“Pasil, you have done our family line proud,” Rolim said as he drew me into a hard embrace. I clasped him to me, my sight on Teryn over my cousin’s shoulder. The ambassador turned to look out of the cave. Rolim pulled back, hands on my shoulders. “Wait until our mothers hear that you rescued the royal twins. Surely there will be a commendation for you, perhaps a bonus in your pay packet. Mayhap the king will grant you a small farmstead in thanks!”

  “You are forgetting that I was not alone on this mission,” I stated as my attention left Teryn to fall on Rolim. “I need no acreage, nor a bonus. Protecting the royal family is my duty.”

  “I recall when you were a roundabout cad with no thoughts other than fucking. Now you sound like the guard commander. Where did that carefree cousin of mine go?” he teased, or I took it to be joshing.

  “He was made a king’s guard. We all must mature someday, my cousin. That being said, let me rest and wash the sea from my skin, and we shall visit a few pubs tomorrow evening.”

  “I want to go!” Tezen called, flying down to hover between our noses like a plum hummingbird. “I wish to hear all the tales of adventure and romance.”

  “Romance?” Rolim grunted. “There is no romance on a rescue mission. That is what is wrong with your sex. Always frittering on about romance and soft little slippers when—oof!”

  I chuckled softly at the kick to his nose that the pixie delivered. She buzzed closer to his stunned face, two tiny fists raised.

  “Speak so of my sex again and see how soft my fists and slippers truly are!” With that, she streaked off, leaving a cloud of purple dust as my cousin rubbed at his nose.

  “By Ihdos, that pixie is feral,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Why she is even on the guard roster is beyond me. She should be back at her court searching for a husband if she could find one brave enough to wed her.”

  “I would warn you to not say such things within her hearing,” I warned him and caught the eye of Teryn, who was smiling in amusement, the shouting pixie having brought his sight from the moons’ glow on the sea. “You should go. The king and his family are leaving. We will talk later.” I clapped Rolim on the shoulder.

  “Tomorrow night shall be a night to remember,” he said, his nose swelling slightly before he took up his place with the king. My place, come the morrow—once I was over the lingering illness of the ocean—would be returning to my duties. Teryn would dive back into negotiations. When they were signed by all the heads of the various states, he would go sail off to the Black Sands. That was his home, just as the mainland was mine. Whatever we had would wither on the vine like a grape uncared for by the vintner. Keeping a love alive when separated by such a vast distance was impossible. Ask any bard.

  Now that it was just Teryn and me, I found my tongue tied in knots. I longed to take him into my arms, but would that be acceptable now? We were not on the open seas or sleeping under the desert stars. We were back in Celear. Where the court and church watched over the morals of every elf with a keen, sometimes prejudiced, eye.

  The fact that we were two males was of little consequence. The fact that he was Sandrayan and I mainland, plus his ranking being so much higher than mine, would be dissected and discussed from the lowest maid cleaning chamber pots to the exalted cloisterer.

  “You look beleaguered,” Teryn said to pull me from my fugue. “Do you carry so many worries on your shoulders now that the children are back in their mothers’ and fathers’ arms?”

  I walked over to him, drawn as if a rope was cinched about my middle and some invisible force was yanking me to the man.

  “I find that my heart, mind, and gut are in turmoil.” I gazed down at him.

  “Sadly, I can do little for your riotous stomach, but I can perhaps aid your heart,” he replied, the soft reflection of the moons off the water casting his black hair in ivory light. “If we could speak of such intimate things, I would tell you that—”

  “Father!” I’llra called out as she returned to the cave. “Are you coming? We have some light refreshments set out in your suite to celebrate our freedoms to move about again now that the true culprits are in custody.”

  Ah yes, Teryn’s people had been confined to their quarters. I smiled down at him as his daughter hurried to him, her exuberance in having him back seemingly overriding her attention to the situation. “We have your favorites.” She cast amber eyes at me. “Please do come if you wish, Guard Captain, for you played a large role as well.”

  “I did naught but vomit over the rails of your father’s ship and swing my sword. It was the patient and understanding words of your father that brought about a peaceful resolution.”

