The sheriff closed his scroll, turned, and bowed to the king. “The prisoner claims guilt of all charges. You are now free to pass sentence, Your Majesty.”

  I caught a small rustle among the nobles to my right. Kenton and Beirich had arrived. The olive-skinned wood elf and his shifter husband, both quite skilled druids who ran a small school here in Celear, were now standing at the edge of a cluster of elderly matrons. The old elves snubbed them but kept their comments to themselves as Kenton was a true and dear friend of King Aelir. He had been his companion throughout the king’s childhood, and they were as close as brothers, green skin and long white braids notwithstanding. To be honest, I was mildly surprised to see the druids in attendance since Kenton had voiced his objections to any kind of lethal sentencing with Aelir just last night in a rather heated manner.

  The wood elves felt that matters of life and death were meant to be left in the hands of their goddess, Danubia. Mortal elves, be they kings or bakers, were not divine enough to rule over such things. Which is why they—and most of those who walk Melowynn—held necromancy in such low regard. The king had been tired after spending several hours at the bedside of his dying grandfather, so the discussion grew loud until Beirich had stepped in to soothe things.

  Watching Kenton as he waited, I then glanced at Aelir. The king had not missed the entry of his friend. His sight still lingered on the slim elf in the plain brown robes and bare feet of the druidic teachers, his husband wearing the same robes, only much larger ones.

  “I would ask the prisoner if he has any last words before I make my decision,” Aelir loudly called to ensure he was heard at the back of the vast room. The king remained seated. Those in attendance grew still as temple mice as Jaska spoke.

  “All I ask is that the head who wears the crown recall that it is the poor farmers, blacksmiths, bakers, fishermen, butchers, innkeepers, and merchants who keep the nobility in fine silk robes with matching satin slippers. It is the common elf who weaves, carves stone, cobbles fancy shoes, and barbers. The chandler, the brewer, the miller, and the fishmonger have long been forgotten in Melowynn, their backs bowed by the ever-increasing demands of the vill’s owners and the royals. My actions were vile, yes, but they were just the spark to what will become a wildfire if the rich do not stop hoarding the wealth from the populace with dirt under their nails. My treasonous act brought the attention of all of Melowynn to the plight of the indigents who work for meager coin and no respect. That is all that I wish to say, Your Majesty.”

  Aelir rose from the throne. I took a step forward as he moved down the steps to stand face to face with Jaska. The king was smaller, a slim man with the refined beauty of the nobles, but on this day, he seemed twice his size. The prison guards took hold of Jaska’s arms. I slowly removed my sword from its scabbard as I placed myself beside my king. Jaska did nothing but look down into Aelir’s burning gaze. Those here leaned forward to see what the king in the gold, blue, and white robing of Melowynn would say or do. I had no clue what Aelir was doing, but if Jaska so much as blinked, I would separate his head from his torso. That was my duty, my vow, and I took it seriously.

  “Do not come into the house of the elves of Melowynn—for Avolire belongs to every elf, from myself to the gong farmer—and speak to me of ignoring the poor. I have worked diligently since being crowned to bring change to this nation. Years of battling against outdated thinking, laws, and regulations that keep the hardworking elves under the silken slipper of the vill’s owners and elite.” A small round of discontent moved over the crowd. The powerful did not like to be called out in public or hear talk of their tight hold on coin and prestige possibly slipping away. Aelir spoke true. He had made many revisions to as many laws as he could. Fighting the rich was expensive, time-consuming, and curried him no favor among those who stood here now waiting with bated breath for a death verdict. “Change takes time. I know that is not what you wish to hear, but that is the truth of the matter. I will continue to work for progress, but I will not brook anyone harming my family. You stole my children!”

  The king’s roar echoed around the throne room. Jaska did not flinch nor reply. His wife wept softly as Teryn patted her shoulder, and her son curled on her lap with his face buried in her bosom.

