Page 39 of Black Crown
I froze when I saw Tyrrik’s wide grin.
His black aketon was dusty with ash, his face sported a couple days of growth, and his dark eyes were smoldering heat—for me.
My irritation evaporated, and an answering heat rushed in to take its place in my chest. His well-timed quip effectively distracted me from my wallowing. I tried to suppress the smile and likely looked like I was having a seizure.You better love my pumpkins and potatoes and cherries and anything else I decide to grow.
I promise I will love anything you grow, mate.
Desire sparked low in my belly with the low rumbling embers of his voice as he claimed me as his.
Dyter tugged my sleeve and said, “Come on, Rynnie. Zakai is waiting.” He slung his arm back over my shoulder and whispered, “You two better spend some time alone before we leave —”
Mistress Moons,Dyter wasnottelling me to have sex.
“—talk a little or play cards together so you’re not distracted as we march. Focus is important in battle, both yours and his.”
My relief about Dyter’s meaning was so heartfelt that Tyrrik, feeling it also, let out a strangled laugh behind me. I blushed. I’d been caught staring like a love-sick pup, but my head was totally in the gutter.
Tyrrik and I had been dancing around our intimacy for too long. I was going to play cards with him.
“We’ve amassed what supplies we could since your arrival. But I’m afraid almost no one harvested their Phaetyn blood crops before we raced into the stronghold.” Gairome was taller than Zakai and built like an ox.
I stared at his muscular build, wondering how he’d grown so big on a meager diet, and noticed he was missing his hand and the lower portion of his arm, almost all the way up to his elbow—like Dyter.
Fifteen people, a mixture of female and male Gemondians as well as Dyter, Tyrrik, and me, stood around a table. It wasn’t just any table but shaped to mimic Draeconia. A map was carved into the surface, showing the three kingdoms, the southern desert, and the empire. Mountains, forests, and rivers were detailed on the Drae-shaped table. The intricate table was a treasure. I loved it. I wanted it.
You shall have one, Tyrrik promised me.
Do you think I’m spoiled?I asked him.
He didn’t reply.
“If we don’t have enough food—” Gairome started.
“Food won’t be a problem,” I said, cutting him off. “If you have seeds, we’ll be fine.” I faced Zakai. “The Phaetyn have started their march; they’ll be at Azule in less than two weeks. According to Dyter, it’ll take you ten days to get to Azule, and that’s if nothing goes wrong.”
“Something always goes wrong,” Dyter muttered.
I tipped my head at the old coot but kept my gaze on Zakai. “Like he said, you’d better plan on something going wrong, which means you need to be out of here tomorrow, day after at the latest.”
“Someone needs to alert King Caltevyn,” Dyter added.
“Already done,” Tyrrik said, his low voice causing several of the men to cast sideways glances at the Drae. “Lani sent her elderly and children with a guard of fifty to Verald. They’re carrying a message to your king.”
Zakai looked at his son and the other Gemondian leaders. “Then circulate the notice: we leave at daybreak.”
Several of the men and women filed out, and I glanced at Tyrrik. The Drae was listening to Dyter and Zakai—or at least looking at them intently.
Are you coming?I asked.
Go do your . . . mojo in the garden; you’ll feel better after it’s done, and I should fill Zakai and Dyter in on everything that happened in Phaetynville.
I snorted.You know, it has a name. A real name.
Yes, love. Go grow the people some food. You need to leave everyone who will remain enough to survive until we return.
Even after pouring my green Phaetyn powers into the veggie patches of the royal gardens for several hours, I wasn’t satisfied with the result. The elderly and children were going to have a hard time if the war was ongoing. Who knew how long we’d be away.
I sighed heavily. I needed to go outside and reverse as much of the damage there as possible.Thatwas the root of my discontent.