Gaz’s dark eyes flared with anger, but he held it in check.I was too shocked at Taio’s use of the wordbrideto do more than stand in place like some sort of statue.I had almost forgotten I was to be Taio’s bride.What was the Zulen wedding custom?Was I expected to bear him children?Did he have other wives?Children?Did the Zulenii allow for divorce?
Gaz finally gave a sharp nod and turned on his heel, followed by Nize.Yung said something, and Taio answered.
“What did he say?”I asked.
“He said be careful of that one,” Taio answered, moving away from me.
“Gaz is a good soldier.He has years of experience fighting Hollows.”
“He is your lover?”Taio asked.
I started.“What?”
“Is that not the correct word?A person with whom you are intimate?The kissing and touching and—”
“I know whatintimatemeans,” I said hurriedly.“No, Gaz is not my lover.”
“He wants to be.”
I turned quickly, so quickly my head spun.Those words had come from a feminine voice.Omira had been silent so far, but now she had spoken in my language, and her speech was clear.Her accent was not as pronounced as Taio’s.
“You speak our language?”
“We have all had lessons,” she said.“Some of us remember better than others.”She glanced at Yung.
I had thought only Taio knew our language, but that was an assumption.I’d probably made far too many assumptions.“Who taught you?”I asked.Old Ceba knew some Zulenii, but he had never taught any of us, as far as I knew.
Omira shrugged and gestured to the room.She said something in Zulenii and Taio answered.For the first time, I realized I was at a disadvantage.They could discuss anything they wanted about me, and I would have no idea.I watched Omira’s hand gestures closely and realized she was probably discussing the sleeping arrangements.Dlyenko had a large bed on one side of the chamber.It was quite large, actually, and could probably sleep three.Near the hearth, on the other side of the chamber by the writing table where I stood, was a rug, a chair, a couch, and a small altar with an incense pot that looked untended.Omira pointed to the bed and then the couch.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” I said, volunteering.It was only a little shorter than my bed at home.I would have volunteered to take the floor, but I didn’t think my ass would thank me for that.
Omira shook her head.“I sleep on the couch.Yung will sleep on the floor, and Kintle will take first watch.Then we change for second watch.”
“What about me?”
She smiled.“You sleep in the bed.With Taio.”
My breath caught in my throat and my belly fluttered.I cut my gaze at Taio, and his lips curved into a smile.His smile matched his sister’s, and both were expressions of victory.I might have tried to argue if a knock hadn’t sounded on the door.It was too soon for Gaz to return or for my mother or Finnrey to have finished their work.Taio’s smile disappeared, and he gave me a questioning look.I shook my head and shrugged.
Taio nodded to his team, who moved closer to me, reminding me I was the insurance.Then he called out, “Come!”
The door opened, revealing Ecdra.The last time I’d seen my father’s man was at the arena.He’d been standing behind my father in the king’s box.The head of the honor guard still wore his official regalia.He gave me a stiff bow.“Lady Mara.Prince Taio.The king wishes an audience.”
“Bring him here,” Taio said.
I gasped and gave him a horrified look.One did not order the king to do anything.One obeyed the king.But it seemed Ecdra had anticipated this response as he only frowned in disapproval.He gestured behind him.“He has sent the Court Historian to speak for him.Will you receive him?”
“I will,” Taio said.He went to the nearby chair, and I thought he would sit in it, but instead, he placed it near the hearth, in which a low fire burned.“He may sit here,” Taio said.
It was a thoughtful gesture, and it took me by surprise.When Old Ceba shuffled in, looking wan and feeble, I was thankful for Taio’s kindness.Old Ceba took the chair gratefully and his great-grandson took a position behind him.Taio strolled to the couch and sat, stretching his long arms over the back of it and his feet out in front.Omira came to stand beside me.“Now is when your father tries to break the promise he made,” she murmured.
I glanced at her, unnerved that she was the same height as me.“That won’t happen.”
“You are a fool,” she said.“I told my brother to choose the one called Finnrey.”
Half of me wished he had chosen Finnrey, and the other half was glad my sister would stay here and be safe.But perhaps Omira had a point.Perhaps Finnrey was cleverer than I and would not have been surprised at the words that came out of the mouth of the historian-in-training.
“The king wishes to negotiate with you for his daughter,” Old Ceba’s great-grandson said.Omira made a sound, but I refused to look at her.I felt my cheeks warm from shame.My gaze met Old Ceba’s and held.I didn’t know what he was thinking, but he did not look pleased.
