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The town formed a ring that enclosed the palace, with the palace lands serving as a buffer that stretched over a mile deep. A vaguely medieval feel suffused the immaculately clean village, yet that wasn’t the accurate term at all. There wasn’t a precise way to describe the bustling town. The houses and shops, made of white- or cream-colored wood and stone, shouted out gracefulness. Their smooth lines continued the theme that ran throughout the palace and its grounds. Nothing appeared to be ugly in Eria.
When she said as much to Relian, he nodded. “We elves like beauty surrounding us. That would likely be our main vanity if one could be assigned to us as a whole.”
Cal furrowed her brow. “There are worse things to be vain about, I suppose. For such a seemingly perfect race, I’m surprised you would admit to any faults at all.”
“Ah, who says vanity is a fault?” he said seriously, though a teasing light gleamed in his eyes. As if he’d noticed her face darkening, he laughed but with no true humor. That mysterious light faded from his eyes, leaving her to wonder if it’d even been there. He held his hands out in a placating manner. “Who said we are perfect? I don’t believe any here would claim we are.”
“Oh.” She shook her head. What was up with his changes in mood and demeanor? He could switch with astonishing speed from complete reserve to gently teasing and then back again. She wasn’t used to such behavior from a man—one that seemed to dislike her one moment and more than tolerated her the next. Women’s purported mood swings certainly had nothing on his. Did elvin men suffer from PMS?
Confusion, it appeared, was going to be a normal state for her in Eria. As a straightforward person who considered herself even-tempered, Cal hated the mind-games so popular among her peers. This “what you see is what you get” philosophy had always served her well.
Here, everything seemed so foreign and distant to her, as if she viewed a distorted image through a camera lens she couldn’t bring into focus. The picture would become clearer only to blur again, taking any clarity she’d gained.
So now she walked alone with Relian. Well, not exactly alone. People—elves—surrounded them on all sides. She swam in a sea of elves, and there was even music. It floated on the air, beguiling and sweet. “That music. It’s beautiful.”
“Humans often do find our music beautiful. Or they did at one time.”
She wanted to question him. How did he know it affected humans so? However, the tune pulled at her, sapping her will to talk. She blinked, part of her breaking free and realizing just how crazy she was acting.
Again, as so many times since he’d come into her life and dreams, she fought down the manic giggling that wanted to break free from her throat. If she started laughing now, she’d sound demented. They didn’t need another reason to look askance at her. Her humanity seemed to be doing a perfect job of that on its own.
When virtually everyone in the town stopped to stare at her and Relian, any hope of her situation improving slipped away. Their gazes felt accusing, as if she’d no business being there, especially with their beloved prince. Could she blame them? She was the lone human in the area if one discounted Maggie.
How was her friend faring? Did Maggie feel as conspicuous? If Maggie had returned to their rooms, there was a distinct possibility she might be bored. If so, Cal wished she could switch places.
Being with a prince was a highly overrated occurrence.
***
“How did it go? Get any smooches?” Maggie asked, her cheeks unusually bright against the backdrop of her chamber.
“Maggie!” Cal narrowed her eyes and shot her friend a look.
“What? Come on. That’s the question burning in everyone’s mind, and you know it.”
Cal rolled her eyes and crossed her arms before throwing herself down on Maggie’s bed. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s preying on every elf here. I know it’s certainly not burning in my mind. I want none, especially from him. We may be stuck here for a year, but it doesn’t mean I intend to bond with him.”
Maggie grinned maniacally, color still staining her cheeks. “And since we’re stuck here, you might as well enjoy some kisses. Like you’d want them from any other elf.” A thoughtful look crossed her face. “Though you’d be hard-pressed to find a truly ugly guy here from what I’ve seen, so it couldn’t be all bad. But yeah, you find him so distasteful that you watch every smile and frown of his voraciously. Makes a lot of sense to me. You’re fooling no one, least of all me.”
Feeling like all the air had been stolen from her, Cal couldn’t come up with a good rebuttal. Her attraction to Relian was pathetically clear, and Maggie knew how strongly he drew her. After learning the truth, Maggie had been by her side, helping her cope with the dreams and their accompanying emotions.
Cal changed the subject to something safer—at least safer for her. “What are you flushed about?”
Maggie exploded from the bed and started to pace around. “That rat!”
Confusion hit Cal. “Kenhel? Or Relian because he didn’t kiss me?”
Maggie stopped in her tracks, and her shoulders shook. Now concern ran forefront in Cal’s mind. Just as she rose to offer Maggie comfort, her friend faced her. She was laughing, not crying.
