and it had
looked painful.
She didn’t look up as he guided her up the
steps of the citadel and down the stone corridors. Arched windows
let in light, showcasing the parquet flooring and colorful castle
inhabitants. Five minutes of walking brought them to his private
wing and deep into his personal security, security that had been
tightened to protect his ward. Briefly wondering what the guards at
her door thought of his grim expression and Rain’s bowed head, he
took her into her room and walked straight through it, exiting out
into her private pleasure garden. Once there, he released her. “I
find the sunshine calming. I suggest you remain out here until
you’ve settled in.” He accompanied the “suggestion” with a fierce
look and left to attend to the holes in his back.
Rain closed her eyes. Hideously embarrassing,
that emotional display of hers. Bad enough it happened in public,
but she was still tense from seeing the Haunt soldiers. Logic told
her she’d grow calmer around them, but she’d never love them.
Fallon was one of them…
She shivered.
CHAPTER 5
He’d left her in a garden. Walled, roughly
the size of a school bus, it had a winding path that led to a bench
set under a shady fruit tree. A small pool provided a place to
gaze. Pear trees had been trained against the walls, alternating
with a pink flowered vine she couldn’t identify. Flowering bushes
alternated with herbs and mixed flower clusters, providing washes
of color. Well-clipped grass formed a soft carpet between the
flowers and the walls.
With a sigh, she slipped off her shoes and
padded over to the bench. She was still tired from long months of
running, and she’d been too long in the London fog and Alaskan
chill. The sun felt good.
To her surprise, she found brilliant blue and
gold fish swimming in the small pond.
“Pretty,” she murmured. Someone took good
care of this place. From what she’d seen, she figured that Fallon
could probably afford the best help.
As if summoned by her speculation, a young
woman appeared at the door to her apartment. “Mistress?” Her dusky
yellow sarong swayed gracefully as she moved closer, giving a
glimpse of her straw sandals. Her matching, sleeveless top hung
around her neck with a scarlet cord. A sash of the same color
decorated her waist as she paused at the pool. Long dark hair
flowed free to her waist, and she had an enviable tan. “My name is
Malian. Is there anything you would like? A meal, perhaps? The
master said you might be hungry.”
Rain sighed. “How is his back?”
Malian was slow to answer, but returned a
gentle assurance. “He is fine. In two days, the marks will have
healed. But come! The change to the Dark Lands must be difficult.
How may I help?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m a little hungry.
What is this fruit above me?” Rain didn’t feel like putting the
girl to any trouble.
The girl smiled. “Hairy sugar fruit, but it’s
not yet ripe. I took the liberty of bringing you a light meal, if
you’re interested.”
Rain sighed again. Well, if the girl was
determined to feed her… She followed Malian into the apartment,
surprised at the simple elegance. Decorated in ice blue and yellow,
with touches of white and plum, it was cool and inviting at once.
Two couches faced each other in the sitting area, and a bed with a
silken coverlet promised a good night’s sleep. A roomy tub,
surrounded by unlit candles, offered a tranquil soak. A mirrored
armoire with one glass door showed linens ready for her use.
Malian had set a wide, flat soup bowl on the
table. A delicate, wonderful aroma arose from it as Rain took a
seat. Malian poured her some juice from a frosty decanter and
smiled. “Allow me to put your things away in the wardrobe while you
refresh yourself, mistress. Enjoy.”
Rain did. The fish soup was in a clear broth,
both tangy and sweet. Whatever it was, she would definitely like it
again. The yellow juice was also very good. “What is
looked painful.
She didn’t look up as he guided her up the
steps of the citadel and down the stone corridors. Arched windows
let in light, showcasing the parquet flooring and colorful castle
inhabitants. Five minutes of walking brought them to his private
wing and deep into his personal security, security that had been
tightened to protect his ward. Briefly wondering what the guards at
her door thought of his grim expression and Rain’s bowed head, he
took her into her room and walked straight through it, exiting out
into her private pleasure garden. Once there, he released her. “I
find the sunshine calming. I suggest you remain out here until
you’ve settled in.” He accompanied the “suggestion” with a fierce
look and left to attend to the holes in his back.
Rain closed her eyes. Hideously embarrassing,
that emotional display of hers. Bad enough it happened in public,
but she was still tense from seeing the Haunt soldiers. Logic told
her she’d grow calmer around them, but she’d never love them.
Fallon was one of them…
She shivered.
CHAPTER 5
He’d left her in a garden. Walled, roughly
the size of a school bus, it had a winding path that led to a bench
set under a shady fruit tree. A small pool provided a place to
gaze. Pear trees had been trained against the walls, alternating
with a pink flowered vine she couldn’t identify. Flowering bushes
alternated with herbs and mixed flower clusters, providing washes
of color. Well-clipped grass formed a soft carpet between the
flowers and the walls.
With a sigh, she slipped off her shoes and
padded over to the bench. She was still tired from long months of
running, and she’d been too long in the London fog and Alaskan
chill. The sun felt good.
To her surprise, she found brilliant blue and
gold fish swimming in the small pond.
“Pretty,” she murmured. Someone took good
care of this place. From what she’d seen, she figured that Fallon
could probably afford the best help.
As if summoned by her speculation, a young
woman appeared at the door to her apartment. “Mistress?” Her dusky
yellow sarong swayed gracefully as she moved closer, giving a
glimpse of her straw sandals. Her matching, sleeveless top hung
around her neck with a scarlet cord. A sash of the same color
decorated her waist as she paused at the pool. Long dark hair
flowed free to her waist, and she had an enviable tan. “My name is
Malian. Is there anything you would like? A meal, perhaps? The
master said you might be hungry.”
Rain sighed. “How is his back?”
Malian was slow to answer, but returned a
gentle assurance. “He is fine. In two days, the marks will have
healed. But come! The change to the Dark Lands must be difficult.
How may I help?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m a little hungry.
What is this fruit above me?” Rain didn’t feel like putting the
girl to any trouble.
The girl smiled. “Hairy sugar fruit, but it’s
not yet ripe. I took the liberty of bringing you a light meal, if
you’re interested.”
Rain sighed again. Well, if the girl was
determined to feed her… She followed Malian into the apartment,
surprised at the simple elegance. Decorated in ice blue and yellow,
with touches of white and plum, it was cool and inviting at once.
Two couches faced each other in the sitting area, and a bed with a
silken coverlet promised a good night’s sleep. A roomy tub,
surrounded by unlit candles, offered a tranquil soak. A mirrored
armoire with one glass door showed linens ready for her use.
Malian had set a wide, flat soup bowl on the
table. A delicate, wonderful aroma arose from it as Rain took a
seat. Malian poured her some juice from a frosty decanter and
smiled. “Allow me to put your things away in the wardrobe while you
refresh yourself, mistress. Enjoy.”
Rain did. The fish soup was in a clear broth,
both tangy and sweet. Whatever it was, she would definitely like it
again. The yellow juice was also very good. “What is
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