Page 10 of Faeling
I can’t help it that you think so loudly,Oberon complained.Leagues between us and still I’m plagued with your tortured thoughts.
You could try harder not to listen in.
Alas, if only that were true. But no, I must listen in, to ensure my most difficult foal doesn’t get herself killed. At least not too soon, of course,he added acerbically.
I’m not going to get myself killed,she argued.
No, you’re just going to fall into Amaranthe’s claws willingly.
Don’t you have anything better to do than—
Ravenna skidded to a halt on the flagstones as a big body rounded the corner in front of her. Righting her cloak, she bobbed her head in deference without lifting it to meet Ulrich’s odious gaze.
The lord commander of Balmirra, the king’s second in command, had never liked her. Ravenna didn’t overly care, she hadn’t come to the orcish territories to make friends, but it did put a wrinkle in the weave of her plan.
“And where are you skulking off to?” he grumbled. A bit shorter than most other orcs, he was still heads above Ravenna and stout with muscle. Although Ravenna believed lord commanders of orcish strongholds usually stayed to help the stewards in the running of the cities, Ulrich never let Vallek go anywhere without him.
Fresh from their return and apparently the baths, his long hair stuck to his skull, his long pointed ears gleaming with gold hoops marking his rank and accomplishments. He might be considered handsome if he’d stop scowling for a moment. As it was, he was always on the lookout for enemies and threats. Ravenna wouldn’t mind that had he looked a little less ather, hypocritical as that might be. Yes, she meant to use and manipulate Vallek, but no more than any courtier. She wasn’t his enemy.
“I was speaking with our king,” she answered, failing to keep the acid from her tone. It was late, she was tired, and she wanted to drop her glamour.
“Spinning your tales, I see.”
“Indeed. Reassuring the king that his instincts are correct.” She smiled evilly. “Do you mean to imply you don’t consider the king’s instincts correct, lord commander?”
His lip pulled back into a snarl. “A spider spinning its web iswhat you are.” Leaning down to put his face in hers, Ravenna shuddered to feel his hot breath on her forehead. “I won’t let the king fall into your trap.”
Ravenna sighed. “I truly wish I had even half as marvelous a plot as you seem to think I do, but alas, I’m merely a woman making her way in the world. I am of use to our king, and so I serve him.”
Ulrich snorted, ruffling her cowl. Ravenna worked to keep her glamour perfectly still as the lord commander glared down at her, his eyes casting an eerie gold in the lamplight of the sconces.
“Be off, wench, and remember, I’m—”
“Always watching, yes yes, I know. Pleasant dreams, lord commander.”
Sidestepping around his great bulk, Ravenna ignored how his head turned to follow her. She kept her pace measured as she turned the corner he’d come from, down a flight of steps into the quarters of the king’s personal household.
With the hour so late, she slipped into her room without any more interruptions.
Closing the door to her small chamber behind her and locking it, Ravenna smiled to herself. It wouldn’t be too difficult to gather a few spiders from around the citadel and put them all in the lord commander’s room…
Don’t antagonize him,Oberon groaned.
You never let me have any fun.
I promised to keep you alive,the stubborn unicorn retorted,not to have fun.
Ravenna rolled her eyes. Striding further into the room, she unpinned the brooch of her cloak and pulled the heavy garmentfrom her shoulders. The cloak had been spun by her father’s people, renowned weavers and dyers, and imbued with his magic. It kept her warm and dry no matter the weather, helpful for the craggy mountains of Balmirra, so high that even in the depths of summer, it was rarely ever hot.
Sighing with relief, she let her glamour fall, and the cool night air kissed her warm cheeks.
Don’t forget to set your wards,Oberon reminded her. They wouldn’t stop someone from getting into her room—after breaking the lock, of course—but it would hinder them the needed moments for her to throw on her glamour.
Yes yes, nanny goat.
Oberon huffed.Only two legs and yet, somehow, you are by far the most troublesome of all my foals.
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