poor travel companion once, my lord, I think I can forgive in my turn. Please do not worry upon it. Have you ever explored much of Piedre, or were you always bound closely to your ship?"
"Tied to my ship, highness. I am looking forward to learning more of Piedre during my visit."
"I'll see to it that you have the best guides," Culebra said. "Though I believe your friends have all been here many a time, yes? Your usual rooms have been prepared, warm and ready for you. I hope—" He broke off when Midori's companions all gave a startled cry.
Midori shot them a quelling look even as he saw the source of their panic: a brilliant blue and yellow snake coiled at Culebra's feet.
"Whatever is the matter?" Culebra asked, suddenly sounding tense, hand tightening in Midori's.
"Nothing, highness. There is a saphir snake at your feet."
Culebra immediately relaxed. "Oh, her. She won't hurt anyone." He bent down and extended his arm, and Midori watched avidly as the snake uncoiled and then slithered up Culebra's arm to wrap twice around his neck. "Incredible," he breathed. "Those snakes are the deadliest in Kundou. How in the world did one come to be here?"
"No doubt she came on a ship at some point, but she has been one of mine for a very long time. I usually bring one or two with me when I leave the palace as Ruisenor is a bit too much to take with me. She won't hurt you, my lord, if you'd care to pet her?"
Across the carriage, the rest of the Kundou party recoiled to the point they looked as though they wanted to leap right out of the carriage. Midori was not thrilled with the idea of petting a venomous snake himself, but for some reason he was more troubled by the idea of disappointing Culebra.
He used his free hand to obediently reach up and lightly touch the snake, wary at first and then with growing confidence when it only remained still on Culebra's shoulder. The smile Culebra gave him made Midori want to find a million more snakes. He slowly withdrew his hand, unable to resist accidentally brushing Culebra's cheek as he did so.
"I was told you kept an entire room full of snakes," Midori said. "I admit I could never tell if my friends were amusing themselves at the expense of the new man or of it was true."
Culebra laughed softly, but to Midori it sounded a bit forced. "The tale is quite true. If you ever want to visit, my lord, I am happy to show it to you. But I am told it is quite disconcerting to look upon."
Midori covered both of Culebra's hands with his own. "I think, highness, that if I was afraid to look at a room full of snakes after all that I have seen you face and endure, I would be very much a coward. I would be honored to see your snakes."
The smile Culebra gave him then was breathtaking, and for the first time in two years Midori felt something other than miserable. He felt ... anticipation, excitement. "Then I will hold you to it, my lord," Culebra said softly and squeezed his hand before finally turning to draw the others into conversation.
Two hours later, after arriving at the palace and going through a great many more pleasantries, Midori was at last shown to the suite of rooms that had been assigned to him. He stood at the enormous set of windows in his sitting room, sipping a glass of sweetened and spiced wine that was drastically different from the much dryer wines of his homeland.
By the time he had finished one glass and started a second, the servants had finished arranging his bath and unpacking his belongings. Left at last alone, Midori went into his bedchamber and stripped, setting the clothes into a pile for someone to take away and clean. His jewelry he set neatly on the bureau before going over to settle in the deep, wide copper tub that had been set before a blazing fire.
For several minutes, he just lolled there enjoying the luxury of a bath. Someone had scented the water with lemon oil, a curious choice but pleasant. Sighing in satisfaction, thrilled beyond measure to have a chance
"Tied to my ship, highness. I am looking forward to learning more of Piedre during my visit."
"I'll see to it that you have the best guides," Culebra said. "Though I believe your friends have all been here many a time, yes? Your usual rooms have been prepared, warm and ready for you. I hope—" He broke off when Midori's companions all gave a startled cry.
Midori shot them a quelling look even as he saw the source of their panic: a brilliant blue and yellow snake coiled at Culebra's feet.
"Whatever is the matter?" Culebra asked, suddenly sounding tense, hand tightening in Midori's.
"Nothing, highness. There is a saphir snake at your feet."
Culebra immediately relaxed. "Oh, her. She won't hurt anyone." He bent down and extended his arm, and Midori watched avidly as the snake uncoiled and then slithered up Culebra's arm to wrap twice around his neck. "Incredible," he breathed. "Those snakes are the deadliest in Kundou. How in the world did one come to be here?"
"No doubt she came on a ship at some point, but she has been one of mine for a very long time. I usually bring one or two with me when I leave the palace as Ruisenor is a bit too much to take with me. She won't hurt you, my lord, if you'd care to pet her?"
Across the carriage, the rest of the Kundou party recoiled to the point they looked as though they wanted to leap right out of the carriage. Midori was not thrilled with the idea of petting a venomous snake himself, but for some reason he was more troubled by the idea of disappointing Culebra.
He used his free hand to obediently reach up and lightly touch the snake, wary at first and then with growing confidence when it only remained still on Culebra's shoulder. The smile Culebra gave him made Midori want to find a million more snakes. He slowly withdrew his hand, unable to resist accidentally brushing Culebra's cheek as he did so.
"I was told you kept an entire room full of snakes," Midori said. "I admit I could never tell if my friends were amusing themselves at the expense of the new man or of it was true."
Culebra laughed softly, but to Midori it sounded a bit forced. "The tale is quite true. If you ever want to visit, my lord, I am happy to show it to you. But I am told it is quite disconcerting to look upon."
Midori covered both of Culebra's hands with his own. "I think, highness, that if I was afraid to look at a room full of snakes after all that I have seen you face and endure, I would be very much a coward. I would be honored to see your snakes."
The smile Culebra gave him then was breathtaking, and for the first time in two years Midori felt something other than miserable. He felt ... anticipation, excitement. "Then I will hold you to it, my lord," Culebra said softly and squeezed his hand before finally turning to draw the others into conversation.
Two hours later, after arriving at the palace and going through a great many more pleasantries, Midori was at last shown to the suite of rooms that had been assigned to him. He stood at the enormous set of windows in his sitting room, sipping a glass of sweetened and spiced wine that was drastically different from the much dryer wines of his homeland.
By the time he had finished one glass and started a second, the servants had finished arranging his bath and unpacking his belongings. Left at last alone, Midori went into his bedchamber and stripped, setting the clothes into a pile for someone to take away and clean. His jewelry he set neatly on the bureau before going over to settle in the deep, wide copper tub that had been set before a blazing fire.
For several minutes, he just lolled there enjoying the luxury of a bath. Someone had scented the water with lemon oil, a curious choice but pleasant. Sighing in satisfaction, thrilled beyond measure to have a chance
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