Chapter 5
The next morning, Adam awoke at dawn feeling so mixed up he could hardly begin to sort out his own emotions. Embarrassment is there aplenty, he thought as he stretched leisurely in bed. Humiliation, frustration... He shied away from other emotions he didn't even want to recognize, let alone name. Aching love, horrifying despair and acute pain rose to the fore when he thought of Teela. Those, and the beginnings of something that might be anger. He quashed that last sentiment ruthlessly. There was no place in his relationship with Teela for resentment. She owes me nothing, not even friendship. I won't take my disappointments out on her. It would be neither fair nor honorable.
Thoughts of Castaspella brought an even more baffling mix of emotions: chagrin, annoyance, exhaustion, desire, aggravation, love and longing in no particular order. And that was only the beginning. Shuffled in with all the rest was a sort of awe-filled astonishment that she wanted him. No one ever had before. Adam had begun to fear that he'd played his part too well, and that no one would ever want the cowardly prince of Eternia. Yet, despite it all, Castaspella loved him – impossible to doubt her word on that. Part of the prince couldn't help but rejoice that someone as intelligent, as kind and as beautiful as the queen of Mystacore loved him. How he felt for her was almost immaterial. Though, he could hardly disregard the way he'd felt when she kissed him... and when he kissed her...
Maybe it was that encounter which sparked the dreams that plagued him throughout the night. His skin tingled as he remembered each phantom caress, every dream-wrought whisper of love and passion. Somehow, he didn't think Teela would be thrilled to know what role she had played in his slumbers. Somehow, he thought Castaspella would be even less thrilled to know what fantasies her kiss had awoken within him. I am well and truly... screwed. But what wouldn't I give for those dreams to be portents of what is to come?
Adam flushed and stretched again. Despite the late night, he felt surprisingly well rested and ready to take action. I have to sort this all out. Somehow I have to discover the right thing to do. I don't want to hurt either of them. Lifting aside the covers, the prince got gingerly to his feet, still leery of aggravating his abused back muscles. I don't want to hurt myself, he admitted sadly. I don't want to hurt anymore. Is that so wrong? Is it expecting too much?
As he dressed, being careful not to trip over the tiger sleeping between his bed and his wardrobe, the prince contemplated just what he should do. There were any number of ways to tackle his current situation, but one thought echoed through his mind again and again. I've got to talk to Teela. I've got to tell her how I feel... I've got to give us one last try.
Pulling on the first clean clothes that he came to, Adam hurriedly finished his toilette and set out to find the Captain of the Guard. As he'd expected, she was already up and dressed, training in one of the royal family's private courtyards. The sun was low in the sky, and Teela stood silhouetted against it, her copper hair flickering like fire in that dawn light. For a moment Adam was frozen in place, entranced by the sheer force of her beauty. It was difficult even to breathe as he watched her moving, flowing through the motions of her exercise routine. Oh, my goddess...
Then, without warning, Teela's movements turned her toward him, her eyes caught his and Adam found himself trapped by her gaze. Oh Elders! She's going to think I was watching her. The prince cringed as the captain approached him, a rigid look in her emerald eyes. Worst part, I was watching her. I am a dead man. Adam took a deep breathe and steeled himself for the rebuke he knew had to be coming.
"Yes, your highness?" Teela asked as she stopped before him, hands on her hips.
Adam fought to keep his eyes front and center, but images from his dreams flitted through his mind. He found his eyes – and his attention – wandering unforgivably. He wet his lips as he fought to regain his focus but his gaze continued to stray.
"Adam!"
"What?" he asked, blinking foolishly at her as his eyes returned to her face.
Teela's jaw clenched as she crossed her arms and glared at him. "What. Do. You. Need?"
"Need?" Wild, and wholly inappropriate, answers whirled past his tongue fighting to escape. "Uhhh..."
"I don't have all day, your highness."
"Yes, of course, I –"
Her posture loosening slightly, Teela said, "What are you doing up this early anyway? I expected you would have slept in after your adventures yesterday."
