Chapter Four #3
I had to stifle a groan at this news. Mikta was the woman every bride went to before her wedding to be plucked and polished and made beautiful.
My mother had subjected me to Mikta’s services a few times before, and I had suffered in silence.
But now I saw no need to be fussed over.
“But why, Mama? I thought we didn’t want the prince to choose me. ”
“Do not question me. I’ve spent a small fortune stuffing the pockets of every courtier in Shadow Court, making them promise to report anything they learn of the prince to me.
” She frowned. “I hadn’t anticipated he would speak a different language.
That certainly makes eavesdropping difficult.
Regardless, you must make a good show tonight.
Not that you make that easy. Look at your jaw, Mara!
Do you want to be the princess not chosen? ”
Yes, that was exactly what I wanted. I didn’t want to have to fight.
Now that I knew I was the heir apparent, I had even more pressure to defeat the prince if chosen for the Claiming Rite.
I’d rather avoid that duty altogether, especially as there was a small part of me, a part I tried to push down and ignore, that yearned to see a new kingdom and the world beyond our borders.
“Mara, do not argue.” My mother’s voice snapped me back to this world and this kingdom. “Climb down from that wall and go home!”
I gave Finnrey an exasperated look. She smiled sympathetically, but I knew better than to expect too much in the way of commiseration from her.
She had told me more than once that she wished her mother were still alive, even if her mother turned out to be as overbearing as Lady Aine could be.
Although, from all accounts I’d ever heard of the second queen, she was kind and soft-spoken and well-liked.
How she had ever produced a horrible person like Broga was beyond me.
I jumped down from the wall, and Finnrey followed. “I suppose I should go home and get ready as well,” she said.
“The banquet isn’t for hours,” I complained.
“It will give me something to do rather than fret about tonight. Mayhap I can convince Riah to allow me to borrow her cosmetics.”
“She’ll be too busy painting her own face,” I said.
She smiled and nodded. “I’ll see you at the banquet. Let’s make sure to sit together.”
“We always do.” Since we were usually seated by age, Finnrey and I were lucky enough to almost always be next to each other.
Unfortunately, Riah was usually on her other side, and she was always confused, so Finnrey had to spend a great deal of any ceremonial event explaining things to Riah since Broga just told her she was a dusthead.
As I neared home, I spotted Theud in the doorway. He was not often awake this early, but I supposed everyone in Highcastle was awake this morning. “Where is your mother?” he asked.
“I saw her at the castle just now,” I said.
“Did she find a way to save you yet?” he asked.
I scowled. “I don’t need saving. I won’t be chosen, and even if I am, I can take that puny Zulenii.”
Theud crossed his arms over his wide chest. “He didn’t look so puny to me.”
Theud had a point there. The prince was tall and well-built. If he could fight—and from what I now knew of Zulen, this was a big if—he might be a formidable opponent.
“Tell your mother I am opening the Queen’s Arms.”
“This early?”
“Everyone will want to talk about the foreigners,” he said. “They might as well do it over a cup of ale.”
I nodded. Theud was a clever man and a good businessman. It was a shame my father would not give permission for my mother to remarry. But then he rarely gave permission for second marriages if the former spouse was still alive. He, of course, was the exception.
“I’ll tell her,” I told Theud. “She’s sending Mikta over.”
He grunted. “Even Mikta can’t fix that bruise on your jaw.”
I would have said something unkind, but he chuckled and walked away before I had the chance.
Instead, I went inside and looked about the kitchen for something to eat.
I ate half of a stale roll before someone tapped on the outer door.
Mikta already? I heaved a sigh, stomped to the door, and flung it open.
Gaz stood in the doorway.
I squeezed the remainder of the roll in my hand until it was mushy.
“Good morning, Lady Mara,” he said. “May I come in?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Polite as always.” Gaz shouldered past me, and I peered out to see if Nize was with him.
Gaz and Nize were almost always together.
But Gaz had come alone. I turned and leaned against the closed door.
Gaz stood in the common area with his arms crossed and his legs braced wide.
His hair was a little longer than the short crop he usually wore and slightly damp.
His pure dark eyes met mine. “Morll brought the patrol in early this morning. Our tour was almost over, so it’s a reprieve of only a few days.
He’s leaving with a full company first thing tomorrow morning. ”
I hadn’t forgotten what my mother had said in the meeting the other night about Gaz protecting me. “You have some gall coming here,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest and mirroring him.
Gaz’s brows rose in surprise.
“I know you lied about protecting me. My mother let it slip and the king confirmed it.”
Gaz sighed and ran a hand over his neatly trimmed beard.
He must have bathed and shaved before he came to see me.
“I didn’t lie,” Gaz said. “You wanted to know if the king asked me to protect you. I said, the king never said a word to me about you. That’s true.
