2-043, Receiving Official Salutations

Mihai backed away, making room for Darla to step forward and receive her official salutations from Ardon.  She, though, did not move, her icy stare boring into the man.

For his part, Ardon politely bowed, acknowledging Mihai’s escort.  “My Lady, may all be well with you.”

Darla remained motionless, glaring at Ardon.  Mihai finally gave Darla a nudge with her arm, whispering, “Mother will be most displeased to see her favorite daughter acting so rudely.  Do your part.  Or is it shame you also want to deliver upon me?”

Moved by Mihai’s scolding, Darla stepped forward, arms stiff at her sides.  She bowed ever so slightly and in a most formal way replied, “Your Counsel…good evening.”  She turned away, not even looking Ardon in the face, stepped behind and around Mihai and tugged on her elbow to go.

Mihai looked apologetically at Ardon, addressing him as ‘Lord’ and wishing him well.  She then excused herself, following Darla’s direction, and advanced on to the next person.  Soon the room was again filled with the quiet chatter of private conversations while Mihai and her escort continued to receive the long line of well-wishers.

As soon as they had distanced themselves from him, Ardon slipped from the crowd and retraced his steps to the quiet, safe world of his perch.

From there he pondered the life and history of this madwoman who was so bent on his destruction.  Ma-we had shared it with him, oft repeating it through the years, but still he was more troubled by the way she fussed over the girl than for the reasons why.

Enjoy other posts: 

Prologue,

Destiny's Road 1-001, 1-002, 1-003, 1-004, 1-005, 1-006, 1-007, 1-008, 1-009,

1-010, 1-011, 1-012, 1-013, 1-014, 1-015, 1-016, 1-017, 1-018, 1-019, 1-020,

1-021, 1-022, 1-023, 1-024 & 1-025  

Of Councils Great and Small 2-026, 2-027, 2-028, 2-029, 2-030, 2-031, 

2-032, 2-033, 2-034, 2-035, 2-036, 2-037, 2-038, 2-039, 2-040, 2-041, 2-042, 
2-043, 2-044, 2-045, 2-046, 2-047, 2-048, 2-049 & 2-050 

Legend's Heroes 3-051, 3-052, 3-053, 3-054, 3-055, 3-056, 3-057, 3-058,

3-059, 3-060, 3-061, 3-062, 3-063, 3-064, 3-065, 3-066, 3-067, 3-068, 3-069,

3-070, 3-071, 3-072, 3-073, 3-074 & 3-075

Forges of Hell 4-076, 4-077, 4-078, 4-079, 4-080, 4-081, 4-082, 4-083, 4-084,
4-085, 4-086, 4-087, 4-088, 4-089, 4-090, 4-091, 4-092, 4-093, 4-094, 4-095,
4-096, 4-097, 4-098, 4-099 & 4-100

If you desire to read more without waiting please enjoy finding find your own book at:

Amazon.com; Smashwords.com; 

Diesel-Ebooks.com, BN.com; ebookstore.sony.com