Alien General's Chosen (Brion Brides 4)(10)

It would make the most amazing song, she thought. That was one of the most infuriating parts of her job in Leiya’s mind. All the stories people told her, but she still had to imagine what the recognizing moment felt like. No matter what, she’d never have the chance to experience it for herself. Maybe her gerion would be able to describe it to her in more detail than strangers were willing to. She could hope, at least.

Alright, so maybe she did hope for things, quite a few things in fact. All her friends did, even if they didn’t admit it, or else why would they have come? If they didn’t believe they could find their fated, what was the point?

To look, the answer came to her.

Receptions were the biggest gatherings after the mass assemblies when the Elders emerged to share their thoughts with the Brions. All brought together in a large area, it was truly the most social event she could imagine. Even if she didn’t meet her fated that night, she could still enjoy just being there. People danced, and drank, and talked. Most of them talked about Diego Grothan and his gesha, Isolde. That was just as well, because it interested Leiya too.

“It’s so exciting,” Iloya was saying. “Can you imagine, a general? She must have been mad with joy.”

“She’s a human,” Aya pointed out. “I think she was scared out of her mind. It’s Diego, after all.”

Leiya agreed.

“I think so too,” she said. “I mean, to have Diego Grothan walk up to you and say your life was now bound to him? I would have been terrified.”

“Oh, but a general. Of course Leiya would hate it, but Aya, back me up,” Iloya argued, bright-eyed. “Tell me you wouldn’t like that.”

Aya shook her head, which was to be expected. Her tastes had always been more directed at senators and the like, being one in the making herself. Like almost all of them, she considered warriors to be too simplistic.

Leiya hesitated. All Brions were fighters, and their generals were the protectors of their people. She theoretically understood, but the idea she could be paired with a horrible bloodthirsty brute scared her to bits.

“No,” she said, like she’d done a thousand times before. “I don’t want a warrior. And definitely not a general. You have no idea how glad I was the day I heard Diego had bound. Not that I thought I would be the one for him, but just to have him out of the options… Or, gods forbid, Crane…”

They all shuddered, thinking of the monstrous general, although he’d only gotten to bear the title for a very short while. Then Diego Grothan had killed him in single combat during the Rhea dispute. All the better for it, he was an abomination every way you looked at it. Once he’d been a promising warrior, until they’d declared him mad and locked him away only to bring him back for the exact purpose of killing Diego. He had failed, ridding the world of him and making Diego even more terrifying to his enemies.#p#分页标题#e#

“Yeah, not like him,” Iloya agreed. “Gods spare us from those like him. He was just a monster. I don’t think he even had a gesha, who would fate treat so cruelly?”

She paused.

“Or, you know, the twins.”

They shuddered again. Crane had been a short-lived, almost absurd terror as a general before Diego had set it right for them. The twin generals had been around for a while now.

“Gawen’s dead,” Aya reminded them.

“Yeah,” Iloya said. “And Faren… Faren.”

Both Aya and Leiya turned on their heels, since Iloya was staring, wide-eyed, straight at whatever was behind them. It was like she’d said. The coldest general in the Brion armies had just walked into their line of sight. He paused at the stairs leading to another part of the great hall, casting his merciless eyes over the gathered Brions.

It seemed like even the air had stopped moving, such was the silence of all those around him. Faren either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He calmly walked on to greet some younger captains and senators. Or rather, to be greeted by them. As much as it could be seen, he hardly said a word, as was usual with him.

“Oh gods, do you think he’s here for a gesha?” Iloya asked.

“Why else?” Aya intoned. “To mingle? Faren?”

“He must be,” Leiya said, rising to her tippy toes to see better. “Now that I think on it, I never heard of him binding.”

The three of them gave the ruthless general a curious look.

