"If you're worried about causing a problem in my relationship with him, you needn't. We like variety, and I don't tell him who or if there is anyone else, and he doesn't tell me." Her brows draw together in a little frown.
"I trust you won't stab me. It'd be a shame if I had to stab you back," he smiles, moving his hand through her hair and to the back of her head before pulling her in and kissing her.
She breaks away, breathless. "I should lock up," she says, wrapping her arms around his neck. She whispers a few magic words, and locks start clicking and the lights go down. "There we go," she says before kissing him again.
It isn't long before they move to the floor, all giggles and sighs. Tangled up in the floor, Kryn tenses beneath Gath and pats his shoulder. "The cake! Oh the cake! Up, up, Duckling!" she cries.
Pink skin glowing, she runs over to the oven and grabs the cakes bare handed out of the oven. "Rafi would be furious if these burned," she laughs, setting them to cool.
"Aara's birthday is tomorrow," she explains, turning off the ovens. "Rafi wanted to throw her a surprise party." She comes back and stretches out beside him, propping her head up on her hand. "There. Explained," she giggles, launching herself at him.
She laughs, running her hand across his chest. "That would be creepy, Duckling. Buy her a gift and join in the fun," she says, kissing him again and drawing him close. "We can talk more later, can't we? I have better uses for that mouth."
"What about this one Two? Or this one? Oh wait no that color looks terrible," Goddard mumbles. He feels he must have looked at and considered every pen five times or more.
Two mumbles an agreeing sound, showing him a pen tip that screws on. "Look Sheik, this one has roses and thorns in the nib. She'd like this, yes? Do you have any more glass pens?"
The nervous young man working the store nods and pulls out a few more boxes. "These are more expensive, but the colors are truer and the designs more elaborate."
Two rolls his eyes. What did I volunteer for? I should have stayed with Kryn, we could do that thing she likes up against the oven, he thinks, winning at a young woman in the shop.
--
"How could I do that?"
Tallyn grins. "Toss back that drink and dance with me till you can't move." He tucks her hair behind her ear, absentlt stroking her cheek. "Then we can move some more."
Goddard suddenly gasps. "This one." He carefully picks up a pen and looks it over. The bulk of it is crystal clear, but appears to have tiny rose petals suspended in the glass, as if captured in the moment they fell from the plant and 'wrapped' around the glass are dark thorny branches, looking almost like a delicate yet dangerous cage around the bright petals.
"What do you think Two? Oh it doesn't matter what you think..."
"You're lucky I want to give this to her or I'd ram it into you," Goddard snorts. "You'd better not say anything like that to her tomorrow. What are you getting her?"
Two chuckles. "I made her a toy," he says, holding his hands a foot apart. "A stuffed camel, about this high with all the trappings."
"Would my lord like it gift wrapped?"
--
"Do you really think so?"
Tallyn nods.
"What if I said I wanted you?"
"Then we would get the key to one of the empty rooms and I would teach you about the joys of an agreement such as yours," he says evenly. "Then when we're finished we would each go to our rooms and our husbands."
"Like what? She has more jewelry than she can wear, and a gallon of her favorite perfume. She probably owns more today than she ever had in her life," Two says as they wait.
--
Aara laughs nervously. "I need another drink."
Tallyn nods and takes her back to the bar, flirting and teasing her while she has two more drinks.
"I wanted to make her something with sand. Something magical she could watch, but I have no idea how to make it. I wish father was around more. I bet he could help." Goddard sighs and scratches his head.
"I think it would be something I'd have to make, and I don't really have the time for that," he sighs. "But that doesn't mean I can't give it to her later."
Two outs his hand on Goddard's shoulder as they leave the store. "It is a lovely, thoughtful gift, Sheik, and she will love it as much as she does you. And it is useful, which she enjoys. Four is not given to frivolity."
--
Tallyn kisses her desperately, pressing her against the wall of the building and tangling his hands in her hair. Aara's almost swept away, dizzy and slightly intoxicated, and pushes him away gently.
"I'm sorry," she whispers, turning her face away.
Tallyn makes a frustrated sound and leans against the wall beside her, running his hands through his own hair. "Aara what do you want?" he asks, his voice husky and shaking. "Do you want me?"
"But she likes stuff. Getting stuff is always nice. Even if it's only entertaining for a few minutes. I just love seeing her happy. Laughing and smiling."
"She will love this surprise. I ordered a dress from that shop she likes, the one that makes them small enough for her. Take her to pick it up tomorrow evening and have her leave wearing it so she can come to the party ready."
--
"Yes," she answers softly. "But the timing isn't right."
"It's never going to be right," he says with a sigh. "Not like you mean it. Have you ever been with anyone else besides the Ninny?" he asks, looking over at her.
Aara shakes her head silently.
"Then there will never be a right time to be with anyone else. You can want it, want him or her, and be ready, but even if Goddard is right there with you, the first time will feel wrong."
"So what do I do?"
"You can stop torturing me, for one," he chuckles.
"Sounds easy enough. We can use Sethai so you can tell me exactly when you're finished. She'll like this right? She won't be too surprised or upset because it'll remind her off the past, will it?"
"I think she will like this. From what I know, her mother made nothing of birthdays- they were too poor- and Ustadh didn't allow such frivolity. She's more like him than anyone. This will be a good surprise for her."
--
"Tallyn..." she says. "I want to- I want you- but Goddard..."
"Do you trust me, Aara?" he asks softly.
Aara chews her lip, fighting with herself, and nods. "Yes."
"Then quit fighting, and let's enjoy ourselves." He pulls her close for another long, gentle kiss. "If you're going to leave, now is the moment."
Eyes wide, she looks up at him. "Can we get a room? I'm not sure I want to test these perimeters out in the garden."
Tallyn looks surprised. "Are you sure?"
