“Would you really do those things?” I asked, eyeing her warily.
“Yes. Of course,” she assured me with a sweet smile. “He caused my child pain. I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I could do to him. What do you think about hammering farrier tacks under his toenails?”
“You were once opposed to torture,” I reminded her.
“Yes, but that was before,” Lore said, automatically.
“Before the witch took M’Tek from you,” I observed.
“When I was young, I was too soft. The Vilkerlings didn’t fear me,” she explained. “That’s why they rebelled against me. I was building the infrastructure of that cursed land, and working to educate their children. I kept taxes low, and fostered peace between the three nations, and for my efforts they tried to kill me, more times than you can imagine. Of course, I forgave them all of that. When they threatened my children, when they took the woman I love to use as a weapon against me, I swore they’d fear me as a result. I believe they do.”
“The Vilkerlings are terrified of M’Tek, and she’s the one who was kidnapped,” I pointed out.
“The witch gave them courage,” Lore observed. “Once I disposed of Sim’Nu, they became too weak to ever challenge me again.”
“You lived among them, Lore. You actually believed you were Vilken when I first met you. Don’t you understand them better than that?” I asked cautiously.
“There’s no longer a need for me to understand those vile creatures,” Lore replied. “They’re only peasants now, living on land held by Fae and Noge nobility. In a few generations the Vilken blood will be so diluted no one will admit to having Vilken ancestry.
“The House of Marinella still stands,” I argued.
“You’re right. I made a mistake,” Lore replied with a nod. “Sentimentality blinded me to the problem I was creating for myself. Still, Countess Emmuska has produced no offspring. She’s likely too old now, so that problem will take care of itself in time.”
The exterior door to the sitting room opened and Lia walked in. She looked tired, and a little grubby. Her gaze shifted over me first as she offered a partial smile, and then she noticed Astrid, asleep on Lore’s lap, her fingers still gripping the sapphire necklace. Lia’s focus settled on Lore as a flicker of some unexpressed emotion flashed across her face.
“Lore, why haven’t you allowed Pet to settle in?” Lia asked sharply.
“We’ve been discussing Noge business,” Lore replied. “But my daughter’s correct, Pet. I truly have kept you too long. Thank you for indulging me, my friend. You’ve been very kind, and quite helpful. I’ll leave the three of you to settle in now.”
Lore kissed the sleeping Astrid on the forehead. She then carefully lifted my child away from her chest and off her lap, gently placing her down on the sofa before standing. I started to extract the necklace from Astrid’s tight little fingers, but Lore stopped me by stilling my hand with her own.
“Don’t wake her,” Lore said softly. “The necklace is of no importance.”
I glanced at Lia, whose eyes were harder than I expected on her mother. Lore recognized the annoyance in Lia’s expression and moved around the sofa to her daughter. She reached out to touch Lia’s shoulder, offering a sweet smile.
“I’m very happy you’re here, Lia. I’ve missed you,” Lore said before leaving us.
Lia watched the door close behind her mother before she came over to the sofa. She sat cautiously between Astrid and me, careful not to wake our child. Lia then claimed one of my hands, entwining our fingers. She lifted my hand to her lips but didn’t kiss it.
“I had to divide our guards between two inns, on the outskirts of the village, and ask them to share rooms,” Lia said against my fingers. “I gave them each credit at the tavern, and with a few shops, to make up for the inconvenience. They actually seemed pleased with the arrangement,” she said, lowering my hand and turning to gaze at me. “Saranedam Village is overcrowded because of the solstice celebration. Apparently peasants come from all over Nogeland to watch the celebration from the shores of Sweet Lake.”
“They’ve been doing that for at least ten years,” I replied. “They enjoy the fireworks, and the colored bonfire. Don’t you remember the lanterns lifting off over the lake from our last celebration here? The peasants release those.” Lia nodded and leaned against me, tucking her forehead against my neck and wrapping her free arm across my waist.
“I remember. I thought you had orchestrated it all for me, though,” she said. “I was so entranced by you then. I thought you could do anything.”
