“No, I don’t think so,” he said thoughtfully as he stood. “If you’ll excuse me, it’s been a tense dinner, and I have some things to take care of for my work.” He walked from the room, leaving Doryu and I staring at each other in amazement.
“Well that was an adventure,” he said. “Dannan politics are complicated.”
“I get the feeling I’m being sheltered here.” I stood. “Would you like to take a walk down to the village?”
“I’d love it. I’m stuck here until one of them arranges a portal back to my room at the Junta headquarters.”
Twilight had almost given over to night by the time we stepped out of the castle doors and onto the winding path that lead to the charming little town. Doryu slowed his steps to match mine, which I appreciated.
“I’m growing attached to this town,” I said. “I think I’d like to settle here, but I want to see more of this world first. It’s like new possibilities have opened up, but I don’t even know where to start.”
“I feel the same way. Maybe we could do some exploring together?” he asked.
Smiling at him, I didn’t answer. He was sexy, and his very presence made my body feel like it was being caressed by a lover, but I wanted my options firmly open.
We walked in peaceful silence for a while, the stars bright in the cloudless sky. “How do you feel about being away from your home?” I asked.
“Sometimes sad, but mostly relieved. I don’t know the words in English to explain to you how bad it was on Galdiart.” He was silent for a few paces, and I let him have his moment of contemplation. “Before Riley appeared, I thought we were all going to die. There was no hope.” He was silent a few more steps. “I keep replaying my memories now, because here on Earth, it seems like it was all a nightmare. But I’m old enough to remember the good times on Galdiart. So similar to Earth. And it makes me sad that I’ll never go home again, but I’m trying to look forward, not back. I’m also glad all the kids that were in the camp with us will have a chance at a real life, real futures.”
“I can’t imagine what you went through. I’ve had a difficult life, but knowing what you all went through puts it into perspective. It’s not beenallthat bad.” We entered the far side of the town and passed the cottages. “I’ve thought about renting one of these. There are two or three available.”
“Can you not stay at the castle?”
“Yes, they told me I’m welcome indefinitely, but I want to move on with my life. I have the potential of centuries now! Centuries!”
The concept was foreign, even after weeks. How could I live centuries?
“You could rent a place here and work for a while, maybe save some money and do some traveling. You could find someplace you like better, or maybe you’ll find someone worth settling down with.”
I gave him some side eye. Was he hinting at something? “Maybe.”
We walked into the pub, one of my favorite places. “Want a beer?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said, and made no mention of payment. I liked that. I’d always liked to pay my own way. A guy that never offered to pay was no good, but one that didn’t balk at the woman paying was a-ok in my book.
I ordered a couple of pints, and we sat by the fireplace. We talked about the possibilities of our futures and what we might like to do in life for another several hours. We’d spent most of the day together, and bought each other drinks until late into the night. Eventually Roan walked into the pub. “There you two are. Are you having fun?”
I nodded wobbily. “Yep!”
Roan grinned. “You’re drunk.”
I nodded wobbily again. “Yep!” I said with a raised glass. Doryu laughed. His laugh was infectious. When he laughed the entire room looked and smiled. He positively boomed when he chortled.
“Come on, you two. I’ve got a nice warm bed ready for both of you.” I went along happily with Roan, and chattered all the way back to the castle. My memories of that night and the conversation were fuzzy, but happiness permeated all of them.
The next morning was not full of sunshine and roses. It was full of pain. “What was in that beer?” I asked Roan from across the breakfast table. Alexander had tapped on my bedroom door far too early, and I’d asked him to leave by throwing a pillow at him as hard as I could, then immediately regretted it, as it made my head hurt.
I forced myself to get up then and drink a full glass of water and take an aspirin. Sleep claimed me for a couple more hours, until I finally stumbled to the bathroom and showered before making my way to the sun porch off the library. After about ten minutes, Roan appeared with a plate of food and a huge glass of orange juice.
“What the hell was in that beer?” I asked before downing half the juice.
“You’ve never had that much beer?” he said with twinkling eyes.
“I’ve had ten times that much beer. There was something in that stuff.”
He chortled, mercifully quietly. “They brew that beer there in the pub. Did you not see the huge vats?”
“No,” I groaned.
