The Carnelian Way

31.1

"Ouch!"

"Hold still, will you?"

Rina glared at Mehdi. She stood on a fitting platform, sweating in the mid-morning heat. As the seasons crawled along, the temperature grew more stifling each day. Glowering, she lifted an arm, checking if her sweat had stained the silk of the dress Mehdi created. The material was made of the finest burgundy silk from the Cloud Lands in the east and gold thread from western Gilt Cities. The damned thing was hot.

"That's what the underdress is for," he said, the words coming mumbled through the pins clenched between his teeth. His olive skin had darkened to brown in the months since their arrival, and his green eyes popped. The shadow of a new beard swept his face, accentuating the sharp cheekbones.

Her eyes fell to the pulse at this throat.

She'd eaten a substantial breakfast—as she had every day since she conceived weeks before—but a hollow hunger grew as she imagined the copper taste of his blood.

Mehdi lowered his gaze and pinned another piece of fabric. He wore a loose, short-sleeved shirt that revealed toned arms. Rina still didn't like him, but she understood the appeal he held to Anya and that lordling. Her lips quirked as she wondered who would win him.

"What?" he said through the pins.

She shook herself and blinked. "What yourself?"

Mehdi took the pins from his teeth, sticking them into a pincushion. He stood, eyes meeting hers though she stood on the platform and crossed his arms. Against her will, her eyes trailed their movement. What was wrong with her? This was Mehdi. Mehdi!

He looked about him, noting the distance between them and the guards stationed by the columns at the edge of the room. The forms disappeared and reappeared as diaphanous red curtains acting as walls danced in the wind currents.

Leaning close, he said, "I don't know what exactly has come over you, but you've been looking at me... strangely. Like you want to eat me. Even though part of the reason I was chosen was for my looks, it makes me feel—"

There it was. The Mehdi she knew. Rina lifted her hands, palm outwards. "Alright, stop right there."

Mehdi did, swallowing, a flash of doubt crossing his eyes.

Was accusing an empress-to-be of impure thoughts overstepping the mark? Almost certainly. For a moment, she considered acting the part of an empress—cold, aloof, deadly—and letting him stew in his doubt until the doubt became fear. A bead of sweat trickled down his face. His face had paled, and she realised it wasn't from the heat.

She sighed. "Let me make one thing clear, Mehdi. I have no interest in your..." She let her eyes wander his beautiful, power-filled form. A man she might have appreciated if only he would get over his vanity. "Physical attributes."

He had the grace to flush. That was something, she thought.

"I do, however, appreciate your other gifts." She swept her arm to indicate his creation. The Carnelian crystals embroidered into a pattern of briar roses at the bodice winked in the light. "Including the movement of the Carnelian Way through your veins." Again, that hunger as she thought about the strength of him. Not just his body. His èlan vital. "My appreciation goes no further than that."

A footstep sounded. Rina turned to see Olav stepping forward, hand on the pommel of his sword. She shook her head, indicating for him to stay.

Mehdi saw it too and cast his eyes to the ground. "Forgive me, so much has changed, I forget..."

Rina reached out and took his hands. The tips of his fingers were calloused, but otherwise, the skin was soft, the nails manicured. He trembled at her touch. Yes, he was afraid.