Chapter 63
Women
Haydn wasn’t at breakfast the next morning, nor was Councilor Wendell. But Moeller and Heinrich had brought their wives.
Victoria Moeller was even less friendly than her husband. She wasn’t disrespectful, but both of the Moellers definitely prioritized their work over hospitality. Victoria was a member of the Legislative Council. She had dark, pin-straight hair down to her waist, and eyes like a bird of prey.
I’m not sure we’ll ever be friends, but I want to be on her side.
Tasia Heinrich had lavender eyes and blonde hair that tumbled over her shoulders in tight spirals.
She was all smiles, but in a way Evelyn immediately didn’t trust. Tasia didn’t have any authority beyond being married to Councilor Heinrich.
Even so, Tasia almost certainly had intricate knowledge of everything happening on the isle.
Tasia reminds me of Lord Buckley’s daughter in Carrowmore, always cozying up to everyone in order to spread gossip.
Damien hardly ate anything at breakfast, instead using the time to blatantly and incessantly flirt with Tasia.
Damien wouldn’t actually steal a married woman, unlike somebody I know. And no one would be stupid enough to try it in front of the woman’s high-ranking husband. No, this is a game. Damien is playing “How Much Can I Get Away With Before Heinrich Punches Me In The Face?” So far, Damien is winning.
Heinrich’s patience hovered just below the explosive threshold. Whenever he was about to go over the edge, Moeller would distract him with a complicated but ultimately unimportant question.
Damien leaned forward. “Tasia, did you know that sound shields are one of the first skills Auditory fae learn? They hide all sorts of noises you don’t want the neighbors to hear. Heavy breathing, grunting, moaning, screaming—”
Heinrich growled. “You—”
Moeller cleared his throat. “Heinrich, you studied the properties of iron recently, correct? Would it make a better shield against Fire or Water magic?”
I can’t tell if Moeller wants to keep the peace, or if he’s secretly entertained by Damien’s drama.
Tasia was delighted by the attention, while Victoria seemed nauseated.
“I am obsessed with your eyes, Lady Tasia,” Damien crooned. “I thought only the Trickster fae had purple irises.”
“That’s true!” Tasia batted her eyelashes. “I’m actually from Velletri.”
“Really? What magic do you have? I bet it’s something exciting like being able to arouse the senses of people around you.”
“She controls dreams,” Heinrich said firmly.
“How does that work?” Evelyn asked.
Tasia sneered, annoyed to get a question from Evelyn instead of Damien. “I can make people fall asleep and decide their dreams.”
Damien grinned. “Will you try it on me? I would love a dream with you in it.”
Tasia waved a wispy blue fog in Damien’s direction. The captain slumped in his chair, instantly asleep.
“We should’ve thought of that earlier.” Heinrich lifted Tasia’s hand and kissed it. “He’s finally quiet.”
She giggled. “Trust me, darling. You know I always have a plan!”
After everyone finished eating, Tasia used her magic to wake Damien. He inhaled sharply and gripped Evelyn’s arm, gazing at her like he was surprised by her presence.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Damien said gruffly. “That dream was intense. It felt… real.”
Victoria reluctantly invited Leo, Evelyn, and Damien to meet the rest of the Legislative Council in a large assembly room on the other side of the castle.
A long table, covered in various books and sheets of parchment, sat on a raised platform underneath the windows.
On the left and right sides of the room were three rows of benches, but the center was open for guests to greet the council.
Six women already sat at the long table, three on each side, with two empty chairs in the middle.
Each of the women had a different hair color, skin tone, and attitude.
There was an impressive range of expressions, from smile to scowl, as Victoria introduced them.
Leo and Damien bowed and Evelyn curtsied.
Then Victoria took her seat at the high table.
A door opened on the left side of the room and another woman entered. She had ashy brown hair, with streaks of silver tied back in a braid. Unlike the other women dressed in shades of green or brown, she wore black.
At the sight of her, Damien dropped to his knees and lowered his head. Leo and Evelyn exchanged a confused look.
Is this a protocol we weren’t informed of?
The woman noticed Damien and approached him. “Not today, young warrior,” she said in a sad voice. “Be at peace.”
Slowly, Damien got up and took two large steps back. He continued to silently stare at the floor.
The woman went to the last empty spot at the high table but didn’t sit down yet. “Good morning, King Alexander and Queen Evelyn. My name is Ophelia Klein. I am the longest-serving member of the Legislative Council. We welcome you to Lochmatten.”
“Thank you, Councilor Klein, we—” Leo started.
“Please, call me Ophelia.”
Leo nodded. “Ophelia, my wife and I are grateful to meet you and the rest of the council today.”
“I’m sure that isn’t true,” she said honestly but not unkindly.
“You’re right,” Evelyn confirmed. “We’re here because people in our kingdom are dying and we don’t know why. I like this isle, but I wouldn’t have come here two days after my wedding if it weren’t an emergency.”
Evelyn’s boldness paid off because Ophelia smiled at her. “You would make an excellent member of this council, Lady Connolly.”
The use of Evelyn’s original name and title felt deliberate but not like an insult. A few hushed whispers passed between the other women.
Did Ophelia meet my father when he was here during the war?
Evelyn continued, “Councilor Moeller said that you have better things to do than help us solve the murders of our guards, soldiers, and former king.”
Victoria rose from her chair. “He isn’t wrong.
It should be enough that the men of the High Council are willing to help you.
The role of the Legislative Council is not to investigate foreign crimes.
Should you go to war, we may choose to allocate resources to assist you.
Short of that, the affairs of Gryon are not our concern. ”
Ophelia sent a sharp look to Victoria, who sat down again.
“We dedicate ourselves to doing what is best for the people of Lochmatten,” Ophelia explained calmly.
“Councilors Wendell, Moeller, Heinrich, and Ritter all swore fealty to magic itself. We are not heartless toward your kingdom. It is simply that the High Council is equipped to help you, and we are not.”
“We understand,” Leo said quickly, “and we apologize for overstepping. Your offer of future assistance is generous. Thank you for agreeing to see us today.”
Leo bowed and began to leave, but Evelyn didn’t move.
“Why are the councils separate?” she asked. “Why not work together?”
Ophelia gestured around the room. “Someone has to make sure the people here are safe and healthy while the men bury their noses in books and play with magic all day.”
Anger burned in Victoria’s eyes, but she didn’t respond to the insult against her husband.
Is anyone paying attention to what the High Councilors are doing? If the Legislative Council worked with them, would Heinrich still have blown up a ship?
“Thank you for your time, Ophelia.” Evelyn curtsied again and joined Leo to leave.
Damien backed out of the room, unwilling to turn his back on the council, or perhaps just Ophelia.
“What was that all about?” Evelyn asked him in the hallway.
“I’ll tell you later,” Damien whispered.