  Teryn started to object. “Please go spend time with your loved ones and staff. We shall have time to discuss things later.”

  I’llra linked her arm through her father’s, nodded at me, and then gently led him to the stairs, chattering in Sandrayan. Teryn gave me a look of regret as he was pulled along. I kept a smile on my face until they were gone, then I exhaled, my gaze moving to the soft whitecaps rolling into the cave. I stood there long enough to let everyone clear the nursery before climbing the slippery steps and easing into the quiet creche. The twins were with their parents, and so the room sat silent, eerily so. I imagined the nursery would either be revamped to seal the door to the cave permanently or the playroom would be moved to another area of the castle and the passageway closed forever. As a security man, that route into the castle was a danger to all within the walls of Avolire as we had all found out. I shoved a wardrobe along the floor to block the exit—not that the armoire would do much—and stepped into the corridor. Two guards glanced at me, taking in my shoddy appearance but having enough sense not to comment.

  “I want two men on this door until that passage under the castle is sealed. Tomorrow’s schedule will reflect that, but for the remainder of this night, you are to stay here.”

  They both replied with a brisk “Yes, Captain!” before I strode off to find a hot bath, a cold glass of wine, and my bed. Passing along the same walkway as Teryn had, I inhaled the faintest scent of sand sage. My heart twisted painfully in my breast. It would hurt to see him go. I could admit that to myself. I had deep feelings for the man that I could also confess. I’d been spared falling in love up until now. By choice mostly. I had witnessed at a young age what love did to a person. It weakened them and led them to poor choices. My mother and aunt were perfect examples. So I’d made sure to only allow my cock to pick my partners. My heart was not involved.

  Until Teryn Nouradi arrived with the wind in his face.

  Now, here I was, moping about as I found my room in the barracks much as I had left it. I called for a bath, a light repast, and some plum juice as I peeled off the coil root armor that I had been loaned. Tomorrow, I could have a guardsman take the set back to the ambassador’s suite. For I would once again be in my household uniform as I returned to my place at the king’s side. Once the tub was filled, I tossed my dirty undergarments onto the chair, picked up the tray of soft buns, butter, meats, cheeses, and a mug of rich purple juice, and slid into the bath.

  The barracks was quiet. The moons overhead showed it to be midnight or later as I chewed on a grainy bite of bread while staring at the night sky through the window. Lingering in the bath until I had filled my tender stomach, I washed in the now tepid water, my thoughts slurred with exhaustion. Leaving the bath, I dried with a thick cloth, pulled on a pair of clean braies and fell into my bed. Sighing deeply, I fell asleep on a mattress that did not list up and down or left and right. It was divine. The only thing missing was the warm presence of Teryn curled into my back. Yes, I had fallen hard, which would make the parting that much worse. Mother had been right in her advice to guard your heart as one would their back.

  TEN PASSES OF THE SUN HAD ROLLED OVER Celear to bring us to this monumental moment.

  Fate, or what would come down to the decisions of a monarch, could be fickle. Standing at the king’s right as he sat upon the Ivory Throne, his hair free, the crown of Melowynn upon his head, Aelir looked as kingly as any elf had before him. His queen sat to his left, his consorts in artfully carved seats on either side of Raewyn and Aelir. The queen was dressed plainly, for a queen, in a simple blue gown with her dark hair loose, a smaller crown seated among the chestnut curls. She had not patted any makeup on the scars upon her face nor had she for at least a season. Let the people look upon me as I am, she had decreed one spring day past, and so it had been ever since. She was not one for falsehoods or fuckery, as Tezen liked to say.

  Today, the throne room was filled with nobility. I stood with the king, my cousin with the queen, as Jaska was tugged into the throne room. He looked paler than he had when he had entered the dungeons. Lack of sunlight and possible impending death did tend to leech the color from a man. Even in chains, he entered the magnificent room with his head held high. The nobles hissed at him, his chains rattling along the white stone floor. The sun streamed in, bright and pure, through tall, ornate windows. Women in the crowd cooled themselves with small fans while the men simply sweltered in their fancy furs and velvets, most dressed to match their wives’ attire. A new trend in court that I prayed would die off soon.