"I don't think I want to have sex yet, but I don't want to stand out here kissing you all night, either."
He grins and nips her ear. "We can have fun with our clothes on, sweetheart."
"Alright. As long as I don't end up spending the rest of the night trying to stop her crying. And hopefully you're the closest when we walk in, so if she does get upset, she can stab you."
"I can cook and bake just fine, but the whole mess of decorating anything, I'm not so good at," Gath mumbles when the distracting cake is once again remembered. "It's just going to be cut up and eaten anyway."
Kryn laughs and hands him a ball of icing. "Roll this out, then," she tells him. "I'll show you how to make flowers from it. Sprinkle the board with powdered sugar before you roll."
"Me? Make flowers? You aren't going to tell anyone I helped with this right? Not only will they not eat it because I may have poisoned it, I will be ridiculed for making...what is this...sugar? Making sugar flowers..."
"Do you really want your friends to be frightened?" she asks with a giggle. "Besides, this will showcase a talent no one knew those long graceful hands had."
"At this rate, I think the only one beside you I can really say with confidence is a friend is Two. So yes, I'd like for at least him to be just a little frightened. I'd like to think of my lord the same, but, you know..." Gath stops working for a moment to admire what he's done. "If anyone thought these hands were only good for holding a sword, they lack imagination."
"You know I can tell when you're lying. I know you were all ripped away from your homes and your peoples. But here is my point: of all the men surrounding her, you could be safe for her. You don't want to claim her in any way, you could just give her a little love and friendship. If you have any in that gloomy little heart of yours," she chuckles. "Just consider it, Duckling."
She smiles mischievously. "Don't worry, I'll only take it down bit by bit. I should tell you two things: one, when we're done here I'm taking you upstairs to my room, and two, tomorrow I'll tell Rafi about it."
"Nonsense. Rafiq will be the father of my children some day, and we both know it. A little fun with you now and again won't change that. I only want to tell him because you two work and live so closely together."
"Oh? Maybe I'll put him and Aara in a room together and teach them some new tricks," she says, showing him how to sculpt the flower. "Then just flare the petals out and...there, a pretty little jasmine."
"Know what? That she won't dare put even a toe in someone else's bed? I thought that was obvious even in the short time I've known her. And he went from begging for me to pushing me away."
She laughs. "Do you have any idea how often men compliment women? I must get a hundred a day, most of them insincere. It doesn't matter what they say if it's only to get under your skirt. I imagine she gets just as many empty words, if only for her unusuallness."
Kryn snorts. "Tallyn is a dear, but he and Gill are as free as a pair of sparrows. I adore him and we had a good time together. Maybe he'll break down her walls."
"There's no one for him but Gill. They have their fun, but there's only one for the other. He'll help her if he can, and move on if he can't." She glances up from her flowers. "Are there many like that? With depth?"
"Who go after Aara? There is Tallyn, someone she had met in our world before we were bright here. Sometimes I think Two, sometimes not. That's plenty. I'll be lucky if I ever end up with one."
She waves a sugar covered hand. "Rafiq has no real wanting for her anymore. He knows he can't turn her head, but the flirtation amuses him. He worries about her and wants her happy. I've heard about this vagrant from your world, I hope he comes tomorrow so I can read him," she adds excitedly. "It's rude, but I can't wait to peel away his layers."
"But I plan to hide in a corner and gossip about it later," she says. "Let's get drunk and say terrible things about him tomorrow. Then we can dance the rest of the night."
"Gath," she says softly. "You're safe with them. With me. Whatever happened to you, whoever hurt you, that's over. You don't have to look for knives in your friends' hands."
"It's a nauglir. Druchii would ride them. They had a venomous drool you had to coat yourself in or else they would try to eat you. It numbed your body. Looking at it now, I'm not sure the annoyance and the risk was worth a terrifying mount."
She snickers. "I like it. Will Aara know what it is?"
--
"Are you all right?"
Aara nods. "Just tired. It's been a long day."
"If you say so. Sheik is studying."
Aara goes into her room and changes into her robe, checking to make sure Tallyn didn't leave any kind of mark on her. He said he didn't, I just want to make sure. Satisfied, she goes into the bathroom and starts her bath, pouring a generous bit of jasmine oil into it.
"We talked a while," she explains, lowering into the water. "It went well enough till I got nervous and left," she laughs. "We talked about him before his...her."
After some hesitation, Gath puts it on the cake. "He'll probably yell at me."
--
"You got nervous and left?" Goddard chuckles. He sits by the tub and leans his head back, taking a deep breath to enjoy the smell of jasmine. "What happened?"
Kryn laughs. "It's perfect." She starts draping dark green vines along one side of the cake, running them from top to bottom. "Make some leaves, will you?"
"So why do you make yourself miserable? Have Gath. Just spare me details for now. Anyone else, I don't care." She looks down and bites her lip. "And Tallyn...about that..."
Miserable, she sinks further into the water. "He and I...we..." With a deep breath, she looks up at him and steels herself. "We slept together. Tonight."
"Well, I suppose if you have to let it all out, then let it all out." Goddard hugs her tightly then runs his fingers through her hair. "Two and I actually got along fairly well today. Aren't you proud of us?"
"Of course. We can go shopping or have coffee and sit across from each other, and gaze into each other's eyes and make everyone jealous with how much in love we are."
"He's not...so bad," Goddard mumbles. "If anything, I got more mad at him because you seemed uncomfortable when he'd get too close or say certain things."
She hiccups. "He said something that made a lot of sebse," she tells him. "He said the timing will never be right, and it would f-feel wrong n-no matter what." Try as she might, Aara can't help crying a little more.
"That does make sense. At least it was him. As I said before, he's not so bad." Goddard kisses her head. "I can pretend to be upset. I can yell at him. You think he'd get scared? Imagine the look on his face..."
