Breath of Dragons (A Pandoran Novel) (22 page)

I pulled back, putting my hand back on his shoulder but letting my fingers dangle at the base of his neck.

"What are you going to say to them?" Alex asked.

I sighed. "I have no idea. All I have to offer is a title. That's it. I know nothing about what it means to be a ruler or how diplomacy works or
anything
, but I will come up with something. I hope."

Alex stared at our hands a moment, then looked straight into my eyes and said, "You know more than you think you do. I know you haven't spent much time at the castle, but you've seen more of the inner workings of diplomacy than most people who have lived here their entire lives. Trust your instincts, Da—your grace." He corrected himself. "Don't try to be what
they
want. Find
your
strengths and use them to your advantage."

"By strengths, I'm assuming that you are
not
referring to my inability to keep my mouth shut."

He chuckled, his chest rising and falling against mine. "I don't know. You are rather…creative. You always have been, and so far that's worked remarkably well. These are just people. People are the same on both worlds, and you do know people."

Right. Just like I'd known Thad.

"Al—Aegis Del Conte…I feel so completely out of my element."

"Well, you do not look out of your element, your grace." Alex squeezed my hand, and his eyes drifted over me in a way that made the heat rise to my cheeks. "And so far, you've handled
everyone
here with perfect poise and grace, like you were born for this. You've surprised me, actually."

I grinned up at him. "You
have
been keeping both eyes on me, haven't you?"

He didn't smile, but his eyes lit up as he twirled me slowly. "That is my job." He pulled me close again, though I had the distinct impression his watching me so closely was more than his just being my Aegis. "Being a leader is mostly about perception, your grace. You look the part. You act the part. If you believe who you are, so will they."

"So who do you believe
you
are, Aegis Del Conte?" I looked him straight in the eyes. "Because you never present yourself merely as an Aegis, and no one ever treats you like one."

His jaw worked and his expression was suddenly shielded. "I'm not sure what you mean."

I wasn't so sure what I'd meant either, but there was always something about Alex. Something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Something that nagged at me like a ticking clock.

The song suddenly ended. Alex brought my hand to his mouth, and his lips brushed the back of my hand, soft and gentle. I felt his kiss all the way to my feet.

"Wait, I really do need talk to you about something," I whispered. "About my conversation with Mercedes."

Alex gripped my hand tightly, as though he were trying to push the words back inside of me. He glanced around to make sure no one had overheard as the servants began ushering us all to dinner.

"Can we talk later? In private?" I whispered. "It's about the portal."

Alex looked surprised, then wary, but nodded fractionally. He offered me his arm, which I took, and he escorted me to the table, careful to leave ample space between us. Mercedes sat at one corner of the long table and I was directed to the very center, with Alex and Vera sitting on either side of me. Alex's new groupies had taken residence near one end where they could have a full view of him. And, oh, were they already feasting their eyes.

I thought someone should give them bibs to keep the drool off their gowns.

Mercedes made formal introductions, though interestingly enough, I didn't remember anyone's names but Sal and the girls ogling Alex from afar. Apparently, they were all cousins, related to a large man with a bulbous nose seated a few places down from me. People remarked on the dragon, and I responded much as I had to Catia, but for the most part, conversation continued in Saqai.

I did, however, manage to gather that most of these people were landowners, ranging from small parcels to entire mountain ranges—like the man Alex had pointed out earlier—and all of them had stock in Gesh's welfare. One woman, with chin-length white hair and severe features, was in a heated discussion with the large man with bulbous features over her serfs. According to Vera, it seemed that he had been buying them off, and now much of the woman's crop was spoiling because she didn't have the staffing left to harvest it.

"I am sorry to hear about your father, your highness," said a gentleman with a tall forehead, narrow face, and cropped white hair. He looked a lot like an older version of Sting. "I met him once," he continued, turning his body so that he faced me, "long ago. He had very friendly eyes. You can tell much about a person by their eyes, and I see that you have the same kindliness in yours, though they may not be the same shade."

