There were murmurs this time, restrained and few. Reagan returned his attention to the chamber, and I followed suit, lifting my chin as my gaze swept over the gathered onlookers.
So many faces, so many opinions behind them.
Cerridwen stepped forward, settling one step below the dais’s summit, her back to the crowd, Barracus following her from the opposite side. Every eye in the chamber shifted toward them.
“We’ll stand behind Jane, our future Lady,” Cerridwen Cobweb said, her voice low yet carrying to every corner of the room. “May both of you bring stability to Mountheim.”
“You have our support, now and always,” Barracus Crow added.
Mountheim’s Second and Third bowed their heads in a deferential gesture, signalling their approval before our formal bonding.
We waited.
Only seconds passed, yet they stretched forever as the assembly measured their soon-to-behybridLady. As I gazed at the crowd, allowing myself to take in their faces, I couldn’t sense any contempt from them, nor blatant disapproval.
Still, Heil and several battle mages were positioned throughout the chamber, ready at the first sign of unrest. Barracus caught the captain’s eye before ascending the daisto take his place behind us, Cerridwen mirroring him on the opposite side.
No disturbance came.
I gave Reagan a nod before stepping back to stand between Cerridwen and Barracus.
It was far from over.
“After our bonding ceremony, your Lady will stand here by my side or in my stead. We expect that the blight will cease sooner this way. Some of you expressed concerns about the soil. We will settle that today.”
From the centre of the gathered crowd, the steward from the Highlands stepped forward with his son. I’d heard the whole staff disliked the pair even before the son, Zephyr, attacked Cerridwen in this same audience room.
“My Lord, Ms Cobweb, Mr Crow,” Castor greeted, his eyes finding mine. “And My future Lady. Thank you for agreeing to discuss the blight.”
Zephyr stood stiffly beside him. Heil’s warning stare from the foot of the dais promised consequences should he attempt anything like last time.
“We appreciate you sending your emissary and cousin to appease us in the Highlands,” Castor said. “The arguments he presented were quite clear.”
Varian Ilya stepped onto the dais as if he had been summoned. His dark cloak with its red edging flared behind him as he approached, offering Reagan the barest inclination of his head.
“It was a pleasure to find a compromise,” Varian said to the crowd.
I resisted the urge to scowl outright. Beside me, Cerridwen’s face was flawlessly unreadable. Reagan didn’t react to Varian’s presumption in stepping onto the dais, though I imagined he allowed it for the sake of the crowd.
Go on, snake. Dig yourself a grave.
“Stand back beside Barracus, Varian,” Reagan said steadily.
Varian obeyed, although instead of stopping beside Barracus, he paused directly at my side.
I inhaled quietly and held my hands together, resisting the grimace that rose at the faint nut scent clinging to him. Reagan’s mana pressed warm across my shoulders, the only sign of his displeasure.
“And what solution did you find?” Reagan asked, addressing the Highlanders.
Varian’s smirk was triumphant as he looked at Reagan’s back, as if he was imagining himself there, feeling closer to it. Then he let that same hungry stare rest on me.
He leaned closer and murmured, “Ladyship looks good on you.”
Not a moment too soon, his satisfaction vanished at the next words.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t found a plausible solution,” Castor said.
Varian went rigid. His head snapped toward the steward.
