The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) (14 page)

"You may want to shut that," her dad, who was
sitting the other side of her said. "There's a train coming."

Faedra pulled her eyes from the scene
unfolding above her and closed her mouth, narrowing her eyes at her
dad as she did. She turned back to Faen. "What the heck is he doing
on the back of Draconis?"

Faen leaned in. "He decided if your Queen was
going to drop out of a helicopter to open your tournament, he
thought he would go one better and drop in off the back of a
dragon."

Faedra put her hand over her eyes. "Oh, good
Lord."

"I think it's pretty darned exciting," Henry
said.

Faedra shot her dad a withering look.

"Or not, as the case may be," Henry
continued, trying hard to suppress a cheeky grin.

Faedra cast her eyes skyward again just in
time to see her father stand up on the back of Draconis and hold
his arms wide in a show of theatrics.

The audience 'oohed and ahhed' again as
Draconis did one more circle above the stadium.

What on earth had gotten into him? Faedra had
never seen this side of him. She wasn't sure if she was comfortable
with him messing about so far above the ground. Then it hit her why
this was niggling at her the way it was. She didn't want to see him
hurt, and it wasn't entirely an unselfish thought either. If he got
hurt, or, God forbid, killed, she would be left to run the realm.
Not a thought she wanted to contemplate at this stage in her life.
Even though, rationally, she knew her father had wings and could
fly, so the likelihood of him getting hurt on this particular
escapade was reaching a little. That didn't stop her heart lurching
to her throat when the king swan dived off the dragon's back and
plummeted straight for the center of the stadium. He pulled up
short a few feet from the ground and lowered himself the rest of
the way with grace. A raucous applause exploded around the stadium.
The king took a sweeping bow before announcing the Seven Realms
Tournament officially open.

Trumpets blared, heralding the entrance of
the competitors.

Faedra turned to Henry. "You better get down
there, Dad," she said. "Fly our flag with pride."

Henry stood, smoothing down his jacket.
"Right you are, then," he said, a grin almost splitting his face in
half. He rested his palm against Faedra's cheek. "Don't you worry,
love. I'll do us proud."

Faedra gave her dad a warm smile. "I don't
doubt it for a minute." She stood and wrapped her arms around him.
"Love you, Dad. Thanks for representing us."

After hugging the life out of his daughter,
Henry pulled back, holding Faedra by her upper arms. "Love you,
too, darling."

Faen stood and offered Henry his hand. "Good
luck, Sir...I mean, Henry."

"Faen, I know it has taken you a while to
call me by my name, but I have to throw another spanner in the
works."

Faen's brow wrinkled.

Henry winked and slapped his son-in-law on
the back. "You get to call me Dad, now."

Faedra closed her eyes and shook her head,
her lips curving at his words. She looked up at her husband and
giggled at his flummoxed expression.

"Another World of Men custom?" Faen
asked.

"Yep," Faedra and Henry replied.

Another burst of applause distracted the
three. They turned to see what had prompted the appreciative cheers
of the crowd. Henry's face paled. "Well, I'm afraid my entrance
won't be that impressive," he mumbled.

The Alsians were first to make their way into
the stadium, and they were going to make sure their presence was
noticed. The contestants up front were shooting 'rails' of ice in
front of them, creating something that resembled a mini roller
coaster track, complete with loops and turns. As each of the
Alsians took their turn sliding along the 'track' spinning and
looping, the crowd roared their approval of the unique
entrance.

Faedra turned back to her dad. She hated to
admit she was impressed by the entrance of the race she most
distrusted, but she couldn't help but get caught up in the energy
that was coming at her full force from the crowded stadium. Faedra
offered her dad a reassuring smile.

"Pah," she said, waving her hand in
dismissal. "Just wait til everyone witnesses your dart throwing
skills."

Henry raised an eyebrow. "Was that supposed
to make me feel better?"

"Yep. Did it work?" Faedra said, hopeful.

Henry shook his head slowly. "No."

Faedra sighed. "Dad, you're going to do just
fine. Now get yourself down there, and fast. This tournament has
never seen a contingent from the World of Men. I would hate to
disappoint them."

