Nodding his agreement, Sovann squeezed her arm before moving off to sit near Wisp, no doubt to keep her attention from Truce Avanti. Sovann was quite apparently the diplomat of his family.
Finn pulled her seat out as they reached the table, placing her closest to Arjuna. Taking his own seat beside her he smiled at his sister and Truce to his right.
“Congratulations, Brother. You look very happy,” Nallia said, her voice soft with an allure to it that surely caught every man’s attention. Jala tried not to stare at her but found her gaze drawn back to her time and again. Nallia was no different from any other Immortal as far as beauty went but her movements were like Finn’s, fluid with grace. She had a poise about her that spoke loudly of nobility.
“She dines often with the High Lord of Avanti, don’t blame her for her daintiness,” Arjuna whispered in her ear.
Jala looked away from Nallia and over to Arjuna. He was leaning toward her one elbow on the table. His wife sat just beyond him engaged in animated conversation with Adana. “I wasn’t blaming her for it. I was pondering how clumsy I must look beside her. I’ve never eaten in such fine company before. Honestly, I had no idea Finn’s family was so impressive,” she whispered back.
Arjuna sniffed in distaste. “Do you see my Elandrae?” he asked, his voice still hushed in confidential tones. With one hand he subtly motioned toward his wife. Jala glanced past him to the tall red head. She wore a gown of red silk with black gems forming the rearing horse of their sigil down the front. Gold earrings hung heavy with rubies, as well as a choker so thick with the red gems it was almost impossible to see the gold of the necklace. Her hair flowed down her back; much as Adana’s did, waving back and forth as she motioned with her hands while talking.
“She is beautiful,” Jala said in acknowledgment and looked back to him unsure of his point.
“She can curse violently enough to peel paint from the walls. She has a tendency of spitting after a sword match, especially if she has lost. On any occasion other than a formal one she wears little more than a bra and breeches. When she walks she uses a swordsman’s swagger rather than the dainty little courtier steps. Generally, she eats with her fingers rather than silverware. In short, my High Lady is considered a barbarian by the Avanti. And yet in my eyes she is worth the entire country of Avanti and then some. Do not judge yourself by their standards. You will never be an equal in their eyes, and you will always be worth more than the lot of them to Finn. Be yourself, and if they don’t like it, to the Darklands with them,” he said and picked up his glass to take a short drink.
“Thank you, Arjuna,” she said and felt herself relaxing.
The Firym Lord smiled at her and nodded once. “Beware the meat dear, if you are not fond of our Firewater you won’t like it,” he said as trays were brought to them by servants.
“Sovann warned me. He said the fruit is the safest.” She grinned and moved aside as a servant sat a covered dish down in front of her. Glancing down she realized her plate was different from the others and quickly looked back to question the servant but the girl was already gone.
“Everything on that plate should be to your liking,” Finn said turning away from conversation with his sister. “I didn’t think you would care for the Firym cooking so I had the cooks prepare that special when I took Marrow down for food.”
“No Ondathi?” she asked. The thought of eating snake still didn’t appeal at all to her.
Shifting slightly he leaned closer and removed the cover. “Beef, rice, and vegetables,” he said pointing to each in turn.
She listened but her eyes were fixed on the black skinned fruit sliced in a small bowl on the side of the tray. “Jimpa, but I thought they only grew in Merro,” she said and looked at him.
“My uncle has a tree in his sunroom. I convinced Sovann to use a bit of magic to make it ripen despite them being out of season. They only grow naturally in Merro but can be grown elsewhere with a lot of magic,” he explained.
“Thank you, Finn,” she said with more emotion than anyone had likely ever shown in regards to fruit.
Grinning, he opened his own tray and speared a piece of white meat with chunks of peppers stuck to it. “Ondathi?” he offered, holding his fork toward her.
