Page 31 of Enchanted Heir
“That bad, huh?” she said on a short laugh.
I shook my head. “No. We just need to figure out how to navigate each other, I guess.”
She snickered. “He’s not so bad. Not after you get used to his random doldrums and the numerous reasons inciting them.”
I laughed. “Noted.”
She popped a chocolate into her mouth and smiled at me.
“May I borrow you a minute?”
Molly and I looked at each other. Keir was more than likely talking to her because he couldn’t borrow me anymore. But I felt it was a touch rude he would take her away from even speaking with me.
She spun around so I followed suit. We both gave an appropriate bow, though mine was less than heartfelt.
“The music is starting soon, and I know how you were looking forward to this,” Keir smiled at her, giving me no attention. “So may I?”
She gave me a look and then said, “Of course, Your Grace.”
And then they were gone.
I spun back to the truffles, glad he hadn’t asked to speak to me. After his letter, I was fairly certain there was nothing left to be said. Either he stopped reaching for his cuff, or I stopped noticing when he did. But was he whisking Molly away trying to gauge my reaction? To see if I was still jealous?
I kind of wanted to go find Krew and interrupt him immediately, but then I decided that would look like a jealous move. It’d be too strong of a reaction. Instead, I went back to Gwen and Nara. I’d show him I wasn’t uncomfortable at all with the women in his Assemblage.
By the time I made it over to them, the ballroom was in motion, the concert apparently starting. We were all to head down a hallway into a different room.
Krew had Renna on an arm, so I walked behind Jane. I was just fine with staying toward the rear of the crowd.
We were being seated in an area that must have been used for plays and the sort, the stage in the middle with raised seating all around.
“Jorah.”
“Yes, Your Grace?” I responded appropriately to Prince Darkness.
“I require your company,” he offered his free elbow out, Renna still on his other arm.
“Yes, Your Grace,” I smiled fakely.
We got settled, the room full of the consorts and a healthy dose of Savaryn people as well.
In front of us I could see Aiyana whispering excitedly next to Keir. It should have bothered me more than it did. Instead, I just felt ambivalence. After her father tried to have me killed, I should have hated everything about Aiyana. Instead, I found myself feeling slightly sorry for her. She had no idea she was the puppet, oblivious to all the strings attached to her. Without all those strings holding her up, I wasn’t even sure she could stand on her own.
As soon as the king gave the conductor a nod, the orchestra started. The first song had a spooky feel, the deep beat in combination with the violins playing giving off a feeling of being chased. Given the time of the year and also the last few months I had spent here, I felt it fit the castle well. If there was an introduction song for the king, it should have been that one.
As I listened, I forgot the problems of the day. I forgot the possible tension with Krew. I forgot Keir ignoring me earlier in the night. I forgot all about my Iron Will and my blood. As I listened, a peace settled upon my shoulders like it sometimes did with music.
All was quiet and calm within me, a rarity indeed.
But then the very last song started up, and I slammed my eyes shut.
It was a song I knew well. When Nerede did our Harvest Festival, the people of Nerede made their own makeshift orchestra, or perhaps more of a makeshift band. There was usually a barrel drum, an old trumpet, someone with a guitar, and if we were lucky, a violin. We played music and sang next to a large fire, and most importantly, we ate a feast together. But this song in particular was evidently a well-known song in all of Wylan.
And it had been my father’s favorite. He would hum it constantly, randomly twirling my mother or I whenever the beat hit him.
It was a reminder of who I was. It was a reminder that I was playing dress up, playing in love, and did not belong in this castle. This was not my home.
A hand covered mine and squeezed.