"I don't know how I let you talk me into
this, young lady," Henry said, putting his palm to his daughter's
cheek.

"It's my irresistible charm," Faedra said
with a wink.

"Hmm." Henry turned and followed the page who
had been summoned to show him where to go.

Faedra turned to her husband and rested her
head on his shoulder. "Maybe I shouldn't have gotten him involved
in all this. It was just a stupid pride thing."

"Come now," Faen said. "He is honored that
you asked him. I think he secretly enjoys being a part of this
world."

Faedra looked up at Faen. "You think so?"

Faen smiled. "I know so."

"I love you," Faedra whispered, reaching up
to plant a kiss to Faen's lips. She smiled as she felt his energy
glow at her words.

"I love you, too."

"You know, I don't mind if you want to go and
join your team. I'll be alright up here for a while. It seems a
pity that you'll miss out on all that fun just because you married
me."

Faen's eyebrows nearly took flight off his
forehead. "Right at this moment, My Lady. There is nowhere else I
would rather be. Besides, a Custodian must have a Guardian with her
at all times, and since your new Guardian is participating, I told
her I would stand in for her so she can enjoy this. It is her first
experience competing in the tournament, and I didn't want her to
miss out on anything."

"Aww, you big softie."

"I have my moments."

"Yes, you do."

Another roar distracted the couple. They
turned their attention back to the stadium. Contestants from
Zutherindal were entering next, following in behind the Alsians and
melting the ice left in their wake with dragon fire.

"What is it?" Faen asked, noticing Faedra was
chewing on her lip.

"The Alsians."

"What about them?"

"There's just so many of them. Look at them,
Faen. They're like a small army down there."

Faen put his arm around his new wife. "I do
admit, this is the largest contingent they have sent, but the
Alsians have no quarrel with us. Try not to concern yourself, my
love. Enjoy the games."

Faedra looked up into the reassuring eyes of
her husband. "You're probably right, Faen. I guess I'm just a lot
more paranoid these days. I don't trust them."

Faedra tried to tamp down her worry and enjoy
the show the dragons were putting on as they entered the
stadium.

When it came time for the contingent from
Asgard to enter, Odin and the Valkyries flew in on their winged
horses and landed gracefully behind the contestants from
Drofoz.

A moment later, the roar of the crowd
subsided, and a stillness descended over the stadium. Faedra's brow
pinched at the suddenness of the silence that engulfed them. When
she scanned the stadium, the cause of such quietude became
apparent. Her father had just walked in behind the Valkyries. The
solitary contestant from the World of Men walked alone into the
lion's den. His cheerful wave faltered as curious whispers
resonated around the stands.

Without thinking, Faedra leapt to her feet,
cupped her hands around her mouth and whooped and hollered with all
the noise her lungs could produce. Faen immediately supported his
wife and followed suit. When this action garnered strange looks
from the audience that were seated to either side of the royal box,
Faedra encouraged the onlookers to join in. She was to be their
next queen; it didn't take them long to realize it would be a wise
move to join her in cheering on the stranger who was now entering
the stadium, representing a realm that had never competed in the
tournament before.

Within moments, the cheering had made its way
around the stadium like a Mexican wave. Soon the crowd had gotten
behind Faedra’s dad and was cheering him on as he marched along
behind the winged horses. Faedra's grin spread across her face. She
let out a giggle as she witnessed her dad getting caught up in the
revelry. He jumped in the air, clicking his heels together. Yep,
her dad was going to do just fine.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Faedra and Faen continued to watch the
contestants from the remaining realms filter into the stadium. The
home team traditionally entered last and was led onto the track by
the king, which instigated an explosion of uproarious applause from
the home crowd. Faedra clapped her hands over her ears. She felt
her heart swell at the sight that beheld her. Behind the king
marched Etyran and Jocelyn. She felt so proud of her friends. She
was definitely falling in love with this realm. It was a good job,
too, because one day she would be responsible for it and all its
inhabitants. She prayed her father would live for a very long time
before that role was ever dropped in her lap.

