by R. J. Lloyd
“So, this was recent?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. The condition slows their metabolism permanently. Unlike us, they do age. But unlike their original human forms, they age much, much slower. I believe he is over a hundred years old.”
“And now he is a raider for hire? What did he do before this?” I found myself completely enraptured.
He shrugged. “I do not know. I only know that he does his work well. Better than I’ve ever employed in the past. What he does with all of the spoils I pay him? I do not know. But I speculate it might have something to do with how his city stays fed.”
“You think he…”
“I can only speculate. But what he does with his earnings is none of my business. My only business is if he does the work I pay him for. And that he does.” Kane seemed proud to speak of the man.
I processed the information for a moment. “Wornoichen?”
“Wornoichen.” Kane walked us into a general goods shop. We made our way to the back where he handed me a small ornate dagger.
"This is pretty...." I was a little lost as to why he put the blade in my hands.
"Everyone in this world has weapons. You need to carry that one with you at all times.” Kane flagged over the shop keeper.
I looked around at my outfit and bit my lip. "Where would I keep it? Just carry it in my hand? Or do women carry purses here?"
He chuckled. "Well you could. People do carry what you know of as a purse, if I recall from my short stay on your planet. Women here wear elaborate armor as well, especially things that strap to thighs. Or they have bags like that.” He pointed to a messenger bag on a rack nearby.
"Oh. Yeah. It's a harsher world here... more battle torn." I sounded sad for a moment but looked over at the bag, distracting myself. Seeing something a little more my style behind it, I pulled it off the rack, thinking about my actual purse that was somewhere in the castle. Someplace I didn't know. I almost spiraled into a panic attack, worried about who might have it or might know I wasn’t from Naelyra.
"Are you okay, my dear? What's wrong?" He walked over to me, examining my reaction.
My eyes met his. "My purse... my clothes. My things from my planet are in it, and none of it look like it's from here. They’re somewhere in your castle. What if one of your servants finds any of it? What will happen to me if someone finds out?"
He wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “Auri, my people are used to travelers and such. I have had portals opened in the foyer when they worked. Besides, they are under my employ. They would come to me before anyone else if they had questions. But I do believe Sarah placed all of your things in our room. She is the only person allowed in there aside from me… and you now, of course.”
Allowing myself to relax a bit, I exhaled. "Okay. That's good." I attempted a smile, realizing I was wringing the strap of the bag I had been holding.
I went to put it back on the rack, but he held his hand out to take it. "You know you can keep that bag as well right? I am fine with that. You will need and want things. And I want you to have them.”
I held out the embroidered bag hesitantly. "Yeah? I mean, you've already bought me a few outfits, jewels, food, a weapon. I mean, if this were a dream? I'd get a few more outfits like this and lots of bags, accessories, some pretty things for the room in the castle to make it feel like it's part mine and on and on and on. But this isn't a dream. And I'm sure your money has limits. And that's not my room, let alone my castle."
“Clothes, bags, jewelry, shoes, brushes, undergarments. Hell, you can decorate rooms if your heart desires it. I can buy you three of everything in every one of these shops and still not feel it financially. Shop away." His fingers traced my jawline.
A man nearby chuckled, waving to Kane. "He's pretty much the richest being on this planet. He has funded wars for centuries. I think he can spare a few coins on clothes and baubles for his lady."
A silence fell between us all as Kane debated how to respond to the man speaking out of turn in his presence, knowing who he was. Kane centered himself with a slow breath and shrugged it off, accepting its truth. "I made a few fortunes over the years and stolen a few more on top of that. I have enough, and I do wish for you to be happy. If you want to by a few things for our room. Then do so. If you want to decorate the entire castle, do so. As long as you do not remove my collection entirely. If you want clothes, shop or have Sarah make them. If you want jewels, I’ll have them mined for you if that is what you wish. Like I have expressed, cost is no concern of mine."
