Page 67 of Ties of Starlight

“Of course, Your Majesty, how could I forget? Your wisdom is insurmountable. Your reasons beyond my understanding, lowly lord that I am; I should not even insult you by breathing in your presence.”

As they caught up to Idonea and Lady Asa, Lady Asa turned to look over her shoulder. “Your sarcasm will one day wear down His Majesty's last nerve and you will find yourself with no title or position if you aren't careful.”

“Sarcasm?” Frode gasped, placing a hand over his heart. “Dear Lady Asa, I am nothing but genuine in every word.”

Idonea wasn't paying any attention to them.

That. That he did not like.

She was just biding her time until her next do-over.

Not if he had anything to say about it. She would see there was a life to be lived that day and not wasted pining after a worthless, despicable creature.

“Idonea.”

At his voice she startled, turning to face him. “Yes?”

“Tell me, what do you think of the rumors that the Sun Elves are going to enter talks with Chymes?”

She blinked at him for a moment. “Well, I find them incredulous as historically there is no precedent for it. The Sun Elves have never had a relationship with the alchemists, not a good one. The Great Abductions are not something I should think the Sun Elves would forget even now.”

“Yes, I'm a little unclear on those details. History wasn’t my strong suit. Can you expand?”

Not only was Idonea storing an obscene amount of personal history in her head, but she stored quite a bit of world history as well.

“They ended roughly five hundred years ago but went on for about fifty to seventy years,depending on which historian you ask. The alchemists of Chymes, seeking to improve their own defenses, and forever in pursuit of more knowledge no matter the cost, began raiding the villages just on the other side of the Iubian border on full moon nights. Doing so kept their actions hidden, causing the Sun Elves to suspect and blame the Moon Elves for a time. Chymes used Sun Elf blood for all sorts of their alchemy and weapons. If the Sun Elves are in talks with them, they must have a good reason. If they’re looking to shore up allies in case the Moon Elves turn their attention toward them, I would have thought they'd first approach the valkyries.”

And she thought she wasn’t suited to be queen? Was there any elf in the kingdom better for the position?

“My thoughts are similar. I find the rumors troubling.” Nyrunn watched Idonea, but she faced straight ahead. “I do not see how any elves could entertain the notion of aligning with alchemists. Or frankly how any species with magic running through their blood could ever trust them. Even other humans, like the witches, will have nothing to do with them. For all their talk of knowledge, they are truly a barbaric people, in my opinion.”

Idonea glanced over to see Asa and Frode had drifted away while they were still bickering, not paying them any attention. She looked back over at him, a slight smile on her lips. “Yes, well, since they drowned me about four lifetimes ago, I concur.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What is so amusing about that?”

She just grinned fully. “I've never had anyone I could say that with. I've never been able to talk to anyone like this. It's... nice.”

Nyrunn's heart lightened and he returned her smile. “Well, I'm honored to be the first. Thatmeans a lot from you.” He paused, nudging his horse even closer as his grin doubled in size. “Old woman.”

Idonea's mouth fell open and then her stunning laugh filled the air. “I suppose I am.”

If Nyrunn could just have time on his side, maybe he could make her laugh like that the rest of their lives. Maybe he could slowly show her how wanted she was. How much he loved her. She might not ever truly be over the one she called her soulmate, but maybe she could find some room for him in her heart as well.

That their life together could be more than an inconvenience on her way to something better. That it could be something worth living in and of itself.

Chapter 24

Idonea wasn't used to the journey to the Constellation Pool being more than just monotonous silence. At least on her end. She usually was able to at least listen to Olaug fill the air talking with his friends amongst the guards or the court.

Being spoken to was novel for Idonea.

Someone caring about what she had to say wasn't normal.

But... that didn't mean she wanted it to stop.

If this was her life, meaning Nyrunn didn't change his mind about keeping her as his wife after they finished the ceremony, then she might as well dedicate herself to it. There was no sense putting it off.

Over the next few days of travel, as they tried to make up for lost time, Nyrunn was almost always on one side of her and Frode or Asa on the other. If Asa was still feeling guilt about her silence before, she was more than making up for it now in her efforts to befriend Idonea.

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