Her friend must’ve noticed her bewilderment because she started guffawing. In between her snorts, she managed to get out, “Like I’m mad at Relian for not kissing you. Please! As for Kenhel, I haven’t even seen him since this morning. No, I’m talking about a truly insufferable rat bastard.”
At her bitter tone, Cal had more than a niggling idea of who the person might be. Who else could get Maggie riled up so? “Is it the person I think it is?”
“If you’re thinking it’s the...the thing your boyfriend calls a father, you’re right.”
Cal forced down a sigh. “What did you do now?”
“Me?” Maggie sniffed in outrage. “More like what did the King of Asses do!”
A headache with Cal’s name on it was knocking at the door. She was sure of it. “Okay, then, what did he do?” Cal paused and smirked at Maggie. Wanting a little revenge for the drama sure to come, she pointed out a flaw in the description of the king. “I bet his parents were married or bonded, so the bastard part is probably wrong.”
Narrowing her eyes, her friend grumbled, “That wasn’t how I meant it. You know that.” Maggie glanced away, a tactic that cried guilt.
Cal hated to ask but knew she had to find out. “You did, didn’t you? To his face? Maggie, he’s the king, and we don’t know the rules or etiquette here.”
Her friend had the good grace to look shamed-faced. “Well, I may have said it in slightly different words, but the gist was the same.”
Cal closed her eyes. “How did he respond?”
Maggie flung up her hands and resumed her pacing. “He just laughed and walked away. How dare he!”
“How dare he what? Walk away instead of ordering your head lopped off? That would’ve been preferable to you? He probably had to ignore what you said, so he wouldn’t have to punish you somehow.”
Maggie blanched. “You think so?”
“I don’t know. But he’s king, and historically, most have demanded respect, at least back on Earth. As the society here seems traditional, like something we might’ve seen hundreds of years ago, I would guess he’s a king in every sense it entails. I doubt he’s a figurehead. Why didn’t you stop and think? You’re normally brighter than this.”
Maggie’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t seem to keep my cool around him. I don’t plan on acting juvenile, but he brings it out in me.”
“Because you rise to the occasion admirably. I believe he gets a kick out of seeing you act like this. Just be careful you don’t push him too far.”
Maggie agreed quickly. “I’ll try my best to keep a level head, so I don’t lose the one on my shoulders.”
Cal rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, I think that’s wise.”
Maggie perched on the bed by Cal. “Hey, have you noticed anything peculiar?”
“Peculiar?” She gave Maggie a disbelieving stare. “What peculiar happening could you possibly be referring to? After all, I think everything ranks up there pretty high in peculiar-ness.”
Now Maggie rolled her eyes. “I meant above and beyond the normal strangeness that being here brings. For instance, the language—have you noticed anything strange about it?”
Understanding overtook Cal, along with a measure of relief. Maggie, too, had noticed. “Their language used to sound like English to me. Still does to some degree, I guess, because I can follow what everyone’s saying. But now it takes a lot of concentration. It’s almost as if I’m listening to a foreign language that I have to translate into English, so I can comprehend what they’re saying. The same thing’s happening to you?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Maggie chewed her bottom lip. “We seem to be losing our ability to understand. At least, that’s how I see it.”
“That’s crossed my mind more than once. It’s the only explanation I can think of that makes sense.” Cal snorted, looking down. “Not that it really makes sense, you know?”
“Oh, I hear you. I totally know what you mean.” Maggie bumped her shoulder against hers, and they sat there for a few moments, silent.
Cal didn’t want to be left to her own thoughts for long. “Still happy you joined me on this little adventure, one which may never end if the elves get their way?”
A look of mock admonishment spread over Maggie’s features. “Of course I don’t regret it! How can you even ask?”
She gave Maggie a naughty grin. “Well, you do have to brave the King of Rat Asses while you’re here with me.”
“Yes, that’s a trial. Still, it’s nothing overly major.” Cal sent her a knowing glance, and she hedged a bit. “Okay, maybe he’s the one person so far I’ve met here that I can’t stand, but that’s nothing in the face of friendship!”
A real laugh escaped Cal. “Just how many elves have you met? He’s one of the few, I believe. Maybe if you wait, someone else will take his exalted spot.”
“Arrhh, don’t say that! I can’t imagine anyone worse.” She shuddered. Then she brightened. “At least he’s not going to be my father-in-law.”
Casting her gaze skyward, Cal scrunched up her face in annoyance. “Just for that, I think you’ll be the one to tell the king and his son about our worries concerning the language.”
***
Cal sighed at Maggie’s antics and breathed in the scent of the flowers and greenery that permeated the air. The terrace where she, Maggie, Relian, and the king all sat was lovely.
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.