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Chapter 16
The garden beckoned to Cal, just like the others did on the palace grounds. She reached out, touching some prickly-looking bush gently. It stung slightly but didn’t tear the skin. Cal welcomed the sensations, the discomfort more real to her than the events controlling her life. This she could deal with but the other...
Cal spared a glance at this “other.” He felt very real walking next to her, she had to admit with chagrin. She didn’t want to spend time alone with him, no matter how short. Relian was dangerous to her heart and mind. But until Maggie returned from changing her dress, she was stuck with him.
At the remembrance of how Maggie spilled juice down her gown, mirth and pity welled up. Her friend had been jumpy during the meal, not that Cal had been much better herself. Fortunately, she’d managed to keep her gown free of food and drink.
Now, though, she almost wished she’d dumped something on it. At the thought of honey, fruit, and other foodstuffs smeared on her grand gown, she fought down an irrational spate of giggles. That would’ve been a sight: a future-maybe-princess dirtying her gown. Yes, that would’ve gone over well with these elegant people. But it would’ve been worth it just to get away from him—and his damned handsomeness.
“I believe lunch went as well as it could.” Relian had been quiet for some time, so he shook her from her thoughts rather abruptly.
She couldn’t keep the shock from her voice. “Was that before or after Maggie spilled her drink on herself and Kenhel? Or was it the disastrous introduction to the few members of your father’s court seated nearby that you refer to? Please tell me because I don’t know.”
A faint smile played over his face. “I quite think that Lady Maggie was disappointed that her drink chose another victim besides the king to drench. Instead, it had the bad grace to land on her and Kenhel. My illustrious father wouldn’t have been pleased to be so inundated, so I’m glad Kenhel took the flood for him.”
Cal released one of the giggles that’d bubbled up again. “Yes, I think you’re right. Her face said it all, didn’t it?”
“As humans, you wear your emotions on your face—Lady Maggie even more so than you.”
She slanted him a sour look. “I’ll try not to take exception to such comments, but it’s hard, especially when phrased that way. We already feel quite conspicuous as it is, so no reminders are needed.”
Relian bowed his head in acknowledgment.
“As for your father, is that why he delights in teasing her so?” What Cal really wanted to say was “antagonizing her” but didn’t think it wise. “I’m glad the juice didn’t touch him. I would’ve hated for him to be angry at Maggie.” Casting her gaze upon the path’s stones, she fiddled with the lace edging one of the gown’s long sleeves.
Relian’s voice held an edge of exasperation. “My father is king, but he’s not a monster. He wouldn’t have been happy, but he is just and would’ve recognized it for the accident it was. To answer your other question, I do believe he likes to tease her.” He paused, hesitating. “Her easily discerned emotions can be quite heady to people of my race. It brings the inner hunter out in us.”
Cal gave him a wary look. “Just don’t go hunting me, okay?”
Comprehension flared on his face. “We would never physically hunt you or your friend. Just tease. We are well able to keep that side of us chained.”
Well, at least there appeared to be one less thing to worry about, though it still struck her as odd. However, she needed to clear up her previous question beyond a doubt. “So Maggie wouldn’t have gotten into trouble?”
“No, not unless she committed the act on purpose. Even then, the punishment would not be too dire, unless she repeated her actions. As it stands, she would’ve come away with nothing more than a mild reprimand.”
“Oh.” She bit her lower lip. “Your people didn’t seem all that delighted to meet us.” Seeing his eyes darken and his lips parting to form words, she held up her hand. “Don’t get me wrong. Most were perfectly respectful and cordial, well, except for Eamon and a few others.”
Relian glowered. “His disrespect will be taken care o—”
She cut in. “I’m not worried about that. I just got the impression they weren’t overjoyed by our presence. In fact, I get that feeling from most everybody, even you at times. For the most part, you guys keep the hostility under wraps, Eamon the exception, of course. Still, there’s a disapproval of sorts lurking below some carefully controlled exteriors.” Barreling on without stopping for a pause because she feared the answer and yet wanted the truth, she asked, “Does this all go back to emotions being heady to your kind and your father teasing Maggie?”
“I’m not sure I comprehend all your words, but I believe I understood the meaning well enough.” A perplexed expression played over his face, only to give way to its usual impassiveness.
What was this about comprehending her words? She’d been clear enough. Had she imagined seeing a glint of worry in his eyes? But the reaction of his people, other than Eamon’s, to her and Maggie hadn’t seemed to overly concern him. So what was he concerned about?
“Our ways are different from yours. While my people may seem more reticent in displaying strong outward emotion, especially among strangers or newcomers, never doubt it’s there. Your emotions are a source of fascination because they play so clearly across your face. It can bring out our more base instincts, which we control with a firm hand. As for your other concern, remember you are as foreign to us as we are to you. True acceptance takes time. I don’t think you’re delighted to be here, either. You can see this wariness in us as we can see it in you.”
She kicked at a pebble. At best, his clarifications helped to explain what he left unsaid. The mountain of jumbled questions gnawing at her mind threatened to crush her under their weight. Cal battled the urge to demand the truth from him. He’d only retreat farther if she did. Even knowing all this, she wanted answers, damn. Her shoulders slumped.
Relian’s hand came to rest on her tense back. “Patience. I think this is something many humans haven’t developed overmuch when seeking answers to the unknown.”
His gaze caught hers, drawing her in and making her body rise up in mutiny against her mind. She should be frustrated with the stratifying comments he’d made about their races, but her body no longer responded to her dictates. She was dimly aware that she nodded her head as her mouth followed this treacherous path. “No, I guess not. We tend to want nice, tidy answers that leave little room for interpretation.”
“Then we’re not so different.” He gave her that earlier faint smile, making her heart beat faster, even though she frowned in displeasure because of it.
“We may have the patience to wait a longer time for an answer. But when that answer comes, we want it just as clear and tidy as you do.”
She fought to grasp what he’d said. Was it his accent, his words, or something else that caused the distortion in hearing? Maybe she wasn’t listening well enough. After all, her brain did feel fuzzy right now.
