CHAPTER 21
THE A’KORI PALACE
Present Day
Another knock sounds against my door and I groan, dragging myself from the comfort of my mattress to answer. Either the general’s forgotten something or…
“I promised to check in on you.” Awri’s bright blue eyes sparkle in the light of the torchlit hall.
I open my door wide, and she sweeps inside with a smile, her gaze falling to the thin slip of a night dress I wear.
“Are you receiving all your visitors dressed like that?” she teases with a knowing smile, as she falls into a large chair by the fire, turning to peak over its back at me.
My cheeks heat for what feels like the thousandth time since dawn when I deflect, “Only you.” And I turn on my heel to gather my robe from the floor.
“And Xeyvian?” She quirks an eyebrow at me as I cinch the robe tightly around my waist. “I passed him in the hall on my way here.”
“He was just here to check that Caden’s work met with his exacting standards,” I say, wishing I felt as annoyed as I try to sound, but my head is still spinning from everything that occurred between us.
“Are you fully healed?” she asks, a bit of concern reaching her brow as she looks me over.
“It certainly seems that way. Does the healing always hurt like that?”
I have never been healed by a feyn before, nor have I heard tales by others who had. While the pain hadn’t been unbearable, I would certainly think twice about using it for anything unnecessary.
“Not always,” she says, “the pain often correlates to the severity of the wound. But not all bodies react to gifts the same way. If you’d been of Caden’s bloodline, you’d likely have felt nothing at all.”
“Excellent,” I snark, “As I have no feyn blood in me I’ll expect it to hurt like haliel every time.”
“Maybe you could simply avoid the necessity of a healer,” she quips with a small laugh.
“I’ll try that,” I chuckle.
The fire crackles behind her and her brow dips speculatively when she says, “I wouldn’t fault you, you know? If you and Xeyvian become something more. I’d even encourage it.”
My feet move of their own accord across the room, without any thought or destination. This isn’t the visit I expected to have with her. Though I suppose none of my visits have gone as expected this evening.
“I have wondered if there was something between the two of you,” she continues even as I begin to protest. “I wasn’t sure until I saw the look on Xey’s face when you ran off into the forest.”
“What look?” I ask, drawing the latch from one of the large windows on the southern wall, pushing it open, and breathing in a lungful of much needed air.
“Fear,” she says, and my gut twists. “He was afraid of what might happen to you in the forest. If I had any doubts after that, they were all gone when I saw how angry he became at Caden for letting you ride in pain when he could have healed you. That and the fact that he wouldn’t let you out of his sight on the way back to the palace.
Very unlike him. He’s never been the type to fuss unnecessarily. ”
I fan myself with my hand, leaning into the cool spring breeze blowing in from the sea when I say, “I suppose you think I should be flattered that he’d like me as a lover for the season?”
“Did he say that?” she asks, and I turn to find a look of shock on her face that matches her tone.
“Not in so many words.”
“It would surprise me if he had,” she says, “Xey has never been the type to fall into fleeting friendships.”
“Only fleeting bedfellows?” I quirk an eyebrow at her, and she shrugs.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never known the male to take a lover. Stars know plenty have tried, and failed, in pursuit of him. Though I can’t pretend to know everything about him. We all have secrets of our own.”
I don’t tell her just how aware I am of that simple fact.
“Call me cynical,” I say, “but I can’t help but wonder what interest a high-ranking, powerful feyn could have in me.”
“Handsome,” Awri adds with a cheeky smile, “You forgot handsome and well-connected.”
“I’m sure you’re only helping prove my point,” I sigh.
She hoists herself out of the chair and strides over to the window to stand by my side.
“I didn’t come to convince you of his character,” she says, taking my hand in her own.
“Only to check on you and tell you a little of what I know of him. And to give you my blessing.” She gives my hand a gentle squeeze before letting it fall back to my side.
“I like you, and I think you would be good for him.”
With that, Awri walks toward the door, looking over her shoulder as she says, “He’s a good male, and if you decide to accept him, I hope you don’t prove me wrong.”
The door clicks shut behind her, and my lungs deflate.
I tell myself she can’t be that good a judge of character if she trusts me with his affections.
