AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 27
Two days later in her bedchamber, Cal settled more snuggly against the padded arm of her chair. The methodical motions of the brush through her hair caused a stupor to overtake her. Could she stay like this for a few weeks? No such luck, though.
Behind her, seated on a stool, Arrein stopped her chatter. “My lady, you must hold still. I’ll soon be done. Then I will arrange your hair.”
“Is all this really necessary?” Maggie groaned from her own seat a few feet away, where Vana subjected her to the same treatment.
Yes, was it? She knew she and Maggie were to rub elbows with some important elves, as a number of these esteemed people had inundated Eriannon for a meeting of some sort with the royal father and son team. This meant grand dinner gatherings, not to mention spare elves wandering all over the place. Of course it didn’t matter that she’d found the previous dinner arrangements fancy enough or that she already had enough elves wandering around her. Relian and Talion probably viewed this as a total immersion exercise, where they ruthlessly pelted her with elves from all sides.
All she knew was that Relian would again parade her in front of those haughty elves like some kind of exotic freak show—look, a real live human! She cringed. As his betrothed, she was to take her proper place by his side now that she could fluently speak Elvish and had been indoctrinated with proper elvin protocol for the last three weeks. As it happened, this etiquette didn’t differ much from what she’d expect human nobility or even people with manners to use.
Arrein tsked at Maggie’s words, Vana echoing the sound. Go figure, they were in on the conspiracy, too. Cal frowned and rolled her eyes at Maggie, risking a scolding from Arrein again.
“It’s very important,” said Arrein. “Many of our people haven’t seen you since you first arrived, and only those in attendance at the time. The council and the attending festivities have been carefully planned, and most of the lords and ladies of the realm are here or arriving as we speak.”
“That was what I was afraid of,” Cal said under her breath. She didn’t want to face a horde of elvin lords and ladies. The servants and commoners were more than enough for her.
“Tell me about it.” Maggie didn’t sound any happier at the prospect but soon visibly perked up. “At least I’m not the one with the binding bracelet. Now all that attention I wouldn’t want.”
Cal slid Maggie a dirty look. “Thanks. Thanks a lot.”
Maggie laughed. “Glad to help. I’ll be with you, even though I won’t be able to share in that misery.”
“A binding bracelet should never be a misery,” Vana murmured, horrified.
Cal sighed. “We meant all the accompanying attention that follows one.”
“Yeah,” added Maggie, “especially when the other binding happens to be on the wrist of the crown prince, and you’re human.”
“Ah.” Both Arrein and Vana apparently got it, making sounds of commiseration.
“Maybe I’ll be lucky, and some binding will have magically appeared on a wrist or two or, hopefully, on a couple of dozen. That might take some of the limelight away.” Hope welled up, allowing her to sink into fantasy.
Arrein yanked her right out of it. “Oh no, my lady, the binding does not just appear.” Cal’s head whipped around. Arrein’s eyes widened, and she faltered to a stop.
What? As normal, she had no clue what these elves were talking about. “It doesn’t just appear one day all on its own?”
After Arrein shook her head in the negative, fury encased Cal’s heart. “How does it get there, then?”
Maggie moaned and slapped a palm against her forehead.
Cal wanted to do worse and punch something. Relian’s face would do. Why had he lied about this? Or at least omitted some very important details? He and his dad had made bindings sound as if they were some fated act of magic and nature. Instead, they apparently got on others’ wrists the normal way: someone put them there. So how had hers got there?
And here she’d been seriously thinking about bonding with him. Letting herself totally fall in love with him. She’d even given blood so they could work out their prophecy! She hated needles. Though to be fair, she would’ve done that, anyway, because it was the right thing to do.
The maid hesitated for several long seconds. “Maybe Prince Relian or even the king should explain.”
“Explain? It’s a simple question. Tell me, please.”
Arrein shook her head, trading a wary glance with Vana. “I’m sorry, my lady. This is a subject that should be taken to the prince.”
Cal gritted her teeth. She knew all about seeking answers in relation to reticent elves. Besides, she didn’t want to involve innocent bystanders. So she sat there, smoldering.
***
Cal walked with Maggie down the hallway, forcing herself to walk at a sedate pace. Though she wanted to throttle Relian, she wasn’t crazy enough to try anything in public. Still, if he thought this was the way to win her over to the idea of bonding, he was sadly mistaken. He needed to be honest with her, not hide stuff and lie about it.
The council session had finished, so that was where they were heading. Well, at least toward the council room’s doors, where Arrein and Vana had told them the congregation of elves would exit. If Cal’s memory served correctly, the area outside the room consisted of a wide-open space with massively vaulted ceilings.
