The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,18

Jorie explained.

“Ah,” I murmured.

“And there are others of us, a smaller number, and all of them of noble blood, who can cloak ourselves,” he went on.

Aramus grew very still.

I stared at my brethren, saying through stiff lips, “Cloak yourselves?”

“Disappear. Become shadows. With only those who have let us into their hearts, those who we are connected to as mates, this coupling smiled upon by the gods, able to see us.”

“In other words eavesdrop,” I snapped.

“Spy,” he returned.

“You’ve been spying on my queen and I?” Aramus clipped.

“We spy everywhere,” Jorie stated unconcernedly.

“You say this as if this is not a detrimental matter in diplomatic relations,” Aramus returned.

“And how is this?” Jorie replied confusingly, taking up his trident and walking our way. He passed us, murmuring, “If you would, follow me.”

We followed him out of the consular chamber to the open area of the island in the grotto.

There were Mer floating in the water. Some lazing with fins flapping in the water on smaller islands set around.

All attention came to us when we emerged.

“Stand back, please,” Jorie instructed.

Aramus stood back.

As for me, I stood behind Aramus who stepped in front of me.

Jorie watched him do this, and he did not attempt to hide his approval of this maneuver.

Then he turned, lifting his trident at the side over his head, and he ran across the sand.

But as he would throw it, he executed a graceful leap into the air and twisted his body around…

I gasped as he disappeared in a swirl of shimmer that eddied around the trident staff as it soared through the air.

The three points imbedded in an unoccupied, small island some thirty feet away, the shimmer burst the moment it struck land, and Jorie reformed.

“Well, I’ll be sirens-damned,” Aramus muttered.

I fought applauding, but I could not stop clenching my hands to my chest in delight, at the same time wondering, if I had a trident, if I could learn to do that.

“In this cavern,” Jorie called from across the water, “I cannot show you the full power of the trident. However, rest assured, not only if you’re touching the holder of a trident will you travel with him, it can traverse far. Not from Mar-el to Airen. But, say, for instance, over a mountain range.” He was silent a beat before he asked, “Now, how is that for diplomatic relations?”

Neither my husband nor I moved.

Then Aramus did.

To speak.

“Can you take things with you?” Aramus veritably barked. “Weapons? Supplies?”

“If it is carried on your person, yes,” Jorie answered.

“Do you need to pack?” Aramus went on.

Jorie looked down to his attractive, but decidedly Mer trousers which were all he was wearing, then back to us.

When he did, he grinned.

I preferred bald, bulky, marked and midnight, like my husband.

But smiling, Jorie was not difficult on the eyes.

“I have a feeling I’ll be found out as Mer if I don’t at least change,” he jested.

“Go, now, then follow us,” Aramus ordered. “We’ll leave word at the castle you’re to be treated like a king until my wife and I can attend you. We will not take long, however, and then we shall be away.”

“Well I hope they treat me like a king, since I am one,” Jorie retorted.

Aramus didn’t bother to reply.

He looked down at me.

“Let’s go home, baby. It’s time.”

I nodded, guiding him to the edge of the water.

Before I led us in, I halted as my husband spoke.

“It was an unusual start,” he called to Jorie and got the other king’s attention. “But from here on, Jorie, King of the Mer, you have my vow to ally our kingdoms for the good of all who make a home in or by the sea.”

Well, that was well said.

Pride swelled in my chest.

Jorie dipped his chin into his neck.

Aramus dipped his into his neck.

And then, I led my husband into the water so I could take us home.

126

The Legends

Queen Farah

Base of the Night Heights Mountain Range

AIREN

“I cannot begin to explain how, at this juncture, a renegade witch with an untrained army running amuck in my realm might do irrevocable damage to a mission we both share that it is crucial, in going about it, we find victory,” Cassius stated to the woman standing before him, and he did this through gritted teeth.

I stood by my husband who, I noted after a sidelong glance, agreed with Cass for he did not appear as angry as Cassius, but I could see he was not happy.

“Rest assured, Fern has the best interest of this mission at heart,