'My father?' asked Erlaan, his voice breaking suddenly. Ullsaard realised that for all his own impatience, the young man must have been even more frustrated by the delays in organising the procession.
'He is in the king's throne room, with your grandfather. Run along and see them now; we'll have important business shortly.'
The youth smiled his thanks and headed quickly up the hall, a swarm of servants descending upon him as he reached the arch at the far end.
'You should have some time to see your family,' said Aalun, turning his attention back to Ullsaard. 'Come to the throne room in the last call before Howling.'
'Thank you, Prince,' replied Ullsaard. He waited for Aalun to turn away and head after his nephew before crossing the hall to his right and pushing through a curtained doorway into the corridors that led to the apartment wing. He walked quickly, exchanging nods and smiles with a few familiar faces until he reached the wooden doors of his chambers.
He hesitated, taking a deep breath.
II
'He'll be here soon and Luia hasn't even dressed!' Meliu slapped her hands on her thighs in frustration.
'Sit down for a moment,' soothed Allenya, guiding her youngest sister to the low couch by the window. 'If Luia wants to play her silly games, let her.'
'But it reflects badly on us as well,' Meliu said, tears forming in her eyes.
'Stop that,' said Allenya, snatching up the hem of her long yellow dress to dab at Meliu's cheeks. 'You being all puffy-eyed is not going to help.' Meliu huffed indignantly. 'Luia always wants to spoil everything.'
'Yes, and now you're acting spoilt. The last thing our husband wants to come back to is one of your tantrums.'
'I suppose you're right.' Meliu beckoned to one of the maids, who approached with a bowl of white powder and a fine brush. She dusted Meliu's cheeks heavily. 'It's not fair, is it? Luia has skin like snow and here's me stuck with the ruddy cheeks of a farm girl. It's wasted on her!'
'Believe me, Ullsaard will be just as happy if you were as red as a beet. Just smile and let those sweet dimples do the rest.'
Meliu couldn't help but comply, her smile hesitant.
'Why is he keeping us waiting?' snapped Luia from the next room. She stalked through the door, her dark blue robe still unbelted, open at the front, servants trailing behind forlornly. 'Noran said he'd be here by noon. It's just typical. The food will spoil and he can strut off to see the king, leaving us with mouldy scraps.'
'The procession was delayed, sister,' Allenya said calmly. 'I am sure he is as anxious as we are.'
'Anxious to see you, sister, perhaps.' Luia turned her scornful glare on Meliu. 'Askhos's cock, you look like a garden slut; or worse, a poet.'
Meliu pouted and was about to say something when Eriun, the head maid, slipped in behind Luia.
'The master has reached the palace, mistresses,' she announced quietly.
With a wordless hiss, Luia darted from the room, scattering her attendants.
'Let me have a last look at you,' said Allenya, beckoning for Meliu to stand. She smoothed a few stray locks of her sister's golden curls, adjusted the hang of her low-cut dress to display her fine cleavage and smoothed out a crease in her broad white belt. 'Nothing to worry about, sister, you look lovely. How am I doing?'
Meliu laughed. Allenya was the tallest of the three sisters, with wide hips and long legs. Her hair was a deep brown, falling in oiled curls about her shoulders, with no sign yet of greying. Her face was narrow, her chin and cheekbones prominent, with only the slightest wrinkles to testify her middle age. He eyes were a startling sapphire blue. Allenya wore a plain white dress, gathered tight about the waist with a broad belt of blue fabric embroidered with silver threads, bronze and gold chains about her wrists and neck.
'You could wear a sack and shave your head and Ullsaard would still give you that look.'
'What look?'
'Don't come all coy. You know, that longing look he gets whenever he says goodbye to you, the one he only gives you. I try, Askhos knows I try, but that look is only for you.'
'He loves us each in a different way.'
Meliu looked doubtful.
'Even Luia?'
Allenya let out a short laugh.
'Well, perhaps not Luia. Still, she hasn't ruined it for the pair of us yet, so let's not let her start now.'
There was a whisper of warning from the next room and the two women linked arms and walked through to the main chamber of the apartment. Meliu could feel Allenya trembling as a foot scraped on the far side of the doors. It seemed like an eternity before the door swung open, revealing Ullsaard, skin dusted with dirt, streaked with sweat.
As ever, his eyes went first to Allenya, and he crossed from the door in a few long strides to embrace her. He kissed her on each cheek, delicately stroking her back. As they parted, Ullsaard turned to Meliu, his eyes roving up and down her petite form, lingering on the curve of her half-exposed breasts. He clasped a hand to her neck and planted a long kiss on her lips, his body swallowing her up with its hard bulk. She returned the kiss, feeling his other hand roughly caressing her buttocks.
'Where's the other one?' Ullsaard asked, pulling away from Meliu, dragging a gasp from her parted lips.
'The 'other one' is here,' announced Luia, standing at the door to the dining hall, one hand languidly raised to the frame, the other held behind her arched back. Her dress hung beautifully from her curved body, her hair tied simply but neatly into a braided coil atop her head, a golden pendant hanging from her alabaster neck, its point angled towards the cleft between her breasts. Meliu wanted to spit. She had spent all morning getting ready, and Luia had upstaged her in a few moments.
Ullsaard nodded, his eyes straying past Luia to the table beyond, upon which foods of all kind had been heaped.
'We have a watch and a half before I must attend the Blood,' Ullsaard declared. 'Let me get cleaned up and then we'll eat.'
'As you wish, husband,' said Luia.
'It is wonderful to see you again,' said Allenya, laying a hand briefly on her husband's arm. 'Be swift, we want to hear all about your adventures.'
'You have been away such a long time,' whispered Meliu, trying to make her voice husky. She let the back of her hand stroke the front of Ullsaard's leather kilt. 'Why don't I show you a proper welcome?'
Ullsaard grinned and snatched her around the waist. As he led her towards the door of the main bedchamber, Meliu directed a sly wink towards Luia. Her sister turned away sharply, hips swinging, and disappeared into the dining hall.
Pulling her through the beaded curtain of the bedroom, Ullsaard rounded on Meliu, clasping her close, his lips and tongue seeking hers, his chest crushing against her breasts. He grunted and pushed her towards the bed, where Meliu allowed herself to fall on her back, her slit dress parting to show her legs.
'On your knees.' Ullsaard's words were little more than grunts between clenched teeth.
Meliu did as she was told, rolling over to expose herself to her husband. There was a slap of leather hitting the wooden floor and a moment later Ullsaard's muscled arm encircled her waist. His other hand engulfed her breast roughly. His breaths came in short pants, as did hers. Ullsaard's murmuring was joined by a groan from Meliu as he pushed himself inside, forcing himself as deep as possible. She winced at the momentary pain and clenched her teeth as he grabbed her hair, pulling back her head.
Three stretching thrusts later Meliu felt his seed flooding into her. Ullsaard let loose a fierce growl, fist twisting her hair painfully. She felt him shuddering for a few more heartbeats, pressed up against her, his grip like iron on her head and breast.
With another grunt, he pushed her off, leaving a wetness leaking onto her thighs.
Ullsaard leaned against the bedpost, breathing heavily, eyes closed. Meliu slithered to her back, parting her
