Storm Born Page 0,34

my fellow professionals.

Conversation dropped to a low hum as the gentry leaned over and whispered to each other, eyes on me. Smirks and scowls alike lit their faces, and I put on the blank expression I would wear going to meet a new client. Meanwhile, my pulse raced into overdrive and breathing became a bit difficult.

Volusian trailed near me on one side while Rurik walked on the other. Wil and the others moved behind us.

"Why all these people?" I murmured to Volusian. "Is he having a party?"

"Dorian is a social king. He likes keeping people around, most likely so he can mock them. He keeps a full court and regularly invites his nobles to dine here."

We came to a stop. On the throne sat a man, Dorian, I presumed. He looked bored. He leaned into the arm of his chair, one elbow propped on it so he could rest his chin in his hand. It sort of made him view us at an angle. Long auburn hair, reminiscent of the trees outside, hung around him, highlighted with every shade of red and gold conceivable. He could have been autumn incarnate. He had the most perfect skin I'd ever seen in such a vivid redhead: smooth and ivory, with no freckles or rosy color. A cloak of forest-green velvet covered unremarkable dark pants and a loose, white button-up shirt. He had well-shaped cheekbones and delicate features.

"Kneel before the king," ordered Rurik, "and get used to being on your knees."

I gave him a withering glance. He smiled.

"I'll be happy to make you," he warned.

"Bah, enough. Leave her in peace," intoned Dorian laconically. He didn't change posture. Only his eyes portrayed any sort of interest in these goings-on. "If she's been with you for the last hour, she deserves a break. Go sit down."

Rurik's smugness flashed to embarrassment, but he bowed before the throne and backed off. That left Dorian and me staring at each other. He grinned.

"Well, come here. If you won't kneel, I at least want to get a good look at the 'terrible monster' they've brought to me. They all seem quite afraid of you. I confess, I didn't really believe it was you when they told me. I thought Rurik had been into the mushrooms again."

"Do you know how many of our people she has killed and forcibly banished, sire?" exclaimed Shaya from somewhere behind me. "She took out three in under a minute just now."

"Yes, yes. She's quite terrifying. I can see that." Dorian looked at me expectantly.

I shook my head. "I'm not moving until you offer us hospitality."

This made him sit up. He kept smiling. "She's clever too, though, admittedly, asking for hospitality before you crossed our humble threshold would have been more clever still since any of my subjects could have attacked you just now." He shrugged. "But we've made it this far. So, tell me, Eugenie, why - er, wait. Do you prefer Eugenie or Miss Markham?"

I considered. "I prefer Odile."

That smile twitched. "Ah. We're still clinging to that, are we? Very well, then, Odile, tell me what brings the shining ones' most feared enemy to my door, asking for hospitality. As you might imagine, this is without precedence."

I glanced around at all the watching, listening people. Ignore them, ignore them, an inner voice whispered. Focus on Dorian for now. "I don't really want to talk about it in front of the peanut gallery. I'd rather meet with you in private."

"Oh." He pitched his voice for the crowd. "Well, well. Odile wants to meet with me in private."

I blushed, hating myself for doing it. Nervous laughter ran around the room, soon growing stronger and more confident as the king's did. Interesting, I thought. I remembered Volusian's comments about Dorian, and his soldiers' hesitation about his wrath. These gathered people were sheep, obviously, ready to dance or laugh at Dorian's command, but suddenly I wondered if they were sheep who also feared the whims of their capricious shepherd. I wondered if I should be afraid too.

I kept my silence, not acknowledging his joke. He leaned forward, putting both elbows on his knees, letting his chin rest in both hands now. "If I offer you hospitality, you must reciprocate in kind. I'll see that no one harms you in my household, but in return, you can harm no one under my roof."

I glanced back at Volusian. "You didn't mention that."

"Oh, for God's sake," he hissed, displaying a rare loss of patience. "What did you expect? Take it