Page 78 of Enchanted Heir
Hatcher and Ballager burst out laughing. Not having expected them to laugh, they stole away my attention I had focused on the other man.
“Nerede woman stuns the leader of parliament,” Ballager said, continuing to laugh away.
Leader?My eyes went huge. “I am so sorry. I meant no offense. I truly just do not understand why those of you in Savaryn and Kavan Keep have to fear anything from Nerede. You are stronger. You have magic. You are the least defenseless of us all.”
Winston cocked his head. “You actually make a valid point.” He paused. “Though you leave one aspect out.”
“Which is?”
Winston looked at people around us and then to me again. “The lower levels of the kingdom are becoming more and more educated.”
“Which is a great compliment to our country, don’t you suppose?” I smiled at him when I truly felt like finding a weapon instead.
“As long as they do not get any radical ideas and try to rebel, then yes.” Winston gave a grave nod.
It took a supernatural amount of effort to keep my face from showing how I truly felt. “I know from personal experience how the people of Nerede are very reasonable. If you hear their concerns and want what is best for the country as a whole, I don’t think they would have a reason to rebel.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “That is proving to be false currently.”
“And you also just admitted to not listening to them recently because of safety concerns.” My eyes darted to Hatcher, unaware of how to get myself out of this sticky situation. Unaware of how I even got in it to begin with. “Is there a way I can help?”
Ballager provided, “Your being here is already helping, dear.”
Winston crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. “I have to admit, I was mystified by your continued presence at first. After this exchange, I am no longer.”
At that moment the announcement was made for the dancing to begin.
I patted Winston on the arm and said in jest, “You do not have to sound so surprised about it, Mr. Winston.”
They all laughed.
I smiled at them. “I am sorry for the deep conversation, and any and all offense. I meant no harm and know nothing of parliament in Wylan. I only wanted to say hello. But please let me know in the future if there is anything I can do to help provide peace to Wylan.”
As I spun to leave, picking up the skirt of my dress to move faster, I heard Hatcher say, “Now there, gentlemen, is a queen. If not of all of Wylan someday, then of Nerede. She will be a great ally if only we treat her as such.”
And then with no other time to spare, heart pounding, I headed for the dancefloor.
Almost there, someone backed into my way, and I had to lurch to a stop in order to avoid hitting them.
It was none other than Thomas Varga.What were the odds?
“I am so sorry,” he said, hand over his chest. He truly looked panicked. But then again it hadn’t gone so well for the last person to touch me in the crowd, so I could see why.
I smiled at him. “That is quite all right, Mr. Varga. Just an accident.”
“You know my name? But I don’t believe we have met.”
My heart was pounding in my chest. “Jorah Demir. Prince Krewan’s Assemblage. We haven’t met, you are correct, but I heard the king and Prince Krewan say something about you and My Prince was nice enough to point you out, so I knew whom they were talking about.” I shrugged. “I’m afraid I do not know many of the Savaryn families yet.”
The slow smile that crossed his face was creepy. You could just tell he was extremely pleased the king had been speaking about him. Good or bad, it apparently didn’t matter.
“If you will excuse me, I am due to dance,” I said nicely.
He put an arm out in the direction I needed to walk and even bowed slightly. “Of course, Ms. Demir. A pleasure to meet you.”
I just wanted out of this conversation. “Likewise.”
By the time I made it over to the dancefloor, Krew was already almost done with his first dance.