Adam's eyes widened as the blood drained rapidly from his head. "Adventures?" he squeaked. "What? I – what?"
"Sneaking off with your little Etherian queen, dodging the palace guards, those adventures..." Teela looked at him oddly for a moment, peering at his face until he felt himself begin to blush, then she shook her head. "Oh, never mind. What did you need, Adam?"
Heart pounding in his throat, the prince swallowed and said, "I want to talk to you."
"About today?" she asked, cocking her head to one side. The prince couldn't help noticing that the skin of her throat was white and very soft, like the rest of her.
Not that I've felt the rest of her. Oh, my. What am I thinking here? Uhhh... Teela cleared her throat meaningfully, and Adam shook his head. "Today? No, not about today."
"Then what?" Teela sighed and drummed her fingers on her arm. "I'm very busy, your highness. If I'm going to go with you today, then I don't have time to chit chat right now."
This isn't chit chat, Teela! He fought down the urge to scream at her. Why can't she see? Why can't she see me! "Go with me today, I... oh, you mean the shopping trip?"
Teela's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Yes, your highness, the shopping trip. I'm so glad to see you remember, considering how much you badgered me to set this up! But then, I suppose you finished all of your shopping for the mid-summer festival yesterday!"
Adam backed up slightly, startled by her anger. "What? No, no. I do want to go shopping with you, Teela. I just – that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I, you see, I, well –"
The prince's words broke off as he fought to control his rising panic. Somehow, this moment was looking less and less promising for a heart to heart confession. I've simply got to tell her the truth, though. This is my last chance! Why won't she listen? Please, Elders, let her listen to me! Adam took a deep breath, then another. He wet his lips, but before he could start again, the captain rolled her eyes and turned away.
"Teela, wait!" he cried, reaching out and grabbing her arm. "This is important!"
She spun around, brows raised. "Important," she repeated scornfully. "Important? Adam, what could you possibly have to say that's important? You don't do any real work. You're not a soldier. You don't help the king and queen run the country. You don't even get involved in court politics! What could you possibly have to say that's important?! Don't waste my time!"
She yanked her arm free of his grasp and turned her back on him. Adam felt himself go pale. Without another word, he pivoted and ran from the courtyard, ran so fast that his lungs burned, ran until the wind dried the tears from his eyes.
"Important?" Teela glared at the Prince. Obviously, whatever he has to tell me is so important that he couldn't come home at a decent hour yesterday. It's so vital that it completely drove our shopping trip from his mind! Yet, somehow I doubt it's important enough to stop him from spending all of his time with that Etherian hussy! The captain clenched her jaw and swallowed against the hurt that blossomed unexpectedly within her. I turned my whole schedule upside down just so we could spend today shopping together, and he spent yesterday – He didn't even remember that we were going out today. He just... forgot.
Her pride stung by the prince's seeming indifference, Teela snarled at him. "Adam, what could you possibly have to say that's important? You don't do any real work. You're not a soldier. You don't help the king and queen run the country. You don't even get involved in court politics! What could you possibly have to say that's important?! Don't waste my time!" She pulled her arm roughly from his grasp.
As she ranted, Adam went very still, all the animation draining from him until he seemed barely to breathe. For one relativisticly long moment, he stared blankly at a spot somewhere over her right shoulder. He said nothing, just stood there with the wind ruffling his hair. He looked beyond stunned – all but incapacitated. Teela flinched. She knew she'd gone too far. She knew she'd been much too harsh the instant that the words left her lips – but it was too late to call them back. Oh, damn.
The captain turned away, fighting to regain her composure. She was going to have to apologize again. She was going to have to apologize a whole lot. That was cruel and uncalled for, Teela. Adam may be flighty and lazy, but he's never yet been cruel. She rubbed her face wearily – far too early in the day to be so tired already – and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Adam," she said softly, turning slowly toward him as she murmured the apology. But the prince was already gone. Clenching her fists, Teela marched over to the nearest bench and slumped onto it. She was angry with Adam for ignoring her the last few days, angry with herself for caring so much, and infuriated with Castaspella for monopolizing her friend. She took several deep breaths and slowly opened her hands, wincing as her fingernails pulled free of the bloody divots they'd dug into her palms.
