“Don’t ‘milady’ me,” she says, flashing him a smile. “This isn’t going to start for a while, why don’t we go outside for a bit? There’s someone that I’d like you to meet, James.”
“Oh?” he asks, intrigued.
“She’s a friend of mine and I’ve been telling her all about your exploits, the ones Jiron has been nice enough to share with me,” she tells him.
Tongue suddenly going dry, his stomach makes with the butterflies as he follows her in trepidation down the hallway to the door leading outside. Meeting new people, especially of the female persuasion, has never been easy for him.
When he passes through the door to the outside, he sees a girl standing off by herself under a nearby tree, watching them as they approach. She’s a year or two younger than he is and very lovely. Brown hair flowing past her shoulders and wearing a beautiful dress of blue with a stylish design stitched about the hem.
As they approach, Miriam whispers to him, “She’s the daughter of one of the shippers on the island, a family of high standing.” When they come close, she makes the introductions. “James,” she says, “this is Meliana. Meliana, this is James, and Miko.”
She gives him a curtsy and says, “Nice to meet you.”
When he stands there tongue-tied for a moment, Miko elbows him in the ribs which snaps him out of it. “Uh,” he says, his voice barely audible due to the dryness of his throat. He swallows and then says, “Pleasure to meet you too, Meliana.”
“Miriam has told me so much about you,” she tells him as she takes his arm. They begin to walk leisurely around the grounds as she continues talking, “You must be very brave.”
“Well…” he starts but then has to clear his throat to try to keep his voice clear. “Well, I suppose so. But at the time I didn’t feel very brave, you just do what you have to.”
“Ooh,” she says as she grips his arm tighter. “I’d love to hear about it.”
What can he tell her that wouldn’t involve telling her about the magic? They walk for a moment before he begins to describe the jail break back at Mountainside. While he is talking, she continues to ooh and aah at all the right times, making him feel very good. Nothing boosts a man’s ego more than a pretty girl hanging onto every word he has to say.
Miko walks along behind him, disgusted at the whole sight.
From atop the estate they hear a musical chime ringing out. Miriam says, “It’s time to go back to the hall, the banquet will be starting soon.”
As they return to the hall, Meliana continues to hold onto James’ arm. As they reach the front doors, a man steps from within the doorway and stops in front of them.
“Papa!” Meliana exclaims happily. “This is James, the one I’ve been telling you about.”
Her father gives a small smile as he reaches out a hand and says, “Nice to meet you young man.”
James takes the hand and says, “You too, sir.”
The father eyes James appraisingly and gives a barely perceptible nod. Turning to his daughter, he says, “It’s time for us to take our places at the table.”
“Nice to have met you, James,” he says as he holds his arm out for his daughter. She releases James’ arm, much to his dismay, and hooks her arm through her father’s. He turns and leads her into the banquet hall, a slight limp in his walk as if his leg is bothering him.
“I think he liked you,” Miriam tells him.
James just shrugs, “Doesn’t matter, we’re leaving in the morning anyway.” He gazes at Meliana as she and her father enter the hall.
Miko tugs his sleeve and asks, “Shouldn’t we go in too?”
Snapping out of his reverie, James says, “Yeah, sure.”
Following Miriam into the hall, they’re led up to the main table where the Ferdillons will sit. Nate is already there at the place of honor and he gestures for them to come and sit next to him.
Miko takes the seat immediately to his left while James sits next to Miko. Shortly, Jiron comes in and makes his way over to sit next to James. “Did you find your admirers?” James asks him as he sits down.
Giving him a big smile, he replies, “Yes, two actually.”
The musicians off to the side begin to play and their music gives the hall a gaiety it had lacked before. The musicians are quite skillful, though perhaps not in Perrilin’s league. James finds himself watching the musicians as they play the unfamiliar instruments, finding it all very intriguing.
From a table further down the hall from where he sits, James can see Meliana looking his way. When she notices him looking at her, she gives him a large smile and a brief, unobtrusive wave. He nods and smiles back to her before turning his attention to watch the other guests arrive.
Many are dressed in similar attire to what he and the others have on, no longer making him feel so conspicuous. From the number of other men wearing similar garb, it truly does seem to be the current fashion trend in the area.
When the tables have mostly filled up, the doors to the side of the hall open up and Nate’s parents walk in. The band strikes up a processional style tune as they enter and approach the head table where James and the others are sitting.
The mother takes her seat while the father continues standing. The band comes to a stop and the hall becomes very quiet. Gazing around at the assembled guests a moment, he then begins to talk.
“Welcome all, to a banquet in honor of the return of our son Nathanial, whom we never had thought to see again.” He gestures to his son who stands up amidst applause from those gathered at the tables, gives the crowd a short bow, and then retakes his seat.
“We are also here to honor and recognize those who helped bring this about. Miko, who befriended Nate in the mines, as well as James and Jiron who were instrumental in orchestrating his return. We give them our heartfelt thanks and wish them only the best.”
