by Shea, K. M.
There was really no way to find out how much he knew.
The thought was almost as unsettling as Tari’s recent realization about Arion and her feelings, but at least it was a problem she could address. Exchanging tit for tat, Tari would learn human.
“Did you have any tutors in mind?” Evlawyn asked, shattering Tari’s thoughts.
Tari grinned, her first real smile since the previous night. “I do,” she admitted. “Three of them, actually, which is why I need your help.”
Tari frowned as she walked through the confounding hallways of the south wing. For the last half hour she tried to find her way to the servant’s quarters, where Evlawyn would be waiting for her—hopefully with information on their targets.
However, instead of finding her way to the quarters Tari was drawn like a moth to a flame to the south wing of the palace. She had been trying to exit it since she accidentally entered it, but something kept pulling her around and around the wing, unwilling to release her.
Tari sighed when she reached a familiar hallway. She had been avoiding it since this odd calling hooked her, but perhaps it was why she was here.
Instead of veering away from it as she had done for the past half hour, Tari glided down the hallway, making a right turn to a smaller passageway. She stopped in front of a familiar door and threw it open without ceremony, entering Arion’s office.
“This report is an embarrassment. You included no details on the physical characteristics of the thief, nor did you get the contact information of the victim. You are a competent patrol leader but your reports humiliate our office. Do it again,” Arion crisply said, his eyes narrowed and eyebrows furrowed as he passed a pack of sheets to one of three Honor Guards standing in his office.
He set his eyes on the next patrol leader, who seemed ready to quake under Arion’s thunderous gaze.
“You,” Arion started, brandishing his words like a whip.
“Arion,” Tari said, walking deeper into the room. She edged past the patrol leaders, giving them an encouraging smile as she joined Arion behind his desk.
One of the patrol leaders audibly sighed in relief. The other two straightened and saluted her.
Arion looked over to Tari, his eyebrows still furrowed although he offered her a welcoming nod.
Tari leaned in Arion’s direction. “Dismiss them for a few minutes, please?”
Arion frowned but turned to his men. “You will excuse us. Wait in the hallway until I call you back in,” he barked.
The trio trooped out of the office, closing the door behind themselves, and Arion slumped in his chair.
“I don’t know why you insist on carrying on like normal when you get these headaches,” Tari said, sitting on the edge of Arion’s desk. “You are a bear to deal with when you get them. You could at least take something to relieve the pain,” she said as she reached around Arion and massaged his neck before sliding her fingers in the grooves at the base of his skull. Since her first run in with a migraine stricken Arion, Tari had cured the captain of his headaches at least an additional four times.
Arion closed his eyes, his breathing deepening as relief started to hit him. “Before you there was no way to relieve the pain.”
Tari chuckled. “Before me I’m certain you did not get these headaches quite as often,” she teased, gently tilting Arion’s head to better get at the tense muscles.
When she was finished Tari dropped her hands in her lap and smiled at her bond partner.
Arion opened his eyes half mast, the edges of his lips curling up in a barely imperceptible smile. “Thank you.”
“Next time you get one send for me.”
“I would not want to burden you with such a trite thing. I will not have you at my beck and call.”
Tari swatted his words away with her hand. “Please, if I could release your pain and save your poor men some fright I am happy to be of service. Unless I’m practicing with Seer Ringali. Then you’ll just have to wait,” Tari teased.
Arion’s smile transformed into a half smirk before it dropped off his face altogether. He groaned and opened his eyes all the way before straightening in the chair. “You are off?” he asked as Tari stood, straightening her soft dress.
“Yes, I’m late for a meeting with my handmaiden, although this might work out better than I thought.”
“Very well. Send the yapping lapdogs back in on your way out, please,” Arion said.
Tari smiled at the apt description as she ducked back around the desk and headed for the door. “They may yap, but they respect you.”
“Perhaps,” Arion said, sounding unconvinced.
Tari laughed as she slipped out of the room, closing the door behind herself.
