Tempered Hearts (Hearts of Valentia Book 1) (14 page)

“For her part, I’m certain, but yours…” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t doubt you. I apologize. I speak from a place of concern, not criticism.”

With a deep, fortifying breath, Darius picked up the chalk and made the last marks to the Ansere’th lands. “I know. I appreciate your council. Let’s discuss the route back. I thought a ship at Darkrock could take us back around, porting in Cartan. There are a few potential stops we could make on the way back here.”

“Such as?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I thought I might speak to Arden’s handmaiden to see what would be most appealing.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Which one?”

Darius groaned. “It’s terrible I don’t know her name, but there’s not been time for introductions. The one that came from Aerenhall.”

Vennic nodded. “Paitra, then. She’s Moth’hari.”

“I did remember that much. Do you think you could approach her for me? I don’t want Arden to suspect I’m plotting anything.”

Tilting his head to one side, he was already working out how to accomplish it on the sly. “I think so, yes. I can see to it this afternoon if you like.”

“Please.” He gave him a grateful nod. “Arrangements need to be made quickly as there’s not much time left.”

“I believe Elena usually brings the tea in the afternoon, but Paitra always takes a walk beforehand. Her route takes her by the stables when I’m sitting down to lunch. I should be able to flag her down then and send her your way.”

“Noticed her, have you?” Darius smirked.

“She sometimes brings apples for the horses. Don’t be ridiculous.”

He held up his hands in surrender, knowing how unwise it was to push Vennic on that issue. “Just an observation.”

His eyes narrowed. “Keep your observations to yourself, please.”

Laughing, he rolled up the map for use later. “Duly noted. Thank you for your help.”

Chapter 14

Arden

“She’s gone again?” She looked at Elena, frustrated. “It’s two days until the wedding. Paitra knows how stressed I am. Why does she keep disappearing?”

Elena shrugged. “I think she’s been running interference for you. I understand your reluctance to get caught alone with the king, but maybe you ought to consider smoothing things over with him before the ceremony.”

In the days since the coronation, Arden received requests from Darius at least once a day to speak with him. Each time she made excuses— everything from planning meetings to receiving one of the hundreds of guests staying for the wedding— but he was relentless in his pursuit. Once she’d even faked illness to avoid him, and Paitra was getting irritated.

“I know it’s childish to be this stubborn, but I’ve no idea how I should act around him. I’m a little worried I’ll say something I’d greatly regret, and that isn’t fair. Our situation isn’t really his fault, but his timing with the truth was terrible. I don’t want to be made a fool of by some act he puts on for the public.”

“You guard your heart now,” Elena said with a sigh as she pulled the hair back from Arden’s face for braiding. “I’ll admit that worries me. I think we’d not be friends if you’d been that way when we met.”

She smiled at the elf in the mirror. “I’m not so jaded as that yet. I’m happy to offer anyone friendship. It’s only him I’m careful with.”

After she finished, there was still no sign of Paitra, but her parents were waiting on her for lunch. As Elena and Arden left to join them, a young boy scurried down the hall to meet them, out of breath from running.

“Your Highness,” he said between gasps. “King Darius requests—”

“Tell him I’m busy at the moment,” she interrupted the summons. “I’m on my way to lunch.”

“But, he said…”

She set her hand on the boy’s shoulder and smiled kindly. “Tell him where I’ll be and that he’s welcome to join us. If he gives you trouble over it, let me know and I’ll see he apologizes. Have no fear from it.”

The boy didn’t look happy about having to deliver the news, but ran off to see it done all the same.

“I certainly don’t envy that poor page,” Elena said. “He’s had to pass on your refusals four times this week.”

“And if His Majesty gives that boy any bother for it, better believe he’ll finally get his audience, though I don’t think he’ll enjoy that overmuch.” She sniffed a little before nodding at the guard stationed outside the dining hall. With a pleasant greeting and snappy salute in return, he opened the door.

Her annoyance level dropped severely at seeing her father’s smiling face already waiting for her. Her mother looked as pleasant as she ever did, but Arden knew the last minute plans for the wedding were causing her plenty of headaches. Madame LeVallier was working very closely with the duchess to ensure seating arrangements were as perfect as they could be, taking into account the various degrees of tensions between nobles, merchants, and the dwarf and elven emissaries that would be present. As Arden sat down, they went back to discussing food choices for the banquet, ignoring her almost completely. Instead, she chatted with her father about Maer, offering questions or solutions where she could. There was a problem securing new building materials, namely reliable tools and small, but crucial supplies like nails and screws, and prices for replacements were higher than was reasonable to expect for areas recovering from a war.

