We reached an area suddenly lit by moonlight, and I couldn’t help gasping at the sight. Surrounding the pavilion — a small, rose-colored wooden gazebo — lay clumps of the sweetest smelling flowers I’d ever had the pleasure of inhaling.
The Djinn before me grunted. “Scythia. Grows like wildfire out here.” He posted himself by the edge of the small clearing and nodded at me to continue inside.
I couldn’t stop staring. Intricate craftsmanship had created the pavilion. Carvings of wild animals mingled with flowers in the mauve wood that smelled faintly of roses. The scythia made it hard to distinguish smells, and the sweetness in the air made me almost lightheaded with joy. Despite the pain of my parents’ truth, I felt strangely at peace in the quiet serenity of the gazebo.
I walked through the dark entrance and blinked as light hit my eyes. A dancing flame hung suspended in mid-air, and I wondered how I’d missed the light outside. Stepping back outside, I saw nothing but darkness. Must be magic. I entered the gazebo again and glanced around, more than curious.
Benches lined the waist-high octagonal walls of the place, which supported the structure except for two doorways. Through the windows, outside I could see clusters of scythia far and wide. And just beyond the far exit of the pavilion, I noted a large pool reflecting the moonlight.
In the center of the pavilion sat a high table filled with trays laden with food and drink. Apparently, Jonas was trying to make up for my family lying by feeding my to death. A small smile turned my mouth. Jonas cared as much about me as my parents did. And why shouldn’t he, considering he’d been by my side since day one. Though my father had rarely visited, Jonas always had. Presents, tricks, and special lessons in magic my mother had known nothing about.
Grabbing a ceramic goblet from the table, I stared into the cup and noted a clear liquid. But the beverage smelled sweet, and the taste was a cross between raspberry soda and lemonade.
So I sat and drank and pondered what my life might have been like had my father been someone normal, someone human. Then I sighed, realizing had that been the case, I never would have met the insufferable Storm Lord even now inconveniencing me.
I sent out a brief greeting. And got nothing in return. Odd, but I couldn’t sense him anywhere.
“Where are you, Cadmus?”
And why is my heart aching because you’re not here?
Chapter 18
Cadmus
I groaned when Remir threw me to the ground in the small, dismal cell. “Was it necessary to use so much force?” You idiot, I added silently. I didn’t say much more, feeling around my cracked jaw.
Through swollen eyes, I saw Remir frown. “For someone who battled nearly my entire family just a few months ago, you didn’t put up much of a fight tonight. Disappointing in a Storm Lord.”
I had enough spirit left to prod his temper. “Not really,” I rasped. “I just thought it would be more sporting if the next time I tangled with you lekharns that I’m half-dead. That way you’d have better odds of actually winning. We both know one-on-one, you’d never win.”
Remir stared at me, then chuckled and shook his head. “You really are an asshole. Funny, but an asshole. Jonas was right.”
“About what?” Jonas asked, appearing out of nowhere. He glanced at me and swore. “Shit, Remir. What the hell did you do to him?”
Remir shook my head. “Hey, don’t look at me. If he’d learn to shut up once in a while, he wouldn’t look so ugly. The insults to Ankard’s sister didn’t help. She did most of that to him.”
“Hell, that really was a woman?” I gasped.
“You see?” Remir muttered under his breath and left at Jonas’ command.
“You’re such a prince.” Jonas helped me sit up and walked me to a nearby bed, where I sat and nearly passed out.
I bit back a curse as the excruciating pain in my side increased.
“Yeah, looks like Diane broke a few of your ribs. Didn’t the long hair and breasts clue you in?”
“Breasts? I thought that was battle armor.” I groaned. “I’ll have to make amends later. But honestly, I thought all you Djinn were pretty.”
“Pretty? Thanks a lot. But Diane isn’t all Djinn. Her mother was —”
“Don’t tell me, an ogre.”
“You know your Shadren. So tell me why you took such a beating when we both know you could have prevented it.”
I closed my eyes. I didn’t like apologizing, especially to a smart-ass like Jonas. But I knew I owed it to the man who’d saved my life on more than one occasion.
“I’m sorry about what happened earlier.”