Arion’s patrol leaders were lined up in the hallway. The second Tari shut the door they all performed the sign for “life saver” and said “Our Hero!” in human.
Evlawyn appeared in the hallway at that moment, holding a sheet of paper. A very smug smile was pressed on her lips in an un-Evlawyn like display, but Tari also could not help the predator smile that bubbled up in her.
“Yes,” she agreed in human, making the patrol leaders slack jawed. “Can you be mine hero?” she said, aware her accent was poor but hopefully passable.
The guards’ eyes widened, showing they understood as Evlawyn passed Tari the paper.
Tari glanced at it and smirked. She and Evlawyn slowly sauntered closer to the guards like wild cats closing in on prey. The soldiers gulped and clustered together, and Tari smiled. “Good afternoon Patrol Leaders Grygg, Thad, and Wilford,” she said in Calnoric.
“Horses. Hor-ses. Those horses are a matched set,” Grygg said primly before he sipped tea from a dainty, porcelain tea cup.
“Those horses are a matched set,” Tari repeated in Calnoric, copying the patrol leader’s syllable stress.
“What time was tea served?” Thad asked, holding out his cup and saucer so Evlawyn could refill it.
“Noon,” Tari said.
“Ah-ah-ah,” Grygg said, shaking a finger. “Lazy reply.”
“The tea was served in noon,” Tari said.
“At, not in,” the last patrol leader, Wilford, corrected before selecting a macaroon.
“The tea was served at noon,” Tari repeated. Her tongue felt pained, but ever since Arion’s morning patrol leaders had agreed to help her learn human, her understanding had greatly increased. Her pronunciation needed work as it was not something she could silently acquire a talent for, but Arion’s men were just as brilliant and hardnosed as their captain, and they never hesitated to correct her.
“Would you……black tea or green tea,” Thad asked, some of his words getting lost in the muddle of human before he gestured to the tea pot.
“Please, once more, more slowly?” Tari asked.
“Would you,” Thad started, waiting for Tari’s nod. “Prefer,”
“Prefer?” Tari asked.
“Desire, want,” Wilford said.
“Would you prefer,” Thad repeated. “A brew of black tea or green tea?”
Tari hesitated. “Black, please, with fat cow milk.”
The patrol leaders blankly stared at Tari, their tea cups all held in various poses, before shaking their heads.
“Who taught you that phrase?” Grygg said, he spoke quickly, not expecting Tari to understand, although she did.
“Not us,” Thad emphatically said. “No, never say fat cow milk. It’s cream.”
“Black, please, with cream,” Tari repeated.
“Next,” Grygg said, nodding his thanks to Evlawyn when she topped off his cup of tea. “Halt in the name of the King,” he said carefully before sipping his tea.
“Halt in the name of the King? When is she going to use that?” Thad scoffed, adding a dash of sugar to his tea.
“Captain will kill us…she…goes…patrol,” Wilford said, slumping in the settee in Tari’s sitting room.
Evlawyn cleared his throat, and the young patrol leader jerked forward, corr
ecting his posture.
Tari frowned slightly, inwardly disappointed with herself. While she was picking up human words and grammar rules she wasn’t good enough! Whenever Grygg, Thad, or Wilford spoke at a normal speed she had a difficult time picking out words she recognized, much less understood.
“Lady Tari,” Thad said, recapturing her attention. “You are doing great. Well done,” he said with an emphatic nod.
Tari shook her head. “Not yet. Hailt in the namane of the King.”
“Halt in the name of the King,” Grygg repeated as Thad shot him a dirty look.
“Hailt in the namane of the King.”
“No, halt. Halt. Name. Two parts, not three. Na-me,” he said.
“What……………Tari?” Wilford asked.
Tari shook his head, his whole sentence was lost to her. “Please, once more, more slowly?”
Wilford thoughtfully frowned as he set his dainty tea cup down. “At parties, humans ask you what?” he said, executing a few sign gestures to get his point across.
