“He's jealous, my jewel, not stupid.”
“I know he's not stupid.” Then I muttered, “At least that, we can agree on.”
Geris had gone home, as in, his estate. As far as I knew, Rian hadn't sent him any progress reports, since I hadn't made any progress. So, he had stopped by the day before to check on things. When he entered the downstairs study with Rian, I walked out. It was the rudest I'd ever been to him, and it put Rian in the awkward position of coming up with an excuse for my behavior, but I didn't care. It was hard enough to deal with Rian's refusal to believe my conclusion. I couldn't deal with conversing with Geris.
“Ah, here is the meeting hall, where the town leaders discuss matters unworthy of the crown,” Rian ignored my muttering and waved at another grand building. “And across the street is where they go for a few mugs of ale afterward.”
I looked from the hall to the tavern. Things started to change at that point. Buildings stood closer and closer until they were pressed up against each other as you would find in Vagasof. Every window was lit, so I soon saw that we had entered a shopping district. The smell of roasting nuts wafted to me, and I peered around, seeking out the origin.
“Right here,” Rian said as if in answer to my search, but he was actually speaking to his guards.
The driver pulled our sleigh over, then the knights climbed down. One of them opened the short sleigh door for us while the other pulled some horse blankets out from the compartment below his seat and hefted them onto the horses.
Vashana jumped into the snow, not even the sidewalk was cleared. She pranced around as we got out, going up and down the sidewalk, sniffing the air.
Rian grinned at her antics. “This way, Vash.” He took my hand and steered me down the sidewalk.
We strolled as if it were summer, peering into shop windows but not going in. The knights left the sleigh, more concerned with the King than the horses. They took positions in front and behind us. Aksel, the one in front, cleared the path a bit with his kicking boots.
“How about this one?” I waved at a window with a display of music boxes and pipes—an odd combination that intrigued me.
“Do you smoke a pipe?” Rian asked.
“No, but it looks as if they offer multiple wares.”
“You're just cold.” He drew me on. “Come on. I wanted to take you down the length of the shopping district before we decided which shop to go in.”
“The whole length?”
“It's one street, Galin,” Rian said dryly. “Look, there is the end of it.”
I looked toward the end of the street, but before I could say anything, someone else did.
“What are you doing here? This is a Dragon enclave!”
I spun, Vashana growling, and faced the man who had stepped up behind us.
Rian's knights instantly closed in, both grabbing the hilts of their swords. Isak said, “You're addressing the King's consort, asshole!”
“Hold!” Rian said as he stepped between his guards. “Elias?”
“Rianvar?” the man said.
“Elias!”
“Rianvar!”
They embraced while I scowled.
Slapping the man's back, Rian pulled away. “It's good to see you. It's been what? A hundred and twenty years?”
“Longer I think,” Elias said. “But then you're busy in Vagasof, running the kingdom, and I'm even busier, here, trying to run a cafe.” He waved at the door beside us. “I'd wager, I have the harder job.”
Rian snorted. “Fuck, you're still an asshole.”
“Yeah, but so are you.” Elias slapped Rian's arm again. “That top hat alone screams it.”
“Why is everyone giving me attitude over my hat?” Rian growled. “It's a fine hat.”
