Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 24

      "I hear Evergreen saved your life," he starts.

     "Yes, I vaguely remember seeing his sword sticking through the upstarts chest before I lost consciousness the second time," I retort watching people pale at the visual picture I painted.

     "You must be so grateful that Evergreen came when he did?" the councilor says.

     "I am most grateful to him for saving my life and that of his sister," I retort in a very ladylike fashion as Evergreen sits down in the chair to my left. He leans casually against my chair and smiles at the councilor.

     "I am just grateful she was able to keep Rose safe until then," Evergreen says putting an arm around my shoulders.

     "If you could show your gratitude to the King would you?" the councilor asks. I can tell he's hoping I'll say something dumb. I smile my most charming smile.

     "I would love to show Evergreen my gratitude," I say and then lean over and kiss Evergreen on the lips. I can hear the hiss of shock from around the room and then I realize that Evergreen has wrapped a hand in my braids and is enjoying the kiss. I suddenly start to panic, but I can't pull away without losing half of my braids. Finally after what seems like a year, Evergreen reluctantly pulls away. Emotions swim in his eyes that truly scare me and I force myself to look away and try not to think about it.

      "Well I think she showed proper gratitude," Evergreen says smiling like a fool.

     "I am in need of food," I say refusing to meet Evergreen's steady gaze. Rose hops out of her chair and quickly returns with a plate piled high with different foods; some of them I'm not even sure to call food. Rose sits down next to me and gives me a measured look.

     "You will eat all of it, you need to regain your strength," she demands pushing a mouthful of something gray onto the spoon and shoving it into my mouth. I eat several things and then begin to play with the remaining food while working hard to ignore Evergreen's stares. Rose pauses in a conversation and glares at me.

    "Eat not play," she scolds stabbing something with a fork and holding it to my mouth.

     "I'm not sure you should call that food," I mutter staring down the offending food.

     "It is a delicacy, and you need the meat," she counters like a healer.

     "I think I'll pass," I retort trying to get away from the fork. Evergreen plucks the fork from his sisters grasp and slurps down the strange wiggling meat. He then smiles at me.

     "It is delicious," he says with a wink.

     "Good you can eat it," I mutter shoving the plate at him without trying to meet his eyes. He squats down, smiles, stabs another delicacy and pops it into his mouth.

     "You should try them before you pass judgment," he teases.

     "I'm sorry I prefer my meat not moving," I retort feeling myself blushing.

     "Spoken like a true plains person," says a councilor.

     "So, that is exactly what I am a child of the plains," I retort trying to stand up. These pompous jerks are making me itch for a good blade and the females are being herded around to be shown off to a man that doesn't want them. Rose lays a restraining hand on my shoulder.