Deception (25 page)

The next morning Danella woke me with the news that Pike’s message arrived and
Prince
Ian wanted to see me.  I had mixed feelings about why Pike couldn’t come himself.  

I was ready quickly this morning with getting the routine down more.   After adding a tad of the lavender perfumes I’d found in my room the urge to hurry faster was unbearable.  He seemed to like the scent.  When I walked out of my room, I halfway expected Ian to be standing there, but disappointment flooded the path.  In his place was one of my two guards who motioned for me to follow.  I wound around corners searching my mind for where I was possibly being led.  When he turned through the garden and headed left instead of right, I knew.

Ian and I spent the morning at the firing range.  I’d shot over thirty arrows in all directions before I was able to hit close to the target.  He came through at being an awesome teacher with more patience than he’d admit to completely.  We cleaned up and planned to go at it again the next morning.  The wonderful campfire we have taken to staying by at night entered my mind hoping we might end up there again.

The crowded meeting room was larger than my room and longer with a single extended oak table minus the chairs.  I stayed in the doorway just taking it in.  Men in armor and loaded weapons surrounded me.  It was an extremely ordinary room in my eyes compared to what all I’d seen so far with no beautiful flowers or sweet smelling jasmine but the men gave it a regal air.  I could only assume it was left this way to be a more “manly” room for men to meet at their round table of decision making.  It even smelled much like sweaty men at the moment.

I intended to just listen, but he couldn’t let me it seemed.  He walked back towards me with his eyes shining like he was proud and ready to show me off.  Men!

  He seemed a little happier this morning as he bent and kissed me on the mouth.   Slowly enough, but just a second or two longer than usual.   Long enough he noticed my body jolt in reaction to it like he was reiterating the
“my woman”
moment.  Then he turned and walked me back to where he had been standing.  I looked around to see the reactions of the guards in the room.  The majority were looking down quickly and avoiding my embarrassment.  That, I was thankful for.
 
Then I worried they could read everything on my mind.
  Blank!  Blank!  Blank!
I emptied my thoughts.  I felt a little out of place being the only female in the room, but settled with knowing that the majority were guards and perhaps easily blocked.

The guards and Ian talked strategy and safety.  Grace, Grace, Grace!  The means for protecting Grace, the possible outcomes that are likely for hurting Grace, and where each would be positioned to take a hit for Grace.  Was I that fragile? 
Yep!
  In their eyes! They were dang serious about the protecting thing against evil bad dude Kinsler and I couldn’t help but feel like the helpless fly waiting for the swat to end it all while they deliberated my pending demise or protection from.  And didn’t I get any say in it sitting on my pretty kitty pedestal back here in the corner.

I did pay close attention to the talk about Nyms surrounding the court in recent weeks and how they intended to keep watching their every move. This explained the several instances where Ian had left abruptly when one of his guards would come to whisper in his ear. 
And
how Kinsler had been sighted watching also.  One guard mentioned seeing Pike.  To be lurking in the dark and not come in made me wonder at his motives.  He was really hard to figure, but I had the uneasy feeling I was involved in the equation.  However, when the guard mentioned it, Ian looked my way and said to the guard, “His agenda is well known.  I’ll take care of him.”  Was that somehow indicating Pike’s being at court had anything to do with me?  Of course it did.  That was evident at the little shindig with Pike and the Nyms.                                          

When they looked mostly finished, Ian excused himself and walked me out.  I was burning with questions so bad it was obvious.

  “Spit it out!” he stopped me.

“What?”

“I can tell you have something to say.  I told you, your face says it all.”

“I hope everyone can’t read me like you do.”

“I don’t think so.”  He was amused.  “But it would be nice to gain your thoughts back.”

No way!
My face was in agony. Just recently I wanted it back.  Now I was back to the NOT!  “Well, what
could
go wrong?” 

“More things than I want to contemplate.”

“Like what?” I laced my hands behind my back.

“Like, kidnapped, hurt, mind control.”  He said it like it had already happened.

“Wow!  You really are worried.”

He dropped his mouth like I might not have known.

“Why doesn’t Pike come into the court?”  I was acknowledging the conversation with the guard earlier and watching his face closely for hiding something else.  I know it’s only for my own good and safety, but I’m a big girl.  At some point he’s going to have to trust me with information.

