Chapter 502

The afternoon sun was warm and bright, and Elain enjoyed the breeze as she waited outside with Nesta and Sheera. Helion had told them that he would appreciate the three of them meeting him here after they were finished with the midday meal, and none of them had any idea what it was that he wanted them for. Beside her, Nesta seemed uneasy and Elain nudged her sister with her elbow, just a little, to get her sister's attention.

"What's wrong?"

"Just trying to figure out if I have done something to displease the High Lord." Nesta muttered, and Sheera turned to look at them making a face. "What?" Nesta asked, clearly being as unable to read Sheera's face as Elain had been. Sheera came closer, hands twisting together.

"Just… why would you think you'd done something wrong?"

"That's usually why someone wishes to speak with me."

"You've hardly been here." Sheera said, "And what would Elain have done? Or me, for that matter, I mean, I suppose I could have done something to one of his gardens that he doesn't like…" Sheera looked a little uncomfortable, and Elain shook her head.

"I don't think this is about that." Elain said, reading the stressed look in Sheera's eyes.

"I would hope not." Sheera went on, "I would hate to lose my job here. Getting to look after the gardens in the Palace is wonderful."

"I think you're fine." Elain smiled at her friend and then caught Nesta's eye. She knew that Nesta wasn't yet entirely comfortable with Sheera, and didn't really know how to handle Sheera's excitable attitude, but Nesta only smiled a little, not saying a word.

Ashk approached them and Elain turned her eyes on the redheaded faerie, smiling in greeting. Ashk came to stand beside them and Elain saw Nesta looking at Lucien's mother with interest. She couldn't tell what her older sister was thinking, though. Was Nesta comparing Ashk to Lucien, trying to see what he had inherited from his mother, or was she thinking about Ashk's relationship with Helion. That seemed more likely, considering the pregnancy was recent news, and Elain recalled that Helion had, in the past, tried to seduce Nesta herself. Making a mental note to ask her sister what she thought of Ashk at a later time, Elain smiled at the older female who gave a relieved sigh. "I'm not late, then."

"Late for what?" Nesta asked, leaning against the wall. "We do not know why we have been summoned."

"Oh?" Ashk blinked at them, and then looked around. "Oh, Helion did not tell you what he wanted to show you?"

"No…" Interest piqued within Elain, and she sidled closer to Ashk. "What is he going to show us?"

"Ah…" Ashk gave a slight laugh, shaking her head and sending her ruby hair sliding about her shoulders in a fiery wave. "I will not be the one to ruin the surprise."

"I love surprises." Sheera put in.

"You will enjoy this one." Ashk promised.

Trying to look for clues as to what this could be, Elain looked around them. There was the usual quietness of this barely used courtyard, as empty as it always was. The usual sounds of the palace drifted around them on the warm breeze, and Elain could find nothing to give away anything. "I'm sure we will." Excitement was building in her as she continued to wonder what Helion could surprise them with.

"Why does he want to show us something that is a surprise?" Nesta's voice held curiosity, and Ashk gave another laugh.

"Because he does like to show off, and he knows that you will enjoy it."

"The 'showing off' is right." Nesta agreed, but there was a smile on her face, and Elain couldn't help but smile as well. That had certainly been her own first impression of the High Lord of the Day Court and, while that was certainly a part of who he was, she knew now that it was only a small part.