Page 100 of A Baron of Bonds
An outcry of excitement, and some small disappointment that they’d missed it, filtered through the gasps and squeals. I kept my hands deep in my pockets, my fingers toying with the rhyzolm as I watched her glow.
I watched the people who loved and cared for her extend their congratulations and embrace her, Moira sitting at her shoulder. Karus was the only human I’d ever seen her touch.
I liked to think there were moments in time that I could hold onto forever.
Memories I could brand into my soul, so that I could keep them and pull them back to me when times were dark.
I’d had some of them in those seven years of waiting.
Her first look upon Viridis.
The night of our first kiss under the light of the full moon and the nitor moths.
The night not long after when I had declared my love for her, no longer willing to keep it to myself another minute.
There were several more I looked back upon often, but those three were my favorite. In those years of missing her, like old friends, they’d sheltered me when the storm of pain and loss threatened my horizon for the foreseeable future.
And this moment, this one I told myself to hold onto as well.
Lia caught sight of me leaning against the black stone wall, and she smiled with tears on her face. I pushed myself off and walked to Karus’s side, receiving hugs from everyone, Philius excluded.
Even Moira’s lips curled into a grin, though still with the hint of menace she couldn’t quite ever rid herself of.
“Should we have a party?” Rell asked in buzzing excitement, her red curls bouncing just like her sister’s as Renn said, “We have two companion bonds to celebrate!”
Talon caught my gaze sheepishly, and I nodded. “Yes, we should have a party. After Pompeii is well.” I addressed Lia then, “How long would you need to prepare cakes and food for a celebration?”
“And cinnamon buns!” Moira shouted with her long sage fingers cupping her mouth.
Lia lowered her gaze, mumbling to herself for a moment. “Three days, love. I could have something together by then with some help.” She eyed some of the other servants and they all nodded.
“It’s settled then. In three days time, we’ll have a party. Then it’s back to training for all of you.” I met each of my six channeler’s gazes in turn.
“We have three more days off?” Rell questioned, nudging her sister.
“You have three days to do as you please in the Fortress or Felgren. Rell and Renn, kindly show Mychael and Philius to their rooms in the tallest tower. I expect you to help them settle in for a few days and show them the dining hall and library. You may take them to the lumen den if you wish.”
I turned to Talon and Ilyenna. “You two, come with us to Pompeii where we will discuss your further duties.”
We all dispersed, Rell and Renn talking excitedly with Mychael and Philius who held overwhelmed expressions hearing them speak. It would take time to get used to their quick words full of too much information at once, but we’d all gotten there eventually.
Karus slipped her hand into mine, and we headed to the kitchens where Lia had already bustled off to, listing duties to the servants along the way.
“I’m going to be gone for a few days, Karus,” Moira casually mentioned on her shoulder.
“Where are you going?” Karus asked.
“Just fae things in Felgren. The Growers have asked for a meeting, and since I am the official expert on all thingshuman,” she spoke the word in slight disgust, “I suppose I should be there.”
“Alright. We’ll see you at the party?”
Moira nodded and was off, flitting through the open back door in the kitchens.
We turned down the corridor that led to the servants’ quarters. I noticed Karus’s eyes flicker briefly to the third door on the left—the room Sylva had occupied years ago. The largest door at the end of the hall was Pompeii’s and one I had rarely entered.
I knocked gently, calling, “Pompeii? Are you accepting visitors?”
We heard a weak, “Yes, please come in.”