His brow furrowed up with a definite ache to hide the real reasons.  “He does, but only to keep an eye on the boundaries of the court.  He’s required to.  He’d rather not be anywhere near here, but duties are duties.  He can’t just hang around to watch though.”

I sensed there was more to it and shouldn’t push him, but I really wanted to know.  “Is there a reason why he doesn’t come into the court?”

“He’s not required to.”

I was still waiting for something real and hitting the mark since his two statements ultimately contradicted each other.  He sighed and gave in, “He doesn’t come because of me.  He thinks I stole you from his rightful place and that I should step aside and let him have the court and you.”

I roared with laughter at hearing him finally admit what my mind had already made up to be true.  “Seriously?”  He raised both eyes, surprised by my tone.  “He is seriously warped in the brain if he thinks for one minute I want to be anywhere near him.  He is conniving and mean and all bad …” I saw his temperament change at my strange outburst, “well, you know.  He can stay away then.”  I looked away from him thinking Pike is cleverer than I thought he was if he could get me this riled up and be nowhere near.

“He is always close by.  He continues to do surveillance on the court while Kinsler is on the move.”

And this is supposed to excuse what exactly?

A guard walked up to Ian and waited still as stone until Ian acknowledged him. I had another thought while I stood there watching Ian plot out the staging area in the clearing with this guard named Eric.  I also realized he was saying it in front of me enjoying the small step for letting me into the loop.  I silently thanked him with a vow to tell him later. 

I lodged my thoughts to another pressing saga in my new world.  What about this magic that was supposedly in me?  Could I really “persuade” someone?  It seemed to work on Danella.  And Pike.  And the guard.  What else could I do?  I decided to ask Ian more about it later, or rather, try it out.

We concluded to leave in two days time back to Pike’s domain for the meeting with Kinsler after gathering supplies and weapons.

Back with Ian’s full attention, he reminded me to meet him before daylight to practice on the range. 
MORE
target practice.  My left arm was severely sore in all the right places from the last one.  I was suddenly thankful for the trip to see Pike to give my arm some rest.

After surviving practice, I met the guards Ian said would help me gather the needed food for the trip.  I was still new at not being the “tended to” side of the coin for the morning, so I let the guards gather “protection duty” and organized what we had gathered.  I could be very systematic and bloodthirsty in my grouping skills if need be.  Miss Dan always said my backpack was meticulously disastrous.   If they only knew!

I headed to my rooms to wash up, pack my personal items, and clothes for the trip only to find it all done by Danella.  I surveyed my pack and found everything inside as if I’d have packed it myself.   “How do you know me so well?” I said light-heartedly but truly curious. 

Danella got the deer in headlights look.  “I…I…”

“It’s okay!  Thank you!”  I surveyed my pack.  Danella packed everything I would have chosen, mind my jeans and t-shirts.   Man, I spent years collecting my favorite band t-shirts.  Gone!  And Ian’s too.  I loved his band shirt favorites.  Hey, I thought, he loved music when we were in my supposed human world.  That’s something worth noting for later.

I smoothed the green velvety case with my hand.  The court seemed to be somewhat extravagant in my eyes with everything made of velvets and silks and satins considering they were an earthly crew. Even a bag of clothes.  Somewhere along time and space, they'd invested in a few finer things.  Something dropped hitting the ground with a pop.  Reaching to pick up whatever it was, a green iridescent ribbon was sticking out from under the side of the bed.  I pulled it back up and with it came my wooden brush.  “Danella, my brush.  You found it.”

“No, miss.  I didn’t.”  I spun around thinking I was only talking to myself and saw her standing at the end of my bed.

Confused, I turned the brush up to see.  It did look newer than my own I’d had since, well, I was born.  My mom had told me it was a present from someone at birth.  I turned it over to the backside and there where I’d seen the letter G for so many years, was the same letter G all curly and delicate, but with little diamonds and emeralds tracing the pattern among little leaves like a trellis.  Unreal!

“Danella, did you do this?”

“No, miss.  I haven’t any gems to spare.”  She smiled up at me.  “But Master Ian was aware of the other missing.”  She looked very guilty.

“And how did he know exactly?”  I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Maybe I mentioned it.  He didn’t like the thought of you worrying over tangles with so many other things to worry about.”

“This is a bit much don’t you think?” Sarcasm poured from my mouth.  Ian had too many worries himself.

