Chapter 49 Destination Here #2
“Your Majesties, I present Brennan Kearney, my assistant. She helps with Akhane—the grayscale dragon you see on the lawn, who is Kgosi’s mate. Without Brennan’s help we couldn’t have been here so quickly. Kgosi would be greatly disturbed to travel without his mate.”
I’d been told to bow because I was in leathers, so I did—and registered the shock and curiosity on the face of the queen.
But before I could speak, Lady Faye leaned in as if she were a close confidante of the queen. “She’s very capable. Very skilled with the beasts,” she murmured.
The queen smiled at me and nodded, though there was something cold in her eyes.
But there wasn’t time to consider what she’d heard in Lady Faye’s words, because the king clapped his hands and everyone turned to face him as he called for all the guests to be offered refreshment and rest so we could prepare for the evening’s welcoming banquet to celebrate the return of our Lady Faye and the arrival of our new friends.
Faye went into paroxysms at that announcement, hurrying—somewhat stiffly—to climb the stairs at the queen’s elbow, jabbering about all the dragon riding she’d done, and how it pleased her to bring us back for the royals.
I wanted to roll my eyes, and I could feel Donavyn growing tense. But then we reached the top of the stairs and entered the massive, marble lobby and my jaw dropped.
Creamy marble floors shot through with silver threads. Wide pillars upholding shining, wooden bannisters that bracketed the stairs curving up to the second floor on both sides, and balustrades lining the second level, which was open to the lobby so servants could be seen rushing back and forth.
The carpet on the stairs was a deep, plush red accented in gold fleur de lis, and it was so thick, no footsteps could be heard, even in the echoing chamber.
The walls were lined in a pale gold paper that glimmered, and creamy crown moldings that framed the panel moldings on the walls. Chandeliers lined the wide corridor, with lamps and candles burning brightly in alcoves along the way.
Now that the formalities had been completed outside, the king and queen quickly disappeared at the lefthand landing at the top of the stairs with a brief farewell to Donavyn and Lady Faye and wishes to see them at the banquet, then Lady Faye was led away in the same direction, to the royal guest wing that would house high ranking visitors, while the rest of us were ushered to the right.
As we walked the long, very wide hallway, following the footmen, I found my attention drawn by some new, beautiful thing at every other step.
Alcoves with thick velvet curtains, that contained lounges and delicate busts of what I assumed to be members of the royal family. Shockingly large art on the walls—tapestries and paintings—in bold colors, depicting everything from serene ponds, to historic battles.
On and on. I marveled at the way my feet sank into the deep carpet, the bright windows in the ceiling at some points in the hallway, and door after large, double door in each wall on both sides.
Eventually the footmen led us to one of those pairs of doors on the left. A servant exited just as we arrived, her eyes widening at the sight of us. She dropped into a deep curtsey and greeted Donavyn.
“Your suite is ready, Sir. Please send for me if you’re in need of anything. Anything at all.”
Then she met his eyes for a few seconds too long.
I wanted to swear, but Donavyn ignored the implication and bowed his head briefly. “Thank you. I’m sure the rooms are very comfortable.”
He followed the footman inside, asking about things like boot cleaning, but as I followed, one of the other men tsked and gave me a tight smile. “Staff quarters are deeper in the castle,” he said pointedly.
I frowned, and was about to ask how far away, when Donavyn reappeared in the doorway, looking stern. “I need her close. Her quarters are here with me. She’ll take the servant’s room. Make certain the others know. I won’t be requiring an attendant.”
Then he stared at me until I followed him back into the suite.
I resisted the juvenile urge to poke my tongue out at the gaping footman. But the men who showed us around the room—making careful references to the servant’s cubby and showing me the door—didn’t ask any questions.
After a few minutes of explaining the intricacies of the bathing room and learning the pulley system they’d installed to call for servants, the footmen stood before us.
“Your bags have been placed in your rooms,” the one with the white wig said without preamble. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Please tell the king we’re happy with our quarters and we’ll look forward to the very generous banquet this evening.”
“Very good, Sir. Please don’t hesitate to pull the bell to call us if you discover any lack.”
“We won’t. Thank you.”
Donavyn followed the men out, making certain they’d started down the hallway before he closed the doors and turned back to face me, sighing heavily.
“Well, thank you, God. We did it. We’re here, Bren. We did it.”