CHAPTER SIXTEEN
"What are you doing?"
Irritation flared; Marea laughed. I twisted around, lowering the flute.
"Practicing this," I said. "I figured I'd come outside so as not to injure anyone's ears."
"I'm sure you're not all that bad," Mensonge said. I affected a smile.
"That's sweet of you to say."
He laughed. "I thought you might be… communing with the sea or something."
I raised my eyebrows. I had been talking to Marea as Mistress Sonea had suggested, and she had been helping. It was somehow easier while she sang along.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I've heard that Merlans can talk to the ocean," he said, with a little raised eyebrow that said he thought this doubtful. I had never discussed my language lessons and new abilities with him, and now hardly seemed the time to start.
"Don't be ridiculous," I said. "Perhaps a few of the shepherds can but that's far beyond my level of skill."
"It's true, then?" he asked.
"How should I know?" I smiled to soften my tone. "I'm far too busy being in love with you to worry about things like that."
Ugh. I could gag myself sometimes.
"Well, darling, if we're discussing love, you ought to know that you are my first thought when waking and my last before sleep." He trailed his fingers along my shoulder. A cool breeze came off the ocean, giving me a good excuse to stiffen and stand up. I brushed sand from my skirt.
"It's a bit chilly out here," I said. "Anyway, I promised Pearl I'd have tea with her."
"Then I'll walk you up." He placed an arm around my waist; my stomach squirmed. The man had hands like an octopus… no offense to octopi intended, of course. We made our way through the trees and up to the castle gate. He wouldn't hear of me going up alone and took me all the way up to Pearl's suites. I left him at the door with a smile and a promise that I'd see him later.
Pearl actually had no idea I was coming up, and I waited for Mensonge to leave so I could sneak away. But no, of course not. He stood there, a suave smile on his face, waiting. Idiot. I knocked.
"Oh," she said when I opened the door, looking mildly surprised to see me. "Hello."
"Hi," I said. "I'm here for… tea."
She glanced from me to Mensonge and back again. "Oh, of course. I was so wrapped up in making these rooming arrangements that I completely forgot. I'm so glad you didn't!" She ushered me in. Mensonge bowed, she nodded her head to him and smiled politely, and then the door was shut. She folded her arms and raised her eyebrows.
"Sorry," I said, feeling that the word was a rather bad explanation. She seemed to think so too.
"What's going on?"
"I had to get away. He's driving me insane."
She eyed me for a minute, then said, "Well, if you're here for tea, let's have some tea, shall we?"
What was I to do? I nodded, we sat down, and I waited for the questions to start.
"Biscuit?"
"Thanks."
"Sugar?"
"Yes, please."
She leaned back in her seat.
"So what's the matter?" she asked. "You don't go from being in love to being 'insane' overnight."
I bit my lip. She was looking at me with an expression that was all too kind, and soon the words were tumbling out. I told her all about Mensonge and Rochelle and what I'd overheard, the necklace, and she listened in silence, emotions crossing over her expressive face as rapidly as I spoke.
"I'm somehow not shocked," she said, when I was finished. She took a long, slow sip of her tea. "But it is terrible that you had to go through all this."
"It's my own stupidity," I said, shrugging.
"You're young."
"That's a bad excuse," I said. She nodded.
"Or a reason. Anyway, what are you going to do now?"
"I don't know. Wait until he has to leave and then talk about how long-distance relationships never work out or something."
"Marina, he's probably not going to go back to Desviado," she said. "You're being courted."
This was doubtless more etiquette, culture, and protocol. I fiddled with my skirt. "What does that mean, exactly?"
"He's serious." Her eyebrows drew together. "Much more serious than I think you realized. Your closeness, the time you spend together… he doesn't intend to return to Desviado. You're moving very quickly towards marriage."
"No, I'm not," I said. The idea was chilling. "I don't want to get married. Definitely not to him."
"You didn't realize…"
"No."
She leaned back. "Well, then." She fell silent for a while; we were both in thought. "At least you have grounds for breaking off the relationship," she said. "You'll probably need more proof that he's involved with Rochelle. That, or you can start the process of removing all appearance of attachment. Falling out of love, so to speak, in a very formal and open way."
