The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) (10 page)

CHAPTER TEN

The two newcomers reached the steadily
growing party developing in the corridor and greeted everyone in
the usual manner. Faedra pulled her dad forward.

"Lord Odin, Freja. I'd like you to meet my
dad, Henry." Faedra said, as though it was an everyday occurrence
for her dad to meet mythical Gods and dragons. She turned to her
dad. "Dad, this is Odin, God of War from Asgard, and Freja, head of
the Valkyries."
Please don't faint, Dad. I know this a lot to
take in. First dragons, now mythical legends...that aren't so
mythical,
Faedra thought.

"So, you are the only human Kenreth allows
into Azran," Odin boomed, holding out a hand. Henry looked first to
his daughter, who smiled and gave him a subtle nod, then looked up
at the warrior towering above him, who was assessing him with a
keen eye. Mouth slightly open, Henry took Odin's offered hand.

"Good to meet you, sir!" Odin boomed again,
almost shaking Henry's arm out of its socket. "I hear you will be
competing in the tournament next week. I look forward to taking you
up on the challenge of...what was it again?" He looked at
Freja.

"Darts, your grace," Freja informed him.

"Ah, yes. Darts," Odin continued. "Sounds
fascinating."

Henry paled, but offered the God of War a
weak smile. He then turned to his daughter and scowled in a 'what
have you gotten me into?' kind of way.

"Princess Faedra, Guardian," Odin continued.
"Could we take a moment of your time? I was going to give you your
wedding gifts tomorrow, but Freja insisted I do it today. She said
you may only get your dress dirty, otherwise, and far be it for me
to encourage the bride to ruin her dress."

Faedra scrunched her eyebrows and turned to
Faen.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Um, sure."

"This way, then," Odin said, gesturing down
the corridor from whence they came.

"Coming, Dad?" Faedra asked.

Her dad looked up at Odin, who beamed a big
toothy grin at him. Henry paled and cast his gaze back to his
daughter. "Er, okay."

"Can we come, too?" Jocelyn asked, her girlie
sing song voice unable to hide her excitement.

Faedra looked around at the group, surprised
that everyone's faces, including the surly Alaris, was looking back
at her expectantly. Faedra smiled. Their excitement was infectious.
They were all curious as to what Odin had gotten the bride and
groom for a wedding gift, especially if it could get Faedra's dress
dirty.

"Come on, then." Faedra gestured to the group
to follow. "Let's all go and see, shall we?"

The group stomped down the hall towards the
exit.

"Your Highness."

Faedra turned to the voice, surprised to see
that Alaris had walked up alongside her and was trying to get her
attention. Were those nerves she sensed? Surely not. Not from the
surliest dragon in all of Zutherindal.

"Yes, Alaris."

He cleared his throat, his emerald eyes
shimmering, his strong jaw set. "The other Lightbender..."

"Alyssa?"

"Is that her name?" Alaris brought his voice
down to a whisper close to Faedra's ear.

Faedra nodded.

"Yes, then. Alyssa." Alaris hesitated. Faedra
sensed he was hanging on a question he wasn't sure how to
formulate.

"What about her?"

His eyes darted about the group. Faedra had
to bite her lips together to stop from grinning. She had never seen
Alaris act this way, and she had to admit it was just a tad
amusing.

"Um," Alaris cast his eyes downward. "Will
she be attending your wedding tomorrow?"

Faedra's eyes widened at his question and she
tried to keep from looking dumbstruck. Did he like Alyssa? Did this
surly, brooding, and, let’s not forget, gorgeous dragon have a
heart?

"Yes, she'll be there," Faedra replied.

"Good." Alaris gave a curt nod and dropped
back to join his brothers-in-arms.

Faedra turned her head to follow him, not
quite believing what had just happened. She was distracted by a
subtle tug on her hand and turned back to face Faen, who was
looking at her expectantly. "What was that all about?" he
asked.

Faedra shook her head. "I have absolutely no
idea."

She cast a quick look behind her at the
dragons before turning her attention to the front, then marched out
of the castle behind Odin and Freja.

