Chapter Sixteen
Dustin
And a New Season Arrives
One Week Later…
“Dustin, you have so many people wanting to work in your fields with you that they’re neglecting their own,” Theodor said from the opposite end of the long dining table.
Dustin was growing fond of Notalus’ son. He was a good man who loved and respected his father more than the world. Theodor also saw to it that Notalus was happy and his duties of the realm were fulfilled so that he could spend his days in the fields with Dustin doing what they loved.
Theodor had confided in Dustin one evening when they were strolling the grounds that it’d been his nightly prayer that his father would find a consort worthy of his heart. He touched Dustin on his shoulder, looked him in his eyes, and acknowledged, “I am glad he did.”
“I’m sure the fame will wear down after a while.” Dustin shrugged.
“I doubt that.” Notalus smiled, drinking the last of his hot cider. “What you are doing with your fields is nothing short of remarkable, and everyone knows it.”
“I must admit, the sweet potatoes from Dustin’s garden are by far the sweetest anyone has grown in Fhomhair,” Vades said after he’d finished chewing his apples and potato hash.
Much of the court that sat around the table enjoying the breakfast spread began to voice their agreement, much to Theodor’s dismay.
“I know the alpha is enchanting to be around, but there are jobs being left undone.” Theodor glanced around the table, his eyes landing on a rail-thin man with pointed ears sitting five seats from him and Notalus.
“Orzin of the Aslam Wilds. Your sons have been back from the dark elves, Plain of Labors, for four days now, have they not?”
“Umm.” The startled man sat a bit taller and pulled anxiously at his blue silk cravat. “They have, my prince, but…”
“But they too have volunteered their services to the alpha, yet they haven’t had an opportunity to stock and open their store with the wares from their journey.
” Theodor leveled the chastised lord with a single look that had him bowing and gracefully leaving the table.
The prince wasn’t done with his constituents as Notalus watched on silently but with obvious pride.
“And I have more examples—you know who you are. But I will refrain from voicing my disappointment and allow my father and his consort to enjoy the remains of their breakfast in peace. I will assure your titan and lord at midday that this matter is under control.”
The rest of the court nodded with shallow bows as they finished what was left on their plates in silence. Damn, Dustin thought. Theodor was a good ruler.
Notalus
Notalus threw his son an approving wink, then took Dustin’s hand, ready to head to their fields to enjoy the day until the trumpets blared from the watch towers that a royal visitor was approaching.
The rest of the house nobles stood from the table at the same time with confused but intrigued expressions.
“What does that mean?” Dustin grabbed Notalus’ elbow.
He could feel his alpha’s concern, could sense his wolf pacing in his chest.
“No need to be alarmed, my love. The first notes of the heralds mean we have one half hour before our visitor arrives.”
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No.” Notalus frowned, glancing at his son. “Theodor, you didn’t neglect to tell me of—”
A great gust of frigid wind raced past them, blowing food and napkins off the table and across the gleaming floor.
Notalus had just enough time to fling his rob around Dustin before another powerful surge of cold shot through the courtyards, this time leaving a frost over the leftovers and a thin layer of ice in their water goblets.
“Shit! What in the…”
“It’s okay.” Notalus lowered his shield from around them as the temperature dropped to almost freezing temperatures, their breath now visible when they spoke.
“It’s him…” Theodor gritted out, leaving the room so fast his guards had to jog to keep up.
“It’s who?” Dustin rasped with impatience, taking in everyone’s nervous reactions.
“It is Boraleashe,” Notalus informed. “He is here in Tir an Fhomhair.”
Dustin was hustled back to Notalus’ chambers, where he was told to strip out of his work overalls.
“I don’t understand why we have to change again.
I just put this on less than an hour ago.
” Dustin asked with his arms out at his sides while one of the many servants assisted him with his wardrobe change.
Notalus answered as Iulien clamped on Notalus’ bronze wrist guards, then switched the medallions on his robe. “Because it’s customary and tradition to receive a lord, a god, or any deity properly. It will be considered the highest act of disrespect not to.”
“Are you and your brothers close? What’s your relationship with this one?” Dustin asked, frowning when Dartia added a half shawl over his tunic and fastened it with a heavy gold medallion bearing Notalus’ crest.
“Well, we’re not brothers in the human sense.
We are brothers at arms, brothers of the seasons.
We are not of blood or kinship. We inherit the titan title from our fathers, but when we come of age to rule, that is when we meet the others—I mean each other.
We are groomed to fight together and protect our lands.
Our stallions are trained by the same gods so that when we ride into battle, we are in synch.
Like brothers. So yes, all of the titan winds are very near to my heart. ”
“Does Boraleashe visit often?” Dustin asked, tugging at the cinches of his tunic as if he was uncomfortable.
“No. He doesn’t.” Notalus led them out of his chambers. He hated that he didn’t have as amicable a relationship with Boraleashe as he did with Adres and Zepharali. Notalus didn’t know if it was because of his brother’s uncooperative wind or because of his frozen heart.
“You look stunning as always,” Dustin said as they descended the grand staircase hand and hand.
“I love you,” Notalus replied.
