Bastial Steel (18 page)

He froze, reluctant to enter but too hungry to leave. Jek was feeding Lisanda a strawberry, each giggling. He leaned in for a kiss, but she playfully pushed him away. “You have strawberry all over your mouth.”

“You love it,” he joked, puckering his lips and looming toward her.

She let out a squeak and leaned back. “I do not.”

“How is it not all over your mouth as well?” he asked, looking for something to use to wipe his mouth.

“Because I know how to eat without making a mess, unlike you.” She handed him a cloth.

He used it. “Clean enough for you, Princess?”

“Much better.”

Her light giggling died down as they leaned in to kiss each other. Soon the motion became fierce, their lips wrestling, their mouths opening wider. They separated, and Jek urgently started unbuttoning the shirt covering Lisanda.

The moment Cleve realized she had nothing on underneath it, he turned and left.

He took a different route back to his room, still trying to figure out how to fill his stomach without bothering a servant.

He passed by a room with two guards stationed outside. It was strange because they weren’t there during the day. A quick peek inside gave insight as to why they were there. Cleve found Danvell Takary scribbling away, hunched over a table with a lowly lamp beside him. The King looked up and then pushed himself to his feet.

“Cleve.” He motioned for Cleve to come in, then sat back down and returned to his writing before Cleve could even reply.

He entered, sat, and waited, deciding not to speak until Danvell said something first. But his stomach wasn’t as obedient, grumbling loudly as the King wrote.

Danvell looked up. “I didn’t eat much, either. Let’s have a small meal, shall we?” From the way Danvell was smiling, it was clear he already knew Cleve’s answer.

“That would be wonderful.”

Danvell turned to his guards and barked some orders. One of them walked off.

“I’ll be done soon,” the King told Cleve, switching his gaze back to the scroll and murmuring words. Soon, his pen was dancing again, the scratch it produced echoing off the walls.

The monarch whistled, and the other guard approached with a hand extended. Danvell handed him the scroll, took a culminating breath, and turned his focus to Cleve. “Were you wondering why I write in here?”

Cleve glanced around the room for the first time. There were no windows on the stone walls. The room was a rare dead end unless there was some hidden passage behind the hearth where the fire crackled.

“I do now,” Cleve admitted.

“Dank, isn’t it?” The King wafted his hand as if he could feel the wetness in the air. “I get my best writing done in here. I’m not sure why. You’d think I’d hate it in here, but I like how bare the walls are. I like the sound the fire makes bouncing off them.” The crackle was dull, like someone tapping fingernails on a table.

Cleve nodded. “We can’t help what we like, only embrace it or suppress it.” He thought of Reela, wondering if she’d smile if she’d heard him just now.
Of course she would. She’s always smiling.

“You’re very wise. Anyone tell you that?”

Cleve shook his head. “It must be a recent development.”

The King laughed, thinking Cleve was joking. Both guards had returned to their post. The one who had been sent off first leaned in and announced, “They’re cooking now, my king.”

“Thank you.”

Cleve’s stomach rumbled again.

“What’s going on between you and Jessend?” Danvell asked. “Did she tell you to claim you love someone else back in Kyrro, or is that the truth?”

“That’s the truth—well, I’m not sure about love. But I care for her deeply.”

“Don’t you care for Jessend
deeply
?”

Cleve’s mouth opened before he knew what he was going to say. Then it just hung there, waiting for his mind to catch up. “I do,” he finally uttered. “But more as a friend.”

“What did she do for you to feel this way? She can be quite crude. Is that it? She needs to learn some better manners.”

“Her behavior has nothing to do with it. And I actually like the way she’s straightforward. I don’t think she should change anything about herself.”

“Then what is it? Do you not think she’s beautiful?”

What kind of question is that from a father about his own daughter? There is ever only one answer.
“Of course she’s beautiful.”

“Too short for you?”

Cleve let out a frustrated laugh. “She’s quite short, but it has nothing to do with that.”

The King leaned back in his chair. “So, everything you said before is really true? In another life, you and Jessend could’ve been together, but not now—not with…what’s her name? The one back in Kyrro.”

“Reela.”

“Not with Reela waiting for you?”

“Yes. All of that’s true.” Cleve was beginning to feel frustrated for Jessend’s sake…to not have her own father believe her.

“I understand. Please don’t tell Jessend I asked. She used to make up stories about other people when she was younger, and she still tends to exaggerate the truth. But I think you bring out her best side. Can we really ask for anything more than that?”

“That’s the finest reason I’ve heard to be with someone,” Cleve admitted.

“Well, I hope Reela does that for you, and you do that for Reela. I know my wife only makes me stronger. I feel like half of me has been missing since she left. I’m sure I would’ve made better decisions with her here, especially involving Jek.”

“She’ll be back, along with your son.” Cleve let his tone reflect his responsibility. He would make sure of it.

“Thank you, Cleve. I hope we hear from them and the Elf soon.”

Two servants stood in the doorway with trays of food. “My king,” one said, lowering her head.

“Come in.”

As they ate, Danvell told Cleve more about his wife and son. At first Cleve thought the information he was sharing would be helpful for their retrieval. But soon it became clear that Danvell just wanted to speak of them. The way his eyes looked when he gazed up from his food was as if he was picturing them as he spoke.

By the time they were finished, Cleve felt that sleep might take him before he made it back to his room.

He thanked the King and left.

Back in his room, he was surprised to find someone was already in his bed. Jessend sat up and covered her mouth as she yawned.

“How’d you get in?” Cleve was sure he’d locked the door.

“I have a key, silly. Do you not want me in here?”

