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“You’re not a normal princess, are you?”
“Is there such a thing as normal?” she asked instead of replying normally. She wasn’t even all that sure what he meant by her not being normal. What were princesses supposed to do in this day and age.
He chuckled. “No, I suppose there isn’t. But I suspect even if there was, you’d still break the mold and be different.”
She beamed proudly, that was something at least. And she liked the idea he’d gained that much insight into her already. It said a lot about him too.
“I try. But what can we put in there that stops anything untoward,” she asked, tapping a quill against her lips, and wishing she had a normal pen. Once again, the antiquity of court was just impractical.
“How close are you to being mated?” he asked slowly, his gaze lingering on her lips, before slipping down a little further. He looked back up at her face within seconds though.
“Erm...I’m not sure,” she lied. It was getting a little confusing for her, especially as she was enjoying the attention Fane was paying her almost as much as she had Drey and the twins the day before.
“If you’re close, that could be a way out of it.”
“True, but also a trap. What if he insists on having me, and then I discover my mate? Will he just let me go?”
“I doubt it.”
“And what are the consequences then? I’ve heard it’s particularly hard to deny a mating bond. So I’d either have to sneak around, or go mad with unfulfillment.” Neither of which sounded particularly great to Aledwen. Far from it.
“We could put in that he needs to release you if that happens?” While his suggestion was a valid one, it was completely undone by the uneasy look on his face. He didn’t believe what he was saying was possible. Which meant it was probably best they didn’t go down that route.
“How long have we got until he wants the t
reaty signed?” Aledwen asked.
“He wants it as soon as possible. I think he was hoping your mother would sign it without looking. She has a habit of doing that.”
“Hence why you’re wary of her?”
“Yes. She’s signed away a few things she probably shouldn’t have over the years.” He shifted uneasily in his seat.
“Like?” she prompted, worry filling her.
“I’m not sure I should tell you,” he said.
“Well that statement alone means that you have to.” She narrowed her eyes at him, hoping he’d give in and tell her.
“I’m not completely sure about this, but I think there was a treaty that signed away some magic at one point.”
A lead weight dropped in Aledwen’s stomach. Magic. Her mother had signed away magic. If the other Queens found out about that, then there would be a price to pay. And Aledwen was pretty sure it’d be a steep one. Maybe even her mother’s life. “Are you sure?” she asked.
“No. I’ve not seen it, there’s just rumours about it. Hard to tell if they’re true. A lot of the previous ambassadors have been highly swayable at best, completely corrupt at worst.”
“That sounds...concerning.”
“Oh definitely. One of them even made a deal with a rogue necromancer at one point. It caused absolute havoc within the community.”
“It sounds like it.” She sat back in her seat, pondering the consequences of a necromancer having free rein anywhere. She’d heard that after a recent shake up, there were fewer rogue ones than there had been, but they also had no structure at the moment, and no one to hold the bad ones accountable.
Worrying to say the least.
“Yes,” Fane acknowledged.
“What would he do with the magic he gained?” she asked.
“I’ve no idea. There should be no reason he can use it. I’m pretty sure only the fae can use fae magic.”