She sighs and swirls the water around. "I know what we agreed on, and I know I didn't do anything wrong, but I feel so guilty. I don't even know why I let anything happen."
She pulls her hair over her shoulder. He might be the one person I don't mind seeing my scars... "You never told me what it was like in Har Ganeth," she says after a while. "I didn't realize you and Gath were so abused."
"I didn't think you'd want to talk about it. But I never imagined it would be so bad," she says, and relates what she's learned. "It explains so much about him..."
"I don't think tonight really helped, but at the very least we got the air cleared. Goddard I want to be close to him. I want what Kryn has with him...I just don't know how."
"I'm not afraid of him, he just...I clung to him in the pit because he was all I had, and I needed him. Now I feel like I can't do that. But at least now I understand him a little better."
"One!? You only carry one? We have to fix that, Nuur'eni! What if you drop it? Or can't get it out of someone's rib cage? We'll go see about a fine set for you tomorrow."
Goddard smiles in an effort to keep from frowning at her pulling away. "I was trying to. I'm so behind, and you know how I love to procrastinate now. If you want, I'll go back to my books and let you enjoy your bath."
"It isn't anything interesting. Just more magic. You take your time lecai." He kisses the top of her head before he leaves and goes back to his room. It's alright. It'll be fine. Goddard takes a deep breath and flops face down on his bed.
Goddard jerks his head up and comes nose to nose with Sethai. "Father?" Goddard throws his arms around the small dragon and pulls him close. "Father! OH!" He lowers his voice. "Try to come tomorrow. It's Aara's birthday."
"Really? My favorite is getting older?" Otto squirms free.
"Favorite?" Goddard frowns.
"Yes. She has a good head on her shoulders. What are you doing? Why aren't you studying? If you don't study...I...I won't set up a picnic for us all in Arvender."
Aara washes her hair and takes her time getting out. Once she's combed her hair, she wraps her robe around her tightly and goes to make tea.
"Water's already hot," Two says, not looking up from the leather strap he's conditioning.
"Thank you," she says, kissing the top of his head as she passes.
"Hey, so you remember when you were learning the hours? How you couldn't get Hummingbird on the Wing?"
Frowning, she nods. "It took weeks to get right. My leg wouldn't extend correctly. It didn't feel right."
He nods, still preoccupied with his work. "You got it, though. It hurt, and Ustadh had to help, but you stretched and worked and gritted your teeth through it until it was right."
"Yes..."
Two looks up, his cheerful expression gone. "Whatever you're going through, treat it the same way. You don't have to tell me what bothers you, but I'll help extend your leg, so to speak."
Aara smiles and comes to sit beside him. "You're not as terrible a retainer as I think you are."
"Go take Sheik your tea. I think he's in there talking to himself."
"I guessed one. Now you tell me one. I figured out two technically. Baking and getting me to smile."
ReplyDelete"I know exactly what a person needs to make them feel better. That's why I can make you smile."
ReplyDelete"Oh so you're cheating. That's fine."
ReplyDelete"Hmmm...I have magic. Does that count?"
ReplyDelete"You can cheat however you want to cheat."
ReplyDeleteShe laughs, fingering his beard again. "I could show you."
ReplyDelete"Really? How would you do that?"
ReplyDeleteShe tugs gently, pulling him closer. "Like this," she whispers, brushing her lips against his.
ReplyDeleteHe closes his eyes. "I see," he says softly. "Is that all?"
ReplyDelete"It doesn't have to be."
ReplyDelete"And what about Two?" he whispers.
ReplyDeleteShe chuckles softly. "Rafiq woke up with myself and a friend this morning. If he wants you in my bed with us, he'll have to ask you himself."
ReplyDeleteGath grins. "I didn't mean that."
ReplyDelete"If you're worried about causing a problem in my relationship with him, you needn't. We like variety, and I don't tell him who or if there is anyone else, and he doesn't tell me." Her brows draw together in a little frown.
ReplyDelete"What's wrong?" He gently tucks a loose piece of her hair behind her ear.
ReplyDelete"You've gone...muddy," she tells him. "You were so clear just a moment ago. What are you feeling?"
ReplyDelete"I'm always fighting myself. Always fighting the part of me that wants..." he leans closer, his lips almost touching hers.
ReplyDelete"Gath," she breathes. "Do you trust me? Even a little?"
ReplyDelete"Yes."
ReplyDelete"Then stop fighting. This can be fun for both of us."
ReplyDelete"I trust you won't stab me. It'd be a shame if I had to stab you back," he smiles, moving his hand through her hair and to the back of her head before pulling her in and kissing her.
ReplyDeleteShe breaks away, breathless. "I should lock up," she says, wrapping her arms around his neck. She whispers a few magic words, and locks start clicking and the lights go down. "There we go," she says before kissing him again.
ReplyDelete"Mmm hmm." Gath kisses her deeply and his agreement is muffled.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't long before they move to the floor, all giggles and sighs. Tangled up in the floor, Kryn tenses beneath Gath and pats his shoulder. "The cake! Oh the cake! Up, up, Duckling!" she cries.
ReplyDelete"Stupid cake," Gath groans and lets Kryn up.
ReplyDeletePink skin glowing, she runs over to the oven and grabs the cakes bare handed out of the oven. "Rafi would be furious if these burned," she laughs, setting them to cool.
ReplyDelete"So when and what is this for exactly? Or should I just forget about the cake and go back to what we were doing before?"
ReplyDelete"Aara's birthday is tomorrow," she explains, turning off the ovens. "Rafi wanted to throw her a surprise party." She comes back and stretches out beside him, propping her head up on her hand. "There. Explained," she giggles, launching herself at him.
ReplyDelete"I'll make myself scarce," he says between kisses. "Too bad I won't have anything as fun as this to keep myself occupied."
