The Great Forest: Laya: Dark Sculptor Novel 04

by D. R. Rosier

  The city itself however, looked quite familiar, with buildings and houses that seemed to meld and complement the surrounding forest with twisting natural paths through the trees. Over time however, as we walked for the palace in the center of the city, I started to notice subtle differences. For one, the dark elves seemed more sociable, perhaps a natural extension of channeling their emotions instead of restraining them. The light elves could be just as warm, and were, but usually only with close friends and relatives. That attitude difference seemed to inform Amathyr’s structures as well, which were more open, bigger windows, and all the homes in the trees had large open balconies. I spied more than one dark elf speaking with someone on the ground, while sitting on the edge of their balcony with a glass in their hand.

  Letting emotions constantly flow as a way to control them also had down sides. I also spied a quite a few heated arguments, and one time what I could only describe as a friendly fight. I knew my mate had that in her too, but I usually only incited her softer side, and sexual appetites. It was kind of comforting in a way, if I ever did something wrong and angered Karana, she wouldn’t brood and keep it from me like my human mates would, or even Saria. I’d pretty much always know where I stood with her. The others as well but to a much lesser degree, their love and devotion to me and our family couldn’t be clearer, but all women are a mystery part of the time.

  In hindsight, it was also probably why Karana had been the one to let out that vitriolic thought, she was used to letting everything go and not holding back.

  By that point in my life, I was also thoroughly familiar with the differing body language of elves, familiar enough that I didn’t even have to think about it anymore, and intuitively understood it without the translation in my head.

  The large palace in the center of Amathyr’s large clearing, was quite different as well. About the only thing palace-like about it was the large spires. The light elves had an arboretum in their throne room, perhaps to bring the nature that they walled off from themselves and that they so loved, to them. The dark elven palace was just… open to the world around it. It was one story tall, sprawling, and not really connected as one piece. The halls were covered with a transparent material, something stronger than glass, but we might as well have been outside, with the ground being literal dirt and grass, and with flowers and bushes planted artfully.

  Very few of the rooms in the front of the palace even had doors, and they were instead large open arches that led into meeting rooms on the sides, some with tables, some just with couches, and that main hallway led into the throne room, which was currently empty.

  The throne room had no ceiling at all, but was cool, and there were two carved thrones in the center of several oak trees that reached high up into the sky. There was an oak grove, in the throne room. At the same time, the room was very comfortable temperature wise, about ten degrees cooler than outside, and I looked at Karana with a raised brow.

  Karana replied sultrily, “Magic of course. It keeps the rain out and the people dry, while feeding the roots of the trees. There’s also a heat exchange spell, that keeps it warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. A lot of the palace has those kinds of spells, such an open structure has to, or it would be unlivable in a short time.”

  She nodded, and led us into a rounded corridor, the kind I loved so much, and although the hallway was just as filled with nature as the others, there were doors on the rooms. A few of them were open, the rest closed.

  Karana said, “All suite’s and bedrooms have doors for privacy, an open door means you’d welcome visitors for company.”

  “I noticed the rest of the city was more open too, but not this open.”

  Karana grinned, “It takes a lot of magic to maintain the protections against the elements and nature, while enjoying being among it. Mages are rare, so most have to make do with open decks or balconies, and deal with walls, ceilings, and flooring.”

  She stopped, and then led us into our suite. Well, we’d made it all the way to the palace with no one trying to kill us. Of course, we hadn’t really met anyone yet either.

  The suite had a fairly basic entry and living room, with an actual floor, ceiling, and doors. I guessed they liked living and working while surrounded by nature, but they slept in a sheltered area. There were two doors, one on the right side, and one all the way in the back.

  Karana said, “Claire, take the room on the right. It’s the smaller of the two, but still made for more than one so you should have plenty of room.”

  Claire nodded, “Thank you, Karana.”

  Karana smiled, “I’m going to get us dinner, who wants to come with and help me carry stuff? Servants will bring us breakfast, but they probably don’t know we’re here yet.”

  Regina and Claire volunteered, and after dropping their packs in their rooms, along with Karana, they left the room.

  The rest of us went into the back bedroom, which was very large. The bed was big enough for five, but it would be a tight squeeze. Not that I minded the need to snuggle with my wives. Sianna, Saria and I unpacked our stuff, and Sianna then unpacked for Karana, while Saria unpacked Regina.

  “Have you ever been here before?” I couldn’t believe I didn’t know that, but I didn’t.

  Saria shook her head, “First time.”

  Sianna grinned impishly, “Me too.”

  My two princesses and I went back out to the living room, and we sat on the couch. Sianna as usual snuggled into me, and I started to return her petting without even thinking about it, while Saria leaned against my other side.

