Page 21 of Palaces and other Prisons
Ifer was right, of course. There was a reason Ul had promoted him to secretary, and it wasn’t to flatter him. It was to ask the questions no one else dared. That was something his father had always warned him about. It was easy to surround oneself with praise, but that was never the full story, and a leader who only listened to half-truths was easily misguided by lies.
Yet, if he spent more time with Dawson, he might be forced to admit that he was not enjoying his solitude, and that he didn’t want to hand his kingdom over to his nephew.
Had his father or grandfather ever dreamed of walking into the ocean and swimming away from it all? Perhaps that was part of his problem. He hadn’t been able to swim for too long.
Standing in the ocean had only reinforced the craving in his blood. If he visited the rock pools. He could keep his arm dry while bathing in saltwater.
“Summon the healer. Perhaps we can convince everyone that I am in need of a daily saltwater bath to promote healing and need.”
Ifer smiled. “Is this the longest you’ve ever gone without swimming?”
“It is.” And while the healer claimed he was healing much faster than an ogre, satyr, or human because he did not have bones like them, that didn’t make it any easier.
The healer didn’t take long to come, trailed by the other human, who saw Dawson and seemed glad to exchange news. Ul trusted his soldiers not to speak; however, Dawson may have told Katrina about the change in his markings. Would Katrina then ask the healer what it meant?
How long until gossip spread?
The healer didn’t need to examine his arm to agree that taking the afternoons off to sit in seawater would do him good.
For the moment, the time he spent with Dawson could be put down to learning the language. But once he spoke the invader’s language and Dawson spoke Fellish, what excuses remained? How would it look to all his councilors if one of theoil platformhumans was his mate?
Would they call it betrayal or bridge building?
He didn’t need to go searching for more trouble when it was so freely available.
Ifer announced he was clearing the king’s schedule for the afternoon, following the advice of the healer, leaving him free to take Dawson to the rock pools. Which created another dilemma: Did he take Dawson to the ones where the hatchlings swam, or to the private rock pools used only by the family?
The former risked showing the strangers where their young were protected, while the latter left him all but alone with Dawson.
Ifer gathered up the papers. “Will I find you in the private pools if I need you?”
It was as if his secretary sensed the thoughts churning in his mind. That was the safe option for his people, even if it wasn’t the safe option for him. “You will.”
CHAPTER 16
Dawson wasn’t sure what had been discussed between Ul and the tall, gray-skinned woman, only that plans had been made, and he was supposed to follow the king. Katrina had been surprised to see him, as she hadn’t realized the doctor was visiting the king. Last night, they had compared notes, though he’d left out the part about the pink freckles because that didn’t seem like something he should share. He’d also left out his reaction to Ul touching him, mostly because he was still trying to figure that one out.
He wanted to chalk it up to curiosity, but he could honestly say that he was fairly vanilla—though that had not stopped him from dreaming about those suckers moving over his body.
Today, he’d spend the morning listening to Ul and his personal assistant talking and writing letters. At one point, he’d closed his eyes and tried not to listen with his ears. He might have fallen asleep.
Once again, they walked along corridors and downstairs, but these were different stairs. They weren’t as rough, and the corridor was wider. They went through a very sturdy door, and then he stood in a cave illuminated by shafts of sunlight fromabove. Light sparkled on the water in two rock pools that looked far too smooth to be natural.
Had they built rock pools into the castle?
Or had they built the castle on top of the rock pools?
Either way, the effect was beautiful.
And aside from the soldiers, the one who followed him and the ones who followed Ul, they were alone. Or at least he thought they were until another blue-skinned person stepped around the corner holding towels. The person bowed and had a short conversation with Ul, which Dawson assumed was asking the king which of the rock pools he’d like to use. At least he hoped that’s what it was. The person might be telling the king which rock pool contained the best fish and snacks or asking why the human was visiting.
Ul walked over to the smaller pool and removed his shoes, tucking them beneath a bench built against the rock wall. He hung his cloak on a hook with one tentacle as another undid the fastening on the back of his tunic before pulling it over his head.
Dawson glanced away even though the curiosity to look burned within him.
As Ul walked towards the pool, Dawson risked a glance at his back. More smooth blue skin and dark freckles in loops and whorls. It was clear they weren’t freckles, but he didn’t know what else to call them. Ul’s hand was formed by the branching of his arm tentacle into three long fingers, and his toes were formed the same way. Much longer than what Dawson was used to.
He drew in a breath. None of this was what he was used to. What was he supposed to do? He walked over to the bench to sit and wait, but Ul, who was now in the pool, smiled and beckoned him over. Dawson guessed his words were an invitation to join him as the rock pool attendant came over and placed two piles of towels on the side of the rock pool.
