When they rounded a corner on their way out of the Hall of Kings, Sunshine leaned against the wall as if he’d waited for them, and since his leg bore the full brunt of his weight it must be healed. He smiled as big and bright as the day she gave him the nickname. “Good Evening, ladies. You clean up well, Layala.”
“Thank you. Glad to see your leg is better,” Layala said.
Sunshine pushed off the door frame. “As much as I’d hate to interrupt your stroll, Princess Talon wishes to meet with you in one of the sitting rooms.”
She groaned internally. “I guess I have nothing better to do.”
She hesitated a moment then followed Sunshine down the corridor. Their conversation along the way consisted of the upcoming festival and to her surprise, he didn’t say one word about Thane or try to convince her to marry him. It was refreshing to talk about normal things. Like desserts they hoped to eat or songs they wanted to hear performed. She didn’t know many elvish songs, but she couldn’t wait to watch the elves at the Solstice dance during sunset. She wished she knew it so she could join in.
When Sunshine opened the door to the sitting room, he bowed and left with Piper at his side. Layala walked in to find Talon sitting with her legs crossed and holding red liquid in her high stemmed glass. She stood and smiled. “Oh, dear soon-to-be sister. I wanted to apologize for the way my mother and I treated you at dinner the other night. We haven’t seen you since, and I realized the error of my ways.”
There was something off-putting and disingenuous about her apology that got under Layala’s skin. And she was calling her sister? “Well, thank you.”
“I’d love to help plan the wedding. Mother wants to do it all of course but I said we must include you.” She swirled the contents of her glass and then took a sip.
Lifting an eyebrow, Layala deadpanned. “How thoughtful of you.”
“We can discuss that later. I want to get to know you. Lady talk.” She brushed her dark curls over her shoulder. “Like have you ever kissed anyone? Do you play any instruments? That type of thing.” Her green eyes almost sparkled when she said, “Has my brother tried to make a move on you yet, you know, romantically?”
Technically she made a move on him when she planted a kiss on his full lips before she tried to stab him, but that was neither here nor there now. “I can hit a target with an arrow from a hundred yards away. I like to throw knives, fight, and drink ale. How’s that for ‘lady talk’?”
Talon spat a mouthful of wine back into her glass and reached on a nearby table for a napkin. After dabbing her mouth, she said, “You fight for fun? I thought only males did that type of thing.”
Layala almost laughed but kept her composure. “On occasion. Although it’s not really for fun. Training is to keep up my skills and endurance.” Something she needed to do soon. Her last sparring session was over two weeks ago, unless tumbling with Thane in an attempt to kill him counted.
“Don’t tell Mother any of that. She already thinks you’re barbaric and in need of lady’s lessons. But my father, he would like you. If only he were here.” She gestured toward a table with a wine bottle and a glass. “Care for a drink?”
Bristling at the mention of Tenebris, Layala picked up the glass and poured herself red wine. She wanted to tell Talon that Tenebris wouldn’t have liked her when she drove a blade through his heart, but she sipped her wine instead. It was lightly sweet, velvety smooth and fruity. “What about you?”
She smiled as if she’d been waiting for Layala to ask. “I love to play the flute. My friends are great company, you’ll meet them soon. We walk through the gardens and pick our favorite flowers and talk about boys. I love chocolate,” she licked her lips. “Who do you think is more attractive, Fennan or Aldrich?”
“Aldrich?”
“Thane’s friend and personal guard. The one who escorted you here.”
“Oh.” Sunshine. Layala lifted a shoulder. “Um, they’re both attractive. I can’t say I favor one over the other.”
“Good answer. My brother would be insane with jealousy if you chose. Are you a virgin?”
Was this conversation a test? Is that why Talon truly wanted to meet with her? “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
“So, you’re not.”
Layala arched an eyebrow. “Are you?”
“Of course, I am. I’m a high lady.” She smirked. “Waiting for my husband, whoever he may be, is an absolute joy.”
“You’re being facetious.”
“As far as anyone around here knows, I’m as innocent as a wee lamb.”
This princess must be far from innocent, whether or not she was a virgin. “Don’t you find it frustrating that males can do whatever they want without repercussions but a female’s virginity or lack thereof, can be used to destroy her?”
Talon sipped her wine. “I like you. But not all males do whatever they want. Some wait for their fair maidens, whom they love and will marry, or so I hear.”
“Perhaps, but a rare male indeed.”
They were both quiet for a moment. Talon stared at Layala’s birthmark on her shoulder. “You know my father believed you would save us. I believe you can too.”
“And how might I go about that?” Layala drawled. “Your father must have had some idea if he took the measures he did to find me. More than an inkling, surely.” She believed Thane when he said Tenebris planned to give her over to the pale ones, but she wanted to feel out Talon’s intentions, see whose side she was on.
“It was for the good of us all.” She licked her lips, briefly looking out the window. “I find it uncoincidental that Thane found you only weeks after our father died. Almost as if he knew all along. Almost as if…” her eyes were fixed on the window’s ledge like it suddenly became interesting.
“As if what?”
Eyebrows drawing close she said, “Was he in contact with you previously?”
Layala’s face scrunched at the idea. “Certainly not. And I doubt he knew my location before he stole me from my home.” She kept at ease so as not to give away the truth. If she said too much it would sound like she was covering for him.
Talon half smiled as if the idea was entertaining. “Stole you?”
“Yes, they forced me into a carriage and dragged me here,” Layala said. She set the glass of wine down on the window’s ledge, and challenged Talon with a look to say otherwise. “And I’m now trapped here because of your father forcing a mate bond on us.”
“I’m impressed. Dragging a beautiful elf maiden from her home, especially his mate, seems out of character for Thane. My brother can be a brute if put into the right situation, don’t get me wrong. Everyone knows how good he is at killing, but I thought he was a softy at his core when it came to females.” She paused. “Guess I was wrong.”
Layala took a long swallow of wine after that. She’s impressed by that? “Speaking of your brother, he doesn’t seem to know or won’t tell me how your father thought my power might save us. Frankly, I don’t know rune magic and have no idea how to destroy the Void.”
Tapping her finger against her glass, Talon smirked. “Oh, my father didn’t know the way for certain; he simply had faith. I have a feeling you’ll find out soon enough. The folk of Palenor have been praying for you to come forth. Praying for our magic to be restored.”
She almost snorted at that. “You act like I’m some sort of goddess.” Layala shifted on her feet uncomfortably. “Using words such as faith and prayer in regards to me. I fear you’re putting me on much too high of a pedestal.”
“It’s not you we pray to, but you’re the answer. You’re the tool.”
Layala didn’t like being referred to as a tool and didn’t want to take it as nefarious, but this was the daughter of the king who murdered her parents after all, and if Layala had to guess, she was on her father’s side. “What does that mean?”
She giggled. Perhaps she drank too much wine. “I just think that you’ll find a way, that’s all.” She practically skipped toward the door. “Let’s go to the games. Maybe I’ll find a husband of my own.” She turned back to wink.
Thane was right. Layala watched the elven princess prance from the room. Talon couldn’t be trusted.
