The Darathi Vorsi Prince (Song of the Swords Book 0) (8 page)

Myrddi
n’
s words sank into Rhoan
e’
s consciousness. Understanding dawned at last. Th
e
Darennsa
i
was not yet born, and, if he understood Myrddin correctly, the empress would be her mother.

Lliandra studied her hand, the one sh
e’
d rubbed against Rhoan
e’
s trousers, and very slowly wiped it against her skirts, as if trying to remove his taint.

Chapter 7

LADY Faelara stormed across her sitting room in an agitated fury. How dare he! How dare her father ask her to do something so improper. She was a lady. Highborn, daughter of the high priest. Both her family names were from respectable Houses. She could
n’
t be made to act as matchmaker to her empress. Why, it was little more than being a madame. No, she would
n’
t. Could
n’
t. He was impossible for even suggesting it.

“
Fae, you know
I’
m right
.”
Brandt settled into a chair and sipped his tea. The tea sh
e’
d made for him. With love! And this was how he repaid her.

“
Father, you must be mistaken. The Eleri has only a sword and a scroll. Tha
t’
s not enough to prove anything. And I refuse to even consider your other proposition
.
”

“
If you did
n’
t believe he was a prince, then why did you insist he take a room next to mine? And why did you send for me
?
”

Faelara bit at the nub of her thumbnail and winced when she drew blood
.“
I was trying to vex Baehlon. I did
n’
t care if the man was a prince or a pauper. It was nothing more than a game to me
.
”

Brandt sipped his tea, and Fae continued to stare out the window. The gardens were lovely this time of year. Not quite summer, but the chill of Frost End had passed. It was her favorite time to be outdoors, hands in the dirt, planting fresh blooms. She wondered whether Princess Gwyneira would be available to help her later that afternoon. They could harvest some herbs and practice making potions. Gwyn always enjoyed their little impromptu lessons.

“
Are you listening to me
?
”

Fae turned toward her father
.“
I was distracted
.
”

“
You should
n’
t torture Baehlon so much, my darling. He has feelings for you, I can see that, but if you continue with your little games, he will soon lose interest
.
”

A pinch of his brows set off her alarms
.“
What are
n’
t you telling me
?
”

“
I
t’
s probably nothing, but
I’
ve heard rumors Lliandra is going to wed him to Lord Askel
l’
s daughter
.
”

“
Micah? She never said a thing. Why? Lliandra knows I care for Baehlon
.
”

“
For the empress, marriage is done for prestige or promotion. Lord Askell can offer her something I canno
t—
land and coin
.
”

“
I
t’
s perfectly within her rights, but I wish sh
e’
d at least told me so I could stop making a fool of myself
.”
Faelara pouted like a child, most unbecoming of a lady, but she did
n’
t care.

For five seasons, sh
e’
d been flirting outrageously with the knight. He never spoke of it, but she knew he returned her attraction. Every morning he would say good day, or bring her wildflowers if h
e’
d been on patrol. Or perhaps sh
e’
d imagined he returned her affections, when really h
e’
d been courting Micah. None of it mattered. If the empress decided Baehlon should marry the woman, it was as good as done.

“
Are you telling me this now to sway my decision
?”
Fae asked.

Brand
t’
s grin gave him away. He tried to hide it behind the rim of his cup, but she saw through the ruse.

She planted her hands on her slim hips
.“
You belong in Dal Ferra
n—
a demon you are
.
”

“
You woul
d’
ve found out sooner or later. I wanted to spare your feelings before it was too late
.
”

It was much further than too late. She loved Baehlon and would the rest of her days, whether he returned that love or not
.“
I suppose this gives me reason to leave court without a scandal
.
”

“
You wo
n’
t be gone more than a few seasons
.
”

“
With a man I do
n’
t know and only your word to vouch for him
.
”

“
He survived the Ullan arena for almost a whole season, and even Lliandra could
n’
t tempt him to her bed. I believe yo
u’
ll be safe, or I would
n’
t suggest this venture
.”
He rose and took her hands in his
.“I’
ll join you when I can
.
”

“
W
e’
ll need coin. Prince or no, he arrived without a crown on him
.
”

“
Aye.
I’
ll make certain you have enough to get you to the Summerlands. From there,
I’
ll arrange funds in the various cities yo
u’
ll visit
.
”

“
Does he know? Is he willing to go on a fishing expedition without a boat
?
”

“I’
m sure once we explain our purpose to him, h
e’
ll be more than amenable
.
”

Faelara groaned and shook her head. Sometimes her father was too much of a dreamer. Always studying the stars, his head was permanently in the clouds. She preferred to keep her ambitions closer to the terrarae. Leave the stars to the gods.

