She laughed at the thought. At the time she never considered herself a troublemaker. To look back on it now, she could see all the things which must have driven Faustine mad. There was nothing of interest for Aiva there. The girls were bland and much too feminine for Aiva’s taste. “My time at Faustine’s was awful,” she sighed. “Those girls had no idea how boring they were. Whenever I tried to play with them, they screamed that I was too rough. My punishment was many long nights scrubbing the floors or staying locked in my quarters. Apparently young girls aren’t supposed to wrestle each other.”
“Was Shae not under Faustine’s care with you?”
“Oh, she was, but Shae fit in perfectly with the others. I was convinced something must be wrong with me.” Aiva leaned her head back, finishing off the last few drops of wine. She was disappointed to discover it gone already. Lost in their conversation, she hadn’t noticed how quickly she was drinking. “The minute I was allowed to leave Faustine’s house, I couldn’t get out the door fast enough. Her reports on my behavior were less than adequate and filled with disapproval. Thankfully my parents knew it was just my personality, so they took me under their care and set to work teaching me diplomacy. If I couldn’t play every instrument like the other girls, they figured I could at least learn how to put my talkative nature to good use.”
“Well, they must have done something right,” Callum smiled. “Your diplomatic skills are phenomenal. We might still be locked in the Feh Noq prison had it not been for you. This journey has been one surprise after another.”
“With me?” Aiva laughed. “You fought a divastru, Callum. I think that classifies as quite a surprise as well.”
“You killed a tiger. How many of the girls at court can say that?” Callum raised his brow in her direction. “Not even your brother can say that. I think that scores you some points over the boys. Edric and I are going to have to work harder to catch up.”
“I can kill a tiger yet for some reason I still cannot best you in combat,” Aiva waved her hand, dismissive of Callum’s compliment. “That says a great deal about your fighting prowess. You are more cunning than a Tuniron tiger.”
Callum shook his head, chuckling quietly. The waitress approached to gather the empty bowls and glasses, glancing between the two of them questioningly. Aiva stared back at her, unsure of what she wanted until Callum pointed at the empty wine glasses and motioned for the girl to bring two more. “You really are unfamiliar with public eateries, aren’t you?”
“I grew up on dining halls and room service. Tease me all you like. At least I can say I killed a tiger and you cannot,” she jutted her chin out, flashing Callum a cocky smile. He laughed at her, his foot nudging hers in a gentle kick under the table.
“Ah, I suppose you have me there,” he grinned. “Looks like I’ll have to go hunting for jungle cats when we pay our next visit to King Ihklos.”
Lost in their conversation, the next few hours passed in a haze of laughter and wine, losing track of how many glasses the waitress brought to their table. Aiva’s head spun, though not with the intensity she experienced from the Feh Noq wine, leaving her only somewhat tipsy, giggling with more ease than usual. She didn’t mind the sensation. It felt good to relax and simply enjoy Callum’s company. Why had they not done this before? In a single afternoon she felt as if she knew him again. As if they had never been apart, sharing stories of their adventures, teasing one another mercilessly at any chance they had.
Callum had been through so much during his time at sea. She loved to listen to his tales of fighting the pirates, commanding the Tanispan and Siscalian troops. His days were filled with battles, men boarding enemy vessels in attempts to take control of the ships and apprehend the opposing captain. On occasion he’d found himself under attack, fending off the pirates to keep control of his own unit. He was so humble when discussing the brave actions of his men. Aiva leaned her chin on her hands, elbows propped on the table, listening to every story with ever growing attentiveness. She dismissed his questions about her time at home, finding her stories nowhere near as exciting as Callum’s. She preferred to let him continue the flow of conversation. To hear the sound of his voice.
The waitress came by to deliver two more glasses of wine, her approach distracting Aiva briefly, eyes shifting to look at the woman before focusing on Callum once again. “Gadiel fell into the water?” she asked, giggling at the mental image he painted for her. Their nights at sea sounded so much fun! She wished she could have been there with them. “How much wine had he drunk? I cannot believe you even let him near the ledge.”
