Page 120 of Song of Earth and Claws
Bastet continued, “The Royal Duel held on the seventh day of the month was deemed invalid by the Arbiter Council. Lannahi remains the Queen of Goldfrost. Swordmaster Ashared took the Knight Oath to the Queen Lannahi. Lizaar, who had been her slave, was freed from slavery and appointed Chancellor in place of Varrdan, and Baddur who had held the title of General was replaced by Nuadd.
“Changes also occurred in Goldenshadows. Danihel, who had been a slave of King Sarkal, was freed from slavery and according to his request removed from his duties as Prince. Grasswall and Ashcrossing have been incorporated into the Orchidgate principality which is overseen by Princess Letiri, and Silverleaves, the principality under the jurisdiction of Prince Maal, has been extended to include Moonwell and Rosefield.”
When the Arbiter finished her speech, Lannahi was certain that the worst was behind her. The curious glances thrown at her and Ashared would last a few more hours, but she believed that after today she would be able to start gradually effacing herself. Oblivion was the opposite of what singers usually sought, but in this case, Lannahi didn’t mind. Although her magical abilities had grown exponentially, she possessed no desire to use it outside of the training room. With her new powers and Ashared by her side, she was now a threat, a curious one for the ambitious fae. It would be best to fade away into obscurity, to be forgotten, in time.
Unfortunately, her plan crumbled the moment Nefari stepped into the arena.
“Today I will sing a new song,” the singer said in a voice full of seductive sweetness. “It was inspired by recent events, and there will likely be some who will resent it, butpleasedon’t be too harsh with me. To deny inspiration when it comes is to attract a boring fate.”
After this introduction, Lannahi knew she wasn’t going to like what she was about to hear. When Nefari sat down by her harp and stated that the song was called “The Golden Queen and the Wolf Knight,” Lannahi was certain of it.
Nefari’s song was a shamelessly romantic ballad that revealed all that Bastet tactfully omitted in her concise speech. If anyone had previously wondered why Nihhal had attacked Lannahi, whether if Lannahi and Ashared were lovers, or how the Lannahi awakened the Ashared’s power, this piece dissipated any doubts. That no names were mentioned did not matter.
At first, Lannahi sat stunned, shocked by the singer’s boldness, but as she listened to the poetic descriptions of her own actions, she felt embarrassed. For many years, she’d dreamed of the kind of love that united her parents, but now she understood why they forbade musicians to sing songs of their story…
Then came anger. How dare Nefari sing about her private affairs?
When Lannahi remembered who Nefari worked for, her anger turned into fury. How did Maal dare?
When Nefari finished her performance, silence grew thick in the arena and a vengeful part of Lannahi felt satisfaction. It didn’t last long, though. A thunderous applause originating from where she’d seen Sezar sitting earlier grew louder and louder and Lannahi watched as Nefari simpered under the attention.
Lannahi sat through the rest of the artistic performance with her eyes fixed on the enchanters seated on the opposite side of the stands, plotting revenge. However, when the Master of Ceremony announced a break and she looked at Ashared sitting next to her, the vengeful flame in her soul flickered as if blown by a gust of wind.
“Shall we go meet your family?” the man asked.
He was aware that someone was watching them all the time and tried to maintain an indifferent expression, but the corners of his mouth tipped up in the beginnings of a smile.
“Yes,” she said.
Her aggression melted in the rays of his bright gaze, but when they arrived in the section where the enchanters from Central Faeries congregated, it hardened again. At her sight, her siblings broke away from the group surrounding their parents and met her halfway as if they knew perfectly that she wanted to talk to them.
“You made a bad impression, brother,” Letiri remarked with amusement, seeing the look with which Lannahi pierced Maal. “I told you.”
Maal didn’t even blink. “You seem to have gotten thewrongimpression, Lannahi.”
Lannahi arched her eyebrow. “Then you are suggesting you weren’t involved in the choice of the repertoire of a singer from your principality?”
“You heard what Nefari said. ‘To deny inspiration when it comes is to attract a boring fate.’ How could I argue with an artist right after my sister showed everyone what would happen if their will was disrespected?”
Lannahi wasn’t sure if Maal was speaking sincerely, teasing her, or trying to intimidate her, and she replied, imitating his brazen confidence, “Good that you are a fast learner, brother.”
The corners of Maal’s eyes twitched slightly. “I see that you are full of energy today, Lannahi. Has it also amplified your ambitions?”
Lannahi fell silent, surprised. Maal’s words could be taken as a challenge, but the calm tone of his voice and the attention with which he and Letiri regarded her made her examine his words closely. When it occurred to her what they truly meant, her own answer—a quick denial—stuck in her throat. Sarkal ruled seven cities. He gave three of them to Maal and three to Letiri. Only Goldenshadows didn’t have a designated successor, which could mean that the question of who would take over the main city in the kingdom was left in the hands of Sarkal’s children. Lannahi was aware of the rivalry between her brother and sister and had long felt that the fate of Goldenshadows would end up being decided in a Royal Duel. Until now it had never occurred to her that she would be involved in their dispute over the city. Given her aversion to fighting, she should reject the idea right away, but…
Goldenshadows was her home.
“It seems, brother, that our sister will join in our debate,” Letiri said, breaking the silence.
Lannahi swallowed. “I’m not greedy.”
Maal tore his gaze away from Letiri and regarded his younger sister. “Good as we are not greedy either.”
Although his declaration only increased her confusion, Lannahi endured her brother’s gaze. Then she looked at Letiri, who smiled slightly as if she’d guessed her feelings.
“Won’t you introduce us to your Knight, sister?” Letiri asked, shifting her attention to Ashared. “It’s a real shame that we missed each other during the last visit.”
Lannahi, stunned by the prospects that opened up before her, belatedly realized that Letiri was referring to the day before her fight with Nihhal, but Ashared replied smoothly, “I regret it too. If I had known that Lannahi had such a warm relationship with her siblings, I might have been more eager to take part in the feast than to run around in the forest.”
