AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He shook his head and rose to his full height, looking like a dark prince in his black and purple tunic. “Not that, you already told us you saw the missing stone. My uncle—he was a scribe, and he practically raised me. He had a store of old scrolls at his house. He had this…obsessionwith ancient myth and old verses. There was this one I remember—it told of the Blessed Blade.”
“What did it say?”
Tiernan sat next to me on the bench by my dressing table, and tried again to touch me, but I stood, moving away. “You won’t hurt me,” he said.
I heaved a sigh, “What did it say?” I asked again.
“The Blessed Blade was crafted by the Alchemists and blessed in the waters of the Sidhe. The stones aren’t stones at all. They weremade. They’re talismans.” He pushed his golden hair from his face and regarded with me with an intense stare, “The first talisman contains the water of the Sidhe. They forged the second to draw out the Grace from a slain Fae. The third holds the power of the Grace within the blade, and the fourth transfers that power into the hands of the Fae who wields it. It was the Mad King who had it made, but he never got a chance to use it.”
“And the fifth talisman?” I asked, remembering there were four stones in the hilt of the blade, and an empty setting where a fifth should have been.
Tiernan cocked his head at me, “Fifth?”
I pursed my lips, and was about to explain what I’d seen, hoping he could tell me which of the stones rested on my finger, but Kade and Finn entered my bedchamber.
“Ready to go?” Kade strode to where I stood, pulled my arm through his own and planted a loud lip-smacking kiss on the back of my hand, earning himself a glare from Tiernan and an exaggerated eye-roll from his brother. “Don’t want to keep our esteemed guest waiting, now do we?”
Ugh.
Chapter Seven
“Your Majesty,” Aisling squealed, her deep mahogany curls bouncing down the length of her back, “I missed you yesterday. I went to your chambers, but the servant said you were otherwise engaged.”
I’d forgotten. I was meant to help her with healing Valin. A flash of the clearing, black and smoking came into my mind and I shuddered. “I was,” I said plainly.
“Well that’s alright, Loris and I managed fine without you,” she said with pride, turning so I saw the gathering of nobles and a few courtesans seated at a long wooden table in the private dining hall. Valin—bright-eyed and cheery, laughed a deep throaty laugh, saluting to someone on his left. He looked well though still quite pale.
“We should go, majesty,” Finn said from my left flank, trying to get a better look into the hall.
Aisling gasped, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m keeping you. I was just going to see if healer Loris would join us for the feast. I hope we’ll see each other again.”
“I’d like that,” I said and meant it. It would be nice to have a bit of normalcy in my life every once in a while. I hardly remembered whatnormalwas like anymore. “Come by my chambers any time you like.”
She smiled wide and left us after a small bow, nearly skipping back down the corridor.
I watched as Valin lifted his cup for another pour of wine from the head of the table, the spot reserved for only the palace’s most dignified guests, and rolled my eyes.
“Let’s get this idiotic feast over with,” I grumbled, pasting on a smile, and entered the hall.
Valin was the first to stand, followed by the remaining nobles in attendance. It was a small feast. The long table held only about twenty Fae, dressed in long gowns, tailored jackets and dripping in gold and jewels. All the council members were there, except the former King Consort—my father. Edris. He’d left for his yearly stag hunt and wouldn’t return for almost a full moon. Lucky bastard.
Alaric sat near Valin, and four chairs sat empty next to him.
The servants rushed to pull them out for us as we approached. I took the seat next to Alaric, and Kade sat to my right. Finn and Tiernan next to him. For once, not all eyes were on me. They watched Tiernan like a hawk a mouse, throwing cutting, and curious looks his way until we all took our seats and the conversation began again.
“I’m honored to meet you, Your Majesty,” Valin said, “I had the honor of knowing your late mother, may she rest in peace.”
“I’m glad to see you’ve recovered,” I told him, holding out my chalice as it was filled with wine.
I went to take a sip when Alaric slyly shook his head at me. Resisting the urge to groan, I set the chalice back on the table, untouched. It seemed tonight, I wouldn’t be eating or drinking…
“I hear I have you to thank for that,” Valin said with a courteous bow of his head, “I may still be in the infirmary if it weren’t for you.”
Kade lifted my chalice to his lips, taking a small sip, before he placed it back in front of me with a wink. Alaric glared at him.
“Yes, well, we’re all keen to hear what happened. I’m sure you have quite the tale to tell.”
Valin choked on his wine, his face reddening before he set it back upon the table, “I wish I could offer you more, majesty. Though it seems I can’t quite recall what happened before my arrival back at court.”
