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“I guess that answers my question,” Nayome said, as she set another place at her small table. The only available room in Glasgow had been a suite, so she was well equipped with a mini kitchenette, and full sitting area.
“Wine?” Nayome asked, pulling out the bottle she had picked up and was chilling in the mini fridge.This is surreal.Nayome thought, not sure if she was happy to see Bal or not. But a small, traitorous part of her was warming to his presence.
“Allow me.” Bal uncorked the bottle and poured a couple of glasses.
Nayome barely tasted her food as they sat down to eat. Mind racing, they ate in silence, which grew thicker after each passing minute. There had been plenty of food for two, the Inn serving up generous portions. Nayome spent a full minute spearing every last pea with her fork, until there was nothing left on her plate to distract her from the heady tension that had settled on the room. Rising to clear their plates in the kitchenette, Nayome turned to face Bal with her back to the counter. He was leaning back in his chair, observing her with an unscruitable expression on his face.
“Well. What now?” She asked. The query landed heavy on the room, loaded with the unspoken questions.
“Thank you for dinner. My trip here was unexpected so I hadn’t eaten yet.”
“My pleasure,” Nayome said quietly. And she found that she meant it. She had been struggling with the idea that she wouldn’t get to say goodbye to Bal in person. Even though there were a million reasons why it was a terrible idea for him to be here, she was glad he had tracked her down.
But how had he done that?
“Let’s start with how you found me,” Nayome insisted.
“Ah. Fran from the Old Stone Inn is a dear old friend of mine. I twisted her arm, she would normally never have relented, but I spun quite a romantic tale. She thinks I’m here to sweep you off your feet before you board the plane…”
“Right,” Nayome said weakly. She wasn’t sure if she was amused or irritated with dear old Fran.
“Nayome, I…well, I needed to make sure you were unharmed. After your last message…”
“I’m sorry if it was harsh.” Nayome looked away, feeling awkward.
“What happened?” Bal asked, quietly.
“I just thought it was best if we cut things off, before…” Trailing off, Nayome left the sentence hanging.
Bal looked at her consideringly for a few seconds before speaking. “My sister came to see me, with news. She was worried, because someone had seen us together. Some of my people were getting upset at the idea, the risk it posed to us.”
“So my leaving was probably for the best,” Nayome said simply, staring into her wine glass.
“You don’t sound surprised that we were being watched.”
“We may still be,” Nayome whispered, letting some of the fear she was feeling into her voice.
“I was careful not to be seen.”
“What would happen if you were caught with me again?”
“As long as my people believe you to bedaonna, they would be upset that I was taking risks. There is no law against this…but it is frowned upon. If they knew how much I had shared with you, though, I would have to answer for my crimes. I have broken many of our old laws in speaking freely with you, Nayome.”
“Why would you risk it, then?” Nayome asked, desperately.
“Because I know you are nodaonna,” Bal said as he straightened in his chair. His gaze turning piercing as he observed Nayome. “I saw you, enchanted, with thousands ofteinedancing around you, and felt the magic in the air. It filled me, filled the forest with energy and light.”
“So you think I am some kind of…power source for you then? Is that why you are so willing to risk everything with your people? Because I can top up your energy reserves?”
“Nayome, that’s not the point—”
“What would happen to me, if we were caught?”
Bal hesitated.
“What would they do to me, Bal?”
“They don’t know who you are yet.”