In the end, convincing the prince to leave Talaith and the wandering hands of its empress was
n’
t difficult. Unlike Fae, he had no trouble with traveling Aelinae in search of the perfect man to father Lliandr
a’
s child. But Rhoane did
n’
t know the empress like Faelara did. He was unaware of her penchant for beheading any man who did
n’
t give her a child. Nor did he know about the rumors and accusations that the woman liked more than gentle caresses in her bedchamber. Some of the tales Faelara had heard made her blood curdle.

On the surface, Lliandra was as beautiful as they came, but beneath the lovely veneer existed a woman who craved power and was
n’
t afraid to inflict pain to get what she wanted. At least, tha
t’
s what the rumors would have Fae believe. Sh
e’
d never experienced the empres
s’
s violence, and hoped she never would.

Getting Rhoan
e’
s approval for the journey was one thing. The empress proved another case entirely. Despite the Eleri princ
e’
s declaration he was bound to another, Lliandra had confided in Faelara on more than one occasion she held out hope he would join her bed and provide her an heir. Rhoane tactfully avoided the empres
s’
s advances, but Faelara saw the strain the constant flirting put on the young man. In a way, she felt sorry for him. Lliandra could be most persuasive.

After nearly a moonturn of the empress making a fool of herself, Faelara sought advice from Lliandr
a’
s closest advisor, and sometime lover, Myrddin. She found him in his tower, tinkering with a box of cogs and wires. He wore thick spectacles that made his deep blue eyes huge against his face. Stifling a giggle, she examined some of his more unorthodox collectibles: a hors
e’
s hoof, complete with bone and fur attached; the beak from a large bird, perhaps a feiche; and nestled among the detritus of his life, a small, leather-bound book with neatly written lines in a language sh
e’
d never seen.

“
Where do you get this stuff
?”
She patted her hands on her skirt
.“
And whyever do
n’
t you believe in having this place cleaned? Ther
e’
s dust here from the last four Ages
.
”

Myrddin scoffed a reply
.“
Did you come here to besmirch my hygiene? Or was there a purpose to your impromptu visit
?
”

“
I wanted to ask a favor. If you could intervene with the empress on behalf of the Eleri prince,
I’
m sure he would be grateful. As would most of the eligible bachelors at court
.
”

“
Lliandra enjoys the hunt, you know that
.”
He paused in his fiddling and regarded her a little too closely
.“
You are
n’
t attracted to the handsome youth, are you
?
”

“
Do
n’
t be ridiculous. I
t’
s just w
e’
re supposed to leave on our mission, and Lliandra is preventing us. Whatever her reasoning, summer is upon us, and we should
n’
t waste any more time. As it is, I do
n’
t see how we can attend the Light Celebrations this Wintertide if we are meant to visit every kingdom looking for suitable donors
.
”

“
Donors
?”
Myrddi
n’
s chuckle did little to ease her nerves
.“
Is that what you call them? Not lovers? Nor companions? Or even paramours
?
”

“
You know what I mean. Do
n’
t tease
.
”

“
Is this really about the Eleri, or is it that you wish to be away from court when Lliandra makes the announcement regarding Sir Baehlon and Lady Askell
?
”

Faelar
a’
s gut pinched at the mention of the couple
.“
I
t’
s true I do
n’
t wish to be a part of their happiness, but I am here solely for the benefit of our empress. She must produce an heir. If she does
n’
t have a female child within the next ten seasons, the crown will pass to Gwyneira.
I’
m sure the princess will make a fine empress, but never in the history of Aelinae has one sister had to give up the throne for another.
I’
m afraid of what might happen should that come to pass
.
”

Myrddin bent his head to his box of springs and gadgets
.“
Lliandr
a’
s crown is safe, for now. But you make a valid point.
I’
ll speak with her tonight. In fact
,”
he glanced up, his eyes luminous in the magnifying spectacles
,“I’
ll insist I travel with you and the Eleri. If her reservations are tied in any way to you and the prince having an improper dalliance while on your journey, my presence should alleviate that fear
.
”