Sheala (30 page)

Another woman stared at her jewels.

“Um, how rare are these pink diamonds?” Sheala murmured.

He chuckled again. “I will not have anyone doubt my commitment to you. No other woman will wear as many as you do. These are from a small cache I discovered a few years ago in our mine. We kept all of them.”

“You have a diamond mine?”

“Only one. But it’s very productive,” he answered with a grin. “The
Jagar
control most of the diamond mines.
Leonine
has most of the gold mines.”

Sheala shook her head. “There’s still so much I don’t know. Do all the tribes have mines of some kind?”

“No, but I don’t have time to tell you about it now. Mother and Father are already seated, and Deni and Wendjas are joining them. We must go.”

“I don’t see Brianna and Char.”

“That’s because we’re standing behind you,” her sister-in-law said with a chuckle as she and Char stopped beside them. “Damn, but this looks like a scene out of a trashy medieval romance novel,” she added as she looked out over the crowd.

“A what?” Sheala asked as she looked back out over the crowd.

“It’s a—” Brianna began, but Char sighed, cupped his hand under her elbow, and led her down the short staircase before she could finish.

“So what happens now?” Sheala asked as she watched her brother and sister-in-law meander through the crowd. They caused quite a stir since both displayed their Alalakan dragons blatantly. Wearing traditional Drakian clothing, Char was bare-chested, and Brianna’s dress left her right shoulder bare.

“We eat first,” her husband answered. “Then Mother will present you all to the queen. Are you ready?”

“As long as the meat’s cooked.”

Marljas chuckled. “The look on your face the first time you saw
alathan
was priceless.”

She snorted. “Spicy raw meat isn’t exactly a delicacy to me, and I don’t care what you Gattan think.”

As her husband chuckled and squeezed her hand, she looked out over the crowd again. Striped, spotted, brown, tan and black Gattans milled about the room, singly, in pairs, or small groups. Others already sat at the tables. She even noticed Drakians, Medirians and Varcians, part of their ambassadorial parties, no doubt, but there were no white Gattans anywhere to be seen.

“Why aren’t there any
Snopards
here?”

Tucking her hand under his arm, Marljas guided her down the stairway. “With the exception of the twenty-four priestess-warriors who guard the queen and her children and a few of their elders who sit on her council, the
Snopards
prefer to remain on their lands.”

As they meandered across the room, more than a few people looked askance at them. A few men nodded to Marljas, but none attempted to talk to him.

Most women stared at Sheala.

Straightening her shoulders, she held her head high. “You’d think they’d never seen a Drakian before.”

“None wearing so many of our rarest jewels.” Marljas patted her hand. “Most Gattans have never left our planet and don’t associate or socialize with ambassadors from other planets. They all know Kadis boasted she would wed me, yet here I am with you close to my side, and you wear a pink diamond armband, as do I, a declaration of our marriage. They’re confused. Few want to dare the wrath of the queen’s sister until they know how the queen feels.”

“I’ll probably say something stupid when I’m introduced.”

He kissed her hand again, which caused more conversations to stop and more Gattans to gape. Gattans normally didn’t show affection to members of the opposite sex in public. “I think Deni is far more worried about what Brianna might say. You’re used to socializing with royalty.”

“Royalty that’s almost family. I don’t think your queen plans on hugging me.”

His laughter had even more heads turning towards them. “She’ll love you just as I do.”

“Yeah, that’s what everybody keeps saying. Why don’t I believe you?”

Before he could answer, a plainly dressed man standing on a landing on the opposite side of the room pounded a staff against the floor. “Her Majesty, Queen Mattis and her consort King Krondal.”

“This way,” Marljas murmured after they bowed and curtsied with everyone else. “The meal will be served now that the queen and king are here.”

She sighed when she saw the table he led her to. “Naturally we have to sit way up here where everyone can see us.”

Marljas bent and whispered in her ear. “Krondal is my cousin,
Cheta
. We’re family.”

As Sheala and Marljas seated themselves, whispers and mutters of surprise about the queen’s apparel drifted to her ears. She smiled. The queen had obviously received Brianna’s gift and decided to wear it.

Seated between her brother and husband, Sheala leaned forward, caught Brianna’s gaze and murmured,

“She likes the dress.”

