“I’d like to see Eilidh. My presence may comfort her.”
Griogair shook his head. “As head of the joint conclave, Oron has appointed me guardian of the throne, according to Eilidh’s wishes. I will quietly fill her duties until either she recovers or the conclave declares her incompetent to rule. If the latter happens, I will hold the throne for Princess Maiya until she comes of age in ninety-nine years’ time.” He hated saying the words aloud.
Koen opened his mouth to speak, but Griogair cut him off. “I’m sending you back to Caledonia. You will be required to take on some of my duties while I fulfil Eilidh’s and look after her and the princess. I will, of course, keep in touch. The moment we have news, I will inform you.”
Koen scowled. “As you did the moment she fell ill?”
Griogair couldn’t hold his temper any longer. “I have had more important things to do than worry about you. Now, go back to Caledonia and make yourself useful. When our mate recovers, she will be interested to hear whether you pulled your weight when she needed you.”
“Assuming she recovers,” Koen said.
“If I were you, I’d send for a priest and pray that she does. Only by Eilidh’s grace do you have a position in this kingdom. If Maiya is raised as queen in her infancy with me as regent, your place may not be as secure.”
Koen stiffened. He rose and tilted his head to Griogair in a slight bow. “Of course I pray for our mate’s return to health,” he said. “Despite the temptation such power would bring, no doubt you also wish for Eilidh’s recovery. After all, you claim to love her, do you not?” He smirked.
Griogair held himself as still as he could. “Go to Caledonia. I will send word if you are needed.” Unlikely, he thought.
Koen left, fuming with frustration. Griogair took a few minutes to calm himself before he followed, his mind turning to the many tasks his new duties demanded.
∞
Tràth had overheard Aaron’s speech to Imena and hoped the encounter hadn't put the princess in a foul mood. The Caledonian delegation had gone over their plan backward and forward for days as they prepared for the journey. Despite their excellent preparation, Tràth didn't hold high hopes. He kept reminding himself he was not a trained diplomat. Two weeks ago, he had been lying in a drug-induced stupor. Why would Eilidh trust him with something so important?
The princess approached, and he bowed. “Good evening, Your Highness.”
“And I hoped we would be friends.”
“Forgive me, Imena. Of course we shall.”
She smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. “I'm delighted to hear you say so. I suspect the same can’t be assumed of Lord Druid Aaron.”
“That would be a shame. Caledonia's friendship with the Druid Hall has rendered immeasurably positive consequences. I don't think it's unfair to say Caledonia's absorption of the former kingdom of Andena is owed, at least in part, to their support.”
Imena raised an eyebrow. “I'm surprised to hear such a frank admission.”
Tràth shrugged. “There is no point in denying the truth nor trying to hide what everyone knows. For millennia, Caledonia has been a small and moderately influential kingdom. Until now. Not even Queen Eilidh expected to assume Queen Vinye's gates. But the Stone remembers the draoidh.”
“You are bonded to one of their Hall. Still, I must ask. Do you believe them to be like the ancient fae sorcerers?”
Tràth did not hesitate. “I know them to be.”
“Shall we walk, Tràth? Suddenly, I do not wish to spend the evening nitpicking over how many crates of this we’ll ship, how many carts of that we'll purchase, or for how much.”
“As tempting as your offer sounds, there is much work to be done. Won’t delaying our duties only make the task more onerous?”
Imena smiled. “Yet you insist you are not a diplomat.”
Tràth felt every person in the room watching the exchange. He smiled. “Yes, I do.”
“Do you have a list of your opening proposals?”
He hesitated only for a moment before turning to signal to one of his staff. The faerie stepped forward and with a low bow offered the princess a parchment.
She accepted the document and read over it. “These requests and suggestions are not unreasonable. Most in your position would open with an impossible offer, prepared to accept something workable.”
“I'm not a trained negotiator. I thought we would waste less time if Caledonia proposed arrangements we believed would benefit both our kingdoms.”
“An unusual but pragmatic approach. Let us consider saving even more time.” The princess handed the list to a short, oddly stubby-looking faerie. “Is anything on this list something to which Zalia cannot agree?”
“Well, Your Highness, I'd be more comfortable committing to half this production in iron, and they’re offering a third less than we currently receive from Caledonia for sapphires and a quarter less for emeralds. I'd hoped to not pay nearly so much for honey or wine.”
“Is there anything for which the terms are better than anticipated?” she asked.
The diplomat hesitated. “Surely, Your Highness…”
“Please answer me.” Her tone was sharp and impatient.
“I'm pleased to see the inclusion of several rarer healing herbs at a surprisingly reasonable price. Having these stores would make an enormous difference if we begin importing this winter. The price at which Caledonia will export pearls is, I must say, generous.”
Princess Imena nodded. “I thought so as well.” She turned back to Prince Tràth. “As much as I'd hate to do anything which might shorten your stay in Zalia, you stated you would not consider the offer I made last morning until these talks were concluded. Therefore, let me propose this: I will accept your terms as written with a minor modification of halving the iron production expected from Zalia on one condition.” Although he did not touch his power, Tràth had the odd sensation of time slowing. He knew what she was preparing to say. “Become my mate.”
