Page 73 of A Baron of Bonds
She turned from the guard she was speaking to and they both looked over us.
Mierah’s eyes darted back and forth between Karus and I before she rose her chin and nodded. “Yes. The Queen is meeting with them now in the throne room. The Lady of the Spire and the Madame of the Mountains are due to arrive within the hour.” Her eyes swept back to Karus with a look of smug distain.
“Hello, Mierah,” Karus greeted warmly with a patience I did not share. “I hope you are well.”
Mierah glared. “I would be if your little green creature hadn’t decided to rip apart all the fresh flowers I just put out in the foyer.”
We looked behind us to see that the enormous vase looked as if something ravaged through its petals. They were strewn about the floor, several blooms completely destroyed.
Karus brought her hand to her mouth to hide her amusement. We both knew exactly who had done that and for what purpose.
“It isn’t funny,” Mierah continued. “They will be here soon and I have to find replacements or I could be punished. So, thanks for that, Karus. You return here after seven years and still you are a thorn in my side.”
My brows rose in surprise. I’d never heard anyone speak that way to Karus. I glanced her way to give her the chance to tell her off before I did.
She sighed heavily and stepped closer. “I don’t mean to laugh. Moira is…well, she doesn’t think like we do.”
“I don’t care. Now, if you don’t mind, I actually have use in this castle and work to do.”
I opened my mouth, about to be yet another thorn in her side, when Karus squeezed my arm, addressing her again.
“You may not like me, Mierah, but I will still help you. And only because I feel responsible for Moira while she is here. She does not know this culture or these customs. She is a fae of Felgren and only wanted those petals for a new skirt.”
Karus motioned for her to follow as she stepped back to the vase. The guard I didn’t recognize and Mierah followed. I watched in pride and love as Karus brought her hands around the flowers, her emerald magic lifting the petals fallen to the floor and around the table. She didn’t even need to utter any words of magic to mend them. Her power brought each cream petal of each rose back to its place on the peduncle. A few of the petals were missing, but it was hard to notice.
The guard looked impressed while Mierah crossed her arms and glared.
“This is the part, Mierah, where you give your thanks to Karus for saving your ass,” I chided.
“Thank you,” she murmured, turning swiftly to leave.
Karus shrugged and took my hand again.
“May I escort you to the throne room?” The guard asked, gesturing the way.
“Yes, thank you,” Karus answered and we followed. “Would you happen to know if the guard Geyrand is still here? He lives to the north on the boarder of Hyrithia.”
“Of course. Geyrand is in the throne room as well. The Queen has called him to the meeting with all the leaders of Arcaynen.” He glanced back to us. “And he is not a guard. He is the Commander of the North. He leads the entire guardship there.”
I looked questioningly at Karus and she shook her head, confirming neither of us had known of Geyrand’s title.
He moved past the guards at the crimson doors, which had been fixed since Karus had burst through them less than two days ago.
We stepped inside hand-in-hand, and Karus called to her friends.
“Clairannia! Figuerah!” She rushed to them as they turned, both grabbing ahold of her, all speaking at the same time in relief and general chastisement that seemed to follow Karus everywhere.
“Moira!” Karus held out her hands, and the faerie landed in them wearing a floral skirt of cream rose petals. They pressed their foreheads together grinning wide, Karus’s smile enchanting, Moira’s full of razor-sharp teeth.
They began to speak all at once, each of them somehow able to keep up with the others.
“We got your message?—”
“And then Rev felt like you were headed north?—”
“There’s so much to tell?—”
“Even believe that they weren’t sure I should come?—”
