stopping time so long the day before, he didn’t dare do more than give himself a moment to get away. He ducked into an alcove that led into a garden. Listening hard, he didn’t hear any footfalls. With a sigh, he sat down as the sky grew lighter. The sunrises in the Halls of Mist appeared lacklustre and vague, and he found himself missing the more substantial essence of Caledonia. Without warning, he felt a surge as Douglas’ presence moved from the library and down the narrow bridge that led to the Druid Hall.
His druid was tired. Since their talk, Douglas had spent most of his time in the library, presumably feeding the Source Stone. Tràth wasn’t sure what that involved, but it drained Douglas’ energy. Soon , Tràth thought. Soon he’d be able to relieve Douglas of his presence and the pressure of the bond. Maybe then, they’d both get some rest. Eilidh had been careful not to promise she could help, but Tràth pinned his hopes on her anyway.
While he lost himself in thought, someone approached. He hadn’t heard her, but he sensed a strong fae presence closing in. He turned and gave her his best smile. “Hello, Princess.”
She appeared uncertain, as though now that she’d caught up with him, words eluded her. “Good evening,” she said. Then she looked at the sky, then back at Tràth. “Or should I say ‘good morning’?”
The weight of her expectations pushed on him. He thought about using his time control to slip away, but that would be rude and undo Eilidh’s work of the evening. “Did you enjoy dinner?” he asked her.
She tilted her head. “I would have enjoyed it more so if my escort had arrived as promised.”
He tilted his head. “I’m sorry if Tolin did not amuse you, Princess.”
“Since we didn’t get a chance to dine together, perhaps we could take a walk?”
“As delightful as that sounds, I’m afraid I must decline,” he said. “The family is returning to Caledonia with the morn.”
“So soon? I’d expected Queen Eilidh to initiate trade negotiations.”
The statement surprised him. If this was true, Eilidh had done some significant rearranging in order to return to Caledonia with him, adjustments the princess either didn’t know about or didn’t like. “Is Zalia open to increasing exports to Caledonia?”
“Perhaps,” she said. “A final decision depends on the terms offered. But yes, overall, we are. That’s why I came, after all.”
Tràth considered her. Eilidh should stay and speak with Imena while she was in such a good mood. The Zalians were reputed to be tough negotiators. Another time, Imena might not be so amenable. “I’ll tell Her Majesty at the earliest opportunity.”
“Surely she can delay her return a day or two.” Her tone rang with an unasked question.
“Possibly,” he replied with a nod.
“In that case, we can take a walk after all.”
Tràth gave her what he hoped was a pleasant smile. “I’m afraid I’ll be leaving after dawn, even if Her Majesty stays. The air in the Halls of Mist does not agree with me.” His smile faded, and he glanced toward the Druid Hall. Douglas had gone to bed. Once more, he sensed the druid was not alone. The jealous pangs in his gut sickened him.
“Why are you avoiding me?” she asked, her sharpness breaking through his reverie.
Tràth was startled at her bluntness. “Princess, I assure you my behaviour has nothing to do with you. I truly am an unsuitable royal.”
“So I keep hearing,” she said, softening her expression. Her dark lips turned upward at one corner. “You don’t seem as mad as they say.”
He couldn’t help himself. He laughed aloud. “No?”
“No,” she said. “In fact, I find myself quite interested in you.”
“I’m flattered,” he said. “But you should listen to what so many have told you.”
When he turned to meet her eyes, she was looking at him intently, as though taking the measure of him. “Your queen spoke the truth, then. You have no intention of
His druid was tired. Since their talk, Douglas had spent most of his time in the library, presumably feeding the Source Stone. Tràth wasn’t sure what that involved, but it drained Douglas’ energy. Soon , Tràth thought. Soon he’d be able to relieve Douglas of his presence and the pressure of the bond. Maybe then, they’d both get some rest. Eilidh had been careful not to promise she could help, but Tràth pinned his hopes on her anyway.
While he lost himself in thought, someone approached. He hadn’t heard her, but he sensed a strong fae presence closing in. He turned and gave her his best smile. “Hello, Princess.”
She appeared uncertain, as though now that she’d caught up with him, words eluded her. “Good evening,” she said. Then she looked at the sky, then back at Tràth. “Or should I say ‘good morning’?”
The weight of her expectations pushed on him. He thought about using his time control to slip away, but that would be rude and undo Eilidh’s work of the evening. “Did you enjoy dinner?” he asked her.
She tilted her head. “I would have enjoyed it more so if my escort had arrived as promised.”
He tilted his head. “I’m sorry if Tolin did not amuse you, Princess.”
“Since we didn’t get a chance to dine together, perhaps we could take a walk?”
“As delightful as that sounds, I’m afraid I must decline,” he said. “The family is returning to Caledonia with the morn.”
“So soon? I’d expected Queen Eilidh to initiate trade negotiations.”
The statement surprised him. If this was true, Eilidh had done some significant rearranging in order to return to Caledonia with him, adjustments the princess either didn’t know about or didn’t like. “Is Zalia open to increasing exports to Caledonia?”
“Perhaps,” she said. “A final decision depends on the terms offered. But yes, overall, we are. That’s why I came, after all.”
Tràth considered her. Eilidh should stay and speak with Imena while she was in such a good mood. The Zalians were reputed to be tough negotiators. Another time, Imena might not be so amenable. “I’ll tell Her Majesty at the earliest opportunity.”
“Surely she can delay her return a day or two.” Her tone rang with an unasked question.
“Possibly,” he replied with a nod.
“In that case, we can take a walk after all.”
Tràth gave her what he hoped was a pleasant smile. “I’m afraid I’ll be leaving after dawn, even if Her Majesty stays. The air in the Halls of Mist does not agree with me.” His smile faded, and he glanced toward the Druid Hall. Douglas had gone to bed. Once more, he sensed the druid was not alone. The jealous pangs in his gut sickened him.
“Why are you avoiding me?” she asked, her sharpness breaking through his reverie.
Tràth was startled at her bluntness. “Princess, I assure you my behaviour has nothing to do with you. I truly am an unsuitable royal.”
“So I keep hearing,” she said, softening her expression. Her dark lips turned upward at one corner. “You don’t seem as mad as they say.”
He couldn’t help himself. He laughed aloud. “No?”
“No,” she said. “In fact, I find myself quite interested in you.”
“I’m flattered,” he said. “But you should listen to what so many have told you.”
When he turned to meet her eyes, she was looking at him intently, as though taking the measure of him. “Your queen spoke the truth, then. You have no intention of
Similar Books
