And from their perspective, I suppose I am.
We’re led into the great hall, an expansive room where we gathered to eat and where my father conducted official business, hearing the requests and complaints of our minor houses and the common folk who tended our lands. I can almost picture him sitting in the great chair at the end of the hall, snow falling outside the narrow windows, a fire roaring in the fireplace.
The hearth lies cold now. A damp chill hangs in the air, pricking goosebumps to the surface of my skin.
Ronan rubs my arms with his warming light, his disguise abandoned now that it’s clear there’s no concealing who we are or our purpose here.
“Here you are,” says Xu Fushi. “Escorted. Don’t say I don’t do what’s asked of me. Now, I’ll be needing your weapons.”
“Not a chance,” says Ronan, his grip tight on his pommel. Not that he even really needs a weapon. If he wanted to, he could spear Xu Fushi through the head with light at any moment.
“Stand down, Fu,” says the woman’s voice from earlier as she glides into the room.
This must be Karis, the leader of the Koraka tribe of Orsa and current steward of Castle Pyka. I had been expecting a warrior like Taran, all hard lines and muscles, but she’s softly elegant, clothed in flowing silk in a light blue with a cream-colored stole wrapped around her pale shoulders. Her hair is wildly, gloriously curly and roughly the same color as Seth’s.
Which is apparent because he enters after her along with the others: Typhon, Larus, Seth, and Quinn, who has been given a wheelchair. The rest of the group are bound by the hands.
“Where are our griffins?” asks Ronan, his voice tight with fear.
“I sent them away,” says Quinn. “I didn’t want them to get hurt.”
Fuck. I hope they’re alright out there. And I hope they return to us once we get out of here.
Ifwe get out of here.
“Is that any way to greet an old friend? Ronan, I’m surprised at you. They took the crown off your head, and you’ve forgotten your manners.”
“Not at all, Karis.” Ronan strides forward and offers his hand. To shake, not to kiss.
“It’s good to see you again. I wish you had come to me directly, although I can see why you didn’t think that was wise.” She looks from Seth to Larus and finally to me.
Ronan leans over to shield me from view.
Karis leans around him and smiles. “That won’t be necessary. I know what she is to you. She’s under no threat from me. Comeforward, darling, and let me see this lovely girl half the world is talking about.”
I approach her, taking my place beside Ronan. “Ma’am,” I say, bowing.
She laughs. “Oh, she is charming! You need not bow to me, sweetling.” She looks no more than a decade older than me, but she addresses me as if I were a child. “Tell me how a family like yours raised someone so magnificent that she stole the heart of the best man in the world.”
My neck heats with jealousy at the way she talks about Ronan. And the way she looks at him. So many people look at him this way, but it feels different coming from the ancient enemy of my family, someone who is deeply indebted to Ronan for what he gave her people.
Someone who is a leader in her own right. I can’t help but see what a great match they would make.
Ronan senses my jealousy, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It’s quite simple, really.” He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me to him. “This is the best woman in the world.”
He kisses the top of my head, and his feeling of pride as he shows me off is intoxicating.
“Wonderful!” says Karis, and she seems to really mean it. “Truly, I’m happy for you both. I wish it had happened a decade ago, but I suppose it’s better late than never.”
A decade ago I was twelve, but I see what she means. If we’d even just been betrothed to marry when we were adults, the entire war could have been prevented.
“Now, I’m afraid we have to discuss the less pleasant business.” She steps up to the great chair—my father’s chair—and takes a seat. “I understand you wish to leave Selara, and that’s likely a wise decision. But you brought our enemies here.”
“They are all with me, Karis. Typhon and Quinn have been my loyal advisors for years. Release them, and then we can talk about the rest.”
“Very well.” Karis waves her hand and gives a command in Orsan, and a pair of Orsan guards removes Typhon’s bindings and allows Quinn to join us. It’s a gesture of goodwill. A good start to the negotiation. “I must apologize for the ambush, and for Xu Fushi’s treatment.” She glares over at him, and he tilts his head in deference. “Fushi is an important partner of Pyka. He has managed to secure supplies for us during this terrible blockade, but he would do well to remember his place in our hierarchy.”
“As you say, ma’am,” says Fushi. “I merely meant to help.”