Shortly after the bread and soup arrived, the hall door opened with a powerful bang, startling them all. Darius marched into the room, his eyebrows drawn in an impatient scowl, as everyone but Arden scrambled to their feet.

“Do excuse the interruption, but I require the presence of my fiancée,” he said.

She slowly stood and smoothed out her skirts. “As Your Majesty can see, we’re in the middle of lunch. I’ll happily see you after we’ve—”

He stopped behind her and pulled back her chair. “You’ll forgive me if I doubt your use of the word ‘happily,’ as I’ve grown to dislike that word from all your other dismissals the past week.”

Her mother leveled a tight smile at her father, clearly displeased at the news Arden had been ignoring the king. “Dear, would you mind accompanying them? Madame LeVallier and I have much to—”

Darius took hold of her by the shoulders and guided her away from the table, gently, but firmly. “That’s quite all right, Your Grace. I promise to return her to you in the same condition she leaves in. No supervision required.”

“But—”

He stopped and met her mother’s disapproving scowl with one of his own. “I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from questioning the integrity of the king, Your Grace. A private conversation with the man she’s to marry will hardly besmirch the honor of your daughter.”

At her mother’s stunned expression, which matched hers moments before, Arden had to look away or risk a fit of laughter. With no more to say on the matter, Darius resumed the forced march to the exit. All she had time for was a helpless look at Elena before they were in the hall and en route to his study, and his arm linked with hers left her no options for escape. He didn’t say a word as they walked.

Inside the study, he finally released her, locking the door behind them. She was very displeased at being hauled away so rudely, but refused to let her anger get the better of her, holding her tongue and waiting for an explanation.

He leaned against the closed door and let out a small huff. “This is not the way I wanted to do this, but you left me little choice.”

“I’ve been very busy.” She crossed her arms, watching him.

“As have I, but I would gladly make time for you when asked.” He pushed away from the door, his shoulders relaxing as he approached. “I have my flaws, but I’m not irredeemable, asahana.”

That damnable word always made her drop her guard with him, and he took advantage of her ease in posture to guide her to the couch, still arranged as she’d done for tea that day. They sat there a moment, the silence between them awkward, but his expression changed when he seemed to decide on a course of action.

From inside his soft leather vest, he produced a small piece of parchment, folded in half. He looked at it for a moment, considering whatever it was, before his gaze returned to her.

“I have a gift for you,” he said, placing the paper in her hand. “I hoped it would be both a peace offering and wedding present.”

Confused, she unfolded the parchment. On it was a list of places: an itinerary containing things she’d wanted to see for years but was prevented from by war or concerns for her safety as a young lady.

She lifted her eyes to his. “What is this exactly?”

“Our travel plans beginning in three days’ time.” With a sigh, he dropped his gaze and took her empty hand in his. “Despite everything, I do care for you, Arden. I listen when you speak, and I thought I might prove that to you.”

She glanced at the list again, noting a few stops that she’d never spoken of to another soul outside of—

“Paitra?” she said aloud, astounded her friend was involved. “This is what she’s been up to? Plotting with you?”

“Are you angry? I didn’t want—”

Wide-eyed, she stared at him. “Angry? No. Not at all. I simply didn’t consider…” She tilted her head, trying to read past his expression. “You went to all this trouble to arrange this for me?”

He grimaced. “Regardless of my shortcomings, I want you to be happy, Arden. I think you could be invaluable to this kingdom, but more so if your heart isn’t weighed down by troubles.”

Without realizing it, she’d let him suck her in again. Unexpected disappointment met her with his words, though why or how she dared to think it was more than a friendly offering was beyond her. She knew his heart; he told her in no uncertain terms what his feelings were. Why should she be disappointed at the confirmation?

Softly pulling her hand away, she turned from him to read over the list again. “It’s a very nice gesture. Thank you.”

“You don’t sound very happy.”

Swallowing her true feelings, she put on the brightest smile she could muster. “Oh, I am. I’m very excited for the trip. I’m just thinking about all the packing I’ll have to do. What sort of things do I need to bring? Should I be reading up on anything, maybe learning some dwarven words so I won’t be totally lost when we’re amongst them? And what about while we’re gone? Kingdoms don’t run themselves, and—”

His finger against her mouth abruptly stopped her rambling, replaced by the racing of her pulse instead.

