He shook his head. “No trouble,” he said. “But we are departing for Hawkstone today, as you have been told, and I wanted to speak with you before we go. There are a few things you should know.”
Emelisse nodded, sitting down at the table and looking to him expectantly. Caius scratched his dark head in a thoughtful gesture before speaking.
“I will be honest,” he finally said. “I am afraid to tell you the truth because the last time I did, you tried to jump from the window.”
Emelisse lowered her gaze, ashamed. “I am very sorry for that, my lord,” she said. “It will not happen again, I promise.”
The delay in his reply was so long that Emelisse finally looked up at him to see what the trouble was. The man was simply looking at her in a way that made her heart leap strangely. Those black eyes, so intense, could have been the most soulless eyes on earth, but as Emelisse looked at him, she didn’t sense coldness.
Quite the opposite.
Finally, he smiled weakly.
“Forgive me,” he said. “I cannot get over… well, you look quite different than you did last night. And I can smell you from here.”
Her eyes widened and she began smelling her arms in a panic. “I smell?”
He snorted. “I meant you smell sweet,” he said. “You did not smell like that last night.”
“I smelled terrible last night?”
Caius was digging himself into a hole and he put up his hands in surrender as he started laughing.
“I fear I have not explained myself at all well,” he said. “I meant that you smell sweet today and you are in clothing that fits you. You look quite beautiful and last night… God’s Bones, this isn’t any better of an explanation. Forget I said anything.”
Because he was grinning, and his newly-shaven cheeks were flushing, she grinned at him as she sensed his discomfort.
“Let me see if I understand you correctly,” she said. “Last night, I stank, so this morning, I smell sweetly and you are greatly surprised because I am also clean and in clothing that fits, while last night, I looked like a horror. Is that right?”
He put his hand over his mouth because she was both embarrassing him and charming him with her pointed jest. It was an extreme change in behavior since last night, but given the fact that she knew she was returning home today, thatkind of hope was enough to change anyone’s demeanor. Caius understood that.
But God’s Bones, he’d never seen anything so beautiful in his entire life.
In fact, his first look of her that morning had made him a bit speechless.
“That isnotright,” he insisted weakly. “But you must admit– in fact, we should all admit– that yesterday was trying for all of us. Today is a better day.”
She was grinning at him openly, her smile fading as he spoke. When he finished, she nodded firmly.
“Itisa better day,” she said. “I am told that I am returning to Hawkstone. You said there were people willing to stand with me, and it must be true. Can I assume you are to thank for de Wrenville’s change of heart?”
His smile vanished completely as he shook his head. “Not entirely,” he said. “That is what I have come to speak to you about. You are returning to Hawkstone, but it is with a purpose.”
“What purpose?”
“The only way de Wrenville would let you leave is if you promise to relay a message to your brother,” he said. “You are to return to Hawkstone and tell your brother that if he surrenders the keep, de Wrenville will give you both your freedom. He will not imprison either one of you. You will be free to go.”
The warmth on Emelisse’s face vanished unnaturally fast. “Go?” she repeated, appalled. “Gowhere? Hawkstone is our home. Nay, my lord, my brother will not leave. I can promise you that. And I will not return to Winterhold, ever, so if it is your plan to bring me back after he refuses, know I will not come willingly. Surely you would not be so cruel as to force me.”
Caius shook his head. “I will not make you,” he said quietly. “But Covington does not know that and neither does anyone else, so you must stay silent on the matter. Do you understandme? Present the appearance of a model prisoner, do as you are told, and say nothing. But know that I will not return you to Winterhold when the time comes.”
She stared at him, swallowing hard as she realized the seriousness of the situation. “What will you do, then?”
He lifted his big shoulders. “We shall address that problem when we come to it. But for now, this entire situation depends on you pretending to be obedient to whatever de Wrenville wants. Can you do that?”
“And you swear to me that I shall not have to come back here?”
“I swear.”
