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Cal wound her hands in the fabric of the light-green dress she wore, partly in nervousness and in part due to its length. She and Maggie followed Arrein and Vana as they swept through the halls. They had to hurry, or lunch would be late. According to the maids, the meal was already later than normal because of the festival that had occurred last night.
Since many important people would be there, they'd been primped to an inch of their lives. Was that what they had to look forward to for the next year? She cringed when she thought about what that had entailed. It’d started out so innocently. Both she and Maggie had declined a bath last evening, so they’d agreed to one this morning. Cal could think of no better way to cheer up—other than waking up in their apartment. Since that probably wasn’t going to happen, she’d settled for water therapy.
But as she’d stood before the marble tub in the bathroom that their two rooms shared, her blood pressure skyrocketed off the charts. It couldn’t be healthy—this much stress. She and Maggie had hoped to enjoy the novel experience of relaxing in a tub that rivaled the proportions of a small pool. But not with each other, at least not at the same time.
However, Arrein and Vana, the other maid, had assured them “it was common for females, no matter their standing in society, to bathe together when desired.”
She shook her head and increased her pace to keep up with the maids. Really, bath time was considered some sort of social hour?
Though she’d been surprised with this supposition, the most astonishing one had to be the discovery of hot water. They hadn’t seen how the maids filled the tub, but she definitely hadn’t expected steaming water. Maybe lukewarm, if she was lucky.
Arrein had giggled upon seeing their surprised expressions. “Not expecting hot water? Do you not have such conveniences at home?”
That comment took Cal aback. She’d not considered that the elves would be unaware of her world’s advances. Upon further reflection, did she really expect the elves to know of American culture or any culture of her world? “No, we have them. We just didn’t know if you had them here.”
Vana laughed. “We’ve had such innovations for untold centuries, long before humans surely found a way to do so.”
Arrein sent Vana a chiding look that caused her to hastily finish her last sentence. After that, the elf remained unnaturally silent. A trace of irritation settled in Cal’s chest. Did the elves consider themselves so superior?
She’d shrugged it off, and in a surprisingly small amount of time, the maids had them dressed and groomed. And out the door.
Cal frowned down at the lovely gown she wore. Here, even the simplest clothes seemed to have an understated elegance, though she couldn’t call the thin velvet dress she had on simple. While she liked pretty outfits as much as the next woman, such lavishness and coverage unsettled her. Why, the dress she’d arrived in must’ve appeared scandalous. She pushed that embarrassment aside and turned to her friend.
Maggie looked about as comfortable in her blue dress, but the style suited her. At least, it would when Maggie walked without tripping in her light slippers. She glanced down at her own in askance. They were quite comfortable but took some practice to get used to them. For some reason, she felt like a dress-up doll or a child raiding her mother’s closet.
The hallways they passed through were fairly empty. A stray elf or two walked about on whatever task that required their attention. Frowning, Cal noticed a pattern—any animation displayed by the elves melted away when faced with the truth of two human women. All would stop and stare, inclining their heads to the four females. She and Maggie offered tentative smiles, but the other elves rarely returned them. Except for a few words spoken by their maids, the silence was riveting. Sadly, that probably wouldn’t rival the disquieting vacuum that was sure to come in the great hall.
Maggie echoed her thoughts, her voice a harsh whisper. “Well, are we freaks or what? All this staring is getting to me, and I don’t think we’ve seen the half of it yet.”
Cal snorted. “Of course, we’re freaks to them. Who knows when they last saw a human? I gather there are not many around.”
They entered the massive great hall, and all went silent. A sea of eyes was trained on them as if expecting some kind of mishap from the ignorant humans. She felt more exposed than she ever had in the tiniest bikini. Pausing, she wanted nothing more than to turn around and run the way she’d come.
Deciding she was making a spectacle by standing there, she searched for Arrein and Vana. She found Maggie a few strides ahead of her but no sign of the maids. Traitors. Her mind filled with panic. She didn’t know what to do or where to go. How could they do this to her and Maggie?
