A Dance of Silver and Shadow (Beyond the Four Kingdoms, #1)

by Melanie Cellier

“I’m afraid there has been an unforeseen occurrence. Entirely unforeseen, I assure you.” He paused and rubbed his hands together. “I’m sure, whatever it is, we can find our way through it together.” The duchess’ calm tones should have given anyone confidence, but the Emissary simply threw her a wary look. “Yes, yes, certainly. Of course, we will do all we can. Our greatest desire is to see a profitable alliance established between our two lands and we would never willingly do anything to jeopardize that.” I caught Celine’s eye roll just as Sophie projected, Gracious, he’s not good at getting to the point, is he? Apparently our guardians shared this opinion.

Oo

She looked over at me with amusement in her eyes. Do you have any idea what we’re talking about? Of course I do! I tried to look offended and failed. Great piles of snow and all that.

Oo

His next comment was lost as Prince Theodore and Prince Gabriel arrived. “Teddy. Gabe.” Jon nodded at them both, his voice serious. They took seats without further invitation, their faces equally serious. Why do I feel like we’ve just been ambushed? I eyed the princes uneasily. Because you’re wise beyond your years? Flatterer!

:)

Millie emerged from some bushes and stormed toward us. She stood over Teddy in his chair and glared daggers at her twin and his friends. “I knew you boys were planning something. But I can’t believe you would bother Lily and Sophie right now.” She swiveled around to face us. “I’m glad to see you up, by the way.” She turned back to the princes. “You are the heirs of three different kingdoms. You cannot afford to be idiots right now.” “Or ever,” I muttered. “Thank you!” She didn’t turn away from the angry stare she had trained on her brother. “Or ever.”

:)

The situation didn’t strike me as particularly humorous. Sorry. Another giggle escaped. It’s just so funny seeing Millie facing them all down. Every one of them is taller and stronger than her, but she looks like she’s about to spit fire. And they all look like they think she actually might. I looked at the scene before us again and suppressed a smile. Now that she said it, they did all look rather cowed. Millie is pretty fierce. This time, Sophie’s giggle slipped out of her mouth. All of them, including Millie, turned to look at us. The sound of Sophie’s laugh and their astonished faces proved too much for me. I giggled too. Sophie looked over at me and burst into louder peals. I followed, each of us feeding off the other, until we were leaning back in our chairs, tears running down our faces. “Sorry,” I managed to force out between chuckles. “It’s a twin thing.” Millie raised an eyebrow, and I remembered she was a twin too. I shrugged helplessly, seized by a fresh paroxysm. Finally she gave her own small chuckle and shrugged at the bemused princes. Looking around for a spare chair, she plonked herself down.

Oo

shivered. However unpleasant it was to be trapped in the Tourney, at least as contestants we were free to help each other. And, of course, that didn’t even take into account the curiosity. I wasn’t sure I could have borne it in his shoes. Imagine not knowing where or how we all spent our nights? “What is it?” he asked, having felt my shiver. “I’m just wondering how you manage it,” I said, wanting to keep the conversation light. “The curiosity, I mean. Don’t misunderstand me—if given the choice, I would have opted out of the Tourney. But I also might have died of curiosity by now.” His face darkened for a moment, and I suspected his mind had gone to the impotence of the nights spent waiting, as mine had.

:(

And Cole would still marry Celine to seal the alliance,

Are you so cracked you think they'd align with traitorous jumped up commoners ....really?

That’s the problem. Sir Oswald is gambling on the fact that Marin has nothing but itself to offer. He’s seen his opportunity to gain power, and he’s seizing it. I don’t know what sort of trade deals we could make when they have nothing to trade.

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