"His lady?" I was stuck on that observation. "Does it appear as if we are together, sir?" I directed my question to the man who had brashly spoken up.
The merchant set down the small box of trinkets he had been setting out and smiled wide. "I cannot remember the King walking around with a woman before. Especially not one on his arm such as you are. And definitely not one dressed in Queen's robes."
I blinked, my gaze diverting to Kane. "Queen's robes, huh?" I fanned my skirts out, lifting it slightly and kicking a foot out enough to see a single shoe. "Is that what all this is? Queen's robes?"
"All that it is? My lady, those are exquisite. Those stones grow so rarely in this world. He is dressing you like royalty!" The man crossed his arms and looked offended by what he perceived was my dismissal of my attire.
Kane waved his hands. "Roman, I don't think that is what she intended. And I would give a word of warning that if this is how she is dressed, and I have chosen that attire, then you may want to speak to her with the respect of that station. Should you not?"
The man slunk back behind the counter, bowing his head. “Yes. Thank you for correcting me.”
Kane turned his attention to me. “Your attire was selected to suit you… who you are. Take that as it may be.”
I looked to the merchant and cocked my stance, a hand on my hip. "What I said was 'what all this is', not all that this is, sir. And if I'm in queen's robes? As Kane pointed out, I am pretty sure lecturing me would not be the correct choice of action. Tact is an underrated asset. I suggest you use it." I whipped back to Kane, tugging him out of earshot of the embarrassed and slightly scared merchant. "You're right. But are you dressing me like your queen? Should I be conducting myself in a different manner than just some female guest? Considering the fact that you said our room, am I supposed to act more appropriately?"
“You are supposed to be you, not someone you’re not.” When he saw that I was staring up at him, confusion pulling at my brow, he tried again, “The kind of person you are describing? I have been around many. You do not see any one of them by my side because they are not who I want. You are by my side. And I do not wish you to behave like someone you are not just because you are wearing some fancy gown and stones.”
My entire body warmed with his words, my heart thudding harder in my chest. I smirked in a very obvious way and stepped closer to him. "You really don't care if I make it feel like ... like it's part mine as well? The room?"
Kane leaned over and kissed me. "Not at all. We can make it ours. Pay no mind to Roman. He needs to mind his tongue lest he wants to lose it.” He eyed the merchant and spoke up. "Make sure that anything she wants, she has, and it is delivered to the castle."
"Apologies, of course." The stoutly gentleman bowed then turned back to his station, smiling widely.
"Thank you." I wasn't sure if that was the appropriate response, but I hoped it was enough. Unsure why Kane hadn’t scolded me for being so bold in my reply to the merchant, let alone why the shopkeeper was smiling so much, I resolved to not asking either question and just went about looking around the shop.
Chapter
Seven
Protection
After Kane gave me instructions to do as I wish with shopping and even decorating, I tested the waters with something that had captured me across the room. I walked over a few steps and pointed at a painting on the wall, "Kane? Can we have this hung in our room or somewhere in the castle I would frequen
t? I really love it."
Stepping up next to me, he examined the piece of art. A smile grew on his lips as he nodded. "Yes. I don't see why not. Why does it strike you?"
I tilted my head at the painting. The brush strokes making waves in the water and bends in the branches that all blended so well with the starry, nighttime sky. It made me feel something. I had seen thousands of paintings, sure. But this was almost an impressionist style of the northern, Naelyrian landscape. So, it’s overall feel was different. And something about the location it depicted caught me, pulling me in.
"It doesn't really remind me of home. The trees and the water are different. But something feels welcoming and familiar.... like you." I turned to him and smiled, putting my hand on his arm. "If it's a real place, I'd love to see it one day if possible."
He stood there looking at it, a heaviness clouding his vision. "I can take you to the location, but this painting? It is very old. And those lands have been ravaged. I can not say it will look as it does here.”
