Jolouque stood outside Earn's room and reflected. Now that he had just escorted Zalean into Earn's waiting arms he had a lot to reflect about. The kiss for one thing made him an unexpected foe; on his way back to his room it was the only thing his thoughts could reach.
That morning had been a busy morning everyone finding time to take a stroll around the keep, and everyone seemed exceedingly active around Zalean's door. If, when Zalean saw him, last night was brought up someone passing by might have heard. Anyone with knowledge about their escapade in the garden would leave them drowning guppies just asking to be devoured. So he silenced her, the only way he could, with a kiss.
The problem was when their lips touched all the scenes within her mind rose to the surface and with them his desire. All the guys who had used her were bastards that didn't deserve to live, but at the same time the lust filled images left him begging for more. The beds she had filled left him aching for a partner of his own, left him aching for Zalean. He was afraid though that maybe she'd treat him the same as the others-as no one- or that maybe he'd scare her off. He wanted to be hers, if only for one night he wanted to be truly hers.
Never before had he been so rapt with another being and the thought frightened him. If he got too emotionally attached she would become a weakness and he couldn't have that. It would have just been easier if she had refused his kiss, backed off and never looked at him again. She hadn't drawn away though; she had given into the kiss despite the tremble down her spine, and even subconsciously had wrapped her arms around his neck.
The kick had been defense, which he understood, but he didn't understand the torn look in her eyes when he withdrew. Now she was in the hands of the predator, Earn, and he had left her there. For other things were on his mind and the priestess was one of them.
Why had he kissed her? Zalean occasionally brushed her lips for they still tingled, but Earn stood in front of her wardrobe not noticing.
"What do you think about this one?" Earn whirled around and held against her a blue taffeta dress.
The low cut bodice and silted skirt reminded Zalean of the costumes she might ware on the corner. Being polite though she simple shook her head and pointed to a more conservative green dress. It had a golden lace halter-top that didn't show so much cleavage and corresponded with the glitter throughout. "What about that one?"
Earn turned and raised an eyebrow at the outfit, "Yes, yes. Perfect!" Snatching it off the hanger she began jumping up and down as she danced around with the green dress her partner. When Earn had changed she curled up like a cat in the seat next to Zalean. "You have excellent tastes my darling."
Zalean did agree that the dress did accentuated Earn's appearance, without being to provocative. "Thank you."
Idle conversation was hard to keep up and every time the silence dragged Zalean would be reminded of Jolouque. He was so mysterious and his emotions almost cynical the way they'd go from unreadable to compassionate. Being far from the fairytale prince, he leaned more towards the tall, dark, and handsome category; the kind she couldn't trust. He wasn't like the guys she associated with back at her own home- then again she only knew the wrong sort of guys- and he wasn't like most of the guys in Dorothea's court either.
They stared at her like a piece of meat, which in the court etiquette books could be considered acceptable. Once Dorothea had actually encouraged her to take them up on the offer. "It would make them happier, and making them happier would make me happier." Throughout her life Zalean had taken up her 'profession' it was a way to survive, but it had always been private, non-emotional with rarely any strings attached. That way unless he wanted to see her again she could forget him. To publicly give herself away like that was something she wouldn't even consider.
"Darling, darling? Are you listening?" Zalean snapped awake at Earn's slight prodding.
"Yes, yes. You obtained the pearls as a court offering in Kaeleer." Zalean had a multi track mind and could easily recall events even if she was occupied with something else. "Go on."
"Ah, yes, anyways. As I was saying this was the trip that I met Jolouque on." Zalean tried not to bolt straight up, for that would seem too suspicious, but her heart did skip a beat. Earn caught the slight shift in emotions though, but could do nothing. If she were to slip into the girls mind Dorothea would sense it and have her hind. "Jolouque lived in a small village, with good strong witches. Dorothea wanted to help them and so I was there to help."
Zalean heard the emphasis on help but thought nothing of it. Being more interested in the story she kept her mouth shut.
