The room echoed with a hundred whispering voices.
"Quiet!" Lord Thorane ordered.
"How most unusual," said the Queen Mother. "It is to your credit, Mona Lisa, that these Lords have made such a choice. You are a fresh breath of wind. Now, will you, Queen Mona Lisa, accept these Warrior Lords back to your service?"
I knelt, dizzy with relief, weakened with joy. "Oh, yes. Oh, yes, with a most happy heart, Queen Mother."
Chapter Seventeen
A hot shower washed away all my fatigue. Leaving the bathroom, I found Gryphon sitting on my bed, waiting for me, reminding me of the plight I faced. Whom should I choose as my lover? Amber or Gryphon? I loved them both. They both loved me. What choice should I make?
"Forgive me," Gryphon said.
"For what?"
"For what you suffered because of what I did. For almost dying."
"Oh, Gryphon." I reached out a hand and he slowly took it, holding it as if I were oh so fragile. I pressed his dear hand to my face, rubbed my cheek tenderly against it. "Your only fault was in trusting that treacherous bitch."
"They question Mona Louisa and her men even now. Aquila leads a troop of guards back to Sandoor's camp and Mona Carlisse has moved to other quarters with her temporary guards."
"Where is Amber?"
"He is in the adjoining room. He allowed me to stay here with you."
I closed my eyes for a brief, agonizing moment. How was I to choose between them? I released Gryphon's hand and he drew it away. We looked at each other.
"If you so desire, there is yet time before the Trade Festival ends this night," Gryphon said, breaking the fragile silence.
"Trade Festival?"
"Young men mature enough to serve. Mature men released from their Queen's service. Healers, servants, men and women in trade, looking to serve in new territories. The Council will assign you your territory tomorrow. At the very least, you have need of more guards."
"Oh. I'd better dress," I said, hating the sudden awkwardness that had sprung up between us.
"I will leave you then." He slipped away into the adjoining bedroom.
I opened my armoire, noting with sadness that none of Gryphon's clothes were there, only my two donated dresses. I was so tired of wearing black. I took down the blue dress and slipped it on. Something stiff at the waist pricked me. I examined the seams and saw that something other than cloth had been slipped in there on the right side. A small folded piece of paper.
I unfolded the note.
Thaddeus
Our Lady of Lourdes Orphanage
January 5, 1989
My orphanage where I had been left in a basket on the doorstep. Suddenly, vividly, I remembered the dream where Sonia had come to me as I had drifted in unconsciousness, weakened by the aphrodisiac. When she had come to me and pulled me out of that sleepy abyss.
Your brother shall need you soon… I have given you the information, Sonia had promised.
My brother!
The note was the promised information that would guide me to my brother. He would have worn a silver cross like mine, bearing his name. I had a way of finding him now.
Soon, I promised him. I'll find you soon.
The Trade Festival was held on the front lawn. It was a lavish affair with music and dancers. All the Monère were out there is a great spirit of celebration. Queens strolled along in the accompaniment of their large entourage, a pageantry of colors and coats of arms. There were animals walking freely among us—camels, deer, stallions, and cats. Twined about branches, snakes hissed from the trees. One could not tell if they were truly animals or just warriors having fun, shifted into their other form.
Tents were erected to shelter service counselors. Under their shade were tables strewn with lists of Queens from various territories seeking people to fill open positions in their courts. There was an even longer list of Monère, mainly men, youth seeking to service Queens for the first time in their lives, and older men cast out of one Queendom, seeking a position with a new mistress. Several Queens were holding court with a group of young, eager starry-eyed lads seeking positions gathered about them. Wary-eyed older men looked enviously on.
Mona Teresa, the Fire Bitch, was there with her retinue of guards. Her maimed rapist was in conspicuous absence. Her flame-colored hair made her stand out easily, as did the free, possessive manner with which she ran her hands over a preening boy's chest, shoulders, buttocks, and thighs. And the boy wasn't protesting. Quite the contrary; he appeared to be almost ecstatic.
"God, she looks as if she were buying a horse," I muttered in embarrassed disgust.
"More like a stud for her bed," Gryphon replied matter-of-factly. "The eager pups are the ones usually chosen by Queens when they are too young, too virginal to have acquired much power. They will serve for several years in the Queen's bed until they begin to grow stronger. Then they are banished from her sheets to serve among her guards."
Two men stood slightly apart, their stronger emanations of power a silent declaration of their age, though their faces were smooth and unlined.
"Any you recommend?" I asked.
"The light-haired man on the far light," Amber said, gesturing toward the two men I had noted. "Not a bad lad."
A strong recommendation, coming from Amber.
Men's eyes landed curiously upon us. Noting Amber's and Gryphon's medallion chains, they grew more alert, then became confused as we neared enough for them to sense me. I felt like a Queen, but wore a simple blue dress a maid or a servant girl would wear.
The younger boys dismissed me, but the fair-haired man and the other man who stood apart observed me with sharp interest.
I stopped before the «lad» Amber had indicated. A man, really, but no doubt thought of as a boy to someone who numbered over a hundred years in age. He was plain-looking, of average build, with wheat-colored hair and light brown eyes, a few inches taller than I. Nothing extraordinary but for the strong power he radiated about his person, rivaling that of Aquila.
"Milady. High Lords." The man bowed respectfully.
"What is your name?" I inquired.
"Tomas, milady." He pronounced it an odd way, with a slight inflection on the last syllable.
"Why are you here, Tomas?"
"My Queen no longer wished me to serve her," Tomas said, his voice rich with the flavor of the South. The soft twang along with the color of his hair brought to mind sun-kissed wheat fields.
I liked his direct gaze. Opening my senses, I looked deeper. A simple man, I noted. An honest man at heart, with a clear trait or loyalty. I was satisfied with what I found.
"My name is Mona Lisa," I said, searching for words, unsure of the procedure. "I am a new Queen yet to be assigned my territory. I, uh, have one other guard besides Lord Amber and Lord Gryphon, and am looking for another."
Tomas knelt before me, his eyes eager. "I would be most honored to serve you if you will have me, milady."
I hesitated and some of that hopeful gleam faded from his eyes. "I won't be mating with you," I blurted out, feeling my face heat but wanting to make that particular point clear to him. "Does that cause you to change your mind?"
Tomas' eyes lighted once more. "No, milady."
"Oh, good. Um… as long as we're clear on that… then I would love to have you join us."
"Thank you, my Queen," Tomas said fervently. "You will not regret this." He kissed my hand and rose.
"Welcome, brother," Amber said gruffly.
The joy of being accepted brightened Tomas's face, chasing away his plainness, making him look almost handsome. He exchanged a courteous, acknowledging nod with Gryphon.