“Ahem.” The Duke cleared his throat again. “Your Majesty, may I present Lady Ellilah and her Heart’s Companion, Roke. Lady Ellilah is the Zorel Entrancer I was telling Your Highness about earlier,” he added.
“Well, well—yes, indeed!” The high, fruity voice came from the Tenebrian Crown Prince sitting on the golden thRoke.
Earlier, when they’d been bowing and then observing the Introduction custom, Elli hadn’t had a chance to really look at him. Now she glanced carefully up through her lashes, trying to study the Tenebrian monarch’s face surreptitiously.
The Tenebrian prince was a bit odd compared to his people, she thought. For one thing, he wasn’t nearly as tall as the other Tenebrian males. Also, his skin was almost as white as one of their female’s, with only a hint of pale blue. He had slightly bulging eyes set in a broad, frog-like face and a little round pot belly which strained the rich fabric of his golden brocade waistcoat. He had tiny eyes which were a pale, watery blue—altogether, a rather ugly specimen of the Tenebrian race, Elli thought.
But she knew better than to judge someone on their looks alone. Maybe the Crown Prince was a lovely person and she just needed to get to know him.
“I have heard much of you, my dear,” he said to Elli. “The Duke here tells me you had that brute of his, Wind Chaser, eating out of your hand within half a minute of meeting him!”
Elli remembered that the Duke had told her he would be doing all the talking, but this remark seemed to merit a reply.
“Thank you, your Majesty,” she murmured, dropping another little curtsey. “It’s true—I do have a way with zorels.”
“You do, do you? I’d like to see that—yes, I ruddy well would!” the Crown Prince exclaimed, slapping one hand on the golden arm of his thRoke with a smack! “As it happens, I have zorel problems myself. Just bought a new mount—goes by the charming name of ‘Demon’ don’t you know. Big brute won’t let anyone near him—not even the grooms!”
Elli saw her chance and jumped on it.
“Oh, your Majesty,” she said, “I would be more than pleased to help you tame and train your new zorel—it would be my honor.”
“You would, would you?” The Crown Prince looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “And what would you charge for such a valuable service, my little Zorel Entrancer?”
“Just a single, tiny piece of your Healing Lattice,” Elli said quickly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the Duke had a horrified look on his face but the Crown Prince still seemed to be listening with interest, so she pressed on.
“There is someone very dear to me who is dying from a mysterious wasting sickness,” she said, looking up at him earnestly. “And it has been determined that only a sliver of your Healing Lattice can cure her. Please, your Majesty, if you’ll only give me the chance to earn a tiny piece of it, I’ll do such a good job with your zorel—I promise you won’t regret it!”
“Well!” The Crown Prince sat back, his face unreadable. But the Court on either side of the thRoke was murmuring. Elli wondered if she had somehow committed an unpardonable sin asking for a piece of the Healing Lattice. Had she ruined any chance she had by mentioning what she wanted too soon?
“Your Highness, forgive this female’s impudence,” the Duke said quickly. “I never would have brought her, had I thought—”
“No, no—calm yourself, my good fellow.” The Crown Prince put out a hand to stop the Duke’s panicked words. “I like a female who knows what she wants and goes for it,” he said, speaking to Elli directly. “All right then—if you truly can tame my Demon and get him to allow me to ride him and let the grooms groom him, I’ll give you the chance to earn a small piece of our Healing Lattice, which is the Heart of our Court.”
Elli let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding and relief washed over her.
“Oh, thank you, Your Majesty!” she exclaimed, clasping her hands to her chest. “Thank you so much!”
“You’ll need to stay here in the palace, of course,” the Crown Prince went on. “You and your Heart’s Companion will be issued rooms in our guest wing.” He looked at the Duke. “See that it gets done.”
“Yes, your Highness.” The Duke bowed deeply, so Roke and Elli followed his lead, bowing again as well.
“Go on, now.” The Crown Prince made a shooing gesture with one beringed hand. “I’ll see you tonight at Supper and then again tomorrow in the zorel training ring,” he added, speaking to Elli. “I can’t wait to watch you work with Demon—he’s already trampled two grooms to death and fried a third with his flame,” he added in an offhand tone.