  Aelir shook his hair back, the gold mass falling to touch the back of his calves. “I cannot allow anyone, be they fueled by righteous flame or not, to abduct members of the royal family. To that end, I sentence you to a life of hard labor in the mines of the Witherhorn. You are to be transported on the morrow and will live out your life deep underground with those of the dwarven rock gangs mining for ore and gems. You will never again see the light of the sun nor feel the fresh wind on your face. If you are noted to be slacking or you try to escape the tunnels, you will be struck down and left to feed the tunnel trolls that beleaguer the dwarves. I would spend this time saying goodbye to your wife and son as you shall not see them ever again.”

  Teryn’s eyes flared.

  “But, Your Majesty, we were hoping that—” I shook my head to quiet his words. Now was not the time to plead for leniency. The king had been gracious. Far more gracious than any other monarch would have been in his position. Teryn bit down on his lower lip as Masha wailed loudly.

  “Take him to his cell,” Aelir snapped. “Lead his wife and son down to the dungeons. Give them fresh water, food, and seats. They have until the sun sets, then the lady wife and the boy are to be taken to the suite of Mahouk Nouradi, where they will stay until the ambassador leaves for the Black Sands and takes them with him.”

  Aelir stalked back to his throne, threw himself onto it, and waved a hand at me. I slid my sword into its scabbard and gave my men directions to clear the throne room. The nobles hurried out, talking in whispers behind fans and hands, until the room stood clear of any save those on the dais. The king, the queen, his consorts, Rolim, myself, Le’ral Fylson, and Kenton with his spouse.

  “That decision was surprising,” Raewyn stated while easing her slippers off her feet.

  “That decision will bring you no favors from the vill’s owners or the nobility of Melowynn,” Le’ral spoke out as he moved closer to the thrones. “You should have hanged the bastard. Crimes against the crown should be shown no mercy.”

  “You acted in the light of the goddess,” Kenton added, padding up the steps to look up at his weary friend. “It is not for us to play with who lives and who dies. That is for Danubia to decide.”

  Fylson sighed. “Yes, and while I understand your religious take on such things, there are times that demand a swift and deadly reply.”

  I knew that Le’ral spoke from a place of pain. His lover for many centuries, the former king, had been poisoned by rebels, so he had little time for those who rose up against the crown.

  “Be it for good or bad, time will tell. I took the advice of my counsel, my friends, and my consorts. What happens to Jaska is now out of my hands. Few survive working in the dwarven tunnels who are not blooded dwarf.” Aelir rubbed at his temples with the tips of his fingers. “This day is far too long, and it is barely midday. I wish to return to my solar, finish the discussion with the royal architects about sealing that miserable tunnel, then visit my grandfather and my children. Dinner be damned. I’m too sick of it all to eat.”

  Aelir rose, took V’alor’s hand, and exited the throne room. Raewyn glanced at me and then my cousin with a heavy sadness on her shoulders.

  “His burden is a heavy one.” The queen sighed, linking fingers with Lady Merrilyn. The tall, robust blonde woman kissed the queen’s knuckles tenderly.

  “Such is it for all who lead,” Le’ral said as I took my leave of the small group remaining to follow the king and his beloved to the solar to resume royal duties. During the day spent with stonemasons and architects, an elderly elf with no remembrance of the people seated at his bedside, and a couple of rowdy twins, I found my thoughts darting to Teryn. He’d left the throne room with the others, leading Masha and her son through the curious throngs to disappear from sight. The day wore on, melancholy riding all within Avolire, for the knowledge that a family was to be torn asunder on the sunrise weighed us all down.

  When my shift ended, I made my way to my room, life weary and hollow inside, unsure of what lay ahead for me. Teryn would be leaving soon, taking Masha and her boy back to the arid beauty of the Black Sands, which left me experiencing a bereft feeling that I only knew how to handle in one way. Find a pub, a whore, drink, and then fuck myself out of this malaise. Only the thought of lying atop a man or woman who did not smell of sand sage or possess amber eyes did little for me and less for my cock. Mayhap a night in my quarters, supping on barracks food and working on rosters was the better plan, I mused as I washed up at the basin, splashing water about the floor.

