Fantasyland 01 Wildest Dreams(197)

Now, they were not.

Mother stood behind the desk, bent over it, signing a huge, poster board-sized piece of parchment.

Baldur stood next to her watching her with a stony face.

She straightened and offered her silver pen to him.

His lip curled as he looked at the pen.

“Do not delay, Baldur,” Apollo said low. “Your carriage awaits and the rest of us have things to do.”

Baldur glared at Apollo then he looked to Mother.

“It is my understanding, my son showed kindness to your daughter before she slaughtered him,” he noted coldly.

Mother didn’t show any reaction to this pointless comment which was a miracle considering all the other things that were not kind that Broderick did, including ordering her (and my) husband to be murdered and she stated blandly, “And it is my understanding she actually didn’t slaughter him, she delivered a wound that was not lethal but, instead, it was one of the men of The Drakkar, acting correctly on what he felt would be his absent commander’s wishes, who ran your son through.” She paused then finished, not even trying to hide her pride, “But she did, of course, take the life of his lover.”

Baldur’s mouth got tight and his eyes slid through the heads on either side, avoiding mine as they went and then he whispered, “This is preposterous. This woman does not even have the blood of a Wilde and she’s a woman for the gods’ sakes.”

“Your options have been explained, Baldur,” Frey reminded him quietly. “You made your choice. With this delay, are you saying you’re undecided?” Baldur’s eyes went to Frey and Frey concluded, “For if you are, I will be happy to make the choice for you.”

“My choice has not changed,” Baldur snapped and I was guessing it wouldn’t for his choices were abdicating all claim to his throne by signing that paper and then immediately leaving on his journey to be exiled to a small island somewhere south, far away from here or a trial for impeachment which might end in a lifelong exile not on a sunny isle but in a cold dungeon. “But it is my due and I wish it to be known that you and your heads have acted well beyond the bounds of decency and respect. Dragon fire and trials of treason for heads of Houses? It is ridiculous. These are games of politics as they have been played for centuries.”

“We are moving into a new era,” Aurora announced softly, her eyes on Baldur, “where politics do not include assassinations and clashes of steel but diplomacy. And the heads who remain are enthusiastic about Lunwyn’s bright future.”

Baldur’s eyes narrowed on her and he snapped, “At your command, you will lead the new Lunwyn to misery and my people will revolt.”

“We shall see,” Aurora murmured then her face brightened slightly. “Though, in opening your treasury, abolishing your paper currency and allowing our reunited citizens to trade their paper currency for coin, they seem to be quite content at the moment.”

Baldur’s face got red and I pressed my lips together to stop myself from smiling and looked out the window so I missed Baldur yanking the pen out of Aurora’s hand. I heard the scribble of the squib on parchment and I also heard movement as he stomped out.

I did not look back until Mother spoke.

“Gentlemen, if you would,” she invited and I watched her motion nobly to the oval table in the corner of the room.

The heads moved there with Mother. Frey and Apollo moved to me. When they arrived, they stopped close and Frey’s hand slid to the small of my back.

“Do you wish to stay, my Finnie?” he asked quietly and I scrunched my nose.

“Attend a meeting?” I asked back and he smiled at me before he turned his smile to an openly amused Apollo.

“Not exciting enough for my wee wife,” he muttered to Apollo.

Apollo’s response was an amused, rumbling, “Mm.”

“You two enjoy,” I mumbled.

“Right,” Apollo murmured, looking like he wanted to attend this meeting about as much as I did.

“And your plans?” Frey asked and my eyes went to his.

“Check in on Sky. He’s taking a test, he should be finishing up about now. And Bess is leaving.”

He nodded. “Then you should be away.”

“I should be away,” I agreed.

His eyes warmed, his head dropped and he touched his mouth to mine before again lifting his head.

“I shall see you later,” he muttered, looking over his shoulder at the conference table.

“Okay, honey,” I whispered, lifted my hand touched his chest and his eyes came back to me so I smiled.

His hand tensed at my back then he moved away.

I turned to Apollo and smiled at him too then my smile went wonky as he held my eyes but took hold of my hand and lifted it, knuckles up, to his lips. Then I watched as he brushed them with his lips and dropped our hands but kept firm hold of mine.