by Grace, Viola
Inoth returned with a full breakfast tray, juice, tea, and coffee. “The curator also told me to make sure that you were fed well. You run on electricity and food.”
She made a face but scooted up to take the tray. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. My staff jumped at the opportunity to meet my fiancée.”
“Fiancée?”
“Oh, yes. The images taken at the peninsula have spread around the globe. My brother is furious.”
He waited until she had the tray settled on its little supports before he withdrew a tablet with the news scrolling on it. She saw images of her and Inoth, holding hands on the way out of the car and their heads together in a quiet moment.
She blinked slowly. “How good are their cameras?”
“It is the one technology that they embrace wholeheartedly. They are really good at seeking out the shots that make their readers giggle.”
She read the articles and blinked. “Huh. I get to be a mystery woman and a Jianoan bastard. Nice. Very classy.”
Inoth looked at her with a curious smile. “You don’t mind that description?”
“Of course not. They didn’t come close to the truth, and that is truly what matters. I am guessing that the king has seen this.”
Inoth nodded. “He has. He has told me that he doesn’t want me associating with you, but if I do, I need to be prepared to lose you. He is not calling off the price on your head.”
“I never thought he would. You might currently be his heir, but if he has children, you are going to be next on the list.”
He watched as she sipped her coffee. “If he could have children, that would be true, but he can’t. My younger brother and his children have been barred from assuming the throne, so he is stuck with me.”
“Oh, the involvement in the issue with the orb.”
“No, simply Lilya’s bloodlines. That is his true problem with you. He has no idea about your family lines, but you were able to sit on the throne without dying. That shook him.”
“Oh.” She started to eat. “I guess that what happened next wasn’t particularly endearing.”
“Rather not. They are still burning you in effigy in the city streets.”
She winced. “That’s not pleasant. Well, it might be if they use the right herbs and grasses.”
Inoth snorted. “You are obsessed with looking on the positive side of things.”
“Why not? I can be aware of the reality while hoping that most folks are engaging in events and opinions for public effect only.” She shrugged. “I will defend myself if I have to.”
He reached out and touched her knee. “You won’t be alone.”
She looked at his hand, at his face, and then, she narrowed her eyes. “So, who put me in the nightgown?”
“The housekeeper. Your clothing had burned off, so I held you in the shower, and she washed the soot from your skin.”
She wrinkled her nose. “So, no culturally polite restrictions?”
“No, we have already been declared as engaged. There are no restrictions as long as your care is the primary cause for any treatment which would normally be considered inappropriate.”
She grinned and speared another piece of fruit. “Excellent answer.”
He patted her knee. “I will go and find the clothing that Imeera has sourced for you. It won’t be what you are used to, but it will cover you until we can get you back to the museum.”
“Good. I need to clear my head a bit. I think I overtaxed myself yesterday.”
He winced. “It wasn’t yesterday. It was last week. You have been unconscious for days.”
She finished her breakfast and set it aside. “In that case, I had better get back on my feet.”
She pushed up, staggered a few steps forward, paused, and slowly stood straight. She exhaled and walked slowly to the window. The view was spectacular. She could see waves, sea, sand, and distant shadows of leviathans moving beneath the surface.
A look to the left and she could see a city expanding in the distance. “This place is owned by Jianoa?”
“It was liberated by my people, and those who were enslaved were set free. They could either be returned to their original homelands, or they could get a home and a job to begin life again as free men and women. The vast majority chose the latter as this place was the only one they had known; a few with strong ties were returned home.”
“That was a fairly good ending for a nightmare situation.”
“It was how the city came to be. They even have storm measures in place for the devastating hurricanes that come visiting.”
“So, strong community.”
“Very much so.”
She looked up and down the coastline. “No tourists?”
“They come in with day cruisers. No one who does not belong here is allowed to remain overnight.”
Eltrinia looked at him over her shoulder. “I have been here seven days?”
“You are my fiancée. You belong where I belong.” He smiled.
She chuckled. “Charming. Now, where are my clothes.”
He laughed and headed for the door.
Eltrinia stared out at the bright and pure place that pulled at her soul, she wondered if next to the museum, she could one day call this home.
Chapter Eleven
Wearing a single layer was definitely different. The deep blue fabric was wadded and crushed together into pleats that mimicked the surf. The dress exposed her left leg from just above the knee, and the hem stopped just above the right ankle. She was wearing sandals that wrapped up her calves, and her shoulders were bare. She was dressed for a tropical island.
Imeera smiled. “You look good. You are very pale, but you look good.”
“I can’t do anything about my skin, but thank you.” Eltrinia smiled.
“It was not a criticism. You just seem a little grey, and that is not good for anyone.”
Eltrinia chuckled. “Sorry. I am not feeling like myself.”
The woman touched her cheek. “Poor chicken.”
