CHAPTER 27

For the third morning in a row, Tovi ate breakfast with King Damien, overlooking his garden of hedges and statues. This time blonde-haired, purple-eyed Xanthe was with them, silently pushing her fruit around her plate while Damien did most of the talking.

“Really, Tovi. This is precious. I can’t even mention the love between a man and a woman without you turning such a darling shade of red. It’s charming, really.” King Damien laughed. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed. It’s part of your nature. But, don’t worry. That’s not all we’re talking about today. Pleasure involves all sorts of things. Really, it’s anything that gives you a thrill. It’s anything that brings your life excitement. It’s anything that you want more and more and more. You’ll know it when the wanting keeps growing.

“Doesn’t that make sense? A person should desire more of what makes them happy. It’s logical. It’s science. It’s nature. Don’t ever be content with a little when you could have much more. So, Tovi, what brings you pleasure? What gives you a thrill? What leaves you wanting more?”

She thought about it for a while, and her mind travelled back to Adia. “Exploring with my brother. Tea talks with Ganya. Building something with Avi . . . ” her voice trailed off as her heart constricted, and she looked down at her plate.

In a softer, more comforting voice, King Damien replied, “Now, Tovi. You say that makes you happy but look how sad you are. You are not understanding what true pleasure is. What you mentioned are old memories. What do you have in your life right now that excites you? In the last few days, what has made your blood rush? The wine? The food? Anything?”

He paused, and he seemed to be waiting on her answer. Her mind was blank, and she looked into his eyes that were staring straight into hers.

After a while, he continued with his prodding. “What about Calix? Do you remember how you felt dancing with him behind that hedge?”

Tovi blushed even deeper. How could he know about that?

He continued, “If you want to feel like that again, you have to chase after it. Feel free to pursue even more of the pleasure that you desire. Now, before my next appointment gets here, why don’t you two get started with your lesson? Xanthe is an excellent teacher, and she will help you with any questions you might have regarding this topic. But don’t be long, girls. I have some surprises waiting for you when you return.”

Tovi rose without a word and followed Xanthe into the garden. They walked in silence until they were deep in the ten-foot-tall hedges where they couldn’t be seen or heard from the palace. Suddenly Xanthe turned and grabbed Tovi by the arms.

“Is it true? The stories of Adwin—is any of it true?” Those violet eyes that were normally so dull and lifeless were now shining with desperation. She let go of Tovi as if she had just realized she was holding onto her. “You have the heart in your hand, don’t you?” Xanthe asked, her voice trembling.

Tovi didn’t know what to do. Was this a trap? Should she lie? Why did Xanthe want to know, and what had come over her so quickly?

Seeing the hesitation in Tovi’s face must have been enough of an answer for Xanthe. She was wearing short gloves with a single pearl button at the wrist, which she freed with shaking fingers. She pulled the glove off and turned her hand so Tovi could see her palm.

And there it was, the untidy brown heart so familiar to Tovi. “Xanthe!” she cried in dismay, grabbing hold of the girl’s hand to cover the symbol. “You could be arrested for that. Why did you show me?”

“You have to tell me everything you know. You have to tell me if any of it is true. You lived in Adia, and they say Adwin does, too. Is it true?” Her voice was frenzied and fearful.

“I don’t know him, but everyone else says they do,” Tovi said.

Xanthe looked incredulous. “I have been waiting for so long to ask an Adian that question, and that’s all you have to say? You don’t know him?”

Tovi’s anger flared. “How do you think it makes me feel? I don’t know why I’m the only one who has never met him. I feel like everything I have ever known has been turned upside down in the last few days. Maybe he is real. Maybe he isn’t. I have no idea what I should believe and what I shouldn’t.”

Xanthe began to pace. “I used to believe everything that His Majesty, my parents, and my teachers told me. I believed Adwin was evil. I believed that he was a tyrant who eventually abandoned us.” She walked back toward Tovi, looking softer than she had before. “Then, about six months ago, there were some changes in my life. Damien ordered me and several others to go to Adia for one of his assignments. I . . . um . . . met some people who made me think about Adwin . . . in a different way . . . that maybe he was actually good. Then I started hearing whispers about people in the Bottom Rung who believed in him. I had to know more. So, I disguised myself and went to find them. It was difficult at first, but at last I was able to speak to people who know different stories about the old king. One of them even claimed to have met him.”

“What did they tell you?” Tovi asked, entranced by this story. Adwin had always been a central part of her village’s traditions. It was remarkable to hear of someone who would go to such measures just to learn about him.

“Why don’t you come with me tonight? I’ll tell Calix that I’m taking you out to teach you more about Pleasure and that you’re sleeping it off at my house afterward. He’ll believe me.”

“All right,” Tovi said, not sure what that meant or what she was getting into.

“And speaking of cover stories, you will have to pretend like this conversation never happened. I was supposed to teach you the power that your body has to manipulate men, so that you can get anything you want. You use their pleasure against them. I doubt they will ask too many questions, but if you feel caught, just say something like, ‘I had no idea the world worked that way, but I see it now.’ That will be enough to get you by.”

Prince Jairus abruptly appeared in their small clearing. He furiously commanded, “Go back to the palace, Tovi. My grandfather is waiting for you.” Tovi jumped up without hesitation, intimidated by his demeanor. She was only a few feet away when she heard him speak in a forced whisper. She stopped on the other side of the hedge to listen.

“What have you been telling her?”

“Jairus, she is from Adia! I had to find out . . . ”

“Get your glove back on. Do you want him to throw you in jail? He will! He won’t care how much I beg to get you out. Get back up to the palace and come up with some good story about what you were doing out here for so long. He noticed that you came into the maze and stopped. You could have at least gone all the way to your house where he wouldn’t have seen you. It’s like you want to be caught. You’re just lucky he let me come get you. Just think if one of his servants had overheard you . . . ”