Page 30 of Palaces and other Prisons
“Strong egg eat small egg,” the soldier tried again.
“Oh.” He pointed at the stained-glass window. “And that tells the story of the krakke?”
“Yes.”
“And only humans…” Dawson pointed at the eggs.
“Yes, you are lucky. Many try—he turn them all away,” the soldier said with reverence. Except he hadn’t been trying. All he’d been trying to do was make sure people on the platform got food and water. He’d also wanted to get off the platform and see more of the island.
He didn’t know what he expected, but it wasn’t this. He wanted to get to know Ul, and now that they could talk, that would be so much easier. Except words were what had created all these doubts.
Ul’s honesty about the situation.
By his own admission, this was unexpected and something he needed to think about. But with gossip already creeping through the corridors…how much longer would they have before a decision needed to be made?
Was there even a right answer?
Or was it a case of simply trying to do the right thing and hoping for the best? Of course, that was much easier when heknew what the right thing was. He should’ve known getting tangled with the king was going to be complicated.
CHAPTER 21
Ul had Dawson write another letter to his people on the oil platform, in response to the one thanking them for the food and saying that they were happy to send work parties.
Most of the letter was arranging the work parties. They would start with two, which would be supervised by the guards who had followed Katrina and Dawson around as they now spoke English and could translate the farmers’ needs for the workers.
Ul also invited three leaders to the palace for Samhain. He explained that it was the New Year and a very important feast day.
Dawson read the letter back to him, then Ifer sealed it and departed to give it to a runner who would leave at first light, given that it was already dark and they were working by candlelight.
Ul sat back in his chair. “I hear the librarian attempted to educate you.”
Dawson’s cheeks turned pinker than his own markings. “He was successful, though I would like to be able to read what was written, not just look at the pictures.”
“It is much harder to learn the writing than the words.”
“For me, it is hard to learn both.”
He wasn’t sure why Dawson was struggling when the humans who lived on Felloi had managed to learn English as quickly as he had. But Dawson was slowly getting there. “And did you like what you learned?”
Dawson was silent for several heartbeats. “I like these times with you, when we are alone.” He glanced over his shoulder, but the guard was a new one, as the old one was preparing to take over the work party supervision, and didn’t speak English. “Almost alone. But we have not been down to the beach or to the rock pool, and while there is a lot to think about, I would like to think about it with you.”
Ul drew in a breath. “There is already gossip about the time I spend with you.”
“There is already gossip about the way your freckles turn pink.”
He’d wondered how long it would take for that to spread. If it had traveled around the palace, how long until it reached his cousin?
“Then you understand that if we spend time together, it will fuel the rumors.”
“But they aren’t rumors, unless my purpose has been served and you want me to return to the platform.” Dawson frowned as if that was the last thing he wanted.
It was certainly the last thinghewanted. He’d spent far too much time thinking about what his kingdom needed and what he wanted and wondering if they were the same thing or if he was just fooling himself.
He’d visited the temple and left an offering, hoping for answers, but there was scant magic for anything, and no god had answered any prayers since the tidal wave that had swept them into another world. What Dawson called the collapse haddamaged magic, or perhaps because they were in the other world, there was no magic to be had. Dawson had explained how it was affecting the entire world, and that what the humans called mythological beings were now trying to find a way to live in what had been the human world, a place which had always had less magic if books on the subject were to be believed. He had collected the books from the library about the human world to learn more about it. Even if they were old, there would be some knowledge to be gleaned from the writings.
“Your people keep talking of a boat that will be sent to fetch them.” Dawson had not said whether he wanted to be on that boat or not. It made sense that he would want to leave; this was not his home. Ul wanted Dawson to call the palace home…yet at the same time, Ul was cautious about making that offer too soon. They did not know each other that well, and he wanted more than a relationship out of duty, though that had not even served its purpose.
“That is true, but no one knows when that will happen. Or if it will happen.” He pressed his lips together. “It could be months.”
