“You did let someone else in to that world,” I said.
“You mean Himika…”
“You don’t really need to talk to anyone,” I said. “Let them see how much you love her, and they will love you. That’s all. I can still host the thing.”
“I do love her, Aurek,” he said.
“Terrifying, isn’t it?”
“She’s so…perfect to me. I feel like I’m always struggling for words. I didn’t want you to share her with me, not at all, but…I can’t imagine it any other way, now. You knew, I guess. I couldn’t have loved a woman that you didn’t love just as much.”
“I think I did know that,” I said. “Even if I never quite thought it out so clearly.”
“I never thought I’d feel possessive over a woman. I never thought I’d feel anything, really, much less this feeling of—wanting to turn into a dragon and eat her, so I can keep her safe forever.” He scoffed at himself. “I mean, not really. That sounds insane.”
“Well, that’s why I’m teaching her how to throw a knife at your weak spots, Seron. Just a precaution.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Himika
Life in Irandal was a little different, day to day, than life in Hemara. I missed my garden, but there were certainly other delights. We visited some of the villages and saw smiths and metal workers, fishermen and farmers, dragons who drew lava from the earth to heat the castle and dragons who turned water to ice for the kitchens. I had never had such freedom, even in Gaermon, to visit with people of all sorts. Usually Aurekdel accompanied me on those trips, while Oszin or Seron took me boating and swimming. Aurek and I continued our fighting lessons. I was getting healthier and stronger every day.
I only wished I could stop worrying about Ezeru, and looking out the window to the parade ground, remembering him there with the rock dragons, or staring into the dim distance of the valley, hoping to spot him heading back to us. I kept hoping that, at the very least, he would send a rock dragon with a messenger.
I struggled but mostly succeeded at hiding my concerns to the guys.
Of course, Oszin already knew.
Actually, who was I kidding? They all knew. They just politely didn’t mention it.
Anyway, I was excited for the party, which occurred halfway through our six weeks in Irandal. Raia approached me in a whisper with, “My lady, Aurekdel said I should have a dress made for you for the party as a surprise, but the seamstresses asked what you like, and I don’t know.”
“Just, pretty things. Blue is a good color for me. Embroidery. Bows that you don’t know how to tie. Why didn’t you just ask Hara? She’s better at these things.”
“Well, Aurek asked me.” She frowned. “I’m just an awful handmaiden.” She slumped into a chair. “I thought I might take to it by now.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go back to being a soldier, then?”
She looked so pale. “I should be more brave.”
“That was insensitive of me,” I said. “You already told me you’re shaken over your mother’s death. It’s not cowardly to take time for that.”
“I’m afraid it is. What sort of dragon quits fighting just because one person they love dies?”
“I don’t know, but it sounds reasonable to me. She was your only close family, wasn’t she?”
“If we don’t count Abel, then yes.”
“No, we won’t count Abel. You don’t really know him.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been a very good handmaiden either,” Raia said. “I’m not really sure where I fit in. I always wanted to be a soldier and when I think of it now, I start shaking. That’s what I’m best at and I can’t bear to do it anymore.”
Impulsively, I hugged her. “Raia, has anyone ever prettied you up for a night?”
“I’m just not that pretty.”
“What? You’re very cute!” I said.
“Cute, yeah, but not pretty like you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think we should forget a new dress for me and make a dress for you.”
“Cloth is too precious to put dresses on me!”
“The queen’s handmaidens shouldn’t be running around in leather shorts,” I sniffed. “If my brother and the rest of the Gaermoni and Capemeran courts see this, I can hardly imagine. I insist you have one dress, just for parties and balls. That’ll be more fun for me than having a dress of my own.”
“If you say so.” She looked intrigued.
The afternoon of the party, I had great fun dressing Raia up instead of the other way around. I promised Hara she would be next, once we got more cloth shipments.
“Oh, I’m not jealous,” she said. “Not if you’re trying to cheer Raia up.”
