Hello and Welcome to The Missing Princess Book 3: Royals of Wilant. This is the continuation of The Missing Princess Book 2: Princess of Three Countries. The first few chapters summarize somewhat, like all good books should, but I would appreciate it if you went and read Books 1 and 2 anyway. We get to see more of Zen and more of Shirayuki in Book 3, as well as learn in a little more depth who their new retainers are. More of Ilena's secrets come out (she has a lot of them) and Obi continues to grow in strength, while still staying his enjoyable roguish self. They will travel to Lyrias (lots of fun and interesting things happen there), and all around Wilant on their progress.
Please enjoy.
- Ryuu no Okaasan
CHAPTER 1 Wedding Party at the Black Cat
Five guards did not move at the sound of galloping horses coming up, having heard the whispers of their coming. Five guards watched them stay relaxed and decided to just stay watchful, trusting their companions. When the horses were close, the point guard turned and looked back behind them, making the five who were trying to hold still feel more comfortable. The quickly moving horses were suddenly upon them, then passing them, the point guard turning to watch them pass, a slight smile on his face. The lead horse was ahead by a good margin, but had two passengers, dressed in golden brown like the point and rear guard on the carriage rather than black, slowing it down just enough for the two riders behind, also dressed the same, to keep up to some degree. When it looked like the galloping horses were going to continue on to the city nearest to Castle Wilant that was now very near, the point guard gave a piercing whistle.
The three horses now in the distance turned in a long arc off the road and into the field they were passing until they were once again on the road headed in the direction of the carriage. This time, as they neared the carriage, they slowed until they were at a canter, passing it one more time, then turning back again until they were caught up and slowed to the pace of the carriage. The lead horse went to be level with the point guard, the other two riding in line with the carriage, their horses snorting and shaking their bridles to jangling. The grins on the faces of the riders was noted with relief and all the guards relaxed.
A short while after the passing guards had continued on, the carriage entered the city with all ten of its guards and made its careful way to one of the first busy streets, stopping in front of a two story inn that had already that day seen some unusually heavy traffic. The four guards stepped out of the door to the establishment to welcome it. The doubled riders, one wearing a sword and dagger at the belt rather than just the knight's sword the others wore, went to kneel on one knee beside each other in front of the carriage door, holding one arm resting on their knees in a relaxed position of respect. The other two stood to attention guarding the walkway between the carriage and the door to the inn.
The door to the carriage was opened and the young white-haired blue-eyed Regent of Wilant, Clarines, stepped out. He folded his arms and looked at the two sternly. They looked back at him with bright tawny eyes and smiles playing about their mouths. "Is it okay, then?" he asked his wild matching pair.
"Yes, Master." "Yes, Master Zen," they answered.
He looked at them a moment more, then nodded and turned and took the hand of the new First Princess of Clarines, her bright red hair shining in the late summer sunlight. The Regent helped her out of the carriage. She also looked carefully at the pair and their eyes were soft for her, though the hint of smiles remained. "I'm glad you've recovered, Ilena," she said.
The woman of the pair, her long black hair plaited today, bowed her head. "I am sorry to have worried Mistress Shirayuki," she said humbly. "All is well," she added as she looked the First Princess in the eye again. The Princess looked at her a moment longer, then gave a nod. "And your pony?"
The woman nodded her head at the back of the carriage, "There, Mistress Shirayuki, we tied her with you, knowing she would not be able to run with us."
The First Princess glanced over to see the pony, saddled only with a buckled blanket, and sighed in relief. She stepped out of the way of the door of the carriage to stand next to her husband of one day.
The pair rose and stepped back a wide step to allow room for the other passengers to disembark. The Regent and Princess also stepped out of the way and waited.
The First Prince of Tanbarun was next to exit the carriage, his shock of black hair was, as usual, held in place tightly by creams and gels. His attitude was proud, but his dark eyes were nervous. He looked like he was not very comfortable to be in a city street setting, and he looked about curiously. He also took the time to note the attitude of the pair, relaxing slightly when he saw they were happy. He'd already been a witness to the anger of the woman, and her emotional volatility, so he was relieved she would be the opposite at this time.
He held his hand out for the First Princess of Tanbarun, to help her also disembark from the carriage. Her dark wavy hair fell about her beautiful face as she leaned over to move through the door. As she stood and brushed it out of her face, her eyes were bright. She took in the look of the inn and it looked like she approved. She turned to look at their host and hostess for the afternoon activity, the Second Princess of Clarines and her Consort.
The wild pair smiled at her and bowed. "Welcome to the Black Cat Inn. They are prepared, however we will need to wait a bit for the father of the bride to arrive. If you will please follow us." They turned towards the door and led the two other couples in. Really, anyone watching would have never thought the wild pair was really royalty. The First Princess of Tanbarun knew full well from just this short visit that it was only because of their appearance in dress as guards, and the manner in which they faced the Regent and his wife.
