30. Listen Carefully #2
I raised my hands. “I know, Son. I can see that. And I’m even more proud of you now.”
Gall blinked, and his lips pulled up on the sides. Thank God, he still wanted my approval.
“Why don’t you two go back to the house. I’ll leave the way I came so I don’t disturb your evening anymore.”
It was growing dark. Here under the trees it would look like night soon.
Harris took my cue and urged them both back towards her, beckoning them, stepping aside so they could pass her, then looking at me as they disappeared down the trail.
“I’m truly sorry. I swear this never happens,” she sighed.
I shook my head, smiling to ease her. “It’s probably for the best. He needs some time to process. Just… don’t pull the tie out of his hair. It’s an important symbol and it will help him remember that I’m proud of him.”
Harris nodded. She glanced over her shoulder in the direction they’d gone, then back to me. “I’m glad you came. I can tell he’s already more relaxed.”
“I’m glad to hear that. He’s still not sure of me.”
“Give it time. I’ll encourage him to speak with you tomorrow when the time is right.”
“Thank you. And please reassure Istral that if she is important to Gall, she’s important to me as well, and she’ll always be safe with me.”
Harris’s smile broadened. “I’ll do that,” she said, then raised a hand. “You are well met, Melek. I hope we’ll be seeing more of you around here.”
I was surprised by how much the warm welcome touched me. I told her I hoped the same, then waited while they walked off until I was certain they were far enough down the trail that I could follow without drawing into sight.
I walked with such a strange mix of weight and relief .
Relief because Gall was speaking with me, and would do so again.
Weight because… these two precious hearts were so much more entwined than I’d imagined and I worried for how the world might react.
How they might react.
But my thoughts were interrupted by the flash of a shadow off the trail before I reached that gate in the hedge.
I raised my head and kept walking, making my strides purposeful as I passed through it, then on into the clearing beyond and towards the Palace, unsurprised when four male forms melted out of the trees to surround me.
They made no sound as they approached, keeping pace with me, but there was a stiffness to their steps that reeked of disapproval.
When we were well past the cottage and back under the trees, the lights of the Palace twinkling in and out as the wood around us thickened then grew sparse, I let my eyes rest on Turo, marching a few feet off to my left.
“He would never hurt her. He may hurt others, but if he cares for her, she will be as safe in his hands as kitten with its mother. He is fiercely defensive of those he cares about.”
“You’ll forgive me if I reserve judgment until hell freezes over,” Turo muttered in return.
I stopped walking and turned to face him. All three of the men drew up short when I did, and Turo’s hand went to his sword hilt.
I eyed it once so he knew I didn’t miss the detail, then met his angry gaze in the growing dark.
“I am not the villain you want me to be. If you don’t allow yourself even the possibility that Yilan is not deceived about me, you’ll lose her regard with all this snarling, self-righteous bullshit.”
Turo leaned in, clearly furious. “My snarling has nothing to do with self-righteousness. I fear for my Queen, and I won’t fall for your manipulations.”
“I’m not manipulating her—or you.”
Turo’s eyes narrowed. “You have her convinced you understand why I feel so fiercely defensive of her.”
I huffed. “Because I do. And I admitted to her that I would struggle if I were in your shoes. That doesn’t make my claims any less true. If you want her to continue to trust you,you’ll open your mind enough to watch for proof, whether it suits your purpose or not. ”
“Do not threaten me.”
“Where was the threat?” I snapped. “I’m telling you, she values you. But we both know, if someone sets themselves against you when you are certain of your path, no matter how much regard has existed, at some point they will see you as an enemy. I’m trying to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Apparently you do, if you think this is how you’re going to regain her trust.”
“She has never stopped trusting me,” he snarled.
“She will if you continue on this path. If for no other reason than the fact that she’ll be unable to trust you with me.”
Turo fumed. “Stop speaking about her as if you know her when you met what, a couple of months ago? I’ve known her since she was twelve years old—”
“And it shows. Open your eyes, man. She’s a grown woman now. She’s no longer a child.”
“I promise you, no one knows better than me how much of a woman she is,” he snapped, but as soon as the words were out I tipped my head and a shadow passed behind his eyes.
He closed his mouth so fast his teeth clicked because he remembered that I did, in fact, know better than him just how much of a woman she was .
God, the temptation to say it out loud was overwhelming. Had he been just another arrogant prick with a point to prove, I would have said it. But I knew there was more to this.
To grind his nose in the fact that I’d had what he yearned for would be cruel.
Also, very effective, I thought wryly.
Offended and bristling, Turo shook with the effort it took him to repress the rage he was feeling. I tried to remember that I had felt empathy for him. That I would understand his anger if I were in his shoes.
I made myself change the subject.
“You are welcome to accompany me if you wish—to assure yourself that I’m causing no trouble—but I need to stand before your council and answer their questions, and it needs to be done tonight.
Yilan plans to meet with them in the morning and has asked me to advise on my people.
I don’t want to distract from that purpose, so it would best to speak first—”
“The Council is already gathering, but your presence will not be required. The guards will stay with you and can guide you to any part of the Palace you wish to—”
“I do not need a babysitter. I need to present myself to those who have sway in this Kingdom and assuage their fears about me. When is the Council meeting?”
Turo spoke through his teeth. “Your presence will not be required.”
“On the contrary,” I said, fighting a smile. “The Queen insists.”
Being amused by his obvious rage was petty, but I never claimed to be perfect.