She quickly took in the two-storied room, and if she’d been in a better frame of mind, she would’ve been suitably awed. Numerous trestle tables—sporting glimmering tablecloths and even lovelier centerpieces—took up a good amount of the space. Tapestries and draperies accented the white stone walls, and colorful nature scenes had been painstakingly painted across the ceiling that soared high above. There were even skylights, which let in the late morning sun. Three curved staircases swept up to the balconied walkway that lined the perimeter of the great hall’s upper portion.
While the room was a marvel of beauty, it didn’t distract her from the fact Relian hadn’t shown his face. Where was that dratted elf?
Skimming her gaze over the amassed elves around her, she spotted her quarry at a long table raised a foot above the others. His father sat at the head of the table, with Relian to his right and Kenhel to his left. Richly dressed elves had taken many of the other seats.
Relian looked straight at her. Their gazes locked and held for a brief second before he turned away to whisper something to his father. His father nodded, and Relian rose in one fluid movement.
Her breath caught in her throat as he strode toward them. The resplendent silver-and-blue tunic and gray leggings displayed his masculine beauty to perfection. Again, their gazes meshed and held her immobile. Time and space were no longer of any concern. All that existed was him.
He stopped a foot or two away from her. A smile played upon his sensuous lips. Was he delighted to see her or just a superb actor? At that moment, she didn’t care. To bask in his pleasure and acceptance, even if they only proved superficial, was all she desired.
Inclining his head slightly, he reached for a hand that hung limply at her side. “My lady, how are you this morning? You look very well-rested and lovely.”
No hint of a lie rested in his gray eyes. He seemed...sincere? She mistrusted that last thought. This charming Relian set a new precedent, and she didn’t know how to handle him. Playing it safe, she just gawked at him.
A small functioning part of her mind cried out that it seemed harder to understand his words. Surely, it’d been easier yesterday? Everyone and everything was becoming increasingly incomprehensible.
Aware he expected a reply and that she must resemble a gaping fish, Cal closed her mouth and spoke through a throat tight with nerves. “Yes, I slept well. Thank you.”
That smile again tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he cocked his head, black hair hanging over his shoulders like a shining curtain. “That is good.”
While retaining her hand, he turned to Maggie and offered her a greeting, which she returned without hesitation. He swept an arm toward the table. “Come sit. We will break our fast together.”
Cal glanced at her friend, who shrugged and shot her a look that said, “What else can we do?” Both women followed.
When almost at the table, she noted the only seats available were two to the right of the king and one to the left. She gulped.
Maggie’s gaze prodded the back of her skull. Cal turned to her, and what she saw made her freeze. Discomfiture lined Maggie’s face, her alarm an almost palpable thing in the air.
Looking about to find the perpetrator of this distress, she didn’t have far to go. The king watched Maggie with a look of glee in his gray eyes that he poorly disguised. The sinking suspicion he wasn’t trying to hide it at all filtered into her brain.
She shot Maggie a reassuring look. Where was Maggie’s composure? Not often could someone shake her confidence. The king seemed to take delight in doing so. Hopefully, this wouldn’t cause too much uncomfortable tension while they were stuck here.
Relian, with a hand on her back, pressed her into one of the chairs to the right of his father. Even after he removed his hand, the imprint still burned against her skin. He bent down and whispered in her ear, “You are in a seat of honor, rest easy.”
She bit her lip. Damn him, she wanted to lose consciousness. This was too much for her mind to take, let alone her heart.
He drew a gentle finger down her cheek, touching a few wavy tendrils that framed her face. His eyes blazed with soft warmth.
A pleasurable, hazy fog encompassed her, impeding all clear thought. She could happily ravish him right now, which was not like her at all.
“I need to see to your friend now.”
She blinked at him. Who?
“Lady Maggie. She still stands behind us. I’ll see her seated.”
Cal started. She’d forgotten Maggie. Though she shifted in her chair to throw her friend a contrite glance, her gesture was unnecessary. Eye-locked in a silent tug-of-war, Maggie and the king battled it out.
Oh, dear. That look Maggie sported meant trouble. They’d just gotten to Eria. If they had to stay for a year, this wasn’t looking good.