At this, the crowd breaks out into another thunderous applause. At Nate’s father’s direction, James, Miko, and Jiron stand up and give the crowd a bow before returning to their seats. James looks over and sees Meliana giving him a big smile and seems to be clapping harder than the rest of them.
Once the clapping has subsided, he says “Now, let’s celebrate with food, drink, and entertainment.” Signaling a servant standing at the edge of the room, he says “Let the celebration, begin.”
At that, the band strikes up a merry tune and doors begin to open as servants enter bearing trays laden with food. Roast pig, chickens, a veritable cornucopia of food begins to be laid upon the tables in front of the guests. Servants with pitchers begin passing among the tables as they fill everyone’s glass.
One comes and fills James’ with a sweet, smooth wine, reminiscent of the one he’d become plastered with back when he’d first met Miko in Bearn. Memories of the hangover he’d suffered through the following day makes him take only small sips during the meal.
Miko fills his plate to overflowing, much to the amusement of Nate, as he tries to eat some of everything placed before him.
During the dinner, entertainers come and perform within the open area surrounded by the tables. Acrobats, magicians, and dancers come and go as the meal progresses.
Once most of the guests have slowed down on their consumption of the bounty, the entertainers are cleared away and people begin moving toward the center of the floor as the band strikes up a waltz like tune and everyone begins to dance.
The dance is similar in nature to those James had seen in old movies of England, all structured and choreographed. All the dancers move in a pattern, weaving and bobbing in time to the music.
When the first dance had ended and the musicians were preparing to begin the next set, Miriam comes over to James and says, “Why don’t you ask Meliana to dance?”
He glances over to her and sees her looking eagerly over to him. He turns back to Miriam and says, “But I don’t know any of these dances.”
“Don’t be silly,” she tells him. “They’re not hard.”
He feels a nudge in the
ribs and hears Jiron says, “Let’s go!” He grabs James arm as he propels him to the dance floor. Meliana sees him leaving his table and when she gets a nod from Miriam, says something to her father before getting up from the table. She makes her way toward him through the crowded dance floor.
When she reaches his side and gets into position to dance with him, he tells her, “I can’t dance!”
“Relax and just follow me,” she says to him. “It’s easy, I’ll show you what to do.”
He stands there nervous with Meliana standing in line across from him and Jiron in position to his right. When the music starts, he tries to follow Meliana’s lead and feels like he’s making a big spectacle of himself out in front of everyone.
But as he begins to learn the steps and the pattern of the dance, he’s able to relax and starts to enjoy himself. By the time the dance is over, he has the pattern figured out and found that he actually likes dancing. Of course, the fact he was dancing with as beautiful a girl as Meliana helped some too.
Once the dance is over, Meliana takes him over to her table where she sits with her family. “Momma,” she says to the woman sitting next to her father, “this is James.”
She gives him the critical once over all mothers give those their daughter’s have an interest in. Then she gives him a warm smile as she says, “Nice to meet you James.”
“You too ma’am,” he replies, blushing slightly under her stare.
“You dance well,” she tells him. “I just wish I could get my husband out there.”
Turning to her, her husband says, “You know I hurt my leg this morning!”
Nodding, she says, “Yes, dear.” She gives James a knowing look and continues, “He’ll do anything to get out of dancing.”
Meliana’s father just gives her an annoyed look and doesn’t take the bait.
The band is in the middle of another dance number and when they finish, Meliana takes James’ arm. With a quick farewell to her parents, she drags him back to the dance floor before the band has a chance to start up again.
They dance all evening, occasionally taking a break for drinks or just to talk. She doesn’t leave his side all night. At the end of one dance, her mother comes over to them and says, “We need to be leaving now.” She turns to James and says, “Would you be so kind as to escort Meliana home when she’s ready to leave?”
“Yes ma’am,” he assures her. “I’d be happy to.”
“Good,” she replies. Turning to her daughter, she says, “Your father’s leg is hurting, so we must leave. Don’t stay out all night, dear.”
“I won’t mother,” she assures her.
“Good evening, James,” she says to him. “It was good to meet you.”
“You too, ma’am,” he says.
Her mother returns to their table where she helps her father to his feet and they begin to leave the hall.
The rest of the evening is spent dancing and talking as they share past experiences. During one such break from the dance floor, James is amused when he sees Miriam has gotten Miko out on the dance floor. How she did it, he’d like to know. Miko looked positively frightened and lost out there. When the dance was over, he beat a retreat back to his seat next to Nate.
Miriam sees James watching and gives him a mischievous smile. He smiles back and then resumes talking with Meliana.
When most of the guests have left, James figures it’s about time to take her home. He goes over to Miko and says, “I’m taking Meliana home, would you like to come with us?”
Shaking his head, Miko replies, “I’m going to see Nate to his room and then stay there for a while before turning in.”
“Very well,” James says, disappointed. As much as he likes Meliana, he’s just a little scared of being alone with her. He sees Jiron over to the side of the dance floor talking to a couple girls and makes his way over to him.
When he asks if he’d like to go with them, he just says “No.”
