Lifelight: Calypso Returns

8.

The Precipice turned out to be a restaurant and bar on the edge of the city. The farther away her cab got, the nicer everything looked.There were houses bigger than those in Lithia and the whole neighbourhood just had a blue-blooded, crystal glassware, thousand-year-old jewelry feel.

The dress Kairu insisted he had splurged on was inadequate. She might as well have been in army fatigues. Things only got worse when the maître d' guided her away from the tables and to a private lounge.Whatever a high chair was, they were balling. She handed her guide a telephone number to call and give Kairu his half-hour updates.

She walked into the private room that would have outraged Caligula himself and immediately wanted to turn and run. In red and gold were hardwood floors, floor to ceiling windows with a view of the city,massive lush couches and a wrought iron dining set where Ardan was seated.

"A bit much?" He asked.

"Maybe just a little." She said.

"You look lovely."He said.

"And you look magnificent."She said.

He did. His woolen suit was tailored, probably by the three elves. He grinned and that made her tingly all over but then something in her shrank back.

"Please, join me." Ardan said.

"Yes,thank you. This is amazing." She said.

Ardan was like a waking dream. He spoke perfectly, his tongue rolled on the rrrrr's. He was, as far as Hera could tell, well read and traveled. He was athletic, an avid swimmer and wrestler. He had been to New York and loved Tokyo. He wanted to show her an ancient katana. She found herself wishing that she did not have to leave more than once that evening. But something niggled at the back of her head.

He was like a pure bred dog, one of the big German ones. They looked good, nothing left to chance. They were still dangerous, still had wolf in them somewhere, maybe just beneath the surface.

"You speak with an odd accent, is Saire a learned dialect?" He said.

"No, I just spent a lot of time on earth as a child. My father was a merchant." She said.

"That explains the little incident with Sebastian."

"Yes, a life in the high seas does leave one a bit rough around the edges."

"You use many human sayings as well."

"Sorry, I can't help it."

"No need to apologize."

They admired the view then moved to one of the sofas after dinner and settled to talk. She filled the time with the backstory Kairu had constructed for her. Their night was ending and she could not help but feel sad at the thought. He was at least two heads taller than her. He leaned closer to her and touched her hair.

"I've never seen anything like the curls. And your skin, it all but glow sin the firelight."

I will die another death before my queen falls into the clutches of noble vermin.

She jerked back from his touch. The voice was back, louder and clearer that it ever had been. Ardan was looking down at her confused and worried.

"It's getting late. I should be getting back." She said while trying to smile.

"I'll arrange for a car." He said.

Their server came in and took the instructions. He turned to her again. She was still distracted from the force of the voice.

"When can I see you again?" He asked.

"I am on my way to the Northern port. I do not know how long it will be before I come back." She said.