“I did provide a few thousand extra lanterns to the peasants that year,” I admitted, smiling at my vivid memory of Lia from that night, four years earlier, and the awe in her eyes as she took in the scene I’d meticulously shaped for her.
“You’ve been upset,” Lia observed, inhaling deeply as she picked up on the acrid scent on my skin. “What did my mother do to you this time?” she asked, bringing my mind back to the present.
“It seems I’m still the Prime of Nogeland,” I replied.
“Dues!” Lia snapped, raising her head to look at me. “That’s not possible. She stripped you of the title. She banished you. She can’t have you back now simply because it suits her.”
“Apparently she can, at least in name. There’s no way around it I’m afraid. It’s exactly as M’Tek told me. The title is bestowed for life,” I explained. “I was anointed in the High Noge Temple, which of course means nothing to me, except that legally, it’s binding. I thought Lore would do something, change the law maybe, but she hasn’t, and won’t. Whether we like it or not, I’m still her Prime, and she has no intention of relieving me of the title.”
“She’s reclaiming you,” Lia said sharply.
“I don’t think that’s it, Lia,” I said, trying to reassure her. “Your mother sees me as her ally. That’s all.”
“Her ally in what?” Lia asked. I couldn’t answer her immediately. I knew if I told her what Lore and I had discussed, or that I was planning to kill Lord Gere, Lia would be upset. She’d been upset enough as far as I was concerned. “Pet, tell me, please.”
“With you, Lia. She told me she’s ashamed of the way she behaved with you,” I said, not exactly lying. “It’s all right, though. I can handle Lore. I won’t allow her to manipulate me.”
“She’s not gaining any ground with me by trying to be close with you again,” Lia said firmly. “I don’t want her anywhere near you.”
“Can you trust me?” I asked.
“Of course I trust you, Pet,” Lia assured me. “I always trust you. It’s Lore I don’t trust. She’s up to something. Nothing is ever simple with her. She’s always pushing for an advantage.”
“Do you believe I can handle her?” I asked.
“If anyone is capable of that great feat, it’s you,” Lia said quietly. “You’re the smartest person I know. I don’t like this, though.”
The following days passed in near harmony. Guests were arriving from various regions of Nogeland, and even Faeland. Some of Lord Gere’s family arrived, but to my immense relief, the high lord wasn’t among them. The halls of the palace were quickly filled with domestic staff and nobility, as the palace hummed fully awake. Astrid was enjoying all the bustling, and the strange faces around her. Even Lia seemed to appreciate the faster pace of life.
It was on the eve of the summer solstice that M’Tek came to our apartment to find me. The knock at our sitting room door interrupted a bout of tickling attacks I’d waged on Astrid, so Lia answered the door. Astrid was squealing with delight when M’Tek appeared at the end of the sofa. I raised my fingers in tickle position once more and Astrid giggled. I moved in to attack, but lifted her up instead, settling her on my lap and kissing her cheek before turning to greet my cousin.
“M’Tek, you’re dressed for a ride,” I observed, noting the breeches and tall black boots she wore.
“I am, cousin,” she agreed. “And hoping you’ll acc
ompany me.”
“Why not take Lia?” I offered, glancing over at Lia. “She’s been trapped in here with me all morning. I’m sure she’s dying for a ride.”
“That’s all right, Pet,” Lia said. “You go. I prefer a quiet morning with Astrid.”
“I doubt it will be quiet,” I observed. “She’s wound tight, thanks to me.”
“Go. We’ll be fine,” Lia assured me.
I stood up, placing Astrid on the sofa, and went back to our bedchamber to change. When I reappeared M’Tek was holding Astrid, while Lia was straightening the room, gathering Astrid’s toys into one corner. When I smiled at Lia, she winked at me.
Bemused by the behavior of my mate, I walked with M’Tek out to the stables. I made my way over to Khol’s stall and opened the door. Automatically, I went into the stall, but then I placed my hand on the shiny black coat of an unfamiliar horse. I stepped back to appraise the unknown filly occupying Khol’s stall, and M’Tek appeared at the stall door.