“No, I’ll stick with the beef,” she assured him returning the grin. He shrugged and popped the piece of meat in his mouth chewing with obvious enjoyment. Nallia spoke again and he turned back to his sister.
She ate in silence for a bit, simply listening to the conversations around her and watching the crowd. The Firym seemed more animated than the others present and she caught Truce watching several exchanges with obvious disapproval. He never looked in her direction, not once in the entire meal, and she had no doubts that if he had the expression would have been one of disapproval as well. As the courses progressed, musicians began to play. The music was fast in tempo with heavy drums and she tried to imagine what the Firym considered dancing. She had barely learned a few less formal dances at the Temple but judging by the pace of this music none of what she knew would be sufficient. Her attention was brought back to the table as Arjuna moved his chair over and another was placed beside her. With a grin Havoc seated himself and shook his head at her sadly.
“Had I but known you had an interest in Firym men I never would have allowed you to be sent to Sanctuary. With the selection you had available there, the one you ended up with is more mutt than actual Firym,” he said mournfully.
“Hey, don’t flirt with my wife, you ass,” Finn snapped and reached behind her to smack Havoc on the back of the head.
Laughing, Havoc dodged the blow leaning forward toward the table. “Finn, where are your manners? You are going to offend the Avanti,” Havoc scolded and then laughed again. “Congratulations, Jala, you have married decently. Well, I suppose. And when he gets himself killed in one of his stupid duels you will know where to come to find a more worthy husband,” Havoc said once he had regained his composure a bit.
“I won’t get killed, Havoc. Damn, you are still a bastard,” Finn growled though he looked ready to burst into laughter himself.
Jala looked between the two of them trying to decide if they were actually on good terms or not.
Catching her look, Finn smiled. “Remember the fishing story?” he asked. She nodded and he motioned toward Havoc. “The bastard that reminded me of the fountain with fish when I couldn’t catch anything at the river.”
Havoc burst into renewed laughter and nodded to her. “It was beautiful. He was so happy when he caught the fish, right until my grandfather caught him,” he said, the words only slightly distorted by his continued amusement.
“When I joined the Flame Riders he switched my horse out with a donkey on the first day of drills. I went into the stable a bit late, thanks to him, I might add. All of the other riders were on the field already and my horse was nowhere to be seen, a damn donkey in his stall,” Finn said with a glare.
“He rode onto the field on a donkey,” Havoc grinned. “As proud as you please, chin up in the air on a damn donkey. I thought he would miss drills and get a scolding, but not Finn.”
“I didn’t even know the two of you were related,” Jala admitted smiling at the story despite how Finn was glaring.
“Most of the trouble I was in during the tender years of my childhood can be laid at Havoc’s feet,” Finn told her, his glare fading into a smirk.
Havoc gave a slight nod. “I took him to his first brothel,” he said proudly.
“And had me watch the door for his mother while he went upstairs with three girls. I was ten at the time, or around that. He left me alone in a room filled with half-naked women and expected me to stare at the damn door.” Finn waved a hand at his cousin in accusation.
“And you got me back by telling my mother which room I was in when she arrived,” Havoc reminded him and Finn chuckled. He shook his head at the two of them and gave a sigh. “I never would have expected this, Finn. Not only are you married, you married Jala.
Do you know who her father was?”
“Badger,” Finn answered with an amused grin.
“You knew my father?” Jala asked, her voice going quiet.
“He was the first person to teach me what dirt tasted like,” Finn told her with a shrug. “I was young at the time. I can’t remember what he was here for, but when he mentioned where he was from I let him have it, and he taught me a valuable lesson about speaking with respect to your betters.”
“You had a problem with Merro then?” Jala asked, wondering what he must have thought when she had taken him to her homeland.
“He was waiting on the border to attack Merro with a full contingent of Flame Riders before the Oblivion was unleashed,” Havoc said quietly, taking care that his voice didn’t carry as far as Nallia and her husband.
