Page 61 of Tempting the Fae Lord
Recognizing the dismissal for what it is, Raglan shrugs and leaves. No bow. No “Thank you, sir.” Just a turn on his heel and a march back the way he came. If Ezra cares, he doesn’t show it, but neither does he let up his hold on Sonja, not even a fraction. If only he’d let her go. She hasn’t done anything wrong.
“Why is the queen’s messenger writing to you?” he asks.
The ache in my temples worsens. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and focus. “Erm, well, she’s writing back to me actually. I wrote to her first.”
“You what?” He casts me a stern look. “Why?”
“Wrote to her. To ask for help. You were gone. I was worried.”
“I don’t need any help.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. The villager might not have the proper respect for his lord, but I do. I won’t argue with him over it in front of everyone. Even when said lord is dead wrong. “Of course you don’t.”
I open the letter and read.
Dear Gale (Or perhaps Eulayla),
Letme first set your fears to rest. You may address me as Suvi, for that is what I prefer my friends call me, and I should like to make new friends out of you.
I’m glad you wrote to me. I happen to owe your master a favor, quite a large one in fact, though I doubt he’s keeping score.
My army rides for the north under the command of Captain Willow, and with them my personal mage, Farlowe, to help in whatever way we can. I only wish I could come myself, but Lemossin still needs me at present.
Good luck with whatever’s happening, and do write back when things settle down. Should you ever want to visit the capital city, you’ll find you’re most welcome.
Warm regards,
Your friend,
Suvi
I mayor may not be staring at her lovely handwriting with my mouth hanging wide open like a buffoon.
The queen! Says I can call her friend!
“Well, what has she written?” asks Ezra with an inpatient scowl.
I hand him the letter, and as he reads it, his scowl deepens.
I’m stuck on one line in particular. “Why does the queen owe you a favor?”
Sonja ticks her head up at this, her shrewd eyes sparkling. Pretty eyes. Blue like the summer sky. I like her.
“She doesn’t,” says Ezra. “I helped install her as the new queen, but I didn’t do it for her. She owes me nothing.”
I rub my temples, trying to soothe the ache. “Then why did you do it?”
“Because it needed to be done, and she’s the right person for the job. What I don’t need, however, is the whole of her army knocking at my door.”
“I’m sure she didn’t send thewholeof her army.”
“Semantics.” He eyes me with an irritated expression. “I don’t need a single one of them.”
“Erm. Sorry?” I’m not sorry, and I’m pretty sure he knows it.
I’m glad they came, even though Sonja is no longer a threat. I’m glad there are people we can count on for help, especially since we’re so far isolated from the rest of the realm this far north by the gate.
Eulayla takes Sonja’s free hand. “Come on now, sir. Let her go.”
