Carina frowned. "Why not?"
"I'm talking out of turn to say this, m'lady, but Uri's bad seed. He doesn't think there should be a mortal as Lord of Dark Haven, and his brood's worse than he is. Please make sure that you're with someone you trust tonight at all times."
"Thank you." Carina set the tea aside. "I guess I'd best be getting dressed. Wouldn't do to be late." -
THE GREAT ROOM glittered with candles and mirrors. Carina took Jonmarc's arm and entered to a round of applause and cheers. Tonight's guests were dressed for court, in sumptuous velvets and the rich, muted brocades of winter. Above the smell of wassail and warmed wine, Carina could detect the tang of fresh blood. And while the previous night's guests were a nearly equal mix of mortals and vayash moru, Carina was sure from a glance around the room that few mortals were among this evening's crowd.
"You look quite beautiful, m'lady." Yestin bowed low in greeting. Eiria made a courtesy. "Mind if we join you?"
"That's his very polite way of saying they're our bodyguards for this evening," Jonmarc said.
"That sounds so harsh. Lord Gabriel just asked that we help make introductions."
Yestin held a glass of port. Eiria left and returned with glasses of warm wassail for both Carina and Jonmarc.
"Is everyone here?" Jonmarc asked quietly.
"Of the Council, everyone except Uri. Typical."
Jonmarc drained his cup of wassail. "If we're lucky,.he's got an alehouse gutter to raid."
"We should be so fortunate." Riqua spoke from behind them. "Welcome to Dark Haven, Lady Carina. And congratulations on your handfasting."
"You're very kind," Carina replied. "You had no difficulty making the trip back from Shekerishet?"
"I'm sure we made better time than you did. Gabriel slowed his speed for your comfort."
Gabriel and Laisren were talking on the other side of the room, and Carina noticed that Lisette stayed close to Laisren. There's a story there, I bet, she thought. Jonmarc guided her through the crowd, accepting the greetings and congratulations of well-wishers. Rafe and Astasia arrived together, and although Cailan was noticeably pouting, they did not seem to care.
Uri arrived late, accompanied by a dozen of his brood. Malesh, the dark-haired young man Jonmarc had spotted at their last meeting, hung back a pace from the others. They laughed loudly enough to draw annoyed looks from the other partygoers as they poured themselves goblets of goat's blood, carrying on as if they had just come from a night on the town. Jonmarc drew Carina closer to him; Yestin and Eiria stayed near. It took Uri a full candlemark to make his greeting, a show of calculated disdain Jonmarc doubted was accidental.