Page 46 of Stranger's Choice
Sebin made his way back to his supper seat, Heolin trailing behind him in sullen silence. Sure enough, Auraelie was no longer there. Another Will was.
The black clad man bowed to Sebin. “Your attendant is preparing. She will go to your rooms as soon as she is ready, Prince of Foreign Shores.”
Sebin nodded his understanding and left. He didn’t try to engage Heolin in conversation. That would have to wait until they were behind closed doors. If Heolin didn’t bury him alive first.
With every step they took closer to Sebin’s room, he estimated his chances of surviving the coming confrontation lower. He had bigger worries, though.
“Hold that thought,” Sebin said, holding up a single finger after Heolin slammed the door to his room closed.
The earth sprite’s eyes bulged. He had already inhaled in the manner of someone preparing to give a powerful set-down, but now he stood there, chest puffed out, and shocked into stillness.
Sebin ignored the bewildered sprite and walked into his bedroom. He dug out the dressing gown he never wore in the Kalitalan heat, folded it over his arm, and returned to the outer room. “You can yell at me, now.”
Heolin stared at the fabric draped over Sebin’s arm for long moments. Then he moved to the cushions Auraelie used in the evenings and sat. “I don’t know what you did to convince Mewae to trust you, but you won’t be fooling me, Prince.”
Sebin remained standing by the door. “You know Mewae?”
“She is my aunt.”
“How does that work?” This was good. If Sebin could just keep Heolin talking about other things until Auraelie arrived, he might not end up buried alive. “She is a wood spite, not earth. I mean, I know different races can have children together, but wouldn’t that make you half wood sprite?”
“No. My mother was an earth sprite, and I inherited my talents from her rather than my father. When two members of the magical races have children, there is no mixing or diluting of the power. One side dominates, and that is the race of the child.”
“What determines which side dominates?”
“Chance. My brother is a wood sprite.”
“Interesting. What about—”
“Stop.” Heolin surged to his feet. “You will not distract me with your questions. Do your best to convince me to sympathize with you so I can get back to my own life.”
Well, Sebin hadn’t really expected Heolin to just sit meekly. “We need Auraelie before I start my explanation.”
“I will not let you use her, human.”
“I need her to confirm some of what I am about to tell you, nothing more.”
“You expect me to trust you about this?”
“No. I don’t expect you to trust me at all currently. That’s why we need Auraelie.”
Heolin crossed his arms and resumed his seat. “Then we wait.”
Auraelie did notknow what had happened. One moment she was waiting by Sebin’s seat after he asked her not to follow him into the crowd, and the next, Lhashiki was hustling her away. When the other woman led her to the baths, Auraelie knew what was coming, but she still didn’t understand why.
Dressed in the Seven Veils costume, Auraelie made her way back to Sebin’s room, still trying to figure it out. After directing another servant to see her bathed and dressed, Lhashiki had left Auraelie without any explanation. She had been happy, though.
Auraelie opened the door without knocking.
She didn’t even have time to process that Sebin wasn’t alone in the room before he barreled into her, wrapping her in heavy folds of cloth.
“Sorry.” Sebin spoke in a rush as he shoved her arms into his dressing gown and tied the sash. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, but I didn’t see her until it was too late, and I couldn’t tell her not to without ruining everything.”
He finished swaddling her and stepped back.
Auraelie looked past him. “Good evening, Heolin.”
The sprite pursed his lips. “Good evening, Auraelie.”
