Red Rope of Fate (22 page)

“If she wanted a mere introduction she would have asked Arion. And why did
Eric
deliver the letter, and not Arion?” Tari murmured.

“Lady Tarinthali!”

Tari looked up and smiled at Crown Princess Yvrea, who was sweeping in her direction, clothed in a beautiful dress that was the shade of the mid afternoon sun. “I am so gladdened to see you. I spoke with Father about Talon, and I’ve wanted to speak to you ever since to express my apologies,” Crown Princess Yvrea said, reaching out to embrace Tari.

Tari returned the gesture and smiled. “What’s done is done. I am only glad we were able to discover it was Talon who betrayed us rather than allowing the human royalty to blame citizens of Calnor.”

Crown Princess Yvrea nodded and linked arms with her. “I agree, come and walk with me please? I promised Benji a dance later, but I told him I wanted to devote this time to you.”

“As you wish, My Crown Princess Yvrea,” Tari smiled.

Chapter 10

Separation

Tari checked her dress and hair again in a large mirror that was just down the hallway from Princess Claire’s quarters. Her hair had not slipped from the artful twist Evlawyn had made, although Tari’s hair was barely long enough for the style and pulled at her scalp. Her dress—white with gold hemming on the neckline—needed no ornaments besides the gold belt that hung from her hips.

Tari woefully glanced up and down the hallway. Although her dress was pretty it did not seem lavish enough to match the ornate, and perhaps gaudy, hallway decorations.

“I like the soft, understated elvish ways of decorating,” Tari muttered, looking for the princess’ royal seal—which would mark her rooms.

Some distance down
the hall she found it, a wooden insignia of a dove nestled in a rose hung over a door.

Tari perfected her posture and pushed her shoulders back before knocking. The door opened and a mousy looking
lady’s maid opened the door and curtsied to Tari, leading her inside without meeting her eyes.

Princess Claire—a young girl of
a mere 18 summers—was already seated in her sitting room. The room was vastly different from Tari’s, mainly because the décor attempted to be flashy and impressive but mostly came off as over the top.

The stone floors were covered with tapestry rugs, but rather than having one large
rug Princess Claire had layers upon layers of them. A scene of an elf taming a unicorn was half covered by a hunting motif, which was partially eclipsed by a rug of the night sky. The walls were a beautiful ruby red color, but one could barely see the gorgeous cloth that covered the room thanks to the collage of paintings and statues.

It
felt crowded.

The p
rincess matched her room to a certain extent. She was a pretty girl with deep dimples, soft brown ringlets, and chocolate eyes. Her pretty features, however, were drowned out by her excessively loud dress—which was a pretty apricot color although the waist, sleeves and collar were lined with so many gems the end result was ridiculous.

In the few moments it took Tari to observe Princess Claire and her garish room, Tari realized that the poor creature before her was, as Arion suspected, feeling the burdens of trying to fit in, and as a result tried entirely too much.

“Good afternoon, Your Royal Highness,” Tari said in crisp Calnoric, performing an elegant curtsey.

Princess Clair
e stood and indecisively bit her lip. She looked to her mousy maid, who inclined her head.

“Ah, good afternoon Lady Tari,”
Princess Claire said, inclining her head to Tari. “Please, sit with me.”

“Thank you,” Tari said, selecting a wooden chair to sit in as she continued
her carefully rehearsed talk. “It was very kind of you to invite me to tea.”

“Oh not at all, I am delighted you could come,” Princess Claire said, reaching for the porcelain tea set arranged on a tea caddy in front of her with intense concentration.

“I feel that I must apologize. I crashed your evening tea some weeks ago, and my attire was not necessarily proper for the situation,” Tari said.

Princess Claire laughed before she silenced herself with wide eyes.

Poor thing. Yes, she is trying too hard
.

Princess Claire swallowed and carefully poured Tari a cup of tea. “Not at all, I am in debt to you for coming,” she hesitated and set the tea pot down before extending the cup to Tari. As Tari reached out to
take it the princess continued, “I wanted to invite you ever since you were bonded to Arion, but he forbade me. He said I would be using you like bait to call the courts to my teas. He was right, of course, so really it is I who must extend the thanks.”

Tari blinked, somewhat surprised by the blunt confession. “I am glad you feel my presence made a difference.”

“Your Calnoric is much better than I thought it would be, even though Eric told me you were good. You are truly remarkable, Lady Tari,” Princess Claire said, pouring a cup of tea for herself.

Tari watched, still somewhat shocked by the informality Princess Claire adopted with her. Perhaps she felt Tari’s close
relationship with Arion meant formality was unnecessary?

This little one t
akes more after Eric than Arion, that much is for certain
.

“Thank you. While I would like to claim the credit for myself Arion deserves your praise, for I learned mostly from him and his subordinates,” Tari said, accenting her words with a smile.

“Truly? You do not speak the way Arion speaks. I’m not sure how you would describe it. Eric says when you speak your words glitter. Would you like any tartlets or cookies?” Princess Claire asked, her hand hovering above the tray.

Tari was going to refuse, but she could tell the princess was doing her very best to be an excellent hostess, and would probably deny herself any refreshments until Tari ate first.

“Yes, thank you. What do recommend?”

“The buttermilk
pie is divine.”

“Then I
would like a slice of that, please,” Tari said, falling silent as Princess Claire used a tiny silver fork to lift a tartlet to a small plate before she gave it to Tari. “And Eric paints a very pretty picture of me, but I am afraid it is untrue. I am sure Arion has told you horror stories, his myths are probably closer to the truth.”