“Maybe, but you wanted it.”

“Thank you!  It’s beautiful,” I quickly added to show my appreciation despite the cost it probably had in it.  I turned it over and over several times to admire and wondered who made it.  Was the other one made by the same person?

“Yes, miss.  The one in the same.  But no human, my lady.”

  Everyone’s nosy listening skills!

“The menehune.  Known for being master builders and carvers.   Ian had the first one made at your naming ceremony.  He gave it to your mom when she took you home for the first time.”

Okay!  It was a little weird to think of Ian with me in diapers.  I told myself I’d never ponder those thoughts.  “Thank you Danella, for telling him I wanted it.  I truly love it.”   And I asked what a me-no whatever, but didn't answer.

“Oh, well!  Off to clean up.” 

“One more thing,” I gulped wanting instantly to know the answer to my next question, “Did my mom really train me to do some of this magic I keep doing? Sometimes I feel like it’s a new feeling and sometimes I feel like it’s nothing new at all.”  Forget asking Ian, I wanted to know now.

She hesitated but said, “Yes.”

“And I never knew?”

“No, she was careful.  She loves you very much, Grace.  Give her some slack.”

Danella left me to my thoughts.  And no persuasion techniques needed.

We set out at first light.  We were busy enough the last two days preparing that Ian and I didn’t get much time alone.  I managed to talk with him at mealtime about my recent abilities and how he felt about me needing more control over them. He said it was different for every queen.  His mother could unleash her “wrath” in many ways, but she was well skilled by the time he was old enough to understand them and realize the power she had.  He told me not to worry and that we would figure it all out one step at a time when it came, together.  Patience was only my middle name on two days of the week.  Today wasn’t one of them.

I spent the time alone practicing the magic and prepping my other plan into further action.  My dress was ready, my speech wearily brought together.  I confirmed with Danella that Lazyra only wanted what was best for the court and that she would want to see us married sooner than later.  Yep!  Not what’s best for her son.  Or what he might want himself. 

We moved faster this time since I knew the ground and what terrain to expect.  An even snicker emerged at the spot where Ian had thrown me down in “self-defense” and looked up to see if he thought of it too.  His whispers confirmed, “Keep your dagger hidden, ma’am, I wouldn’t want to restrain you.”

We crossed the path that led to Pike’s camp receiving a warm welcome though Pike wasn’t there to greet us this time. 

We’d agreed on the two of us, Danella, and at least ten guards in the group.  The trip to Pike’s domain had proven nonfatal for all as we walked across the bridge that led to the familiar lagoon-like pool below with its clear blue and mountain rocks.  When we made it to the bottom of the bridge, Pike was waiting with his two main guards by the familiar map table we’d spent so much time at before.  His scent hit me before we were close.  I knew it well enough I should have recognized it the first time.  Maybe I just smell the Fey men which sounded ridiculous, but there wasn't another explanation for it.   Maybe Lazyra could too, but I'll never ask.

Pike’s knuckles cracked alerting me in another way he was near as I was familiar with the sound in association with him.  He watched me expressionless and traced my moves vicariously making me very much want to turn invisible with the way he  monitored me like I might fly away and his talons will sink in to stop me, though his look was far more alluring than evil.  He greeted Ian with his usual manner but this time they didn't shake hands, but rather arms. I’d seen it the night of the ceremony and other times when the Fey people greeted each other and even with the Nyms.  But with the two of them, the gesture seemed to hold a different meaning, as if challenging each other every time.  I just hoped it didn’t have anything to do with me but I wasn’t holding my breath.  The more time and events that passed, the more it seemed that way.

   It was odd, that kind of greeting, but welcoming all the same, I guessed.  The thought occurred to me that Ian and Pike both lived in the human world and knew human customs too.   

When he finished shaking Ian’s arm Pike held my gaze more intently than he ever had before noting that he did indeed find my eyes.  I wasn’t sure if he was going to try to shake my hand or arm as he did Ian’s or something else.  He unabashedly looked me over.  I’d worn my traveling attire, but had stopped just before the entrance to change though Ian disapproved of what was chosen.  Ian and I decided it would be best if I were seen as authoritative as possible. 

Pike assured me, “No one would tell you no dressed like that and the current meet and greet will more than definitely be easier to persuade with the likes.  I’m not sure you chose wisely. I have to focus too.”  I smiled anyway ticking off two tallies for bravery against the two of them.  My mother always said I invited danger more often than should.

