BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 (21 page)

Justis jerked his head at me in a swift nod as those around him stood and awaited the King's words.

* * *

"I want you to stay for the coronation—it'll be held the day after Jurris' memorial." Justis shook his head at the transformation of the King's suite. Jurris' belongings had been removed—Wimla and Vorina now had possession of his personal things. I imagined they'd set many of those aside for Liron when he was older.

Justis' things had been moved into the King's suite, although much of his clothing had been left behind—he'd have to stand still to be measured for a new wardrobe.

Both of us were still trying to deal with the derailment of our lives. I didn't tell Justis what I'd known the moment I'd set eyes on Liron—there would be no red wings for the boy.

He'd have his mother's brown. Already, he was showing a talent for drawing. I understood why Justis was made King—he was the best candidate for the throne. I knew it, as did the Orb.

"What are we going to do?" Justis strode toward me and pulled me into his arms.

"Justis," I took his face in my hands, "You know I love you. We will take things as they come, moment by moment if we must, until this sadness and unease passes well enough that we feel like ourselves again."

He snorted, and then half-smiled. "You are the one with black wings now," he pulled me closer.

"Black wings mean nothing unless I'm prepared to challenge my enemy," I whispered against his chest. I'd seen the way the Council stared at my wings—once again I was the hapless standout, because my wings were different.

Justis didn't bother to explain why I had black wings; he'd attended to business instead. I could predict what the gossip would be the moment the Council left the throne room, however.

My
wings, and the fact that I'd stood as Justis' advisor in the throne room.

* * *

Lissa

Bleek stood in the open doorway to his suite, watching as I brought Barc back to him. The boy wanted to see the rest of the castle; I'd arranged for a live feed on a screen for Bleek so he could see that we meant Barc no harm.

I'll admit that four arms could mean four times the potential mischief, but Barc was well-behaved and more than happy that he had no pain—that's what he recalled of his former life—the illness and the pain it brought.

He'd been excited to see everything, especially the kitchen, where Cheedas offered him a cookie. He'd eaten it with a smile and a glass of milk.

"Pap," Barc crowed. "I sat on the throne!"

"I saw," Bleek pulled Barc through the door. "How was the cookie?"

"Good. Cheedas wouldn't let me have two, because dinner is coming."

Thank you
, Bleek mouthed at me over Barc's head. I nodded in reply.

* * *

Quin

"Gurnil wants to see you," Dena said. She'd arrived at the King's suite and asked to see me.

My breath caught. I saw it in her eyes, which held guilt immediately. I was about to receive bad news. Well, perhaps not bad, but not the best nor the most ideal.

"Walk or fly?" I asked.

"Fly," she shrugged. With my shoulders sagging, I followed her to the terrace, where we lifted into the air and headed for the library.

Far below the castle, I could see three tour boats, with tourists gaping at the enormous glass structure and no doubt recording images of a Black Wing and a Yellow Wing flying from one terrace to another.

When we arrived, I settled my feathers as I followed Dena into the library. There, Gurnil and Ordin waited for me.

Neither looked happy.

"Tell me," I said, without sitting down. After all, I might fly around the castle twice after receiving the news they bore.

* * *

Terrett

What do you mean, he has to protect the positions of Jurris' wives?
I demanded. Quin had fled the library moments earlier, landing in the bowl somewhere to weep as lambs gathered about her. Daragar was with her—he'd sent mindspeech to reassure the rest of us.

"Same go for Queen, if husband die," Yanzi muttered. "Former mate must marry new King or Queen. To protect rights—theirs and child's."

"So they can't just be tossed out like yesterday's garbage," Bel Erland arrived to join our conversation. "It's to perpetuate the line, too, in the eyes of the Avii. I believe it was originally intended to ensure a succession of Red Wing monarchs, but the law was interpreted to include anyone married or aligned with a King or Queen."

"Only red wing get to be Queen or King," Yanzi added. "No other color elevated."

"So Quin will be one of the herd instead of special," Bel sighed. "In the eyes of the Avii."

I doubt that's how Justis thinks of her
, I complained.

"It how she feel," Yanzi growled. "She see it in all faces of Avii."

* * *

The King's Suite

Justis

"It didn't go well," Gurnil admitted.

Ordin sat by the overly large window in my sitting room, staring at the sea and refusing to speak.

"Did you tell her it's only a formality? Neither will be in my bed. They're my brother's mates, for pity's sake," I flung out a hand.

"I don't think that's what upset her," Gurnil hung his head.

"What is it, then?" I demanded. I didn't need problems with Quin—I needed her beside me so I could get through this mess without breaking down.

"She knows what the others think," Gurnil sighed before turning away. "She feels outcast again. The others will be expecting Wimla and Vorina to be with you, rather than an upstart who wasn't born to any Avii."

"She was created by Liron himself," I hissed, my anger rising quickly.

"We know that. Most of your Council fails to understand it. They don't know where she's been the last five years, or where she'll be in the next five. To them, that is an unsuitable mate for their King."

I wanted to hit something, then. Or haul the Council back to the throne room and shout at all of them. I'd be forced to accept Wimla and Vorina as mates after my coronation. I wanted Quin to be first to say the vows, so she'd know she was the only one in my heart.

Liron I would adopt to protect him as he matured, but any King worth his feathers would do the same. Wimla and Vorina would be free to take other mates—in fact, I hoped they'd find someone soon. I wanted them to understand they would never be with me, although I think they already knew that.

"Where is she?" I demanded. "Quin?"