The chatter quieted a bit, all but the argument over serfs at the opposite end of the table.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "He was a wonderful father. What is your name?"

"Ah, forgive me, your highness. I am Ven Orelius, High Priest of Mosaque. I am here on behalf of the
venita
."

A
venita
. "You are one of the ones who monitors the portal here," I said, my interest piqued.

He nodded slowly, taking a sip of wine. "I am, your highness. Our temple—the Temple of Draconi—is in the city center. Perhaps, if your grace has the time, you might stop by for a visit. I am sure the other
venita
would love the opportunity to speak with the last of the Pandors."

I nodded, feeling the weight of Alex's gaze. "Absolutely. I would like that very much." Maybe this man would help me. Maybe I could convince him to let me through.

Right after I convinced Alex.

"Yes, Prince Alaric was a goot man," said a woman with a much thicker accent, who had shaved only the right side of her head. A curtain of black hair fell down the other side. "Eet is a shame thet 'e is gone. We are 'onored thet you woot come to Gesh."

By the sudden glares bestowed upon me from the three groupies, I didn't think everyone shared her opinion. However, I smiled at the woman and told her that I was honored to be here. Sal caught my eye a few times through dinner, his gaze lingering long after I'd turned mine away. I didn't like how he could undress a person with his eyes.

Servants brought out a main dish of some kind of large, roasted bird with fingerling potatoes and leeks and some other unidentifiable orange vegetable. I followed Alex's lead with table etiquette. He caught me watching him and then slowed to make his movements more deliberate. I grinned at him and he winked back at me.

On occasion, I would catch Hawk looking at Vera, but she didn't once look in his direction. Vera remained mostly quiet, though sometimes she replied to a question asked by the large, mountain-range-owning gentlemen to her left. It surprised me that when the same gentleman said something to Alex in Saqai, Alex responded fluently. And I had to admit: the language sounded
very
nice on his tongue.

I would have to ask Alex about that, too. After dinner.

During the meal, fireworks exploded in the sky in celebration of the summer solstice. They were similar to the ones at the castle during the games, depicting scenes of warriors hunting and horses cantering and dragons in flight. And then there were scenes of fighting, magical blasts and armies fallen and all the firework-made banners of the seven territories erupted in fire. I could only assume this was to signify the one hundred years of Darkness, which I'd read about in the castle library. It had been a very long civil war between the territories and had ended only about twenty years ago—with the Dark Reign of my uncle, Lord Eris.

To signify this Dark Reign, there were images of monsters—like barghests and shadowguard and gargons—attacking the people, and then a great glittering man appeared, signifying Eris. How strange that a man could be so famous as to have fireworks made in his image, when all he'd done was evil.

In this history of light, a new firework pierced Eris through the heart and the sparkling masterpiece exploded, colorful and magical, dissipating into a rain of glitter upon our terrace below. People "oohed" and "aahed," and after the scene dissolved in the night sky, the terrace erupted in boisterous cheers and applause.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd had such a fine meal, and I ate my fill—even of the unidentifiable vegetable. By the time the tiered cake of exotic fruit and custard was presented to the table, I was too stuffed to eat another bite. I hadn't broached any difficult topics yet, but I'd waited on purpose. It's very difficult to influence an audience one doesn't understand, and I'd had a good deal of time to watch them.

Mountain-range Man beside Vera suddenly decided to engage me in conversation. "I've heard so much about you, your highness." He took a sip of wine and dabbed his napkin on his mustache.

I wasn't sure where this was going, but by his tone, I had a small feeling I wasn't going to like it. "Have you?"

In my periphery, I saw Alex watching this man.

"Yes." The man put his napkin back on his lap. "And I've often wondered how the daughter of a Pandor and a Regius could exhibit absolutely
no
inherent magical potential whatsoever." He shook his head. "Really, it is quite extraordinary—especially for a princess of Gaia, waker of dragons or no."