Brianna smiled. “Deni said she would.”

“That means she’ll support my marriage, right?”

Sliding his arm around his sister’s shoulders, Char hugged her. “Don’t worry, Shea. The queen is a smart woman. I don’t think it matters to her that you’re not Gattan. However, the trade concessions from Mediria and the Alalakans will go a long way in convincing those who might object to your marriage.”

Sheala sniffed. Char always considered the business angle.

Her sister-in-law looked directly into her face. Her voice was a soft murmur. “This isn’t like you. Why are you so nervous? Marljas loves you. He’d leave Gattan to keep you.”

Sheala sighed. “I know. But he shouldn’t have to.”

With a low chuckle, Brianna shook her head. “You worry too much. Now be quiet and eat your meal. It smells delicious.”

For the next two hours, conversation was light as everyone enjoyed the meal. Finally, after the final course, fresh Gattan pears in a tangy yet sweet sauce, Denieen nudged Sheala from her other side.

“Hush, Teena is ready to introduce everyone.”

Taking a deep breath, Sheala again laced her fingers through Marljas’.

Rising from the end of the table closest to the queen, Teena stepped to the center of the floor before the dais and curtsied to the queen and king. “Your Majesties, thank you for your cordial invitation. My guests, family and I were more than pleased to accept.”

As Teena continued, Sheala gazed at the woman who would decide the fate of her marriage.

The resemblance between Queen Mattis and her niece Kadis was obvious though the queen’s facial stripes dipped down over her forehead. She was also plumper. And instead of the pouting expression Kadis had worn every time Sheala had seen her, Mattis was smiling—widely. The shimmery blue dress she wore looked lovely on her, even if it did have loose sleeves that completely covered her arms and a lower neckline that showed more skin than any other woman’s in the room, except Denieen’s. Still, the square neck completely covered her bosom. Brianna had said it was even conservative by her own planet’s standards.

Teena herself was a sight to behold with her still-golden hair swept on top of her head held in place with red diamond-studded pins. Her traditional yellow dress was sleeveless and had the usual high neck. The bodice was ornate. Bright threads and precious jewels glittered when ever she moved. The full skirt was long and brushed the floor. Her marriage bands flashed with red fire.

Sheala turned her attention to the king. Typically
Leonine
, Krondal’s resemblance to his cousins was obvious. His long golden hair was brushed back behind tufted ears. His eyes were golden, his nose flat, his smile wide. He had a neatly trimmed golden beard. His ornate tunic was sleeveless, and his muscular arms bore a multitude of white scars. His smile was open and welcoming.

Sheala smiled to herself. He looked like a man she could like.

A hiss and snort drew her attention to the other angled table. Kadis sat there, next to an older
Tigre
woman, obviously her mother. Next to her, dressed in black, sat a young
Tigre
man, probably Kadis’

brother. Other members of the
Tigre
tribe sat with them.

Sheala concentrated on Kadis and her mother. Both women were dressed traditionally, Kadis in orange, her mother in red. Both women displayed numerous challenge scars on their arms. Both women looked at Sheala with hate in their eyes.

Lifting her chin, Sheala straightened even more and stared back at them. Smiling slightly, she nodded her head.

Kadis’ hiss was almost audible.

Marljas squeezed her hand again.

Sheala turned her attention back to the queen.

“You have guests with you, Teena.”

Smiling, her mother-in-law nodded. “Kahn and Beti, Aradabs from Mediria. A third, Feni, stays in the apartments you so thoughtfully provided as nurse to an infant that also accompanies us.”

Seated at the end of the table, both Kahn and Beti stood, bowed their heads and sat back down without uttering a word.

Queen Mattis smiled at them. “Welcome. The ambassador from Mediria has often boasted of Aradab fighting skills. Does she speak truly?”

Beti looked first at Kahn then at Teena. Then she shrugged, rose, and bowed again. “We have some small skill. As to how our fighting style compares to Gattans’, you’d do better to ask your niece.”

Bowing once more, Beti sat back down.

The queen turned to her niece. “Kadis?”

Anger flashed across the younger woman’s features, and she clenched her hands before her.

Whispers floated around the room.

Her mother rose and quickly stepped forward. “When Kadis visited with Teena and her family, she and the female Aradab—sparred. Kadis found her to be—skilled.”

