Page 99 of Foundling

“Prince Attalus, good day.” Formalities over, Charis asked, “Are we still discussing the southern ports this evening?”

“Yes, I believe that’s the plan. Leita was looking forward to it. She should be awake soon.”

“Why don’t we talk over dinner—I’ll bring the pertinent maps.”

“Excellent. Until then.”

Bidding Charis farewell, Attalus took the rest of the stairs two at a time.

He enjoyed the chancellor’s company; Charis Meringor was fiercely intelligent and utterly determined to see Leita succeed. His mate had chosen her chancellor well, and Attalus liked probing her brilliant mind and extensive knowledge of the faelands and beyond. It seemed Lady Idrisil knew exactly what she was doing, educating Charis to exacting standards should there ever come a time a new Queen sat the faelands’ throne.

He’d only gotten two corridors from the staircase before he ran into a group of elders. These had been the most difficult to woo, but Attalus was making inroads.

Lady Eilean, of course, looked down her nose at him and wouldn’t even bob her head in acknowledgement. However, Lord Boros and Lady Velentia greeted him, at least, and Lady Idrisil was always kind. He suspected the latter found him amusing, and that was perfectly all right; he knew how to work with amusing.

After polite greetings, he wasn’t surprised when Lady Velentia brought up Leita. “We haven’t sat to practice with the Queen since your arrival in Fallorian.”

“Her training is too important, she must return to us and connect with the faelands,” insisted Lady Eilean.

“She knows this, I assure you, my lady. Leita thinks of nothing but her duties. In fact, I’m going with her to the grotto this afternoon. She’s making progress, I can feel it.”

Lady Eilean opened her mouth, no doubt to ask how a dragon would know one way or another about any of it, but Lord Boros, the peacemaker of the group, spoke first.

“Queen Leita is a clever girl. She’ll find her way,” said Boros.

“Indeed, she will,” Attalus agreed.

“Hopefully sooner than later,” Lady Eilean muttered.

Attalus smiled at her with the length of his fangs bared. “If you know how to help her, my lady, I implore you not to keep it secret. My mate tries so hard for you and her people—I’m sure she’d appreciate your knowledge on how to finally reach the magic.”

Lady Eilean’s lips curled into her mouth, and Attalus tried not to gloat. While the elders had done their best, it clearly wasn’t enough. The nature of Queenship and how it passed from one fae to the next had been a guarded secret within the royal family. Lady Eilean and the others might have a few more tidbits of information given their age and having served in the palace during the reign of Amaranthe’s predecessor, but that amounted to informed guesswork at best.

“She tries so hard,” Lady Velentia offered. “We appreciate her efforts.”

“That’s right. She has our support,” said Lord Boros.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Attalus allowed his smile to warm and changed the subject. “I’m also glad to have run into you. I hear from Tamerlan that the newest shipments from Kaldebrak and Balmirra have come in.”

Lord Boros perked up. “Have they indeed?”

“He assured me everything ordered was delivered.” Leaning in conspiratorially, Attalus lowered his voice to say, “Including the case of port.”

Lord Boros’s eyes glittered. “They say there’s nothing sweeter than the port of Kaldebrak.”

“I had the pleasure of trying it once, and I can assure you, the stories are true.” Resting a hand on Boros’s shoulder, Attalus told him with a smile, “After our last conversation, I asked the kitchens to set aside a decanter just for you, my lord.”

Boros patted Attalus’s hand. “You’re a good lad. It’s nice to have someone here with such refined tastes.”

Lady Eilean made a noise of disgust, but Boros and Velentia paid her no mind. When they finally bid farewell to Attalus, he’d no doubt Boros was headed straight to the kitchens.

Which actually reminded him, he’d need to stop in today or tomorrow to set next week’s menu, especially now that they had so many new delicacies from the orcish territories. But he was already halfway into his climb, and he didn’t want to delay seeing his mate any longer.

He met a few more souls along his journey, but thankfully none stopped him. His spirit was lighter just entering their quarters. Leita’s scent wafted over him, and the soft colors of the bedchamber soothed his senses.

The double doors to the balcony had been opened to let in the sea breeze, but otherwise the chamber was fairly dim. The gossamer curtains had been pulled on two sides to block out some of the daylight, framing the little lump Leita made on the bed in a halo of soft glow.

It nearly broke both his hearts to see how she slept when she was alone. Curled up in a tight ball, her favorite blanket tucked around her. She made herself as compact as possible. Slinky slept much the same, snoozing on Leita’s hip. The marten stirred when Attalus leaned down to kiss Leita’s cheek and scrambled up onto his head.