It was quite the gentle contact, but there was still a spark from Eltrinia’s skin to the older woman. Imeera jumped slightly. “What was that?”
Inoth entered the room without knocking. “We have a dragon with us. Well, she will be a dragon. Right now, she is highly intelligent and very charming.”
Imeera was shocked. “You have a dragon here?”
“Eltrinia is no danger to this place or the people. She has no interest in acquiring anything other than knowledge.”
Eltrinia smiled. “This place is lovely, but it is not my home. I have no interest in taking it for myself.”
“What kind of dragon will you become?” The woman’s voice had a wobble in it.
“Just lighting. Dry lightning. No wind, no storms, just lightning.”
She held out her hand, and her normal bright crackle of power wasn’t there. A faded silver dance of energy came out, and it caused her to suddenly understand what could be happening.
She looked at Inoth. “I need to go back... I can’t tell you where.”
“You are in no condition to shift yourself.” Inoth gripped her arms.
Imeera left them alone.
Eltrinia cleared her throat. “I can’t tell you why, but I was in five different locations the day I fell ill. In one of those houses was a mirror, and I believe it has captured part of my soul.”
“You want to go get it.”
She nodded. “Yes. I believe it is leeching my energy.”
He frowned. “Tell me where it is and what it looks like.”
She looked around for something to draw with, and when she didn’t see anything, she focused on the mirror, went up on her toes and kissed him, putting the image and the physical location in his mind.
He looked dazed when she leaned back. “Is that how you have been able to learn so much?”
“It is. Contact is a great way to access electrical
pathways to the brain.”
He smiled slowly. “I look forward to trying it again.”
He stepped back and focused, his hands two feet apart. He whispered and chanted, forming black smoke between his hands until the mirror was in his grip. He must have learned from her mind what he needed to do because he dropped it. Eltrinia saw her own face as it slowly tumbled through the air until it struck the ground.
The glass didn’t shatter, it cracked.
Eltrinia inhaled sharply as all the power she had lost came flooding back to her in a rush. She carefully walked to the window, stuck her hands out, and let forks of lightning fly.
Inoth didn’t disturb her as the excess power ripped out of her in long, deadly bolts.
When the power slowed down to her normal levels, she put her hands at her sides, and she looked at him. “Can you send it back?”
He nodded. “Do we want to?”
“It should be fine. The curator can keep her ear out if anyone tries to repair it.”
“Very well.” He crouched, and he returned it the same way he had brought it to him.
Eltrinia sighed in relief when it was gone. She walked over to Inoth and hugged him. “Thank you.”
“What was it doing to you?”
“It had a link to my soul and was using it to power itself until it would be strong enough to create a simulacrum. Then, it would come for me, and I would be too weak to fight myself. A capture mirror is not a common thing. Most areas that used to make them have made them illegal. The museum has one, but it is carefully covered at all times.”
“How long does it take to kill?” His arms were around her, and he was rubbing her back.
She shrugged. “Three days, normally.”
“But you are not normal.”
“It also did not get my full face. It got a veiled representation of me. I locked gazes to it for a moment, and that was all it took.”
He stroked her and held her close. “Will you tell me why you were there?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I would rather not. Plausible deniability.”
“It was illegal?”
“It circumvented legality.” She chuckled. “Well, I guess that if I am back to myself, I should go home.”
He smiled and leaned back. “I think you should go for a walk with me. You need to make sure that you are stable.”
She blinked. “A walk in the city? Like this?”
“You are dressed appropriately for the location. As am I.” He gestured to the sleeveless wrap shirt and loose trousers that he was wearing.
She chuckled. “Well, if you are willing to play tour guide...”
“You will forget that you have seen your way around already in my mind?”
She smiled and patted his arm. “Yes.”
He grinned and offered her his arm. “Then, come with me.”
They walked for hours, snacking, talking, having cold tea with the locals. Inoth looked completely at ease. This was his place. These were his people.
She was asked about their engagement everywhere she went.
Sitting outside of the local mayor’s home, she sipped at her tea, and she was asked again.
“So, why is a nice lady like you making a good man like the prince wait?” The mayor asked it with a happy gleam in his eyes.
“He has to wait until I am of suitable age. Trust me. I know that it seems like a nice lady like me should be able to say yes, but by my culture, I am not yet old enough to have the final say.”
He frowned. “How old do you have to be?”
“Older than I am now.” She looked around and saw a dog. “That puppy has walked in the world longer than I have.”
“That can’t be right.”
Inoth chipped in, and he said, “She has had a very different upbringing.”
Eltrinia smiled. “He’s not wrong.”
The mayor laughed, and he looked at her. “You have a good soul, I think.”
“Thank you. I just got it back.”
He laughed again and then looked at her with narrowed eyes. “I don’t know if you are joking.”
She smiled and shrugged.