Leiya had to admit it was difficult to tear her eyes away from him, and she didn’t seem to be alone in that. There was something oddly attractive about him, alluring and a bit scary at the same time. He stood almost a head taller of all the rest, only other warriors catching up to him in height. Years of battle had honed his body to perfection, it was clear to see for all who cared. He simply exuded power in everything he did. When he walked, others stepped aside to let him pass without him having to say a word to make them do so. His reputation did everything needed, no one was aching to cross blades with one of the bloodiest of the Brion generals.

She remembered seeing him duel, a very, very long time ago when she still allowed herself to be taken to those displays of merciless murder. She remembered both twins really. They had both looked like they’d been carved from marble. Only where Gawen made it look rough and sharp in the edges, on Faren the build seemed more natural. His strength was obvious even in the simplest of movements, the muscles of his arms moving like a bowstring ready to unleash its powerful kick. That much was obvious too. For all his apparent calm, there was always the threat of violence treading behind him.

The general was looking over the crowd from under strands of his dark, black hair. He almost seemed bored, if any emotion could ever be assigned to one such as him.

“I know what you’ll say,” Iloya said at last, shuddering all forgotten, “but he’s gorgeous.”

Aya shrugged.

“Sure, for a warrior, he doesn’t look bad.”

Iloya rolled her eyes at her.

Leiya was about to agree with them, but all she said was,

“He scares me.”

They chose to move around a bit after that surprise, but of course Leiya immediately forgot the rule she'd thought of before.

Oh perfect. It’s not like there are many things to keep in mind when you’re at a reception. Keep an eye out not to miss your fated. And what else? Oh yes. Don’t lose your friends!

Despite knowing better, Leiya found herself looking around helplessly, not seeing her friends anywhere. But of course she’d lost them, what else could she possibly have done in a crowd of at least ten thousand Brions.

She made a hopeless attempt to look around to see if they were by chance close enough to still catch. As she walked through the crowd, she had the chance to talk to her audience. Most of them were nice, at least.

“Oh, yes, thank you! I would love to sing at the next reception too.”

“I write my own songs, yes. Hmm? Yes, I have a concert coming up very soon.”

“What? No! Does your mother know you speak to girls like that?”

“Thank you for saying that, it’s really very kind of you. I’m sorry about your hearing, that note is very high, yes.”

“Oh! Yes! I saw you from the stage! I’m so happy for you two! Yes, it can definitely be your song.”

It went on and on, but her friends were nowhere to be found. Instead, she bumped into Senator Primen. He wasn’t the High Senator anymore, but he was still her father’s friend, so Leiya stopped to talk to him for a moment. The man smiled to her at once.#p#分页标题#e#

“Ah, I was hoping I’d catch Briolina’s brightest star before she left,” he said. “I wanted to congratulate you on a marvelous performance.”

“Oh,” Leiya said, grinning. “Thank you. I’m glad you liked it, Senator.”

“I hear you’re planning a concert tour. I’ll be sure to come to listen.”

Leiya smiled.

“You and everyone here, it seems. I don’t know how you’ll all even fit the hall, but I’ll make sure you have a seat, Senator.”

Primen chuckled.

“Very kind of you, Leiya. It’s good to have you home at last. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come and see me. I’ll do my best to help.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The senator left her alone then with a last look that Leiya had no problem deciphering, but it was no matter. Many men in the hall looked at her like that. That was fine, looks didn’t hurt her. But only her gerion would have her.

There was little point in trying to keep looking for her friends. Besides being the place to meet your fated, receptions were also meant for all kinds of introductions. Some found business associates, some new friends. It wasn’t rare to just find a companion instead of their fated at the reception. Leiya had noticed potential suitors eying her friends earlier already and didn’t doubt that one of them had swooped in as soon as possible. So even if she found them, she would probably just be intruding.

As for herself, Leiya had little interest in companions. She wanted her gerion. The real deal. Someone nice and wonderful, someone she could laugh with.

Damn, I’m too short for these gatherings, Leiya thought, reaching to see over the crowd again. Maybe she could at least catch someone she knew and could talk to. No, that didn’t help either. She needed to climb somewhere. Climbing always helps.