Page 78 of A Baron of Bonds
“What should we do with her hair?”
“What we can, I guess. When did she last brush it?”
“I’ve been busy,” I laughed.
“I’m sure you have,” Figuerah muttered, smirking in the mirror.
Clairannia took a comb and began to unwind my hair from the braid it had loosened from.
Moira flew to the sideboard, a small pot of red lip stain in her hands. “Can’t forget this!”
I grinned as she flew to my lips and began to paint. When she finished, I said, “Moira, I’m surprised you’re excited about this.”
“No one more than me.” She showed her teeth and continued, “This means you stay in Felgren. This means there will finally be a human with some sense who gets a say over what happens in the Fortress.”
I bent my knees carefully as Clairannia reached up to place the headpiece on top of my now shining hair. It was akin to a crown of cream and blush floral blooms that brushed to one side, the circlet gold and glinting in the candlelight.
“The Queen of Felgren.” Clairannia giggled, “It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
I laughed, “I’m not sure that’s quite right. But we’ll figure out something.”
“Karus you are every bit a queen as any of the rulers on this isle. You’ve done more to save Felgren and magic than anyone.” Figuerah lifted her fingers to my ear. “Now these are from the Attatok Mountains. Our goldsmith fashioned these just for you.”
She clipped an earring onto my lobe, phases of the moon crawling up the sides. The other earring was crafted into the setting of a sun. Each one graced the full length of my ears, ending in a cuff at the very top.
Tears threatened their treks down my cheeks, and I widened my eyes and sighed, unable to keep the grin off my face.
I turned from the mirror and pulled my two friends close, my fellow channelers, lovers of Viridis and Felgren, lumens, and fields of yellow blossoms. “Thank you,” I whispered, meaning more than for what I wore. “Thank you for loving me.”
They both squeezed tighter and pulled back revealing, their own tracks of tears.
The soft knock came as we knew it soon would.
“I’ll get it!” Moira shouted, flying to the long handle and looking to me in question.
I looked down at the masterpiece I wore one more time, swallowing the tears away, ignoring the butterflies in my stomach.
“Ready,” I spoke with confidence, straightening my shoulders. “I’m ready.”
Chapter 39
Rev
Ah,Karus.
There she was as she always should be, draped in silk and roses, a picture of Felgren and Viridis as it once was wrapped up into one powerful woman.
She bit her lip. I don’t think she was conscious she even did it, and I laughed, shaking my head.
I blew air out from my lungs, long and slow, my eyes taking in every detail of this woman. I flicked my gaze to Clairannia, one brow raised and she mouthed the words back to me,I know.
“But have not the strength,” I spoke, reciting one of the lines from our song. I stepped into the room, hands shoved in my pockets, holding the rhyzolm tightly as it pulsed with a fierce pull, reminding me that I was near immense power.
I already knew.
She laughed moving toward me, her gown sliding across the floor. “Nor do I, my love.”
We were inches apart, her chest meeting mine as I brought my hands to her face. “So I’ll see you at dawn?” I whispered.