  A tiny rap on the door sounded. I pulled on a clean shirt and opened it to find Tezen, black eyes round as coins, her breathing elevated.

  “Captain, oh, Captain, come quickly to the stable! It’s Gwedel!” she yelled, streaking in to tug on the collar of my shirt. For such a small thing, she was incredibly strong. I’d been told by the princess herself that pixies are much like spiders in that they are quite strong for their size. Whether that was true or just Tezen making up fictions, I had no clue.

  My heart leapt into my throat. “What is wrong with her?” I asked, shoving my feet into plain leather shoes as I darted out the door.

  “I know little of horse ailments! Rush! Run! Hurry!” She flew about my head like a pesky fly as I thundered to the stables, pushing into the large barn on a dead run and skidding to a halt when I saw my mare and a dark roan gelding that belonged to Le’ral saddled and ready to ride, Teryn holding both steeds’ reins. Gwedel nickered at seeing me and passed gas.

  Chest heaving, I threw a dark look at Tezen flitting over to Teryn, who was dressed for a ride in trousers, a white blouse opened to show off his firm chest, and soft leather boots.

  “Amazing! It seems the beast was just corked up. Now that she’s blown out a tubber, she seems right as rain!” Tezen said, graciously taking a bottle of dark red wine from Teryn. “Thank you, Mahouk! I’ve long wanted to try a bottle of this hot Sandrayan grape, and I know just the serving wench to share it with. Good eve, Captain! Oof.”

  She nearly sank to the hay-covered dirt at the weight of the bottle but managed to stay airborne enough to zig-zag out the door, her wings beating furiously.

  I looked from the imp to the ambassador. “You could have simply sent a note.”

  “I thought of that but given the coldness you’ve shown over the past several suns, I felt that perhaps a ruse was in order. The royal ward guard was easy enough to persuade into my machinations.”

  “Hmm, a bottle of wine and she’s bought,” I mumbled, walking over to run my hand down the long nose of my mare.

  “Yes, well, it took more than that, but the sprite does have a weakness for a grand love story, it seems, under all her ribaldry.”

  I glanced from Gwedel to Teryn, the smells of the stable soothing the slight irritation I’d just felt. “A grand love story?”

  “Yes, well, I feel it to be. Let us ride out to view the stars from the cliffs that overlook the sea. Rumor has it that the sight has led many a lover to profess their deepest desires.”

  I shook my head at the man yet found myself climbing into the saddle. The feel of a horse under me was grand.

  “No offense, but your quadoth are far below a steed this fine.” I patted my mare’s neck. Teryn chuckled softly as we trotted out of the barnyard, taking a right lane that led past the grand gardens, and out of the protected grounds of Avolire. He sat a horse well. So far, I had found nothing that the man did where he did not look compelling.

  The northern gate was closed, but we were granted passage with ease. Once outside the grounds, we rode along a narrow band of thick trees that hugged the sea cliffs. These were royal hunting grounds that were hopefully going to be opened to the people of Celear by Aelir to aid them in putting food on the table. Umeris had been fighting the idea tooth and claw, citing ancient bylaws, but Aelir was standing fast against the upbraiding of his grandsire and many other rich elves who enjoyed the bounty of the small, wooded area but wished to hoard the wealth. I suspected that would be made into law soon, but for now, we had the tract to ourselves.

  “Jaska,” I said as we paused to admire a small pond after startling a small red doe and her fawn.

  “I bring you to a remote romantic pond, and you speak another man’s name. I am truly crushed.” Teryn sighed as he slid from his horse and strolled to the pond. I did the same, letting the reins fall loose. Gwedel would not run off, and if she did, we were close enough to home that she would return to the stables. As I neared, the smell of sand sage slipped into my senses, warming my nose and lungs as I breathed it in. “Perhaps my powers of seduction are fizzling away as I grow old.”

  “Do stop,” I said as I stepped up next to him to look down on the white and gold fish paddling about in the pond. Gifts from a foreign dignitary from a far-off land beyond the uncharted islands northwest of Knight’s Way called Sai Gayesh. They were said to be magical fish that granted wishes if one spoke the language of their people. No one here spoke that tongue nor had ventured to the unknown isles for several hundred seasons. Perhaps with a growing navy that had a queen who loved to sail at the helm, our people would once more sail off into adventures to find the lands of the mystical pond fish. “You are far from fizzled out.”