The atmosphere in the inn was light and comfortable, though common. A set of tables had been pushed together near the far wall, though set far enough from the wall as to not feel crowded. There was a respectful space around it, then the remainder of the tables and chairs were scattered closely together for the other guests of the inn. They were nearly all full, and when the pair in the front stepped foot into the room, the other guests of the inn rose and bowed, remaining bowed until the six were at the reserved table. The Regent and his wife were directed to sit in the center on the far side, the guest royalty from Tanbarun to sit next to the First Princess. The two remaining, who had seemed merely guards of the first, took their places to the other side, next to the Regent, the Second Princess standing next to him.
The guards from the carriage entered the room as the other guests sat following the five royals who seated themselves at the head table. The guards took up positions behind the table and around the edges of the room. The hostess had remained standing. She looked out over the guests of the inn, a soft smile on her face for them, then she faced her honored guests. "Prince Raji, Princess Alia, please feel free to relax here. All the people who will come and sit in this room are my Children, save Mistress Shirayuki's guests. Chef Fred and Miss Cathy have been working hard this day and we are grateful for their efforts in our behalf. We hope that you will enjoy the traditional, and common, dishes of Clarines today." They graciously tipped their heads at her and thanked her.
She then directed her attention to the Regent. "Master Zen, as I think this will be a relaxed - meaning long - visit, I would like to request on behalf of the other guards that the typical rotation be allowed, so they may also eat." She indicated another table set nearby that had no one sitting at it. "This table has been reserved for them."
Regent Zen looked at his cousin-adopted sister with a smile playing on his lips. "It is acceptable to me if they don't even guard at all, you know. We will be secure here well enough, with all of the operatives of yours in the city coming and going the whole time. I would be more comfortable if we were appropriately casual by the time General Mikaze arrives."
Ilena's eyes danced. "Of, course, Your Highness," she bowed slightly, "However, I thought it would be fun to put on just a little display of pomp for the Children before he arrives, as a diversion. It is rare for them, after all, to get to greet the Regent in person."
Zen put his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his hand, sighing. "Really, Ilena. I was hoping to relax."
"As Master Zen requires, then," she smiled. Looking up, she found his senior aides and personal knights Mitsuhide and Kiki, standing behind Zen as usual. "Will you please take the seats next to Raji and Alia?" she asked the married couple. Their eyes sparkled also and they took their seats. Ilena found Petroi and Thayne next. "You two will be next to Obi, please." They were her personal knights that she had assigned to guard her partner and Consort. Petroi bowed to the table formally before moving to sit next to his master. Thayne grinned, as wild as Ilena and Obi both, and sauntered behind Petroi to his place.
"Hey, Scamp and Scoundrel!" Ilena called to the two who had stayed outside the door. "You'll be next to Second after you escort Mister Shirayuki in." Smiles and knowing looks went around the room, though Raji and Alia looked a bit confused. The close friends Marcus and Henry were well known to the Children as the Twins and had been behind Ilena for several years. Now that she had been accepted by the King and Regent, they were two more of her personal knights.
One of the two, who had accompanied them on the gallop, poked his head in the door. "Okay, Mother," he called back.
Shirayuki looked up to Ilena. "Mister Shirayuki, really, Ilena?" She was ignored, though not unheard, and sighed. It was impossible to get either Ilena or Obi to change the fact that they randomly chose to call people certain ways. Obi was the only one who could get away with calling Zen 'Master', and Ilena had picked up a variant early.
Zen patted her hand sympathetically. "She hasn't met him yet. It may still change, you know." It looked like Shirayuki didn't hold out much hope.
Ilena looked around the table, then looked at the third of Zen's personal aides and knights. "Dane, pull the other table up. Master Zen wants everyone. I thought he'd at least keep two up. You and Tairn will be next to Mitsuhide." Dane bowed and a few other Children jumped up to help him move the empty table to make the long table longer and move the chairs in place. Tairn took his seat at the table while Dane worked, like any good older brother would leave the work to the younger one. He winked at his neighbors and Kiki gave him a look of approval. It was something she would have done. Mitsuhide sighed.
"Mistress Shirayuki, it will just be the three?" Ilena asked.
"Ah, I believe so. That was all that came to the castle."
Ilena looked at Obi. "How many actually came?"
"Ah...about a whole boatload," he said. "I think a few came that he didn't even know were going to come. There was apparently some head knocking once they all got together."
Ilena sighed. "We'll put just the three official guests here then, across from Master Zen and Mistress Shirayuki." She looked at the Children in the room. "Double up," she commanded them. "We must properly welcome our guests from Tanbarun."
"Yes, Mother," a chorus went up and extra chairs were handed out around the room, single chairs intermixed throughout the room. This would keep the guests properly contained and the room still somewhat secure.
Ilena seated Shirayuki's four guards in pairs to either side of the places her father and his lieutenants would be sitting, finishing out the head table. They chose to not sit just at the moment. It was all still a bit new for them and they didn't want their backs to the room until they understood what the final arrangements were going to be. Ilena didn't comment, but they understood she was pleased enough with their decision. The Director of Intelligence was someone to please, so they relaxed just a bit, being initially afraid they would have insulted her by not moving right away.
