ch.9 Interesting Times

"I have to warn you" Darin looked at Anna. "My mother may take some getting used to". Anna began to look worried. Darin shook his head "I'm sure you'll get along fine but she may start trying to plan the wedding. "Wedding" Anna gulped..

Darin grinned "she won't rest until she has me and my sister married off and you are the first woman I've taken to one of her parties, I thought Deena was crazy to set this up, she knows how mother is, but when I found out it was you I was willing to take the risk".

"Why" Anna asked afraid to get the answer. "Something about you called to me, after you left, I couldn't get you out of my mind, but it was too late to find you" he looked back at her "And I tried too, I asked around, but no one seemed to know who you were".

"They wouldn't" she said softly "I don't know that many people here, mostly your sister and her friends, and you". Before he had a chance to ask her about that, they had come to the large room where the party was being held.

Several couples were ahead of them, their invitations being checked at the door. The doorman just waved him through, after a start of surprise. Darin almost laughed, he knew Gorban was shocked to see him with anyone.

Elspeth was exhausted, she sat back and stretched, Darkwind didn't look any better. Magic seemed to take a lot out of everyone these days, it was that much harder to replenish reserves even with the heartstone, she just couldn't justify using it any more than she had to.

Sejanes and a couple of the other mages sat in chairs around the room as well. Darkwind rubbed his eyes and looked up "Well, that should do it, if anyone does anything of consequence it will set off the warning spells".

Sejanes stood up and said "We should probably get all the rest we can, we'll need it to deal with someone this strong". "Have you ever come across anything like this in the Empire" Elspeth asked Sejanes.

"Not this strong, even before the Mage storms". That answer didn't help Elspeth's nerves any. She had a bad felling about the whole situation, but there was nothing she could do about it for now.

Elspeth decided that this was one time she could use the heartstone to restore herself and the others. She reached for the stone and shared it's strength. Sejanes sighed "Thanks, I really needed that, I didn't want to say anything,but I was worried about regaining my strength in time".

The others nodded and Darkwind gave her a smile of approval.

Anna felt the flow of power, The air seemed to ripple and she stumbled. Darin caught her in time, she really didn't think falling to her knees in front of everyone was the way to make a good impression.

She glanced over at a nearby man as he staggered his way to the drinks, then again she thought to herself with a grin maybe she wouldn't be so much out of place. Darin saw her grin and where it was directed. He smiled a bit himself guessing the direction of her thoughts.

"Darin" the voice seemed to carry over the murmur of the party. He winced and Anna looked at him. "Your mother" she asked just loud enough for him to hear. He nodded and tried to look pleasant.

The crowd parted for the lady as she approached. Anna could see Darin in her eyes, though her hair was much lighter where it wasn't graying."I wanted you to...." she stopped what she had been about to say as she caught sight of the woman on her son's arm.

Shock held her still for a moment before she took stock.. She approved of what she saw, the woman her son had brought to the party had good taste. "You didn't tell me you were bringing anyone" she said reproachfully.

"I'm sorry" Anna said to get him off the hook. "I didn't know until recently if I could attend, I'm sure Darin didn't want to disappoint you". Darin's mother smiled her disgruntled expression disappearing as she turned to Anna.

She smiled at Anna her delight, evident. "I'm glad you could make it" she turned to her son and said "The Queen and the Prince consort came to my party tonight, perhaps you'd like to introduce your companion to them". He nodded.

Anna had an attack of nerves, this wasn't wise at all. She should be staying in the background not meeting the leaders of the land.

Darin sensed her panic and whispered in her ear as the made their way after his mother "Don't worry, I'll protect you, the Queen hasn't taken to eating babies for breakfast yet, just remember, she's a Herald".

She calmed down at his words, she believed him she had just had a moment, thinking about what would have happened in her own country to someone like her.

As they approached,Anna was more relieved by what she saw. The woman looked a triffle bored, she saw her whisper something to the handsome man at her side. He grinned at what she said.

There were no obvious signs of power, only a simple circlet on the woman's head, not even any other jewelry. She wore a white gown that reminded her a little of the uniform Darin wore, the Man wore a uniform as well.

Once they got close enough she saw it was from a finer material, but the cut was still the same. The man looked up and saw them approaching, he nudged the woman and she turned looking at them.

She smiled as Darin's mother said "Your majesty, I'd like to introduce my son Herald Darin and his friend Lady" she frowned at Darin. "Lady Anna this is Queen Selenay and her Consort prince Daren, your majesties Lady Anna"..

She smiled at the Queen and her companion and held out her hand. The Queen paused a moment then took her hand. Anna shook and nodded to the prince "It's a pleasure to meet you both, I'm sorry if I don't follow protocol, but my own people don't have a King or Queen".

They looked startled at this but before they could ask there was a commotion at one end of the room. Several people screamed and stumbled to get out of the way as several men in black broke through the doorway and raised bows in their direction.

Anna stood shocked as they raised bows and fired, She flinched and the air rippled, this time enough so that everyone could see. The arrows caught in midair and fell at their feet.

She glared at the men shock turning to anger. She grabbed the energies twisting them around their feet tripping them then pulling them up in midair, ripping bows from hands and binding their arms to their sides.

The guards running into the room stopped and stared at the men hanging upside down in midair.

Then Anna realized what she had done, trembling she turned to the others. The prince had knocked Selenay down and covered her, Darin had moved to stand before the three of them ready to defend them the best he could. All three stared at Anna