“You think I do not realize that?!” he snapped, standing from his perch on the desk. “You think I am not sick that I did the same thing again, put us back in this same position?”
“Then why, Andon?!” Veria shouted. “Why keep doing this to me? To yourself? To us?! You cannot keep behaving as though you hate me one moment and then making love to me the next, because obviously neither one of us can handle it.”
“I do not hate you, Veria,” Andon clarified. “I hate our situation, I hate that when I am around you I want you so badly that it is all I can think about, and I hate that we are not together more than anything. But I do not blame you in that. And I could certainly never hate you.”
“You have had me fooled on a few occasions, then,” Veria said.
“I apologize,” Andon replied quietly. “For making you feel that way, and for the fact that it is apparently impossible for me to just be your friend. There are many days I wish I could tell you something or ask your advice—it is hard to find people one can trust in life. And we have that, or had, anyway.”
Veria dropped her head and stared at her lap, with no response to give him. She knew there were so many parts of her life he had no knowledge of, and she doubted she could ever bring herself to tell him...
A knock at the door caused them both to jerk their heads to attention.
“Yes, come in,” Andon answered the knock.
A maid opened the door and presented plates of warm breakfast pastries and colorful fruit on a rolling tray, curtsied, then exited the study.
“Please, take whatever you like,” Andon said gesturing to the tray as he walked around to his side of the desk and sat in his chair. “And then we really ought to attend to the business portion of this meeting so you can enjoy the rest of your day,” he added with a polite smile.
Veria took a plate and placed a braiberry tart on it, more out of respect than hunger.
Andon proceeded to ask her a few questions about the conference, mostly about the location and if she felt the overall goals were achieved, and if she felt her viewpoints were accurately represented in the outcome. She had very little to say, skipping most questions that weren't accommodation related, as she had very little idea what had actually transpired in terms of diplomacy, and was not sent to the Council in that capacity. She wanted to tell Andon she had only been sent here in an effort by the King to separate her from Strelzar, but that statement brought about too many other tangential conversations, so she refrained.
When they were finished Andon thanked her while jotting down a few final notes on his parchment, which he had her sign before he rolled it up and put it in a drawer.
“Veria, there's something I need to tell you,” he said as soon as their interview was over. He fidgeted with a quill and she could feel his leg bouncing rapidly against the desk. “I'm not coming back to Londess.”
“What?” Veria asked.
“I mean, not right away,” he said. “I meant to tell you at my house the other night. I...I was hoping you would stay with me for awhile, but that's understandably out of the picture now.”
“What does your father say about this?” Veria asked. “Or Emmandia? Or King Browan?”
“I cleared it with everyone a few days ago,” Andon explained. “His Majesty was quite accommodating in allowing me to take a three month sabbatical for research purposes, and my father is supportive of my decision. I just need some time...away from everything.”
“And Emmandia,” Veria repeated.
“She's...upset,” Andon said. “This will push back our engagement ball for a second time. The first time it was rescheduled for my mission to Tal'lea. It was rescheduled for two weeks from now, so is now going to be pushed back again, to the late spring, when I return.”
“But you make the decisions, hm?” Veria asked.
“With her, I do,” Andon admitted. “That's how she was raised. To be a wife.”
“I was raised that way, too, and it certainly didn't work out for me,” Veria laughed ironically.
“You could never be just a wife, or just a Lady, Veria,” Andon sighed. “No matter if you had been married at eighteen or never, you'd still end up being this powerful force and confident woman you are today. I don't doubt that for a minute. Sometimes I don't know how to deal with it, but I have never doubted it.”
“Do you think you don't want to go back because you don't want to have the engagement ball?” Veria asked.
“I don't know,” he sighed and shrugged. “Maybe. All I know is this is the first time I've been back here since I moved to Londess years ago, and immediately it felt like home, and like I should stay awhile. Maybe it is an escape from my life. I think I'm growing tired of busy Londess and constant politics.”
“How very Ellory Mielyr of you,” Veria said with a soft laugh.
Andon laughed briefly and nodded. “Yes,” he murmured, “he would say that. And what would your mentor say?”
“He'd say 'power never rests, Birdie, and neither should you!' or something like that,” Veria replied. “And then he'd pick out my outfit for me.”
“That doesn't sound anything like Daloes,” Andon chuckled.
“Oh, not Daloes,” Veria said with a dismissive wave. “Strelzar.”
Andon cocked his head at her. “Your mentor is from another Elemental discipline?” he asked.
“It's a long story,” Veria said nervously.
“Sounds like it,” he said. “And I only have a few minutes before my next meeting, so, I suppose it will have to wait. Maybe we can have breakfast at my Estate when I return?”
“Do you think that's a good idea?” Veria asked softly.
“Not particularly, but I would like it,” he murmured as he rose from his seat to open the door for her. “You are cleared to leave, I just received word from Browan this morning. There is a ship that departs for Solderess just after midday, and I've made a reservation for you, though don't feel you need to be on it if you feel like staying the rest of the day.”
