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“No. I don’t know what it is.”
She cocked her head. “It’s a movie.”
“Ah. I don’t really watch movies. I suppose I enjoy the ones I see, but I haven’t really considered it a priority.”
“Not a priority?” She shook her head and tsked. “What about Star Wars or Terminator? E.T.? Ghost? Saving Private Ryan? Work with me here.”
“I have seen Star Wars and Terminator, but the others I’m unfamiliar with.”
“Oh, my word, baby, you and I are going to have to have the movie marathon to end all movie marathons.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “As long as said marathon happens while we’re naked, I’m in.”
“Well, duh,” she retorted, and Kaspar laughed.
The car moved again, sliding through the gates and onto a paved road between sheer rock walls. The road was just wide enough for two cars to pass one another, but had no room for a shoulder. They arrived at another pair of gates, matching the first, and they opened to allow entry.
“No dinosaurs, right?” she joked.
Kaspar chuckled. “No dinosaurs.”
The car traveled up, up, up, and the rock wall on her right slowly disappeared, and Jesska could see the water. A two-foot barrier kept the car from traveling over the edge of the cliff, while on the left, more rock wall was visible as they wound their way to what she was sure was a completely different hemisphere.
She shivered and scooted closer to Kaspar.
“You okay?” he asked.
She giggled. “Yes... my feet just feel nervous.”
He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist, kissing her temple.
The car paused as a giant metal bridge lowered in front of them, and then they were moving again. She glanced behind her to see the bridge rise once the car with the rest of her family inside cleared it. Jesska faced forward again and her jaw dropped open at the magnificence of what she was seeing. A giant stone house appeared before her as though it had been built into the cliff. Four white-washed pillars sat proudly in front, obscuring a porch that ran the entire length of the house.
“Kaspar, it’s gorgeous.”
He beamed. “I’m glad you think so, elskan. I want you to be very happy here.”
She stroked his cheek. “If you’re here, I’ll be happy.”
Servants filed out of the house and stood side by side in front of the pillars.
“They are standing in order of rank,” Kaspar explained, and smiled. “It will more than likely be overwhelming to figure out who everyone is at first, but they will help you.”
Jesska nodded. “Is it okay to ask questions?”
“Of course.” He raised an eyebrow. “Why would you think otherwise?”
She shrugged. “Too much Downton Abbey, I guess. They don’t converse with their staff.”
Kaspar chuckled. “You feel free to converse with anyone you wish.”
“Thank you, my liege.”
Austri pulled the car to a stop and then he and Jóvin jumped out of the front and opened the back doors for them. Jesska smiled as she slid from the car and waited for Kaspar to catch up to her. She gripped his hand and he lifted her fingers to his lips.
The line of staff members bowed or curtsied toward their king, and Kaspar greeted each of them by name. He settled his hand on Jesska’s back and guided her toward each person.
A tall, thick-middled man with a receding gray hairline smiled kindly at Jesska as Kaspar guided her forward. “This is Eberg, sweetheart.”
