“It’s a chicken and vegetable slurry encased in a pastry.”
Cerian’s initial urge is to make a face, but he refrains. Elves rarely mix their food like that. Their wedding feast was a frustrating ordeal for him—in more ways than one.
“So, if I want steak, I have to tell this waiter?”
“Yes. And whatever sides you want. The options are listed right there.”
Sides? It’s all gibberish to him. “Like potatoes?”
When Arisanna doesn’t respond, he looks up to find her studying him, and her expression softens as she switches to Elvish. “You can’t read Nunian, can you?”
Cheers to Fizzy Drinks and Fallen Walls
Episode 20
Arisannamovesherchaircloser to Cerian and whispers in Elvish as she points to the Nunian words on the menu.
His brow wrinkles, and he nods. “So I tell the man I want steak with a side of roasted potatoes and carrots?”
“Yes. And there are beverage options, too.” She turns to the back of the menu. “Coffee or tea or lemonade. Ooh, they have fizzy drinks here!”
“Fizzy drinks?”
“Yes. It’s water with air bubbles and sweet flavorings. They have ginger beer and fizzy lemonade.”
Cerian sends a puzzled look her way. “How do they get air bubbles in the water?”
“I honestly don’t know,” she says. “But it’s delightful.”
Soon the waiter appears, and Arisanna orders her chicken pot pie first. When the waiter turns to Cerian, Cerian stares at the menu, and Arisanna frowns as she watches him. He can’t read it. What is he looking at?
Then his words from the train return to her.I’m not good at meeting new people. Or talking to people I don’t know.
Her chest tightens as she looks at him. Then she lifts her eyes to the waiter. “May we also have an order of steak with a side of roasted potatoes and carrots?”
“Of course, Your Highness. Is there anything else?”
She’s about to tell him that will be all when Cerian finally speaks up. “Two fizzy lemonades. Please.”
Their eyes meet, and for a moment, they simply gaze at each other. How hard was that for him?
The waiter takes his leave, and once they’re more or less alone, Arisanna leans a little closer. “Thank you for the lemonades. I forgot I wanted one.”
Cerian nods as he looks down at the table. “I am the grateful one.”
“Perhaps I can teach you how to read Nunian. Someday.”
He exhales slowly. “Since we’ll be traveling to Nunia a lot, I suppose it would be good to learn.”
We.
The way he says it warms her heart. He really does mean to keep his promises, doesn’t he? Maybe she misread him the day they met. Perhaps he doesn’t mean to appear rude and aloof.
Might her future with this elf be happy? Perhaps not passionate or romantic, but happy and content?
She sucks in her cheeks to hide her smile at the thought.
Cerianeyestheglassof clear yellowish liquid as bubbles cling to the chilled sides, occasionally floating to the surface and popping. “Are you sure this is safe to drink?”
