CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You are a phenom, little man.” I patted Coal’s head as his smile lit as bright as the iridescent field arching above. The kid was a natural at weaving through the night unseen. I tried not to think of how he’d grown to be so proficient on the streets but because of his mad skills, we’d skirted through the market center, past the canals of the commercial districts, and into a residential sector without coming across a single soul.
My only concern was that he might not know where Rowan’s house was because we’d passed the modest two-bedroom row houses, we’d skipped around the larger detached homes with the fenced front yards and now we were into the estate section of Attalos.
“Are we sure we know where we’re at?” I asked. “Cause we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
“Of course not, Princess,” Terran said with a sideways glance. “We’re in Attalos.”
“No, I . . .” I waved away his confusion and let Coal tug me alongside a tall, metal retaining wall. The thing must have risen a solid twenty feet from the ground. The Orichalcum vibrated into my palm as my fingers skimmed the smooth surface.
I’d never been anything close to a tree hugger, but found it strange that in a city this size there weren’t any green areas. Within the first ring of Attalos there were courtyards, fountains, metal walls and canals. No trees lined the streets, no shrubs or flowerbeds landscaped the lawns.
With my mind wandering and my feet trudging along on autopilot, I almost knocked Coal flying when he stopped right in front of me. I caught him as he flew forward and righted him. “Sorry, buddy. What’s up?”
Ydorus, Eury, and Terran took up the rear more gracefully.
I scanned the street. We were standing in shadow of a—
“Holy shit. Is it a house or a mausoleum?” I stared open mouthed at a stone mansion that looked to be the much-older-yet-slightly-smaller-brother of Jade’s mansion. Except this one wasn’t poofed here by Castian, God of gods. Men had slugged these chunks of rock here and built this sucker one hernia at a time.
“Do you think there’s a hunchback in that bell tower?” I asked, staring up—way up. It was magnificent, tall windows reflecting the glow of the moon’s light, and ornate wrought iron balcony railings guarding the black alcoves behind them. High above, three stories, maybe four, the roofline followed undulating turrets, more windows, more balconies and a bunch of wide stone chimneys. “Did Rowan’s parents own a fricken quarry?”
“No,” Terran said, accepting the key card from Eury. He slid it through the security box and a loud clack echoed into the quiet night. “They own the fifth sector of the city and all its wares. Now, with his parents dead, Rowan does.”
“What?” My mouth hung open as someone pressed a firm hand on my back and pushed me through the open gate. “I thought he . . . he’s a swordsmith and a doctor.”
The backyard was completely enclosed and the security wall reached high enough we were guaranteed our privacy. Ydorus secured the gate behind us. “He is, Princess, but his birthright is that of the son of the fifth house.”
“Rowan’s a Noble?”
Terran shrugged, guiding us around a dry fountain in the center of a courtyard. I imagined the last time the peaceful sounds of falling water filled this area would have been when Rowan’s parents still lived here with Elani.
“I’m not sure how it works now that his family is shamed,” Terran muttered. “The Laws are absolute. Rowan’s rights—”
The brilliance of the light cutting from the house across our group had us blinking and shading our eyes. Coal tucked tight to my side.
“Princess Grace?” The whispered voice came from an ebony silhouette blocking the open doorway. It was impossible to make out any features against the light of the backdrop, but the slender frame of the man seemed relaxed and unassuming. “Master Rowan told me to expect you. Please, come out of the night air.”
“Ydorus, would you mind?” I raised my chin toward the open door and waited for our escort to take point. Eury stayed behind us and we drew our weapons and moved as one. I tucked Coal behind my back and smiled at the tug of his fingers lacing though my belt loop “Stay close little man.”
The lush décor of the living room stood in direct contrast to the drab façade of the house exterior. Rose-colored stucco walls set off the sapphire, ruby and emerald décor which spilled across the overstuffed sofas, thick draperies and broad swaths of buttermilk marble.
A genuine warmth oozed from the scattered array of family photos to the books and possessions piled haphazardly on surfaces around the room. The family Rowan lost.