“We didn’t think he would actually do it!” Callum laughed. “That just goes to show what too much alcohol can do to an otherwise intelligent mind. To his praise, he maintained his balance on the balcony rail for at least ten paces before he faltered. We bet him he would not make it six. Despite the several mouthfuls of water he swallowed, he managed to rob us of some coin that night.”
“How did you get him back on the boat? That water must have been freezing.”
“It took a few of us, but we tossed him a rope and pulled him out. The temperature shocked him back to sobriety for a few minutes. Long enough to hold onto the rope and let us fish him out of the sea,” he grinned. “Once he was safely on deck, we poured him several more drinks to celebrate his victory.”
Shaking her head Aiva laughed, the wine making it difficult to stop. “You have some of the best stories,” she smiled, taking note of a slight slur in her words. Embarrassed, she brought her hand to her mouth, hoping Callum wouldn’t notice. “We should do this more often. I mean… look at us. We’re sitting here, all adult-like – barely having spoken in years and now I feel as if you never left.”
“You always say that and I never understand,” he peered at her through the bottom of his empty wine glass. “Occasionally you make mention of feeling like an adult. Have you not realized that we are in fact… adults?”
“Well – you know what I mean,” she waved distractedly. “I’m so used to being stuck at the palace and when you and I spent time together in the past, it was always to play games in the courtyard…”
“The way you convinced me to play hide-and-seek after dinner while we were guests at Phaezut’s palace?”
She blushed at the memory. It seemed so foolish when he said it. But they were making their own memories they could laugh about when they were older and looking back on this journey. “There was nothing wrong with having a little fun while we were there,” she giggled. “All I’m saying is that this is the first time we’ve really sat down and enjoyed a relaxing conversation. We’re sitting here, in a real tavern, away from our parents, surrounded by scoundrels and prostitutes while drinking far too much wine. I just think this is well overdue.”
“A real tavern, hmm?” Callum winked at her, sliding a new glass of wine toward her. “As opposed to a false one? Did you and Calie pretend to sit in make-believe taverns while I was away? Your brother would be appalled.”
“Oh, you are impossible!” Playfully she stuck out her tongue, giving a quiet raspberry, her lack of coordination sending a spray of spittle across the table. Callum brought his arms up defensively to block the flying saliva, his laughter ringing through the room, now filled with the larger crowds of the evening.
Idly toying with the stem of her wine glass, Aiva slid up against the wall, legs propped casually on the seat beside her. She didn’t care if it was unladylike. She doubted anyone in the room even knew what that word meant. The volume of conversation around them had increased significantly from when they first arrived. From where she sat, she watched one of the women guide a burly man away from a table near the center of the room, his friends calling after him, their comments bawdy and off-color. She found herself disgusted while at the same time morbidly fascinated by whatever improper deeds they intended to do.
Callum’s eyes followed her gaze, both of them silently watching the couple make their way upstairs. Aiva couldn’t take her eyes off them. Ne
ver had she seen anything like it while in Tanispa. Not that her parents would have allowed her to visit an establishment where such activities took place. She found it difficult to believe the profession existed in Tanispa at all.
“It’s amusing, in a depressing sort of way,” Callum said suddenly, cutting through Aiva’s thoughts with his soft tone. Quiet. Making sure not to be overheard by anyone around them.
Without averting her gaze Aiva cocked her head to the side with a questioning expression. “What is there to be amused by?”
“Just look at them,” he replied, gesturing toward the couple as they reached the landing. The woman teasingly tugged at the man’s belt to lure him forward. Aiva shuddered to consider coming anywhere near such a man. His hair was shaggy and unkempt, blackened holes visible in his mouth where teeth had rotted away from poor hygiene. At his side the woman looked like royalty, her blonde locks curled neatly to frame her painted face, dressed in fine silks and expensive garters. Callum looked Aiva over carefully, taking note of the inquisitiveness in her eyes before saying anything more. “Do you really think a man like him would have a chance with a woman like that under any other circumstance? You know she has no desire to go into that room with him. She does it for the sake of the coin purse he holds in his hand. She could do much better, but given what she does for a living, any respectable man would pass her by. It’s sad – but amusing to think what a fantastic actress she must be in order to make that slob believe she wants him.”
