Page 57 of Immortal Sentry

What? How dare this man, king or not, speak to a mage so?

Rather than being offended, Miisov laughed, a deep, booming sound that drew attention from those nearby. “I see time hasn’t mellowed you. And my dying would bring you too much pleasure, so I’ve decided to live forever.” He turned to Eron. “Come, Lord Edry, I’d like you to meet someone. With your permission, Your Majesty.”

The king sniffed loudly, making a shooing motion with his hand. He froze, then frantically turned right and left, searching the crowd for Lessa.

Since Selin hadn’t reacted to the Estian, Eron plastered on a beguiling smile and spoke the language again. “I’ve seen better-looking frogs.” He bowed and backed away.

King Selin growled something unintelligible and stalked off.

“Isn’t he a pleasant fellow?” Eron asked conversationally. “It’s a wonder my sister hasn’t killed him.”

Miisov chuckled. “Not for lack of wanting to, I’m sure. But it would put her children in the hands of regents who might be harder for her to control.”

“Did you really want to introduce me to someone, or were you saving me?” Eron couldn’t take much more of playing nice with the ass who mistreated Lessa.

“Saving him, more like. If I’d left you in his less-than-stellar company for much longer, I feared you would pull a knife and make our dear queen a widow. She wouldn’t favor wearing mourning garb, though she might forgive you for having a happy rest of her life. But in all seriousness, you and I provided a distraction so that Queen Lessa could slip away for a few moments’ peace from her jailer of a husband.”

“I’d be doing all of Ala a favor by killing him, you know. The people would build statues in my honor.” Eron blanched, reconsidering his words since his lover had, in fact, become a statue. Lover. He had a lover. One he really didn’t want to disappear with the first rays of dawn, but who had no choice.

Miisov didn’t seem to notice Eron’s discomfort or ignored it. “Without a doubt.”

Eron glanced right and left. “Where did Lessa go?” As Edry, he really should refer to her as Queen Lessa, but remembering the willful girl she’d once been made it hard to do so.

“She’s not far. She merely asked for a moment alone from him watching her every move.”

“Is he that jealous?”

“Yes, but not for reasons you might think. He’s not jealous she’ll take a lover. His jealousy stems from his people despising him yet loving her. She commands the respect he’s never earned.”

“So, he can either try to do better or bring her down to his level.”

One side of Miisov’s mouth lifted. “A lesson in futility. The queen knows how to handle herself and how to win approval. Because of this, she has power. While she’d never deliberately harm anyone undeserving, one wrong word from her lips couldget even the wealthiest noble shunned. She’d be an asset as an ally. A smart man would make use of her influence. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, her husband and Bain aren’t known for their intelligence—she, however, is. Never challenge her to a game of chance.”

A trumpet sounded, and a man announced too loudly, “His Majesty, King Bain.”

Noise levels rose as Bain entered the room. As pretentious as his guests’ clothing was, Bain refused to be outdone, with jewels sewn into his tunic, the gaudiest crown imaginable upon his head, and rings on nearly every finger.

He worked his way through the crowd, stopping to speak to some and ignoring others. Those who’d been snubbed would undoubtedly be the subject of gossip throughout the meal. If Eron actually cared about these people, he might find idle gossip entertaining.

Next, the man announced, “Her Majesty, Queen Consort Jaidia.” Memories flashed into Eron’s head of this woman, a bit younger, with the same haughty twist to her lips. She, too, wore an abundance of jewels. Oh, if only Eron were permitted to hunt. Villagers starved so the king and queen could show off. Father would’ve never done so.

The king sat at a table on a raised dais, the queen beside him. Lessa, her husband, and her sons joined them.

Eron sat where instructed. He needn’t have worried about answering questions. The others at his table all appeared to know each other and spoke mostly about themselves, mutual acquaintances, or indeed about the poor souls the king snubbed.

Apparently, nobles loved to gossip, no matter the language. Please let no one in Eron’s family apart from Bain behave in such an arrogant manner—and he didn’t claim Bain.

Servants brought wine and served a lovely soup with cabbage, leeks, and onions. Those at his table changed briefly to commenting on the soup.

“And what do you think, Lord Edry?” a woman to his left asked. All eyes turned to Eron.

“It’s soup. I’ve had better,” he said in Estian. The crestfallen faces proved they didn’t comprehend. With the only stranger at their table presumably unable to understand them, their gossip grew juicier until Eron wondered if any noble child born in the kingdom was legitimate.

Next came hearty servings of wild game. Eron forced himself to eat, smile, and mumble slowly, not seeming eager to leave. It took every bit of his patience to remain at the table until the meal ended. He’d only caught glimpses of Lessa and fewer still of his nephews.

By the time the final course of fruit and cheese arrived, his tablemates were all drunk and loud in equal measure. It would hopefully embarrass them to know just how much their manners suffered while they were encased in a wine-induced haze.

Eron excused himself the moment he could politely do so and joined the line of revelers waiting to greet the royal couple and their guests. Many in the line seemed giddy, not at meeting kings or a duke, but at meeting Queen Lessa.

---