The Black Prism(156)

“I’ll promise to make your life as difficult as possible, if it’ll make you happy,” Kip said.

She hit his shoulder playfully, but it nailed a sensitive spot. “You’re a real lifesaver, Kip.” She grinned, though, as he rubbed his shoulder. Then her smile faded again. “I guess I should take my own advice and start dealing with how things are. You’re the Prism’s son, I’m your tutor. I shouldn’t hit you. Orholam, you’re the Prism’s son, how dare I?”

Kip’s chest tightened. “No!” he almost shouted. The room slaves shot looks at him. He lowered his voice, embarrassed. “Liv, swear to me you won’t. I—”

What were you going to say, Kip? I’ve been in love with you since I can remember? Right.

“I couldn’t bear losing my last anchor to Rekton,” he said instead, all the words tripping over each other. “You’re the only one who knew me before all this.”

Great, good job making it seem like it’s totally impersonal. I don’t care about you, I just care about Rekton.

“I mean… Liv, you know me, you’re—” You’re my friend? That sounds a little presumptuous, doesn’t it? What if she’s never thought of you as a friend?

“You’re from Rekton, too,” he said instead, lamely. Impersonal again. Damn! “I need someone to talk to, and I’ve always… admired you.”

Admired? Like she’s a painting?

“I mean, I appreciate—”

Appreciate. Kind of the same as admire, isn’t it? Like she’s a good cook?

Orholam’s balls, this is agony! Ah, a way out! Not appreciate her, but appreciate how she does something.

“I appreciate how you—” How she whats?

How she looks in that one too-small green shirt she used to—shit!

“—have always been so nice to me.”

Now you’re the pleading, awkward child again. Well done. Kip Silver Tongue, they ought to call you.

I’m never going to speak to another woman again.

Kip could barely stand to look at Liv after that performance, but she waited until he met her eyes, leery.

“Why, Kip, are you flirting with me?!” she asked.

It was like Kip had stepped into that nightmare where he walked to the Midsummer’s Dance on the green, barely registering the curious glances until he stepped up on the stage and the music stopped, every dancer missed their steps, and everyone turned to look at him. And then he noticed he was naked. And then everyone started laughing. Pointing. Making jokes.

No, this was worse. He wasn’t going to wake from this. All the blood had drained from his face. Evernight, it had drained from everywhere. He had no idea where it had all gone, but it had taken his ability to speak with it.

“Kip, I’m kidding,” Liv said.

His mouth moved. Blood coming back. Thoughts slower.

“Not often that you’re left with nothing to say,” Liv said, poking him. His thoughts on that must have shown, because she smirked. “If you don’t watch it, I’ll ruffle your hair.”

“That’s it, I’m shaving my head!” Kip declared.

Liv laughed. “Enough, enough! No more digressions! I’ll never teach you anything if we keep on like this.”

“So,” Kip said, “will. Not the bad man. See? At least I remember where we got off track.”

Liv shook her head, amused. “Not so fast. First, Kip, you’ve got a deal. I’d love to be your friend. Maybe we can remind each other every now and again where we came from.”

Kip felt his ears getting hot. As if they’d ever cooled. “I’d like that a lot,” he said.

“Now, finally, will. Will covers a multitude of flaws, just as—”

“Love covers a multitude of sins,” a familiar voice declared from the door.

Both Kip’s and Liv’s heads snapped around. It was Master Danavis, Liv’s father, alive.

“Father? Father!” Liv literally shrieked. She jumped up and ran to her father and threw herself into his arms. Corvan laughed and squeezed her hard.

“I heard you were dead!” Liv said.

Um, yes, that was me. Kip, bringer of false bad tidings. “I didn’t believe it, but I was so—” Liv started crying.

Corvan closed his eyes, just holding his daughter. Kip wondered if there were some way he could escape.

And go where? This is my room.

But after a few moments, Corvan gently pushed his daughter back. “I am surprisingly durable. You look more lovely than ever, Aliviana.”

“I’m all cryey,” Liv protested, wiping her eyes.

“Perhaps even a smidge more beautiful than your mother. A claim I’d not have tolerated until this day, seeing the truth with my own eyes. She’d be so proud of you.”