Nearly hypnotized by the dagger’s deadly dance, I didn’t see Deidre move.She was bent over me in a heartbeat, blade stuck in the moss next to me.I froze.
“See, I have no way of knowing.”She gave me a piercing look.“Five years since our coming of age, and he has never allowed me on his moss.”
“Deidre–”
Her grip on my right shoulder tightened.I had no doubt her sharp nails were capable of tearing through the fabric of the dress and digging into my skin, if she chose to.At least her other hand released the dagger.
“And let’s not forget I’ve known him since he was four,” she went on, her voice brimming with anger.“But no.Not a single invite!Then you come along, a human with muddy feet, hairy legs, and short hair.And by the end of the day, you’re on his moss.Covered in his blanket and lying next to the food you’ve shared.”
Oh!I understood now.I would be upset, too, if a friend I was into wouldn’t let me sit on his bed after years of friendship, but he allowed a virtual stranger to lie under his covers, and in her dirty shoes at that.Of course, I wouldn’t have pulled a knife on the stranger, but Deidre’s world was different.Displays of dominance and fighting were the norm.
If things escalated to a fight, I would be done for.It was wiser to stay quiet and look away.To admit defeat in the face of her anger.But I couldn’t do it.In just a few hours, I’d grown fond of Deidre; I needed her to understandmeand be on my side again.And that foolish need overrode my usual timidness and better judgment.
“I didn’t have a say in the matter, Deidre,” I spoke softly.That was the truth, and it gave me strength to stand my ground.
“Aw, you poor, wounded human.Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you?”
“I’m just saying I understand how you feel.But I’m not the one who hurt you.”
“Ah.And who should I blame instead?”she asked sarcastically.
My heart pounded in my ears as I chose my next words carefully.I might be condemning myself that way, but my conscience wouldn’t let me lie to her.
“You’re angry at Karim.Rightfully so.”Her eyebrows shot up, but I kept going before I lost my courage.“He knows how you feel about him and yet, he asked you to clean me up, dress me in your clothing, and stay to watch us plant a flower together.”
The pressure on my shoulder increased for a moment, but then Deidre loosened her hold.
I took a steadying breath.“In other words, he was being a dick.”
Her eyes went wide.“Isn’t that another word forpenisin English?”she whispered.
Were the situation not precarious, I would have smiled at her child-like reaction to the word.“Asi.But in this case it is used figuratively, in the sense of–”
“Inconsiderate idiot.”Deidre huffed.“He should have apologized!But no, he tried to make me stay and carry you around his home.To watch you on his moss.And this morning, he sent a guard to fetch me; when I came here, all he said was, ‘I would appreciate it if you kept Jasmine company.Feed her, water her, and assist her as needed.’”
Deidre imitated Karim’s voice so well that I almostlaughed–my nerves were wrecked, clearly.
“And that was it!”she continued with her tirade.“No apology, no anything.Thedickjust left.”
“My boyfriend was like that,” I said after she lapsed into silence, seemingly lost in thought.“He took me for granted.Thought I’d let anything slide because I loved him.But I dumped his cheating ass.Scratched his car with my keys on my way out of his life.”
A giggle burst out of Deidre.Then her face lowered dangerously close to mine.“Are you suggesting I scratch you?Let you off the hook so easily and let you have Karim?”
I met her challenging gaze.“Not at all.I just shared my experience to let you know I understand how you feel.”
“And I should care, why?”
“Because I may be human, but we’re not so different.We could be–I would like us to be friends.”When she didn’t react in any way, I pressed on.“Didn’t you mention something similar yourself earlier?Why let a man stand between us?”
Her bright eyes narrowed.“Did you interact with him on his moss?”
“No!Karim could hardly even look at me last night.”And Deidre here was suggesting–if I understood the Elvish terms correctly–that he’d been intimate with me?I wish.
“Did he play with your hair or let you touch his in any way?”
“No, I swear we just planted the flower–”
“Did he take you to see any other chambers in his home?”
