Page 60 of The Sovereign: Part One
“It’s an almost imperceptible lulling tone.I could tell you were tired.It helps you fall asleep.”
“I know what it is.But… I didn’t realize how effective it is.It works so well it’s somewhat alarming.”
Maxim seemed confused.“I’m sorry, I thought—”
“No, it’s okay.”I put my hand on his.“I appreciate the thought, it’s just… I didn’t want to waste our time together.I don’t know when we’ll see each other next.Sleeping seems wasteful.”
“We have the rest of our lives together, Isara.”
His gentle reminder should have reassured me, but instead, I felt a twinge of discontent.“It’s not enough.That’s what my papa says about my mina, that one lifetime isn’t enough.”
Maxim’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, but I could see the tenderness in his eyes.“You should sleep when you’re tired, Isara.We’ll make every waking minute count, I promise you that.But taking care of you means making sure you rest, you eat… speaking of,” he said, tightening his grip behind me while hooking his arm under my legs.
He stood and then lowered me to my feet.“It’s time for dinner.”
I smiled while following him into the galley.Before long, the air smelled of something savory, a combination of spices and herbs I couldn’t quite decipher.Hyperion Proper cuisine was an art form.Every meal was a balance, a dance of flavors designed to nourish both body and soul.Even a basic Supplicant could easily whip up a dish worthy of any of the city’s premiere restaurants, and Maxim had more advancements than most.
Maxim was preparing something hearty, rich, exactly what I needed after the lightness of lunch.The beef came from the farms near the south wall, where the cattle grazed on the carefully cultivated land within the city’s protective barriers.
I watched as Maxim seared the beef, the sizzling sound of it crisping at the edges, creating a dark, flavorful crust that would infuse the entire dish.He added root vegetables—carrots and parsnips, their sweetness balancing out the richness of the meat—and a handful of heritage mushrooms.The cut was tender, slow-braised in a broth to slowly soak up all the flavors to later melt in my mouth.The air grew thick with the scent of the stew as it simmered, each ingredient melding together in the slow heat.A splash of red wine, a pinch of thyme and rosemary, it was all coming together as I waited for my incredibly handsome personal chef to serve my plate and then clean the galley after.
I had a renewed appreciation for having been born in Hyperion’s era, and in that moment, I understood.Leaving for The Vale might’ve been an option, but I would never have gone through with it.Now that my Oathbond was less than a month away, I had everything I could ever want.Maxim was perfection incarnate.I’d be a fool to walk away from him or Hyperion Proper.
I took a deep breath.“The entire house smells amazing.Stew on a rainy afternoon.Outstanding choice.”
“Sit,” Maxim said with a proud smile as he organized my dainware atop a napkin.
I sat at my dining table in one of the six sleek, high-backed chairs, the faint sound of the rain against the windows filling the quiet.He ladled the stew into a bowl, setting it in front of me.“Tell me if it’s something you’d like to add to the Poeima seasonal menu.”
“If it tastes like it smells…” I took a bite and moaned.“It does.So,sogood.I’ll never have to go to a restaurant again.”
“Aren’t they just for the socializing, anyway?”he teased.
“Yes, but,” I took another bite, humming as each herb, spice and flavor danced along my taste buds.“Why, when your favorite person is also at home?”
He chuckled, crossing his arms on the table, a look of pure satisfaction on his face as he watched me savor the meal he had just prepared.
“I think I dreamed about the Skaarth during my nap,” I said.The now distant, rumbling thunder reminded me of the darkness, the endless search through the wilderness where sharp branches tore at my skin and ominous sounds whispered from the shadows.
Maxim frowned.“I shouldn’t have lulled you to sleep right after telling that story.Terrible timing on my part.”
“On the contrary, I found it fascinating,” I said.“I want to know more.”
“Maybe not,” he said, leaning away from the table.“I don’t like that your mind is replaying the visuals when you’re sleeping.”
“I’m not a child, Maxim.I’m a curious person, and answers help set my mind at ease.”
He exhaled, weighing his options.“Fair enough.What do you want to know?”
“What else does it say in the archives?How do they know how to get there?Surely they all just don’t wander and happen upon it.It seems like there must be knowledge of it somehow, for so many to find their way there.”
He paused, setting his wine aside for a moment.“Markers.”
I frowned.“Markers?And The Citadel allows it?”
“No, actually.The Sentinels remove any that they see, but they’re only allowed to venture so far out.”
“The… what?”
