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Meri resumed plucking and muttering as Opal explained, “Roughly translated, it means ‘spirit name,’ the name you ask only friends to use, those you trust and rely on.”
“This dress doesn’t fit her coloring. Next one!” Meri declared. “She must be splendid at all times!”
As Meri and Elinor bundled me out of one dress and into the next, I mulled over Opal’s words. Friends were exactly what I needed right now.
~~~~~
Emrys
After hours of meetings, debriefings, and general updates, Durvin finally left me to my stacks of correspondence shortly before lunch. My office, a large airy room on the second floor, offered the perfect view of the inner gardens, the maze, and the lower gardens beyond. Distantly, great sycamores towered above where the princesses had appeared every night.
My efficient staff had probably already dismantled the dance floor and the various edifices they had erected for our guests’ comfort. I suspected a new plan for the lower gardens lurked in the stacks on my desk. But as I stood at the window surveying the changing landscape, I was thankful I would no longer be forced to linger in the shadows, a pariah at my own party come evening.
A soft whoosh marked the arrival of a shadow elf.
“Avoiding work?” Illeron asked.
“You’re late.” I reluctantly turned from the window to find my oldest friend and confidant grinning at me. Illeron was a light elf; otherwise, we were similar in height and build. “Did Casimir bring you?”
“He did. I hope you are up for company. He went back for the others.”
I sensed the movement among the shadows as one of my permanent bodyguards left. “How many people are you two bringing with you, and why does it require the help of my bodyguard?”
Illeron shrugged as he crossed to nudge the top pile of letters on my desk. “Avril requested Favian.”
“And you give your wife everything she requests?” I rolled my eyes at him.
“When it involves a teething child, I do. How are you faring?” He focused his piercing silver-green gaze on me, but his curling riot of brown hair undermined his severe expression.
“It is complicated.” I crossed back to the window. “Frankly, it still feels surreal. It hasn’t been a full day, and the court is already demanding to assemble. Ambassadors are requesting meetings, nobles are squabbling over precedence, and my work has tripled. I feel like I haven’t had time to catch my breath.”
Illeron nodded. “I am afraid my news will not help. The curse master says that only half the curse broke.”
I nodded. “The castle experts say the same thing. Something about my connection with the land still being severed.”
“Do your senses corroborate this?”
I shook my head and then shrugged. I felt no different than before. But then, my connection with the land had never been easy to access. “I haven’t had time to test my new freedom. Kate needs to break the news of her marriage to her brother. I intend to take her myself, and I suppose a testing of my magic and skills needs to be done as well.” I added it to my mental list of things to do before I collapsed for the night.
“How is your new wife?” Illeron asked.
A soft whoosh marked the arrival of a shadow elf. A petite human woman with a thick mass of auburn hair accompanied by Casimir, Illeron’s shadow elf younger brother, appeared in the darkest corner of the room. I recognized Avril at once. Before I could offer a greeting, though, Favian appeared with a child in his arms. The boy’s light-brown curls rioted all over his head, barely revealing his elven ear tips through the chaos. Widening his silvery-green eyes, the baby took one look at me and his father before letting out a pitiful wail.
Illeron groaned. “He hates me.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Avril retorted before turning to Favian. “Let me take him.” She gathered the child with practiced efficiency. Propping him on her hip opposite a small, sheathed knife, she glared briefly at her husband. “He doesn’t hate you. Babies fuss, especially when they are teething.” She flashed a blinding grin at me. “Good to see you, Emrys.”
“And you, Avril.” I couldn’t help smiling in return. Illeron tended to be a bit full of himself, and his wife kept him humble in the best ways. “I don’t believe I have met the recent addition to the family yet.” Extending a hand to the miniature Illeron in her arms, I waited to see if he would take it.
He eyed me, my hand, and then my face. Then, he suddenly planted his face in his mother’s chest.
“What is his name?” I asked.
“Errol, but that is only because Avril wouldn’t let me name him Limpet.” Illeron caught the end of one of his wife’s auburn curls and tugged it gently.
“You did no such thing.” She nudged his hand away with her chin. “I hope you don’t mind our unannounced arrival, Emrys. I had to come and meet your new wife, and Errol won’t let me out of his sight these days.”
“Ah, yes, I should have someone fetch Kate.” I nodded to Favian, who melted into the shadow. “Where did Casimir go?” I glanced around. He had been there moments before.