"Can't I just, I don't know, talk to him? After my birthday and everything, I mean."
"No. This isn't just between the two of you. You're a princess. Your relationships will never be private."
"That sucks."
She tilted her head.
"Sucks?"
"It's an expression. It means… bad."
"Oh. Yes, it sucks."
"So what do I do?"
She gazed into the distance for a while. "For your own security, I suggest you do nothing until after your birthday. It's unlikely he'll propose before then --- protocol advises against it, as you're going to be busy with celebrations and your coronation. In the event he does, you need to ask for time to think about it. A lady of your station can reasonably expect, oh, three months, which will give you time. It might be easier for you if he simply does propose; then you might refuse him and have it be done with. But not until after your birthday."
I still wasn't certain what exactly the significance of my birthday was, but the general assumption seemed to be that I'd receive some magical power. I asked her about it.
"I can't really explain," she said slowly. "You'll discover gifts and talents rather suddenly. I can't say for certain what they'll be, but you'll know when they appear. As they do, you'll be trained to control and use them. It's a long process; every Merlan royal has gone through it."
"What kind of… talents?"
"All sorts. Ryne has incredible artistic talent. He can paint something and make it happen."
"I've never seen him use it."
"No, you wouldn't have. As well as being a powerful gift it's very dangerous. Leave someone's ear off in a painting and next thing you know it's been hacked off by an errant sword in the knight's practice courtyard."
"Wow."
"He can also fly," she said. "Among other things. I suppose you know that his element is air," she added. "Flight is another talent he doesn't use much, but it can be useful at times."
"So could I expect something earthy?"
"It's likely. I believe some of your gifts have already begun to manifest. Eran tells me you speak easily with the tree-folk."
"Yeah. All plants."
"You'll probably find that to increase. Some intuitive knowledge of them and their properties may develop, which I'm sure Nereida will be delighted with."
"And that'll keep me safe? Those talents?"
She pursed her lips. "Safer."
"But?"
"Well, you'll never really be safe, will you?" She sighed. "I didn't realize how little you knew." She was quiet, then said, "I haven't been much of a mother, have I?"
I shrugged. "Maybe. I don't really know. But you're doing good as a friend." I offered a small smile, she squeezed my hand.
"Come on," she said, and set the teacup down. "You could use some cheering up." We spent the rest of the afternoon going through fabrics that had just been shipped from some exotic locale and giving instructions to dressmakers. It wasn't as though I didn't have enough clothing already, but there was something therapeutic and girly about being lost in the silks and trimmings.
A/N: I apologize, as always, for the lateness of this chapter... and how short it is. My life's been... crazy. Like, WOW crazy. Fortunately the craziness is settling down... sorta. Okay, so it's not... I'm doing NaNoWriMo, which means I'm writing another novel during the month of November, but I'll try to update this one as well. And I'm headed off to school in January, which'll probably cramp my style a bit. Although maybe writing will serve as a nice comfort pasttime during those cold Idaho evenings? We shall see... Anyway, thanks for sticking with me on this:)
InChrist-Billios: Thanks! And I totally like that idea, I think I'm going to use it. Be patient with Eran. He's about to get a lot more stage time. A LOT more.
sueariel: Yay! A new reader! And I'm glad you like the modern-day setting... it seemed more interesting.
Gnomie022: Oh the suspense, indeed! And your answer is... neither. And both. Mwahaha. Just, uh, stay tuned. If it comes out on paper/screen the way it's going in my head, it'll be good, lol.
teenchic2004: I'll let you in on a little secret... I didn't expect her to be able to take off the necklace, either. Aren't characters great? They always surprise you... Hope your creativity shifts back into gear soon!
Allyp: collapses into laughter at the icky-ickness You rock. You just.. rock. :D
Backroads: Yeah, I agree... the slowing down chapter needed to happen... just in time for it all to speed up again in the one after this, if all goes according to plan, lol...
sheslike-poisonivy: Lol, thanks.
jinxywinxy: Thanks much! Hopefully I haven't scared you off with this long update time... :p
Desertkitt: Thank you!
Another A/N: I have, like, a bunch of new readers/people I didn't know had been reading... welcome to all of you and thanks:) And, actually, I'll extend that to the regulars as well. You're awesome.