Hunter's Season (Elder Races #4.7)(8)

Xanthe’s shoulders slumped. Even though she had been the one to bring the point up, Aubrey could see how clearly Tiago’s words disappointed her. Something about it moved him. Loyalty and dedication were precious things, and hers showed in her eyes, shining straight like a sword.

He heard himself saying, “Do not distress yourself over this. Your service will not go unrewarded. You are too valuable of an asset to waste.”

This time when she looked at him, she did not glance quickly and away. Instead she met and held his gaze. He found himself looking at her deeply. He did not know what he saw in her eyes—surprise? Gratitude? He did not know her well enough to read the nuances.

“I like her,” Niniane said suddenly. Her voice broke the unexpected connection that had grown between them, and they both turned to her. The Queen rested her chin in one hand as she studied Xanthe. “She’s discreet, she rescues kittens and she cares about the consequences of her actions.” She said to Tiago, “I want her.”

His expression turned indulgent. “If you want her, you can have her.”

“Well, thank you,” Niniane said, “but I think we should consult with her about that.” She turned back to Xanthe. “What do you think? Would you like to come work with me as one of my attendants? Please answer truthfully. I know guard duty isn’t for everyone, and those who have been close to me in the last year have not fared very well.” A shadow darkened her eyes, and Aubrey remembered the casualties from last year, a bright human woman named Cameron Rogers who died while saving Niniane’s life, and Arethusa, the late Commander of the Dark Fae army.

As he thought of them, his heart felt as heavy as a stone, and as dead. So many deaths, so much grief, that Naida had caused.

Niniane shook herself visibly and continued. “Perhaps you are no longer interested in active duty or this position, so you won’t hurt my feelings if you would rather not. We will make sure that you are placed in a position to which you are suited and that will make you happy.”

Pleasure had lit Xanthe’s expression, and in that moment she was truly beautiful. “I’m deeply honored, your grace, and I would love to work for you.”

The shadows disappeared from Niniane’s gaze, and she clapped her hands. “Oh goody!”

“I promised her time off first,” Tiago said. “She’s earned it.”

“Of course she has,” Niniane said. She asked Xanthe, “How much time would you like?”

“Might I take a sevenday?” the other woman asked in a diffident tone.

“You have been gone for some time. You may take a month—I mean a moon—if you like,” Niniane told her. “Are you sure a sevenday is sufficient?”

Xanthe nodded.

“Very well, come to me first thing on the eighth day.” Niniane gestured to Xanthe’s unfinished plate of food. “Have you had all that you want?”

“Yes, your grace.”

“Then your vacation begins now. Thank you for telling us what happened, and enjoy your sevenday.”

Xanthe stood, bowed deeply to Niniane, inclined her head at Tiago and Aubrey, and left.

Silence fell over the three who remained on the terrace, as Niniane resumed work on her breakfast and Tiago sank deep into his thoughts.

Aubrey finished his tea, his own thoughts turning dark as they always did anymore when he looked inward. He suspected that the most interesting part of his day had just taken her leave.

After Niniane finished her meal, she turned her attention to him and began asking questions. He had breakfast with Niniane a few times every sevenday, so that he could keep her abreast of the latest happenings in the congress and the courts. Sometimes Tiago joined them, and sometimes he didn’t. After listening to their conversation for several minutes, Tiago excused himself.

The rest of Aubrey’s schedule was filled with the never ending administrative part of his duties as Chancellor. He found himself wondering what the young soldier, Xanthe, was doing with the first of her sevenday, and how she was enjoying her time off. While she must have been around before on the extensive palace grounds, she would have been virtually anonymous among all of the black uniformed guards, and he had never noticed her before.

What would that quiet, reserved woman do for pleasure? Did she read, or work with metal, or garden or paint? After having been gone for so long, she must feel quite out of touch with her friends, if she had any. It was hard to maintain friendships when one worked as an agent for the crown.

As the afternoon faded to evening, his thoughts turned to Naida’s family. The Ealdun family were minor nobility and much poorer than Aubrey. Naida’s marriage to Aubrey had been advantageous to them in every way, and now they had not only lost that connection by marriage, but their daughter had been branded a traitor.

Aubrey hadn’t minded either the social and financial differences, or the age difference, as Naida had been much younger than he. He had not loved Naida the way that Niniane and Tiago loved each other. He couldn’t remember if he had ever hoped to find that kind of fierce, passionate love. If he had, it was lost in the distance of his long ago youth.

But he had known long, deeply caring liaisons with many lovers, and he had enjoyed his marriage with Naida, enjoyed having her companionship in the daytime hours and in bed. She had been clever, strong minded, and quick to grasp political and social nuances, and she had been funny, her wit dry and often sardonic. He had loved and respected her, and had considered her a good partner and a friend.