doing, lass?” Gwyn yelled from the entrance to the battlement. “Come inside before you catch a cold.”
A cold would be nice. With a pink nose and tearing eyes. Bet he wouldn’t find me attractive then. Exhausted from crying and feeling sorry for myself, I followed her.
A shirtless Banan had a fire going in the common room, his wet coat, vest, and shirt draped over the gate. He watched me without saying a word. I guess my behavior had surprised him.
Not me. I’d reached my limit. No more Ms. Sunshine. Whatever hope I’d had was gone. Even knowing Lord Conyngham and his minions would support Storm if he ever made an appearance didn’t matter anymore.
The fire smoldered in the queen mother’s room, water already heating. I stripped out of the wet clothes, wrap myself with Lady Morgana’s cloak, and sat in front of the fire.
“Is this about tonight, Lexi?” Gwyn asked, using my name for the first time since I’d introduced myself.
I didn’t want to talk about Tully, so I shook my head. I couldn’t tell her about Storm and my worries and fears. I kept seeing the last time I’d seen him. There was no way he’d survived. He was never coming to my rescue because he was with his god, Manandán mac Lir.
After a nice hot bath, I used the same cloak to cover my chemise and slipped on boots.
“One of Edlyn’s seamstresses came for you. They want you downstairs.”
Gwyn took my hands, her brow furrowed.
“I don’t want you to worry. He won’t touch you tonight. Or tomorrow. Three days if we’re lucky.”
A glimmer of hope returned. “What did you do?”
“Me? Nothing. I’ve been sitting here taking care of the queen mother. What could I possibly do?”
First Lord Conyngham and now Gwyn. If they were caught doing something to hurt Tully, they’d be hanged.
“Don’t do anything that could get you in trouble, Gwyn. It’s not worth it.”
“The queen mother woke up and spoke to me, and for the first time in years, she wasn’t talking about the past. She remembered you.” Gwyn’s eyes grew bright. “That’s possible because of you. I don’t know what the future holds for you or us, but I’m happy she and I talked.” She kissed my cheek. “Now go.”
Banan was chatting up a pretty olive-complexioned woman when I left the room.
“You forgot something on the battlement.” He handed me my dagger and sheath. “Remember everything I taught you.”
He knew about tonight. I gave him a weak smile. All these people trying to protect me, yet I’d given up hope. What was wrong with me?
“Thanks, Banan.”
I followed the seamstress downstairs. I didn’t speak, and the silence didn’t seem to bother her. Just before we reached the sewing room, she touched my arm.
“Be careful around Edlyn. She was the prince’s nanny and tends to excuse his behavior.” She stepped back. “Go in. She’s waiting.”
I blew off a breath and pushed open the door, expecting to see a room full of seamstresses. Edlyn was alone.
“Come in, lass. I showed Prince Tully the dresses, and he was partial to this one.” She touched the blue one with lace and bows. “You will look breathtaking by the time I’m done with you.”
She gave me silk and lace bloomers and insisted I change into a different chemise. I didn’t bother with the screen or argue with her. I pulled on the damn underwear, removed my chemise, and put on a new one. She helped me into a corset and moved behind me to tie it.
“The prince is not a bad sort, lass. With the right mate by his side, he could go back to being the loving lad he once was. Watching his mother’s illness spread did something to him. All he needs is someone to love him.”
I tuned her out, my gaze on the blue gown. I was about to wear an outfit I didn’t like to please a man I loathed. He’d vowed to tame me and force me to do his will. And here I was doing exactly what he wanted. Was I tamed?
“No,” I said.
“What is it, lass?” Edlyn asked.
“Unlace the corset.”
“Why?” Edlyn asked.
“I’m not wearing the blue dress. I want the plum and gold one. Where’s it?”
“We put it aside with the other unfinished dresses.”
I glanced at her. “But it’s finished.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
I gave her my back. “Then, please, help me out of the corset.”
“But the prince wants you to wear the blue one. He will not be pleased with you if you disobey him.”
“And I will not be pleased with me if I obey him. Help me remove it. Please.”
Edlyn shook her head and muttered under her breath as she unlaced me. The burgundy outfit didn’t need a corset. The underdress had a fitted bodice with a full floor length skirt and long sleeves. The overdress had flowing sleeves that almost reached the ground with details on the sleeves and the neckline. It had a slit in front that showed the underskirt. A gold belt around the hips finished the outfit.
Edlyn didn’t stop grumbling.
“The prince will not like this, lass,” she continued as she worked on my makeup. “Not one little bit. Bruises like these happen when he doesn’t get his way.”
No, they happen because he gets off on inflicting pain.
“Besides, a lass must obey her mate.”
I disagreed, but I refused to argue with her. Their world, their rules. However, I had to correct her on one thing.
“I’m Storm’s mate, Edlyn, not Tully’s.”
She sighed and moved to my hair. The style was cute, two braids wrapped around my head and pinned. She added a fancy gold hair piece with pearls. A present from Prince Tullius, she explained as she led me to the mirror. She stood behind me and adjusted it.
“You look very regal, but the blue dress would have made you look like a princess.”
Regal. I studied my reflection with annoyance. This was not me. I wanted to wear pirate clothes and brandish a sword.
“And the rogue prince is dead,” Edlyn added, lowering her voice. “Let him rest in peace with Manannan. Give the prince a chance.”
“Sorry, I can’t do that, Edlyn.”
“You’re playing a game you can’t win, lass,” she whispered.
“I know, but at least I’ll stay true to myself and to my true mate.”
While she went to get the shoes, I grabbed the dagger from under the cloak and stra
pped it around my calf. I was seated and ready for her when she returned. The shoes were kind of cute, made of the same velvet fabric as the dress.
The door opened, and the oracle walked in. Her gaze went to the blue dress on the table.
“They are waiting for you and you’re not yet…” She didn’t finish her sentence, and color drained from her face when she saw me. “Where did that dress come from?”
“We made it for the lass along with the blue dress,” Edlyn said.
“Why didn’t you show it to me earlier? You told me she would wear the blue dress.”
The seamstress cringed, her fear of the oracle palpable.
“It was my decision to wear the dress, Oracle. The seamstress had nothing to do with it. Thanks, Edlyn.” I gave her a tiny smile and started for the door.
“A guard should be waiting outside to escort you to the Blue Salon,” the seamstress said.
“I dismissed him,” the oracle said, eyeing my outfit with narrowed eyes. “I’ll show you the way.”
“How kind of you, Oracle.” I hope she heard the sarcasm.
“True mate?” she asked, her focus still on my dress. Something about it bothered her.
Ignoring her, I continued along the hallway leading to the front hall. I didn’t need her help. Any guard could lead me to the Blue Salon.
“If you meant Storm, he would never survive if he came here,” the oracle continued.
I didn’t slow down.
“I know he’s alive.”
Yeah, whatever.
“Ren confessed to everything.”
Tell me something I don’t know.
“He should have been executed on the spot for lying, but Tully doesn’t have the stomach for it.”
Not surprised. He only likes to hurt women.
“The king will deal with him when he gets here tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? Shit. My stomach hollowed out. I’d dreaded meeting King Tullius since I got here and had hoped I’d be gone before he returned. I’d stopped walking without knowing it. The oracle wore a smug smile. I wanted to wipe it off her face.
“Once he gets here, things will change,” she said.
“I guess that means you’ll be in control of everything once again, including the queen mother,” I mumbled, walking again.
Storm Unleashed: Phantom Islanders Part III Page 14