“But what will her parents think if she’s with me all by herself?” he asks him.
“They wouldn’t have asked you to take her home if they were concerned about you,” he assures him.
“I suppose you’re right,” he admits. He looks over to where Meliana and Miriam are standing near the front doors, talking.
He leaves Jiron and makes his way over to where the girls are. They stop talking when they see him approaching. As he joins them, Miriam says, “Well, I better go and see how Nate’s doing.”
“Miko is going to see him to his room and stay with him for a while,” he tells her.
“I better check anyway,” she says. She gives Meliana a hug and says, “Goodbye, I’m glad you were able to come.”
Glancing briefly at James, she gives a little smile and says, “Me too.”
She slides her arm through James’ as they walk out into the warm summer evening. “Where do you live?” he asks, feeling good with her on his arm.
“Oh, it’s not too far from here,” she tells him. Pointing down the street to the right, she says, “It’s several blocks that way.”
Turning into the indicated direction, he slowly strolls along the street with her. There are other guests from the banquet walking along the street as well, while others are in carriages on their way home.
“It’s too bad you’re leaving in the morning,” Meliana says with disappointment as she lays her head on his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know,” he replies. “It’s been nice being here.”
“Maybe you could stay longer?” she asks hopefully.
“I wish I could, but I’m unable to,” he tells her. “I need to help get Jiron and Miko out of the Empire and back home.”
“I understand,” she says. “Maybe when things change, you could come back and visit?”
“Perhaps,” he says, “but that is highly unlikely.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she agrees.
Arm in arm, they walk down the street until they come to her house. A light is on in the front room. “Mother is waiting up for me, it looks like,” she says as they come to the front door.
“I guess this is where we say goodbye,” he says to her.
Suddenly, she embraces him and places her lips upon his, giving him a warm and eager kiss.
When she breaks off the kiss, James is left breathless and a little flustered. “I’ll miss you,” she tells him.
“I’ll miss you too,” he says when he finally gets his voice working again.
She turns and begins to open the door when she pauses and says, “Goodbye James.”
“Goodbye Meliana,” he replies as he watches her enter her home and close the door.
Feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, he makes his way back toward Nate’s family estate. Visions of Meliana and the way her lips felt on his fill his mind until he realizes he’s already back to the door to his room. He doesn’t even remember walking back, he must’ve been on autopilot.
Opening the door, he finds Jiron snuggled in his bed with one of the serving girls he’s been seeing.
“How’d it go?” he asks from the bed, not the least bit embarrassed.
“It went well,” James replies. “Want me to leave?”
“Don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he replies. “We’re done anyway.”
James goes over to his bed and gets undressed in the dark and then slips under the covers. Thoughts of Meliana keep him awake long into the night before he can finally fall asleep.
Chapter Two
The next morning after waking up, James discovers the girl who had shared Jiron’s bed with him the night before had already left. Jiron is lying there sleeping so peacefully, he almost doesn’t want to wake him up. Almost. He and his girlfriend had awakened James up twice during the night and he’d found it incredibly difficult to fall back to sleep while ‘that’ was going on in the bed next to him.
He gets up out of his bed and walks over to Jiron’s with a mischievous smile upon his face. Grabbing hold of his mattress, he upends
it, spilling Jiron onto the floor with a thud.
After hitting the ground, Jiron gets to his feet quickly with a knife in his hand. Looking around, he sees James standing there with the mattress still in his hand. “Get up,” James tells him. “We’ve got a ship to catch.”
“What did you do that for!” he yells, anger in his eyes.
“For keeping me awake all night,” he says as he replaces the mattress.
The anger quickly disappears and a grin takes its place, “Sorry about that. She was a randy one, she was.”
Returning to his bedside, he begins to get dressed. Jiron follows suit.
James notices him putting his new clothes inside his pack and asks, “Taking them with you?”
Jiron glances over to him and nods, saying, “Yeah, I think Tersa would like to see me in them. You?”
Shaking his head no, he replies, “Green just isn’t my color.” Jiron just laughs.
After they’re both dressed, they shoulder their packs and leave the room. James leaves the box of slugs, he already has enough, what with his belt filled as well as a small pouch of them within his pack. Out in the hallway, they turn toward the stairs and go up to Miko’s room. Finding it empty, they go on down to Nate’s room where they find him saying goodbye to his friend.
“Come on, Miko,” James tells him. “We gotta go.”
“Bye Nate,” he says to him as he goes over and gives his friend a hug.
Patting him on the back, Nate says, “You take care, now. Come back if you can.”
“I will, promise,” Miko says as he fights back tears forming in his eyes. The last week with Nate had been one of the best of his life. He really feels bad about leaving him.
“You take care of him,” Nate says as he looks to James.
“As best I can, you can rest assured,” he replies.
Jiron shakes Nate’s hand and then the three friends leave his room. Going back down the stairs, they make their way along the corridor toward the main door.
On their way, they’re stopped by Miriam who gives each of them a sack. “What’s this?” James asks.
Warrior priest of Dmon-Li ms-3 Page 2