The king stood up, not breaking his eye contact with Maggie, and addressed his son. “Nonsense, Relian, have a seat by your lovely companion. I will see to the...other lovely lady.” He stopped at the pause, giving Maggie an arch look to match his words.
A thunderous scowl flitted across Maggie’s face. Then a smirk took its place. “I’m more a lady than you’ll ever be.”
Cal groaned. Maggie had a way of mixing up words. And while the meaning was usually clear, the hilarity value was always astronomical.
Talion’s laugh rang through the silent hall. “My lady, how right you are. I hope never to be a lady.”
Maggie deflated, her cheeks pink. All challenge in her seemed to melt away—for right now, at least.
Sympathy welled up, and Cal gave a pleading look to Relian. He muttered something and straightened to his full height. After stepping closer to his father, he all but whispered, “Father, behave!”
Talion gave a wicked smile that indicated he would do as he pleased. He sidestepped Relian and towered over Maggie. Though he was more than half-a-foot taller than her 5’8” friend, his strong presence made the difference seem all the greater.
The king inclined his head and said in a silvery voice, “Come, my lady, I will see you seated.” When Maggie’s face set in mutinous lines, Talion took her arm and put a hand on the small of her back, forcing her to move unless she wanted to stumble.
The unfolding interplay unwillingly fascinated Cal. She felt more than saw Relian take the seat to her right. By now, the whole hall was witness to the ongoing interaction. No one seemed unduly concerned, which should’ve been a relief.
The king leaned down to Maggie after seating her. “My lady, I see we are going to keep each other on our toes. It’s stimulating to have someone to engage thus in my old age.”
Maggie recovered her voice and gave him a sour look. “Yes, I’m sure you need a human to keep you on your toes.”
A hand on her forearm startled Cal, and she turned to Relian, pasting a questioning look on her face. His features had returned to their neutral mask, though when he talked, his voice retained a measure of warmth. “I fear my father enjoys getting a rise out of your friend. Sometimes, I don’t know who is the father and who is the son.” He gave a slight chuckle in seeming wonder.
The strangeness of it all struck her again, but the fact that the relationship between parent and child wasn’t so very different here comforted her. Annoyance, but also love, existed between Relian and his father. No, in this way, at least, their worlds were similar.
As if reading her thoughts, Relian asked, “Humans also behave so, do they not?”
Gracing him with a small smile, she nodded. “We do. Sometimes, especially when we age, the distinction between parent and child is blurred.”
He swept his arm out to encompass the room. “As we do not age much beyond what you see here, many times over the years I’ve felt every bit as old as my father.”
Her curiosity peaked. How old was he and, most importantly, did she want to know? Yes. She’d brave any possible fire to find out that answer. “How old are you?” Realizing she practically demanded the answer, she said, “If you don’t mind telling, Your Highness.” She added his title to the end, not sure how to address him in public.
To her surprise, a smile broke out on his face. “You humans are all so concerned with time, though I suppose it’s to be expected. No, I do not mind, but I don’t know if the truth will serve you well, especially at the dining table. I believe we’ll have to wait a while before I reveal what you seek.”
She narrowed her eyes, getting lost in his explanation. Was he doing it on purpose? While he always spoke formally, she’d been able to understand him after a moment or two of thought. Now her comprehension appeared to be fading. “Does this mean you’re not going to tell me?”
“Yes, that’s what I mean.”
She released her breath in a huff. “Why can’t I know?”
“Humans perceive time from a unique perspective, one that is not ours. As you’re operating very much on human perception, I don’t believe this is the time or place for such discussion.”
His words grated on her. To her ears, he sounded condescending. “What? You’re saying I can’t understand another perspective of time?”
He turned his head, his face implacable. “I said no such thing. I merely advised time to learn more of our ways before going into such weighty discussions. After all, that’s what truly sets elf and man apart—immortality. Many humans in the past could or would not accept that fact, and fear all too soon followed.” He didn’t talk further.
