Sorry for taking so long getting this chapter up. This chapter is dedicated to "So You Think You Can Dance" because without that marathon I wonder if I would have this done yet. I would also thank those of you who have read this story so far and especially those who have put it on alert and favorites.
I don't own.
Irene rode out the next morning with Galen and Adelina by her side as her willing and unwilling protectors. Adelina and I had argued this morning, though this was in no way strange, after the peace I had felt with her last night it seemed harsh and the heat of my anger had not faded. She had agreed to accompany Irene only because I had insisted. Of course, my insistence had been what started the argument and eventually what ended it in the form of a royal command that even Adelina had thought better than to challenge in light of my current mood.
Irene had never been fond of Adelina and had of course made no secret of that fact, and Adelina had responded in the only way she saw appropriate by making no secret of her distaste for Irene. So when I had asked her this morning as we lay in bed to give my sister the protection of the leader of the palace guard, she had responded with a venomous no. The result was Adelina riding off this morning without so much as a glance in my direction.
Though it had been my idea for her to go, I was beginning to regret the decision. Last night's easy hope had faded as soon as they were out of sight, if the worst should happen I had so much to lose: two women for which I card and a niece or nephew that I had just gained hope of meeting. The past had not proven kind to my family; the avians had not been kind to my family.
When I was seven years old, I had stood in almost this exact spot watching my father prepare to leave for a battle with his guard around him. I remember my siblings scattered around me, my oldest brother Anjay behind me pouting because father had said that he was too young to fight. I could hear him muttering that eleven was old enough when you were the Arami. My eldest sister Sisal was holding Gregory's hand to try and keep the energetic four year old from running off and causing trouble. Irene was standing beside me and I was trying my best to ignore her in order to prove to Anjay that I was as strong as he was.
My youngest brother Carson would not be born for another month and my mother was having difficulty walking under his weight as she approached my father. He smiled at her and tried only partially successfully to pull her into his arms for a hug. She frowned slightly at the awkwardness of this attempt and pushed him away vaguely but he leaned in closer and whispered something to her. She laughed and he kissed her solidly on the mouth, and I turned away sill at an age when any contact with girls was considered gross. By the time I turned back around, my father had mounted his horse, and with a quick smile in our direction, he gave the signal and rode off down one of the paths that lead away from the palace.
That night the soldiers had returned with my father's body, and I had my first real taste of death. I had a startlingly similar memory of Anjay riding away in a rage when I was sixteen; he also never returned. Watching them ride away today left me feeling as if fate had turned against me.
Ailbhe turned to me with an expression that showed he was no happier about this than I was. "Sir," he said, "I have patrols to arrange." He paused not moving away but either unsure or unwilling to say anything else.
I put my hand on his shoulder, and he pulled away from my touch, throwing me an angry glance over his shoulder as he turned to walk away. "Ailbhe?" I asked when I realized that he was not going to give and explanation.
He turned back to look at me when I said his name, "If my sister comes to any harm, I will never forgive you, my Arami," he spat.
My temper hit me suddenly and I struck out at him. It was only a glancing blow but he stumbled away quickly and it made me slightly ashamed of my actions, but not enough to show him that. "Do not forget that my sister is in danger also; that is the only reason I have asked Adelina to accompany Irene."
"I understand Adelina's place as a guard, Zane, her life before Irene's, but your protection of your sister is not what I'm questioning. I'm more concerned with your protection of your lover."
"Are you suggesting that I don't care for Adelina?" I was yelling by this point and the guards standing at the edge of the palace were turning to watch us.
"Perhaps," he answered vaguely. "If you loved her, you would have asked her to be your Naga, but in any case her safety should be a priority. There are twenty guards or more that could have gone with Irene," his voice in contrast to mine was deadly quiet. "In one move you have offered the possibility of robbing me of a sister, you of a lover, and the palace guard of a leader. Are you really prepared to lose so much for your fantasy of peace?"
"I'm willing to lose everything for this. Adelina is in no more danger today, than any other day when she would run patrols," the volume of my voice had dropped but I knew it was still too loud. I could see the guards had turned away now, to give us the illusion of privacy though they were listening intently.
"You mean, of course, that my sister is less important to you than your people. As you will soon be my king, I will respect that. But as a brother and a lover, I'm ashamed of you as a person." The anger in his eyes burned and for a moment I thought that he would strike me, but Ailbhe was one of the most controlled of my people and even as angry as he was he would not strike his prince. "If you loved her, you wouldn't be willing to sacrifice her, and that must mean that you have been lying to someone. Whether it's to her or to yourself it isn't my place to say, but I suggest you figure it out before you break her."
