13. CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13

DANIELLA

Shadow informed me that Cardian’s revelries started shortly after dinner most nights. Dinner was normally served at 7 PM, so a few minutes before that, I made my way to the dining room in the west wing, the one he seemed to prefer because it was closer to his quarters.

But not only that, apparently, he wanted to change everything about the way his father, mother, and brother used to do things. The dining room in the east wing, the one I was familiar with, was considered the main one for a long time, so he was planning to convert it into a waiting room for petitioners. Larina heard the gossip in the kitchen and shared it with me after she helped me with my makeup.

“I’m glad to see he has his priorities straight,” I said to the pixie as she pointed to the veil lying on Cylea’s vanity. We came here to avoid Cardian’s mole.

“That one matches your dress perfectly,” Larina said.

I wrinkled my nose at the thing. I hated wearing a veil, but it was supposed to be a custom that single Jovinian females upheld proudly.

“He already saw me without it,” I protested. “Won’t he think it’s weird that I’m suddenly wearing it again? Besides, how am I supposed to eat?”

“You’re not. That’s why I got dinner for you.” She pointed toward a small table in the middle of the room, and a light dinner of soup and bread appeared there.

“Are you serious?”

“Jovinian females eat in private.”

“For God’s sake, why? Is eating considered unladylike in Jovinia or something?”

“It’s just a matter of keeping their faces covered. That is all.”

“Does it matter that he saw my face? That he knows the Sub Rosa did too?” I hadn’t stopped to consider this

“It does. If he says anything, you could casually tell him you’re against the custom, but you’re trying to keep appearances for your family’s sake. A growing number of Jovinian females feel that way.”

“I could also not wear it, and tell Cardian that no one has to know who I am. That it would be best if no one realizes I’m the same female that Kalyll was involved with. That should spare his ego, wouldn’t you say?”

“From what I know about him, he will want everyone to know that King Kalyll’s lady is now with him. He wants everything of his brother, not only his throne.”

“I see.”

I took the veil with me as I walked to the table and made myself eat a few spoonfuls of soup. In the end, as I made my way to Cardian’s gathering, I was grateful I wouldn’t be expected to eat anything else. My stomach was in knots. I had no idea what awaited me, and if I would be able to hold my own.

When I took the last turn into the corridor Larina had indicated, I encountered a couple of Cardian’s guards standing in front of the double door. They wore orange padded tunics to indicate they were loyal to him. As they noticed my approach, they wasted no time letting me know with their harsh glares that I wasn’t welcomed.

“Move along,” one of them barked down the hook of his nose.

I stopped instead, Dark Dani pushing to the forefront.

“King Cardian,” I almost choked at having to call him that, “will not mind my presence. Please inform him that Lady Fenmenor is here.”

“He is not expecting you, so like I said, move along.”

I tried to think of what to say that might convince them to let me in, but I had no authority here, and the only power I possessed would turn him into a husk—not exactly the best first step. Except Dark Dani didn’t share that thought. In fact, she had me taking a step forward, one hand slowly reaching for the guard’s bare arm.

A frown started to cross his features as I approached, but the sound of steps made me pause and glance back.

Varamede Elis, wearing a blue jacket embroidered with orange thread, had just turned the corner and was walking in our direction. He slowed his pace when he noticed me. His dark eyes narrowed, and his entire demeanor became guarded, as if he was ready to spring an electrical attack at any moment.

It seemed I had left quite the impression on him. Good. Smiling, allowing my eyes to crinkle, I stepped away from the guard.

“Lord Elis,” the guards said in unison, bowing.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I said, my voice chipper as if he were a long-lost friend. “They won’t let me in, and as you well know, they should.”

I had no idea if this was true. For all I knew, Cardian had no intention of letting me into his inner circle, but if he believed me as powerful as Varamede, I had to trust he would rather keep an eye on me. The friends close and enemies closer philosophy still applied in Elf-hame, didn’t it?

“Open the doors and let us in,” Varamede ordered after a moment’s thought, as if he were the king himself.

The guards didn’t hesitate, which made me realize the level of influence his friendship with Cardian afforded him. It was more than I’d suspected.

As they threw the doors open and I walked in, I tsked, tsked at the guards, gave them a once over, and said in a haughty tone, “Let that be the last time you disrespect me.”

Damn. Dark Dani was a bitch, and I wasn’t sure I’d want her as my friend. Though that meant she was the perfect type of person for the likes of Cardian and Varamede.

What stretched before us was nothing like I’d imagined. This wasn’t a simple gathering, but more like a grand opera after-party for a bunch of prima donnas. People milled about in expensive suits, gowns, and jewelry, their hair styled in elaborate and gaudy ways—too much gold and pixie dust creating ridiculously tall beehives, even on some of the males. They all had a certain air of superiority about them and looked down their noses at everyone else.

The walls were lined with tapestries depicting scenes of royal life, and the floor was covered in a thick, red carpet. Tables strewn all around the large space held plenty of food and drink.

