Chapter 8 #2
I’d seen the lordling several times before, the first being when I’d newly arrived at the palace and had been accosted by the six male House leaders on my walk to my new royal wing.
Kole hadn’t let any of them touch me, but Lordling Torleaf had been present, listening in the back of the group as I’d conversed with the Fillingmore, Crumpuff, and Messepire House leaders.
And, of course, Lordling Torleaf had been at my introductory ball, but I hadn’t spoken with him long there, and the one other time I’d seen him had been at the king’s council meeting when fae had been called in as character witnesses.
During all of those times, he’d been reserved, quiet, and had done more listening than speaking.
When I entered his study, unsurprisingly, his serious demeanor didn’t change, but he did stand and bow. “Princess Primelle, how kind of you to visit this morning.”
Kole positioned himself by the wall, stance wide and arms folded in front of him. At his back, his sword pommel rose like a razor.
I inclined my head at the House leader. “Thank you for allowing me to interrupt your morning.”
“Not at all.” The House leader gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “Is meeting in here all right? I’m afraid I have quite a few things on my agenda this morning, so I didn’t ask the staff to prepare the receiving room.”
“Of course, and I apologize for taking up your time, but I do appreciate you speaking with me.”
His face cracked slightly, just the slightest bit of curiosity peeking through. “And what is it you would like to discuss?” He returned to his seat behind his desk and steepled his fingers. “The dillemsill mentioned that you had urgent business matters to attend to.”
Behind me, Kole’s silence reigned, but his aura kicked up a notch, and since Kole was about to hear the entirety of why I was here, I just prayed to all the gods and goddesses that following this, he kept his intrusive questions at bay.
I smoothed my gold gown, then folded my hands in my lap. “I do, and I shall get straight to the point so I don’t waste any more of your time.” I squeezed my hands tightly together. “It’s come to my attention that you have a strong interest in our kingdom’s mines.”
The lordling nodded. “I do. I govern quite a few of them, in the north at least. I can’t claim the same for the southern portion of our kingdom.”
“No, of course not. It’s my understanding that Lordling Messepire owns those mines.”
“You would be right.” He didn’t say anything further, and I could tell the polite smile plastered upon his face was out of good manners more than anything else.
I cleared my throat. “I wonder, have you ever considered expanding your mines into Stonewild Kingdom?”
His eyebrows slanted together. “Stonewild?”
“Yes, I’ve been told they’ve harvested more diamonds in Stonewild than any other kingdom on our continent.”
He leaned back and frowned. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, but then he replied, “I’ve heard the same. However, I’m struggling to understand what that has to do with my mines or how I would expand into a kingdom I have no right to enter?”
“Of course.” Flustered, I ran a hand through my hair, then balled my hands together tightly in my lap again.
“I’ll cut right to the point.” My knuckles looked sharp enough to cut through skin, and I forced my grip to loosen.
“I think it would be advantageous for your House, as well as for our kingdom, if Mistvale created an agreement with Stonewild. Tunnels could be built beneath the land, similar to what’s been done in the Osterland Exchange, and we could connect our great resources with our eastern neighbor’s. ”
Lordling Torleaf blinked. “Tunnels?” His tone turned drab. “From the northern portion of our kingdom to Stonewild? Do you know how much work and time it would take to construct such a thing?”
My smile grew strained. I’d had the same reservations when my uncle had told me he wanted them built. Such a venture was preposterous, but if it did happen, my uncle would prosper. Greatly, no doubt.
Silence descended around me, but I didn’t know what to say. All social skills fled, because what I was saying was ridiculous, and I knew it.
Behind me, Kole didn’t say a word. He didn’t even move, yet his aura warmed my back, his energy rising.
If my heart had been beating, I had no doubt it would be racing right now. Sweat would’ve been lining my palms as well, and my breaths would have turned shallow.
But I had no reaction, none in the slightest physically. Instead, I sat as still as a stone, watching the lordling in front of me while waiting for him to speak further, and I prayed that I wouldn’t have to magically sway him.
Finally, Lordling Torleaf cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. “Where is this coming from, Princess Primelle?”
I gave a short laugh, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.
“I’m not sure how much you know of me, but I’ve spent all of my adult life working in libraries and studying.
And while I was away recently, I came across some interesting documents that spoke of the mines in our northern region and how veins within them may extend into Stonewild despite the magic at the border, and how it’s believed that if they’re connected, the magic producing the gems within their depths would—”
“And where are these documents?”
My voice grew shrill. “I’m afraid I wasn’t able to bring them with me, but it did give me the idea of forming a new exchange between the kingdoms.”
“I’ve heard of this theory before.” The lordling sighed.
“Excuse me, Your Highness, but I’m afraid I don’t have any interest in pursuing this endeavor.
The cost to fund such a venture would be extraordinary, and I’d have to lease the land and pay royalties to the other nobles in the northern region since I’d be infringing upon their areas, and there’s no guarantee combining the mines via tunnels would cause an explosion of magic anyway, and I”—he shook his head and sighed again—“I’m afraid I simply have no interest in this, so my answer is no. ”
My shoulders sagged. Of course he didn’t have an interest in it.
