enough to know that he was up to something with all of this grooming and gifting. Never before had he concerned himself with what others thought of him.
Just before the lift came to a halt, Dostin asked Corva, loud enough for everyone to hear him, “Do you think Phen really cleans himself with a feather duster?”
Cade boomed out a laugh that he cut short suddenly when he saw King Aldar and Princess Gretta flanked by Urp and Oof waiting on the feast hall floor for them. The look King Aldar was giving Cade was imposing, and suddenly everyone bowed. Talon broke the tense moment when he flapped himself over to Princess Gretta, landed on her wrist and cooed. Her delighted giggles seemed to please her father. He extended a hand toward Hyden, then opened his arms in a welcoming gesture.
“Rise,” he commanded. “Welcome to Afdeon.”
Chapter 38
King Aldar hadn’t changed much since Hyden last saw him, but he was dressed less crudely. The previous meeting had taken place where Loudin of the Reyhall was buried. The ancient, silver-maned giant had been wearing thick furs and traveling clothes. Now he wore a sky-blue floor-length robe the hue of his own sparkling eyes.
Princess Gretta however, did not look the same. Where Hyden expected to see a child stood a beautiful, budding young woman. The definition of features on her wide, pretty face had sharpened. Framed by dark, curly ringlets, her look held the promise of long-lasting beauty. The daisy and lace layered dress she wore went well with her turquoise eyes and was of a cut similar to Telgra’s. The garment enhanced the slightly curvaceous turn her growth had taken. When she saw Spike clutched in Telgra’s hands, eyeing the wolves suspiciously, she came over for a closer look. As mature as she looked, the excitement that spread across her face betrayed her youth.
To Hyden’s surprise, the King of Giants stepped forth, then bent down and gave him a powerful hug. Hyden felt like a little boy being clutched by his father. When the king straightened back up, he spoke to the group in a conspiratorial whisper.
“Once we get to the dining hall, and the queen has been announced, we can dispense with all the formalities. What’s this?” he asked, suddenly looking down at Oarly. A sort of uneasy surprise registered on his face as the dwarf thrust up the leather pouch he had brought.
“This is for your highness, King Aldar.” Oarly spoke most properly, drawing looks from Hyden and Phen. “It’s a gift from the people of Doon. It’s not much, but it’s precious.”
As soon as the king accepted the pouch, Oarly handed the silverwork box to Princess Gretta. “And this is for you and your mother, my lady.”
Without opening the pouch, King Aldar beckoned the group to follow him down a series of oversized halls, all of them decorated in eye-bulging opulence. Immaculate paintings hung on the walls, and pedestals displayed carvings of dragons, elk, wolves, and various trees all fashioned from wood, ivory, and different types of stone. The walls were done in paneled burlwood and the halls were illuminated by gold-and-crystal chandeliers that hung at intervals from the ceiling.
Princess Gretta, with Talon perched on her wrist near the silver box she was clutching, and with Spike cradled lovingly in her other arm, urged Princess Telgra to open the silver box for her. Hyden watched, noting that Telgra seemed relieved after meeting the giantess. Both young ladies gasped at what lay inside the box. On a tiny pillow of black velvet lay seven pairs of sparkling ear danglers, each made of a different precious metal or gem. There were diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, as well as silver, gold and a set made of some delicate stone that was deep gray traced with tiny veins of scarlet.
Both Corva and Lieutenant Welch caught a glimpse in the box. Corva wondered why a woman wanted to decorate herself with pieces of the earth, while Lieutenant Welch wondered how many hundreds of years he would have to work at his present salary to buy even one piece of such precious jewelry.
Princess Gretta saw Corva looking at the contents of the box and spoke to him shyly. “You look like Vaegon, somewhat,” she said. Clearly, the observation took Corva’s breath away. Vaegon was the closest thing to a hero the race of elves had known for his entire lifetime. Vaegon’s fame came from his friendship with Hyden and Mikahl, two humans whom most of the Elder elves didn’t regard highly. Princess Telgra, though, before she lost her memory, had idolized the brave archer from the Willowbrow Clan. Corva replied with a shaky, “Thank you, my lady.” Then he swelled with visible pride.
Princess Gretta covered her mouth and then whispered something to Princess Telgra. Both girls giggled, and Corva flushed a light shade of blue.
“She likes you, Corva,” Dostin observed loudly.
They entered a set of double doors with panels carved into something resembling a wildly split face that was hidden in the features of a mountain landscape. The room was cozy and just big enough for all of them to feel comfortable in, without feeling swallowed up. A table of glossy black marble was set for them. Chairs with higher seats, fitted so the humans could be above the surface, were set around the length of the slab. Three golden candelabras were spread down its length. The reflection of the tiny flames flickered and danced on the golden goblets and dinnerware.
Once the group were all in the room, the great wolves took up alert sitting positions just outside the dining hall. Then the heavy wooden doors swung silently shut, seemingly of their own accord. Hyden was drawn to look at them as he sensed the ozonic sensation of magic in action. His attention was drawn back to their host as King Aldar himself announced his wife.
“My honored and distinguished guests, may I present the Lady of Afdeon, Gertra Awln, Queen of the Mountains and Valleys, and the holder of my heart.”
“Oh stop it, Aldar,” the big woman said. She was close to thirteen feet tall and probably four feet across. A proportionately fit woman, her round face showed traces of youthful beauty. It was impossible not to notice the foot-and-a-half of cleavage her forest green dining gown revealed. With breasts the size of barrel kegs and a cheery smile, it would be hard to call her anything less than pretty. She looked easily a third of her husband’s age, but such was the way of things when kings took wives.
Everyone had bowed again, and while they did, Princess Gretta hurried excitedly to her mother’s side to show her the gift the dwarf had given them.
“Please rise,” Queen Gertra said. “Hyden of the Skyler Clan is the only one of you who owes fealty to the Crown of Afdeon.” She turned toward Princess Telgra and beamed. “I hope that after you have visited the Leif Repline you will come stay with us for a while. I would love to get to know you better, as would Gretta.”
Telgra found herself taken aback at how deftly polite and well worded the queen’s invitation had been. She smiled broadly at her hostess. “Thank you, Highness, that sounds pleasant. Getting to know me is also on my list of things to do.”
Phen, Corva, and even Hyden Hawk laughed out loud at that.
The giant queen ignored them and looked at Oarly. The dwarf looked as serious as he’d ever been. “Master Dwarf,” the queen said with a smile. “Your gift is wonderful. I’d like to speak with you more during dinner. If I wait a moment more, though, the sun will be gone and you’ll miss it.”
With that, she turned and clapped. Two servants appeared and moved to the center of the tapestried wall behind her. Slowly, the hanging panels of cloth slid open, the full-length curtain revealing the most spectacular view of the world that any of them had ever seen. Immediately, the bitter chill of the air swept into the room. As the group eased forward to gawk at the expanse of sun-coppered mountain peaks that extended as far as the eye could see, the servants drew back the curtains on the opposite wall, revealing a fireplace the size of a small farmhouse. No sooner was the fire raging than another curtain door slid open, filling the room with the savory smell of freshly baked bread and seasoned meat.
It didn’t take long for the fire’s heat to force the cold back out of the huge embrasure. And though these other things were going on around them, none of them ever stopped taking in the view. The snow-capped mountains literally looked to be formed of molten copper as the sun inched down behind them. Then as the sun’s glow faded and the silvery light of the stars took over, the mountains appeared frosted in crystal. Finally, the aroma of the meal drew them to the table. A special seat had been set for Oarly to boost him up to the point that he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. As the golden goblets were filled with sweet berry wine, King Aldar peeked into the
