The Iron Seer

Chapter 13 - Lady of Secrets

"He thinks I've betrayed him," I told Tiaothin.

"Wait, who are you talking about now?"

I rolled my eyes. "My father."

"Oh, right. Of course. I didn't think Ash looked very betrayed during that touching goodbye." Tiaothin made an imitation of kissing noises.

I stared up at the canopy of my bed and sighed. "Tiaothin."

"What?" Her voice was self-righteously indignant.

"Tiaothin."

"Do you see anyone else sitting here, patiently listening to you talk?" Tiaothin asked, as she examined herself in my mirror, cat eyes glowing as she glanced at me in the reflection where I lay back on my bed. Her sibilant voice was taunting and sarcastic, as per usual, but I felt comforted by her presence nonetheless. "Please, I am the picture of perfect friendship. Allow me to prove it to you. Continue telling me about your romantic and familial problems; I shall not interrupt."

I tossed my hands in the air and continued my tirade. "I don't know what to do! I've got Narissa breathing down my neck, my father can't even look me in the eye, and Ash is at Court telling Mab about the Oni. I can't help but think that she might forbid him to see me again."

I kept seeing him ride away, and nothing I'd done in the past few weeks seemed to be able to get him out of my head. He hadn't specified how long he'd be gone, but I didn't think it would be this long.

"You don't think she'd hurt him, do you? Mab?"

"Depends on what he did, and how angry she is with him for it."

I made an unhappy noise and my hands flopped uselessly to my sides. "I wish I could have gone with him. Maybe Mab would be less harsh with him if I was there. It's all my fault, that he got into this mess."

Tiaothin turned around to look at me. "There's nothing you can do now," she said. "He promised you he'd come back, didn't he?" She snickered, then sobered. "My point is, you can't put your life on hold just because he's gone. You've got your own issues. Maybe you should stop moping and try to deal with those."

I stared at her. "Who are you, and what have you done with Ti?"

She gave a mock-weary sigh. "Tiaothin's not here right now," she intoned with sarcastic solemnity. "She's allergic to seriousness."

I sighed in relief. There was some of her trademark sarcasm.

She gave me a grin. "Now, If you'll excuse me," she said, with an air of great dignity, "I need to go get the taste of good advice off my tongue." Laughing, she shifted into a goat and trotted out of the room, hooves clacking on the floor, tossing her head as she went.

Sometimes, you just needed someone to remind you what was important. I didn't expect this sort of thing from Tiaothin, but it was good advice, I thought. I squared my shoulders and decided to follow it.

***

My father had taken up residence in his study once more now that he was well enough to govern the estate and lands again, and I stood at the doors to it now, hesitating.

What if he didn't want to speak to me, or sent me away? I didn't know what I'd do then. Possibly return to my room and continue to mope. Since that didn't sound very appealing, I decided that I wouldn't take no for an answer this time. He would hear the whole story. I would tell him how I felt. And if he didn't forgive me then, at least I'd tried.

I knocked, and entered without waiting for permission.

The Duke looked up from his desk. He held a quill in one hand, and appeared to be about to sign something, but set the quill down and rose when he saw me.