Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Alfie again had an expression of shock.
“I will warn you,” True carried on, “although for now, you will be my only one, I will add more as I make decisions about who they will be. This, until we can elect a parliament. I will have a gnome, a fairy, a pixie, a sprite and of course I will have men, or women, if that’s my decision, from different counties—”
“You want me to be your counsellor?”
True nodded. “I should ask, but I don’t have the time. I need you. Ophelia’s gone. Cass has called Rus back. Mars asked his mother to return home. Tint left this morning. Serena is working clandestinely in the Shanty. Tor is also working our operatives there. And Apollo is brilliant, but he not only does not know this realm, he is not you. But regardless, at this juncture, I’d have no other but you. When I make further appointments, you will remain as the representative counsel of the Dellish military. And I would urge you to continue being so when we have a parliament.”
When he ceased speaking, Alfie said low, “You do not have to do this, True.”
“No. I don’t,” True replied.
They held each other’s gazes.
This went on some time.
So long, True had to break it.
“We need you in clothes and we need you seated at that table, Alfie. And we have half an hour. The men are outside to assist. Though I think you can get yourself sorted, if you need aid, we are here. Bronagh says it takes some practice and requires a good deal of stamina to use the sticks. If you wish to try, we will try. But we can get you there more expediently on a stretcher and the halls will be cleared when we do so.”
Alfie said nothing.
Time was wasting.
“Shall I ask Wallace to bring in your clothes now?” True prompted.
Alfie looked down to his legs.
True gave him a moment.
However, he did not have many moments. He’d timed this precisely, making it a matter of urgency for the purpose of not giving his friend too long to think about it.
Therefore, he repeated, much quieter, “Alfie, shall Wallace bring in your clothes?”
“Have Bronagh bring them.”
“Pardon?”
Alfie turned to him, and there was a curious, but not at all bad, light shining from his gaze.
“If I need help, and I shall need help, she’s my nurse. She can help me.”
Slowly, True smiled.
Then he murmured, “As you wish,” rose and left the room.
He had six pairs of eyes aimed his way as he walked down the hall to where they were huddled.
He tore his from Farah to look at Bronagh.
“He wishes you to bring his clothes and assist him if he needs help.”
“Me?” Her voice was a squeak.
He heard a truncated guffaw, a couple of amused grunts and an odd high noise he knew was Farah’s, though it also was amused.
“Yes, you,” True confirmed.
Slowly, her gaze moved to True’s wife.
Not missing a beat, Farah pulled the folded clothing from Wallace’s hands and shoved it Bronagh’s way.
Tentatively, the nurse took it and trudged down the hallway to Alfie’s door as if she was heading to the gallows.
“Do you have a royal counsellor, amore?” Farah asked.
He looked to his side and down into her beautiful eyes.
And he smiled.
“This will not be tolerated!” G’Aron fairly shouted, slamming the side of his fist to the table.
“You need to calm yourself,” Apollo warned.
“You are not from this place. You don’t understand,” Aron snapped.
“I understand you need to calm yourself,” Apollo retorted.
“These are our acolytes,” Aron hissed. “They have our protection.”
Needless to say, when the Go’Doan shared they were again ready to sit the table, they did not share this with the intention to discuss matters of import to anyone but them.
Apollo looked to True. “I’m sorry, did I miss something? It was my understanding that Mars brought these Go’Ella in solely for questioning.”
They had heard word of the bent Mars had taken in his realm in an attempt to gather information.
And the Go’Doan had heard it too.
“This was my understanding as well,” True confirmed.
“That is not to be abided,” Aron decreed.
“Explain why,” Apollo ordered.
“It is not to be abided,” Aron repeated.
“Bloody explain why,” Apollo shot back.
“I would like to know this as well,” Alfie remarked calmly.
“If you need to speak to an acolyte, you talk through her priest,” Aron declared.
“Why?” Apollo asked.
“It is the way,” Aron answered.
“That’s all you have?” Apollo inquired when Aron said no more.
“They’re terrified one, or more, of the Go’Ella speaking with King Mars will share they’re being, or have been, mistreated,” G’Ry stated, and all eyes turned to him.
Only when he had everyone’s attention did he finish.
“That being mistreated by Go’Doan not only of this Rising.”
“Ry,” Aron spat. “You’d do well to be quiet.”
Ry slowly shifted his attention to Aron.
“I have not known a time like this. A time of trouble and sorrow. A time of danger and aggression. A time like this at all when it is the least good to be quiet,” Ry returned. “There are things we can share, Aron. There are ways we can help. I have been adamant that this should be our stance, as you know. And right now, I find I can no longer carry on being a part of a strategy I find fundamentally flawed when the stakes are this high.”