Vows of Blood and Honor
Briar was close to screaming with frustration. Her father was beginning to annoy her just a bit. He rarely let her out of his sight, accompanying her everywhere. He was cool and formal with Sebastian still, even though Briar herself grew distant when he spoke so coldly to her love.
At the moment her father was across the room but the moment she and Sebastian rose from the chaise she knew that would change. Vidan would make his graceful way to their sides and stick there like wet parchment to plaster.
"Well I had hoped to find a more private moment to do this but that seems nigh impossible lately." Sebastian murmured with twisted humor and repressed desire. He pulled out a green velvet box and set it into her hands. "I've actually had this for a few weeks but it has been so long since we were alone I have not been able to give it to you."
Briar bit her lip to keep from wailing her agreement. She felt close to tears sometimes with need to be with Sebastian. She was so lonely for him not even her music helped. Even their whispered plan to meet in her room had been thwarted though completely by accident. Sometimes she thought she hadn't felt this badly since she'd first fallen in love with him and he'd been forced to go to Suzail.
"Please open it love." Sebastian whispered. "I hope you like it." Gently his hand stroked her hair. "Do you know how much I miss you?" He asked softly. "This is worse than being away from you. Being near you and knowing you want me and being prevented from loving you…" He kissed her cheek. "Gods!" He swore. "Would you mind if I just had the Purple Dragons throw Vidan in the dungeon for a night?"
Briar looked up at him and sighed and then nearly laughed. "I'm at that point myself." She admitted. Finally she opened the box and saw the beautiful ruby and diamond necklace and earrings she'd admired. "Sebastian…" She breathed. "Thank you love…" Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at him and smiled. "I thought you'd forgotten."
"Could I forget when my lady finally allows me to gift her with tokens worthy of her beauty?" Sebastian smiled. Looking up he sighed. "Hello Lord Dhulouragne." He drawled, taking a perverse pleasure in acting in the way the elf hated.
"You've managed to bring my child to tears?" Vidan's tone made it more a statement than a question. "Do you think to purchase her affections?"
"Nothing I have done has caused her tears." Sebastian said coldly, his languid tone bored. "Look to your own actions." He rose and regarded the elf from his greater height. "As to buying her love, no one can do that. You insult her by suggesting it, and will apologize."
"You are correct in that at least." Vidan nodded. "I am sorry for my unkind words daughter." He offered more gently. "Why then do you weep?"
Briar looked at him in astonishment and closed the box. Holding it against her heart she rose and stood close to Sebastian. "Tears of joy would not be understood and cannot be explained. All you look for my prince to cause me are tears of sorrow. But you cause these." She paused to take a breath and collect her dignity as her father stared at her.
The glass of wine that she'd held the entire evening untouched was brought to her lips and drank of heavily. As it came closer to him Sebastian wrinkled his nose and too late took the cup from her lips. "Briar." He whispered urgently, his tone frantic. At any moment he expected to see her fall. Instead the ring she had worn on her right hand for as long as he'd known her gleamed in the light and she regarded him with a curious gaze.
"What is it?" She asked softly while her father looked at the prince in astonishment.
"Beloved, where did you get that ring?" Sebastian asked, hardly breathing in his relief.
"I told you of the adventure Dragon and I had, after we first met. This ring was among the trove that held the magic harp. Dragon insisted I have it since it matched my eyes." Briar told him slowly.
Sebastian sat down heavily and pulled her into his lap uncaring of Vidan's outraged look. "You've had that wine the whole evening haven't you, and not touched it?" He observed. "You've been carrying a cup of poisoned wine."
Briar took a shocked breath. "But the ring isn't magical. Dragon checked when we first found it."
"If I may?" Vidan extended his hand and Briar tried to remove the ring but could not. "No, dear, just let me see your hand." Her father told her. Studying it upon her finger he frowned. "This is very old daughter." He said thoughtfully. "The carvings are faint, doubtless meant to be so, but this is ring is one of the rare guards against every type of poison."
"Remind me to give Dragon the run of every library he would like." Sebastian said absently. "And anything else he wants."
"He only wants your sister." Briar told him with a smile. "And he has her."
Sebastian didn't seem to hear. "She cannot be killed by poison?" He asked Vidan.
"This is a Tel'Quessir ring, made by priests of the Seldarine." Vidanalas told him quietly, not wishing to be overheard. "Most think them legends. But this appears to have been carved from a raw emerald, sculpted and shaped with runes and enchanted to acclimate itself to a wearer, usually for a long length of time. Once attuned to its wearer it cannot be removed and neutralizes any poison its wearer contacts."
"I will not have this begin again." Sebastian said firmly. "Briar, stay with your father, and I will inform my parents that we have another traitor on our hands. Or the same one."
Briar sighed and watched him go.