Tari thoughtfully shifted. “Capetain Arion.”
“Captain,” Wilford corrected.
“Captain Arion, the food and drink, daughters, my bond, Captain Arion, and weather,” Tari listed.
“Daughters?” Thad asked.
“King Petyrr.”
“Ahh.”
“Food and drink? I see,” Thad said, thinking for a moment as he sipped his tea.
Wilford held out the tray of tea treats. “Would you like a cookie?”
“Yes please,” Tari said, reaching for the tray.
Wilford held it just out of reach. “Ask a question,” he suggested before bringing the tray closer.
Tari thought for a moment before saying, “Which one tastes best?”
Thad nodded. “Well said. Good accent, but in royal company you should say ‘Which one do you recommend?’”
“Which one do you r-recommend?” Tari asked, stumbling slightly.
Wilford smiled to show his approval before replying. “The elvish green tea cookies taste…”
“Taste how?” Tari asked.
“Fantastic,” Wilford said, carefully pronouncing the word. “They taste very good.”
“Thank you, then I will try a green tea cookie,” Tari said, selecting a slightly green hued cookie from the tray.
Grygg frowned slightly and straightened in his chair. “What hour is it?”
Tari leaned forward to glance through the open doorway that led into her bedroom, getting a look at the sunlight. “I think it is almost third hour,” she said.
Grygg brightened and grinned at Tari. “I say, well done Lady Tari! I am glad you caught that,” he said, clapping.
Wilford, however, set the treat tray down and stood. “We have to go then. Our patrol reports are due in two hours.”
Grygg said something that sounded like an agreement, but Tari didn’t recognize any of the words.
The soldiers dutifully placed their emptied tea cups on the tea tray and straightened any cushions they might have flattened before inspecting each other’s uniforms for crumbs and creases.
“That was a lovely tea, Lady Tari. Thank you for inviting us,” Thad said, taking care to enunciate his words.
Tari smiled and also stood. “Thank you for coming. I shall see you for tea, again, tomorrow?”
All three of the patrol leaders bowed.
“We look forward to it,” Thad smiled, stepping out of Tari’s sitting room.
“Think of topics to discuss,” Wilford advised, following his friend.
“Halt in the name of the King,” Grygg, the last guard in the room, hopefully said.
“Halt in the name of the King,” Tari parroted back.
Based on Grygg’s beaming smile, she said it correctly.
“Grygg, stop that,” Thad called from the hallway, an accent of irritation to his words.
Grygg winked before hurrying after his fellow patrol leaders. “Coming!”
Evlawyn shut the door behind them before turning her attention to the tea dishes. “They seem to help you a fair bit, My Lady.”
“They do. Thank you for helping me convince them to tutor me,” Tari agreed, finally eating her selected green tea cookie.
“It was no trouble at all. I didn’t do much besides find out their names, families, and where they are roomed in the barracks from the human servants. The men agreed easily enough to help you,” Evlawyn smiled.
“Yes, but we wouldn’t be able to have our daily teas if you were not so crafty with procuring extra tea and treats for me,” Tari said.
Evlawyn curtsied in response.
The young guards were kept rather busy by their duties, but they were able to slip in a half hour tutoring session every day during their break period. In thanks to the soldiers for giving her their spare time, Tari served them tea and treats from the royal kitchens—something they delighted in.
“Have a cookie, Evlawyn. Wilford likes the green tea cookies, but honestly I find the lemon tarts to be the best,” Tari advised.
Evlawyn hesitated before trying the lemon tart. Her eyes widened at the tangy flavor. “That is delicious,” she said, swallowing her mouthful. “How do you feel your human lessons are going?” Evlawyn asked after she finished the rest of the tart.
“It’s hard to say. I know I’m learning it quite fast, but it’s frustrating because I’m still not good enough,” Tari said, frowning again.
“You are good enough to hold conversations with the patrol leaders,” Evlawyn said.
