Without the help of Caitrin, Aerity didn’t feel as put together as she normally did. She struggled to clasp her yellow dress in the back and to brush the tangles from her hair. She fidgeted with the emerald circlet hanging heavily on her forehead, and wiped a smudge of dirt from her cheek. She frowned at the looking glass. Her appearance would have to be good enough. Wyneth arrived and they walked arm in arm to the formal dining room where they’d meet the others. She inwardly cringed when she thought of the last time she’d been in that room with King Dagur.
Their pace slowed when they saw Lief standing outside the door, looking clean with damp hair.
“Did you bathe in cold water?” Aerity asked.
The coldlander grinned. “Naturally.” He approached and took her hand, kissing the tips of her fingers.
“My queen,” he said, then lowered his voice to a rumbling whisper. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“Aye? And what might that be?” she whispered back.
“Pretend to be offended.”
Offended? She stared into his serious eyes. “Whatever for?”
Lief did not answer. He took her hand and pulled it into the crook of his arm, leading her toward the dining room. Aerity looked over her shoulder at Wyneth, who shrugged in confusion.
King Dagur stood when they entered. He was with Volgan and two of his highest officials this time, rather than his family. Vixie was also at the table, appearing glad to see her. Harrison joined last with one other Lochlan officer, and the doors closed. Covered plates had been set on the table. Aerity wondered what the chef had been able to throw together in such a hurry. Had the chicken houses survived the damage of battle?
And speaking of damage, the formal dining room did not look at all the way she remembered it. Every tapestry had been torn down. The walls were bare. The priceless vases were shattered, though someone had swept the floors and left the shards in a corner.
King Dagur shook his head. “They left your home in ruins. I am sorry to witness it.”
“I’m sorry to have guests see it in such a state.”
The king waved a hand. Aerity was the first to sit, at the head of the table, and the others followed her lead. Normally a servant would lift the covers from their dishes.
“We’re on our own, I suppose,” Aerity said. She reached over and lifted the king’s cover for him, setting it in the middle. He stared at her and began to chuckle, a sound that turned to a deep laugh, and his men all joined him. Aerity blushed. The king then reached over and lifted her cover for her.
“Not on our own, Your Majesty. Together.”
Of all the things to nearly make her burst into tears . . .
Aerity smiled and motioned to the others at the table, who all lifted their own covers. Inside were slices of warm bread, roasted carrots and beets, and fried eggs. Without hesitation, they all fell upon the food. For five entire minutes nobody said a word. Aerity hadn’t realized how hungry she was until her entire plate was cleared. They all looked around at one another. Aerity met Lief’s eyes and tried to figure out why his mood was so dark. His ominous request came back to her and she squinted across the space at him, but he was lost in his thoughts.
The king pushed his plate forward enough to put his elbows on the table and nail her with a stern look.
“We must set a date for your wedding. Without delay.”
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.“I agree.”
He twined his fingers, seeming partially appeased. “This winter. Two weeks from now.” It sounded like a challenge, asif he expected her to argue. She wanted to push for spring, but after all he’d done, she couldn’t.
“That is reasonable,” she said.
He watched her before blinking and relaxing back in his chair with his hands across his belly. “Well, then. This is good.”
“Your Majesty,” said Lief from beside him. “If I may speak.”
The king appeared amused as Lief stood to address him.
“I will not marry Queen Aerity.”
Aerity’s heart stopped. All delight fell from King Dagur’s face. The entire room seemed to stiffen in shock. Volgan looked as if he were choking.
Pretend to be offended.
Oh, seas.She forced herself to speak. “Whatever do you mean, Lord Alvi?”
