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“I…” Ari had a cup in his other hand, and some of it spilled down his knuckles onto his leg. “Dammit.”
“How many cups have you had?” I asked.
He polished off the rest of the drink and slammed the cup onto a nearby table. “How many have you had?”
“Not as many as you, it seems like.”
“I don’t know what you think you did, but I can assure you, you didn’t do it.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“I don’t have anything against you.”
“Okay, good to know.”
He looked exasperated, and maybe I was trying to give him a hard time.
“Whatever misunderstanding we’ve managed to tangle ourselves up in, can we please agree to let it go?” he said. “You seem to think I have a grudge against you. I don’t. In fact, I rather enjoy your presence, and that I certainly can’t say that about everyone.”
This took me by surprise. “Now the luyu is really talking,” I said. “If you enjoy my presence, I would like to see the way you look at people you hate.”
Ari’s stony expression didn’t change. “It’s a serious malady no potion can fix. My face is fixed this way. It’s been like this since I was a kid.”
“What? Oh, I didn’t realize...”
He huffed. “That was a joke.”
I gaped. A joke? From him? “Ridiculous,” I snorted.
“Anyway,” he said. “I apologize for any offense I’ve caused. And I was being serious, I do enjoy your presence.”
“Can’t imagine why,” I said. “But I accept your apology, and submit my own.” I bowed.
“I appreciate the way you live,” Ari said gruffly. “I mean, I see how you enjoy living.”
“I certainly prefer it to being dead,” I said, grinning at him as I cocked my head.
I hadn’t realized Ari could be so awkward. Was it the luyu at work? It had a hold on me. The dancing flames from the cooking fires and the bonfire were starting to sparkle like the sun through a haze of mist, and even Ari’s stern expression looked softened.
“You’re purposefully taunting me now,” he said.
“No, you’re just not making any sense.”
“I could see it in your dancing when you first arrived on the island. You aren’t shy about living life. As someone who deals often with death, I can appreciate that.”
“As someone who deals often with death? How very dramatic,” I said, and when Ari’s expression refused to crack, I smiled at him. “That was me teasing you.”
“Hrm.”
As the drumbeat whirled up into a frenzy, my attention was pulled back to the bonfire where Visir and Istil danced, joined by many of the others. I felt it pounding my gut and wanted to be there with them. I turned away from Ari.
“I’m going to dance,” I said. “You’re welcome to join. Or watch. Whichever suits you.”
I felt his eyes following me as I spun away to join the circle, floating free on the release of all the angry tension that was quickly dissipating from my body, until there was just one final, cloying frustration that needed satisfaction.
Chapter4
Istil
