“My guards are loyal, and they are well aware of who the enemy is, Ryn,” Lani said. “You have nothing to fear.”
Right. Their distrust rolled off them in waves. Not that I could blame them after recent events, but still. Stay on your toes.
Already on them, he replied, stepping forward to hold the tent flap open for me. I can count on a single talon the number of people I trust.
After what had happened with Dyter, I was kind of feeling the same. I knew the old coot would do anything for me, but Tyrrik would cease to breathe without me. That took the trust thing to a whole new level.
The light was muted inside the canvas structure, but the temperature was warmer. Ten Phaetyn sat cross-legged on folded blankets, obviously awaiting our arrival. Three more cushioned seats made of pale silvery-blue fabric were unoccupied.
I settled on my cushion, and Lani took the one beside me.
Tyrrik stared at the remaining cushion and rumbled. “I’ll stand behind my mate.”
I felt his flash of irritation and glanced behind at him. His eyes had flooded black, but he was making an active effort to not partially shift and intimidate them. I understood his vigilance and distrust. Some of these Phaetyn might’ve been in collusion with the ones who’d been poisoning him while they sliced him to ribbons.
I studied each silver-haired member of her cabinet. Most of their faces were unfamiliar, and unsurprisingly, most frowned at my attention before looking away. I recognized the nice older man I’d met that could do water magic as well as the antagonistic Ertha. How had she gotten in here? I turned my attention to the older man, racking my brain for his name, and asked, “Fabir, wasn’t it?”
His smile lit his eyes, and he nodded. “Beautiful child, it is nice to see you again.”
Someone grumbled, probably Ertha although it could’ve been any of them. I seriously didn’t like her; something about the way she’d called me an abomination just didn’t sit right.
Probably because it was an insult, my love.
I snorted silently at Tyrrik but kept my gaze on the serene Fabir. “You too. I’m glad you’re on the council. I’m sure your wisdom will shed a lot of great perspective.”
What I wanted to say, but couldn’t without for-sure offending the lot of them, was: they’d better get their heads out of their butts if they wanted to win this war and be part of this realm. But I bit my tongue. Maturity at its finest.
“You all remember Ryn and Tyrrik. The Gemond army is—” She looked at me expectantly with a wave of her hand.
I blinked, and before I could formulate my response, Tyrrik spoke. “Just over the next ridge. One day if you march quickly, two if you dawdle.”
Lani pursed her lips, probably at Tyrrik’s lack of diplomacy. Clearly by his tone, he’d expected them to have caught up to the Gemondian army by now.
Lani continued to stare at me and then asked, “And what of these new developments?”
“A small convoy from each kingdom will leave in the morning for Azule. We hope to ascertain the mood of the people and find out if their ruler will join our side in the war. We need boats to bring the men back from the emperor’s war, and Azule has boats.”
“And?” Lani asked, raising her eyebrows.
You don't have to tell her.
The Phaetyn may decide to upset Lani’s rule, but it wouldn’t come from me. Anyway . . . If any of the Phaetyn find out, and we didn’t tell them, we’ll lose their trust. Possibly forever.
Not sure that matters to me.
It does; you just don’t want to admit it. We need them. You know we do. “Draedyn invaded my mind again, a few nights ago.”
Several Phaetyn gasped, and I raised my voice and rushed through the rest of my explanation. “Tyrrik blasted him out within seconds. He hasn’t gotten through since, but we wanted you to know. Full transparency in the alliance and all.”
“How do you know you’re keeping him out? How do you know if he’s even tried again?” Lani shot back. I knew she was just showing the others here that she was responsible, and so I didn’t take offense.
I shrugged. “I’ve given you the only assurance I can. We know Tyrrik can blast Draedyn out if he gets in. Tyrrik can sense when he’s in my mind too. What you decide to do now is up to you.” I held Lani’s gaze and said, “You wanted me to be vulnerable, so I was. Draedyn is getting into my mind, and I hate it as much as you do, more because it’s happening to me.”
I shifted on my cushion and forced myself to look at each of the other eleven Phaetyn in the circle. “I’ll not have you accuse me of deliberately hiding something from you. I know I’ve caused problems, but any harm was unintentional. None of us are perfect. At least, I’ve never pretended to be. I’ve also done a heck of a lot to help your race in recent weeks,” I said, pointing at Lani. “Don’t forget that.”
Fabir nodded. “Well said, young one.”
I really liked that guy. Tyrrik growled, but I ignored him. He wasn’t really jealous, and we both knew it. Fabir was, like, ancient.
Probably hundreds and hundreds of years old, Tyrrik thought to me. Always one to help me stay the course of monogamy.
“How long before you leave?” Lani asked. “We will confer on who to send with you.”
The sun would set in less than two hours, and it would take us close to that long to get back. Assuming we pushed hard.
“We’ll fly out in five minutes,” I said, standing. Several of the council grumbled, but there was nothing I could do about it. “Sorry, Lani, even that is cutting sunset close.”
I took Tyrrik’s hand, and we edged out of the tent. “Let’s go make some nectar while we wait.”
A young Phaetyn fetched us two full canteens, and we drank our fill after doing our Drae-mojo for each other.
Lani soon emerged from the discussion tent, her people filing out behind her.
She smiled when she saw Tyrrik talking to the young Phaetyn who had fetched the canteens.
“You’ll take him,” she said aside to me. “Tiago is my best guard.”
I raised my eyebrows, not sure that I believed a sixteen-or-seventeen-year-old would be the best. I was an anomaly, wise beyond my years.
“He’s eighty-five,” she said flatly, somehow guessing my thought process. “And he has a great mind.”
Turning toward Tiago, I studied the Phaetyn. “I’m sure it’s a nice perk that he’s easy on the eyes. You know he’s like, thirty years older than you, right?”
She snorted. “You’re one to talk with a Drae mate watching over you who always wears tight-fitting black and growls when old men pay you compliments.”
True. “Al’right. Let me know if you need a sex talk,” I said, doing my best to keep a straight face. “If he’s your best guard, you want to keep that relationship healthy.”
She snorted and shoved me lightly. “If I speak to every other person in this realm and I’m still confused, I might consider asking you.”
“You’d reconsider if you knew how good I was at playing cards. I’ve got maypole dancing skills.”
She fought against a grin and lost.
“But seriously, please look after yourself, Lani,” I said to her as Tyrrik wrapped up his conversation.
Lani rested a hand on my forearm. “You know I will. And you can rest easy knowing I’ll keep the Gemondians safe in your stead. You worry about Azule. I’ll handle protecting the army until we meet again.”
22
Our scouting party was enroute, and good things were coming. I wasn’t sure if the feelings were mine or Tyrrik’s or both, but the prospect of uniting the three kingdoms and Phaetyn against Draedyn was a monumental step in the end of his rule. I was certain that if—no, when—Azule joined us, we would have enough strength to end his tyranny.
Have you been to Azule before? The sparkling water appeared turquoise today, and I wanted to soar closer to the liquid gem. Or maybe I was getting some serious treasure withdrawals after Gemond.