  Hands behind my back, sword at my side, bronze armor weighing me down. This was an important day, so Rolim and I were both in plate mail. My undergarments were already damp with sweat. Le’ral Fylson was seated on a small stool off to the side. He was the only advisor on the raised dais this day as Umeris was rumored to be inching closer to joining Ihdos by the hour.

  I glanced at the windows, wishing they were open to allow the sea breeze to filter in, when a gasp from the nobles pulled my attention from the plate glass. Striding in behind Jaska were his wife and son as well as Teryn. I heard Aelir whispering to V’alor but could not make out what was being said as the ambassador walked in as if he were strolling the gardens. A placid expression on his handsome face, his goatee was patchy but growing in, I had noticed. To be honest, I had noticed everything about him over the past ten days. I’d been at Aelir’s side throughout the negotiations that had resumed. Teryn, as always, was possessed of great insight and helped to negotiate a treaty that should please all who sailed the Silvura Sea. Or most that sailed. Many would still be up in arms about the port fees, but money to build bigger and better docks had to be raised somehow.

  I’d not spoken to Teryn other than polite nods or official questions such as where he wished to sit, would he require an escort to his suite, or if he desired to have his secretary brought some red tea. Today, he looked quite beautiful. Black hair combed back and oiled, his charms dangling from his ear, bouncing softly, his green and white robes rich. His sandals were polished with black leather straps that hugged his feet like a lover. How I wished to hold him but dared not. Knowing his time here was limited, and to save my heart from being torn asunder, I had distanced myself from the man. It was for the best, I told myself and Tezen, who was constantly berating me for being a pigheaded coward afraid of a few tender feelings. I’d threatened her with latrine duty if she brought it up again, but she seemed unafraid. Probably because she spoke the truth. Teryn walked along with Jaska until they reached the bottom of the steps leading up to the thrones, where four people were about to pass judgment.

  Aelir leaned forward, gold locks sliding over his regally clad shoulder to pool on his lap. “Mahouk Nouradi,” he said as the nobles quieted, fans flapping steadily. “I find myself more than mildly surprised to see you down there with the prisoner.”

  Teryn bowed deeply then righted, his golden eyes darting to me for a fraction of a moment before addressing the king. I glimpsed a myriad of emotions in that quick glance that set my guts to twisting as if I were back on the sea.

  “Your Highness, I am here at the behest of the prisoner’s wife to request that she and their son be turned over to my care for the foreseeable future.”

  The nobles whispered to each other as Masha went to her knees before the king, her boy doing the same. “She is due to give birth soon, Your Majesty.” His sight moved to the queen, amber eyes soft with concern. “As a woman who has lived through the ordeal, I ask that you and the king look upon her with compassion until her child is born.”

  Raewyn spoke up at Aelir’s surprised silence. “When is the child due?” she asked. “Please tell her and the boy to rise. Someone bring her a seat.”

  Teryn translated, and within a blink, the stool that would have held Umeris was now under the very pregnant wife of a kidnapper. Truly, the day was starting off bizarrely. The boy, Kinya, hung onto his mother like a prickly burdock to a sheep’s wool. Raewyn pulled Aelir’s glower from Jaska to whisper in his sleek, pointed ear.

  “I see no reason to not allow the woman to be surrounded with her people as her time is nigh,” Aelir flatly replied. Teryn bowed slightly. “I would tell you to keep a close eye on her, for if she disappears in the night, my displeasure shall fall on you, Mahouk. She took part in this abduction of the royal heirs, and if not for the kindness of the queen, she would be giving birth outside the door of her husband’s cell.”

  “The queen is a kind and compassionate woman,” Teryn said, placing a hand on Masha’s drooped shoulders. She was pale as well. Sadness flowed from her. “I shall ensure she stays in my suites. After she has given birth, I would ask that she be allowed to linger with my staff as a helper to the undersecretary, who is bedridden with a severe case of shadow whispers.”

  Every mainlander looked befuddled. “Mahouk, you push your luck,” Aelir warned, his tone tense. “She too is to stand before me for sentencing. Are you asking that she go back to the Black Sands to be judged by your vahasi?”

