AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So much for hoping the tranquil setting would calm her friend. At the moment, Maggie was too busy glaring at the king to tell him and Relian about their suspicions, so Cal might as well spit it out. “The internal language translator that the veil somehow gave us is breaking down.”
“Yes, we’ve noticed the same.” The king gestured to include Relian. “We fear the effects of the veil’s magic are wearing away, causing our mutual understanding of the other’s language to fade with it.”
Relian nodded. “I believe it was only meant to last for a short time, to facilitate your transition here. Now that the initial conversations and introductions are concluded, the veil no longer sees the advantage of making the language barrier so easily overcome.”
Cal cocked her head to the side, listening closely and still not catching every word. “How’s it an advantage if we can no longer communicate with each other?”
Maggie threw the king an antagonistic look. “Oh, I can see the advantages.” The king merely lifted a brow, giving a ghost of a smile.
Cal wanted to groan. They’d been acting like this all night. Fortunately, Maggie hadn’t said anything more hostile than what she’d just muttered. But who knew how long that would last?
Relian shot his father an exasperated glance before turning back to Cal. “How can you hope to learn the Elvin language if you only understand it as the English you speak? You are hearing our Elvin speech through an English filter, just as we are hearing your language through an Elvin one. Since the veil apparently desires our bonding—for it brought you here—it also seeks for you to learn the language of your future people.”
His words gave her pause. Why was it so important to the veil that she bond with Relian? She hadn’t considered that prospect before, merely thinking the veil a means of bringing her here. That the mist might be a distinct entity that wasn’t under the control of the elves was a sobering thought, as were the ramifications of it having its own agenda. What did the veil truly seek if it had acted independently of the elves?
Frowning, she wanted to question the elves but had the feeling they wouldn’t be so forthcoming with answers. A decided lack of information flowed from them, no matter how she and Maggie pressed. Oh, they responded to any queries made. Only upon reflection did she and Maggie notice that none of the elves truly answered their questions. The elves excelled at vagueness and misdirection. She wouldn’t go so far as to call it disinformation, for they didn’t seem to lie. They offered carefully placed truths, momentarily allaying any suspicion of misguidance.
Maggie’s voice drew Cal out of her thoughts. “Since it seems we’re to be stuck here for a year, we’ll have to learn the language. I don’t like it but see no other way.”
Everyone looked at Maggie, astonished, and she shrugged. “What? Contrary to evidence and popular belief, I’m bright enough to realize when being reasonable would be a good thing. This just so happens to be such an occasion.” She smirked at the king. “Don’t expect this to happen with any regularity.”
Without missing a beat, the king smoothly replied, “I’d expect no other behavior from you, my dear.”
Cal cut in before Maggie rattled off whatever barb that lay on her tongue. Though she didn’t want to learn the language—doing so seemed like admitting defeat in regards to going home—she realized the usefulness of it if they were to be stranded here. “So how long do we have before we can no longer understand each other?”
Relian reached over, gently lifted a hand from her lap, and intertwined his fingers with hers. Electricity shot through her palm and fingers. She bit back a gasp. The sensation zoomed into her chest and down to her most private parts. The feeling was exhilarating...and scary. But she couldn’t remove her hand without making a scene.
When she caught Maggie’s gaze, her friend grinned at her. Cal performed a visual sweep of the table. Kenhel was directing a taunting smile toward Relian, and Talion smiled in seeming satisfaction.
Did everyone want them together? Did she? He made her all tingly. That had to count for something. Would it be so... No. She had to return home. Or her family would panic, and her dreams of finishing college would disintegrate into dust. Her mind shied away from the thought she might be too late in regards to the latter. She’d struggled too long and hard for a normal life to give it up. Earth was her home. As for her parents... If they didn’t know about her disappearance, they soon would. And there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. A lump swelled in her throat, but she refused to cry right now. Once she and Maggie returned, they’d have a hell of a story to concoct, but they would worry about that later.
Relian captured her gaze, his fingers softly stroking hers. The hue of his eyes seemed softer, more accepting, than usual. Her breath caught as he spoke, and his tone mirrored his eyes. “While we can’t be certain, we estimate that a few days to one week remain until we can no longer understand each other. Lessons can’t begin until you lose comprehension of Elvish. We should spend our remaining time familiarizing both of you to your surroundings and any major societal customs that would make your stay here pleasurable.”
The king flashed a smile at her and Relian. “I’ll make arrangements, Relian, that the bulk of your duties are transferred to capable hands during this time. I’m sure you’ll want to spend as much time as possible with each other before the tedious instruction of languages begins.”
Cal frowned. “Languages?”
Talion nodded. “Yes, languages. We deem it fair if you’re to learn our language, we do the same in return. We all have much to gain from it, especially Relian, as it’s hoped you both will finalize your relationship.”
At the king’s last words, an annoying heat spread over Cal’s cheeks. To her relief, Relian deftly suggested a change of subject. “Let us not put undue pressure on her, Father, concerning her choice as of yet. A certain amount of time was promised to her. She needs it in its entirety to come to an accep...a decision.”
Startled and uneasy, Cal searched his face. No telling expression flitted across his countenance. Surely, he hadn’t almost said she needed time to come to an acceptance rather than to a decision? Relian couldn’t mean that, because it was her choice, and no one could make it for her.
The king responded to Relian’s light chide with one of his own. “I wasn’t attempting to force an answer out of her. There can be no harm in informing her of our wishes, of what we desire to happen. I believe she’ll be a welcome addition and merely wanted her to know this.”
A smile spread over Relian’s lips and lightened his face. Cal gulped in an effort to relieve her suddenly dry throat. Sometimes, just sometimes, the idea of staying didn’t sound so bad.
