Page 17

17

THE APPEARANCE OF GIFTS

Darina

M y heart is still pounding. No matter how many times I practiced with Loch, I wasn't sure I could do it; I wasn't sure my voice could command it. But there's now a bone-whitecirclet on the floor of the dais proving I could. I did .

Loch goes to pick it up after giving me wine, tucking it under his arm. "Well done. Half of today went perfectly. Now, we drink."

Alcohol doesn't go to my head fast, despite my small frame, so I gratefully take a fortifying swig. Immediately, my eyes widen.

"What is that?" I marvel. “It’s delicious!”

"Something you ought to drink a lot slower," he scoffs. "Fae wine, seasoned with a pinch of dream or nightmare or joy, or despair, or merriment, or who knows what else, depending on the vintage. If you've never been drunk on fairy wine, you've never been drunk. Be careful; today's not the day to start."

"Why didn't I get that warning?" Rachel grumbles.

Her glass, I notice, is already empty.

Loch is the picture of innocence. "You didn't ask."

Oh, dear, these two are going to drive each other insane, if not outright murder each other. I sigh."Water for the rest of the night, maybe?"

"Funny you think water would be any safer. It matters not what she drinks—she should just have it served in an iron mug."

I fix him with a long-suffering look.

He knows that information should have been shared and acted upon much sooner.

"Fine.” Loch rolls his eyes. “I'll call for one."

I shake my head, turning to my sister.

"Are you all right?" I ask for many reasons.

Our parent’s funeral was just hours ago, and before that, Ryther pretty much assaulted her, and before that , her fiancé was murdered. I ought to ask that question every five minutes. But presently, I’m wondering how she’s doing with the court. And Loch. Not necessarily in that order.

She nods, tightly. "Yes, but he's a prick."

I can't disagree. "Anything concerning?" I ask Caenan, still standing nearby, but at a respectful distance.

He steps closer. "No one is thinking about murdering her, or trying to, if that's what you mean. But many would like to get her alone."

He doesn't bother to tell us what they'd do then.

"More so now that she's on the dais with you."

Ugh. There are far too many fires to put out all at once.

"You're so kind for watching her, Caenan. I'll have to repay you with a favor."

"You're the one person in this room who doesn't have to repay favors. When you ask for something, it is called an order, my queen."

"All the same, I'll repay kindness," I insist. "How long has it been?"

"Five minutes."

I make a face.

Loch and Ryther agreed I ought to remain here two hours at least, to make it clear I'm not hiding.

I entertain myself by watching these strange people and their stranger ways. There's music—not particularly skilled, but quite engaging, making me want to join the few dancers, though that need isn't as overwhelming as the first time I heard fairy music. The dip in the queen's lake might have almost murdered me, but it cleansed me off some vulnerability to this world. That, or the iron blade in my heart.

"Can you hear my thoughts?" I wonder suddenly.

We never discussed that back in my chamber.

Caenan directs his gaze to mine, and frowns. "No, not clearly. It's not that they're blocked; there's something, but it's as if it's shattered, reflected off many mirrors. I can't make sense of it. Trying would split my head open."

Ryther said the same.

I bring my hand to my heart, feeling the sensitive scarring though I'm not touching it directly.If touching the dragonstone was enough to hide my thoughts, having it inside me is an unexpected blessing, erasing one of my weaknesses.

"Glad I didn't have to take zen yoga classes to learn to do that."

"Yoga?" he repeats. "Is that the thing humans do with their butts up in the air?"

"Humans do many things with their butts up in the air," Loch quips, reappearing holding a metal tumbler in a gloved hand.

He hands it to my sister. "Careful with that."

His sharp words and sharper look make it clear he doesn't trust her with it.

Remembering the bite of the iron arrowhead in my skin, I understand why. It's a weapon, one she could use on any of us. And he doesn't believe she's wise enough to keep it to herself. I'm not certain he's wrong. I can imagine her "accidentally" bumping him with it.

"Yes, please be careful," I say, a warning in my tone.I soften it with a smile, and a compliment. "The dress looks lovely on you. I thought the pink might be a little much with your hair, but you're beautiful."

"Yes. I already praised Loch for choosing it."

"You did?" I'm surprised she'd be that fair.

My blood brother snorts. "She thanked me, in fact."

Now I'm gasping. “She wouldn't! Would she?"

"Don't fret. I didn't take what was so readily offered to me. Ah, Rena. It has been too long."

A woman approaches, seeming to float in a cloud of white fabric. Is it her wedding? I watch her climb the dais, her beautiful face frozen in a smile that sends shivers down my spine.

"Darina, this is Rena of the sun court, the bright queen." He's quick to add. "The sun court includes both summer and day courts, and is therefore considered a lower kingdom."

"I see," I say. "You're very welcome, Rena."

I don't really know how to address her.

The bright queen inclines her head, still smiling. "What an honor to have lived long enough to see the return of the Harthorns' mighty bloodline," she enunciates clearly. "It was my great privilege to have been part of your mother's council. Am I to understand you'll be reforming it?"

Straight to the point, then. I was supposed to wait two hours before making my announcement and then leave them to ponder my edict, but now that I'm pressed to speak of it, I realize I must. One discreet glance at Loch, and I see him incline his head a fraction.

"In a manner. My mother knew these lands as well as any of you. She'd travelled from the plains of the untamed lands to the tundra of the night court. She'd traded with Gold, had her weapons forged in Silver, flew with the court of wings and dined in bone. Morrigan swam to the sea lands, bathed in the great fountains of blood, danced in winter and ran with the wild. This very castle was made by the mason of the court of stone. Should she have been alive to see the rise of the hunt, she would have chased the eldritch with them. She was all of you. I am not."The speech is rehearsed, but I'm not shy in a crowd. Years of performing made sure of that. "I will not have three lords from each shore around my table. I will have you all, and hear all voices before making any decision, so far I may rule you fairly."

It's in appearance a gift. In actual fact, I am taking away power. Instead of six voices voting, demanding, and colluding against one, I've named thirteen.

All six seelie courts: gold, wings, stone, bone, the bright court, and the untamed.

All six unseelie: winter, night, silver, blood, sea, and the wild.

Then, the hunt.

They've never all agreed on anything. I am inviting chaos, which means that my voice will cut through the nonsense and make the decisions.

That was Loch's idea, of course. Ryther isn't too fond of it; he thinks the lords will resent me for it. But the seven who wouldn't have any seat at my table will not be denied the advantage I've granted them now.

For a second, the bright queen doesn’t conceal her shock well. Whatever response she expected, this wasn't it.

Then the mask is back on. "That’s a lot of voices to listen to, my queen. But I do trust you have a wise smaller circle to advise you."

In short, she knows I didn’t come up with that myself. Her eyes seek Loch, narrowing on him.

"When may we expect the first session?"

I'm done giving her information on her term. I had a plan, and I'll stick to it as much as possible.

"You wish to spoil all my surprises. Don't worry, Rena. I'll let you know shortly."On that note, I turn back to Loch. "Please do ensure my guests want for nothing while she waits, would you?"

I can already tell she hates my guts now, but let's face it: we were never going to braid each other's hair. She's too used to be one of the central powers on Ilvaris.

"She's terrifying," Rachel breathes after she's returned to the throng of would-be enemies.

I don't bother to agree. Every single person in this hall is out of a nightmare. And to survive them, I'll have to be worse.

I was standing, the added height giving me a sense of control.

But now I sit and lift my chin as I survey my court of monsters.