  “No, Your Majesty, I simply seek to keep a woman with two children out of the dungeons below this mighty keep. I would ask that the king consider a punishment that would allow her to visit her husband periodically while keeping her children close. Perhaps an indentured servitude?”

  Aelir sat back with a huff, his back slapping the stone throne. “You ask to keep this woman as a slave?”

  That was a shocking request as we on the mainland did not own other elves, or humans, or any other sentient beings. I did not think the Sandrayans did either, but there were no laws about such things, just a general dislike of the practice.

  “No, Your Majesty, not a slave but a servant bound to my house under the ruling of the law. She will be under my watchful eye. I would ensure the children are raised properly with no hint of rebellion taught to them. My house is an admired and noble house that sits above reproach. If you wish, I would gladly ask the vahasi to send a recommendation to Your Majesty?”

  “No, that is not necessary. Fine, the woman will stay with you through the birthing. As long as she is here in Celear, she will follow our laws. Her son will be taught our ways as well as yours, and if word of any trickery or rebellious verbiage from the boy or her reaches my ears, she will find herself in her own cell and her children handed over to a noble house to be raised. Explain that to her, Mahouk.” Aelir waited for the translations to be made. Masha bowed as deeply as she could seated with such a large abdomen. She whispered to Teryn.

  “She is agreeable to the terms of her servitude in my house. She says that the king of the mainland is just, kind, and handsome.”

  “The king of the mainland has a kind queen who would see no woman give birth in squalor,” Aelir replied. Along the far wall, kneeling royal secretaries were busy writing down what was said, the scratch of quill to vellum barely heard over the fans of the nobles and the discussion between king and ambassador. “Does she wish to remain for the final judgment of her husband?”

  “She does, Your Majesty, and thank you for your intelligent verdict for her. Truly, your god of wisdom speaks through you at all times.” Aelir cocked a gold brow. “I would like to stay with the good wife Ashwish if that pleases you?”

  Aelir waved a hand. Teryn moved behind Masha as she lifted her son to her knee to hold him close. The nobles all grew quiet, even the fans stilling, as Aelir looked down on Jaska.

  A round man in dark red robes stepped forward, the high justiciar of the royal court, by the name of Dellyn Mothanna.

  “Step forward, Jaska Ashwish, and hear the charges that have been brought against you,” the sheriff called loudly, a scroll clutched in his hands, the sun glowing on the pale white vellum he held open. Aelir sat forward again as the charges were read out loud. Jaska shuffled forward, eyes on his wife, as the charges were read. “Be it known that Jaska Ashwish has been charged with the most foul and treasonous deeds against the crown of Melowynn as well as the peace of the realm. He is charged with absconding with the heirs of the crown, doing so with malice aforethought did lay his hands upon his grace Prince Al’fur and her grace Princess Alfina, heirs of the sovereign lands of Melowynn and all of its provinces. He did seize and bear away the prince and princess from their nursery and away from their rightful guardians, concealing them from the king’s men, thereby sowing dread and disharmony throughout the realm. Thus, that such a wicked deed, Jaska Ashwish has committed high treason, for to steal the body royal before Ihdos and elf is to strike at the heart of the crown itself. Therefore, by the laws and customs of Melowynn, Jaska Ashwish, you shall answer for these grievous misdeeds now to your king. What say you to these charges?”

  “I am guilty of all charges the crown brings against me,” Jaska replied loudly, his sight locking on the king and the king only. There was no malice there, just a forthrightness of conviction. Masha began crying as did her son. Teryn stood behind them, jaw tight, shoulders squared. He knew the ruling that the king would pass, as we all did. Truly Aelir had no other choice but to pass a death penalty. He’d been incredibly gracious a few years ago when one of the nobility had attempted to end his life. She had been quite mentally unstable so now spent her remaining years in the dungeon while receiving medical care from the clerics. His leniency in most matters of law was a large call against him by many in our lands. They called him soft. I doubted the king of Melowynn would be soft today. Treason was not a charge that got a slap on the wrist as some did for stealing pigs or drunken lewdness. Treason had only one outcome when committed against the crown.