Sworn To Conflict: Courtlight #3 (34 page)

“Then shall we,” Lillian said while placing her hand in the crook of her son’s elbow.

But as they descended down the manor steps, another problem presented itself. Thanar and Inga stood at the base, defiantly and with their arms crossed.

“We’re coming,” Thanar said simply.

Lillian stepped forward. “No
,
you’re not.”

Thanar smiled a dark smile. “If you’re surrounded by enemies, what better person to have at your back than the enemy of your enemy?”

Lillian waved a hand dismissively. “If I was worried about you betraying me, believe me, you wouldn’t be standing there.”

Thanar wings rose slightly in threat. “Watch out, Lillian. You may not be able to back up that threat.”

“I assure you, I can.”

Ciardis coughed and stepped forward. “Why do you want to come, Inga?”

“You’re going to be encircled by wolves in that ball, Ciardis. Better to have a sword at your back.”

Caemon was leaning on the staircase banner. “A display of strength.”

“Yes,” said Inga.

“And more than that a display of allies,” said Ciardis, quickly catching on.

Lillian looked from her children to the two
kith
who stood before them while casually tracing her finger along her bottom lip.

“I think it might work. Having powerful allies in places the nobles would have never thought before,” Lillian she finally declared. “We certainly will never make such a grand entrance again.”

“Never say never,” Thanar intoned softly.

Lillian looked at him sharply. Daemoni were notorious seers as well as notorious liars.

Decided they all left as a group. Thanar had elected to wear leather pants and little else. Ciardis had to admit it showed off the swirl of tattoos on his upper body quite nicely. Inga stayed clothed as she was, but Lillian had hurriedly gotten the servants to wash and dry the frost giant’s blood stained garments with magic.

Dressed in enough finery to rival the greatest courtiers of the Algardis Empire, the Weathervane family descended in front of the well-lit gala in three gorgeous carriages. As they exited their carriages, Lillian Weathervane walked proudly in front with her twin children on either side. Kane and Vana walked slight behind them, and Thanar and Inga walked to their right and left respectively to complete the entourage.

As they walked forward, individuals were already staring. Several women snapped open fans to hurriedly whisper behind them to their companions in the wake of the glamorous family that had just walked past. When they reached the ballroom doors and the butler looked for the announcement card from which to call out their names, he blanched upon seeing what Lillian had written on the cards for herself, Ciardis and Caemon.

He couldn’t turn to anyone else for guidance. Instead his eyes pleaded with Lillian to say that the card issued was a mistake. She just smiled and nodded at him to continue on.

The man gulped and nodded at the guards to open the ballroom doors. Thanar, Inga, and Kane descended to the ballroom floor by a discreet side entrance. Vana stayed with the family as a protection and, Ciardis was sure, to keep an eye on her mother.

The butler stepped out in front of the gathered crowds below, cleared his throat, and announced over a crowd a flurry with the arrival of a new noble clan, one they hadn’t seen before.

“Lady Ciardis Weathervane.” Ciardis stepped forward in front of her brother and swept down the grand staircase, her head held high.

“Lord Caemon Weathervane.” Caemon followed after her at a stately pace, looking every inch the lord. You’d never know he’d been enslaved his entire life.

And then the crowd grew hushed as the butler paused and gathered his wits.

“Lady Lillian Weathervane.” Her mother swept down the grand staircase with a grace that rivaled any other.

She joined her son and daughter and they swept forward on the purple carpet down the center of the ballroom. Straight toward the seated Emperor of Algardis.

As they walked, from her mother’s right side Ciardis whispered, “This is madness.”

“No, dear,” Lillian whispered back with the barest movement of her lips. “This is intrigue.”

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