I'm sorry, Adam. I'm so sorry. Elders, I hate that woman!
Tilting her face toward the sky, she growled, "What am I going to do now?"
She was still asking herself that question two hours later as she prepared to take the prince and his playmate on their shopping expedition. It's not our trip anymore. Oh no. Now it's their trip. Curse her. Girding herself for the day-long battle that she knew was coming – her dignity against Castaspella's dimples – Teela knocked on the door to Adam's chambers. She soon heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the closed door and her breathing quickened. I will not grovel, she vowed. I will apologize, but I will not grovel. Much.
When the door opened, however, it was not the prince's face that greeted her. Teela's jaw clenched as she looked into the insipidly beautiful face of the Queen of Mystacore. What is she doing in his chambers? Vile, wretched...
"Fair morning, Captain," the wizardess said, her pseudo-friendly smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I'm afraid you are a bit early. We'll be ready to depart in a few minutes." So saying, she shut the door with herself on the inside and Teela left decidedly out in the cold.
Harlot!
Teela wrestled with the urge to knock Adam's door off its hinges, grappled with the ardent desire to throttle a visiting dignitary, and then stormed away. They could bloody well come find her when they were ready to leave. She was halfway to the hangar where the royal family's private vehicles were stored before she remembered the promise she's made to herself only a short time earlier.
I will be nice to Adam, she thought, repeating the mantra again and again as she took several long, calming breaths. I will be nice to Adam. I will be nice to Adam. I will be nice to Adam. I will not kill the strumpet. I will be nice to Adam.
Teela aimed a savage kick at the edge of a windraider, but she hastily pulled her foot back when it occurred to her just how embarrassing it would be to call the outing off due to a broken toe. She'll be leaving in a few days. Her and Adora both. Then everything will be normal again. Just a few more days. I can handle anything for a few days.
Muttering disgustedly, and earning herself some alarmed looks from the hangar staff, Teela climbed into the nearest windraider and began a check of its systems. It could be worse. We could be stuck with Skeletor as a royal guest. That would be worse. It would. Wouldn't it? "Hmmm... " We could be entertaining Hordak. Or Frosta. Teela's hand tightened involuntarily around the right-side steering lever, and she yelped as the instrument rubbed against her abraded palm. Frosta. Just when did Adam kiss her? Does he kiss every Etherian he meets? Has he kissed Castaspella? Conniving trollop! Doesn't Adam have the sense to know a shark when he sees one?
Then it hit her. He doesn't, Teela reflected, all but overwhelmed by the sudden realization. Adam doesn't have a clue! Leaning her elbows on the dash of the windraider, the captain dropped her face into her hands and began to chuckle quietly. He's so naïve, so incredibly innocent. He probably doesn't even understand what Castaspella is after. Adam's always flirting with courtiers, with the ambassadors' daughters. It doesn't mean anything to him. It's just a game. That's all.
Finding herself suddenly, and unaccountably, cheered by this notion, Teela hopped out of the windraider and walked calmly back to the prince's chambers, humming as she went. When she reached her destination, she rapped sharply on the door. Once more, Castaspella greeted her, eyebrows raised enquiringly. Before the wizardess could speak, Teela smiled brightly and said, "If you would be so good as to excuse us for a few moments, your majesty, I have pressing business to discuss privately with Prince Adam before we make our departure."
Castaspella frowned, her eyebrows drawing together suspiciously. "If you must –" she began, opening the door more widely and stepping slightly to the side.
"The discussion requires privacy, your majesty," Teela repeated, still smiling benignly as she stepped lithely past the Etherian queen. "Our windraider is ready for departure, if you would care to wait there... " The captain trailed off, the slight tilt to her head clearly indicating that the wizardess should exit – immediately.
