He pursed his lips before replying, “Queen Abeille feels no affection for anyone. Ever since the passing of her husband, she prefers solitude to any company. It takes nothing to be banished from her city. Every little transgression or simply an innocent mistake, like accidentally using a healing spell instead of the fertility spell on a fish merchant andtemporarilycausing her womb to fuse shut?—”
“Wait. What?” I gasped in horror. “Is that what you did? Is that why you fled Kalmena? They surely wanted to arrest and prosecute you for that.”
“Me? Who said anything about me?” He blinked innocently. “That was a purely hypothetical scenario.”
It sounded suspiciously specific to be purely hypothetical. Either way, that made my decision to not allow Suhai to cut my eyes that much firmer.
“My point is,” the mage continued, “that it doesn’t take much to be banished from Kalmena. Queen Abeille even exiled her only son from her city last month.”
“Prince Rha?” I perked up, feigning ignorance. “Did the prince go to Kalmena? Why? Did something happen to Teneris?”
“Nothing happened.” The mage shrugged. “What can happen to a city? It’s thriving, just like it has always been since Prince Rha became its ruler. But, back to yourglasses…”
“No wait,” I insisted. “Is Prince Rha back in Teneris now?”
“Yes, he is. Safe and sound, if that’s your worry.” He flicked an assessing stare between me and Timur. “Why are you asking, Sweet One? Were you attached to the prince? You came from hissarai, after all. Do you always grow fond of all your masters?”
A rumble of warning rolled deep in Timur’s throat. He definitely had a possessive streak, and the dragon in him often made it more obvious than was necessary.
“No,” I replied to the mage. “I far prefer men who don’t act like my masters.”
With a confused “Hm,” Suhai tapped his finger against his chin.
Timur shifted in his chair impatiently.
“I suggest you go on with her eyeglasses now or we’re leaving,” he barked.
“Eyeglasses.” The mage shook his head, curling his lips in a grimace. “That’s such a crude and primitive method to correct one’s vision. It requires wearing that…” He splayed his fingers, moving his hand in front of his face. “…that contraption on your face at all times.”
“Well, I’ve been nearsighted since the third grade,” I said. “Which means I’ve been wearing that ‘contraption’ since I was a child. I’m used to it. The real question is can you make them for me? Or should I look for someone else?”
“Of course I can make them,” Suhai bristled, as if I’d insulted his professional pride. “If that’s what you really want me to do. Or I could just use a simple spell and a few small cuts to your eyeballs?—”
I shuddered, and Timur raised a finger. “No cuts. Make Elaine what she asked for. Nothing more.”
Improving my vision without the necessity to wear glasses seemed appealing. I could never afford an eye surgery back home. But I didn’t trust Suhai enough to let him put a spell on me, much less cut my eyeballs.
“Just a pair of glasses would do. Thank you,” I said firmly.
“As you wish.” Suhai inclined his head. “Let me just take a few measurements then.”
He rummaged through the items on his tray, then fetched a few instruments from the dresser by the wall.
Meanwhile, my thoughts drifted back to Prince Rha and Teneris. Mostly because I never stopped wondering about Dawn’s fate.
“What else do you know about Prince Rha?” I asked, trying to sound casual. “Did he get any of his Joy Vessels back?”
He glanced over his shoulder at me, but I couldn’t catch his expression from this distance.
“You’re still concerned about the prince?” he drawled, bringing over a tray with several instruments on it. “You must’ve had a pretty good life in hissarai.Surely far better than living in Ashgate.”
I didn’t like the sly note that slinked into his voice.
“I’m not complaining about my life,” I snapped.
“Of course, of course, but that doesn’t mean you’re not missing your old master.” His eyes flickered to Timur, to gauge Timur’s reaction to his words, no doubt.
I might be blind as a bat in this dimly lit cave, but I wasn’t deaf. Or stupid. The mage had been prodding and testing since the moment I’d first walked into this place. And now, it felt like he was testing the connection between Timur and me.
