Page 25 of Honour Bound
Lexie muttered a curse under her breath and I squeezed her arm. ‘Appearances, remember? We don’t want him to think that we suspect him of anything.’ She remained tense. ‘I mean it, Lex. It could save our lives.’ We had to be alert to further attempts on my life; there was no point in asking for more trouble at the same time.
It took the blue-haired pixie some effort but she managed to calm down and relax. I forced my mouth into a dainty smile and waited while Taylor, clad head to toe in a suit made out of the new Adair tartan, came and helped me down.
‘Integrity,’ Aifric boomed. ‘What a pleasure. It’s so good of you to come and support the Games.’
I leaned forward, kissing him effusively on both cheeks and looking for all the world as if I’d missed his presence terribly. ‘It’s lovely to see you again,’ I said. Then I raised my voice to make sure no-one missed my words. ‘But I’m not here to support the Games.’
Aifric’s smile wavered slightly. ‘You’re not?’
‘Goodness no!’ Careful, Integrity, I warned myself. That was dangerously close to a simper. I had to be sure not to overdo it. ‘I’m here to compete.’
His mouth dropped open before he remembered himself. ‘Er, were you invited to participate?’
Ha! He knew very well I wasn’t. I looked concerned. ‘Oh, I thought that any Sidhe could take part. Isn’t that what it says in the rules?’
‘Well, yes, I suppose so. It’s usually for the honour of your Clan though ? and with their full backing. I’m sorry. I’m sure you understand…’
‘Of course! Of course! I don’t have a Clan. It’s just as well really. Knowing what I do about the Adairs, I think it’s best that they’re consigned to the history books.’ They weren’t even allowed that; the history books at the Cruaich had virtually wiped out any mention of them. My smile widened and I leaned forward to whisper, ‘Can I trust you?’
‘To death and beyond, my dear.’
I smiled at him like I’d expected nothing else. ‘The thing is,’ I told him, ‘it’s very lonely being Clan-less. I’m the only Sidhe without a clan and my friends are … well, they’re not Sidhe, if you know what I mean. I want to win so that I can ask to be accepted into a Clan as one of their own. Return to the fold, so to speak. The Scrymgeours looked after me before. Maybe I could prevail upon their goodwill and…’
Aifric looked delighted. No surprise there: if I swore fealty to a Clan like the Scrymgeours – hell, if I did that to any Clan – then the Adairs would be laid to rest once and for all. There would be no one left to take up their cause.
‘I think that’s a wonderful idea. Simply wonderful.’
I managed to blush. Go, girl! ‘I probably won’t win because I don’t have any Gifts like the others. But if I can use this opportunity to get to know everyone better, who knows what might happen?’
‘You’re so right.’ Aifric gazed at me like a proud father. As much as I abhorred violence, my fists itched. ‘But it will depend on the other Clans agreeing to your participation. Naturally you have my full support but you’ll need two supporters to secure your place. It’s a formality for most competitors but we do like our traditions. You’ll need their agreement before the opening ceremony if you’re going to compete.’
Damn it, that’s what I’d been worried about. Aifric was happy to lend me his support because he wanted me to think he was on my side – and right now he didn’t see me as a threat. Getting two other Clans to throw their hats in the ring for me would be tough.
‘Also,’ he continued, ‘we didn’t expect you, so we’ve not prepared any quarters. The competitors stay in a specially converted village. We find things work better that way. I’m sure we can find you some space though.’
‘You’re very kind, my liege,’ I murmured.
Aifric laughed heartily. ‘Oh, I’m only the Steward. It’s nothing like a liege lord, I assure you.’ Yeah, yeah. I laughed back; Aifric didn’t seem to notice how false it sounded. ‘You must be tired after your journey,’ he continued. ‘Let me arrange for some refreshments while someone sorts out your accommodation.’
I dipped a curtsey. The light in his eyes still glimmered. Good; Aifric Moncrieffe thought I’d fallen hook, line and sinker for his lies. All I had to do to succeed was keep it that way.
*
Six hours later, we still hadn’t been shown to our rooms. The plates of food and goblets of wine, water and some indefinable liquid lay untouched in front of us. Even Brochan’s patience was being tested. For the last hour he’d been pacing up and down the flagstones, his arms crossed and his glower dangerous. Speck was glued to his phone. Lexie, Taylor and I were taking a different approach: every time someone passed by, no matter who they we were, we did our best to charm them into conversation. Operation Smarm was well under way.
Despite not having an ounce of Sidhe blood, Lexie did a sterling job of flirting with the older nobles. It was difficult for anyone to resist her impish smile and I saw more than one flushed cheek when she inadvertently brushed her body against her targets. Taylor was almost her equal; he oozed charm, gently complimenting the ladies without appearing overly familiar and using his down-to-earth attitude to remain unthreatening to the men.
It was markedly different for me. Every time I tried to engage someone in conversation, they shied away. More than one of them clutched their jewels, their bags or their pockets, as if I were going to spirit away their wealth from beneath their noses. It didn’t matter how I approached each Clanling, nothing worked. I’d never been as skilled at verbal dexterity as Taylor but I’d been pulling street cons before I hit puberty. I knew how to talk to people – and these people were having none of it.
The various non-Sidhe flitting around would probably have been friendlier ? I spotted a few warm glances from the servants and errand boys ? but they were in a rush and it wasn’t their approval I needed. Winning the Games would be one thing; I’d still need some Sidhe on my side to have any real measure of success afterwards –and I still needed to secure two votes to let me participate.
Despite the cold shoulders, I persisted. Sooner or later, someone would soften up.
‘I never took you for a social butterfly,’ drawled a familiar voice as my attempt to get close to a Clan Orrock woman failed miserably and she all but sprinted away.
I turned. ‘You can’t really be sociable when people act as if you’ve got the plague.’
Byron shrugged languidly. ‘They’ll come around.’
