Page 38 of The Ivory King

“We would have, yes, but things at the court have taken a dark turn. There is more weight for us to carry than just the vills that we will rule over. King Raloven has recently died, poisoned by unknown forces, and when we return to the capital, it may come to pass that you will wear the crown of Queen of Melowynn and not just the circlet of the mistress of Renedith.”

“Oh that is sad news indeed,” she whispered quietly. “He seemed a just monarch. But that also means that you and I can work to effect more change if we rule all the lands.” Her fingers curled around mine. “We shall do well no matter what coronary rests upon our heads.”

“You are quite the unshakable woman.”

“Thank you, my lord. Now that we have sorted our future woes, let me show you the largest red turnip you have ever seen.”

I watched the sun pinken the sky from the stables, with Atriel’s soft flank next to my cheek. She seemed to feel that I was grieving and so gently stood in her stall between Gwedel and Hasulett with the workhorses across the small walkway. She let me hang over her face, wet and heartbroken, until I was drained of all emotion. V’alor and Tezen were not here yet and now the fear that they had fallen in the skirmish clutched my heart tightly.

She’d politely taken the green apples from me after I’d arrived while the night lingered in the sky, never once trying to nip me or nudge me with her shoulder as she wanted to do when she was displeased. And she was greatly displeased. The hay was not up to her standards and the mules across the way were not her usual stablemates. Yet, despite all of that, my mare stood patiently in the dark as I wept on her soft, dapple coat.

The soft sounds of the sisters stirring about rode in on a cold wind. I wiped my face, ran my fingers through my hair to remove the chaff, and then ran a hand down my horse’s neck, enjoying the way her mane fell over the back of my hand.

“You are a good friend,” I whispered and got a brisk nod of her head. “A valiant steed and a winsome mare.” Atriel nickered in reply. I rubbed along her jaw and placed a kiss on her nose. “You shall have to carry me in both body and spirit, I fear, for I am hollow inside without him.”

She gave me a long-lashed blink before I backed out of her stall, stopping to pet each horse on my way out. We would be leaving today as soon as Raewyn and I were betrothed officially. It was imperative that we return to Celear with speed which, I feared, would be a longer journey given we were taking two noblewomen with us. Once we left the Lavender Valley behind, the danger would intensify. None would dare harm us here upon holy land, not even cold-hearted assassins, but that holy protection would cease once our horse’s hooves touched thelast purple steppe. Even though we were safer here than in our mother’s arms, Pasil was always nearby. I waved him off, but he declined to go, instead following me at a polite distance, his sword at the ready.

Where Beiro was, I had no idea. Sleeping in the tack room, I imagined, but the nimble guide could be anywhere on this mountainside. Perhaps he had decided this was too dangerous a job and left during the night. I’d not fault him if he had.

I passed by sisters in brown as they set about their daily duties. My feet carried me not to the dormitory where I should be eating and bathing in preparation for the betrustment observance but to the lavender steppes. Women in cocoa-colored robes skirted around me, eyes averted, polite greetings falling from their lips as I waded out into a vast field of lavender, my mind lost in grief. I stood among tall violet spikes as small bees flew lazily about, their torpidity matching mine. My very soul was exhausted, weary, and downtrodden, and I wished nothing more than to lie down among the flowers and never rise again.

The sun rose slowly, warming my head as the blossoms around me grew busier with visiting pollinators. I found no joy in the sight as I would normally have. Kenton had taught me great respect and love for the natural world. Yet no delicate butterfly of crimson or the buzz of a speckled hummingbird could lift me from the pit of loss. If he was lost to me as I feared I would not find him. I would not allow him to be rolled into a lake as the fisherfolk do. V’alor was a warrior and he would be given a fitting burial in the Stillcloud family plot. Umeris and his rantings about common blood being buried with noble be damned.

My sight moved along the steppes one by one, down into the valley, as I plotted out how to return to Lake Tolso to retrieve my fallen friends when the newly risen sun struck somethingbright. A glint of copper moving at speed. I rubbed my eyes, took a few steps, and then stared at the rider as they turned onto the first of many roads switch-backing up the sides of the Witherhorn. My heart began to thud against my ribs as the sight grew clearer and clearer, the copper armor of a Stillcloud guard. I began to run. Sisters plucking small purple flowers scattered like frightened ducks on a pond as I bolted down the steppes, tripping and stumbling, my eyes wet as Sirdal thundered up and up with V’alor low on his back.