Tràth stared. He took several moments to recover. Judging by the expressions on the faces around him, he'd waited too long to reply. “I'm stunned,” he said.
The smile twitched on Imena's lips. “So it seems.”
“Perhaps we should take that walk after all,” Tràth said.
∞
Aaron and his scribe left the Tafgul archives after a few hours. He'd seen many runes he couldn't interpret, but in fairness, he hadn't expected to be able to read them all. Only Munro could decipher everything put in front of him, although Douglas' abilities came in at a close second. However, Aaron didn’t come here to read.
His intention in visiting the archives had been to learn how many runestones Zalia possessed and how easily they would allow the druids to access them. The keepers had few, if any, Zalian artefacts in the library at the Halls of Mist. It was in their interest, and that of the druids, to find writings created by the original draoidh. Unfortunately, he lacked the experience to date most artefacts.
Aaron had, in fact, made some interesting discoveries. These archives contained an entire section devoted to lore of the Source Stone. Aaron would ask Douglas or Munro to have a look and maybe one of the keepers. He and Cen couldn't make heads nor tails of many of them, but Aaron wanted to avoid alerting Zalian scholars of his interest. Not yet, anyway. Instead, Cen took notes of some of the odder references for the others to study once Aaron returned.
He was surprised by the number of runes and artefacts at the Zalian archive. Now that he’d seen their stores, he realised he’d have to be on his best behaviour. Access to the knowledge here might be invaluable for both the Druid Hall and the keepers. As the pair walked back towards the castle, through the pristine streets of the capital city, Aaron pondered a way to present a proposal to Princess Imena. After his arrogant outburst that morning, he wasn't certain how open she would be. A selfish part of him hoped Tràth would consider marrying the girl. A relationship like that might smooth the way for the Druid Hall.
As the pair came to the castle courtyard, Aaron turned to thank Cen for his help. He hoped the scribe might be willing to continue aiding Aaron during his stay. The boy was nervous at times, but eager, and his intuition with runes wasn't bad. He'd picked up on several nuances Aaron missed on one particular artefact and was keen to learn when Aaron explained his interpretation on others.
Before Aaron could speak, a twinge pulled his chest. The sensation caught him off guard, and for an instant, he couldn't breathe.
“Is something wrong, my lord druid?” Cen said with concern.
Aaron leaned against a wall, his hand over his pounding heart. “I need a moment.” As he had the previous night, he heard something like a whisper. This didn’t feel like telepathy. Eilidh had projected her voice into his thoughts many times before. This seemed more like a nearby presence silently calling his name.
Suddenly, the presence departed. This time, Aaron wouldn’t let it get away. Moving with the speed of the fae themselves, he raced away. Cen came close on his heels, calling out questions in an urgent tone, but Aaron paid him no mind. All thoughts of the archive and its remarkable contents were forgotten.
Chapter 12
When Tràth and Imena left the meeting hall, they’d taken a walk. She explained her stunning proposal by saying Zalia was small and independent, but wealthy. They provided most of the precious gems in the kingdoms and more than three quarters of the metals. Their craftsmen were second to none and their work sought out and valued highly throughout the kingdoms. She hardly had to convince Tràth of the significance of her offer. He understood for Caledonia to be the one kingdom with such a tie to Zalia would be no small advantage.
For their part, Imena explained, Zalia would gain a powerful and promising ally in Queen Eilidh. She was bonded to a druid, and so was Tràth. By taking Tràth as a mate, Imena gained someone tied to both Caledonia and Tvorskane by blood, one with an unbreakable connection to the Druid Hall. Regardless of her mother’s view on humans, she conceded both mother and daughter recognised which way the tide would turn.
They walked, and she talked. Tràth listened, his discomfort growing. On paper, the union sounded ideal. Imena seemed to sense his hesitation, so after laying out her argument, she shifted the subject to lighter topics. She showed him around the castle and gardens, taking a long, leisurely circuit through the private grounds. The air outside was warm and humid, and Tràth relaxed as they talked. Imena chatted about herself and the city, not pushing for answers, willing to fill the silence with polite chatter. She was, he reflected, good company.
After a leisurely respite, they’d returned to the meeting hall. The diplomats had been hard at work producing a contract. Tràth was again stunned. The negotiations he’d half expected to fail, or at best require weeks of struggle, had concluded in a matter of hours. He examined the document. It specified the terms the princess had suggested, with additional detail as to quality, quantity, timing of shipments, conditions of breach, and similar legal phrases Tràth didn’t fully understand.
He read though the papers a second time. “You’re happy with this?” he asked his staff. Every one of them said yes. He turned to Imena’s representative. “And you?”
The squat faerie bowed. “Yes, Your Highness. It’s not everything we wanted, but the terms are equitable.”
Not one word about the mating agreement appeared in the document. Tràth looked at Imena. “I’d sign this moment if not for what is written between the lines. I’d sign and be pleased to do so. I wish I could.”
Imena frowned. “What are your concerns? Tell me and allow me to soothe them. This is good for both our kingdoms.”