Giving her a frosty smile, Castaspella sauntered over to the inner door and knocked lightly. "Oh, Adam, dear," she called, her voice fairly dripping with honey. "Please forgive me for disturbing your rest, but Captain Teela is here, and she insists that she has private business to discuss with you."
Castaspella turned back toward the room, and they exchanged hostile smiles while they waited for prince to make an appearance. If she thinks she's going to push me around, she's picking on the wrong Eternian. Teela smiled maliciously. Elders, how I'd love to wipe that condescending smirk off her face. She's lucky I'm a patient woman.
Time crawled like a drunken courtier until, at last, Adam emerged from his bed chamber. When she heard the door begin to open, Teela immediately turned toward her friend, grinning broadly. The smile congealed on her lips, however, when she caught sight of him. The prince was not attired in his customary garb. Definitely not. The clothing he wore in its place, and the way he looked wearing it, robbed Teela of speech. Momentarily robbed her even of thought. Castaspella had no such problems.
"Adam, you look marvelous. I knew that hue would suit you," the wizardess declared as she stepped forward and matter-of-factly brushed a stray hair from one of the prince's shoulders. "You really should wear jewel tones routinely. Pastels just aren't your colors."
Teela could not help but agree. The full-sleeved shirt, in a deep wine red, and the skin-tight pants in a faintly glossy black that bordered on obsidian, could not have fitted him better. The pants complimented every curve and angle of his lower body, while the shirt emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist. It was nothing at all like Adam's usual foppish style. If anything, there was a certain roguish quality to his appearance. An almost pirate-like allure. The whole ensemble was breathtaking... and Castaspella had chosen it for him.
The captain didn't realize that she was grinding her teeth until she caught Adam watching her, a mistrustful expression in his brilliant blue eyes. "You wanted to speak with me, Captain?"
Teela blinked. Captain? Oh, dear, I am seriously out of favor at this moment. Gulping, she squared her shoulder, tilted her chin up and grinned. Never retreat. Charge onward. "Yes, your highness. I have a few things to discuss with you before we leave." She threw a quick, determinedly neutral glance in the queen of Mystacore's direction. "Things that require privacy."
Castaspella raised one elegantly shaped eyebrow and then looked to Adam for direction. The prince's lips thinned and he studied Teela's face. "Is it important?" he asked dryly, his lips unsmiling, his eyes wide and questioning.
Ouch. Teela stopped breathing for a moment. Okay, I deserved that. The Elders know I deserved that. She smiled and nodded firmly, doing her best to maintain a pleasant, though business-like air. The prince turned his gaze on the Etherian queen. He said nothing, but some form of communication must have passed between them for she inclined her head in reluctant acquiescence.
"As you wish, dearest," Castaspella said in that calm, lilting – irritating voice of hers. "I will be waiting for you at the hangar." Stepping up onto her tiptoes, she deposited a kiss on the Adam's cheek. "Don't be too long."
Teela once more found herself fighting down the urge to strangle the Etherian. You'd think she owned him! How can anyone be so tawdry?
Unaware of the captain's thoughts, though perhaps not unaware of the sentiments they represented, the wizardess swept from the room. At the door, she stopped, flipped her hair into place, favored the prince with a lingering, overly familiar smile, and then disappeared from view, trailing the faint scent of lilacs behind her. The prince watched her go in utter silence. The door had been closed for a good five seconds before he turned back to face his childhood friend.
As blank-faced as an ambassador negotiating a treaty, the prince said, "Yes, Captain, what was it you needed?"
Tossing dignity and caution to the wind, Teela rushed forward and threw herself at him. "Adam, I'm so sorry!" she cried. The force of her impetuous hug knocked them both of balance, and the prince had no choice but to clasp his arms about her or risk falling.
For a moment they teetered in space, clinging to each other. Then the moment passed, and Adam quickly regained his balance. As he tried to pull away, Teela squeezed her arms around him and held on with every ounce of muscle she possessed. Short of hurting her, she knew there was no way he could loosen her grip. For at least the next few seconds, she had his undivided attention.
