Page 42 of Bound to the Elvin Prince

“Me?” Maggie sniffed in outrage. “More like what did the King of Asses do!”

A headache with Cal’s name on it was knocking at the door. She was sure of it. “Okay, then, what did he do?” Cal paused and smirked at Maggie. Wanting a little revenge for the drama sure to come, she pointed out a flaw in the description of the king. “I bet his parents were married or bonded, so the bastard part is probably wrong.”

Narrowing her eyes, her friend grumbled, “That wasn’t how I meant it. You know that.” Maggie glanced away, a tactic that cried guilt.

Cal hated to ask but knew she had to find out. “You did, didn’t you? To his face? Maggie, he’s the king, and we don’t know the rules or etiquette here.”

Her friend had the good grace to look shamed-faced. “Well, I may have said it in slightly different words, but the gist was the same.”

Cal closed her eyes. “How did he respond?”

Maggie flung up her hands and resumed her pacing. “He just laughed and walked away. How dare he!”

“How dare he what? Walk away instead of ordering your head lopped off? That would’ve been preferable to you? He probably had to ignore what you said, so he wouldn’t have to punish you somehow.”

Maggie blanched. “You think so?”

“I don’t know. But he’s king, and historically, most have demanded respect, at least back on Earth. As the society here seems traditional, like something we might’ve seen hundreds of years ago, I would guess he’s a king in every sense it entails. I doubt he’s a figurehead. Why didn’t you stop and think? You’re normally brighter than this.”

Maggie’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t seem to keep my cool around him. I don’t plan on acting juvenile, but he brings it out in me.”

“Because you rise to the occasion admirably. I believe he gets a kick out of seeing you act like this. Just be careful you don’t push him too far.”

Maggie agreed quickly. “I’ll try my best to keep a level head, so I don’t lose the one on my shoulders.”

Cal rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, I think that’s wise.”

Maggie perched on the bed by Cal. “Hey, have you noticed anything peculiar?”

“Peculiar?” She gave Maggie a disbelieving stare. “What peculiar happening could you possibly be referring to? After all, I think everything ranks up there pretty high in peculiar-ness.”

Now Maggie rolled her eyes. “I meant above and beyond the normal strangeness that being here brings. For instance, the language—have you noticed anything strange about it?”

Understanding overtook Cal, along with a measure of relief. Maggie, too, had noticed. “Their language used to sound like English to me. Still does to some degree, I guess, because I can follow what everyone’s saying. But now it takes a lot of concentration. It’s almost as if I’m listening to a foreign language that I have to translate into English, so I can comprehend what they’re saying. The same thing’s happening to you?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Maggie chewed her bottom lip. “We seem to be losing our ability to understand. At least, that’s how I see it.”

“That’s crossed my mind more than once. It’s the only explanation I can think of that makes sense.” Cal snorted, looking down. “Not that it really makes sense, you know?”

“Oh, I hear you. I totally know what you mean.” Maggie bumped her shoulder against hers, and they sat there for a few moments, silent.

Cal didn’t want to be left to her own thoughts for long. “Still happy you joined me on this little adventure, one which may never end if the elves get their way?”

A look of mock admonishment spread over Maggie’s features. “Of course I don’t regret it! How can you even ask?”

She gave Maggie a naughty grin. “Well, you do have to brave the King of Rat Asses while you’re here with me.”

“Yes, that’s a trial. Still, it’s nothing overly major.” Cal sent her a knowing glance, and she hedged a bit. “Okay, maybe he’s the one person so far I’ve met here that I can’t stand, but that’s nothing in the face of friendship!”

A real laugh escaped Cal. “Just how many elves have you met? He’s one of the few, I believe. Maybe if you wait, someone else will take his exalted spot.”

“Arrhh, don’t say that! I can’t imagine anyone worse.” She shuddered. Then she brightened. “At least he’s not going to be my father-in-law.”

Casting her gaze skyward, Cal scrunched up her face in annoyance. “Just for that, I think you’ll be the one to tell the king and his son about our worries concerning the language.”

***

Cal sighed at Maggie’s antics and breathed in the scent of the flowers and greenery that permeated the air. The terrace where she, Maggie, Relian, and the king all sat was lovely.

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