Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“Much is changing in our lands, Seph,” Mother replied. She let him go and looked to me. “You remember Princess Elena?”
He turned my way and reached out both hands.
I hid my aversion and took his, wishing it was G’Jell who’d come to call. I very much liked Jell. He was genuine and kind and quick to find humor in a situation.
Mother had also shared that he was there, in Firenze, for the events and ceremonies.
However, he was probably doing what most Go’Doan priests should be doing at this time of night. Being at his prayers or being with his brethren or being asleep.
Not traveling an hour outside Fire City to disturb my mother for a good natter for no purpose at all when he’d see her tomorrow eve.
“Yes, of course,” he said to me. “Your beauty continues to be unsurpassed.”
As if I cared aught about that.
“Thank you, Seph,” I replied. “And it’s very good to see you again.”
His words did not reach his eyes. “I’m honored you think so, Your Grace.”
“And, of course, you remember Melisse,” I noted.
He let me go and whirled to Melisse.
“The kind and wise lieutenant of a great queen. I knew not the fullness of privilege I’d have, walking through some silk flaps,” Seph declared.
I took the opportunity of his obsequiousness to look to the man with him.
He was taking everything in with keen eyes and no expression, though I got the sense from him that he wished he was somewhere else.
Studying him, though, I felt a chill hit the back of my neck, and that, too, had no reason.
“Allow me to introduce my new G’Ar. This is G’Drey, very recently to this land and this is very lucky for he is here to witness these historical events,” Seph announced.
G’Drey came forward and was appropriate during introductions, as the Go’Doan always were, with everything.
Outside of impromptu evening visits to a camp in the desert the night prior to the inhabitants of said camp performing in a massive parade and just hours after they’d made that camp after a very long journey.
Mother offered them pillows and called a trainee to bring wine, bread and cheese.
“The Fire City is abuzz, my queen,” Seph launched in. “And has been for weeks. They are most excited about all who arrive here, those from these lands and ones far away. Much coin is being spent. Much revelry is in the air. And adding to this, the King and Queen of Mar-el arrived just today with great fanfare. He is fearsome, she is even more of a beauty than the stories foretell. The Firenz people rained petals on them, threw coins at their feet and shot flaming arrows in the air as they and their men rode through the streets.”
I would have liked to see that.
I’d never met the King of Mar-el. He didn’t often come to the mainland and the Mar-el people as a whole mostly kept to themselves on their vast island. But I heard he was just as imposing as he was easy to look at.
Indeed, because of their isolation, the whole of the Mar-el people were mostly a mystery. Simply their royals’ appearance at these ceremonies was a strong shift in the way things had been for centuries in Triton.
I hadn’t heard much about his wife, but I was curious about her.
“Of course, King Gallienus and Prince Cassius have been here for over a week,” Seph carried on. “No fanfare with that, like brothers welcomed home, Cassius and his men instantly went off with some of Mars’s lieutenants to hunt or fish in Fire Lake or,” he flipped out a hand, “whatever men of that sort do.”
“Indeed,” my mother replied, caring not what men of that sort did.
G’Seph slid a glance my way before his attention went back to my mother and he carried on.
“And King Wilmer arrived just days ago with Prince True and Wilmer’s little niece. So petite. I must say, Mars has displayed many qualities of his father. He’s most patient and accepting, for a Firenz.” This last was said with just a hint of abhorrence that I reckoned he thought he hid, but he did not. “But I cannot imagine he’s best pleased with that waif. I’ve seen her wandering about the city with a guard of Mars’s warriors as well as Dellish soldiers and there’s barely anything to her.”
Again, I looked to Melisse.
She was plucking at her casings like she’d lost track of the conversation when I knew she had not.
I drew in breath and with it, patience.
“I know Silence personally, and if Mars has persistence, he will find his match is most assuredly pleasing,” my mother said.
“Yes, of course, as any sister would be,” Seph murmured.
“And would it not be worth some thought that perhaps Mars would need to best please his mate?” Mother asked.