Chapter Twelve
Braden
I was tired when we got to the place where we would be making camp, but it would be a while before the soldiers got around to putting up all the tents.
As always, they took care of the horses first, making sure they had a small, “fenced” corral.
They used tree branches and a liberal application of magic to build it, and they fed and watered the horses before seeing to their own comfort.
It would be a while yet before I could lie down and take a nap.
This time the men were erecting a larger pavilion for the king and me to stay in, and it was taking more time.
I hadn’t slept well since the incident with what Fionn called the “nixie,” or the water demon who had killed the young soldiers.
And the ride to the capital city of Goriana had been long, hot and dusty.
Since I was also bored and had nothing to do, because Fionn wouldn’t allow me to help, I soon felt so sleepy it was hard to keep my eyes open.
“What would you do?” Fionn had asked when I’d offered to help build the corral. “You’d only be in the way. Go sit down somewhere, and we’ll start on the pavilion soon.”
I’d “be in the way,” would I? I thought he must be referring to my lack of magic, using that as an excuse to treat me like a not very bright child.
At least, no magic had presented itself as yet, so I assumed I didn’t have any.
Fionn said it was a little like a muscle, and it had to be used and exercised, or it could atrophy.
As soon as he had time, he’d told me he'd work on it with me. I wondered when that might be, because he never seemed to have any free time. Of course, at the moment I didn’t want him to spend time with me anyway. I was far too irritated with him.
I don’t know why I kept forgetting that Faeries and most of the Fae I’d ever heard of were rude, unpleasant assholes.
Fionn was a good king, from what I could tell, and worked all the time, and I could hardly fault him for that. But now that he was taking on the burden of expanding his kingdom, I wondered if he’d ever have any time left for me at all.
I tried not to be resentful, but damn it, that was how I felt.
What was I supposed to do while he was off taking over kingdoms and making a unified Otherworld?
My face may have changed, but I was as strong as I’d ever been, and as able to work.
I would have liked to have helped make camp and make myself useful.
And I still wanted to trade because it was something I enjoyed.
It might have made me feel like a part of things, in a way, and less of an outsider.
And though I was a merchant, or used to be, I hadn’t been born one and had worked hard for most of my life on my grandmother’s small holding in my old village.
It was mainly chopping wood and carrying water and everyday chores, but it was still work.
As my grandmother aged and grew ill, I’d had to add the household chores to my day, as well as taking care of her.
No amount of Faery glamour or “magic” had ever helped with that.
I found a shady grove where I could sit and lean against a tree to watch the others work and feel resentful about it all in peace and quiet.
I had to admit it was pleasant there, and since I was a little worn out, I soon found myself dozing in the warm sunlight.
All around me, the pinkish-red-breasted bullfinches were loudly calling out to each other and fussing at the Faeries making so much noise and commotion in this usually quiet part of their field.
I closed my eyes and listened, letting the birds express all my own frustration.
I had slipped into a silly dream about the birds turning into musicians playing on pipes, when I felt a warm hand ease down the front of my trousers, slide down my abdomen and give my cock a squeeze. I sat bolt upright with a little gasp.
I saw beautiful green eyes staring into mine at very close quarters, and I gave a startled squeak that elicited a laugh. My lord was kneeling beside me, gazing down at me fondly.
“I didn’t mean to scare you, mo chroi, but make that little sound for me again.”
I pushed at his chest, which didn’t move him one bit and pouted up at him. “You shouldn’t sneak up on a person like that. It’s not good for my heart.”
He kissed the tip of my nose as I tried to dodge away and smiled down at me again. “I did call out but you were snoring so loudly you didn’t hear me.”
“I don’t snore!”
“Hmm, well, somebody over here by this tree certainly does. Must have been the red squirrels. Noisy little bastards.” He got to his feet to help me up, leaning over and skimming his hand over my ass and lingering there as he pulled me to my feet.
“Come on. Our tent is ready, and I suddenly feel the need for a little ‘nap’ myself.”
“Oh, I bet. We can’t do that here, in the middle of the afternoon. Someone will hear us.”
“And I should care why, exactly?”
