The only one not pacing was The Ancient Guardian. He was simply sitting in front of a chess board, staring intently at the pieces.
“We did it right. He’ll be back,” he said without looking up from the board.
“And if he doesn’t? The king will probably lop our heads off one by one!”
“Don’t be silly. They haven’t beheaded anyone for ages. We’ll probably just be hanged,” another one said.
“We should have found a way to test them first.”
“Well, that would be a little difficult, considering you have to be of the Royal Bloodline to use them.”
“There are a few cousins hanging about. We could have tried one of them.”
“And risked losing the stones? No, this way was best.”
“He’ll be back,” the Guardian moved a piece on the board, “and then we can get to work on that other problem.”
“What problem?” Adeo called out from above.
Twenty heads looked up at him en masse. They stared for a moment, before literally dancing a jig and whooping. Several of them rushed toward the staircase. They were huffing and puffing before they finally reached the third floor. No wonder it was so dusty up there. One of the Order actually reached out a finger to touch him, just to make sure he wasn’t an apparition of sorts.
They surrounded him each member tugging him. He rode the wave of pulls down the stairs and out the door of the library. He glanced back to see The Ancient Guardian smile and wave before promptly going back to his game.
The library was only a short distance from the throne room, and within moments, Adeo found himself standing in front of his father who carefully eyed him from head to toe.
“Well?” his father finally asked.
“I’m back?”
“Where’s the girl?”
“I didn’t bring her back with me.”
This information did not please his father.
“Why not?” His words were clipped and the line of his lips was getting tighter and tighter.
“She wasn’t ready.”
“Women are never ready. Go back and fetch her at once.”
“No. I made her a promise to leave. If I return so soon, she’ll see it as a breach of that promise.”
“You will be married in two weeks.” It was a warning. His father seemed to think Adeo was still in stalling mode. From the rumors surrounding his father’s own marriage, Adeo could guess why. His father, too, had had no choice in his own bride. She had been beautiful, elegant, and graceful, a perfect princess. She also couldn’t stand the sight of her groom. Their marriage had been ice cold for the short year that it lasted. Some said his mother died had died in childbirth. Some said she’d merely not wanted his father back in their bed and had died just to spite him.
Adeo knew his marriage to Betsy would not be the same. She, despite her maidenly protests, wanted him. Her touch had been like fire on his skin. A burning pleasure that had almost made him lose control and lay her down on her bed to truly claim her as his own.
“She is,” Adeo said softly, “truly mine. But as in our country, her customs require a period of courting before leaving with a strange man she’s known for mere minutes.”
“A long engagement is not an option.”
Adeo began to lose his patience. “What would you have me done? Drag her kicking and screaming with only the clothes on her back to a strange land with little hope of returning home? I’d prefer a happier bride.”
His father stood, the anger flowing over his face. Adeo didn’t flinch. He stood his ground and met his father’s menacing glare.
The room grew eerily silent. No one dared to do so much as cough. His father’s anger melted in a sigh.
“Two weeks,” he said one last time before turning and exiting into his private chambers. An attendant scrambled to grab his robe and keep the tail from catching on the gilt.
Adeo also turned to leave, but was stopped by his father’s voice.
“Adeo.” It was soft, finally the words of a father instead of a king.
Adeo turned and stared at his father standing in the doorway.
“Good luck.”
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