Princess Claire carefully selected a chocolate cookie for herself. “
I have not heard any stories from Arion as I do not speak to him much,” she said.

Tari, about to take a forkful
of her pie, paused and stared at Princess Claire.

Princess Claire caught Tari’s surprise. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “That is not to say that I do not love him, or that we do
not get along much. It is just that,” she gestured blankly in the air. “There is roughly a 15 year distance between Arion and I. He is the oldest child of my family, I am the youngest. He was already in the military when I was born. I did not see him much growing up, and now… Arion is very solemn,” Princess Claire hesitantly said.

“He’s rather guarded,”
Tari agreed before finally taking a bite of her buttermilk pie. The creamy filling melted in her mouth.

“Exactly,” Princess Claire
vigorously nodded. “I know Arion would do much for me, but I would say I am better acquainted with Eric. He talks much more.”

“And he does not resemble a rock when speaking to a person,” Tari snorted. She froze and looked to Princess Claire, but the princess did not seem offended and was laughing.

“Exactly! I was terrified of Arion when I was little because he always seemed to be frowning. He smiles much more since he’s met you.”

“I doubt that. I suspect I have the ability to irritate Captain Arion more than the most incompetent guards in his squad,” Tari said, elegantly shrugging one shoulder.

“Oh no,” Princess Claire shook her head. She looked like a sweet puppy with her bouncing curls and dark eyes. “Quite the opposite. Arion has improved much since bonding with you. It is obvious how much he treasurers your friendship.”

Princess Claire’s words simultaneously pleased Tari and stabbed her through the heart. To be treasured was grand, but merely
for friendship?

What more can I expect? Love is not to be found between humans and elves.

“I thank you for your kind observations,” Tari said.

Princess Claire studied Tari, and for perhaps the first time since meeting her, the princess displayed the same intellig
ence Tari saw in Arion. “I think you underestimate your power over Arion, Lady Tari.”

“What do you mean?” Tari asked, tilting her head as she returned Princess Claire’s stare.

“You mean much to him, and I believe there is very little he would refuse you,” Princess Claire paused and put her tea cup down before she glanced at her maid. The woman curtseyed and left the room.

The movement raised Tari’s hackles and she straightened in her chair, cautiously studying the room.

“It is precisely because Arion prizes you so greatly that I need your help, and that I am asking
you
and not him.”

Tari narrowed her eyes. “I beg your pardon?”

Princess Claire licked her lips and took a deep breath. “As you may be aware, I have been struggling to make my home here in the palace. Vincent has done everything in his power to make me comfortable, and King Petyrr has been most welcoming… but Vincent does not hold much sway over the courts and King Petyrr is oblivious.”

“I have taken note of the situation,” Tari said, still guarded.

Princess Claire nodded. “Queen Luciee has essentially refused to acknowledge me at all. I am ignored by most nobility. My family is slighted on a daily basis, I have been unable to make friends in my new rank, and the queen has made sure I know I am inferior,” Princess Claire said, looking down at her hands.

She’s so young, and she cares too much. The poor pup.

“And?” Tari prompted.

Princess Claire swallowed. “Prince Benjimir has recently approached me with a, an arrangement I guess you could call it.”

Tari forced herself to keep sitting even though she wanted to stand and hotly exit the room. Prince Benjimir, again?

“He said he was prepared to lend me his aid—to help me
establish myself and my family in the courts—if you would return home,” Princess Claire said, the last of her words coming in a rush like spilt water.

Tari was silent and unmoving for a few moments as she mulled on the words. “You are asking me to uproot myself for your sake.”

Princess Claire winced. “I suppose so, yes. But don’t you
want
to go home? Eric said you live in a port city in Lessa. I imagine you must be homesick by now. Plus aren’t you a dancer? Don’t you want to get back to dancing?”

“I am an Evening Star,” Tari said, careful to keep her words free of malice. She had to remember that Princess Claire was nothing but a scared, young puppy. Princess Claire was not doing this to be cruel, she just didn’t know better. “And while I love my home city of Gloria I am
quite content in Haven. I am astounded, though, that you have the gall to ask me to return home for your sake.”

Princess Claire drooped. “I know I’m being unfair and stupidly selfish, but it isn’t just for me. Arion will benefit too!”

Tari pushed an eyebrow up. “I fail to see how.”

“This snubbing isn’t just happening to me. At every dinner and banquet Arion, Eric, my sisters and parents, my whole family is mocked and slighted.”

“I have observed Eric being made fun of, but I must disagree in Arion’s case. He is flocked by female admirers, and I have yet to see anyone even attempt to disgrace him.”

“Yes, Arion has admirers. He fares the best, I think he’s shielded by your presence. But Arion was on the fast track to promotion, which screeched to a halt when he was
pulled from the army and reassigned to Haven to be with you. Everyone said he was going to be the youngest army general ever. Father thought Arion would probably be given a higher title of nobility than what he will inherit. His position here in the palace is actually a demotion,” Princess Claire said, nervously twisting her hands.

“Arion will never leave Haven, not while you’re here, which means his career isn’t going to move forward. And yes, everyone takes care not to speak ill of him within your hearing… but…” Princess Claire blushed and looked away.

Tari frowned slightly. “What?”

“Since the day you were bonded…the courts have been in something of an uproar that a male and female were paired together. I think Prince Benjimir started the talk, which is pretty ironic considering his partner, but there has been much speculation
.”

Tari blinked. “On what?”

“Ah… you know.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Your reputation? And Arion’s?”

Tari stared, genuinely confused. “My what?”

“Ahhh, some say Arion is less than honorable since he’s been bound to you, a female.”