“Then it holds the memories of that place. I would like it for home, please." My attention was on it fully, taking in the swirls and blends of the colors. “You know of it though?”
His voice was low. “I do. Very well. I played there as a child.”
My breath caught. “When you were human?”
“Yes.” He looked like he was a million miles away in thought.
“Should we…”
He stopped me, motioning to Raman. “Have this carefully sent and hung in our chambers over the fireplace.”
“Right away.” Roman removed it from the wall and started to wrap the painting.
"Thank you,” My words came out in a breath.
“You are more than welcome.” He placed a hand on my lower back, working our way to the door in silence until we reached the sidewalk. “We have other places to go. Are you ready?”
I waved my hand, trying to brush away my tug to the landscape in the painting and its connection to him. "No. Yes. Sorry. Just thinking. May I come back another time?"
"Of course.” He offered me his hand. “Then let us take our leave.”
"Where to, Kane? What's next?" The brisk air was affecting me less and less as we went, shadowed by my excitement.
"Well, you might be interested in this little place I understand many rather enjoy for entertainment." He tipped his chin to a many in full armor, stationed in front of a rather ornate door.
For a moment, I couldn’t peel my eyes from the passageway that was being guarded, but he patted my hand and tugged me along. People continued to part for us as Kane and I walk through the streets. Many watching us long after we’d passed.
A couple blocks up the road, I stopped. “Can we?” I made my way over to a door. “Plants? Can we look?”
He chuckled. “Go. Do not let me stop you if it is something that has your interest.”
I walked into the little shop, instantly warmed by the change in temperature as the door opened. Various plants of all shapes and sizes adorned racks, shelves, sat in every corner and hung from the ceilings and walls. Many different shades of greens, reds and blues, their shapes reminding me of succulents from my world. Others more like ivy or climbing vines, draping leaves, entwining stalks. And still, others were adorned in blooms of such a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. They were all so beautiful.
I sucked in a breath. “They’re amazing!” As I made my way around the room, I found it difficult not to reach out and touch every one of them. "Oh! Can we? Can we hang and set plants throughout the castle? I don’t recall seeing any since I arrived. Is there a horticulturist I can work with? I can have someone make sure I'm picking the right kind of plants for their pots and the rooms for light and such. And then they can make sure it's done right. Can we?"
Kane elevated his nose like I spoke a word he didn’t know and tried to pronounce it. "Hornticulti-what now? Hornitculturtlalist?" His tongue tied. "Well, I have never heard that word, but I think we could find a gardener for you. If that is something you want."
Practically bouncing as I walked, I made my way back to him. “That’s what I meant. Sorry. A gardener. Horticulturist is someone that specializes in plant life on Earth. They’re a more studied gardener.”
“Yes, I will give that to you, if not simply to make you smile as brightly as you do now." He watched me, reaching out and pushing a lock of hair behind my ear. Wonder filled his eyes. My reactions to things and joy in his world seemed to pull at him. “Your passion and excitement are enchanting. You make me feel things I’ve not felt in a very long time.”
I stopped bouncing and gripped his shirt, pulling myself up to him. “What is that?”
His hands came up and went to my cheeks. His lips gently pressed to each of my eyes before moving to my ear as he whispered. “My humanity.”
I kissed his neck just below his jaw. “All this because I love plants?”
A corner of his mouth turned up. “All this because you are like no other woman I’ve ever met, little one.”
My eyes met his, and my breath caught. For a long moment, we stood there. His hands on my face, my hands clenching his shirt, our eyes looking past the other’s and into our souls.
Finally, I broke our trance and lowered down from my tiptoes. Reaching over and grabbing whatever small pot was within reach, I held it up. “This one?”
He let go of me and smiled, not breaking his gaze. “Perfect.”
I knew there was more behind the word. He wasn’t speaking of the plant. He hadn’t even looked at it. But I pulled it into my chest and smiled. “Thank you.”
