peace negotiations the next two weeks,” Isabella chided her husband. Byran blushed. Arinna laughed. Derrick’s glance slid her way. It made her realize it was the first time she’d done so in his presence in ages without his needing to say. Jared had already pointed it out.
“No, but since you brought it up, we really need to find a location other than the monastery,” Arinna said.
Isabella sighed, pouring herself a glass of wine. “Get it out of your system. I’m only allowing this conversation today,” she said.
“I’d actually you rather rule it out,” Byran said to his wife.
“Byran, Captain Vries and I both are against it. Derrick was there and he agrees,” Arinna said, looking to Derrick for confirmation.
His gaze rested on her for a moment, long enough for her to realize she’d said his name, his given name. With a blink he reanimated. “It is nearly impossible to defend and has to be impossible to heat. Even with the dactyls, access is limited. There is only room for maybe three planes on the mountaintop between the building and the trees.”
“Yes, I know. I read the reports,” Byran said.
“Then why agree to it?” Arinna asked, leaning forward. “It better be a damn good reason.”
“Because it is a peace treaty and we shouldn’t have to worry about the building being indefensible?” Byran said. Arinna glared at him until Byran sat back with a sigh. “Would you believe the FLF doesn’t like it either? They’ve suggested six other places since that. But everything else is either too close, or in, Europe and I will not house a full contingent of their military here. I know damn well you will send Guard soldiers and they will send soldiers too.”
“The FLF is made up of soldiers. Even the politicians,” Derrick said.
“You are right,” Arinna said. “I’m sending soldiers. There are officers there now keeping an eye on the place so no one sets up any surprises while work is being done to clean out chimneys and move in some furniture that won’t come with fleas.”
“Oh this sounds lovely. I’m now officially happy not to be going,” Isabella said. “With that, the conversation is done and it is time for dinner.”
Merimarche was far different from Rhiol or visiting Derrick at Kesmere. It was a home as much as a manor and one used to raise children. There were no hidden rooms filled with secret computer equipment to remind Arinna of her role, especially her new official one. Derrick was as out of place as she, wandering the hallway and studying paintings on his way to his room after dinner.
Arinna told herself the reason she couldn’t settle was because she’d grown accustomed to the Guard base with its hive of activity, soldiers, and things needing to be done. After unpacking, she had nothing that was required of her. She stood in her room, glancing at the communicator with thoughts of calling Jared. But she knew one of his questions would be about Derrick. She didn’t want to think about Derrick. Instead of pacing her room, she opted for roving the manor.
The sun was setting when the sound of children laughing drew Arinna to a terrace. Byran chased Cerilla across the beach, Santi running after both as Isabella walked behind. The scene made her smile and ache.
“I think they are happy to be home,” Derrick said from the open French door.
Arinna moved aside from where she leaned on the rail, letting the motion invite him to join her, or not. She didn’t hear his footsteps and thought he’d left when he appeared next to her; he’d moved that slowly and quietly as if she was a deer he was afraid to startle.
“I’d forgotten how warm the coast of Spain is,” Arinna said as a breeze brushed her skin.
“Hah, after Irkrist, anywhere feels warm.”
Arinna smiled at that, remembering how she refused to worry while he was on that journey and the fear that suffused her when he’d been taken prisoner. On the heels of that came the longing for a reunion they’d
“No, but since you brought it up, we really need to find a location other than the monastery,” Arinna said.
Isabella sighed, pouring herself a glass of wine. “Get it out of your system. I’m only allowing this conversation today,” she said.
“I’d actually you rather rule it out,” Byran said to his wife.
“Byran, Captain Vries and I both are against it. Derrick was there and he agrees,” Arinna said, looking to Derrick for confirmation.
His gaze rested on her for a moment, long enough for her to realize she’d said his name, his given name. With a blink he reanimated. “It is nearly impossible to defend and has to be impossible to heat. Even with the dactyls, access is limited. There is only room for maybe three planes on the mountaintop between the building and the trees.”
“Yes, I know. I read the reports,” Byran said.
“Then why agree to it?” Arinna asked, leaning forward. “It better be a damn good reason.”
“Because it is a peace treaty and we shouldn’t have to worry about the building being indefensible?” Byran said. Arinna glared at him until Byran sat back with a sigh. “Would you believe the FLF doesn’t like it either? They’ve suggested six other places since that. But everything else is either too close, or in, Europe and I will not house a full contingent of their military here. I know damn well you will send Guard soldiers and they will send soldiers too.”
“The FLF is made up of soldiers. Even the politicians,” Derrick said.
“You are right,” Arinna said. “I’m sending soldiers. There are officers there now keeping an eye on the place so no one sets up any surprises while work is being done to clean out chimneys and move in some furniture that won’t come with fleas.”
“Oh this sounds lovely. I’m now officially happy not to be going,” Isabella said. “With that, the conversation is done and it is time for dinner.”
Merimarche was far different from Rhiol or visiting Derrick at Kesmere. It was a home as much as a manor and one used to raise children. There were no hidden rooms filled with secret computer equipment to remind Arinna of her role, especially her new official one. Derrick was as out of place as she, wandering the hallway and studying paintings on his way to his room after dinner.
Arinna told herself the reason she couldn’t settle was because she’d grown accustomed to the Guard base with its hive of activity, soldiers, and things needing to be done. After unpacking, she had nothing that was required of her. She stood in her room, glancing at the communicator with thoughts of calling Jared. But she knew one of his questions would be about Derrick. She didn’t want to think about Derrick. Instead of pacing her room, she opted for roving the manor.
The sun was setting when the sound of children laughing drew Arinna to a terrace. Byran chased Cerilla across the beach, Santi running after both as Isabella walked behind. The scene made her smile and ache.
“I think they are happy to be home,” Derrick said from the open French door.
Arinna moved aside from where she leaned on the rail, letting the motion invite him to join her, or not. She didn’t hear his footsteps and thought he’d left when he appeared next to her; he’d moved that slowly and quietly as if she was a deer he was afraid to startle.
“I’d forgotten how warm the coast of Spain is,” Arinna said as a breeze brushed her skin.
“Hah, after Irkrist, anywhere feels warm.”
Arinna smiled at that, remembering how she refused to worry while he was on that journey and the fear that suffused her when he’d been taken prisoner. On the heels of that came the longing for a reunion they’d
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