ReplyDeleteShe pulls back, slightly horrified. "No you have to come! What a wonderful opportunity to show her that you're her friend!"
ReplyDelete"If you say so...what should I do? Stand around quietly?"
ReplyDeleteShe laughs, running her hand across his chest. "That would be creepy, Duckling. Buy her a gift and join in the fun," she says, kissing him again and drawing him close. "We can talk more later, can't we? I have better uses for that mouth."
ReplyDelete"You do? Show me," he grins, pulling her in and closing the space between them.
ReplyDelete"You've been out late," Tallyn says when Aara enters the inn. "Out being mysterious and lovely?"
ReplyDelete"More like annoying and confusing," she laughs. "I was out with Gath."
Tallyn's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh?"
She nods. "Where's Gill?"
"He's out. Some girl caught his eye yesterday."
"What about this one Two? Or this one? Oh wait no that color looks terrible," Goddard mumbles. He feels he must have looked at and considered every pen five times or more.
ReplyDeleteTwo mumbles an agreeing sound, showing him a pen tip that screws on. "Look Sheik, this one has roses and thorns in the nib. She'd like this, yes? Do you have any more glass pens?"
ReplyDeleteThe nervous young man working the store nods and pulls out a few more boxes. "These are more expensive, but the colors are truer and the designs more elaborate."
"I have plenty of money," Goddard nods eagerly, looking the new pens over. "Oh...yes...these are...oh look at...hmm..."
ReplyDelete"I see," she says, sitting at the bar with him.
ReplyDelete"So I'm alone. Drinking. Which is sad," he laughs.
"You aren't sad, Tallyn. Just bored it looks like."
Tallyn gestures for her to have one of his blue drinks. "You could end my misery, sweetheart."
--
"I like the green one," Two suggests. "It matches her eyes."
"It does, but that isn't the right one. It doesn't have enough...enough...something. It needs to...you know..."
ReplyDeleteTwo rolls his eyes. What did I volunteer for? I should have stayed with Kryn, we could do that thing she likes up against the oven, he thinks, winning at a young woman in the shop.
ReplyDelete--
"How could I do that?"
Tallyn grins. "Toss back that drink and dance with me till you can't move." He tucks her hair behind her ear, absentlt stroking her cheek. "Then we can move some more."
With a giggle, Aara tosses back her drink.
Goddard suddenly gasps. "This one." He carefully picks up a pen and looks it over. The bulk of it is crystal clear, but appears to have tiny rose petals suspended in the glass, as if captured in the moment they fell from the plant and 'wrapped' around the glass are dark thorny branches, looking almost like a delicate yet dangerous cage around the bright petals.
ReplyDelete"What do you think Two? Oh it doesn't matter what you think..."
The nervous man nods. "There is a matching inkwell as well, if my lord would like to see it?"
ReplyDelete--
"So how are you and the Ninny doing with your agreement?" Tallyn asks, wrapping her in his arms and dancing slowly.
Aara sighs and leans against him. "Not as well as I'd hoped. I keep encouraging him to do what he wants, but he won't."
"And you?"
"I'm warming up to the idea," she says after a long silence.
"Yes," Goddard nods. "Look at it Two. It's like magic. Just like her."
ReplyDelete"It's prettier than she is," he says.
ReplyDelete--
"Can I offer some advice?"
She nods, looking up at him.
"Quit thinking that sex and lovemaking are the same thing. Jump into bed with anyone who catches your fancy, and he will follow suit."
"You're lucky I want to give this to her or I'd ram it into you," Goddard snorts. "You'd better not say anything like that to her tomorrow. What are you getting her?"
ReplyDeleteTwo chuckles. "I made her a toy," he says, holding his hands a foot apart. "A stuffed camel, about this high with all the trappings."
ReplyDelete"Would my lord like it gift wrapped?"
--
"Do you really think so?"
Tallyn nods.
"What if I said I wanted you?"
"Then we would get the key to one of the empty rooms and I would teach you about the joys of an agreement such as yours," he says evenly. "Then when we're finished we would each go to our rooms and our husbands."
"Goddard isn't my husband."
"Same difference, sweetheart."
"She'll like that," Goddard laughs. "Ah yes please, thank you. Hmm I want to get her something else. Maybe make her something, but I don't know."
ReplyDelete"Like what? She has more jewelry than she can wear, and a gallon of her favorite perfume. She probably owns more today than she ever had in her life," Two says as they wait.
ReplyDelete--
Aara laughs nervously. "I need another drink."
Tallyn nods and takes her back to the bar, flirting and teasing her while she has two more drinks.
"I wanted to make her something with sand. Something magical she could watch, but I have no idea how to make it. I wish father was around more. I bet he could help." Goddard sighs and scratches his head.
ReplyDelete"That would be nice, Sheik. But she will like this, even if you can't find that. And you will have to keep her occupied all day tomorrow."
ReplyDelete--
Aara's inhibitions begin to fall away, and she pulls Tallyn to the dance floor once more.
"Are you drunk already?" he laughs. "I can't seduce a drink girl. I need you a little sober."
Aara laughs as they dance a fast jig, spinning around till the whole room blurs. "Haven't we met? I'm as sober as a church."
"That's not what I mean," he says, dancing her out into the garden.
"I know what you mean. Come closer."
He leans down slightly. "Yes?"
After a slight hesitation, Aara raises up on her toes and kisses him.
"I think it would be something I'd have to make, and I don't really have the time for that," he sighs. "But that doesn't mean I can't give it to her later."
ReplyDeleteTwo outs his hand on Goddard's shoulder as they leave the store. "It is a lovely, thoughtful gift, Sheik, and she will love it as much as she does you. And it is useful, which she enjoys. Four is not given to frivolity."
ReplyDelete--
Tallyn kisses her desperately, pressing her against the wall of the building and tangling his hands in her hair. Aara's almost swept away, dizzy and slightly intoxicated, and pushes him away gently.