"I heard she was somewhere in the bowl, surrounded by sheep while Daragar attempts to console her."

"I'll go," I snapped, stalking toward the door.

"Take a guard with you," Gurnil reminded me softly. "Last time, you flew with Quin. This time, you cannot go alone."

I cursed, then. In Alliance common and Avii.

* * *

Quin

"I'm back where I started," I mumbled while scratching a ewe behind an ear. "With the Avii. They don't trust me. Don't understand where I've been for five years. I wish I could explain where I was, but I don't know either."

"Dearest, don't let this upset you," Daragar soothed. "Justis loves only you."

"I don't want to be the next Halthea in everyone else's eyes," I said. "They hated her—if Justis listens to me and my words are at cross purposes with theirs," I didn't finish.

"Never compare yourself with that selfish bitch."

Justis had arrived; Ardis, acting as his guard, was right behind him.

"You should go," I said, rising and dusting off the seat of my pants. "You're the King. I don't have red wings. That's all that matters."

"Quin, that's unreasonable and you know it." Justis frowned at me. Yes, he was right. I just felt as if I'd been punched in the stomach and wanted to hit back for a change.

"Commander Ardis, perhaps we should give them some space," Daragar stood and lifted a blond eyebrow at black-winged Ardis.

"I'll fly to the guard's mess; I can see you from there," Ardis nodded and snapped his wings open. Moments later, he flew straight for the door in question, without looking back.

"I'll be listening for my name in mindspeech," Daragar said before folding space.

"So we're to have our argument where the entire Avii race can see us?" I snapped. I knew Justis didn't deserve my vitriol; it spewed out anyway.

"You're the one who left the library."

"You weren't there. You let Gurnil and Ordin tell me what
you
should have," I pointed at Justis' chest.

"I was with Wimla and Liron—the child is having difficulty coming to terms with his father's death."

"Fine." I tossed out a hand and turned my back on Justis. "You could have told me afterward."

"I thought you'd hear it better from Gurnil."

"I'm not sleeping with Gurnil," I turned back and shouted.

"And you bloody well won't," he shouted back.

"I quit," I yelled. "I'm not an Avii. Everybody thinks that. They'll be happy to get rid of me, so you can make babies with somebody who is."

"What in the name of Liron?" Justis went still.

"It makes sense, doesn't it? I can't have children. You're the King. You'll need an heir. Liron will have brown wings." I dropped to my knees and wept.

* * *

Terrett

Justis appeared haggard as he followed Daragar into the library. Quin, unconscious in Daragar's arms, looked as if she'd been weeping.

Avii laws
, Bel Erland snorted in my mind.

* * *

Puntia

Vic'Law

"Is it operational?" Vardil demanded.

"Not yet," Barstle replied while lowering his eyes. He couldn't look at Cayetes. Not after what he'd just witnessed.

Deris, Cayetes' warlock, had performed a transference while Barstle was forced to watch. There was a purpose in this—Barstle's body would be taken by Cayetes if he didn't do exactly as the bastard wanted.

Barstle had watched, horrified and unable to turn away, as the victim wept and shook while his spirit was stripped from his body. When the body Cayetes inhabited dropped to the floor, limp and lifeless, Cayetes' gaze—from the eyes of the new victim—focused on Barstle. Those eyes promised a terrible retribution if Barstle failed to satisfy Vardil's smallest whim.

"How soon will it be ready? I have a planet to destroy," Vardil growled.

"We are recalibrating the firing mechanism," Barstle's voice shook. "I will see it done as quickly as possible."

"Is there enough drakus seed to ensure compliance with your allies?"

"I think so. You understand the fields were small where we grew it, south of Der'Vek. Xilva owned the land and it was hard work, converting overgrown fields to something that would provide a decent harvest the first year."

"I don't give a fuck about your problems. Where is the store of drakus seed?"

"Here, in Puntia, under heavy guard."

"I'll replace your guards with mine."

"As you say," Barstle muttered, lowering his eyes to conceal his hate and anger.

"What about the takeover? I want the latest reports."

"I will show you what I have," Barstle stuttered, keeping his eyes down.

"Do so. Immediately."

* * *

Le-Ath Veronis

Lissa

"I don't believe this," I muttered. I had a headache and it was getting worse. Bel Erland sat across from my desk, a troubled expression marring his features. "Couldn't it have waited? What was the purpose in all this?"

"The Council wants Jurris to accept Wimla and Vorina as mates immediately after his coronation. He wanted Quin to be first, so she wouldn't worry about her place with him. It went south in a hurry. The minute she woke, she wanted to leave. Terrett and I have been trying to talk her out of it. Justis is not happy, and this is happening on top of Jurris' death and planning the memorial."

"Ask her to come here," I sighed. "She can stay across from Bleek. He broke her wing and she still wanted to save his son. I hope there's something good in him other than the love for his child."

* * *

Quin

"Gran says you can stay at her palace. I think it would be polite to stay for the memorial at least," Bel Erland coaxed.

I'd asked him to take me to Vic'Law. Perhaps I could spend my anger and distress while sparring with Caylon and allowing him to knock me to the floor.

"I'm not staying for the coronation."

I think it was my first fit of stubbornness.

Ever.

Until now, I'd shoved my feelings aside and done what I'd been told. Even after being beaten. Angry thoughts of Rodrik crowded my mind. He hadn't hesitated to raise his hand against me.

Hadn't argued with Amlis over its necessity.

Anger that I'd kept bottled up throughout my life was bubbling to the surface, and it was ugly and nauseating.