Her heart sank. She apparently touched upon a sensitive subject. An apology might dampen his displeasure. Lord, was that all they did—apologize to each other? They weren’t setting a very good precedent. “I shouldn’t have pushed. Sorry.”
Seeing the puzzlement on his face, she faltered. Couldn’t he understand her? Cal began again, this time a little bit louder. “I’m sorry I pushed for an answer. You’re right. I know virtually nothing of your ways.”
The confused slant of his eyebrows relaxed. Was it her imagination, or did his face soften?
“Think not on it, my lady.”
Servants, wearing a dark blue livery consisting of tunic and leggings for males and a dress for females, carried in large platters of food. A few trays even...floated behind them? Cal blinked. Yeah, floating trays, wow. The servers set the dishes on the tables and allowed everyone to serve themselves.
Cal’s mouth watered at the tempting variety set before her. There were some meats, but the widest assortment consisted of soups, bread, pastries, cheeses, and fruits. A small grin crept over her face. Maggie smiled back, though she’d been unnaturally quiet since entering the great hall and the king’s watchful eye. Maybe the veritable feast before them would ease their worries for a while.
She glanced around the table, taking in the lords and ladies arrayed there. For the most part, they stared with an open curiosity devoid of any hostility, except for the occasional elf. One in particular, the black-haired male from before, glared as if he wanted to smite her.
Iciness shivered down her spine. She’d be avoiding that one. Relian seemed friendly in comparison. And that was saying something, considering his mixed signals. Hopefully, he and Relian weren’t friends or close relatives. That’d be awkward.
The aroma of food forced her attention back, and her stomach rumbled. Relian leaned in close, his breath hot against her cheek. His hand stroked down her arm. She tried to hold still, though inwardly her body squirmed from the excitement and agitation exploding in her veins. He had her so worked up, she itched to grab him and lay a big one on—
“I hope the food will be to your liking. I’m afraid we do not know what is eaten in your world.”
Cal offered a weak smile, hands and shoulders tensed in an effort to stop the shaking his proximity caused. Had he noticed anything? Nothing probably got by those eyes of his. “I’m sure it’s fine. We aren’t picky eaters.” She glanced at Maggie, silently begging her to enter the conversation.
Maggie shot her a grin, her eyes sparkling alarmingly, before she turned that charming smile on Relian. “Whatever is served is fine as long as it’s not sushi.” Her nose scrunched up in distaste. She gave the king a look of distrust, her gaze roaming over the platters.
Cal fought back an eye roll. She doubted anyone here but she and Maggie knew what sushi was. “You probably don’t have to worry about that here.”
Throwing the amused-looking king one more wary glance, Maggie nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.”
Kenhel, seated by Maggie and across from Relian, seemed fascinated by the mention of this new food. “I almost dread to ask what this sushi is by the expression on your face, Lady Maggie, but find I want to know.”
Relian shook his head. “You are ever as curious as a child.”
Kenhel preened. “Ah, thank you, that’s why I know so much more than you.”
“Really?” Relian snorted. “I don’t ever remember this quest for knowledge stretching to the studies that our tutors assigned us. I believe I constantly surpassed you.”
“Well, naturally. I was referring to studies that can only be learned through observation.”
“Let me guess,” a droll Relian replied. “Through the observation of and the resulting flirtation with ladies.”
“How well you know me!” Kenhel clutched at his heart in mock delight.
“Let us now eat,” Relian cut in before Kenhel could add any more melodrama. “Everyone’s waiting for us to begin. You can have your explanation while the ladies eat.”
***
Cal stared down at the dessert on her plate, torn. Though the appetizing berry-covered cake was whispering her name, she feared if she ate much more, she’d explode. Though she hadn’t intended to pig out, Relian kept heaping delicious food on her plate. If she and Maggie couldn’t leave within a few days, both their waistlines would expand.
With a sigh she set her spoon down. “I’m afraid I can’t eat another bite.”
Relian turned an intense gaze to her. “You can’t? There are still more desserts to try.”
Laughing a bit self-consciously, she held up a hand. “No, I definitely can’t. Though I’m sure they’re a culinary experience that is sad to miss, I’ll have to pass.”