Ilena's head came up and she looked serious for a moment. "Excuse me, Master, Mistress. Obi, come." She moved from the table, and Obi followed her. They walked to the door and walked out into the street. There was just a bit of commotion as a rather large group of people was walking towards them. In the front was a tall man with brown hair going grey at the temples and a genial look to him, though he had just a hint of a scowl at the moment. A beautiful young man was on one side of him. A thin man, probably in his early thirties, with a scar across one eye, was on the other. They were being led by a couple of young men, cajoling them along. Behind them were a rather lot of people who were trying to look like they weren't following.
"Really, Obi...just how many are there?"
"Mmm...no real head count yet, just lots."
Ilena sighed. The young men doing the cajoling saw Obi and pointed him out to the three men in front. They looked up in surprise that they had actually been hearing the truth. They seemed suddenly more interested in coming along to meet him. Then their eyes caught sight of the woman next to him, dressed as he was, but with long black hair contrasted with the short black hair of Obi. Their attitude changed just ever so slightly. The general of the Lions of the Mountains of Tanbarun came straight up to Ilena. She stayed standing with her arms folded as she looked at him in return, the both of them sizing each other up. She spoke first. "Get yourselves up on the roof, you two. Thanks for bringing them."
The two young men who had convinced the visitors from Tanbarun that they had to come visit a really good establishment and promised a friend would be there to greet them, grinned and scampered up. The General's eyebrow went up.
"Welcome to my 'mountain', Mister Shirayuki," Ilena said to him.
As his two lieutenants looked at Obi, who remained calm, he looked around the city street. On all sides of his troupe, up and down both sides of the street and even above it, every person he could see was in a relaxed state of awareness. They were boxed in, though it wasn't threatening - yet.
"Princess Ilena," Mikaze inclined his head. "This is an unusual greeting to expect from one such as yourself. Aren't your usual walls around the castle?"
Ilena smiled with her lips. "You know not what I am - I've only been Princess Ilena for one day, but it is forgiveable. Zen was careful to protect me." She glanced behind him. "You've brought much more with you than we expected. Have they all arrived here with you, or are there others we need to find? I would like to explain the rules to them."
"They will not listen to a noble," he warned.
Ilena shrugged. "They will listen to me, and they will listen to you. That is sufficient."
He looked at her measuringly, his lieutenants looking even more confused, then turned and looked at who had come with him in his wake. "Hah. That is rather a lot, isn't it?"
"It is. The room is already full. If they wish to enter, they will have to follow the same rules my Children will be following this day.
"Who are we missing?" Mikaze called out to the crowd. A few names were called out. He let out a mountain hawk whistle and several people came trotting up, being let in to join their fellows. When he was satisfied, he looked at them all sternly, his arms crossed. "We are guests here today. If you can't behave with at least some decency, get lost." He waited a bit, then turned back to Ilena. "Ah, why are we here? It isn't just to drink and eat with Obi, I take it?"
Ilena smiled. "You have guessed right, though he will participate with you, of course. Obi?" She turned to him. "Will you explain the rules you have set in place for this event, so Mister Shirayuki may set them for his people as well?"
Obi turned to face Mikaze and explained the rules on timing, numbers of persons - pointing to the agents set at the door who would be holding the count and enforcing the rules on entry - and expected behavior and required payment. Mikaze considered the rules as stated then restated them for his people so they would understand. They were confused at the strange requirements and some muttered restlessly. "I did say get lost if you can't be decent," he told them blandly. No one moved just yet.
Ilena stood forward to face them again, speaking in a carrying voice so they all could hear. "While it is true that yesterday I stood on the wall next to your General's daughter, I would have you understand who your hostess is today. Perhaps you will have heard of one of my other names. In the light, I am known as Mother. In the night, I am known as Queen of Night in the past, now Queen of Knight." She looked at them dispassionately, not really caring if they knew any of her names.
"I have been ordered by my Consort and lord husband, Obi, to welcome you to my home so that Mistress Shirayuki may meet with her father in surroundings he finds comfortable so that they may celebrate her joyful time together. Disobedience to your General will not be tolerated, however happy voices raised in celebration are encouraged and welcome. I would give you a proper understanding so that you could be more comfortable, but as it is day, that is not acceptable. I cannot greet you as the Queen at this time." She looked at them all, letting them know that she would still deal with them as the Queen if necessary.
She looked down, tapped her toe, and when she looked up, it was with the face of Mother at her happiest. "Instead, I will welcome you in my prefered way, as Mother. I do hope your stay in our north country has been to your liking. It is a rare treat to have so many from so far away to greet us. Please join with us today in celebration. Obi has hunted for the best drink in town as he was anxious that you be treated to our finest hospitality for the sake of our Mistress."