“Someone’s left another horse in Khol’s stall,” I observed aloud to M’Tek. “I can understand the mistake. She looks a good deal like him, his height and color.”
“What do you think of her?” M’Tek asked.
I looked the filly over, noticing her strong straight legs, and sloping shoulder. She had a lovely, longish neck, and a more delicate head than Khol’s. The filly followed my movements with soulful dark eyes.
“She’s spectacular,” I observed. “You finally found a worthy replacement for Eren. This is why you wanted to ride this morning, to show her off, right?” I asked, grinning at M’Tek.
“Not exactly, cousin,” M’Tek replied, grinning back at me. “Though she was bred for me, she’s not mine,” M’Tek said. “She’s the first foal out of Eren,” she continued.
“Doken is her sire, I assume,” I observed. “She has his head.”
“Yes,” M’Tek agreed.
“I’d like to see about having Doken cover Fiora while we’re here,” I said, conversationally as I continued examining the young mare. “I think the pairing would be a good one.”
“Do you think this filly is Khol’s equal?” M’Tek asked in her most casual tone. I could tell by her manner that my approval of her new mount truly mattered, and so was flattered.
“Well, I’d have to ride her to know for certain,” I replied with a grin. “But from the look of her, she is,” I observed, letting my hand move lightly across the mare’s high withers as I admired her. “You won’t want to trade for Khol now you have her.”
“Khol belongs to Lia,” M’Tek observed. “You traded him for Fiora over three years ago.”
“Khol has belonged to Lia since the first day she borrowed him five years ago,” I said cutting my gaze to M’Tek and laughing. “Those two were made for each other.”
“You know, you shamed me a few years ago, cousin,” M’Tek said. “And it was my own fault, which makes it far worse. You pointed out that I had never observed your birthdate. You thought I didn’t even know how old you were,” she added. “Today, on the eve of summer solstice, you are forty-nine years old,” she observed. “I’d like you to accept Reika as a gift from me, and I hope that you can forgive the many years I was too self-involved to be a proper cousin.”
“M’Tek, you can’t do that. You really like this mare,” I said. “I can tell by the way your eyes move across her topline. She’s as nice as Eren, and Khol, and maybe even Twyneth.”
“You’re right. Is it a good gift if it’s not something you covet yourself, though?” she asked, her smile slightly impish, reminding me of Lia.
“I don’t know the answer to that, but Reika’s an excellent gift,” I said, grinning.
“Watching you with Lia and Astrid, and even Lore over the years, I’ve learned a little about generosity,” M’Tek said, sounding more pensive than was usual. “Very little of what you do is for your own gain. You said we will do what suits us, Lore and I, and the events of the following months proved you exactly right. Still, I’m not purely selfish, I hope.”
“No, M’Tek, of course you’re not,” I said. “Thank you. She’s stunning.”
I left Reika and went to M’Tek in the aisle of the stable, actually embracing her for the first time in decades. She seemed almost shy of the attention, laughing as she tightened her arms around me in response. When I released M’Tek and stepped back, her eyes were red.
“What’s the matter, cousin?” I asked. She shook her head and bit her lip at the corner of her mouth, appearing uncharacteristically vulnerable.
“It’s nothing, Pet, only that you ask for so little from us, and still we fall short,” she explained. “You’re extremely good to my daughter. Despite the many ways Lore and I failed her, Lia’s happy because of you. And you’re the perfect mother to Astrid. No one could have expected as much from you.”
“I don’t need credit for loving Lia and Astrid,” I said, smiling. “Astrid’s my daughter. Of course I’m good to her. And Lia makes me happier than I ever thought I could be. I’m a fortunate woman.”
“Yes,” M’Tek said, diverting her gaze for a moment. “Let’s ride. I can’t wait for you to take Reika over some fences.”
“Would you like to ride Khol?” I asked.
“No. I’ll ride Eren,” M’Tek said, heading down the aisle to tack her horse.
