Page 13 of Elemental Hall: Nautica
“She didn’tstealanything, Father,” Orion said. “And Sera is one of the most powerful water elementalists in our class.”
“We saw the seraphin,” Orion’s mother says. “To join with such a creature… they say that only the pure of heart, untroubled by dark emotions, can ever do so.”
I’m overwhelmed by what’s happening. I stammer out something, but I’m not even sure what I’m saying.
“Of course, it’s not fair that we’ve sprung our presence on you like this,” Orion’s father says. “But Orion has been telling us so much about the young woman he is seeing, and we had to meet you for ourselves. You sounded too good to be true.”
“I… thank you, I think,” I say. I’m still trying to work out what’s happening here.
“For now, though, we will take our leave,” Orion’s mother says. “No, no, Orion, you stay here. We’ll find our own way back. And don’t forget to dress for the occasion when you visit.”
She hugs him tight, then puts her hands on my shoulders, presumably the closest she can manage without ruining her dress.
“It was lovely to meet you, my dear. I’m so glad that Orion has found someone he cares for.”
They leave. Iwatchthem leave, waiting very carefully until I’m sure that they’re out of sight and earshot. Then I round on Orion, unable to keep the anger off my face any longer.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m sorry,” Orion says quickly. “I had to.”
“You had to imply to your parents that there’s something going on between us? I’m pretty sure youdidn’thave to do that, Orion.”
“Sera, please,” he says, holding up his hands. “They came here to talk about taking me out of training. They’d arranged a marriage…”
I take a step back from him. “I think you’d better explain.”
Orion sighs. “My parents only let me go here because they thought it would get dreams of being an elementalist out of my system. I’m from the kind of tier of nobility where it’s assumed that we’ll employ elementalists, but not be them. Maybe a second child, if they have the talent, but not the firstborn. My job is to provide them with heirs.”
That doesn’t help my mood. “And you selected me to bring them into the world? I think I get a choice about that, Orion.”
Orion shakes his head. “It’s not that. I swear. The fact that you don’t want me like that is part of the point. When they started talking about setting up a marriage for me, the only way of stopping them from pushing it further was to tell them that I was already with someone. And if it’s someone here, they won’t be so quick to try to pull me away from the Elemental Hall, not until I’m fully trained and it’s too late for them to simply call me home.”
“And I’m the name you thought of?” I say, but I kind of understand it. After all, my own parents were trying to marry me to a man I didn’t love.
“I know, I know, but there was no time to ask.”
“At least it’s done now.” The moment I see his expression, I know it isn’t done. He looks far too thoughtful for that. “Itisdone with, isn’t it, Orion?”
“Think about it, Sera,” he says. “If my parents hear that I’m not seeing anyone after all, they’ll just be back. And if people think I’m with you… well, it might cut down on some of the people following me around, looking at me like…”
“You’re about to say that you’re getting too much attention from the girls here?” I say. It’s hard to keep from sighing.
Orion at least has the grace to look embarrassed. “I told you before that people always seem to want something from me. Some of them think that they can marry into my family to go up in the world, some people think that they can gain favor with my parents… you’re the only one who doesn’t seem to care.”
“So whyshouldI care?” I ask. “You’re asking me to… what? Pretend I’m deeply in love with you to keep everyone at a distance? That helps you, but as far as I can see, it just makes my life more complicated.”
“It might help you, though, Sera,” Orion says. “I know there are people who have treated you like you don’t belong here because you’re not noble born. If they start to link you with me, and with my family, that might help. People will leave you alone at least because they don’t want to risk upsetting me.”
I have to admit that it’s a pleasant thought. And it’s not as if I’m planning on falling deeply in love with anyone else here, is it? I want to focus on learning to be an elementalist, and I don’t want to get distracted. Maybe this pretense is my best chance. And I must admit, I really don’t want Orion to be dragged away by his parents.
“All right,” I say at last. “You want a fake girlfriend? I can do that. But you’re going to owe me for this, Orion. You’re going to owe me alot.”
Chapter SEVEN
Pretending to be Orion’s girlfriend isn’t quite as simple as I thought it might be. For one thing, I have to remember to actually play my part, smiling up at him when we’re close, making time to see him, and tobeseenwith him.
It means that I can’t hide away in the library all the time, trying to cram in a lifetime’s worth of knowledge about the elements in just weeks and months. It means that I can’t spend my time away from the others in solitary practice. It means that, when I’m a part of the circle that Orion invited me into, I have to play a part, sitting near him, making sure to talk to him, to touch his arm casually, to lean close to him from time to time.