Because in the end, the only ones guaranteed to make a profit would be the very nobles Lordling Torleaf would be paying the royalties to.
All my uncle would need to do was sign a document while Lordling Torleaf came up with the funds, time, and means to produce such tunnels.
And while eventually, perhaps in a century or so, House Torleaf would begin to see a decent profit if the magic did react as some guessed it would, it would still be much work for a gambled payout.
The only reason the Osterland Exchange had been formed at all was because of the close proximity of the southeastern portion of Mistvale to Faewood.
The mines were closer there, allowing easier access.
My smile wavered. “But don’t you think you should at least consider it? Perhaps think it over? I could return—”
“I’m sorry, Princess, but no.” The lordling held up his hand, his smile flattening. “I have quite a few things I need to do this morning, and I have no interest in pursuing this further. I’m sorry, but my answer is final.”
My lips parted, and my senses focused on the constant throb of the lordling’s heart. I subtly opened my mouth to stretch my jaw, trying to work the ache out, but it did no good. The lordling’s blood still called to me.
I licked my lips, my throat horrifically dry. “I see. I’m sorry to hear that, but if you’d just let me explain a bit further why I think—”
“Good day to you, Princess.” Ire prickled the lordling’s words, and he abruptly stood.
“Thank you for visiting, but I must insist that our meeting conclude. However, if the king has similar interests to yours, I would be more open to discussing this further at the next council meeting, but as for now, my answer is firm. I shall call my staff and have them escort you out.” He went to push a button near his desk, and before I could stop it, my uncle’s command took hold of me.
Magic cascaded out of me, soaring right toward the lordling. I impaled his Shield, penetrated his thoughts, gripped his mind, and his hand fell slack, his body freezing.
Even though everything inside of me wanted to stop what I was doing, I couldn’t.
My magic spun a web through his mind, making him think he’d come up with my uncle’s plan on his own.
I reconstructed my meeting with him so his memory of it would be about me visiting for a frivolous call and nothing more.
It only took seconds for me to twist the lordling’s thinking and align it with my uncle’s.
Just as quickly as my magic entered his mind, it receded.
It couldn’t have been more than ten seconds total, and then the lordling was blinking at me, a slightly dazed look upon his face. He shook his head slightly.
For a moment, he just stood there, then brought a hand to his forehead.
“I’m sorry. I apologize, Princess Primelle.
I think I lost my train of thought.” He smiled pleasantly, the first genuine expression I’d seen on his face since I’d entered.
“It’s strange, but I just had the most brilliant idea.
” He tapped his chin and nodded. “Yes, truly brilliant. I believe I should bring it up at the next council meeting. But anyway, thank you again for visiting. It was lovely to see you.”
I tried to smile. Tried to do something normal, but inside me, pain erupted. I’d just done exactly what my aunt and uncle had spent my entire life teaching me not to do. I’d just broken my vows to them to never influence another.
I stood, my legs shaking, but I managed to dip my head. “Thank you again for your time, and I do appreciate you meeting with me this morning.”
I turned stiffly, not able to look Kole in the eye. He still stood by the wall, but I felt his burning stare. His unfiltered shock. Unspoken questions blazed from the warrior, but at least I hadn’t been forced to alter his thoughts too. Not yet at least.
I left the study before the wildling servant could return to escort us out. I needed to leave this house. Needed to leave that room behind me. Needed to never think again about what I’d just done.
Behind me, Kole’s footsteps thundered. “What just happened, Princess?” he all but growled. A quiet accusation hung in his words, and it was laced with an undercurrent of disbelief.
“Nothing. Nothing happened,” I bit out and hurried back to the front doors.
His jaw snapped together, the sound so loud it felt like it echoed through my ears as I raced through the halls.
I knew Kole wanted to say more, wanted to demand that I tell him why I’d just done what I had. Clearly, he’d seen it, perhaps even felt it. He knew that I’d just twisted the lordling’s thoughts.
But I couldn’t bear to admit it. Because if I told him, or if he clearly voiced that he understood what I’d done, then I would be forced to alter his thoughts too. That would be classified as suspicious, which meant my uncle’s command would rear, and Kole would fall prey to my monstrous magic too.
But at the moment, I just suspected that he knew. I didn’t know for certain, and I prayed to all the gods and goddesses that would keep him safe.
I picked up my pace, barely keeping my vampire speed in check. Kole strode quickly behind me, but the swift pace ceased our conversation.
Ahead, a wilding servant careened around the corner, breathless from his run. “Apologies for the delay, Princess. Please, follow me as I escort you out.” His words were polite. Nothing about his demeanor hinted at the fact that I’d just persuaded and controlled his employer.
But considering the warrior’s aura pounding into my back that felt as hot as the sun, I had a feeling Kole’s relentless questions would inevitably be coming.