Land of Night by Kirby Crow Page B

uncomfortably, knowing that Scarlet had won a little. Still, as Scarlet claimed, he was not a child, so he must understand that there was only so much freedom one so close to the royal family could have. Liall felt unfairly accused to have to defend this point so often, and he began to tell Scarlet so, but suddenly Scarlet pressed his fingertips to his temples and screwed his eyes shut.
    "I just ... I want ... you can't hold me penned up in here. I have to get out sometimes!” It came out plaintively, and Scarlet's fingers massaged his temples. Liall noted his hands were shaking. “I can't live in a box, I can't. My parents, Deva keep them, tried to pen me in at home, and I couldn't stay, not even for them. I had to be free, and now you ... and I can't..."
    Liall strode across the room and put his arms around Scarlet. “Enough,” he said, greatly ashamed. “You can go. You hear me, Scarlet? You can go on the bear hunt."
    Gods, he thought, is this the best I can do? All these years without love, has it changed me into this? This clipped, growling man who snaps when he should be comforting, who answers in anger when he should be thankful?
    So much to be thankful for lately, and he was so out of the habit that it was Scarlet's heart that bore the brunt of his stupidity. He would have to learn how to be a lover again.
    Scarlet kept his eyes closed and pressed his cheek to the breast of Liall's coat. “It's always so dark here,” he mumbled. Then; “My head hurts so."
    "I know, love."
    After a long moment, Scarlet pulled away and walked a few paces to the window, where he stood staring out at the landscape. “I do not like this place, I think,” he sighed out. “And I'm not sure it will ever like me."
    Liall tried to ignore what that meant, though it set his heart to beating faster. “Your headache is my fault,” he said, turning Scarlet to look at him. “Your people are acclimated to the sun, and you are used to spending all your time outdoors and traveling. You have been deprived of light for weeks now and I have not given one thought that it might affect you badly."
    "There are lamps,” Scarlet said.
    "It is not the same.” Scarlet's look was blank and Liall saw that he did not understand. “The Southern Continent is a temperate one and your seasons are mild,” he explained. “You have never had to stay inside a great deal of the time because of weather, have you?” Scarlet shook his head. “Here, we have learned that staying inside for too long, deprived of sunlight, will have very bad effects on some of us. On foreigners especially, and you were idle on the ship, too. I think it is finally catching up with you."
    "Is that why my head hurts?” Scarlet asked ruefully.
    "Probably. We will amend this today,” Liall said. Appointments would have to be canceled and apologies made, but there was no other choice. Scarlet was too important to him. Liall called for Nenos.
    * * * *
    Scarlet gaped ungraciously. “What's this then?"
    The solarium was tiled in light green glass, transparent as water. Overhead, the curved ceiling rained iridescent light upon the two men in a bright wash. It was also quite empty, this one being for the queen's use alone, and Scarlet relaxed visibly.
    "How's it work?” Scarlet walked to the wall and touched one of the square tiles. Beyond the first glass wall was the wall of mirrors, a second false wall that served to intensify the light from the reflector above. Scarlet peered closely at the glass, trying to see beyond it. “It's like looking into the pond back home."
    "Forget the pond. Come here.” Liall pushed Scarlet into a large and airy chair that sat squarely in the center of the round floor. The chair was woven from summer reeds and much too large for the small Hilurin seated in it. Scattered about the room were earthen pots containing green plants and flowering vines, and their scent perfumed the air. “You must come here a little every day at first, and sit with your eyes