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Chapter 13

Afew minutes later, Jill stepped back out into the hallway to find that the soldier who was to escort Kaerius to lunch was just about to knock on the door.

“He’s ready,” she said, beckoning the prince forward.

Thank you. Kaerius turned to the young soldier.What is your name?

The soldier saluted. “Come with me, Your Highness,” he said, with the very faintest sardonic twist to his lips.

How much of the Elerian palace staff knew that Prince Kai was the mostly-drowned stranger on which the princess had taken pity? If many of them knew, how long would it be before the foreign delegations knew, too?

Kaerius nodded at the soldier with regal dignity.

The soldier was tall and lanky, and he strode quickly through the corridors. Kaerius felt his breath come faster as he tried to keep up. His boots were not nearly as painful as the other pair had been before, but they were not exactly comfortable, either; Kaerius wished that going barefoot were the human custom.

The soldier stopped outside a door and said, “In here, Your Highness.” He knocked and then, at the answer from within, opened the door and said, “Prince Kai.”

Marin stood at his entrance. Kaerius’s heart quickened as he thought that at least some of the delight in her eyes might be real, but he told himself to keep his expectations in check. Lord Ralph might be detestable, but marrying him offered real benefits that Marin would be obligated to consider.

“Prince Kai!” she smiled sweetly at him. “Thank you for coming.”

I am honored and delighted by every opportunity to see you.Then, hoping to be understood, he added,Thank you. I honor and love you. The grammar was less elegant, but she was more likely to understand. He flicked his gaze toward Brighton in quick acknowledgement, but he did not otherwise greet the guard.

“Your Highness,” said Lord Ralph, with stiff courtesy.

Kaerius merely nodded to him. The room was painted in a pale yellow, with delicate white flowers painted in the corners of the room as if living vines flowed down the walls. One wall of the room was entirely made of windows which looked out over the valley to the east. Kaerius, drawn by this unfamiliar feeling of height, stopped himself from approaching the window to drink in the view only with extraordinary self-control. He could admire the view some other time.

Instead, he sat across from Marin at the foot of the table and reached out to move a vase of white flowers to the side so that he could see her more clearly. He smiled at Marin, his heart exulting in her beauty and his pride relishing Ralph’s suppressed anger.

Servants brought plates of food, and Marin said, “For this meal, I thought I would showcase some of the seafood delicacies of Eleria. I understand that Boravia has long desired our port to improve its access to northern trade routes, but there are other benefits to an alliance.”

Ralph’s stiff posture straightened even more as he said, “I am well aware of the benefits of an alliance with Eleria, Your Highness. My concern is that you do not fully appreciate what Boravia offers.”

Marin smiled gently. “I should like to know that Boravia sees Eleria as an equal partner in any agreement which our nations might reach, not a smaller, weaker nation to be dominated.”

The first course was a creamy soup with chunks of flavorful lobster in it. Ralph closed his eyes in unfeigned bliss in the first bite; perhaps he exaggerated his reaction in order to be disarming, but the appreciation in his voice was quite honest.

“This is sublime,” he said, with his warmest, most charming smile. “I confess I had thought your little palace lacking in a few charms to which I am accustomed, but the existence of such a food demands respect.”

The Mer prince took a cautious spoonful of the soup and found it warm and smooth in his mouth, with a mild flavor, at least compared to other human foods. He might have preferred the lobster raw, but if he had to eat it cooked, this was an entirely satisfying way to enjoy it.

The next course was a large filet of white fish with a sharp, tangy, fruity sauce drizzled atop it, and several varieties of finely diced steamed vegetables beside it. Brighton’s eyes rested upon Kaerius for a moment, and the Mer prince perceived this as the warning it was.

While Lord Ralph exclaimed in delight over this dish, Kaerius took the very tiniest dab of sauce upon one tine of his fork and put it in his mouth. It was strong enough to make his eyes water, and he flashed a quick, grateful look at the guard. He ate a few bites of the fish, avoiding any areas with the sauce, and dared a tiny taste of the vegetables before avoiding them too. They were edible, to be sure, but the intense flavor was likely toprovoke a visible flush to his face, and he did not want to draw Ralph’s attention in that manner.

Another course was brought which included a number of different items, each of which were apparently unique enough to warrant an explanation. First was another soup which was to act as a palate cleanser from the previous course, and then there was an array of small slices of raw fish of different species atop little mounds of white grains. Each had a dollop of sauce atop the fish slice.

“This is a popular dish here in the city, though not eaten more than a few miles from the coast.”

“Is thisraw?” Ralph said in horrified shock.

“It is.” Marin smiled reassuringly. “It is quite mild.” She ate a bite using her fingers, with her pinky delicately lifted. She smiled at Kaerius too. “What do you think of it, Prince Kai?”

Kaerius hoped the sauce was not too strong, and, eager to outdo Ralph, put the entire bite in his mouth.It is absolutely delicious, Your Highness. It warms my heart and elevates my spirits to taste something so delicious and simultaneously tweak the pride of my rival. Then, to be more clear, he added,Raw is good! I like it very much.

Brighton gave an almost inaudible huff as he understood at least a little of this, and Ralph shot him a dark look.

“I spoke too soon, Your Highness.” Ralph’s nose wrinkled. “I thought Eleria was civilized. Apparently I will have a great deal of work to do to bring culture to your backward little nation.”