Bound by the Mist (Mists of Eria) (17 page)

Cal rolled her eyes and crossed her arms before throwing herself down on Maggie’s bed. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s preying on every elf here. I know it’s certainly not burning in my mind. I want none, especially from him.”

Maggie grinned maniacally, color still staining her cheeks. “Like you want them from any other elf.” A thoughtful look covered her face. “Though you’d be hard-pressed to find a truly ugly guy here from what I’ve seen, so it couldn’t be all bad. But yeah, you find him so distasteful, you watch every smile and frown of his voraciously. Makes a lot of sense to me. You’re fooling no one, least of all me.”

Deflated, Cal couldn’t come up with a good rebuttal. Her attraction to Relian was pathetically clear, and Maggie knew how strongly he drew her. After learning the truth, she’d been by Cal’s side, helping her cope with the dreams and their accompanying emotions.

Cal sought to change the subject to something safer—at least safer for her. “What are you flushed about?”

Maggie exploded from the bed and started to pace around. “That rat!”

Confusion hit Cal. What was going on? “Kenhel? Or Relian because he didn’t kiss me?”

Maggie stopped in her tracks, and her shoulders shook. Now concern ran forefront in Cal’s mind. Just as she rose to offer Maggie comfort, her friend faced her. She was laughing, not crying.

Her friend must’ve noticed her bewilderment, because she started guffawing. In between her snorts, she managed to get out, “Like I’m mad at Relian for not kissing you.
Please!
As for Kenhel, I haven’t even seen him since this morning. No, I’m talking about a truly insufferable rat bastard.”

At her bitter tone, Cal had more than a niggling idea of who the person might be. Who else could get Maggie riled up so? “Is it the person I think it is?”

“If you’re thinking it’s the...the
thing
your boyfriend calls a father, you’re right.”

Cal forced down a sigh. “What did you do now?”

“
Me
?” Maggie sniffed in outrage. “More like what did the King of Asses do.”

A headache with her name on it was knocking at the door. She was sure of it. “Okay then, what did
he
do?” Cal paused in her questioning and smirked at Maggie. Wanting a little revenge for the drama sure to come, she pointed out a flaw in the description of the king. “I bet his parents were married or bonded, so the bastard part is probably wrong.”

Narrowing her eyes, her friend grumbled, “That wasn’t how I meant it. You know that.” Maggie glanced away, a tactic that cried guilt.

Cal hated to ask but knew she had to find out. “You did, didn’t you? To his face? Maggie, he’s the king, and we don’t know the rules or etiquette here.”

Her friend had the good grace to look shamed-faced. “Well, I may have said it in slightly different words, but the gist was the same.”

Cal closed her eyes. “How did he respond?”

Maggie flung up her hands and resumed her pacing. “He just laughed and walked away. How dare he!”

“How dare he what? Walk away instead of ordering your head lopped off? That would’ve been preferable to you? What did you expect him to do? He probably had to ignore what you said, so he wouldn’t have to punish you somehow.”

Maggie blanched. “You think so?”

“I don’t know. But he’s king and historically most have demanded respect, at least back on Earth. As the society here seems traditional, like something we might’ve seen hundreds of years ago, I would guess he is a king in every sense it entails. I doubt he’s a figurehead. Why didn’t you stop and think? You’re normally brighter than this.”

Maggie’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t seem to keep my cool around him. I don’t plan on acting juvenile, but he brings it out in me.”

“Because you rise to the occasion admirably. I believe he gets a kick out of seeing you act like this. Just be careful you don’t push him too far.”

Maggie agreed quickly. “I’ll try my best to keep a level head, so I don’t lose the one on my shoulders.”

Cal rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, I think that’s wise.”

Maggie perched on the bed by Cal. “Hey, have you noticed anything peculiar?”

“Peculiar?” She gave Maggie a disbelieving stare. “What peculiar happening could you possibly be referring to? After all, I think everything ranks up there pretty high in peculiar-ness.”

Now Maggie rolled her eyes. “I meant above and beyond the normal strangeness that being here brings. For instance, the language—have you noticed anything strange about it?”

