Page 28 of Thief of Roses
When pleased, he snuffled and emitted low purrs that delighted her in their candid expression of contentment.
He kept his word about not touching her, but with each passing day, she found herself thinking about what it might be like to touch him.His strange unnatural appearance mattered little.To her, he was not a monster but a god.
One night between biteshe began to ask a question and then stopped, switching from his language to hers.Speaking in Rivanic did not yet come instinctively, but he had been conscientious about correcting himself.
“Did you do much today?”He always sat, or sprawled as was the case now, to her right as they had the first time she had invited him to share her breakfast.He glanced up at her, content to make small conversation to aid his use of Rivanic.
“Not as much as I would have liked.”
If the kitchen cabinets could serve as a scale of comparison, then she downplayed her accomplishments.She had filled yet another few shelves with dehydrated vegetables rooted out from the garden.Her industriousness constantly impressed him.
“Did you?”She asked.
“No.”
“You collected a great deal of fruit for me.”
“Little enough.”He gave an awkward shrug.
He returned to eating and paused.Although he could not see her, she studied him.The intensity of her attention forced him to turn his face away.Then her fingers combed through his hair and he stilled under her caress.
“I’m sorry.I should have asked.”She withdrew her hand just a hair’s breadth away.“Sometimes I have to remind myself that you’re real.”
He abandoned his food and sat upright, drawing his legs under him.His eyes barely left hers.
“Thou art...”He stopped, took a breath, and then tried to put it in Rivanic words.He formed several soundless attempts before he just nodded to answer the question she hadn’t asked.
“Yes.”
The corners of Rivani’s mouth lifted and this time, instead of petting, she slid her hand across the back of his neck and combed her fingers through his hair.
“You have beautiful hair, Baró.”
He shivered and melted under her touch.Nothyng as beautyful as thee.
You’re a pet to her, you realize,came the unwelcome Intruder.That’s why you couldn’t bear to remain lying down while she stroked you.
“Baró, what’s wrong?”Rivani withdrew her hand.
Tell her about Me, She taunted.She will think you mad and then you will never have to worry about telling her anything else.
He paused and shook his head, just a little, not having words.
“It’s the Magic, isn’t it?”Rivani put her hand on Baró’s shoulder.
He nodded but held up a hand, hoping she would understand that he needed a moment.Rivani kept silent, but her grasp on him tightened.
She may know that you were once a man, but she deserves to know that you are a monster in every way,She said.The girl may forget now, this moment, but she need only look at you to see all the reasons you are as you are.
He willed Her away but She did not go.My face remayneth my gyft.She cannot be deceyved by me.She beholdeth what Y am and behaveth kyndlie anyway.
You mean, she pities you,the Voice responded.
Very lykelie.‘Tis enough.Y am grateful for even that.
And what of your pride?
What pryde?He asked.Yf pryce of her attentionne cometh at cost of every humylyationne great and small, Y would endure yt gratefullie.Her gyfts, even yf borne of routhe, art fer more than Y deserve.