She turned to Mikaze who was looking at her as if she was a little crazy. "If you will please come with Obi and me, there are specific seats for you, Kadzuki, and Itoya." His lieutenants blinked at her in surprise that she knew their names. "Please pick at least one of your people to stand at the door so my Children may know yours." She added to Mikaze as she turned to the door.
Mikaze quickly picked someone randomly, then followed Obi and her in. "Where did you pick this one up?" he asked Obi quietly.
"From under a rock," Obi said seriously, though his eyes twinkled.
As they walked into the room, Ilena giggled, then began to laugh. As she strode across the room, she looked back over her shoulder at Obi. He grinned back at her. She continued to smile as she walked to stand in front of Shirayuki and Zen. She bowed. "Mistress Shirayuki, Master Zen, General Mikaze has arrived with his guests. Please welcome them." She stepped to the side and indicated the chairs the three should sit at.
Mikaze looked at his daughter and son-in-law, a smile on his face for them, then looked the other table guests over. His eyes caught sight of Raji, the prince of his own country, and his face went to a resigned irritation. Ilena held up her hand and he looked at her. "Pay no mind. He is here for a lesson only and has promised to behave, he and his wife. They are also guests of your daughter and it is only right that she not leave them to their own devices while they are here. ...And he does actually want to sit in your presence today, if you'll allow it." The look in her eye was that of a mother telling her children they would have to eat their liver today, whether or not they wanted to, and be polite about it.
Mikaze looked at her longer, then said, "I really do get to hear your story today, I hope."
"It may be too long, but the story of how I was found under a rock is Obi and Mistress Shirayuki's to tell, I suppose," she shrugged. She called Shirayuki's four over and introduced them and told them to sit. She introduced the others around the table as if they had never all met before, including herself and Obi, as there were new faces in the group, then she walked to her place to sit, saying along the way, "Cathy, I believe we are ready, dear."
Drinks were brought and servers swarmed the tables, which had already finished filling in with Mikaze's Lions of the Mountains. Every dish was brought to the main table and they were passed around for everyone to try. It didn't take long for Mother's Children to integrate the Lions of the Mountains into the Family ways - they were very similar groups after all - and soon happy friendly sounds and contented eating swirled around the room. The Children properly attended to the rules Father had set and he relaxed as they did so, that being his biggest concern. The second biggest was that the Lions of the Mountains do so as well. Ilena wouldn't be patient with them otherwise. Obi hadn't expected her to bring the Queen out, but supposed it was because she was unfamiliar with them.
Shirayuki talked with Mikaze and Kadzuki animatedly, with Zen occasionally commenting. Ilena was seated across from Itoya and she had seated Kirk and then Brian next to him, placing Leon, then Sam on the other side. Leon was having fun talking with Kadzuki also, the two young men hitting it off well from the beginning. Ilena looked at Itoya, a calculating look in her eyes. "You have questions, though you are quiet. I will listen."
Itoya tipped his head. "I will wait until your story is told," he answered.
Ilena shrugged as her mug was replaced for the third time. "Oi!" Obi called out. "Slow down!"
Ilena looked at him. "It's just water, Obi, the same as Mistress Shirayuki's is juice."
"Oh, well, then, that's okay," he said and handed her his mug, calling for another for himself.
"Thank you," she smiled at him tolerantly as she shook her head. She swallowed it down and handed it back and turned back to her plate.
Itoya waited the requisite fifteen minutes and evaluated her state. She looked at him mildly. "Are you enjoying your food? Is it different from that served in Tanbarun?"
"Ah, it is not too different, but the flavors are sometimes surprising. It is very good," he said politely. She was not even slightly flushed from the tall mug of her husband's alcoholic beverage.
"That's good, I'm glad you like it. I should someday like to come to visit Tanbarun and try the things you know for myself," Ilena said to him kindly. "Perhaps if we are able to come and visit your mountain, you may then test me properly yourself." She looked up at him with a smile. "I would find it an enjoyable activity."
Itoya looked at Obi helplessly. Obi patted Ilena on the head. "You are still recovering from the rock, Ilena, and there is much to do still. Someday we will be able to travel there. I still owe Mistress a visit to her hometown as well."
"Okay," Mikaze finally said, betraying he had been paying attention to this odd woman. "I need to hear the story, really." Itoya nodded, he really wanted to hear it as well.
Ilena ate, keeping her mouth shut. Obi, with interjections from Shirayuki, told the story of finding her at the bottom of an assassination landslide, buried in rocks, her hip crushed by a larger one that had been sent down by the assassin to cripple her, at a minimum. They briefly summed up her recovery and taking her to the castle so she could testify against her lord earl who had been the one to hire the assassin, killing his lady wife.
