17. Victory’s Spoils
17
VICTORY’S SPOILS
*Kieran*
“Oh, my. That is a bright shade of pink.” My mother blinks her eyes a few times before sipping her wine again. She’s commented on Nessa’s dress at least five times since dinner started only a few moments ago. Every time she does, Nessa giggles and squeezes my hand beneath the table, as if it’s a compliment.
It’s not one. My mother doesn’t give a lot of compliments, but when she does, one can tell she is pleased. At the moment, she looks as if she’d rather down the rest of the bottle of wine sitting at the end of the table than look at Nessa again.
“Mother helped me choose it,” Nessa gushes this time, smiling at her mother whose bright yellow gown is almost as capable of burning retinas as the one Nessa has on.
“We can’t tell you how excited we are to further unite our two kingdoms,” Nessa’s father says. He’s been practically giddy since we announced we were mates. He knows his own king will reward him greatly for creating such a tight alliance between Dun’s Crossing and Snowcrest Canyon.
“Yes, Floyd. We were very pleased as well.” The king speaks through gritted teeth. I know he’s unhappy about all of this as well, but what my father doesn’t know is how much worse it could be.
I continue to go over the conversations I’ve recently had with both Blanca and Taner in my mind, wishing I could ask my father if what Taner’s father said is true. Is it possible they really did take out Escuro through the use of wolfsbane?
I look at my father, studying his face carefully as he lifts a forkful of beef and vegetables to his mouth and takes a bite. He seems so at ease, without a care in the world, though that changes when Mrs. Winters, Trudy, opens her mouth to begin a conversation about the wedding colors with my mother. Father looks as if he’s trying not to listen at all.
As soon as there is a pause in the women’s conversation, I find myself interjecting myself into the dialogue, wanting to hear anything but more blather about the wedding. “Father, I’ve heard from the dungeon guards that Blake, that old wizard, was responsible for the trouble down there last night.”
The table goes quiet as everyone turns to look at me. My parents both blink a few times, but the others are motionless. Is this a topic we shouldn’t be discussing at dinner? I can’t say why not. We always talk about father’s exploits into war. I just want to frame this conversation a bit more carefully.
“Yes, what he did to those men was just terrible. He’s been severely punished for it.” Father spears a carrot. “Has anyone noticed the new flowers in the west garden?”
“If he has magical powers, why is he allowed to just sit in his cell all day?” I press on. “Why didn’t you kill him when you conquered the rest of the kingdom?”
Father lets out a loud sigh. “I’d rather not talk about it now.”
“Oh, Father,” my sister Candace leaps into the conversation from down the table where the rest of my siblings are gathered. They know better than to try to speak during dinner most of the time, but for some reason I can’t understand, Candace is here to assist me. “I’d love to know as well. I’ve heard the tales about their magical abilities, how they can manipulate animals. Wouldn’t it have been easy for you to end him when you wiped out the rest of the village?” Her blue eyes are wide and innocent as she looks down the table toward the man sitting over all of us.
“Of course, it would’ve been easier. It would’ve been a breeze,” he says. “Everyone else had already been destroyed in battle. We’d ripped them apart.”
My eyes travel across the table to check out the reaction from my mother and Nessa’s father. Mother is as stoic as ever, obviously collaborating her husband’s story, but I think I see a flicker of doubt on Floyd’s face.
“How did you overcome them?” I ask. “Their powers are wicked if they can get rats to do that.”
“Oh, it was just their royals who had those kinds of powers,” Father shrugs absently.
“Could they teach others?” Candace asks, practically reading my mind.
“No, of course not. Just like the royals of Snowcrest Canyon can’t teach others how to make ribbons of ice or the nobles of Starfall Mountain can’t teach others how to create that ball of light they can toss.”
“You managed to take out several other powerful packs all at once, Father. It’s stunning. I should hope I can be as great a ruler.” I give him a tightlipped smile, a forced one. Holes in his story begin to surface as I think back over the great tales he’s spun over the years. Most of the time, they contradict one another. I’m not sure what is the truth, but I’m beginning to believe my father really did stoop to low levels to conquer all of those kingdoms.
I’d still like an answer to our question, though.
“Why didn’t you kill Blake then?” I take a sip of my wine, trying to sound unbothered.
“Because… the old coward begged me not to kill him. I dragged him back here and locked him up in silver chains, hoping perhaps one day he’d use his powers to help me overcome other kingdoms.”
This stirs Floyd. “What kingdoms? You’ve already conquered almost all of them.” He clears his throat. “Naturally, not ours.”
“No, of course not. Snowcrest Canyon is an ally to us. We’re more aligned than ever before,” King Gavin assures his table guest.
“He begged you not to kill him? You showed him great mercy, Father,” Candace chimes in. She gives him a smile as well.
“Yes, well, I wish I would’ve killed him. He’s never done a lick of good for me. He’s refused to use his powers at all, saying he didn’t have the ability any more. Obviously, he was lying. We should probably kill him now.” Father takes a drink and sets his glass aside.
I don’t want him to kill Blake, not now. I have some questions for the old man. I tell Candace, ‘Let’s let it go,’ through the mind-link.
She replies, ‘ He’s not telling us something, brother. Something strange is going on. The dreams I’ve been having recently.’
I turn and look at her. She looks so small and young sitting there next to our brother Finn who is a full year younger than her. Something is bothering my sister, and I don't like it. Candace and I have always been the closest of all, which is a bit ironic since I have a twin sister–and she’s not her.
My eyes travel further down the table. There’s not even an empty chair for Blanca.
Why not?
Why have they always hated her?
The women are talking about flowers again, which gives me an out. Dinner is almost over. I am finished. “I think… I’d like to go out to the garden and see some of these flowers you ladies keep speaking of for myself.”
“I’ll come with you,” Nessa offers.
“Are you sure?” I had a feeling she’d tried to tag along. I really just want some air. “The staff has been seeing a lot of those black flying beetles recently.”
“I’ll be fine.” She smiles at me in a way that says I’d better not try to ditch her.
“All right then, my dear.” We excuse ourselves and head outside, and while I’m glad to be away from the table, I don’t want to spend any time with Nessa.
“Why do I have a feeling you’re up to something?” she asks as she strolls along beside me, her arm linked through mine.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I assure her.
“I think you’re trying to figure out a way so that you don’t have to marry me.”
I stop walking and turn to look at her. “Nessa, of course I want to marry you.” I manage to force myself to bend down and kiss her, even though I have to hold my breath and close my eyes tightly the whole time.
“Good,” she says when I release her. “Because it would be horribly embarrassing for you and your family if I tell anyone the truth.”
I take a deep breath and stare into her eyes. “No need for that. You and I will be married soon enough, and everyone will know that you’re my mate.”
She grins devilishly at me.
“I think I’m going to go for a run, just to get some energy out before I go to bed. I will see you tomorrow, my love.” Over the years, I have learned to be charming. It works perfectly with all of the women that are smitten with me, and that include Nessa.
She blushes and reaches up to boop me on the nose. “Don’t stay out too late.”
I chuckle–as if there’s any way I’m going to go calling on her.
Once she’s inside, I meander around the garden a bit more, trying to decide what to do.
Father’s story isn’t adding up.
The Haze is never wrong and can’t be magicked into doing something other than what the Moon Goddess wants.
Blanca has the same powers as Blake.
Only people from Escuro are capable of those powers.
Only royalty.
“Fuck,” I mumble. “Blanca, who are you?”