After the final contestant had marched into
the stadium, the teams gathered in the middle. A spokesperson from
each realm stepped forward and lined up on either side of the
king.

"Comply with the rules," the king commanded,
his voice booming around the now silent arena. "Cheating or foul
play will not be tolerated. If anyone is found guilty of such
conduct, all contestants for that event will be disqualified. Enjoy
yourselves today, rest tonight, and let the games begin
tomorrow."

The teams in the center cheered their
approval.

"So what happens now?" Faedra asked Faen as
she watched the crowds start to disperse.

A cheeky grin tugged at Faen's lips,
garnering him a wary look from his wife. "Now," he said, "we
party."

"Oh, we do, do we?" Faedra said, unable to
hide the flirty tone in her voice. "Can we just make that a party
for two?"

Faen's energy exploded around them. His eyes
flashed the instant before he scooped her up and launched them both
out of the royal box and over the heads of the dispersing crowd
below them.

Faedra squealed. "What are you doing? I'm
sure this is not strictly protocol for such an important
event."

"The crowd was moving too slowly. I had no
other choice."

"No other choice than what?"

Faen pulled his attention away from where he
was flying and looked down at the woman he loved. Faedra's eyes
widened as their eyes locked and he bore into her with an intensity
that was unmistakable.

"Oh," Faedra murmured.

As they flew over the contestants, Faedra
tried very hard not to notice the disapproving look her father was
shooting them, or the whoops and hollers coming from her two
friends, the dragons, and, more disconcertingly, her dad. She threw
them a hesitant wave before burying her burning face in Faen's
doublet.

***

"Well, it's about time," Etyran hollered
across the tavern as Faen and Faedra entered hand-in-hand. When
they got to the table, Etyran slapped his friend on the back.
"Mate, you're supposed to be conserving your energy. We've got
swords in the morning."

Faedra's cheeks flamed. Was she ever going to
get used to the fact that the entire realm seemed privy to their
nuptials? Although, in this case, Faen was hardly subtle about his
intentions, flying over the entire tournament contingent and crowd
of spectators the way he had. She had intended to talk to him about
that, but had been just a tad distracted.

Jocelyn rolled her eyes and gave Faedra a
consoling look. "Don't worry," she said. "The novelty for Etyran
will wear off soon. He will find someone else to annoy before long,
I have no doubt."

"Hey, I heard that," Etyran grouched.

Faedra stuck her tongue out at him, inducing
a fit of giggles from her new Guardian.

"And that, young lady," Etyran continued. "Is
not very princess-ly"

Faedra hitched a shoulder. "I'm still in
training, what can I say?"

"What can I get you to drink?" Faen asked his
wife before she took a seat next to Jocelyn.

"Anything red wine-like, if they have it,
please."

Faen inclined his head. "I will do my best."
He looked to Etyran and Jocelyn. "Anyone else?"

"No thanks, mate. We're good," Etyran
replied. Lifting his half full mug of brew as if doing a toast.

Drinks in hand, the four friends fell into
deep conversation about the next day’s sporting events and who was
participating in what. Faen was just about to explain the dynamics
of archery to Faedra when someone clearing their throat stopped him
mid-sentence. All four looked up.

"Um, may we join you?"

To Faedra's surprise, Alyssa stood by their
table with a not-so-grouchy looking Alaris by her side. Alyssa
looked a little hesitant, and instantly Faedra felt guilt, not her
own...but Etyran's. She had to feel for him, but Alyssa's energy
was throwing off happiness and contentment. She certainly looked
like she was enjoying the company of the grouchy dragon. Faedra
made a mental note to tell Etyran to stop beating himself up over
it. He was happy, Alyssa was happy. No harm, no foul. And, Heaven
help them, Alaris had a smile on his face. Miracles did happen,
after all.

Faedra pushed her chair closer to Faen's,
which encouraged the rest of the group to scoot closer together
around the table, leaving space for the new arrivals. "Sure. Pull
up a chair and join us," Faedra said gesturing towards a couple of
empty chairs at the adjacent table. "Faen was just about to explain
archery to me."