"Obi began to bring me strange stories from this young steward he had dug out from under the rocks," Zen added to the story, "So I stuck my nose in and set him to watch her constantly. The stories led me to understand that it was much more than a simple assassination attempt. Obi had also unburied a plot to cause a revolution that was being fueled by a king of a neighboring kingdom. I have kept Ilena by my side since then, as she is the key to bringing him to his knees. I was quite surprised to also learn that this person who had been brought to my house was also my cousin, believed dead at the hand of that same king with the rest of her family when he interfered in her home country in the same way he is trying to interfere here." He looked over to Obi with his eyes. "She has been even more difficult to tame than Obi was, so I made it his job."
Obi sighed. "It was made easier because she already wanted me. I would have run farther otherwise."
"Is it only for convenience, then?" asked Mikaze, testing them.
Ilena looked up at him, her eyes hard. "I have been waiting for him for the last twenty years, and watching over him to keep him safe. I became Mother for him, and the Queen for Master Zen. I would not say it has been convenient at all, though it has been worth it."
Obi added quietly, "It is not, Mister Mikaze. Ilena is my partner and my wife. Like you did for your wife, I would fight to the ends of the earth to take her back, if necessary." He felt a click and stopped suddenly with an intake of breath.
Zen looked at him curiously. Obi moved his eyes slowly to him. "It happened again, Master," he said nervously.
"What?" Zen raised his eyebrow.
"Click." Obi said cryptically.
Both of Zen's eyebrows shot up and he considered the last thing Obi had said. Then he nodded. "Yeah, I already knew that," he said not choosing to explain it any more than that.
Obi took a breath and calmed down. "Well, as long as Master understands it, then."
Raji finally took up courage and leaned over to talk to Zen. Zen and Ilena both looked at him sharply, and he paused and carefully considered his words. "If there is a thing I may do to help, P...Zen, I hope you will let me know."
"Thank you, Raji," Zen said carefully. "Any needs my Elder Brother has, he will directly ask your Father for, but if there is a thing you can do for me, I'll let you know." He looked kindly at Raji. "I do appreciate the offer of friendship."
Raji smiled an embarrassed sort of smile, but it was very genuine.
Mikaze sighed and rested his chin on his hand, his elbow propping him up. He looked up and down the opposite side of the table from himself. "You are an interesting person to have as a son-in-law," he said to Zen.
Zen looked at him, then bowed his head slightly. "Please take care of me," he said.
Mikaze looked at him, then laughed. "I think you have plenty enough people taking care of you already, but I will continue to watch you."
"Fair enough," Zen said.
The conversations continued pleasantly enough, and Ilena was finally able to draw Itoya out. He really was very curious about this person who had claimed Obi, who he thought had always looked like the kind to never tie himself to a wife, though he'd chosen a master. While Kirk and Brian were quiet for the most part, being the sons of lords and therefore uncomfortable amongst those who did not necessarily hold kind thoughts for them, they did listen well to understand both their own mistress and the Director of Intelligence better. Kirk, being of a naturally friendlier disposition, was able to hold up well enough next to Itoya who was one of many Lions of the Mountains who had a deep abiding hatred of nobles. Marcus, Henry, and Thayne were able to carry the weight, though, so it wasn't terribly awkward at that end of the table.
It would have been very awkward at the other end of the table except that Ilena had put Mitsuhide and Shirayuki around the Tanbarun royal pair. Between the two gentlest people at the table, they were made to feel at least welcome, if not necessarily completely comfortable. Tairn, as a young noble lord, and Sam, as a previous castle soldier, were also able to help them be buffered from Kadzuki who in particular held no love for Raji who had tried to treat his beloved leader's daughter as an object to own. That was the move that had started Shirayuki on the path to meeting Zen and the point at which she was at now. She was so happy today that Kadzuki was willing to let it go - for this celebration, anyway. He really couldn't understand why she would turn around and make her enemy her friend, but she was different that way, and Raji was improving because of it according to the stories they heard in the mountain.
The celebration continued for some time, with occasional entertainment being provided as Ilena's Children felt inspired to offer it. When Ilena stood and excused herself properly, saying she needed to stretch her injured leg after a long ride and the sitting, Obi followed her. Ilena walked back to the kitchen, giving Cathy a quick kiss on the cheek as she passed with another tray of food and clapping Chef Fred on the shoulder as she passed him on the way to the outer door to the alley. She found an out-of-the-way place on the wall to lean on, putting her left foot up on the wall behind her to stretch her seizing tendon. She sighed as she looked up to the strip of sky above. "Drunk people can find happiness in the littlest things," she said to Obi, who was standing in front of her, his arms folded. "I am already bored."
Obi stepped up to her and planted his hands on the wall to either side of her. He kissed her long. "That is a dangerous thing for you to be, Ilena dear," he said. "What can we do to keep you restrained, then?"
"It makes me want to run the roofs, Obi," she said, "being back in the city with the Children."
Obi shook his head. "You still can't run and jump well enough for the gaps."
"I know," she pouted and looked disappointed. She began to reach for him, but he intercepted her hand, holding it lightly between two fingers in a hold that would break her fingers if he tightened his grip. She held still. "I wasn't, Obi. I just wanted to kiss you."
