Breach

Chapter Three

By the time I reach the dinner circle, most of the village is already congregated around the fire pits. The evening meal is about to get underway, and groups gather around the various platters on the tables. I slip into line behind Rioram and Rena, envying their easy companionship.

Rioram spots me. "Aiken, what's new?"

I shrug. "Not much. You?"

"I can't complain with the lovely Rena at my side." Rioram grins and takes Rena's hand in his own, planting a quick kiss on her cheek.

Rena's blush is impossible to miss. She gazes up at Rioram with adoring eyes. If only I could emulate Rioram. Relationships come so naturally to him. Maybe if I spent some time studying Rioram and Rena together, I might work it out.

Pushing thoughts of my inadequacies when it comes to Ceena aside, I say, "You can stay focused on Rena all you want as long as I can jump ahead of you and get my food!"

Chuckling, Rioram takes the hint and fills Rena's plate and then his own. Casually, he asks, "Are you actually going to invite someone to the Harvest Festival this year?"

I tense. Hadn't I just decided I wasn't going there? But Rioram doesn't know that. Trying to maintain his casual tone, I reply, "I have someone in mind."

Rioram raises an eyebrow. "Oh you have, have you? Who's the lucky lady?"

"Wouldn't you like to know!"

Rioram eyes me. "I take it you haven't actually asked her then?"

My grin falls away, and I grit my teeth. It takes all my self-control not to snap back. "Not yet. But I will."

For a moment, I think Roman's going to press the issue. Then he reconsiders and changes the subject. "I saw you brought in the dinner we're enjoying tonight. How's the hunting these days?"

I relax as the conversation takes a more familiar path. My angst is forgotten as others join us, and we swap details about our day, laughing and commiserating together. Finishing my meal, I search for Ceena and find she's still absent. Did she eat early? No, that's unlikely because dinner was only beginning when I arrived. I glance at my plate, wondering whether I should fix a plate and take it to her. Deciding it will be an excellent opportunity to have another shot at asking her to the festival, I rise and head to the food tables.

"Someone's hungry tonight," Rioram teases.

I ignore him and finish filling the plate before I comment. "Maybe I'll go eat this where I can have some peace and quiet."

Rioram smiles, but his speculative gaze as I leave makes me wonder whether he knows what I'm up to. Now is not the time to second guess myself. In any way. I need to get this done. I plod toward Ceena's home, hesitating when I finally reach it. Then taking a breath, I call, "Ceena?" I'm encouraged to hear movement inside. "Are you there?"

"What do you want, Aiken?" Ceena mumbles, her words faint behind the closed door.

"I noticed you weren't at dinner —" I begin.

The door flies open, and I stare at Ceena. Her hair has been freed from its knot and flows around her shoulders. She's changed into a dress that hugs her shapely form in all the right places. My mouth goes dry. Oh no, not again. It was going so well.

In a flash of inspiration, I realize why: because Ceena wasn't standing right in front of me! It's easier to talk to her when I can't see her. My gaze drops to the ground, and I try to imagine she's still behind her door.

"Well?" Ceena demands.

Flustered, my brain scrambles to remember what her question was. If I don't say something, I'll lose my opportunity again. My gaze shifts, and I notice the plate I'm holding. It reminds me why I'm here. She probably didn't hear the reply I gave earlier—or the part I managed to get out before she opened the door. And the plate gives me something to look at besides Ceena.

"I didn't see you at dinner so I brought you some food." When Ceena doesn't respond, I wonder if I should say something else. "I don't know what you like, so I brought a bit of everything," Suddenly aware that the plate is loaded with an astronomical amount of food, I rush on. "I don't really think you eat this much. . ." I drift off as I realize I'm being a klutz again.

Ceena saves me from myself. Her hand drifts into my line of vision as she takes the plate. "Thank you, Aiken. It was kind of you to think of me."

And that's when I make a fatal mistake. I look up at her, my eyes meeting hers. Any semblance of coherent thought flees. Her lovely face glows in the light flickering through the buildings from the central fires. The firelight bounces off her black hair, shiny and lustrous. Her large honey-brown eyes are liquid pools I can drown himself in. Her lips are red as pomegranate seeds and curved slightly upward as she smiles at me.

I'm terrified. But this is the moment. If I don't ask her now, I never will. The words came out in a rush. "Will you do me the honor of attending the Harvest Festival with me?"

Ceena's eyes widen in surprise. From her face, it's clear she wasn't expecting this. And now that I've said the words out loud, the words I practiced for so long, they sound stupid. Have I just forever blighted myself in her sight? Daring a glance at Ceena, I realize she's flustered. My heart plummets through my shoes and far into the earth beneath me. She's probably rummaging for a way to turn me down without hurting my feelings.

"Aiken, that's very kind of you to ask. But I have obligations. I'm sorry," Ceena mumbles.

Obligations? What is she talking about? The only person she has an obligation to, perhaps, is her younger brother. I haven't come this far to leave without answers.

"What sort of obligations?"

Ceena looks down at her foot, moving back and forth as she rolls a stone under it. She lifts a hand and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

I fidget. Is this going to take long?

Abruptly, Ceena stops moving the stone and shifts her weight, assuming a determined stance. "I'm sorry, I just can't go with you."

With that she dips her head and disappears inside her home, shutting the door quietly but firmly. I stare after her, scarcely able to believe she's gone. But she is. She rejected me. Numb, I turn away. I'm halfway back to my own home before I remember the plate of food. It wouldn't do to be wasteful. I stomp back to Ceena's home.

I'm surprised to find the door slightly ajar. My steps falter when I hear weeping. Now what? Should I leave the food or leave her to her tears? Compromising, I sneak up to the door, put the plate on the ground and slide it through her doorway. The crying jag continues, probably because her head's in her hands or her eyes are too full of tears to notice the offering. Either way, I can escape without having to confront Ceena again.