Pike reached out, took my hand a little higher, bowed, and kissed it with his eyes burning into mine.  I forced myself to not react in any way, but my heart raced.  This princess kind of stuff was certainly fairy tale like, or this was something else altogether. I like the danger, but necessarily always focused on me.

“It has everything to do with you.”  He dropped my hand and looked back at my eyes.  “It appears that some changes happened since I saw you last, and if I may say so, wow doesn’t begin to cover it!”

I didn’t hide my thoughts knowing my face was flush and my eyes were drawing up.  I knew Ian wouldn’t hear my rudeness. 
And like you didn’t already see me and knew while you were sneaking peeks into the court you piece of cra—

Ian stepped in front of me covering my length and effectively losing my focus.  “We are thankful for your hospitality.  We would welcome some rest.”  He glared heavily at Pike.

Pike’s leering face didn’t take his eyes off of me as he also stepped sideways to be able to see me again.  His eyes closed into slits.

My mind tingled.  I saw myself sitting with Pike, somewhere.  Ah, a bed.  And it wasn’t completely appropriate.  

You could appreciate it if you’d just step away from tree boy for one measly damn second.
             

HUH!  He just talked to me with pictures in my head. And they were clear as daylight.

I started to shake my head but they clicked out again like a movie reel.

Ian was watching us both like a frantic ping pong onlooker in its final moments and all heck breaking loose.  No doubt he was doing his best at reading Pike’s thoughts and way ahead of me on the logistics of the matter.  I wondered if he was using the silence to expel some bottled up anger that his fists usually would have shown the same unintended message.

I was very uncomfortable now, but I could handle both of them if need be.  Hoping Ian couldn’t see what Pike was sending another tingling filtered into my head. A picture of Ian walking in the same room witnessing the atrocity appeared across the marquee of my mind. 

HE DOES SEE!

“STOP!”  I grabbed my head with one hand and stepped sideways pushing hard against Pike’s chest with the other to make him falter.  He didn’t budge.

  I shook my weary head into a frenzy before turning back to Ian worried now Ian would tear Pike limb for limb if he didn’t let it rest. Even more mind tingling, but it was starting to hurt, probably because it was coming from Pike. 
Still a Seelie prince, Grace.  That’s an invitation.  Your tree boy hates that I can and he can’t.  I’ve got skills he can’t come close too. 
“STOP!”  I said.  "And don’t call him that.”

Ian’s hands were on Pike’s neck before I had time to react again. Pike was back against a wall now and Ian’s fist was in mid flight.  Pike was readying both fists when I yelled, “Both of you stop.”  I wedged between them being the stupid girl I am.  I’d seen what happened in these instances a hundred times on TV and even in gym at school. 

I pointed to Pike, realizing completely that my leg was touching his and he was visibly watching me pull it away, “You stop talking to me in my head, I don’t want to hear you.”  I turned my head to Ian, “You control your temper.  He only does it to make you react.  His words mean nothing but cruelty.  If he for one second, would stop and think about someone other than himself, perhaps he would find some happiness not riling me up, unite a friendly jocularity among us, or find some just plain good intentions that have to be hidden way down deep inside him.”  I laughed at pinning Pike with the falsity of the ridiculous words I’d just uttered but I had always hoped that even the most evil of people could change their ways.

“Loquacious!  Train that tongue of yours or those green eyes will only get you killed.  I could teach you a few things.  No talking involved.”  He said rather throaty and I couldn’t avoid the desire dancing in his eyes.  Why was I so appealing to him if all we did was argue?

You have no idea, but I can show you?
Call it foreplay if you must.

I saw him kissing me again.  I jumped backwards and then forward a step. I screamed inside,
Stop putting pictures in my head.  STOP!
 

Pike nodded, smiling like an angel of no mercy.  Or demon!
 

Ian yelled at him, “That’s enough.  We’re done.”  He was angry.  Angrier.  Angrier than a rabid dog.  Rah!  Rah!  Rah! For Ian’s wrath.  I was only mad because Ian was ready to kill.

Pulling Ian away from Pike’s closeness and readability, I rested my hand on Ian’s chest walking him away.  His heart was racing faster than mine.  We stayed hidden by the falls for a few minutes calming each other.  I was still reeling with the idea that Pike could talk to me in my head with the pictures.  As annoyed as I was, I wanted to know how he did it.