"I'm sorry," she whispers, turning her face away.
Tallyn makes a frustrated sound and leans against the wall beside her, running his hands through his own hair. "Aara what do you want?" he asks, his voice husky and shaking. "Do you want me?"
"But she likes stuff. Getting stuff is always nice. Even if it's only entertaining for a few minutes. I just love seeing her happy. Laughing and smiling."
ReplyDelete"She will love this surprise. I ordered a dress from that shop she likes, the one that makes them small enough for her. Take her to pick it up tomorrow evening and have her leave wearing it so she can come to the party ready."
ReplyDelete--
"Yes," she answers softly. "But the timing isn't right."
"It's never going to be right," he says with a sigh. "Not like you mean it. Have you ever been with anyone else besides the Ninny?" he asks, looking over at her.
Aara shakes her head silently.
"Then there will never be a right time to be with anyone else. You can want it, want him or her, and be ready, but even if Goddard is right there with you, the first time will feel wrong."
"So what do I do?"
"You can stop torturing me, for one," he chuckles.
"Sounds easy enough. We can use Sethai so you can tell me exactly when you're finished. She'll like this right? She won't be too surprised or upset because it'll remind her off the past, will it?"
ReplyDelete"I think she will like this. From what I know, her mother made nothing of birthdays- they were too poor- and Ustadh didn't allow such frivolity. She's more like him than anyone. This will be a good surprise for her."
ReplyDelete--
"Tallyn..." she says. "I want to- I want you- but Goddard..."
"Do you trust me, Aara?" he asks softly.
Aara chews her lip, fighting with herself, and nods. "Yes."
"Then quit fighting, and let's enjoy ourselves." He pulls her close for another long, gentle kiss. "If you're going to leave, now is the moment."
Eyes wide, she looks up at him. "Can we get a room? I'm not sure I want to test these perimeters out in the garden."
Tallyn looks surprised. "Are you sure?"
"I don't think I want to have sex yet, but I don't want to stand out here kissing you all night, either."
He grins and nips her ear. "We can have fun with our clothes on, sweetheart."
"Alright. As long as I don't end up spending the rest of the night trying to stop her crying. And hopefully you're the closest when we walk in, so if she does get upset, she can stab you."
ReplyDeleteTwo laughs. "I'll make sure of it. I tend to get a big kiss for it."
ReplyDelete"I can cook and bake just fine, but the whole mess of decorating anything, I'm not so good at," Gath mumbles when the distracting cake is once again remembered. "It's just going to be cut up and eaten anyway."
ReplyDeleteKryn laughs and hands him a ball of icing. "Roll this out, then," she tells him. "I'll show you how to make flowers from it. Sprinkle the board with powdered sugar before you roll."
ReplyDelete"Me? Make flowers? You aren't going to tell anyone I helped with this right? Not only will they not eat it because I may have poisoned it, I will be ridiculed for making...what is this...sugar? Making sugar flowers..."
ReplyDeleteKryn laughs and presses a kiss to his shoulder. "Hush, Duckling. Everyone will love it, especially when they know you helped."
ReplyDeleteGath frowns but continues to work. "I feel as if you're going to put a sign on it that says I helped. With magical lights too."
ReplyDelete"Hmm, that's a good idea," she muses as she ices the cake.
ReplyDelete"No it's not," he chuckles. "How is anyone supposed to take me seriously, be frightened, knowing I made this?"
ReplyDelete"Do you really want your friends to be frightened?" she asks with a giggle. "Besides, this will showcase a talent no one knew those long graceful hands had."
ReplyDelete"At this rate, I think the only one beside you I can really say with confidence is a friend is Two. So yes, I'd like for at least him to be just a little frightened. I'd like to think of my lord the same, but, you know..." Gath stops working for a moment to admire what he's done. "If anyone thought these hands were only good for holding a sword, they lack imagination."
ReplyDelete"You could have Lady Aara as a friend, and your lord," she reminds him. "I think she needs you."
ReplyDelete"For what? A punching bag?"
ReplyDelete"A friend, silly duck," she laughs. "Tell me: do you want anything from her?"
ReplyDelete"I don't really want anything from anyone," he shrugs. "I'm still trying to adjust to being away from my kind."
ReplyDelete"You know I can tell when you're lying. I know you were all ripped away from your homes and your peoples. But here is my point: of all the men surrounding her, you could be safe for her. You don't want to claim her in any way, you could just give her a little love and friendship. If you have any in that gloomy little heart of yours," she chuckles. "Just consider it, Duckling."
ReplyDelete"I do, Pinky, I just lock it away, that's all."
ReplyDelete"Pinky?" she snorts, eyes wide. "I- no one has ever called me anything like that."
ReplyDelete"No one has ever called me Duckling before. No one would dare," Gath snickers.
ReplyDeleteShe laughs and kisses his cheek. "Pinky and Duckling it is, then."
ReplyDelete"You have an awful lot of fuel to burn my image down with."
ReplyDeleteShe smiles mischievously. "Don't worry, I'll only take it down bit by bit. I should tell you two things: one, when we're done here I'm taking you upstairs to my room, and two, tomorrow I'll tell Rafi about it."
ReplyDelete"Hmm because I need an army of sun elves out for my blood."
ReplyDelete"Oh pish," she laughs. "Aara doesn't hate you and if Rafi acts up I'll set his hair on fire and teach him a lesson."
ReplyDelete"I think I can take him. I just don't want to make anything difficult for you."
ReplyDelete"Nonsense. Rafiq will be the father of my children some day, and we both know it. A little fun with you now and again won't change that. I only want to tell him because you two work and live so closely together."
ReplyDelete"Don't be surprised if this is the first and last time then."
ReplyDeleteKryn scoffs. "Unless you plan on turning me away, I'll do whatever I damn well please."