“Yes, but my pronunciation is off, and I can’t understand them unless they speak slowly,” Tari said, folding her arms across her chest.
“It normally takes an elf scholar years to get as far as basic conversation,” Evlawyn said. There was no hint of reproach in her voice, but she spoke quietly.
Tari sighed, her shoulders slumping. “You are right, of course. Dear Evlawyn, whatever would I do without you?” Tari said, smiling at her handmaiden.
Evlawyn smiled brightly at the affection in Tari’s voice and curtsied again. “It is my pleasure to serve you, My Lady.”
Approximately a week and a half later, Tari stood with a number of elves at Princess Claire’s weekly evening tea.
Each week there seemed to be more and more guests. Tari had yet to actually speak to the young princess and thank her for the weekly personal invitation that started showing up since Arion had removed his block on the activity.
However, Tari made certain to express her thanks to Arion, and decided he would likely carry her words back to Princess Claire.
“How ever did you convince Seer Ringali to come, Tari?” Kiva asked, nudging Tari.
“Truthfully I think he was curious,” Tari said, glancing to her teacher. He stood a short distance away, talking to Crown Princess Yvrea. Crown Prince Benjimir was with them, a translator hovering behind his shoulder.
“All I did was extend the invitation. He agreed without any sort of pressure,” Tari added.
“How odd. I thought Seer Ringali would be above this kind of thing,” Talon said, thoughtfully rubbing the side of his wine goblet before drinking. “Although I suppose, this is Seer Ringali’s first time in Haven, yes?”
“It is,” Tari said, her tea cup clinking when she set it on the saucer she held.
A burst of laughter across the room from King Petyrr drew Tari’s attention for a moment.
The robust Calnor King was standing with King Celrin, who was smiling and nodding politely to an inquisitive guest that passed the two kings.
Every since Tari first stormed the tea King Petyrr and King Celrin were consistent guests. Crown Princess Yvrea had not come last week, but she clearly would try to attend whenever possible, and whenever Crown Princess Yvrea came Crown Prince Benjimir attended as well.
In general the human royals seemed to make a bigger effort to attend the tea. The two middle princes did not attend every week, but Tari had seen glances of them and their elf bond mates. The Calnor q
ueen, Queen Luciee, however, had yet to attend.
As Tari studied the tea guests she caught sight of Eric, who was approaching a party of ladies directly next to Tari and her companions.
“Talon, how do you like Eric?” Tari asked, glancing at her older cousin before returning her gaze to Eric.
“He seems nice, for a human. Honestly I don’t know why he is still in Haven. He runs the family manor since Captain Arion is unavailable to oversee it. I had hoped he would have gone home by now,” Talon shrugged before reaching up to scratch a tapered ear.
Eric smiled engagingly at the young ladies, who seconds ago were chattering animatedly with each other. They stared at the young man with blank faces. Tari discreetly edged closer to them, hoping to hear whatever Eric said to the girls.
“I suspect it has something to do with Princess Claire,” Kiva hesitatingly said. “Only one of her sisters has returned home—the married one. I think they’re staying for emotional support.”
“Good evening ladies,” Eric warmly said.
“Good evening, Sir Herycian,” the girls said with stiff civility.
Talon and Kiva continued to talk, but Tari concentrated on the conversation taking place next to her.
“You all look beautiful tonight,” Eric said.
The girls exchanged looks before one of them, a blonde with pretty hair and a sneering nose, said in a derogatory tone, “Thank you.”
Tari noticed that Crown Prince Benjimir was also watching Eric and the ladies.
“Are the…. To your liking?” he asked. Tari guessed he was referring to the food and drinks based on the fact that he gestured to the treat table.
“I suppose so,” the blonde, who was apparently the leader, said with a haughty sniff.
Eric’s smile did not falter, and he cheerfully forged ahead in spite of the ladies’ off-putting manners. “I am glad to hear it. Would any of you care to dance?” he asked, turning to give them a view of the few human couples that were dancing at the far end of the room by a string quartet.