Lorelei nearly shrieked. This was the third time since her apology to Dragon that she'd come to meet him and found him alone with Katherine. He had forgiven her, or said he did at any rate, and she had no reason to doubt that since Dragons displeasure was easily seen. So he was not trying to torment her. But this was bound to make her crazy.
The princess stepped into the room where Dragon sat studying a tome and Katherine was leaning over him, her breasts rubbing against his shoulder. Indifferently if politely he was answering her questions. Lorelei almost smiled when she recognized that tone of voice. Dragon wasn't even really hearing the other girl, part of his mind seemed to recognize and carry on conversations while the other half was immersed in study. He wouldn't even remember speaking with Katherine.
"Good afternoon Princess." Katherine curtseyed with a sweet smile.
"Good afternoon Lady Katherine." Lorelei nodded and smiled as well. Two could play the game of killing with kindness, and everyone seemed to love Katherine, thinking her sweet and kind. For Lorelei to be rude would simply make her seem like a bitch and Katherine the injured party. And Katherine knew it damn well.
There was the added fact that Katherine was a noble from the neighboring nation and as a daughter of the king Lorelei was bound by duty to extend the girl every courtesy. That didn't mean that she had to offer up Dragon as a sacrifice though.
"Lorelei!" Dragon exclaimed, disengaging his attention from his studies. "Katherine when did you get here?" He asked with genuine puzzlement. He rose to greet his love and nearly knocked the brown haired girl over. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were standing so closely." He apologized.
Stepping around her the warrior mage took Lorelei's hand and lifted it to his lips. "My lady." He brushed his mouth over her knuckles and smiled into her eyes. "I see you wear my gift. It cannot compare to your eyes." The necklace of lace-like gold and beads of tigers eye as well as amber, held a topaz tear drop and seemed to glow like Lorelei's eyes.
Lorelei smiled and kissed his cheek. "I love it Dragon. Mother suggested I wear white to call attention to your necklace. I can't wait to let her see it."
"Let us go and show her then." Dragon rasped out with a gleam in his eyes. Turning politely he asked Katherine. "Lady Katherine, would you care to join us?"
Lorelei seethed but pasted a smile on her lips and tried to remember that Dragon was ever polite, especially to court ladies he didn't really like.
Lorelei sighed. It had been several weeks since she and Dragon had quarreled due to her seduction attempt. While he had forgiven her and took every opportunity to spend time with her, Lorelei's duties as a princess and part time diplomat part time hostess for the court took much of her day. Likewise Dragon's studies of magic and his daily regimen of swordwork took a great deal of his time.
It seemed though that every time she turned around Katherine was smiling sweetly at Dragon and inviting herself along on every private time they had together.
The princess fixed a serene smile on her face. She had to be polite to the girl. The Western Heart was Cormyr's ally and though many of its rulers were related to her it was still inappropriate to insult its nobility. But Katherine did not seem to like Lorelei at all and made barbed comments at every opportunity regarding Lorelei's less than sterling breeding, taste in clothing or insipid coloring. She never made these comments before Dragon, and appeared all that was sweet and kind when in anyone else's company. Everyone at court seemed to adore her.
Lorelei paused a moment before she entered the morning room and took a deep breath, fixing her smile firmly in place and walked through the door. A gasp of shock escaped her lips as she saw Dragon and Katherine together. The brown haired girls arms were wrapped around Dragon's neck and his hands were gripping her shoulders.
"Oh…Your Highness." The girl breathed her eyes glowing. "Forgive us our indiscretion, I didn't know you were to join us this morning." She curtsied prettily and smiled with a hint of triumph in her gaze at the pale princess.
"Certainly." Lorelei smiled coldly at them both. "Though I would suggest if you want Dragon's kisses that you find a less traveled room." She nodded to Dragon coolly and turned on her heel exiting the room without pause.
Briar looked up at her father distractedly. She had gone into a room with Dragon that morning and shut the door practically in her father's face. At the time she hadn't cared that it was rude Dragon had needed to speak with her privately. Her concern for him lingered now even though he'd decided on a course of action and her part was long done.
"Rosaleen you seem overtaken by melancholy these past few weeks." Vidan said carefully. "Will you tell me what is bothering you?" He bowed his head. "I know that I am not as familiar as your Dragon, nor as close as your mother, but I would like to help."
Briar looked at him in amazement. "You want to know why I am unhappy?" She phrased his question more precisely. When Vidanalas nodded she threw her hands up in disbelief. "And here I thought you were doing it on purpose."
"Doing what?" Her father asked his voice calm.
"Preventing me from being alone with Sebastian." Briar said in frustration.
"Well, yes I have been." Vidan admitted. "It is for your own good." He told her infuriatingly.
"How can it be?" She asked. "I'm miserable." She stood and walked a few paces away and then turned and looked at the elf. "Can't you see it? I'm in love with him! I need time with him."
"I can't allow that." Vidan said quietly. "He's not good enough for you."
"You can't…" Briar blinked. "What in the world are you talking about?"
