Chapter 29
Kurt did not dare mention Elise during his audience with Sebastian.
It seemed foolish to start an open rivalry when the entire kingdom was threatened by the advancing Falaine army.
Early that morning, he had received a letter from the scouts stationed near Noldrin.
The forces there were badly outnumbered, and soldiers from both sides were falling at an alarming speed.
The pandemonium that Elise’s town had become made him regain some sympathy for her. It was no small thing to come from a place that had practically vanished, let alone travel alone to an enemy kingdom.
He had to remind himself that she was not Josephine. Elise was probably trying to hold on to anything—or in this case, anyone—she could.
He could not blame Sebastian either. His friend had never been ill-intentioned. He was a king, but in spite of that, Kurt could not recall a single instance in which he had abused his power in any fashion.
For better or worse, Kurt decided it was best not to hold any grudge against either Elise or Sebastian.
The matter with Fabian still bothered him.
He knew the fairy well, and what Elise had described was perfectly in character for him.
Kurt did not mind having his name tangled up in gossip, but he thought it completely unfair to Elise.
She was bound to remain under Fabian’s orders whether she liked it or not.
He made his way to the catacombs, or the workshop as the fairies preferred to call it.
The walk through the dark passages only helped cement the idea that Elise was not to blame for trying to improve her circumstances.
He himself would likely attempt to escape working for Fabian if such a fate were ever presented to him.
Her perfume still lingered at the tip of his nose. Kurt did not know whether it was some special brew she used or simply her natural fragrance, but whenever he was near her, he could not help feeling that her scent lowered whatever barriers he had worked so hard to keep in place.
Witch or not, Elise had somehow cast a spell on him that left him wanting more of her. And worst of all, he was starting to realize that even disappointment was remarkably ineffective against it.
“Kurt,” a familiar voice called from afar.
Kurt looked up to find Adelle among the fairies.
“What are you doing here?” she asked meekly.
“Adelle,” he said, his gaze wandering until it landed on Elise.
Adelle seemed to follow his gaze and, with a small grumble, walked over and looped her arm through his.
“Don’t tell me you were looking for me,” Adelle said, far too loudly for someone standing so close.
Kurt cleared his throat. Elise was arranging herbs in the company of a thin, small man. A fairy, he suspected. Another man in her life who was no doubt interested in becoming something more to her.
He sighed and patted Adelle’s arm before answering.
“I came looking for Fabian. There’s a matter involving Elise and me that I need to clear up.”
Adelle seemed surprised by his words.
“And what could that possibly be?”
“There’s a rumor that I had something to do with the room she was given in the castle.”
Adelle laughed.
“What folly is that?”
Kurt looked at her suspiciously. He knew Adelle well enough to tell she was not entirely herself.
“And you, what are you doing here?”
She appeared even more nervous this time. She let go of his arm and began to pace.
“I like to come here from time to time. Fabian offered to teach me a few things, and since my father visits His Majesty so often, I thought I might as well take advantage of the opportunity.”
Kurt was not entirely convinced, but he held his tongue.
Thankfully, he did not have to wait long to learn more about the situation. Walking as though he were inspecting his own kingdom, Fabian made his entrance with much pomp and self-importance. His chin was high, and there was something almost ceremonial about the bounce in his step.
Elise cast a quick glance toward Kurt, and he caught the worry in her big, beautiful dark eyes.
“Fabian,” Kurt called.
The fairy stumbled at the sight of him.
Whispers spread through the workshop, followed by a caw from Elise’s crow.
“Your Grace!” Fabian exclaimed.
At once, the fairy’s demeanor shifted to a most gracious warmth.
Kurt, who valued an economy of words above all else, proceeded to settle the matter then and there.
“I’m here to set the rumor straight about the room that was assigned to Elise,” he said. “I can confirm it was not my doing. I assure you there’s nothing between us.”
More murmurs and curious glances rippled around the potion tables, but Kurt paid them no heed.
Fabian, seemingly unsurprised by the commotion, let out a deep breath.
“That silly thing.” He cast a stern glance in Elise’s direction for the briefest moment before his practiced smile returned to his gaunt face.
“Adelle and I were not sure at first,” the fairy said in a pleased tone.
“But...” Kurt turned toward Adelle, who was grimacing in Fabian’s direction.
The fairy immediately faltered.
“I mean...I was able to verify that you had nothing to do with the matter.”
Kurt, blessed with as much wit as good looks, immediately realized that Adelle and Fabian had been behind the gossip involving Elise.
Disappointed and somehow confused, he found himself unable to look directly at Adelle. He had seen her at her worst, but he had never known her to be capable of such dishonorable conduct.
She must have sensed his unease, for she reached for his arm again.
“Kurt,” she said in the softest of tones, batting her eyelashes at him.
Kurt could only look at Elise, who by now seemed completely overcome by the scene.
The entire workshop had stopped to watch the exchange.
He figured Sebastian had perhaps been the one responsible for giving Elise a chamber.
At any rate, he didn’t want to dig any deeper into the situation for fear of exposing her.
“The matter is settled then,” was all Kurt said as he removed his arm from Adelle’s grip.
As he walked toward one of the exits, he could tell Adelle was preparing to follow him. He had no wish to prolong the spectacle for those gathered there, so he did not stop.
On his way out, however, the arrival of an army of royal staff in the catacombs brought him to a halt. Dozens of servants descended upon the place as though a catastrophe had been declared and they had come to evacuate every fairy.
