“She gave us power to avoid sickness of the body. She gave us a way to escape death by calling us home as we walk into her waters. ”
The smell of sandalwood and sage filters through the crowd and I lean back further into Thylas' embrace – his smell is always intoxicating, but more so right now. His tattooed forearm curves around my waist and his thumb traces small circles on my right hip bone.
The drumbeat stops and the priestess starts again, “When the Mother watched as her creations fell in love, she became lonely again and created a man from a single drop of Her sea – and that's why we call our bonds with each other twin drops. Rarer now as the years continue, but not impossible. He and the Goddess loved each other very much until She was betrayed.”
I hear Siphonie gasp, this part of the story always gets to her, since we were kids. I watch as she leans against Rhenor. He wraps his hand around her and her head rests lightly on his chest. Thylas' grip around me tightens and I let it, slipping even more into his strong chest behind me.
“The traitor was banished from Antalis, and Shaston was created, a land so hot Her seas cannot exist there, and her magic cannot be felt. Her powers, now gone from the world, as is She. But as Her chosen people, we do not forget Her. We will never forget Her. Not even with the deluc plaguing us. Not even if other kingdoms say She has abandoned us in our greatest time of need. With thisshæmifish, our prize of the sea, we honor Her for all that She gives us daily, we honor Her, by honoring our desires.”
Two young priestesses in training, dressed in white, hand the matron a gold knife with the image of a trident on the hilt. The matron priestess walks to the fire spit, and slowly slices a piece of theshæmifish and takes it to the shoreline letting it disappear in the surf before she returns.
“Let us remember the Great Goddess tonight. Be fruitful, be merry, and honor her in all acts this evening.”
Applause sounds loudly around the fire as more timber is added, making it larger. The priestesses silently walk away- their job is done and the music begins. Thylas quickly releases me and I instantly miss his heat.
Thylas grabs my hand and asks, “Would you like to dance?”
“Yes, she would,” Siphonie answers for me, pushing me slightly toward him.
He wraps his arm back around my waist and sparks feel as if they shoot across the path. His heavy scent of sandalwood and sage drifts through the air mingling with the smell of sweat from the others near us. The intertwining smells should be less than appetizing, but at this moment I wouldn't change anything. As we dance across the sand-covered area, his emerald eyes meet mine and a smile cuts across his face.
“What?” I find myself whispering.
“I just ...” – he sighs and pulls me closer to him, our chests melding together. “I forgot what a joy it is to be in your presence when you are this happy.”
“I'm always happy.”
As the music changes to something slower, he takes a hand and slowly tucks a piece of hair that's fallen in front of my face behind my ear.
“You always pretend to be. But I see you,Nohæ.I see the look on your face when no one else is watching, I see the want in your eyes for things you cannot have now.”I have a hard time finding my words and I know my mouth is open as I just stare at him. He never misses a turn, keeping with the beat, keeping us in time with music. His eyes dart to my lips and I want to say something, anything, but his remarks remind me that he will always see me, the me I try to keep hidden. He has known me since I was a child; he knows me better than most.
“Thylas, then why be this way toward me? Why keep up your attitude toward me, keep me on a leash instead of enjoying time with me.”
“It's for the best.” The music stops and he lets go of me, taking a few steps back. “Let's enjoy tonight. I think I still have some more dances left with you, and I know Siphonie is expecting at least one.” He nods his head toward her as she is already heading our way.
After the moon has traveled higher in the sky, many people have wandered off the streets. Including Siphonie and Rhenor, once they found another couple. Most folks went smiling back into the castle or their homes leaving very few left with Thylas and me.
The sweat drips down our faces and fallen strands of hair cling to my face as my arms wrap around Thylas' neck, his hands dancing across my body and up my back. His fingers feel like fireworks as he touches bare skin. He's not said much since our conversation earlier, and I'm too worried to say much for fear I might ruin the memory of this night. When Siphonie made me wear the necklace, I had zero intentions of finding a suitor for the night and so Thylas is a good buffer for anyone who thinks of approaching me.
The music stops and he pulls me into his chest mid-twirl, stopping me. “Want a drink?” he questions, gesturing toward the few remaining open ale houses.
“Yes, but one to go. I think I'm ready to get back to my rooms. I'll sit here and allow you the honor of getting me one.”
His chuckle under his breath is genuine and gravely. I can't hold my liquor as well as some, certainly not as well as him. I watch as he walks away, seeming to sway a bit but it could just be my eyes. I sit sharply on the sand and groan as I come down alittle too hard. The stars are beautiful as they twinkle in the sky, lit still by the full moon. I run my hands through the sand and let the emotions I’ve been keeping at bay take over me. I don't have much longer here, after the ceremony I'll be in Shaston. I won't be surrounded by the pale sand of Antalis but sand of red and orange — of Shaston. I won't have the coolness of the sea breeze kissing my cheeks but I will run from the sun’s rays in fear that I'll burn.
Huffing out a breath, that is certainly not the thought I want to have tonight. Thylas is taking too long to return with my much needed libation so I look toward the direction he disappeared to and that's when I see him, a woman pressing against him.
The same woman from the tavern earlier, Chat? Chane? Chanteriea? He called her something like that. She's rubbing her bare breast across his chest as she runs her slender hand up the hem of his shirt, along the abs I know he has there. He runs his hand through her hair as she backs him up to a wall, and heat coils inside of me. Watching them is a breach of privacy but I can't force myself to look away either. He leans down to her and I wait for the meeting of their lips, but he simply whispers in her ear and walks away, removing her hand from under his shirt.
I look away as he walks toward me, appearing to have been watching something else. He hands a glass to me. “Sorry about that,” he mumbles, sliding down beside me. His thigh touches mine as he sits beside me, stretching his legs out.
“About what?” I take a sip, the warm brown substance drifts down my throat with a slight burn.
“Chantara, she …” he fumbles for words, “she is someone I see on occasion.”
“Ahh, so she's the reason you didn't wear the necklace! I wondered if you had turned into a chaste man these past few years,” I laugh, trying to play off the jealousy I felt just moments ago.
“No, that's not it. She's a pleasure woman, we are not pledged to each other.”