“I am,” I said. “Sometimes I get tired of all the attention being on me and I’d rather pamper someone else. It’s just too bad your hair is so short. I know some interesting Gaermoni hairstyles…”
“Well, long hair like yours is no good in battle,” Raia said, patting her short red locks.
“That’s a good point. I wonder if I should cut mine short…”
“Nooo!” Hara cried, covering my head with her hands.
My hand crept toward the scissors. We wrestled with them for a minute jokingly before Seron came in, just shook his head, and turned around.
“What?” I cried.
“Don’t play with scissors!” he said. “And…the party is beginning.”
By some miracle, within half an hour all three of us were all elegantly dressed and coiffed, heading out to the parade grounds where the large party was held. I gasped with delight at the sight. All around, hundreds of lanterns with shades made of thin colored crystal were strung, glowing softly. The Shield Maidens of Ardor, both old and young, stood at the entrances, clad in colorful dress armor with their painted shields. They handled security without dragging down the atmosphere. Once the villagers got past the gate, they were greeted by Aurekdel, who wore his new silk robes and looked very poised.
I saw that the common people looked very nervous and uncomfortable about seeing Aurekdel without a crown or his claws, but he helped to put them at ease.
I could tell Seron was avoiding the greetings. He seemed to be helping Oszin set up the tournament grounds. How like them to be working instead of mingling. Tables were spread with food, musicians played boisterous music that was already attracting eager dancers, and dragon maidens with tails (well, well, I was starting to get an idea of what that signaled by now) strolled around offering wine to adults while children were corralled into their own play area.
I waved at Seron and Oszin, but I wasn’t about to get enlisted into moving chairs, so I strolled over to Aurek.
“Good evening. Don’t you look handsome tonight.”
“Are you implying I am ever less than handsome?” When I put a hand on his arm, he lifted it to his lips.
“No. You’re my sun,” I said. “However, there is too much tail at this party.”
He chuckled, grabbing me close. “Don’t be jealous. Tails have their disadvantages too. They get in the way sometimes.” He patted my ass.
I cleared my throat. “I hope you haven’t been drinking already.”
“No, no. I want to be at my best to dance with you. I’m afraid I don’t need a drink to say naughty things. Is that Raia with you?”
“And Hara too.”
“Enjoy yourself tonight, ladies. I’ll take care of the queen.”
“So I see,” Raia snickered.
“I can hardly believe we’ve already halfway through our time in Irandal,” Aurekdel said, taking my arm to stroll toward the food. Everyone seemed excited about the worst looking stuff, like what appeared to be grilled snake, and something green and wobbly nestled on an edible black flower. The servants staffing the tables all jostled to offer Aurek a taste.
“No, no,” I said. “No snake, please.”
“You don’t like the licking snake?”
“That thing that attacked us? No! Plus it smells…f
unky.”
“Just because it attacked you doesn’t mean it isn’t tasty.”
I took some of the fruit jellies, and of course, the fish was always safe. “And are those scallops? You’re sure? Oh…heavenly.”
Once we had eaten, the tournament was beginning soon, so we settled into our seats to watch. Oszin sat with us. Seron was down in the ring, and I saw him talking to some of the soldiers. Somewhere along the way, he’d taken off his shirt like most of the young men and women competing.
“How’s the view from here?” Aurek asked.
“Oh, it’s very good.” I grinned. “Is Seron competing?”
“He usually does,” Aurek said. “But the king can’t compete in his own tournament. Is he giving pep talks?”
“Well, I don’t know if I’d call it a pep talk. He looks so serious. Hey, Oszin, why aren’t you competing?”
“I don’t look that good with my shirt off.”
“You do too.”
“There is no human category in dragon wrestling,” Oszin said.
“Ohhh.”
“The tournament will consist of three categories,” Aurek said. “Weapons dueling in human form, archery, and then dragon wrestling. Best man and woman ranked in all three categories will get some of the Gaermoni silk.”