“And here I thought the amusing part of it all was the fact that you implied there were a few respectable men in a city like this,” she chuckled. “The only one I see around here is you.”
“Well, that too,” he grinned, turning away from the couple as they disappeared behind one of the doors. “But I prefer to stay out of the personal lives of others. I’m in no position to judge. We all have our skeletons in the closet and I prefer no one brand me for mine, therefore I will not punish anyone for theirs.”
“I suppose you make a valid point.” Aiva took another sip of her wine. “It’s just different to see the way these people live. Do we even have places like this in Tanispa?”
A soft chuckle could be heard under Callum’s breath at the question. “You are so adorable,” he snickered. “These places exist in every country. Some cultures simply hide them better. Luquarr embraces this behavior. Tanispa frowns upon it, but that doesn’t mean it does not happen. I’m less than proud to admit some of the men in my unit sought such ladies while in Siscal. Each of the men had their own way to unwind after their time at sea.”
“And how did you unwind?” Aiva leaned across the table, staring him down, as if issuing a challenge with her eyes. She was curious to know what a man who claimed to be so innocent would do to relax himself after months at sea while his men gallivanted around town with their ladies of the night. It seemed only typical they would attempt to drag him along. He was their commander, after all.
Finishing the final swallows of his wine Callum dabbed at the corners of his mouth. He pondered the question, a thoughtful expression on his face while letting the words slowly slip from his lips. “If you must know… When on extended leaves from the ship, I would visit Lord Diah and his wife. They were the perfect company for me to be reminded of my friends and family back home, and more than capable of providing information about everyone’s well-being. You can ask them, if you don’t believe me. With them, I could safely inquire about you without drawing suspicion. Lord Diah knew how close we were. He thought nothing of it.”
“You expect me to believe that your method of relaxation was to sit and gossip about me with the Consul?” It flattered her to consider, but it was too good to be true. She found it easier to believe Callum’s interest in visiting Feolan and his wife was to see their daughter. Jaslyn was a beautiful woman and closer to Callum in age. A match between them almost seemed more suitable. Jaslyn was the perfect lady. An image of feminine grace and etiquette. Although they were friends, Aiva had always found herself mildly envious of Jaslyn in many ways.
Callum squinted at Aiva as if reading the hidden questions behind her eyes. He knew her too well. Even through the alcohol he could sense her insecurity. “You suspect my visits to have been for the young Miss Diah.”
Clearing her throat she shrugged her shoulders awkwardly. The last thing she wanted to do was voice the concern out loud. “Perhaps,” she struggled to sound nonchalant. “She is more your age. A radiant jewel of our people trapped in Siscal due to her father’s profession. The men at court fall head-over-heels for her when she comes to visit. Faustine considered Jaslyn one of her most prized pupils of recent generations.”
“Miss Diah is a sweet girl, but she is too quiet. Too dainty. If I were to have an idea to wrestle her someday, I would probably break every bone in her frail body,” Callum smirked. “You know me, Aiva. I like to play rough. I cannot attach myself to a woman who isn’t capable of keeping up with me.”
A barrage of thoughts flooded into Aiva’s head at his statement. For some reason it sounded lewd. Had she read something into his words which was not intended? Warmth rushed to her cheeks to realize the inappropriateness of her thoughts. She couldn’t let herself think about Callum wrestling with anyone. In the back of her mind she kept seeing him on the litter in Tunir, chest bare, glistening from sweat in the humid jungle air, hands pinned over her wrists to prevent her from getting away. Yes. He certainly did like to play rough… Nervously, she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to avoid his stare. “I think it best I not picture you wrestling with women. I’ll take your word for your preference of roughness.”