Finn nodded and shrugged at her. “The High Lord of Merro was nothing at all like you, Jala. What you build will be a much better place,” he whispered.
“What we build,” she corrected and leaned against him.
“What we build,” he agreed, squeezing her hand lightly. He stood slowly, taking care that he didn’t bump her as he did. Tugging lightly on her hand he motioned for her to stand as well. “Come dance with me; others are already dancing,” he said.
She looked doubtfully at the couples dancing to the fast-paced music. “I don’t know how to dance like that, Finn,” she objected, but stood slowly when he continued to tug on her hand lightly.
Laughing, he shook his head at her. “Vezradesh, there is no proper set way to do anything in Firym, you just simply do it. Let go of inhibitions and move with the music. That’s all there is to it.”
She smiled at the use of the now familiar word and followed him toward the clearing in the garden that was serving as the dance floor. “Which meaning do you think of when you call me that?” she asked as they reached the edge.
“All of them, heart, love, eternity. It all describes you perfectly,” he replied and swept her out onto the grass for her first attempt at what the Firym considered dancing.
Out of breath and sweating, Jala left the dancing with a wide smile on her face. She wasn’t sure how many songs they had danced to, but even Finn seemed out of breath.
“See, that wasn’t so bad,” Finn said with a grin and snagged two glasses of what looked like wine from a passing servant. He sniffed the drink carefully before handing one over to her. “Wine, not sure what flavor though but it’s not pepper.”
Taking a dainty sip she sampled it and nodded with approval. “Raspberry I think, though I’m not sure either. It’s cold though and that’s all that matters right now.” She followed him from the brighter lit parts of the garden and took a seat beside him on a stone bench. Stretching out her legs, she flexed her toes in the sandals and took a long breath. “I need a bath now,” she said with a faint laugh and wiped sweat from her brow. “It’s so humid here. I’ve never been in this type of climate before.”
He nodded as he shrugged out of his jacket and let it drop to the bench beside him. He wore a gold linen shirt with a red vest over it and was unbuttoning the vest as well. “Formal uniforms are just too much. What’s the point of a fully buttoned jacket as well as a vest? No one ever sees the vest,” he grumbled.
“You looked very good in it,” she offered, taking another sip of the wine and watching him.
He finished with the vest and tugged the shirt out, for a moment she thought he intended to shed it as well but seemed satisfied with simply untucking it and loosening the collar. Putting his arms behind him on the bench he leaned back and stared up at the star-filled sky.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, her own gaze following his up to the night sky. Despite the lights of the city, the sky shone brightly with stars.
“Wondering if I can get away with sneaking off with you without being rude. It’s early and likely they will want us to stay longer but I’d rather leave,” he answered, his gaze still on the heavens but the smile on his face was for her.
“You can blame it on me tomorrow. Tell them I’m not as enduring as the Firym women and I simply couldn’t handle anymore dancing,” she offered as she slid closer to him on the bench. She took another long drink from the wine and kept her gaze on him.
“Or I could tell them the truth that I wanted to have you to myself,” he countered and leaned over, kissing her neck lightly.
She shivered at the touch and smiled up at him as she turned her head slightly to kiss him. “Or you could tell them that,” she agreed.
He rose and tugged her gently to her feet. Taking the wine glass from her hand he set it down beside his own on the bench and picked up his discarded clothing. With a final glance toward the celebration he led her out the back of the garden and down a dimly lit street.
“Where are we going?” she asked finally. She had expected they would return to Sanctuary or perhaps a room in the palace.
“Just a bit further,” he assured her. His pace was faster than normal, walking briskly with an arm around her waist. The surroundings were a bit familiar and Jala thought she recognized one of the fountains from earlier that day. He came to a stop outside a two story house and headed up the steps. Ivy grew thick along the stone walls with roses blooming to either side of the stairs. Fishing in his pocket he removed a set of keys and unlocked the door. “Our house,” he explained at her look of confusion. With a nudge of his hip, he pushed the door open and held it for her while she entered.
