Copper Ravens(65)
I so did not want to have the baby talk here, so I opted for a drastic subject change. “Your people, they were also talking about Old Stoney hanging around again. What’s that all about?”
Micah’s face clouded. “He was Ferra’s lover.”
Those two? Oh, ick. “Does that mean he helped the iron bitch capture Oriana?”
“Yes. He is now embroiled in the arduous task of begging for her forgiveness.” Micah smoothed back my hair. “Do you understand?”
“About Stoney?”
“About us.”
I sighed; that was all the subject change I was going to get out of him. I took his hand onto my lap, pushing up his sleeve and tracing the copper cuff he wore. It was my first real experiment with the metalwork that was my birthright, not to mention my first real defiance of the Peacekeepers. Oh, sure, I’d done little things, like rig up my Picture Vision to watch prewar movies and cut the government tracker out of my arm, but those were different. They had been nothing but petty acts of defiance, a child thumbing her nose at her elders. The magic I’d used to make the cuff was real defiance, defiance that could have gotten me killed, or worse. And I’d done it all for him. What’s more, I’d do it all again, that and more.
“I understand that I love you, and I will rip to pieces anyone who stands between us,” I said softly. “More than anything, Micah, I am yours.”
He kissed me then, with far more passion than I imagined was normally seen in the Gold Queen’s courtyard. After a few more moments of calm happiness, I said the other terrible thing that was on my mind.
“Micah, there’s no one of copper here.”
His arms tensed around me. “I know.”
We didn’t discuss it further, being that if Oriana, or someone close to her, really was ordering others of copper to stay clear of the Corbeaus, her courtyard during a gala event wasn’t really the ideal place to examine her motivations. Micah kissed me once more, then we returned to the hall stuffed full of non-copper Elementals. Instantly my eyes landed on Old Stoney, who was hitting on my sister.
“Sadie!” I exclaimed, having crossed the floor in record time. Maybe copper shoes are made for speed. “I’ve been looking for you!” I plastered a giant grin across my face, alternately staring at her and Stoney.
“Have you?” Sadie countered, her irritation at being abandoned plain. “Grey here has been nice enough to keep me company while you two were wandering off.”
“Grey? Oh, yes. He knew Ferra, you know.” Old Stoney’s face went stone cold, pardon the pun. I found that I liked irritating him, so I babbled on, “Yes, they were great friends. Allies, even. Do you know our father, Grey? A copper man by the name of Baudoin Corbeau?”
Old Stoney responded by trying to eviscerate me with his eyes. When that failed, he offered Sadie a shallow bow. “Good evening,” he muttered, then he stalked off to other rocky sorts.
“Do you think he knows what happened to Dad?” Sadie whispered.
“Very little about him would surprise me,” Micah replied, joining the two of us. “He is a devious man, loyal to no one. Ah,” he said, nodding toward the dais, “our queen has arrived.”
I followed Micah’s gaze, and indeed Oriana was ascending the dais to her throne, looking like nothing so much as a fairy-tale queen. I remembered that cold morning three months past when she was hauled out of the oubliette; she’d been shrouded in darkness for so long she had been practically blind and had snapped and clawed at her rescuers like a feral beast. Since the gold had been stripped from her body after her capture, restoring her element was crucial to her recovery, physically as well as mentally. To my horror, the newly-free Oriana had been immediately bound immobile with golden chains and a cairn of gold built above her.
At first, I’d thought such actions foolish. How could a heap of metal cure one’s crazed state, and wouldn’t she suffocate? Well, cure her it had, as was well evidenced by the graceful being before me. Oriana’s golden hair was loose, cascading down her back in heavy waves, her blue eyes reflecting the same sun-colored hue. Her arms and shoulders were bare, showcasing her mark from her golden fingers to the spiraling tendrils that glinted on her shoulders. Of course, Oriana wore her element in her clothing, her choice being a golden breastplate over a deep crimson skirt.
“She’s so beautiful,” Sadie murmured. “I used to think Mom was of gold, what with her hair.”
“Me too.” I squeezed Sadie’s hand, and Micah escorted the two of us as we navigated amongst the other Elementals. It was quite the daunting task, since everyone wanted to make the Metal Inheritor’s acquaintance, toast her good health, and offer her their assistance in whatever tasks she might need. Imagine their surprise when all she asked for was donations to her nascent library.