"You see, Jolouque wore the Birthright Opal and because of his brother's death during his Offering Jolouque was afraid too. Many people could tell that he had yet to make the offering, including me. Others saw him as a threat a possible Red Jeweled Warlord Prince. I saw him as a strong ally so I gave him my protection, I mean with my word supporting him no one would assume otherwise. Even I sometimes forget he has yet to make the offering." A peel of laughter emanated from the Black Widow, which made Zalean's blood run cold.
An instate dislike for Earn arose in Zalean, but wanting to hear more she remained calm. This information on Jolouque made it easier to understand his way.
"Well I got this ring," Earn pointed to her finger forgetting the previous topic, "From a past Consort who was madly in love with me."
Jolouque watched the feeble woman turn around, she had known he was there for quite a while but had pretended he wasn't. Know though she could no longer be deceitful or it would be the last of her. With his Opal glowing in response to hers as he strolled closer, languidly grazing the kitchen counter. A growl deepened in her throat and he stayed his feet clasping his hands in front of him.
"What do you know about Zalean?"
Sensing his subtle pose she reached for a glass of wine she had poured during his arrival and drained it. "Who?"
"Don't play coy with me woman." He muttered between clenched teeth. "The new comer in Dorothea's court."
"Oh. Yes, her, I know no more than you." She fell back at the same moment he grabbed her wrist. The bone was so fragile in his grasp it would be easy to snap. "She not from this land or any land we've heard of. Through the portal she came just like before."
"What do you mean, before?" Tightening his grip on her wrist silently warned her not to lie.
"Before, she came through the first time eight years ago. Then she had arrived in Lorn's Keep were I was operating the Gates. Lorn prophesized her return and told me to take care of her when she came again."
"Lady you speak of myths." Scoffed Jolouque.
"Oh never the dragon is real. As real as you and I."
"So how did you know which portal she'd come through?" Not that he believed her story, but he still decided to play along.
"I didn't. For eight years I searched countless Gates and waited. Then Dorothea hired me to find her a way out of this world, and I just happened to stumble along the right gate." Jolouque noted this as interesting news- Dorothea was trying to escape- but he said nothing. "I knew the moment I saw her she was the one. And know the troubles will begin."
In her bedroom, late into the night, Zalean found herself not being able to sleep. She was afraid, afraid that she'd wake up and find herself in jeopardy. It was because of the dream; it had come again like a warning, this time making her too afraid to close her eyes. Quietly she crept from her bed reached beneath the mattress and pulled out the jewel. At a slight creek of the bed a movement outside drew her attention. So walking over, jewel pressed in hand, she opened the door.
On the other side stood Jolouque, with his head cocked to the side as if he was listening against the wood trying to hear within. The door, now opened, startled him causing him to back up. When he saw her he put a finger to his mouth in silence, as to avoid any questions. On a thread he voiced his words to her without a sound. Go back to sleep, I'll keep watch.
Zalean was startled by the sudden voice in her head, but understood. Nodding she closed the door and fell back in bed. Knowing that Jolouque was guarding her, and would be right there if she called she felt more comfortable. Soon she was fast asleep the Jewel grasped in her hand.
Nearing midnight Zalean rose again as a cold wind drifted across her. Pulling the blankets closer she would have fallen quickly asleep had she not remembered Jolouque. Crawling out of bed she brought a blanket this time into the hall. Jolouque sat against the opposite wall in a peaceful slumber, despite the chill that must have crept into him from the floor.
Having read of heat spells Zalean wished she knew magic. In response to the wish her jewel began to glow causing slight warmth to spread from her fingertips across the blanket. Astonished she stood there a while holding the self heated cloth at arms length. She had done it she had done Craft; or more or less the jewel had but she was still proud.
Quickly she wrapped it around Jolouque, he didn't stir, before heading back to bed. Since her jewel was so light Zalean doubted the warming spell would last till morning, but that was better than nothing. A sudden exhaustion took hold of her, and after placing the bracelet back in the mattress she snuggled in her own blankets and fell asleep.
Sure enough after about an hour the warming spell began to flicker. As a candle about to blow out it clung on to the craft behind it slowly becoming dimmer. Before completely dissipating though, a yellow glow sparked up between Zalean's mattresses and the spell flared anew.