Free Intrigues by Sharon Green Page B

her brows high, but then she felt a small smile curve her lips. She hadn’t had strange men professing their love and admiration since she’d stopped being a courtesan, and the experience had lifted her spirits in a way that a glass of wine couldn’t have. The incident meant nothing, of course, except to give her a warm feeling…
    “Here’s your fruit punch,” Lorand said as he returned with two crystal cups, offering one of them to her. “And I swear that some of these servants are annoyed with me because I was about to fill the cups myself. You’d think I was trying to steal something.”
    “In a manner of speaking, you were trying to steal something,” Jovvi answered with amusement as she accepted the cup. “If we all start to do things for ourselves, we won’t need so many servants. To some of these people you were trying to steal their job.”
    “I hope the training program gets results really fast,” Lorand muttered, staring balefully at the servants moving around the room. “Once we expand the work force, most industries will flourish and new ones will grow up. Maybe then they’ll stop treating us like cripples.”
    Jovvi smiled as she sipped at her punch, making no effort to tell Lorand that he was indulging in wishful thinking. Too many people considered it outrageous for rulers to fend for themselves, which might even turn out to be a good thing. A little pampering couldn’t hurt anything, any more than a little admiration…

Chapter 5
     
    Naran entered the ballroom on Rion’s arm, carefully keeping her expression neutral. When Ristor Ardanis, the leader of the hidden group with Sight magic, had spoken about her Blending’s future reign in glowing terms, Naran had been delighted and relieved. But this morning she’d been able to see past that glowing picture painted by someone else, and the landscape didn’t quite match. Yes, her Blending would make excellent rulers – if they ever managed to be Seated. There were so many shadows of other possible outcomes in the way that Naran couldn’t tell for certain…
    “Is something troubling you, my love?” Rion suddenly murmured as they walked toward where the others already were. “You seem quiet nearly to the point of being withdrawn."
    “I’m afraid that the last part of our announcements tonight won’t be accepted with the same enthusiasm that the link groups and other Blendings showed,” Naran told him with the best smile she felt able to produce. “I don’t want you to be upset when that happens, my love, not when people always take the announcement of extreme change rather badly. There will be a lot of shock and protest before those around us grow used to the idea of there being a sixth talent, so you mustn’t make a fuss.”
    “Is that why you made no mention of this difficulty sooner?” Rion asked, typically looking and sounding more hurt than angry. “Because you feared I would make a ‘fuss’?”
    “No, it was because I didn’t want to upset you sooner,” Naran returned firmly, holding his gaze to make him know she spoke the truth. “What gives you pain does the same for me, my love, and I know you’ll feel hurt when you think I’m being rejected as a part of our Blending. But those who speak against my kind will be frightened, Rion, and it takes time before fear can be conquered. Please, for my sake, give them that time before becoming angry and impatient.”
    “It remains a sad fact that I can refuse you nothing, my love,” Rion said with a sigh that made Naran smile. “If it’s patience you need, it’s patience you will have, even if I have to grit my teeth against speaking. I had not imagined that you would ever ask something this difficult of me.”
    “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask something a bit more difficult,” Naran replied, knowing well enough that Rion teased her in part. “Our brothers also need to restrain themselves, so you must speak to them before we begin the announcements. They