“Why that hateful—bitch!” Sheala hissed, using one of Brianna’s favorite words.

Marljas squeezed her hand. “Nothing will be accomplished by shaming her,” he murmured. “Besides, it’s for Beti to say something.”

Muttering under her breath, Sheala pulled her hand from Marljas’ and clasped her hands in her lap. Just let that bitch say something to or about her.

“A story I want to hear later,” Queen Mattis was saying as she stared at her sister and niece. She turned back to Teena. “Your other guests?”

“Bjin of Deslossia,” Sheala’s mother-in-law said.

Hand over his heart, Bjin rose from where he sat next to Beti and bowed.

A white-skinned woman with white hair completely dressed in white rose from her seat next to the queen and stepped around the table and down off the dais. Gliding across the floor, she bowed to Bjin.

“I am Jenia Drostinsdotir,
Snopard
priestess of the sixth level, leader of the queen’s guards. Welcome, Bjin of Deslossia, favored of the All-Knowing Creator, Elder Brother to all
Snopards
.”

Bjin shook his head. “I am no Elder, Jenia Drostinsdotir. I am just a guest.”

“Elder brother of the
Snopards
? What does she mean?” Sheala whispered to her husband.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. The queen and king look just as confused. We’ll ask Deni later. She trained with the
Snopards
. Maybe she knows what he’s talking about.”

As the priestess reseated herself, Sheala started listening to the crowd. Questions meandered down tables as they had throughout the meal. Aradabs here? A Deslossian? Some voices were eager, some curious. Others were angry.

Sheala chuckled to herself.
Wait until she introduces Ban.

“You bring unusual guests to us, Teena,” the queen commented.

Sheala’s mother-in-law nodded. “And one who had been lost to us. Your Majesties, Sosha Kanicsdotir returns to us, with her Brother by blood, Alalakan don al’ Bandalardrac, Prince Hardan.”

Uproar ensued as Ban pulled out Sosha’s chair and led her around the table to stand at Teena’s side.

Grinning, he bowed to the queen as Sosha curtsied unsteadily.

Angry shouts exploded—some demanding Ban’s death.

Across the room, the queen’s sister smiled with delight.

Standing with his back to the room, Ban stared at the queen and continued to grin rakishly.

A slight smile on her face, Mattis held up her hand.

After a few minutes, the crowd quieted.

Sheala looked from the queen to Teena. She glanced at Deni. All three women looked extremely satisfied with themselves.

“Deni and Teena orchestrated this entire introduction,” Sheala murmured.

Marljas chuckled then answered in a low voice. “Of course they did. You already know how sly Deni is.

Don’t ever underestimate the queen—or my mother either.”

Mattis leaned forward. “Bandalardrac Hardan. More than a few of my subjects would see you gutted and hanged for the scavengers. Why did you kidnap the woman who now calls you bloodbrother?”

Crossing his arms over his chest, he continued to grin.

Sosha placed her hand on Ban’s forearm. “Bandalardrac didn’t kidnap me, Your Majesty.”

“You went willingly? Even so, he broke many of our laws. Your mother did not give you permission to leave her home. What’s more, I didn’t give you permission to leave Gattan.”

Mutters of satisfaction reached Sheala. Anticipation swirled through the crowd.

Sheala glanced across the room again.

Kadis was smiling gleefully, but her mother’s expression was worried. Her gaze darted around the room.

Sosha shook her head. “I did
not
leave willingly, Your Majesty. I was kidnapped and sold into slavery, but not by my bloodbrother.”

Expressions of shock and unease replaced those of anticipation coming from the crowd.

After swallowing once, Sosha continued, “I was drugged, tied and blindfolded. I didn’t see my kidnapper.”

“You have no idea who it was?” Krondal asked. The anger on his face was plain for everyone to see.

So were indentations on his biceps from his claws.

Mutters drifted from the crowd.

One man, braver—or angrier—than the others shouted. “Then we have only the word of the Medirian bastard that he did not kidnap her.”

Cocking an eyebrow, Ban tilted his head and continued to grin at the queen.

Sheala bit her lip.
Damn it, Ban
, she thought,
sometimes you’re too arrogant for your own good
.