THE BLUE KING - CHAPTER NINE

Whew! Chapter nine! This is where the story really begins--so there shouldn't be too many info-dumps ahead. This is one of my favorite chapters, simply because I get to talk about Daeun the whole time. He's awesome. *loves Daeun too much*

Enjoy!

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Ianna had crossed the border prepared for the snobbish, grating murderers that she knew the Talons to be, and had instead found herself staring up at an impossibly handsome man with eyes the color of the sky, eyes that captivated her despite her efforts to stay impartial. He was—to her horror—polite and very cordial, and disgustingly eager to help them. He answered her questions with a wild, unashamed humor, and his laugh was carefree; he was refreshing as she had never thought anyone—J’engar or otherwise—could ever be.

His clothing was odd, and his accent sharp and clipped, but his eyes danced with honesty and laughter, and his beast was so handsome and noble-looking; she could sense no ill in him. She felt, for the first time, grudging hope that peace might be possible, and just as grudgingly, the possibility that she might not be able to rip King Anull’s head from his shoulders.

As they walked, she found herself admiring him, and, in turn, amused by him. She listened with a kind ear to his troubles in keeping a firm hand over his people, and watched his face for treachery. She sensed it within him—but it was not directed at her, not even remotely. He seemed to consider her the answer to his problems, and was only too happy to be her escort into Tvaar.

When they camped, Daeun kneeling by his beast’s head, making sure that it was healthy, Ianna removed herself from his presence, standing some feet away to look up at the wide blue sky. Ancestors, she said within herself, closing her eyes, speak to me. Is this—this Talon a friend?

She felt the answer rising in her breast, and a brief image flashed before her face; they were standing back-to-back, the sounds of battle all around them, and he was promising to never leave her, to protect her—and then the image vanished, replaced by the certainty that she could trust him at all costs.

When she turned, the sun was high in the sky; many hours had passed. Daeun was asleep, curled on his beast’s stomach. The beast had risen enough to circle its master, its great head resting on Daeun’s legs, dark eyes half-closed but wary. That alone was enough to inspire trust in her; that a beast could so willingly love this man spoke volumes to her.

"I believe him a friend," Caelun said, crouched beside the others, nibbling on a bit of hard jerky. "I do not like his ways, but he is—I think—a friend."

"Consider him of my own rank," Ianna said, her voice a sharp order. "He is to be given all honors—he is, as of now, an allay of J’engar-ai."

It was a hefty statement to make, and they exchanged surprised looks, obviously curious as to how she had reached this decision—when only days before, she had been loudly proclaiming her hatred of all things Talon.

"The ancestors tell me he is a friend, and loyal to us," she said simply, as explanation, and they did not bother to fill in the silent "loyal to me." "Get some rest—we will leave as soon as he awakes."