The other seats were filling with people as more competitors joined the ranks in the ring. The dragon maidens came around again, offering more food and drink as we sat, and then they offered to fan us or release relaxing mist in our vicinity.
“No, thank you, not now,” Aurek said.
“You can fan me,” Oszin said.
I elbowed him. “I thought you were trying for broody to make me jealous, not obvious.”
“Maybe I’m just warm,” he said.
“Ignore him,” I said. “I must say, I feel very queenly right now. Watching a tournament from our own box and eating—”
“Snake,” Aurek said, popping a piece in his mouth.
“Nooo! I’m not kissing you all night now.”
Suddenly, horns blew at the gate. There was sudden commotion, guards rushing forward. Aurekdel stood up.
“What is it?” I asked.
“That’s the warning for intruders,” he said. “Stay here.”
“If you’re going, I’m going with you.”
“Don’t be stubborn.”
“You’re being stubborn. You’re not much more use than I am.”
He bared fangs at me. Oszin waved us both down. “Why don’t you both let the guards handle it?”
The serving girls had run off in a panic. Below us, I saw Seron step out of his boots, tear off the robe that fell around his waist, and turn into a crystal dragon, flying out of the tournament ring to get a good look from above. My heart nearly stopped at how beautiful he was. I heard a lot of ladies gasp. He swept down outside of the gates, having clearly spotted something—someone.
What if it’s Ezeru?, I thought hopefully. But, no, he would not get an intruder alarm. So it must mean danger. If Dvaro launched an attack on us right in the middle of such a nice party, well, that really was villainous, because I was having such a good time. Worse than that, there were old people and children here, who should be nowhere near a battle…
I heard more gasping and commotion and then Seron shoved a cloaked man into the ring.
He tore off the man’s hood. “Here’s our intruder,” he said.
“Guardian Niko!” I sprang to my feet, clutching my chest as I let out a sigh of relief.
“Oh, great,” Aurekdel muttered. “That cocky ass.”
“Greetings,” Niko said. “I heard you’re having a party and I thought I’d stop by and wish King Seron well.”
“Abandoning your wife in the midst of her pregnancy?” Aurekdel was now hanging over the railing of the royal box, eager to trade barbs.
“Phoebe told me to go as soon as we got Seron’s note. She’s in good hands.”
“You should have announced yourself,” Seron said. “You scared the kids.”
“I’m sorry. Phoebe herself suggested that it wouldn’t hurt to get a little payback for that time Aurek made her complete a Grand Quintet in front of him.”
“What now?” I shot him a look. I knew the Grand Quintet was when the priestess was supposed to join with all her mates at once.
“I am blind, I saw nothing,” Aurek said loftily. “Of course…I heard plenty, and Phoebe is quite the moaner, isn’t she?”
“I’m right here!” I shouted, practically punching him back into his seat as Seron said, acting like he hadn’t heard any of it,
“Well, why don’t you take a seat, unless you plan on entering?” He glanced down at Niko’s fairly lean body. Niko was tall but still dwarfed by Seron.
“Not unless it’s a game of wits,” Niko said. “I’m not much for full on messy brawling.”
“You can sit with my queen,” Seron said. “Right, Aurekdel?”
“You’re going down in the dance competition,” Aurek said, throwing a chunk of snake at Seron. Then he composed himself to greet Niko with a rather icy bow. “We are running low on seats, but I suppose you can sit next to Guard Oszin.”
Niko leaned against the rail. “In all seriousness,” he said. “I’m here about my mother.” Kajira flew over to sniff him, and he gave her head a friendly scratch. I can’t say any of the guardians had become my friends during my time in the palace before my brother sent me away. I was a little jealous of Gilbert for stealing my brother’s heart; Abel was too cold; Forrest was too busy and only seemed to have eyes for Phoebe… Niko was equally charming or provoking to everyone (depending on your opinion of his biting remarks), but that made me nervous too. I felt like he was hiding something. Phoebe said he was the most trouble out of all her guardians. But I also knew he was searching for his mother, and that made me feel sympathy for him, at least. I knew what it was like to be torn from your family.