  “It does my ego good to hear that you think so. I would have hated to waste such a rare bottle of wine if this plan went cocks up, as the pixie princess has been known to say.” He dropped down into a crouch to drag his fingers along the surface of the water. The fish swam up to him, sucking on his fingertips, which made him laugh. “What amazing creatures. They seem to almost wish to speak to us.”

  I squatted at his side, placing my fingers into the cool pond, his shoulder and mine touching. The brush of him against me made my cock swell in my breeches. Just the merest rasp of cloth to cloth had me stiff.

  “I mentioned Jaska as a means to discover what was on your mind when you stood with him,” I asked, dropping to one knee to reach into the cool waters a bit further. The fish were beautiful creatures with long flowing tails. Their scales glowed under the bright light of the moon sisters. “Many people are whispering that you’re now to be considered a traitor as you took the side of a treasonist.”

  “Hmm, yes, I assumed the tongues would set to wagging,” he replied, sitting down to remove his riding boots with small grunts as each came free. Then he moved to sit at the edge of the pond to soak his feet. I watched spellbound as the fish nibbled softly at his toes. Teryn giggled like a young miss getting her first kiss. It was enchanting. I sat beside him, unsure if I wished to have fish tasting my toes just yet. “They tickle,” he explained, fish now swimming round his bare feet as if to fan them with their elegant tails. “I stood with Masha and an innocent boy, not a traitor, although I felt great sympathy for them all. His cause is just, but his actions horrendous.”

  “Yes, that they were.” I toed off one leather shoe wary of any water creature. I’d once been grabbed on the balls by a crab as a lad. That was the last time I allowed a handsome young man to goad me into wading in the surf nude. “I too understand the plight of the poor in our lands, perhaps better than most who sit in the throne room bedecked in jewels, finery, and slapping their imported Sandrayan fans.”

  “That is why you are a just guardian for the people and the king, for you represent the best of what an elf from the streets can accomplish.” He leaned back on his hands, arms locked behind him, to stare at the stars winking above. I slipped my foot into the water slowly. Teryn chuckled. I looked over to see him gazing at my toes touching the pond. “It is not lava, my dear, just water. They have no teeth.”

  Rolling a shoulder, I eased my entire foot in. Two large fish swam over to taste my toes. I jerked at the sensation but left my foot submerged.

  “So you stood with the woman and child. Commendable. She will hopefully adapt well in your household. Being from the Black Sands, she and the boy should not mind the heat.” I wiggled my big toe. A slim fish, more gold than white, rubbed its side along it like a cat would a leg. The sensation was enjoyable if rather odd. “I hope they do not cause any problems for you. She is, and will remain, a rebel.”

  “True, but she knows she has to put her children first now that her husband will be gone from their lives.” He sighed, allowing his arms to fold so he could recline on the thick grasses. “Whatever discussion Kenton and Aelir had late into the night must have swayed the king as I was sure Jaska would be facing execution.”

  I laid back as well, one foot in a shoe, the other in the water. The scent of sand sage wafted by whenever the gentle winds of the Silvura washed over us.

  “It was a lengthy talk, as most are between them, but I think that at the heart of it is that Aelir is a kindhearted man. Killing Jaska would have only created a martyr.”

  “That is true. He will be a hero though, and those are difficult to wipe from the memories of the people. Being sent to the mines is a fitting verdict, if not a cruel one.”

  “Is it crueler to be swinging a pickaxe until you are too old to lift one or swinging from the gallows?”

  “A very deep and philosophical question, my dear.”

  I moved to lie on my hip, to face him, to admire his profile in the moonlight. “That is twice you have called me dear. Are you sure you should be using such endearments?”

  He did the same, rolling to his side to stare at me. “Do you not wish to be lovers any longer? Is that why you have erected a wall between us?”