“Well,” she stood from her seat, “I...I am sorry, about how all of this turned out, I—”
“Commander,” Andon stopped her, “I hope you will only have fond memories of your time in Esperan, as you said to Ambassador Yoro. Know that you have made quite an impression on many of its humble citizens.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Asta prosi noa reuno. Until next we meet,” he murmured, his lips against the back of her hand.
It was the first time he had ever spoken directly to her in his native tongue, and in spite of her conflicted feelings toward him, it made her skin tingle. He bowed and let her hand go, and she left the office with a jumble of emotions.
The trip home was worse than the trip to the Peace Council, and she spent most of it in her cot eating stale bread and sipping water, for every time she tried to walk anywhere, she'd wretch from the dizziness and queasiness.
Oddly, the sick, dizzy feeling persisted through her day-long carriage ride from the southern docks in Solderess back to the castle. She had to stop the driver more than once so she could exit the carriage and heave whatever small snack she had attempted to consume.
Strelzar was in her room when she finally got back to it, exhausted and nauseous.
“You weren't expecting me home for another two days,” Veria stated, tossing her bag on the ground. “Have you just been living in my suite?”
“Well, I am the acting Commander while you're gone, and this is the Commander's suite,” he defended.
“So, yes?”
“Of course yes!” Strelzar exclaimed. “Have you seen my room?”
Veria rolled her eyes and collapsed on the lounge.
“Did you find out anything about Browan while I was gone?” Veria asked with a yawn.
Strelzar covered her with a blanket from her bed. “Unfortunately, no...” he answered, “but, I found out some other things,” he said cautiously.
“What's that?” Veria asked, closing her eyes.
“Well, I visited Lo
ngberme,” Strelzar explained, “for Irea's first birthday. I thought you might like me to be there since you couldn't.”
Veria's stomach dropped. “Yes, thank you," she muttered quietly. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
“Veria...” he sighed. “I—I noticed something interesting about her, almost right away,” he said.
“That she's as stubborn as Tanisca and myself put together?” Veria joked.
“No,” Strelzar said. “That she's not Lord Rames' daughter.”
Veria shot up to sitting.
“What?!” she spat. The sudden movement caused her head to swirl and her stomach to churn, and so did the news.
“There was a deep, deep deception placed in her,” he continued. “I picked her up when she fell in a flower bed playing chase, and...it singed my skin. I felt it very strongly. It was good, though. I can't imagine anyone else being able to detect it besides me. Someone wanted you, and everyone else, to believe that Irea was Lord Rames' child. I can give you three guesses, but I'm sure you only need one.”
“Tanisca,” Veria growled.
“Yes,” Strelzar said. “And it was impressive elemental work, I must say. It was a deception placed in the blood. As if it were specifically meant to circumvent a fatherhood examen.”
“It was,” Veria grumbled with distaste.
“So, Andon is the father of your child, I suppose,” Strelzar muttered. “How did things go with him?”
Veria buried her head in her hands and sobbed. She suddenly wished he were with her right at that moment, and she wanted to tell him everything he didn't know, and she wished that everything in Barril had ended much differently. “He still loves me!” she cried. “And he wanted me to stay there with him, and then he admitted to clearing my memory, so—”
“Wait, wait, wait,” he stopped her. “He did that to you? When?”
“Right after I left Plazic Peak,” Veria said. “I mean, it wasn't anything all that significant, but—I just can't believe he did it without my permission! And I don't how to forgive him. And how am I supposed to tell him this now? He stayed down there because he wanted to get away from everything! If I tell him, he'll just come rushing back, and that's not what I want.”
“You don't want him to be with you because of a child,” Strelzar said.
“Exactly!” Veria exclaimed.
“But he wants to be with you without knowing about Irea,” Strelzar pointed out.
Veria inhaled deeply as a wave of sickness came over her and she gagged as the room spun.
“Are you alright, Birdie?” he asked, grabbing her by the shoulders.
Veria didn't answer, just fell to her side on the lounge and felt the tears escape her eyes in streams.
“I'm getting Turqa,” Strelzar declared. “Don't move.”
She didn't think she could move if she wanted to. Each movement, every emotion, seemed to make her dizzy and sick and exhausted.
Strelzar returned with Turqa within a few moments and the physician rushed to her side.
“Have you been drinking plenty of water? Eating plenty of fruits and meats?” he asked, placing a hand on her arm and another on her abdomen.
“I've been trying, but the dizziness on the ship was so bad this time, I couldn't keep anything down,” Veria answered.
“Well, that's not uncommon when you're with child,” Turqa stated.
Strelzar and Veria snapped their heads to each other to exchange shocked looks.
“What?” he snapped.
“Excuse me?” she asked at the same time.
“Veria,” Turqa said, “you are carrying a child. Did you not know? No, no, I suppose you wouldn't...it's still early on.”
On top of everything, Veria absolutely did not want to go through this again. She felt a fresh set of tears forming in her eyes, and the lump in her throat seemed to double in size.
“How early on?” Strelzar pressed.
“It's too hard to pinpoint, even for a physician of my experience,” Turqa said, “but, given the overall physical condition, I'd say four to six weeks. Very, very early.”
“Thank you Turqa,” Strelzar said. “Sorry to bother you.”
