Chapter Six #3
I led Braden over to Sheilagh and the boys, and behind me I heard and ignored my mother’s gasp of displeasure.
The Dowager Queen Sheilagh had fair hair and pale green eyes, as did her sons.
Both boys were handsome, and both were spoiled, but not as yet ruined by their mother.
No one said no to them overly much, and I knew the queen had ambitions for them, up to and including my throne, but she was careful not to be too bold about it.
I had no plans to vacate it any time soon, and I wanted her to be clear about that.
I had plans for my brothers, which included starting their training, which would take them out of her influence more often. My brothers would grow up loyal to me and Murias, and not to their half-Finian ancestry.
If I were to gain dominion over Gorias, Finias, and Falias, then perhaps one day I could use them as stewards for the other kingdoms, under my oversight, of course.
That would only work if they were removed from Sheilagh’s influence, and they were still a bit too young for that.
I was watching the situation closely, as my father would have wanted.
“Were you serious about me not going into their wing?” Braden asked.
I shrugged. “It would be best not to get too friendly. My mother would resent it. But it won’t be a problem, anyway, because I’ll tell your guards not to allow it.”
“My guards?”
“Of course. Until my enemies are dispatched, you’ll need guards at all times.” Another shrug. “And even after that, more than likely.”
“I can take care of myself, Lord Fionn.”
“Call me Fionn. And no, you absolutely cannot. Besides, you don’t have to take care of yourself anymore. You have me to do that for you now.”
Sheilagh rose to her feet, along with her sons and she curtsied deeply to me, while the boys bowed. She extended her hand to Braden. “Your Grace, it’s so good to see you. And Your Highness, it’s very nice to meet you.”
“Oh, I’m not a Highness, ma’am. My father and mother were, uh…” He looked at me for clarification.
“Braden’s father never married his mother. He is a natural child, or so I believe the term is.”
“Oh, I see.”
“But King Callum of Gorias still recognized his son and wanted him acknowledged in his bloodline. He thought that Royal Consort would be an appropriate title for him.” I lifted his hand to my lips and kissed the back of it. “I have to agree.”
Her eyes widened and she nodded, probably at a loss for words, I thought. I bowed to her, ruffled the hair of my youngest brother and clapped the other one on the shoulder. “Come to see me soon, Rian, and we’ll go together to talk to Master Branwyn about beginning your training.”
Riann eagerly nodded, looking excited. “Thank you, Sire.”
“Oh, Fionn,” the queen said, “perhaps he’s still a bit young. He’s only just turned sixteen.”
“Not at all. I was younger than Conner when Father got me started.”
We turned and walked toward the table where my mother was sitting then, leaving Sheilagh spluttering her protests behind me.
But young men in our kingdom needed knowledge of how to defend themselves if they wanted to be safe—especially brothers of the king.
If she didn’t want my supervision and guidance, then she should have gone to another of the king’s residences after he died.
I finally turned toward my mother, the Shadow Queen Orlaith and my sister Bridget.
Both were dark-haired and both of them looked like they were in their twenties or early thirties, more like sisters than mother and daughter.
It was the way of Faeries not to show their age.
I was aware that my mother was quite a bit older than she looked and tried to make allowances for it.
She preened and extended her hand to me in a regal fashion, and I kissed the back of it.
“How are you this evening, Mother?”
“I’m well, darling. I’m so glad you’re back from the mortal world. I worry about you when you go there. It’s so savage.”
My sister stepped forward and I did the same for her after she had curtsied to me and smiled sweetly over at Braden.
She was as yet unmarried, and I had to soon find her a suitable husband—one with drive and ambition, but not too much of it.
He’d need to be loyal to me and be someone I could trust implicitly.
Darragh came to mind. He was the son of a nobleman and would die for me if necessary.
My mother wouldn’t like it, but that simply made it all the more appealing.
“May I present Braden Wanderer to you both,” I said. “ Braden is the son of King Callum of Gorias.”
“His bastard son, I believe,” my mother said, turning her nose up a bit. As I’ve said, she was not a kind woman. I felt Braden flinch a little—he was very expressive, and I’d noticed that from the first time I’d seen him.
“You must be tired tonight, Mother. I’ve rarely known you to be so rude and ill-mannered this early in the evening.”
She gasped and pulled her hand away from mine, looking offended.
Good—I’d intended her to be offensive. I put an arm around Braden’s waist and turned him away, leading him over to the feasting table.
She needed to learn how things would be from here out and if she couldn’t do that—well, that was a problem for another day.