Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(23)

“You should get some sleep as well,” I call over my shoulder.





Chapter Five


I wake late during the next day. I’m back in the drab “dungeon” room from my first stay. It’s not that bad, really, but it pales in splendor compared to the room adjoining the king’s, where I stayed as Frost. I miss the comfort and space of the prettier room. But I can imagine the talk if I moved back there as Olina.

Looking around the stone walls, I notice how bare it is. Where are Olandon’s belongings? I swing my feet onto the cold floor and hurry through washing and dressing. A long bath can wait until evening.

Four guards stand to attention as I stride out of the door. I recognize one of them instantly.

“Wrath!” I say, and kick myself mentally.

Wrath looks at me curiously as the others share a look. He sees their confusion and shifts uncomfortably.

“Tatuma Olina,” he addresses me. “I don’t go by that name anymore. Please call me Warren.” I bite my lip under the veil. Warren … a dependable, stable name. Just like the man before me. It’s still weird.

“I apologize, Warren. I’m glad you are one of my guards. I’ve heard your fighting ability would rival many of our best on Osolis.” One of the watchmen snorts. I turn my attention on him.

“Is something the matter, watchman?” I ask. He looks down at me with contempt in his gaze. The man to his left elbows him.

“No, Tatuma, nothing is the matter.” I step up to him.

“Then you’d do well to be respectful in my presence. I’m sure the king demands nothing less than the utmost professionalism.” I let my words hang in the air. Most of the castle Bruma are accustomed to me now, but clearly not everyone.

The contempt is still there, but he drops his eyes. “Understood, Tatuma Olina.”

Lunch is in full swing as I pass through the archway, veil in place. I relax at the familiar sight of the food hall, with its beamed ceilings and stone walls. Large tapestries hang from the walls—a new addition since I was last here. Had my complaint to Jovan about the dullness of this castle sparked this change? The tapestries are extraordinary, running from the ceiling, most of the way to the floor. It must have taken years and many hands to undertake such a task. I trip as another thought occurs to me. Did Arla organize all this finery? Was she trying to get her claws into Jovan again?

Predictably, the assembly quiets when I enter. I am so used to this now, it hardly bothers me. I grab a plateful of food and head to the delegates’ table.

“Where is everyone?” I ask Jaquiline. She’s the wife of one of the delegates, Roman.

She barely lifts her head. “In the First Sector, protecting us from your people.” She turns away. I rock back, surprised by the venom in her tone. The woman welcomed me, had stuck up for me from the start. She’d been upset with me since my return from the Outer Rings. I would’ve thought she’d be over her anger by now.

“Oh, shut up, Jacky. You sound like an idiot,” Fiona snaps. She moves around the table to hug me. Fiona’s anger surprises me nearly as much. I wasn’t gone that long, was I? Why is everyone out of sorts?

“I’m glad you’re back safe. Jovan announced you’ve delayed your mother’s army indefinitely. Everyone’s so grateful to you,” Fiona says.

“More like suspicious,” Jacquiline murmurs.

Fiona stamps her foot. “Just piss off, why don’t you?” My eyebrows shoot upward. Fiona just swore!

Jacky looks up from her meal, glaring at the pair of us. She stands, and marches off to another table.

“I’ve never seen you so mad before,” I say. Has Jacky done something to her?

Sanjay’s usually gentle wife throws herself onto the bench beside me. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper, I suppose. She’s just been so mean lately. And I don’t know why. She’s been hanging around with Arla more and more, too. She used to hate her! And she’s so nasty about … well, you,” she admits. “And I’m pregnant.”

“What!” I exclaim after digesting all the information all at once. “Congratulations!” I give her another hug. “You and Sanjay must be so happy.” I expect her smile to grow. But it fades instead. To my horror, tears well in her light blue eyes. Fiona could bring down an army with her sadness. She’s so tender-hearted you immediately want to cherish her. She shifts her blonde hair forward to hide her tears from the rest of the assembly.

“Sanjay says he’s happy about it. But I think he’s lying. He’s grown so distant, Olina. I don’t know what’s wrong! It feels like everyone here has changed. I’m so glad you’re back,” she sobs.

“Remember, we’re on the brink of war.” I squeeze her hand softly. “Sanjay’s mood might be no more than his worry about keeping his new family safe.” I’m glad to see my words have the desired effect. Sanjay loves Fiona. I can’t imagine them apart.

“I never thought of that,” she says happily.

“The tapestries are a new addition,” I note in an attempt to distract her.

She latches on to the topic. “Yes! Aren’t they beautiful? They were the king’s mothers. It took us forever to get them up! But it would probably take more effort to get them back off the wall, I think.”