Tethered (The Avenlore Series) (23 page)

As had been discussed beforehand, Liam had opted to go with Liam as opposed to William.  Couldn’t say I blamed him.  Lia
m is what his mother called him and Liam came with a more pleasant connotation. 

Liam looked so pleased, happy even.  And, happy wasn’t something Liam often looked.  Brooding, sure.  Mysterious, contemplative, angry, uneasy
, gorgeous…absolutely.  But, happy?  Not so much.  I was glad to see him in a such a state.  It was all so nice…my mother doting on Liam, my father gracing Liam with his warm smile and overfriendly pats on the back, the men of guard taking him in as one of their own…no questions asked…as if he’d proven his fealty over his lifetime instead of a few days…all very heartwarming. 

Even Nikolas accepted
Liam with open arms, metaphorically that is.  There was no actual chest bumping or weird guy hugs to be seen.  The two of them acted as if they had
not
gotten into a physical altercation just the day before…as if they were
almost
friends.  It still blew my mind and at the same time spawned a new respect in me for each of them. 

A feast followed Liam’s knighting and everyone ate and drank and some of the guard even took to singing.  They were awful, each one of them, but entertaining none the less and my ears didn’t even bleed as I had feared they would. 

Soleil even came to offer her blessing to Liam, stroking his face with the back of her hand and just like that, his bruises and swelling ceased to exist, leaving him mind-numbingly gorgeous again.

I
was thoroughly enjoying myself…until the part where Brigitte and her parents took turns fawning over Nikolas.  Brigitte, of course, had the monopoly on the fawning. 

At one point,
and this was the point where I really began to no longer enjoy myself, there was a very awkward kiss that involved Brigitte closing her eyes and wrapping her skinny twig arms around Nikolas’ neck while she planted one on him.  Nikolas responded by standing stock still with eyes wide open and round like saucers, like maybe if he were still enough she would leave him alone, like you do with a bear or some type of wild animal that’s mauling you.  But, it didn’t work.  I turned away, looking in any direction except the one where Nikolas had a Brigitte on his face.

It was at that point that I decided that she had a fish mouth and I hated her…or at the very least had a healthy dose of dislike aimed in her direction. 

The celebration ended sometime late that afternoon and my parents took me on a tour of the castle and set to introducing me to those who worked in the castle.  By the end of the day, I was beyond confused and couldn’t remember a single name of anyone I’d been introduced to, aside from my own ladies, Mattie and Leyona, but happy to have met everyone and glad to have spent some time with my parents.

It was a really great afternoon
…except that I’d seen little of Nikolas and heard even less from him.  And by less, I mean nothing.  He was absent from dinner that evening, though Liam was there as he’d been invited in honor of his induction.  He looked good in black, but there was something to be said as well for the way his cream colored tunic hung from his broad and well-defined shoulders.  But then, he could wear seaweed and still be devastating.

The only positive about Nikolas’
absence was stupid fish mouth Brigitte and his parents were absent as well.  I didn’t think I could stomach anymore wedding plan talk without puking, probably all over the pretty table, and that would be such a waste.

But, idiot that I was, I couldn’t help wishing he
was still there…even if stupid fish mouth Brigitte and his parents were the price to pay in order to see him. 

Liam seemed to sense my mood and did an admirable job of distracting me through dinner using clever observations about Lady Belmont’s ability
to make you want to remove your own fingernails just to focus on something besides the sound of her voice.  That got a laugh out of me and then he laughed and I tried to concentrate on the way his face lit up…the way his pale green eyes got lighter when his mood did.  It almost worked.  Almost.

***

The next morning I awoke to sunlight pouring through the drapes I’d forgotten to close.  I watched the rays streak through the window, particles of dust getting trapped inside, spinning in slow circles
like eddies in a creek.  Pulling puffy blankets up to my face, I snuggled into the mass of pillows and linens further, perfectly content to spend a while watching the light show. 

As I lay there, I came to a few conclusions about my memory loss.  It didn’t seem to affect my baser knowledge, I could still walk and talk and I had a fairly extensive vocabulary.  I knew what horses and dresses and mountains and trees were.  I knew everything I’d ever known except for things that were specific to where I’d come from
, like people and objects and experiences.  I didn’t know what exactly those things were and that was a little disconcerting when I thought about it, but for the most part, I didn’t…think about it that is.  I may not have thought about where I’d come from again at all if Nikolas hadn’t mentioned it to me a few days before.  But now, these missing memories hung around on the outskirts of my consciousness, floating about like apparitions that you could feel but not see.  I didn’t care for the sensation, so I tried to push it all away, deeper inside my mind.

Rapping at my door drug me
from my spot on the bed.  This was the morning of the ball and that made me even more nervous than usual at the thought of who could be the hand responsible for the knock.  Running to gilded mirror in my washroom, I checked my reflection quickly after throwing on the pale blue robe I’d grown quite fond of.  It was the perfect thing if I needed to look presentable…or at least presentablish in a limited space of time. 

The knock came again, this time a little more urgent, so I tossed my hair over my shoulders and scurried to the door.  Cracking it open, I found a footman
standing expectantly in the hallway with a raised silver platter containing a piece of folded parchment.  Nodding formally, he spoke.  “A letter for you, Princess.”  It was all so official.

I couldn’t be sure, but this felt like a new experience to me.  I eyed the letter suspiciously, probably looking like I though it may bite me, for a few moments before snatching it up.  “Thank you.”  I blurted as the footman began nodding formally again, but I was already closing the door.

I held my breath…literally…hoping while trying to convince myself that I wasn’t, that maybe this was a communication from Nikolas.  Once I was seated safely on my bed, I unfolded the parchment carefully. 

