I didn’t mind, really. At these sorts of events I preferred to remain in the background and observe, and the perfect time to do so was while Micah interacted with his subjects. Those of silver seemed truly devoted to him, so much so that they were constantly looking out for his interests.
But where were others of copper? The ones who had sent me gifts, the ones who saw Max and Sadie and me as leaders? Micah had assured me that Oriana hadn’t ordered those of copper to keep their distance from us, but that didn’t explain the lack of a copper presence here at the Golden Court; Micah had said that all of metal were to pledge themselves to Oriana. So, why would all those of copper ignore a directive from their queen? If I was a betting woman (and I wasn’t, thanks to all the times Max had gotten beaten up), I would bet that they had been ordered not to appear.
If I was completely honest with myself, I’d been hoping to see at least a few copper Elementals here, thus proving my suspicions against the queen wrong. That, and right now I could really use a few friends. Their absence made me feel both wrong about the queen, and wrong about having any allies.
Somehow, someday, I am going to get something right.
“Who is that?” I heard someone ask, indicating Sadie. “Our lord has two consorts?”
“No,” was the reply amidst knowing laughter, “she is the consort’s sister, the Inheritor of Metal.”
“Why doesn’t Lord Silverstrand take the Inheritor as his consort, then?” asked the first. “It would be a wise move, what with Greymalkin again making his presence known.”
“Yes, that certainly would be shrewd,” the second stated. “Shrewd, indeed.”
There was a small chorus of agreement, and it was all I could do not to run screaming from the hall. Remembering Oriana’s advice, I mustered what little grace I had, turned on my heel, and walked toward the nearest door, which led me to a small, enclosed courtyard, the high walls creating a gloom that matched my mood. I sank down onto one of the benches, fully intending to hide for the rest of the evening.
I’d just gotten settled when I heard the door open and softly close, then Micah’s arms were around me. I leaned my head on his shoulder, waiting for him to ask why I was out here all alone, but he didn’t. After a time I sighed and told him anyway.
“They don’t like me,” I whispered.
“Who doesn’t?”
“Your people. Those of silver.” I fingered the edge of his silver coat. “They think you’re wasting your time with me.”
“I don’t care what they think,” Micah said.
“They think you’d be better off with Sadie, since she’s the Inheritor and I’m a nobody.”
“I don’t care what they think,” Micah repeated. He moved to look into my eyes, holding my chin so I couldn’t evade him. “Do you hear me? I do not care. I love you, my Sara, and that is all that matters.”
“But, your people—”
“I love them too, but I have only ever bestowed a token on one person,” he murmured, tracing the silver chain about my throat. “Only you.”
“You never had a consort before me?” I asked, a bit bewildered.
“It is not a situation that one enters into lightly,” he replied.
“I thought that was what royalty did, take consorts and…such.”
Micah’s brow furrowed. “You thought this was a temporary arrangement?”
“Um, yes.”
Micah sighed, then buried his face in his hands. His shoulders trembled, I thought with anger at his useless, stupid consort. Then he raised his head, laughter creasing his features, and reached inside his fancy silk shirt. He withdrew a few items, small and dull, like little pebbles. “Do you remember these?”
I squinted in the dark, my breath catching as I recognized the three pennies I’d given him that day before the Lovers’ Pine. “You kept them?”
“Of course. They were the first things you’d ever given me, freely and without expectation.” He dropped them into my palm, then tightly closed my hand around them. “At the time, I hoped they were given with love.”
“They were,” I murmured. Though I hadn’t realized it at the time, I’d fallen fast and hard for my silver elf. “I thought they weren’t good enough for you. That’s why I made you the cuff.”
“They were—they are—perfect. But the cuff is nice too.” We laughed at that, then Micah reclaimed the pennies and slipped them once more against his heart. “You see, my love, I have never considered us to be anything but permanent. As soon as you are with child, you will be my wife. My only wife,” he added, pressing a kiss to my temple.