“But what if someone comes to see us from the town? One of the councilmen or Ehlbert or his son, Tadgh?”
“What if they do? They can stand outside the pavilion and wait for us to finish.”
I lightly punched his arm and started walking to our newly erected shelter, but he caught my hand as I moved away and pulled me back to him, wrapped his arms around me and then bent me back over his arm to thoroughly plunder my mouth.
He moved his mouth down to my throat, and I could feel that he was very aroused, and I was about to reap the benefits.
I tried a little half-heartedly to get away, aware of all the men still erecting their own tents and making their cooking fires around us, but it was useless to even try and finally I let him have his way.
It was while he was taking his leisure with me that we both heard the horses coming up from behind us.
Or at least, I certainly did and struggled to get away.
He held onto me effortlessly though, and only when he finished our kiss, did he turn to face the riders who had come up unexpectedly behind us.
Tadgh leaned down from the back of his horse, smiling at us.
“Your Grace,” he said, giving a very creditable bow from horseback.
“So sorry to bother you, when you’re getting um…
settled in, but I’d like to speak to you if you can spare me the time.
” There were three men with Tadgh, all on horseback and all of them looking avidly at me, as I tried to straighten my tunic and step away, though Fionn still had a steely grip on my wrist and wouldn’t allow it.
“I can spare a few moments. Get down off your horses and come sit by our pavilion, if you like.”
A few minutes later, they had followed us across the field, and we were sitting down outside in camp chairs with Harold and his men across from us.
Daragh had walked over to join us when he saw us all coming toward the camp, along with two of the lieutenants who had been with us inside the palace.
They all stood behind our chairs and none of them looked very friendly.
“What can I do for you?” Fionn asked as Tadgh and his men settled themselves. “Where’s your father?”
“He’s back at the palace. I thought I should come and try to apologize for what happened earlier today.”
“You mean when your father insulted my consort and called him names?”
“Yes, that was most unfortunate, and I’m terribly sorry about it. I know my father regrets it.”
“Then why isn’t he here to say so himself?”
Tadgh looked a little uncomfortable but managed a smile. “I talked him out of coming, actually. He seemed to rub you the wrong way, but I assure you he regrets saying what he did.”
Tadgh turned to look directly at me. “Your Highness, please accept my personal apology for what was said. I’m sure my father will extend his sincere apologies as well when he sees you again.
Your late father and mine were very close.
This has been a most upsetting time for the entire family, as I’m sure you’ll understand. ”
“Yes, of course. Please don’t concern yourself any further. And you don’t have to call me Your Highness,”
Fionn gave me a look that burned the side of my face. “Yes, he does,” he said. I felt my face blaze up hot and no doubt pink as well.
“You’re most kind, Your Highness,” Tadgh said directly to me. “Will we see you for the memorial service and dedication of the stone?”
I looked over at Fionn, but he was looking at Tadgh and gave me no sign.
“I-I think so, yes.”
“Excellent.” He stood then and reached over to take my hand in his.
Fionn stiffened beside me but didn’t say anything.
At least not yet. Tadgh covered my hand with his other one and smiled down at me.
“Then I’ll take my leave and let you rest for tonight.
And I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you’ll gain some comfort from the service tomorrow evening. ”
“Uh…thank you.”
He bowed over my hand then and dropped a quick kiss on the back of it.
I was too astonished to say or do anything to stop him.
He’d kissed my hand like I was some kind of maiden.
Then he leaned in closer as if to say something private to me and apparently lost his balance, falling onto me and catching himself by taking both my shoulders in his hands to steady himself.
It was only for a moment, and he didn’t hurt me at all, though I was startled by it.
Darragh surged forward to shove him roughly away from me, as Fionn hauled me back toward him, putting his arms around me.
Darragh had a fistful of Tadgh’s tunic and growled down in his face.
The men with Tadgh sprang to his defense, and for a moment I thought they all might actually come to blows, but Tadgh quickly pushed Darragh away and stepped back nearer his men, holding up both hands in the air.
“Your Grace, forgive me. I beg your pardon. I-I lost my balance for a moment—perhaps I had too much wine in this heat before we arrived here at your camp. I really can’t apologize enough.”