Page 3 of Kingdom of Faewood
“Sorry.” I laid a hand on his forearm. Unlike Zale, Mushil never exerted his strength over me or seemed to take enjoyment in exacting his control.
He patted my hand. “’Tis all right.”
I smiled brightly at him. “One of these days, I’ll know my way around entirely and will stop bumping into you.”
He chuckled. “As we all will.”
Zale puffed his chest up. “I already know every hall and chamber, unlike you slow-learning lot.”
Mushil sighed, not commenting, but I didn’t even bother trying to hide my eye roll. Guardian Alleron had only moved all of us into Emerson Estate two weeks ago, after we’d been living in a temporary home the months prior to his estate being constructed. All of us were still getting used to the monstrosity of this place, even if Zale was too prideful to admit it.
“Ah, there it is!” I finally spotted my destination ahead and proceeded down the stairs to the large and grand entryway. On the first floor, just off the foyer, my guardian’s study door was open.
I heard him before I saw him, and I hastily checked my hair and smoothed my gown before I presented myself to the male I considered my father.
Head held high, I followed the sound of GuardianAlleron’s silky tone. It carried from his private quarters into the massive foyer. “Yes, we shall be there shortly, Your Majesty.”
“And she can do three callings today? You’re sure of it?” King Paevin asked in a demanding tone.
My footsteps froze.
Zale chuckled and leaned down. “Told you that you’d need to be rested,” he whisper-hissed into my ear.
I flared my nostrils at him but stayed rooted to the spot and listened.Three callings?Goddess Above. I hoped I’d misheard my guardian. Surely, he wouldn’t ask that of me. He knew how impossible that was.
“She’s never done that many at once before,” Guardian Alleron replied, and some of the nerves in my stomach calmed until he added, “but I have no doubt she’ll be able to.”
Stars! He’s serious. He actually just promised that.
“Hmm, so this shall be an experiment in a way?” the king replied in an unimpressed tone. “I do hope she’ll be able to perform. Lordlings Messepire and Himil both agreed to my terms on the Osterland Exchange with the understanding they’d each be given a calling. They’re counting on your lorafin being able to venture to the Veiled Between for them. Not to mention, I would like my own calling as well, now that the necessary time has passed since the last one.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Elowen will be able to perform. I’ll make sure of it.”
My magic swelled, but a sting of warning from my collarrushed over my body like a coating of armor, quelling whatever power tried to rise from my emotional response. Apparently, I was to do three callings today after all—I hadn’t misheard—and for two lordlings I’d never met before on top of that.
I froze as a memory of a calling with a lordling I never wanted to see again stirred in my mind. Lordling Neeble’s calling had been thrust upon me as well, and he’d?—
“You know, I never asked you...” The king’s tone turned curious. “How long have you had her? If I’d known a lorafin had been born within my kingdom, I would have sought her out myself.”
My guardian laughed lightly. “If it appeases you, I didn’t find Elowen here. I was in Ironcrest Kingdom when I happened upon her many summers ago. She was just a babe when I found her in the Wood. She’d been abandoned, only a thin blanket covering her. My guess is as soon as her mother saw her mark, she fled, not wanting the responsibility that comes with raising such a creature.”
My entire body tensed, causing my collar to electrify again.
Zale hissed when a zap jumped to him. Rubbing his arm, he growled, “Onward, Elowen. Quit stalling. He’s waiting.” As if to make his point, he shoved me.
I lurched forward, tripping on my gown, and I would have fallen if Mushil hadn’t grabbed me in time to stop my forward movement.
“Zale,” Mushil hissed. The older guard loosened his handand let go of me completely once my balance had righted. “Don’t push her around. You know how I feel about that.”
But instead of apologizing, my younger guard just shrugged. “She’s always trying to delay her callings. I’m sick of it.”
Trembling from my near fall, I smoothed my gown and gave Mushil a nod of thanks, but I completely ignored Zale. The bastard loved to torment me, and when I verbally reacted to his physical shoves or slaps, he seemed to delight in it, so I’d learned summers ago not to.
Holding my head high once more, I clasped my shaking hands and finally stepped into my guardian’s view.
Guardian Alleron sat at his wide desk. Rows of books lined the shelves behind him, and a globe of our realm, showing the four large continents and the multitude of islands in the seas, sat on his desk’s corner.
In his hand, my guardian held a mirror-like object, and I zeroed in on it. Guardian Alleron glanced up from the looking glass, which showed the king within its oval frame. But even though the king was miles away in his castle, his voice and image were perfectly clear, thanks to the looking glass’s magic.