“Yes,” he said. “Queen Eilidh would be more than satisfied.”
Tràth glanced toward his staff. “You’ve done good work today. Would you leave us? The rest I must handle with Her Highness alone.”
“Of course,” the head diplomat said. They left, but Tràth felt Alyssa increase the calming touch on his thoughts, even as they filed out.
Imena also dismissed her staff. The room seemed vast when empty, every sound echoing on the well-worn wooden floor. She sat in one of the large chairs at the head of the room and invited him to join her.
Tràth lay the contract on a nearby table. “We’ve only discussed the positives, not the negatives. There are things about me of which you are not aware.” His expression darkened. “Do you honestly believe Queen Eilidh was being coy when she called me unsuitable?”
“Your reputation is colourful,” Imena conceded. “But I’ve watched you myself, both at the Halls of Mist and since your arrival in Tafgul. Your so-called faults cannot be as bad as you pretend.”
“They’re worse, Imena.” He reached for the place in his mind that held his connection to Douglas. Alyssa had taught him to locate the bond, but touching it pained him like handling a thorny briar. Fortunately, he couldn’t sense Douglas’ thoughts from the other side of the portal. He did, however, still feel the spiky vine wrapped around his heart. He sat back and looked at her. “I like you,” he said.
She raised her brow in surprise. “Really? That isn’t the impression you’ve been giving.”
“It would be easier to say yes if I didn’t.” She opened her mouth to interrupt, but he held up a hand. “Please. I hadn’t planned to say this, but now I believe I should, even though doing so may embarrass my queen. As loyal as I am to Queen Eilidh, this is a matter of personal honour.” He glanced away. “You see, I am quite mad.” A smile came to his lips. It was almost a relief, acknowledging his problem aloud for the first time. “My magic is unstable. The flows of time are dark and dangerous, and I am nowhere near able to control them.”
“You seem fine,” Imena said quietly.
“If I do, it is because the faerie posing as my scribe is a talented astral fae. She is teaching me meditations to help me maintain some restraint, and meanwhile she induces a constant level of sedation in my mind. Without her…”
“Without her what?” Imena asked, her brow furrowed.
“I was late the night of the Caledonian dinner because I was intoxicated from smoking gahn-seh. Before Eilidh and Alyssa helped me, only using the drug allowed me to function. That night, after my father found me, Queen Eilidh used her astral power to clear my mind. Since then, only her and Alyssa’s power has enabled me to cope. My life is hopeless and frivolous, and I cannot function as a normal faerie. I was permitted to undertake this diplomatic mission because you insisted I was the only delegate you would accept. Queen Eilidh believed it too good an opportunity to decline, despite the risks.”
Imena stared. For the first time, he felt like she let down her mask. She sank into the chair and sighed. “I’m sorry you suppose you must present such ridiculous excuses.”
“What?” Tràth stiffened. “Every word I’ve told you is the truth.”
“Be that as it may, I’m working to benefit my kingdom, to stabilise Zalia and prepare us for the future facing the entire fae realm. I received many offers but made only one. I know about you, your reputation and taste for gahn-seh, the parties and orgies. Why do you think I was so surprised you turned me down last morning?” She smiled kindly. “I heard what happened in the human realm when you found your bonded druid, about your mother nearly succeeding in her efforts to find and execute you. If you need an astral fae to calm your mind, bring one. Bring a dozen. I’ve seen nor heard anything to make me think you are dangerous.”
“You know of the faerie Flùranach?”
“Yes,” Imena said. “My understanding is she serves the Druid Hall and is content to do so.”
“She should be in school, le
arning to control her magic with other children her age, or what should have been her age,” Tràth said.
Imena waved her hand. “Should is a useless word.”
Tràth tapped his fingers on the contract. Could he do this? “There is one other thing you should know.”
“Oh?”
He turned his gaze back to Imena. She was strikingly beautiful. The moonlight caught the diamonds around her eyes. “I wish to be your friend, Imena, regardless of how this turns out.”
“But?”
“When choosing bed mates, I prefer men.”
She laughed. “I prefer bed mates with dark eyes and limber bodies. What difference does that make?”
“Mine is a rather strong preference.”
“You’re saying you do not find me appealing?” She looked as though she might start laughing again.
“To the contrary, you’re lovely. I just don’t want to have sex with you.”
“Oh, Tràth, you silly boy. I don’t particularly want to have sex with you either.”
He grinned. Despite the difficult topics and hard truths, Tràth enjoyed the princess’ openness. “What about this morning?”
“That?” She shrugged. “It sounded like fun at the time. Perhaps even a challenge.” Then, she gazed at him, her expression fond. “As my mate, you’d be required to perform that duty only rarely. Once, of course, at our mating ceremony. After my mother dies, I’ll want an heir. So, once a year I will require you to make a sacrifice to the Mother of the Earth with me. My people are not particularly fertile, but I understand the azuri of Caledonia do quite well in that arena. Look at Queen Eilidh, a mother before she’s two hundred. Still, nothing is guaranteed. We might try for a century with no results, but surely once a year would not be too onerous an obligation.”
Caledonia Fae 05 - Elder Druid Page 14