“Just my kind of gathering,” I found myself saying, as I sashayed, hips gyrating like some sort of out-of-control top-toy.

What the hell?!

Dark Dani seemed to find it very easy to act like a prima donna herself. Witchlights, I was possessed by Liberace or worse… Madonna.

Varamede gave me a sidelong glance as he made his way toward Cardian. I followed him since that was exactly where I needed to be, and if Varamede didn’t look happy about it, I didn’t give a shit.

As I moved further in, I took in the large area, which was abuzz with activity. Court members gathered deep in gossip or watched one of the many entertainment acts that would give a human state fair a run for its money. In one corner, a bard told stories. In another, a female with green skin juggled three torches. And in a third, a jester made a fool of himself while a group of people laughed with disdain. In the center of the room was a raised stage with a band of musicians playing a lively tune.

Some guests laughed, others danced, but their demeanor was barely festive. There was too much animosity here for true camaraderie.

As my gaze swept over those who accompanied Cardian at the center of a lavish narrow table from where he surveyed the crowd, I nearly choked.

Naesala Roka was there, talking to a young female with small fawn horns and a strange face. The Sorceress noticed me out of the corner of her pale eyes but pretended not to recognize me. Larina had gotten the word out to her, and Naesala had lost no time making a reappearance amongst Cardian’s acquaintances.

When we reached the table, Varamede walked around it and took a chair right next to Cardian. The thunderlord acted as if I wasn’t even there, neither offering me a chair nor announcing my presence.

“You have the manners of an oaf,” I told him, then bit my tongue, silently scolding Dark Dani.

Varamede had collapsed into a slouch, but as soon as the words were out of my mouth, he sat up straighter, shooting a menacing glare in my direction.

I felt my insides turn to water. If he decided to strike me with one of his electrical attacks, I’d have nothing to fight him with, and I would end up as a small piece of charcoal on the floor, all my hopes and long brown hair up in stinky smoke.

“Lady Fenmenor is right, my dear friend.” Cardian slapped Varamede’s shoulder. “You do have the manners of an oaf. Get up. Give her your seat.”

Varamede sneered, and for a moment, I thought he would refuse, but in the end, he gave the person to his right a nasty glare—though not nastier than the one he threw my way. The male jumped to his feet and vacated the seat in an instant, not a sign of hostility or embarrassment in his manner. Honestly, he simply looked relieved to escape.

Great!Now I had to sit between the two assholes, the same ones that others were glad to abandon in a hurry.

I did my best to look pleased and plastered a smile on my face, as the hip gyration continued, and I tried to convince myself I really wasn’t possessed by someone—maybe Shakira?— though I was starting to have my doubts. I figured I would know for sure if I broke into a full belly dance.

“I’m afraid oafish manners are contagious,” Cardian said as I sat down and static electricity zapped my arm from Varamede’s side.

My small hairs stood on end, but my expression revealed no discomfort. I had to give it to Dark Dani, she was kickass.

“Is that so?” I made a show of dusting myself off whatever cooties Varamede might have infected me with.

Cardian smiled, amused by my antics. “Yes,” he replied, “I forgot to send you a dinner invitation. Unforgivable.”

“Truly.”

“You are amusing, Ylannea. I like that.”

Crap, if I didn’t want the crown jester post, I needed to watch myself.

“Delighted to please,” I said, despite my reservations at being expected to entertain him with jokes.

He brandished a hand around, carelessly pointing toward my veil. “Why this again?”

I had been expecting the question, but when I leaned closer to whisper an answer, it wasn’t the one I’d discussed with Larina. “I wouldn’t want just anyone to see my face.”

He narrowed his eyes distrustfully. “You allowed Kalyll’s goons to see it.”

Petty, petty, weren’t we?

I shrugged. “As of this morning, they were important. Not anymore.”

My answer seemed to satisfy him because there was a glint in his eyes as he let it sink in. No doubt, he was growing more confident by the second that I was a classic gold digger.

“So, what do you think of my little gathering?” he asked.

I let my eyes wander around the room, crinkling them as if I were smiling when in reality my mouth was suppressed into a thin line.

From what I’d observed so far, the display that stretched in front of me could only be called banal. I imagined this was how a political party at the White House would feel, or the Oscars ceremony. Everyone acting self-important while at the same time trying to see whose favor they could win or whose back they could stab in order to move up the food chain. It was a den of hyenas, and I was sitting next to the biggest, fattest one of them.

And while the doglike creatures sniffed each other’s butts, those who could later serve as fodder did their best to amuse them, like a crazy-looking Fae with the turquoise mane, wildly swinging his arms in front of the musicians, acting like their conductor.

“It is everything I imagined,” I said, my words holding no lie.

I’d heard the others talk about Cardian’s debauchery, and I wasn’t disappointed in the least.

“I am extremely glad to hear that. How about a little food and wine?”

“No, thank you.”

The food looked delicious, but there was the veil and the fact that I couldn’t help but think of the poor people slaving away in the kitchens, hustling to feed a bunch of freeloaders. And nothing to say of the phenomenal waste.