Obviously realizing that his attempts to free himself were futile, the prince stopped struggling. His stiffness made his opinion of the embrace undeniably clear, however. Anger, hurt and frustration fairly radiated from him. Shocked by the extent of his annoyance, Teela forged onward. He can't hate me. I couldn't bear it if he hated me.
"Oh, Adam, please don't be angry with me!" she begged as she tucked her head under his chin. "I can't begin to say how sorry I am! I know I acted like a complete jerk, and I know you have every right to absolutely despise me! But please, please don't treat me like a stranger."
"Let go of me, Teela," Adam demanded, his voice shaking alarmingly.
"No."
"Teela!"
"No," she repeated determinedly. The prince began to tremble, and she tightened her arms around him, snuggling closer until his shudders ran through her body too. Don't push me away. Please. You're my oldest friend... my best friend.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, an odd tone to his voice that she couldn't quite identify. "It isn't necessary. Just leave me –"
Teela huffed. "I'm trying to apologize, you nitwit." No sooner had the words left her mouth than she wished she could call them back again. That's great. Insulting him will really help. Sure it will.
"Just let go, Teela," Adam snapped. "You don't owe me –"
"Not until you swear you're not mad at me anymore," she interrupted. "I know I was rotten to you, and I'm sorry. Can't you forgive me? We're friends." Then, in very small voice, she said, "You're my best friend. Please, Adam? Please?"
With a long-suffering groan, Adam put his arms around her and squeezed until she squeaked, lifting her off her feet. "All right!" he conceded. "Fine. I'm not mad anymore. There, are you satisfied?"
Teela twisted in his arms and looked up into his face, searching for some sign that he actually meant what he said. But the prince was staring up at the ceiling and would not meet her eyes. "Adam?"
"What?" he asked, still without looking at her.
"I'm sorry," she said again, fairly certain that one couldn't say it too often.
His lower lip and chin and trembled slightly. "You already said that."
"Well, I mean it. I just want to be sure that you know I mean it. I know I've been really dreadful, and –"
Sighing, Adam finally abandoned his study of the ceiling and met her gaze. He still looked wary of her, and his eyes shone with a hurt that would not be easily dismissed. But at least he was listening. "You're my best friend, Adam. Practically a –" Teela swallowed nervously. "Practically a brother." The prince twitched and she hurried on, afraid that he would shut her out again. "I know that nothing is the same as it used to be now that... well, now that you found Adora. But you're the closest thing to a brother I have, the closest thing to family aside from Father, and I hoped that – I don't want to lose –"
Teela broke off, unable to bring herself to continue. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, surprised by just how right it felt for Adam to be holding her. He smells good too...
Adam closed his eyes, desperately struggling again the desire to scream his lungs out. Adora. She's jealous of Adora. Not Castaspella. She doesn't care about me and Castaspella at all. She's just jealous of her "brother." How can she be so blind? Why can't she see what she's doing to me? The prince's eyes clenched shut. At that moment, he wanted nothing in the world more than to take Teela by the arms and shake her until she grew a brain. Or, better still, he could shake her until she came to her senses and confessed her undying love for him. What wouldn't I give for her to love me? What wouldn't I do? But that road led only to more pain and anguish. If the love of a sister was the only thing that Teela had to offer him, he would take it and be grateful that she yet cared for him, in whatever manner.
Sighing, Adam lifted Teela off her feet and into a bone crushing hug. Her legs kicked out behind her as her feet left the floor and she gave a surprised laugh. "Adam, you nut!"
"Nut, am I?" Adam asked, allowing a malicious smile to spread slowly across his lips. Shifting his grip so that he could hold her up with one arm, the prince began to tickle the captain's ribs, hitting all the spots he remembered from their more demonstrative childhood. Teela squealed, throwing her head back, and she gasped for breath. He continued to tickle her ruthlessly, chuckling at her near frantic attempts to free herself and doing his utmost to ignore the less appropriate yearnings that her physical proximity aroused in him. I may not be He-Man, but I'm no weakling. I can handle this. I can.