“If it pleases you, Princess,” the old guy said. “Let us begin your welcome in the front atrium and greet you properly.” He scooted down a candlelit hallway with more spring than I would have thought possible. Eury took one last look into the moon-washed courtyard, then locked the back door and we hustled to catch up.
I could see why Rowan’s butler wanted to begin in the main foyer the moment we arrived. The wall of the three-story atrium was a back-lit, tiered, glass fountain. Water trickled and splashed down the textured contours, falling from the top floor to pool into the tropical grotto below. Lit from beneath the champagne surface, schools of multi-colored fish lazed and swam in and amongst a rainbow of anemone.
“Welcome to the home of Lir-Rowan, of the Fifth house. I am Jonash and anything you need is my pleasure to provide. Shall I give you a tour of the manse?”
I didn’t want to burst the old guy’s bubble, but I was d-o-n-e—done. “I’m thinking: booze, bath and then bed.”
His lips tightened. “I shall have Leta draw you a bath, Princess. Would you like something to eat first?”
I shook my head and glanced to where the stairs disappeared. “No thanks. I’ll be good ‘till morning.” Jonash milled his long, slender hands. What was it about the people of Attalos and their weird preoccupation with feeding me?
I cast a glance over to Ydorus and Eury. “My escorts haven’t eaten. Could I ask for something for them?”
“Of course, Princess.” He bowed deep at the waist. “If you’ll give me a moment, gentlemen, I’ll show Princess Grace to her room and be down to tend to your needs directly.”
“We’d rather escort the Princess—”
“Thanks boys,” I said raising a hand, “but I’m beat. Terran will see me up. You two should take off and get some rest. And thanks for everything.”
“If it’s all the same, Princess. We’d prefer to secure the house.”
I cast a glance at the mansion sprawling in all directions, three stories above and more below to be sure. I tilted my head back, scanning all the way up to the third floor. I was much too tired to argue. “We’re only here a few days. You might not get done.”
The two soldiers chuckled, but after Ydorus checked the locks on the front door he and Eury marched off through the dimly lit wing on the right.
With lead legs, I shuffled toward the stairs while Jonash bounced up the steps in the lead. “I will show you to your rooms and then bring up a tray in the event you change your mind about the food.”
“Sounds great.”
The four of us trudged up the plush runner covering the hardwood stairs all the way to the third floor. The landing sported a wide window seat and a floor to ceiling bookshelf chocked full of spines standing at attention. Jonash was practically skipping down the left corridor while Terran, Coal and I struggled to keep up.
“How long have you been with Rowan and his family?” I asked, only to slow the man to a less obscene pace.
“Oh, my ancestors have served the Nobles of the Fifth house since the time of separation.” He paused next to an alcove with a nude marble statue of a Fae god.
Oh, please, let it not be Castian. The last thing I needed was to go to sleep with erotic images of Jade’s father in my head. I tried not to look, but was drawn to satisfy my curiosity. Thankfully it wasn’t Castian. It looked more like his brother Dane.
Coal noticed me eyeing the statue and giggled.
Yes. Naked was funny to an eight-year-old.
“Here you are, Princess.” Jonash said from a short way down the hall. “I’m certain you’ll be comfortable here and the two rooms across the hall have been readied for your guests.”
Coal’s eyes flared and I squeezed his hand.
Terran eyed the door across the hall and I realized that both Coal and I had taken naps, while he had been going full tilt since yesterday. “Terran, go. Get some sleep. We’ll meet in the garden at dawn for training.”
If I’d had the energy, I would have laughed at Terran’s expression. As it was, I just shoved his shoulder and pushed him into the room. “Go. That’s an order.”
He yawned. “See you at the crevice of dawn.”
I laughed. “Crack, Terran. See you at the crack of dawn. And Terran?” He stopped and met my gaze. “Thank you. For Tham, and taking us to your home and . . . yeah, well, today.”
He eased the door closed. “Sleep well, Princess.”