Page 46 of Faeling
“You’ve given me much to think on. The days’ run will do my mind good.”
“Indeed,” agreed Ulrich, “there is time yet to get this soothsayer business sorted. There are more important things that demand the king’s attention now.”
Asta turned a rare withering look upon the lord commander. “There’s nothing more important, more sacred than the mate-bond.”
“She will still be here when we return,” Ulrich grumbled. “The bond is still new, a little distance can be withstood.”
Ulrich spoke Vallek’s own mind, and yet, hearing the words aloud, they grated against him. The very idea of leaving his mate now, in the early days of their bond, went against every instinct. His beast roared at him for even considering it.
“Find Mattias,” he ordered Ulrich.
Startled by Vallek’s shortness, Ulrich’s lips thinned before he bowed and turned to fulfill his orders.
“Vallek, you can’t really—”
Lifting his hand, he silenced Asta’s objections. From his belt he pulled the ceremonial key to the citadel and handed it to her.
“See that this gets to Eydis. She knows what to do. And have her tell Hrothgar; he will understand the delay.” The old chieftain had himself fought many a skirmish against both fae and Pyrrossi incursions.
“Send Ulrich to handle it since he’s so keen,” Asta argued.
“I lead by example, Asta, you know that.”
“A chieftain would see to it themselves, yes. But you’re more than that now. A king is pulled in many directions. You can’t go charging off any time something arises.”
“The people expect it of me. Hrothgar will expect it. You want me to lose face in front of him? Now, when an alliance may have to be negotiated without a marriage?”
Asta’s look was dark as she said, “You complain that she runs from you, and yet here you are, running away yourself.”
Vallek reeled at the reproach, but his sister didn’t give him time to respond, turning on her heel to march angrily up to the citadel. He watched her go, fists clenched.
She was right, of course. It was another blow to his pride to admit it.
But the safety of the kingdom couldn’t be ignored. And although putting distance between himself and his faeling mate might be frowned upon by others, he thought perhaps a few days apart might be good.
Maybe with a few days’ run, he might think of a way to win that trust Asta spoke of. Maybe he could find a way forward that included both unification and his mate.
Not a retreat, then. A strategic withdrawal. To strategize.
12
It wasn’t that Vallek had left that Ravenna minded. He did that often enough. It’d been that hejust left. Had she been still asleep when he returned to quickly gather a few things for his journey, she’d no doubt he’d have left without saying goodbye at all.
“If I’m not allowed to leave here without your consent, then I don’t think you should be leaving without mine,”she’d argued, more for the sake of it than anything else.
“The safety of the realm warrants exception,”he’d replied as he donned his lighter set of boiled leather armor.
“Oh, well, if we’re making exceptions, then mates shouldn’t—”
Turning on her quickly, he’d asked,“So you agree we are mates?”
Ravenna spluttered.“I never said we weren’t! I said it shouldn’t matter.”
It’d been the wrong thing to say, whatever playfulness glittering in his eyes snuffing quicker than a blown-out candle.He finished readying in silence before marching to the door.
“You will remain in my quarters,”he announced without looking back.“I will return anon.”
She was about to call out his hissy-fit, but he didn’t give her the chance, slamming the door behind him. Ravenna stomped her foot in frustration, and then scrubbed her face in annoyance at doing something so childish. Fates, she didn’t know whether she wanted to throttle him or pet him more. Right now, throttle him.
