At that, Micah’s cheeks darkened, but he didn’t miss a beat. “It’s true, Max,” he murmured, reclaiming me from Mom’s hairdressing attempts. “I’ve lost my heart to your enchanting sister. I only hope she’ll give me hers in return.”
He was grave at the end, and I wondered what he really meant. Wasn’t it obvious that I loved him? I mean, I was here in the Otherworld with him, living in his house, traipsing to all these ridiculous events with him. Then his hand brushed my belly, and I understood his meaning all too well. Before I could think of anything not too horrible to say, Sadie piped up.
“That’s great that you two are all sloppy over each other, but can we go now?” she asked. “I’d like to get this over with.”
If Micah was offended by my lack of response, he made no mention of it. After saying our goodbyes to
Mom and Max and extracting a solemn oath from my brother to not leave the manor until we returned, along with another oath from Mom to keep the silverkin in one piece, we were on our way.
Earlier, Sadie had agreed to travel to the Golden Court along the metal pathways as Micah and I normally did, which was a relief. While I’d done all I could to make my copper shoes comfortable, high-heeled metal footwear was not meant for extensive walking. Besides, shouldn’t the Inheritor of Metal make use of one of her basic abilities? In my opinion, that was a firm yes.
The metal pathway carried the three of us along, swift as a river bursting from the spring thaw, and in a short time we arrived at the Golden Court amidst other Elemental dignitaries. The entrance to the court was packed with Elementals, metal and otherwise. The first person I recognized was Ayla, the Inheritor of Fire. She was tall and slender, her lithe form swathed in rich crimson and orange silks that paled in comparison to her red, red hair. Close behind her was Old Stoney, who had granite plates affixed to his clothing like some kind of Paleolithic armor. He didn’t notice our arrival, being that he was leering at Ayla with barely-concealed lust.
“Why are the metals all pure elements, but earth isn’t?” I asked Micah. Something—let’s be honest, many things—bothered me about Old Stoney, and I thought I’d just figured one of them out. “I mean,
granite is made up of feldspar and quartz, but I don’t hear about any brass or pewter elementals.”
“At times, I think you look for strife where none exists,” Micah murmured. Normally I would have been offended by the obvious brush-off, but the combination of Micah’s amused smile and his hand firmly pressed against the small of my back placated me. That, and I couldn’t risk an argument with one of the only two allies I knew I had in the Golden Court. Gods willing, a few others would step forward, and soon.
We gained entry, and once again I marveled at the beauty of the Golden Court. If anything, it glowed even more brightly than it had during my previous visit, the golden walls and floor so shiny it seemed like we were standing inside the sun. I looked upward and saw that the roof had been retracted, filling the hall with even more golden light. I squinted at the clouds and hoped it wouldn’t rain.
“The queen can’t afford a roof?” Sadie quipped. “Can’t she just hock a couple gold lampshades or forks to get a few bundles of shingles?”
I laughed despite Micah’s quelling glare, and the three of us entered the main hall. It was enormous, far larger than the room Oriana had received Micah and me in for our lunch date. The walls and floor were gold, as I’d expected, but that was where the queen’s metal ended. Chandeliers of cut crystal hung from the arched ceiling, with matching sconces on the walls. Between the sconces hung solid crimson panels of fabric edged in swags of pearls and sparkling gems, and a matching carpet led up a set of steps to what I assumed would be Oriana’s throne. I, who had become accustomed to the opulence of the Silverstrand manor, gasped at the wealth before me.
Before I could truly appreciate my surroundings, the other lords and ladies of silver arrived and nearly swarmed Micah in their adoration of him. I hadn’t realized how many others of silver there really were, having only seen a few in the Whispering Dell. But here they were, at least fifty of them, each and every one of them nobility in their own right, and Micah’s loyal subjects.
They clustered around him, and I automatically stepped aside. Micah wasn’t about to let me hide, not this time anyway, and grabbed my hand.
“For those of you who were not yet aware that I have taken a consort,” Micah said, drawing me beside him, “I present to you my beloved, Sara Corbeau.”
Those of silver turned as one, and dozens of silver eyes gave me the same quizzical, sweeping gaze that I got from all the rest. They took in my copper hair, and that my belly was flat. A few females sniffed indignantly, murmuring to each other that they’d have birthed an heir or two by now; others commented upon the Lord of Silver taking up with a Raven. However, since I was just a consort, most of the crowd resumed fawning over the Lord of Silver, ignoring me in the process.