We rode through the berrywine vineyards around Saranedam for most of the day, jumping fences between the properties and finishing our ride with a slow cool down around the lake. M’Tek was far from emotional for the remainder of the day, leaving me wondering over her atypical behavior in the stable.
I enjoyed riding Reika, and knew the moment Lia laid eyes on the mare she would want to try her out. I wondered what she and Astrid were doing with their time in my absence.
“Are you coming for the Fae season this year?” M’Tek asked out of nowhere.
“That’s entirely up to Lia,” I replied. “I was surprised she agreed to visit Saranedam for the solstice.”
“Your only concern is Lia, then. You don’t harbor any resentments that might prevent your returning to Lareem?” M’Tek asked.
“Of course not. You know, you sounded like Lore just now,” I observed. M’Tek grinned.
“Really? How do you mean?” she asked.
“I don’t know. She asked me something very similar about Saranedam. Did you know I’m still the Prime of Nogeland?” I asked.
“I’m surprised Lore had to tell you that,” she observed. “You’ve studied Noge law. The title of Prime is not given lightly. You’ll be Lore’s Prime as long as the both of you live, just as she is still mine, even though she became a Fae Queen, which logically should supersede the title of Prime.”
“Well, I assumed Lore had found a way to strip me of it,” I said.
“There is no way she could do that, unless she lost her throne. You wouldn’t be Prime if she were overthrown. If she died, you would lose the title, of course, but then you’d be next in line for the throne. Since you were made Prime after the girls were born, you’d inherit the Noge throne ahead of either of them,” M’Tek said.
“Well, Lore’s not going to die, so there’s no need for speculation,” I said, anxious about the conversation suddenly. People lost their lives over such talk.
“You’re right. None of us will die any time soon,” M’Tek agreed.
“Lore asked me to move my family to Saranedam Palace,” I observed. “I haven’t mentioned that to Lia yet. She’s already upset that I’m still Lore’s Prime.”
“I would think my daughter wants you to get along with both of her mothers. Lore can either be an extremely treacherous foe, or a highly valuable friend. I know you’re aware of that, but I’d expect Lia to see it too,” M’Tek observed, smiling to hide the puzzled look on her face. “Why should the fact that you and Lore are on good terms again upset Lia?”
“Lia’s feelings toward Lore are not simple,” I observed. Lia saw Lore as both the heroic defender of her childho
od, and the tyrant that trapped her at Lareem Palace and tried to force an unwanted marriage on her. She also felt in some ways that Lore was competition for my affections. I didn’t want to explain that to M’Tek though, and considered that I may actually be abusing Lia’s confidence if I did.
That put an end to our conversation for the moment. After we untacked our horses, we walked together back to the palace. M’Tek was uncharacteristically pensive as we entered the palace from the west entrance. There were servants bustling busily around the main hall and ballroom, decorating for the big event. Curious to see their work, M’Tek and I walked through, looking over the decorations. We agreed it would be a lovely celebration.
“Will there be fireworks?” I asked.
“Of course,” M’Tek replied. “You started a tradition. The peasants may riot if they travel all this way for a spectacle and none is offered,” M’Tek said, raising a dark eyebrow. “Do you miss it, orchestrating these events?” M’Tek asked.
“Not at all,” I replied, not quite honestly. I did miss seeing Lia’s eyes light up when I created something awe inspiring.
“The hall was beautiful for Ania’s joining,” M’Tek mused.
“Yes, well, that joining has worked far better than I expected,” I observed. “At the time I thought I was helping to lead Ania into a tragic union.”
“Her union is not tragic,” M’Tek observed with a sharp nod. “Still, I wouldn’t call it a seamless one. She and Fen’Tun live basically separate lives. I doubt there will be children born of that joining.”
“I’m sorry for her,” I said. “She deserves to be happy.”
“Don’t worry. I imagine Ania keeps herself happy. I’m told she has a penchant for young soldiers, and as many as she wants to chose from in the southeastern region of Faeland. I keep a quarter of my army housed near Bakerne Village, not far from the Kantok family estate.”
A Fortunate Woman (Fortune's Favor Book 2) Page 24