He nodded. “I don’t want you to become sick. There’ll be other times to try them.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She lapsed into silence. What to say now?
Maggie, bless her heart, took that dilemma from her. “I agree with you, Cal. I’m too stuffed to eat another bite.” With a look of bliss on her face, she patted her stomach.
“But not too full to take another sip, I see,” Talion added smoothly and pointed to the glass she had clutched in the other hand.
“This stuff?” Maggie scoffed. “It’s not much stronger than water, though I’m sort of surprised you serve any kind of wine with lunch.”
A chuckle came from further down the table. “It’s one of our stronger wines, Lady Maggie.”
Maggie and Cal glanced at the male who’d spoken. Even amongst all the other elves, he was quite the specimen. He ranked right up there with Relian and the king in handsomeness. Shiny dark brown hair lay about his shoulders, and a silver circlet sat upon his brow.
Her friend appeared to gawk at the stranger. “Really? It hadn’t felt that strong.”
The elf smiled, revealing a dimple in one of his cheeks. “It’s a very smooth wine, so it does tend to give that impression. By the way, I believe we’ve been amiss at introducing ourselves. I am Avrin, one of King Talion’s advisors.”
Both Cal and Maggie offered the required pleasantries, though it wasn’t too forced on their part. Avrin did seem like a really nice elf. After that, he took the time to introduce nearly a third of the table.
Most of the lords and ladies were friendly enough, even if their efforts felt put-on at times. But once Avrin got down to the black-haired elf, it all went sledding downhill. A lump formed in Cal’s throat. It was the Relian look-alike, and like always, he appeared none too happy.
“That is my nephew, Lord Eamon,” said Avrin with a slightly strained smile.
Cal nearly raised a brow. It appeared Avrin might have issues with Eamon. No surprise there. The nephew’s sense of superiority practically dripped off him.
A sneer blunted the handsome lines of Eamon’s face. “Charmed, I’m sure. How are you enjoying your stay here, mortals?”
So taken aback for a moment, Cal forgot how to speak. Then a spark of anger lit in her chest, but she’d not make a scene here. “The palace is lovely.”
“Yes, very lovely,” added Maggie, glaring at the jerkward. And knowing Maggie, she probably restrained herself from calling him that. Even Cal wanted to hurtle a few choice names at him, but that would have to wait until she and Maggie were back in the privacy of their chambers.
A warning growl left Relian, and he was leaning forward as if to get up. “Eamon, you will give both ladies the proper respect, or I’ll—”
Cal watched the interplay between the males. Though it made her stomach flutter that Relian stood up for her and Maggie, the repressed violence coiled around him warned that a fight could too easily erupt.
Talion leveled a steely gaze on Eamon before addressing Relian. “Peace, my son. Lord Eamon will show them respect, or he’ll leave.” Turning his attention solely to Eamon, he spoke again, the threat clear in his soft voice. “Do you understand?”
Eamon looked as if he’d swallowed something gross, which would’ve been hilarious if she still didn’t fear that Relian would pummel him. “Yes,” he spat out.
“Tsk, tsk, what are you forgetting?” asked the king with an arched brow.
Eamon ground his teeth. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The presentation leaves something to be desired, but it’ll do,” Talion said.
Relian fingered a dinner knife, anger lending him a hungry look. “I’ll be happy to take him to the training grounds and beat some manners into him.”
Oh, God, should she say something? She really didn’t want to be caught in the middle of a fight. Someone would probably deck her on accident. Or if it were Eamon, on purpose.
“I’d like to see you try,” ground out Eamon, slapping his hands down on the table.
Relian flung the knife aside, and it clanged against the stone floor. “I’ve done it before, so we all know the—”
Talion steepled his fingers, and he pinned both dark-haired elves with a stern glance. “Now, now, stop squabbling. This isn’t the way to put newly arrived guests at ease.”
Across the table from Cal, there was a dull thud and a “oh, shit!” from Maggie.
When Cal saw the spilled wine covering Maggie and Kenhel’s fronts, she almost cradled her forehead in her hands. Great, Maggie just had to add to the chaos.