“To the Royal Palace,” I said to the drivers and then motioned the King into the lead carriage.
I made sure our guards got into their carriages before I followed Jucai into ours. We were moving in moments, and after we left the busy docks, Jucai sighed, his shoulders lowering.
“What's wrong?” I asked.
“It smelled awful back there.” He wrinkled his nose. “Rotting seaweed, dead fish, and unwashed bodies.”
I winced. “Yes, the wharf isn't the best part of the city, but it is necessary. Look, this is the market district. She's selling oranges.” I pointed out the window at one of the many fruit and vegetable sellers in the marketplace. At the side of her stall was a giant basket of oranges.
“Stop!” Jucai pounded the roof.
The carriage stopped, the other carriages clinging and clattering to a halt behind us, and Jucai climbed out.
“What are you doing?” I went after him.
“I want an orange.” He strode to the woman's stall.
“We don't have any money.”
“Don't be absurd.” He motioned at one of his guards, who had come up beside us without me noticing. “I am a king. I am never without coin.”
The man handed Jucai a leather pouch.
Jucai went to the fruit seller and motioned at the oranges. “How much?”
The Eljaffna woman's wide eyes went from Jucai to me and then to his crown. “One copper for three, sir. Or should I call you sire?” She moved around to the basket, and the sun shone off the translucent scales on her skin.
“This is King Jucai of Ilshi,” I said. “Sire is appropriate.”
“I'll take nine.” He handed her five copper coins.
“Oh, this is too much, Your Majesty.” She tried to hand two back.
“No, no. Keep it. You are giving me my first taste of Zaruian oranges.”
“Oh!” The woman bowed. “It's an honor, Your Majesty.” She took the coins with her clawed hands and motioned to the basket. “Please take any you'd like.”
Jucai took three oranges, handed one to me, and then motioned for his knights to pick oranges for themselves. He went back into the carriage, focused on his fruit.
“Thank you,” I said to the woman and followed Jucai back into the carriage. “Carry on,” I called to the driver.
Jucai ignored everything but his oranges, setting one on his lap before digging into the other. He tossed the peels on the floor, making me grimace, but then he put the first wedgeinto his mouth. The look of bliss that came over him was so mesmerizing that I knew I'd never forget how he looked sitting there, his white hair billowing in the breeze, his hands full of peeled orange and his eyes closed in pleasure.
I cleared my throat. “Have you seen a Brujai before?”
Jucai looked up from his orange. “What's that?” Then he frowned. “Why aren't you eating your orange?”
I started to peel it. “I asked you if you'd seen a Brujai before.”
“Oh, yes, the woman with the oranges.” He motioned toward the window, holding a slice of orange. “It's been many years since I've been to the surface, but I remember the Brujai. Desert dwellers, yes? I'm surprised to see them in a city.”
“Many of them moved into the cities over a century ago. They still have their own cities in the desert, but many prefer to live here. They can earn more money in Erimbar. I can still remember the citywide shock when the first group walked in from the desert.”
“Then you're over a century old? I hadn't thought to ask.”
“Yes, I'm a hundred and thirty-six. How old are you?”
“Far older.” He popped another orange slice into his mouth.