  We chatted comfortably, and exchanged a few lazy kisses, while we waited for dinner and the others to get back. I was pretty relaxed, and happy in that moment after a long day’s walk, and I just enjoyed their presence and warmth against mine. I enjoyed our intimacy outside of sex, which was made pretty easy because of how spoiled I was in that department. What I meant was, I had two very nubile and beautiful young ladies against me, but my mind wasn’t on sex at all in that moment at all. Our relationships were much more than that, and we never ran out of things to talk about. Part of that I think, was in having multiple mates, they talked to each other as often as they talked to me.

  I was also happy for the opportunity to be there, even if things might get a little bumpy, but I was looking forward to setting down roots, teaching, raising children with all my mates, and achieving all our other plans and goals. I was a very rich man, and I wasn’t talking about all the gold I’d been earning. Perhaps my greatest ambition of all, was to keep my house joyful, and help my mates achieve their ambitions, as they supported me in mine.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The throne room was far fuller than I expected, with various groups of elves standing around the large room. Their eyes noted us curiously and openly, but I didn’t see any negative faces in the crowd. At least, not until we approached the throne. Two mages flanked the throne and I could only assume they were Karana’s parents.

  Abresi didn’t hide his disgust or hatred as he set on eyes on me, but neither did he attack. I hoped that constant glare would be enough to get it out of his system, or he would at some point. He was an inch or two over six feet tall, lean and athletic, with clearly defined muscles under those tight mage robes. He had strong high cheekbones, and long silver black hair.

  The woman on the other side was appraisingly me openly with a mysterious smile on her face. I’d have said she was flirting if she was human, but she really wasn’t. She was just excited to meet her daughter’s mate, I think. Her hips were cocked sensuously, and her eyes twinkled as she nodded in a silent greeting to me. Anasha was a very attractive woman for her age of six hundred, and she looked around sixty years of age in human years. She also looked very much like my Karana, and I was pleased to get such an attractive forward look of what Karana would look like in about three hundred and fifty years.

  A little shallow perhaps, but I couldn’t help the thought.

  Queen Renesa looked to be abo
ut forty, or four hundred in elven years, and had a similar sensuous greeting, though a little more reserved. Her smile and carriage felt more welcoming and relaxed, than exuberantly eager.

  King Mabosi had a smile on his face, but somehow managed to look stern as well. He was athletic and wore the elven armor, and a sword at his side. When he spoke, his voice was booming in a pleasant baritone.

  “Welcome to Amathyr. Before we get down to business, I wanted to thank you for your generosity in gifting us with a healing tree,” he waved his hands at one of the young oak trees, “and the ring to find mages which Karana delivered last night. When we heard you were also looking for apprentices to grant this power to, we find ourselves deeply grateful and in your debt. You, along with your mates shall be welcome in our court from this moment until you breathe your last.”

  He shifted his eyes to Saria and he smiled widely, “It is nice to greet you in person finally, Princess Saria. Karana has told us much about you over the years, and though we miss her presence in our court, we are pleased she now has you as a sister in truth, and as a sister-mate of our benefactor.”

  He looked to Sianna, “You too are welcome here by virtue of your mate, but we also look forward to Abresi’s and Anasha’s talks with you about trade and security between Amathyr and Gritor.”

  He smiled directly at Regina, “You are welcome here too, Regina.”

  Regina blushed at his direct regard, not sure how to handle it. She’d never been addressed directly in the courts of royalty before, always content to be in the background and devotedly at my side. She was in many ways the core of our family, not me, she was our heart, and would run our home. Perhaps with my direction and approval, but she was the one doing all the work and who held us together, while we all focused on our own ambitions, and backing up those of each other, including hers. In short, she was just as important and integral to my family as the two princesses and the master mage prodigy, and the king had just endeared himself to me by recognizing that fact.

  Queen Renesa waved her hand, and two young dark elves came forward. They looked even younger than my nineteen-year-old mate, but above the age of adulthood for elves, which was one hundred seventy, or seventeen in human appearance. I wasn’t sure exactly, but they really couldn’t be much above that age, give or take a decade. They were also holding hands and based on body language a couple. They looked a little nervous.

  They both had the raven hair with the silver sheen, like all dark elves, and the red eyes. Hers were a little brighter than his was, and she was willowy, about as tall as Karana, with slightly smaller breasts. He was about five foot eleven, and he had that lean and wiry build most dark elven men had.

  Renesa said, “This is Sylris, and Irina. Both were in training to be scouts, and they’re recently bonded. They both volunteered to become your apprentices, along with several others. After some questioning, we came to believe these two hold the hearts of true healers, as you are looking for.”

  I must have looked confused, because the queen chuckled.

  She said, “Desirae was kind enough to communicate with Anasha, about the misunderstanding in the light court? Perhaps we’re cheating, but a problem avoided is better than a problem solved, is it not? We’re already familiar with your oath and reasoning, and we agree that both are valid in and of themselves. We hope you stay a while and we form a bond of respect and friendship between us, but your task here is already done.”