"Hm...maybe," he said and kissed her himself, not letting go. "You've already admitted to being bored and brought out the Queen. I think I'll keep myself protected for now."
Ilena looked away and shrugged.
Really, if anyone had looked at them, it would have looked like a back-alley romance was going on. Upon further reflection, Obi supposed it was, after a fashion. He decided he'd keep playing it to keep the both of them entertained. He bent his head close to her and breathed on her ear. "How about a reward for good behavior?"
Her other hand came up and he snatched it and put it against the wall where his hand had just been, holding her pinned. He kissed her neck, then licked it, and she arched her neck to receive it, moaning slightly. He nibbled her jaw when he reached it and her head rolled around and down for her cheek to touch his. "That depends on what it is," she answered him turning to kiss him on the neck in response. When she opened her mouth close to his earlobe, he pulled back. It might be a simple kiss or lick, but he wasn't going to find out after she bit him that it was more malevolent. She was playing her part in his play very well, and that part was not a trustworthy one, so she wasn't either.
"I was thinking," he lifted her hand in his, the one he was holding in the dangerous grip, to run one finger down the center of her chest from the small of her neck until he reached the point over her heart, "it is probably time to bring you to greet your night Children."
Ilena sighed and relaxed completely, looking down. "I can't run yet, Obi. It is too early."
"No, I don't think so," he said, putting his forehead on hers. "I want you to bring them the light you owe to them. You do not need to be able to run on the roofs for that." She still hadn't moved, so he released the hand he was holding pinned to the wall, continuing to rest his weight slightly on the side of his hand.
She ran her hand down his arm until she reached around him and pulled him closer. She lifted her head and closed her eyes for a kiss, which he gave her. "If that is what you want, Obi, I will go," she said obediently.
Obi released her other hand and ran his fingers lightly on her cheek and into her hair. Her eyes closed again and she responded with a breath of air, then a shudder. He smiled, his eyes a little wild, a little dark. She learned her lessons very well, this strong, delicate, wild falcon who had been willing to be tamed by him. Placing his mouth close to her ear again, he said, "We will go tomorrow night, after dinner." He held her as she completely submitted and lost the strength in her leg that was holding her up. He quickly turned them so that he was leaning against the wall, holding her against him to keep her upright. As she rested her head against his chest, he pet her hair, slowly running his fingers through it, his lips lightly pressed on the top of her head.
When she had recovered, she sighed and turned her head to look up at him. "I love you, Obi," she said.
He kissed her forehead. "I love you too, Ilena." He tipped his head to look at her better. "Will you be able to behave now?"
"Yes, but I don't know if I can sit any more, regardless." She hadn't moved and was still very relaxed in his arms. She was definitely not ready to go back in yet.
"Then don't sit," he said practically. "Visit with your Children. The party is going well enough now that walking around the room would be acceptable." He looked at her considering. "Speaking of which, I noticed Master is not very drunk, nor sleeping, like he should be by now."
Ilena shook her head. "We are out of the castle in the middle of the day. None of the head table has had more than a couple of glasses of wine, other than the guests from Tanbarun and whatever you've had. It's okay with me if the Children and the Lions celebrate to their heart's content, but we must stay on guard until we return. Even General Mikaze and Itoya asked for non-alcoholic drinks after the first few, particularly when they knew they were available."
"Did you drink mine down in one early on purpose, then?"
"Yes," she said smiling slightly. "It was a small test, and a warning to them."
"Itoya did seem surprised when it had no effect on you at all." Obi smirked.
Ilena smirked back, then rested her head on his chest again with a happy sigh. "When you were there before, did you let them know your tolerance level?" she asked curiously.
Obi was quiet and a little still. "No," he admitted, "like you, I was just suspicious enough still that I didn't."
"Then you still are? I noticed you stopped after the third or fourth one also."
Obi paused, then kissed the top of her head. "Just being cautious. No need to show all our cards, after all." Ilena nodded, agreeing. They were people from another country, with their First Prince sitting at the table with them, after all. Who knew just what was in the mind of kings? Both of their ears pricked up. They were being summoned.
Ilena sighed, then straightened, pushing on Obi as he pushed on her until she was steady and upright. Obi easily shrugged himself off the wall. Ilena watched him appraisingly. "You really could have been King, you know. It suits you." Her eyes looked at his hungrily. "There isn't anyone better than you."
Obi grinned. "When I run all of the underworld of Wilant, then I will be King, until then, Queen's Consort is enough."
Ilena took his arm and they began to walk back to the party. "And are you really going to reach so high?" she asked him.
"It sounds like a lot of work," Obi said. "I'm not too fond of lots of work. I've already got enough of that keeping up with you."
"Mmm…," she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Well, let me know before you go for it. I'll need to be prepared."
"Aren't you always prepared?" he teased her.
She snorted. "It isn't on my board. If it's on your's you'll need to put it on mine first or I'll hold you back. I move very slowly, remember?"
