Islands in the Sky

2.20

They had reached an agreement, so Cassa turned her mind to what ought to come next. She needed to decide where she wanted Willem to sleep. She looked around the room. She had a bed, and chairs, but no couch or floor mats, and that suddenly seemed like an omission. And as well, the bed was very large, in truth probably in anticipation of this day, and its size would make it extremely pointed if she did not at least offer.

It was an antique, too, she suddenly thought, which Willem would probably start noticing at any moment.

Cassa tried to decide how willing she was to let Willem sleep in her bed. She didn’t trust him, but she also wasn’t afraid of him either. She knew her own abilities, and she was fairly sure she knew his. There was very little Willem would be able to manage to do to her, even in her sleep, before she awoke and cut his throat.

“You may sleep in the bed,” she said. “But I am not undressing.”

Willem nodded. “Thank you.”

Cassa shrugged. “The floor is hard. It would be cruel not to let you join me.”

“Still, I am grateful.”

“The bathroom is there,” Cassa said, and pointed. “Touch nothing of mine without asking me first. Ever.”

“Of course.”

“And when I said I wasn’t undressing, I meant that you are not either.”

Willem looked at the bed, uncertainly. Then he looked at himself. “I am still in the dirt of the street.”

Cassa glanced at him. He wasn’t that dirty, although she knew what he meant. Anew-Hame was a fairly dusty, muddy place at times, and he had probably walked here from the Cloudview tower.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said.

“I will make a mess.”

“And I have maids. Who apparently have been less loyal than ought to be, of late. So you will sleep in the bed as you are, and make the sheets as muddy as you wish, and then they will have work to do tomorrow, which will keep them too busy to tattle.”

Willem nodded.

“Is there anything else you need?” Cassa said. Bread and wine had been left for them on the table, and the room was warm, as it usually was. The would be hot water in the bathroom, and she had books on a shelf, if he was interested in such things.

She had no idea what he might ask for, other than perhaps for his one true love to be brought to him, but she offered all the same, to be polite.

Willem shook his head.

“It is no trouble,” Cassa said. “I can call for someone, and have anything you need brought.”

“I need nothing. But thank you.”

Cassa nodded. “Well then,” she said. “It is late, and we are wasting un-magic and these light-globes. Perhaps we should sleep?”

Willem looked uncomfortable again, but he nodded.

Cassa went into the bathroom, and locked the door, and changed into a more practical dress to sleep in. She added trousers too, the strong leggings the ancients wore, and then went back into the bedchamber.

Willem was still standing where he’d been. Cassa went to the bed, and he still didn’t move. He didn’t seem to have been waiting for the bathroom.

“What?” Cassa said, wondering if it was dusty clothes. “You must wear something, but it doesn’t have to be those clothes. I can lend you something to sleep in, if you wish?”

“No.” He looked at the bed. “I didn’t know which side you preferred.”

“Oh,” Cassa said. “Of course.” She pointed. “That side.”

Willem nodded and went to the other. “But are you certain about my dirt?”

“Get in,” Cassa said. Then she took a large, heavy dagger from behind a vase on her window-sill, and calmly put it beneath her pillow. Then a small folding knife of the ancients from a drawer, as well, and put that in the pocket of her dress.

“You understand?” she said, touching the dress. “No matter what, no matter how you try and hold me, I’ll be able to reach something to cut you with. And there are others around, too. Other you know nothing of.”

Willem nodded, calmly. “I understand.”

“You will never have me,” Cassa said.

“I know. I understand.”

Cassa got into bed, and settled her pillows over the dagger. Willem got in too, carefully, staying well away from her.

“Shall I turn off the light?” Cassa said.

“Please,” Willem said politely. “If you will.”

Cassa switched off the light-globe, and then lay with her back to Willem, feeling the bed move oddly as he settled.

“Goodnight husband,” she said, after a moment.

“Goodnight wife,” he said.

Cassa lay there, thinking. “I speak sharply,” she said after a moment. “But if I must marry, I am almost glad it was you. I think there could have been many worse to wed.”

“I too,” Willem said, in the darkness. “I am glad. And I think we shall suit one another well.”

“Perhaps,” Cassa said cautiously, and then didn’t say any more. She lay quietly until she was certain that Willem was asleep before she slept too.