The horse skidded to a halt halfway up the steppes. I ran harder as V’alor dismounted and turned to face me. He was grimy and travel-worn, but never had I seen a more beautiful sight. Around his head flitted a small purple cloud that darted to and fro, then dove at me. Tezen hugged my face tightly, blinding me momentarily as her tiny breasts were smashed into my eyes.

“My lord! My lord! You are well! Praise all the gods!” she yelled, her voice sharp but so welcomed. I gently peeled her from my nose, smiled warmly at the filthy pixie, and let her sit in my palm for a moment. “I am so glad to have found you. Traveling with him has been like having a sore prick and no balm.” She jerked a tiny thumb at V’alor, who was now speaking with Pasil. “He’s said nothing for days. Poor Sirdal is close to collapse. My tits are sore from the bouncing they’ve taken, and my gut is empty as a whorehouse patron’s purse!”

I laughed merrily, tears of joy streaming down my face. “I am overjoyed to see you! Please, have Pasil lead you to the shrine where you may bathe and eat. We shall talk more at supper.”

“Oh right, yes, you want to say hello to Sir Grumpy Pants. Got it!” She winked at me, then took to the sky, flitting over to sit atop Pasil’s ebony head. They walked off deep in conversation, Pasil leading an exhausted Sirdal to the stables tobe curried, watered, and fed, leaving me standing ten paces or so from V’alor.

“Seeing your face warmed by the morning sun is a beauty that I shall never tire of, Aelir,” V’alor said as he opened his arms. I flew to him, shaking bees and small butterflies from the violet spikes. He caught me with ease, lifting me from the ground to cover my mouth with his. His taste was divine. I licked deep into his mouth, his tongue gliding over mine, as I dug my fingers into his short, lank hair. I cared not if he was road dirty. He was here. Alive. Alive. He was alive!!

“I love you so,” I gasped when the kiss broke. “I thought you…I feared you were…” The words were log-jammed as I began to cry in earnest, uncaring of who saw my tears or my lips on this man’s lips. “I was empty. I love you so, V’alor.”

“And I love you, Aelir, more than I ever imagined.” He kissed me again and again and thrice more after that. I needed more of him, his kisses, his hands, his voice. I needed all of him and would have suggested we make love here on the steppes if not for the sisters moving about above us. “I feared you had been overtaken by the assassins.”

“No, we rode well and stealthily. Beiro led us through the nights with expertise. We might not have made it here without his aid.”

“Hmm,” he replied before kissing me once more, then gently letting my toes touch the ground. A bee buzzed by as we stood there drinking each other in. “I shall have to thank him. You are a vision, my love.” He ran his fingers through my hair, lifting it and then allowing it to fall back over my shoulder. “You are the light that guided me through the darkness of our separation. The memory of your eyes, the feel of your skin, the softness of your lips…I am a fool for ever trying to deny this love I have for you.”

I pulled his face down close so that I could taste his lips once more.

“I long for you to be inside me,” I confessed in a raspy whisper that pulled a moan from him. He cradled my cheek, searching my eyes before he shook his head.

“That shall have to wait, Aelir, for I have news to relay to you and the capital,” he said as his thumb rubbed at my lower lip. “We have no time to make love. Your affianced will surely not wish to find her future husband—”

I nipped at the pad of his thumb. “We do havemuchto discuss. First, let us get you washed, fed, and rested.” He shook his head. “You must sleep, V’alor. You cannot protect us if you are ready to collapse. Another day will not bring about the end of the realm, I am sure.”

Or I hoped it would not.

He huffed, a sign that he knew I was right. I had missed that sound. “I shall nap. The sooner we leave, the sooner we return. Umeris will not be able to stall the other noble families once the required days in state are met.”

“I know. We shall get there in time.” I slid my hands up to his neck and led his mouth back to mine for a final kiss. Final for the moment. I planned to place my lips on his entire body as soon as it was feasible. “Come. We will retire to my room, where you can wash, eat, and sleep.”

“Nap. A short rest is all that I will need.”

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