ReplyDelete"I don't think you would allow me to turn you away even if I wanted to try," he laughs. "My lord could learn a thing or two from you."
ReplyDelete"Oh? Maybe I'll put him and Aara in a room together and teach them some new tricks," she says, showing him how to sculpt the flower. "Then just flare the petals out and...there, a pretty little jasmine."
ReplyDelete"Unless it's just him and her, she wouldn't do anything. That's why he wants to stop." Gath easily reproduces a flower just as Kryn shows him.
ReplyDeleteShe smirks. "You don't know that."
ReplyDelete"Know what? That she won't dare put even a toe in someone else's bed? I thought that was obvious even in the short time I've known her. And he went from begging for me to pushing me away."
ReplyDelete"Always blaming her. She has desires, and not all for him. She's just riddled with self doubt. Don't judge her so harshly."
ReplyDelete"Self doubt? Even though she regularly gets compliments and people willing to whisk her away? I don't understand it."
ReplyDeleteShe laughs. "Do you have any idea how often men compliment women? I must get a hundred a day, most of them insincere. It doesn't matter what they say if it's only to get under your skirt. I imagine she gets just as many empty words, if only for her unusuallness."
ReplyDelete"What about Tallyn then? Ignore everyone else."
ReplyDeleteKryn snorts. "Tallyn is a dear, but he and Gill are as free as a pair of sparrows. I adore him and we had a good time together. Maybe he'll break down her walls."
ReplyDelete"That's the sort of person I'm talking about. Not the shallow comments from garbage, but the ones like Tallyn."
ReplyDelete"There's no one for him but Gill. They have their fun, but there's only one for the other. He'll help her if he can, and move on if he can't." She glances up from her flowers. "Are there many like that? With depth?"
ReplyDelete"Who go after Aara? There is Tallyn, someone she had met in our world before we were bright here. Sometimes I think Two, sometimes not. That's plenty. I'll be lucky if I ever end up with one."
ReplyDeleteShe waves a sugar covered hand. "Rafiq has no real wanting for her anymore. He knows he can't turn her head, but the flirtation amuses him. He worries about her and wants her happy. I've heard about this vagrant from your world, I hope he comes tomorrow so I can read him," she adds excitedly. "It's rude, but I can't wait to peel away his layers."
ReplyDelete"The way you peel layers isn't rude. The way I would is."
ReplyDelete"But I plan to hide in a corner and gossip about it later," she says. "Let's get drunk and say terrible things about him tomorrow. Then we can dance the rest of the night."
ReplyDelete"As long as I don't end up with a knife in me for any of it."
ReplyDelete"Gath," she says softly. "You're safe with them. With me. Whatever happened to you, whoever hurt you, that's over. You don't have to look for knives in your friends' hands."
ReplyDelete"I'm trying. But if that ends up being the death of me, I promise to come haunt you first."
ReplyDelete"If you die, I'll ask Daddy to get you a good seat in hell," she chuckles.
ReplyDelete"Why thank you," he snickers, handing her another finished flower.
ReplyDelete"Kisses and flowers," she sighs with a silly look. "Duckling this is too much for one girl."
ReplyDelete--
Tallyn doesn't say anything for a long time while he watches Aara wash and dress. "Talk to me," he says finally.
"You started it, Pinky."
ReplyDeleteShe grins and looks quite proud of herself. "Yes, I most certainly did."
ReplyDelete--
"What do you want to hear?" she asks flatly. "That you were incredible? You were."
Sheet wrapped around his waist, he gets up and hugs her. "I told you it wouldn't be easy," he says into her hair. "Tell me what you're feeling."
"Nothing. Guilt," she admits. "Empty."
"Is there anything you need, or want?"
She shakes her head and moved away from Tallyn. "No, I just want to go to bed. It's late. Goddard will be looking for me."
"So," Gath says, turning back to the flowers, "you put all this work into these things, only to have them destroyed?"
ReplyDelete"Eaten," she corrects, coloring a ball of icing green. "Tomorrow once it's been delivered, I'll paint inside the flowers to make them extra lovely."
ReplyDelete--
"Aara, wait," he says when she's at the door. "I want you to know that I genuinely like you. Talk to Goddard, I'm sure he'll understand."
Aara nods and steps into the hallway, leaning against the door and covering her face. This was a mistake. All of it. I shouldn't have left earlier.
Taking a deep breath, she fixes her face, arranging it as blank as she can manage, and climbs the stairs to her apartment.
"Same difference. Seems like a waste, but I suppose I understand it." Gath begins to work on a shape that obviously isn't a flower.
ReplyDelete"It's beautiful, and I think the soul needs as much nourishment as the body," she explains, glancing over at him as she works. "What is that?"
ReplyDelete--
"Four! You're back! How was drinks?"
Aara manages a smile and shrugs. "Awkward," she laughs, pushing her guilt down. "It was really weird. Kryn made Al' Solooq though."
"It's a nauglir. Druchii would ride them. They had a venomous drool you had to coat yourself in or else they would try to eat you. It numbed your body. Looking at it now, I'm not sure the annoyance and the risk was worth a terrifying mount."
ReplyDeleteKryn laughs so hard she has to stop working. "Drool? How disgusting!"
ReplyDelete--
"Yeah? I wonder where she learned that..."
Aara shrugs and sits beside him on the couch. "She said it just came to her. Didn't even know what it was."
He puts an arm around her shoulder. "So it was that bad, huh?"
She shrugs, picking at lint on her pants. "We talked. I got nervous and bolted after a while, though."
"Aw, Four, why?"
She shrugs again, not looking at him. "I have it my best shot."
He sighs. "All right. Try again soon, please?"
She nods. "I think I'm going to take a bath."
"They were. Would this ruin the cake? If I put it right on top?"
