Twisted Metal Heart - Eve Langlais Page 0,46
snitch on anyone not following the rules.
Arriving at the castle gate, Riella was handed off to a more soldierly-looking woman. She had on full-length black pants that were loose around the top, then tight after the knees. The tunic buttoned with strange round rocks that glinted. Her hair presented as a fluffy halo framing a dark-skinned face and clear bright eyes. “Welcome, Lady Riella Mekka, princess of the Emerald demesne. If you’ll follow me, the king has been expecting you.”
The use of her full name didn’t surprise, but the title startled. She managed to hold it in. “Expecting me? How? I didn’t send word of my arrival.”
The guard shrugged. “He’s the king. He knows.”
As she followed the quick-paced woman, she asked, “What’s your name?”
“Anita Reedstone.”
She blinked. “You’re Enclave?” Because only the Enclave had two names.
“No.” Anita snorted. “Marsh born and bred.”
“Does everyone in the Marsh receive a family name?”
“Not so much receive as keep. Your parents’ second name becomes yours. We don’t give away our children here.” Spoken with a high chin of defiance.
“I don’t think they should be given away anywhere,” Riella muttered.
“That’s not a very Enclave thing to say,” was Anita’s reply as she knocked at a simple door before she opened it onto a library instead of some grand throne room.
“Majesty, your guest has arrived.”
Whatever Riella expected of the upstart who would call himself king, it wasn’t the man who stood before her. Regal of bearing, wearing simple black shirt and pants. No crown. He was younger than expected, maybe in his third decade, his face still young, his hair unmarked by gray.
“Lady Riella. How nice of you to visit,” he said smoothly. “I trust your trip to the city was uneventful.”
“More or less. The tunnels are flooded.”
He grimaced. “I’m afraid they won’t be drained anytime soon, meaning passage is now restricted to the pass.”
“You control it?”
“Not yet. I let the Sapphire court currently pay to protect it. My guards tend to be farther down that road to exact the necessary tolls.”
“A merchant thing to say.”
He spread his hands. “What can I say? The kingdom has expenses. Like maintaining the roads. Surely that deserves compensation.”
“Did you know they’re calling Eden the free city?”
“I’d heard rumors. Glad to see they’re sticking.”
“You’re doing it on purpose?”
“Why not? We could use more stalwart people.”
“If that’s the case, then why was I stopped at the bridge? That’s never happened before.”
“So you have been here previously,” the king declared. “I did wonder. Yet you never presented yourself to me.”
“I didn’t know I had to.”
“I’m king and ruler of the Marshlands. I like to know who’s coming into my lands. We have rules you know.”
She laughed. “That’s priceless coming from a rebel.”
For some reason, he smiled. “So news of my exploits are getting around. Excellent.”
“More rumors?” She arched a brow.
“Just ensuring people know the truth.”
“The guard who brought me claimed you knew to expect me. How?” she asked.
“A few reasons.” He stood from the desk, bringing attention to the library, which had some rustic charm, with wooden shelves and the spines of the books lining it covered in a variety of material from leather to paper to composite plastic. Then there was the thin-screen computer that rose from the touch-top desk.
“What reasons?” she asked, not getting a dangerous vibe from him but wary all the same.
“For one, your queen has sent out a request to all the kingdoms to apprehend and return you if you appear.”
The words had her stiffening. “I won’t go back.”
“Never said I’d force you. We aren’t called the free city for nothing.” Roark tucked his hands behind his back. “However, I do wonder what makes you so valuable. Why is the Emerald queen so desperate to reclaim a reluctant daughter?” He eyed her with an appraising air.
She lifted her chin. “She doesn’t like losing her subjects.”
“No one does, but this effort smacks of desperation, and I am quite enjoying it.”
“Glad I could help,” she muttered. Although his words did reassure. It didn’t sound as if he planned to hand her over.
“Consider yourself my guest for as long as you need. My castle is your castle.” He sketched a bow.
“I don’t know if I can stay. I’m looking for something.” Someone. What if Titan lived but ended up in a village instead of the city? “Have you seen or heard of a man with a bionic arm and leg?”
“I should have known you’d come looking for the Tin Man,” the king said with a soft chuckle. “The men who found