= = = = = = = =
“Spill.”
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bull testicles.” Adina was nothing if not blunt. “Yesterday
your auras were all cute and cuddling, but today they are linked. There are
threads! Multiple threads! What happened?!”
Ivy sighed. “Elliot cornered me in the main room in the
middle of the night. I was coming back from the privy, he thought I was an
intruder. We… shared a moment.”
“From the look of your auras, it was a really, really long
moment.”
Ivy blushed. “Yes, yes it was.”
Her friends squealed in excitement.
“I’m not keeping my hopes up. I still know things are too
new. But… I might inform my father of a possible suitor.”
Meredith skipped in a circle.
“Oh, my love, if I could See your future I would look for you. I would look
just to know for myself!”
“Spill”
Elliot looked at Devon, slightly confused. Samuel smacked
Elliot on the back, beaming at his friend. “You and Ivy. You can’t keep your
hands or your eyes off of each other. You were still dancing around each other
yesterday, and today it’s a completely different story. You’re acting like a
moron around her. What happened?”
Elliot sighed. “Last night, I thought someone had broken
into our cabin. Turns out it was Ivy. We…” he ran his hands through his hair.
“Dearest Goddess, just her touch…”
The
boys grinned.
Devon elbowed him in the arm. “So, didn’t work in getting
her out of your system, huh?”
Samuel biffed Devon on the back of the head. Elliot sighed.
“We just kissed, ok? Nothing like that.”
Devon nodded like he understood. “Ah, just priming the pump,
then? Getting a taste made you want her all the more.”
“Seriously, how did we become friends?” Samuel made to cuff
Devon again, but Elliot raised his hand & stopped them.
“It’s ok Samuel. He’s somewhat
correct, though horribly crass about it. Kissing her last night just made
things more… real. It made my feelings for her stronger, that’s for certain.”
The two groups found each other again back at the food
carts. They found a table in the shade, and ate together, laughing and joking.
Elliot announced that he would have to be leaving to warm up soon, and everyone
else wished him well in his competition, assuring him that they would be in the
stands, watching. Before he left, Ivy pulled him aside.
“I have something for you”
“Oh?”
“Its customary for a lady to give her knight a token to take
into battle. I know this isn’t exactly battle but… Here, I want you to have
this.”
Ivy handed Elliot a handkerchief of delicate thin white
linen. Embroidered in the corners were swirls of tiny green ivy. Elliot tentatively
held the fabric, fascinated.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you.” He slipped the fabric into a
pocket on his doublet. He looked into Ivy’s eyes, smiling at her. “As is
customary, I will dedicate my victory in battle to the lady whose favor I
carry.” He reached up and gently tucked a stray lock of her hair back behind
her ear. “I will see you after the competition.”
“Yes,” She said, leaning her
head against his touch. “After the competition.”
Elliot was in the corridors within the arena, walking to the
preparation area for the ax throwing competition, when he heard a voice that
made his blood run cold. He froze in his tracks, molded his face into a
practiced mask of empty calm, and turned around.
A man slightly taller than Elliot with short cropped grey
hair and piercing blue eyes walked toward him, with three retainers shadowing
behind him. He walked with a purpose, and arrogance, as though he controlled
everything he could see. The thin circlet of gold and jewels upon his brow was
out of place in this environment, though Elliot had to admit, it was probably
his most modest crown.
“Father? I’m surprised to see you here.”
King XYZ (as yet unnamed) smiled at his son. “Of course. Once your brothers
convinced me of the strategic value of participating in this Festival, I
decided I must see it for myself. Just think of the opportunities! Instead of
recruiting the best gem cutter or metallurgist in our kingdom, I can find and
recruit the best of several kingdoms!” The king had only paused for a moment,
then continued walking, expecting his son to fall in step, which he did. “Our relations
with the western kingdoms have been sorely lax. This has been a wonderful
opportunity for us.”
“Your majesty, where are you staying? In one of the Cabins?”
He laughed. “Oh, no. There are suites available for visiting
dignitaries. They circle the top of the main stadium, and come with private
seating for viewing the games. Your friend Duke Samuel did well in the jousting
this morning. It also has been a wonderful opportunity to socialize with other dignitaries
from the Western kingdoms. Speaking of which,” The King stopped, and turned to his
son. Elliot stood there, a mask of calm indifference on his face, his hands in
his pockets, Ivy’s token in his hand. “I have been in conference with the other
kings of the realm who are in attendance, and making plans for our kingdom’s
future. Now that you have seen the world and have had the opportunity to get
some of your… youthful urges out of your system, it is getting time for you to
settle down. Oh, I have big plans for you, son!”
Elliot fidgeted with the embroidery in his pocket. “What are
your plans, father?”
The King laughed in a jolly way. “Nothing is written with
blood, so they will be revealed in good time, but I am sure that you, my son,
will be most pleased. Now, this is your stop, yes? I look forward to seeing you
in the ax competition. You represent our country, and I know you will make me
proud.” The king beamed at his second son, the dutiful prince, patting him on
the shoulder.
Elliot bowed as his king took his leave “Your will is my
command, father”
He was crushing the handkerchief
in his fist.
No comments:
Post a Comment