“Ingram is perfectly capable of running things as regent, as he was in charge during the years after my uncle was killed. The Chancellors know their jobs well, and will keep me updated with birds as we go. Paitra’s been seeing to the things you’ll need for the trip, and she’s conferred with Vennic about the areas of terrain she was unfamiliar with. As to the other thing, I suppose that’s up to you. I took care of everything I could with this, as I didn’t want to worry you with the arrangements. Vennic actually did the majority of the planning. He was very excited about it, honestly. It’s been a while since he traveled at all, and I think he’s going all out for the occasion.”

“Vennic’s coming with us?”

He nodded, pleased by her shift in demeanor and renewed interest. “And a company of soldiers as well. I should warn you, although I spoke with Paitra about it already and she says you’ll be all right with it, we will be traveling on horseback.”

“A month spent riding across the kingdom? Sounds lovely, actually. I take it this isn’t the type of tour with grand accommodations at every stop?”

“Tents, mostly.”

“I see.”

“I thought…” He shifted beside her. “You said you wanted to understand me better. As that was the way I lived for quite a large part of my life, I thought maybe it would give you some of the insight you were looking for. But if it’s not to your liking—”

“It’s not a problem, Your Majesty.” Again, she caught herself reading more into his words than she should, and she had to stop him. “I’m not the delicate flower in need of constant pampering my mother would have people believe me to be. I’d actually welcome the break from the constant wardrobe changes and endless hours of sitting in front of a mirror, waiting on braids and curls and rouge.” Pausing, she considered it. “I’m not required to wear dresses all the time for this sort of trip, am I? I’ve missed the riding breeches I wore constantly a year back.”

When he chuckled, it warmed her heart. It felt good to know she made him happy, even though part of her ached at having to hide her disappointment. Still, she had to see the best in things, and the trip was an opportunity she’d never had before, and might not again for a long time.

“You’re welcome to wear whatever you like. While I appreciate the effort you go to on any given day, I certainly don’t require it. “

She clamped down on her sigh. It was nice to know he cared very little about what she looked like.

Instead, she gave him another smile and stood. “Thank you for the gift, Your Majesty, but I really have to be—”

Standing, he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Darius, please, and you don’t have to go yet. I can have lunch sent for so we might talk a bit more.”

His touch turned her insides to a wobbly goo, but she refused to let it sway her. Lingering would only set her up for more tiny heartaches. “Thank you, but I think my mother would have a great deal to say about that, and I doubt you’ll have as little difficulty quieting her next time. You did promise to return me, after all.”

He frowned a little, but acquiesced, showing her to the door. “Before you go, may I ask…”

Patiently waiting, she smiled up at him. “Hmm?”

“Are we all right? I mean…” He raked a hand through his hair, tousling it into a perfectly imperfect mess. “If I ask after you again, will you still avoid me?”

She closed her eyes and summoned her courage, releasing a small held breath when she looked at him again. Lifting up on her toes, she brushed a soft kiss across his cheek, pulling away quickly to avoid his eyes. She’d never been so bold with anyone before, but considering what they’d be to each other in two days’ time…

She turned the door handle and glanced his way. “I think we’ll be all right, kendala.”

Dipping the smallest curtsy, she let herself out, not waiting to hear his reply. Her emotions were completely jumbled in her head, pulling her in five directions at once. She knew he was doing all he could to compensate for what he couldn’t give, but…

She couldn’t help wishing for more.

Darius

When the door closed behind Arden, all he could do was stand there gaping for a moment. His skin tingled where her lips had been, a sensation he’d not expected from the contact. Echoes of Naya tugged at him, and he gasped as though he’d been punched. A memory of her swept him away— the soft feel of her skin as she said her last goodbye, the scent of summer grasses permeating every inch of her, the way her hair slipped through his fingers…

He pinched his eyes shut, pressing his palms against the lids to blot out the lingering visions. He needed to let go of those ghosts, but they clung to him like festering leeches on any potential for happiness within his reach. Not for the first time, he wondered how long he’d be forced to endure the endless guilt over letting her go and longing for what he’d never have again. Perhaps Vennic was right, and visiting the Ansere’th lands would be a big mistake. Even if Naya wasn’t there, he had too many memories of her in the forests at the edge of the Blighted Sands. If something so small as Arden’s kiss on his cheek left him feeling as though a horse kicked him, what would all those ties to Naya in one place do to him?

Trudging over to an arm chair, staring into the fire, he allowed himself a moment of grief. The flames were the color of Naya’s tresses at sunset, and he could see her hovering over him, brilliant red hair glowing in the rays of day’s end…

“What are you waiting for, dragool?”

“Does it hurt?”

“Does what hurt?”

“Burning as the sun does. I worry you’ll scorch me if I get too close.”