Down the street, she could hear a band, and she listened to the music, so different from the standards performed by orchestras and the popular music that she wrote for. It had a swing and a bounce and a jump, all in each wave of sound. It was like listening to ocean waves tumbling in with a brisk wind blowing.
She found herself leaning to see if anyone was dancing.
“Eltrinia, if you want to go and see, we can.”
The mayor thought it was a splendid idea.
Eltrinia smiled and nodded, taking Inoth’s hand and walking with him and the mayor to the spot where the band was getting into the swing of things.
Locals were dancing in the vicinity of the band. Anyone who could hear the music would want to dance.
The mayor grabbed her hand, and she understood what he wanted her to do. She decided that not falling on her face was in her best interests. He didn’t want her to hurt herself, but he wasn’t a fan of anyone of her particular complexion. He didn’t care what she was or who she was, he just knew what she looked like. So, she gave it a slow start as they danced, and then, she let her knowledge of the moves take over.
There was a pause then there was laughter, and then, everyone was dancing again.
The ladies took turns pulling Inoth this way and that, but only the mayor came anywhere near her.
When Inoth spun into her grasp, she took both hands, and they moved around each other like planets in orbit. To her senses the music grew more liquid, their steps more fluid, and soon, they were passing each other with only friction between them.
There was a pause in the music, and they stepped apart, fading out of the crowd together.
Inoth sighed and looked down at her. “I think we can head out now. You seem exceptionally stable on your feet.”
She looked back at the dancing. The mayor had found a new partner to move with, and he was only sending curious glances their way. “It’s a good time to go. I had a great day. Let me leave first, and then, you can follow.”
She stepped back, blew the mayor a kiss, and teleported back to her quarters.
She walked to her desk and checked the time. It was four in the morning.
Inoth manifested a moment later. “You would not believe the mayor’s face. He was beyond shocked.”
“Oh, I would. He thinks I am just an elite piece of tail wagging itself in front of you.”
There was a soft knock on the door.
“Come in, Curator.”
The curator came in and rushed forward, giving Eltrinia a strong hug. “I couldn’t see what was wrong. The images were all fragmented.”
“Capture mirror. The sicko who wanted the hand and the headbox had it mounted on the wall, and it looked at me and saw me.” She blinked. “It took a while to drain me.”
The curator was still squeezing her. “It would. I am glad you are back. Rish and Trin have been asking me daily for updates, and all I could tell them was that you were still alive.”
She squeaked and said, “I am fine now, but you might break a rib if you keep it up.”
The curator sighed and leaned back, looking over at Inoth. “You took good care of her. That counts for a lot.”
He bowed. “It is my duty and honour to care for her.”
Eltrinia wrinkled her nose. “He keeps telling everyone we are engaged.”
The curator raised her brows. “You have gotten to public declaration so soon? You know what comes next.”
“Yes, madam. I will do my utmost to make the offering suitable for a family of your particular tastes.”
“You have to keep her preferences in mind, more than mine. She is the one that needs the hoard.”
Eltrinia looked around. “What are you talking about?”
The curator snorted. “I know you looked it up. Djinn courtship
protocols. He has to first gain your interest then make the public declaration—although I do not believe it needs to be global—prepare the bride price, gain his family approval, gain your family approval, and provide you with your trousseau, which means that as you are a dragon, he has to start your hoard for you.”
Inoth bowed again. “I am working on it. The interest has been obtained, and the public declaration is as public as I could make it. Gaining the king’s approval will be the most difficult portion of this quest, but I am very good at puzzles, and this piece will not elude me.”
Eltrinia cocked her head. “All of that? That is very complicated.”
Inoth frowned. “There is no other way to do it.”
The curator filled in. “If Inoth marries without the head of his family’s permission, he will cease to be a djinn. He will cease to be much of anything. He will be torn apart at the molecular level. It is devastating for all of those involved.”
Eltrinia blinked. “Well, that isn’t going to happen.”
The curator chuckled. “So, she is going to have to face the fact that the king is going to start throwing possible brides at you. It is going to get a little messy on the social front.”
Eltrinia smiled slightly. “So, Inoth, what if you want one of the women that your brother has pointed in your direction?”
“Then, he will have to have been recommending you. That is all that I will accept.” Inoth smiled.
“That is something I will have to count on. Your brother is not particularly... flexible.” She shrugged. “He and I are going to have words.”
“Let me try my way first.” Inoth gave her a quick kiss and disappeared. He didn’t need to say farewell. She knew he would be back. Without a mirror, she had taken part of his soul. Eltrinia had to admit that she was proud of herself. Not even eight months out of the tank, and she had a beau, a job, another job, a third job, and a few breaking and entering events that might be used against her in the future.
She had grown an actual life. She still only knew part of what she had been meant to do, but this part was amazing fun. She could dance!
Author’s Note