Obi thought about that as they wove through the kitchen. "You mean, it would just be the fulfillment of one of my dreams, not something required for the safety and security of the kingdom?"
She grinned up at him as they re-entered the main room. "Yeah, something like that. Shall I put it on the list?"
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I'll think about it. Don't do anything yet, okay? Like I said, it sounds like work."
Ilena nodded. "If it starts to sound like fun, that's when you should tell me."
He reached out and pet her hair. "I will," he promised, "but I'm having too much fun right now."
Ilena smiled at him, a happy bright smile, but in both their hearts was just a touch of sadness. "I am glad, Obi," she said, squeezing his arm.
"You called, Master?" Obi said to Zen as they walked up to the table.
"Is everything okay?" Zen asked looking at the both of them.
"Yes, Master," Obi answered, "Ilena just needed to stretch, and perhaps become a little less bored."
"Ah," Zen said. "It's good you took care of that quickly, then."
When Mikaze turned around to look at Obi and Ilena, he got sharp knowing looks, and he gave them one in return. "What else are you, Miss Ilena?" he asked.
"If it matters to you, I am also the Director of Intelligence for Regent Zen," she answered, "and Baroness Ilena of Falcon's Hollow, and several other things as well, but mostly I am Ilena who follows Mistress Shirayuki, stands at the side of Obi, and supports Master Zen."
Mikaze looked at her a moment longer, then lifted his mug to her. "Well, that is good then. As long as you are that, you're all right."
"Thanks," Ilena said. No one was quite sure if she meant it or not. Most of the time such things had no meaning to her, but there was a brief light in her eyes that was gone before they could be sure what it meant.
Mikaze understood it, though. He had seen gratitude, but of a different kind. The kind his men had in their eyes when they were told they could stay and be protected from what they were running from. It made him wonder just what this strong woman could be running from. He looked at Obi, her arm still tucked into his, with his hand on hers, smiling down at her again. He understood that, too. Whatever she was running from, he was protecting her from it. He turned to Zen and Shirayuki.
"Thanks for having us and coming to us so we could wish you well." He looked lovingly at his daughter. "We do wish you all the best happiness." Shirayuki smiled back and thanked him. He rose. "We will hope to see you again sometime soon. Come visit the village again when you're able to come back to Tanbarun." He looked over at Raji, "Not you, no offense intended." Raji raised his hand in understanding, saying no offense was taken. After a brief pause, he thanked Mikaze for letting him stay. Mikaze looked at him mildly surprised, then shrugged. "Mother said so, so it's alright. I was trained to respect my mother, after all." He looked over to Ilena and winked. "All right, you rowdies!" he called out getting the attention of the room. "Lions head out. Party's over, and we've got a long trip to get back home. Anyone not on the boat when I say it's leaving port swims home."
There was general scraping of chairs. Obi motioned to the Agents at the door and they closed ranks. "Anyone who hasn't paid, this is the time," Obi said genially. There were a few guilty looks and several pleading whines to companions before it all got sorted out, then Obi let the guards move aside and the Lions, and a good number of Children as well, started filing out.
Ilena turned to Shirayuki's guards and looked at them. They headed out the back to collect the horses and carriage again.
"Keep writing," Kadzuki required of Shirayuki, "and do come visit again."
"I will," Shirayuki promised.
Itoya stopped in front of Ilena. He looked at her a moment, then held out his hand. She took it in a clasp, matching his firm hold. "I will come and visit, for sure," she told him. "Keep a seat open for me...and if the General asks for a different Lieutenant, come find me. I'll keep a job open for you."
His normally hidden eyes opened wide. "I won't leave him."
"Of course not," she said.
"What kind of job?" Obi hid a laugh behind his hand that Itoya would so immediately swing both ways.
"Whatever you want to do," she answered him, "but mostly just talk to me."
Itoya smiled a slow smile. "I'll consider it," he answered.
"Hey!" Mikaze called over, now just waiting on Itoya, "are you stealing my best man out from under me?"
"No," Ilena said looking over at him with a bit of a challenge in her eye. "Just making him a double agent."
"Get over here, Itoya!" he growled. Now Itoya did grin at her, saluting her with his fingers to his forehead as he moved to quickly return to the side of the General.
When they were out the door, Obi looked down at her. She had a very satisfied look on her face. Obi turned them back to Zen. Zen also had a satisfied look on his face as he looked at Ilena. She saw the look and grinned at him. "Well, now I have to go to Tanbarun. I've got a new recruit to train." Obi put his hand on her head for a moment.
Zen stood. "Shall we?" he held out his hand to Shirayuki. She took it and stood as did all the others still at the head table. "Thank you to the chefs and the help," he said. There was a distant noise from the kitchen, then Chef Fred came bustling out in a hurry, wiping his hands on a towel.
He bowed to Zen, "Thank you very much for coming to our humble inn, Regent Zen. If we may be of service to you again in the future, we would be pleased to have you come."
