“Oh. Ah, sorry about—”
“Don’t be. I enjoyed the looks of shock and mortification on all of their faces.” She laughed then, more a girlish giggle than a proper queenly laugh, and Taren joined in. When her face softened like that, she was no longer only the Queen of Ketania, but also the young woman he’d fallen in love with in the forest after helping rescue her from Nesnys’s assassins. “I was a bit jealous of Ferret, actually.” Her voice was teasing.
“Is that so? I thought it was just what she needed to cheer her up.”
“Indeed. And cheer up the entire hopelessly staid celebration at the same time. I’ll have to remember that as a way to appeal to those unused to the courtly life, to make them feel more at ease—the inclusion of more common folk songs.” She regarded him a moment, and he saw she was considering her next words. “I’ve not learned such a dance before. Will you teach me?”
“I-I’d be delighted to. When will your schedule allow it?”
“What’s wrong with right now?” Her green eyes challenged him, sparkling with mischief.
“Um, well nothing, I suppose.”
“Excellent.” Sianna grinned and walked briskly over to the top of the stairs. “Rafe!”
“Your Majesty?” came the reply.
“Send for wine and the minstrels. At once, please.”
“Aye, Majesty.” Down the stairs, Rafe called for a page.
“Well now.” Sianna removed her bulky fur cape and laid it on the railing. She shivered and rubbed her bare arms, wearing nothing more than the lovely emerald dress she had changed into after the coronation. “Can you do something about this chill?”
“Certainly.” Taren had been trying hard not to shiver during their conversation. He focused a moment and channeled magic into the balcony’s stone floor. After a few moments, it began to radiate a pleasant heat, much like a hearth, banishing the winter chill. “If you don’t mind, my feet are killing me in these absurd shoes.”
“By all means. I was thinking the same.” Sianna plucked off her high-heeled shoes and tossed them aside casually while Taren removed his own.
Approaching footsteps came from the stairway, and a servant arrived, bearing a tray with a pitcher of wine and two goblets. He quickly set the tray on a side table and departed with a bow. As soon as the servant departed, the minstrels arrived.
“I’d like to hear the southern song you played while my friend here danced with the young lady earlier,” Sianna told them.
“The Midsummer Serenade. Of course, Your Majesty,” the lutist replied with a deep bow. “Just a moment, please.”
As the quartet got set up, Taren picked up the crystal decanter of wine. He channeled a trickle of heat into the container until it grew hot in his hands. The wine steamed when he poured it into the goblets and offered one to Sianna.
“Mmm.” She took a long sip of the freshly mulled wine and gave him a girlish grin. “That’s a nice trick. I’ll have to remember to keep you around.”
Pleased, Taren took a long drink then extended his hand to her. “My queen.” He nodded to the minstrels, and they began to play the jaunty serenade.
“My prince,” she replied, taking his hand. She placed one hand on his back to mirror him.
He couldn’t help but note the hard ridge of scar on her left hand where her last finger had been. She’s been through much, as have we all. That small blemish didn’t matter to him in the least, only that she was there smiling up at him.
“It’s fairly easy, if you’ll follow my steps.” He began to lead her slowly at first, then more quickly as she picked up the steps, careful not to seem overly familiar. He couldn’t help but think of his dance with Yethri at the Midsummer Festival, what felt like ages ago, as they moved. Though they bore some physical similarity, Sianna was also his friend and monarch, and he felt awkward, not wanting to overstep propriety with her.
After a few minutes, they were moving smoothly around the balcony, yet the formal distance between them prevented their movements from being as loose and carefree as he and Ferret had been earlier.
Sianna abruptly stopped, and he saw a hint of disappointment in her face. “You’re holding back.”
“I am?”
“Yes. Forget I’m the queen. I want you to dance with me as you did Ferret. Pretend I’m her.”
Taren swallowed hard. “There’s just one problem with that…”
“Because I’m the queen?”
He shook his head and looked over at the minstrels nervously, but they didn’t seem to be paying attention, intent on their playing. He mustered up his courage. Here goes.
“I’m not in love with Ferret.”
Sianna froze, simply staring at him, and his heart dropped into his stomach.
Damn it. I buggered that up. He opened his mouth to apologize.
But then a flush deepened in her cheeks, already pink from the cold, and she was speechless for the first time since he’d known her. “Well, I…”
He was heartened by the fact she didn’t seem angry or disappointed. No turning back now—might as well forge on ahead. He remembered her earlier offer. “You offered me a boon earlier—will you grant me a kiss?”
He didn’t need to use any magic or psionic abilities to gauge her reaction, for it was plain on her face.
“I will,” she said in a quiet voice, though her eyes were wide with nervous anticipation.
Taren drew her close, then leaned down and kissed her soft lips, slightly parted as they were. She didn’t merely allow his kiss—she returned it. When they separated after a moment that felt entirely too brief, her eyes shone, and her smile spurred his heart into a galloping rhythm.
Sianna reached up and touched his cheek in a familiar way, her smile widening, eyes deep pools that he felt he might fall into and never return. “I was wondering if you’d ever find the nerve to do that,” she whispered.
He returned her smile a moment before clearing his throat. “And now for the preferred way to dance this.” He drew her close, and they began moving fluidly, synchronously, and from the way her hand fit neatly in his, they felt as if they belonged together. In the vastness of the multiverse, the unlikeliness of their paths coming together in such a way could have been a clockwork design planned by the gods.
And perhaps it is. Taren’s eyes sought the night sky, as if he could spot the Temple of the Night in the dark void between the constellations. He smiled, knowing true joy for the first time in as long as he could remember. Thank you, Grandmother.
The music drifted out over the fallow gardens below, bringing warmth and cheer to the cold night. The stars moved across the sky, bearing silent witness to their dance, one which was truly free of cares, a pleasant interlude after the long trying roads each of them had separately traveled.
And may the next road be one we travel together.
THE END
Author’s Note
Thank you for taking the time to read this book! If you have a spare moment, please take the time to leave a review and spread the word to your friends. It doesn’t need to be a long review—one or two sentences would be perfect. Reviews and word of mouth are really important for independent authors to find an audience. I invite you to visit my website for news about future stories and to leave a comment there if you like.
Want more Nexus? Journey deeper into the planes with Nexus Tales—now available! And stay tuned for Nexus Tales vol. 2 (forthcoming).
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Also by Gregory Mattix
Nexus of the Planes
The Twilight City
Doors of the Dark
Dawnbringer
Nexus Tales
Scions of Nexus
Scions of Nexus
The Way of Pain
Trial of the Thaumaturge
Extensis Vitae
Extensis Vitae
/> Extensis Vitae: The Shattered Land
Extensis Vitae: City of Sarx
Extensis Vitae: Empire of Dust
Extensis Vitae: The Complete Series
Obsolescence
Seren1ty
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank everyone who made this book possible. First, I’d like to thank my awesome beta readers: my brother, Tim, for all the time spent reading drafts, finding typos, and providing helpful feedback; also to my good friend Chris for reading drafts, giving feedback, and helping me brainstorm ideas. Last but not least, I’d like to thank my wife, Mona, along with Mom and Dad for all the help and support they’ve given me along the way.
Thanks again to all my readers for taking a chance on an independent author!
About the Author
Gregory Mattix grew up in the blazing heat of the Arizona desert. He obtained a degree in Business Administration at the University of Arizona, served in the military, and lived overseas for a time. He currently lives in Colorado with his wife. He is the author of the Extensis Vitae, Nexus of the Planes, and Scions of Nexus series.
Trial of the Thaumaturge (Scions of Nexus Book 3) Page 56