Page 90 of The Concubine King
“Fastidious?”Mikel repeated, confused, though it was mostly drowned out by Ethyr clapping the knocker for the carriage to start.
“When we get to the palace, you can take a bath while a meal is prepared.I’ll tell the attendants to leave you alone, it’s quite nice then.”Mikel didn’t respond, but he was watching Ethyr with a strange bewilderment.“What?”Ethyr asked.
“You…” He shook his head.“I don’t know.It’s strange to see you like this.”
“Clean and dressed in gold?”Ethyr teased with a smile.Mikel didn’t smile back.“I’ll be changed out of it soon.”
Mikel looked away, out the lattice window, and didn’t respond.The afternoon light leaked through and highlighted the silhouette of his face, emphasizing all the curves and slopes of his features, and the smattering of freckles across his cheeks.Ethyr didn’t mind the silence; he was happy to soak in the details of a face he thought he wouldn’t see again for years.
When they arrived at the palace, Ethyr ordered attendants to heat a bath for Mikel and leave him to wash in peace, then hailed down a servant and had them tell the kitchen that the king had a guest and to prepare a meal accordingly.
He changed out of the elaborate dress into his village tunic.After so long not wearing it, the rough wool itched where it extended past his undershirt and scratched at his skin.
Hugging Mikel had smudged dirt onto his new outfit.He wouldn’t say he regretted it, but he was sorry to see such fine work dirtied.He gave it to a servant to wash and hoped it could be saved.Delicate fabric like that was difficult to clean thoroughly.
Gionan found him on his way to the dining room, as Ethyr probably should have expected.
“Is it true you have a visitor in the palace?”he asked worriedly.
“Yes.He is to be treated with respect.”
“Of course!Of course, Your Divinity.Shall I have a room set for him?”
Ethyr sighed.As much as he wanted to, he knew it would cause trouble to have Mikel sleep in his bed, though it was certainly big enough for them both.
“Fine,” he acquiesced.“But we’re eating in the dining room.Once the food is brought, I don’t want anyone disturbing us, understand?”
“Yes, Your Divinity.”Gionan bowed out of his way and scurried off.
Mikel was brought to him shortly after the food.He was in a yellow silk robe, which looked laughably puny on his muscular frame, and wore a look of utter disorientation.Ethyr stood from the low table and hooked his arm around Mikel’s.
“You’re dismissed,” he told the attendants.They recognized the brusque tone as the order it was and bowed before leaving them alone.
“Sit down,” he told Mikel gently, guiding him to the table.
“They took my clothes,” Mikel said as he followed Ethyr’s urging and sat.“They said they had to be washed.That I couldn’t see the king in such filth.”He turned a wry, dazed smile to Ethyr.Ethyr smiled back.
“They do that,” he told Mikel apologetically, and sat around the corner from him.“You must be hungry, eat however much you’d like.”Mikel stared with new stupefied awe at the food laid out on the table.
“This is all for us?”
It was the usual afternoon fare: roast meats, fried meats, broiled vegetables in various sauces, a selection of cheeses, a few crisp leaves of lettuce, and two sliced loaves of bread, one dark and one light.They’d also set out dessert for the occasion of a guest, a bowl of candied fruits and a plate of honey-soaked pastries.“Yes,” he said.“You can eat whatever you want.”
“This is… this is a feast for a village,” Mikel said, breathless with wonder.
“I only take dark bread with my meals,” Ethyr reassured him.“And they don’t usually include a dessert.”Mikel’s look to him indicated that maybe that wasn’t his concern, but Ethyr then didn’t know what was.He took the liberty of adding some food to Mikel’s plate, since he seemed too flabbergasted to take it himself.“Eat,” Ethyr incited.He wanted Mikel at least semi-taken care of before he started interrogating him.But one thing couldn’t wait.
“Did something happen?”he asked.“Is that why you’re here?Are Tebhen and Deian okay?”
Mikel stopped from ripping into a chunk of roast.“No, they’re okay,” he said quietly.“Everyone’s okay.Things are…” He shook his head.
“Things are what?”Ethyr asked worriedly.
“Everything was weird when you left.People were acting weird.I—” He sighed and lowered the food.“I don’t know how to explain.”
Ethyr bit his lips together, looking down at his own empty plate.He reached over to take some food for himself.“Eat first,” he told Mikel.“We can talk after.”
Mikel stuffed himself with meat, white bread, wine, and sweets until Ethyr recognized the look of gorged regret on his face.He should have known better than to overwhelm Mikel with so many options, having done the same thing his first time facing such a sumptuous spread.
