Page 18 of Thief of Roses
“Didst thou have further need of me?”
“No.”She took a step toward him.“Will I see you tonight for dinner?”
“Y thynk yt best that Y not joyn thee tonyght.”
“Tomorrow then, to break our fasts?”
She refused to let him leave without setting some time that they would see each other.She wanted the groundedness of the company.She had spoken to her horse before in her solitude.The Fir’Darl would have to do for now.When he did not respond, she crossed her arms.
“I will not give up, you realize.You requested my company.I mean to make you endure it.”
“Yf thou desyrest, thanne yn two days Y shall joyn thee to break our fasts.”
His day had not gonethe way he planned.Indeed, his morning exceeded his expectations in every possible way.Better yet, She had not interrupted although he anticipated it.Perhaps he had been wise not to accept the Rivani’s offer of sharing dinner as that might have caused Her to comment.He stopped his progress when a hand twined in his hair.She may not have commented, but She noticed.There would be a price for what happened.He sighed, the noise coming out like a growl as he sat on his haunches.He glanced back to the fortress to see how much distance he had put between him and the kitchens, hoping this would not be witnessed by the Rivani.
“What woldest Thou have of me?”
You need to ask Me for jars, do you not?She purred in his ear.Or did the Rivani have you so addlepated as to make you forget already?
“For her, Thy Magyc addrefseth yt freelie.Y need not ask Thee for such.”
The intangible hand ran down his cheek in a seductive caress.
Pity, She said.I enjoy it when you are in My debt.You fight yourself in submitting so beautifully.However, I may have to visit you anyway.You know better than to benefit from the Magic here.
“Y dyd not ask.”He swallowed the lump lodged in his throat as his cheeks burned.“Y dyd not suggest yt.Y dyd not ymply that Y should lyke to share wyth her.She ynvyteth me.She expresslie consenteth and affirmeth that Y dyd not coerce.”
Her caresses ceased.He waited, breath caught, praying to the gods that had long ago abandoned him that She would spare him.After long moments of nothing, he attempted to resume his wanderings.She caught him by the throat.He gasped, but did not fight.
Her non-voice laughed in his ear.Do not grow too comfortable.You must confess yourself still which will put an end to any little spark of hope you may have.And if she still stays afterward...Well, I will just have to make things interesting and see how much of a monster she can tolerate.
His reprieve turned into a promised threat.His heart sank.He would change again.What he would lose this time?The hooves hobbled him for months afterward and although he had been able to resume walking upright, they still caused him to take greater comfort on all fours.The horns started small, like the velvet antlers of young bucks, until one morning he almost could not raise his head for the added weight.Scars crossed his scalp from that unanticipated change.
“Prithee,”he asked,“she sycketh at fyrst syght of me.Pray, no more.Whan she leaves, Y styll must bear what Thou ynflyctest.”
Precisely,she said.That is the idea.Fear not because it will happen whether you fear it or not.
“Dost Thou yntend to contynue to ynterrupt whan Y am yn her companie?”
Is it distracting?I have so much to say when you are in possession of your faculties that I cannot control Myself.
“Thou pofsefsest plentie of tyme to comment to me whan Y am yn solytude and yn sleep.”He growled deep in his throat.
And it is not the same!I do so enjoy seeing you torn between your duty to Me and your desire to give her your attention.There was a pause.You may not need Me now, but your guest does, doesn’t she?When you cease to owe Me anything, then I will no longer require your conversation or nightly attentions.
The heaviness lifted.The pressure on his throat dissipated.
If they stopped using the Magic altogether...
He could never have done it with the others, but the Rivani might be capable.Just maybe, magic could become a thing of the past.