ReplyDeleteShe snickers. "I like it. Will Aara know what it is?"
ReplyDelete--
"Are you all right?"
Aara nods. "Just tired. It's been a long day."
"If you say so. Sheik is studying."
Aara goes into her room and changes into her robe, checking to make sure Tallyn didn't leave any kind of mark on her. He said he didn't, I just want to make sure. Satisfied, she goes into the bathroom and starts her bath, pouring a generous bit of jasmine oil into it.
"Hmm, she would, and that might actually ruin it more than anticipated."
ReplyDelete--
Goddard hears the running water and peeks into the bathroom. "Lecai? Did you have to stab him?" he asks.
"Leave it. You can ask Goddard what he thinks in the morning."
ReplyDelete--
"No," she says, smiling. "He was fine."
"That's good. You were gone for a while," he smiles. "It went well?"
ReplyDelete"We talked a while," she explains, lowering into the water. "It went well enough till I got nervous and left," she laughs. "We talked about him before his...her."
ReplyDeleteAfter some hesitation, Gath puts it on the cake. "He'll probably yell at me."
ReplyDelete--
"You got nervous and left?" Goddard chuckles. He sits by the tub and leans his head back, taking a deep breath to enjoy the smell of jasmine. "What happened?"
Kryn laughs. "It's perfect." She starts draping dark green vines along one side of the cake, running them from top to bottom. "Make some leaves, will you?"
ReplyDelete--
"I asked about you two."
Gath nods and gets to work on leaves.
ReplyDelete--
"Oh," Goddard says softly. "Did he get angry? I'm sorry lecai."
"He didn't, but he was disappointed when I didn't either," she tells him. "Do you want him, Nuur'eni?"
ReplyDeleteGoddard turns around to face her. "I want you lecai. I love you."
ReplyDeleteShe grins. "That's great, and I love you. But that isn't what I asked. Please be honest with me."
ReplyDeleteGoddard's ears droop. "You know how I get around anyone who shows any interest in me. Well...most everyone."
ReplyDelete"So that's a yes?"
ReplyDelete"Him, the girl in the dressing room, the gnome in the book store....Tallyn...but that isn't anything new right?"
ReplyDelete"So why do you make yourself miserable? Have Gath. Just spare me details for now. Anyone else, I don't care." She looks down and bites her lip. "And Tallyn...about that..."
ReplyDelete"I'm not miserable lecai. I have you," he smiles. "Don't worry about Tallyn," Goddard chuckles. "I turned him down. It'll get easier each time."
ReplyDelete"I didn't," she says in a shaky whisper.
ReplyDelete"Hmm?" Goddard rests his chin on the edge of the tub. "Did he finally get a kiss from you?"
ReplyDeleteMiserable, she sinks further into the water. "He and I...we..." With a deep breath, she looks up at him and steels herself. "We slept together. Tonight."
ReplyDeleteGoddard blinks a few times, surprised. "Really?"
ReplyDeleteTears fill her eyes and she nods. "I'm so sorry, Goddard!"
ReplyDeleteGoddard laughs softly. "Oh no lecai! Don't be sorry."
ReplyDelete"I am," she says, trying not to cry.
ReplyDeleteGoddard leans close and lowers his voice. "Was it that bad?"
ReplyDelete"It- it was great!" she sobs, covering her face and giving in to her tears.
ReplyDelete"Then why are you crying?"
ReplyDelete"B-because I feel like I've done s-something wrong!" she cries.
ReplyDelete"You haven't done anything wrong." He puts his arms around her and pulls her toward him. "Don't cry." Goddard kisses her cheek.
ReplyDeleteAara just buries her face in his shirt and cries.
ReplyDelete"Well, I suppose if you have to let it all out, then let it all out." Goddard hugs her tightly then runs his fingers through her hair. "Two and I actually got along fairly well today. Aren't you proud of us?"
ReplyDeleteShe nods, taking deep gulping breaths.
ReplyDelete"We should go out tomorrow and spend the day together. I'd rather spend the day with you than with Two again."
ReplyDelete"You- you m-mean that?" she asks, trying to stop crying.
ReplyDelete"Of course. We can go shopping or have coffee and sit across from each other, and gaze into each other's eyes and make everyone jealous with how much in love we are."
ReplyDeleteShe snuggled and scrubs her face with her hands. "You aren't upset about Tallyn?"
ReplyDelete"Of course not. Why would I be?"
ReplyDelete"You don't like him...or how he flirts..."
ReplyDelete"He's not...so bad," Goddard mumbles. "If anything, I got more mad at him because you seemed uncomfortable when he'd get too close or say certain things."
ReplyDeleteShe hiccups. "He said something that made a lot of sebse," she tells him. "He said the timing will never be right, and it would f-feel wrong n-no matter what." Try as she might, Aara can't help crying a little more.
ReplyDelete"That does make sense. At least it was him. As I said before, he's not so bad." Goddard kisses her head. "I can pretend to be upset. I can yell at him. You think he'd get scared? Imagine the look on his face..."
ReplyDelete"I- I don't think so. I think I made him feel bad enough..."
ReplyDelete"That's no fun for me," he chuckles. "What happened lecai? Tell me whatever is bothering you still."
ReplyDeleteShe sighs and swirls the water around. "I know what we agreed on, and I know I didn't do anything wrong, but I feel so guilty. I don't even know why I let anything happen."
ReplyDelete"Curiosity? Boredom? It doesn't matter lecai. Do it again, never do it again, it makes no difference. I'll always love you."
ReplyDeleteShe nods, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love you so much," she tells him.
ReplyDelete"I know. No more crying alright?"
ReplyDelete"I'll try."
ReplyDelete"No more feeling guilty either."
ReplyDeleteShe sighs. "I'll try, Nuur'eni. That part will take some work." She leans back and starts soaping a washcloth. "What did you and Two do tonight?"
