Page 37 of Golden Queen
"But you'll participate in the negotiations—at the castle?" I asked, trying to keep my tone disinterested.
"I will be expected to," he said, as though he would have preferred doing anything but that.
"Are you...," I tried again, doing a terrible job of looking like the question was off-hand. "Is the party from Radune here for the marriage negotiations...for the queen?"
He laughed as though the thought was ridiculous, "No, absolutely not," he said.
And it was fair. It was unthinkable to imagine a fae in a marriage alliance with the Queen of the Godsgrass Kingdom.
When the laughter died away, he studied me, narrowing his eyes. I immediately tried to remember my words. Had I given something away about who I was?
"You seem to be very knowledgeable about the summit," he said. It wasn't a question, but I shrugged in answer. Would common people not even know the barest details about the annual trade event?
"I listen," I said.
"So, tell me, Sera, what is someone who is not a courtesan doing spending so much time in a brothel, that the women there threaten to cut someone's balls off just for having the nerve to inquire about her?"
It was my turn to laugh. I covered my mouth trying to decide which one would be most likely to make that kind of threat. They all would—and would no doubt follow through on it, but...
"Anetta?" I asked.
"Is she the little blonde who bounces around behind the bar?"
"That's her," I said, feeling my heart warm at the protectiveness she always showed me.
The carriage jostled as we turned off the wide avenue. I saw a tall stone pillar pass by on the right as we clattered through an open gate and then trees passing by the window.
I looked out, startled to see so many of them. It was an entire forest inside the city. I knew the Mercury District was large, but I never realized there was enough space inside for an entire forest.
The trees ended, or rather, the drive opened onto a clearing. I could see more of them marching off into the distance surrounding a large, sloping grass lawn.
We pulled in front of a stately gray stone manor with wide windows filled with soft golden light.
Io didn't wait for a servant. He opened the door and hopped out, turning back to lend me a hand.
I took it, once again feeling that charge of what I had come to realize must be his magic. I had to resist the urge to curl my fingers in his and squeeze, as if I could wring more of that pleasant feeling out of his skin.
He released my hand as I stepped out. My legs were still a bit wobbly and my head just the faintest bit loopy, but I felt most of the effects of the alcohol had worn off. I never stayed intoxicated for very long.
I saw a wide stone fountain with a carved fish at its top. It was lovely, a painstakingly detailed work of art. The way the water coursed off it made it look like it was moving in midair.
Io noticed my gaze. "The house belongs to Master Juriae, of the free city of Radune. He's overly fond of fish—for some unfathomable reason."
My heart tripped in my chest. I knew Master Juriae. I had met him at every Trade Summit since my majority when I had finally been permitted to attend the feasts. We'd even danced together the year before.
"Is...is the master at home?" I asked, and I knew I did not hide the apprehension well.
"He is not." He gave me a curious look. "I came ahead, remember. There are only three of us here. And I would imagine the other two are still out in the city somewhere."
He must have believed I was nervous to meet the master. As the human governor of a city in the heart of the fae kingdom, Juriae Duraehr was nearly legendary, even in the southern continent.
Io made no mention of my discomfort though, and after exchanging a few words with the elderly driver who sat atop the box, he motioned me up the stairs leading to a set of black polished double doors.
As we mounted the steps, I felt his hand—only the barest of touches at my back, as though he sought to catch me if I fell.
And then the doors opened inward, floating on a gentle breeze that stirred the little hairs around my face.
"Did you do that?" I asked, turning to meet his gaze.