The more I got to know Cardian and his tendencies, the more I understood why it was imperative for Kalyll to return. True, by their laws, he wasn’t the rightful king, but there was nothing right about replacing him with this loathsome male, not even if his blood went back hundreds of years in a line of many Adanorin kings.

When he was done eating, Cardian stood and offered me his hand. Doing my best not to look as if I was about to throw up the moment I took his hand, I rose to my feet. The struggle not to draw out every bit of his life force was real. There was skin-to-skin contact now. Nothing any of his guards or his precious Varamede could do to stop me from turning him into a wilted dick, but I couldn’t do that. Not until I found out where he was keeping Kalyll.

Parading around like some sort of peacock, he guided me around the edges of the rooms, stopping here and there to look at the performers who overexerted themselves to please him, and then exhaled in relief when we moved on.

I found it difficult to understand how such a weak-looking male could cause such fear. He was about my height and build, and had no magical powers. He also didn’t possess Kalyll’s commanding presence, and nothing about him inspired anything but a desire to give him a wide berth.

Frowning, I glanced back toward the table. The thunderlord was looking disinterested as he sipped from his wine glass. His gaze met mine, and I inclined my head in acknowledgment, refusing to be intimidated by his clear desire to turn me into a piece of burnt toast. Was all the fear Cardian produced due to his association with Varamede? Or was there another reason?

No, there wasn’t.

He used others to instill fear in his subjects, which was why he wanted me.

“Did you see the prestidigitator?” he asked as we continued walking.

“Prestidigitator?” I asked, feigning a mixture of ignorance and confusion. Hearing the word here surprised me. I wasn’t aware that such charades existed in Elf-hame.

“Yes, it’s a human thing really. Manual dexterity, sleight of hand to fool the eye.”

“Seems like a waste of time when so many things are possible with magic.”

His expression tightened. “It requires more agility than you may think.”

“Really?”

Why did he sound offended by my comment? Maybe because prestidigitation was very similar to what he was doing here… pretending to be something he was not.

“Really,” he replied dryly.

“Then I would love to see this trickery,” I put in, filling my voice with excitement.

Cardian’s expression grew satisfied again, and he whirled back the way we’d come. “This way.”

A female had just risen from a nearby chair, and unfortunately for her, she found herself in Cardian’s path. They crashed. Her glass of wine flew from her hand and spilled its contents all over Cardian’s cream-colored jacket.

He let out a frustrated growl and threw his hands to the sides, shaking wine off his sleeves.

The female’s face disfigured in horror, and she immediately started apologizing. She was left with an empty glass in one hand and an odd little creature in the other. The animal was small and furry with what appeared to be the body of a dog and the tail and ears of a squirrel. It had a friendly demeanor and soulful eyes like a golden retriever. It was adorable.

She repeated her apologies effusively. “I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I am so clumsy. This is all my fault.”

“Of course, it is your fault, you vacuous trollop,” he shouted, his face growing red with rage.

Before I could even begin to process what he planned to do, he reached out and grabbed the little creature by the scruff of his neck.

“Lord Snuffles, no!” The female’s eyes went so wide I thought they would pop out of their sockets. She reached a trembling hand toward her little pet, fright disfiguring her face.

In an instant, the poor animal flew across the room and smashed into a nearby wall with a shriek and a stomach-turning crunch. It slid and hit the floor, where it collapsed in a heap and didn’t move.

The female pressed a trembling hand to her mouth as she stared at what I suspected was now a corpse.

“Lord Snuffles,” she whispered.

As if responding to her voice, the animal twitched. Its owner let out a squeak of relief. When Cardian noticed the slight movement, he started moving toward the discarded mound of bones to finish the job.

“What a bore!” I exclaimed, looping my arm through his and trying to sound like an unfeeling, spoiled brat. “Where is this prestidigitator you were telling me about?”

Cardian blinked at me as if he’d completely forgotten about me. He composed himself with some effort. He appeared slightly chagrined, but I doubted it was due to his actions. I suspected he was only bothered by the fact that I’d been a witness to his outburst.

“Perhaps you can find him by yourself,” he answered in a controlled tone. “I’m afraid I have to go.” He looked down at his jacket and then at the female, who hadn’t dared move despite the repeated twitching of her pet’s little legs and tail.

“What a shame,” I said. “But of course, I understand, you can’t go around looking like that.”

His upper lip twitched. He hadn’t liked that comment. He was clearly one of those people who liked to pretend nothing could ever be wrong with them—not even an accidental wine spill.

After inclining his head, he took a step toward the female and said, “I don’t ever want to see you here again.” And with that, he made his exit, guards, and his dear friend Varamede quick on his heels. For a moment, I thought that perhaps I should follow too, but I’d had enough of Cardian for one night. Besides, I wanted to talk to Naesala and find out what sort of help she could provide us.

Time was running out on Kalyll. His brother had a very-easy-to-trigger temper.