This time it was Callum’s face that flushed, burning a bright crimson at the tips of his pointed ears. “I… Aiva, I didn’t mean…” he stammered.
She couldn’t help laughing at the desperation in his tone. He floundered to find the right words, unable to retract the mistaken innuendo Aiva pulled from his statement. “It’s too late, Callum,” she smirked. “Your secret is out. How perfectly naughty of you.”
“As if you have room to talk,” he glanced around the tavern, lowering his voice. “You aren’t exactly the most angelic of women. I find it hard to believe you would be so gentle and delicate while – wrestling – with a man.”
“And you should not picture what I would be like in such a position,” she winked. “Maybe I would surprise you.”
“Are you implying that you would show me?” Callum leaned his chin on his hand with exaggerated interest.
Caught in the web of her own joke Aiva found herself speechless. Her mouth opened and closed, searching for the right words to say, finding nothing which wouldn’t dig her deeper into her already impossible hole. “That is not something a proper lady would admit,” she mumbled, shifting to straighten her posture, lowering her leg onto the floor to position herself in a more appropriate fashion. It didn’t matter if the other women in the tavern were behaving so scandalously. She needed to maintain a semblance of the respectable lady she was brought up to be.
He looked her over, seemingly amused by her evasive response. “That’s not exactly a no, Milady.”
“And it is also not a yes,” she said smugly. “Isn’t it fun to be left guessing?”
Callum chortled, lowering his arms onto the table to rest them on the surface. “I didn’t realize Faustine taught you to be such a tease. You may claim you performed poorly while under her tutelage, but I daresay that must have been a lesson you excelled in. However…” he leaned forward as if in preparation to tell some great secret. “Your eyes belie your confidence. While your lips spew the lines of a seductress, your face reveals your innocence and lack of experience in how to handle the advances you bring upon yourself. It is cute.”
“I am not cute,” Aiva glared at him. Arms folded across her chest she stuck out her lower lip irritably. Callum shifted his weight backward in the seat, his laughter making it impossible for Aiva to remain bothered by his observation. He wasn’t wrong, though she f
ound it frustrating that he could read her so easily. Callum was a strong man. He seemed the type who would prefer a confident and strong woman. How was she supposed to make him view her in such a way if he always saw her mannerisms as adorable and cute? Why could he not find her sexy? That was a word she wouldn’t mind hearing him call her again.
Shouting directed their attention toward the center of the room, cutting through Callum’s laughter. His body went rigid. Tensed in case a need to fight arose. Something flashed in his eyes, the lightheartedness vanishing without a trace.
Curious by his strange reaction, Aiva followed Callum’s gaze to a taller man arguing with one of the women seated on the lap of another patron not far away. His hand was on her wrist, gruffly pulling her to her feet despite the protests she gave. Fear was evident in the woman’s voice. Aiva felt a strong urge to come to her aid. To rush in and protect her from this brute. Something about Callum’s cautionary stance told her to remain seated and not draw attention to their presence.
The ruckus continued while everyone in the room looked on. No one said a word, the only sound coming from the woman’s shrill shrieks over her assailant’s cold laughter. He jerked her a few steps toward the stairs before seeming to lose interest, pushing her to the floor, coughing up a large ball of spittle to shoot through his teeth, nearly striking the woman in the face. With a loud cheer of self-approval he walked toward the bar. Several girls rushed to the fallen woman’s side to help her up, quickly hurrying away to put distance between them and the newcomer.
Tearing her eyes from the scene Aiva became aware that Callum was no longer watching. His face was turned downward, hand shielding his eyes, body turned in toward the wall as if in attempts to hide himself from view. She was used to Callum being confident and poised. To see him attempting to remain out of sight made Aiva begin to wonder if there was something about the man at the bar that she didn’t know. “Callum, what is it?” she hissed quietly, leaning across the table to close the gap between them to avoid being overheard. “Is something wrong?”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 63
