But my brother had not finished.
“And if you don’t, you’ll be somewhere near, the furthest away Fleuridia, so you can visit us or we can visit you. I’ll hear no more talk about your ridiculous impulses. In fact, I’m determined you return with us. It’s clear with all you’ve endured recently your mind isn’t right and you need time to get it right again.”
I had many cutting retorts on the tip of my tongue.
But the new Franka turned her gaze to her sister-in-law and inquired, “You’re with child?”
“I…” more blushing from Brikitta, “yes.”
“I’m pleased for you, sister. Very.”
Her eyes grew large.
“As for you,” I looked back to my brother, “we’ll finish this discussion later.”
“We won’t, for the discussion is already finished,” he decreed.
“It is not.”
“It is.”
“It is not.”
“It is so.”
“Not!” I cried.
“So!” he shot back.
I heard laughter erupt all around us but through it I also heard Queen Aurora’s shuddering with amusement (shuddering!) command of, “Franka, no more talk of this nonsense. Kristian is right. Your plans are far too risky and you’ve decided them at a time when you’re vulnerable to making poor decisions. I forbid you to cross the Green Sea. At least for a year. Should you continue to wish to do so, perhaps it can be discussed again after that time.”
I stared at my sovereign, speechless.
The Queen of Lunwyn was not speechless.
She carried on.
“Your choices are to return to your brother’s home with your family or journey with me to Rimée Keep. With Frey, my Finnie and my wee Viktor off to Bellebryn, I’ll be quite alone and you’ll be lovely company.”
I would be lovely company?
Me?
I remained speechless.
Aurora did not.
“You have until Kristian and Brikitta depart five days hence to make your decision. Now,” she looked around the table, “that’s done. Allow us to toast Kristian and Brikitta’s lovely news and move on from sibling squabbles.”
She picked up her wineglass and all followed, including me. When a queen toasted, you didn’t demur.
But I was fuming because, apparently, the unexpected end to my parents’ years of torment caused me to be uncertain of my feelings and my future and my entire bloody nature and grow soft. However it caused my brother to grow a backbone. Not to mention an open willingness to engage in inappropriateness by drawing me into what could be described as none other than what the queen had deemed it.
A sibling bloody squabble.
At the royal bloody dinner table.
I sipped my wine, ignoring the smiles all around that I was sure had something to do with the fact my brother’s family was growing, but more to do with mirth at my brother and my antics.
Thus I did this frowning.
However, I noted the only one not seeming to have enjoyed our display was Noc. He was not smiling. He was regarding me intently.
When I caught his eyes, he mouthed, “All right?”
“Fine,” I mouthed back.
He continued studying me before he nodded.
“I do hope,” Aurora called out as everyone resumed eating, and I looked to her to see her attention set on Brikitta, “that your wee Timofei was able to get a good nap in this afternoon. Prior to Franka taking her maid shopping, she was quite thorough in addressing the servants to request that they practice quiet around your rooms as your wee one has been having trouble sleeping recently.”
By the goddess Adele, were my cheeks flaming?
Brikitta’s eyes darted to me and they were again large.
Yes, my cheeks were flaming.
Blast!
“A phase, I’m sure,” Aurora went on. “He’ll stop fretting and return to good sleep soon, mark my words.”
“I say, Franka,” Kristian began after the queen finished, speaking in my ear. “It’s too strange, gazing upon this gentleman who’s the vision of Prince Noctorno. Uncanny. I’m glad the prince has a scar or I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.”
I turned my head and blasted my brother with an icy glare, stating without words I, unlike he, was not over our very recent spat.
He grinned at my glare and asked in a teasing tone, “Did you enjoy shopping with your maid?”
My glare intensified.
My brother took it in and did not cower.
He started chuckling and returned to his consommé.
With no other choice open to me, I also turned to my place setting, thinking I was not losing my touch.
It was gone.
And I had no choice as to what to think of that.
Except, so be it.
Chapter Eight
My Valiant
Valentine
Valentine stood at the window of her lovely little house in the countryside outside of Fyngaard and looked to the shadowed frosty wonderland of snow and ice sparkling in the moonlight.
Frey Drakkar stood in the middle of the room behind her and he did this speaking.
As he spoke, Valentine fought the urge to smile.
“We’re willing to make it worth your time¸” Drakkar declared as he concluded stating what he wished to request from Valentine.
She’d do what he requested for free.
However, he didn’t need to know that.
“I’m sure your wife has shared much, though you cannot understand the extent of it, Drakkar,” she said to the window. “But suffice it to say that it’s an understatement when I note that my world is much different than this one.”