Teela thrashed in his arms for several seconds, threatening all sorts of dire reprisals. Then... she kneed him in the stomach. Adam dropped her with an, "Oof!" and bent nearly double as he fought to regain his breath, wheezing.
"Ha!" Teela cried as she glared at him self-righteously. "It serves you right!" The prince did not respond. Hands placed firmly on her hips, Teela jerked her chin back and flicked a swath of hair out of her face. "You should know better than to try something like that. You never could – Adam?" The prince gulped air, continuing to wheeze as the captain squatted before his bent form. "Adam, are you all right?" she asked, her eyes wide and very bright. "Oh, no! I didn't – tell me I didn't get you there!"
The prince clenched his jaw and shook his head. "Just my stomach," he rasped through his gritted teeth. "Nothing IMPORTANT!" He gasped as he slowly straightened up, and, laughing ruefully, Teela hurried to help him. "Brat," he muttered in disgust.
"Oh, Adam," she sighed, "I really am very sorry. Truly, I am." They both knew that she wasn't talking about accidentally kicking him in the stomach.
"It's all right, Teela," Adam said slowly. He gazed into her love-filled green eyes, keenly wishing that the emotion that moved her was more than sisterly. "Let's not talk about it anymore." At least she loves me. I haven't completely lost her. Not completely. The captain bit her lower lip nervously. Smiling, the prince reached out and brushed her smooth cheek with his fingers. "I'll always be your friend, Teela," he promised earnestly, his heart in every word. "Nothing you could ever do will change that. Don't worry."
Teela grinned back, eyes twinkling and then leaned in for another hug. Adam was careful to keep the embrace strictly brotherly as she snuggled against him. His heart ached and soared all at the same time. I must have been a very, very bad person in my previous lives to be tortured like this now.
"I've missed you," Teela whispered against his chin.
Adam sighed and closed his eyes, forgetting for one blindingly joyful moment the strangers they'd become in recent years. "I've missed you too, Red."
Teela giggled against his throat, a decidedly strange sensation. "Don't start that again," she groused. "Or I just might suddenly remember that your nickname used to be –"
"Teela!" Adam cried, shoving her away and holding her at arm's length. "Don't you dare! I'll have you locked up in a tower and fed on cookies and milk for the next fifty years!"
Some while later, having repaired the disarray caused by their brief tussle, Adam and Teela set off to meet Queen Castaspella of Mystacore, walking hand in hand, swinging their arms like the children they'd once been.
Castaspella watched Adam and Teela approach with more than a touch of trepidation. They were holding hands and grinning broadly, and for a moment, the wizardess found it difficult to breathe in the face of their unity. No! It can't be. She doesn't love him! Why does he look so happy? She can't have told him she loves him! She can't! Willing herself to calmness, The Etherian pasted a smile on her face as they reached her.
"Are you ready to depart, Adam?" Some nuance of her voice must have betrayed her anxiety for the Captain of the Guard and Bodyguard looked at her with an oddly speculative look in her cold green eyes. Releasing Teela's hand, the prince stepped closer and put an arm around Castaspella's shoulders.
"Are you all right, Casta?" he asked, his voice rich with genuine warmth and concern, his smile vanishing. "You look a little pale."
Placing one of her hands over his, where it rested upon her shoulder, the wizardess replied, "I'm fine. Just a little hungry perhaps. Why don't we be on our way, and we can all get something to eat when we make our first stop for the day?"
His brilliant blue eyes, so near hers, clouded with worry. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Adam," she drawled. "Don't be silly. I'm fine." Smiling, she leaned closer and gave him a quick and affectionate kiss on the cheek. Teela, out of the prince's field of vision, scowled, and Castaspella couldn't resist the urge to squeeze his hand and nestle into his embrace for just a moment. "Now, let's get to our shopping."