Hand in hand, they walked to the entrance of the palace and waited in front of the court as they got into their formal positions.
“Don’t be nervous, Dustin. All of this is just antiquated ceremony.” Notalus squeezed his hand.
“Shouldn’t your son be on the other side of you?” Dustin murmured out of the corner of his mouth.
“Yes,” Notalus answered stiffly, forcing himself not to glance around for his heir.
The doors were pulled open, and Notalus led his royal subjects down the palace stairs and into the grand courtyard.
They were staring down the same cobblestone road that he and Dustin had walked when they arrived.
The trumpets sounded again, and the temperature in the atmosphere shifted as gray clouds combed over the sky.
Notalus swallowed thickly when Boraleashe appeared suddenly in the sky on his pearl-white stallion in a mirage of frozen rain and astonishing white doves the size of eagles.
His robe was blizzard white and clasped around his neck with a sable fur collar, and his armor shimmered like diamonds in the daylight.
His wind was so cold it sounded like icicles falling to the ground as the air crackled and opened on his arrival.
His court was trailing him on the ground on their speckled Clydesdales, unable to sail on his wind, but Notalus believed his brother preferred it that way.
Boraleashe was always alone.
“Patrons of Tir an Fhomhair! All hail the Lord of the North Wind, Boraleashe Cavalerie. The last of the horsemen and harbingers of justice, the overseer of the Realm of Winter, and creator of the first frost. Titan and ruler of Tír an Amárach, the Arctic World.”
Boraleashe landed with the full force of his power, sending flurries and ice skating over the warm ground.
His brother’s ride to the palace seemed to take forever as he accepted warm autumn offerings from Notalus’ people.
They bowed and tossed flowers at him, not only because he was a titan and lord of a season but because he was strikingly beautiful.
The bottom half of his blizzard-kissed stark-white hair was flowing down his back, while the top half was cinched and braided into an intricate pattern that reminded Notalus of a snowflake.
The palace gates swung open, and Boraleashe sauntered inside on his impressive stallion. His court stopped a respectable distance away as Boraleashe dismounted with ease and went straight to him. Notalus pulled Boraleashe by his forearm into a strong hug, happy but a bit bewildered to see him.
“Brother. It has been too long.” Boraleashe said near Notalus’ ear, his voice chilling him.
“It has indeed.” Notalus released their grip and gestured to Dustin. “Boraleashe, allow me to introduce my—”
Boraleashe raised one of his immaculate white gloves that didn’t have a speck of dirt on it from his travels to cut him off.
“Word travels fast through the realms, Notalus. I know exactly who you have chosen as your consort.” Boraleashe held his hand out to Dustin.
“I had to see an alpha of the Moon Tribe for myself. It is a great honor.”
Dustin gripped Boraleashe’s hand, “It’s an honor to meet you too, Lord Boraleashe.”
The nobles bowed and curtseyed as Boraleashe made his way down the court, greeting each one. He stopped at the end of the row, his back growing rigid and the air growing cooler by the second.
“Where is he?” Boraleashe stood back in front of Notalus. “Where is the autumn beauty?”
“I do not know.”
“Of course you do,” Boraleashe gritted out, his hands clenching tightly at his sides. “He should be here. And I take great offense that he is not.”
“It appears you will have to get over it, brother,” Notalus growled, refusing to be intimidated in his own home.
“If I go look for him… he won’t like what I do when I find him.”
“Is that why you came here, Boraleashe? To start trouble?” Notalus stepped closer. “My son made his decision… accept it.”
“I told you why I’m here. I came to congratulate my brother on his new marriage and to celebrate the beginning of my season… and the end of yours,” Boraleashe said boldly.
Notalus didn’t get a chance to respond before his son appeared above them, floating regally on a warm gust of wind, his massive robe blanketing the air and blocking Boraleashe’s chill blowing down from the north.
Notalus’ palace lord stepped forward and announced, “Hail Theodor Cavalerie, the Treasure of the Harvest, sole heir and prince of the South Wind!”
Theodor dropped down with a ground-trembling thud amidst a storm of red and orange leaves and stood to his full seven feet, staring Boraleashe in his eyes.
“Have you no respect? Your tardiness is unappealing and beneath your station,” Boraleashe chastised, but the icy venom in his voice was gone.
The look he gave Theodor as he stood there in his formal attire and full copper armor, his cape floating on the wind behind him, was anything but disapproving.
Theodor inched closer until his chest was against the ice king’s and grated in a lethal tone, “Since you did not offer my father nor I the courtesy of sending word of your intended visit to our realm…” Theodor glared. “You should be honored by my lateness.”
Notalus didn’t miss the shudder Boraleashe tried to conceal beneath his heavy cloak,
Boraleashe slowly reached up and caressed a long lock of Theodor’s honey-brown hair, allowing it to sift through his fingers.
“You know why I am truly here, don’t you, my fall prince.
” Every muscle in his son’s body seemed to tense as his robe fell to the ground at his feet as if he’d already given up the fight.
Boraleashe’s whisper simmered on his arctic wind and chilled them all to the bone. “The snow moon approaches.”
To Be Continued in Book II…
Boraleashe The Lord of the North Wind