“Here we go again,” Dra’Kaedan muttered as a second Rorie stormed down the hall and walked right into the man holding on to Renny. The two versions of himself merging forced a gasp out of Rorie.
“What did that feel like?” Worth asked.
“It was most odd,” Rorie responded, his lip curled in distaste. “For a moment, it was as if an entity had entered me and wanted to fight for control. I do not wish to experience that again.”
“The good thing is, we won’t have two Rories running around creeping the crap out of people,” Rafe said.
“When does Drekkoril get summoned?” Aleksander asked.
“Just after the sotikabore is over,” Rorie answered. “Come, we must attend. The sky is darkening, so it is nearing the end of the ceremony.”
They traipsed down two flights of stone staircases and entered a room with four giant fireplaces. There was luxurious furniture done in jewel tones and tons of pale gold that accented the cream walls. Two enormous doors, which were probably twenty feet high, were wide open and draped in black. Outside, there were additional stairs to traverse except they’d been covered in carpet and there were petals of flowers everywhere.
“Roriethiel, the sotikabore is ending. We need a Noble Protector. For three days, you were gone, and we can go no longer without a leader,” a man said, stepping into their path. “Jatzal told us of your v’airsell nioll, but we still do not know who the rest of these guests are. You are not behaving as expected. Your parents are dead, and we know it is a burden for you, but royalty is not given the luxury of time. Summon your bemollo.”
“Sioskallo Midrera, I would be happy to introduce you to Grand Warlock Familiar Renny D’Vaire’s family.”
Midrera slashed a hand through the air, whisking his green cloak to the side. “Nothing is as important as you summoning your bemollo. I will listen to no introductions or excuses. Get on with it.”
“Watch your mouth, Midrera,” Rorie stated. “You may not like it, but I have a title now, and you will address me as Protector.”
“You have no title. Protectors are the fairies of Noble Protectors. Your parents sought to make themselves more important than Bétea intended, and we will stand for that nonsense no longer. I see no bemollo of yours; therefore you are nothing to me but the spoiled child of our former protectors. Do your duty, or you will leave us with no choice but to force your summoning.”
“I dare you to try. I have a Faedrekan who will destroy anyone who tries to force me to do anything. I will be sure my bemollo tames one as well. I refuse to have the likes of you compelling him to do anything. Now get out of my face, and I will do the summoning,” Rorie snarled.
“Do not threaten me with your Faedrekan.”
Rorie rubbed a finger over his ring, and Orlami shimmered into view. “You were saying?”
Midrera did not respond; he took off running.
“I think I understand why you were so persistent that I tame a Faedrekan,” Drekkoril muttered.
“You took your time listening.”
“I had no desire to court danger. I have a duty as Noble Protector to stay alive. You forced the sioskallos to offer me no choice. They told me our people did not view me as a genuine leader, since my fairy had a drekan and I did not.”
“I never spoke to any sioskallo about Faedrekan or how I wanted you to have one.”
Drekkoril’s brow furrowed with confusion. “There is more mystery here than I realized.”
“Orlami and Zurenzi will show us everything we need to see to understand how we came to be in Renny’s realm. I am not sure why we had to go this far back, or what this has to do with our trip, but I am curious what else we will learn.”
“Let us get to the parapet, so you can summon me. I dislike being invisible, and we must officially introduce the D’Vaires to allow our people to treat them with the respect they deserve.”
“Wait until they find out that many of them are actual dragons,” Rorie said with a cheeky grin. “Our people are quite obsessed with drekans.”
Drekkoril’s smile was wry. “Your parents sowed those seeds well. And they are most majestic beasts.”
“Can I ask why you had to summon Drekkoril on the parapet of your castle?” Renny asked. They walked inside, Rorie’s warm hand still tucked in his.
“No reason other than I wished to be alone and not disturbed. I know Drekkoril refuses to believe me, but I wanted it to be a special moment. I desired a friendship with my bemollo, but it was not to be. We differ too much as people, I suppose.”
Drekkoril didn’t acknowledge the words with any of his own, but his expression was confused. His mouth tightened as he turned away, and Renny thought he appeared lost in thought as they trudged up the stairs. Whatever anger Renny had at being swept into a dream without his permission had slipped away into a mixture of intrigue and even excitement.
It’d become a goal of his to travel someday to the Fae realm if he could, and while technically it was a series of visions, he was at least able to see what Rorie’s life was like before they met. In the enchanted place, he hoped they might get to know one another better as they solved the mystery of what exactly had led them to the Council.
Chapter 9
