I can’t bring myself to eat. There’s no point, especially with Alora. She likes to play games, and right now, I don’t have time for them. Hell, I never do, but I try to be lenient with her because she’s queen, and I’m in her territory with my own requests.
Dinner is more like a feast, with all sorts of vegetables, fruits, and greens. No meat, because Vanorians don’t eat it. There’s a plate in front of me, topped with a fresh green salad and a bowl of Vanorian fruit next to it. A sparkling pitcher of youth water is on the center of the table, our glasses filled to the brim.
This water tastes weird. I hear Willow’s voice echo in my head. I look up at her, seated across the table from me, and she’s studying her glass of water with a slight frown.
I avoid rolling my eyes and instead, let her hear me. It’s youth water, not regular water from the springs. It’s used to keep people young and healthy in Vakeeli.
She picks her head up, locking eyes with me. What’s Vakeeli?
This world you’re in. That’s the name of it.
Should I be drinking this?
I don’t see the point. It’s not like you’ll be staying here much longer.
She scowls, narrows her eyes, then lifts the cup to her lips, guzzling it all down.
Alora laughs from her end of the table, and I cut my eyes to her. She’s seated in her gold, throne-like dinner chair, looking between me and Willow, clearly amused by the interaction.
“So, Alora. How is your treaty with the dirty Rippies going?” I ask.
Alora picks up a goblet, sipping from it. “It’s going well. In fact, they’ve given me their highest quality Vakeeli steel.”
“Have they?” I sip my water. “A bunch of ass kissers if you ask me.”
“Oh, don’t you worry, Caspian. Your rubies are still in high demand around here. Couldn’t live without them.”
“They’re not my rubies,” I mutter.
“No, they’re not. But they’re found in your land and your people dig for them.” Alora turns her eyes to Willow, who is nibbling on a slice of fruit. “Willow, when did you drop into Vakeeli?”
“It was yesterday…I think.”
“Were you scared?” Alora places a hand beneath her chin, resting her elbow on the table.
“I was.”
“Caz and his guns. It’s terrifying, really, the way he swings them around at people.”
I work my jaw.
“How do you know so much about what’s happened?” Willow asks.
“I can read people.”
“Read people?”
“Yes. Well, not exactly read your thoughts, but I get a sense of the energy, and the most highlighted parts of what you’ve experienced are revealed to me, sort of like a vision. For example, your name is attached to you, so that’s easy, and when I asked about you dropping into Vakeeli, your mind immediately went to the word gun and wrapped itself around a paralyzing fear. I just sort of put two and two together.” She sips from her goblet again. “It gets quite annoying, actually. But it’s also how I can tell you two are Tethered. You see, the energy sort of floats off the both of you. It’s a purplish hue that shoots back and forth, like a game of Chetnee.”
“Chetnee? Do people still play that?” Rowan asks from the other end of the table, picking up his steel beer mug.
“They do, yes,” Alora replies eagerly. “We have matches every four days.”
“Chetnee,” Rowan mumbles, then chugs a mouthful of beer. “I was always really good at it.”
“Chetnee is just a game with a paddle and a ball,” Alora explains to Willow. “The ball bounces back and forth on a golden table. Whoever misses the ball with their paddle three times, loses.”
“Oh. So similar to ping pong?” Willow asks, her eyes lighting up.
“Is that what it’s called where you’re from? Interesting.” Another sip from Alora’s goblet. “Anyway, I’m glad I had you select more clothes because Beatrix is really doing her best to ignore me, which tells me she’s either not home, or doesn’t want to be bothered. She’s a stubborn old woman, hates when I ask things of her. We’ll have to go to her by morning if she doesn’t answer my next transmitter request. In the meantime, you all can stay here for the night, but you’ll have to leave your guns with Proll. Just to be on the safe side.”
“Yes!” Juniper hisses, elated.
“Wonderful. A night of Vanorian women,” Rowan cheers, raising his drink in the air. “What a night it shall be!”
Killian just folds his arms, and Maeve yawns before taking a small sip of wine. Juniper refills her wine, and asks, “Alora, may I borrow clothes from your wardrobe?”
“Of course, you can.”
“I sleep with my guns,” I tell Alora, going back to the topic.
“Well, tonight will be the exception if you plan on staying here,” Alora says, rising from the table. “You know the rules.”
I pull my eyes away. I can’t argue with her. Not here. This is her territory, so her ruling goes. Still, I have a hard time trusting her. Well, I take that back. Out of all territory monarchs, she’s the one I put my faith in most. But this treaty she has with the Rippies grates on my nerves. She settled with them two months ago, making trades with them, swapping gold and steel. She knows I hate them, yet she tolerates them. It drives me mad.
“Luzian and Clara will show you all to your chambers for the night,” Alora announces as two women dressed in sleek gold gowns approach. “If there is anything you need, just call for them and they’ll assist you.”
Alora looks between me and Willow. “Will you two be sharing a room?”
“Hell no!” “Not on my life.”
I glare at her. She glares back at me. I feel a dull aching in the middle of my chest, not painful, but irritating.
Alora’s laughter swims through the dining hall as she turns to leave. “You two have the most stubborn Tether I’ve ever encountered.”
