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And then what?
My step quickened as I made my way through the palace. That was a matter for another time.
From the airport,it was still a two-hour drive to Ironhelm Place, and even in the decked-out SUV that King Cade had sent for us to enjoy, the route to the castle was uncomfortable.
I hadn’t gone to the castle many times, but I remembered why that was. This part of the continent was by far my least favorite, with its back roads and poor lighting. I was a city creature, and for all of Ironhelm’s natural beauty, it was far too desolate for my liking.
“You’re right,” Elix breathed from her side of the SUV, awe coloring her words. “What is this place?”
“Ironhelm,” I laughed. “It’s not all like this; Cade lives closer to a city. But there are far fewer metropolises in Ironhelm than there are in any other kingdoms in Mystara.”
The path was dimly lit, a blend of moonlight and the occasional streetlight lending it an eerie feel. I tried to view the landscape as if through Elix's eyes, as though seeing it for the first time, but struggling to recall my initial impressions from when I was no more than a toddler.
Elix, with her emerald eyes wider than ever, admitted, "I keep expecting some prehistoric creature to leap out from the fields." It was difficult to discern whether her expression reflected fear or awe with everything she was seeing.
“There are a lot of farms and ranches in these parts. It’s the heartland of the continent. We do a lot of food trade through Ironhelm.”
Elix nodded as if she hadn’t considered that before, her slender neck straining out the window to see better.
“It must be breathtaking in the daytime.”
“I’m sure Zephy will show you around in the daylight. She’s from a small town herself.”
Elix shot me a quick look. “And you really think she and I will get along okay?” Her nervousness surprised me. I realized I hadn’t seen her interact with others much since her arrival.Aside from that fateful party and some contact with the staff, Elix had been sheltered at the palace.
Maybe we should have done something of a trial run.
But somehow, I wasn’t worried. I knew that she wouldn’t embarrass me.
“She’s lovely. I’m sure you’ll charm them all,” I reassured Elix. “And I bet she’s looking forward to meeting you.”
It was too dark to be sure, but I had a strong feeling that my words made Elix blush again. I was finding it was easier to do than I intended. For all her toughness, she really did have a soft interior.
Suddenly, Elix released a gasp, her neck falling back as she looked up. I didn’t have to take my eyes from her face to know what it was she was seeing, her expression telling me everything already.
We had arrived at Ironhelm Place, and it was a sight to behold under any circumstance, but in the evening, another thing altogether.
The palace loomed like a fortress against the black of night, the building itself glistening like an ebony chalet in the clouds.
“Is it floating?!” Elix choked, and I laughed, recalling how I’d once thought the same thing.
“No,” I promised her. “It’s an optical illusion. It only looks that way.”
“Oh.” She sounded disappointed as the car raced across the drawbridge toward the front entrance. The car with our security followed behind, only Llyodiver in the SUV with us, and when the vehicle came to a stop at the front of the majestic stone building, half of the staff was outside, ready to greet us.
“King Jace,” an elderly female bowed, her milky, white eyes taking me aback before I also remembered her. Those eyes were difficult to forget.
“Giselle, is it?” I asked, nodding.
“Grisella,” she corrected me, rising to square her shoulders.
“Right. May I present my betrothed, Miss Elix?”
“The king and queen are thrilled to host you, Alpha,” the housekeeper intoned. Grisella barely acknowledged Elix, a fact that I didn’t overlook, but before I could comment, a light, feminine voice called out to address the house manager’s rudeness.
“Some things never really change around here, I’m afraid,” Queen Zephyrine growled. “Like Grisella’s poor manners.”
Intense dark eyes shone in the night, and the staff stepped back in a rigid line to allow the smoldering-featured queen through. The doe-eyed beauty paused to look at Grisella with a frown that sent the old housekeeper withering before she spun around to address me. “Jace, darling!”