The king never asked me directly. Morll passed on the order.
I assumed it came from the king but never asked. ”
Wasn’t a lie by omission still a lie or was I being illogical again?
“Did Morll tell you why I was to receive additional protection?”
Gaz shook his head. “I assumed all the princesses received additional protection.”
Something about the way his eyes lingered too long on mine, almost as if he willed me to believe him, made me question whether he was telling the truth. But what reason would he have for lying to me?
Gaz dropped his arms and took a step closer to me. I inhaled quickly, catching the scent of his soap, which smelled a bit like the spices my mother used in the recipe for her favorite flat cakes. I wanted to inhale again, but I swallowed the impulse.
“I hope you don’t think my only interest in you is protecting you,” Gaz said, placing his hand on the door beside my shoulder. Our eyes were level, and I couldn’t help but feel lost in the coffee-brown depths of his.
“I...” My voice caught in my throat as Gaz cocked his head and those full lips of his curved into a smile. I cleared my throat. “No, I assumed you liked having one more person to order about.”
Gaz shrugged. “I do like to be in charge. I’d like to be a member of the royal guard one day, perhaps the head of the royal guard. But I like you for more than ordering around.” His free hand came up and stroked the smooth hair at my temple. “You’re very beautiful, you know,” he said.
I laughed. “Now I know you are lying.”
Gaz held his hand up, as though warding off my words. “So defensive, Mara. You don’t have to put your guard up with me. Unless...” He moved back slightly. “Unless you don’t want my attention.”
“I...” The words seemed to freeze in my throat.
I did want Gaz to pay attention to me. I’d wanted that for years, but I was so used to being judged because of my mother’s character that it was difficult for me to trust. I kept up a wall to protect myself from the cutting words and accusatory glances I received from so many courtiers.
I pretended the snide comments didn’t hurt, earning me a reputation as cold and unfeeling.
But I did feel both pain and longing. I’d wanted Gaz to look at me as he was looking at me now for so very long.
I wet my lips with my tongue and Gaz’s eyes followed the movement.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “With everything going on right now, I’m feeling overwhelmed.
And I’m not used to attention from...well, someone like you. ”
“Who? A lowly cadet from Westower?”
“Gaz.” I ducked my head. “You know you are handsome.”
“Am I?” He put two fingers under my chin to raise it. “You think so?”
“You know you are.” He had perfect golden skin, beautiful eyes, and those full lips. I couldn’t quite take my eyes from them.
“It would seem we have a mutual attraction,” he said, voice low.
“What should we do about that?” He moved closer again, his hand on the door dropping to my shoulder.
Oh, gods. He was about to kiss me. Gaz Westower was about to pull me into his arms and press his body to mine, press his mouth to mine.
“I know what I want to do,” he whispered, reaching out to wrap a hand about my waist and tug me closer.
The door latch jangled as it was raised, and Gaz took a step away from me. Disappointment surged through me, and I turned angrily toward the door, where my mother and Mikta Eastower now entered. My mother took one look at Gaz and me and widened her eyes. “Am I interrupting?”
“Yes,” I said at the same time Gaz said, “No.”
“Good, because Mara must prepare for the banquet tonight.” She pointed to my bed chamber. “Mikta, you may bring your things in there.”
“I heard the Zulenii prince has arrived,” Gaz said when Mikta left. “What does he look like?” He glanced at me.
“Handsome,” my mother answered. “Tall. Muscular. A bit pale, and those eyes.”
“What about his eyes?” Gaz asked.
“They’re a blue-green color,” I said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Did you see the designs on his arms and neck?” my mother asked. “I wonder if they are cosmetics.”
“They must be,” I said. “But I don’t think he’s quite the cowering weakling we anticipated.”
Gaz blew out a breath. “From what little I have heard of Zulen, they are no match for any of our people, especially not trained warriors like the princesses.” Gaz looked at me.
“I’m sure this Claiming Rite everyone is talking about is nothing to worry about, Mara.
You’re one of the most skilled warriors I know. ”
I felt my cheeks warm at the compliment. I didn’t really believe compliments about my appearance, but I knew I was good in battle. Happiness surged through me at the realization Gaz thought so as well.
“If he chooses her, she’ll defeat him,” my mother said, also sounding confident.
“And then she’ll kill him,” Gaz said.
“With the golden blade he brought himself,” my mother added.
“Golden blade?”
“You should go to the castle and see it yourself,” my mother told him. “Perhaps you’d even catch a glimpse of the Zulenii.”
“I will.”
“Come back and tell me what you see,” my mother said, gathering intelligence as usual.
“Yes, Lady Aine.” Gaz looked at me. “I’ll see you soon, Mara.” And in his gaze was a promise.