Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
ORTHORR
My irritation with the guard who had been flirting with Cedric was forgotten when I stepped into the king’s office. He stood at my arrival, putting his fist across his chest and bowing his head, then offered me a rueful smile. “Did I do it right?”
“You did, King Zohaib. Thank you for seeing me so quickly.” I bowed with an arm across my middle, as was expected in Al Nuzem, and sat where the king pointed at a table near the open terrace.
He sat across from me, his expression serious as he folded his hands on the table and waited for me to share my news.
I offered him the message Uttin had sent, worry for my clan brothers tingeing my tone. “I received this message this morning. It is from Uttin. They are being blocked by knights who are threatening to send the townspeople back to their homes. It is likely a death sentence for them if that happens.”
King Zohaib’s expression hardened as he took the message, reading it carefully. Once he was through, he set it down and grabbed a small bell from the table, ringing it. The door to his office immediately opened, and the guard from before strode in, giving his king a bow in greeting.
“You called for me, Sulvani?”
“Hassan. Ready your fastest rijali for me. I need to send a message to King Gordon. His actions threaten my son.”
Hassan’s smarmy expression from before disappeared, and he nodded seriously before spinning on his heel and stalking out. I still didn’t like him, but at least he could be trusted to do his job well.
“Clan leader Orthorr, what else can you tell me about the journey thus far? How many towns have they visited already?”
“They visited three before having to return. There were more hoping to escape than expected, and they were ill prepared the first time. Before continuing their journey, I requested more help from other clans, tripling their guard, and we made the collective decision to send different envoys to the towns to lighten the load on Uttin’s company.
They were supposed to go to five more towns before returning.
I am unsure why they are running into trouble now. ”
King Zohaib stood, pulling a cord on the wall. The steward came in a moment later, bowing lower to his king than the guard did. “Your eminence?”
“Tea, Hakim. We may be here a while.”
“Of course, your grace.”
Instead of sitting down again, the king paced by the open terrace, a frown on his face. “This makes no sense. Zakai said those they were retrieving were outcasts. Unwanted by their own people and often faced death if their interests were made known. Why stop them from leaving?”
“Control,” I offered. “The towns were difficult, even after the treaty. They didn’t like working with us. If they thought we were leaving and therefore wouldn’t cause any more trouble for them, they could refuse to allow the envoy into their walls just to spite us.”
I spent hours with King Zohaib, discussing what to do about our current envoy.
The king wanted to send a small army to retrieve his son and escort those under his protection home, but I warned him that would be an act of war, and they would be unlikely to be able to finish their mission if the kingdom thought we were threatening them.
Instead, I suggested sending more of my people.
We were still under treaty with the towns, and the Velgraz Clan was not only known for their messenger birds.
They were also known for their stealth. They could retrieve those Uttin already had under his protection, while others stayed to watch over the rest of the journey.
We sent a summons for Idrull to join us to discuss who he trusted most to send, and while we waited for him to arrive, I went looking for Cedric.
I didn't like how long I’d been separated from him.
When I mentioned meeting those who traveled with me, King Zohaib sent for Hakim to escort me.
He assured me it wasn’t because he didn’t trust me.
It was solely because his castle was a maze, and I wouldn’t have been able to find my way on my own.
The few times I’d been here, I’d always had an escort to guide me.
It was a wonder that anyone knew where to go in such a place.
I was grateful for the ease of clan living after only spending a short amount of time in the castle.
We went first to the queen’s garden. It was a gorgeous landscape of flowers, reflecting pools, and desert trees that swayed softly in the heated wind. It was also empty. Worry for Cedric made my fists clench, but I kept my tone as even as I could muster when asking, “Where are they?”
Hakim looked around with a frown, catching a young servant girl when she passed by. “Where did Jamal take the king’s guests?”
“The staff garden, Master Hakim,” she told him uneasily. “He said it was okay…”
Hakim looked for a long moment like he was fighting to stay calm. His lip twitched, and his face remained frozen as he straightened and sent the girl on her way. “This way,” he gritted out, leading me away from the garden and down a few paths.
The plants were vast in this area, making it hard to see over them or around corners. I heard Cedric before I saw him, a familiar groan hitting my ears and making me stiffen. It was followed by more groans, both familiar and unfamiliar. It almost sounded as if some were made by Tavik and Saneth.
Rage filled me and made my blood boil. I’d heard Cedric make similar noises the night prior. If Tavik and Saneth somehow seduced him–
I shook my head, trying to remain calm. Those two were bonded and possessive of each other. They did not share. But there was a fourth voice, one I didn’t recognize. If it was that asshole guard from before, there would be the possibility I would start a war dealing with him.
