Dark One Rising(96)

Alek patted the boy on the back and motioned for him to lead the way. Things were bleak. Dain had to be ready. What was left of Amaris would have to be evacuated, and he’d need more resources for that.



***



Since Alekzand’r had departed, Melenthia and Dain had been eating dinner alone in his private royal dining room. Just as other evenings, Dain was seated at the table by himself. She approached, and he looked up at her and smiled.

“Alek still has not returned?”

“I assume he won’t return for a few more weeks. There’s information we need, and he’s the best one I have to gather it.”

“He doesn’t stay in one place for very long does he?” she asked seating herself next to him at the table.

“Not by his own choosing I assure you. I feel guilty for having to send him out so much without giving him much chance to revive. This time, however, he volunteered.”

“I’m sure he’s used to it.”

A servant came and placed dinner on the table, pouring Melenthia wine. They sat for a few minutes in silence, eating the prepared meal they had been served. She occasionally, nonchalantly, looked in his direction. All those rumors she had heard about him, about his boyish charm and easy way of getting women to succumb to them intrigued her, but she had seen nothing to indicate the rumors were true. They said he was a player, never once settling down with anyone for more than a month of two, but yet here he was, eating alone with her. He had never once used any lines to try and woo her. He seemed to have taken his promise to Alek and her brother seriously, but then wondered how long it would last. The last time she stole a glance in his direction, he caught her. She looked away quickly, a flush of red filling her cheeks.

“What is it?” he asked her, smiling in amusement now. He was not making fun of her, but she had him intrigued about what she was thinking about.

“Nothing.”

“Oh come now, Your Highness. I can practically see the wheels in that pretty little head of yours turning. There’s something you want to ask me. I can see it in your eyes. Go ahead. I have nothing to hide.”

She looked at him again, this time, the embarrassment gone. “Okay. I was just curious as to your lack of company these days. You seem to have taken my comment about women in and out of the castle seriously. You didn’t need to change your ways on my account.”

He stared at her for a moment, a small smile of amusement on his face. “My, aren’t we bold. Well, I did ask for it didn’t I? If you must know, as soon as I knew you would arrive, I made a pact to conduct myself in a more proper manner, especially while you’re under my care. To tell you the truth, I have grown bored of my whims. I crave something better, something with more meaning and purpose.”

“That’s a noble endeavor, Dain.”

“Yes, and one I’m not sure if I can stick to forever. But so far so good.” He changed his tone to one of playfulness. “My infidelities amuse you, do they?”

“No. I just wondered how much of all the rumors about you were true, and how many were the bawdy tales of women who only wished it was they in them.”

He laughed. “I see where your views of my behavior could be misconstrued. However, most of them are sadly probably true. I’m trying though. We’ll see where my efforts get me.” He lifted his glass to her and said, “For now, the present company is satisfactory.”

She blushed slightly again and lifted her glass in response. They continued dinner in silence.

It had been a month since their ride into town, and he still had not given her the necklace. He decided it was time to be bold. Tonight was the night.

He stared at her, looking her up and down and taking in all of her beauty. The curls of her hair bounced as she walked or moved, the copper highlights shiny in the candlelight. As usual she was a ravishing beauty.

After dinner, she started to excuse herself and rise from the table, but before she could leave, he cleared his throat and said, “A moment, Melenthia.”

She sat back down. He wore a simple coronet on his dirty blond head tonight, with small silver leaves and vines intertwined around it. His pale blue eyes gazed at her with genuine affection. He reached into his doublet pocket and pulled out the necklace, placing it on the table in front of her.

She looked at it, then back up at him. “What’s that?”

“A gift.”

“What for?”

He laughed lightly. “For nothing in particular. I just wanted you to have it. You seemed to really be taken with it, so I wanted to give it to you.”

She stared at him not saying anything, her mind spinning fast.

“What is it? What’s the matter?” he asked.