The small army quickly surrounded Elise, seated her in the most comfortable chair in sight, and practically began fanning her while asking if there was anything they could do for her.
While Elise was being treated like a newly crowned queen, another group made its way toward Fabian. This time, the king’s staff wore stern expressions, and after a brief explanation, requested that he accompany them to the royal chambers.
“What did you tell the king?” Fabian shouted toward Elise.
Elise seemed overwhelmed and only managed a small shake of her head.
Kurt took this as clear confirmation of his suspicions. It had been Sebastian who had arranged for Elise to stay in the castle. He knew Sebastian well enough to recognize his handiwork. He felt like a fool once more.
He sighed as he walked past the crowded area. As a man of war, he understood that some battles could not be won.
*****
Elise hadn’t meant to make a scandal out of the gossip surrounding her and Kurt.
She certainly hadn’t wished to involve Adelle in the whole ordeal.
She understood that Adelle was interested in Kurt, and she harbored no ill feelings toward her.
After all, who could blame her for being so taken with the duke?
Elise herself would defend her chance to be at his side if she thought she stood a real chance.
Fabian was another matter entirely. It was hard to empathize with the fairy when all he seemed to want was to be admired and make others’ lives more difficult than they should be.
Both Fabian and Adelle had left the workshop after Kurt’s visit. Adelle had followed Kurt while Fabian had been escorted away by the king’s small army of servants like a prisoner being led to the dungeons.
Elise felt a measure of guilt and hoped the king would not be too harsh on the fairy. It had already been an hour since he left and there was still no sign of his return.
She swallowed hard, remembering what Kurt had stated so firmly: “I can assure you there’s nothing between us.”
His words had felt like a dagger to her heart. Of course, he was right. There was nothing between them. But, ah, how it hurt. How much she wished he would have defended her without claiming so vigorously that what they had shared meant nothing.
Perhaps it was all for the best. She had worked up in her mind enough fantasies with him that by now she had expected him to come take her in his arms and proclaim she was the one his heart desired. It all looked silly now.
Not wishing to dwell much on her disappointment, Elise worked around the potion table where Emery was mixing ingredients before the more experienced fairies prepared the final concoction.
He held one of the lowest positions on the magical staff.
Even Elise felt she was overqualified to do his job, and he had already been working for more than a luster in the workshop.
Elise had not yet been assigned a formal position, and instead she roamed from place to place, offering assistance to whoever needed it.
She thought it to be a waste since she was sure she could mix the potions without trouble.
She had gained enough experience with Morgaine, and with all her reading on the fairy’s sacred manuscripts she was eager to prove her worth.
As fortune would have it, her wish at last was about to come true.
When Fabian finally made his entrance, his mere presence cast a hush over the workshop.
His countenance revealed that the man had received a severe admonishment. He walked like a beaten dog with his tail between his legs.
Some fairies near him approached him to ask if he was faring well. The man barely lifted his head and with a most defeated gaze, his eyes soon found Elise.
“Elise, you are now to be part of a group,” he said to everyone’s surprise. “Pick a team.”
Elise stood there frozen, unable to believe her luck. It was only when Emery gave her arm a shake that she finally returned to the promising reality before her.
“Any team?”
By now, she knew the tables around the workshop, each arranged into different groups of four or five fairies.
She and Emery were the only ones who didn’t have a permanent place.
Emery, of course, had had the worst of it, usually in charge of the rubbish heaps.
Elise was not to waste the opportunity to help the only person who stood by her side at the worst time.
“I choose to work with Emery,” she said.
Fabian, still looking like a mule at the end of a hard road, rolled his eyes at her. “I said a team, not the only other black sheep.”
Emery seemed a hair offended, but he didn’t dare to disagree.
“There’s a potion table that’s not in use,” Elise said. “I’m sure we can manage.”
“You are going to need at least one more person, then,” Fabian said, regaining some of his usual sour mood.
Elise glanced around the place, the vast majority of the fairies avoiding her gaze. She remembered the words of Morgaine: You will find your biggest allies are men. Seeing Emery at her side, she was beginning to feel that the witch’s remark was not completely off.
The only male fairies in the workshop were Fabian, Emery, and a couple of fellows she hadn’t spoken to. Neither of them looked happy when she glanced at them, but it was all it was.
She studied the two of them for a moment.
One stood nervously as he noticed her looking at him.
His lean frame bordered on gauntness and did not give Elise much hope.
The other one appeared much less timid as he stood at a distance from her.
His frame was stronger and his demeanor a touch cockier.
He was a good-looking man, although after seeing specimens like Kurt and Sebastian, he seemed rather plain to Elise’s spoiled eyes.
Either way, Elise felt her choice was simple enough.
“Him.” Elise pointed at the sturdiest fellow.
Fabian let out a begrudging grumble as he looked at the chosen fairy. The fairy let out a heavy breath and joined Elise.
“Good job,” Emery whispered at her side as both waited for the fairy to make his way toward them.
“I’m Conrad,” was all he said, giving a few suspicious glances at Elise. He was likely wondering why she had chosen him.
Unknown to Elise, and as is often the case among reasonably handsome fellows, Conrad assumed his good looks were the sole reason she had chosen him. In Conrad’s estimation, Elise was one of those women who could make any man howl, but married as he was, he maintained a measure of distance.
Fabian, already looking more like himself, called everyone to attention and began giving instructions.
“You have a week to show me a potion that can help with the wicked illness the army is dealing with. The king wants no excuses.” He glanced at Elise. “You as well, darling. Don’t think you’ll have any more special treatment.”