Besides, it’s clear from the artful way he handled my body that the male is no stranger to the female form.
The fact that Awri has never seen him take a lover means nothing, and it is all beside the point. I can’t afford to care.
My thoughts far too muddled to find sleep, I boil water over the fire, summoning the effort it takes to make a cup of Kishek’s tea, before casting my robe over the plush chair beside my nightstand and falling into bed.
I’m doubtful that sleep will find me anytime soon and maybe I shouldn’t be surprised when the breathy whispers of the sisters flit past my ears.
I can only hope they aren’t upset by the fact that I’ve bathed and put myself to bed.
Tig dims the lantern I left on by the door and when the bed jostles beneath me I assume Eon is making herself comfortable for the night. I’m not sure why the sisters sometimes decide to stay with me. If given the choice, I think I’d rather live among the trees and sleep under the stars.
“Reh’desh,” I whisper to the sisters.
The sprites, for all their complex emotions and exaggerated gesturing, seem to have a simple language. The words can be used much the same as a human might wish another goodnight or good morning only the time of day is implied by … well, the time of day.
“Reh’desh, Tha’haynah,” Eon whispers to my back.
The old blood. A curious title, though it is clear to anyone with eyes that long ago my ancestors were feyn. Perhaps it should, but it doesn’t trouble me that the sprites make the distinction.
Maybe it’s the soothing presence of the sisters, the tea, or simple exhaustion from the events of the day, but my mind does not continue in pursuit of understanding what occurred with the general. With little effort, it stills, and the void comes to take me.
“It’s too early,” I groan when someone knocks at my door.
Squinting my eyes open, I groan again when I find that the sun rose hours ago.
The knock reverberates again, and I debate rolling over and going back to sleep.
I tell myself that if it is that important, they wouldn’t be knocking.
Another knock, and Eon jabs me between the shoulder blades with a bony finger.
“All right. I’m going.”
I toss the covers off my body, hoping they’ll envelop the meddlesome sprite, before putting on my robe and answering the door.
“Good morning, Sera,” I say through a yawn.
The young woman smiles when she returns my greeting, her golden curls brushing the tops of her shoulders, shining in the morning light.
“Please, come in,” I offer, but she shakes her head shyly and proffers me a basket, covered with a decorative cloth.
“I need to get back to my grandmother,” she says.
“Of course.” I smile. “Please tell Media I said hello and that I will come by and see her again, soon.”
“I’m sure she would like that,” she says, her curls bouncing as she jogs off down the hall.
I close the door with a shake of my head.
I’ll have to make time to keep that promise.
Media may be on the side of the feyn, but she is still an elderly mortal, deserving of a visitor now and then.
And though I must sift through the stories she tells me to find the truth, she still has a great deal of knowledge I lack.
I set the basket on a small table by the door, plucking off the covering to examine its contents.
My stomach grumbles loudly when I’m hit with a steamy waft of fragrant seasoned butters, fresh breads, and crispy bacon.
My mouth waters and I’m sure the sisters can smell it as well when I hear the patter of Eon’s feet rushing up behind me.
She stands on her tiptoes, peaking over the rim of the basket just as I uncover a small bowl of berries hidden at the bottom. I hand it to her and chuckle when her delighted sprite tongue jabbers something unintelligible as she rushes the bowl to her sister.
Tearing a small piece of bread from a thick, fluffy loaf, I dip it in a soft herb filled butter before popping it in my mouth. A satisfied sigh slips past my lips as the flavors meld upon my tongue.
I’m about to inhale the entire loaf when a folded piece of parchment catches my attention, peeking out from behind a thick roll stuffed with sugar and spice. I pluck it from the basket and admire the golden seal. The wax stamp is blank, but I don’t think much of it before tearing it open.
Shivaria,
I have gone to uphold the bargain I made in the forest.
The gift of healing takes its toll on your strength, and I would have you strong. Take the day. Eat, rest, and consider my offer. I’ll come to you in the morning, and honor your decision, whatever it may be.
Xeyvian
My stomach is in knots when I force myself to eat a crispy piece of bacon. Had I known what the letter contained I would have waited to read it and left my appetite intact. I can’t help but consider the general’s offer. It’s too tempting, in more ways than I’m willing to admit.