  That… seemed far too easy, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I got a good feeling from the couple as well, and I already knew Claire would make a hell of a healer. Hopefully, the other light elf they send will be equally as fitting. I was more than up to relaxing the next few days, as Sianna ties up another treaty.

  “That would please me as well, your majesty.”

  I also nodded in greeting to Sylris and Irina. A couple was a clever choice as well, they would grow closer as they learned the same craft, and they wouldn’t have to deal with advances from the elves training to be mages, or the humans for that matter.

  The queen nodded to Abresi, which was apparently permission for him to talk.

  He said a little too firmly, “Karana, Sianna, join us after lunch in the north meeting room, and we can start working on a treaty.”

  I bristled at the man giving orders to my mates, especially when one of them wasn’t his daughter, and was a princess of a kingdom that should rightfully be called an empire. I also did my best not to show it, I trusted Karana to handle her own father, and knew my mates could fight their own verbal battles. Hell, three of the four could fight their own physical battles as well. They were strong women, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the need to protect them. I squashed it mercilessly, lest I become the one in trouble.

  Karana tilted her head, “Of course, father. Do you mean to exclude the rest of my family?”

  Abresi scowled, and spoke with a condescending tone of voice, “No daughter, their presence isn’t required, but nor is it banned. It is Sianna who speaks for Gritor, is it not?”

  Did he just imply Sianna was my puppet? If he had, she would eat him alive later.

  Karana asked in a dangerous sultry voice, “It was you that taught me good manners, was it not?”

  Oh hell, and things were going so well.

  Anasha purred, “Enough, both of you. Sianna is required to negotiate, you are wanted Karana, we missed and worried for you, since you’ve been in captivity. The rest of your mates are welcome should they wish to be there.”

  Abresi deflated, which was interesting, Karana looked slightly mollified, and ridiculously sexy as she cocked her hips and nodded. All my mates were beautiful, and could push my buttons whenever they chose, but Karana did it almost constantly just by being who she was, she dripped sensuality.

  Renesa said, “Please join us for a private lunch later. Karana, you know where it is.”

  Karana bowed, so did the rest of us. I knew a dismissal when I heard it, and then we got out of there, fast…

  “So, should I go or not go?” I asked Karana as we shut the door to our guest suite.

  Karana frowned, “To lunch with the king and queen?”

  I smirked, “After that. Would the treaty have a better chance with just you and Sianna there? Or would it have a better chance with your father spitting mad the whole time?”

  She scowled as we all sat down on the various chairs and couches.

  “That’s not right, they owe you respect, if not for your gifts to my people, as my mate.”

  I nodded, “But this isn’t about my pride, it’s about Gritor and Amathyr. I’d hate to harm a treaty between kingdoms, your people and mine, simply to make a point and piss off my father-in-law. Not to mention Sianna’s ambition, she’ll have challenge enough with him being human herself. Lastly, you should get a chance to spend time with them without me around, you can shove me in their face another time over the next few days.”

  I grinned.

  Karana tilted her head and sighed, “You’re right. If he’s pissed he won’t give an inch. I don’t like it though.”

  Sianna curled up against me, and kissed my cheek, “I don’t like it either, but thank you.”

  I put an arm around her and pulled her closer.

  Claire stuck her head out of her room, “So… things went well?”

  Karana said, “Mostly, take a seat and we’ll tell you about it. My guess is the tour I promised is going to have to wait until tomorrow morning during court. Then we’ll eat lunch at my house, so I can shove my mate in my father’s face.”

  Karana snickered, after throwing my words back in my face.

  We filled Claire in on things, and told her we had a lunch with the royal couple, but that Saria, Regina, and myself would be back for the afternoon. She also expressed an interest in meeting Sylris and Irina.

  Claire said, “It would be good to get to know your other apprentices.”

  Karana nodded, “I’ll mention it to mother, maybe I can get t
hem here tomorrow afternoon? Though there will be plenty of time for that when we get back to Eastguard. The school will have about six weeks to finish even then, and before your human associates will be showing up. You’ll all be guests in our home for that time, before your training will start.”

  My lovely master mage looked at me, and I nodded in agreement with her assessment. They’d probably be bored, but if I started to teach them early they’d just be bored when I started over. I still wasn’t entirely sure how long my initial ethics course would take either, before I offered the opportunity to take the oath and truly become flesh sculptors.

  Claire nodded, “I’ll have to find something to keep busy.”

  We talked a bit longer, then the five of us went to join the royal family for lunch. Like the morning audience, only our family had been invited, but Claire would get food delivered by servants.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The private royal dining room was cozy, and simple. There was elegance in the room, but it was a welcoming and warm space. The dining table and chairs were a dark cherry oak, with very little extraneous carving in it, but the chair backs were elegantly cut and comfortable.

  The only people in the room when the five of us arrived were Mabosi and Renesa. I was both surprised and honored there were no guards at all.

  Renesa smiled sultrily, a warm welcoming smile.

  “Join us, this lunch is to be informal, names only please, James.”