“I thought you had rooms in the palace,” she said entering the dark room.
“I do, but there is no privacy in the palace,” Finn explained. Dropping the keys on a table near the doorway he touched a mage light that bathed the entry hall in a soft blue glow. While plain in comparison with the palace, the house was well furnished and cared for. “I usually spend a few months a year here, but it is maintained by my family when I’m gone. So there will be fresh sheets and there won’t be dust everywhere.” he hung his jacket on a peg and tossed the vest down beside the keys. With a wave he motioned her on into the house.
She heard him lock the door behind them and moved on into the house. It wasn’t large by noble standards but by the country houses she had known near Bliss this was a mansion.
She was looking around the living room when he moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her stomach. “I’d rather give you the full tour tomorrow,” he said quietly in her ear and kissed her on the neck.
Turning in his arms she gave him another kiss and then froze. Stepping back quickly she looked toward the door with a bit of panic. “I forgot Marrow, I left him at the party,” she blurted and prayed the Bendazzi hadn’t gotten into any trouble.
Finn burst into laughter and straightened up crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at her with amusement. “Marrow is a full grown Bendazzi and I sincerely doubt he wants to be anywhere near this house. I’m sure he will be fine. He is likely hunting in the jungles right now. You know he really doesn’t like getting his food from our hands,” he assured her. “I think I might be mildly offended that you could spare a thought for him. You know you are supposed to be entirely focused on me,” he added with a bit of sarcasm.
Blushing, she nodded and glanced up at him. “I’m sorry, I really am, that wasn’t at all appropriate,” she said with a helpless shrug.
Pulling her over to him he kissed her again and smiled. “No harm done. Just shows I’ll have to work harder to keep your attention focused on me.”
With no effort at all he picked her up and carried her through a doorway at the back of the house. He sat her down again on the edge of a bed and began unbuttoning his shirt. She watched him remove the shirt and toss it aside and felt her mouth growing dry with nerves. “Finn, I’ve never...” she let her voice trail off as he moved to sit beside her.
Silently removing the pins and flowers from her hair, he gave her another kiss and pulled the strap holding her top in place. “It’s just like dancing, Vezradesh, simply let go of inhibitions an
d move,” he murmured in her ear and began to work his way down with kisses.
Her breath began to quicken at his touch and she closed her eyes and leaned back as his fingers nimbly triggered the clasps on her skirt. Pushing her back gently on the bed, Finn continued to work his way lower and her breath came in short gasps. Digging her nails into his shoulder she followed his advice and let go of inhibitions.
Chapter 32
Firym
“I’m going to butcher who ever that is and have Marrow eat the evidence,” Finn grumbled as the knocking on the door came again.
“Mmkay,” she agreed sleepily, and burrowed further into his arm, her cheek resting on the edge of his chest.
The knock came again this time more of a pounding and Finn uttered a curse that was more growl than actual language. “One would think if I didn’t answer the damn door the first three times that I wouldn’t answer it on the fourth.”
“How about the fifth?” Jala asked and rolled away as he rose quickly, his speed fueled by his temper. Rolling back over onto her stomach she looked up at him sleepily through a tangle of curls. “Slap whoever it is for me too and come back to bed.”
He paused in pulling on his pants and looked down at her with almost a pained expression. “Damn, I don’t want to open that door,” he complained and leaned over to give her a kiss.
Pushing up onto her elbows she met him halfway for the kiss and gave him a devilish smile. “I don’t want you to either. As much as they are knocking it must be important and you know you won’t be coming back to bed.” She let her arms slide slowly back under the pillow and lowered herself back onto the bed, stretching like a cat.
“You learn fast,” Finn said with a bit of admiration and gave a heavy sigh. “I could almost ignore the knocking with an invitation like that,” he admitted and finished fastening his pants.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Bk 1 In Shades of Grey Page 47