“Please, Lady Veria,” Turqa pleaded, and Veria remembered that he was the only one that still addressed her by her Regal title by default, “drink plenty of water and juice, and try to get some warm food in tonight. Or at least some crackers or toast. It will make you feel much better.”
And he left with quick sympathetic smile and wave.
“When was the last time you were with Browan?” Strelzar interrogated once Turqa was gone, kneeling in front of her and grabbing her hands.
“About six weeks ago,” Veria muttered.
“And...were you with Andon during the Council?” he asked. She nodded. “When?”
“About four weeks ago was the first time,” she answered.
He sighed and buried his head in her lap.
“Birdie...” he groaned, shaking his head in despair in its cradle between her knees.
“What?” she questioned.
“You better hope this baby is Andon's, too,” he replied, “or you are going to be stuck with King Browan for a very long time to come.”
“Strelzar,” Veria argued, “it's not like I am going to be able to hide it from him for long, and he's going to assume it's his child. Or yours.”
“I can't have children,” he replied. “Side effect of Urtiz's procedures to keep me, well, you know. Like this.”
“Well, then he's going to assume it's his child, and I doubt he'd be happy to hear that I spent almost the entire Peace Council sleeping with Andon,” she said, her voice breaking.
“You're right,” Strelzar sighed. “You don't want to anger him. He might sell our Twin Dragons secret to the highest bidder. Which will be someone who wants us dead.”
“What do I do?” Veria cried.
“Birdie,” Strelzar said, rubbing her knees comfortingly, “for the first time in a long time, I have no idea.”
Veria's body slumped forward in defeat and she took deep breaths to keep her from erupting in more sobs and tears. She felt like she had done quite enough of that recently.
“Either way,” Strelzar said, “It's going to be bad.”
“I can handle bad,” Veria said, sitting up straight and steadying her voice. “I've had a lot of bad, and it hasn't stopped me yet.”
A note from the author
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed 'The Twin Dragons'. Please consider leaving a review, as it is an invaluable feedback tool for both readers and authors alike. I'd also like to invite you to visit my website, www.authormarisol.com. There is information about my other books, news about upcoming titles, and opportunities to get free copies! Again, thank you for your support and I wish you happy reading always!
DAUGHTER
OF THE
DIAMOND
Book IV of the Elementals Series
will release in April 2017
For news, updates, and free books,
visit http://www.authormarisol.com/
Books by Marisol Logan
THE ELEMENTALS SERIES
BOOK I-Lord and Servant
BOOK II-The Second Talisman
BOOK III-The Twin Dragons
BOOK IV-Daughter of the Diamond (April 2017)
BOOK V-Queen of the Earth (May 2017)
Paranormal Romance
Captive
Short Stories
Hometown Hero
APPENDIX
'Natural state'—a state of tranquil calm that some Earth Magers can impose upon other people.
Diamond Mager—sect of Earth Magers who specialize in natural state and memory clearing
Sand Mager—sect of Earth Magers particularly skilled in finding truths across all possible times, for example, possible truths in the future (precognition).
Sapphire Mager—sect of Earth Magers who specialize in detecting lies and deception, and seeking the truth. Their skills
can even be used on inanimate objects by seeking the 'energy imprints' left on the objects.
Guyler—Estate assigned to Willis and Andon Villicrey
Longberme—the Estate belonging to the Laurelgate family.
Esperan—Kingdom south of Londess. Close allies. Birthplace and home of Andon Villicrey. Capital City: Barril
Govaland—Kingdom directly East of Londess, mostly mountainous with some barren valleys. Home of Diamond Mager Ellory Mielyr. Capital city: Varfelg
Tal'lea—Kingdom comprised mostly of desert terrain. Neutral with Londess, but has had issues with a Separatist movement that is hostile to Londess and Govaland. Capital city: Indil'la.
Plazic Peak—home of Strelzar Plazic. A spacious, luxurious dwelling in the side of a volcanic peak in the northeast peak region of Londess.
Daloes Caircliff—Veria's first elemental master. A highly respected Sand Mager, member of the Ageless Council, former Master to Willis Villlicrey, and, for a time, Lord Gordon Laurelgate (Veria's father)
Cadit Ohren—former apprentice of Strelzar Plazic. A Fire Mager who served as an adviser to King Browan, along with Lord Gordon, and forged his suicide letter. Fled Londess and took refuge with Tal'lean Separatists.
Lady Emmandia Haleshore—Fiance to Lord Andon Villicrey. The Haleshore Estate sits between Dranspor (a major city) and the northeastern peak region.
Lord Rames—Heir to the wealthy Chadron Estates, father of Veria's daughter, Irea, according to a fatherhood examen (paternity test). Married to Lady Ambra, originally of the Foreshore Estate
Elemental Consortium—the once thriving and influential organization for all practitioners of elemental powers. Served as record keepers, promoters of ethics and standards, and high-ranking members were often seen as world leaders and sought after for their advice and inspiration. Relatively defunct since the banning of hard elementals. Their base of operations was the Elemental Shrine on the island of Tarddiad, just north of Londess, but was destroyed in a violent ocean storm and never repaired.
The Twin Dragons: Book III in the Elementals Series Page 15