Page 19 of Consort's Dragon
“Very, and I expect now that I’ve returned from my sojourn at my parents’ estate, we shall soon make that relationship official.”
“Is that so?”Avera replied dryly.“Odd, I’d heard a rumor he planned on marrying some foreign queen.”
“I don’t pay attention to gossip,” sniffed the woman.“And I am not listening to you anymore.Guards!”She raised her hand and waved.
Avera remained seated.She was well aware of how court politics worked.If she cowed now to this woman, she’d be seen as weak.Whether she actually married the emperor or not didn’t matter.She had the reputation of Daerva to uphold.
A pair of guards sauntered over, not men she recognized and most likely they didn’t know her either.The woman waved her hands and blustered, pointing at Avera.
The guards moved towards Avera with the taller one barking, “You, out of the dining hall.It’s for palace residents only.”
“I assure you, I am a guest here,” Avera stated.
“Doubtful.I ain’t seen you before,” he replied.
“I only recently arrived.I was here for the evening meal with your emperor.”
“Sure, you were.”
Avera could have cleared everything up by stating her name and rank, but she wanted to see how things worked in Merisu.She already knew cattiness crossed borders with this woman being just as bad as the ladies back home.The guards?Clueless.But how did they treat those they thought broke the rules?Thus far, they were just rude.
The soldiers moved around the table and as they went to grab for Avera, she warned them, “You really don’t want to do this.”
“Ooh, I’m scared,” scoffed the smaller of the guards as he gripped her upper arm.
“What is going on?”Titus used a voice that managed to be heard across the dining hall without his seeming to raise it.
“Don’t worry, Your Eminence,” the woman simpered.“I’m having this intruder removed.Apparently, they don’t teach manners where’s she from.”
“You called the guards,” Titus stated flatly, and his expression caused the blonde to slightly wilt.
“Well, yes.I tried to tell this interloper this was your table, but she refused to leave.”
“Can you explain to me, Druelle, why my future consort, who is also the queen of Daerva, should have to move?”
The color drained from Druelle’s face.“Consort?”It emerged as a faint whisper.As for the guards, they recoiled so fast they almost fell over.
“This is Avera Voxspira, whom I plan to marry, meaning she’ll soon be your empress.”
“I thought your marriage to a foreigner was just a rumor,” Druelle squeaked.
“Even if it were, who gave you the authority to act?To decide who is or is not a guest?To order around my guards?”His cold glare went to the men, and they tried to stammer out excuses.Titus held up a hand and silenced them.His gaze went to Avera.“Good morning, my queen.I apologize for the rudeness of my subjects.”
Avera offered a tight smile.“I’m surprised a woman of her supposed stature would be so out of touch with the happenings around court.”
“You could have introduced yourself,” Druelle snipped.
Titus whirled on Druelle and she recoiled.“I think you should pay your parents a visit.”
“But I just returned from their estate,” she whined.
“Then you won’t need to unpack.”His stern glance went to the guards next.“As for you, did you not peruse the briefing in the barracks?And before you lie, if you had, you’d have known about my very important guest.”
“Sorry, Eminence,” whispered the big guy who’d lost his brashness.
“I’m sorry you’re an idiot who doesn’t know how to read.I won’t have it.Please report to the Master Sergeant and tell him you need reassignment.”
“Aye, Eminence.”The men didn’t argue, simply fled.