We retreated back to the table where Pike sat to eat and discussed the coming events with more tension than a rubber band slingshot. Pike seemed somewhat pleased with himself with a self-righteous look about him since our falling out, but at least everyone appeared to be friendly on the surface.  It seemed to me Pike starts these things to put Ian in a bad mood before every setting and if I had to guess, has done it for many, many years.

We agreed to Ian’s plan to keep the guards surrounding the inside and outside circle.  Ian and Pike would stand on either side for the blessed “Grace protection” discussed back in the meeting room. They expected that Kinsler would be surrounded also.   How many was uncertain, but possibly not important because he himself was the biggest worry. 

I dismissed myself to refresh and clean up, but mostly to stretch and be alone.  I made sure the amulet was tucked in my dress.  I wore the maple leaf circlet on my head instead of the necklace, though Ian asked me to wear the one he gave me years ago just for precaution.  I didn't even know if they still worked.  Normally, the queen didn’t wear the crown outside the court, but I suggested just this once should be considered to assure who was the current queen.  Plus, I secretly liked it. 

Pike enjoyed the mind reading a little too much as he dipped in and out of business to annoy me or Ian both with his antics, but alas, I was coming to the point to expect it.  Since he is able to reach me too often for comfort I decided that one of the first things I wanted to discover was blocking him out. He shouldn’t be able to talk to me when he wanted. I

I thought it might be fun to try when I returned from this meeting but he was at it again so, nope, now is good.  Practice, you know.  Closing my mind, I returned to them. Focusing on a specific time or thought wasn’t as hard as doing it and watching where I walk.

Pike felt my gaze and my head tingled all in sequence telling me he was breaking in.  
Blank!  Blank!
  I had to think of something to get his attention first.   Deciding on Pike’s sword sticking out of his armor was harmless.  I noticed intricately cut pieces of emeralds all the way around the hilt and closed my eyes to picture it strongly in my mind.  The vision was perfect.  I opened my eyes to check.   His head jerked to me. Aha!  I had my target, but I couldn’t show it.  He’d have to think I’d forgotten he could read my mind. I knew he’d sit there and wonder why I was thinking about his sword and what just happened, no doubt turning it into something sleazy.   I smiled innocently at him and looked at the map on the desk of Nym camps within the mountains switching my thoughts to that and it worked.  After he refocused on what he was looking at, I returned to his sword and found that his belt matched the hilt.  I closed my eyes and hid behind the map, but dropped it to the table instantly to assure his line of vision.  He jerked almost unnoticeably and peeked at me under his currently black as night hair that was still not spiked up like in the human world.  He needed a haircut.  I felt my head tingle a little like earlier when Pike entered my mind.  It was the same as when Al, the seer put thoughts in my head, having somewhat memorized the feeling now.

I made sure to be looking at his belt then tried concentrating really hard on Ian’s armor hoping for a quick disguise. When that didn’t work like intended I tried making my mind blank.  Nope! It just blocks the concentration on a single object but at least I know that’s working for me.  I tried thinking of only the sword because of familiarity so I pretended to slide it out and hold it up because I’d done this before.  I pictured it slicing the cloth dummy I’d seen Ian dice up many times now.  I got so caught up in the thought, that when I looked up, Pike was holding his head like he was in pain with one hand and his other on his sword.  Out it came and swooshed through the air.

“What are you doing man?” Ian asked jumping from the table and looking up at Pike.  Pike was standing by the table and swinging his sword at an invisible enemy.

I jumped up not thinking first fearful I'd routed pain, not movement, “Are you okay?” I was louder than meant too and totally giving myself away, but he looked in pain.

Pike let go and looked up dazed holding his sword in the air.  In the state of confusion, he said, “Um, I think so.  What happened?  I was thinking about
my sword
and then...”  He looked down, shook his head like a dog shedding water, and looked over at me.  Then he obviously dismissed it and went back to work, laying the sword on the table beside him. 

I giggled. Ian was watching me the whole time instead of poor pitiful Pike.  He didn’t know what happened, but he at least figured out I was up to something.  And Pike seemed oblivious to whatever it was. 

Finished eating, Ian mutely walked over and scooped up my hand, pulled me to standing, and lead me to the waterfall.