Page 30 of The Mountain King
Kailigh did the woman the courtesy of not walking away, and remained seated. She was curious anyway. Lucide returned with a necklace in her hand, a thin strip of leather with a polished stone hung on the edge.
She sat down again. “Here, take this, a gift.”
“What is it?” Kai wouldn’t be taking any hedge witch’s offerings, thank you very much.
Lucide’s knowing eyes speared her, an amused sidelong glance. “It’s an energy stone. It will suck up all your negative energy and let you be yourself. Don’t worry—it only holds so much and then the charm goes dead and you’re on your own again.”
Lucide held it out, the necklace dangling from her fingers. Kailigh stared at it like it was a snake.
“Go on, take it. I promise, with the amount of negative energy you’re putting off right now, it will only last the evening. But it should let you enjoy the festivities, at least.”
Kailigh took it and looped it over her head. For some reason, suddenly, the idea of actually enjoying the evening rather than worrying about what could go wrong appealed. Maybe she should just have a beer, eat the free food, listen to the entertainment, and relax. Let the girls enjoy themselves and not worry about traffickers or rowdy miners. Just have fun.
“Thanks,” Kailigh said, and rose. “Hope to return the favor one day.”
Lucide grinned. “Yeah? That’s good then. I like favors.”
* * *
As Kailigh strolled backin the general direction of where she’d left her daughters, she heard a very familiar sound. Freezing for a split second, she burst into a run. She knew the difference between raucous music and a bar fight—she’d seen, and even participated in a few in her day. And had started many once the twins had passed into the legal drinking age and thought themselves ready for the entertainment available in the local tavern. Kai had accompanied them, even if she’d lurked in a darkened corner.
She shoved her way through the crowd, cursing the fact she was unarmed, when a tall, pale-haired man she recognized stepped in front of her.
“This way, mistress,” the Lord’s son said. “I fear the scary one is indulging my father’s hospitality.”
He sounded half-amused, but Kailigh cursed. There was only one reason Serephone would start a fight—either to protect herself or Persia.
They barreled through the crowd until they reached the cleared center of the tent erected over the beer garden. Serephone stood, a bloody blade in her hand. A man stood with friends several feet away, glaring while being consoled.
“Goddamnit,” Kailigh swore. “I thought you said your males were civilized!”
Sere turned at the approach of her mother. “Mother.” She hesitated. “I may have overreacted this time.”
Kai grimaced. She’d been afraid of that. Serephone was touchy even when comfortable in familiar surroundings. She turned to Hrutha. “Where is your brother? Isn’t he supposed to be watching her? Sere has delicate nerves.”
Hrutha laughed. “So I see. Perhaps we can talk the poor fellow into forgoing bloodgilt since she is a guest of the Lord.”
He strolled to the man, lifting a hand in a jaunty wave, and spoke in a low, rapid tone when the man started, bowing.
She approached her daughter, keeping an eye on Hrutha. “Put the blade away, girl.”
It disappeared in Serephone’s skirt. “These men are odd.”
Sere fell silent and soon Persia joined them, breathing fast. “I came as soon as I heard there was a fight. What the hell, Sere?”
The elder twin shrugged, and said nothing.
“Where’s Cin?”
“Left her with Amnan. Candy apples or something. Her hair is all wet. No dignity.”
At least one child was giving a good impression of being normal. Kai watched as the injured man gesticulated wildly, his voice rising. Hrutha crossed his arms, tossing his head so the long, pretty locks of his hair fell over his shoulder.
“He’s interesting, isn’t he, Mother?” Persia asked. “Different.”
Kai glanced at her daughter. “I wouldn’t, if I were you. You want a simple man, one you can easily control. Not the son of a Lord, and certainly not one so… flamboyant. You’d have to have a blade on you all the time to deal with the attention he’d receive from women.”
“No,” Sere said. “Cut one real good the first time, make an example. The rest will know better then.”