It didn't take long to find out what their
gift was. As the group rounded a corner towards the mews, Faedra
stopped dead in her tracks and put her hand to her mouth. Faen
stopped, too. They glanced at each other for a second before
turning their attention back to their gifts.

In the courtyard stood two majestic winged
horses. One was midnight black, the other as white as snow. Their
coats shone in the sunshine and their silken wings were furled
neatly against their flanks. The flame red of their eyes was made
even more intimidating by the stomping of an impatient hoof as they
stood waiting. Standing in between them, dwarfed by their
immensity, was Todmus, a grin on his face that stretched from ear
to ear.

Faedra stared up at a very smug looking God
of War with wide, unbelieving eyes.

"Do you like them?" Odin asked the redundant
question, knowing full well what Faedra's response would be.

"Do I like them?" Faedra took a calm step
forward and wrapped her arms around Odin's waist, giving him a hug.
He was so massive, her head only reached his stomach. "Oh, thank
you," Faedra whispered. A second later, she realized who, exactly,
it was that she was hugging and quickly stepped back. "Erm,
sorry."

Odin chuckled. "No need. I'll take that as a
yes, then, shall I?"

"What are their names?" Faedra asked.

"Whatever you wish to call them."

Faedra turned to Faen. "Wanna go for a
ride?"

Faen's eyes lit up.

"Come on." She tugged on Faen's hand and led
him towards their wedding gift. Half way there she turned.
"Jocelyn, can you look after my dad til we get back?"

Jocelyn looked up at Henry. "Of course, I
can."

Henry furrowed a brow at his daughter.
"Darling, I'm a grown man. I hardly need looking..." He cast a
skittish glance around at the dragons and then up at Odin,
swallowed, then continued. "...Okay, I'll stay with Jocelyn until
you get back. Be careful, darling. They look very, um,
fearsome."

"Great fun, though, Dad. See you in a
bit."

***

The great hall was abuzz with chatter and
laughter that evening. The nobility from each realm who was to
attend Faen and Faedra's wedding the next day had been invited to
join the king in a feast. Long tables in a 'U' shape were set up in
the center of the hall. At the top table, the wedding party was
seated in plush chairs and resided over the festivities. Faedra,
Faen, Etyran and Jocelyn sat on one side of the king. Her dad and
Faen's parents sat on the other. The rest of the guests were seated
on benches lined on both sides of the tables that ran down from
either side of the top table. The more important the guest, the
closer they sat to the top table.

Faedra scanned her surroundings and soaked in
the energy. The evening's entertainment was supplied by a harpist
and a couple of gray-haired dwarfs playing mandolins who were
seated on the raised dais at the end of the hall. Their music
lilted on the air adding just the right amount of background noise
to accompany their meal. The energy coursing around the room was a
mixture of excitement, joy and happiness for the soon-to-be-wed
couple. Her gaze wandered to the man sitting beside her, and,
automatically, her lips curled into a smile. Faen was talking
animatedly with Etyran who sat with Jocelyn on the other side of
them. Etyran was to be Faen's best man, and Jocelyn was to be
Faedra's head bridesmaid. With the energy they were giving off,
Faedra doubted it would be long before she returned the favor for
her best friend.

"What did you think of your gift?" Todmus
asked. He, Allora and Skylar were sitting at the top of one of the
tables that butted up against where Faedra was sitting.

"They are awesome, Todmus. I can't believe I
have my own winged horse. I'm guessing you trained them for
us?"

Todmus's usually ruddy cheeks turned even
rosier.

"You did an amazing job. Thanks."

"Have you picked out names for them, yet?" he
asked.

Faen turned to join in the conversation. "We
have, my friend. I am calling mine Malachite, and Faedra decided on
Moonstone."

"Oh, those are pretty names," Allora said.
"Don't you think, Skylar?"

Skylar nodded enthusiastically, causing the
smile on Faedra's face to grow even wider.

A moment later, sadness crept around Faedra's
heart like delicate tendrils, and her smile fell just a little. She
pulled her gaze away from the little girl. The energy she was now
sensing was subtle, but it was there, and it didn't take more than
a few seconds to discover to whom it belonged. Faedra drew her lips
together in a tight line as her eyes fell on Alyssa. The young
Lightbender had her head resting on a hand that was propped up by
her elbow on the table. Her other hand was holding a fork, pushing
food around on her plate. She was gazing at Etyran, and the longing
in her eyes was unmistakable.

