Page 38 of The Half King
“No, I noticed the instant I saw you.”
But he hadn’t complimented her hair like Daerick had. “You don’t like it?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it. You’re as lovely as any of the women I ever hosted at court.” His gray eyes softened as they moved over her face. “But you’re not a woman of court. You’re my lady of the temple, aren’t you?”
A bubbling sensation arose inside her chest. She had to battle the urge to unpin her plaits right there and unbraid every last one of them. She decided that tomorrow she would wear her hair loose.
From down the hall, the kennel door squeaked open. Cerise craned her neck to look over the pen, expecting to find Father Padron. But instead of the high priest, a middle-aged man strode into view. He was tall and slender with thick, brown hair and a face so handsome he could charge people to look at it.
“You must be Cole Solon,” she said. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”
Cole bowed to the king and then to her. “And I you, my lady.”
“The two of you haven’t met at dinner?” Kian asked.
Cerise shook her head, offering no explanation. She didn’t want to admit that she had taken her evening meals in her suite.
“I just passed General Petros in the garden,” Cole said. “He told me the king’s emissary was near, so I came straight away.”
Cerise turned up a dirty palm. “I would greet you properly, but you wouldn’t want to touch this hand.”
Cole responded with a chuckle that sounded rehearsed. Something about his eyes reminded her of the painted goose eggs the Reverend Mother collected in her office: intricately decorated on the outside and hollow within. His Solon allure wasn’t as strong as Nina’s. He was undeniably handsome, but Cerise had no problem looking away from him.
Cole started to speak, but then he tipped his head to the side and studied her. “There’s something familiar about you… The eyes, I think. I can’t place it. Who are your parents?”
“Elaina Igalsi and Edwin Solon,” she told him.
“Were they ever at court?” Cole asked.
“I don’t think they were,” she said. “But I never thought to ask.”
“Maybe what you see is a Solon family resemblance,” Kian offered.
“Maybe,” Cole repeated in a tone that saidno. “Regardless, I’m glad to have met our resident hero.”
Just then, the kennel door squeaked open again, and Father Padron joined them. He stood as serenely as ever in front of the king, but he spoke with exaggerated precision, as though each word caused him physical pain. “How may I serve His Majesty?”
“I require your expertise, high priest,” Kian answered in a playful tone, almost taunting. Cerise didn’t like it. Despite her mistrust of Father Padron, the high priest of Shiera deserved respect. She couldn’t look at Kian as he continued. “You will investigate the attacks against me. Direct your priests to question every resident and worker in the palace. Use honesty enchantments if you have to. I want to know who released the panther and who set the fire.”
“As His Majesty commands,” Father Padron answered.
“And tonight, while I am indisposed,” the king added in a sharper tone, “you will cast an enchantment of protection over Lady Champlain. If she is injured in any way, I will tear down one temple for every hair on her head that is harmed.”
Cerise drew a loud gasp. “Kian!”
All three men swiveled their gazes to her, two of them shocked that she had dared to call the king by his name and the third clearly amused at having scandalized her.
“I mean,Your Highness,” she corrected. “You mustn’t threaten the goddess. It’s blasphemy. She is your creator.”
“Even so, my order stands.” The king glanced out the nearest window as if gauging the position of the sun. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have only two hours until sunset, and there are love children to be made.”
Something cold and sick churned in Cerise’s stomach as Kian strode away. She told herself it was the meats and cheeses she had eaten for lunch that bothered her, not the king’s parting words. Then she pushed aside the thought altogether and nuzzled her puppy, who licked her cheeks in response. She stood up to take him to his new home.
“He’s mine,” she announced with a smile, hoping to dissipate the tension from the king’s abrasive command. “Isn’t he the most precious creature you’ve ever seen?”
Father Padron chuckled while assisting her over the gate. “Preciousisn’t the word I would use to describe the creature, but happiness suits you. Don’t you agree, Lord Solon?”
“Mmm,” Cole replied absently. His eyes weren’t on the puppy. “Between your parents, my lady, who would you say you favor more?”