We came around the corner into the smaller garden, and my eyes immediately landed on Cedric. To my great relief, he looked untouched, and when Tavik greeted me, drawing Cedric’s attention my way, he swung around, beaming at me brightly.
“Orthorr! Come try this! These tarts are amazing!”
My gaze flicked to the table, where a platter of sweets rested, half-empty already. Saneth snagged another, groaning as he took a bite. That was the reason for their noises. Not sex. I worried over nothing.
Cedric, unaware of how violently angry I’d felt moments earlier, patted the pillow beside his, his smile unwavering as I moved to sit beside him. He held his own treat in his hand, and instead of grabbing one for myself, I snagged his wrist, making him feed me his instead.
The treat was delicious, a good balance between sweet and tart, but it was the look on Cedric’s face that I enjoyed the most. His smile faltered, and his pupils grew large when I took another bite with my eyes locked on his, sucking lightly on his fingers as he withdrew.
Having his full attention was better than any treat I could think of.
“Why do you never look at me like that?” Saneth complained.
“Because you would take it as a challenge, not flirtation. The last time I looked at you like that, you challenged me to hand-to-hand,” Tavik pointed out, popping another treat into his mouth. “Besides, I do look at you like that. You just don’t notice.”
I ignored their antics, watching the flush overtake Cedric’s cheeks. He let out an awkward little laugh, reaching for a cup off the table and taking a large drink to hide his embarrassment.
“That was hot,” a male voice I didn’t recognize chirped. The speaker leaned closer, eyes alight with eager mischief when he asked, “Will you tell me about barbarian cock? I’ve heard rumors but no one will confirm.”
Cedric choked on his drink, spluttering and pounding on his chest. I reached for him, patting his back, while Tavik gave the new face a light smack to the back of the head. “I saw. You did on purpose.”
The tiny man next to him smiled innocently. “I don’t know what you mean. I just asked a question.”
Saneth rolled his eyes, speaking to me in our own tongue. “Watch out for that one. He is a troublemaker with a cute face.”
Shaking my head, I gave my attention back to Cedric, who had cleared his throat and taken another drink of his cup to soothe the coughing. He leaned into my touch when I switched to rubbing his back, smiling up at me with a pretty blush when he realized my attention was still on him.
“Jamal! What are you doing?” Hakim hissed, glaring at the smaller man. I’d almost forgotten he was there, too focused on getting to Cedric and ensuring his focus was fully on me. “I told you to take them to the queen’s garden! And speaking to our guests like that? Are you looking to be banished?”
Jamal jerked, like he hadn’t realized the steward had arrived with me.
He shoved to his feet, using the table to help him, and accidentally pushed it, causing the platter on top to spill into Saneth’s lap.
Jamal’s eyes widened, and he raced over to fix his mistake, but Tavik’s hand shot out to stop him, his smile gone and a glower on his face.
“Do not touch.”
The ridiculousness of the situation made me burst into laughter.
Saneth was now covered in jam and crumbs, his entire focus on putting as many of the treats into his mouth as he could.
Tavik looked ready to murder the smaller man for trying to assist with the mess on Saneth’s lap, and Cedric looked shellshocked by the whole interaction.
He whipped around to look at me, a smile overtaking his face as he joined me in laughing.
Soon, the whole table laughed, except Hakim, who still looked horrified.
That only made me laugh harder, and I had to lean on Cedric to remain upright.
When the laughter died down a little, Hakim spoke, his voice tight with restraint. “I hope my son did not offend anyone in my absence. I have had rooms prepared for you and your companions to rest while we wait for Clan leader Idrull. A bath will also be prepared, should you wish to use it.”
It was the same treatment I always received when I visited the castle, but Cedric’s eyes lit up at the word bath, and I belatedly remembered him mentioning wishing he could experience the royal treatment the other night.
Pulling him up with me, I nodded to Hakim. “Thank you for your hospitality, as always.”
My acknowledgment of his efforts seemed to soothe some of his ruffled feathers, and he bowed lightly before spinning to show us the way to our rooms.
“We’ll speak again later?” Jamal called when we’d stepped into the castle, his voice innocently hopeful. I watched as Hakim visibly restrained himself from speaking, his back straight as he led us away from his troublemaking son.
Switching to my tongue to not be overheard by the steward, I leaned in closer to Cedric. “Do I want to know what that young man did to earn the troublemaker title so soon after meeting you all?”
Cedric snickered, shaking his head. “I’ll tell you later,” he whispered back. “Let’s just say he’s someone you have to experience yourself.”