Lady of Light and Shadows by C L Wilson

Author:C L Wilson [Light, Lady of & Shadows (2)]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-03-18T09:33:32+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

King Dorian jumped to his feet as his personal guard swarmed around him and Queen Annoura,

weapons at the ready. Beside them, Prince Dorian clutched his affianced bride.

Adrial lunged against the shield surrounding him, sparks of white and red flashing around him.

"Release me! You have no right to keep a Fey from his shei’tani!”

Talisa was weeping, her hands reaching out to Adrial even as her father tried to pull her away.

Her husband, enclosed in his own protective bubble, had drawn his sidearm, and violence glittered in his

eyes. "And you have no right to touch another man's wife!”

"Peace.” Marissya's voice was pitched low and tranquil.

"Don't you dare try your witch's tricks on me, Fey petchka," Lord diSebourne hissed. He called

across the tomb-silent ball-room, "Is this what Celierian have become, sire? The lackeys of Fey

magicians? My father told me what's been going on here in the city with these Fey. They murder our

villagers—even our children!—and you do nothing. They steal a man's betrothed and you allow it. Will

you also stand by while they steal a man's wife?”

King Dorian's face turned pale, then grew dark with wrath.

"You are overset, Lord diSebourne," he replied tightly. "Though your anger is understandable,

you will marshal your tongue when speaking to your king.”

"Sire, my family has lived and died protecting the borders for the last few hundred years. I am

your loyal subject, but you either uphold a man's right to his wife or you do not. I will have your answer.”

Lord Sebourne called out in support of his heir, "As will I, sire.”

Lord Morvel echoed him, then another two border lords and a dozen other nobles followed suit.

Silent, watchful, Rain waited for Dorian's response. The Ce-lierian king looked around the

ballroom, his gaze moving slowly over the faces of the nobles who supported his rule, and over the still,

pale faces of the Fey, once revered allies, now on the verge of becoming a polarizing force that could

tear his kingdom apart. His eyes met Rain's for a long instant. When he spoke, Dorian's voice was clear,

unhesitating. "Without a doubt, I support a man's right to his wife, Lord diSebourne. Above and beyond

the claims of any others.”

A noisy thrum of whispering voices followed his pro-nouncement.

Without the smallest change of expression, Rain bowed his head in the Celierian king's direction.

"Nor would the Fey presume to think otherwise, Your Majesty. We honor your marriage rites as we

honor our own matebonding. Both are inviolable.”

" Ve ta nei keppa!" Adrial cried out. You have no right!

"Ni ve ta!" Rain snapped back. Nor do you. «You will be silent. We will speak, but not here

for the entertainment of these mor-tals. You will leave your truemate in her father's care, and you

will come with me. Now.» He razored a hard look at Lord Barrial and for the first time sent a thought

straight into the border lord's mind. «Keep your daughter safe, even from her husband. If he harms

her, there will be death, and I will not be able to stop it. »

Shock, indignation, and concern battled for supremacy on Lord Barrial's face, but Rain turned

away.

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