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“I will consider the duration once I am there,” he replied.
Curious, I asked, “Have you been there before, I mean, before the Fealty arrangement?”
He nodded. “Several times, yes.”
Oh, the man was infuriating! He answered exactly what the question called for, but unlike most people, he offered no more than what was necessary.
A couple of Ladies grabbed my mother’s attention from across the courtyard.
Mother stood. “Excuse me, I’m going to go say hello. Oh, and, Servant, I’d like that recipe for that tonic you gave Sierra. Worked like a charm!”
Oh Gods, I didn’t want to be reminded of that. I watched her stroll off and turned back to Demos to quickly get his attention. “Tell me about them. The Ongahri. About Goth Mor Helle. What is it like?”
“Very well.” He didn’t look annoyed or anything, simply relaxed as he usually was. “The Mor itself, the manse, is unbelievable in its scope, and I doubt my words could do it any justice.”
I made a face, and his blue eyes twinkled as if he were enjoying my impatience.
“Well? Go on.”
He looked away, his gaze going to the north. “Massive and ancient, at least twenty times your dwelling here, in width alone.”
My eyes widened. I couldn’t imagine anything that big on top of a mountain.
“It is very cold, very solitary.” Then he looked back at me, and something passed over his face. “I fear it may take a while to become acclimated to it. It is nothing like your sunny, warmer village here.”
“Are we talking about the climate there or the people?” I asked softly, feeling that threat of cold.
“The Ongahri people are very different. Their world is harsh, black and white, and only the strongest and most clever live long enough to migrate to the Mor.”
I shivered but moved on. “And is it true that they live for hundreds of years?”
“Hard to imagine that, isn’t it?” he asked instead of answering me.
“It is, yes,” I mumbled, staring off into the distance.
Providence was an endless cycle of sowing, growing, dying, renewing. In contrast, the life of the Ongahri and their home in Helle seemed… dead, like a never-ending cycle stuck on the wheel of time.
“We have plenty of time to talk on our journey, my lady. For now, get your rest.” Demos stood and touched my arm briefly. “The envoy should be here before sunset.”
When he walked silently across the courtyard, a wave of loneliness crashed over me. Something deep inside of me truly felt alone. Odd, because I was an only child and had always been alone. Though the villagers were a friendly lot for the most part, and I had a few acquaintances from the higher caste young ladies my parents encouraged me to befriend, I pretty much stuck to myself, preferring my own company. Now I resented that attribute in myself. Never would I have thought that friends would be something I would need. Other than my parents and Lucinda, there wasn’t anyone to share my thoughts with.
Most girls my age didn’t know what to make of me, a Constant’s daughter not interested in fashion, the latest gossip, or handsome gentlemen. I knew I was an odd duck, still lost in childhood. It had never bothered me before. But things had changed. Maybe it was a good thing I was leaving. A change would force me to grow up.
By the time Mother came back and we had another drink, I was feeling myself again. I followed her inside when it was time and kissed her cheek before going to my room before dinner. I had to admit I was a bit tired, and the thought of a nap seemed nice.
I found my book on my bed when I got inside my room, remembering how I had given it to Lucinda a few nights ago. Both of us being so busy lately, I never had a chance to ask her if she had read any of it. I took off my slippers and picked up the book, then laid down, finding the page where I’d last left off.
Ongar then made Melos his consort and quickly took her to his kingdom in the clouds. There he made her one with him, his mighty strength commingling with her softness, a blending of two opposing forces welcoming each other home. It came to pass…
Chapter 7
Fadon
The Ongahri envoy was making good time and would arrive in Providence within the hour. The merciless sun drained most of them of their good humor, but now that evening was soon approaching, Fadon could feel the men’s morale begin to rise.
“Damn this heat,” Jon said beside him, atop his horse. “You owe me big for this journey, Fadon. I still see no reason why this couldn’t be put off a few weeks, at least until autumn had fully set in.”
“Not me, my friend. Mari is fully responsible for this.” Fadon turned his gaze to his Second, taking in his long mane of golden hair, hair he refused to cut. “Maybe if you chop off that pretty hair of yours, you’ll find some relief.” His lips quirked as he stared forward again.
