Page 81 of A Baron of Bonds
Her face fell and a pout formed on her mouth.
“But,” I continued, “that does not mean they are not real. There are many things in Felgren I have not seen, and many I likely never will.” I chuckled when her blue eyes, the same hue of her mother’s, looked to mine and sparkled. “When you are a great Lady of the Spire, you can visit us in Felgren, and we will look for these warriors together.”
“Really? Are you really saying so? Or is this another one of those things that adults do where they make promises they do not intend to keep?”
I winked and raised my hand before her. “On my honor as a Baron, I promise you, Lady Lanna.”
She giggled, bringing her hands to her mouth and watching me as I rose from the floor.
“You are quite charming, Baron Revich.” Lady Lamoral put her hand on my arm and smirked. “I hope you intend to keep your promise, as I will hear of it for many years to come, I’m sure.”
“I do, of course.” I glanced back down to her daughter. “It’s good to have something to hope for.”
I turned to look at Karus again. The Queen was now in conversation with her and the Prince, and all three of them spoke in hushed tones.
The Lady of the Spire sighed. “Oh, whereisthat Madame Zoreyah? Just wait until you see what she brought with her.”
Karus caught my eye, anger darkening the green hue of them. I tilted my head downward, a question if she needed me.
She shook hers slightly, her shoulders relaxing. She drew a deep breath through her nose, holding it a moment before exhaling through her lips. I kept her gaze and repeated another breath with her.
“Madame Zoreyah.” The Queen moved to the door, welcoming the young Madame of the Mountains. She held her infant daughter in her arms, and, to my surprise, a black muri padded into the room beside her. Its large, yellow eyes scanned the room, stepping in front of Zoreyah in a protective stance, its feline face nudging her hip.
“My babe needed to eat and rest after such a journey, Your Majesty. Thank you for waiting for me to arrive.”
“Of course, dear,” Queen Rina replied, ignoring the enormous beast.
Karus gaped at the animal. The only time she’d ever seen one of the large cats, it was being consumed by the Blight.
The Madame bundled her child tighter into her saffron blanket and tucked her into the basket on the back of the muri, folding straps across to hold her tightly. The muri stalked carefully across the room, finding a quiet corner and lowering itself to the floor. It laid itself down, its cargo unmoving as it placed its head onto its paws and closed its eyes.
“Madame Zoreyah, you’ve met Baron Revich, I believe.” the Queen gestured to me, and I bowed my head as she returned the nod. “And let me introduce you to the daughter I raised with the Prince. This is Karus.”
Karus stepped forward, her hand outstretched. Zoreyah was young, no older than twenty, and she smiled quietly, her lightly bronzed skin tattooed in golden circles that draped over her arms and across her chest. Her dark, copper hair had been twisted into two large buns that reminded me of the pastry Karus and Moira loved to make with Lia.
“Hello, Madame Zoreyah. I am happy to meet you. One of my dearest friends is a conduit of yours in the Attatok Mountains.”
She gave a small smile and took Karus’s hand. “Yes, Figuerah is most loved. It is my people’s hope that she returns to them soon.”
Karus’s shoulders dropped. “She returns very soon, Madame. She is here, in the castle, and ready to leave with your company when you wish.”
Lady Lamoral rushed to the Madame’s side, taking her hand. “Zoreyah, my lovely, please come closer to the fire and warm yourself. Motherhood becomes you, but it also drains the best of us.”
“If everyone would take a seat, we can begin our discussion of the utmost importance to the isle.” Queen Rina motioned for all of us to move closer to the fire and sit. Karus found my hand and led me to a pair of crimson chairs.
Geyrand and Captain Yarah moved to the Queen’s side. Prince Philius watched Karus with his arms across his chest.
The Queen took a deep breath. She wore a gown of deep purple, her golden crown woven with her dark coils, similar to the Prince’s. Their likeness was more obvious in the dim light—the long shape of their noses, the square of their chins. But the Queen’s eyes were a dark chestnut, whereas the Prince’s were a golden brown. They flicked between Karus and myself, then darted to our clasped hands.
“Though I am most grateful to see you all here, in Hyrithia, I do not welcome you with good news.”
Lady Lamoral pulled little Lanna into her lap, wrapping her arms around her daughter.
“The Blightress has shown herself,” The Queen began, “She has taken Karus to her land, claiming to seek more power.”
I turned to watch the faces of the other leaders on the isle. Both women held the Queen’s gaze with no sudden realization that the Blightress existed.
So, only the Baron of Felgren had been left out of this little detail.