As suddenly as my temper had risen, I felt it fade away. The pain that had been there throughout the whole conversation hidden by the anger hit me then and it felt like it had crippled me. He was right, I didn't love her, and there was no way to make this better. Before I could sort through my mind Ailbhe had bowed with a whispered, "Sir," and was walking away towards the palace. I paused unwilling to catch up with him, but knowing that the only place I could go was the palace. The guards didn't approach and I just stood there for a moment more before following him.
Though many people glance at me as I walked through the hallways of the palace, none drew near. I can't say that I could blame them; I knew all the worry for Irene's safety and the pain and anger about my realization of my situation with Adelina showed all over my face. I entered the market, knowing I shouldn't be here in my state but not knowing where else to go. I enjoyed being here surrounded by my people, listening to their concerns and joys it steadied me.
The merchants were all spread out before me their loud voices called out goods and haggled over prices. The dancers who were the breath and blood of the serpiente culture, spun to the beat of drums and till of the flute on raised daises. My breathing steadied and the energy of my people gave me hope.
I didn't love Adelina, which meant that I would soon have to tell her that our relationship was over, but I had already decided that was my only choice. Adelina would not be my queen, but I would deal with that after the negotiations with the avians were over. I would find a love and make her my queen, but first I would have peace.
It had now been nearly two hours since Irene, Galen, and Adelina had rode out of the palace's courtyard. By this time, Adelina and Galen had left Irene to travel the rest of the way alone. She might now be standing before the avians asking for a chance at peace; compared to that opportunity nothing else mattered.
I spent the next few hours wondering around the marketplace speaking to my people about business, war, food, family; it didn't matter what we spoke of if it helped to distract me from my worries. Time was not on my side—it passed either too quickly or too slowly and I couldn't decide which was worse. They should be back why weren't they back yet.
When I could finally stand it no longer, I excused myself from the group of dancers I had been speaking to and entered the palace. My mother's rooms were on the other side of the palace and I begrudged the time it would take me to get there. But my mother would be the only one to know anything if they had indeed returned and the only one I wanted comfort from if they had not. As I turned a corner just a few yards from my mother's rooms, I came very close to injuring one of the palace runners who delivered messages within and in close vicinity to the palace.
"Sir, excuse me," she said once she had regained her balance.
"It was my fault," I replied easily, but I was already moving around her barely managing to pay attention to the fact that she seemed to have something else to say.
"I was just coming to find you. Your mother sent me to tell you that Irene has returned and that they are waiting to speak with you in Charis's rooms."
"Thank you," I called back to her as I opened the door to my mother's rooms. My mother, Irene, Galen, Adelina, and Ailbhe were all gathered inside and they all turned to stare at me with various expressions ranging from joy to anger. My eyes though were only for Irene now. When she saw me, a smile spread across her face, "They have agreed," she whispered her voice full of wonder. "They would like to meet us in a fortnight in the Mistari lands."
"A fortnight?" I repeated. The messengers that I had sent to the Mistari had spent more than twice that amount of time journeying there and back. We would have to leave tonight if we had any hope of getting there on time.
"This is a ridiculous idea, Zane," Adelina said rather loudly. "The avians will have more than enough time to plan an ambush. You should put yourself in so much danger for something like peace, when you know very well that the avians are incapable of it."
"Adelina," I replied coolly, "Your opinion on military matters is valued, but I assure you this doesn't qualify."
I peeked out the door to find that the messenger was waiting a discreet distance from the door. "Go to the stables and tell the hostlers to have five horse saddled and five more prepared for packs within the hour," she nodded and left without a word.
"Irene you need to rest," I continued, "we will have to leave tonight. I assume Galen will be accompanying us." Then turning to Adelina, "I will need you to appoint another guard to come as well."
Adelina glared at me even more vehemently, "I'm coming with you, Zane. If this really is an ambush then I will trust no one else to guard you."
"Adelina," I started.
"This will not be a discussion," she interrupted me and stormed out of the room presumably to prepare.
"Ailbhe that means that you will be in charge of the guards, and keeping everything in order while we are away," I said stiffly.
"Yes, sir," he nodded and left the room his anger still apparent in his eyes.
"Irene and I are going to rest, but we will be ready within the hour."
"Thank you, Galen. You and Irene have done so much for us." I murmured quietly.
"I hope your right about this, Zane. I don't have your faith in the avians, but I'm willing to follow you on this because Irene has so much faith in you."
Before I could reply, he had followed Irene out of the room. My mother gave me a tired smile as she crossed the room to stand beside me. "This is miraculous, Zane," she whispered as she leaned up to kiss me on the cheek, "I will see you soon." With that, she pushed me out of the door and closed it behind me.