To the Waters and the Wild - ch.14
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“What are you doing here Sarah?” he asked tightly; appearing in front of me suddenly when I was still trying to work out Sir Chaucer’s syntax. All those thees and withalls surrounded and backward contraries. It was enough to drive a girl to distraction, or at least put her off old english indefinitely.
“Not happy to see me Daren?” I saw the esteemed Sir Chaucer back off out of the corner of my eye. I wish I could have followed him. There was that nice refreshment table over there, or I could join Kit in baiting Will. All of these options had the benefit of not including Daren. I shuffled sideways, but Daren made one of those mincing half steps that only he could make appear graceful, and was in my face once more. Smiling ever so sweetly as he sipped his wine.
I had the urge to play the clumsy mortal and step on his foot.
Play nice Sarah, I chastised myself.
Well two could play this game. I bared my teeth back at him in what passed for a smile.
“I thought that was what you wanted? Well I’m here now.” I kept my voice low, ensuring that everyone else thought we were saying something informative. This kind of playacting made everyone bend their ears just a little closer.
If Daren wanted a show, I was happy to oblige.
“No” he hissed back. “ I want you as far from me as possible.”
“Well… Tough luck”
His answer surprised me. I had expected the anger, after all I had flouted him, publicly. And in the end he was an arrogant spoiled brat. But he seemed to have completely changed his mind. And… it hurt.
Why it hurt was completely beyond me. After all I didn’t want to stay here for eternity. No matter how short that time span may appear.
My attention flicked back to Daren’s face. He looked as if he had bitten into something sour. Before he could bite my head off, his father appeared.
“Daren!” Oberon approached us, “I see you’ve found your new bodyguard.”
“What” Daren exclaimed.
An excellent opportunity for me to escape, I thought, as Daren prowled over to his father. But before I had finished the thought, Daren was dragging me along with him.
What was it with fey and grabbing?
Once the two males were face to face they immediately ignored me. But the power levels rose dramatically.
Yes, let’s not consider the fact that such a contest is almost suffocating for those surrounding us.
Daren’s magic was usually safely contained behind his shields, but it slipped out now.
I knew he was powerful, he had to be to have remained alive for so long in the face of the fey who were continuously plotting.
But it seemed I had underestimated him.
My owl ring tightened as each wave of power hit. Not in the familiar sense of “red alert!you’re about to die. Do something!” but more like a steady thrum. A purr.
Gah! My jewelry is purring. This is not good. I liked that ring, if it was going wonky I would have to replace it.
While my mental breakdown was going on, the conversation continued around me.
And Daren was pissed.
“Do you think me so weak father?” he nearly spat.
“You mistake me Daren. I merely wish to ensure your back is covered.”
“By her?”
Ooo biting insult there. Points for Daren.
Oberon looked at him, his left brow creeping upwards.
Ominous approachment of the Look.
“Old man, what are you plotting?”
Sometimes I wonder just how Daren managed to live this long. He was obviously one of Darwin’s exceptions.
Oberon was still fully capable of siring another spare for his family’s heritage. Come to think of it, he could replace the heir as well…
But despite such tangents, they continued to completely ignore me. Too lost in their pissing contest to notice that they were drawing a crowd.
No one was looking at them. No, that would have been too obvious. One doesn’t stare at royals, they’re apt to gaze back and wonder just why you are so interested in their politics. But voices lowered and heads tilted towards us.
Soon the rumor of a split between Daren and Oberon would be spread and exaggerated to the farthest corners of Underground.
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Read the next installment here.
