Page 78 of Shadow Mark
Just beyond the temple was a clear patch used as a landing pad. That was the location where, two years later, when Baris was twelve, his parents were assassinated while his younger brother completed the same ritual. Vekele waited all night in the temple before his karu arrived. He once admitted that as the night wore on, he feared he would be rejected. Baris suspected that his karu, an unusually old and wise creature, was aware of the danger. If Vekele left the temple too early, he would have been slaughtered too.
Today’s proceedings would not be held in that ill-fated place. The public temple was of newer construction, built by his grandmother, and free of such memories. Queen Taras had a talent for financing grand works that would endear her to her subjects.
The flyer descended on the edge of a crowded plaza. A grand temple, all light and shadow, white stone against the blue sky, and dark doorways, dominated the plaza. Smaller buildings clustered around the temple, like hatchlings sheltering under a wing.
The flyer landed in a secured area behind one of the smaller buildings. Guards were waiting, as well as members of the council.
“So it’s true,” Raelle said, approaching Baris. A winter wind ruffled the heavy mantle of black feathers the older female wore. Strands of white hair escaped its neat coiffeur. “The human is your guest today.”
The way Lenore’s posture stiffened at the sight of the councilor told him all he needed to know.
“Let us have a word,” he said, drawing Raelle away. A guard turned over the flyer’s engine, creating enough noise to mask their conversation.
“I am disappointed at your thoughtless actions. The media has grown tired of its fascination with that female, and the broadcasts barely mention her, but now you bring her here! For all to see,” Raelle scolded.
“You know I hold you in deep regard, but you are not my parent. Mind your tongue when you speak to your king,” Baris said, taking offense. He did not relish dragging out his title, but it was necessary. “And mind how you speak of Lenore.”
Raelle lifted her chin as if she would argue. Instead, she dipped her head in a sign of acknowledgment. “People will think that human is important.”
“She is important.” Paramount, even.
“You are willfully misunderstanding me. The attention you give this human can make the council’s search for a queen more difficult,” she said. Then added, “Your Majesty.”
“How is the search going? Have you considered anyone else besides your granddaughter?”
He enjoyed watching Raelle’s face flush in frustration. It was petty, but he was not above pettiness. Eventually, she said, “Nia is a viable candidate, more so than that infuriating female. It is what your mother wished.”
“Do not speak to me of my mother in this place of all places,” he snapped. “I’m fairly certain my mother’s wish was not to be murdered. I doubt she was much concerned with dynastic matchmaking.”
“You were a child. You did not know.”
“I was a child,” he said, his voice angrier than he intended. The guards sensed the shift in mood and stood alert. He took a moment to calm himself. “I was a child, and I am grateful for the guidance you’ve given me, but cease this interference.”
“If you are planning to make the human your queen, this unsuitable match will fail. Whatever…fancy…you are following at the moment will not last, despite how she has her claws in you.”
Des caught Baris’ attention and pointed to the tablet he held in his hand in a gesture that meant they were running behind schedule.
Right. Baris needed this over with.
“I will not argue with you,” he said, “but answer me this. When Princess Sarah arrived, you insisted that she join the royal family immediately. Why was Sarah acceptable and Lenore is not?”
Raelle did not hesitate to answer. “She was bonded with her void beast, therefore noble. She had the royal crest emblazoned on her skin, therefore potentially divine.”
“That is superstition, and you are not a superstitious person.”
Raelle hesitated before speaking. “Princess Sarah was a better choice than Joie Starshade,” she admitted.
“You would have rather I bound myself to an unknown human than make peace with the Starshades? The council supported the match. It was necessary.”
Raelle made a disgusted noise. “The council was not unanimous. I was a dissenting vote. I said we could not trust them, and I was right.”
Baris knew that Raelle would not be persuaded and wondered why she was so determined to oppose the one person who brought him peace. She must have spoken with Lenore. Given the way Lenore’s posture went from relaxed to wary when Raelle arrived, the conversation had not been congenial.
Pieces slid together in his mind, filling the gaps between what was known and what likely occurred. It was a satisfying feeling, one he had not known for some time, like stretching out seldom-used wings. Raelle was direct and to the point. She had ambitions for her granddaughter. Whether she directly threatened Lenore or attempted to frighten her, he could not say. Regardless, the outcome displeased Raelle, which gave Baris hope.
His feelings for Lenore had not changed since his disastrous proposal on K-7 Station. If anything, they had grown stronger. At the time, his words had been arrogant and poorly chosen, even if the sentiment was sincere. He tried to explain the conflict he felt in indulging a whim.
No, not a whim. He could not seem to stop choosing the wrong words, even with himself. Lenore was not a whim. She was a necessity that called to him. If anything, his feelings had only grown stronger.