And fascinating. They use pumps in Nunia.
“Are you all right?” she asks.
He presses his lips together rather than answering. He clearly doesn’t want to talk about it.
But what in the world just happened?
“Cerian?” She reaches for his hand, but he backs away so fast he knocks over a sack of potatoes.
Why did he pull away like that? Weren’t they making progress?
“What mischief are you up to now, Master Cerian?” Cook calls out.
His eyes grow wide with that panicked look he gets right before he flees, and Arisanna shakes her head. “Don’t run. You said you wouldn’t run. Stay with me. Please.”
She doesn’t try taking his hands again. Whatever’s going on, he clearly doesn’t want her touching his hands.
Would he let her touch him at all? She steps toward him, and he doesn’t move. That’s a good sign. Another step. Closer and closer until she’s near enough to wrap her arms around him.
Still, he doesn’t move.
Then suddenly he clutches her to his chest, and she stiffens.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “My...fire magic is...acting up.”
She glances at his face. “Is that normal?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t wish to burn you.”
Ah. That explains his reluctance to hold her hand.
At least he’s not rejecting her. He’s doing anything but that with the way he clings to her, carefully avoiding touching her with his hands.
“Is this you not running?” she whispers as she relaxes against him.
“Yes.” His voice is so quiet she can barely make out the Elvish word.
“Master Cerian, there will be none of that in my kitchen!” Cook says from across the room. “You let your princess go and come make yourself useful while I fill her belly.”
Fire of her own flames Arisanna’s face, and Cerian quickly puts some space between them. She’s never seen him so red.
“Are you all right?” she whispers in Nunian.
“I...yes. Thank you...for...”
“You’re welcome.”
Clearing his throat, he gestures to the hanging cord again. “Just pull that, and water will come.”
She nods, and he hurries toward Cook, glancing back at Arisanna before sitting at the table. Cook drops a potato in front of him, along with a knife, and he starts peeling.
Cerian helps in the kitchens?
She wouldn’t even know what to do with a potato.
Quickly, she washes her hands and joins him at the table, trying not to stare.
Cook sets a plate full of sausage links and apple slices in front of Arisanna. “You eat, and then you can dice those potatoes for lunch. If you’re going to be in my kitchen, I’m going to put you to work.”