"I won't let you be alone with him." Her father told her.
"I beg your pardon?" The bard's voice was barely soft enough to contain her fury. "You waltz into my life after more than nineteen years without even being aware of my existence previously and you imagine you have the right to tell me what you will and will not allow me to do!"
"As your father yes." Vidan replied reasonably, trying to hold onto his own temper.
"And if I refuse to obey?" Briar asked sweetly.
"You will not go against me in this." Vidan told her. "He is a fool and a fop and not near good enough for you. The only virtue he possesses is his love and appreciation of your music. You deserve better."
Briar laughed and shook her head. "You cannot compel me." She told him furiously. "You don't even know me." She turned her back and looked at the harp that had been her grandmothers, the elven first love of the wild man who'd sired so many children.
"Perhaps I do not know you as well as those who have raised you." Vidan said angrily. "But it was not by my choice that I was ignorant of your existence. And not knowing you well does not preclude my love for you. I will not see you throw yourself away on a man who treats you like a toy and a frail lady alternately. He flings jewels and gowns at you as if you were a concubine, and handles your body as if you belonged to him. He acts without respect for you."
Briar just shook her head and picked up her cloak. "Good bye." She said simply. "I will return soon." She walked out the door and shut it with a click behind her.
Walking down the stairs she met Lorelei who was with Jenny on her way up. "Lorelei." Briar kissed her cheek. "Avoid my father if you see him, he's in a bad mood." Wrapping her cloak more tightly around her Briar left her building and hurried towards the palace.
Lorelei knocked on Dragon's door and wondered if she could possibly feel any sicker than she did now. She'd trusted Dragon and then caught him kissing Katherine. It had been all she could do to keep from screaming at the both of them, but she'd managed. Now he wanted to talk to her when she still wasn't sure what she wanted to do more, scream at him or break down weeping.
Jenny took the younger girls hand and patted it, murmuring. "Sweet gods, your fingers are like ice." The door opened then and Jenny looked up at Dragon and pushed a reluctant Lorelei in the door. "Talk to her." She said firmly. "I'll wait in your study." She walked into the other room.
The warrior was clearly worried, careful to not touch the princess as he gestured courteously to a chair. "You did not speak to me at court last eve." He rasped quietly. "You did not meet me for breakfast this morning. You are angry."
Lorelei looked at him and realized he was right. She was furious. "That is something of an understatement." She hissed coldly. "I am furious."
"Because Katherine kissed me?" Dragon clarified.
"Because you didn't stop her from kissing you!" Lorelei snapped rising from her chair to glare up at him. "You won't let me express a hint of passion for you but she can fasten her mouth to hers like she's drinking air from you!"
"She fell against me, wrapped her arms around my neck 'til I was near choking and then kissed me until I couldn't breathe!" Dragon retorted. "She's worse than an octopus!"
"Well I didn't see you trying very hard to get loose!" Lorelei hissed. "You probably were enjoying it too much!"
Raden frowned and rubbed his forehead. His skull was paining him. The ache intensified and as his fingers touched his skin again it seemed to explode. He saw two men, dressed in black as all his students did, walking quietly along the halls of the keep. An aura of magic clung to them, smelling of teleportation, disguise and stealth. He Knew…they were a danger. His mind seemed to scream and pulse with it and he took a ragged breath. Death…they wanted his death…his…his king's…Sabine and her children…
The spymaster blinked and the pain was gone, and so was the vision. He scowled darkly and regarded his hands. They were no longer trembling. He had no way of knowing how soon the events he had seen would come to pass. But he knew somehow that like a line of dominos his attack would only be the first and that at least two would die. But which two?
Raden looked up as footsteps sounded outside of his office. Rising he had a dagger palmed as the door opened and two men entered wheeling in a tray. By all appearance they looked like his two servants, Jared and Calderone delivering Raden's midday meal. Yet, one glance at them and the silverware on the table gave Raden all the alarm he needed. One of the sliver forks near the plate containing the meal contained a smudge, barely discernible, but something that screamed out to Raden's eyes. Jared and Calderone were very well trained and would never serve him a meal with anything less than perfect silverware. Thus, even as the men's hands moved to bring out crossbows aimed at him, Raden already knew he had two imposters before him and began his own attack throwing daggers at both men.
One bolt from their crossbows hit Raden in the arm and the other in his thigh. Yet, his aim, even so hindered was better and they both went down with his daggers in their throats. Fumbling in a drawer he pulled out a vial and gulped the contents. The poison he had felt creeping through his blood was dissolved under the potion's magical qualities and he sat down heavily at his desk.
Ringing a bell he looked down at the two men who still resembled his serving men. Raden knew they were not Jared and Calderone and in time he would learn what manner of magical disguise, these attackers used. As footsteps sounded near the door, Raden hoped his true servants had simply been waylaid or distracted. It would be the very devil for him to train new ones.
TBC