Flagging down the shopkeeper, who had been pruning a seedling that was already blooming a brilliant, orange blossom, Kane placed an order for a few of the pots I had pointed out to be sent to the castle. He scheduled a time for the city’s best gardener to meet with me to make arrangements for more before heading out again.
Before we could exit, the shopkeeper rushed up, “Your highness.” He bowed to Kane. “My lady.” He bowed to me as well. “May I?” With both hands, he held a seedling out to me.
Kane nodded. “You may.”
I looked to Kane and back to the man before me. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you, but hopefully one day, it’ll grow and fulfil its role in your home if you will accept it.” The man kept his eyes diverted.
I took the small plant, cradling it in both of my hands, bringing it to my face to take in its scent.
He reached out, gripping my wrists. “No!” Letting go, his eyes went wide, and he let stepped back a couple paces. “I am sorry. The eointhias has strong healing properties if allowed to flourish. Just having a healthy one in a room can aid in calming the body to heal faster. However, it can be used as a sedative. Breathing too much of its essence in can put someone in a permanent state of sleep. And only one herb in Naelyra can bring them out.”
“They are rare, especially in the north,” Kane interjected. “It is quite the gift.”
The shopkeeper bowed his head and took another step back. “I have the parent to it. It is one of a few cuttings I have cultivated. I can see no better keeper for it. It would be an honor.”
“Wow. Thank you.” I smiled and held it carefully. “The honor is mine.”
"Well Auriena, you know, we will simply have to make a trip to the Emalne villages if you love nature this much. There, you will get to encounter all sorts of greenery,” Kane offered.
“Oh really? Like really, really? That would be amazing!” I looked around some more. “Maybe we can put a greenhouse in the castle if you do not already have one.”
A smile spread across his face. "Yes really, really. We will have to talk to the builder.” He took the small cutting from my grip and handed it to the man. “Please have this delivered with the others with instructions for it to be set on my desk in the library. She will certainly be in there a great deal of time. Since we will be out for a while, I would hate for something to damage it.”
“Of course. Right away.” The shopkeeper took it and rushed back to his counter, starting the paperwork for their order.
I nudged his arm, shaking my head. "This is a dream, right? None of this is real. You're not real. I'm going to wake up in my life on Earth. A life I felt was just fine until now. But I’ll wake to find all of this will have been nothing but a dream."
"Does this not feel real to you?" He tilted my head up and kissed me lovingly.
I gazed into his features, memorizing his features. "If I were to wake up to find this was a dream, I'd go looking for you."
"Well, luckily it's not a dream" He kissed me again.
"Very lucky." I grinned and returned my attention to the shopkeeper. “Again, thank you. Have a wonderful day.” I tugged Kane to the door.
He followed me out, tossing a bag of coins onto the counter on our way. “I haven't shown you the book shop."
I stood very still, my eyes going wide, my mouth slowly opened. In almost a whisper, I asked, “There’s a book shop? You have a library and a book shop? Is it big? What kind of books? What’s it called?”
He took my hand and walked me around the corner, motioning to another brick building. "Possibly one of the biggest in the world. My books, in the castle, are just my personal collection."
The towering, five story construction was brick like so many of the other structures around it, but it was ornately decorated with copper overhangs over the windows, carvings of creatures on the corners of the roof and stained-glass designs of literature in all of the windows. The entrance, two delicately carved, massive, wood doors. They opened inward, almost welcoming its visitors into another realm as they entered.
My eyes closed as I breathed deeply, the smell of books being virtually the same there as it was on earth.
“Kanedraven, Your Highness. What brings you to my humble bookshop?” A man’s voice drew closer to us.
“Alret. It is good to see you.” He clasped the man’s hand, giving it a firm shake.
Alret fanned his arm out, motioning to the shop’s counter, his voice jovial and deep. “I have your latest request in. It arrived just this morning. My crew is working to authenticate it as we speak. It should be delivered within a day or two unless they find something that requires more research.”