Page 79 of Shadow Mark
Baris told Raelle, “You do not speak to Lenore. You do not send your flock of minions to speak to her. Whatever game you think you are playing by having Des block our messages will not work. Cease your meddling before I decide it has strayed from being merely bothersome to treasonous.”
Her eyes went wide. “I have not—Yes, Your Majesty. I understand.”
LENORE
Lenore wasn’t sure what Baris and Raelle spoke about, but it grew heated. She wasn’t able to hear their conversation over the noise of the flyer’s engine. When they finished, neither looked happy. Raelle threw Lenore a particularly harsh glare, which made her suspect the conversation was about her.
She knew coming was a bad idea. It was too much attention. It was one thing to be seen walking in the palace gardens or having dinner together, but this was a thing. A proper thing. There were people out in the plaza waiting to catch a glimpse of the king. They didn’t need to see his…whatever she was. Girlfriend didn’t feel right, but mistress was all wrong. Companion? Friend felt right, but also more than simple friendship. She cared for Baris. More than she should.
The ceremony went as Baris described. They climbed the steps of the temple—which, personal beef, why were temples always at the top of steep stairs? No one was interested in wheelchair-accessible temples? Once inside the temple, there were bells and candles and some pretty words. Karu perched in the rafters.
Once that was finished, Baris wanted to visit the roof for the sunset, which meant a very steep set of stairs.
The last of the day’s warmth vanished with the sun. Lenore jammed her hands into the coat pockets, wishing she had brought a scarf. Her old Midwestern self would be appalled. It was barely chilly, and here she was, shivering like someone had dropped an ice cube down the back of her shirt. She’d gone soft.
The temple roof held a garden, lush with potted plants, a trellis covered in a thick flowering vine, and even a fountain. Seating was both hidden in nooks for a peaceful treat and designed to take in the view. A table laden with food and drinks waited for them. Baris fixed her a plate, insisting she sample everything.
Lenore had to admit, the view was stunning and the food tasty. They were surrounded by dense vegetation. In the distance was another temple, dark against the fading light and quickly consumed by the shadows. Lanterns glowed below in the plaza.
Automatic lights switched on, bathing the rooftop retreat in a gentle glow.
“You are quiet. Normally, you have a dozen questions,” Baris said. “I do not like this silence. If someone has troubled you, I will not hesitate to smash their fingers.”
“Nothing like that,” she answered. “Today seemed like the right time to be quiet and respectful.”
He made a noise that sounded like agreement.
“Tell me this: what’s with the black feather capes? Lots of people are wearing them today,” she said.
Baris lightly touched the clasp at the front of his own cape. It appeared to be feathers sewn onto silk with onyx beading. “It is a mantle traditionally worn by those with a karu bond. It is ancient in function, to prevent the karu’s talon from digging into our shoulders; now, it is only worn when one needs to make an impression. Old houses pass down their mantles, adding new feathers with each generation. Mine is quite old, as you see.” He stood, spreading his arms to fan out the cape that fell to his knees.
“Impressive,” she said. The black feathers and onyx beads caught the light, giving it a blue-black sheen. “Not gonna lie, it looks like something a villain would wear.”
“This one is too heavy for anything but ceremony. I have a lighter one.”
“For casual, everyday villainy.”
Baris snickered, sitting next to her on the bench. Her tension unwound and she leaned against his shoulder. He appreciated her snarking humor and that warmed her. Whatever weirdness happened today, they’d be all right.
The noise and music of the crowd drifted up from below. Lights moved in the distance as people traveled into the dark with lanterns.
A caw broke the quiet. A very familiar karu with white feathers landed on the railing, joined by another with solid black coloring.
This couldn’t be her troublemaker. The distance was too great to fly. This had to be another karu with similar markings. Then, he flew the short distance to the bench and helped himself to a plate of sliced veggies on the table, so it could only be him.
“Hello, troublemaker,” Lenore said. “You’ve come a long way.”
The karu chirped in agreement, then swallowed an enormous chunk of something orange and carroty.
“Is this your visitor?” Baris leaned forward, studying the karu as they demolished the veggies.
“I think so. I don’t know who his friend is, though.”
“I believe they are a mated pair,” he said. He poured water into a shallow dish, offering it to the karu. They made clicking noises, then drank.
Once their hunger and thirst were satisfied, Trouble turned his attention to Lenore. He flew the short distance to stand in front of her, his head lowered. When Lenore didn’t respond the way he wanted, he pecked at her feet.
“What do you want? The dessert course not good enough for you?” Lenore tucked her feet under herself, out of beak range.