A short while later, they were in the air. Teela, a militarily trained pilot, flew the windraider while Castaspella sat beside her in the front of the vehicle. The wizardess would much rather have joined Adam in the back, but she knew without a doubt that treating his childhood friend like a glorified chauffer would win no points with the prince. No. Teela and I are stuck with each other, she thought as she struggled for some topic of conversation that the warrior wouldn't be likely to take as an insult or an innuendo. We've got to make the best of this for Adam's sake. I wonder if she would consider my asking whether the garb she normally wears is a uniform to be an insult? Probably.
Conversation faltered altogether when Teela asked about Castaspella's family and the wizardess informed her that she had none. Evidently discomfited to have brought up what she must believe to be a painful subject for the Etherian, the other woman had quickly apologized and then focused determinedly on her flying. In an attempt to make light of the captain's gaffe, Castaspella noted she'd always wanted dozens of children and that she hoped to start a family of her own very soon.
The windraider dipped alarmingly for a moment, and the wizardess seized at the side of the vehicle, her stomach rolling as wildly as their craft. "Hey, Teela! This isn't a circus ride!" Adam protested, leaned over the partition and placing a hand on his bodyguard's shoulder. "Give it a rest, will you?"
Teela's reply was all but inaudible and undoubtedly profane. However, the windraider righted itself with a shuddering jerk. Castaspella released her clutching hold on the vehicle and turned a wide-eyed stare on its pilot. Teela took a several deep breaths, staring resolutely down at the control panel, then muttered, "Sorry. Air pocket."
She flicked on the autopilot and then rested her hands in her lap where they began to shake ever so slightly. Adam didn't seem notice and Castaspella chose not to point out the captain's attack of nerves. "I'm a dreadful pilot," the wizardess said, earning a startled look from Teela. "If I hit an air pocket, I'm afraid we'd all go down with the ship."
The Eternian woman's eyes narrowed and her lips moved as if to respond, but Adam beat her to it. "Oh, I very much doubt that, Casta," Adam said, chuckling. "Knowing your propensity for pretty spells, I'm sure you'd just cast some simple, yet elegant little spell and we'd all wind up landing on a pile of flower petals or some such thing."
Castaspella gaped at him, momentarily dumbstruck. Is that all he thinks of my skills? She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut, fighting to clear her mind. DON'T be paranoid, Casta! Adam has nothing but the greatest respect for you as a woman, a ruler and a wielder of the eldritch powers. As the silence lengthened, both Adam and Teela began to look decidedly nervous, and the wizardess forced a tentative smile. She laughed half-heartedly – the best she could manage – and said, "Rose petals, specifically."
The prince grinned, his eyes twinkling with relief. Settling his forearms on the partition, he rested his chin on his crossed hands. Castaspella and Teela each swiveled partially in their seats to see him better. "So, ladies, where shall we break our fast? There's an excellent bakery on Plover Street or –" Adam broke off abruptly as the windraider rocked in the air. "Teela?"
The captain whirled back to the controls, swiftly tapping commands into the console as the ship continued to buck and jerk through the sky. "What's happening?" Adam asked in a tone of command quite unlike his usual lighthearted manner. With a lurch, the windraider began to accelerate.
"I don't know yet," Teela shouted back at him. "Give me a moment."
"Right," the prince said. "Your majesty, switch places with me. I need to take the co-pilot's seat." The wizardess nodded instant agreement, and scooted to one side to make room for him. As he climbed forward, she held on for dear life against the pitching and partial rolls of the windraider. Once, she almost fell, but Adam threw and arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him for one heart-stopping moment. Then, without a word, he lifted her over the partition and into the rear seat. The whole procedure took but moments, yet it seemed to last for an eternity.
The prince and the captain worked in silence, seemingly communicating their questions and answers without words of any kind. Then, Teela turned toward Adam. "It's no good," she shouted over the sound of the wind as the craft rapidly continued to pick up speed. "I've lost control of the ship's functions. We've got to cut power and try to glide in."
"Too dangerous," the prince countered. "What about –" Before he could finish his question, the control panel sparked madly, the ship whined once like a dying animal and they began to fall.