Faedra's heart tugged at the sight. She hated
to see anyone she cared about suffer in any way. But one thing she
couldn't control was love. No, love had to find its own course, for
better or worse. Alyssa must have sensed she was being watched, and
her eyes met Faedra's. They widened for a second and she looked
like she'd just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Faedra
offered her a sad smile. Alyssa reciprocated before casting her
eyes down to the table, continuing to watch her fork aimlessly push
food around on her plate.

At that moment, another energy distracted
Faedra's thoughts. A mixture of anxiety and nerves. Her brow
crinkled as she scanned the dinner guests for any clue as to whom
was feeling anxious. As she zeroed in on it, her smile came back.
When she saw who it was that was nervous, Faedra knew exactly the
reason why, and that gave her cause to be happy and hopeful.

"Okay, missy. Why are you looking so pleased
with yourself?" Etyran's jovial comment drew her attention back to
her table. Faen, Etyran and Jocelyn were all looking at her
expectantly.

Faedra couldn't help it, her smile turned
just a tad smug. "Tomorrow I am marrying the most amazing man in
all of the seven realms. I think I can look as pleased with myself
as I like."

Etyran gave Faedra a considering look. "Nah,
that's not it," he said, giving Faen a playful shove. "I know the
look you have when you're thinking about this great oaf." His face
lit up with childlike mirth. "Nope, you know something."

Faedra rested her chin on her hand and looked
up at Etyran through her eyelashes.

Etyran sighed. " I know that look, too.
You're not going to tell us anything, are you? Gah, I hate it when
you do that."

Faedra chuckled and rested her head on Faen's
shoulder. Until she saw it with her own eyes, she wasn't about to
tell anyone about the energy she was sensing from the surly blue
dragon. No one would believe her anyway. Faen kissed her hair and
draped his arm around her. She snuggled into his embrace as she
glanced around the room that was full of people who cared about
them. That was until her eyes met with a frosty glare from Zaven.
Faedra tensed, but a split second later, Zaven's glare had melted.
The malice that was there just a heartbeat ago was gone. He smiled
at the Custodian and inclined his head. Faedra's face remained
impassive for a moment before she returned his smile with a tight
one of her own. He looked away and continued on with a conversation
he was having with one of the Valkyries. Faedra narrowed her eyes.
What was his problem? Then, remembering their first encounter...
Oh, yeah...her.

"Everything okay?" Faen asked, sensing her
tension. He looked down the hall and back to his fiancée.

Faedra pulled her gaze away from Zaven and
plastered a smile on her face. She placed her hand on his cheek and
planted a gentle kiss to his lips. "Everything is just fine."

"Oi, you two. Get a room," Etyran chimed in.
"Oh, that's right. Not until tomorrow." He snickered and winked at
the now blushing Custodian.

"Etyran!" Jocelyn reprimanded and swatted him
on the arm.

"What?" Etyran asked in mock indignation. "I
was just saying..."

"Well, don't," Jocelyn continued. She sent
her brother and his bride-to-be an apologetic look.

Faedra held Faen's eyes for a moment, all
kinds of unspoken words passing between them, then they both
laughed.

"See, it's all good." Faedra heard Etyran say
to Jocelyn as Faen's lips met hers again. The rest of the room
disappeared into the background.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Faedra was subconsciously running a brush
through her unruly red locks as she looked out of the window from
her room high in the castle. Below, torches burned in the valley
outside the walls of Azran city. She could just make out the
silhouettes of people bustling about under the silvery glow of the
full moon. They were setting up the accommodations and arenas for
the tournament that would start in just two days. Her father had
explained to her earlier that the city was too small to house all
the competitors, that was why he set up a mini village, of sorts,
just outside the walls. It was easier for the competitors to get to
each of the games they were participating in if they were all
together where the events were taking place.

Faedra smiled. She was witnessing the
construction of Azran's version of the Olympic village.

"Is there anything else you need, My
Lady?"