Author's Note: I'll warn you that I'm on a roll, which usually means I'll hit writer's block soon. Chapters 6-10 came pouring out this morning.
Fairy Mary went along for the next meeting. Clarion was quite curious how this would go.
"Good day, my lady," Lord Milori said with a bow.
She noted he rarely called her queen, and she didn't know if it galled him or if there was another reason. The keepers bowed and extended their greetings; her ministers did likewise. Her eyes held his during the exchange. Measuring him. Watching him.
His eyes looked straight into her, piercingly blue and intelligent.
She finally gave a nod. "Good day, Lord Milori. Keepers."
"Before we begin-if I may, my lady-we brought something for the Council. The meetings get long, and I know that the sun can become strong on the warm side." He stepped aside and some fairies flew over with a wooden table and wooden chairs.
At first she was angry that he might be suggesting she was neglecting the ministers and keepers. In truth, it hadn't occurred to her that they could be seated because her nerves were so on edge with Milori that she preferred to stand. Looking at him, she saw that he meant it as a gift when he was waiting for her reaction. She glanced at the ministers to see them look relieved. "Thank you," she said softly and nodded for it to be set on the border.
Wood chairs were brought forth and passed across the border to them. The rectangular wood table was positioned so he and she could sit on the ends in their own seasons.
Autumn set a chair down for her and pulled it out. She noted-with a smile to herself-that all of the chairs were identical, no status elevated. When she sat, the others did too. Then she looked down the table and was flustered when it hit her that she and Milori had full view of each other.
He gave a gentle smile.
She looked away. "Excuse me. I have brought my best tinker fairy and dear friend along today for the discussion on how to repair some of the houses that were destroyed in the flood. This is Fairy Mary." She went around the table giving introductions. When she finished, Milori stood and walked to the border where Mary sat.
He bent down and held out his hand into spring.
Mary blushed and set hers in his.
"Tis a pleasure, Fairy Mary. I hope you will consider joining us for many meetings. A tinker is someone whose expertise would be most beneficial here."
"Oh. Goodness," Mary blushed and her wings fluttered shyly. "Thank you, Lord of Winter," she giggled.
"Lord Milori, please." He bowed over her hand and then returned to his seat.
Clarion glared at her oblivious friend. Clearly she had no anti-Milori ally there.
Solutions and negotiations moved smoothly, until they came to the house repairs.
"I am thinking," Mary said. "That the rocks in the winter mountains are heavier than the ones we have here. They would be a stronger foundation for elevating the houses in the event of flooding."
"Mary," Clarion snapped. The last thing they needed were more favors from the Lord of Winter.
"Consider it done," he promised Mary. Then he turned to Clarion, not flinching under her angry glare. "We have a proposal, my lady. After the floods are cleaned up and your fairies have seen to their usual duties, of course, we would like to ask for three baskets to be made from some type of leaf. Sled believes that dropping snow from baskets would be much more efficient than our current method. Unfortunately, all materials we have in winter are too heavy for the owls to carry as baskets."
"Owls?" she asked in surprise.
He nodded.
"Surely you do not mean to be near owls," the Minister of Summer gasped.
Milori nodded. "Snow owls are highly trainable."
Gasps went around the table.
"And who in their right mind would try to train an owl?" Mary asked.
He smiled. "Me."
Clarion's eyes flew to his.
Those blue orbs held hers with a twinkle. "My favorite is newly named, Mountain."
A flush crept up her cheeks. He was poking fun at her again! "Fine," she said tightly. "Three baskets will be ready within the month."
His smile faded.
As soon as the meeting adjourned, she was the first to shoot away from the table before anyone else could even stand.