Page 48 of Their Trials

Satisfied that he was watching over her, I turned my attention back to the task at hand. I needed to help garner favor in the Court for her. I glanced around the room to determine who was present and most likely to be swayed into providing that support.

As I stood there, making mental notes about the best way to proceed, Lennox came to stand beside me. “Divide and conquer?”

I turned to him. “Seems like the only way we’ll be able to accomplish speaking with everyone.”

He nodded and then set off, smiling and calling out to a courtier. He was good at this. Baer stood on my other side, doing his best to not look out of place. “Anything I can do?”

Since Baer wasn't familiar with any of the people present, I figured I could use him as an opportunity to make introductions, letting the conversations drift naturally to extolling Rhowyn's virtues and why she was the best option to support. “For now, just follow me. Smile and play along. We need to do whatever we can to reduce her threat level in court. The way I see it, the biggest issue that most of them have is her unknown status. For now, we'll keep her relationship with Master Jude quiet, at least until we understand more about what happened to her father.”

“Of course,” Baer responded. “Where do we want to start?”

I glanced around. “How much do you know about the members present tonight?”

“Honestly?” When I turned my eyes to look at him, he said, “Nothing. I avoided this life as much as possible. Which was easier once Mom and Dad decided to retire in the country.”

I nodded, looking back to the crowd for the right opportunity. Finding one, I started toward the group. I could sense Baer behind me as I approached my old friends from the Summer Court. I plastered a smile on my face, not exactly happy about having to be around these fae. They'd always been troublemakers, mostly out of boredom. They were too rich and too soft; their family names ensured a safe and easy future.

Unlike them, I had never been blessed with those things. While we weren't poor, my parents didn't have the social standing that my peers did, at least, not outside of our village. “George!” I called out jovially, switching gears, “How are you?”

I slapped him on the back, his smile widening as he recognized me. We hadn't had much opportunity to catch up once I had left the Summer Court to join the Queen's Guard, though I checked in on them when they visited, my history with them telling me that they’d find trouble one way or another.

“Well! If it isn't Arryn Oakley.” He nudged his buddies beside him, drawing them into the conversation. “Look who decided to grace us with his presence.”

“Arryn! It's been years. You took off for the Royal Guard, and we never heard from you again!” Frederick said, smiling at me and giving me a swat on my shoulder.

I laughed in response, doing my best to portray an amiable demeanor. “I was just a little busy. You know, ensuring the Queen's safety and all.”

“Heard you’re now a consort. Quite the rise for you, isn't it?” Duncan asked.

I smiled while nodding. “You heard correct. In fact, I'd like to introduce you to one of my fellow consorts. George, Frederick, and Duncan, this is Baer Hawthorne. Baer, my old friends from the Summer Court.”

He beamed at them as if he was truly impressed at having the chance to meet them, inflating their egos. He was a natural at winning people over. “It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm Rhowyn's Spring Consort.”

“That's right, your Chosen is the human one,” Frederick said, his voice dripping with disdain and disgust, looking down his nose at the thought of a human Chosen.

Baer laughed, not taking umbrage at Frederick’s tone while I did my best to ignore their utter disregard for the fact that they were speaking so callously about my Chosen. Rhowyn should have automatically received their respect since she was selected by Avalonia herself, showing just what fools they were, all puffed up on their own importance despite the fact that they weren’t near as powerful as they believed themselves to be.

“She's wearing a glamor, one that can't be removed. We suspect it's because of the amount of time she's spent wearing it while growing up on Earth,” Baer explained, while also not giving the true reason for our difficulties.

I saw the questions enter their eyes as they considered this news. “Doesn't that make you both suspicious? Some girl appearing out of nowhere and given the highest of honors, the ability to compete to become our next Queen?”

“Of course. We'd be fools to not consider the circumstances, but we've since learned enough to trust her. She's different than the other fae females, and it's been quite refreshing,” I told them, seeing my opportunity to convince them to support her.

“Different how?” asked Duncan, snagging another drink, having drained his fresh glass rather quickly and well on his way to being drunk.

“She is honest to a fault and capable of defending herself, even without having to rely on magic. We've also noticed that her magic is surprisingly strong, if a little unrestrained,” I answered his question.

“Were any of you able to watch the first trial?” Baer asked them, remaining friendly and open, his smile disarming and non-threatening. He was really good at this.

“Of course. We caught the other competitors, too. It was quite exciting, watching the whole thing for the first time in history from the comfort of our own rooms,” George said.

“Then I'm sure you caught how Rhowyn fought a Loathly Worm by herself, saving one of her consorts,” Baer bragged, his pride beaming from him.

“We also watched as she ran straight into a quicksand pit and had to be rescued,” Frederick said, remaining stubborn in his opinion of her.

“That may be so,” I started, needing to sway them all. If I could convince Frederick, then the others would fall in line. “But I'm sure that no other Chosen accomplished as much. She was fearless as she faced down the beast, but also demonstrated her wisdom, listening to her Consorts when they knew the situation better.”

“True. It was something special to watch her dive into that water after Prince Lennox. Not a single other Chosen risked themselves for their Consorts in the same way,” George said, considering what had transpired yesterday.

---