Isolis

Chapter 6

That night, after taking a bath and pulling on his sleep pants, Daris stepped into their bedroom where Una was brushing out her long hair. She hadn't said a word since supper. She was gazing out the window while she absent mindedly brushed her dark hair. He wanted to wrap his arms around her from behind and pull her hair aside to kiss her neck. He felt a twitch in his pants so he interrupted his own thoughts with whatever he could think of– images of hunting, what he ate for breakfast, the sound of Merlin's voice. After a moment he realized he probably looked stupid just standing there like that, but Una didn't notice.

He climbed into bed first, like always. Una slept on the outside because she always got up earlier than him. It would take longer than a month to unlearn a lifetime of dawn risings. She set her brush down on the window sill and turned to look at him. He was lying on his side with his left arm underneath the pillow. She gave him a small smile that made his heart melt. She was in her white undergarment dress as usual. He loved to see her in it because, though it was formless, the material was thin and he could sometimes see the little protrusions of her hard nipples.

"What was it about that family today?" he asked quietly, just as she started to climb into bed. She stopped in her tracks for a moment. She was on her hands and knees in the bed, then she slid onto one hip with her top half supported on her right arm. He propped himself up, too.

"Why are you curious about that?" She was speaking softly, like she might start to cry.

"Maybe I'm curious about you," he said. It was so true it was embarrassing. He watched her reach out her left hand and rest it against his cheek. Her thumb stroked gently beneath his eye. He was pretty sure she was smiling smally, but the room was dark. He didn't know what to do. Her eyes left his face and so did her hand, she was gently smoothing his hair down now. He closed his eyes at the sensation and sighed much louder and breathier than he'd meant to.

"I promise I will tell you all my secrets someday, Daris." She took her hand away. He opened his eyes and watched her slide down into bed. He slid down, too, slipping his arm under her head. She obliged and crawled into his open arms. He was tired, but he couldn't help but dwell on her words as he drifted to sleep. What kind of secrets could she have?

~

The first day of the week was pretty slow-going. Many people attended the temple in the morning, so there was a surge of people at lunchtime, but the day always died down again after. Daris's mother used to go to the temple every week. As a boy he went with her, but since he lost her he hadn't set foot inside. Merlin claimed to be devoted to practicing but his desire to attend hadn't beaten his daily hangover in ten years.

Una's words were still echoing in Daris's mind. He hadn't seen her since she slipped out of his arms that morning at sunrise. He hated the sun every morning.

He was slouched backward in his desk chair, pushing off the wall with his foot so the chair balanced on its two back legs. He fiddled with his beard like he always did when he was deep in thought. What shameful secrets could a sweet little woman like that have? He scratched his beard, then he knocked the chair out of balance and tipped forward with a loud clack.

"Did I startle you?" He felt his face flush red. He hated himself for always blushing like a damn woman. Una was standing in the doorway of their bedroom. The light from the hall silhouetted her in a way Daris liked.

"Do you want to come on a walk with me?" She had never asked him to go with her before.

"Uh, yeah," he said, "that would be good." He stammered. She smiled. "That would be good?" Stupid idiot.

~

Daris hadn't been to the public garden in years. If he wanted to see nature he just went hunting. Una was walking beside him in her long coat. It was a cold afternoon, as the 12th month was halfway gone. Daris stuck his freezing hands into his pockets as they quietly walked along the road toward the gardens. They were located in a valley down the road from the inn, and from the crest of the hill they were visible in the distance.