Verice gave the man a cold look.
“Seal the borders to Palins, and the taint will dissipate from your lands over time. Tassinic can become one with our land. We would honor your boundaries and welcome you into our confidences.”
“They aren’t chess pieces, Barathiel.”
“Take the long view, Verice,” Barathiel gestured with his glass. “Sooner or later, there will be war with the Usurper. You and Tassinic will be caught in the middle. Ally with us and we—”
“As in the royal we?” Verice asked. “Is Blesenthala behind this offer?”
Barathiel paused, swirling the liquid in his glass slowly. He finally lifted his gaze to Verice. “She’s a lovely thing, your human,” he said. “If you like that sort of thing. But at best she’s good for what, another fifty years? Your interest will wane, or she will.”
“We’ll be leaving.” Verice stood.
“No,” Barathiel said. “You’ll stay until this is settled. Attempt to open a portal without permission, and my mage-guards will see to it that small chunks of your flesh rain down on your precious castle.”
“I find this hard to believe, cousin,” Verice said coldly. “That your sense of hospitality suffers so.”
“Nonsense,” Barathiel said as he strode to the door, opening it to reveal an escort. “I’d honor you, cousin, by assigning you a role in the afternoon ceremonies. It’s rare that one such as yourself is afforded the honor of smoothing the royal pillows.”
“What of Warna?” Verice growled.
“Another reason you should consider your position,” Barathiel said. “But have no fear, cousin. We will see to her comforts.”
A handmaiden escortedWarna into a small room with paintings on the walls, and windows overlooking the gardens. There was no other way out beside the one door, and she was fairly certain there was at least one guard in the hall.
She settled on one of the chairs by the windows, and resigned to wait patiently.
She had to smile in spite of herself. Her picture books of elves and their lands hadn’t done justice to the beauty and elegance of these people. And hadn’t prepared her for their arrogance either.
The Lady of Laughter alone knew where she’d gotten the courage to claim Verice before the King and Queen. Warna had to admit to herself that part of her motivation was simply anger at their smug faces, certain that they’d caught Verice in their snares.
She hadn’t thought of rumors, or that the word of their engagement might travel as swift as flight, but she should have known. Even elves weren’t above a good gossip, it would appear. Something none of her childhood story books had mentioned. And wasn’t that a disappointment, to find out that elves were human?
Her stomach rumbled a bit, reminding her that it had been some time since her morning meal. Had it only been half a day since she’d awakened to the sound of Verice’s sword against the pells? If felt like forever…
With any luck, they’d feed her at some point.
The door opened, and Charrin walked in.
He really hadn’t changed since she’d seen him in Bode’s tower. Tall, elegant, with that horrible slash over his eyes, puckered and red. He was carrying his harp and wearing formal robes embroidered with flames.
“Warna,” he said.
“Bard Charrin.” Warna rose and curtsied.
“You needn’t bother,” he said, moving unerringly to the chair opposite her. “It’s not like I can see your courtesies.”
“Still I offer them,” Warna said. “Out of respect.”
“I don’t see why,” he said. “It’s not like I have any respect for you or your kind.”
To the hells with the three rules. “Then why are you here?” Warna demanded.
“To tell you that I heard the note of surprise in his voice,” Charrin said. “That I know that you are no more betrothed to Verice than I am able to fly.” Charrin placed a hand on the back of the chair. “Retract your lies before the court, so that Verice can take his true place in society.”
“That which lies between Verice and I is a private matter,” Warna said. “And his surprise was in the announcement, not the betrothal.”
“He pollutes his bloodline again if he goes forward with this,” Charrin spat. “Tassinic needs to be cleansed of its human taint, and brought within the Kingdom.”