He removed his pants and slid his feet under the covers. “You’re always welcome to share my bed.”

“Always?” She put her arm across his stomach. “Even if Reela’s there with you?”

“If she’s fine with it, then I am.”

Jessend giggled. “She definitely wouldn’t be.”

“I realize that.”

“So you’re not worried about what she’s going to think about all the nights we’ve spent together? You told me she’s a psychic. Won’t she know?”

“She can’t read direct thoughts. No psychic can—though she might be able to pick up on some guilt if I feel it strongly enough.”

“But there won’t be any, right?”

“No.” Cleve knew many people suffered from guilt over the smallest things, but not him.
If things had gone further with Jessend that night Kasko came, then I would.

“Good. Because I don’t want to leave this warm bed.”

They were silent for some time. Cleve was phasing in and out of sleep when Jessend blurted something that woke him up fully.

“I think I’m going to kiss Silvie tomorrow. When is a good time to kiss a girl?”

Cleve would’ve been surprised if it weren’t for all the hours atop Nulya’s back that he’d spent noticing their flirtation.

“I’m sure you know better than me. I’ve only ever kissed you and Reela. And both times I practically had to be begged.”

Jessend scoffed. “I wish Silvie would beg me to kiss her, or she would just do it herself.” She sat up suddenly. “Don’t tell anyone about this.” Her tone couldn’t have been more serious. “My father would force me to marry the next man he saw.”

“Does Lisanda know you feel this way about Silvie?”

“Of course. She’s seen me out there almost as much as you have, and she’s not stupid.”

“Does this mean you aren’t interested in men anymore?” The moment Cleve asked his question, he wondered if he should have. He’d never had any conversation like this before, and he didn’t know how she would take it.

Jessend was silent, her hand tracing Cleve’s abs.

“I still like men,” she said. “I don’t really know what this means, to be honest. All I know is that I can be who I am around Silvie—I like who I am around her. She makes me feel safe, but also weak, like how you’ve talked about Reela. But this isn’t a real weakness. I think you’re mistaken about that, Cleve. It’s more of a yearning. Sometimes we desire things that we shouldn’t, and that makes us feel weak, but
this
desire is healthy. I can feel it. It’s like craving food when we’re hungry, and I’m always hungry around her. Do you know what I mean?”

Cleve hadn’t thought about it in that way.
I’ve always been hungry for Reela as well, since the moment I saw her.

More out of curiosity than anything else, Cleve thought to give Jessend the same compliment that her father had given him, just to see how she would react.

“You’re very wise. Has anyone ever told you that?”

She scoffed once more. “Don’t be stupid.” She twisted up to peck his cheek. “Now let’s get some rest. In the morning, you’ll help me think of some way to get Silvie into the back of the stables. That’s where I’ll kiss her. Out of view.”

Chapter 16

That morning, Gerace delivered their food along with a note for each of them from Danvell. The King still didn’t know Cleve and Jessend had been sharing a bed, and Gerace knew better than to tell him. The note said they were to meet in the throne room after breakfast.

“I hate meeting him in there,” Jessend stated, swallowing completely first. She never spoke with food in her mouth. Cleve figured it was one of the many lessons taught to her. “When he’s sitting on the throne, I never feel like he’s my father, only my king.”

They were the last to arrive, Micah told them as he waited in the doorway. Then he left to retrieve Danvell Takary, who usually waited until everyone was there before entering his own meeting.

Cleve caught the middle of a conversation between Jek and Lisanda.

“…I did,” Lisanda said. “I visited a few days ago.”

“How are they?” Jek asked.

Jessend stepped up to them, dragging Cleve over. “How are who?” she asked.

“My father and sister,” Jek answered, shifting back to Lisanda for the answer. He had a look about him as if he wanted to be touching her, the way he leaned forward, his eyes darting over her body.

“Kalli met a man she likes,” Lisanda said. “He lives in Facian like her and Sannil, so they see each other a lot.”

Jek’s eyes squinted in concern. “What’s he like?”

Lisanda blew out hot air. “Please.” Her arms folded. “You’re going to pretend you know who would be good for Kalli? She knows better than you do.”

The corner of Jek’s mouth scrunched, and his eyes relaxed. “I suppose you’re right.”

“He’s a good man, anyway. At least she thinks so. Sannil’s thrilled, but both of them have been worried about you.”

“You told them I was sent north to the desmarls?” A mix of frustration and urgency crossed his face.

Lisanda’s hands flew to her hips. “I was supposed to lie?”

Micah returned with Danvell just then.

“No,” Jek whispered. He leaned over and kissed Lisanda’s forehead. “Thank you for visiting them.”

“I wanted to.” She threw her arm around his and leaned against his shoulder.

“I have some bad news,” Danvell announced, seating himself on the throne, looking mostly at Jessend and Lisanda. “We’ve received a demand from King Belwoll in Waywen. They have our family, and they want five thousand Bastial steel swords in exchange for their lives.”

The fact that Waywen was at least making demands would’ve sounded like good news to Cleve, but the King’s tone was as if he was already announcing their deaths.

The Takary sisters each gasped at the news. Jessend grabbed Cleve’s hand and squeezed hard.

What am I missing?

“Why am I getting the sense you won’t be agreeing?” Cleve decided to ask, disrupting the silence.

“We can’t give them five thousand Bastial steel swords,” Micah Vail answered. “Or the war is lost.”

“The only reason we won last time is because of the advantage the weapons gave us. There’s only been about ten thousand made, and the Bastial steel in the crater is running out. Now it takes weeks just to find enough to make one.”

Cleve realized what this meant. “So how do I retrieve your family?”