“We don’t know much beyond what Seron said in his letter to you,” Aurek said.
“Can I speak to Ezeru?”
“He is gone at present,” I said. “He’s recruiting more rock dragons to our side and will be back in a few weeks when we return to Hemara.”
“Are you kidding? Damn. Did he say anything about her, besides that—she’s in Dvaro’s hands, and—her tongue.” He looked uncomfortable.
“He seemed to really love her,” I said.
“But he’s not her son.”
“No.”
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to hang around here until he gets back.” Niko finally took the chair. “There are things I want to discuss, in any case.”
“I thought there might be,” Aurek said. “But let’s wait until tomorrow.”
“Of course.” The servants came around to offer him a drink, and he took one, but added, “Too bad I’ve never been able to get drunk. You won’t be able to drink either if you want to keep up.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Aurek said, but I could see he wasn’t very relaxed anymore and I knew he planned to drink.
As everyone calmed down about the intruder, the tournament began. It was quite exciting to watch, even though none of my guys were in it, and as the queen, I wasn’t really allowed to root for any one person over another outside of my mates. I didn’t really care, since I just loved seeing the different pairings of dragons who specialized in different types of blades and spears, with different fighting techniques.
“Woo!” I grabbed Oszin as we watched a particularly thrilling end to a battle between a Shield Maiden fire dragon and a female crystal dragon who led one of the battle squadrons under Seron. “You would have been so good! Next year we need to change the rules so humans can enter.”
“I don’t need to prove myself,” he said.
“Aw, come on! I would!”
“She does have a competitive streak,” Aurek said.
“Well, she is a twin,” Oszin said.
I tried to calm down. The archery was starting soon anyway, and it wo
uldn’t be quite as rousing. “How is my brother, Niko?”
“Very busy,” Niko said. “To be honest, we all thought it would be easier to take back the northern gate, but on our end, the Elders and their supporters have really entrenched themselves up in the northern caverns. They don’t come out, but we can’t get in, either. Their magic’s pretty strong. Every time I try casting a fortune to see what we should do, I get the same result, to just wait. But—you asked about Rin, didn’t you? He’s starting to take to his role a little better, I think.”
“Is he happy?”
Niko paused. “I can’t presume to answer. But we’re all looking forward to the first baby.”
So…not really. I was proud of my brother; he was finally fulfilling all of Father’s hopes and dreams for him and then some, serving not just as the King of Gaermon but even as the emperor of a united realm. I knew he had the strength and the smarts to be a good king, but I also knew, deep down…it was not what he had ever wanted. My consolation was that I knew he had a lot of help; I knew the other guardians would ease his burdens. But in the end, the emperor was the final word.
And it pained me to know there would never be any escape for him. Rin dreamed of being free. I knew that now, he would have to snatch freedom in whatever small way he could, but the crown was a shackle.
I couldn’t help seeing the same in Seron, and worrying over his happiness too, even though his reluctance was very different. Seron didn’t seem to crave freedom. He didn’t shirk from duty. So maybe he would be all right, with time.
Archery was followed, of course, by the crowd’s favorite battle of all—dragon wrestling, a thrilling spectacle of slashing tails and heads trying to pin one another down, tearing up the ground. The crowd was going wild for their favorites, chanting songs. When the favored fighter Karado lost the final face-off in an upset to a younger soldier, I feared there would be a riot, but Aurek assured me everyone would just go and dance it off.
Indeed, they did. The dance started right then and there, wild music seeming to fill the whole cavern.
“Let’s leave our shoes here,” Aurek said.
“Leave our shoes!?”
The Kingdoms of Sky and Shadow Box Set Page 42