Understanding overtook Cal, along with a measure of relief. Maggie, too, had noticed. “Their language used to sound like English to me. Still does to some degree, I guess, because I can follow what everyone is saying. But now it takes a lot of concentration. It’s almost as if I’m listening to a foreign language that I have to translate into English before I can comprehend what they’re saying. I take it the same thing’s happening to you?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Maggie chewed her bottom lip. “We seem to be losing our ability to understand. At least, that’s how I see it.”

“That’s crossed my mind more than once. It’s the only explanation I can think of that makes sense.” Cal snorted, looking down. “Not that it really makes sense, you know?”

“Oh, I hear you. I totally know what you mean.” Maggie bumped her shoulder against hers, eliciting a grimace, though Cal didn’t move away. The contact comforted her. They sat there for a few moments, silent.

Cal didn’t want to be left to her own thoughts. “Still happy you joined me on this little adventure, one that may never end?”

A look of mock admonishment spread over Maggie’s features. “Of course, I don’t regret it! How can you even ask?”

She gave Maggie a naughty grin. “Well, you do have to brave the King of Rat Asses while you’re here with me.”

“Yes, that’s a trial. Still, it’s nothing overly major.” Cal sent her a knowing glance, and she hedged a bit. “Okay, maybe he’s the one person so far I’ve met here I can’t stand, but that’s nothing in the face of friendship!”

A real laugh escaped Cal. “Just how many elves have you met? He is one of the few, I believe. Maybe if you wait, someone else will take his exulted spot.”

“Arrhh, don’t say that! I can’t imagine anyone worse.” She shuddered. Then she brightened. “At least, he’s not going to be my father-in-law.”

Casting up her gaze skyward, Cal scrunched up her face in annoyance. “Just for that, I think you’ll be the one to tell the king and his son about our worries concerning the language.”

***

“Yes, we’ve noticed the same effect.” The king gestured to include Relian. They sat out on a terrace, and the scent of flowers and greenery permeated the air. “We fear the effects of the veil’s magic are wearing away, causing our mutual understanding of one another’s language to fade with it.”

Relian nodded. “I believe it was only meant to last for a short time, to facilitate your transition here. Now that the initial conversations and introductions are concluded, the veil no longer sees the advantage of making the language barrier so easily overcome.”

Cal cocked her head to the side. “How’s it an advantage if we can no longer communicate with each other?”

Maggie threw the king an antagonistic look. “Oh, I can see the advantages.” The king merely lifted a brow, giving a ghost of a smile.

Cal wanted to groan. They’d been acting like this all night. Fortunately, Maggie hadn’t said anything more hostile than what she’d just muttered. But who knew how long this pattern would last?

Relian shot his father an exasperated glance before turning back to Cal. “How can you hope to learn the Elvin language if you only understand it as the English you speak? You are hearing our Elvin speech through an English filter, just as we are hearing your language through an Elvin one. As the veil apparently desires our bonding—for it has brought you here—it also seeks for you to learn the language of your future people.”

Cal’s dismay ran through her. Why was it so important to the veil she bond with Relian? She hadn’t considered it from that aspect before, merely thinking the veil was a means of bringing her here. The veil as a distinct entity that wasn’t under the control of the elves hadn’t occurred to her, and the ramifications of it having its own agenda were sobering. What did it truly seek if it had acted independently of the elves?

Frowning, she wanted to question the elves on her concerns but had the feeling they wouldn’t be so forthcoming in the sharing of any answers. A decided lack of information flowed from them, no matter how she and Maggie pressed. Oh, they answered any queries they both made. Only upon reflection did Cal and Maggie notice that none of the elves truly answered their questions. The elves excelled at vagueness and misdirection. She wouldn’t go so far as to call it disinformation, for they didn’t seem to lie. They offered carefully placed truths, momentarily allaying any suspicion of misguidance.

Maggie’s reasonable observation drew Cal out of her thoughts. “Since it seems we’re to be stuck here for some indefinite period, we’ll have to learn the language. I don’t like it but see no other way.”

Everyone looked at Maggie, astonished, and she shrugged. “What? Contrary to evidence and popular belief, I’m bright enough to realize when being reasonable would be a good thing. This just so happens to be such an occasion.” She smirked at the king. “Don’t expect this to happen with any regularity.”