Alex frowned, but I smiled before I could make a different and much more insulting facial expression. I had to be careful with my answer. I would need to win this man's favor, too, even if I didn't like him. Especially if he owned most of Gesh. "You have heard quite a bit, then," I said. "Unfortunately, I am not quite so well informed as to who you are."

His smile was ostensible. "Sir Randik, your highness. I am, what you might call, Gesh's patron."

Ah. I'd read about Sir Randik, and it seemed all that patronage had gone to his head. Of course, I kept this to myself. "Your English is incredible; you have no accent at all," I said.

"Thank you." Sir Randik sat up straight and tugged at his mustache. "I studied English in Valdon a long, long time ago—well before you were even a thought, I'm sure. I like to pride myself in my ability to assimilate into other cultures."

"It is a pride well deserved." I tilted my glass toward him then took a sip of the heady wine. Alex kicked my foot beneath the table, and I kicked him back.

"It is a pity you've refused Lord Danton's offer of marriage," Sir Randik said.

I held my goblet against my lips, frozen. How did Sir Randik know? And why was he bringing it up right then?

"It would have been a great benefit to your name and all of Valdon, had you accepted," Sir Randik continued. "A
necessary
benefit, I might add. Lord Danton is quite beloved amongst the gentry, and for a princess who only recently entered this realm, your presence has been astoundingly calamitous for the entire Regius line. Pretending to be the prince and entering the games? Duping an entire kingdom so that you might inherit a territory of your own?"

A few people around us had begun listening in. Oh, there were so many things I wanted to say back to this man, but I didn't dare. My tongue was trapped behind bars of necessity. What he'd said was true. I had done those things. Just not for the reasons he was implying.

"It is a marriage you do not deserve," Sir Randik continued, "for that marriage would have forgiven your ignominious reputation. Not to mention, such an alliance would significantly strengthen Valdon's fortifications. Perhaps no one has given you this piece of advice. I realize it's hard to see the world from behind castle walls, but the entire kingdom—myself included—can't imagine what could have possibly propelled you to refuse such an offer, and why in Gaia's name Prince Stefan would have allowed your refusal. If King Darius hadn't locked himself away, I imagine you'd be in Orindor as we speak. Still, one can't help but wonder if you've had a…
better
offer? Though I can't imagine whom; I happen to be well acquainted with all eligible lords."

It was in that moment that I finally realized the depth of Mercedes' warning. How deeply rooted the traditions of marriage and titles of the regency were. My heart belonged to the man sitting beside me, but this kingdom could never and would never accept it. Not from a princess they didn't respect, and certainly not when we were on the brink of war. I would marry a throne, not a man.

"I have not received a better offer," I continued. "I happen to believe I am too young to consider something as conclusive as marriage."

"Too young?" Sir Randik gasped. "Forgive me, your highness, but it is your birthright as a regent to secure the safety of your people, and as princess, well, it is your
duty
to marry a lord that will make that possible."

"I understand my duties, Sir Randik," I said, "and you must also forgive
me
. Where I come from, women don't have to rely on a marriage to accomplish things."

Sir Randik slapped his leg. "What a peculiar place you are from, your highness. I thought it was every woman's dream to marry young and start a family. What else is a young woman good for but to carry the lineage forward? It is quite obvious you are all ill-equipped to handle matters of state. As a princess, you'll marry when the kingdom needs you to. That is your purpose, your highness."

I had the sudden urge to punch him in the face, but (sadly) I resisted. Instead, I said, "How…enlightening."

A good half of the table was listening now. Alex was stone-faced and rigid, and Vera looked as though she might stab Sir Randik with her dinner fork.

Maybe I'd get lucky and she would.

"I wonder, Sir Randik," I continued, "if you've communicated such thoughts to Mercedes."

"Of course not." Sir Randik touched his mustache. "Mercedes has more than earned her right to govern Gesh, and therefore must be excluded from my former presumptions. I wonder…" He looked straight at me. "My brother-in-law still serves in Valdon with my nephew. Perhaps you know him? I realize Valdon is quite a large region, but my nephew, Denn Faris, attended the Academia. Maybe your Aegises are acquainted with him?"