"It was my pleasure. Thank you for your hospitality, particularly for such a large gathering on short notice. We'll go now, so that you may return to some normal calmness."
Chef Fred looked at Obi as he stepped away. "I promise," Obi said around his hand. "I'll do it right next time."
Please do. Chef Fred said as he looked at him just a little longer. But all the same, thank you. Then he was gone, back into the kitchen again.
The party of...well...many now...walked to the door. Ilena and Obi walked out first and scanned the area, blocking the door until the carriage arrived. Then they let Dane, Tairn, Mistuhide, and Kiki out to line the walkway to the carriage door. Henry went to be footman and opened the door to the carriage, looking into it to make sure it was secure inside. When it was clear and Marcus had let him know he was on the other side to protect it as well, Henry nodded to Ilena. She and Obi moved and allowed the Regent, his wife and guests to leave the inn, bowing them to the carriage.
When they were properly latched into the carriage, the guards, now fourteen, climbed on their horses (and pony), except the two who were driving the carriage and already in place, and they carefully made their way down the crowded street to exit the city from the north gate they had entered. They turned east on the North Road and travelled the fifteen minutes to the castle gate and main entrance to the Regent's palace.
When the Regent, his wife, and honored guests had been safely seen into the building, six of the riders turned their horses (and pony) and rode back out the gate and around the castle to a little gate set in the wall on the north side with the unassuming name of the Cat gate. There, the pony and four were let in and Grandfather was called for. When he replied, he was given the rest of the day and the next off. He asked for his lady wife to also be freed and it was granted for the rest of that day, but rejected for the next - pardons were asked for. The ladies, Leah and Rio, sighed a sigh of relief. Master Obi had understood Grandfather had already been pushed to testy and his reward was enough.
That night, as their time together after dinner, which was finally a quiet affair around the Lower office table again, Ilena and Obi walked out to the courtyard. There they danced the sword dance of Selicia together, motion and time flowing gracefully. Obi showed her the beginnings of the female side he had been working on and together they worked to put it together. When Ilena was tiring, Obi stopped her and led her to their bed where they danced a different dance altogether.
As they lay together, he stayed awake a little longer, thinking about the events of the last two days and the ending of the goal they had been working so hard to accomplish. That led him to consider the goals that were still ahead. His mind, winding down, finally settled on what he had been trying to not think about, but needed to - Ilena and her last piece of information. She had told him long ago, it seemed now, that the two of them would become whole together. He had thought she was done, and probably Zen had as well. He certainly felt completed today. If she still had a piece left, did that mean he did also? And if so, what was it? He thought long and hard. Finally he decided that it must have to do with Tarc - the country of the lord who was using subterfuge to attack Wilant, Clarines, and who had been behind the death of the royal family of Selicia, including Ilena's parents - and her comment that he would learn to be a lord, and progress along that path until he was ready to become 'another kind of lord'. Surely a lord of Tarc would be something completely different from his experiences already.
Her original plan had been to defend herself in the high court of Tarc and free herself from being the unwitting fiancée of the Lord of Tarc. Because Zen had given Obi Falcon's Hollow instead of Ilena when he had been titled for taking down his own brother, the former Earl Marcovik College of Farmor, was he going to have to do it along the lordship path, since that seemed to be the path she had expected to do it along? He'd become Baron and Consort to a princess. What was beyond that? For her, she was princess of three kingdoms: Selicia, Clarines, and Tarc. Would he have to become a prince of Tarc? What did that even mean, for a land that didn't have kings and princes? ...Even though she said she wanted all three lands sovereign, King Izana had said it couldn't be so for Tarc. A king who tried to take over other kingdoms lost his kingdom to whichever king defeated him. Had she intended to become the Lord of Tarc, or to stand in his position in the end? To get rid of the Lord of Tarc, did that mean he, Obi, would have to become the Lord of Tarc himself? Obi shuddered. That was definitely a burden he did not want, to rule a nation. He thought of Ilena's comment that he was already fit to be titled 'King' and he shivered. Surely she hadn't meant of a real country? It was a thought his mind could not accept.
As he began to let the thoughts go and drift into full sleep, he realized that they wouldn't accept him as he was, if that was the case. He would have to become a person of Tarc. She was a person of Tarc in some way he didn't understand yet since that was the piece of information Zen wasn't letting her tell them yet, so it made sense he would also have to become it, but he wondered how he would go about doing that. He couldn't take her there, or she would surely be taken from him. At the very least it would be dangerous for her to be within reach of the Lord of Tarc. His heart became very heavy. He would have to leave her, then, as he had already had an intuition would happen. Maybe not for some time, but for the men of Tarc to accept him, he would have to prove himself to them, the same as for the court lords of Wilant, and Master and King Brother, in becoming Consort. He hurt, but he was already slipping deeply into sleep. His own dreams that night were full of running horses, a flat land of waving grasses pressed flat in sharp thunderstorms, and a large dark man who was full of anger and scoffing laughter.