Without missing a beat, the king smoothly replied, “I would expect no other behavior from you, my dear.”

Cal cut in before Maggie rattled off whatever barb that lay on her tongue. While she didn’t want to learn the language—doing so seemed like admitting defeat in regards to going home—she realized the usefulness of it if they were stranded here. Who knew if and when the veil would decide to give them a ride back to Earth? But surely after her decision…. “So how long do we have before we can no longer understand each other?”

Relian reached over and gently untangled her grasping fingers that threatened to strangle each other. Lifting a hand from her lap, he intertwined his fingers with hers. Electricity shot through her palm and fingers. She bit back a gasp. The sensation zoomed into her chest and down to her most private parts. The feeling was exhilarating…and scary. But she couldn’t remove her hand without making a scene.

When she caught Maggie’s gaze, her friend grinned at her. Cal performed a visual sweep of the table. Kenhel was directing a taunting smile toward Relian, and Talion smiled in seeming satisfaction.

Did everyone desire them together? Did she? He made her all tingly. That had to count for something. Would it be so…. No. She had to return home. Or her family would panic, and her dreams of a college degree would disintegrate to dust. Her mind shied away from the pesky thought she might be too late in both regards. She’d struggled too long and hard for a normal life to give it up. Earth was her home.

Relian captured her gaze, his fingers softly stroking hers. The hue of his eyes seemed softer, more accepting, than usual. Her breath caught as he spoke, his tone mirroring his eyes. “While we can’t be certain, we estimate that a few days to one week remain until we can no longer understand each other. Lessons can’t begin until you lose comprehension of Elvish. We should spend our remaining time familiarizing both of you to your surroundings and any major societal customs that would make your stay here pleasurable.”

The king flashed a smile at Relian and Cal. “I’ll make arrangements that the bulk of your duties are transferred to capable hands during this time. I’m sure you’ll want to spend as much time as possible with each other before the tedious instruction of languages begins.”

Cal frowned. “Languages?”

Talion nodded. “Yes, languages. We deem it fair if you’re to learn our language, we can do no less in return. We all have much to gain from it, especially Relian, as it’s hoped you both will finalize your relationship.”

Cal’s cheeks heated at the king’s last words. To her relief and gratitude, Relian deftly suggested a change of subject. “Let us not put undue pressure on her, Father, concerning her choice as of yet. We promised her a certain amount of time. She needs it in its entirety to come to a...a decision.”

Startled and uneasy, Cal searched his face. Had he meant to finish his last sentence differently? No telling outward expression flitted across his countenance, so surely she’d imagined it. He hadn’t almost said she needed time to come to acceptance rather than to a decision. Relian couldn’t mean that, because it was
her
choice, and no one could make it for her.

The king responded to Relian’s light chide with one of his own. “I wasn’t attempting to force an answer out of her. There can be no harm of informing her of our wishes, of what we desire to happen. I believe she’ll be a welcome addition and merely wanted her to know this.”

A smile spread over Relian’s lips and lightened his face. Cal gulped in an effort to relieve her suddenly dry throat. Sometimes, just sometimes, the idea of staying didn’t sound so bad.

Chapter 18

Cal’s hands were becoming sore from clenching onto the pommel. “I really don’t think this is such a great idea.”

As expected, Relian didn’t answer the way she would’ve preferred. In fact, he didn’t answer at all. Since he could only understand a few words here and there of English, it wasn’t surprising when he merely gave a ghost of a smile and motioned they continue.

Continue? How could she do so while on this big beast? Surely, it wasn’t safe for a novice like her. Okay, she exaggerated the height. And Relian, without a doubt, would only give her the most docile of horses. These facts only helped marginally, though. The handful of times she’d actually been on a horse did nothing to disabuse her of the panicked thoughts that pounded in her brain.

Relian held the lead to her horse, so she had to follow. Unless she wanted to jump down. She glanced down at the ground and gulped. No, she would stay glued to the saddle. At least the horse’s walk was smooth and not jarring.

They wound their way down from the stables, through the palace’s main gates, and then down a wide, paved path to the village below. With the sights that surrounded her, her glares soon morphed into awe.