Elegant script flowed across the paper in deep black ink.  My eyes immediately found the place where the writer had signed their name. 

It was Liam. 

I let out the breath I’d been holding.  Inhaling slowly, I flopped back onto the billowy mess that sat on my bed and held the letter above my face in my outstretched arms as I read. 

Dani,

Please forgive my cruelty, for I am foolish man.
  I cannot imagine you should want to be seen with me, but if by chance you can forgive me, I shall make you proud, I shall make myself worthy.  I swear it.

Your Knight
,

Liam

I starred at the words on the page.  I thought of Nikolas and quickly pushed the thought aside.  He didn’t matter, he di
dn’t figure into this equation…or at the very least, that’s what I would tell myself.

Pulling myself up, I crossed to the writing desk.  Dipping the quill in the black ink pot, I scribble
d out my own reply on the thick yellowed paper sitting empty on the desk. 

Liam,

Fine, let’s see if you know how to play nice.  And let’s hope you know how to dance, because I really think I’m going to be out of my league in a ballroom. 

Dani

Taking my time, I folded the thick paper and creased the edges to ensure it stayed folded, then dipped the quill in the ink once more and scribble
d
Lia
m
across the outside.

I
pulled my calling chain and the bell tolled once, a deep and wavering sound.  I would’ve delivered the letter to wherever the post came from, but I had no idea where that was.  And, even if I knew exactly where Liam’s chamber was, I wouldn’t go there.  I knew he was somewhere in the wing of the castle that housed some members of the guard, those with no families, but that was the extent of my knowledge on his location.  The west wing, I thought.  Those of the guard who were married were given living arrangements in a part of the castle that wasn’t actually connected the rest of the castle, but still inside the walls.  Those quarters were set off to the west side of the castle, a tiny little village all to itself.

Minutes ticked by and then the same urgent knock sounded at my door.  This time, I jerked the door open fully.  The same footman stood, silver plate outstretched as if he came equipped with some kind of letter-that-needed-to-be-sent radar. 

I squinted at him.  “How did you--?”  My question was silenced by the knowing smile on his thin lips. 

“Tis my duty to know, Princess.”  He answered my unspoken question, then bowed and spun
, one continuous and graceful movement than sent him gliding down the hall.

Moments after I’d shut the door, a timid knock sounded.  This was a knock I had become familiar with in a few days time.  It was Mattie’s knock and I smiled as I opened the door. 
“Please, come in!”  I said, extending a hand to each of them and pulling them into the room with me. 

They both bowed slightly and I noticed for the first time the thick linen bag that Leyona had sprawled carefully over one arm.

“It is your dress, Milady.”  Leyona said when she noticed me staring at her burden, barely contained excitement lacing her words.

I inhaled, suddenly excited, much more than I’d thought I’d be.  “Have you seen it?”  I asked as though I wasn’t allowed to look.
 

Before they could respond, another knock sounded at my door.  This one was confident, almost urgent.  I crossed the floor to the door once more
, wondering when I’d become so popular. 

Soleil standing on the other side of the thick wood was the last person I expected.  She smiled warmly at me, then her eyes fell upon my ladies.  “A moment alone with the princess, dears?”  It was phrased as a question, though I was pretty sure everyone in the room knew it was more of a command than a suggestion.

Mattie and Leyona both bowed quickly, begging pardons and whispering apologies.  They hadn’t done anything wrong, it’s just that Soleil had this presence about her that evoked a fear and/or respect kind of response from people.

She watched the girls leave, only looking to me once the door was closed behind them.  “Let us have a seat, Princess.”  She gestured to my sitting area and I went and sat obediently.  Soleil followed, stretching herself comfortably across her seat.  She reminded me of a cat, the way they seem to be under the impression that they own the world. 
“I thought we should have a little conversation.”

I looked at her, feeling self-conscious.  “Um, okay?  What about?”

She interlocked her long fingers as she studied me.  “Your magic is quite powerful, you will require a great deal of training to realize its full potential, but I daresay you may be the most powerful enchantress I have ever encountered.”

Shaking my head, I looked down to draw circles around my mark.  “I don’t think so…I’ve only done a few things.  Don’t you think I would’ve done more if I was, you know, very good at it?”

“Your magic manifests in times of great fear, without any conscious effort on your part.  The mere fact that you have been able to channel it into something useful speaks volumes about your talent.  Most untrained enchantresses or warlocks end up making very large messes, their magic leaking out in useless bursts with no real purpose.”  She smiled at my obvious confusion before continuing.  “And you have not even bonded yet.” 

I felt my eyes grow to the size of saucers.  “Bonded?  I’ve never even heard of that.”

Soleil chuckled.  “No, I imagine you have not.  It goes by many names, bonded, linked, matched, tethered.”

Tethered.  Now that rung a bell.

“Tethered, and what does that entail exactly?”  I asked, feeling like I kept falling deeper into the rabbit hole.

“Bonding or becoming tethered, if you prefer is like finding the key to a door locked inside of yourself.  It is a feeling of finding your place in the world
, a feeling of being complete, of finding the piece of yourself that was missing.  It happens with anyone who finds their soul mate, it just means a little more for you.  It will unleash your true potential as an enchantress.”  She spoke the words with a reverence, a longing that was normally absent in her tone.  I could feel the pain swirling through the air and my heart ached for her.

“Have you, did you tether, um, bond?”  I instantly regretted the words, feeling like I was prying.

Soleil didn’t seem to mind, her eyes staring out the window as she smiled.  “I was, but that was a long time ago.”  She looked back to me, smiling sadly and elaborating no further.