ReplyDelete"Made fun of each other. Threatened each other. The usual, but we got along. We're both still alive," he says with a grin.
ReplyDelete"No stab wounds?" she asks, handing him the cloth and turning. "Get my back?"
ReplyDelete"Not even one," he chuckles as he takes the cloth from her.
ReplyDeleteShe pulls her hair over her shoulder. He might be the one person I don't mind seeing my scars... "You never told me what it was like in Har Ganeth," she says after a while. "I didn't realize you and Gath were so abused."
ReplyDelete"I...didn't think you'd want to hear about that. What did he say?"
ReplyDelete"I didn't think you'd want to talk about it. But I never imagined it would be so bad," she says, and relates what she's learned. "It explains so much about him..."
ReplyDelete"That's why I put up with him. I understood why he was so angry. Probably like what father did with me. I at least was able to get away."
ReplyDelete"I don't think tonight really helped, but at the very least we got the air cleared. Goddard I want to be close to him. I want what Kryn has with him...I just don't know how."
ReplyDelete"Kryn doesn't have the same feelings you do. She isn't afraid of him and he isn't pursuing Two, not that I think that would really change anything."
ReplyDelete"I'm not afraid of him, he just...I clung to him in the pit because he was all I had, and I needed him. Now I feel like I can't do that. But at least now I understand him a little better."
ReplyDelete"Have you tried? I'm sure he wouldn't know what to do if you just grabbed him or he might be exactly the same as he was in the pit."
ReplyDelete"I'm not sure that would go well. I think I annoy him."
ReplyDelete"What's he going to do if you just grab him and hug him? Everyone annoys him. I bet even Kryn will say things that bother him. She just doesn't care."
ReplyDeleteShe shrugs. "Stab me? He seems found of talking about stabbings."
ReplyDelete"He wouldn't dare," Goddard chuckles. "I think he's more worried about you stabbing him."
ReplyDelete"I didn't even have any visible daggers tonight."
ReplyDelete"They don't have to be visible. I think we all carry at least one and he knows it."
ReplyDelete"One!? You only carry one? We have to fix that, Nuur'eni! What if you drop it? Or can't get it out of someone's rib cage? We'll go see about a fine set for you tomorrow."
ReplyDeleteGoddard laughs. "I don't need any, remember? But I still keep one handy. Just in case."
ReplyDelete"You need at least two. That's only logical."
ReplyDelete"I have another. I leave it on my desk and I have you. You're better than any dagger I could wield."
ReplyDelete"Now you're being charming so I won't worry about you only having one," she yawns.
ReplyDelete"Did it work?"
ReplyDelete"No but you can keep trying."
ReplyDeleteGoddard nibbles her ear. "How about this?"
ReplyDeleteHer ear twitches, and she pulls away, reminded that she just left Tallyn moments ago. "Were you studying?" she asks.
ReplyDeleteHer ear twitches, and she pulls away, reminded that she just left Tallyn moments ago. "Were you studying?" she asks.
ReplyDeleteGoddard smiles in an effort to keep from frowning at her pulling away. "I was trying to. I'm so behind, and you know how I love to procrastinate now. If you want, I'll go back to my books and let you enjoy your bath."
ReplyDelete"I'll wash my hair and bring you some tea," she says, giving him a small smile. "Then you can tell me about the book Ustadh brought you."
ReplyDelete"It isn't anything interesting. Just more magic. You take your time lecai." He kisses the top of her head before he leaves and goes back to his room. It's alright. It'll be fine. Goddard takes a deep breath and flops face down on his bed.
ReplyDeleteAara takes a deep breath and slides under the water. It's fine. I told him and it was fine. I'm fine. We're fine. No, we're perfect.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine.
In the morning it'll be fine.
"Get up! You lazy brat!"
ReplyDeleteGoddard jerks his head up and comes nose to nose with Sethai. "Father?" Goddard throws his arms around the small dragon and pulls him close. "Father! OH!" He lowers his voice. "Try to come tomorrow. It's Aara's birthday."
"Really? My favorite is getting older?" Otto squirms free.
"Favorite?" Goddard frowns.
"Yes. She has a good head on her shoulders. What are you doing? Why aren't you studying? If you don't study...I...I won't set up a picnic for us all in Arvender."
"You wouldn't do that!" Goddard gasps.
"Oh I would..."
Aara washes her hair and takes her time getting out. Once she's combed her hair, she wraps her robe around her tightly and goes to make tea.
ReplyDelete"Water's already hot," Two says, not looking up from the leather strap he's conditioning.
"Thank you," she says, kissing the top of his head as she passes.
"Hey, so you remember when you were learning the hours? How you couldn't get Hummingbird on the Wing?"
Frowning, she nods. "It took weeks to get right. My leg wouldn't extend correctly. It didn't feel right."
He nods, still preoccupied with his work. "You got it, though. It hurt, and Ustadh had to help, but you stretched and worked and gritted your teeth through it until it was right."
"Yes..."
Two looks up, his cheerful expression gone. "Whatever you're going through, treat it the same way. You don't have to tell me what bothers you, but I'll help extend your leg, so to speak."
Aara smiles and comes to sit beside him. "You're not as terrible a retainer as I think you are."
"Go take Sheik your tea. I think he's in there talking to himself."
"Fine," Goddard pouts.
ReplyDelete"And make use of your poor neglected familiar. He can do a lot more than you think."
"I will," he mumbles.
"And get more chocolate. I think I ate everything you had."
Goddard sighs. "I will."
"Ahh I miss this," Otto chuckles. "Well, I'm done yelling at you for now. We can talk tomorrow."
Aara taps on Goddard's door before poking her head in. "Two says you're talking to yourself again."
ReplyDelete"No I was talking to father," he says, pointing to Sethai who looks up at Aara and chirps happily.
ReplyDelete