Brecon Elessedil studied him some more, then sighed. “Even if I wanted to get you the Elfstones, I couldn’t.”
“Maybe we can find a way,” Dar said. “They’re in a lockbox in the floor of your father’s bedroom? Can we get in there without being seen?”
Brecon stared at him. “What are you up to?”
Dar kept his face expressionless. “You’re pretty good at opening locks, remember? And you’ve opened this one before. Let’s find out if you can open it again.”
* * *
—
Ajin d’Amphere had waited impatiently for the Elven king and his High Council to make their decision, believing that it would go in her favor but at the same time worrying it wouldn’t. She prowled the hallways restlessly, her Skaar escort of two soldiers trailing after her like loyal dogs. Not that she thought of them that way. Such an assessment was too limiting. They were there to ward her against harm. They were there to do her bidding whenever summoned. But they were more to her than that. All of the soldiers in her small command were more than just names and faces. She was close to them, the result of years of shared experiences. They were friends.
She knew it was wrong to think of men under your command that way, to allow yourself to feel anything for them. A leader should not be personally affected when individual soldiers were lost while in her service. But that was not who she was, and she had known it since she had begun her training with members of her command almost a dozen years ago. During her formative years, they had struggled together to endure both emotional and physical hardships, comrades frequently closer to one another than to their families.
Her thoughts shifted momentarily to her relationship with Kol’Dre. He had served her for years in her campaigns across Eurodia, repeatedly making it possible for her to turn adverse situations to her advantage. Over and over, he had given her invaluable information and advice. That spoke volumes about his devotion to her. But he was too ambitious for his own good. And while she trusted him, that trust was not as complete as she would have liked—especially when it came to his feelings for her. He wanted more from her than she was willing to give. She would have to keep an eye on him. She could not allow her emotions to undermine her authority or to paint her as a vulnerable woman.
She stopped at the end of the hallway on what might have been her twentieth circuit and stood looking at the Home Guards and the closed assembly doors. If the Elven king refused her, she would have to reevaluate her whole plan. But there was no help for it. She had done her best to convince him; she had made certain he knew she favored him. Brief furtive looks, small acknowledgments, and words that carried possible meanings beyond what they conveyed openly. Tricks of seduction, and she had used them all. Overt actions would not work with Gerrendren Elessedil. He was too proper and restrained for that. He would expect her to exercise discretion and show consideration for his place in the Elven hierarchy. He would not be immune to her charms—a princess of another people, a young woman who was barely more than a girl—but he would not risk mistaking the nature of her interest and looking foolish. For now, just piquing his interest was enough. She was planting seeds for the future, for a time when something more would be required.
“Princess,” one of her escorts whispered.
At the end of the hallway, the doors to the assembly were opening, and the king and his Ministers were filing out. She stood where she was, waiting. But when she saw the king come toward her, she went to meet him halfway, not bothering to hold back.
“Princess Ajin,” he said with a small bow.
He had used her first name—a small gesture that gave her hope. When he reached for her hand, she gave it to him. His fingers squeezed hers lightly. Her bow in response to his was much deeper and more profound. “King Gerrendren.”
His smile was genuine. “The Ministers of the Elven High Council and I are in agreement. You shall have what you have asked for. Whatever you choose to do about any aggressive acts on the part of the Federation will not concern us, so long as the Skaar stay clear of the Westland and Elven interests in the other lands. You’ve indicated what you will do to keep your end of the bargain, and we will hold you to it.”
“As you should, High King. And the Skaar will not disappoint you.”
“The Federation are no friends to the Elves, Ajin. They never have been.” He bent a tad closer. “I think I may speak for the High Council when I assure you that if their aggression threatens you, we will take steps to back them away. I think we will make good neighbors, the Skaar and the Elven people.”
She managed not to roll her eyes. Instead, she gripped his hands tightly. “This means so much. You have my eternal gratitude. I shall not forget your kindness.”
He stepped closer. “I hope you mean that, Princess. I hope our alliance will bring you back to Arborlon soon—as my personal guest. I would like to know you better.”
Ajin smiled, her eyes never leaving the king’s face. “As I would you. Until then, Ac’re dorst juin bei.”
“Which means?”
“In the Skaar tongue? It has no literal translation.”
“An approximation, then?”
Her smile was dazzling, and she managed to blush. “I think it best I keep it to myself until my return. I leave it to your imagination until then.”
She backed away, signaling to her Skaar soldiers.
“I shall have my Home Guards guide you back to the palace where you can retrieve your belongings,” the Elven king said.
He turned from her with a final smile and went back up the hallway. When he had disappeared out the door of the assembly building, she looked at her soldiers. The older, Jen’Na, gave her a conspiratorial wink.
“ ‘Aren’t I much too young for you’?” he translated. “Tender words, Princess.”
“He will never learn their real translation.” She smiled. “Unless you tell him.”
She indicated their readiness to depart to the Home Guards assigned to escort them and did not bother to note the look she was certain her soldiers were exchanging. In a group, the five of them walked back through the palace grounds, following the pathways leading to the royal quarters.
When they reached their destination, they entered through the east doors and walked to the rooms where the Skaar had left their weapons and cloaks. The Home Guards left them there, advising them to continue down the hallway until they were out of the palace. It was midday by now, and Ajin and her companions had flown here directly from their encampment. They were tired and hungry, but Ajin had made it plain beforehand that they would not be staying in the city any longer than they had to. Instead, they would fly east until they were beyond the borders of the Westland and make camp for the night on the Streleheim Plains. They would eat and rest then and resume their journey back to the rest of the advance force on the following day.